NBA, players reach deal for a new labor agreement

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

The NBA will have labor peace for years to come.The league and its players came to an agreement early Saturday on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement, the NBA announced. It is still pending ratification, though that process is almost certainly no more than a formality.The deal will begin this summer and will last at least through the 2028-29 season. Either side can opt out then; otherwise, it will last through 2029-30.Among the details, per a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press: the in-season tournament that Commissioner Adam Silver has wanted for years will become reality, and players will have to appear in at least 65 games in order to be eligible for the top individual awards such as Most Valuable Player. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the National Basketball Players Association released specifics publicly.Another new part of the CBA will be a second luxury tax level that, when reached, wi...

San Diego State Aztecs take on the Florida Atlantic Owls in Final 4

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

Florida Atlantic Owls (35-3, 18-2 C-USA) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (31-6, 15-3 MWC)Houston; Saturday, 6:09 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: San Diego State -2.5; over/under is 131.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 18 San Diego State Aztecs take on the No. 25 Florida Atlantic Owls in the NCAA Tournament Final Four.The Aztecs’ record in MWC games is 15-3, and their record is 16-3 in non-conference play. San Diego State is 25-6 against opponents with a winning record.The Owls are 18-2 against C-USA opponents. Florida Atlantic is 27-3 against opponents with a winning record.TOP PERFORMERS: Adam Seiko averages 1.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, scoring 6.1 points while shooting 46.1% from beyond the arc. Matt Bradley is shooting 36.0% and averaging 11.0 points over the last 10 games for San Diego State.Johnell Davis is scoring 13.9 points per game and averaging 5.5 rebounds for the Owls. Alijah Martin is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Florida Atlantic.LAST ...

Verstappen takes pole position at F1 Australian Grand Prix

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Max Verstappen will have his best chance of claiming an inaugural Australian Grand Prix title after taking pole position in his Red Bull for Sunday’s third race of the Formula One season on the Albert Park circuit.Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is among rivals sharing renewed hope after the dominance Red Bull has had over its rivals was diminished during Saturday’s qualifying session.Verstappen, a two-time world champion, was not pleased with the performance of his RB19 despite setting a track record around the circuit on Saturday.After setting a lap record during practice earlier on Saturday, the drivers’ championship leader set a benchmark of 1 minute, 16:732 seconds in the final session of qualifying.“I have been on the podium once, but I want to be on a different step this time,” Verstappen said after claiming his first pole position in Australia.His teammate Sergio Perez, who sits just one point behind the Dutch driver in the championship, ...

NBA and National Basketball Players Association announce new tentative seven-year collective bargaining agreement

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA and National Basketball Players Association announce new tentative seven-year collective bargaining agreement.Source

Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers meet in game 2 of series

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (0-1) vs. Chicago Cubs (1-0)Chicago; Saturday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Brandon Woodruff (0-0); Cubs: Justin Steele (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -124, Cubs +105; over/under is 6 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.Chicago had a 74-88 record overall and a 37-44 record in home games last season. The Cubs pitching staff had a collective 4.01 ERA last season while averaging 8.6 strikeouts and 3.4 walks per nine innings.Milwaukee had an 86-76 record overall and a 40-41 record in road games last season. The Brewers pitching staff had a collective 3.85 ERA last season while averaging 9.5 strikeouts and 3.2 walks per nine innings.INJURIES: Cubs: Brandon Hughes: 15-Day IL (knee), Kyle Hendricks: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Seiya Suzuki: 10-Day IL (oblique), Codi Heuer: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ethan Roberts: 60-Day IL (elbow)Brewers: Aaron Ashby: 15-Day IL (labrum), Justin Wilson: 15-Day IL (elbo...

Pirates meet the Reds with 1-0 series lead

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) vs. Cincinnati Reds (0-1)Cincinnati; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Rich Hill (0-0); Reds: Nick Lodolo (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -148, Pirates +127; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates meet the Cincinnati Reds with a 1-0 series lead.Cincinnati had a 62-100 record overall and a 33-48 record in home games last season. The Reds slugged .372 as a team last season with 2.5 extra base hits per game.Pittsburgh had a 62-100 record overall and a 28-53 record on the road last season. The Pirates averaged 2.5 extra base hits per game, including 1.0 home run.INJURIES: Reds: Joey Votto: 10-Day IL (bicep/shoulder), Nick Senzel: 10-Day IL (toe), Tony Santillan: 15-Day IL (back), Justin Dunn: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tejay Antone: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lucas Sims: 15-Day IL (back), Luke Weaver: 15-Day IL (forearm), Vladimir Gutierrez: 60-Day IL (elbow)Pirates: JT Brubaker: 15-Day IL (elbow), Robert Stephenson: 15-Day IL (e...

Braves play the Nationals after d’Arnaud’s 4-hit game

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

Atlanta Braves (1-0) vs. Washington Nationals (0-1)Washington; Saturday, 4:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Spencer Strider (0-0); Nationals: Josiah Gray (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -260, Nationals +214; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves take on the Washington Nationals after Travis d’Arnaud’s four-hit game on Thursday.Washington went 55-107 overall and 26-55 in home games last season. The Nationals scored 3.7 runs per game while giving up 5.3 in the 2022 season.Atlanta had a 101-61 record overall and a 46-35 record on the road last season. The Braves averaged 8.6 hits per game last season while batting a collective .253.INJURIES: Nationals: Israel Pineda: 10-Day IL (finger), Stephen Strasburg: 60-Day IL (ribs/shoulder), Tanner Rainey: 60-Day IL (elbow), Victor Arano: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cade Cavalli: 60-Day IL (elbow), Carter Kieboom: 10-Day IL (finger)Braves: Max Fried: day-to-day (hamstring), Huascar Ynoa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kolb...

Miami Marlins play the New York Mets Saturday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

New York Mets (1-1) vs. Miami Marlins (1-1)Miami; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Tylor Megill (0-0); Marlins: Edward Cabrera (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -128, Marlins +108; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins host the New York Mets on Saturday.Miami went 69-93 overall and 34-47 in home games a season ago. The Marlins slugged .363 with a .294 on-base percentage as a team in the 2022 season.New York had a 101-61 record overall and a 47-34 record in road games last season. The Mets averaged 8.8 hits per game last season and totaled 171 home runs.INJURIES: Marlins: Max Meyer: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nic Enright: 15-Day IL (illness), Steven Okert: 15-Day IL (adductor), Tommy Nance: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Anthony Bender: 60-Day IL (elbow)Mets: Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (teres major), Stephen Ridings: 15-Day IL (lat), Edwin Diaz: 60-Day IL (knee), Elieser Hernandez: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Quintana: 15-Day IL (rib), Bryce Montes de Oca: 15-Day IL ...

Rockies bring 2-0 series advantage over Padres into game 3

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:50 GMT

Colorado Rockies (2-0) vs. San Diego Padres (0-2)San Diego; Saturday, 8:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Jose Urena (0-0); Padres: Michael Wacha (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -228, Rockies +188; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies lead 2-0 in a four-game series with the San Diego Padres.San Diego had an 89-73 record overall and a 44-37 record at home last season. The Padres batted .241 as a team in the 2022 season with a .700 OPS.Colorado had a 68-94 record overall and a 27-54 record on the road last season. The Rockies slugged .397 as a team last season with 2.9 extra base hits per game.INJURIES: Padres: Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (toe), Robert Suarez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Adam Engel: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Adrian Morejon: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jose Castillo: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Drew Pomeranz: 15-Day IL (elbow/flexor), Eguy Rosario: 60-Day IL (ankle)Rockies: Daniel Bard: 15-Day IL (anxiety), Randal Grichuk: 10-Day IL (hernia), Antonio Senzatela: 15...