Tyrese Haliburton's full postgame press conference after his game-winner for the Indiana Pacers to go up 2-0 on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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The Boston Celtics wanted to keep Al Horford if at all possible this offseason. They love what he brings to the team both on the court and in the locker room. Despite that, the Celtics won't have Horford available next season. He has been stuck in free agency limbo, presumably waiting on the Jonathan Kuminga situation with the Warriors. That situation seems to be holding up several free agents, but it looks like Horford has made an official decision to sign with the Golden State Warriors for next season. More news: Celtics Legend Reveals Why Boston Won’t Take Step Back This Season Former Celtics center Al Horford will sign with the Warriors Horford has decided that he will sign a deal with the Warriors, according to NBA insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson. Horford continues to wait out the Kuminga situation, as expected. The Celtics certainly could have used Horford heading into next season because of how poor their center position is right now. They don't have a reliable starter at that spot. With Horford in Golden State, the Celtics will have to rely on newly acquired centers Chris Boucher and Luka Garza, plus incumbent Neemias Queta, to man that spot next year. It's unclear at this point which one will start. The Celtics might end up making a move at the trade deadline to get a new center if neither of them ends up working out at that spot. They really just need a center for the 2026-27 season. 2026-27 is when Boston believes they can go back to being a contender because Jayson Tatum will be fully healthy from the torn Achilles he suffered during the playoffs. More news: Celtics Insider Explains Why Joe Mazzulla is Facing Biggest Test Yet This Year Al Horford will try to win one more title without the Celtics This is likely going to be Horford's last season in the NBA, as he also contemplated retirement before making the decision to sign with the Warriors. He clearly thought Golden State offered him a better chance to win a title than Boston does. Horford has one championship in his long career, winning a title with Boston back in 2024. Adding one more would be a good way for him to go out. This past year with Boston, Horford averaged nine points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Latest Celtics News For more news and notes on the Boston Celtics, visit Boston Celtics on SI.
It is no secret that the relationship between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys is not on solid ground, but that does not necessarily mean it is tarnished beyond repair. On the latest episode of his podcast, which was released on Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter predicted that Parsons and the Cowboys are "headed towards divorce." Schefter said the two sides have not spoken since April and that it seems like a matter of when — not if — they part ways. Longtime NFL reporter Josina Anderson was told the situation is not quite that grim, at least from the Cowboys' perspective. Anderson reported on Tuesday evening that the relationship between Parsons and Dallas "has not deteriorated to the point of an imminent divorce." "I did not detect any obvious tones of concern in my sourced conversation when I recently asked about ESPN's Adam Schefter's report stating he sees 'these two sides headed towards a divorce, in time.' ... I just feel Dallas has so much history with protracted (and) sensitive negotiations, thus my current impression is the club remains unrattled, at this time," Anderson wrote in a post on X. Parsons is earning just over $24M in the final year of his rookie contract this season. The 26-year-old had 12 sacks in 13 games last season and has 52.5 sacks in 63 career games. Parsons is arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL when healthy. Although Parsons has formally requested a trade, the Cowboys maintain that they have no intention of dealing their four-time Pro Bowl defensive end. The only real leverage Parsons has is creating a headache in Dallas. He remains under contract, and the Cowboys also have the ability to use the franchise tag on him in each of the next two seasons. If Parsons were to sit out regular-season games, his contract would eventually toll. Even with Jerry Jones publicly taking shots at Parsons, one massive contract offer could change everything.
The New York Yankees are keeping their playoff hopes alive, but what happens when they get into the dance is what counts. And right now, the expectations are not very high. The Yankees once stood tall in the MLB, holding a seven-game lead in the American League East and being the clear favorites to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers for the World Series title. Since then, they've fallen to the verge of nonexistence in the postseason. They currently sit behind both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox, with little hope of climbing back into the leader's circle before the end of the regular season. A lot of this has to do with their pitching. Trying to find some sort of rotation that works, New York has tested the waters with just about everyone. But before the postseason, they have few answers. So little in fact, that they're ranked one of the worst playoff team rotations in the MLB. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter recently released his rankings for the MLB playoff rotations, and the Yankees sit 13th of 17 teams on the list. In his listing, he names Max Fried as the team's ace, with Carlos Rodon as another lock and Will Warren and Cam Schlitter as their Game 4 candidates in a series. "Fried had a 1.92 ERA through his first 17 starts and looked like one of the AL Cy Young front-runners, but the wheels have fallen off over the past two months. In his last seven starts, he has a 6.00 ERA and 1.56 WHIP, and he has completed six innings just twice during that span," Reuter writes. "Can he right the ship in time to pitch like the ace the Yankees were expecting when he inked an eight-year, $218 million deal?" The Yankees don't have answers seemingly anywhere. Since Fried and Luke Weaver have fallen off, the team's most consistent options have let them down. They have no closer with Devin Williams being more of a problem than a solution this season, and Luis Gil may be their only hope as they close out the regular season. A turnaround is needed, because right now, the Kansas City Royals (14), New York Mets (15), Cleveland Guardians (16), and St. Louis Cardinals (17) are the only bullpens believed to be worse heading into the playoffs. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! Don't Let Yankees Fallen Closer Fool You Yankees Infielder Joins Exclusive MLB Club Yankees Injured Veteran Returns for Revenge Game Yankees Sweep Cardinals With Ninth-Inning Rally Yankees Controversial Shortstop Out for First Time in 46 Games
Right-hander Johan Oviedo will get another chance to stick in Pittsburgh's rotation on Wednesday afternoon when he makes his second start of the season for the host Pirates against the Toronto Blue Jays. Oviedo (0-0, 18.00 ERA) will oppose Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22) in the decisive game of a three-game series. It will be Oviedo's first start since Aug. 4 when he made a brief return to the majors after sitting out more than a year following Tommy John surgery. Oviedo pitched only one inning against the San Francisco Giants that day and struggled, throwing 43 pitches and allowing two runs on two hits and three walks despite striking out three. He was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis the next day. Over the past two weeks, Oviedo made two starts at Triple-A and threw 8 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned), six hits and three walks while striking out 15. "He went down and handled what he needed to with the competitiveness that he consistently shows," Pirates manager Don Kelly said on Tuesday. "I'm just really proud of the way he handled that because it's not easy to do. Going through that whole journey to get back here, and then you pitch one inning and it doesn't go the way you planned and you find yourself back in Triple-A." Oviedo, who has a 13-25 career record and made 58 starts and 72 appearances overall before being sidelined following the 2023 season, was projected to open the 2025 campaign in the Pirates' rotation. However, a lat injury in spring training delayed his return by months. Oviedo is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two career starts against Toronto. Pittsburgh will need to make a roster move to clear space for his recall from the minors prior to the Wednesday game. Oviedo will face a Toronto lineup that regained its form on Tuesday during a 7-3 win. Alejandro Kirk and George Springer each homered for the Blue Jays, who hold a five-game lead in the American League East. Toronto manager John Schneider said that Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who sat out on Tuesday after exiting the Monday game with left hamstring tightness, was feeling better. However, it's likely the first baseman will not return to the lineup on Wednesday. "It was just inflammation, which is good," Schneider said before the Tuesday game about the results of the MRI Guerrero underwent earlier in the day. On the mound, Bassitt will be looking for his first win since July 23 against the New York Yankees. He is entering what could be a crucial start as he tries to retain a spot in the rotation with the team debut of Shane Bieber looming on Friday. Bassitt last pitched on Friday against the Texas Rangers in Toronto. He allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings. Bassitt left with a no-decision in a game Toronto eventually won 6-5. Bassitt, who is 8-0 with a 2.73 ERA in 14 starts at home, has been a far different pitcher away from Toronto. On the road, he is 3-6 with a 6.39 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance. Bassitt, however, is a perfect 4-0 for his career with a 2.10 ERA in five starts against the Pirates.
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