SPORTS
‘Flashy King’ wins
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
CARL “Flashy King” Hield, a man on a mission, exploded for a second round victory to successfully defend his pair of titles on Saturday night at the Coliseo Menor de Villa Olimpica en Santa Marta, Colombia.
The 39-year-old Hield stopped Jose Luis Prieto of Colombia for his sixth victory for the year to remain undefeated in his professional career at 14-0.
In defending his World Boxing Association's FedeCaribe and National Boxing Association's super welterweight titles, Hield dropped 40-year-old Prieto to 28-17.
In dedicating the fight to his deceased mother, Norma Hield, Hield thanked God, his sponsors Production Guru, Rigger242, R&P Sports Management, Rolling Type Importanters Limited and Strikers Boxing Club, and all of his supporters for their support.
"We knew this was going to be a tough opponent. We studied him, but just looking at the first round, I felt I could have gotten him out earlier," Hield said.
"So I just started to use more of my distance and cut the ring off. A little bit into the second round, I was able to get the knockout with the uppercut to the head. "I wasn't expecting it, but it just came off with the punches. It was two body shots. When he was going down, the uppercut came at the same time and that was it."
Hield said he really wanted to fight for the World Boxing Council's super middleweight title fight at home, but things didn't materialise.
"I'm looking to have my US debut next year to fight for the WBC title, but I guess it's just good to finish the year undefeated and to
Pro boxer Carl Hield stops Colombian Prieto to remain undefeated at 14-0
be able to look forward to the big fights to get put on next year."
Hield, who is scheduled to return home today, said he will be right back in the gym training because he has to stay ready in the event that he gets a phone call for a fight. "I will celebrate in the gym. No days off," Hield stressed. "Professional is
Hield said once he gets home, he will relax for a day or two, spending some time with his family and then talk to his management team about what's next.
"I only fought two rounds so when I get back into the gym, I will be working on things that I didn't get
different from amateurs. With the amateurs, you don't know if you are going to a competition or not. So you don't have to train so hard. "But with the professional ranks, you have to be training at all times to be prepared because you never know when you will get that phone call that could come to change your life with a big fight. You have to stay ready."
to do or I didn't do right in the two rounds," Hield said. "The fight was scheduled for 10 rounds, but I got a special knockout in the second round."
Hield asked the Bahamian public to stay tuned because he plans on electrifying the boxing world by winning a "world title" very soon. If he does, he will become only the second Bahamian to do so. Everette 'Elisha Obed' Ferguson still holds that distinction, having won the WBC's light middleweight title over Miguel de Oliveira in 1975 in Paris, France, before he defended it twice, eventually losing it a year later to Germany's Eckhard Dagge in 1976.
Rhema scores 40 for her 4th double-double of season
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor
bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
RHEMA Collins posted her biggest performance, scoring 40 points in her fourth double-double of the season to lead the Florida International University Lady Panthers in a 103-92 win over Georgia State Lady Panthers on Friday evening. Collins, a junior transfer from the Ole Miss Lady
Rebels, shattered her previous career-high of 19 points to produce FIU's first 40-point performance since 2017 when Alexis Gordon reached the mark against Vermont.
The six-foot, twoinch Collins was a
dominant factor on the inside as she became just the seventh player in FIU history since 1994 to score 40 in a game and recorded the highest single-game total of coach Jesyke BurksWiley era.
Her ability to score at will, even with two or three defenders on her, allowed her to emerge as one of only seven players with 40-point games in NCAA women's basketball this season.
And she's now tied for the sixth-highest individual scoring performance nationwide as she added 13 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and three steals.
"I felt pretty good about it," said Collins about her team's victory. "I'm happy we got the win. It definitely wasn’t a perfect win, we have a lot of things to work on."
Collins posted 21 points in the first quarter as FIU set the tone early in the shootout, dropping a season-high 37 points and adding 26 more in the second. The Panthers' 63 first-half points marked the most in any opening half under Burks-Wiley, sending FIU into the break with a commanding 63-44 lead. "I
guess you could say I was in a groove," she lamented about her performance. "It was just one of those nights where a lot of things were going right for me."
When asked if she had any regrets about her decision to switch from Ole Miss to FIU, Collins noted that she didn't because "I'm happy with the choice I made and comfortable with where I'm at."
She's now teaming up with fellow Bahamian point guard Denika Lightbourne and was surprised by the visit of Anthony Swaby, who has coached both of them at home in The Bahamas.
"I was shocked to see him there but I’m glad he was," said Collins about Swaby. "It's always nice to see someone from home, especially someone that supports me in a lot of things.
Lightbourne, a 5-9 guard who made a transfer from Dayton, played 16 minutes as she contributed three points, four rebounds and four assists.
"Rhema made me so proud and although Denika didn't have a good game, I was proud watching them both play," Swaby said.
"Rhema had 38 points with about three minutes to go and heard some of the guys on the men's team telling the coach to put Rhema back on the court to try for 40."
Also in attendance was former Bahamian national team player Alexandria 'Shaq' Fernander, who played for Barry University and is now married and living in Miami. Collins led four players in double figures as she was joined by Parris Atkins, who had 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, and three steals and freshman Grecia Ferrer Leal also got a new careerhigh with 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting, along with five boards, three assists, and three steals.
Valero added her first double-digit performance of the season with 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Ndate Ndiaya rounded out the group with 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting. The 103-point output is FIU's highest since the programme posted a record 132 points in the 2024–25 season opener. It also marks the sixth 100-point game of the Burks-Wiley era. The Panthers, who improved to 4-3 and sixth in the Conference USA standings, will head up to Boca Raton to matchup against their in-state rival, Florida Atlantic, at 7pm on Monday, December 15 in a live broadcast game on ESPN+.
Judit
COACH Anthony Swaby, centre, shares a special moment with Rhema Collins, left, and Denika Lightbourne.
WINNING WAYS: Carl “Flashy King” Hield has his hand raised by the referee after his victory.
Best-of-the-Best Regatta: New Legend wins overall title
AFTER winning the first two races, the New Legend dropped the final race to the Running Tide but still managed to hold on for the overall win in the Ministry of Agriculture's 2025 Best of the Best Regatta.
The regatta, which got started on Thursday, was completed last night in Montagu Bay. It attracted the top boats, based on their performances during the 2025 sailing season.
The New Legend collected a total of four points to finish ahead of the Running Tide, who got second with seven. The Silent Partner was third with 11, Capt. Gene was fourth with 15 and Ed Sky rounded out the field in fifth with 16.
In the B Class, Lonesome Dove completed a sweep of the three races to score a total of three points to snatch the title., The Susan
Chase V, second in the three races, was second with six and the Ole Boy got third with 13, the same amount of points achieved by Ants Nest for fourth. Eudeva completed the field with 16.
The Whitty K got a sixth, first and seventh, but was still able to secure the win in th C Class with 14 points. Sacrifice got second with 15, Shroud was third with 19, It Ain't Right, Bul Reg and Spray Hound ended up fourth, fifth and sixth respectively with 23 points each.
In the E Class, Miss Agnes took the title home to Exuma after placing first, third and second in the three races for eight points. Lady Kayla came in second with 13 points and Papa got third, although finishing with 15 points, the same as Lil Brooke. Captain Peg was fifth with 24.
Rashield Williams bows out of IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
RASHIELD “Raw” Williams bowed out of the IBA Men's World Boxing Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the round of 32 of the men's 67 kilogram class over the weekend.
Williams, coming off his first round victory in the second round over Jason Wulf from Samoa, suffered a split decision to Olympic and world champion Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev from Uzbekistan at Dubai Tennis Stadium.
Williams, coached by Geddet Williams, a IBA star one international coach from Grand Bahama, was the second Bahamian boxer to win a bout at the championship. The first was Valentino Knowles in 2009 with Andre Seymour as his coach.
"It was a tough fight. He was very crafty," Williams said of his opponent. "He came off a bye, but after I won my first fight, I had to lose weight again, so I didn't have any rest to get ready to prepare for him.
"But it was a very exciting fight. I feel good. I was over here alone with the coach, but we came out with a win. Valentino was the only person who ever won a fight at the World Championships, so I feel proud of myself.
Knowles, the first Bahamian to win a match at the championships in 2019, said he was pleased with Williams' grit, especially considering he started boxing late, around 17 or 18.
Knowles said he was impressed with Knowles' passion after watching him sell his car just to train alongside himself and Carl Hield in Cuba.
"In 2014 as I began coaching, Rashield was one of my first athletes. He
inspired me to share my boxing knowledge with him," Knowles said.
"Our journey took us to the Jose Cheo Aponte Tournament in Puerto Rico in 2015, where he faced Carlos Tobar but lost on a hometown decision."
Knowles noted that he established training camps at the National Boxing Centre, assisting coach Andre Seymour in preparation for the Pan-American Games Qualifiers in Tijuana in June, 2015.
"Rashield, along with two other boxers, qualified for the Pan-Am Games, where he finally earned a medal in international competition for the first time ever stepping a foot on the podium," Knowles said.
"This marks the game changer for him. He was always dedicated. Now, seeing him become the second Bahamian to win a bout at the World Championship after my own achievement feels incredibly fulfilling."
Knowles said it was inspiring to know that he was able to help Williams in his journey. He said as a
late starter to setting marks in boxing history is a testament to his hard work and determination.
"I also feel he could have done a lot better if it was anyone else he had to fight but boxing goes by the draw," Knowles said. "His second fight was against the number one seed in the weight division who has captured success at the Olympics, World Championships and major events.
"His ability to go the full distance with an Olympic gold medallist and world champion shows his pedigree that he is deserving to be there."
Williams, the WBA FedeBol champion, will be back in action at the professional ranks when he takes on Jamaican Nico Yeyo in the Caribbean Boxing Association and Bris 'O' Promotions' Final Showdown main event at 6pm on Friday, December 2 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown, Guyana.
"These championships will definitely prepare me for this show," said Williams, who is 13-3 as a pro, winning his last two fights.
NEW LEGEND and crew in the Ministry of Agriculture’s 2025 Best of the Best Regatta at Montagu.
RASHIELD “Raw” Williams after his loss.
Bahamas earns critical 2-1 win over Saint Martin in the Caribbean Baseball Cup
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
THE 2025 Caribbean Baseball Cup continued yesterday at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium, where Team Bahamas earned a critical 2-1 victory over Saint Martin in a game that carried major implications for their chances of advancing.
Entering the matchup with a 2-1 record after a narrow 2-1 loss to Curaçao on Saturday, The Bahamas needed a win to stay
alive in the race for Monday’s medal round rematch against Curaçao, especially with the tournament also serving as a qualifier for the upcoming Pan American Games.
From the opening inning, both teams leaned heavily on strong pitching and disciplined defence, with neither side giving up easy runs. Saint Martin applied early pressure by placing runners on base, but The Bahamas' pitching staff worked out of tight spots and kept the scoreboard level. On offence, The Bahamas attempted to generate steady momentum, though
Saint Martin matched their intensity and control to keep the game tight.
The key moment arrived in the fifth inning when Pheron Charlton reached third base and created the type of situation The Bahamas had been waiting for.
During the next at-bat, a miscue by the Saint Martin catcher allowed Charlton to charge home, giving The Bahamas a 2-1 lead and energising the crowd inside Andre Rodgers Stadium.
With the advantage in hand, The Bahamas stayed focused on maintaining composure and protecting the narrow lead, relying on
timely pitching to control the tempo to prevent Saint Martin from mounting a late push.
“It's an amazing feeling to be the one to make the play. Amazing feeling to keep my team in the game and bring it home in front of my country,” said Charlton.
As the innings wound down the tension increased, but The Bahamas stayed firm and executed defensively when it mattered most.
In the final inning, Team Bahamas delivered the decisive moment by striking out the final batter to secure the 2-1 win and
ignite celebrations across the stadium. The victory improves Team Bahamas to 3-1 and keeps them positioned to fight for a place in tonight's medal round, with everything now depending on their rematch against Curaçao. The Bahamas lost 2-1 to the undefeated Curaçao team on Saturday, making tonight's showdown both an opportunity for redemption and a crucial test of their ability to close out the qualifying stage in hopes of medalling.
“Nothing different. Keep our mindset that we've been having the whole
tournament and execute from the guys on the mound to the guys in the infield, the guys in the outfield, and the guys in the dugout, just go out there and do our thing,” said Charlton on the mindset of the team heading into tonight’s game. Team Bahamas will look to carry Sunday’s momentum into the most important game of their tournament so far. The team knows that a strong performance tonight will secure their spot in the championship and move them closer to qualification for the Pan American Games.
Judo Federation holds general elections
THE Bahamas Judo Federation held its General Elections for the 2025 – 2029 period at the 2025 AGM held at the Bahamas Olympic Committee offices. All executives were elected unopposed.
New members of the Executive include: Director Gina Rolle, Director Giovana Charles, Director Keith Saunders and General Secretary Erika Culmer and VP Willard Mckenzie. The elections were scrutinised by Bahamas Olympic vice president Roy Colebrook.
In the president’s report, Rahming outlined the key objectives for the quadrennial which include: developing the Family Island cadet programmes, winning a Commonwealth Games medal and qualifying at least two athletes for the 2028 Olympic Games. All officers were given terms of reference for their areas of responsibility.
“We are blessed to have a dynamic team of accomplished results driven individuals,” said returning President D’Arcy Rahming Sr.
D’Arcy Rahming Sr. – President
Phil Kemp - Treasurer General Secretary – Erika Culmer
Vice Presidents and Directors and their portfolios
1—Association of Nassau Clubs & In-school Programs (grass root development)
VP Willard Mckenzie
Director of Nassau Clubs & In- School Programs Keith Saunders
2—Association of Family Island Clubs & In school Programs (family island development)
VP Oneysi Portorreal Pons
Director Association of Family Island DevelopmentGina Rolle
3—Association of Tertiary Education Institutions (judo as a path to education)
President D’Arcy Rahming
Director of Association of Tertiary EducationMeishelle Williams
4—National Team (High performance)
General Secretary – Erika Culmer
Director of High Performance – Giovanna Charles
5—Association of Para Olympic and Special Olympic Clubs (Judo for persons with disabilities)
VP David Rahming
6—Association of Qualified Blackbelts (Life long practicing of Judo)
VP Reno Culmer
7—Association of Qualified Female Blackbelts (Women in Judo)
VP Regina Parotti
Fundamental Movements in Youth Athletes: Building the Base Right
By Dr Kent L Bazard Sports Medicine Physician
IN the world of youth sports, it’s easy to get caught up in competition, trophies, and early specialization. But beneath every great performance lies something far less glamorous, yet far more important — movement literacy. Before a child learns to sprint fast, jump high, or deliver a perfect serve, they must master the basics.
These building blocks are called Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS), and they’re the true foundation of athletic success.
Too often, we see young athletes with potential sidelined by injuries, poor form, or burnout.
These aren’t always due to lack of talent — many times, the problem is that the athlete never built a proper base. Like trying to build a house on sand, skipping the fundamentals sets athletes up for future failure, regardless of their drive or raw ability.
Understanding the Basics
Fundamental Movement Skills include actions like running, jumping, landing, catching, throwing,
balancing, twisting, pushing, and pulling. These aren’t sport-specific moves — they’re universal patterns that form the backbone of almost every athletic action. Learning to decelerate before changing direction, land safely after a jump, or control body posture under fatigue — these are the skills that allow youth to safely and effectively participate in sports. Developmentally, children progress through stages of motor learning as they grow. If they miss the opportunity to master key skills during these critical windows — often between ages 6 and 12 — the consequences may show up years later. Poor movement habits can become ingrained, increasing injury risk and limiting athletic versatility. The Long-Term Benefits of Early Movement Literacy Research has shown that children who are competent in FMS tend to remain more physically active throughout life. They're also more likely to have higher levels of cardiovascular fitness, healthier body composition, and lower rates of injury. More importantly,
Dr KENT BAZARD
they become confident movers — young people who aren’t intimidated by physical challenges and are more likely to try different sports or activities. In contrast, youth who lack these skills may avoid movement-based challenges or struggle with transitions between sports.
A child who never learned to catch properly may shy away from team sports. One who never mastered balance and landing
mechanics may experience recurring knee or ankle issues. The gap widens over time, not because of talent, but because of missed opportunity.
What Happens When We Skip the Foundation Early sport specialization — where a child plays only one sport year-round from a young age — has become increasingly common. But this can come at a cost. Without diverse movement experience, overuse injuries become more likely, and overall athleticism may suffer. A pitcher with poor trunk rotation will struggle to generate force. A sprinter who lacks proper single-leg balance will waste energy and increase their injury risk with every stride.
It's not that young athletes should avoid structured training — it's that their training should match their stage of development. Movement quality must come before volume or intensity. We don’t need more reps — we need better reps.
Teaching and Developing
Movement the Right Way The solution lies in structured, age-appropriate programming. Young
athletes should be exposed to a wide variety of movement experiences — not just in their primary sport, but across disciplines. This could mean agility drills, balance challenges, light resistance work, and mobility training. Coaches should look for movement patterns, not just performance metrics.
Emphasis should be placed on teaching proper landing mechanics, improving core control, and developing rhythm and coordination. This isn't limited to elite programs — every school, club, and recreational league can incorporate these principles. Movement assessments and simple screenings can catch deficits before they lead to injuries.Involving parents and teachers in this process creates a support system where movement development is seen as an essential part of youth development, not a luxury.
A Call to Action for the Bahamian Sports Community Here in The Bahamas, we’ve long known that we produce talented athletes — but to raise the overall standard of performance,
injury prevention, and athlete longevity, we need to double down on the fundamentals. That means supporting youth programs that prioritise physical literacy, educating coaches in long-term athlete development principles, and ensuring our youngest athletes are developing more than just sport-specific skills.
As a nation, we must encourage a culture where athletic development starts with movement quality — where skipping rope, hopping, crawling, and climbing are viewed not as play, but as training. In doing so, we aren’t just building better athletes — we’re building stronger, more capable citizens.
The Takeaway Fundamental movement skills are not optional. They are the difference between long-term success and early burnout, between injury and resilience. Before we push youth athletes to be faster or stronger, let’s make sure they know how to move well. The athletes who master the basics are the ones best prepared for whatever sport — or life — throws at them.
SHOWN, from left to right, Front Row: David Rahming, Gina Rolle, Regina Parotti, Erika Culmer, Willard Mckenzie. Back Row: Philip Kemp, Keith Saunders, Roy Colebrook, D’Arcy Rahming Sr., Reno Culmer, Oneysi Potorreal Pons.
‘Buddy’ Hield scores 13 in first season start as Warriors beat Cavaliers 99-94
By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP)
— Pat Spencer scored a career-high 19 points in his first NBA start and the Golden State Warriors shook off an awful-shooting first quarter to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-94 Saturday night.
It was the third consecutive game the third-year guard has scored at least 15. His three 3-pointers were a career high.
Gui Santos added 14 points, Buddy Hield scored 13 in his first start of the season and Quinton Post had 12. The short-handed Warriors have won three of four, despite missing Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 29 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter. Evan Mobley scored 18 and Darius Garland 17. The Cavaliers, who were missing Jarrett Allen and Lonzo Ball, have dropped five of seven.
The Warriors shot 4 of 23 in the opening 12 minutes, tied for second-worst shooting quarter in the league this season, and trailed 18-12. They were 29 of 63 the rest of the way.
The Cavaliers shot a season-worst 34.6% from the field, going 37 of 107. They were 10 of 42 on 3-pointers, with the 23.6% shooting rate also a season low.
Golden State had a 14-point lead in the third quarter and was up 72-62 going into the fourth before Cleveland made a late comeback.
The Cavs went on a 15-5 run to get within 96-94 with 11 seconds remaining. Santos made his first free throw, but missed his second.
Cleveland called time, but Mitchell missed what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds left.
Spencer then made both of his foul shots to put it out of reach.
The Cavs were up 23-14 before the Warriors went on a 27-8 run during a nearly seven-minute span in the second quarter.
Golden State was 8 of 10 from field, including five 3-pointers and had eight players score during the run. Cleveland shot 3 of 27.
Porter, Claxton lead Nets to 119-101 victory over Pelicans
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. tied his season high with 35 points, Nic Claxton had his second triple-double and the Brooklyn Nets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119101 on Saturday.
Porter matched his career best by reaching 30 for a third straight game, having also done it last Feb. 3-6 during his final season with Denver. He made five 3-pointers and had nine rebounds after sitting out Thursday to rest his back in the second night of a back-to-back.
Claxton finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He’s the first Nets player with multiple triple-doubles in a season since James Harden (nine) and Kevin Durant (four) in 2021-22, and the second Nets center with multiple career triple-doubles. Shawn Bradley had five from 1995-97.
Day’Ron Sharpe added 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting as Brooklyn won for the third time in four games to improve to 6-17.
Trey Murphy III scored 23 points for the Pelicans, who lost their sixth straight game and fell to 3-21. Saddiq Bey added 18 points and Bryce McGowens had 16.
HAWKS 131, WIZARDS 116
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jalen Johnson had his second straight triple-double and fourth of the season, finishing with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in Atlanta's victory over Washington.
Onyeka Okongwu added 21 points for the Hawks. They snapped a three-game losing streak and avenged a 132-113 loss in Washington on Nov. 25.
Vít Krejci scored 14 points and made three of his four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Atlanta pull away after giving back a lead that had been 20 in the second quarter and 18 in the third.
CJ McCollum scored 28 points for last-place Washington, which lost its third in a row and second straight at home following two consecutive home wins. He hit seven 3s as the Wizards stayed in the game on 17-of28 shooting beyond the arc.
PISTONS 124, BUCKS 112
DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 23 points and 12 assists and Detroit beat Milwaukee 124-112 to end the Bucks’ 15-game winning streak in Detroit.
Milwaukee came into the season with a 13-game winning streak against the Pistons, but Detroit has won two of three this season.
Jalen Duren had 16 points and 16 rebounds for Detroit, which has won four of five to improve to 19-5, with the only loss coming on Wednesday night in Milwaukee. Isaiah Stewart added 19 points. Kevin Porter Jr. had a season-high 32 points for the Bucks, who have lost 10 of 12. Kyle Kuzma added 15 points.
MAVERICKS 122, ROCKETS 109 DALLAS (AP) — Anthony Davis scored 29 points and Dallas beat Houston to finish a back-toback coming off a blowout loss at defending champion Oklahoma City.
Davis went 14 of 19 from the field a night after making just one of nine shots and scoring two points in 24 minutes in a 132-111 loss to the Thunder. It was fewest points of the 10-time All-Star’s career when playing at least 20 minutes.
Kevin Durant scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half but ended up not playing in the fourth quarter after the Mavericks outscored Houston 37-20 in the third and took a 21-point lead early in the fourth. The game was tied at halftime. Cooper Flagg had 19 points, and one of his three assists came on a nifty transition bounce pass to Ryan Nembhard for a 98-77 lead. Brandon Williams scored 20 points as the backup point guard to Nembhard, the rookie who had 11 points and seven assists in his sixth consecutive start, the first of his career.
TIMBERWOLVES 109, CLIPPERS 106 MINNEAPOLIS (AP)
— Naz Reid made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining, Jaden McDaniels scored 27 points and Minnesota beat Los Angeles. Julius Randle added 24 points for Minnesota. Reid’s big shot capped a 19-point night off the bench, including 5 of 8 from deep. McDaniels then made two free throws with 4.8 seconds left and the Timberwolves held on. Minnesota won its season-high fifth straight game. The Clippers have lost seven of eight. James Harden led the Clippers with 34 points and moved into 10th on the NBA’s career scoring list. He surpassed Carmelo Anthony (28,289 points) with a pair of free throws in the third quarter.
Kawhi Leonard added 20 points while Ivica Zubac had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers. Harden missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
KINGS 127, HEAT 111 MIAMI (AP) — Zach LaVine had season highs of eight 3-pointers and 42 points, and Sacramento got their first double-digit win of the season by topping Miami.
Keegan Murray scored 16, Nique Clifford had 15 and DeMar DeRozan finished with 13 for the Kings. The Kings came into the game having lost four straight and 12 of their last 14. Sacramento’s five wins entering the night were by a combined 18 points, none of them by more than a fivepoint margin. LaVine’s previous bests this season were six 3s and 34 points. Sacramento led by as many as 28 — another season-best — and got its biggest win ever in Miami.
by
The Kings were 6-31 all-time in Miami, never winning
more than 15 points.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 27 for the Heat, who have dropped three straight for the first time this season.
Simone Fontecchio scored 20 for the Heat, who got 18 from Norman Powell and 13 from Andrew Wiggins.
NETS centre Nic Claxton, top, catches the ball during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, December 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
WARRIORS’ Buddy Hield warms up before Saturday’s NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. (AP Photos/Phil Long)
BUDDY Hield (7) drives past Cavaliers’ Jaylon Tyson (20) during the first half.
Josh Allen’s 4 TDs and Christian Benford’s pick-6 lead Bills in 39-34 comeback win over Bengals
By The Associated Press
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.
(AP) — Josh Allen threw for three touchdowns and ran for one, Christian Benford scored the go-ahead TD on a 63-yard interception return, and the Buffalo Bills rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 39-34 yesterday.
Allen scored on a 40-yard rush, breaking his record of 36 for the longest by a Bills quarterback, and Buffalo flipped the game with big defensive plays on a snowy afternoon in western New York. Benford and defensive end A.J. Epenesa intercepted Joe Burrow on consecutive plays from scrimmage, leading to the Bills scoring three touchdowns in a span of 4:20 in the fourth quarter.
Benford’s interception — the cornerback leaped to snag Burrow’s lob intended for Ja’Marr Chase — gave Buffalo its first lead with 5:25 remaining.
The Bills then went up 39-28 after Epenesa’s interception, which he caught after Burrow’s pass was tipped by defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. On fourthand-goal from the 3, Allen found tight end Jackson Hawes for a touchdown.
The Bills (9-4) have won two straight for the first time in a month, and they kept pace in a tightly packed AFC race.
The Bengals (4-9) saw their already shaky playoff prospects dim even further. Their only realistic shot entering the weekend was winning the AFC North, but they fell three games behind Pittsburgh.
Burrow’s boost to the Bengals lasted only one week after he oversaw Cincinnati’s 32-14 win over Baltimore in the starter’s first game after missing nine with a toe injury.
The interceptions were Burrow’s first in four starts this season.
He finished 25 of 36 for 284 yards and four touchdowns while losing for the first time in nine starts dating to last season.
PACKERS 28, BEARS 21
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Keisean Nixon intercepted Caleb Williams’ pass in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining to preserve Green Bay’s victory over Chicago that moved the
Packers into first place in the NFC North.
The Bears were facing fourth-and-1 from Green Bay’s 14-yard line when Williams faked a handoff and rolled to his left. Tight end Cole Kmet had gotten behind Nixon in the end zone, but Nixon made a leaping catch of the underthrown pass.
Josh Jacobs scored the tiebreaking touchdown on a 2-yard run with 3:32 remaining as the Packers (9-3-1) won their fourth straight and snapped a fivegame winning streak by the Bears (9-4).
Packers coach Matt LaFleur improved his record against the Bears to 12-1, the lone loss coming in the final week of the 2024 regular season. It came in his first head-to-head matchup with rookie Bears coach Ben Johnson.
SAINTS 24, BUCCANEERS 20 TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough ran for two touchdowns and New Orleans upset Tampa Bay to tighten the NFC South race.
The lowly Saints (3-10), who were 8 1/2-point underdogs, frustrated Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (7-6) in a sloppy game mostly played through a driving storm.
The four-time defending division champion Bucs lost for the fourth time in five games and fell into a first-place tie with Carolina. The Bucs and Panthers face off twice in the final three games.
After Chris Godwin Jr. couldn’t hold onto Mayfield’s pass on fourth-and-2 from the Saints 47, New Orleans drove for the go-ahead score.
Shough spun away from Logan Hall and Vita Vea in the backfield and scrambled 13 yards for a touchdown and a 24-17 lead near the midpoint of the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers had a chance to tie it but Emeka Egbuka dropped Mayfield’s pass in the end zone, and they settled for a 37-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin that cut the deficit to 24-20 with under five minutes remaining.
The Bucs had another chance in the final two minutes but Mayfield ran out of his early-season magic. First, Deion Jones dropped a potential
interception that would’ve set Tampa Bay up near its own 40. Instead, the Bucs got the ball after a punt at their 20 with 1:48 remaining and no timeouts.
STEELERS 27, RAVENS 22
BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw for 284 yards and a touchdown and even ran for TD in perhaps his best game with the Steelers, and Pittsburgh took sole possession of first place in the AFC North, holding on for a win over the Ravens when a Baltimore touchdown with 2:43 remaining was overturned by a replay review.
Isaiah Likely secured a pass from Lamar Jackson with two hands in the end zone, and both his feet came down, but as he was about to complete another step with his right foot, Joey Porter Jr. of the Steelers knocked the ball free. It was initially called a touchdown but then changed to incomplete. The Ravens eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Baltimore (6-7) held defensively and then reached the Pittsburgh 30-yard line, but Jackson took a sack when the Ravens had no timeouts left, and the clock expired.
Rodgers didn’t complete a pass longer than 31 yards in the whole month of November, but he had four of at least that distance Sunday, plus two more for more than 20. The first offensive play for Pittsburgh (7-6) was a 52-yard throw to DK Metcalf, which set up a 1-yard run by Rodgers that put the Steelers up 7-3.
That was the 42-yard quarterback’s first rushing touchdown since the 2022 season.
TITANS 31, BROWNS 29 CLEVELAND (AP) — Tony Pollard rushed for a career-high 161 yards and two touchdowns, Cam Ward passed for two scores and Tennessee held off Cleveland to snap a seven-game skid.
Cleveland’s Shedeur Sanders passed for 364 yards and three touchdowns in his third start, and he also ran for a score in a matchup of rookie quarterbacks. However, Sanders threw a costly interception in the third quarter that led to Tennessee’s go-ahead TD. Sanders’ father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion
Sanders, was in attendance.
Coach Prime was at his son’s first NFL start on Nov. 23 at Las Vegas, but missed last week’s home game against San Francisco.
The Titans (2-11) had a 31-17 lead with 6:17 remaining before the Browns scored a pair of touchdowns. Sanders had a 7-yard scramble with 4:27 left and threw a 7-yard TD pass to Harold Fannin Jr. with 1:03 remaining, but the Browns (3-10) missed both of their 2-point conversion attempts.
Cleveland attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by Tennessee’s Chimere Dike and the Titans ran out the clock.
Ward, the top overall pick in April’s NFL draft, completed 14 of 28 passes for 117 yards and had his first game with at least two touchdowns. The victory was interim coach Mike McCoy’s first in seven games since he replaced the fired Brian Callahan.
SEAHAWKS 37, FALCONS 9 Atlanta (AP) — Rashid Shaheed returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, Seattle’s defence came up with three turnovers and the Seahawks won for the seventh time in eight games, beating hapless Atlanta.
Sam Darnold threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of scores to Jaxon SmithNjigba and another to Cooper Kupp. The Seahawks (10-3) broke away from a 6-6 tie at halftime with a 31-point beatdown of the Falcons over the final two quarters.
With their seventh loss in eight games, the Falcons (4-9) sealed an eighth straight losing campaign — matching the worst stretch in franchise history — and were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a month still to go in the regular season.
Atlanta hasn’t made the postseason since 2017, a year after its infamous Super Bowl meltdown to Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Seattle is a team with soaring expectations, coming into the day as one of three NFC West teams with nine wins and its sights on a division title, maybe even a top seed in January.
Shaheed sparked the second-half outburst on the very first play after the break, marking the second week in a row that Atlanta has given up a huge kickoff return.
Shaheed took the kick at his own goal line, found a seam and was barely touched on his way to the other end of the field for the longest touchdown of the NFL season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It also was the longest return for the Seahawks since Tyler Lockett had a 105-yarder against Chicago in 2015.
BRONCOS 24, RAIDERS 17
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bo Nix passed for 212 yards and rushed for a touchdown, and the Denver Broncos didn’t fall behind for the first time this season as they defeated Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders lost quarterback Geno Smith, who injured his right hand and shoulder in the third quarter and was replaced by Kenny Pickett.
The Broncos (11-2) appear to be on the verge of ending Kansas City’s nineyear reign in the AFC West, and they tied idle New England for the top seed in the conference. Denver owns the tiebreaker because of its 6-0 record against common opponents; the Patriots lost to the Raiders.
JAGUARS 36, COLTS 19
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdown passes, Travis Etienne ran for two scores and Jacksonville moved atop the AFC South with a victory against rivals Indianapolis.
The Jaguars (9-4) won their fourth consecutive game and extended the Colts’ misery in Jacksonville. Indianapolis (8-5) most recently won at EverBank Stadium in 2014, an 11-game skid that includes a matchup in London.
This latest one could have a lasting impact.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones injured his right Achilles tendon in the second quarter and could be out for the season. The injury often includes a nine-month rehab, meaning Jones could be one-anddone in Indy and the Colts could be looking for a starting quarterback in March. Jones dropped to the ground after throwing incomplete and immediately grabbed the back of his right leg. He slammed his helmet to the ground several times before team trainers arrived. He eventually limped off the field and into the locker room for tests. The Colts quickly ruled him out. Jacksonville led 14-7 at that point, and the Colts never threatened with backup Riley Leonard in the game. The only other quarterback on Indy’s roster is Brett Rypien, who is on the practice squad.
Indy lost its third in a row and fourth in five games, a late-season slump that allowed Jacksonville and potentially Houston to move ahead in the division. Now, with Jones hurt and a daunting schedule down the stretch, it’s fair to wonder whether the Colts win again.
RAMS 45, CARDINALS 17 GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matthew Stafford threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, Puka Nacua
and Blake Corum both scored twice and Los Angeles rolled past Arizona to stay tied for the NFC West lead.
The Rams (10-3) scored 35 unanswered points to bounce back from last week’s turnover-filled loss to the Panthers and win for the seventh time in eight games. They are tied with the Seahawks atop the division, one game ahead of the 49ers.
The reeling Cardinals (3-10) have lost five straight and 10 of their past 11 after starting the season at 2-0. Los Angeles fell into an early 7-0 hole but rallied for a 24-10 lead by halftime, scoring just before the break on a beautiful 28-yard throw over the middle from Stafford to Nacua, who had six catches for 136 yards in the first half.
The Rams also scored touchdowns on a pair of 2-yard runs — one each by Kyren Williams and Corum. VIKINGS 31, COMMANDERS 0 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — J.J. McCarthy threw a career-high three touchdown passes in his first turnover-free game, returning from his latest injury absence in prime form for the Minnesota in a victory that sent Washington to its eighth straight loss. McCarthy went 16 for 23 for 163 yards in his seventh NFL start, after sitting out last week in Seattle with a concussion while the Vikings were shut out for the first time in 18 years and dropped their fourth consecutive game with the offense in disrepair.
McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season after knee surgery and five games earlier this season with a sprained ankle, targeted his tight ends for all three scores — the first two to Josh Oliver and the last one to T.J. Hockenson.
As smooth as the afternoon went for the Vikings (5-8), the return of the starting quarterback for the Commanders (3-10) produced nothing positive — only pain.
Jayden Daniels, the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award winner, was forced out midway through the third quarter when he was blocked during an interception return and landed hard on the left elbow he dislocated last month to require a three-game absence.
Daniels missed three games to injury earlier this season, too.
Marcus Mariota, who is 1-5 as the starter this season, threw an interception and lost a fumble as the Vikings finally enjoyed a stellar performance from every position group after stumbling badly through November to fall out of realistic contention for the playoffs.
BILLS quarterback Josh Allen (17) looks as he runs with the ball as
Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
‘Tuna’ leads Dolphins to 4th straight win 34-10 to remain unbeaten vs. Jets
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr AP Pro Football Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa remained unbeaten against the New York Jets and put his cold weather woes on ice, and the Miami Dolphins had three rushing touchdowns to run away with a 34-10 victory yesterday.
With Miami's fourth straight win, Tagovailoa improved to 7-0 against the Jets as a starter and 8-0 overall in games in which he has played against the AFC East rivals. And with the temperature 41 degrees at kickoff, Tagovailoa moved to 1-7 in his career when the temperature is 46 or colder.
De'Von Achane ran for 92 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the second quarter with a rib injury.
Jaylen Wright filled in and had a career-high 107 yards and a score.
Rookie Ollie Gordon II also ran for a TD for Miami (6-7), which ran for 239 yards and has won five of its last six after starting the season 1-6.
Tagovailoa was 13 of 21 for 127 yards with a touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle before sitting for the final minutes with the game well in hand. Zach Wilson, New York's No. 2 overall pick in
the 2021 draft, finished up for Miami.
Zach Sieler had 2 1/2 of the Dolphins' six sacks of the Jets (3-10), who were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. It's the 15th straight year — the NFL's longest active drought — without a postseason appearance for New York.
Undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook made his regular-season NFL debut for the Jets when he replaced the injured Tyrod Taylor with 3:39 remaining in the first quarter. Taylor left with what the team announced was a groin injury.
Cook, who was Taylor's backup because Justin Fields was ruled out with knee soreness, was 14 of 30 for 163 yards and two interceptions. Taylor was 1 for 4 for 6 yards and an interception before leaving.
The immediate concern for the Dolphins after the game was Achane, who was slow to walk off the field after a 29-yard run late in the second quarter.
Fast start
On Miami's opening drive, Tagovailoa was hit in the back by Jowon Briggs as he was throwing, but got enough on the pass to complete it to Waddle for a
3-yard touchdown that gave Miami a 7-0 lead.
Achane made it 14-0 a few minutes later with a 13-yard touchdown run to cap Miami's second possession.
Tyrel Dodson gave the Dolphins the ball right back when Taylor's pass went off Mason Taylor's hands and right to the linebacker. It was originally called an incompletion, but Mike McDaniel challenged the call and it was ruled via video review that Dodson kept the ball from hitting the ground for an interception by pinning it between his knees.
Tyrod Taylor, who made his third straight start in place of the benched Fields, was hurt on the play.
Special special teams
Isaiah Williams gave the Jets a spark when he returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown — his second score on a punt return this season — to make it 21-7 with 20 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Trailing 24-7 late in the third quarter, New York's special teams again came up big. With Austin McNamara set to punt on fourth down, Malachi Moore took the direct snap and then lateraled to Isaiah Davis, who
running back Ollie Gordon II (31) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter yesterday. (AP
gained 19 yards and a first down.
The Jets' offence stalled, though, and New York settled for a 31-yard field goal by Nick Folk.
Injuries
Dolphins: LB Caleb Johnson left in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and didn't return. ... S
Elijah Campbell was ruled out in the third with knee and ankle injuries. Jets: Rookie Tyler Baron didn't return after injuring a knee on the Dolphins' first touchdown. ... Rookie
LB Kiko Mauigoa left to be evaluated for a head injury and cleared concussion protocol, but didn't return.
... Rookie CB Azareye’h
Thomas hurt a shoulder in the first half, but came back in the third quarter. Up next Dolphins: Take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh next Monday night. Jets: Travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars next Sunday.
DOLPHINS
Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Matsuyama rallies and beats Noren in a playoff to win Hero World Challenge
NASSAU, Bahamas
(AP) — Hideki Matsuyama ended his season the way he started it, winning the Hero World Challenge yesterday when he closed with an 8-under 64 and then hit 9-iron to 2 feet for birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Alex Noren.
Matsuyama, who began the year by setting a PGA Tour record to par by winning at Kapalua, holed out from 116 yards in the 10th fairway for eagle that allowed him to catch Sepp Straka, move past Scottie Scheffler and seize control at Albany Golf Club.
Noren, unable to start his year until May because of a hamstring injury, charged along the back nine and caught Matsuyama with an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 64 to join him at 22-under 266 and force a playoff.
The overtime didn’t last long. Matsuyama, known for taking one hand off the club even when the shots work out fine, this time twirled the 9-iron in his hand as he watched it take aim at the flag and plop down a few feet away.
Noren’s 20-foot birdie attempt slid by on the left.
“It was a perfect distance for me,” Matsuyama said. “Early on the second shot (in regulation), I missed a little to the right. I was going right at it and was able to hit a great shot.” He won the holiday event hosted by Tiger Woods for the second time, winning in 2016.
Straka, the 54-hole leader by one shot over Scheffler,
birdied the final hole for a 68 to finish alone in third. Scheffler had a slow start and a two-hole stretch early on the back nine that ruined his bid for a third straight victory at Albany Golf Club. He shot 68 and tied for fourth with U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun (65).
Matsuyama went out in 31 and suddenly was tied with Straka when he holed out for eagle.
But the tournament took shape behind him on the par-5 11th.
Scheffler, two shots out of the lead, chose to hit driver off the fairway from 291 yards away with a speck of mud on the front of his ball. It went left under a small bush. He hacked that out to a sandy area, then hit his fourth shot over the green to back portion of a bunker. Only a superb bunker shot allowed him to escape with bogey. But then he found a bunker on the par-3 12th that led to bogey, and was five shots behind Matsuyama when the Japanese star holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole.
Scheffler ended his season by not finishing
worse than a tie for eighth in his last 16 events dating to the Houston Open the last week in March.
“It’s nice to come down here, kind of gauge where I’m at,” Scheffler said. “I definitely felt like some of the stuff I’ve been working on the last few weeks, I saw some progress here, and the stuff I was focused on in the
offseason, definitely saw some progress here as well. Good place to be.”
Matsuyama now has 21 wins worldwide, and he wore his tradition yellow shirt for the final round when he started three shots off the lead. He failed to capitalise on both par 5s on the back nine, but his bogey-free round and a brilliant 9-iron in the playoff was enough for his third time received a trophy from Woods. He also won the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in 2024, hosted by Woods.
“Tiger told me to shoot 10 under today,” Matsuyama said. “I didn’t shoot 10 under, but I’m very happy to win this week.”
HIDEKI Matsuyama, of Japan, takes a selfie with staff yesterday after winning the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour.
HIDEKI Matsuyama shakes hands with Alex Noren after winning the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)
ALEX Noren, of Sweden, hits from the fairway on the 18th hole during the final round.
HIDEKI Matsuyama, of Japan, right, poses for a photo with golf legend Tiger Woods after winning the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, on Sunday, December 7, 2025.