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  • Ferrari take immediate action to deliver fresh Lewis Hamilton hope

    Ferrari take immediate action to deliver fresh Lewis Hamilton hope

    Lewis Hamilton did not enjoy the most stunning of starts to life as a Ferrari driver, scoring just a point at the Australian Grand Prix.

    But, after nine-time podium finisher turned pundit Martin Brundle branded Hamilton’s Ferrari debut “disappointing”, Hamilton suggested improvement is coming with more performance to extract from the Ferrari SF-25.

    Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari: More to come after Melbourne?

    Hamilton made his hotly-anticipated Ferrari debut at the Australian GP, in what proved a rather low-key performance with the seven-time World Champion qualifying P8 and finishing P10.

    Brundle went as far as to brand Hamilton’s Ferrari debut “disappointing by any metric”, as well as questioning an “angsty” attitude towards new race engineer Riccardo Adami.

    However, Hamilton after the race stated that “Riccardo did a really good job” as they continue “learning about each other bit by bit”, with Ferrari and team principal Fred Vasseur taking steps to put better communication practices in place for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

    “It was not the issue of Lewis, it was the issue of the team,” Vasseur added. “We need to find the level of communication between the team, the drivers and engineers.”

    And as Hamilton and Ferrari continue work to elevate that side of the performance, Hamilton believes he can get more pace out of the SF-25 with a better approach.

    Speaking after a rain-impacted Australian GP, Hamilton said: “I’m grateful I got through it, and I came out of it with a little bit of stuff, at least it’s one point.

    “Obviously didn’t go off or spin today, but lacking pace for sure.

    “But I do believe the car has more performance than we were able to extract this weekend. It was even less performance, for example, in the race, but I think it’s all settings.”

    The race weekend had been dry up until race day, which Hamilton said therefore reset the process he was in of building himself up to speed.

    “I definitely made a step,” he said on his performance in the dry at Melbourne. “I think just for me, it was just confidence. It’s like just building confidence.

    “From the moment I got in the car on Friday, I didn’t have the confidence, particularly in all the high speed, I was down a huge amount.

    “Then into Saturday, confidence was coming back, was building, building, building. And then we got to the race, and again, starting from scratch, and I didn’t have any confidence, through pretty much most of the race.

    “But I think in the settings as well, the car was very tricky.”

    Having made a further reference to the Ferrari SF-25’s “settings”, Hamilton was asked what he would have done differently if he could have another crack at his first Ferrari race weekend.

    “Many, many things,” he responded. “I think setup wise, would set the car up just a lot different and position the car different in different parts of the race. Different calls.”

    A key call which Ferrari made strategically was to try stay out when heavy rain arrived late in the Australian GP.

    Hamilton and Charles Leclerc would rise up the order, but as the rain intensified, Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto crashed, the Safety Car came out, Ferrari brought their drivers in, and podium positions were reduced to running in the lower reaches of the top 10.

    “In the last sector, everyone was going off, but I was managing to hold it on,” said Hamilton, “so I was just passing people and once we got past the start line, it was dry, so I was like ‘this is fine for me, I can hold this out, only got a few more laps to go’.

    “But then it pelted down just in I think the last two laps, started coming down. That’s the moment we should have probably come in.”

    McLaren’s Lando Norris ultimately won the Australian GP, withstanding pressure from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a fight to the chequered flag as Mercedes’ George Russell completed the podium.

  • Bolt celebrated Olympic gold by doing different event behind closed doors

    Bolt celebrated Olympic gold by doing different event behind closed doors

     

     

    In another life, it’s not Usain Bolt the sprint king. It’s Usain Bolt the champion javelin thrower.

     

    After securing an historic ‘triple triple’ of nine Olympic gold medals, the athletics icon used his much-earned downtime at Rio 2016 to try his hand at a new event.

     

     

    Bolt won 100m, 200m and 4x100m gold at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, although one was retrospectively taken awayCredit: AFP

    After the action on the day finished in the Olympic Stadium in Brazil, Bolt picked up a spare javelin spear to see if he had it in him to dominate another event.

     

    A select few gathered around Bolt as he ran up and threw the spear where the best javelin throwers in the world had competed just days earlier.

     

    And for a novice, Bolt’s javelin throw wasn’t half bad as he recorded a distance of 56 metres.

     

     

    It’s an effort that was some way off challenging for gold in the men’s javelin at Rio 2016 with German Thomas Rohler securing the top prize with a mammoth 90.3m.

     

     

    However, there are other Olympic competitions where Bolt wouldn’t look out of place with the javelin.

     

     

    Bolt’s throw was longer than four competitors with the javelin in the men’s decathlon and a whole 10m ahead of the worst effort.

     

    If Bolt was competing in the women’s heptathlon then he would’ve won the javelin event as his score was just about longer than Latvia’s Laura Ikauniece-Admidina’s winning throw of 55.9m.

     

     

    Bolt, who retired from athletics in 2019, lost his ninth gold medal and thus lost his status as the only man to win 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay gold at three separate Olympic Games.

     

     

    That’s because he and his Jamaica teammates were stripped of their 4x100m relay title from Beijing in 2008 as Nesta Carter’s doping sample from the Games was found to have contained the stimulant methylhexaneamine, a banned substance, following a batch of retesting.

     

    After the ruling in 2017, Bolt said: “Initially I was disappointed, of course. But in life, things happen. I’m not sad… I’m just waiting to see what’s going to happen.

     

    It would be interesting to see Bolt balancing a javelin on his arms while doing his iconic celebrationCredit: AFP

     

    “But I gave up my medal.”

     

    Carter appealed the decision but was unsuccessful in his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, leaving Bolt on eight golds.

     

    But perhaps if Bolt was to revisit javelin, just maybe he could dream of getting that ninth Olympic gold once more.

     

    WATCH Gout Gout get just inches away from Usain Bolt’s 200m time in blistering sprint

     

  • 17-Year-Old Gout Gout Achieves What Usain Bolt & Noah Lyles Couldn’t After Queensland Championship

    Few sprinters ever surpass the 20-second barrier in the 200m, which is a defining characteristic of elite sprinting. Now, one Australian has done it for the first time in history. At the Queensland State Championships, teenage sprinting star Gout Gout once again lit up the track with an incredible time of 19.98 seconds (+3.6 wind) in the 200-meter event. He was once again compared to none other than Usain Bolt after the accomplishment solidified his status as one of Australia’s most promising sprinters. However, are these analogies warranted? At barely 17, may Gout already be among the best sprinters?

    For each sprinter, breaking the magical 20-second mark is a turning point in their career. Gout is only the seventh Under-20 athlete to achieve the feat, and at the age of just 17, fewer than 140 competitors in history have ever done so under any circumstances. At the ages of 18 and 20, respectively, Noah and Bolt ran their first track meets. With his current best legal time of 10.17 seconds, the Australian prodigy has made it known that he wants to become the second person to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m and the first Australian to legally surpass 20 seconds in the 200m under legal wind circumstances. His most recent accomplishment makes those objectives appear more achievable than before.

    The rarity of Gout’s accomplishment was brought to light by a recent Instagram post by Fitzdunk, a former professional track and field competitor. He now joins the rare group of 17-year-olds who have ran a 200-meter sub-20 time, including Usain Bolt and Erriyon Knighton. The greatest way to describe it was in Fitzdunk’s caption: “The 17-year-old who ran 19 seconds in the 200m club just got a new member 🤝.” For comparison, Erriyon Knighton ran 19.84 seconds on June 21, 2021, and Usain Bolt, then 17 years old, ran 19.93 seconds on April 11, 2004. Since breaking Bolt’s Under-16 200-meter world record last year with a timing of 20.04 seconds, the 17-year-old Australian has been compared to Bolt.

    Spanish sprint coach Pau Fradera has even noted that Gout is technically superior to Bolt at the same age, praising his more controlled and efficient running style. Adding even more excitement to his meteoric rise, Gout has openly challenged reigning world champion Noah Lyles, expressing his desire to compete for Lyles’ titles. Rather than brushing off the challenge, Lyles welcomed it with enthusiasm, encouraging the young sprinter to chase his ambitions with full force.

  • What happened to the four sprinters Usain Bolt tipped to challenge him back in 2012

    What happened to the four sprinters Usain Bolt tipped to challenge him back in 2012

     

    Usain Bolt faced fierce competition during his sprinting career and once spoke on four other Olympians he felt would challenge him – and the quartet have gone on to have varying levels of success in their careers.

     

    Bolt is now retired but has cemented his reputation as potentially the greatest sprinter of all times after claiming gold medals at three different Olympics.

     

    The now 38-year-old burst onto the scene at Beijing 2008 by claiming gold in both the 100m and 200m events.

     

     

     

    Bolt then competed at London 2012 to win gold in both events once again, as well as being part of the victorious 4x100m Jamaican relay team to take his tally to five medals across only two Olympics.

     

    And Bolt further secured his legendary status by achieving yet another clean sweep in the same three events four years later at Rio 2016 to take his tally to an extraordinary eight Olympic golds.

     

    Bolt retired the following year as his final race at the World Athletics Championship ending in disappointment through injury after he suffered a hamstring problem during the 4x100m relay final.

     

     

     

    In 2012 when he became one of the stars of London 2012, Bolt name checked four other athletes he felt would be the ones to challenge him both then and in the years to come.

     

    These included his compatriots Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake, plus American duo Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin.

     

    Usain Bolt with Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake.

    Usain Bolt with Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake.

    Speaking to The Guardian’s Donald McRae in 2012, Bolt said: “For me, Yohan is going to be a great athlete and, so far, he has shown the potential to be that great. But I think, definitely, Tyson Gay is one of the fiercest athletes out there.

     

     

     

    “It’s not going to be him [Blake] alone. It’s going to be me, Asafa Powell, Tyson, Justin Gatlin and all these guys. It’s a packed race with top-class athletes so it will be a different level of competition for Yohan.

     

    “It’s going to take a lot of focus. And it’s going to cause a lot of stress. It will really test him as an athlete – and as a person overall. We’ll see how good he is.”

     

    What happened to the four sprinters Bolt predicted to be world stars?

    The four athletes Bolt mentioned back in 2012 have gone on to have careers of different outcomes and fortunes.

     

     

     

    Gay won a silver medal as part of the American 4x100m relay team, behind Bolt and Jamaica.

     

    However, Gay was stripped of this medal after he tested positive for a banned substance and had a bronze medal stripped from him as he and the American 4x100m relay team were disqualified due to a baton exchange infraction involving Mike Rodgers and Gatlin.

     

    Controversial athlete Gatlin has been banned twice owing to doping, but had five Olympic medals to his name.

     

    Three of these came at Athens 2004, winning gold in the 100m, silver in the 4x100m and bronze in the 200m.

     

     

     

    Gatlin also won bronze in the 100m at London 2012 and silver in the same event at Rio 2016, behind Bolt.

     

    Blake took the silver medal behind Bolt at London 2012 in both the 100m and 200m, but was part of the victorious Jamaican 4x100m relay team.

     

    And Blake repeated the feat along with Bolt, Powell and Nickel Ashmeade at Rio 2016.

     

    Powell’s only Olympic medal came in that event, after he and the 4x100m relay team were disqualified from the event at Bejing 2008 despite claiming victory when Nesta Carter tested positive for a prohibited substance.

     

     

  • Suns Dominate Raptors With 129-89 Victory

    Suns Dominate Raptors With 129-89 Victory

    The Phoenix Suns bounced back from their recent loss to the Los Angeles Lakers with resounding success, defeating the Toronto Raptors 129-89 on Monday night. It was the largest margin of victory for the Suns this season, showcasing their effective play before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at the PHX Arena. Devin Booker led the charge with 27 points, contributing significantly to a second-quarter surge the Raptors could not overcome.

    After suffering a 107-96 defeat at the hands of the Lakers, where they were missing key player LeBron James, the Suns demonstrated their resilience by responding with one of their most dominant performances of the year. The victory effectively lifted the Suns’ record to 32-37, leaving them just one game behind the Dallas Mavericks for the last play-in spot in the Western Conference.

    The game saw seven Suns players score in double figures, with rookie Ryan Dunn contributing 17 points off the bench, followed closely by Tyus Jones with 15 points. Superstar Kevin Durant added 14 points, and the bench players made notable contributions as well, totaling 35 points against Toronto’s 16.

    Suns Coach Mike Budenholzer praised his players, particularly highlighting the defensive strategies employed during the match. Phoenix’s ability to limit Toronto to just 39 points during the first half showcased their defensive prowess. They outscored the Raptors 39-11 during the second quarter, which proved pivotal for the outcome of the game.

    The Suns’ powerful surge began with strong performances from players like Royce O’Neale, who scored 11 points along with 10 rebounds. Cody Martin and Oso Ighodaro also made their presence felt, contributing to the team’s score and energy levels. Meanwhile, the Raptors struggled significantly, with Scottie Barnes leading their scoring effort with 16 points.

    Toronto started the game strongly, initially taking the lead with sharp three-point shooting, but the Suns quickly regained control. By the end of the first quarter, the Raptors had managed to lead 29-24; this, combined with momentum buildup and effective three-point shooting, allowed Phoenix to take control of the game.

    “We had a strong second quarter, which really changed the game for us,” Budenholzer stated, emphasizing the importance of the team’s depth and preparation.

    The Suns were playing without guard Bradley Beal, who sat out due to injury. Beal suffered a left hamstring strain during the previous game against the Lakers and will miss at least one week. He has now missed 21 of the Suns’ 69 games this season. Collin Gillespie started for Beal, marking his first career start. Budenholzer expressed optimism about Beal’s recovery, stating, “We’ll evaluate him in one week.”

    With Beal’s absence, the Suns have had to adjust their offensive strategies, but Monday’s win shows how well the team can rally together without their star player. The players are adapting, showing grit and determination as they vie for one of the coveted play-in spots as the playoffs approach.

    The Raptors appeared to be affected by missing key players too, including RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick, both sidelined with injuries. Toronto’s missed opportunities meant they struggled to keep pace with the Suns, who played aggressively and maintained control throughout the match.

    Looking forward, the Suns will attempt to carry this momentum forward when they face the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. This will be another chance for them to solidify their position as they push for playoff contention. With only 13 games remaining this season, every win counts as they inch closer to playoff hopes.

    Despite the disappointing loss, the Raptors still managed notable performances. Immanuel Quickley wrapped up with 15 points along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists, showing flashes of his potential. It was these individual highlights against the backdrop of team struggle which defined the Raptors’ evening.

    Overall, the win not only reflects the Suns’ depth and drive, but also their ability to bounce back from adversity. The significant triumph over the Raptors serves as both motivation and affirmation of their capabilities as they aim for the postseason.

  • Detroit Lions free agent contract details: Roy Lopez, Grant Stuard

    Detroit Lions free agent contract details: Roy Lopez, Grant Stuard

     

    A full breakdown of the finances for Detroit Lions free agency signings Roy Lopez and Grant Stuard.

     

    It’s always important not to overreact to initial contract terms when it comes to NFL free agency. With most news breaking via NFL agents, they tend to present the contracts with misleading numbers to boost the perceived value.

     

    Two more contract details are in for the Detroit Lions’ 2025 free agency class, and—again—some numbers were a bit fudged when originally reported.

     

    Here’s the full breakdown of the deals for nose tackle Roy Lopez and linebacker Grant Stuard.

     

    Base salary: $1.33M (fully guaranteed)

    Signing bonus: $2M

    Active roster bonus: $10,000 per game (up to $170,000)

    Cap hit: $3.5 million

    Additional: Lopez has $1.15 million in potential incentives. Per Wilson, those incentives are related to sacks, playing time, and playoff appearances

     

    Lopez’s signing displays an increased investment in the backup nose tackle job. Last year, the Lions signed Kyle Peko to a one-year, $1.21 million deal to be the backup. Lopez is getting nearly three times that, and it’s fully guaranteed.

     

    In my opinion, this signifies two things: Lopez is set to have a significant defensive role rotating with veteran nose tackle DJ Reader, and Detroit prioritized getting younger at the position. Peko will turn 32 before the season starts. Lopez will be 28.

     

    Because all of Lopez’s contract is guaranteed for injury, expect him to be a roster lock—which is undoubtedly bad news for 2023 third-round pick Brodric Martin, who has yet to earn a defensive role through two seasons.

     

    The initial report of Lopez’s deal was a one-year, $4.45 million contract, but that total value will only be reached if Lopez hits all of the aforementioned incentives.

     

    Base salary: $1.15M (fully guaranteed)

    Signing bonus: $350,000

    Cap hit: $1.7 million

    This is about as straightforward as a contract can get. Stuard’s contract is fully guaranteed, which gives him a good shot to make the roster because releasing him would not save Detroit any cap space. That said, $1.7 million is not too restrictive either. If Stuard doesn’t win a roster spot, it’s not exactly a huge dead cap hit.

     

    If you view Stuard as a replacement for Jalen Reeves-Maybin, the Lions saved some money here. If the Lions had just kept Reeves-Maybin on the roster, he would have cost $4.25 million against the cap. With him now released, he does still carry $2.25 million in dead cap. However, even when you combine that with Stuard’s $1.7 million cap hit ($3.95), it’s saving the Lions $300,000 in cap space, and—like at nose tackle—the Lions are now significantly younger at the position (Stuard is 26, Reeves-Maybin is 30).

  • Bruce McAvaney’s touching moment with Gout Gout after ‘extraordinary’ run

    Bruce McAvaney’s touching moment with Gout Gout after ‘extraordinary’ run

     

     

    Gout Gout is on the precipice of world domination and doyen of Australian sports broadcasting Bruce McAvaney isn’t about to miss out on the teenager’s rise to stardom.

     

    Gout stunned the athletics world again on the weekend, posting a pair of sizzling 200m times in the Queensland athletics championships in Brisbane.

     

    Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

     

    On Sunday, the 17-year-old dominated in the heats, with his run clocking 20.05, the fastest recorded time over 200m this year — eclipsing Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba 20.13 in Texas last month.

     

    Second place in Gout’s heat on Sunday, Zaine Leigh, posted 22.22 seconds, showing just how ahead Gout is from his nearest rivals.

     

    With a legal wind of +1.2 metres per second at his back, Gout again bettered the Australian open record in the 200m – the 20.06 set by Peter Norman at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City that he broke in December.

     

    After destroying his rivals in the heat, it appeared he still had more to give and there was every chance he could crack the 20-second mark later on Sunday. And that he did with an unbelievable 19.98 in the final.

     

    There were jubilant scenes at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre as the crowd watched on in awe as Gout proved again he is one of the hottest prospects in world athletics.

     

    Also on hand was none other than McAvaney, the legendary athletics commentator who famously called Cathy Freeman’s victory in the 400m at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

     

    Bruce McAvaney and Gout Gout embrace after Gout Gout won the Men 200m Under 20 Final during the Queensland Athletics Championships.

     

    McAvaney embraced Gout after his run and the broadcasting legend exchanged a few words with the teenager in touching scenes.

     

    “It’s an extraordinary moment in Australian athletics, we’ve waited for this,” McAvaney said.

     

    “Wind assisted, yes, but it doesn’t matter (when you get) to see someone break 20 seconds.

     

    “He’s a precious talent and we’ve got so much to look forward to. We’ve seen something today that all of us here will remember forever.”

     

    The ABC’s Jessica Stewart posted on X: “A hug from the legendary Bruce McAvaney, who was in the stands to watch Gout run today..special moment here at QSAC, thousands in complete awe.”

     

    “I had an unsteady start, and to be honest, after that I didn’t really feel like running,” Gout said.

     

    “But it felt pretty good. I came off the bend and I just kept sending it. I felt the wind behind me, so I was like, let me just use it. And then I saw the clock, and when it got rounded down (to a sub-20 time), I just couldn’t be happier.”

     

    Bruce McAvaney congratulates Gout Gout on his run.

     

    Gout meets the Aussie broadcasting GOAT.

     

    “I felt literally free,” Gout said post-race.

     

    “I had 80-metres left to go, and I thought, let’s just send it. And only from then did I believe I had a chance of going sub (20 seconds).”

     

    The teenager celebrated by hugging his coach Di Sheppard and he was mobbed by other competitors at the meet who were clamouring for an autograph and selfie.

     

    “It feels great because I’ve been at that stage, watching Usain Bolt on the news and just getting goosebumps,” Gout said.

     

    “Giving people goosebumps, it definitely feels great and I wish I can continue giving people more goosebumps that’s for sure.

     

    “In my heat, there was no crowd, so when I came out (for the final) from warming up, I looked up behind me and there was this huge crowd. It just helps me fun faster, for sure.”

     

    Gout Gout celebrates with his coach Di Sheppard after winning the Men 200m Under 20 Finals.

     

    Gout Gout was flying in his 200m races.

     

    Gout Gout of Tigers Athletics Club takes photos with competitors and fans after winning the Men 100m Under 20 Finals.

     

    The Ipswich Grammar School student is just the seventh athlete aged under 20 to break the 20-second barrier over 200m.

     

    Gout has already dipped under the 20.16 qualifying time for September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and is going from strength to strength after training with Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles in the US.

     

    He will next compete at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne as part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold on March 29.

  • Knicks storm back to beat Miami 116-95 and send Heat to their 8th straight loss

    Knicks storm back to beat Miami 116-95 and send Heat to their 8th straight loss

     

    New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, March 17, 2025, in New York.

    New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, March 17, 2025, in New York.

     

    New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, March 17, 2025, in New York.

     

    New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, March 17, 2025, in New York.

     

     

    New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) is surrounded by Miami Heat defenders, including center Bam Adebayo (13) and guard Tyler Herro (14), during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

     

    New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) is surrounded by Miami Heat defenders, including center Bam Adebayo (13) and guard Tyler Herro (14), during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

     

    New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa, left, drives to the basket past Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

     

    New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa, left, drives to the basket past Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

     

     

    NEW YORK (AP) — Mikal Bridges scored 28 points, Josh Hart tied a franchise record with his eighth triple-double this season and the New York Knicks beat Miami 116-95 on Monday night, sending the Heat to their first eight-game losing streak of coach Erik Spoelstra’s career.

     

    Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points for the Knicks, who fell behind 12-0, then completely turned around the game after Towns scored 15 straight in the second quarter. New York won the season series 3-0 for its first sweep of Miami since 1992-93.

     

    New York led by six midway though the third quarter when the game was delayed for the court to be cleaned after actor and comedian Tracy Morgan vomited while sitting courtside. The Knicks outscored the Heat 24-6 after the delay to lead 88-64 heading into the fourth.

     

    Duncan Robinson scored 22 points for the Heat (29-39), who lost a game they led by double digits for the 18th time this season. The eight-game skid is their longest since March 2008, the last season under Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley before Spoelstra took over.

     

    Takeaways

    Heat: Miami has blown leads against everybody but specialized in that against the Knicks this season. The Heat led by at least 13 in all three losses.

     

    Knicks: New York predicably looked low on energy early after finishing a five-game West Coast trip late Saturday night. But Towns, Bridges and Hart were more than enough to revive a team playing without injured All-Star Jalen Brunson.

     

    Key moment

    Miami led 31-18 after getting the first basket of the second quarter. Towns then scored the next 15 points, including three 3-pointers and a pair of dunks, to give the Knicks their first lead at 33-31.

     

    Key stat

    Hart had 12 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to tie Hall of Fame guard Walt Frazier’s total of eight triple-doubles in 1968-69. Hart has 14 triple-doubles with the Knicks, which ranks fourth in franchise history.

     

     

     

  • MN: Chelsea’s Leao bid to Milan talisman – Pulisic will soon sign well-earned renewal

    MN: Chelsea’s Leao bid to Milan talisman – Pulisic will soon sign well-earned renewal

     

     

    After the renewal of Tijjani Reijnders, more good news should come soon for AC Milan as Christian Pulisic is ready to put pen to paper.

     

    Pulisic is one of the leaders at Milan and in his second season at the club he is cementing his status as the decisive man even during a turbulent campaign. His goals in the derby and propensity to bail the team out of a tough moment are a testament to his quality and attitude.

     

    According to MilanNews, the current contract that ties Pulisic to Milan has an expiration date of 30 June 2027 with a salary of around €4m net per season. The Rossoneri management sought to extend that initial four-year deal, and negotiations in recent weeks have been positive.

     

    Indeed, the winger should soon pen a new contract until 2029 (unless the FIFA rules change in the coming months) with a salary increase of around €5m net per season plus bonuses. A fair recognition for a player and a professional who has always put Milan before everything and everyone.

     

    Pulisic could have arrived at Milan in the summer of 2022, when Chelsea phoned late in the window with an offer for Rafael Leao. The Diavolo wanted €100m to sell the Portuguese, so the Blues offered Pulisic – who they valued at €65m – plus cash.

     

    A year later, the former Dortmund man arrived at Milan for €18m plus bonuses. He got his 50th goal contribution since arriving (30 goals, 20 assists) in the 2-1 win over Lecce, and in just 88 appearances, with his market value rocketing again.

  • Costacurta worried about Milan’s €32m man Gimenez: “He seems absent”

    Costacurta worried about Milan’s €32m man Gimenez: “He seems absent”

     

     

    Alessandro Costacurta has expressed his concern about AC Milan’s winter signing Santiago Gimenez, who he does not believe gets involved in the game enough.

     

    After a red hot start with his new club, Gimenez seems to be struggling to find the net a bit more. His last goal came against Feyenoord during the second leg of the Champions League play-off tie, back on February 18.

     

    In certain situations he has been unlucky, such as hitting the post and having a goal called off against Lecce for a marginal offside, yet there must also be some concern about the €32m investment given he was supposed to be the answer to the scoring woes.

     

    Speaking in the Sky studios, former Milan defender Costacurta expressed his opinion on Gimenez as his drought in front of goal reached one month. MilanPress relayed his comments.

     

    “He doesn’t seem like a driving force to me, perhaps when he arrived he was enthusiastic at the beginning, there was that adrenaline in having changed teams but then he dropped along with Milan, him like the others. The Mexican is often out of the Rossoneri’s game, he seems absent in every action,” he said.

     

    Another thing of note in the win over Como on Saturday was that Tammy Abraham came off the bench and contributed more, getting a lovely assist for Tijjani Reijnders’ winning goal.