Health of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is key to the Clippers’ bid for an NBA title

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

Health of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is key to the Clippers’ bid for an NBA title LOS ANGELES (AP) — LOS ANGELES CLIPPERSLast season: 44-38. Lost in five games to Phoenix in first round of the playoffs.Coach: Tyronn Lue (4th season with Clippers, 133-103 ; 8th season overall, 261-180).What to expect: The Clippers have talent, size, athleticism, experience, and versatility. What they desperately need is what one of the league’s highest payrolls can’t buy: a healthy roster. Adding Russell Westbrook, Mason Plumlee and Bones Hyland last season filled holes and gives the team so much depth that playing time will be hard to come by. Lue, a respected tactician, will have to juggle players eager for minutes without letting it affect chemistry. Westbrook, a former NBA MVP, came over from the Lakers and helped speed up the offense, while his hard-charging ways energized the team. “Kawhi and PG are more silent leaders and Russ is more outgoing,” Lue said. “You mix those three guys together, you have great leadership.” The Clippers head into their final season at Crypto.com ...

Rebuilding Jazz have scoring to contend in West, but defense and depth could hold them back

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

Rebuilding Jazz have scoring to contend in West, but defense and depth could hold them back UTAH JAZZLast season: 37-45, did not qualify for the playoffs.Coach: Will Hardy, second season with the Jazz (37-45 overall).What to expect: Utah made sweeping changes a year ago after trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert and the team isn’t done rebuilding. Lauri Markkanen blossoming into a star and Walker Kessler putting together a strong rookie season helped the Jazz be more competitive than expected, but Utah still missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Climbing the ladder in a deep and talented Western Conference will be challenging. The Jazz acquired John Collins from Atlanta in a trade to partner with Markkanen and Kessler in the frontcourt, and he is another reliable option on offense. They also extended Jordan Clarkson’s contract after he averaged career highs in points (20.8), assists (4.4) and rebounds (4.0) and fully guaranteed the final season of Kelly Olynyk’s deal to give their young roster some veteran leadership. Point guard is one position that remai...

With tons of youth and almost everybody back, Magic eyeing shot at NBA playoffs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

With tons of youth and almost everybody back, Magic eyeing shot at NBA playoffs ORLANDO MAGIC Last season: 34-48, missed playoffs.Coach: Jamahl Mosley (3rd season, 56-108).What to expect: The Magic basically brought everybody back this season — eight of their top nine scorers in terms of total points — and most everyone who started a game. A young team took big steps forward last season and now will be asked to do it again. Expect Orlando to play fast, partly because having so much youth (no expected starter is older than 25) allows it and partly because the team has a ton of guards. One very underrated move was bringing in veteran Joe Ingles over the summer, because now the young team has an older guy who’s been there and done that. Ingles is already showing his value on and off the court, directing traffic when he’s playing and essentially serving as a volunteer assistant coach when he’s not in games. The schedule is tough right away, with eight of the first 13 games on the road (two four-game trips in that span) and two matchups ...

East champion Heat will try to rekindle that playoff magic in ’23-24

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

East champion Heat will try to rekindle that playoff magic in ’23-24 MIAMI HEAT Last season: 44-38, lost to Denver in NBA Finals.Coach: Erik Spoelstra (16th season, 704-491).What to expect: The defending Eastern Conference champions know their window for championships — at least with the roster as currently constructed — is now. Kyle Lowry is 37, Kevin Love is 35, and Jimmy Butler turned 34 last month as well. There are some serious holes to fill as well, particularly in the area of 3-point shooting. Tyler Herro led the team with 203 makes from beyond the arc last season, but the No. 2 and No. 3 Heat players in that department a year ago — Max Strus (197) and Gabe Vincent (117) — now play elsewhere. And 3-point accuracy was an issue for the Heat throughout the regular season, the team’s 34.4% clip ranked only 27th in the 30-team NBA. But it is a team filled with players who know how to rise to playoff occasions; Butler was the best player in the league for long stretches of the 2023 postseason. The question will be how Mi...

Hamas anuncia la liberación de dos rehenes estadounidenses tras la mediación de Catar

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

Hamas anuncia la liberación de dos rehenes estadounidenses tras la mediación de Catar JERUSALÉN – El portavoz de las Brigadas Al Qasam, Abu Obeida, anunció este viernes la liberación de dos rehenes estadounidenses por “razones humanitarias”, tras la mediación de Catar.Abu Obeida, cuyo grupo es el brazo armado de Hamas, dijo en su cuenta de Telegram que ambas secuestradas son madre e hija. Biden en su mensaje desde la Oficina Oval: “es vital que Israel y Ucrania tengan éxito” Israel y Hamas en guerra: más de 5,200 personas han muerto en ambos lados Una fuente, mientras tanto, le confirmó a NBC News que se trata de los dos familiares de Martin Fletcher.Restan más estadounidenses secuestrados, cuyo estado se desconoce. Se estima que el total de secuestrados ronda los 200.Source

Suspect in Adams County deputy assault barricaded in Westminster

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

Suspect in Adams County deputy assault barricaded in Westminster WESTMISNTER, Colo. (KDVR) -- Westminster SWAT is on scene at West 121st Avenue and Zuni Street after a barricaded suspect allegedly assaulted a deputy.On Friday, Oct. 20 at 12:58 p.m., the Westminster Police Department tweeted that Westminster SWAT is currently negotiating with a suspect who assaulted an Adams County deputy. Denver man’s family released by Hamas for ‘humanitarian’ reasons The deputy sustained non-life-threatening injuries. As of 12:59 p.m., area schools have been "placed on secure" until the incident is over, tweeted Westminster PD. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather This is a developing story. FOX31 will update this post when more information is available.

Halloween and horror movies filmed in Colorado

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

Halloween and horror movies filmed in Colorado DENVER (KDVR) -- Colorado is home to many iconic movies and TV shows, but some are more festive around Halloween.For those looking for horror or Halloween-themed entertainment, these movies or shows that were filmed in or inspired by Colorado are sure to bring the Halloween spirit to you. These spooky movies will be released this fall Spooky movies with filming locations in Colorado, according to IMBDWarGames (1983) -- Rated PG, Colorado SpringsSnowbeast (1977) -- Unrated, Crested Butte, GunnisonPhantoms (1998) -- Rated R, GeorgetownInk (2009) -- Unrated, DenverDecampitated (1998) -- Rated R, Colorado SpringsElves (1989) -- Rated PG-13, Colorado SpringsCannibal! The Musical (1993) -- Rated R, Boulder, Lake City, Ouray, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkStrangeland (1998) -- Rated R, Colorado Springs, DenverThe Hateful Eight (2015) -- Rated R, Telluride, Wilson MesaRent-A-Pal (2020) -- Unrated, Denver, AuroraDead Zone (2022) -- Rated TV-MA, Grand JunctionThe Jar (1982) -- U...

Israel says two Americans held hostage by Hamas, a mother and daughter, have been released

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

Israel says two Americans held hostage by Hamas, a mother and daughter, have been released KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter it had held hostage in Gaza, Israel said, the first such release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage.The two Americans, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie, were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government.The release comes amid growing expectations of an expected ground offensive that Israel says is aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule the Gaza Strip. Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the tiny territory, home to some 2.3 million people.As the Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid from Egypt to desperate families and hospitals. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring L...

Trump announces Hialeah rally as he prepares to skip yet another GOP debate

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

Trump announces Hialeah rally as he prepares to skip yet another GOP debate NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally in Hialeah as counter-programming to the third Republican presidential primary debate, which he is once again choosing to skip.Trump’s campaign says he will hold a rally the evening of Nov. 8th at Ted Hendricks Stadium at Henry Milander Park, about a half-hour drive from the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, where his rivals will be meeting. Trump has repeatedly said he sees no point in participating, given his commanding lead in the race.Hialeah is an overwhelmingly Hispanic suburb, with more than 95% of residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino, according to the most recent census numbers. Most are Cuban or Cuban American and speak Spanish at home.The choice of location reflects Republicans’ hopes that they will be able to continue to win over an increasing share of the Hispanic vote in the 2024 elections. During 2022’s midterms, Florida Gov. Ro...

Florida man convicted of stealing sports camp tuition funds from hundreds of families

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:12:01 GMT

Florida man convicted of stealing sports camp tuition funds from hundreds of families BOSTON (AP) — A Florida man has been convicted by a federal jury of stealing sports camp tuition from hundreds of families and spending the money on plastic surgery, vacations and gambling.Mehdi Belhassan, 53, of Tampa, Florida, was found guilty of two counts of wire fraud and will be sentenced Jan. 11. A charge of wire fraud carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.Belhassan falsely claimed he was running an annual sports camp at a Boston-area college in July and August 2019 and collected $380,000 in payments from more than 300 families across the United States. He also collected $191,000 in advance payments from an online payment company and a commercial finance company.“Mr. Belhassan preyed upon the trust of families, promising summer fun while plotting his own indulgence. He lured in, deceived and betrayed over 300 families — diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars not to the promised camps, but to personal...