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🚨 Headlines
🎾 When you had been sleeping: Coco Gauff beat Marta Kostyuk to achieve her first Australian Open semifinal and Novak Djokovic beat Taylor Fritz to achieve his eleventh. The final 10 instances he made it this far, he gained all of it.
🏈 Titans to rent Callahan: Tennessee is finalizing a deal to rent Bengals OC Brian Callahan because the group’s subsequent head coach.
⛳️ Dunlap’s historic leap: After turning into the primary beginner to win a PGA Tour occasion in 33 years, Nick Dunlap rose 4,061 spots within the rankings (4,129 to 68), the largest one-week leap in OWGR historical past.
🏈 Lions add Ertz: Three-time Professional-Bowl tight finish Zach Ertz signed with the Lions on Monday and will be a part of the lively roster for the NFC title sport.
⚽️ Strike imminent? MLS referees voted unanimously on Monday to authorize a strike if their union would not ink a brand new CBA earlier than their present one expires on Jan. 31. That would set the stage for substitute refs when the season begins on Feb. 21.
🏀 What an evening: 70 for Embiid, 62 for KAT
On the 18th anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point sport, Joel Embiid scored 70 and Karl-Anthony Cities scored 62, each franchise data. Now that is the way you honor a legend.
An evening to recollect: Monday marked the fourth time in NBA historical past — and first time in 46 years — that two gamers scored 60+ factors on the identical day.
Dec. 8, 1961: Wilt Chamberlain (78) and Elgin Baylor (63)
Jan. 17, 1962: Jerry West (63) and Chamberlain (62)
April 9, 1978: David Thompson (73) and George Gervin (63)
Jan. 22, 2024: Embiid (70) and Cities (62)
How uncommon is that this? Embiid is the ninth member of the 70-point membership, becoming a member of Chamberlain (6x), Bryant, Thompson, Baylor, David Robinson, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker.
Embiid’s outburst in a 133-123 win over the Spurs was the 14th 70-point sport within the historical past of the NBA, which dates again to 1946.
For context: There have been 19 good video games in MLB since 1946 and 15 cases of an NFL participant speeding for 250+ yards.
Stat of the day: Embiid is now averaging extra factors per 36 minutes this season (38.0) than Chamberlain did (37.4) when he averaged an NBA-record 50.4 factors per sport in 1961-62, the season he famously scored 100 factors in a sport.
Wanting forward: With all due respect to Nikola Jokić, Embiid is the clear option to repeat as MVP this season — so long as he performs sufficient video games to be eligible*.
In the meantime, in Minnesota… Cities’ historic evening was a lot much less celebratory because it got here in a 128-125 loss to the lowly Hornets.
Zoom out: Embiid and Cities’ scoring outbursts are a part of a factors explosion sweeping the NBA.
Groups are averaging 115.5 factors per sport this season, the best mark in over 50 years.
Solely 5 groups averaged greater than 100 factors the yr Bryant scored 81. This season, no group scores fewer than 107.5.
Price a watch: Kevin Durant’s response to listening to Embiid scored 70
*MVP eligibility: A brand new NBA rule requires gamers to play a minimum of 65 video games (out of 82) to be eligible for end-of-season awards. Embiid has already missed 11 of 42 video games; seven extra and he’ll be ineligible.
🏈 Patrick Mahomes: Playoff legend
The AFC Championship will likely be Patrick Mahomes’ seventeenth playoff sport. Now that he has nearly a full common season’s value of expertise, it is simpler to visualise simply how dominant he is been, Jeff writes.
How he compares: Mahomes, 28, has performed in almost as many playoff video games (16) as Jared Goff, Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy, mixed (17).
Mahomes (16 video games): 13-3, 4,561 passing yards, 38 TD, 7 INT, 66.8% CMP, 106.7 RTG; 443 rush yards, 5 TD
Goff (8 video games): 5-3, 1,864 passing yards, 7 TD, 2 INT, 61.8% CMP, 88.3 RTG; 35 rush yards
Jackson (5 video games): 2-3, 1,052 passing yards, 5 TD, 5 INT, 58.2% CMP, 75.7 RTG; 467 rush yards, 3 TD
Purdy (4 video games): 3-1, 821 passing yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 62.8% CMP, 101.0 RTG; 38 rush yards, TD
By the numbers: Mahomes’ 13 playoff wins are greater than the Texans (5), Cardinals (7), Jaguars (8), Panthers (9), Lions (9), Bengals (10), Falcons (10), Saints (10), Bucs (12), Browns (12), Chargers (12) and Jets (12).
He is averaged 285 passing yards per sport, which might have led all QBs this season (min. 10 video games).
His 38 playoff passing TDs already rank sixth all-time, and are essentially the most ever via 16 video games.
He has twice as many playoff video games with 3+ passing TDs (8) as he does playoff video games with an interception (4).
His 66.8% completion charge and 106.7 passer ranking are each higher than his regular-season numbers (66.5%, 103.5), which rank second and ninth all-time.
He is even added 443 speeding yards and 5 speeding scores in his 16 playoff video games, which might each be the most effective single-season marks of his profession.
The underside line: Mahomes’ first six common seasons as an NFL starter are unparalleled — and he will get even higher when the postseason arrives.
🏀 New stat: Suffocates
The Cavaliers, winners of eight straight video games behind their stingy protection, have created a brand new stat to measure their dominance on that finish of the ground.
What they’re saying: “It is one thing that we discuss throughout the group as the sport goes on,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff instructed Cleveland.com ($). “We let the fellows know what number of [suffocates] now we have and the way shut we’re to getting one other one. It is one thing they cling their hat on. … Sparks that aggressive edge just a little bit.”
📸 Behind the lens: Biathlon World Cup
Every week, we go “Behind the Lens” with Getty Photographs to get the backstory on the most effective pictures in sports activities.
This week’s photograph: Hannah Auchentaller of Italy competes through the Girls’s 7.5 km Dash on the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding, Germany, earlier this month.
The way it works: Biathlon combines cross-country snowboarding and rifle taking pictures, with athletes snowboarding alongside a path (whereas carrying their rifle) and stopping after every lap to shoot at targets. Whoever completes the course within the quickest time wins.
Behind the lens: Here is photographer Alexander Hassenstein…
I’ve all the time cherished biathlon and am fascinated by it. When overlaying occasions, you may run with all of your would possibly, then have the peace and quiet to shoot. It is loud within the stadium, however when the athletes are out on the slope, you are nearly alone with them and might really feel the game up shut.
For this photograph: I have been overlaying the biathlon in Ruhpolding for a few years, so I do know the solar by no means comes thus far on the course. However because of some stunning climate this yr, the solar turned the mountains a beautiful pink within the night.
The sunshine is crucial factor on this photograph. We all the time say the athletes, however right here it is the attractive gentle. There was perhaps solely 10 minutes of it, however that’s all I wanted. I used my commonplace Canon R3 cameras and the 15/35 mm lens, all on guide settings.
🏀 Jan. 23, 2015: Klay’s 37-point quarter
9 years in the past in the present day, Klay Thompson scored 37 factors* and hit 9 threes (on an ideal 13-for-13 taking pictures) within the third quarter of a win over the Kings, each NBA data for a single quarter, Jeff writes.
Thompson after the sport: “I used to be simply making an attempt to shoot till I miss. Truthfully, I took like 4 warmth checks, however they only saved getting in. I do not know what to inform you. I simply acquired right into a zone and it was the most effective zone I’ve ever been in.”
Extra on this present day:
🏒 1944: The Crimson Wings beat the Rangers, 15-0, within the greatest shutout victory in NHL historical past.
⚾️ 1962: Jackie Robinson was elected to the Corridor of Fame, turning into the primary Black participant enshrined in Cooperstown.
*30-point quarters: Thompson is considered one of 10 gamers with a 30-point quarter, joined by Kevin Love (34), George Gervin (33), Carmelo Anthony (33), David Thompson (32), Karl-Anthony Cities (32), Wilt Chamberlain (31), Michael Jordan (30), Vernon Maxwell (30) and Kobe Bryant (30, twice).
📺 Watchlist: Crosstown rivalries
Tonight’s NBA doubleheader on TNT options crosstown rivalries within the nation’s two greatest markets, Jeff writes.
Knicks at Nets (7:30pm ET): The Massive Apple’s groups are heading in reverse instructions, with New York (26-17) profitable eight of 10* and Brooklyn (17-25) shedding eight of 10.
Lakers at Clippers (10pm): The Clippers (27-14) are on hearth, having gained eight of 10, however they’ve misplaced each video games towards the Lakers (22-22) this season.
Extra to observe:
🎾 Australian Open: Day 10 (8pm, ESPN+; 9pm, ESPN) … Quarterfinals.
🏀 NCAAM: Texas at No. 11 Oklahoma (7pm, ESPN); No. 6 Kentucky at South Carolina (7pm, SEC); No. 4 Houston at No. 21 BYU (9pm, ESPN+); Michigan at No. 2 Purdue (9pm, Peacock)
*The catalyst: The Knicks’ scorching streak started in earnest 11 video games in the past, when newly-acquired ahead OG Anunoby made his debut on New Yr’s Day. Since then they’ve gone 9-2, and Anunoby’s +190 plus-minus has been the NBA’s finest mark in 2024.
🏀 NBA trivia
Joel Embiid and Wilt Chamberlain had been each drafted out of Kansas by NBA groups based mostly in Philadelphia.
Query: Embiid’s Philly group is named the 76ers. What was Chamberlain’s referred to as?
Reply on the backside.
⚽️ AFCON’s breakout star: Emilio Nsue
Emilio Nsue performs protection for third-tier Spanish membership CF Intercity. For Equatorial Guinea, he is a striker, and he cannot cease scoring objectives.
The 34-year-old has 5 objectives in three matches on the Africa Cup of Nations, essentially the most in a bunch stage since 1970.
Once more: It is a defender by commerce (right-back to be extra particular) moonlighting as a striker, and he is thriving. You like to see it.
Tiny nations making noise: Equatorial Guinea and Cape Verde, the match’s two smallest nations by inhabitants, are undefeated and have already gained their teams — beating conventional powers like Ghana and host Ivory Coast alongside the best way.
The place it stands: Group stage standings
Trivia reply: Philadelphia Warriors
We hope you loved this version of Yahoo Sports activities AM, our each day publication that retains you updated on all issues sports activities. Enroll right here to get it delivered to your inbox each weekday morning.
