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17-year-old Irankunda set to become youngest Socceroo

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Tanzanian-born Nestory Irankunda is in line to become the youngest-ever player to suit up for Australia’s national men’s soccer team.Irankunda, who turned 17 on Feb. 9 and plays for Adelaide United in the domestic A-League, has been promoted to the Socceroos squad for a friendly against Ecuador in in Sydney on Friday.He was originally selected only as a training player. But Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree picked up a flu virus while traveling to Sydney from England and Australia coach Graham Arnold moved Irankunda into the main squad on Thursday.“We only just saw (McGree) for the first time this morning,” Arnold said. “He’s had the flu and those types of things so it gives Nestory the chance to be in the 26-man squad, and we’ll see how the game goes.”Irankunda would surpass Duncan Cummings, who won his first cap in 1975 against China aged 17 years and 139 days, as Australia’s youngest-ever male player if he gets onto the field on Friday.Irankunda is eligible to r...

Match Play at a glance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A brief look at the opening round of the Dell Technologies Match Play:OPENING WINS: Defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy were among five of the top eight seeds to win their matches.RARE LOSS: Jon Rahm, the No. 2 seed, lost to Rickie Fowler in 17 holes. It was the first time Rahm failed to win his first-day match in the six years he has been playing the event.TIGER RECORD: Matt Kuchar defeated Viktor Hovland for his 35th career match victory in the tournament. One more win and he ties the record set by Tiger Woods.WINLESS STREAK: Keegan Bradley halved his match with Denny McCarthy. It was his 16th consecutive match without winning (seven halves, nine losses) and his 11th consecutive match that reached the 18th hole.TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY: Maverick McNealy last year defeated Joaquin Niemann, 8 and 6, in the opening round. This year, McNealy lost, 8 and 6, to Sungjae Im.HOT START: Cameron Young made all 3s on the front nine — six birdies, one eagle...

Morant returns to action, coming off the bench for Grizzlies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant was welcomed back Wednesday night with a standing ovation and cheers throughout the arena in his first action after missing nine games — eight because of an NBA suspension.Morant, who was not in the starting lineup against the Houston Rockets, entered the game after a timeout with 3:05 left in the first quarter, replacing starter Tyus Jones. The cheers began to build as Morant rose from the bench and made his way to the scorer’s table, adjusting the specially fit mask from a previous nasal fracture.The standing ovation and the cheers reached their peak even before Morant was announced as entering the game.The first cheers came when Morant emerged from the locker room for pregame warmups.Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said the decision for Morant to come off the bench was a collaborative one after discussions with Morant and the team’s medical personnel. The Grizzlies are making sure Morant is building up to game shape...

Jokic scores 31, Nuggets pull away from Wizards 118-104

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nikola Jokic had 31 points and 12 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets shook off a slow start and beat the short-handed Washington Wizards 118-104 on Wednesday night.Michael Porder Jr. added 21 points and Jamal Murray had 17 for Western Conference-leading Denver.The Nuggets went 15 for 32 from beyond the arc and finished a season-high five-game trip with three wins. The trip began with a loss in Toronto that was the last setback in a season-worst four-game slide.Kristaps Porzingis scored 25 points for the Wizards, who were without three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal due to left knee soreness. Morant apologizes again after NBA suspension for mistakes Deni Avdija added 16 points for Washington, which lost its fourth straight. Washington entered the game in 12th place in the East and 2 1/2 games back of Chicago for the final play-in spot.Beal had played 31 minutes and scored 16 points in Tuesday’s 122-112 loss at Orlando. Forward Kyle Kuzma (right ankle) also missed a...

Police: gunman in deadly Ocean Drive shooting may have acted in self-defense

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

Police have provided new details about a weekend shooting in the heart of South Beach’s entertainment district that left a man dead and prompted city officials to take steps in an attempt to stop the spring break chaos.Friday night’s shooting on Ocean Drive and Seventh Street set the sad tone for a bloody spring break weekend in Miami Beach.Wednesday night, Miami Beach Police said they believe this incident, the first of two shootings to take place over the weekend on Ocean Drive, could have been carried out in self-defense.Cellphone video capturing the aftermath of the incident showed a man surrendering to officers.Although he was taken into custody, police said, 23-year-old Lawarren Meadows was not arrested.Detectives said Meadows shot and killed 21-year-old Idahosa Osagie and also shot another person.According to the police report, “As officers approached to render aid, Lawarren Omeal Meadows (subject) approached [the officer] and said, ‘It was me.’ ...

Westbound 826 to close at Golden Glades Wednesday – Friday nights

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

Heads up, drivers, there are problems on the Palmetto Expressway at the Golden Glades Interchange.A big rig slammed into the 826 bridge over Northwest Seventh Avenue last Friday.Beginning Wednesday night, all lanes of the westbound 826 that travel under that bridge will be closed nights through Friday, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., so crews can make repairs.To get onto the Palmetto, take 441 to Miami Gardens Drive, then head south on 27th Avenue.

Fake bracelet bought at Salvation Army

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

She bought an 18-carat gold bracelet from a well-known organization or so she thought. Turns out — it was fake, and she couldn’t get her money back. That’s why she turned to Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.Two things about Cosma…Cosma Gonzalez: “I love jewelry. Since I was very young, I used to dream that I found like atreasure box.”Another thing, as much as she likes jewelry is how much she dislikes the stock market.Cosma Gonzalez: “Since I don’t know how to deal with the stock market, I don’t understand it, so I buy gold.”While on the internet, she has found a website run by the Salvation Army that auctions everything from books to bags to jewelry.Cosma Gonzalez: “So I saw that bracelet, so I entered the auction, and the bracelet reads in the advertising of 18 karat gold. They check to make sure it’s gold. That’s what they said.”When Cosma did her research, she found a bracelet that looks like this one from Cartier, which sells for $690...

Knicks’ poor defense on display again as team drops second straight; Heat move closer to 5th seed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

The Knicks entered Miami-Dade Arena on a night the Heat and the NBA world continue to celebrate the life of Hall-of-Famer Willis Reed.The Heat played a tribute pregame honoring the legend and the Knicks wore a black stripe on their jerseys to commemorate the former MVP that’s largely responsible for both of the Knicks’ championships.Two days after a historic night that ended in a loss, the Knicks lose to the Heat, 127-120. Tom Thibodeau’s squad put up an offensive performance good enough to win but failed to stop Jimmy Butler, who finished with 35 points and nine assists.For the second straight game, the Knicks struggled with an unlikely key contributor. Gabe Vincent lit the away team up early, shooting 3-for-5 from downtown and finishing with 19 points. Vincent got hot early, hitting his season’s scoring average (nine points) in the first quarter.Jalen Brunson, as usual, kept the Knicks in the game. He finished with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists. T...

Butler, Herro power Heat past Knicks 127-120 as playoff-race plot thickens

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

Well this certainly thickens the plot.In a game that rekindled the passion of Miami Heat-New York Knicks from a previous era, the Heat produced a 127-120 statement victory Wednesday night at Miami-Dade Arena that also made a statement in the standings.Not only did the win put the Heat into a virtual tie with the Brooklyn Nets for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, the final direct ticket into the playoffs, but also moved Erik Spoelstra’s team within two games of the Knicks for No. 5.The Heat not only next host the Nets on Saturday night, but also play next week in New York, with the chance to take the playoff tiebreaker from the Knicks (the Heat already have lost the tiebreaker to Brooklyn).Down now to eight games remaining in their regular season, and still with work to do to avoid the play-in round for seeds Nos. 8-10, the Heat again got a leading-man performance from Jimmy Butler, who closed with 35 points.But there also was plenty in support, including 22 points fro...

Winderman’s view: Kevin Love catches gritty spirit of Heat-Knicks in key win

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:32 GMT

Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 127-120 victory over the New York Knicks:– Say this about Kevin Love: He has brought a love of the game to the game.– At a point of season when players and teams are dragging, Love has infused the Heat with vitality.– All he wanted in Cleveland was the chance to play.– He is savoring the opportunity with the Heat.– And he looks like he fits right in with Heat-Knicks.– No, in no way a leading man in this one.– But a pest, a nuisance, and one heck of a TD fullcourt outlet pass to Jimmy Butler for an early score.– He enjoys being here.– And his teammates enjoy having him.– All while appreciating that he is here to complement.– A former All-Star willing to get on the floor.– As long as he doesn’t keep taking blows to the head, there is value there.– The Heat, as they have since acquiring Love, again opened with Love, Bam Adebayo, Butle...