Suns’ Ayton: ‘I wanted to start a winning legacy in Phoenix’
The Phoenix Suns concluded the month of November the way it started, with a win. Led by Deandre Ayton’s 24 points and 11 rebounds and Chris Paul’s 15 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and five steals, Phoenix defeated the Warriors 104-96 Tuesday night at FootPrint Center.
The rematch is Friday at Chase Center.
With the win, the Suns extended their winning streak to a league-best 17 games, tying the franchise record for the longest winning streak.
“It’s cool, man, Paul said about the winning streak. “You sort of forget about it because we just be hooping. We prepare for every game the same way, and when you do that, it’s about building habits. Like I said, third team, I’ve been on that won 17 in a row, and it’s a really good feeling. To go the whole month without any losses, regardless of who was on the schedule, that’s tough to do.”
Phoenix was 16-0 in November, and the last time they lost was on October 27 against Sacramento. In addition, at 18-3, this is the team’s best start to the season through the first 21 games matching the 2004-05 season. Furthermore, the Suns moved to 10-0 this season when playing an opponent with a record above .500.
Ayton has been with Phoenix through the tough times, including winning 19 games in the 2018-19 season. Last season, the Suns went to the Finals, and now they are tied with the Warriors for the best record in basketball after 21 games, and Ayton wants to keep on winning.
“We wanted to turn this thing around since we got here,” he said. “I wanted a winning legacy; I wanted to start a winning legacy in Phoenix. I think I’ve been saying that the whole time being here. Just having thee great pieces around us, we just have some young guys that know how to play basketball, but at the same time, we’re willing to take that constructive criticism, and not take it personal, but learn. That season where we only won 19 games, it wasn’t really no disappointment, it was just a lesson learned; that we never want to get back to that ever again, and that’s what we’re showing.”
Unfortunately, going forward, Phoenix might be without the services of Devin Booker, who left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. According to head coach Monty Williams, they will find out more about Booker’s health Wednesday.
For now, they celebrate a big win and look to push their streak to 18 Thursday at home against the Pistons.
Haney: ‘I don’t know how you beat me; I can’t tell you’
Devin Haney will fulfil a dream on Saturday night as he headlines at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, defending his WBC World Lightweight title against interim champion Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz, Jr. on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.
Haney (26-0 15 KOs) puts his title on the line for the fourth time and is in back-to-back fight in his Las Vegas hometown for the first time since stepping through the ropes in Sin City for the fifth and sixth times as a pro in 2016.
‘The Dream’s’ fifth paid night in the ring was in the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s clash with Timothy Bradley in April, but now he’s the star attraction at the famed boxing mecca.
Diaz, Jr. (32-1-1 15 KOs) is out to dash Haney’s plans to be the new main attraction of the Las Vegas boxing scene, but while Haney acknowledges that this promises to be the hardest fight of his career to date, he also promises to dazzle under the bright lights.
“This is a dream come true to be living in Las Vegas and headlining the MGM Grand,” said Haney. “I never thought that it would come this fast, but it’s here and now it’s time for me to really perform at this great arena and show that I am here to stay.
“It’s going to be great to be back in front of fans in full force, there might not be anywhere better than the MGM Grand for a big fight, I’m so excited for this. I know what I am up against, and I am ready for it and the fans should be too.
“JoJo is a good fighter, he’s going to come to fight, we know that. He’s going to bring his best, I’m bringing mine. So, the best man will win – and that will be me. You can talk about size and heart, but I just feel that I am a better fighter than him and skills pay the bills.
“When fighters want to fight, it gets done. Sometimes the networks and the politics get in the way, but nine times out of ten, you can make any fighter as the fighters have the power.
“Everybody says ‘I’m gonna bang Devin out’. I’ve been seeing that my whole life. Did I get this far by letting people rough me up or bang me out? Come on. I can do everything, so you can do whatever you want, it’s not going to work. I don’t know how you beat me; I can’t tell you.”
Photo: Matchroom Boxing
Suns’ Booker on games against Warriors: ‘This is primetime basketball’
After this week, we may know who is the best team in the Western Conference, and possibly the NBA. The Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors play two times this week, starting on Tuesday in Phoenix. The two teams will play again on Friday at Chase Center.
Currently, the Warriors(18-2), who have the best record in basketball, are on a seven-game winning streak, and during that streak, Golden State has outscored opponents, 112.0 to 97.6 points per game while the Suns(17-3), who have the second-best record in the NBA, are on a 16-game winning streak.
Tuesday’s game marks the first time in NBA history that two teams from the same division with winning percentages above .850 meet over 20 games into a season (sixth time in NBA history regardless of division or conference).
In addition, if Phoenix wins tonight, this would be their 17th-straight win, which would match the longest winning streak in franchise history (also did so during 2006-07 season).
This could be a preview of the Western Conference Finals. According to Devin Booker, who was named Western Conference Player of the Week, the Western Conference champions want to win championships like Golden State.
“They’re battle-tested, they’re champions,” Booker said about Warriors on Monday. “They’ve done everything that I’m trying to get to… You have two talented teams that know how to play against each other. Now, it’s coming down to competing for the full 48 minutes…
“This is primetime basketball. This is what people pay to watch, people pay to see; I’m excited to be a part of it.”
With a win, the Suns would move to 18-3 on the season, matching the franchise record for best record through the first 21 games of a season.
Look, it’s early, and there is a lot of basketball left to be played. However, these two games should be a lot of fun. Both teams want to send a message, and this would be an excellent time to send that message.
Listen below as Booker talks big game against Golden State:
Cavs’ Markkanen: ‘Our size bothers other teams’
The Cleveland Cavaliers may have had their best performance of the season against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. Cleveland led by as many as 31 points, and the Cavaliers got their largest road victory of the season 114-96 at American Airlines Center.
After losing five straight, Cleveland(11-10) has won two in a row, while Dallas(10-9) has lost two straight and five of their last six.
Cleveland won in Dallas for the first time since 2017.
Here is the Great, Not So Great, and Bottom Line of the Cavs’ win over Dallas.
The Great for the Cavs:
-Jarrett Allen had a career-high 28 points(11/17 FG) to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds against Dallas. He killed the Mavs on lobs from Garland. In fact, seven of Garland’s nine assists went to Allen. Allen finished the game with a game-high +30 rating. This was Allen’s fourth straight double-double.
-Lauri Markkanen had a season-high 24 points, including a team-high five threes. Markkanen also added eight rebounds. He scored 20-points for the fourth time in his last five games. Since November 1, Markkanan is averaging 20.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest.
-Darius Garland got anywhere he wanted on the floor against Dallas. Garland had 18 points and nine assists. He was penetrating and was doing a lot of swishing and dishing. It’s great to see him play with so much confidence this season, and in the last six games, Garland is averaging 22.7 points and 8.2 assists.
First Half: Cleveland shot 51% in the first half and played solid defense in that half as they held Dallas to 36% shooting from the field, including 5/22(23%) from three-point range. Allen(11) and Garland(10) combined for 21 points. Cleveland took a 52-41 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter: The Cavs were sizzling in the third. They shot 68% from the field, including 5/7 from downtown. Garland and Allen connected on multiple alley-oops, and Allen(5/6 FG) had 13 points and six rebounds in third, while Garland(3-3 FG) added eight points and five assists. Cleveland led by as many as 24 points in the quarter. The Cavs were in complete control and took a 22-point lead into the fourth.
The Not So Great for the Cavaliers:
Cleveland did have 17 turnovers on Monday night, but hey, that doesn’t matter too much when you win by 18 points.
Bottom Line:
What an impressive victory for Cleveland. They dominated that third quarter. They got another excellent performance from their bigs as Allen, Evan Mobley, and Markkanen combined for 64 points. This was a total team effort as Cleveland had six players, including all five starters in double figures. Right now, the Cavaliers are fairly healthy and playing with a lot of confidence.
“I think having three bigs out there is something teams haven’t seen a lot,” Markkanen said after the game. “Our size bothers other teams.”
What’s Next:
The Cavaliers continue their three-game road trip Wednesday night against the Miami Heat.
Best of the Rest:
Luka Doncic had a triple-double and led the Mavs with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists; Maxi Kleber was the only other Mav in double-figures with 13 points.
Mobley had 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks; Isaac Okoro had 10 points.
Cleveland was without Cedi Osman (lower back soreness) and Dean Wade (calf strain).
Kristaps Porzingis added nine points, five rebounds and four blocks before exiting the game in the third quarter with a right ankle injury.
Listen below as Allen, Markkanen, and Garland talk win over Dallas:
Bucs’ Arians on Fournette: ‘He’s just playing at a really high, consistent level’
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette had a massive game for the Buccaneers on Sunday. He had 17 carries for 100 yards and three rushing touchdowns, including the game-winning 28-yard touchdown run, while adding seven receptions for 31 yards and one touchdown as the Buccaneers defeated the Colts on the road 38-31.
Fournette’s four total touchdowns in the game marked a career-high and matched the most touchdowns from scrimmage by any player in franchise history.
After 11 games, Fournette has 631 yards rushing and seven rushing touchdowns on the season and eight total, which is the most in a season since his rookie year in 2017 (10).
On Monday, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians discussed Fournette’s big day against the Colts.
“Well, I think our blocking units did a hell of a job. He finds the holes,” Arians said. “He’s a 240-pound back that can run, and usually he’s coming out the back of Mike Evans’ side. You know he (Evans) is being doubled, so you’re going to have soft coverage. Those four and five-yard check-downs turn into 11 [yards] real quick, and then he breaks a tackle – like he did in a two-minute drill – and it is a 13-[yard gain]. So, don’t force it down the field. He’s doing a heck of a job in the passing game. It was a nice catch and a run on the touchdown and a really good throw by Tom [Brady]. He’s just playing at a really high, consistent level. He’s doing a good job as a pass protector also.”
Fournette is a weapon and making a lot of plays for the Buccaneers right now as Tampa Bay, the world champions, are looking to get back to the Super Bowl, and for that to happen, getting home-field advantage would be ideal.
Last season, Tampa Bay won all three playoff games on the road, but that was with a limited amount of fans in the stadium due to the COVID-19 restrictions. However, there will be fans in the stands this season, which means teams will have a true advantage at home.
“There’s no doubt about it. It’s back like the old days. It has only ever happened a couple of times in the history of the league (where teams advance to the Super Bowl while playing every playoff game on the road),” Arians said. “When I was in Pittsburgh, we went to the Super Bowl and won with all the road games. I think the Giants may have done it, but that’s not very easy. It’s a very hard thing with fans. People forget – everybody talks about our road woes – we’re .500 on the road right now, and that’s pretty damn good in the old days. When there are fans in the stands, and you go and win in a place like Philly, and you go win in a place like Indy – those are hard stadiums to win in. Home-field advantage in the playoffs is a huge, huge advantage.”
Currently, the Buccaneers are a game behind the Cardinals for the top spot in the NFC, so with six games left, Tampa Bay has time to make up ground.
Luis Arias to battle Vaughn Alexander on non-televised undercard of Davis-Cruz
Super welterweight contender Luis “Cuba” Arias will take on veteran Vaughn Alexander in a 10-round showdown that tops the non-televised undercard this Sunday, December 5 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
The event is headlined by five-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis defending his WBA Lightweight Title against hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz live on a SHOWTIME PPV telecast that begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The undercard will also feature undefeated prospects entering the ring as Baltimore’s Malik Warren (5-0, 5 KOs) takes on Eric Manriquez (7-12-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round super featherweight attraction, Washington, D.C.’s Jalil Hackett (2-0, 2 KOs) in a four-round welterweight showdown against Darynn Leyva (1-2-1, 1 KO), and heavyweight Carlos Garcon (2-0, 2 KOs) battling Jason Soto (3-1-1, 3 KOs) in a four-round duel.
A pair of female fights round out the lineup, as super flyweight contender Ava Knight (19-2-5, 5 KOs) faces New Orleans-native Indeya Smith (2-3-2, 1 KO) in an eight-round bout, and unbeaten prospect Mia Ellis (2-0, 2 KOs) competes in a four-round super featherweight contest against Elizabeth Tuani (1-4, 2 KOs).
Born in Milwaukee, Arias (19-2-1, 9 KOs) returned to the ring in June and earned a career-best victory in defeating former unified champion Jarrett Hurd on the Mayweather vs. Paul SHOWTIME PPV undercard. The 31-year-old has faced top competition throughout his career, including going the distance with former middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs in a 2017 duel. Arias racked up wins in his first 18 pro fights after turning pro in 2012 and the Mayweather Promotions’ fighter now trains in Las Vegas. He will be opposed by the St. Louis-native Alexander (15-6-1, 9 KOs), who most recently fought to a split-draw against Winfred Harris Jr. in August. The older brother of former two-division champion Devon, Alexander owns a victory over previously unbeaten Money Powell IV in 2019.
Giants wanted to make Hurts beat them with his arm, and it worked
If the Philadelphia Eagles(5-7) miss the playoffs this season, they will most definitely look at their loss against the New York Giants(4-7) on Sunday. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw three interceptions, and Philadelphia had four turnovers as they fell to the Giants 13-7 at MetLife Stadium.
Philadelphia rushed for 208 yards on Sunday, which is the third consecutive time they ran for over 200 yards. The Eagles have also produced 175-plus rushing yards in five straight games for the first time since 1950.
However, Hurts, who had a game-high 77 yards on the ground, struggled to throw the ball. He was 14/31 for only 129 yards with zero touchdowns, and again, three picks.
Giants safety Julian Love, who almost got a pick on Philly’s final drive, said the team wanted Hurts to beat them with his arm.
“Obviously, he’s pretty dangerous running the ball, and they’re finding that in their offense,” Love, who had a fumble recovery, said after the game. “With us, we just tried to play physical, just play straight up and kind of make him throw the ball, so to speak. He got some runs, obviously, but when it comes down to crucial passing situations, I thought we handled him well. So that was part of the plan, and guys executed.”
Clearly, that game plan worked as the Giants’ defense stepped up on the day the team retired legendary DE Michael Strahan’s number 92 jersey.
However, despite Hurts’ struggles, the Eagles had two opportunities to put themselves in a position to win the game. With 31 seconds left, Hurts threw a nice pass to Jalen Reagor in the end zone, but he dropped it, and on 4th and 10, Reagor had another drop that would have put the Eagles around the Giants’ goal line.
“That was a heart-stopping play, that last one. Different than the previous one,” Love said. “That was a heart-stopping play, and I think he just played through it, and he was applying pressure all game, and sometimes that accumulates. So yeah, Reagor didn’t come down with that one at the end, thankfully.”
Reagor, who has only 25 receptions for 201 yards this season, has been a disappointment for the Eagles since being selected by Philadelphia in the first round(21st pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft, but to his credit, he did take ownership for what happened.
“You have bad days; you have good days; you’ve just got to move forward,” Reagor said. “Because tomorrow’s still gotta be here, I still have to go practice; I still have to play next week. You can’t too much dwell on it. Just me taking ownership and moving forward.”
It’s not all on Reagor. Hurts was terrible on Sunday, and Boston Scott had a critical fumble on the previous drive, but Reagor has to make those plays, and he didn’t. Now, the Giants, who fired OC Jason Garrett this week but still struggled on offensive against Philadelphia, has life in terms of the playoffs, and the Eagles, who still have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs, missed out on a valuable opportunity to move up the standings.
Notes:
-The 20 total points and the 13 points in a victory were the fewest in a Giants game since a 10-7 triumph against Dallas on Dec. 11, 2016. Before Sunday, the Giants lowest points total in a victory under Judge was their 17-12 triumph in Seattle last season.
-Darnay Holmes, Xavier McKinney, and Tae Crowder had the Giants interceptions off Jalen Hurts. It was the Giants’ first three-interception game since Blake Martinez, Jabrill Peppers, and Logan Ryan all had interceptions in Washington in 2020.
-Daniel Jones completed 19 of 30 passes for 202 yards, including a one-yard touchdown to tight end Chris Myarick. He did not throw an interception for the seventh time in 11 games. Jones was not sacked until the Giants’ final non-kneel down play in the fourth quarter. Jones also rushed for 30 yards on nine carries.
Jags’ Lawrence: ‘Our defense two times has put us in a situation to go win the game and haven’t been able to do it’
Down 21-3 in the third quarter, it appeared the Jacksonville Jaguars were on the verge of getting routed on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons(5-6) at TIAA Bank Field.
However, they battled and fought and cut the lead to 21-14 in the fourth. Jacksonville had one final chance to tie the game late, but after getting a first down from their own 29, Trevor Lawrence would throw four straight incompletions, and ultimately, Jacksonville would fall to the Falcons 21-14.
With the loss, Jacksonville(2-9) has lost three straight and four out of their last five.
In two of the last three games, the Jaguars had their offense on the field with an opportunity to win or tie the game, and both times, the offense failed to get the job done, which Lawrence discussed post-game.
“Our defense two times has put us in a situation to go win the game and haven’t been able to do it,” Lawrence said. “So we’ve just got to get better and go make those plays in the biggest moments. I know we can do it, but we’ve got to go do it, and that starts with me and staying on schedule even in the two-minute. It’s tough when you get in 3rd and 4th and 10. We’ve got to get better at that, but we’re going to get some more opportunities and just keep working for when you do get it to go and execute and win the game.”
Despite the loss, Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer was happy with the team’s efforts.
“Yeah, they fought their tails off, and 84 [Cordarrelle Patterson] is a really good player for them, and he hurt us early, and then on offense, we moved the ball a little bit, just no big plays. Just none,” Meyer said. “And then, all of a sudden, we started getting some. Offensive football is a big-play — not many teams can drive the length of a field without a hit here and there, and we had some hits and scored a couple times.”
Against Atlanta, Lawrence completed 23-of-42 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown, interception, and after 11 games, Lawrence is 231-of-398 passing for 2,369 yards with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The first overall pick has been up and down this season, but according to Meyer, Lawrence remains confident.
“Yeah, I’ve had many, many daily conversations with him, and he’s a fighter,” Meyer said. “He doesn’t look at it that way. He looks, he came here to help lift an organization, and that’s the way he looks at it. He’s very hard on himself, as most great players are, and the whole question even I ask the team, ask myself, ask ourselves, what can we do better to go win that game, and the answer is a multitude of things. That’s never really come up. That’s not a woe-is-me, and feel sorry for yourself. What can we do to get better is how he approaches everything. Like I said, he’s very — that cat now works — is very hard on himself; what can he do better, and not just on the field but lead guys. That’s why he’s going to be a great player here.”
Jacksonville heads on the road next week to battle the Rams.
