Amid our bodies scrambling, dashing to kind a scrum of hostility and aggressive fireplace, there was laughter. 

Shoved away from the tie-up that set issues off, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chuckled within the face of Dillon Brooks, nodding as he embraced what he’d began. Brooks, in Brooks style, maniacally cackled again at him. 

Earlier than the groups met in a ball of fury with 50.5 seconds remaining within the Thunder’s 119-116 loss in Houston Sunday night time, the 2 Canadians wrapped themselves across the ball, a determined possession turned bounce ball. 

Neither let go. Whistles furiously blew. SGA was activated. Brooks was in his mode. Their encounter stoked the flames of a tug-of-war, with each amused on the aftermath. 

This was the battle of the most effective within the West, the highest two seeds coming into the sport, and it introduced the most effective out of each events. 

From Gilgeous-Alexander, who led his No. 1 seeded Thunder into Houston to shut a 3-1 highway journey, Sunday extracted game-changing buckets. He completed with 32 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists. Towards a Rockets protection that’s solely rated behind OKC among the many finest within the NBA, SGA headbutted blitz after blitz, double staff after one other. 

Extra:Isaiah Hartenstein credit ‘team-focused’ stars for his seamless match on OKC Thunder roster

His insertion late within the first half turned an 11-point Houston lead right into a one-possession sport by halftime. His 15-point third quarter stored OKC forward. 

However for as soon as, his arms would not be those placing the ending touches on the sport.

From Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, Sunday commanded breathtaking shotmaking. A sport not like any OKC has defended in opposition to from a guard this season. He posted 38 factors on 19 pictures. His audacity stood taller than him, drilling a 33-foot 3-pointer with lower than two minutes left. 

His free throws sealed the Thunder’s destiny. 

From Brooks, Sunday required him to be the pest he’s employed to be. To make it unattainable to inbound the ball to Gilgeous-Alexander at any time when he may. To pop off for a 10-point first quarter and set the tone. To rile his teammates up simply earlier than a wild end. 

Earlier than VanVleet was tasked with closing the sport on the free-throw line, Brooks cashed in a 12-foot jumper whereas Houston’s shot clock dwindled, a go-ahead basket mere seconds after it appeared Rockets heart Alperen Sengun would flip the ball over. 

If Sunday was a cage match, Brooks entered the ring in time to fling the Thunder over its head with a metallic chair. 

From the Thunder, Sunday begged for the fourth-quarter shotmaking to purchase some respiration room. To duplicate the grasp it’s had in late-game eventualities. Even down simply three with 26 seconds to play, OKC waited as Houston shaved off almost 22 valuable seconds earlier than being fouled. 

“In a perfect world, we’d’ve preferred to foul earlier,” coach Mark Daigneault stated. “Thought we had a pair alternatives to do it. However these are robust ones, as a result of the blokes are type of on their very own in that scenario.” 

The 2 groups mixed for 62 free throws (39 from the Rockets, 25 awarded to OKC). They earned 102 factors within the paint. They produced roughly 132 elbows. There was an insurmountable variety of profanity tossed on the officiating crew. There was one pointless dive and restoration from Isaiah Hartenstein.

However nothing actually proved pointless in a blow-for-blow sport that by no means drifted past an 11-point lead. Not even Brooks’ animated bind with Gilgeous-Alexander. 

As a result of Brooks, fairly actually, obtained the final snigger. 

Extra:OKC Thunder schedule: Dates, occasions, TV channels for 2024-25 NBA season

Jalen Williams to Isaiah Hartenstein is actual — and much from full

Alperen Sengun had primarily been hunted, picked on inside seconds of Sunday’s sport. 

Williams probed, Sengun backpedaled and Hartenstein soared behind him for the best alley-oop connection they’ve shared but. 

In Chet Holmgren’s absence, Williams and Hartenstein have develop into effectively acquainted. The place Holmgren as soon as prolonged for alley-oops, Hartenstein now skies. Williams is blissful to oblige, probing till he finds a gap for the large fella. 

On Sunday, they linked as many as 3 times. 

“We’re in conditions the place we’re even over-screening simply attempting to determine it out with one another,” Williams stated of Hartenstein. “When you may have a wise screener that is keen to display, it makes it fairly simple after which he does a very good job of speaking once we’re in timeouts and even within the sport on what he is seeing.”

“We each belief one another, so I belief what he sees and he trusts me to make the play. There’s a variety of room to develop, too.” 

Hartenstein is a straightforward goal. When the Thunder’s drives are minimize brief, the 7-foot heart is lurking close by, awaiting his drop-off in time for his signature push shot. When an enormous can’t decide to both Williams or Hartenstein, the previous forces their hand. 

Hartenstein revives performs that appear useless. He completes those left within the steadiness. 

Sunday’s 19 factors and 13 rebounds marked Hartenstein’s fifth straight double-double, the primary Thunder participant to take action since (ding ding ding) Russell Westbrook. Hartenstein is the primary participant in Thunder historical past to start their tenure with the franchise with 5 double-doubles. 

Williams completed with 22 factors on 7-for-21 taking pictures. His finest moments on Sunday? When he affirmed one other wrinkle to worry with Hartenstein’s addition. 

Extra:For OKC Thunder, the wins and accidents maintain mounting, however it’s ‘subsequent subsequent man up’

Cason Wallace’s crucial assertion sport 

As Cason Wallace sprawled out on the bottom, Williams screamed simply above the place he stood. 

It doesn’t take a lot for Williams to let loose a screech. However Wallace had made one more play to maintain the Thunder alive Sunday, a rebound he had no enterprise snagging — much like a lot of the others. 

Wallace ended with 14 factors (5 for 11), 9 rebounds (5 offensive), and three 3s, two of which got here within the last 3:18. 

He’s gotten off to an unrecognizable begin this season, all the way down to 25.9% taking pictures from deep this 12 months after taking pictures 41.9% as a rookie. Wallace’s constant taking pictures and protection was a part of the best way OKC caught groups abruptly then. So far, Wallace had been lacking a variable — particularly important with all of the our bodies the Thunder is lacking. 

However Sunday marked what appeared like Wallace’s rejuvenation. He was unattainable to disregard even when the jumper wasn’t falling, ripping rebounds from 6-foot-10 Jabari Smith Jr.’s grasp. His protection has hardly wavered. 

It simply so occurred that his bounce shot caught up, as well timed because it’s been all season. VanVleet simply occurred to rain on his parade 33 ft from the rim.

DETROIT — Following a wild recreation on Black Friday, the Detroit Crimson Wings have some extra afternoon on faucet for Sunday, as they put together to host the Vancouver Canucks.

• Watch the Detroit Crimson Wings on FuboTV (7-day free trial)

The Crimson Wings obtained off to a terrific begin in opposition to the New Jersey Devils on Friday, closely outplaying one of many high groups within the Japanese Convention early on. Nonetheless, an early 2-0 lead was shortly erased late within the first interval, resulting in a wild back-and-forth contest. Three straight targets by the Devils are what harm Detroit within the post-holiday affair, resulting in a 5-4 loss.

Detroit wants to begin discovering methods to beat higher groups if they need the remainder of the league to think about them a risk to the playoffs. Heading into Sunday, the Wings are sixth within the Atlantic Division, seven factors out of first place.

The Canucks caught everybody without warning with a dominating 2023-24 season. Nonetheless, with many key gamers out of the lineup, they haven’t been as robust to this point this yr as they have been final. That is the fifth recreation of Vancouver’s six-game street journey, and it has been a reasonably good run, successful three of their first 4 contests, together with a 4-3 additional time win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. Heading into Sunday, the Canucks are fourth within the Pacific Division, six factors again of the first-place Vegas Golden Knights.

This would be the first of two conferences between Vancouver and Detroit. The groups cut up final yr’s season sequence, with the house workforce successful every matchup.

NHL HOCKEY

Vancouver Canucks (12-7-3) vs. Detroit Crimson Wings (10-11-2)

When: Sunday, December 1

Time: 12:30 p.m. ET

The place: Little Caesars Enviornment (Detroit, Mich.)

Channel: Fan Duel Sports activities Community Detroit

Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), DirecTV Stream

Try the NHL standings and outcomes on NHL.com

• Purchase Crimson Wings gear: Fanatics, Amazon, Lids
• Purchase Crimson Wings tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster
• Stream Crimson Wings video games reside: FuboTV (Free Trial), DirecTV Stream

The Washington Wizards needs to be scouring the league to see if there are any prospects price buying forward of the NBA Commerce Deadline, which is about two months away on Feb. 6.

Bleacher Report author Greg Swartz means that the Wizards ought to look into focusing on Rockets second-year guard Cam Whitmore.

Whitmore, 20, remains to be an especially uncooked prospect who might have arrived to Houston somewhat too late to be a part of the Rockets core. Whitmore was the No. 20 total decide within the 2023 NBA Draft, although he was projected to go a lot greater, whilst excessive because the No. 4 total decide after Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson.

Although he fell within the draft, he was in a position to show why he was so highly-touted coming into the league. After getting some reps within the G League originally of the season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Whitmore got here to Houston, the place coach Ime Udoka was compelled to play him as he continued to provide max effort each evening.

By the top of his rookie season, Whitmore was averaging 12.3 factors per sport off the bench, rising as among the best scorers exterior of any beginning lineup.

Expectations had been excessive for Whitmore originally of the season, however a capturing hunch originally of the season compelled the Rockets to play this 12 months’s No. 3 total decide Reed Sheppard as an alternative of him. The Rockets have rapidly moved in the direction of the highest of the standings within the Western Convention and have a core rotation set in place that does not embrace Whitmore.

This implies Whitmore might be a first-rate commerce goal come February, and a workforce just like the Wizards makes a whole lot of sense for him. He is a microwave scorer who wants a possibility to get in-game reps. With the Wizards useless final within the NBA, they might profit from somebody like Whitmore, who has a ceiling greater than most, if not everybody at the moment on the roster.

Be sure to bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the newest information, unique interviews, movie breakdowns and a lot extra!

LAST GAME PLAYED – NOV. 29/24: VAN 4 at BUF 3 (OT)

Bowen Byram opened the scoring with slightly below two-and-a-half minutes remaining within the first…Jake DeBrusk evened the competition with below two minutes remaining within the second…Pius Suter and Brock Boeser had the assists…Conor Garland gave the Canucks the lead at 5:15 of the third…Boeser and Quinn Hughes had been credited with the assists…Suter gave Vancouver a two-goal lead lower than 4 minutes later…Garland had the one help…Dylan Cozens and Alex Tuch scored within the second half of the third to convey the sport even…Garland scored the additional time winner with 1:01 remaining within the additional body…Hughes and Elias Pettersson had been awarded the assists…Garland had six photographs…Aatu Räty had 4 hits…Erik Brännström and Tyler Myers blocked 4 photographs every…Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves.

LAST 5 – vs DETROIT

• Feb. 15/24: VAN 4 vs DET 1
• Feb. 10/24: VAN 3 at DET 4 (OT)
• Feb. 13/23: VAN 1 vs DET 6
• Feb. 11/23: VAN 2 at DET 5
• Mar. 17/22: VAN 0 vs DET 1

QUINN-TASTIC

• With two assists on Nov. 29/24 at BUF, Quinn Hughes tied Alex Edler for essentially the most assists by a defenceman in franchise historical past (310), in addition to tying Edler for the seventh-most assists in franchise historical past.
• By recording a objective and two assists on Nov. 27/24 at PIT, Quinn Hughes tied Roman Josi for the second-most three-point video games by a defenceman for the reason that begin of the 2019.20 season (29). Cale Makar tops the checklist (33).
• Opening the scoring simply 34 seconds into the sport on Nov. 19/24 vs NYR, Quinn Hughes tied Jyrki Lumme and Dan Hamhuis for the fourth-fastest objective by a defenceman to open a recreation in franchise historical past.
• Recording one assists on Nov. 16/24 vs CHI, Quinn Hughes reached the 350-point mark in his 381st profession recreation, the ninth-fewest video games to achieve the 350-point mark by a defenceman in NHL historical past.
• Scoring the game-winning objective on Nov. 7/24 at LAK, Quinn Hughes tied Rick Lanz, Christian Ehrhoff, and Chris Tanev for eighth on the franchise’s all-time game-winning targets checklist amongst defencemen.
• Recording three assists in his 376th profession recreation on Nov. 5/24 at ANA, Quinn Hughes reached the 300-assist benchmark. In doing so, he grew to become the third quickest defenceman to achieve the milestone, behind Bobby Orr (346) and Brian Leetch (368).
• Posting three assists on Nov. 5 at ANA, Quinn Hughes now has 22 such video games in his NHL profession, the third-most in NHL historical past by a defenceman aged 25 or youthful, trailing solely Bobby Orr (48 video games) and Paul Coffey (32 video games).
• With an help on Jake DeBrusk’s third interval objective on Nov. 2/24 at SJS, Quinn Hughes has 297 profession assists, the fourth-most by a defenceman of their first 375 profession video games, trailing solely Bobby Orr, Brian Leetch, and Paul Coffey.

KEVIN BLANKINEN

• Along with his victory on Nov. 29/24 at BUF, Kevin Lankinen is now 9-0-0 on the highway this season, tied with Glenn Corridor (1965.66) and Cam Talbot (2023.24) for essentially the most highway wins to begin a season in NHL historical past.
• Stopping all 32 photographs he confronted on Nov. 26/24 at BOS, Kevin Lankinen grew to become the second Canucks goaltender to submit a shutout in opposition to the Bruins, becoming a member of Corey Hirsch.
• Recording his fifth-career shutout on Nov. 26/24 at BOS, Kevin Lankinen is now 8-0-0 on the highway to begin the 2024.25 season, the fifth goaltender in NHL historical past to begin a season with such document.

PUSH IT TO THE MAX

• Recording an help in his second-career recreation on Nov. 27/24 at PIT, Max Sasson grew to become the primary Canucks participant to start their profession with factors in not less than two straight video games since Elias Pettersson.
• Making his NHL debut on Nov. 23/24 at OTT, Max Sasson grew to become the forty sixth participant in franchise historical past to document some extent in his NHL debut.

JAKE ‘N BAKE

• Returning to Boston on Nov. 26/24 for the primary time since signing with Vancouver on July 1, Jake DeBrusk continued his sturdy play on the highway, scoring in his fifth-consecutive highway contest, serving to the Canucks to enhance to 5-0-0 on the highway when he scores (now 6-0-0 after scoring on Nov. 29/24 at BUF).

ROAD WARRIORS

• Rising victorious on Nov. 26/24 at BOS, the Vancouver Canucks prolonged their highway win streak to eight video games, tied for the second-longest run in franchise historical past.
• Defeating Ottawa by a rating of 4-3 on Nov. 23/24, the Canucks have begun the 2024.25 season 7-1-0 on the highway for the primary time in franchise historical past.

PETTERSSZN

• Helping on two targets on Nov. 23/24 at OTT, Elias Pettersson now has 22 factors (10-12-22) in 14 profession video games in opposition to Ottawa (1.57 P/GP), the fourth-highest points-per-game price amongst energetic gamers (min. 5 GP).
• Recording two assists on Nov. 23/24 vat OTT, Elias Pettersson handed Dennis Kearns for the Tenth-most multi-assist video games in franchise historical past (54).
• With a objective and an help on Nov. 12/24 vs CGY, Elias Pettersson has 421 profession factors, passing Bo Horvat for Tenth on the franchise’s all-time scoring checklist.

BESTING THE BLACKHAWKS

• Defeating Chicago by a rating of 4-1 on Nov. 16/24, the Vancouver Canucks have now received 9 consecutive video games in regulation in opposition to the Blackhawks courting again to 2022, tied for the longest such streak in franchise historical past (vs SJS from 1991-92 and vs WSH from 1974-76 are the others).

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

• Scoring his first profession NHL objective on Nov. 14/24 vs NYI, Jonathan Lekkerimäki grew to become the 490th participant to attain a objective in a Canucks uniform.
• Along with his objective on Nov. 14 vs NYI registering at 93.38 mph, Jonathan Lekkerimäki recorded the seventh-hardest objective (as of Nov. 14) in 2024.25.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

• By defeating Los Angeles on Nov. 7/24, the Vancouver Canucks accomplished a three-game sweep of a California highway journey, the primary time in franchise historical past the crew has swept a California-only highway journey.

SHOOTER SUTER

• Scoring his second objective of the sport with simply 26 seconds remaining in regulation on Nov. 2/24 at SJS, Pius Suter recorded the sixth-latest game-winning objective on the highway in Canucks franchise historical past.
• With two targets on Nov. 2/24 at SJS, Pius Suter now has seven targets in seven-career video games in opposition to the Sharks, together with 4 in three video games as a member of the Canucks.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• Mark Friedman recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 28
• Arshdeep Bains reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 28
• Max Sasson recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 21
• Jonathan Lekkerimäki reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 21
• T. Miller positioned on Non-Roster Checklist, Nov. 19
• Arshdeep Bains recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 19
• D Elias Pettersson reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 19
• D Elias Pettersson recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 17
• Derek Forbort positioned on Injured Reserve, Nov. 17
• Dakota Joshua activated from Injured Non-Roster, Nov. 14
• Aatu Räty recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 14
• Jonathan Lekkerimäki recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 14
• Arshdeep Bains reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 13
• Aatu Räty reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 13
• Jonathan Lekkerimäki reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 13
• Arshdeep Bains recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 12
• Artworkūrs Šilovs recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 11
• Ty Younger reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 11
• Jonathan Lekkerimäki recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 10
• Ty Younger recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 10
• Artworkūrs Šilovs assigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 10
• Arshdeep Bains reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 10
• Nils Åman reassigned to Abbotsford, Nov. 10
• Arshdeep Bains recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 9
• Nils Åman recalled from Abbotsford, Nov. 9

THE LAST TIME…

• The Canucks received when main after 1P: Nov. 23/24 at OTT
• The Canucks misplaced when main after 1P: Mar. 16/24 vs WSH
• The Canucks misplaced in OT/SO when main after 1P: Oct. 9/24 vs CGY
• The Canucks received when main after 2P: Nov. 26/24 at BOS
• The Canucks misplaced when main after 2P: Feb. 19/24 at MIN
• The Canucks misplaced in OT/SO when main after 2P: Oct. 11/24 vs PHI
• The Canucks received when trailing after 1P: Nov. 29/24 at BUF
• The Canucks misplaced when trailing after 1P: Nov. 27/24 at PIT
• The Canucks misplaced in OT/SO when trailing after 1P: Oct. 28/24 vs CAR
• The Canucks received when trailing after 2P: Feb. 24/24 vs BOS
• The Canucks misplaced when trailing after 2P: Nov. 27/24 at PIT
• The Canucks misplaced in OT/SO when trailing after 2P: Oct. 28/24 vs CAR
• The Canucks received when tied after 1P: Nov. 26/24 at BOS
• The Canucks misplaced when tied after 1P: Nov. 19/24 vs NYR
• The Canucks misplaced in OT/SO when tied after 1P: Oct. 11/24 vs PHI
• The Canucks received when tied after 2P: Nov. 29/24 at BUF
• The Canucks misplaced when tied after 2P: Nov. 19/24 vs NYR
• The Canucks misplaced in OT/SO when tied after 2P: Dec. 21/23 at DAL

2024.25 SEASON HIGHS AND LOWS

• Most Objectives Scored, Recreation: 6, Oct. 22/24 at CHI
• Most Objectives Scored, Interval: 4, 3x, Newest Oct. 26/24 vs PIT, 2nd interval
• Most Objectives Allowed, Recreation: 7, Nov. 9/24 vs EDM
• Most Objectives Allowed, Interval: 4, 2x, Newest Nov. 27/24 at PIT, 1st interval
• Fewest Objectives Scored, Recreation: 0, Oct. 30/24 vs NJD
• Fewest Objectives Allowed, Recreation: 0, 2x, Newest Nov. 26/24 at BOS
• Most PPG Scored, Recreation: 2, 2x, Newest Oct. 22/24 at CHI
• Most PPG Allowed, Recreation: 2, 2x, Newest Nov. 23/24 at OTT
• Most SHG Scored, Recreation: 0
• Most SHG Allowed, Recreation: 1, 2x, Newest Oct. 30/24 vs NJD
• Most Photographs, Recreation: 37, Nov. 5/24 at ANA
• Most Photographs, Interval: 20, Nov. 14/24 vs NYI, third interval
• Most Photographs, OT: 3, Oct. 17/24 at FLA
• Fewest Photographs, Recreation: 15, Nov. 26/24 at BOS
• Fewest Photographs, Interval: 3, 2x, Newest Nov. 26/24 at BOS, 1st interval
• Fewest Photographs, OT: 0, 2x, Newest Oct. 28/24 vs CAR
• Most Photographs Allowed, Recreation: 34, 2x, Newest Nov. 29/24 at BUF
• Most Photographs Allowed, Interval: 18, Nov. 29/24 at BUF, third interval
• Most Photographs Allowed, OT: 2, 3x, Newest Nov. 29/24 at BUF
• Fewest Photographs Allowed, Recreation: 22, Nov. 5/24 at ANA
• Fewest Photographs Allowed, Interval: 2, Nov. 17/24 vs NSH, third interval
• Fewest Photographs Allowed, OT: 0, Oct. 17/24 at FLA
• Most Hits, Recreation: 43, Oct. 30/24 vs NJD
• Fewest Hits, Recreation: 13, Oct. 9/24 vs CGY
• Most Blocked Photographs, Recreation: 26, Nov. 26/24 at BOS
• Fewest Blocked Photographs, Recreation: 7, Nov. 5/24 at ANA
• Largest Margin of Victory: 4 targets, Nov. 5/24 at ANA
• Largest Margin of Defeat: 6 targets, Oct. 30/24 vs NJD
• Longest Win Streak: 4 video games, Oct. 17-26/24
• Longest Level Streak: 5 video games, Oct. 17-28/24 (4-0-1)
• Longest Winless Streak: 2 video games, 3x, Newest Nov. 17-19/24 (0-2-0)
• Longest Pointless Streak: 2 video games, Nov. 17-19/24

VANCOUVER 2024.25 RECORD WHEN…

• Rating 4+ Objectives: 7-1-1
• Rating 3 Objectives or Much less: 5-6-2
• Enable 4+ Objectives: 0-7-2
• Enable 3 Objectives or Much less: 12-0-1
• Scoring First: 5-2-2
• Permitting First Objective: 7-5-1
• On 0 Days Relaxation: 0-2-0
• On 1 Day Relaxation: 5-4-2
• On 2 Days Relaxation: 5-0-0
• On 3+ Days Relaxation: 2-1-1
• Rating a PPG: 7-3-1
• Surrender a PPG: 3-5-2
• 25 or Extra Photographs on Objective: 8-4-2
• Lower than 25 photographs: 4-3-1

THREE STARS – NOVEMBER

• DeBrusk – 20 pts
• Pettersson – 15 pts
• Hughes – 15 pts
• Boeser – 10 pts
• Miller – 5 pts
• Suter – 5 pts
• Brännström – 5 pts
• Lekkerimäki – 5 pts
• Šilovs – 5 pts
• Räty – 5 pts
• Sherwood – 5 pts
• Lankinen – 5 pts
• Garland – 5 pts

OCTOBER WINNER – Lankinen (25 pts)

*5 factors are awarded for every Three Stars

West Virginia College (WVU) fired coach Neal Brown on Sunday because the Mountaineers proceed to flounder within the Massive 12, ending the season 6-6.

Athletic director Wren Baker introduced the firing in a press release, wishing Brown and his household “the easiest of their subsequent endeavor.”

Brown had an general report of 37-35 in his six seasons main the Mountaineers. His groups by no means competed for a Massive 12 championship or had been ranked within the AP High 25 ballot. They misplaced 9 consecutive occasions to ranked opponents.

Brown is because of obtain a $9.5 million buyout for the final three years of his contract.

Baker’s assertion didn’t point out who will coach the Mountaineers of their bowl recreation. West Virginia will study its bowl opponent subsequent weekend.

Brown had been preventing to maintain his job for fairly a while.

In November 2022, following back-to-back shedding seasons, Brown was retained on the identical day that Baker was employed as West Virginia’s AD. A 12 months in the past, Baker issued an identical vote of confidence as his predecessor, then gave Brown a contract extension in March following a 9-4 end.

However a return to mediocrity and mounting issues had been an excessive amount of for Brown to beat.

West Virginia’s offensive manufacturing suffered considerably regardless of returning dual-threat quarterback Garrett Greene and working backs Jahiem White and C.J. Donaldson. The protection was one of many worst nationally in passing yards allowed. West Virginia misplaced 4 occasions at residence this season and was outscored within the second half in 10 of 12 video games.

Brown had the worst six-year stretch beneath one coach at West Virginia since Gene Corum went 29-30 from 1960-65. Besides Brown’s groups confirmed flashes of brilliance one week, then stumbled the following. The Mountaineers had been particularly weak on the street, going 13-20 with 11 losses by a minimum of 17 factors. Brown additionally went 1-2 in opposition to rival Pittsburgh.

“Our report on the finish wasn’t what we’d hoped for,” Brown mentioned after a 52-15 loss at Texas Tech on Saturday. “I believed that over the course of the 12 months, there have been occasions when individuals had been counting us out and our guys bounced again and did some good issues.”

After a house loss to Iowa State, followers grew to become particularly agitated when Brown was requested to elucidate why they need to hold exhibiting as much as video games.

“I get that they wish to win, however what I’d say is, did they’ve time?” he mentioned. “You understand what I imply? Like, did they get pleasure from it? It was a fairly good environment.”

He acknowledged later that he may have answered the query higher and easily requested followers to return assist the crew.

As an alternative, billboards calling for Brown’s firing went up in Morgantown. Brown fired defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley on Oct. 29 after the protection gave up 45 factors to Kansas State and surrendered a pair of landing passes in blown protection in a 31-26 win at Arizona. In Jeff Koonz’s first recreation as interim defensive coordinator, West Virginia beat Cincinnati on the street, then misplaced two of its ultimate three video games.

West Virginia hasn’t received a league title since 2011, which was the final of its six Massive East championships over a nine-year interval earlier than shifting to the Massive 12 in 2012.

The 44-year-old Brown was in his first major-college head teaching job after main Troy to a 35-16 report over 4 seasons, together with the 2017 Solar Belt championship.

___

Get alerts on the most recent AP High 25 ballot all through the season. Enroll right here. AP school soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Brown Does It All On Go-Forward Drive

Ossai Opens Second Half With FG Block

Additional Factors

FILE – West Virginia head coach Neal Brown will get holds the trophy after their win towards North Carolina in an NCAA faculty soccer sport on the Duke’s Mayo Bowl Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Picture/Chris Carlson, File)

Neal Brown’s time as West Virginia College’s soccer coach is formally over.

The college introduced Sunday afternoon that it had parted methods with Brown after six seasons, a choice that got here on the heels of a blowout loss to Texas Tech to finish the common season. The loss dropped WVU to 6-6 on the 12 months, the fifth time in Brown’s six seasons he completed with no higher than six wins within the common marketing campaign.

“Coach Brown is a superb individual, and he has served as an amazing ambassador for West Virginia College,” stated WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker in a college launch. “He led our storied program with class and integrity and at all times put within the onerous work mandatory to permit for achievement. We’re grateful to Neal, his spouse, Brooke, and their kids for his or her contributions to our college, group and state, and we want them the easiest of their subsequent endeavor.”

The dismissal will include a value to WVU. Based on his contract, Brown is owed 75% of the rest of his deal, which is estimated to be just below $10 million.

Brown got here to WVU after 4 very profitable seasons as head coach at Troy. He completed with not less than 10 wins in every of his final three seasons with the Trojans, with a trio of bowl victories. That included wins at No. 25 LSU in 2017 and at Nebraska in 2018.

He got here to WVU hoping to match that success within the Large 12, but it surely by no means occurred. The Mountaineers hovered round common for almost all of his tenure. He beat solely three nationally ranked groups in 72 video games with WVU, and none of these three completed the season within the High 25.

The High 25 proved elusive for the Mountaineers on the similar time. Solely three Energy 4 convention groups haven’t been ranked within the Related Press sportswriters High 25 since 2019 – Texas Tech, Rutgers and WVU. WVU completed ranked No. 25 within the coaches ballot simply as soon as, after a 9-4 end and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl win in 2023.

That end gave WVU and its followers optimism for the 2024 marketing campaign. A large chunk of his gamers had been returning, together with quarterback Garrett Greene and defensive lineman Sean Martin. Gamers and coaches talked about contending for the Large 12 title, particularly after Oklahoma and Texas, the titans of the convention’s earlier iteration, had left for the SEC.

The fanbase was hungry for the workforce to achieve a brand new plateau, placing greater than 62,000 into Milan Puskar Stadium for WVU’s season opener versus Penn State. The Nittany Lions pummeled West Virginia in that sport 34-12. West Virginia went 0-2 in rivalry video games, blowing a 10-point lead within the sport’s final 4:55 in a 38-24 loss. One other low got here in back-to-back nationally televised evening video games towards ranked convention foes. WVU misplaced to Iowa State 28-16 and Kansas State 45-18 in these contests.

Defensive struggles grew to become a theme for WVU this season, because the Mountaineers ranked close to the underside of the Soccer Bowl Subdivision in a number of key defensive classes. WVU gave up not less than 45 factors thrice in 2024, all from Oct. 19 on. In an try and reverse these fortunes, Brown fired defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley on Oct. 29, selling linebackers coach Jeff Koonz to the position.

It didn’t assist. West Virginia’s protection hit backside in a 52-15 loss at Texas Tech the place the Mountaineers trailed 35-3 at halftime and 42-3 after the primary drive of the second half. WVU had allowed 49 factors in a house loss to Baylor two video games earlier than.

Brown completed 37-35 total at West Virginia, together with 25-28 within the Large 12. His groups have reached 4 bowl video games within the six seasons, together with this season and a bowl sport that gained’t be decided till Sunday. An interim head coach has not but been named for that bowl. The Mountaineers gained the Liberty and Duke’s Mayo bowls on Brown’s watch.

Now the college will flip to hiring its subsequent head coach.

“We’ll maintain our give attention to the unimaginable younger males in our program and making ready for our bowl sport,” Baker stated. “Our nationwide seek for WVU’s thirty sixth head soccer coach is already underway. I’m assured that with the sturdy alignment among the many college management, our passionate supporters, our proud historical past and our willingness to speculate, we may have an impressive pool of candidates.”

Among the many names bandied about by pundits is Clarksburg native Jimbo Fisher, who gained a nationwide title at Florida State, however was fired from Texas A&M after an uneven tenure there. One other is former WVU coach Wealthy Rodriguez, who led the Mountaineers to a few of its biggest victories within the early 2000s, however had an acrimonious breakup after he left for Michigan’s head teaching job in 2007. Rodriguez lasted simply three seasons with the Wolverines, then spent six seasons at Arizona earlier than being fired there.

Rodriguez has spent the final three seasons as head coach at Jacksonville State, the place he has gone 26-9 and led a profitable transition from the Soccer Championship Subdivision to Convention USA. JSU will host the C-USA championship sport this week.

Brown himself already has been related to a different head teaching job, at his alma mater Massachusetts, which lately fired coach Don Brown.

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CINCINNATI (AP) — Russell Wilson has been on the middle of a quarterback controversy since he arrived in Pittsburgh, competing with Justin Fields for the beginning job.

There was no debate on Sunday.

Wilson threw for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns, and the Steelers outlasted Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals for a 44-38 victory.

“It was enjoyable. We simply had a good time,” Wilson stated. “We knew it was a matchup. We knew it was going to be a heavyweight struggle.”

Wilson, who’s 5-1 because the Steelers’ starter, logged the second-most passing yards and the third 400-yard sport of his profession. He threw for 452 yards for Seattle in opposition to Houston on Oct. 29, 2017.

The 13-year veteran completed 29 for 38 because the Steelers (9-3) rebounded from shedding to the Browns 24-19 in a Nov. 21 sport within the snow in Cleveland. He additionally threw an interception that was returned for a landing within the first quarter.

“I assumed our group smiled within the face of it, notably (Wilson),” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stated. “It is the primary time for him going by means of AFC North soccer, and I assumed he acclimated himself to it effectively right now. He put himself squarely within the historical past of this collection with that efficiency right now.”

The Bengals (4-8) misplaced for the fourth time in 5 video games. Additionally they dropped to 1-5 at residence, growing the chance that they may miss the playoffs for the second straight 12 months.

Najee Harris had a 10-yard landing run and Chris Boswell kicked two discipline targets to assist Pittsburgh to a 27-21 halftime lead. It was the very best scoring first half within the 110 conferences between the longtime rivals. Wilson had 257 yards passing for his greatest complete in a primary half in his profession.

Harris completed with 75 yards dashing and 54 yards receiving. George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth caught TD passes for the Steelers.

“We wanted all 44 of these factors right now,” Tomlin stated.

Burrow continued his terrific season, going 28 for 38 for 309 yards and three extra touchdowns. He harm his personal trigger when he fumbled within the first half, resulting in a Steelers discipline objective, and threw a second-half interception.

Burrow fumbled once more within the fourth quarter when he was sacked by Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig, and linebacker Payton Wilson ran it again 21 yards for a TD.

Chase Brown rushed for a landing for Cincinnati. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas every had a TD reception.

The Bengals have allowed 34 or extra factors in six video games this season, together with losses in 4 of the final 5.

“Laborious to course of,” Chase stated. “We will’t get a win proper now. We’ve had a little bit margin for error for some time now. Acquired to discover a method.”

Fields day

Justin Fields began the primary six weeks for the Steelers and directed the crew to a 4-2 file. When Tomlin determined to begin Wilson in October, Pittsburgh developed a package deal of performs for Fields.

The Ohio State product had a 7-yard run on a third-and-4 on Pittsburgh’s final drive, serving to the Steelers shut it out. He rushed for 26 yards and threw an incomplete move within the Browns loss.

Powerful street

Staying on prime of the AFC North gained’t get any simpler for the Steelers. After the rematch with the Browns subsequent weekend in Pittsburgh, they should face the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens in a span of simply 10 days.

Accidents

Austin III was declared out with a head harm within the second half.

Up subsequent

Steelers: Host Cleveland subsequent Sunday.

Bengals: At Dallas on Monday, Dec. 9.

___

AP NFL protection: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama fired his tenth help to Devin Vassell with 2:49 left Sunday to seal his third profession triple-double in his membership’s 127-125 comeback victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The win and the most recent profession milestone smoothed over a gradual begin for Wembanyama, who scored a game-high 34 factors with 14 rebounds and 11 assists on an evening the Spurs broke the franchise’s single-game document for 3-pointers made with 23.

“So far as my very own efficiency, to recap, [I’d say] adaptability,” Wembanyama stated. “I feel we tailored fairly properly to their scouting report. The triple-double is only a byproduct of creating the appropriate selections.”

Wembanyama joined David Robinson (4), Dejounte Murray (three) and Alvin Robertson as the one gamers in Spurs historical past to roll up 30-point triple doubles. The 20-year outdated drained 5 of 9 from 3-point vary and notched 3 blocks, making him simply the third participant in NBA historical past behind James Harden and Vince Carter to tally a 30-point triple double with 5 3-pointers or extra and 3-plus blocks, based on ESPN Analysis.

Wembanyama additionally grew to become the primary Spur to hit 5 3s in a triple-double efficiency, and he joined DeMarcus Cousins as the one NBA facilities to have produced such numbers in a single sport.

Nonetheless, Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson minced no phrases in describing Wembanyama’s efficiency early in a sport wherein San Antonio surrendered 25 factors off 16 turnovers. Wembanyama was chargeable for a team-high 5 of these giveaways.

“I believed he had some very poor moments within the first three quarters when it comes to fundamentals and strong basketball, and it is a testomony to him and his capacity to lock in,” Johnson defined. “I believed within the fourth quarter he was a person. I believed he dominated. Dominating the basics for him — the catches, the passes, the strong stuff — it is nonetheless spectacular. However when he does that, he is a load.”

Wembanyama dedicated 4 of his turnovers over the primary three quarters. However within the ultimate body, he locked in to assist San Antonio carry residence one other clutch victory, scoring 13 factors on 4-of-5 capturing with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and a couple of blocks.

After ending 13-28 final season in clutch video games, San Antonio is now 5-3 in such eventualities.

Wembanyama has drawn loads of criticism this season as a 7-footer who gravitates away from the paint to a extra perimeter-oriented sport. However each Johnson and teammate Harrison Barnes, a former King, inspired onlookers to think about the variety of Wembanyama’s model and the way it retains opponents guessing.

“It is his greatest power,” Johnson stated, “and at occasions that may be the factor [players] should develop into or be taught from. He can do every little thing. So, when you will have that many choices on the menu, to suppose you are going to decide the appropriate one each time is hard. And he is a younger participant that is studying the right way to use all of the weapons that he has. So, there’s great perception and nice help for him as he learns when and the place to make the most of all these weapons. And I feel simply continually holding himself accountable as he does of the elemental stuff is what is going to permit these issues to pop off the web page.”

Barnes talked about he receives loads of questions on his new Spurs teammate and hears “so many criticisms” about his total shot weight-reduction plan.

“And my factor is, look, he will play his model and he will do it his approach [like] tonight, the place he goes and defensively patrols the paint, however then offensively be capable to rating, be capable to playmake, be capable to rebound, do all these various things,” he stated. “It will not be the precise mildew that individuals need him to be in or count on him to be in. However he will do it his approach, and his greatest factor is he needs to win. That is his North star. That is what motivates him. That is what makes him particular.”

Wembanyama admitted, nonetheless, that “it is an on a regular basis battle” to seek out the very best methods to assault opponents on each ends of the ground. Wembanyama and level guard Chris Paul (13 factors, 10 assists) each produced points-assists double-doubles in Sunday’s contest, marking the third time up to now 30 seasons San Antonio completed with a number of gamers tallying a minimum of 10 factors and 10 assists in the identical sport.

Wembanyama needs extra. So, it is no shock he stated he plans to stay to his routine of continually hitting up the personnel in San Antonio’s movie room searching for methods to enhance.

“I personally wish to get a variety of content material from the video room, and so they do an important job of concentrating on sure areas and sure forms of performs the place we have to get higher,” Wembanyama stated. “That is one thing I’ve actually cherished from all of them season thus far. Each time they’ve given me recommendation or content material to look at, it has been very purposeful, and it is labored. Tonight, as a staff we took a step ahead as a result of groups have tried to protect us in a different way all season and we have responded higher and higher. And tonight, we responded the very best towards a sure sort of protection that we confronted since a pair video games [ago]. So, to reply your query, I feel being purposeful is a very powerful and never simply watching tape to look at it.”br/]

Arsenal ahead Kai Havertz has already matched his Premier League output for Chelsea in far fewer appearances, after his newest purpose on Saturday.

Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s fourth purpose in a dominant show for the Gunners on Saturday, with Mikel Arteta’s facet finally profitable the match 5-2.

The purpose turned out to be comparatively vital within the context of the match, with West Ham scoring twice to peg Arsenal again to 4-2 within the fortieth minute. Nerves actually would have been jangling if Havertz had missed his shot and the rating had been 3-2 with 50 minutes to play.

However greater than that, the purpose was additionally vital when it comes to Havertz’s Arsenal profession.

Havertz now has 26 objectives and assists in 49 Premier League video games since signing for Arsenal, which is the very same quantity he managed in three full seasons for Chelsea. However he made 91 league appearances with them, so he’s achieved the identical whole in 42 fewer video games.

Admittedly, Havertz wasn’t at all times a starter for Chelsea, however the stats are nonetheless closely in Arsenal’s favour in per-minute phrases. Havertz performed 5,910 league minutes for Chelsea, and he’s as much as simply 3,720 with Arsenal.

So the German worldwide has contributed a purpose or help each 227 minutes for the Blues, and each 143 minutes for the Gunners. That’s a distinction of 84 minutes, nearly a complete sport.

And that’s to not point out the truth that Havertz solely actually began scoring for Arsenal after his transfer to centre-forward in February of this 12 months. He had 5 objectives in six months earlier than that, and 18 within the 9 months since (even together with the summer season break).

In all competitions, Havertz nonetheless has some catching as much as do. He managed 44 objectives and assists in 139 video games for Chelsea, and he’s at 31 in 70 matches for Arsenal. However with 69 video games and simply 13 purpose contributions to go, he’s heading in the right direction.