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On Tuesday night, the Dallas Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs by a score of 133-129.
The Mavs were playing their fourth game since Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending injury.
Kyrie Irving is the definition of strength #MFFL pic.twitter.com/J8DMb1BkYi
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 4, 2025
After Monday's game, Klay Thompson spoke about Irving when he met with the media.
Thompson: "It hurt, obviously with Kyrie being out for 10-12 months... We know he's going to come back stronger. Or if not, at the same level he was playing... I'm not worried about him, because I've seen his work first hand and it's some of the best I've ever seen."
Irving finished his 14th NBA season with averages of 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while shooting 47.3% from the field and 40.1% from the three-point range in 50 games.
Irving wrote (on March 8): "Thank you GOD.
I understand that my calling on earth is bigger than basketball and it’s not just about me. This moment was for all of my brothers and sisters who also put GOD first.
I know how powerfully unified we are through our unwavering faith.
I am that I am
Hélà"
Thank you GOD.
— Kyrie (@KyrieIrving) March 8, 2025
I understand that my calling on earth is bigger than basketball and it’s not just about me. This moment was for all of my brothers and sisters who also put GOD first.
I know how powerfully unified we are through our unwavering faith.
I am that I am
Hélà ♾ https://t.co/mDJHMBLNoz
As for Thompson, he finished Monday's game with 26 points, two rebounds and three assists while shooting 8/14 from the field and 3/8 from the three-point range in 36 minutes of playing time.
The Mavs are the 10th seed in the Western Conference with a 33-33 record in 66 games.
They are 3-7 over their last ten.
On Wednesday, the Mavs will play the Spurs (again) in San Antonio.
More must-reads:
- Report: Teams reluctant to discuss key offseason move with Bulls
- Warriors 'unlikely' to pivot from Jonathan Kuminga this summer
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Boston Celtics Surprisingly Announce Release Of Player
Miles Norris is coming off his rookie season in the NBA where he appeared in three games for the Boston Celtics. The 25-year-old had averages of 2.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 22.2% from the field and 28.6% from the three-point range. On Sunday, the Celtics announced that they had waived Norris. Via Bobby Manning of Celtics on CLNS: "Surprised to see Miles Norris go after a strong finish to last season with Maine. Could really shoot the ball. #Celtics betting on a more rounded game in RJ Luis, whose upside flashed at St. John's before a rough combine left him undrafted. Luis is 23 this season." Norris had a very strong year in the G League where he averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 45.7% from the field and 39.5% from the three-point range in 30 games (27 starts).
Notable PFF grades, standouts from Vikings' preseason win over Texans
The big storyline from Saturday's Vikings preseason opener was how J.J. McCarthy looked in his first game since tearing his meniscus a year ago. But what the preseason is really about are younger players and guys on the roster bubble looking to make an impression. After some starters played a bit in the first quarter, it was the second and third and fourth-stringers who got the rest of the work in the Vikings' 20-10 win over the Texans. Let's take a look at the Pro Football Focus grades from the game to see who stood out. Top 5 grades on offense (minimum 10 snaps) 1. RG Joe Huber — 94.7 (55 snaps) 2. C Michael Jurgens — 80.0 (43) 3. WR Jordan Addison — 79.6 (12) 4. LT/RT Walter Rouse — 78.4 (36) 5. WR Myles Price — 76.8 (15) Huber, an undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin, played more snaps than any other Viking in this game, so his team-best 94.7 grade is incredibly impressive. He was PFF's highest-graded rookie across all eight games in the NFL on Saturday. The catalyst was his 93.9 grade in the run blocking phase. Huber still faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, but he's a lock to at least stick around on the practice squad if the Vikings try to get him through waivers. Jurgens and Rouse also impressing is an encouraging sign for the Vikings' offensive line depth. Those two second-year players should have a good shot to make the roster alongside veteran backups Justin Skule and Blake Brandel if the Vikings keep nine offensive linemen. Price, who has had a solid camp, caught a couple passes from Max Brosmer in the fourth quarter, including a touchdown. He feels like a strong practice squad candidate. Two other standouts on offense who finished just outside of the top five were RB Zavier Scott (75.9) and QB Sam Howell (75.8). Scott racked up 51 yards from scrimmage on eight touches and stated his case to be the Vikings' No. 3 running back this year. Howell was 11 of 13 for 105 yards and at least temporarily quieted some of the doubts about his ability to be an adequate backup. The five lowest grades on offense went to WR Silas Bolden, WR Thayer Thomas, WR Dontae Fleming, TE Giovanni Ricci, and RG Will Fries (all on fewer than 20 snaps). Top 5 grades on defense (minimum 10 snaps) 1. OLB Gabriel Murphy — 80.2 (30 snaps) 2. DL Elijah Williams — 79.9 (21) 3. CB Reddy Steward — 76.5 (11) 4. S Tavierre Thomas — 76.5 (32) 5. CB Ambry Thomas — 75.4 (12) Murphy had 1.5 sacks and a team-high five pressures on just 19 pass-rush snaps. The second-year undrafted player out of UCLA was fantastic for the Vikings and looks like the obvious candidate to be the team's No. 4 outside linebacker this season, which is a role that comes with real playing time. "Gabe’s been a guy that has shown up daily at camp, I've highlighted it in front of the team," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. "He's, it feels like a man on a mission right now, in a lot of ways. And I'm just proud of him, proud of where he's at in camp right now, and now he's just gotta set his sights on continuing to compete." Williams was also outstanding. He had four pressures on 15 pass-rushing snaps. Williams, who starred at FCS Morgan State, signed with the Vikings after attending their rookie minicamp as a tryout player. "I remember vividly (assistant D-line coach) Marcus Dixon coming to me after day one of that tryout," O'Connell said. "And I always like to check in with all the coaches. 'Anybody catch your eye for me to look at tomorrow?' Just observing (Williams), the effort, had a little pop to him throughout the drills, and that's really what's shown up throughout training camp. He sits in the first row of my team meetings every single day. There's a lot to like about him, and it was good to see him make some plays tonight, too." Steward, Tavierre Thomas, and Ambry Thomas are veteran defensive backs hoping to make the roster. Another player in that category, safety Kahlef Hailassie, had two interceptions and nearly made the top five with a 75.1 grade. The five lowest grades on defense went to S Theo Jackson, LB Eric Wilson, S Jay Ward, DT Levi Drake Rodriguez, and CB Jeff Okudah. Most of those guys have had strong training camps, so there's no need to put much stock into this one-game sample. More Vikings coverage
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott makes big proclamation he probably can't keep
Quarterback Dak Prescott seems optimistic about the 2025 Dallas Cowboys. Perhaps he's a little too optimistic. On Saturday night, Mike Leslie of WFAA-TV in Dallas shared a clip of the Cowboys QB chatting with Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke. At the end of the conversation, Prescott issued a bold prediction. "We'll meet y'all in the NFC Championship," he said. Prescott's comment may have been tongue-in-cheek. Throughout the offseason, however, the 32-year-old QB has made it clear he believes Dallas is a championship contender. After the Philadelphia Eagles won their second Super Bowl in February, Prescott said there isn't a massive gap between the Cowboys and their NFC East rival. Despite Prescott's confidence, it's hard to envision the Cowboys threatening the Eagles or the Rams as one of the NFC's top teams. The Cowboys went 7-10 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in 2024, missing nine games. The 2023 second-team All-Pro could rebound with new star wide receiver George Pickens. Still, a coaching change may make that more challenging. This offseason, Dallas rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer replaced Mike McCarthy. While it's just preseason, the team looked sloppy in the coach's first game. During the 31-21 road loss to the Rams, the Cowboys committed 11 penalties for 83 yards. The contract standoff with EDGE Micah Parsons, who's entering the final year of his rookie deal, is lingering over the team. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated they hadn't made any progress before Saturday's loss. "I'm glad to see [Parsons is] working out, in shape, and feels great, and so all of that's good," the owner told Kristi Scales of KRLD-FM in Dallas. "And I don't have anything to comment on." The Rams and Eagles, meanwhile, don't have as many problems as the Cowboys, making their path to a championship seem much easier. As of Sunday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook gives the Eagles the best odds (+360) to win the NFC and the Rams the fourth best (+950). The Cowboys have +2200 odds. Prescott should consider lowering expectations. It may be challenging for the Cowboys to make the playoffs this season, let alone the NFC Championship Game.
Yankees legend suffers major injury at team's Old-Timers' game
The New York Yankees brought back their Old-Timers' game for the first time since 2019, and it did not go well for one of the team's greatest all-time players. Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera suffered a torn Achilles while trying to chase down a fly ball. Rivera hit one time in the game and delivered a single off of former teammate Andy Pettite before injuring himself in the field. Rivera's agent said surgery will take place this week (via the Associated Press). It is not the first time Rivera has suffered a major injury while playing in the outfield. He tore his ACL during the 2012 season while shagging fly balls during batting practice and missed the remainder of that season. Rivera is one of the most decorated relief pitchers — and Yankees — in league history, finishing his career as Major League Baseball's all-time saves leader (652) while also having the honor of being the only unanimous Hall of Fame selection. He was also a part of five World Series-winning teams with the Yankees, including their back-to-back-to-back championship teams in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Saturday's Old-Timers' game celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 2000 team. While several teams have days to honor former players, and while some have the occasional game involving former players, the Yankees are the only team that routinely holds an actual game. It is typically one of the highlights of the regular season. Before the game, Rivera said he had planned to speak to the Yankees' current closer, Devin Williams, given his recent struggles coming out of the team's bullpen.
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