The Huskies will take their 29-game winning streak on the road.
‘I lost my head’: Luke Littler on darts crowd booing him at Alexandra Palace
PDC hot favourite was jeered during quarter-final victory
‘It definitely fuelled me up and it made me play better’
Luke Littler admits he “lost” his head when reacting to the hostile crowd during his fourth-round World Championship win over Rob Cross and still has some learning to do.
The 18-year-old was booed and jeered as he beat Cross 4-2 to book his place in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace. Littler let the emotion out after throwing the winning darts, running around the stage gesturing to the crowd, who had wanted Cross to win.
Continue reading...Bruins prospects Hagens, Zellers dominating for Team USA at World Juniors
Bruins prospects Hagens, Zellers dominating for Team USA at World Juniors originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
There’s not much to be excited about when it comes to the Boston Bruins’ on-ice performance right now.
The Original Six club suffered its sixth straight loss Monday night with a 2-1 overtime defeat to the Calgary Flames on the road. Penalties were again an issue for Boston as Calgary scored the winning goal with an OT power play.
The Bruins’ recent slide has dropped them to the fifth-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 20-18-2 (42 points). However, given how tight the East standings are — only eight points separate first place and 10th place — a couple wins in a row could vault the B’s right back into playoff contention.
It’s not all bad for the Bruins despite this losing streak, though. Just look at some of the franchise’s top prospects, specifically James Hagens and Will Zellers, who are dominating offensively for the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota.
Monday night’s game against Slovakia was a great example.
The U.S. trailed 2-0 in the first period and then 4-3 late in the second period before Hagens tied the score in the final minute of the frame.
Team USA built on that momentum when Hagens scored just 18 seconds into the third period. It was the United States’ first lead of the game.
The Americans doubled their advantage a few minutes later when Will Zellers scored a power-play goal. It ended up being the game-winning tally after Slovakia scored to make it 6-5 later in the period. The U.S. held on for a 6-5 victory to improve to 3-0-0 in the preliminary round of the tournament.
“We knew we had to have each other’s backs,” Hagens told NHL Network postgame when asked about Team USA’s early deficit. “We came out and were firing right away. We knew we were going to face some adversity at some point, so it’s just how you come out to that.”
Hagens has four points (two goals, two assists) in three games. Zellers has six points (four goals, two assists) in three games. He also has scored at least one goal in each of the preliminary round matchups.
It’s not a surprise that Hagens, as the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a veteran of last year’s gold medal-winning team at the World Juniors, is stepping up during clutch moments for the Red, White and Blue. Zellers’ dominance is a little more surprising, although he’s been playing fantastic for the University of North Dakota with 10 goals and five assists in 18 games as a freshman this season.
Both of them represent the kinds of players the Bruins need at the NHL level right now.
Hagens has the offensive skill set, poise and hockey IQ of a No. 1 center. The Bruins haven’t had a real No. 1 center since Patrice Bergeron retired following the 2022-23 campaign. If Hagens can be a legit top-six center for many years, it would significantly improve the Bruins’ chances of being a title contender.
Zellers is a true goal scorer with a remarkable shot and the willingness to fight for pucks in and around the net. Boston could use more top-tier offensive skill on the wing, and Zellers should be able to help address that weakness at some point. Getting him as part of the Charlie Coyle trade with the Colorado Avalanche last March is looking like a stroke of genius from B’s general manager Don Sweeney.
The quality and depth of the Bruins’ prospect pool is better than it’s been in a long time, and both Hagens and Zellers are a huge reason why. There are still some flaws in their game, and they still haven’t reached the NHL yet, but their potential is enormous.
That’s one reason for Bruins fans to be excited, even if the team’s play at the moment is pretty lackluster.
December to remember: Digging deeper on Jaylen Brown's dominant month
December to remember: Digging deeper on Jaylen Brown's dominant month originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jaylen Brown has a chance Tuesday night in Utah to shuffle past Larry Bird and become the first player in Boston Celtics history to score 30+ points in 10 straight games.
Brown’s impact in December goes beyond his scoring production, however. It’s how he’s generating his points while helping Boston entrench itself near the top of the East standings.
Brown is averaging an NBA-best 32.7 points per game in the month of December. Most notably, his 3-point percentage has crept up to 43.2 percent over the past nine games. That’s up 8.4 percent over his first 20 games of the season. His true shooting percentage has climbed to 64.3 percent over the past nine games, up from 57.8 percent in his first 20 games.
Brown got good news and bad news on Monday. He was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second time this month. But when the NBA’s All-Star balloting came out, he slotted a surprising sixth in the East.
Brown promptly dubbed the voting a “PR contest” on social media. But even the biggest online troll would have trouble punching holes in Brown’s play this season, particularly as opposing defenses load up against him while 1) Jayson Tatum rehabs and 2) Derrick White and Payton Pritchard navigate some efficiency woes.
To hammer that home: The stat-tracking savants at BBall Index peg Brown in the 95th percentile for matchup difficulty, suggesting opposing teams routinely put their best defenders on Brown.
And yet few have been able to help keep him south of 30 points.
Let’s dive deeper into how Brown is piling up his points and impacting winning this month:
Cloud 9.0
Brown is averaging nine free throw attempts per game in December, jumping up more than two attempts per game from the start of the season (6.8 attempts over first 20 games).
Only five players in the NBA are averaging more than 9.0 free throw attempts per game this season: Luka Doncic, Deni Avdija, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Brown is knocking on the door to the top 10 in free throw attempts overall, now averaging 7.5 per game this season.
Even more encouraging: He’s shooting 80.2 percent at the stripe over his last nine games. And part of the reason he’s getting to the free throw line so consistently …
Stuck in drive
Brown is averaging 19.1 drives per game in the month of December, per NBA tracking data. Only Avdija is averaging more (21.4). Brown is one spot ahead of reigning MVP Gilgeous-Alexander this month, and is scoring with MVP-like efficiency on his treks.
Brown is shooting 62.8 percent off drives in December, while generating points on 76.7 percent of all drives. For the season, Brown ranks third in the NBA at 17.3 drives per game while shooting 58 percent on all shot attempts off those drives.
Foul magnet
To further emphasize Brown’s ability to draw whistles: He’s drawn non-shooting fouls on 3.5 percent of Boston’s plays this season, which ranks in the 99th percentile among all wings, per Cleaning the Glass data.
Only Kevin Durant gets fouled on the floor more often.
Brown is drawing 7.2 fouls per 75 possessions overall, which ranks in the 98th percentile (ninth out of 504 players) per BBall Index tracking.
Mid-range maestro
Brown continues to thrive in the midrange, making 51 percent of his shots there over the last nine games (58 of 113). He’s on pace to shoot a career best in the mid-range.
Perhaps most notable, though, is that Brown is shooting 78 percent at the rim (28 of 36) over his last nine games, a notable bump up from his 70 percent clip (64 of 91) at the rim over his first 20 games.
Pull-up a chair
Brown is tied for third in the NBA in points off pull-up attempts in December. Only Doncic (14.3) and Gilgeous-Alexander (13.6) create more off the dribble.
Brown is tied with Jalen Brunson at 13.2 pull-up points per game this month. That number is up for Brown after averaging 10.6 pull-up points per game over his first 20 games.
There are some areas that Brown could tighten up. His turnovers have climbed a bit in December, though he’s handling the ball more often this month. His defensive rebound percentage has dipped at a time when Boston is playing smaller and could use him to be even more active on the glass. He has sometimes sacrificed his pursuit of rebounds in an effort to box out opposing bigs.
Ultimately, we’re nitpicking here considering how impactful Brown has been. The Celtics own the best offensive rating in the NBA in December, scoring 124 points per 100 possessions. Boston’s +11.1 net rating is tops in the East by three points, and second in the NBA behind only the Thunder (+11.2) in that span.
Brown is a huge reason for that consistent offensive output.
Warriors' Draymond Green provides updated list of NBA championship contenders
Warriors' Draymond Green provides updated list of NBA championship contenders originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
As the NBA season turns the corner into 2026, Warriors forward Draymond Green has additions and subtractions to his list of serious title contenders.
Previously, he listed five Western Conference teams as his contenders: the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors, as Green explains on a new episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” released Monday, have fallen off his list of serious contenders. But he remains optimistic.
“We’re 16-15. Can’t say you’re a real contender at 16-15,” Green said of the Warriors record at the time, which now is 17-16. “However, I think it’s starting to come together for us. And I think for us, the one thing that stands out is that we have a great defense.”
After Golden State’s 120-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, the Warriors have a 109.7 defensive rating. That’s the fifth-best in the NBA, and third-best in the Western Conference.
Green points to the Warriors’ offensive struggles as the reason for their middling record.
“What has struggled is our offense, and now our offense is starting to turn the corner. Great defense, top two defense in the league, you can contend with that,” Green explained “And so, we’re not a serious contender right now– because of the record, we’re not even a playoff team right now. But, down the line, I think the Warriors are returning to your list of serious contenders.”
The Warriors are in the middle of a good stretch right now, winning four of their last five games. They have averaged 122.4 points per game during that stretch – much better than their season-average of 115.1 points per game.
As for the rest of his previous list, Green removed the Clippers because of their abysmal 10-21 start to the season, while the Nuggets and Thunders remain strong contenders, with the Lakers dropping slightly.
“The Lakers, they’re a fringe. If they can’t figure out the defensive end, you can’t contend,” Green said. “But, if they can figure out the defensive end, we know they have the offensive firepower…”
“… Right now, they’re on the fringe but not quite a real contender.”
He made one addition from the Western Conference – the San Antonio Spurs who currently are 23-9 and have notched three wins against the defending-champion Thunder in this month alone.
In the Eastern Conference, Green has high praise for the Detroit Pistons.
“They got a serious-contender record, and they’re putting it together,” Green said. “And like I said before, they lost a series they should have won last year. So, I think you have to put them in that category out of the East.”
Green also mentions the New York Knicks as one of the best teams in the East, but more of a fringe contender.
It’s still early into the season, but the dog days of January might give Green and the NBA a clearer picture sooner rather than later.
Chip Kelly will be Northwestern’s offensive coordinator
Former Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has found a new job.
How to watch No. 4 UConn vs. Xavier: TV, live stream info, storylines for Wednesday’s game
The Huskes will bring a seven-game winning streak on the road.
How to watch No. 4 UConn vs. Xavier: TV, live stream info, storylines for Tuesday’s game
The Huskes will bring a seven-game winning streak on the road.
Dabo Swinney isn’t Clemson’s problem. It’s the quarterback and transfer portal
Everything Dabo Swinney needs to restore Clemson to the top of the college football world isn't in his locker room. It's in the transfer portal.
Bowl game schedule today: Previewing the three college football matchups Dec. 30
Just two days remain in 2025 and college football will take center stage in the sports world with three significant bowl games on Dec. 30.
Why is Makai Lemon not playing in Alamo Bowl? USC WR preparing for NFL draft
Why isn't USC wide receiver Makai Lemon playing in the Alamo Bowl vs. TCU? Here's a closer look at Lemon's absence:
Sabres Predicted To Make 2 Big Moves
In a recent article for Sportsnet, Ryan Dixon made some bold hockey predictions for the new year. Without much surprise, the Buffalo Sabres were discussed.
Dixon predicted that the Sabres would sign pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) forward Alex Tuch to an eight-year contract extension before the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Yet, that is not the only big prediction Dixon had for the Sabres, as he also predicted that Buffalo will trade 2021 first-overall pick Owen Power by the deadline.
It is not a secret that new Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is hoping to sign Tuch to a contract extension. It makes sense, as the Syracuse, New York native is a very impactful top-six forward and a huge part of the Sabres' roster. Thus, it would be massive if the Sabres successfully signed him to an eight-year contract extension.
Tuch has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the season and should generate interest from clubs if this remains the case once we get closer to the deadline. Yet, it will be interesting to see if Dixon's prediction about the Sabres extending Tuch comes true.
As for Power, this is undoubtedly the bolder Sabres take made from Dixon. While the 6-foot-6 defenseman has sometimes come up in the rumor mill, it would naturally still come with some shock if the Sabres actually dealt him. If the Sabres traded Power, it would certainly need to be for a star player who would help Buffalo immediately, as they are looking to break their 14-year playoff drought.
At 23 years old, Power is still very young and has the potential to improve further as he continues to gain more experience. He is also signed until the end of the 2030-31 season, where he carries an $8.35 million contract. Yet, he also does not have any trade protection until the 2029-30 season, which is something to remember.
In 36 games so far this season with the Sabres, Power has recorded three goals, seven assists, and 10 points. This comes after the left-shot blueliner set career highs with seven goals, 33 assists, and 40 points in 79 games this past season.
What college football bowl games are on today? Full schedule, TV, kickoff times for December 30
A tripleheader is on tap with two Big Ten teams in action.
Was Deion Sanders’ recruiting strategy called out by a Colorado regent?
A member of the Colorado Board of Regents appeared to suggest football coach Deion Sanders should change his recruiting strategy in one regard
England drop Jamie Smith from T20 World Cup squad and include Jofra Archer
Wicketkeeper-batter left out after difficult Ashes series
Injured fast bowler Archer included along with Tongue
Jamie Smith has been dropped from England’s T20 World Cup squad, but the injured Jofra Archer and uncapped fast bowler Josh Tongue have both been included.
Test performances in Australia are hardly the most obvious metric for a short-form tournament taking place in Sri Lanka and India in February, but Smith’s dramatic loss of form in the Ashes may be a factor in his omission.
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