LOS ANGELES — — LeBron James scored 30 factors to grow to be the NBA’s profession chief in 30-point video games, surpassing Michael Jordan’s document throughout the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday evening.

James hit an 18-foot jumper halfway by means of the fourth quarter to safe the 563rd 30-point recreation of his 22-year profession, breaking the document set in 2003 by his childhood idol.

James had 9 factors within the fourth quarter for the Lakers, who confirmed little fatigue whereas pulling away within the last minutes of their third dwelling recreation in 4 nights..

Austin Reaves scored 20 factors, and Anthony Davis had 18 factors and 19 rebounds after sitting out the Lakers’ 114-106 victory over Portland on Thursday evening to relaxation his sprained left ankle.

Los Angeles has received seven of 9 to maneuver into fourth place within the Western Convention.

Trae Younger had 33 factors and 9 assists for the Hawks, who misplaced their second straight on the halfway level of a six-game journey. Jalen Johnson scored 19 factors.

Bronny James performed the ultimate 1:41 in his first NBA motion since Dec. 8.

Takeaways

Hawks: They performed lively protection all evening, however could not shoot. Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Garrison Matthews mixed to go 2-for-21 on 3-pointers.

Lakers: Even 18 turnovers could not cease Los Angeles’ improved play since dropping in extra time in Atlanta final month.

Key second

The Hawks had been nonetheless hanging round till James hit back-to-back turnaround jumpers halfway by means of the fourth quarter, making a few photographs that resembled a key a part of Jordan’s repertoire.

Key stat

James additionally performed in his 1,523rd profession regular-season recreation, passing Dirk Nowitzki for fourth in NBA historical past.

Up subsequent

The Hawks take the 110 freeway to the 91 to face the Clippers on Saturday. The Lakers are in Houston on Sunday to open a two-game Texas journey.

——

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

The Miami Warmth don’t wish to lengthen Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy Butler feels he’s price an extension or a commerce from the Miami Warmth.

And what’s extra, there are nonetheless wounds but to be healed from Pat Riley to Jimmy Butler, and all this has come to a head over the previous couple of days.

Sounds easy sufficient, proper?

Butler has communicated to the Warmth he would love a change of surroundings, sources advised Yahoo Sports activities. His first alternative in all of this was to stick with the Warmth with a contract extension in hand, however Riley has given no indication he’s prepared to try this.

The matter of Riley calling out Butler following final season’s end, principally telling him to “shut up and play,” hasn’t sat nicely with Butler — together with the insinuation from Warmth officers Butler didn’t play laborious towards New Orleans on Wednesday in his first recreation again from an sickness.

“I wish to see me getting my pleasure again taking part in basketball,” Butler advised reporters after Thursday evening’s recreation towards Indiana, through which he exited with 1:54 left within the third and didn’t return.

”Wherever which may be, we’ll discover out right here fairly quickly. I am comfortable right here off the courtroom, however I wish to be again to considerably dominant, I wish to hoop and I wish to assist this workforce win, and proper now I am not doing it.”

On Friday evening, the Warmth introduced they had been suspending Butler for seven video games “for a number of situations of conduct detrimental to the workforce over the course of the season.”

“Via his actions and statements,” the workforce mentioned in a press release, “he has proven he not desires to be a part of this workforce. Jimmy Butler and his consultant have indicated that they want to be traded, subsequently, we are going to take heed to affords.”

That is getting a bit ugly and it doesn’t should be.

Butler is averaging 17.6 factors, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 22 video games this season, capturing a profession excessive 55.2 p.c from the sector on simply 10.5 makes an attempt per recreation.

His six-year stint with Miami is his longest since his first six seasons as a Chicago Bull, and he’s had stops in Minnesota and Philadelphia in between.

Neither celebration is nice with the nice and cozy and fuzzy emotions, however it is a relationship enterprise — and Butler has carried undermanned groups to 2 journeys to the NBA Finals and was a hair wanting a 3rd in 2022.

In his final two playoff runs, a 39-game pattern dimension, Butler has averaged 27.1 factors, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals on 48-35-82 splits. After all he’s a headache and the final word mirror to no matter your group is or isn’t, however the numbers say when he’s wholesome, the return is nicely price it.

From Butler’s standpoint, notably in at the moment’s second-apron world, he would really feel a lot better coming into his late 30s (he turned 35 in September) not having to cope with the treacherous world of unrestricted free company, as there aren’t many groups with money available come July.

The groups who might have cash, and even transfer cash, aren’t shut sufficient to competing to make it price Butler’s whereas — not less than not now.

For Miami, it doesn’t wish to commit massive cash in the identical restrictive tax apron world to a participant who’s had points with availability the previous couple of years. And Riley had no drawback letting Dwyane Wade stroll in free company, not giving LeBron James carte blanche again of their day, and buying and selling Shaquille O’Neal when the massive man was on the again finish of his profession.

However what are the Warmth with out Butler? The franchise is well-regarded, and head coach Erik Spoelstra is regarded as one of many two finest coaches in basketball, routinely doing extra with much less.

His major cog in that has been Butler, and the Warmth have tried to make a Large Three out of Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. They’re gifted, however the convention has gotten significantly more durable on the high in recent times with the Celtics and Knicks loading up, whereas the Cavaliers have grown internally.

The Warmth didn’t purchase Damian Lillard when he needed out of Portland, or Donovan Mitchell when Utah had him on the buying and selling block, or Bradley Beal — and to be truthful, not each workforce was prepared to speak critically with Miami. The Warmth have saved their powder dry, preferring to give attention to their very own growth, but it surely’s saved them in a spot the place they’ve needed to overachieve.

Doing simply sufficient is not sufficient, and if Butler noticed Paul George get a full max — a participant he’s corresponding to and much more playoff achieved than — one can see how he desires to point out a brand new employer he’s well worth the market worth he’s asking for.

Butler is due $52 million subsequent season, but it surely seems like he’ll certainly opt-out for an extended contract with extra assured cash, if not a decrease yearly wage. Over the summer time, Philadelphia tried to have interaction Miami on a Butler deal earlier than agreeing to phrases with George — Joel Embiid needed a reunion with Butler and pushed for it, based on sources who spoke to Yahoo Sports activities over the summer time and lately.

It’s simple to see that max slot occupied by George might very nicely have been Butler’s.

Butler hasn’t given the Warmth an inventory of preferable groups, not less than not but, however one would suppose Phoenix, Dallas, Houston and Golden State are at or close to the highest of the record. If one believes Butler is a handful in a method, he’s fairly amenable on the ground. He’s a plug-and-play star who can slot in just about wherever, even with the 3-point comfortable Warriors in the event that they wish to make a run at really giving Stephen Curry a working mate throughout his golden years.

Making a deal work and price it for the Warmth may very well be troublesome, because the franchise has by no means really embraced rebuilding and sits within the sixth spot within the East at 17-15.

Riley telling the vocal Butler to hush was most likely the primary signal this relationship was headed for a divorce, however there was time to clear the air and transfer ahead for the sake of this season.

Up to now, it hasn’t been the case and the noise is getting louder in South Florida.

Neither Butler or Riley is uncomfortable being uncomfortable, which suggests this might result in an extended standoff or one thing that mercifully ends in a short time.

Both method, it seems this relationship has run its course, a mark of the brand new financial actuality of the NBA and maybe an inevitable conclusion of the immovable pressure linking with the unstoppable object.

Depuis l’été 2023, Jonathan Toews est libre comme l’air. L’ancien capitaine des Blackhawks de Chicago, vainqueur de trois Coupes Stanley, pourrait toutefois effectuer un retour au jeu cette saison, et il faudrait surveiller étroitement trois équipes en particulier.

Toews a du moins recommencé à patiner, et des formations de la Ligue nationale de hockey manifestent de l’intérêt depuis qu’il a documenté sur ses réseaux sociaux son périple de guérison pour le moins ésotérique de cinq semaines en Inde.

L’attaquant, dont le dernier match remonte au 13 avril 2023, a souffert de problèmes digestifs et de symptômes en lien avec la COVID longue. Il voit enfin la lumière au bout du tunnel.

«Il affiche sa meilleure forme depuis des années, a mentionné l’informateur Frank Seravalli dans un section partagé sur son compte X. Il a recommencé à patiner, et plusieurs équipes ont contacté son agent Pat Brisson durant les Fêtes. Toutefois, on ne sait pas encore s’il prévoit revenir cette saison ou l’année suivante.»

Toujours d’après Seravalli, trois équipes seraient à surveiller dans ce file: les Maple Leafs de Toronto, les Jets de Winnipeg et l’Avalanche du Colorado. Tant les Leafs que l’Avalanche sont à la recherche d’un joueur de centre, tandis que Winnipeg est le patelin de Toews.

Lors de sa dernière saison dans la LNH, en 2022-2023, Toews a amassé 31 factors, dont 15 buts, en 53 matchs avec les Blackhawks. Il a compilé le pire différentiel de sa carrière, soit -31.

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MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler was Miami’s finest participant for 5 years, the chief of a staff that went to the NBA Finals twice in his tenure. He talked large and, at occasions, performed larger. He spoke with reverence for town, for the franchise, for the famed “Warmth Tradition.”

He additionally missed lots of video games, appeared sad at occasions after which didn’t get a $113 million extension that he was eligible for final summer time.

And now, a breakup looms.

Sooner or later after Butler stated that he doesn’t assume he can discover on-court pleasure in Miami going ahead, the Warmth suspended him for seven video games and stated they may hearken to commerce provides — a transparent signal that they don’t count on him to put on their uniform once more.

“We’ve suspended Jimmy Butler for seven video games for a number of cases of conduct detrimental to the staff over the course of the season and notably the final a number of weeks,” the staff stated in an announcement Friday evening. “By his actions and statements, he has proven he now not needs to be a part of this staff.”

Butler will lose about $336,543 per sport throughout the suspension, about $2,355,798 in all. He has the best to an attraction, which may reduce the monetary hit.

The Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation stated it intends to file a grievance, calling the seven-game suspension “extreme and inappropriate.”

Barring a change to the suspension on attraction, Butler is not going to be with the staff for its residence sport Saturday towards Utah after which the totality of a six-game highway journey to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.

In idea, the earliest that Butler may play once more for the Warmth is Jan. 17 at residence towards Denver. However he has possible performed for Miami for the ultimate time.

“Jimmy Butler and his consultant have indicated that they want to be traded, subsequently, we are going to hearken to provides,” the Warmth stated.

Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The staff saying it’s open to transferring the six-time All-Star is a pointy turnaround from every week in the past, when Warmth President Pat Riley stated that the staff wouldn’t commerce Butler.

That was then. Now, the connection between Butler and the Warmth — a speaking level for weeks — seems to be properly previous the breaking level.

The Warmth misplaced to Indiana 128-115 on Thursday evening, with Butler scoring precisely 9 factors and sitting out the fourth quarter for the second consecutive sport. It additionally occurred Wednesday in a win over New Orleans.

“What do I need to see occur? I need to see me get my pleasure again from enjoying basketball, wherever that could be — we’ll discover out right here fairly quickly,” Butler stated after Thursday’s sport. “I need to get my pleasure again. I’m comfortable right here, off the courtroom, however I need to be again to someplace dominant. I need to hoop and I need to assist this staff win. Proper now, I’m not doing that.”

He was then requested if he can discover that pleasure in Miami. “In all probability not,” Butler stated, and with that, his postgame information convention ended.

Probably, so did his Warmth tenure.

“Who strikes the needle essentially the most on our staff is Jimmy,” Riley stated in Might, after final season ended. “Jimmy strikes the needle essentially the most. He’s an unimaginable participant.”

Butler left a mark in Miami over his 5 1/2 seasons — eighth in staff historical past in factors, eighth in assists, eighth in steals, all of that in simply 313 appearances. And within the playoffs, he was distinctive: There have been 18 video games of 40 or extra factors in staff postseason historical past and Butler is answerable for eight of them, together with a file 56-point evening towards Milwaukee within the 2023 playoffs.

The 35-year-old Butler grew to become eligible final summer time for an extension. The Warmth didn’t provide one, and Riley expressed reservations about how giving such a deal to any participant who misses a giant variety of video games.

Butler has missed about considered one of each 4 Warmth contests since he joined the staff. He stated at media day this fall he believed his play this season would have the extension choice “deal with itself.”

“I suppose I’ve received to go and hoop. … I’ve received to show that I’m a serious a part of successful and rightfully so. I’ve performed it earlier than. That is no totally different,” Butler stated then.

It didn’t occur.

The unhealthy breakup gained’t be the primary for the Warmth — LeBron James left in 2014, Dwyane Wade left earlier than ultimately returning, Shaquille O’Neal received traded — and gained’t be the primary for Butler, both.

There are parallels to what’s taking place in Miami now and the top of Butler’s time in Minnesota.

In 2018, Butler was months away from doubtlessly turning into a free agent (as is the case now) and was sad with the Timberwolves (as is the case now, simply with the Warmth). He stated in an interview with ESPN — after an notorious apply the place he shredded teammates together with his play and his phrases — that he wished to listen to the Wolves saying, “We want you. We wish you right here. We are able to’t do that with out you.”

His phrases from Tuesday in Miami instructed the identical, that he’s not feeling the extent of affection that he wished from the Warmth. “It’s good to be talked about. Even higher to be wished, although. Do not forget that,” Butler stated after a apply session.

Finally, Butler received his approach. Minnesota traded him to Philadelphia — after which he received his approach once more lower than a 12 months later, when he agreed to hitch the Warmth after a sign-and-trade. He stated he wished to be in Miami to complete his profession.

Either side have been rewarded alongside the best way. Butler has made about $200 million in wage in his 5 1/2 Warmth seasons (with one other $25 million nonetheless coming this season), and the Warmth received to take pleasure in two runs to the NBA Finals.

It labored. Till it didn’t.

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Vinicius Junior was red-carded for shoving Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski throughout a dramatic come-from-behind victory for Actual Madrid at Estadio de Mestalla to safe prime spot in LaLiga. The Brazilian star, who was topped the very best participant on the planet by FIFA however completed second to Rodri within the Ballon d’Or race, was mired in controversy in his second match again at Valencia since he was a sufferer of racist abuse from followers again in Might of 2023. 

The sending off was by some means the cherry on prime of a wild match because the Spanish giants scored two late, inconceivable objectives to seal a 2-1 victory due to a Jude Bellingham winner within the ninety fifth minute of play.

Within the first match coached underneath Carlos Corberan because the membership tries to keep off relegation, Valencia took the lead by way of Hugo Duro within the first half and went into defensive mode. Actual Madrid had been wasteful with their probabilities as Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. each trended towards the left facet of the pitch maintaining the center free and simple to defend for Valencia. They had been gifted an opportunity as Mbappe was chopped down within the field, however Bellingham’s penalty take, which featured a clumsy hop within the run-in, crashed off the publish, which ignited the controversy on this match.

Not solely was there a query of encroachment with Valencia gamers within the field as Bellingham took his penalty, however the Valencia keeper appeared to be off his line as properly, which might have been grounds for a retake. However that by no means got here. The woes grew for Actual Madrid when Mbappe had the ball within the web, just for it to be dominated offside in a good choice. The yellow playing cards began flying as Valencia dug in whereas Actual Madrid looked for an equalizer.

Vini Jr. misplaced his cool after being baited by Dimitrievski when he was on the bottom on the field and responded by making contact with the keeper’s face whereas pushing him. After the incident was really helpful for a VAR overview, Vini Jr. was despatched off for violent conduct. 

After the match, the Actual Madrid winger took to social media to problem an apology to his teammates. “Sorry, and thanks, group,” Vini stated. 

For the third consecutive assembly on the Mestalla, a Actual Madrid participant was despatched off by a referee. Bellingham was despatched off final season after what he thought was a successful aim was dominated out. And of couse, in Might of 2023, Vini Jr. was dismissed deep into stoppage time after being subjected to racial abuse. That incident led to a few Valencia followers receiving eight-month jail sentences after pleading responsible to racially insulting the Brazillian. 

It is a journey that is changing into an more and more tense affair for Actual Madrid, however due to Valencia’s errors, they had been in a position to go away with all three factors regardless of the setback. Luka Modric entered within the eightieth minute earlier than being assisted by Bellingham within the eighty fifth minute earlier than the eventual winner.

Profiting from an unlucky Hugo Guillamon backpass, Bellingham intercepted it and put it into the again of the web for all three factors. It is a match that does not dismiss Los Blancos’ lack of steadiness in assault nevertheless it does present their battle when it issues. They might’ve resigned to the loss when happening to 10 however as an alternative exploded with Bellingham turning into the hero following his missed penalty. It is instances like this which present that Actual can by no means be counted out of the race for silverware however they’re going to additionally want Vini Jr. at his finest with a purpose to safe it.

Lawson Crouse scored twice and the Utah Hockey Membership snapped a five-game winless skid with a 5-3 comeback victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, and Kevin Stenlund — into an empty web — additionally scored for Utah (17-15-6).

Blake Coleman, Connor Zary, and Brayden Pachal scored for Calgary (18-13-7), which had its five-game level streak on residence ice snapped.

Karel Vejmelka had 23 stops to snap a three-game dropping streak. He improved to 9-10-2.

Dan Vladar had 21 saves for Calgary. He is winless in his final 4 begins and 6-8-5 on the season.

Takeaways

Utah: An sickness is working its means via the locker room. Keller missed Utah’s Tuesday’s sport with the bug and Matias Maccelli — who took Keller’s spot on the highest line — was the newest to fall sufferer, lacking his first sport of the season Thursday.

Flames: Calgary misplaced the companies of Nazem Kadri for an prolonged interval. After a bodily shift within the second interval the place Kadri battled backwards and forwards with Liam O’Brien, each gamers had been assessed 10-minute misconducts for his or her continued jawing after the whistle. Utah’s tying purpose and go-ahead targets within the third got here whereas Kadri was nonetheless serving the penalty.

Key second

Down 3-2 after 40 minutes, Utah scored twice early within the third with targets lower than two minutes aside. Keller steered in Olli Maatta’s level shot to tie it at 0:47. Crouse gave Utah their third lead of the evening at 2:35 when he took a move from Nick Bjugstad and beat Vladar simply contained in the goalpost for his sixth of the season.

Key stat

It is the primary time this season Calgary has failed to select up no less than one level from a sport they led after two intervals. They fall to 10-1-1 in that state of affairs.

Up subsequent

Flames: Play host to the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Utah: Go to the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first printed on Jan. 2, 2025. 

China is experiencing a surge in infections of a respiratory virus, resulting in overcrowded hospitals, emergency measures, and public issues about an outbreak.

The virus, recognized as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), has seen circumstances spiking throughout northern Chinese language provinces this winter, notably amongst kids.

The outbreak comes 5 years after the world was first alerted to the emergence of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which later became a world pandemic killing seven million individuals.

Photographs and movies of individuals carrying masks in hospitals in China emerged on social media platforms and native experiences stated the scenes of an outbreak of HMPV have been much like the preliminary Covid outbreak.

Well being authorities are implementing emergency measures to watch and handle the unfold. Nevertheless, Beijing has downplayed the developments as an annual winter prevalence.

China’s overseas ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Friday: “Respiratory infections are inclined to peak throughout the winter season”.

“The illnesses seem like much less extreme and unfold with a smaller scale in comparison with the earlier 12 months,” she stated.

What’s HMPV?

Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is a respiratory virus that causes signs much like the widespread chilly and influenza. Whereas the sickness is often gentle, it will probably result in extreme issues resembling pneumonia, notably in infants, the aged, and people with weakened immune methods.

The virus will not be new however has gained consideration amid a surge in circumstances, notably in kids underneath 14 in northern China.

First recognized in 2001, HMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus that spreads by way of respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces. The infections have been beforehand recognized in varied international locations, together with the UK.

Its signs embrace cough, fever, nasal congestion, and fatigue, with an incubation interval of three to 6 days. Not like Covid-19, there isn’t a vaccine or particular antiviral remedy for HMPV; remedy primarily includes managing signs.

Rising circumstances of HMPV in China

The spike in circumstances coincides with colder climate and elevated indoor exercise, situations that sometimes gas the unfold of respiratory viruses. Well being officers emphasize that this surge is in keeping with seasonal traits.

China’s Nationwide Illness Management and Prevention Administration just lately reported a rise in respiratory infections, together with HMPV, throughout the winter. The World Well being Organisation (WHO) has not flagged the scenario as a world well being emergency, however the rise in circumstances has prompted authorities to bolster monitoring methods.

A pilot programme has been launched to trace pneumonia of unknown origin, making certain labs and well being businesses report and handle circumstances extra successfully, state broadcaster CCTV reported, quoting an administration official at a information convention.

Can HMPV virus unfold to different international locations?

Hong Kong has reported just a few circumstances of HMPV. Neighbouring international locations like Cambodia and Taiwan are conserving an in depth watch on the scenario. Cambodia’s Communicable Illness Management Division has issued warnings about HMPV, noting its similarity to Covid-19 and influenza.

Taiwan’s Facilities for Illness Management has stated the virus’s greater dangers for youngsters, the aged, and immunocompromised people.

In neighbouring India, officers stated there isn’t a want for panic as HMPV is “like every other respiratory virus”.

“There was information doing the rounds a couple of Metapneumovirus outbreak in China. Let me be very clear on that depend. Metapneumovirus is like every other respiratory virus which causes the widespread chilly, and within the very previous and the very younger it may trigger flu-like signs,” Directorate Basic of Well being Providers (DGHS) official Dr Atul Goel stated, in response to native media.

Reassuring residents and vacationers, overseas ministry spokesperson stated: “I can guarantee you that the Chinese language authorities cares in regards to the well being of Chinese language residents and foreigners coming to China”, including that “It’s secure to journey in China”.