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European football: Bartesaghi’s double not enough as Milan held by Sassuolo

  • Laurienté equalises for visitors after defender’s two goals

  • Real Sociedad sack Sergio Francisco after Girona defeat

Milan had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Sassuolo at San Siro after Armand Laurienté’s late strike for the visitors ensured the Serie A title race remains finely poised. Milan are top by one point with 32 points from 15 matches but can be overtaken by Napoli, the defending champions, who visit 12th-placed Udinese later on Sunday. Sassuolo sit ninth on 21 points.

The visitors stunned Milan in the 13th minute when Andrea Pinamonti’s clever layoff set up the midfielder Ismaël Koné, who expertly chipped Mike Maignan to open the scoring.

This story will be updated

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Maple Leafs’ Craig Berube Explains Why William Nylander Logged His Lowest Ice Time In Over Two Years

William Nylander did not skate for the final 6:07 of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, resulting in the star forward logging a season-low 13:46 of ice time.

The second line, comprised of Nylander, Bobby McMann, and John Tavares, was ineffective on Saturday. The trio was on the ice for two of Edmonton’s even-strength goals and failed to score themselves. Nylander finished the game as a -3.

Nylander did not take part in the morning skate due to illness, and Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube explained why he limited the forward's usage in the third period.

“He played tonight. But obviously he wasn't even close to 75 percent,” Berube said. “He was sick, but he played. But I didn't feel there was any reason to keep playing him.”

With the game out of reach, it is hard to classify the move as a benching, but Nylander hasn’t recorded an ice time that low since posting 13:32 in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on April 6, 2023.

Dakota Joshua, who also missed the morning skate due to illness, was not healthy enough to play. Joshua's absence affected Toronto’s second and third lines, necessitating McMann's return to the lineup following a one-game suspension.

William Nylander leads the Leafs with 34 points in 27 games and is coming off a two-point night in a 3-2 overtime loss against the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 11. It is clear the Leafs took a bet on playing a less-than-75-percent Nylander over a player like Matias Maccelli, who hasn’t played since Nov. 28. Given the underlying numbers, it may have been the wrong decision.

Ultimately, what cost the Leafs the game on Saturday was a late second-period goal that gave Edmonton the lead. Toronto followed that by getting caught standing around as the Oilers took over with three more goals, chasing Dennis Hildeby out of the net and forcing Artur Akhtyamov to make his NHL debut in a relief situation.

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Blue Jackets Blow Multiple Leads, Drop Fifth Straight

Charlie Coyle(5) and Yegor Chinakhov(3) scored the only goals against the Vegas Golden Knights, while Jet Greaves made 22 saves in a 3-2 loss on a snowy Saturday night in Columbus. 

They had this one. It really felt like they had this one. Instead, after blowing multiple leads in the game, they would lose to the Golden Knights to seal their 5th straight loss. 

When Adam Fantilli left the game pouring blood after taking a high stick from Brayden McNabb, giving the Jackets a power play for the duration of regulation, and then came back patched up and ready to finish, you just knew they were going to score. But that didn't happen, and the Blue Jackets were left frustrated once again. 

Almost 17,000 fans braved the snowstorm that hit Columbus midday to watch their team lose a fifth straight game. 

Charlie Coyle said after the game: "The effort was there. Just because you do the right things and give the right effort doesn't guarantee you win. It was a step in the right direction. We need to compete and play the right way. I think defensively was definitely better. It's not perfect, but it's a work in progress."

This loss brings much frustration to a fan base that is desperate to see some wins. Losing five in a row is tough to swallow, especially after all of the positivity surrounding the team coming into the season. 

The Blue Jackets need to right this ship quickly, or the season will end early yet again. 

Final Stats

CBJ APP

Player Stats

  • Charlie Coyle scored his 5th goal. He also had 4 shots on goal.
  • Yegor Chinakhov scored his 3rd goal. It was his first goal since Oct. 28 at Buffalo.
  • Zach Werenski recorded his 24th assist of the season. He now has a home points streak of 10 games.
  • Cole Sillinger picked up his 11th assist.
  • Kent Johnson tallied his 5th assist.
  • Dante Fabbro recorded his 4th assist.
  • Jet Greaves made 22 saves.

Team Stats

  • The Jackets power play went 0/4.
  • The Columbus PK stopped 2 of 3 Vegas man advantages.
  • Columbus won 58.1% of the faceoffs - 36/62
  • The Blue Jackets had 19 blocked shots.

Up Next: The Jackets are back at home to play the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night. 

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Flyers Never Made Serious Offer to Hijack Quinn Hughes Trade

As it turns out, the Philadelphia Flyers were never one of the serious players involved in executing the Quinn Hughes trade and were ultimately behind two Metropolitan Division rivals in the hunt.

On Friday night, Hughes, 26, was traded to the Minnesota Wild by the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for prospects Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren, center Marco Rossi, and a 2026 first-round pick, and the immediate (and correct) reaction was that the Flyers were never going to beat that offer.

The Flyers themselves must have known this, because, according to a recent report from The Athletic and TSN NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, Philadelphia was never a true contender for Hughes.

"The New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers are among those six teams confirmed to have made legitimate offers. The Devils feel they made a strong first offer. I can also confirm that the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes showed interest," LeBrun wrote for The Athletic.

"The Philadelphia Flyers were among the teams that kicked tires but didn’t get to the next level. The Flyers weren’t willing to give up the assets the Canucks wanted, so that took Philadelphia out of being a major player in it."

Flyers Miss Out on Egregious Quinn Hughes TradeFlyers Miss Out on Egregious Quinn Hughes TradeIt's official: the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> pulling off a Quinn Hughes trade is not going to happen, and they should be thankful it won't.

The fact that, as LeBrun reported, the Flyers weren't ready to part with assets the Canucks wanted means that Vancouver asked for a blue-chip prospect akin to Buium, which implies that Porter Martone or Matvei Michkov would have needed to be on the table.

Of course, the Flyers could have drafted Buium outright in 2024, but traded down with the Wild to instead select center Jett Luchanko.

Much can and will be made about the Flyers' management of assets, especially as it relates to how and why they use their draft picks, and there is nothing we know that suggests the Canucks would not have taken the Flyers' offer had they ponied up.

Yes, the Flyers do not have a center like Rossi aside from savant Trevor Zegras, but it would also be disingenuous to say that a Hughes trade was impossible.

Truthfully, the Flyers are probably better off not going for that kind of a deal anyway, but there is a point to be made regarding the rebuild.

3 Flyers Defense Targets With Quinn Hughes Off The Board3 Flyers Defense Targets With Quinn Hughes Off The BoardQuinn Hughes is officially no longer a potential option for the Flyers. Due to this, let's look at three defensemen who the Flyers should consider targeting instead.

If you're rebuilding, trading away players, and stockpiling young players and draft capital, and you can't trade for a superstar when they are actively available on the NHL trade market, what is the point?

The Flyers certainly would have had a better case for the trade had they drafted Konsta Helenius or Buium and Jackson Smith ahead of Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt, respectively, but instead, the current result is a prospect pipeline that inspires little confidence in fans whose faith in the organization is already shaken.

With Hughes off the table and seemingly no big additions coming to Philadelphia anytime soon, only time will tell if that malaise will grow or fade.

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Canadiens: You Must Shoot To Win

After enjoying a day off in New York on Friday, the Montreal Canadiens were back on the ice on Saturday night to take on the New York Rangers. For a second game in a row, Jacob Fowler was in the net, Samuel Montembeault was backing him up, and Jakub Dobes was in the press gallery.

After a solid first game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the American netminder had earned an opportunity to play another game. Still, he had a tall task since the Canadiens had struggled against the Rangers in the last couple of years.

Canadiens: Demidov Needs To Be Selfish
Canadiens: The Goalies Dilemma Is Far From Over
Ex-Canadiens First-Rounder Has Big Moment With New Team

Weathering The Early Storm

When the puck dropped in the first period, the Rangers tested Fowler quite a few times while the Canadiens were looking for the perfect play at the other end, repeatedly passing the puck instead of unleashing a shot on legitimate scoring chances. Ivan Demidov made that same mistake quite a few times tonight. It’s all well and good to be an elite playmaker, but that’s not a reason for not even shooting when you have a golden opportunity.

Still, thanks to Fowler weathering the early storm, the Habs stayed in the game, and when they finally took a shot, it went in. And they did it again a minute and a half later. With shots up to 5-2 Rangers, the score was 2-0 Canadiens, and the Sainte-Flanelle even added another goal to take a 3-0 lead. When the goaltender holds the fort, he gives the team a chance to overcome a tough start.

Had the Canadiens been able to take that lead into the intermission, things might have worked out differently, but after a penalty to Lane Hutson, the Rangers got on the board through Noah Laba. Both Arber Xhekaj and Mike Matheson tried to get the puck on the play, but they missed it; Laba didn’t. Then, with Artemi Panarin heading on a breakaway, Noah Dobson spun him around, and he was awarded a penalty shot, which he buried.

Stuck Inside

While the Canadiens do not normally struggle to launch their attack, tonight, they had trouble getting out of their own zone. The Rangers were both proactive and aggressive, quickly shutting down the young Habs and making it hard not only to attack but to defend, as the quick turnovers allowed New York to come back and attack in waves.

Stuck in their own zone, the Canadiens panicked and repeatedly gave the puck back to the Rangers. No matter who’s in net, if you play nervously and on your heels, you will make mistakes, and it’s only a question of time before they cost you.

Speaking to the press after the game, Martin St-Louis maintained the Habs weren’t giving much to the Rangers early on, but that stupid mistakes were their downfall. He was clearly annoyed by the outcome, but said he was happy that his men would have the opportunity to get right back on the saddle when they host the Edmonton Oilers.

Pucks On Net

In the first frame, the Canadiens got seven shots on net; in the second, they managed only four, before putting up five in the third and one in overtime. Scoring three goals on seven shots on Igor Shesterkin is a miracle; you shouldn’t have beaten him that often, and you certainly won’t fool him again in that game if you don’t give him a real test.

The Habs went 10 minutes in the middle frame without taking a single shot; that can’t happen, and it’s a significant reason they are struggling in the second period. Montreal has scored 32 goals in the second stanza this season and has allowed 44; that’s a minus-12 differential. When they scored a goal 3:17 into that period, I thought they might have turned a corner, but they didn’t.

As Michael Gary Scott once said, 100% of the shots you don’t take don’t go in (don’t worry, I know Wayne Gretzky said it first, and I fancied a wink to The Office), it was never as evident as it was in the first period. St-Louis may say he’s not worried about the number of shots, but the shots are so few and far between and so often that it is a trend and one that needs addressing. This was a 5-4 overtime loss that should have been a win.

After the game, the coach said he didn’t know who would be in the net on Sunday night, but given that Montembeault has been the backup for the last two games, I’d put money on him being in.

The Canadiens flew right back home after the game, and there won’t be a morning skate because of the back-to-back, but it will be in their best interest to play a much better game against the Oilers.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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Plaschke: Edwin Díaz's magical trumpeter leaps to top of Dodgers' iconic walk-up hit list

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (39) reacts after a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game, Sunday, April 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
The Dodgers acquired not only closer Edwin Díaz but also the coolest entrance song in the big leagues. (Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)

Proving yet again that nobody combines excitement and entertainment like these guys, this week the Dodgers made baseball’s most important winter deal.

They acquired Timmy Trumpet.

In real life he’s an Australian impresario who, surprise, plays the trumpet. But in the breathtaking world of ninth-inning baseball, he’s the game’s most popular soundtrack.

It is Timmy Trumpet who plays the chillingly inspiring solo from “Narco” that accompanies closer Edwin Díaz from the bullpen to the mound. For the seven seasons Díaz played for the New York Mets, it was the coolest entrance song in the big leagues, creating the most intimidating scene in any ballpark anywhere.

And now it’s coming to Dodger Stadium, as the Dodgers and Díaz agreed this week to a three-year, $69-million contract that will include Timmy Trumpet rattling the bejeezus out of visiting teams who must be asking, do the Dodgers really have to buy everything?

Was it not enough for them to sign the best reliever in baseball? Did they also have to bring in the best ninth-inning atmosphere in baseball?

Yes, they do, and yes, they did, and if you haven’t witnessed the Edwin Díaz/Timmy Trumpet duet, Google it once and you’ll be hooked.

Upon his signing, the social media of Dodgers fans was filled with trumpet emojis. Even the venerable Dieter Ruehle posted a video of him playing the trumpet solo on the keyboard.

In the pantheon of Dodgers entrance and walk-up songs, this immediately moves to the top of a playlist that has become ingrained in the hearts of fans who have come to associate the brief clips of music with the enduring heroics of their players.

From the late great organist Nancy Bea Hefley playing “Master of the House” for Orel Hershiser … to Kenley Jansen revving up the crowd with “California Love” … there is a rich history of Dodgers being identified by their accompanying music.

Read more:Analysis: Could Dodgers’ Edwin Díaz signing portend more big moves later this offseason?

This team is no different, with several songs reaching iconic status simply based on the splendid feats that spring from their chords.

One man’s nine best songs, in order of impact.

1. ”Narco” for Edwin Díaz

It is already the best Dodgers song and he hasn’t even shown up yet. Trust me.

Díaz chose it in 2018 when he played for the Seattle Mariners. When that became his 57-save breakout season, his wife advised him to keep it. After being traded to the Mets, he became so loyal to the song, he even asked it to be played in an empty Citi Field during the 2020 pandemic season.

In ensuing seasons the scene went viral, highlighted by an actual performance by Timmy Trumpet last summer. Expect the Dodgers to invite Mr. Trumpet to Chavez Ravine, maybe even for the opening series. Like so many things they have staged during these consecutive championship seasons, it will be an event.

2. ”We Are Young” for Clayton Kershaw

The pitcher is retired, but the song still warrants celebration on an emeritus basis.

Quick question: Has any Dodgers entrance hymn endured as long as this one? Dodgers fans have adult children as old as this song.

Another quick question: When you heard this song for the last time in the final months of this past season, did you surprisingly feel tears?

The perfect anthem for the perfect pitcher.

3. ”Bailalo Rocky” for Roki Sasaki

It’s not really a song, it’s a chant, bailalorocky, bailalorocky, bailalorocky with the “Rocky” sounding like, “Roki.”

It was chosen for the famously unhip Sasaki by Miguel Rojas in spring training and, by the time the kid pitcher returned from the disabled list to save playoff games, the fans were chanting it and dancing to it like few celebration songs in Chavez Ravine history.

“You can see it in Dodger Stadium … it was amazing,” Rojas told reporters before the World Series. “So electric, dancing on the bleachers in left-center field … I’m hoping everybody starts dancing to that song when Roki comes to pitch.”

4. ”Feeling Good” for Shohei Ohtani

Thank you, Michael Bublé, for singing what everybody is thinking every time Ohtani comes to the plate.

And thank you, Mamiko Tanaka, for making it happen.

“The coach of the Dodgers was nice enough to introduce me to Shohei, and I said to him, ‘Why did you choose my song?'” Bublé explained in an interview on "The Today Show." “And very quickly he just turned to his wife … and it was his wife that chose it.”

Bublé added, “I’ll take it!”

He and about 4 million others.

5. ”Baila Conmigo” for Freddie Freeman

It played before Freeman’s game-winning grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.

It played before Freeman’s game-winning home run in the 18th inning of Game 3 of this year’s World Series.

The horn solo at the beginning of this catchy tune has come to represent two words to Dodgers fans who now bounce to its beat.

Greatness coming.

6. "La Leche Materna” for Kiké Hernandez

Just like Hernandez’s Dodgers contributions, this tune saves its best for last.

The final 30 seconds of the song sound like, “Kiké, Kiké, Kiké” over and over again.

It’s weird, but also as powerfully effective as, say, a double play fly ball to end a World Series game.

7. A rotation of songs for Mookie Betts

Betts has walked out to a varied playlist, but his selections are included here because he can boast of one walk-up tune unmatched in baseball history.

He steps to the plate accompanied by an unreleased song written by Snoop Dogg just for him.

8. ”Amen” for Max Muncy

The chorus of this country song that accompanies Muncy to the plate appropriately begins, “Somebody say a prayer for me … ”

Considering all of his injury issues during his eight-year Dodgers career, fans have heeded that call.

Considering he holds the Dodgers record with 16 career postseason homers, those prayers have been answered.

9. ”Squabble Up” for Will Smith

His current Kendrick Lamar song is cool, but Smith is on this list in honor of a previous walk-up song that endeared him to Dodgers fans as that rare player who can laugh at himself.

This Will Smith once walked up to the theme from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Fantasy Basketball Week 9 Schedule Primer: Gearing up for the pre-Christmas rush

The latest installment of the Emirates NBA Cup will conclude on Tuesday, with the Knicks and Sprus meeting in Tuesday's final. As a reminder, the game will not count toward official league records or statistics, which also removes the contest from fantasy basketball leagues. As for the rest of the NBA, things will pick up on the back end of Week 9, with Thursday and Saturday being the busiest days. Let's look at the Week 9 schedule breakdown and some key storylines.

Week 9 Games Played

4 Games: HOU, MIA, TOR

3 Games: ATL, BOS, CHI, DAL, DEN, DET, LAC, MEM, MIN, NYK, SAC, SAS, UTA, WAS

2 Games: BKN, CHA, CLE, GSW, IND, LAL, MIL, NOR, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHO, POR

Week 9 Back-to-backs

Sunday (Week 8)-Monday: None

Monday-Tuesday: None

Tuesday-Wednesday: None

Wednesday-Thursday: None

Thursday-Friday: ATL, MIA, NYK, OKC, SAS

Friday-Saturday: BOS, PHI

Saturday-Sunday: HOU, SAC, TOR, WAS

Sunday-Monday (Week 10): None

Week 9 Storylines of Note

- Both Emirates NBA Cup finalists have good fantasy schedules for Week 9.

Obviously, none of the four teams that advanced to Las Vegas will be in action on Monday. As for the Knicks and Spurs, who advanced to Tuesday's final, they'll have busy Week 9 schedules. Tuesday's contest will not count toward official statistics or fantasy basketball, but it is the first of four games that both teams will play in Week 9. New York and San Antonio get back to "regular" NBA play with back-to-backs on Thursday and Friday, followed by games on Sunday to end their respective weeks.

The back-to-backs are notable for two players in particular: San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama and New York's Mitchell Robinson. While the latter has not been an impactful fantasy option this season, the former ranks among the best in the NBA regardless of position or league format. Two of San Antonio's three games will be against the Wizards (Thursday at home, Sunday on the road), so Wemby could be looking at a two-game week (not counting Tuesday's final) as he returns from a strained calf.

- Cleveland and Oklahoma City have the worst Week 9 schedules.

Not only do the Cavaliers and Thunder have two-game weeks, but both will play their final Week 9 game on Friday. The good news for Cleveland is that they won't have a back-to-back, and their first game is on Tuesday, the lightest game night of the week (two games). With Evan Mobley expected to miss two to four weeks after suffering a strained calf on Friday, the light schedule comes at a good time for Kenny Atkinson's team. Jarrett Allen could be back as soon as Sunday after missing time with a finger injury, and his fantasy ceiling may be raised as the solid post player in the Cavaliers' starting lineup. That said, he does not offer the same upside as Mobley.

As for the Thunder, Isaiah Hartenstein returned to action on Saturday after missing six games with a strained calf. He played 20 minutes against the Spurs, and expecting him to play both games of a back-to-back so soon feels a bit unrealistic. Oklahoma City hosts the Clippers on Thursday before visiting the Timberwolves on Friday, so it could very well be a one-game week for the 7-footer. Cason Wallace was the replacement in the starting lineup when Hartenstein was out, and he would likely move back into that role if iHart is given a night off.

- Monday, Tuesday and Friday are the light game days of Week 9.

A lot of the action in Week 9 will take place from Thursday onward, with Thursday (12 games) and Saturday (10) the busiest days. On the other end of the spectrum is Tuesday, with only two games on the schedule. Cleveland visits Chicago, and Memphis will visit Minnesota. As noted above, the Cavaliers don't have a good Week 9 schedule, but the other three teams in action will all play three games. Minnesota and Chicago end their slates with games on Sunday, which should enhance the fantasy values of some of their more unheralded options.

And all three teams have dealt with injury concerns recently. Chicago's injury report has finally thinned out after a wild Week 8. As for Memphis, the Grizzlies lost Zach Edey right as they were welcoming back Ja Morant, while the Timberwolves were without Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley for Friday's win over the Warriors.

The Monday and Friday schedules each have five games, while Sunday has six.

- Houston, Miami and Toronto have the best schedules for managers focused on games played.

Those are the only teams that will play four games in Week 9. All three are active on Monday, and they'll play three games over the final four days of the week. While Miami has a Thursday/Friday back-to-back against the Nets and Celtics, Houston (at Denver, at Sacramento) and Toronto (Boston, at Brooklyn) have Saturday/Sunday back-to-backs.

The lingering question for the Raptors is when RJ Barrett will be available after being sidelined by a sprained MCL. He received a PRP injection last week, and an update should be provided early in Week 9. With the back-to-back, Barrett managers may be looking at three games tops if he's available immediately. Ja'Kobe Walter was the replacement in the starting lineup until Toronto's NBA Cup quarterfinal loss to the Knicks, with Jamal Shead receiving the nod.

- Fantasy managers are likely looking at a one-game week for Philadelphia's Joel Embiid.

The 76ers play two games in Week 9, and they're part of a Friday/Saturday back-to-back. After visiting the Knicks, Philadelphia will host the Mavericks the following night. Given Embiid's injury history, it would be stunning if he were available for both games. But which one will take priority? One can certainly argue for the game against the Knicks, since it's a divisional matchup that could influence tiebreakers at the end of the regular season. Paul George would also be a player to watch heading into the 76ers' Week 9 back-to-back due to his injury history.

- In total, eight teams will play three games between Thursday and Sunday.

Atlanta, Sacramento and Washington are three teams that won't play at all before Thursday, but they'll make up for lost time with busy schedules to wrap up Week 9. The Kings are dealing with injuries to two of their three centers. Domantas Sabonis was already out with a knee injury, and Drew Eubanks suffered an avulsion fracture of his left thumb on Thursday. That leaves Maxime Raynaud and Precious Achiuwa to handle the center position. A second-round pick out of Stanford, Raynaud is worth rolling the dice on simply because of the opportunity in front of him.

Atlanta and Washington are also dealing with key injuries. Trae Young is still working his way back from the knee injury he suffered in late October, while the Wizards have been without Alex Sarr for the last six games, if you count Sunday's matchup with the Pacers. Both situations have been easy to read from a fantasy standpoint; Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a must-roster player while Young sits, while Marvin Bagley III is worth a dice roll at best in deep leagues.

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Wembanyama returns to help Spurs to NBA Cup final

Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama stands at 7ft 4in tall and was drafted by the Spurs with the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA draft [Getty Images]

Victor Wembanyama made his return from injury for the San Antonio Spurs and helped them reach the NBA Cup final with a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The French sensation, who missed 12 games with a left calf issue, scored 22 points as the Spurs dramatically beat the NBA champions 111-109 in Las Vegas.

Wembanyama also registered nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks during his 21 minutes on court as the Thunder lost for only the second time in 26 games this season.

"I knew I had limited minutes so I had to make the most out of it," said 21-year-old Wembanyama, whose team-mate Devin Vassell scored 23 points.

"Winning against a team like this, it might seem like it's just a game but it's a collective effort and it's not an easy thing.

"It's only their second loss of the season. It means something."

The NBA Cup is the competition's annual in-season tournament, with all matches except the final also counting towards the regular season standings.

The Thunder were beaten in last year's final by the Milwaukee Bucks and had a 16-game winning run ended by the Spurs as they exited this season's competition.

Oklahoma City had equalled the best 25-game start to a season when they went 24-1 by beating the Phoenix Suns in the quarter-finals, but they have now made the second best start to a campaign after 26 games as the Golden State Warriors were 25-1 at the same stage in 2015-16.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player, top scored for the Thunder against the Spurs with a game-high 29 points.

San Antonio will play the New York Knicks in the final after they beat the Orlando Magic 132-120.

Jalen Brunson scored a season-high 40 points to inspire the Knicks to victory, while team-mate Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points.

"We came out here and did exactly what we said we wanted to do, which was play Knicks basketball," said Towns.

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Graham Ike leads No. 8 Gonzaga past No. 25 UCLA for 9th win of the season

Graham had 25 points and five assists and No. 8 Gonzaga beat No. 25 UCLA 82-72 on Saturday night to improve to 9-1. Ike scored 15 points in the first half, highlighted by a tomahawk dunk with 8:02 remaining that gave Gonzaga a 23-19 advantage. The Bulldogs took their first lead shortly before Ike’s dunk on a 3-pointer by Adam Miller, negating a 7-0 deficit.

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Kings' Same Problems Equal Same Result In OT Loss To Calgary

The Los Angeles Kings (14-8-9)  had a chance to put away the Calgary Flames (13-16-4)  on Saturday night. Instead, they left Crypto.com Arena with another frustrating loss, another recurring issue that sums up who they are this season. 

Anze Kopitar thought he had scored the game-winning goal in overtime, but the goal was waived off after an apparent kicking motion, giving the Flames a chance to win it in an extra period. 

After the obvious kicking motion, Calgary centre Morgan Frost scored the game-winning goal just a few seconds later as the Flames edged the Kings 2-1, extending Los Angeles’ struggles to win at home 4-6-4 and close out games despite strong goaltending from Darcy Kuemper today and another early lead. 

Early Lead, No Follow-Up

The Kings struck midway through the first period when Adrian Kempe finished off a clean pass from Alex Laferriere to score his 11th goal of the season. But the momentum didn’t carry for Los Angeles’ offense. 

Defensively, the Kings were great tonight until the final moments, especially in goal, where Kuemper delivered 36 saves, quietly playing like the best player on the Kings this season. 

In the middle frame of the second period, the Flames answered back, tying the scoreboard 1-1 after extended pressure in the Kings' zone, and Kevin Fiala turning it over, costing them a goal on the other end. 

Power Play Struggles

It was a breakdown, likely due to fatigue and poor puck management by Fiala, two issues that helped the Flames get back in the game.

Both teams had plenty of chances to score in power-play, the Kings going 0-2 tonight and the Flames finishing 0-4 for the night. It was looking like it would end the same way again for Los Angeles, and it did. 

Kuemper Keeps it Close

Kuemper was great all night, bailing out the Kings in so many possessions where they were close to giving up a goal; without Kuemper, the game wouldn’t have reached extra time. 

Anze Kopitar said after the game they can't take him for granted and need to help support him by scoring more goals. 

"He was the reason why we got the one point," Kopitar said. "We have to find something to jumpstart the offense." 
-

But, once again in overtime, the Kings were exposed when it mattered most. 

Calgary controlled possession early in the 3-on-3 action, and Frost finished the sequence, beating Los Angeles to seal the win. Despite winning 54 percent of their faceoffs, the Kings also committed 17 giveaways, which gave Calgary extended possession. 

The same result is turning into a pattern for the Kings. It’s either a slow start that ends with them losing in overtime or a strong start that ends with them blowing the lead and losing again in an extra period. 

Until Los Angeles figures this issue out, the losses will continue to pile up, and so will their missed points in a tightly crowded Western Conference. 

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Marchessault, Jost score as Nashville Predators fall to Colorado Avalanche on road

The Colorado Avalanche made sure they weren't fooled twice in one week by the Nashville Predators, picking up a 4-2 win on Saturday at Ball Arena. 

Like the last two matchups, the Predators fell behind early as Nathan MacKinnon scored a minute and a half into the game. The Nov. 22 matchup saw Brent Burns score 15 seconds into the game, and Tuesday's game had Brock Nelson score 1:12 in. 

Halfway through the first period, Reid Schaefer was called for delay of the game, and Valeri Nichushkin went to the box for interference, creating an overlapping 4-on-4 situation. It was there that Jack Dury scored on a toe drag to put the Avalanche up 2-0. 

After the goal, the Predators were left with a little power play time and converted with Jonathan Marchessault scoring off a feed to the slot from Ryan O'Reilly. O'Reilly now has six points in six games. 

Nashville dominated the early part of the second period, but Victor Olofsson took that momentum away, scoring to put the Avalanche back up by two. The Predators pulled goalie Justus Annunen with around three minutes left, allowing Nichushkin to score an empty net goal.

With 63 seconds left, Tyson Jost netted his second goal of the season to cut the final down by two goals. 

Colorado outshot Nashville, 41-29. Its the second time that the Avalanche have put 40+ shots on a Predators goaltender. Annunen fell to 1-5-1 on the year, allowing four goals on 41 shots and making 37 saves. 

The Predators drop to 12-15-4 on the year and will face the Blues on Sunday at 7 p.m. CST at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. 

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Patrick Kane Scores No. 498, John Gibson Blanks Blackhawks in 4-0 Win

The Detroit Red Wings head home to Little Caesars Arena with their heads held high, going 4-1-1 on their season-high six-game road swing that concluded on Saturday evening against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Red Wings scored twice within the first five minutes of the first period thanks to a pair of former Blackhawks players, and John Gibson stopped all 26 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. 

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In doing so, the Red Wings avenged their 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Blackhawks last month at Little Caesars Arena. 

It was former Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat who scored just 55 seconds into the first period, giving Detroit the early 1-0 lead.

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The lead was doubled thanks to Patrick Kane, who spent the bulk of his Hall of Fame career with the Blackhawks and helping them win the Stanley Cup three times. His backhand shot past goaltender Arvid Soderblom gave him the 498th goal of his career, putting him just two more tallies away from the illustrious 500 mark. 

Upon his inevitable 500th tally, he'll become the 50th player in NHL history to reach that mark.

Meanwhile, a player just getting his feet wet at the NHL level increased Detroit's lead to 3-0 thanks to the seventh goal of the campaign from rookie Emmitt Finnie.

With Soderblom on the bench late in the third period as a last-ditch effort from former Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill, who now holds the same position with the Blackhawks, DeBrincat added his second goal of the evening and his 18th of the season to seal the win.

Gibson was strong in goal for Detroit, picking up his second shutout in his last three starts. 

The next four of Detroit's five games will be played at Little Caesars Arena, starting with contests on back to back nighgts against the New York Islanders and Utah Mammoth. 

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