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LeBron’s Lakers beat Grizzlies 111-101, take 2-1 series lead

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James and the Lakers came out in front of this franchise’s first sellout playoff crowd in a decade and immediately produced one of the greatest first quarters in team history. Los Angeles leaped to a 35-9 lead amidst one raucous ovation after another from fans eager for a return to playoff success.Not even Ja Morant could carry the Memphis Grizzlies all the way back to prevent the Lakers from seizing Game 3.Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds, James finished with 25 points after Dillon Brooks was ejected for striking him in the groin, and Los Angeles survived Morant’s 24-point fourth quarter to beat the Grizzlies 111-101 Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.Rui Hachimura scored 16 points in another strong effort off the bench for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who came out impressively in this long-awaited return to a true playoff atmosphere for a franchise with 17 titles. Los Angeles tied an NBA record by taking...

Gervonta Davis knocks out Ryan Garcia with body shot in 7th

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gervonta Davis’ left uppercut to Ryan Garcia didn’t seem to do much damage initially.Garcia remained on his feet before backing up a few steps. Then he went to his right knee, and suddenly a highly anticipated boxing match was over, the lightweight bout ending at 1:44 of the seventh round Saturday night.“I didn’t think that body shot would end it, but I saw his facial expression and that’s what made me take it to him,” Davis said. “It was a good shot, for sure. I thought he was going to get up, but I like to play mind games, so when he was looking at me, I was looking at him trying to tell him, ‘Get up!’ He just shook his head, ‘No.’”Davis improved to 29-0, with all but two of his victories by knockout. It was the first defeat for Garcia, who won 19 of his first 23 fights by KO.Davis also sent Garcia to the mat with a roundhouse left in the second round, and spent most of the rest of the fight working the body. The strategy worked for Davis, a 28-year-ol...

A deeply divided Israel limps toward its 75th birthday

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Orit Pinhasov strongly opposes the Israeli government’s proposed judicial overhaul, but you won’t find her anywhere near the mass protests against the plan. She says her marriage depends on it.Pinhasov’s husband sits on the opposite side of Israel’s political divide, and joining the protests will only deepen what she says already are palpable tensions in her household.“I don’t go to the demonstrations not because I don’t believe in them,” she said. “I don’t go in order to protect my home. I feel like I’m fighting for my home.”As Israel turns 75 on Wednesday, it has much to celebrate. But instead of feting its accomplishments as a regional military and economic powerhouse, the nation that arose on the ashes of the Holocaust faces perhaps its gravest existential threat yet — not from foreign enemies but from divisions within.For over three months, tens of thousands of people have rallied in the streets against what they see as an assault by an ultranationalist, religi...

German government, unions reach pay deal for public workers

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German government officials and labor unions have reached a pay deal for more than 2.5 million public-sector workers, ending a lengthy dispute and heading off the possibility of disruptive all-out strikes.The ver.di union had pressed for hefty raises as Germany, like many other countries, grapples with high inflation. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said as the deal was announced early Sunday that “we accommodated the unions as far as we could responsibly do in a difficult budget situation.”The deal entails one-time payments totaling 3,000 euros ($3,300) per employee, with the first 1,240 euros coming in June and monthly payments of 220 euros following until February. In March, regular monthly pay for all will be increased by 200 euros, followed by a salary increase of 5.5%. The deal runs through to the end of 2024.Ver.di originally sought a one-year deal with a raise of 10.5%. The deal was reached on the basis of a proposal by arbitrators who were called in after talks...

Fire breaks out at Disneyland’s Tom Sawyer Island attraction

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — An area of the Disneyland resort in California has caught fire, according to a news report.The fire broke out Saturday night during the “Fantasmic” show in the Tom Sawyer Island section of the resort in Anaheim, KABC-TV reported.The Anaheim Fire Department told the station there have not been any injuries reported. The extent of the fire damage was not immediately known, KABC reported.Tom Sawyer Island has been part of Disneyland since 1956, allowing fans to enter the world of one of the main characters of Mark Twain’s book, KABC reported.The Associated Press

Police investigate fatal crash on Troy-Schenectady Road

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

NISKAYUNA, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Police are currently investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Troy-Schenectady Road in Niskayuna on Saturday afternoon. The crash took place around 3:30 p.m. near Algonquin Road. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Multiple first responder units and police departments responded. According to the police, the driver of one of the vehicles succumbed to their injuries at the scene.The occupants of the second vehicle were transported to the Albany Medical Center for treatment. The Niskayuna Police Department and the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate. Any witnesses are asked to contact Detective Paul Daly at (518)386-4582.

Massive fire breaks out at Disneyland park

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

A massive fire broke out at Disneyland Saturday night as packed crowds were enjoying the theme park.The fire ignited on Tom Sawyer Island during the Fantasmic! nighttime water and fireworks held on the Rivers of America.Citizen video captured by parkgoers shows massive flames fully engulfing Maleficent's dragon prop on stage. The flames first ignited from the dragon's face before spreading to the rest of its body. Heavy plumes of dark smoke were been billowing from the stage and were visible throughout the park.Video showed cast members evacuating packed crowds out of the waterfront viewing area and nearby attractions as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.A massive fire broke out during a nighttime show at Disneyland Park on April 22, 2023. (Citizen) A massive fire broke out during a nighttime show at Disneyland Park on April 22, 2023. (Brenda Coutiño)A massive fire broke out during a nighttime show at Disneyla...

Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies play in game 4 of series

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

Colorado Rockies (6-16, fifth in the NL West) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (10-12, fourth in the NL East)Philadelphia; Sunday, 12:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Jose Urena (0-3, 9.82 ERA, 2.32 WHIP, nine strikeouts); Phillies: Zack Wheeler (1-1, 4.79 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 23 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -291, Rockies +239; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies take a 2-1 advantage into the next game of the series against the Colorado Rockies.Philadelphia has a 5-4 record at home and a 10-12 record overall. Phillies hitters have a collective .335 on-base percentage, the eighth-best percentage in MLB play.Colorado has a 3-9 record on the road and a 6-16 record overall. The Rockies have the 10th-ranked team batting average in the NL at .245.Sunday’s game is the fourth time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Alec Bohm has three doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI for the Phillies. Nicholas Castellanos is 13-for-40 with two doubles...

Dodgers play the Cubs after Outman’s 4-hit game

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (11-11, second in the NL West) vs. Chicago Cubs (12-8, third in the NL Central)Chicago; Sunday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (3-1, 2.52 ERA, .92 WHIP, 26 strikeouts); Cubs: Marcus Stroman (2-1, .75 ERA, .92 WHIP, 25 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -141, Cubs +120BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Chicago Cubs after James Outman had four hits against the Cubs on Saturday.Chicago has a 6-6 record at home and a 12-8 record overall. The Cubs have the second-best team on-base percentage in MLB play at .354.Los Angeles has a 5-5 record on the road and an 11-11 record overall. The Dodgers have a 5-2 record in games when they did not give up a home run.The teams play Sunday for the seventh time this season. The season series is tied 3-3.TOP PERFORMERS: Patrick Wisdom has four doubles, a triple and nine home runs for the Cubs. Cody Bellinger is 14-for-37 with three doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games...

Gooch survives mid-round collapse to win LIV Australia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:27:04 GMT

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Talor Gooch saw his double-digit overnight lead almost evaporate but rallied late to win the inaugural LIV Australia tournament Sunday at the Grange Golf Club.After two bogey-free 10-under 62 rounds, Gooch shot a 1-over 73 to clinch his maiden LIV Golf tournament victory by three strokes from a fast-moving Anirban Lahiri. As tournament leader, the 31-year-old American began his round on the first hole Sunday in the shotgun-start format and posted a birdie at the par-3 fifth but his bogey-free run finally ended at the par-5 seventh.He dropped a shot on the eighth and the slide worsened with a double-bogey at the 10th, which saw his lead over a fast-moving Lahiri cut to just two strokes with still eight holes to play.That was as close as it got as Gooch rallied with birdies at the 11th and 13th and made par at the par 4 18th to clinch the victory and $4 million of the $20 million purse.Lahiri shot 65 to finish second at 16-under, two shots ahead of a four-wa...