WINNING WAYS: Rashield “Raw” Williams has his hand raised in victory in Dubai.
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
RASHIELD “Raw”
Williams, the lone Bahamian competing at the IBA Men's World Boxing Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, won his first bout with a convincing second round decision yesterday.
Williams, competing in the men's 67 kilogram class at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, forced the referee to stop the fight 30 seconds into the second round after he unleashed a barrage of shots over Jason Wulf from Samoa.
The fight was almost called off because the
‘Raw’ wins by second-round decision in Dubai fight
Rashield Williams wins his first bout at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships
officials were calling for another country, but Williams' coach Geddet Williams, an IBA star one international coach from Grand Bahama, was relentless in getting him in the ring and they allowed the fight to proceed. He became the second Bahamian boxer to win a bout at that level, while Geddet Williams made history as the first female coach. Valentino Knowles
broke ground as the first Bahamian to win a bout in 2009 with Andre Seymour as his coach. "He was a very strong opponent," Rashield Williams said. "He could hit. He tried his best to do what he could do, but I was the stronger man. In the second round, I timed him and gave him a body shot and he couldn't take any more from there."
Rashield Williams, a 36-year-old professional
boxer, will be back in action on Saturday when he takes on Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev from Uzbekistan in the round of 32. He said he's not holding any punches back when he steps into the ring. "This is high-level fighting here," Williams noted. "Under IBA, they know that they are only going to bring the best from every country, so you have to be ready to compete."
Scheffler shares lead at Hero World Challenge
NASSAU, Bahamas
(AP) — Scottie Scheffler returned to competition yesterday for the first time in two months and very little changed. Even with a bogey on the final hole, he had a 6-under 66 and was part of a five-way tie for the lead in the Hero World Challenge.
Scheffler was tied with U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Sepp Straka, Wyndham Clark and Akshay Bhatia on a warm, breezy afternoon at Albany Golf Club. The world's No. 1 player wasn't the only one who had taken plenty of time off. Straka also had not played since the Ryder Cup ended the last weekend in September.
The Hero World Challenge has a 20-man field, an end-of-the-year holiday event that top players often use as the first step toward getting ready for next year. Scheffler is coming off a sixwin season that included two majors and nothing worst than a tie for eighth in his last 15 tournaments. His only change was a new driver, and it performed to his standards. The rest of his game looked solid as ever. Scheffler had birdies on four of the six scoring holes — four par 5s and two reachable par 4s. His only lapse was a chip that ran across and over the 18th green.
“I did some good stuff,”
Scheffler said. “I felt like I could have shot a good
amount lower. There's always a little bit of a rust. Once you get into competition, I don't really think about that stuff.”
Bhatia and Straka played bogey-free.
Clark, Scheffler and Spaun each reached 7 under at one point until dropping a shot late in the round. Clark was at 7 under going to the par-5 15th, but a poor tee shot led to bogey. Spaun bogeyed the 18th from a fairway bunker.
Clark and Bhatia each holed bunker shots for eagle on the reachable par-4 seventh.
All but four players broke par in the opening round, with newcomer Chris Gotterup at 74 and Robert MacIntyre at 73.
Jordan Spieth, who received a sponsor exemption, was playing for the first time since the FedEx St. Jude Championship to start the postseason and opened with a 72. He had been working on his game to rid of bad habits, but there was clear rust. Spieth ran off three straight birdies on the front nine, but none over the last 11 while struggling with his chipping and at times his putting.
And it probably didn't help that he was alongside Scheffler, who is going after his third straight title in the Hero World Challenge. Dating to last year, Scheffler went 41 consecutive holes without a bogey until missing the 18th green and hitting his chip too hard.
Vincent Strachan, the president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Association, said he was very pleased with the performances of the Bahamian contingent in Dubai where there are cash incentives being offered from $10,000 to $300,000. "We're hoping that he can continue in the same vein," Strachan said. "There were a lot of problems getting into the ring. When he
got in, his opponent's hand was raised by a walkover, but coach Williams was very relentless until they agreed to go on with the fight.
Rashield stopped him in the second round."
Rashield Williams, sporting a 13-3 win-loss record, last fought on April 25 when he won over Nestor Gonzalez in La Guaira, Venezuela. He is the National Boxing Association welterweight champion.
Geddet Williams, a coach at Sir Jack Hayward High School, made her international debut in Bangkok, Thailand, last year as the head coach for the Olympic Qualifier.
The tournament will end on Thursday, December 11.
SCOTTIE Scheffler on the third green during the first round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, Thursday, December. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 8
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE New Legend, Lonesome Dove, Sallie Sue and Miss Agnes took the early leads in their respective classes of the Ministry of Agriculture & Marine Resources/Regatta Desk’s 2025 Best-of-theBest Regatta. The traditional sloop competition under the national sport of the Bahamas - sailing - started yesterday in Montagu Bay and will continue through Sunday when the champions in the various classes will be crowned.
In yesterday’s first race, New Legend powered through the finish line in first place ahead of the Running Tide and the Silent Partner in the A Class in winds blowing about eight to 10 knots. The B Class saw the Lonesome Dove victorious with the Susan Chase V second and the Ants Nest came in third. In the C Class, Sassie Sue got to the line ahead of the Bul Reg and Sacrifice. And in the E Class, Miss Agnes was a little better than the rest of the field that included Mako in second and Paps in third.
Looking back at the performance of his boat, Emile Knowles, the grandson of the late Rupert Knowles and son of Elijah Knowles, said he and Mark Knowles built a new boat.
"We came here today with a new sail to try it out," Knowles said. "We tried it. We made some adjustments and she sailed perfectly. That's the way she's supposed to sail."
Knowles said anytime a boat beats the Running Tide, Rough Justice, Silent Partner, they are sitting pretty.
He credited David Knowles for skippering the Legend to the victory.
"If you slip up out there, five, twenty or thirty seconds, that's it," he said. "The Legend sailed the perfect race today." Racing will continue today at 9am in Montagu Bay.
Local Sports Calendar
ROAD RACE
JUNKANOO
JINGLE FOR the third consecutive year, hundreds of Santas will rush down Bay Street for the Junkanoo Jingle to Bay 5k, the signature holiday race for a good cause with part proceeds supporting the Blue Rose Foundation.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, starting at 6am from Arawak Cay, near Xavier's Lower School on West By Street.
The race route leaves from the Santa’s village at Arawak Cay, eastern esplanade area, travels east towards downtown, continues through downtown, just slightly passes Commonwealth Bank to Rubis gas station, turns around at Rubis and returns to Arawak Cay, via downtown Nassau.
For more information, persons should
contact Kandice Weech at 424-8887 or Marcel Major at 804-8595. BASKETBALL FT MARCIAN PETERS
TOURNEY THE 37th Father Marcian Peters Basketball Invitational is scheduled to get underway with the opening ceremonies at 4pm on Friday, December 12, at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.
The tournament, hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, will feature the primary boys and girls, junior boys and girls, intermediate boys and senior girls.
The teams expected to participate are:
Primary Boys A - Xavier's Lower School, Freedom Baptist, Kingsway Academy, Temple Christian Academy and Thelma Gibson.
Primary Boys B - Prince Williams, Harbour Island,
Temple Christian and Thelma Gibson.
Primary girls - Xavier's Lower School, Freedom Baptist, Kingsway Academy, Temple Christian and Thelma Gibson.
Junior Girls A - HO Nash, Jordan Prince Williams, AF Adderley, Queen's College and SC McPherson.
Junior Girls B - DW Davis, Kingsway Academy, CH Reeves and Anatol Rodgers.
Junior Boys B - Patrick J Bethel, Jordan Prince Williams, Harbour Island, CH Reeves and SC McPherson.
Junior Boys B - HO Nash, DW Davis, Anatol Rodgers, AF Adderley and Queen's College.
Intermediate Boys APatrick J Bethel, RM Bailey, Anatol Rodgers, Government High and Jordan Prince Williams.
Intermediate Boys B - CV Bethel, CI Gibson,
Teleos, Harbour Island and Queen's College
Senior Girls A - CR Walker, Harbour Island, Freedom Baptist, Teleos and Kingsway Academy
Senior Girls B - Queen's College, Anatol Rogers, CI Gibson, Government High, Jordan Prince Williams and RM Bailey.
FLAG FOOTBALL
THE Bahamas Youth Flag Football League will hold its 10th season Championship Day on Saturday at the multi-purpose field in front of the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
Held in honour of Dominic ‘Hollywood’ Kikivarkis, the event will kick off at 11:30am. It is sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, Bahamas Waste and RoyalStar Assurance. The entry fee is $5. Kids 12-and-under are free. Refreshments will be on
sale. Prizes and giveaways will be presented during the day.
TRACK CARIFTA CHARTER WITH the 2026 CARIFTA Games all set for Grenada over the Easter holiday weekend, persons are being encouraged to secure their seats on the Bahamasair-chartered flight. The charter will depart Nassau on Thursday, April 2 and return on Tuesday, April 7. The airfare is $1,099 per passenger. A non-refundable deposit of $200 per passenger is required. However, it can be transferred.
Cash or direct deposits can be made at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) under the account name: Bah Association of (business checking account). Transit No.95165/ Account No.1011089.
Interested persons can contact Laura Pratt-Charlton at 357-3109 or Laketah Charlton at 468-5592 or email baaafriendsandfamily@gmail.com for more information.
SOFTBALL
BFS CONCLAVE
THE Bahamas Softball Federation will hold its national softball conclave on Saturday in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture will officially open the conclave at 1pm. The theme for the event is “One Federation, One Vision Strengthening Softball Across Our Islands.”
Dignitaries from all of the affiliated island associations are expected to be represented. The dress code is smart casual.
BASEBALL
HOME RUN DERBY
CLINIC
THE organisers of the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby 2025 will host youth baseball and softball camp on Saturday, December 10, at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. The camp is designed for boys and girls between the ages of seven and 18 years. Check-in will begin at 3pm and the cmp will run from 4-6 pm. Interested persons can sign up at dbhrderby.com
TRACK
ALL-BAHAMIAN
AWARDS
THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is scheduled to hold its 2025 All Bahamian Awards ceremony on Sunday, December 14, starting at 6pm at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium.
Under the theme: “Honouring the Spirit of The Bahamas: Every Athlete, Every Victory,” the BAAA will use the opportunity to recognise all 2024-2025 national team members. A reception and dance will follow the presentations.
STAR PERFORMERS
MEET
THE Star Trackers Track Club is scheduled to hold its 23rd edition of the Star Performers Track and Field
Classic on Saturday, January 24, from 9am to 6pm at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The event, sponsored Baker Concrete International Division Greyco Limited, will be open to competitors in all age groups to the open divisions for boys and girls and men and women. Interested persons can contact Laura Pratt-Charlton at 357-3109 for more information.
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.
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 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 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 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.
Rhema, Denika and Lady Panthers win
FIU’S
Thanksgiving Tournament title
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE Florida International University Lady Panthers are still celebrating from winning their Florida International University's Thanksgiving Tournament Championship over the weekend.
FIU, featuring Bahamian transfer guards Rhema Collins and Denika Lightbourne, will now get back to regular season action today when they host Georgia State Panthers at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, Florida for their first night game of the season at 7pm.
The Lady Panthers, coached by Jesyka BurksWiley, are coming off their 64-59 win over Seattle on Saturday.
Collins, a 6-foot, 2-inch junior, posted 15 points - her fifth straight double-digit - along with nine rebounds in 39 minutes, while Lightbourne, a 5-9 guard, worked 25 minutes and produced four points, six rebounds and a pair of assists.
When contacted this week, both players indicated that they are pleased with the way the Lady
Panthers are playing. "I think we’ve shown real progress. We had strong moments on both ends, and even though there are areas we need to improve," Lightbourne said. "I think we are heading in the right direction."
Lightbourne, a transfer from Dayton, said she feels good about her contribution, but she also knows there’s always room to improve.
"I’m focused on doing my job constantly," she stated. "Trying to bring energy, being reliable, and helping us win in whatever way the team needs me to."
As for the Bahamian connection, Lightbourne said she and Collins are bonding very well in their new environment.
"We’re learning each other’s strengths and how to read one another in the flow of the game," she stressed. "I think the more we play, the more we can help each other become better players and become a more effective duo."
Collins, a transfer from Ole Miss, said she too is thrilled by her team's performances so far.
"I’m really proud of my team and our effort," she pointed out. "I think
Denika and I work really well together and we push each other in everything we do."
Following tonight's game against Georgia State, the Lady Panthers will play again on Monday, December 15 when they head on the road to face Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Florida.
They will come back and host their FIU Holiday Classic from Friday to Saturday, December 19-20, before they close out the year on Tuesday, December 30, by hosting FNU.
Heading into the rest of the season, Lightbourne said her expectations are for the Lady Panthers to "continue improving, stay consistent, and compete at a high level every game. I believe we can finish the season strong and accomplish the goals we set as a team."
For Collins, she said her expectations is to "take everything practice by practice and game by game and eventually compete for a championship."
FIU is currently ninth in Conference USA, but will have to wait until March 10-14 to qualify for the CUSA Championships to get a chance to go for the title.
Marvin Henfield selected as coach of Bahamas teams for the FIBA Under-23 3x3 tournament
By BRENT STUBBS
Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE not getting the chance to take the men's national team off to the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup on November 30, Marvin Henfield said he's committed to coaching the men’s and ladies’ teams for the FIBA Under-23 3x3 Tournament.
The Bahamas Basketball Federation was scheduled to send a four-member team of Jackson Jacob, Qyemah Gibson, Kadeem Coleby and Dylan Musgrove, coached by Henfield, to the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup in Leon, Mexico, but the trip was called off at the last minute because of a lack of funding.
Henfield is now selected as the coach of the men’s and women’s teams for the FIBA Under-23 tournament, scheduled for Wednesday, December 10-14 at the Bahamas Football Association's Beach Soccer Facility.
A 3x3 basketball court is expected to be erected in the facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge with teams coming in from St Lucia, the Cayman
Islands, Jamaica and Haiti competing.
"It's short notice, but we had our first practice last night (Wednesday) and so I'm really excited to see what our teams will do against the visiting countries," Henfield said.
"So we've been able to open an open tryout, the first of its kind. I want to give every Bahamian, firstly in New Providence and secondly, in every island of the Bahamas, to try out whatever category we're trying to fulfil for these 3x3 tournaments."
Henfield, a long-time former basketball player turned developmental coach, said eventually the majority of the players participating in the 3x3 tournament could end up playing on the 5x5 fullcourt national teams in the future.
He noted that the potential is also there for some of these players to be able to venture into the 3x3 tournaments that are being offered for professional players just as they do for the 5x5.
"Despite some of the past disappointments, I think this is a very big step from my perspective on how this
country can grow basketball," Henfield pointed out.
"I made a commitment to put both feet in the water and I will make a commitment to support the Bahamas’ 3x3 programme. I am personally taking on the mantle to be the forerunner to both the male and female programme."
By the weekend, Henfield said the team will be selected. He said he got
commitments from the four players who didn't get to travel to Mexico to work along with him. "Sometimes disappointments have a great way of working out for the better," he stated. "This past experience really motivated me to build what we have now.
"We have so many hidden gems in this country, talent that is unknown, unrecognised, unseen in this
game called basketball. Had I travelled, I might not have been able to build this 3x3 thing from the ground up. I am more motivated to do it."
Despite the men not making the trip, Henfield said they got to watch the tournament in Mexico and he was confident that The Bahamas could have medalled. "Hindsight is 20-20. Our objective was to win
it, to come back with the gold," he stated. "But if we had fallen short, I couldn't see why we couldn't come back with at least the silver or the bronze. That's hearsay. "But I've gotten these same men to help me to build this programme. They will scrimmage the youth 3x3 team and they will have me to build this programme. I've never been motivated to build this thing out."
FLORIDA International University’s transfer guards Denika Lightbourne and Rhema Collins, top right, in action.
Chris Paul’s return stint with Clippers is over, and the team’s rough start just got rougher
By GREG BEACHAM and TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writers
CHRIS Paul's return stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to an abrupt and stunning end, the franchise parting ways with one of its greatest players in a late-night meeting that will add another layer of drama to the team's terrible start this season.
The news was delivered in a meeting in Atlanta that ended around 2am Wednesday, Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said. Frank said he made the decision to sever ties with Paul on Sunday, then told the franchise's career assist leader that he needed to see him on Tuesday in Atlanta. Frank did not confirm speculation that Paul and Clippers coach Tyronn Lue have been clashing or not speaking to one another, insisting the decision had multiple layers. Frank also insisted that Lue is safe, despite the Clippers' dismal start to this season. They improved to 6-16 with a win over the Hawks on Wednesday.
“This decision had nothing to do with one incident, one meeting that did or did not happen," Frank said in a video conference with
reporters. "Some of our business, respectfully, I have to keep in house. But this didn’t come down to one incident or one meeting. It just wasn’t the right fit.”
Paul made the announcement on social media shortly before 3am Wednesday, posting "Just Found Out I'm Being Sent Home” and adding a peace emoji.
Clippers star James Harden said he learned of the news when he woke up Wednesday. His reaction: “definitely surprised,” he said.
“Not just Chris, it’s a lot that we’re dealing with,” Harden said. “So, that right there is out of my hands.”
Los Angeles lost at Miami on Monday night to extend its wildly disappointing start to the season. The Clippers' flight to Atlanta from Miami on Tuesday was delayed for about 4 1/2 hours, according to flight records, which led to the late-night session between Frank and Paul. The team didn't land in Atlanta until shortly before 10 p.m., and Frank had told Paul he would be waiting to meet.
“Because of the nature of the conversation it was a long, long, long, long, long, long meeting,” Frank said.
The 40-year-old Paul is playing his 21st NBA season, and he strongly
hinted last month that it will be his last. The 12-time AllStar and two-time Olympic gold medalist has earned four All-NBA first team selections, and he ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists. He was the first player to score at least 20,000 points while recording at least 10,000 assists; LeBron James and Russell Westbrook have both since done that as well.
“I don’t think it will necessarily help our team,”
Lue said before the game in Atlanta. "I don’t think the reason why we’re 5-16 is because of CP. I just think that it wasn’t a good fit for what he was looking for.
“Do I want to see people go out like this? No, I have a lot of respect for him,” Lue added. “He’s been a friend of mine over the years, and you don’t want to see a great go out like this. But I’m pretty sure he will find something, because he’s a great player.”
Paul became arguably the most accomplished player in Clippers franchise history while leading the team to six winning seasons from 2011-17, including the Clippers' first two Pacific Division titles and three playoff series victories.
Paul returned to Los Angeles as a free agent last July, rejoining a franchise
where he is loved by fans while having an outside chance to contend for his first championship alongside Harden and Kawhi Leonard. It didn't happen.
“We did not make this move because of our underperformance," Frank said.
"He had nothing to do with that. I take full responsibility for our record. We are not scapegoating Chris Paul. We have many issues, and we’re going to address each issue for our underperformance.
“But I do want to make it clear: We have great respect for Chris, for the career that he’s had and for his impact on the organization, what he did to help transform the franchise, and we’re not blaming him for underperformance.”
The Clippers will likely try to trade Paul, who signed a $3.6 million deal to return to LA. A trade cannot happen until December 15 by league rules. Paul hasn’t spoken to reporters since he strongly hinted at retirement while the Clippers were back in his native North Carolina.
But he acknowledged a video retrospective of his career played by the Clippers during a timeout at Intuit Dome last week. The video ended with “Congratulations, Point God” on the screen. Paul couldn't really be blamed for the Clippers' profound struggles this season because he hasn't played much.
He is averaging 2.6 points and 3.3 assists while playing just 14.3 minutes per game — all career lows — and he didn't play at all in five straight games in mid-November.
Paul had eight points and three assists while playing 15 minutes against the Heat in what turned out to be his final game with the team — a game in which Harden and other starters were effectively benched, in the latest sign of discord for Lue's team.
“T Lue's a hell of a coach," Frank said.
"He’s going to continue to be the coach here for a long time.”
The Clippers snapped a five-game slide Wednesday. Leonard has been limited to 11 games by injuries, and they've already lost guard Bradley Beal to season-ending hip surgery.
The Clippers’ streak of 14 consecutive winning seasons is the longest active streak in the NBA, but owner Steve Ballmer’s club has yet to show signs of contention this season — and now they're going forward without a historically talented point guard and franchise favorite.
“Chris’ legacy with us stands," Frank said. "This situation just didn’t work out at this time.”
Jamal Murray scores season-high 52 points, Nuggets hold off Pacers 135-120
By The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
— Jamal Murray scored a season-high 52 points and Nikola Jokic fell just short of another triple-double to help the Denver Nuggets hold off the short-handed Indiana Pacers 135-120 on Wednesday night.
Murray was 19 of 25 from the field and even better from 3-point range, 10 of 11, despite being listed as questionable because of a sprained right ankle late in the afternoon. He fell three points short of matching his career high.
Jokic had 24 points, eight rebounds and 13 assists playing in front of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. He came up two rebounds short of starting December with back-to-back triple-doubles but he still holds the league lead with 11 this season.
Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr and Peyton Watson all finished in double figures as the Nuggets won for the third time in five games.
BUCKS 113, PISTONS 109
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kevin Porter Jr. scored 26 points, Ryan Rollins added 22 and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the loss of Giannis Antetokounmpo to an injury three minutes into the game to beat the Detroit Pistons.
AJ Green had 19 points and Jericho Sims finished with a career-high 15 points and tied a career best with 14 rebounds as Milwaukee won for just the second time in 10 games.
Antetokounmpo left with what the Bucks said was a right calf strain, not long after coach Doc Rivers said before the game there have been no talks between team officials and the two-time MVP about a potential exit from Milwaukee.
CLIPPERS 115, HAWKS 92
ATLANTA (AP) — James Harden had 27 points and nine assists, and the Los Angeles Clippers ended a five-game losing streak with a win over the Atlanta Hawks in their first game after deciding to move on without Chris Paul.
Kawhi Leonard had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Ivica Zubac contributed 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Clippers, who won for just the sixth time this season.
Earlier in the day, the Clippers sent home 12-time All-Star Paul, who was averaging 2.3 points in what is expected to be the final season of his 21-year NBA career. He played in 16 of the Clippers’ 21 games in his return to the franchise where he had some of the best years of his career.
KNICKS 119, HORNETS 104
NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 35 points, 18 rebounds and five assists, Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and the New York Knicks beat the Charlotte Hornets.
Mikal Bridges had 16 points, Deuce McBride scored 15 and Josh Hart had 15 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. New York (14-7) improved to 11-1 at Madison Square Garden this season.
LaMelo Ball had 34 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Tidjane Salaun and Kon Knueppel each had 13 points. Charlotte (6-16) fell to 1-10 on the road and dropped its ninth straight away from home.
MAVERICKS 118, HEAT 108
DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 22 points, Anthony Davis had 17 points and 17 rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks extended their first winning streak of the season to three games with a victory over the Miami Heat.
Undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard had 15 points and a season-high 13 assists after scoring a career-high 28 points in the previous game, a 131-121 victory over Denver. Klay Thompson scored 17 points in his relatively new role off the bench.
Kel’el Ware had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, while Tyler Herro scored 20 points but was shut out after halftime in his fifth game of the season coming off surgery to repair an
issue affecting his left ankle and foot.
NETS 113, BULLS 103
CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. had 33 points and 10 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets won consecutive games for the first
time this season, beating the depleted Chicago Bulls. Noah Clowney scored 18 of his 20 points the second half to help the Nets improve to 5-16. Nic Claxton had 14 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Josh Giddey had 28 points,
11 rebounds and 11 assists for his fifth triple-double this season for Chicago. The Bulls dropped to 9-12 with their fifth loss in a row.
and 10 rebounds, Kevin Durant scored 24 points and the Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings. Amen Thompson finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets, who bounced back from a loss to Utah to avoid dropping consecutive games for the first time since their first two games of the season. Thompson shot 8 of 16 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line.
Sengun also had four steals and Durant finished with eight assists.
Maxime Raynaud finished with 25 points and six rebounds for the Kings. Malik Monk had 25 points, five assists and two steals.
SPURS 114, MAGIC 112 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Luke Kornet blocked Franz Wagner’s last-second layup, De’Aaron Fox scored 31 points and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Orlando Magic.
Fox scored the Spurs’ final 10 points, the last on two free throws with 1.4 seconds left after a foul on Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac. Orlando got the ball to Wagner under the basket, but Kornet swatted it out of bounds as the horn sounded, his third block of the game.
San Antonio has won seven of nine with Victor Wembanyama out with a strained left calf.
TRAIL BLAZERS 122, CAVALIERS 110 CLEVELAND (AP) — Deni Avdija scored 27 points, Caleb Love and Shaedon Sharpe added 20 apiece off the bench and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a three-game losing streak, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 33 points, and Evan Mobley had 23 points and 10 rebounds. The Cavaliers have dropped four of five and this was their first loss this season against a team with a losing record.
The Trail Blazers had six players in double figures as they went 34 of 39 from the foul line. Avdija was 16 of 17.
NUGGETS guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the second half on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
CLIPPERS guard Chris Paul warms up before a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Edgecombe has go-ahead basket
and Maxey a
game-saving block as
76ers beat short-handed
New York Liberty hire Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco as head coach
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer
THE New York Liberty have hired Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco as their head coach, the team announced Wednesday.
DeMarco has been with the Warriors for 13 years in a variety of positions, including player development coach and assistant, and helped the franchise win four NBA championships.
"After a thorough search, we could not be more thrilled to welcome Chris DeMarco as our head coach,” said Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb. “Throughout the process, our goal was clear: identify a leader who could elevate our culture, implement elitelevel systems, and bring a modern vision for how to guide this franchise forward on the court.”
He's the latest WNBA hire with an NBA background, joining Alex Sarama (Portland) and
Sonia Raman (Seattle), who were two of the five head coaches hired this offseason in the league.
“I’m incredibly honoured to join the Liberty and proud to help carry forward the standard this franchise has set — excellence on the court and a strong connection to the community,” DeMarco said.
“The chance to work with some of the greatest players in basketball, supported by an exceptional front office and ownership group, is the kind of opportunity every coach dreams of. I can’t wait to get started — building on the winning foundation and culture that make the New York Liberty so special.”
He’s the third coach that Kolb has hired in his six-year tenure with the Liberty.
New York, like nearly every other team, has most of its roster as free agents, but Kolb said after the season he expected the core of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones back.
NBA fines 76ers $100,000 for misleading injury report on
YORK (AP) — The NBA fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for violating league injury reporting rules regarding Joel Embiid. The 76ers failed to accurately disclose the game availability status of Embiid prior to Sunday's contest against the Atlanta Hawks. Embiid was listed as out in Philadelphia’s initial injury report and subsequently played in the game. The fine takes into account the 76ers’ prior history of fines for violating injury reporting rules. Embiid did sit out Tuesday against Washington.
The Liberty let Sandy Brondello go soon after their loss in the first round of the WNBA playoffs this past season. She helped guide the team to its first WNBA championship in 2024. She was recently hired by the Toronto expansion team.
DeMarco has been the Bahamian national team coach since 2019. Jones hails from that island nation. He has been a part of all four of the Warriors championships.
By AARON BRACY Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA
(AP) — Rookie VJ Edgecombe made the go-ahead follow shot with 0.9 seconds left, Tyrese Maxey raced back for a game-saving blocked shot and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the short-handed Golden State Warriors 99-98 last night.
Maxey scored 35 points but missed a jumper with the 76ers trailing by one. Edgecombe tipped it in, but the Warriors quickly fired an inbounds pass to De’Anthony Melton, who had broke downcourt.
Maxey got back to block the shot off the backboard just before time expired. Joel Embiid had 12 points
Warriors
in his return to the 76ers lineup.
Pat Spencer scored 16 points for the Warriors, who erased a 24-point deficit despite playing with their two leading scorers, Stephen Curry (left quad contusion) and Jimmy Butler (left knee soreness), then losing Draymond Green to an injured right foot late in the second quarter.
Maxey's 3-pointer made it 67-43 with 8:06 left in the third quarter. But the Warriors used a 15-0 run early in the fourth quarter to get back in the contest, then had a late lead before Edgecome stole an inbounds pass with 8.2 seconds to play.
Paul George (left knee injury recovery) was out
for the 76ers, who play the second game of a backto-back on Friday night in Milwaukee.
Curry didn’t even make the trip to Philadelphia, missing his third in a row and seventh game this season.
Butler couldn’t play after getting injured in the Warriors’ 124-112 home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Golden State did get some good news on the injury front with the return of Melton, who had 14 points in his season debut while coming back from a torn ACL. Up next Warriors: At Cleveland on Saturday night.
76ers: At Milwaukee tonight.
GOLDEN State Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco stands before an NBA preseason basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in San Francisco, Oct. 14, 2022.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
VJ Edgecombe made the go-ahead follow shot with 0.9 seconds left to help 76ers win by one against the short-handed Golden State Warriors night.
Lionel Messi isn’t saying if he plans to play in 2026 World Cup
BUENOS AIRES,
Argentina (AP) — Lionel Messi isn't saying if he plans to play in the 2026 World Cup.
The 38-year-old star led Argentina to the top of the standings of South America’s World Cup qualifiers, but he hasn't confirmed if he'll help his country defend its 2022 title. The World Cup draw is today.
“I’m going to take it one day at a time; being honest and trying to be realistic and feel good,” Messi in an interview with ESPN Argentina. “This year I felt very good.”
The Inter Miami star added playing in the
United States will make it easier for him to consider playing at the tournament being co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. It starts on June 11 in Mexico City and would be Messi's sixth World Cup.
“It catches us at a different point in the season than in Europe.
“We’re going to start a tough preseason in January and we’re going to have a lot of games in a row with the league and the CONCACAF Champions League,” Messi said. Messi and Inter Miami are preparing to face Vancouver in the MLS Cup final on Saturday.
If they play at the next World Cup, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently qualified with Portugal, would surpass greats like Germany’s Lothar Matthäus, who played in five editions.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he has regular conversations with Argentine national team coach Lionel Scaloni about the role he could play.
“He always tells me that he’d like me to be in whatever position I’m assigned. We have a very trusting relationship, and we can talk about everything,” Messi said.
Mbappé scores two goals as Real Madrid wins 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao
By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) —
Kylian Mbappé scored twice and had an assist as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to end a three-match winless streak in the Spanish league on Wednesday.
Eduardo Camavinga also found the net for Madrid as it moved back within one point of Barcelona, which beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday.
Both 19th-round matches were moved forward because Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic and Atletico will be playing in the Spanish Super Cup in January in Saudi Arabia.
Madrid was coming off league draws at Girona, Elche and Rayo Vallecano. It was Madrid's second win in its last six matches in all competitions.
“It was important, after three away draws, to get back to winning on the road,” Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said. "The team came out to play and win the match from the first minute, with good focus,
intensity and rhythm. It was probably our best match this season.”
Mbappé has scored seven goals in his last three matches in all competitions. He had scored once against Girona, and netted
four times at Olympiakos in a 4-3 Champions League win. The France star has 30 goals in 24 appearances between club and country this season and is the leading scorer in both the Spanish league (16 goals) and the Champions League (nine goals).
“Kylian is going through a great moment,” Alonso said. “He scored two great goals and moved well. His connection with Vini (Vinícius Júnior) was very nice."
Mbappé scored his first goal Wednesday in a breakaway in the seventh minute, picking up the ball near midfield and clearing a couple of defenders during his run before finding the net from the edge of the area.
Camavinga added to the lead with a header from close range in the 42nd after an assist by Mbappé,
and the France international got his second goal with a nice shot from nearly 30 meters out in the 59th.
“At times I think to myself, 'How lucky I am to have him on my team and not have to face him, except maybe against France,” said Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, a Belgian international.
"He’s unstoppable, we really enjoy watching him play.”
Camavinga had to be replaced in the 69th with an apparent injury. Madrid also lost Trent Alexander-Arnold because of an injury in the 55th.
Athletic, sitting in eighth place, has only two wins in its last eight matches.
Madrid hosts Celta Vigo on Sunday in its return to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Athletic hosts fourth-place Atletico on Saturday.
Man United wastes chance to reach Premier League top 5 in 1-1 draw with West Ham
By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER,
Eng-
land (AP) — Manchester United blew the chance to move up to fifth in the Premier League yesterday when West Ham salvaged a late 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Soungoutou Magassa's 83rd-minute equaliser cancelled out Diogo Dalot's opening goal that had put United on course to move level on points with fourthplace Chelsea.
Bruno Fernandes squandered two chances to score a winner in added time — blazing a shot wide from inside the box and then volleying another off target. It was another setback for United, which has only won one of its last five games — drawing three.
Despite that run, Ruben Amorim's team had the opportunity to move within reach of the Champions League places with a win. And that looked likely when in the 58th Casemiro's long-range shot was controlled in the box by Dalot.
The United defender then spun and powered a shot past West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. It was a game of few chances, with West Ham rarely threatening to find an equaliser. But a late corner saw Jarrod Bowen's flicked header cleared off the line by Noussair Mazraoui. Magassa reacted quickest in the box and side-footed his shot low into the corner to spark celebrations from the visiting fans.
The result leaves United in eighth and West Ham 18th.
INTER Miami forward Lionel Messi arrives for an MLS Eastern Conference final soccer match against New York FC, Saturday, November 29, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
REAL Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
Scottie Scheffler in five-way tie for the lead at Albany Golf Club
Scottie Scheffler, left, walks near Jordan Spieth, on the third green during the first round yesterday.
Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, watches his shot from the 18th fairway during the first round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, Thursday, December 4, 2025. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)
Sepp Straka, of Austria, watches his shot from the 18th fairway during the first round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club.
J.J. Spaun, of the United States, watches his shot on the third hole during the first round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour.
Wyndham Clark, of the United States, watches his shot on the third tee.
