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The Indiana Pacers dropped a 126-104 game to coach Kenny Atkinson's Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, their first loss of what is now a 2-1 series in favor of the Pacers.
The Pacers faced a startling 21-point halftime deficit after an abysmal second quarter that saw them get outscored 34-13 by their visitors to the Northeast.
Following the game, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle shared his raw thoughts on the disappointing outcome, as Indiana failed to capitalize on a chance to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
"This was a very poor effort from the beginning of the game...Clearly I didn't have these guys ready for this game," Carlisle said afterward.
The veteran coach refused to point the finger at the officials, instead choosing to focus on he and his players' shortcomings.
"This has zero to do with the officials. This is us not playing with enough posture, poise, whatever you want to call it.
"We got to fight harder. We didn't fight hard enough. They did," Carlisle added.
Carlisle and the Pacers have a day to get right before Sunday's matchup at 8 p.m. ET in Indianapolis, a pivotal contest that will decide who has momentum heading back to Cleveland for Game 5 on Tuesday.
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The 'NBA 20-season club' quiz
Kyle Lowry checked in for the end of the Philadelphia 76ers 129-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets and he joined an elite group once he stepped on the hardwood. The Villanova product and former 24th-overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft became the 12th player in NBA history to play in 20 NBA seasons. It was Lowry’s first game action of the season for the 5-1 Sixers, and the Philadelphia-native made his lone field goal attempt in garbage time. “Who would have thought it for Kyle Lowry 20 years ago, right?” said head coach Nick Nurse after the win. While Lowry doesn’t have much of a role on the floor for Philadelphia at this stage of his career, Nurse said he’s still a valuable asset to the team. “He’s done a great job being part of our leadership group,” Nurse said of Lowry. “When the players are pulling for him out there, you can tell he’s well-liked and well-respected.” Which brings us to today’s quiz. How many of the 12 NBA players to play in at least 20 seasons can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Maxx Crosby sends inspiring message after latest Raiders loss
The Las Vegas Raiders lost a tough game to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, but Pro Bowl pass-rusher Maxx Crosby is maintaining a positive attitude amid a difficult season. The Jaguars beat the Raiders 30-29 in a thrilling Week 9 overtime game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. The Raiders took the lead with just under 2 minutes remaining when star tight end Brock Bowers caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence then led a field goal drive to force OT. The two teams traded touchdowns in OT, with Jacksonville getting the ball first and scoring. Rather than kicking an extra point to tie the game with 16 seconds left in the extra period, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll went for a two-point conversion and the win. Smith’s pass to Tyler Lockett fell incomplete, sealing the win for Jacksonville. After the game, Crosby shared an uplifting message for fans via social media. “Raider Nation I Love Yall With Everything In My Heart Soul. Yall Deserve Better. Stay As One, It Will Change,” Crosby wrote on X. The Raiders fell to 2-6 with the loss. Their first season under Carroll has been a disappointment thus far, but Crosby wants everyone to know he is not discouraged. Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension with the Raiders back in March. He is one of the best defensive players in the NFL and has 5 sacks in 8 games this season. There has been some talk of Crosby being traded ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline, but that is highly unlikely to happen. Crosby has reportedly told the team he does not want to go anywhere, and his message following Sunday’s loss is consistent with that.
Five reasons why the Dodgers will three-peat as World Series champions
Game 7 of the World Series isn't even 24 hours old, and already the business of baseball has shifted to the 2026 season. Scores of players officially became free agents Sunday, while others are choosing whether to exercise or decline options for next season. But one thing is for sure: The Los Angeles Dodgers are the overwhelming favorite to win a third straight World Series. This might be obvious because the Dodgers will likely run MLB's highest payroll onto the field on Opening Day. But there is substance to go with the big bucks. Here are five reasons why the Dodgers will become the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees to win three titles in a row: 1. The full Shohei Ohtani Shohei Ohtani didn't make his season debut as a pitcher until June 16, 73 games into the Dodgers' season, following his second major elbow surgery. Since it was impossible to send him out on a rehab assignment without removing him from the MLB roster, he rehabbed his way back by slowly building up. Well, that won't be necessary in 2026. Ohtani will be a full go right from Opening Day. He pitched just 47 innings over 14 regular-season starts, but was under no limits in the postseason, as we saw with the right-hander starting Game 7 on three days' rest. During the regular season, Ohtani posted a 2.87 ERA with 1.7 walks and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. 2. Starting rotation is stacked Ohtani probably won't even be the Dodgers' Opening Day starter, however. That honor should go to Yoshinobu Yamamoto following his World Series MVP performance. From there, the starting five will be Tyler Glasnow, two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki. As always, health will be the key for the rotation, especially with Glasnow, but there is plenty in reserve in Tony Gonsolin, Emmet Sheehan, Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone. 3. Mookie Betts is completely healthy One reason the Dodgers finished with the third-best record in the NL this season was because of the health of shortstop Mookie Betts to begin the season. Betts had an undisclosed illness that took nearly 20 pounds off his already-slight 180-pound frame. He didn't hit above .258 in any month, with a low of .208 in July, before finally getting back on track in August and September. Betts finished with a slash line of .258/.326/.406 while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at short, but still short of his career slash line of .278/.363/.505. There is nothing more dangerous than a driven Betts, so he could put up big numbers in 2026. 4. Room for more players While some pending free agents — think Enrique Hernandez and Miguel Rojas — will return, the Dodgers may be making free-agent additions and even a trade or two as they shed some contracts this offseason. A big outfield bat would be the biggest priority, likely a left fielder. A wild card in the outfield scenario would be whether the Dodgers opt to play Ohtani in the outfield on occasion. Ohtani had played in just seven games in the outfield, all coming in 2021, when he was in right field for six games and left for one. This could allow Ohtani to DH on the day before and after he pitches and give the other veterans a chance to just hit when he plays the outfield. 5. Dave Roberts at the helm Managing a superstar-studded roster like the Dodgers takes a unique skillset, one that Dave Roberts has navigated pretty well in recent years. He now has three World Series rings in six years. Roberts has shown the ability to adjust to circumstances, like last year with a bullpen-centric pitching staff, to this year with the bullpen a liability and the rotation a strength. Also, his feel for the game was on display with the insertion of Rojas into the lineup for Games 6 and 7 and putting Andy Pages in for defense in the ninth inning of Game 7 before his amazing catch.
Marcus Spears jokes about Howie Roseman after latest Eagles trade: ‘I hate him’
The Philadelphia Eagles got the ball rolling over 24 hours before the NFL trade deadline. Jaelan Phillips will join the Eagles via the Miami Dolphins, adding an impact pass rusher. It’s the type of move we have come accustomed to from Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman in recent years. ESPN’s Marcus Spears is fed up with Roseman, at least when he has his Dallas Cowboys fan hat on. Spears is just like plenty of other people in Dallas, watching their bitter NFC East rivals continue to push for Super Bowls. “I hate Howie,” Spears said. “I hate him. I’m so sick of him. I’ve been sick of him for a couple years now… Howie knows I don’t hate him. I actually admire the way he goes after winning championships and does not wait. You think about the Eagles for the last four years — going to Super Bowls, having opportunities to win them. He’s made a significant trade, at some point, in all of those seasons.” Roseman lifted the Lombardi Trophy in February, then watched the banner be unveiled at Lincoln Financial Field before the Eagles and Cowboys played. Philadelphia emerged as a winner, starting their Super Bowl defense 1-0. Now, the record sits at 6-2 overall in a wide-open NFC, and Roseman appears to have his sights on another championship. Spears has nothing but respect for the way Roseman conducts business. You have to imagine many across the league feel the same way. But they may just express it in the same way Spears did, coming at it with a little jealousy. Dallas Cowboys yet to make move ahead of NFL trade deadline This one may even sting a little more because Dallas is searching for a player who can get after quarterbacks too. Philadelphia wound up sending a third-round pick to Miami, something the Cowboys do not currently have. The Pittsburgh Steelers have that due to the George Pickens trade. Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones hinted, if not told us, something is on the way soon. When speaking to Stephen A. Smith on the radio, Jones claimed a trade is done and will be released on Tuesday, just hours after the team plays on Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals. “Immediately it will have him on the field and it will address some of the things that have been our shortcomings,” Jones said via Jon Machota of The Athletic.
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