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Justin Hood reels off record 11 consecutive doubles in World Darts Championship romp

  • Debutant continues stunning run to reach quarter-finals

  • ‘I’m not used to it. I usually get hate messages. It’s mad’

The underdog Justin Hood reeled off a record 11 consecutive doubles en route to a stunning 4-0 win over Josh Rock in the last 16 of the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

The 32-year-old debutant continued his dazzling run in the tournament and missed his first double when he threw for the match at 2-0 up in the fourth set. He stepped back to take out the match on a 119 finish in the following leg, guaranteeing a career-best payday of at least £100,000 and taking him closer to his dream of opening a Chinese restaurant.

This report will update later on Tuesday

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Draymond Green responds to Steve Kerr's claim that Warriors are ‘fading dynasty'

Draymond Green responds to Steve Kerr's claim that Warriors are ‘fading dynasty' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Ahead of the Warriors’ Christmas Day game against the Dallas Mavericks, coach Steve Kerr dubbed his team a “fading dynasty.” 

It seemed like a harsh truth for a team that has won four championships in the last 10-plus years. 

Warriors star Draymond Green, a focal point of that dynasty, did not dispute Kerr’s assessment. 

“When you get down to it, the reality is it’s true. Dynasties don’t last forever. What you do is you try to prolong them as long as you can. You try to build on them as much as you can. But it’s true,” Green said Monday on “The Draymond Green Show.”  

“Now, he didn’t say we’re a dynasty that faded. He said we are a fading dynasty. Guess what? Steph Curry’s in year 17. I’m in year 14. Klay Thompson, who’s gone, would be in year 15. When you talk about the dynasty, Steve Kerr is in his 12th year of coaching …” 

“We’ve been at it for a while. So, when he says we’re a ‘fading dynasty,’ everyone knows that he’s not throwing salt. He’s not putting the team down. It’s true. But it’s our job as the ones inside the dynasty to try to prolong it as long as we’re given the opportunity,” Green continued.

In the three seasons after their 2021-22 NBA Championship, the Warriors have ended with two second-round playoff exits and missed the playoffs once in between. The team has been mired in a continuous hassle to stay above a .500 record and still sit at 17-16 well into the 2025-26 NBA season. 

It’s clear, to Kerr and Green alike, that the once-firm grip that Golden State had on the NBA has been unclenched. 

Nevertheless, the Warriors are not laying down. The blockbuster acquisition of Jimmy Butler last season catapulted a team through the finish line and into a postseason run that arguably ended prematurely with an injury to their superstar Curry. 

“How long can we extend it? How much more can we do? That’s the goal. That’s the mindset. That’s the mission,” Green said. 

The Warriors organization – at least Kerr and Green – are aligned in that mission. 

“We know where we are. We’ve got to know who we are,” Kerr said last week. “We got to know what’s possible, and we have to take pride in the struggle, because this is part of life.” 

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Nikola Jokić sidelined by knee injury: timeline and fantasy impact

Already playing without three starters due to injury, the Denver Nuggets lost their franchise cornerstone, Nikola Jokić, to a left knee hyperextension in the final seconds of the first half of Monday's loss to the Miami Heat. On Tuesday, the Nuggets announced that the three-time Most Valuable Player will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Given how the injury occurred, with teammate Spencer Jones falling into his knee, things could have been much worse for the Nuggets' star center. It goes without saying that Jokić being out will significantly affect the Nuggets' starting lineup and rotation, not to mention fantasy basketball overall. He's been a fixture atop the rankings in recent years, regardless of league format. Let's look at the impact of Jokić's injury, beginning with the Nuggets' starting lineup.

Who will replace Jokić in the starting lineup?

This is an easy question to answer. Jonas Valančiūnas, who was acquired from the Kings during the offseason to give Denver a reputable backup center, is the next man up. He started the third quarter of Monday's defeat, and in 11 minutes accounted for six points (3-of-3 FGs), three rebounds and one blocked shot. However, all of those minutes were played during the third quarter. Zeke Nnaji replaced Valančiūnas in the lineup with just under a minute remaining in the third, and within the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, the Heat's lead was up to 19, and they would go on to win by a 147-123 final score.

Valančiūnas can undoubtedly provide value as Denver's starting center, but no one is going to expect his production to reach Jokić's floor, much less the former MVP's ceiling. However, it would make sense to add Valančiūnas, who is rostered in 14 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Who else is affected by Jokić’s absence?

The entire Nuggets rotation is affected by his absence, but hopefully, help will be on the way soon. Christian Braun (70 percent rostered, Yahoo!) and Aaron Gordon (48 percent) have been out since November 12 and 21, respectively, with the former sidelined by a sprained left ankle and the latter a strained right hamstring. While Braun was due for re-evaluation in six weeks, which would be this week, Gordon was given a re-evaluation timeline of four to six weeks. Given the amount of time missed, they're likely to be under minutes restrictions once they're cleared to return. But giving them back would undoubtedly help the Nuggets depth-wise.

As for those who are currently healthy, Jamal Murray (100 percent) will have to shoulder an even heavier workload offensively. Nuggets' lineups with Murray but without Jokić have struggled this season. According to Cleaning the Glass, while Denver has averaged 113.5 points per 100 possessions in this scenario, they've given up 121.5 points per 100 possessions. Given Jokić's importance on the offensive end of the floor, the team's efficiency will take a hit with him unavailable. Murray's scoring may increase out of necessity, but can he function as the hub that the other Nuggets can play off of for an extended period? We're about to find out.

Role players like Peyton Watson (17 percent), Tim Hardaway Jr. (17 percent), Bruce Brown (six percent) and Spencer Jones (six percent) will have to step up offensively. Since moving into the starting lineup after Braun's ankle injury, Watson has averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers in 30.7 minutes, shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 74.5 percent from the foul line. He may be the most promising option with Jokić out, especially given his defensive value.

Hardaway has been mainly a points and three-pointers option, so losing a playmaker of the caliber of Jokić isn't good. As for Brown, he'll be interesting to watch. His impact as a supplementary playmaker was one factor in the Nuggets' run to the 2023 NBA title and made him a viable standard-league option. However, he hasn't reached those heights in his second stint with the team. Providing 10th-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats over the past two weeks, Denver will need Brown to offer greater value as a playmaker with Jokić sidelined.

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Blackhawks Vs Islanders: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 39

The Chicago Blackhawks are 1-7 in their last 8 games played. Their one victory was an impressive shootout win over the Dallas Stars, who are one of the best teams in the NHL right now. However, things have been a major struggle without Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. 

Now, the Blackhawks will host the New York Islanders, who are one of the NHL’s surprise teams this season. With the number one pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Matthew Schaefer, in the mix, things have been fascinating for that franchise. At 21-14-4, their 46 points put them in second place in the Metropolitan Division. 

Scouting New York Islanders

The New York Islanders have some sneaky good players at every corner of their roster, which has contributed to their status as a top-three team in their division. 

Lee-Barzal-Holmstrom

Drouin-Horvat-Heineman

Duclair-Pageau-Shabanov

MacLean-Cizikas-Gatcomb

Schaefer-Pulock

Pelech-DeAngelo

Warren-Mayfield

Rittich

Hogberg

Matthew Schaefer is looking like he has the potential to be an all-world player on New York's blue line. The fact that he's only going to get better is scary, but that's what you hope for when you make a number one pick. 

Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat as the 1-2 down the middle is solid for the Islanders. With JG Pageau and Casey Cizikas as the 3-4, their center depth can go toe-to-toe with most teams.

In goal, they have been using David Rittich because their superstar, Ilya Sorokin, has been out with an injury. Whether they use Rittich or Marcus Hogberg remains to be seen, but the Blackhawks will need to have a good forecheck, be smart with the puck, and create a good net front presence if they want to score on Patrick Roy's team. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks, without Frank Nazar and Connor Bedard, don't have a winning roster. However, they do have a handful of great role players who will be with this team when they are a winner down the road. 

There are also a handful of veterans in the lineup who do a great job of setting an example for the young and inexperienced players. Currently, they are going through a hard time and need to find their way out of the slump. 

Bertuzzi-Greene-Burakovsky

Teravainen-Moore-Lardis

Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Foligno-Dach-Slaggert

Extras: Lafferty, Toninato

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Extra: Del Mastro

Knight

Spencer Knight is going to start for the Blackhawks against the Islanders. He wasn't at his best in his most recent start, but he has been incredible for the entire season as a whole. Balshill isn't giving his number one goalie much time before allowing him to try and bounce back. 

The most interesting thing about these lines is Teuvo Teravainen getting Nick Lardis on his line. Lardis is a shoot-first type of player so being on a line with Teuvo who passes everything could lead to more goal scoring. Oliver Moore is going to play center on that line, which is something he learned to do in college. 

Before practice on Monday, Connor Bedard took a skate. He stick handled and skated with speed, but he didn't take any shots. Frank Nazar has also upgraded to eating solid food, confirming that he broke his jaw. 

Connor Bedard Skated Before Blackhawks' Monday PracticeConnor Bedard Skated Before Blackhawks' Monday PracticeBefore the Chicago Blackhawks practice on Monday, Connor Bedard took a skate as he tries to recover from his shoulder injury.

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found locally on CHSN. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+ or NHL Network. The puck will drop shortly after 7:30 PM CT. 

Image

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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Nuggets' Nikola Jokić avoids serious injury but will be sidelined for at least the next month

When Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokić went down clutching his left knee in the second quarter of Monday night's loss to the Miami Heat, many NBA fans feared the worst. However, it appears that the three-time MVP avoided the worst-case scenario.

How long does a hyperextended knee take to heal?

Jokić being out for a month is certainly not good news, but the fact that all of his ligaments are intact means that Jokic avoided the worst type of hyperextension. A hyperextended knee can frequently lead to damage to the MCL, ACL, or PCL, but it seems that Jokić avoided tears to all of those ligaments. The Nuggets will re-evaluate their center in four weeks, but it seems like he should be able to return in early February, in plenty of time for the playoffs, which is great news for Denver.

Denver is already without three other starters: Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), and Cam Johnson (right knee injury). As a result, the team will need to rely on players like Tim Hardaway Jr., Payton Watson, and Jonas Valanciunas with Jokic sidelined.

The All-Star center suffered the injury on the final defensive possession of the half. Jokic was alone under the basket when Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. drove to the hoop. Jokić stepped up to help teammate Spencer Jones, who was backpedaling. Jones didn’t see Jokić and stepped on his left foot, causing the center’s knee to hyperextend and sending him to the floor, where he grabbed at his left knee. Trainers came over to assist Jokić, who was able to get up on his own, but was noticeably hobbling to the locker room and grabbing onto objects to help keep him upright.

Can Jokic still win MVP?

At the time of his injury, Jokić had 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in 19 minutes. He came into the game as the odds-on favorite to win another MVP, averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 11.1 assists per game this season. However, being on the shelf for the next month may have shifted the MVP odds back in favor of Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who also won the award last year.

A player needs to have played in at least 65 games to be considered for year-end awards. Jokić has currently played in all 32 of Denver's games. That means he can only miss 17 games from here until the end of the year. The Nuggets play exactly 17 games in January and have one game on Wednesday, December 31st, so if Jokić were to miss the entire month of January, he would be ineligible for MVP or any other year-end awards. While the Nuggets would clearly like their best player to be eligible to take home those awards, their priority will be to ensure he's healthy for the playoffs, which means that Jokić should be considered a long shot to win MVP or take home any major awards this season.

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What To Make Of Team Chameleon Alias The Blueshirts

James Guillory-Imagn Images

Trying to figure what this Rangers team is all about is roughly equivalent to cycling from here to eternity. 

A night in Raleigh leaves us with this much evidence.

1. A 3-2 overtime loss is a Pyrrhic victory because the New Yorkers came away with a point against the Division leaders in Carolina.

2. The formula holds: Igor Shesterkin's goaltending avoided a 6-2 loss.

3. New York's offense is so weak that the goal-scoring heroes had to be defenseman Vlad Gavrtikov and Jonny Brodzinski.

4. If that isn't bad enough, the Rangers were outshot almost two-to-one (35-19).

5. Egad, what a cad! The Blueshirts were beaten by Carolina's fourth-string goalie, Brandon Bussi. (This guy didn't miss the bus!)

The three-game road trip still could be a winner if they top Washington – very doable –  tomorrow – and then Florida, which has many aces out with injuries.

An Optimist Looks At A Good Blueshirt New YearAn Optimist Looks At A Good Blueshirt New YearSkeptics to the contrary; the season is not yet a dead one for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a>.

Coach Mike Sullivan  is happy. "We competed hard and when it was five-on-five we had our moments," Sully proclaims.

You would be happy, too, as the highest-paid bench boss in the NHL – with no fear of firing!

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How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. LA Lakers: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

Head to Peacock tonight for an exciting Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader. The excitement begins at 8:00 PM ET when the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Memphis Grizzlies, followed by a Detroit Pistons vs LA Lakers showdown at 10:30 PM.

See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

NBA: Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks
NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: Anthony Davis rumors fly, Harden to stay put, Hawks active
Will a big star be on the move at the trade deadline?

Detroit Pistons:

The Pistons fell 112-99 to the LA Clippers on Sunday in the team's second straight loss. Cade Cunningham led the way for Detroit with 27 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds. Jalen Duren finished with 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Despite the loss, the Pistons (24-8) remain atop the Eastern Conference and second in the league behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. Detroit's 24 wins are tied for the third-most through 32 games of a season in franchise history.

NBA: Boston Celtics at Portland Trail Blazers
Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Donovan Clingan leveling up
Clingan has notched a double-double in six out of his last seven games.

LA Lakers:

After a 16-6 start to the season, the Lakers are 4-4 in their last eight games. The team is coming off a 125-101 win against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Luka Doncic scored 34 points, LeBron James finished with 24, and Nick Smith Jr. added 21 off the bench.

James turns 41 today, and tonight's game would make him the 12th player in NBA history to play at 41 years or older.

How to watch Detroit Pistons vs LA Lakers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, December 30
  • Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
  • Time: 10:30 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls
Fantasy Basketball Week 11 Schedule Primer: Giannis Antetokounmpo is back!
Antetokounmpo will have the opportunity to play four games in Week 11 against some of the NBA’s worst defenses.

What other NBA games are on tonight?

Philadelphia 76ers vs Memphis Grizzlies - 8 PM ET on Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Memphis Grizzlies: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

Head to Peacock tonight for an exciting Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader. The action starts at 8:00 PM ET when the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Memphis Grizzlies, followed by a Detroit Pistons vs LA Lakers showdown at 10:30 PM.

See below for additional information on how to watch both games and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

NBA: Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks
NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: Anthony Davis rumors fly, Harden to stay put, Hawks active
Will a big star be on the move at the trade deadline?

Philadelphia 76ers:

The 76ers fell 129-104 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, marking the team's third straight loss. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points, Quentin Grimes added 13, while Paul George and Justin Edwards each scored 12.

Joel Embiid did not play on Sunday due to a sprained right ankle and right knee injury management.

The 76ers have dealt with several injuries to key players, resulting in 17 different starting lineups this season — tied for second most in the league behind the Indiana Pacers. However they've managed to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference, largely due to their starting backcourt. Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who have started 25 games together, are posting the second-most points per game (44.7) by any starting backcourt in the NBA this season.

NBA: Boston Celtics at Portland Trail Blazers
Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Donovan Clingan leveling up
Clingan has notched a double-double in six out of his last seven games.

Memphis Grizzlies:

After opening the season 4-11, the Grizzlies have won 11 of their last 17 games. They are coming off a 116-112 loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 31 points and 8 rebounds,and Ja Morant scored 21.

How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs Memphis Grizzlies:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, December 30
  • Where: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls
Fantasy Basketball Week 11 Schedule Primer: Giannis Antetokounmpo is back!
Antetokounmpo will have the opportunity to play four games in Week 11 against some of the NBA’s worst defenses.

What other NBA games are on tonight?

Detroit Pistons vs LA Lakers - 10:30 PM ET on Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Travball emerges, athletics surges, Brisbane basks in success: Australia’s biggest sporting moments of 2025

An Ashes-defining intervention, an NRL showstopper, and new hope forced on the AFL are among our writers’ great moments in Australian sports this year

The highly anticipated Ashes was quickly torn apart by Travis Head’s cameo at the top of the order that has since turned into a much longer stay. The NRL grand final was another scene for an all-time breathtaking display, as the Broncos joined the AFL’s Lions in making Brisbane the epicentre of Australian sport. Here are our writers’ sporting highlights of 2025.

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