Bahamas at home for 1st leg of FIBA World Cup qualifier
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
WITH the success of the women's national basketball team on the road last week, the Bahamas Basketball Federation is hoping for the men's national team to excel at home in the first leg of the FIBA Americas World Cup qualifier.
The team, coached by Moses Johnson, will host Canada in the homeand-away match-up 7pm on Friday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Both teams will then travel to Toronto, Canada, for the next game on Monday, December 1.
The remaining games in the World Cup will be spread over the months of February with Puerto Rico and Jamaica and in June, they will complete the window against these same teams. The top three teams from the pool play will advance in the World Cup qualifier for another set of home-and-away matches before the winner moves on to the World Cup.
Named to the team are Kai Jones, Eric Isiah Mobley, Travis Munnings, Kentwan Smith, Dominic Bridgewater, Jaraun 'Kino' Burrows, Franco Miller Jr, Garvin Clarke Jr, Edril Martinborough Jr, Samuel Hunter, Rashad Davis and Zane Knowles.
The team's assistant coaches are Mitchell
Thompson and Arthur Stevenson and Rodney Wilson from Grand Bahama is back as the team manager. The physio-therapist is Henry Parks. "My expectations is for us to win. We don't go into any battle looking to lose," Johnson said. "I think this team has great make-up. The only good thing about this team is that we have been able to bring home the core of this team consistently over the past few years and it's building the programme. "They already have the synergy. We may add one or two here or there, like we are doing with Martinborough. He is not new to basketball because he is playing overseas, so that makes us much stronger."
As the veteran on the team, Burrows said he's
thankful that the federation can still give him a call to come out and play for Team Bahamas, even though he can't jump like he used to, but he can still bang some players around.
"We feel we have a very good team to go out there and play," Burrows said. "We just want to encourage the Bahamian people to come out and cheer us on. We think we will do very well in this window."
Davis, who just returned home on Monday from playing in France, said players like Jones and Munnings, as well as Mobley, will be called upon to lead the charge for Team Bahamas.
"Franco doesn't have to guard the best defender, Dominic doesn't have to guard the best defender. Coach can rotate a lot of
players to do that," Davis said. "The chemistry is different. There's no egos. Everyone plays on separate teams. Everyone knows what they have to do. Once we get together and put our egos aside, we go out there with one common goal and that is to represent the country."
Davis said there's nothing like playing at home in front of the crowd and hearing the rhythmic sounds of the junkanoo music. So he's encouraging the Bahamian public to come out and support the team.
In France, Davis said his team is doing pretty good, despite the fact that they lost a player to injury and he has already been replaced. He said he's also looking forward to playing against one of his team-mates from
Jamaica in the next window.
"I'm doing what I always do, which is play basketball and have some fun," Davis pointed out. "I take pride in what I do. And coming home to play, I get to see my family and my friends.
"But everyone knows that with basketball, it is a blessing to see such a small country put us on the global stage."
Federation president Eugene Horton thanked the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Bahamas Olympic Committee, the National Sports Authority, Baha Mar, Island Care Foundation, Aquapure, Islandwide Cabling and Consulting Services and Vaughn L Culmer and Associates. "We encourage corporate Bahamas to
join," Horton said. "We also want to encourage the fans to get your tickets and come out and support the men's team."
Interested persons can log onto bbfbasketball.com to get more information. Horton also commended his executive team for taking the federation through a difficult process as they had to find the necessary funding for all of their teams to travel this year.
Kerry Baker, the deputy director of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said as they continue to support sports in The Bahamas, they want to congratulate the federation on the inroads they are making internationally.
Baker, a former basketball player, said if The Bahamas had played the Olympic qualifier at home, the men's team could have made it to Paris, France, at the 2024 Olympic Games. Now that the team is playing on their home court, he said the support is needed.
"Home court matters," he said.
"We were nine points away from going to the Olympics. So do not sit down as we open our perseverance of excellence.
"We are asking you to come out and support the team. Bring your cowbells, bring your goatskin drums, everything. Home court matters."
Team Bahamas to compete in FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup in Mexico
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Basketball Federation will begin its newest international venture with the men's national team heading off today to Leon, Mexico, to compete in the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup from November 27-30.
Making up the team are captain Jackson Jacob, Qyemah Gibson, Kadeem Coleby and Dylan Musgrove. The head coach, Marvin Henfield, noted that they have all demonstrated their playing abilities in 21 games, which are structured similar to the 3x3 tournament.
The Bahamas has been drawn to play out of Pool B, which includes Uruguay, Trinidad & Tobago and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Their first match will be on Thursday vs Uruguay at 10am. That will be followed by a matchup against Saint Kitts and Nevis around 11:40am before they face Trinidad & Tobago at 1:30pm.
The remainder of their games will be determined by the results of the games they played against their rivals during the opening day.
Henfield said he's excited to be leading the team, although FIBA 3x3 basketball competition does not allow him to sit on the bench or interact with the players during the games.
He noted that he's been grooming the team for The Bahamas' inaugural international appearance and likes what he's seen in their workout sessions.
"Collectively among the players, we have more than two decades of professional experience," Henfield said. "Even though this is The Bahamas' first time competing in 3x3, a number of our players have individually competed internationally.
"So this is a very talented team. Also it is a very seasoned team. So I'm looking forward to making some noise in this first rodeo."
According to Henfield, 3x3 is "glorified 21" because everybody who grew up in The Bahamas got to play 21, "so the 3x3 is right up our alley.
"This group of guys that we have are very athletic. I also expect to see some very good shooting as well," Henfield
pointed out. "One of the things we were able to do in our practices to get in the conditioning because 3x3 is very different from 5-on-5."
The game is 10 minutes long with just one television time out, so the players have to consistently play, but they are allowed to submit their one reserve at any time during the game.
"What you will see from us is a lot of body movement, a lot of ball movement, a lot of on ball off court action and then again, we have some guys who can really shoot the ball. I think the half court set will really benefit us."
While there's the notion that Bahamians like to jump on the bandwagon after the success is achieved, Henfield is calling on corporate Bahamas to come out now and support the BBF in its ventures to further enhance The Bahamas' level of participation at the international competition. Jacob, who will be relied upon to carry the team on the court as the captain, said he was excited when he got the call from the federation to put the team together and they added the icing on the cake with Henfield joining as the coach.
"I schooled in Canada and we played it a lot there," Jacob said. "When I got the call I was very excited because I knew it was straight up basketball. We just have to go out there and get buckets and bring back the gold."
With this being the first time to represent The Bahamas, Jacob said he's confident that the team will do very well. Henfield assured the public that the team is going to Mexico to bring the gold back to The Bahamas.
‘Coach Yo’ and Ole Miss off to 5-0 start
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
HEAD coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, better known as “Coach Yo”, is off to an undefeated start in her eighth season at Ole Miss. The Rebels sit at 5–0 overall, 0-0 in SEC play, riding an undefeated non-conference start and holding a No. 13 ranking in both the AP and coaches' polls. Coach Yo began her tenure at Ole Miss in 2018. Over her time in Oxford, she’s compiled a 119-95 record with the Rebels, and 219-158 overall in her head-coaching career.
Before Ole Miss, she turned around Jacksonville University’s women’s programme
(94–63 over five seasons) and brought them to postseason play three times.
Over her eight years at Ole Miss, some of her accomplishments include four consecutive 20-win seasons (a first in the programme in this century), four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and multiple Sweet Sixteen runs (2023, 2025). She was the first Ole Miss coach to post four consecutive seasons with at least 10 SEC wins and the second coach in programme history to surpass 100 wins at Ole Miss, reaching that mark during 2023-24.
Her defensive philosophy helped set programme records last season which included most blocks in a single season, and multiple games holding
opponents under 50 points. In 2024, she was honoured with the Emerging Young Philanthropist Award by the Ole Miss Women’s Council for her community work through her nonprofit, No Ceilings with Coach Yo.
Her foundation, created originally for Hurricane Dorian relief in The Bahamas, now supports educational and sports programmes for youth in Mississippi and The Bahamas. She described the work as deeply personal: “living your life without limits.” Her leadership style has long embraced faith and discipline. In a 2023 Sports Spectrum feature, she credited her faith for guiding her path and driving her to pour into her players.
At 42 years old, the Freeport native is at the helm of a top 10 college programme. Being the trailblazer that she is, McCuin was the first Bahamian woman to sign a Division I basketball-player letter of intent and the first Bahamian woman to coach at the Division I level. For this season, Coach Yo and her staff tapped the transfer portal hard. ESPN ranked Ole Miss’ incoming group as the nation’s No. 2 transfer class. At her first 2025-26 preseason practice, Coach Yo expressed confidence in the roster’s diversity of talent and personalities. She said the Rebels will be “extremely competitive” and, so far, the Rebels have lived up to that expectation.
BBF president Eugene Horton, player Rashad Davis, Ministry of Sports’ assistant director Kerry Baker, coach Moses Johnson, BBF executive Derek S and Jaraun Burrows.
TEAM Bahamas 3-on-3 with coach Marvin Henfield, second from right. Missing is player Kadeem Coleby.
Samone and Carlene earn coveted spots at Dallas tryouts
TALENTED Samone
Bowleg and Carlene Johnson earned coveted spots at the Dallas tryouts, becoming the first Bahamian female football players to go all pro in tackle football.
The duo showcased their exceptional talent at the highly competitive Women's National Football Conference (WNFC) tryouts in Texas recently. Their performance not only secured them a place in the elite programme but also brought pride to their home country.
The annual WNFC National Tryout Day is a pivotal moment for aspiring female football players, attracting talent from across the United States and other international countries.
This year's Dallas tryout, a key location among 17 nationwide sites, saw
Bowleg and Johnson become first Bahamian female football players to go all pro in tackle football
hundreds of women put their athleticism to the test in rigorous combine-style drills, all vying for a coveted spot on a WNFC roster for the upcoming season.
Bowleg and Johnson both stated that this journey to Dallas was fuelled by a shared passion for the sport and a determination to break barriers in women's sports.
"The competition was fierce, with an undeniable level of talent on display," Bowleg said. "But with the help of GOD we were both able to come out on top gaining a spot on an Elite
team. Being professional rugby and flag football players, transitioning into tackle football has been quite a familiar task."
Their skill, dedication and football IQ caught the attention of the coaches and scouts for the Texas Elite Spartans, the WNFC's powerhouse team and winners of multiple championships.
Both athletes were officially selected for the Texas Elite Spartans team/WNFC programme. It's a significant achievement that opens the door to competing at the highest level of women's sports.
BAHAMIAN pro tackle football players Samone Bowleg and Carlene Johnson.
Stephen Curry scores
31
points, ‘Buddy’ Hield 20 as Warriors run away from Jazz 134-117
By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)
— Stephen Curry made six 3-pointers and scored 31 points, Jimmy Butler had 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds and the Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 134-117 on Monday night.
Curry shot 12 for 24 on the way to his fifth 30-point game in the last six. Moses Moody had 15 points and six rebounds, while Gary Payton II contributed nine points, career-best eight assists and six rebounds in a rare start.
Bahamian guard Cha-
vano “Buddy” Hield, coming off the bench, contributed 20 points, including four three-pointers, four assists and five rebounds
and a steal in 23 minutes on the floor.
Keyonte George finished with 28 points on 10-of17 shooting, seven assists and six rebounds to lead Utah, which has lost four straight and five of six after dropping the first game of a back-to-back at home Sunday to the Lakers.
Coming off their first home loss of the season Friday against Portland, the Warriors shot 49.5%, committed only 10 turnovers, scored 14 points off the 17 they forced and finished with 52 points by the bench. Golden State debuted new “The Town” edition jerseys and a matching floor to honor the franchise's long history in Oakland before moving across the bay into Chase Center for the 201920 season.
The Warriors have won 10 straight at home against the Jazz, whose last road victory at Golden State was 129-96 on January 22, 2020. Utah dropped to 0-5 on the road against the Western Conference. Draymond Green was sidelined by
Local Sports Calendar
GOLF
BHA TOURNAMENT
THE Bahamas Heart Association, in partnership with Visa and Fidelity Bank, is scheduled to hold its inaugural “Tee Off for Tiny Hearts” Golf Tournament, benefitting children in need of life-saving cardiac care.
The tournament will take place on Saturday, November 30, 2025, at the prestigious Royal Blue Golf Course.
This exciting event will feature a two-man scramble format, with play beginning promptly at 9am.
BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
THE Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis
Men’s Tournament will run from November 27-29 at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.
Teams competing are Louisville, Indiana, West Virginia, Gonzanga, Oklahoma, Providence, Davidson and Arizona.
BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
THE Battle 4 Atlantis
is scheduled to take place from November 26-28 at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.
Teams participating are Western Kentucky, Vandebilt, VCU, South Florida, Colorado State, Virginia
Tech, Wichita State and St Mary’s.
ANDROS HEATS
ROAD RACE
THE Andros Heats sixth annual road race will be held on Saturday, December 6 at the Regatta Site in Morgans Bluff, starting at 8am. Competition will take place in all age group divisions with trophies presented to the top three finishers and medals to the fourth place finishers. The registration fee is $6 per athlete.
ROAD RACE
MACEDONIA
AS a part of its 60th anniversary, Macedonia Baptist Church will hold a Family Fun Run/Walk race that is open to the general public on January 24.
The dual event is scheduled to start at 6am at the church on Bernard Road, Fox Hill.
The registration fee is $10 per athlete and the categories include male and female 15-and-under, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under and over-60 with awards presented to the first three finishers.
The walk will leave the church and head west on Bernard Road to the junction at Wulff and Soldier
Roads. The competitors will turn around and head east back to the church. The run will also leave the church and head west on Bernard Road onto Soldier Road, head south to Prince Charles Drive, head east to Fox Hill Road, head north to Bernard Road and head west back to the church. Interested persons can call 426-7265 or 324-1583 for more details.
TRACK CLASSIC
THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will hold the Abaco National Sports Month’s Track and Field Classic on Saturday, November 29, starting at 9am at the Murphy Town Sporting Complex.
Competition will take place in the under-11, under-13, under-15, under17 and under-20 age groups with the various track and field events taking place. For more information, persons can call 458-5977 for more information.
BASKETBALL
MEN’S WORLDS
QUALIFIER
AS the Bahamas Basketball Federation finalises the team to represent The Bahamas at the FIBA World Cup Qualifier against Canada on Friday,
a sprained right foot that showed no significant injury on an MRI exam, the third game he has missed this month for illness and injury.
Coach Steve Kerr hoped to have his defensive star back Wednesday night, while forward Jonathan
November 28 at 8pm at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, tickets are now on sale. Interested persons can purchase tickets online at www.nsa-bahamas.com/ events-tickets/
Following the game, The Bahamas will travel to Canada to complete the home-and-away series on Monday, December 1.
BASKETBALL
GOOMBAY
DIVISION
THE Goombay Division of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo is slated to run from November 24-28 at the Convention Center at Baha Mar. It will feature teams from Ohio State, Belmont, West Virginia and McNeese.
JUNKANOO
DIVISION
THE Junkanoo Division of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championships will run from November 24-26 at the Convention Center at Baha Mar. Teams from Minnesota, University of South Florida, Alabama and Harvard will be competing.
NASSAU
CHAMPIONSHIPS
THE Goombay Division of the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship will take place at
Kuminga is still out because of his troublesome knees. Golden State fell behind 11-0 out of the gate missing its initial six shots as the Jazz hit four of six before Butler's three-point play at the 8:42 mark. The Warriors then went on a 17-3 run to
the Convention Center at Baha Mar from November 28-30. Teams from Kent State, Tulsa, Houston and Arkansas State will be participating.
RED-LINE
SONJA KNOWLES TRACK CLASSIC RED-LINE Athletics, “Where Champions are Made,” will hold its sixth annual Sonja Knowles Track Classic over the weekend of January 31 and February 1.
The event will take place at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium on January 31 from 11am to 6pm and Sunday, March 1 from 1-6 pm. Competition will be held in the various age groups from under-7 to masters. Medals and trophies will be presented to the various winners.
Interested persons are urged to contact club founder and head coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for more information.
LEGENDS
TRACK
THE Legends Track and Field’s Devynne Charlton Invitational is scheduled for Saturday, February 7 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The meet, to be held in
take control and led 67-55 at halftime following a 41-point second quarter.
Up Next Jazz: Host Sacramento on Friday night.
Warriors: Host Houston tonight.
honour of world indoor 60m hurdles record holder and two-time champion Devynne Charlton, will have her younger sister Anthaya Charlton as one of the special guests. Powered by Speed Capital, it will feature athletes competing from the ages of seven to the open categories for boys and girls.
T-BIRD FLYERS
THE T-Bird Flyers will hold its 2026 Track Classic, held in memory of the late Gregory Clarke, on Friday, January 9, starting at 6pm and Saturday, January 10 at noon at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Interested persons are urged to contact Foster Dorsett at 427-3883 for more details.
BAHAMAS AQUATICS
SWIM MEETS
BAHAMAS Aquatics has a pair of swim meets on its calendar for the rest of the year in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
• Nassau at Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex December 5-6 - BEAST Aquatics Meet
• Grand Bahama December 6 - Freeport Aquatics Club Meet
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield (7) gestures after making a 3-point basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half in San Francisco on Monday night.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Pistons beat Pacers 122-117 to tie franchise record with 13th straight win
By The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS
(AP)
— Cade Cunningham had 24 points and 11 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons won their 13th straight game to tie the franchise record, holding off the Indiana Pacers 122-117 on Monday night.
The Pistons matched winning streaks by their 1989-90 and 2003-04 championship teams, two seasons after losing 28 in a row to break the NBA season record and tie the overall mark. Eastern Conference-leading Detroit is 15-2.
Down 18 early in the fourth quarter, the Pacers pulled as close as two points.
Bennedict Mathurin missed a 3-pointer with a chance to tie it with 11 seconds left.
Caris LeVert added 19 points for Detroit, and Jalen Duren had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Jaden Ivey scored 12 points in his second game back after breaking his left fibula in January.
Pascal Siakam had 24 points for injury-ravaged Indiana. Jarace Walker added 21. The Pacers have lost 10 of 11 to fall to 2-15.
RAPTORS 110, CAVALIERS 99
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
— Brandon Ingram scored 15 of his season-high 37 points in the third quarter, Scottie Barnes had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Toronto beat Cleveland for its eighth straight win.
Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 12 points and Immanuel Quickley had 11 for Toronto, which has won 12 of 13.
Two of the Raptors’ victories in their streak have come against the Cavaliers. Toronto swept the season series for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell had 17 points but shot 6 of 20, going 3 of 12 from 3-point range.
Jaylon Tyson scored 15 points, and Evan Mobley and Nae’Qwan each had 14 for Cleveland. Lonzo Ball shot 3 for 15, missing 10 of 12 attempts from long range to finish with eight points. Toronto closed the first half with a 13-2 run to lead 57-54 at the break.
The Raptors played without RJ Barrett, who has a sprained right knee. Barrett left Sunday’s win over Brooklyn in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on a fast-break dunk. Tests did not reveal a serious injury, coach Darko Rajakovic said.
Ingram connected on 6 of 12 attempts in the third. His final basket, a 3-pointer with 1:20 left in the period, gave Toronto its biggest lead at 88-74.
HEAT 106, MAVERICKS 102 MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 24 points in his season debut after recovering from ankle surgery, Kel’el Ware had 20 points and 18 rebounds, and Miami held off Dallas.
Bam Adebayo had 17 points for Miami, which was held nearly 20 points below its season average but improved to 8-1 at home.
P.J. Washington scored 27 points for Dallas, which got 15 from Max Christie, 13 from Klay Thompson and 12 apiece from Cooper Flagg and Brandon Williams.
Dallas trailed by 13 before making things interesting down the stretch. Flagg made a pair of free throws with 1:04 left, tying the game at 102-102. The Mavs got a stop on their next possession, but Adebayo stole the inbound pass and Herro scored with 41.2 seconds left to put Miami back on top.
KNICKS 113, NETS 100
NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 37 points and 12 rebounds, Jalen Brunson scored 27, and New York beat Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Towns shot 14 for 20 from the field and made each of his six free throws to lead the Knicks to their 12th consecutive victory over Brooklyn.
New York’s last loss to the Nets was Jan. 28, 2023, when they were defeated 122-115.
Mikal Bridges finished with 16 points and Jordan Clarkson added 12 off the bench for the Knicks. New York shot 45 for 88 from the field while limiting Brooklyn to 33 for 87 shooting.
Noah Clowney scored a career-high 31 points and Michael Porter Jr. had 16 for Brooklyn, who are 0-8 at Barclays Center this season.
TRAIL BLAZERS 115, BUCKS 103
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jerami Grant scored a season-high 35 points and Portland rolled to a victory while handing Milwaukee its fifth consecutive loss.
Portland won for just the second time in its last seven games and bounced back one night after losing 122-95 at Oklahoma City.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a third straight game due to a left adductor strain. Portland didn’t have Jrue Holiday (right calf strain), Scoot Henderson (torn left hamstring), Shaedon Sharpe (right calf strain), Matisse Thybulle (torn left thumb ligament) and Blake Wesley (fractured right foot).
Deni Avdija scored 22 points for Portland, while Donovan Clingan added 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis got 22 points, Cole Anthony 16 and Kyle Kuzma 15. Myles Turner had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Portland pulled ahead for good with 7:35 left in the second quarter and maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half.
The Trail Blazers put the game away by going on an 18-0 run that began late in the third period and carried over to the fourth, for a 102-74 lead.
NUGGETS 125, GRIZZLIES 115
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)
— Jamal Murray had 29 points and eight assists, Peyton Watson scored 14 of his 27 points in the third quarter, and Denver won, holding off a late push by Memphis.
Nikola Jokic recorded his 10th triple-double of the season with 17 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds for Denver, which has won three of four.
Jock Landale, playing extended minutes because of an injury to Zach Edey, matched his career best with 26 points and had 10 rebounds for Memphis.
Jaylen Wells finished with 22 points and Cam Spencer added 18.
Memphis was within 114108 with six minutes left when Murray connected on a pair of 3-pointers. A basket by Tim Hardaway Jr. (13 points) with 2:23 left took the lead to 119-108.
Murray shot 6 of 9 from beyond the arc, and the Nuggets were 22 of 43 (51.2%) on 3s.
PELICANS 143, BULLS 130 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson tied a season high with 29 points and New Orleans defeated
Chicago to end a nine-game losing streak and win for the first time under interim coach James Borrego.
Saddiq Bey had 20 points and 14 rebounds, highlighted by a pair of late 3s to help New Orleans hold a lead that was 18 points with 5:15 left but fell to single digits in the last two minutes.
Fans stood to applaud as the Pelicans began to run down the clock for their first victory since Nov. 5 at Dallas, 10 days before the firing of coach Willie Green, when New Orleans was 2-10.
Borrego needed six games to get his first win, and it came with a balanced, high-scoring effort. The Pelicans (3-15) had eight players with 10 or more points.
Trey Murphy scored 20 points, Jose Alvarado had 16, Yves Missi had 14 points and 14 rebounds, Bryce McGowens scored 11 and Micah Peavy had 10.
ROCKETS 114, SUNS 92
PHOENIX (AP) — Amen Thompson scored 28 points, Aaron Holiday added 22 off the bench and Houston beat Phoenix, despite not having star forward Kevin Durant in the lineup for the first time this season.
The Rockets won for the 11th time in 13 games, bouncing back from Friday night’s loss to the Nuggets. The Suns three-game winning streak was snapped. Houston was in control for most of the night, never trailing after early in the first quarter. The Rockets took an 84-75 lead into the fourth and the Suns never got closer than six. Thompson shot 10 of 16 from the field and added eight assists and seven rebounds. Holiday made six 3-pointers.
KINGS 117, TIMBERWOLVES 112
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points and Sacramento took advantage of Minnesota’s second straight stunning collapse, rallying late in regulation and winning in overtime.
On Friday night in Phoenix, the Timberwolves blew an eight-point lead with less than a minute left in a 114113 loss. Against the Kings, they were up 10 with three minutes left.
After DeRozan tied it at 101 with two free throws with 34 seconds left in regulation, Anthony Edwards missed a jumper for Minnesota, and DeRozan and Malik Monk missed shots on the final possession.
The Kings won their second straight after rallying to beat Denver 128-123 on Saturday night on the road to end an eight-game losing streak. They are 5-13. DeRozan made 15 free throws without a miss. Keegan Murray had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Monk added 22 points. Edwards scored 43 points for Minnesota. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo each had 17, and Naz Reid added 15.
PACERS guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) makes a pass around Detroit Pistons forward
Isaiah Stewart (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
2026 World Cup draw can separate top-ranked Spain, Argentina, France and England until semifinals
By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer
GENEVA (AP)
— The 2026 World Cup draw next week will reward the four highest-ranked teams — Spain, Argentina, France and England — who will be placed in separate sections of a new tennis-style seeded tournament bracket.
FIFA said yesterday the top four teams in the latest men's rankings will, if they finish top of their respective round-robin groups, avoid each other until the semifinals of the June 11 to July 19 tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Defending champion Argentina with Lionel Messi and top-ranked European champion Spain with Lamine Yamal therefore can ensure they do not meet until the final at
MetLife Stadium near New York.
“To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semifinals have been established,” FIFA said in a statement, aiming to reward teams whose consistent good results have raised their world ranking. At previous World Cups, the path for teams into and through the knockout phase was decided by which group they were drawn into.
The draw ceremony for the first 48-team World Cup will be held December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The 42 teams that already qualified include Iran and Haiti which FIFA expects will play exactly where they are drawn regardless of complicated politics those countries have with the U.S.
The 16 host venues for the 104 games include 11 cities with NFL stadiums in the U.S., three in Mexico and two in Canada.
The other six entries will be decided in March when European and global playoffs brackets are scheduled, and those teams all will come out of the draw pot of lowest-ranked teams.
That means four-time champion Italy could be a dangerous option in the draw on Friday of next week that will set the match schedule by placing teams in 12 round-robin groups of four teams each.
Europe has 16 teams in the lineup and a maximum of two can be drawn into any one group. The other 32 teams in the tournament cannot be drawn in a group with a team from the same continent.
The three co-hosts are among the 12 top seeds in the draw, which is scheduled to take about 45 minutes during a show lasting about an hour and a half, FIFA said.
The U.S. will open on June 12 against a team from pot 3, then face a team from pot 2 and close the group stage against a team from pot 4.
World Cup draw seedings
Pot 1: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, United States, Mexico, Canada.
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia. Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt,
Pot
Ronaldo set to avoid ban at World Cup after FIFA red-card verdict offers probation
By GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports Writer
GENEVA (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo will likely avoid missing any Portugal games at the World Cup despite his red card in a qualifying game for elbowing an Ireland opponent.
FIFA published a disciplinary verdict yesterday that imposed a three-game ban, which judged Ronaldo's action as “violent conduct” or “serious foul play,” but with two of those games deferred for a one-year probation period. Ronaldo served a mandatory
one-game ban when Portugal played its final qualifying game last week — a 9-1 win over Armenia that sealed its place at the World Cup in North America.
The superstar had been expected to be banned for at least one more game and start what will be his record sixth World Cup on the sidelines.
FIFA cited its disciplinary rules that allow for parts of a sanction to be probationary, though it is rare in cases of a three-game ban for two of them to be deferred. In two cases judged by FIFA
this month, players from Armenia and Burundi were banned for three games after getting red cards for acts of aggression in World Cup qualifying games and neither got a reduction on probation.
“If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period,” FIFA said in a statement, then the remaining two games will be activated.
FIFA has disciplinary authority over national-team games and Portugal is scheduled to
play two friendly matches in March, then likely one or two warmup games in lateMay or June.
The World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico starts June 11.
Ronaldo swung an arm and struck Ireland defender Dara O’Shea with an elbow during a 2-0 loss in Dublin two weeks ago.
VIP visit
The FIFA verdict comes one week after Ronaldo met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House for a formal dinner with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince
Mohammed bin Salman.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino also attended the event and posed for a selfie photo with Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has played in the Saudi league for three years at one of the clubs majority owned by the kingdom's sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund that the prince chairs. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup and has been a major financial backer of FIFA in the past two years. Appeal path FIFA said its disciplinary verdict of “the three-match
suspension is subject to appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee.”
It was unclear who could have legal standing to challenge the verdict, and if that might be the soccer federation of Ireland or Portugal's opponents at the World Cup.
Trump is due to attend the draw ceremony on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where Portugal will learn its three opponents in a roundrobin group.
Portugal is one of the 48-team tournament’s top seeds.
Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.
4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, European playoff winner 1, European playoff winner 2, European playoff winner 3, European playoff winner 4, Intercontinental playoff winner 1, Intercontinental playoff winner 2.
THE UEFA Playoff tree is shown on a screen next to Manolo Zubiria, Chief Tournament Officer for the FIFA World Cup 2026, left, and host Melanie Winiger during the FIFA World Cup 2026 playoff draw in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Claudio Thoma/Keystone via AP)
Christian McCaffrey’s big night leads 49ers
to 20-9 victory over Panthers
By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer
SANTA CLARA, California (AP) — Christian McCaffrey maintained that playing Carolina for the first time since the Panthers traded him to San Francisco three years ago wouldn't raise his level of urgency one bit.
McCaffrey responded to the reunion game like he does almost every week, with a productive performance that led the 49ers to another win.
McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown, and San Francisco overcame a rough performance by quarterback Brock Purdy to beat the Panthers 20-9 on Monday night.
“Obviously when you see familiar faces, it’s always good to see them before the game and after the game,” McCaffrey said. “But that’s a completely new team than when I was there. So it’s really just business once the ball was snapped.”
McCaffrey's big night helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three interceptions
in the first half by Purdy to remain in playoff position heading into the stretch run of the season.
Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to take advantage of their opportunities a week after he threw for a franchise-record 448 yards in a win at Atlanta. Young threw for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Carolina missed a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
Purdy wasn't much better in his second start back from a toe injury as he became the first player this season to throw three interceptions in the first half of a game. Purdy said neither the toe nor rust was an issue.
“Honestly, the decisions of going to those spots, I was fine with,” he said.
“It’s just the execution of throwing a better ball. I feel like on really all of them, I needed to just drive the ball a little bit more. I kept it up in the air too long on multiple of them.”
The 49ers went conservative in the second half after
Purdy's rough start to the game, relying mostly on McCaffrey and short passes. The strategy worked with McCaffrey scoring on a 12-yard run to make it 17-3 and the Niners adding a field goal by Matt Gay.
Young did connect on one big play, a 29-yard TD pass to Tetairoa McMillan, but Carolina couldn't convert on 2-point try after a penalty moved the ball to the 1.
Young then threw his second interception of the game to Ji'Ayir Brown with Carolina in scoring position with a 20-9 deficit.
“Just lack of execution,” Young said. “Couple of plays I’d like to have back, some stuff we could do better. Not what we wanted. We didn’t do good enough and I take ownership of that.”
The frustration from the loss contributed to a spat, with Carolina safety Tre'Von Moehrig hitting San Francisco receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin after a run play late in the game and Jennings responding with a punch to the helmet after the game.
“I was just responding to some childish behaviour,” Jennings said.
McCaffrey, who has transformed the 49ers' offence since being acquired in October 2022, finished with 89 yards rushing and 53 receiving for his 10th 100yard game of the season — two shy of the franchise record he set in 2023.
The 49ers gave the ball to McCaffrey on the first five plays, leading to the first opening-drive TD of the season against Carolina. Purdy connected on a 12-yard pass to Jennings for the score.
The two offences did nothing after that. Jaycee Horn had two of Carolina's three picks of Purdy, but the Panthers turned those takeaways into only three points.
Young ruined one drive when he was intercepted by Brown on a first-down play from the 1.
“I like the call,” coach Dave Canales said. “It was an aggressive call, a play action that we had opportunities on. Unfortunately came out with an interception.”
The teams traded field goals and the Niners led 10-3 at the half.
Injuries Panthers: Horn and LB Claudin Cherelus left the game in the first half with concussions and didn't return. ... G Chandler Zavala (calf) and CB Corey Thornton (ankle) both
left in the second half and didn't return.
49ers: DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) left in the second half and didn't return. Up next Panthers: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. 49ers: Visit Cleveland on Sunday.
49ERS running back Christian McCaffrey leaves the field after their win against the Carolina Panthers on Monday night. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Thirty four athletes and coaches inducted into Hall of Fame this year at Regency Theatre
By LEDEDRA MARCHE Bahamas Information Services
THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC), in conjunction with the City of Freeport Council, inducted 34 athletes and coaches into the Hall of Fame this year at the Regency Theatre on November 22, 2025.
The ceremony recognised the 2025 inductees for their outstanding contributions and enduring impact on sports.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, during his remarks, said the evening represented a step in the right direction for the country and set aside to support, honour and celebrate the remarkable coaches and athletes of Grand Bahama, an island of which he noted has always been a wellspring of talent, discipline and determination.
“From track and field to basketball, from baseball to swimming, from soccer to boxing — this island continues to produce athletes who represent The Bahamas with pride and excellence,” he said.
“Tonight is not simply an awards ceremony. Tonight is recognition of the countless early mornings, the long practices, the late nights and the sacrifices made, not only by athletes, but by their families, coaches and communities.”
Minister Bowleg assured the honourees that their efforts have not gone unnoticed and his ministry is building a sports ecosystem where every island feels included, supported and appreciated.
“The entire nation sees you, values you and celebrates your achievements,” he said, while pointing out that every champion begins at home. Every great athlete was once a young boy or a young girl competing at the local level – in a community gym, on a dusty field or on a school court somewhere in The Bahamas.”
He noted that his ministry is committed to supporting, empowering and celebrating every athlete on every island across our archipelago as talent is everywhere and opportunity must be too.
In congratulating the athletes and coaches, Minister Bowleg acknowledged that they embody the best of our nation – discipline, courage, focus and heart — and carried the pride of their families, clubs and schools.
“Whether you stood on a podium, broke a record, made a national team or simply improved your personal best, tonight we salute you; your hard work is pushing Bahamians sports forward,” he said.
Minister Bowleg also thanked the coaches and mentors for their influence which extended far beyond wins and losses as they shape character, confidence and leadership in
our young people and the organisers of the awards for recognising the importance of celebrating the athletes and coaches on every level and giving them the platform they deserve.
Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey also commended the inductees for their amazing contribution to sports excellence throughout the island and the country. The honourees were outfitted with commemorative jackets and the families of the eight inductees acknowledged posthumously were presented with plaques in honour of the legacy of their loved ones.
THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, in conjunction with the City of Freeport Council, inducted 34 athletes and coaches into the Hall of Fame this year at the Regency Theatre.
Photos: Danielle Rollon/BIS