Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is no stranger to thinking outside of the box. Whether it be showing videos of orcas attacking baby seals in film sessions, welcoming a ‘morgue’ atmosphere following a loss to the Pelicans, or taking pointers for championship winning soccer coach Pep Guardiola, Mazz has proven he’ll push any button […]
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USC football is no longer silent about making recruiting noise. The Trojans have put together an epic February on the trail, including flipping Jonas Williams from Oregon. But now a four-star Georgia commit is on USC’s flip radar for the summer. Cornerback Jontavius Wyman has a future visit to L.A. on deck. Wyman will visit […]
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When the Phoenix Suns swapped Josh Okogie for Nick Richards, it was a quality move and one that head coach Mike Budenholzer was a fan of. However, there have been some inconsistencies with his playing time. Although he’ll play the majority of the first three quarters, it feels like he’s virtually nonexistent in the fourth […]
The post Suns’ Mike Budenholzer gets brutally honest on Nick Richards’ lack of minutes appeared first on ClutchPoints.
JOSEPH PARKER made short work of brave Martin Bakole in a one-sided dust-up in Riyadh.
The New Zealand heavyweight landed a monster right hook early in the second round to send the Congolese fighter sprawling to the canvas.
Bakole stepped in as a late replacement on just two days notice after Daniel Dubois dropped out through illness.
Parker had been ready to challenge Triple D for the IBF heavyweight crown.
Bakole bloodied Parker in a frenzied start to the contest.
But the 33-year-old showed his class, unleashing a series of power punches the ill-prepared Bakole couldn’t deal with.
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PEP GUARDIOLA fumed at “not nice” claims Erling Haaland ducked last week’s Euro blockbuster because he is scared of Antonio Rudiger.
The Manchester City striker was an unused sub in their Champions League mauling at Real Madrid with a knee injury.
But Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher reckons the Norway ace wanted to avoid Real’s fit-again centre-back Rudiger, 31.
Speaking as pundit on CBS, he said: “It’s Rudiger-itis is it? Is that what we’re saying here?”
Ahead of City hosting the Reds on Sunday, Guardiola shook his head in disbelief when told of Carra’s stunning comments.
He said: “Oh, God. Did he say that? Jamie Carragher said that? Oh God. Don’t laugh. I don’t know why he makes that suspicious, you know that?
“Did he say that Haaland didn’t want to play the game? It’s not nice — and it’s not true.
“He was crazy to play the game but had a problem with his knee and could not play.”
It comes ahead of the Etihad fixture, which has become increasingly ill-tempered, and Haaland, 24, faces a late test to make the City line-up.
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And he will be desperate to make it after Kop legend Carragher’s taunts.
Carragher, 47, said: “So let me work this out. Haaland has gone to the manager this morning and said he’s not fit?
“Do you think it’s got something to do with Rudiger? Is that because Rudiger is playing?
“He’s on the bench so he can’t be injured. I never went to see the manager on the morning of a game and said I’m not fit. So he’s injured, is he?”
FURIOUS Mikel Arteta slammed his Arsenal flops and accused them of lacking the ‘levels’ to be champs.
Bookies Paddy Power last night paid out on a Liverpool title after Jarrod Bowen’s winner at the Emirates.
And Gunners boss Arteta fumed: “I’m very, very angry. I hope the team is angry. That was nowhere near the levels we have to hit to win a Premier League.”
Sub Myles Lewis-Skelly was also sent off after a VAR review for tripping Mohammed Kudus — Arsenal’s FIFTH red card of the season.
Asked if the title race is over, Arteta admitted: “It’s not in our hands.
“I’m really annoyed with the things that ARE in our hands and we didn’t do as well as we could.
“We have to look in the mirror of what we can do better: the will, the desire and the way we want it.”
Prem leaders Liverpool will go ELEVEN points clear with a win at Manchester City today.
Injury-hit Arsenal mustered just TWO shots on target yesterday after midfielder Mikel Merino was handed his first career start as a No 9 following injuries to Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
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Arteta added: “Even though we had 20 shots, I never felt we were at the standard and the level we needed. We never got a grip of the game.
“I refuse to blame the lack of strikers. I am talking about the players’ standards, me included.
“This level was not enough. You have to deliver and it has to be with quality to break down a good team.”
The shock defeat ended the Gunners’ run of 15 unbeaten Prem games.
Skipper Martin Odegaard echoed Arteta’s comments and declared:
“The performance was not good enough. It’s a big blow, really disappointed.
“We have players missing but we have players here who are good enough and available.
“It wasn’t good enough in front of the goal. With the red card, it was tricky as well.”
Asked if he picked the wrong team, Arteta replied: “I would do the same, but when you lose you get it wrong, the tactics, the intentions, everything.”
Lewis-Skelly’s 73rd-minute red for a halfway-line trip on Kudus was upgraded from an initial yellow after VAR Peter Bankes persuaded ref Craig Pawson to view the pitchside monitor.
The Prem’s Match Centre confirmed VAR “deemed it denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity”.
Kudus said: “I took the ball off and tried to get the shot off. If I wasn’t stopped, I was heading direct to goal against the keeper.
Asked what needs to change between now and Wednesday’s visit to third-placed Nottingham Forest, Arteta added: “First of all, suffer, 24 to 48 hours, suffer and feel the pain.
“Make sure we come back on Monday with bite and anger still in the stomach.
“Hopefully we have a positive reaction. We must understand we need to raise the level.”
Bowen, who scored his 50th Prem goal, said: “It was a beautiful ball in, I couldn’t miss.
“It was really important to win the game.”
LOVE Island fans have accused another Islander of ‘being in it to win it’ after new messages revealed.
Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen were crowned victorious in the nail-biting finale of Love Island: All Stars last weekend after they went head-to-head with Grace Jackson and Luca Bish.
Just before the final, Olivia Hawkins returned to the villa briefly and claimed she’d seen text messages from Grace to someone where she had declared she would “do anything to win the show this time”.
And now more texts have been revealed – but this time from Casey to his pal Molly Smith.
In the messages, Molly said to Casey: “Good luck darling, you’ll be amazing you always are!
“Can’t wait to watch you, we’ll be voting on all devices!! Go show everyone why we all love you! We’ll be more than happy to pass our crown over to you 4 can’t wait to double date.”
Casey then replied: “Awwww thanks Molly. very sweet!!! Yes bloody vote for me and let’s hope I’ll be on video calls with you and Tom in the villa on the final episode.”
Molly then messaged Casey after he won the show, congratulating him and saying how he “only went and did it”.
Casey recently shared the text messages on his Instagram story and said how it was “manifestation at its finest”.
This then sparked fans on Reddit to say how all Islanders are “in it to win it”.
“The text message Casey has shared shows they are all in it to win it. Don’t know why they are specifically targeting Grace,” the Redditor said.
They added: “My suspicion is that the rest of the islanders are a very close knit group and have had years to build relationships.
“Since Grace and Harriet were only from the most recent season they have not had the same opportunity to build these friendships / connections and are being singled out.”
One person then responded to the post, writing: “I don’t know why anyone is expecting these people to go on the show and find ‘love’ with people they already know. Obviously they are all there to win, that’s the point of a competition.”
Another agreed: “I mean its a competition show with prize money at the end… they all want to win it let’s be real.”
While a third said: “I would assume that anyone taking part in a competition with a monetary prize is in it to win it. I don’t think there’s anything suspicious or surprising there.”
EVERY year Love Island opens its doors to more sexy Islanders who are hoping for a holiday romance that could turn into more.
Here we take you through all of the Love Island winners so far and what their relationship statuses are now:
2025 – The second series of All Stars saw Gabby Allen and Case O’Gorman scoop the crown. STATUS: Still together.
2024 – The summer Love Island saw Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan were crowned the winners. STATUS: Broken up.
2024 – The first ever All stars spin off show was won by Molly Smith and Tom Clare. STATUS: Still together.
2023 – Jess Harding and Sammy Root took home the 50k, and won the summer 2023 Love Island. STATUS: Broken up.
2023 – The first series of 2023 saw Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan crowned Love Island winners in South Africa. STATUS: Still together.
2022 – Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu’s time in the villa was anything but a smooth ride, but they managed to win the public’s hearts – and the ITV2 reality show. STATUS: Broken up.
2021 – Liam Reardon and Millie Court were announced winners of Love Island 2021. STATUS: Still together.
2020 – The first ever winter Love Island saw Paige Turley and Finn Tapp crowned winners after falling in love on the show. STATUS: Broken up.
2019 – Series 5 saw Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague runners up to winners Greg O’Shea and Amber Gill, who met in the last few days of the series. STATUS: Broken up.
2018 – It wasn’t surprising fan favourites Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer won the show, as they were strong throughout. But sadly things didn’t last. STATUS: Broken up.
2017 – Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies had lots of ups and downs in the villa but went on to win. STATUS: Broken up.
2016 – Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde were together from the start of the series, and since they won the show they’ve had two kids and are married. STATUS: Still together.
2015 – Despite poor Jess Hayes being Max Morley’s second choice on the show, they did win – but they didn’t last as a couple. STATUS: Broken up.
A fourth then penned: “I can’t see any issue in these texts.”
While a fifth said: “Same here. However if anyone believes that they’re not mostly there just for followers, brand deals, the money it brings, and a free (or paid) holiday, then I think they’re being a bit naive.”
This comes as the All Star couples navigate life with one another outside of the villa.
But will they all last now they’re back in the UK and not sunny South Africa?
NEWCASTLE chief Eddie Howe is plotting to bring Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier back to Tyneside.
Tavernier and his brother James, 33 – now captain of Rangers – grew up in the North East and played in Toon’s youth ranks.
But the winger, 25, joined Middlesbrough as a schoolkid and went on to earn a £10million move to Bournemouth in 2022.
The Cherries have him under contract until 2028 and are under no pressure to sell.
However, bids north of £25m could tempt them this summer.
Tavernier has been a consistent performer on the South Coast for the past three seasons.
And he has helped propel Bournemouth into unlikely Champions League chasers.
Tavernier has two goals across 19 league games, along with a career-high five assists.
Celtic’s German star Nicolas Kuhn and PSV Eindhoven attacker Johan Bakayoko are other names Howe will be interested in this summer.
Newcastle host high-flying Nottingham Forest on Sunday knowing victory will send them fifth.
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And Howe is keen for his side to chase down Nuno Santo’s men – and bring Champions League football back to St James Park.
Howe said: “The challenge for us, the coaching staff and players, is to finish as high as we can in the league.
“Our target should be what is immediately ahead of us and above us.
“We have to try and chase down teams like Nottingham Forest. It is a small target of points.
“It is not impossible for us to achieve it.
“The game we have coming up is potentially a big moment in that.
“If we let our immediate opposition slip away from us, then it becomes very difficult to make that gap up.
“They are important games coming up in the next few weeks.”
