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Fred VanVleet posted team highs of 22 points and nine assists while Jalen Green chipped in 19 points, including a key 3-pointer down the stretch, as the visiting Houston Rockets held on for a 112-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
The Rockets claimed their third consecutive road win while sweeping the three-game season series from the Kings, who were led by Domantas Sabonis (25 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, two blocks) and Malik Monk, who scored 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. De'Aaron Fox added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Kings.
Sacramento closed within 105-100 on a Fox 18-footer before Green answered with a 3-pointer with 74 seconds left. Alperen Sengun (14 points) then fouled Sabonis with 39.1 seconds to play. Sabonis made a pair of free throws to make it 108-102, but that was the closest the Kings would get.
Sengun came down with an apparent right knee injury after committing the foul and had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair.
Houston extended its 86-73 lead entering the fourth to a 17-point advantage before the Kings came roaring back behind Sabonis and Monk. Both scored four points during a 10-0 run that pulled the Kings within 101-96 with 3:20 left, and the Rockets needed a short jumper from Jabari Smith Jr. (10 points, 11 boards) to end a scoreless drought that lasted just over four minutes.
After shaving what was once a 13-point deficit to single digits by halftime, the Rockets seized control with a 21-3 third-quarter run. While Sengun came alive in the paint, Houston used its defense to fashion the rally.
The Rockets forced eight turnovers in the third, scoring 11 points off those Sacramento miscues. The Kings also shot just 4-for-16 overall in the period.
Sabonis dominated early and was the fulcrum behind the Kings' 10-0 run that gave them a 14-7 lead. Sabonis just missed recording a double-double in the first quarter, posting eight points and nine rebounds.
Sacramento extended what was a seven-point advantage entering the second period to a 54-41 lead while Houston went cold. However, the Kings had to settle for a 59-54 edge at the break.
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Dallas Mavericks $18 million guard named trade candidate
Dallas Mavericks point guard Jaden Hardy is going into his fourth season in the NBA, but his first on a three-year, $18 million extension. Despite signing an extension, Hardy's fit with the Mavericks has been questioned, especially with D'Angelo Russell coming to the team in free agency. Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley listed Hardy as a trade candidate. Could Hardy be traded by Mavs? "Buoyed by both a rapid first step and a typically accurate three-point shot (career 38.1 percent), he can look like a three-level-scorer-in-training. Inconsistency is an issue, and decision-making can be, too, but again he's 23 years old and has just a hair over 2,600 minutes on his NBA odometer. That's to be expected," Buckley wrote. "On a team without championship-or-bust pressure, Hardy would've spent the past three seasons working his way through growing pains and learning from his mistakes. Instead, he's been too often tethered to the bench and sure seemed like he was surpassed on the backcourt pecking order by Brandon Williams late last season. "Hardy, who's probably a better off-guard than lead guard, now faces an uncertain future with an organization that seems less than fully committed to his development. He hasn't done enough in three seasons to drive up his trade value, but it still seems like other, more forward-thinking franchises would covet him more than his current club." Hardy is on such a team-friendly deal that it's hard to envision the Mavs moving on from him anytime soon. He's a solid guard off the bench that can make the occasional spot start for a Mavs backcourt that won't have Kyrie Irving for much of the upcoming season. Hardy may be floated in trade rumors over the next few years with his movable contract, but the Mavs shouldn't trade him unless a really good offer comes to the table.
New York Yankees Trade Slew of Prospects in Pair of Impactful Deadline Moves
The New York Yankees shook up the trade deadline in a big way on Thursday, acquiring a pair of leverage relievers as they attempt to get back to the World Series this season. Fortifying the back-end of the bullpen, New York brought in former All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates and hard-throwing Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies. In exchange, they gave up a slew of prospects, including Roc Biggio and Ben Shields (Bird), and Rafael Flores, Edgleen Perez and Brian Sanchez (Bednar). In total, the Yankees traded away two prospects from their MLB Pipeline Top 10: Flores was eighth and Biggio was 10th. Perez was ranked 14th, while Shields was 28th. Sanchez was unranked. With regards to Flores, he is a catcher and a first baseman who had been predicted to make his debut in 2026. The Yankees clearly found him expendable given the presence of Ben Rice and Austin Wells. Biggio, an infielder, is blocked currently by Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base and Ryan McMahon at third. New York entered play on Thursday at 59-49 and in the first position in the American League wild card chase. They advanced to the World Series last season, but have slumped this season, losing holding hold in the American League East. The Yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium before heading to Miami for a weekend series with the suddenly surging Marlins. They'll then play the also surging Texas Rangers next week. Texas is currently in the third wild card spot in the American League, tied with the Seattle Mariners. Both teams are 57-52. Related MLB Stories UPDATE on SHOEHI: Shohei Ohtani left the game as a pitcher on Wednesday night. Here's the latest. CLICK HERE: DEATH OF A LEGEND: Ryne Sandberg, the Baseball Hall of Famer, passed away at the age of 65 this week. CLICK HERE: SKENES IS UNREAL! Paul Skenes is making rarely before seen history for the Pirates, doing it on both a season-long and career-long level. CLICK HERE:
Final Fantasy Meets Dragon Quest In Legendary Crossover
What’s more iconic than Cloud wielding a Buster Sword? How about Cloud rocking Erdrick’s Armor and wrecking Dragon Quest monsters all in one event? That’s right, Square Enix has decided to gift us mere mortals a crossover between Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis and Dragon Quest Tact. This limited event runs from July 30 to August 6, and if you’re not hyped yet, you might want to check your gaming pulse. But what does this actually mean for you? Well, buckle up, because this crossover is more than just a gimmick. It’s packed with so much fan service that even Sephiroth might need a break from brooding to join in on the fun. The Chaos, The Loot, The Slimeocalypse First off, Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is about to host King Slime and his slimy gang because, apparently, even pixels deserve to meet their heroes. Players get to battle these absurdly charming enemies and earn event-exclusive gear worthy of both franchises. We’re talking Cloud stepping into Erdrick’s Armor and wielding what is unquestionably one of the most epic swords in gaming. Aerith, not to be outdone, is gracefully handed the Supreme Sage Garb because, you know, killing enemies and looking fabulous is her thing. And don’t even get me started on Sephiroth taking a cosplay detour as Psaro. Imagine one iconic villain dressing up as another. It’s meta. It’s chaotic. It’s everything we didn’t know we needed. Players, Prepare for Nostalgia Overload The crossover also throws in daily free draws, a boatload of loot, and arguably, a reason to ditch any other mobile games cluttering up your screen time. There’s something inherently rewarding about collecting crossover goodies that scream, “I was there when Square Enix decided Cloud needed an RPG glow-up with Dragon Quest-style flair.” Some highlights from the event include: Daily Free Ten Pulls (Spoiler Alert: Prepare for gacha heartbreak… and joy). Crossover Missions loaded with rewards like Red XIII’s Great Sabrecat Collar (think of it as drip for your furry companion). Event Bonuses that range from refined Mythril piles to rare crossover wallpapers that scream, “Yeah, I’m that gamer.” And, oh yeah, login bonuses stacked higher than a stack of pancakes at a chocobo-catered brunch. Why This Crossover Actually Slaps If you’re rolling your eyes at the idea of yet another crossover event, it’s time for a quick reality check. This isn’t just a lazy cash-grab with recycled assets and buzzwords. It’s a love letter to fans of both games, blending two legendary worlds into an experience that’s as ridiculous as it is satisfying. Think of it like a bizarre but beautiful RPG fever dream where Dragon Quest monsters challenge Final Fantasy heroes, and the only loser is anyone who missed out. Plus, when was the last time you saw King Slime try to flex on Aerith? Exactly. Is this Peak Mobile Gaming? Now, will this event cure all your gaming ailments? Probably not. Will it load up your plate with so much nostalgia and fan-service-packed chaos that even your backlog of unplayed games might get jealous? Absolutely. Square Enix’s crossover brilliance usually lies in its ability to unite wildly different fandoms and generate hype that turns even the most casual gamer into a midnight-grinding, loot-obsessed fan. And if that’s not peak mobile gaming, what even is? Final Thoughts Events like these are why gaming history has a vault packed with “Hype Levels Overload” moments. Whether you’re here for the loot, the cross-franchise cosplays, or just some good old-fashioned Dragon Quest monster smashing with your favorite FF cast, this event delivers on every front. Hot tip? Set your alarms. Grab your popcorn. And pray that RNG is in your favor for those 10 pulls. Trust me, you’ll want bragging rights when someone asks why Cloud suddenly looks like he walked out of a Dragon Quest cutscene. Remember, this party only lasts for a week. Don’t sleep on it, because King Slime certainly won’t. Be sure to visit Total Apex Gaming for more game-related news and content.
Yankees beef up bullpen by acquiring ex-Pirates closer
Much-needed bullpen help has arrived for the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are acquiring Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar in exchange for three prospects, with the full trade first reported by MLB Network's Jon Morosi. The Yankees entered play on July 31 with a 4.24 bullpen ERA, which ranked 21st in MLB. Therefore, David Bednar represents a significant upgrade for a unit that sorely needed one. It's been a remarkable in-season turnaround for Bednar, who is only a few months removed from posting a 5.14 ERA in nine April appearances and nearly being ousted as Pirates closer. Since then, the veteran reliever has excelled, with a 1.61 ERA from May 1 onward. Pittsburgh turns Bednar, who has one year of arbitration remaining, into three solid prospects, headlined by catcher Rafael Flores, the Yankees' No. 8 prospect. The Pirates also received 14th-ranked prospect Edgleen Perez, who receives high marks for his bat as a catcher. The third prospect heading to the Steel City is outfielder Brian Sanchez, who is unranked but currently at Single-A. The price for controllable relievers has been high, to be sure. But it was one the Yankees needed to pay with both Luke Weaver and Devin Williams struggling, while righty Fernando Cruz tends to injury. With Bednar now in the fold, New York can feel much more secure in closing out games, leaving the others to set up roles as the Yankees attempt to chase down the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays. Meanwhile, this trade marks the second significant piece that the Pirates have moved leading up to the deadline, with third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes being dealt to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
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