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Offspinner Nishita Akter Nishi took 3 for 11 to restrict West Indies to 54 for 6 in 13 overs. Her spell with the new ball removed three of the top four inside five overs. From 16 for 3, West Indies sunk to 22 for 4 and 37 for 5. Amrita Ramtahal, the No. 6, scored a 23-ball 16 to give West Indies 54 to defend.
A day before the BBL started, Mitch Owen said he wasn't sure where he'd be batting - or at all - for Hobart Hurricanes this season.

After a record-breaking knock to win the competition for his home-town side, Owen, also the top run-scorer for the league, can start to lift his sights higher. The 23-year-old is set to earn life-changing amounts of money in franchise cricket, potentially starting with a replacement deal at the Indian Premier League.

Owen's manager confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he is available as a replacement player for the IPL, having registered for the auction longlist late last year before failing to make the shortlist. The Pakistan Super League, which virtually runs concurrently with the IPL in April and May, could be another option for him.

Owen's mighty knock of 108 off just 42 balls - the equal-fastest ton in competition history off 39 deliveries - had the sellout crowd chanting his name and won Hobart their first BBL title.

"I feel a bit awkward in these situations. I don't really know how to take it," Owen said of the adoration. "It's super special... the most special thing is hearing everyone in the crowd enjoying it. And I'm so grateful, I'm so proud that we could bring this trophy to Tassie."

Owen had played just six matches in the previous two seasons for Hurricanes, for a total of 42 runs. Previously a middle-order hitter, Owen said a decision that he would be batting in the top order came "probably one day, to be honest" out from their tournament opener.

Ricky Ponting, Hurricanes' head of strategy, said he was "amongst that" decision. Declining to elaborate on his role in that move, the Test great happily talked up Owen's future, saying discussion of him representing Australia in next year's World Cup was "inevitable".

"There's not many players in the world that can do that," he told AAP of Owen's heroics in the final. "He's done it pretty consistently through the tournament... some of his 30s and 40s that he's got have actually won and set up games for the Hurricanes. And then he ended up getting a hundred in 30-odd balls and the game's over."

Hurricanes team-mate and 2021 T20 World Cup winner Matthew Wade agreed Owen "would be there or thereabouts" when it came to squad selection for the 2026 tournament.

"He can be anything... no stage really worries him too much. It was phenomenal," Wade told AAP.

Owen said he "absolutely" wanted to work towards the squad for the India-Sri Lanka-hosted tournament, which begins in February 2026.

However, David Warner suggested such talk was premature. The losing Thunder captain said the Australian team didn't need a shake-up.

"No, no. You've got the guys that are there at the moment," he said. "You can earn your stripes... we can't be just picking blokes and chopping and changing when the guys that are there have won World Cups."

It will be difficult top order to break into, with Travis Head, Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk and T20 captain Mitch Marsh having claims on those spots.

Steven Smith, left out of last year's underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign, also has to be considered after starring for the Sydney Sixers in the past two seasons when he has played as an opener in between international duties.

But Warner was certainly happy to credit Owen with a "phenomenal knock" that meant his side came up short after posting 97 without loss after 10 overs.

"We got beat by one player tonight, plain and simple," he said.

0815 GMT - This story was updated to reflect Owen's availability as an IPL replacement player.

Australia, Sri Lanka and a touch of the dramatic

Published in Cricket
Tuesday, 28 January 2025 01:36

Big Picture: The Warne-Muralidaran trophy is back

Australia's Test series in Sri Lanka often seem to have a touch of the dramatic about them. Last time Australia were in Galle, Sri Lanka saw the greatest mass protests in the country's history, while the teams battled out a 1-1 series. In 2016, Australia had nosedived spectacularly against spin, Rangana Herath gobbling up their top order en masse.
Over the years there have been series-ending fielding collisions, such as in 1999 in Kandy when Jason Gillespie broke a leg and Steve Waugh broke a nose, Shane Warne triggering one of Sri Lanka's most painful 90s collapses to clinch victory in a game Australia were losing, and Sri Lanka producing one of their most infamously dry surfaces in Galle in 2011. Where Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia, these teams tend to be more evenly matched in Sri Lanka.

And so it shapes up again. Australia are coming off their big Border-Gavaskar Trophy win, of course. Through their 3-1 win in that series, they also booked their World Test Championship final spot. They are missing regular captain Pat Cummins, who is on paternity leave, but have a seasoned leader in Steven Smith.

Sri Lanka had had a decent Test year in 2024, until the disappointing series in South Africa to finish it off. But they will feel as if their Test team is building to something - maybe mounting a more serious campaign in the next WTC cycle, in which they appear to have a relatively easy schedule.

It will likely come down to spin in Galle. This surface doesn't appear to be the dryest one the ground has turned out, and may stay together a little longer than usual, owing to January's cooler weather. But it is likely to take substantial turn from day three onwards. Expect plenty of sweeping and reverse-sweeping, and catchers around the bat as the match wears on.

Form guide

Sri Lanka: LLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: WWWDL

In the spotlight: Nathan Lyon and Prabath Jayasuriya

A track that tends to start off dry, a sea breeze that helps sap what little moisture there is in the pitch, footmarks to bowl into from as early as day two sometimes - Galle is basically spin-bowling paradise. As such, how well your lead spinner goes in a Galle Test goes a long way to deciding the outcome.

It is a track Nathan Lyon will know well. Not only did he get a five-wicket haul on debut here in 2011, he also took a match-winning 9 for 121 from the first game in 2022, when Australia last visited. He has 21 wickets from seven innings at this venue, with an average of 27.61. Expect this group of Sri Lanka's batters to attempt to attack Lyon, particularly in the first innings. Sri Lanka's easiest path to upsetting Australia's bowling plan is to unsettle Lyon.
Prabath Jayasuriya had also made his debut in Galle, and he has dominated as few spinners ever have at this venue. He's got 71 wickets at an average of 21.78 at this venue, and the key to much of that success has been his devastating straight ball, as well as his control. With Sri Lanka's remaining frontline spin options lacking in experience, the hosts will look to Jayasuriya to define the back half of these Tests.

Pitch and conditions: Some rain around

There's a little unseasonal rain around in Galle, but rare is the Galle Test that even goes into the last couple of sessions, even if there are interruptions along the way. Dhananjaya de Silva said he expected the surface to be decent for batting to begin with. Temperatures are forecast to hover around 30 degrees celsius.

Team news: Who will be SL's opener?

Australia have confirmed that Travis Head will open the innings, displacing Sam Konstas from that position. They are pondering their attack though, and could go in with as many as three spinners - Todd Murphy potentially joining Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann. They will likely have Josh Inglis and Beau Webster - who bowls spin as well as seam - in the lower middle order.

Australia (possible): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt.), 5 Josh Inglis, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Mathew Kuhnemann, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland/ Todd Murphy

Sri Lanka have a decision to make around their attack as well - whether their second seamer will be Vishwa Fernando or Lahiru Kumara. They also have to replace the injured Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order. Oshada Fernando is his likeliest replacement.

Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Oshada Fernando, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt.), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Nishan Peiris, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru Kumara/Vishwa Fernando

Stats and trivia: Smith 10,000 watch

  • Steve Smith is one run away from completing 10,000 in Test cricket. He'd be the fourth Australia batter to the milestone, after Alan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting.
  • Prabath Jayasuriya took 12 wickets for 177 in the one Test he'd played against Australia - on debut in Galle.
  • All up, Australia have won three of the six Tests they've played in Galle, losing two and drawing one.

Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo. @afidelf

Australia captain Alyssa Healy is making a bold bid to play in the historic day-night Ashes Test at the MCG starting on Thursday after completing a full training session two days out despite battling a stress injury in her foot that saw her miss the entire T20I series while wearing a moon boot.

Healy participated fully in Australia's first main session at the MCG and looked impressive with no signs of pain or limitations with her right foot.

She began with a running session with six other team-mates, including Ashleigh Gardner who is coming off a calf injury. The pair moved well with other team-mates doing multiple laps of the MCG in intervals at a very solid intensity.

Healy also did short sprints thereafter without issue and then took part in Australia's fielding session. Healy will be in the outfield if she does play and had no trouble during the session which was completed at a good intensity. She then had a solid hit in the nets cycling through pace, spin and throw downs and had no trouble at any stage on her feet.

Speaking prior to the training session, coach Shelley Nitschke said no decision had been made on whether Healy would play and that the team management would wait to see how Healy pulled up after testing her foot.

"She's going as well as can be expected," Nitschke said. "I think you've all seen her out in a boot and taking some weight off of that foot.

"She will have a test today, and we'll just sort of see where that lands and have some discussions about that, whether or not we think she's going to be okay for a four day test."

Nitschke said they would try and leave the decision as late as possible but they were wary of creating problems around role clarity given Healy's significance as the captain and a senior batter.

"We don't have to actually lock it in until the toss," Nitschke said. "But obviously there's repercussions around that with who's the captain and what our line-up looks like. So I think people sort of want to know their role coming in, so as soon as we can we will, but it certainly doesn't have to be today."

The coach did admit there was some emotion involved in the decision. It is the first time women will play a Test match at the MCG since 1949 and the occasion will be historic as the two teams celebrate the 90-year anniversary of women's Test cricket.

Australia's women have not played at the MCG since the 2020 T20 World Cup final where Healy was player of the match. There have been multiple WBBL games at the venue since but Healy has not played in any of those. She has played at the MCG just 12 times in her career.

Australia do not play another Test until February-March of 2026 by which time Healy will be nearly 36. There is a possibility, given her recent injury struggles, that this could be the final opportunity she has to play Test cricket and to appear at the MCG although she has not given any hint as to when she may finish her international career.

"I think it's just about keeping in mind what's best for the team and making sure we're putting the best team we can out there to perform," Nitschke said. "So that's always been front and foremost. But we don't play a lot of Tests, so there's sort of some emotion involved there, but we want to do what's best for the team and see what happens."

Nitschke confirmed Gardner was fit and would play after overcoming her calf injury. She completed her running, batting and bowling without issue and looms as a key player after her player of the match performance in the third ODI and her player of the match performance in the last Ashes Test in England in 2023.

Nitschke added the selectors were unsure of how they would structure the XI for the day-night Test. Spin has been a huge part of Australia's six victories in the white-ball matches so far but the MCG has been one of the most seam-friendly pitches in long-form men's cricket since the drop-ins were redone in 2019. The pitch was under cover throughout the evening on Tuesday and neither side were able to look at it.

"We certainly look at what the pitch has played like in whether it's Shield and the Test match, and then considering the pink ball as well and what that brings to the game," Nitschke said. "So we certainly do look at the results and how the wicket has played in the men's game, because there's been no female longer format played here. And then obviously use, what's happened in the white-ball series as well as some intel to how we're matching up."

England were equally unsure how the surface would play but seamer Kate Cross looms as an option after completing two full bowling spells on Tuesday without appearing in too much discomfort having missed the ODI series with a back problem. Cross wasn't part of the T20I squad so has been based in Melbourne preparing for the Test.
Nat Sciver-Brunt was unsure whether Cross would be available for selection but she was positive about what she faced from her.

"I don't know," she said. "You'll have to ask the physios who will review with her as to whether she got through the net sessions, alright. And I'm sure tomorrow will have a good bearing on that as well. She's tracking good. It's nice to see her rocking out a few overs in the nets as well. I think she got through two spells today. It's great to see her back to being herself."

Sciver-Brunt did not shy away from the fact that the tour had been extremely difficult for the team, stating that it might have been worse than their last trip down under in 2021-22 when they lost the Ashes 12-4 under Covid restrictions, only claiming points from the drawn Test and two washed out T20Is.

But she said the incentive of performing well in a historic Test had the team excited to finish the tour on a bright note.

"It is difficult," Sciver-Brunt said. "But I think being a Test match at the end of that at this iconic venue, we love putting on the whites. We love the fact that we get to create new memories with our team-mates, with our close friends, and hopefully put a good showing of ourselves.

"Grateful that we've got opportunity to do that after six games. But the last few days have been tough. But, we've regrouped, and we'll do our best to stay up."

Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo

Scheyer's 'honest' talk fuels Flagg in Duke win

Published in Breaking News
Monday, 27 January 2025 23:07

DURHAM, N.C. -- Cooper Flagg wrapped the first half of Duke's 74-64 win over NC State with just five points, and during a late timeout, Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer had some particularly pointed comments for his star freshman.

"He told me I was being finesse, soft," Flagg said. "Coach is always honest with me about what he thinks. That's what I need. It's about responding well, and hearing that helps me a lot."

He responded with force.

Flagg put up 23 second-half points and added five rebounds, an emphatic block and two assists, including a nifty dish to Sion James for a dunk just as the shot clock was about to expire.

Flagg's fireworks keyed Duke, which erased a four-point halftime deficit to finish with a double-digit triumph.

"In that timeout, I challenged him because his game is not just about scoring but his game is about impacting winning in every facet. He knew it. Credit him for responding."

Flagg said that type of criticism from his coach is exactly what drew him to Duke, and Scheyer said Flagg's willingness to accept coaching is one of the traits that sets him apart.

"I could go on all day about Cooper, how coachable he is," Scheyer said. "There's maybe a few times throughout the year where he's not going to like everything you say. A lot of guys will fight it, not acknowledge it. It's a credit to him and the relationship he's allowed us to develop, telling each other the truth."

Scheyer chalked up some of Flagg's early tentativeness to playing a second game in three days -- something Flagg hadn't yet done -- after a physical outing against Wake Forest on Saturday. The coach said the sluggish first half ignited Flagg at halftime, however, getting him "a little mad."

Flagg said learning experiences are part of why he came to Duke and that Scheyer's willingness to "let me work through some things" is critical. But his takeaway from his five-point first half on Monday was that the time for taking a back seat on the court is over.

"It's not a choice anymore; I have to be aggressive," Flagg said. "What Coach has told me is that's going to create for everyone else. In the first half, I felt that a little more -- just being passive and playing soft. I can't create for anyone else that way. I can't get anyone else open if I'm playing soft. For me, it's no longer a choice of if I want to be aggressive or not. I have to be aggressive at all times."

Despite Flagg's heroics, NC State was within a point with 4:21 to play, as Duke struggled to pull away. But an extended break courtesy of Duke big man Khaman Maluach offered a final chance for the Blue Devils to prep for a late push.

Maluach had been taking fluids earlier in the game, but after a Wolfpack foul under the basket, the Duke freshman turned and vomited along the baseline. Officials paused the game, and a cleanup crew quickly gathered with a few dozen towels to soak up the mess. After the long delay, the game was stopped again as a Duke student was helped out of the stands after falling unconscious. A Duke spokesman said the student was fine and ultimately left the arena under her own power.

"That was just a little bit of a breather to set up and get stops and go on a run," said Flagg, who helped Duke finish on an 11-2 run after Maluach's departure. "It was a break to collect myself."

Scheyer said Maluach hadn't been ill but was cramping.

The two demanding contests in three days took a toll all around on Duke, Scheyer said, but the response he saw from his best player down the stretch was a reminder of just how much these Blue Devils have left in the tank.

"Coop is a special guy," Scheyer said. "He got angry. He just had a chip. And when you do that, you forget about being tired. And he had some all-time plays to will us back. That's a credit to his spirit, what he did in the second half."

New Jets brass noncommittal on Rodgers' status

Published in Breaking News
Monday, 27 January 2025 23:07

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets have a new coach, a new general manager and a new approach to star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Glenn, who was introduced Monday in a news conference with general manager Darren Mougey, made it clear that he doesn't consider any player bigger than the team. Glenn was noncommittal on Rodgers, saying the future Hall of Famer will be evaluated just like everyone else on the roster.

"This thing is not about Aaron Rodgers, folks. This is about the roster," Glenn told reporters after his news conference. "We plan on building the best roster that we can. So, whatever that may be -- guard, tackle, defensive tackle -- that's what we're evaluating.

"Listen, everybody's under the microscope. That's just what it is."

It's a new day at One Jets Drive.

Glenn said that he has exchanged texts with Rodgers, and that he hopes to speak with him soon. Other than that, the newly hired coach declined to get into much detail about Rodgers. Glenn shut down questions from reporters the way he once handled wide receivers as a cornerback for the Jets from 1994 to 2001.

"We're still in the evaluation mode, so for anybody else who's going to ask that, I'm going to give you the same answer," Glenn said. "So don't waste your time. We clear?"

Owner Woody Johnson, whose involvement in personnel matters last season chafed people in the previous regime, said he will leave the Rodgers decision up to Glenn and Mougey. Johnson, whose relationship with the four-time MVP has appeared strained at times, said he will welcome him back if his new hires decide it's best for the team.

"Absolutely," Johnson said. "Aaron's a talent, for sure. He's a Hall of Famer. ... I'm not going to voice my opinion. That's up to them."

The previous regime, which acquired Rodgers in 2023 trade with the Green Bay Packers, catered to him by acquiring some of his former wide receivers and hiring one of his closest friends, Nathaniel Hackett, as the offensive coordinator.

Rodgers, 41, missed virtually the entire 2023 season with a torn Achilles and was uneven in 17 starts in 2024, finishing with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on a 5-12 team. He has said he's undecided on whether he wants to keep playing.

"First and foremost, I've got the utmost respect for Aaron Rogers and what he's done in this league as a player," said Mougey, most recently the Denver Broncos' assistant GM. "[He's] one of the greatest of all time to play the position -- one of the greatest players of all time.

"I know Aaron has his process in the offseason that he goes through. We have ours. But, yeah, that [decision] is going to come. I don't have a timeline on it."

Rodgers is under contract for 2025, but none of his money his guaranteed. He has a $35 million option bonus, a $2.5 million salary and a manageable $23.5 million cap charge. There's a $49 million cap hit if he's released or retires; it can be spread over two years.

If he returns under his existing contract, there will be a $63 million cap hit in 2026 -- a massive charge that would hamper the team's financial flexibility. Rodgers has said he's open to a pay cut if he returns.

"When it comes to the team, it's always a football decision," said Glenn, adding that he and Mougey will study every play from the 2024 season.

Glenn, formerly the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator, knows what he wants in his quarterback.

"A winner," he said, adding, "Mental and physical toughness."

If the Jets move on from Rodgers, they'll be wading into a shallow pool of free agent options. The in-house alternative is backup Tyrod Taylor, 35, a former starter who played only 36 snaps in 2024. Also on the roster is 2024 fifth-round pick Jordan Travis, who sat out with an injury from college.

The Jets took an unconventional approach to rebuilding their regime, hiring the coach before the GM. The team has revamped its power structure, with both Glenn and Mougey reporting directly to Johnson, according to the owner. Previously, coach Robert Saleh reported to GM Joe Douglas. Mougey will have the final say on personnel matters and the 53-man roster, but he said it will be a collaborative effort with Glenn.

Glenn showed his fiery side at his introductory news conference. Alluding to the Jets' losing history, he declared, "We're the freaking New York Jets and we're built for this s---!"

A popular player in his day, and later a scout for the Jets (2012-13), Glenn was greeted by no fewer than 10 former Jets, many of them his former teammates. He interviewed with four other teams but said this was the only job he wanted.

"We're going to do some magical things here, bro," he said, turning to Mougey. "Some magical things. I look forward to it."

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Caleb Love hit a game-tying heave from beyond half court at the end of regulation -- in what he later called the "best moment of my life" -- and made two more 3-pointers in overtime, finishing with 22 points and lifting Arizona to an 86-75 win over No. 3 Iowa State on Monday night.

The Cyclones (17-3, 7-2 Big 12) appeared to be in control when Joshua Jefferson hit one of two free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining, but they left too much time on the clock.

Love, who was 1-for-10 on 3s at that point, took a couple of dribbles and banked in his shot from behind the midcourt logo, sending a roar through McKale Center.

Love then hit two corner 3s in overtime, and Carter Bryant added another to cap Arizona's first win over a top-five opponent as an unranked team since beating No. 3 UCLA in 1979.

"They were better down the stretch in regulation than we were; you're just trying to hang in there and give yourself a chance," said Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd. "Desperation 3 was probably not the chance you're trying to give yourself -- but it made for great theater.

"It was a great moment for Arizona basketball."

Love's shot at the buzzer was his second career go-ahead or game-tying field goal in the final 10 seconds; as a sophomore with North Carolina against Syracuse on Feb. 28, 2022, he hit a go-ahead 3-pointer from roughly 30 feet with eight seconds left.

"You just got to give it up to God at that point," Love said of his shot against the Cyclones. "We practice half-courters in shootaround, you know, that's the fun of it. We do that shot at practice, and like I said, you got to give it up to God, and that was all him."

Love noted that he always is going to have confidence in himself to keep shooting, whether he's "1-for-10 or 10-for-10 ... you got to have confidence in yourself that the next one's going in."

Tobe Awaka finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Wildcats (14-6, 8-1).

Tamin Lipsey scored 18 points, and Keshon Gilbert added 17 to lead the Cyclones.

Iowa State had a seven-point advantage in the first half before Arizona answered with the biggest run against the Cyclones this season, scoring 16 straight points to go up 34-25.

Lipsey, who registered 14 first-half points, pulled the Cyclones within 34-30 at halftime on a corner 3.

The Cyclones have had a knack for pulling out close wins, but they fell flat after Love's heave. It was their fifth loss to an unranked opponent as a top-five team and their second such defeat this season (Jan. 18 at West Virginia).

Arizona outscored Iowa State 15-4 in overtime. The Wildcats' 11-point margin of victory tied their largest in an OT game in program history.

Iowa State shot 1-of-6 and had three turnovers in the extra period.

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Warriors' Green (calf) nears return to practice

Published in Basketball
Monday, 27 January 2025 21:58

Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green is nearing a return to practice this week but power forward Jonathan Kuminga will be out at least another two weeks.

Green has been cleared to rejoin parts of team practice this week after being out the past four games with a calf injury, the team said. Green has been doing light on-court work. He suffered the calf injury on Jan. 18 in the first three minutes of a win over Washington.

Kuminga has missed the past three weeks since suffering a sprained right ankle on Jan. 4 against Memphis. He has been out for 11 games. The Warriors said Kuminga is expected to begin light on-court individual workouts in the next week.

"He's not close to coming back," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Kuminga on Saturday. "He's on a bike just now. He's not been on the court in any other capacity other than just shooting stationary shots. So it's going to be some time."

The Warriors have been getting a little healthier as Brandin Podziemski (abdomen) and Gary Payton II (calf) recently return from injuries.

Hornets' Ball exits loss to Lakers with ankle injury

Published in Basketball
Monday, 27 January 2025 21:58

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball left Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second quarter with a left ankle injury.

He did not return, and the Hornets lost 112-107.

Ball had just made a 3-pointer off one foot and was backpedaling down the court when he stepped on Jarred Vanderbilt's foot and fell backward, hitting his head hard on the floor. Ball then got up, intentionally fouled to stop the clock and then walked directly to the locker room under his own power with a slight limp.

He scored seven points in nine minutes before the injury.

Hornets coach Charles Lee said after the game he had no immediate update on Ball's status moving forward or how much time he might miss.

Ball has had a history of ankle injuries since being drafted by the Hornets with the third pick in 2020. He has missed 158 games during his NBA career due to injury.

Ball has been wearing braces this season to help protect his ankles.

He came in averaging a career-best 28.9 points but was not chosen an All-Star starter despite leading all Eastern Conference guards in voting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

'I feel like Kobe': Rockets' Thompson silences C's

Published in Basketball
Monday, 27 January 2025 21:58

BOSTON -- Amen Thompson hit a game-winning floater with 0.7 seconds left and finished with 33 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

Dillon Brooks shot 10-of-15 from 3-point range and led Houston with 36 points. The Rockets won for the ninth time in 11 games.

Jaylen Brown had 28 points for the Celtics, and Jayson Tatum added 19 after a scoreless first half. Luke Kornet had 18, and Kristaps Porzingis scored 17 to go with eight rebounds.

Rockets leading scorer Jalen Green was held to 12 points.

Thompson broke free off an inbounds play and went in for an easy dunk, pushing Houston in front 112-110. After a timeout, Tatum got the ball near midcourt and drove in for the tying layup with 5.3 seconds left. Thompson responded by taking the ball from just outside the 3-point line and driving to the rim to hit the winner over Brown.

"That was my first game-winner," said Thompson, who set a career high with his 33 points. "I feel like Kobe."

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla blamed himself for the last two defensive breakdowns.

"Those last two plays were on me," he said. "Those were my fault. Didn't put us in the best matchups. I saw the play that they were trying to run, and I tried to change the matchups and put our guys in a tough spot."

The Celtics easily won the first meeting between the teams in Houston on Jan. 3.

Houston coach Ime Udoka said before the game that forward Cam Whitmore was "sick and back at the hotel." For the Celtics, center Al Horford was a very late scratch after going through warmups, while Derrick White (bruised right shin) and Sam Hauser (right hip) were both out.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

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