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New York Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The Pacers won't go away, and neither will Lionel Messi
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic's daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Throw a knuckleball today. In sports, we honor perseverance. Defying the odds. Heroic upsets. They form the bedrock of our fandoms, and they follow a familiar rhythm. We know all those stories. This Indiana Pacers team, despite hitting all those benchmarks, feels markedly different. What else is there to say about these Pacers? We have readied ourselves for them to peter out in the last three rounds. We gave them respectful applause after losing Game 5 in Oklahoma City to go down 3-2 in these finals, with superstar guard Tyrese Haliburton ailing. It was a great run, fellas. Then last night happened: Pacers 108, Thunder 91. The lead reached 30 by the fourth quarter, too, and starters were pulled. This was a flat-out blowout. Just … how? Two images that will stick with me before Game 7: Pascal Siakam locked in for Game 6 👀 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 20, 2025 Was Pascal Siakam summoning a higher power? A mystic force? Whatever came through the Ouija board worked, because what else can you call this: OH MY GOODNESS THIS PACERS SEQUENCE 🤯 HALIBURTON NO-LOOK DIME. SIAKAM SLAM WITH FORCE. Indy seeking a Game 7 on ABC 🏆 — NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2025 Game 7 is Sunday in Oklahoma City. I'm done thinking the Pacers are done, and you should be too. Oh, and the last time the NBA Finals went to Game 7, the road team won. Sure, we waxed plenty yesterday about the Club World Cup and its necessity. It remains a valid worry, which made this kick from Lionel Messi yesterday all the more important: That is magic from Lionel Messi. The Argentinian puts Inter Miami in front against Porto with a trademark free kick. That's the 69th from outside the penalty box of his career.#FIFACWC 🎥 @ — The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 19, 2025 The cracking free kick from Messi delivered Inter Miami a 2-1 win over Porto, an incredible feat for the MLS side against a European opponent. It also came in front of 30,000 fans in an atmosphere tournament organizers envisioned while creating this competition. Even more interesting: There's plenty of rancor over whether Messi's outfit should be in this tournament at all. Felipe Cardenas has more on that in his full story from the game. Two other soccer notables: Let's keep moving: Dodgers say they denied ICE The Dodgers barred federal immigration officials from accessing grounds outside Dodger Stadium yesterday, the team said in a statement. The authorities' request came mere hours after news broke that the Dodgers plan to assist immigrant groups affected by the recent ICE raids in Los Angeles. We have more from the scene here. Advertisement Juventus' 'weird' White House visit Players for Italian side Juventus were surprised yesterday with a trip to the White House, just hours before the team played Al-Ain FC at the Club World Cup in Washington, D.C. Two USMNT players, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, took part in an Oval Office photo op that Weah called 'a bit weird.' The team stood behind President Donald Trump as he talked about topics like Iran and transgender athletes. See our full report. More news 📫 Love The Pulse? Check out our other newsletters. 📺 MLB: Mets at Phillies 7:15 p.m. ET on Apple TV+ These are the top two teams in the NL East, which is enough to give it a watch, but also tune in for Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, arguably the league's best pitcher and a singular character. 📺 CWC: Flamengo vs. Chelsea 2 p.m. ET on TNT/DAZN This is your best Club World Cup choice today, as it should be a tight match. Chelsea also has tremendous support in the States and remains one of the Premier League's most interesting teams right now. Plus, Chelsea's Andrey Santos — who signed with the EPL blueblood from Flamengo rival Vasco de Gama — expects a harsh reception. Get tickets to games like these here. The true knuckleballer is dead, as Cody Stavenhagen wrote yesterday. One Tigers prospect with an incredible backstory is trying to revive the tradition. Make time for this today. How does Cooper Flagg compare to the top prospects in each of the last 20 years? Sam Vecenie has answers only he could find. The NBA Draft is next week. Basketball is seeing a boost in Britain — because of court design. Eduardo Tansley tells us how. It's easy to think the guy who just signed a huge contract feels pretty good about himself. But Sam Darnold thinks he needs to prove himself all over again. Want a preview of Mark Walter's tenure as Lakers majority owner? Andy McCullough and Fabian Ardaya see dollar signs everywhere. Advertisement You know what seems bad? Every vibe in the Rangers building, especially after reading Peter Baugh's deep dive into this season, which left everyone unhappy. Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our update on Shedeur Sanders' driving citation. Most-read on the website yesterday: The Dodgers/ICE story.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills Must Figure Out Running Back Contract Concerns
Bills Must Figure Out Running Back Contract Concerns originally appeared on Athlon Sports. James Cook's contract feud remains a significant issue for the Buffalo Bills. The league leader in rushing touchdowns last season has consistently pushed to be paid over $15 million annually. Buffalo doesn't have the necessary cap space to give him that kind of contract. Advertisement Or, better said, Buffalo doesn't want to make that sort of room. While Cook did arrive for mandatory minicamp last week, he is not guaranteed to attend training camp. That is why Bleacher Report writer Kristopher Knox believes that re-signing Cook must be Buffalo's top priority for the rest of the offseason. "The Buffalo Bills were only a few plays away from reaching the Super Bowl in January, so much of the offseason has been about maintaining continuity. Ascending running back James Cook should be considered a long-term piece of the puzzle," Knox wrote. "Cook is extension-eligible and has been vocal about his desire for a new deal, although that didn't keep him away from mandatory minicamp." Advertisement Besides MVP quarterback Josh Allen, Cook remains Buffalo's top weapon on offense. Without a clear answer for the team's No. 1 receiver, having a quality, skilled player who can make big plays is essential in any offense. That is what makes Cook such an essential part of Buffalo's offense. That's why he believes the Bills owe him an extension matching him being a top running back in the game, even if it means paying him along the same lines as a Christian McCaffrey or Saquon Barkley. Time will tell if Buffalo can find a way to make a deal happen … but the feud - if not solved - threatens to be a lingering issue. Related: Veteran Bills Receiver Predicted to Be Cut Related: Bills' 2025 'To-Do List' Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns Fourth-Round Pick Needs to Step Up in 2025
Browns Fourth-Round Pick Needs to Step Up in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. For all the quarterback trouble the Cleveland Browns have seen over recent seasons, let's put at least some of the blame on the offensive line in front of them. Advertisement Last season alone, while the Browns were employing four different starters under center, the offensive line was responsible for a whopping 66 sacks. That was up from 45 sacks the season before, when Cleveland had five different starters. The Browns spent a fourth-round pick on Ohio State offensive lineman Dawand Jones in 2023, and he's failed to catch on so far across two seasons with the Browns. Pro Football Focus thinks that Jones is due for a make-or-break campaign next season. "Jones played three games at [left tackle] last year before suffering a fractured fibula that ended his season," analyst Dalton Wasserman wrote on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, he earned a subpar 44.1 PFF overall grade across those three outings. Veteran Cornelius Lucas could fill in if Jones is either injured or ineffective again, but the Browns desperately need young talent to emerge on their offensive line, and Jones is the most likely incumbent candidate." Advertisement After his rookie season, Jones was named the team's "most promising building block" heading into 2024 by Bleacher Report. He earned a 64.7 overall grade by Pro Football Focus for his efforts in his rookie season. But 2024 didn't go as planned. The former Buckeyes tackle sustained a major injury in the Browns' Week 11 loss to the Saints, but even before the injury, Jones was not playing to the standard he set in his rookie year. Pro Football Focus scored him an unimpressive 46.4 overall for the time he was on the field. The Cleveland offense was kind of a mess at that point, suffering from injuries to key players and from poor play at times. If Jones can completely recover and return to the play he displayed in 2023, he could help return the Browns' offensive line to the No. 2-ranked unit that it was in his rookie campaign. Related: Browns Coach Reveals 'Growing Pains' for First-Round Draft Pick Related: Insider Expects Nick Chubb to Return to Browns for One Reason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warriors Projected to Make 'Bold' 2025 NBA Draft Decision
Warriors Projected to Make 'Bold' 2025 NBA Draft Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Despite the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers are still competing in the NBA Finals, the rest of the league is in full offseason mode. Nothing quite proved that like the Desmond Bane blockbuster that just took place. Advertisement The Golden State Warriors are undoubtedly planning away methodically as well. They have certainly had more than enough time after their second-round exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves. One of the biggest dates on the offseason calendar will be the NBA Draft set for June 25th and 26th. The Warriors have are preparing to add to a team looking for another championship with Stephen Curry. The Warriors will not have a huge hand to play, possessing only the 41st overall pick in the draft via the Miami Heat. However, what they do with that pick will still be an important and calculated decision. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30).© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report offered a bold prediction for what the Warriors do with their 2025 draft pick. The NBA writer confidently believed in what Golden State's plans for the event should be. Advertisement "Finding a new starting center to help preserve Draymond Green should be a priority this summer, although the Warriors won't find one this late in the draft," Swartz mentioned off the top. The Bleacher Report writer continued: "This team lacks a backup point guard behind Stephen Curry and should be eyeing older college players who can step in immediately to the back end of the rotation. West Virginia senior point guard Javon Small could be an option as he averaged 18.6 points and 5.6 assists this past season." -Greg Swartz The Warriors do not currently have a proper point guard projected to be on the roster for the 2025-26 season past Curry. Adding a ready-made option to help run the offense in Golden State next season is more 'obvious' than it is 'bold.' Related: Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga Named 'Fallback Option' For Kevin Durant Suitor Related: Warriors Urged to Land 21.2 PPG Wing in 'Ambitious' Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets Urged To Dip Into Free Agent Market For Receivers
Jets Urged To Dip Into Free Agent Market For Receivers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. One of the biggest knocks on the New York Jets' offense is the lack of quality weapons for Justin Fields. Garrett Wilson is the only player with "credentials" as a star, with Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard, Malachi Corley, and Arian Smith forming the group underneath him. Advertisement With over $36 million in cap space, the Jets do have the funds to do a little free agent shopping if they so choose, but we know that head coach Aaron Glenn is taking a more youthful approach to building his roster. However, Bleacher Report believes the franchise needs to dip into the free agent market and provide Fields with some help. "It wouldn't hurt to add another proven pass-catcher to Fields' support group, either," Bleacher Report writes. "Wilson is a No. 1-caliber receiver, while Josh Reynolds and rookie tight end Mason Taylor were both sensible additions. The Jets have a lack of reliable depth at wideout, though. They should consider signing seasoned free agents like Keenan Allen or Tyler Boyd." New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) runs with the ball past Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5), Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford. © Kevin R. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images In truth, the Jets likely want to see what they have at receiver in training camp before looking at adding outside help. Advertisement ESPN's Rich Cimini thinks that Reynolds is the clear No. 2 receiver behind Wilson as we head to training camp, so Lazard could be one to keep an eye on as the trade deadline comes into view later in the year. However, the Jets seem content with their options at receiver, and yes, they might be keeping their powder dry for next offseason. Nevertheless, adding a proven veteran on a one-year, low-cost deal might not be the worst idea. Related: Jets Fans React to 'Thiccer Kicker' Related: Can Jets' 'Biggest Question' Be Answered In 2025? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
