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NBA Preview: San Antonio Spurs (14-45) at Dallas Mavericks (31-29)

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Both the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs have something to prove in the final quarter of the season, which begins on Thursday in Dallas when the teams return to action following the All-Star break.

The Mavericks are attempting to move up the Western Conference standings as they quickly adjust to Kyrie Irving, who was brought to Dallas to play with Luka Doncic and make the most of the remaining 22 games.

Dallas plays the first game of a six-game homestand on Thursday, and the Spurs play their seventh consecutive road game after dropping the first six games of their annual Rodeo Road Trip.

The Mavericks begin the stretch run having lost three games in a row, the most recent of which was a 118-109 defeat in Denver on February 15 that dropped them to sixth place in the Western Conference. Dallas is only two games ahead of 12th-place Portland and two games behind third-place Sacramento.

Dallas lost to Denver with 37 points scored by Doncic, 17 by Christian Wood, 11 by McKinley Wright IV, and 10 by A.J. Lawson. Dallas was without Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. because of injuries to their lower backs.

Since the trade, Doncic and Irving have only played together twice, and they took advantage of their All-Star break to get to know each other better.

After dropping a franchise-record 14 games in a row prior to the week-long break, the Spurs needed it to regroup. Regardless of the faint, its second this extended period of something like 11 misfortunes, San Antonio is as yet not the most horrendously terrible group in the NBA; Houston holds that dubious distinction, trailing the Spurs by half a game.

On February 15, San Antonio lost to Charlotte 120-110. Malaki Branham scored 23 points to lead the Spurs. Keldon Johnson added 21, Doug McDermott scored 17 points off the bench, and Zach Collins scored 14. San Antonio had six players score in double figures.

In the final six minutes of the game, San Antonio only managed to score eight points.

Doncic scored 51 points to lead Dallas to a 126-125 victory in the Alamo City on December 31, their only meeting this season.

NBA Preview: New Orleans Pelicans (30-29) at Toronto Raptors (28-31)

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Raptors hope All-Star break did not stifle momentum, host Pelicans The Toronto Raptors will play the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night with the goal of continuing where they left off during the break.

The Raptors will finish a five-game homestand on Thursday after winning two straight and five of their last six games.

After dropping two of their previous three games, including a road defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 15 (120-102), the Pelicans will be looking to rebound from their recent struggles.

On February 14, the Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 123-113 to advance to the break. In his third game and second start with Toronto, Jakob Poeltl, who was acquired from the San Antonio Spurs before the deadline for trades, scored 30 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked six shots.

Against the Pelicans, the Raptors will likely have some injured players back in the lineup.

With Gary Trent Jr. (calf strain), who has missed the past two games, and Thaddeus Young (knee strain), who left the game against the Lakers because of a sprained wrist, O.G. Anunoby is expected to return to the lineup.

The Raptors, according to their coach Nick Nurse, appeared “good, healthy, and ready to go.”

He hasn’t decided which player will start against the Pelicans yet.

The Raptors were in the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, ranked 10th going into the break. They are four and a half games behind the sixth-place New York Knicks and two games ahead of the Chicago Bulls.

With star forward Zion Williamson out for several more weeks due to a hamstring strain, the Pelicans went into the winter break in seventh place in the Western Conference.

The Pelicans are 10-19 in their remaining 12 games played on the road.

The Pelicans traded Josh Richardson for Devonte’ Graham before the deadline.

On November 30, the Pelicans defeated the Raptors 126-108 at home.

NBA Preview: Memphis Grizzlies (35-22) at Philadelphia Sixers (38-19)

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Before the All-Star break, the Philadelphia 76ers won their final four games, and on Thursday, they play the Memphis Grizzlies. They want to keep the momentum going.

All-Star Joel Embiid, who scored 32 points for Team LeBron at the All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, will continue to be the driving force behind the Sixers’ success.

With an average of 33.1 points per game, Embiid ranks second in the league, just behind Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, who scores 33.3 points per game.

Despite persistent left foot soreness that has bothered him for several weeks, Embiid decided to play Sunday. As the playoffs get closer, this will be something to focus on.

Since 2001, the Sixers have not made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. They can get there with a lot of talent, led by Embiid and James Harden.

With the exception of a 119-109 defeat to the Boston Celtics, the Grizzlies had won three of their previous four games before the All-Star break.

The All-Star Game featured two Grizzlies for the first time ever, with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. competing.

That’s also because the Grizzlies have won this season, going 35-22. They reached 35 wins before the All-Star break for the third time in franchise history.

En route, the super skilled Grizzlies have acquired a standing as an actual group which different groups have reprimanded.

It is abundantly clear that the Grizzlies are one of the league’s deepest teams and have a real chance of winning the championship. When Kevin Durant was sent to the Phoenix Suns in a huge deal and Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, it became a much more difficult task.

The Grizzlies are confident that they will be able to present their case effectively beginning on Thursday against the Sixers.

NBA Preview: Detroit Pistons (15-44) at Orlando Magic (24-35)

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The Orlando Magic will host the Detroit Pistons on Thursday to kick off their return from the NBA All-Star break at home.

After winning four of their previous six games, Orlando lost to Toronto by a score of 123-113 heading into the break.

In the loss, Wendell Carter Jr. scored 26 points, which was his second-highest total of the season. He also had six rebounds and five assists. With 24 points off the bench, Jalen Suggs scored his second most points of the season.

Paolo Banchero returns after a strong performance in the Rising Stars Game, scoring 13 points against Toronto, nearly seven fewer than his team-leading 19.9 points per game. Despite this, he continues to struggle offensively. In the semifinals of the showcase for young talent on All-Star weekend, Banchero scored nine of Team Pau’s 40 points.

For January, Banchero was named Rookie of the Month. He leads the league in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and third in assists with 3.6 per game among the league’s freshman class.

Even though Orlando is 13th in the Eastern Conference, it is only four games behind Toronto for the 10th spot that qualifies for the play-in round of the postseason. Since the beginning of 2023, the Magic have won 11-11 basketball games, or.500.

Detroit, on the other hand, returns to competition with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, having lost five of six games prior to the break.

The Pistons lost 127-109 to Boston to end the first half, the second of three consecutive road games that end in Orlando.

James Wiseman, the second-round selection in the 2020 draft, made his debut for Detroit during his trip to Boston. After missing the entire 2021-22 season due to a knee injury, Wiseman struggled to score in 21 games this season with Golden State.

After a delayed trade that also included Portland and Atlanta, he ended up with the Pistons. When Gary Payton II failed a physical, Wiseman’s debut was slowed down.

On the roster, Wiseman joins the likes of rookies Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren and third-year players Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart. Cade Cunningham, a second-year guard, made 12 appearances and averaged almost 20 points per game before suffering a shin injury that ended the season.

Detroit is set to sign R.J. Hampton, a former Magic player who Orlando acquired after the deadline for trades, as a third-year guard to improve depth.

NBA Preview: Boston Celtics (42-17) at Indiana Pacers (26-34)

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On Thursday night, point guard Tyrese Haliburton and the host Indiana Pacers will take on forward Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics, two of the NBA’s brightest young stars.

In Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, Tatum, 24, set a record by scoring 55 points and was awarded the game’s MVP. This season, he is averaging 30.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA.

On Sunday, 22-year-old Haliburton took part in his first All-Star Game. He leads Indiana in scoring (19.9) and is fourth in assists (10.1) in the NBA.

He could become the first Indiana player to lead the league in assists, breaking Mark Jackson’s franchise record of 8.7 assists per game set in 1997-98.

In Indiana’s 117-112 road victory over Boston on Dec. 21, Haliburton had eight assists and scored a team-high 33 points. Before defeating the Celtics in the second half, the Pacers outscored the Celtics by 42 points in the first quarter and held a 30-point lead. With 41 points, Tatum led the Celtics in the loss.

Since Joe Mazzulla was promoted to full-time head coach and the interim title was removed from his title, this will be the team’s first game. After Ime Udoka was suspended during training camp, he took over as head coach interim.

The NBA’s youngest head coach is 34-year-old Mazzulla, who worked as an assistant under Udoka last season.

He appreciates what the Celtics have accomplished thus far this season; Boston had the best record in the Eastern Conference going into the All-Star break. However, he also emphasized that the objective is to play better in the second half of the season.

Buddy Hield scored 27 points and made six 3-pointers in Indiana’s 117-113 victory over Chicago. With his final 3-pointer in that game, he set a franchise record for made 3-point field goals set by Reggie Miller in a single season. With 22 games remaining, he has made 230 three-pointers.

Malcolm Brogdon, who was traded to the Celtics by the Pacers last summer, will play for the first time in Indiana. Brogdon is a strong contender for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award because he is averaging 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.

NBA Preview: Denver Nuggets (41-18) at Cleveland Cavaliers (38-23)

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The NBA’s stretch run begins Thursday after the All-Star Game, and for the Denver Nuggets, this means securing the Western Conference’s top seed for the first time in franchise history.

With 23 games remaining, Denver holds a five-game lead over the West, including four in the loss column. On Thursday night, the host Cleveland Cavaliers play the first of those 23 games.

Before losing by six points to Philadelphia on Feb. 15, Cleveland had won seven consecutive games. Donovan Mitchell, the team’s All-Star starter and leading scorer with 27.3 points per game, has been on fire recently, averaging 33.3 points over the last four games.

Although Mitchell did not play in the Nuggets’ 121-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets on January 6, he is ready for the rematch against a team he saw frequently while playing for the Utah Jazz.

After five seasons with the Jazz, Mitchell’s Cleveland Cavaliers are fourth in the Eastern Conference and are chasing the Milwaukee Bucks in the Central Division.

Since 1997-98, Cleveland hasn’t made the playoffs without LeBron James on the team, but Mitchell says they could get homecourt advantage in the first round. Many didn’t know the Cavaliers could make the end of the season games, and presently arriving at the subsequent round is a reasonable objective. They have the Eastern Conference’s second-best home winning percentage (.806).

While Nikola Jokic is vying for his third straight MVP award, the Nuggets have a real chance of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in their history. Jokic is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game, making him the third player in NBA history to do so if his pace continues.

He would also become the first player since Larry Bird, who won three MVPs in a row from 1984 to 1986.

Denver is poised for a deep run after two short playoff runs made possible in part by Jamal Murray’s absence. Jokic is more focused on winning. After missing six games because of inflammation in his right knee, Murray is expected to play again, but Aaron Gordon, who has a left rib contusion, is expected to miss the fourth straight game.

Even though the Nuggets have their doubters, they are confident in their system thanks to the additions of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown in the offseason and the signing of Reggie Jackson last week as Murray’s backup.

NFL Transactions 2-22-23

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The following are the NFL transactions for Wednesday, February 22. Transactions will be published each day after they are circulated to NFL clubs. This public version will include waiver requests, assignments via waivers, terminations, free agent signings, reserve list and practice squad additions and deletions, and trades. 

WAIVER SYSTEM TRANSACTIONS


TERMINATIONS OF VESTED VETERANS

TENNESSEE
    Bullock, RandyKTexas A&M 
    Cunningham, ZachLBVanderbilt 
           Failed Physical   
    Lewan, TaylorTMichigan 
           Failed Physical   
    Woods, RobertWRSouthern California 



ACTIVE LIST ADDITIONS


FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

DALLAS
    Vizcaino, TristanKWashington 

INDIANAPOLIS
    Toliver, KevinDBLouisiana State

NFL Network Provides Exclusive Live Coverage of 2nd Annual HBCU Legacy Bowl

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HBCU Legacy Bowl Saturday, February 25 at 4:00 PM ET –

Steve Wyche, Charles Davis, Bucky Brooks & Sherree Burruss on the Call

“The Godfather vs. the Gunslinger” Documentary Airs During ‘NFL Total Access’ at 3:30 PM ET –

Highlights Iconic 1984 Alcorn State vs. Mississippi Valley State Matchup

NFL Network provides exclusive live coverage of the second annual HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday, February 25 at 4:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Steve Wyche, analysts Charles Davis and Bucky Brooks, and sideline reporter Sherree Burruss call the game from Tulane University’s Yulman Stadium, which showcases the best NFL draft-eligible players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

For more information on this year’s HBCU Legacy Bowl, visit HBCULegacyBowl.com. Additionally, the HBCU Legacy Bowl rosters for Team Gaither and Team Robinson were announced last week.

Editions of NFL Total Access air at 3:30 PM ET and 7:30 PM ET on NFL Network, hosted by Mike YamScott Pioli and Adam Rank.

During the pregame edition of NFL Total Access, the documentary “The Godfather vs. the Gunslinger” airs, providing a look at the iconic 1984 matchup between powerhouse HBCU teams Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State. Known as the HBCU “Game of the Century,” undefeated Alcorn State – led by head coach Marino Casem, a.k.a. the Godfather, and featuring future NFL star Issiac Holt – played equally undefeated Mississippi Valley State – led by head coach Archie Cooley, a.k.a. the Gunslinger and featuring future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. The documentary reunites Holt and Rice, as well as NFL Executive Vice President, Football Operations Troy Vincent and Black College Football Hall of Famer Willie Totten, to relive the matchup that would go down in HBCU football history.

“The story of ‘The Godfather vs. the Gunslinger’ celebrates the innovation from HBCUs that is often overlooked,” said Shayna Hayes, NFL Head of Content, Entertainment and Initiatives. “We tell these stories and give these legends their flowers so that they are never forgotten.”

“This documentary is not only a celebration of the rich history of HBCU football, but also a tribute to the skills and talents of these four legendary figures,” said Walt Brock, ‘The Godfather vs. the Gunslinger’ Director and co-founder of Crossovr Collective.

A version of “The Godfather vs. the Gunslinger” is currently available on NFL.com’s HBCU landing page NFL.com/hbcu.

“It is imperative as we talk about the game that we share and drive awareness to not only the Historically Black Colleges, but to the men who didn’t have an opportunity like some of us did,” said Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President, Football Operations. “We can’t talk about the game of football without acknowledging the greats from our Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”

“The Southwestern Athletic Conference has a remarkable legacy of producing some of the most iconic names in the history of intercollegiate athletics,” said Dr. Charles McClelland, SWAC Conference Commissioner. “This legacy is undoubtedly filled with historic games and matchups that will span the ages of time. We’re extremely excited that our rich history will continue to be highlighted and shared throughout past, present and future generations. The National Football League has exhibited an unwavering commitment towards spotlighting the legends and legendary moments that have helped define our league. We couldn’t be more excited to continue to partner with them to bring much deserved recognition and awareness to the proud history of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the 12 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in which we serve.”

WNBA: Beatrice Mompremier Signs Qualifying Offer with Atlanta

Mompremier will be the eighth player from the 2022 roster to return to the Dream’s training camp

ATLANTA, Ga. – Forward Beatrice Mompremier has accepted her Qualifying Offer and signed a contract with the Atlanta Dream, the organization announced today.

Mompremier averaged 2.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 21 games with the Dream in 2022. With UNI Győr in Hungary this WNBA offseason, she has averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in 23 games.

Boxing Preview: Four Boxers lay unblemished records on the line Wednesday, February 22

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The fight card is loaded for ProBox TV’s “Future Stars on Wednesdays,” when four young fighters, each yet to taste defeat, will each fight their toughest competition to date. Vansiclen, Valsaint, Lopez and Valle will each lay their unadulterated records on the line Wednesday, February 22 at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida, live on ProBoxTV.com and the ProBox app.

Doors Open at 6 pm, First Bell at the ProBox Events Center is at 7 pm and the live broadcast begins at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT.

The following are the fights that will be streamed live. Claudia Trejos, color commentator for ProBox TV, adds remarks.

10 Rounds Super Middleweights TV #4 (170lb)
Manuel “El Meno” Gallegos, 20-1, 16 KOs Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

Richard Vansiclen, 13-0, 6 KOs, Seattle, Washington

Vansiclen made his ProBox TV debut on September 9, his most recent fight, and came away with a unanimous decision win against his toughest opponent to date, Hakim Lopez, who was unbeaten in thirteen fights. Gallegos will be fighting for the first time outside on Mexico. He had won his first seventeen pro fights prior to a unanimous decision setback in 2020, and has since won two.

6 Rounds Middleweights Future Stars TV

#3 Darelle Valsaint, 6-0, 5 KOs, 2020 Tokyo Olympian, Orlando, Florida

Lucas de Abreu, 14-2, 11 KOs, Former Brazilian Champion, Sau Paulo, Brazil

Valsaint made it to the quarter-final in the 2020 Olympic games and has become a ProBox TV staple, having fought three of his six professional fights on the platform. His last three fights have been against tough competition – opponents with records of 12-1, 6-1, 23-2, a rarity for such a young fighter. De Abreu won the Brazilian super middleweight title in 2019. He most recently fought for the World Boxing Association Fedacaribe super middleweight title, losing a decision.

Said Claudia Trejos: “DARELLE VALSAINT is perhaps the best fighter at ProBox. He is still a prospect and his (most recent fight and) win vs veteran Paul Mendez was a good measure of his No Fear attitude. He was not intimidated by Mendez’ extensive experience.”

6 Rounds Super Middleweights Future Stars TV

#1 Najee Lopez, 5-0, 5 KOs, Atlanta, GA

Cristian Rios, 23-16-3, 7 KOs, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The heavy-handed Lopez made his pro debut as heavyweight and has yet to be involved in a professional fight going to the scorecards. His fights have ended in rounds 1, 2, 2, 4 and 3. As an amateur, Lopez was 2015 National Junior Olympics Champion, 2018 Georgia State Golden Gloves Champion and 2018 National Golden Gloves runner-up. Lopez will have his hands full going up against the rugged and experienced Rios, the former Argentina Federation middleweight champion who successfully defended that title twice.

“NAJEE LOPEZ comes from the last Chance Tournament. After fighting at 186-190, he is now fighting at supermiddleweight. I want to see how well he does at 168,” added Trejos.

6 Rounds Super Featherweights Future Stars TV

2 Marques Valle, 7-0, 6 KOs, Wesley Chapel, Fla

Jarrod Tennat, 8-1, 4 KOs. Los Angeles, California

Valle made his pro debut on September 4, 2020 with a first round knockout and has since fought every fight at ProBox Events Center on ProBox TV. In. his first six fights, only one made it past the first round (round 2). In his seventh fight, and most recent, the opponent was disqualified in round two for excessive holding.

“MARQUES VALLE is a big Puncher,” said Trejos’