Tyler Heineman Designated For Assignment

     The New York Mets have designated catcher Tyler Heineman for assignment after placing pitcher Adam Ottavino on their 40-man roster. There is a possibility that Heineman might be picked up on waivers by another Major League Baseball club. 

     Heineman was purchased by the Miami Marlins from the Houston Astros on June 3, 2019. He played the remainder of the 2019 campaign with the Fish and their minor league system. Heineman made his debut in the majors with Miami and had a .273 batting average in five games. 

LeBron James In NBA All-Star Game

     Former Miami Heat forward LeBron James was recently selected to the NBA All-Star Game. He was named the captain of the Western Conference squad. Reserves will be announced on February 1. The 2024 NBA All-Star Game will be held in Indianapolis on February 18. 

     James played with the Heat for four seasons. He led the club to two NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 along with four Eastern Conference championships in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. 

NBA Draft Going Two Days

     The National Basketball Association has decided to make their annual NBA Draft a two-day event beginning this June. It has been many decades since the NBA Draft was held on two different days. 

     The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 27. The second round will take place in Manhattan at the ESPN Seaport Studios the following night. 

Marlins And ESPN Have Caribbean Series

     The Miami Marlins and ESPN have partnered for a five-year contract to have the Spanish-language television broadcast rights of the Carribean Series. The event will be held in the United States for the first time in 2024. 

     It will be played at loanDepot park in Miami from February 1 to February 9. The game broadcasts will be on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

Heat End Skid Against Kings

     The Miami Heat stopped the Sacramento Kings 115-106 at Kaseya Center on Wednesday night. The Heat snapped a seven-game losing streak. It was their longest losing streak since 2007. 

     The Heat celebrated their 1,500th win in franchise history, Miami was the 10th fastest team to accomplish that feat. The Heat set a franchise record with 40 assists in one contest. 

     Miami(25-23) had a 28-22 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Heat remained in front 59-55 by halftime. Sacramento(27-19) kept up early in the second half and trailed 90-84 after three quarters. 

     Jimmy Butler scored a team-high 31 points and for the Heat. Josh Richardson came off the bench and drained 24 points. Bam Adebayo added 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double while Tyler Herro contributed 14 points. Keegan Murray dropped in a game-high 33 points for the Kings. 

Florida Panthers At All-Star Game Break

     The Florida Panthers reached the NHL All-Star Game break portion of the regular season. They will host the Philadelphia Flyers in their next game on next Tuesday. 

     The Panthers are 31-14-4 and have a four-game winning streak. They are five points behind the Boston Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division. 

     Sam Reinhart is the leading scorer for the Panthers with 37 goals and 25 assists for 62 points. He is second in the National Hockey League in goals behind Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Reinhart was the only player on the club to make the All-Star Team. 

     Aleksander Barkov has a team-high 37 assists for 48 points. Matthew Tkachuk has compiled 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points. Carter Verhaeghe has added 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points.

     Sergei Bobrovsky has a 23-10-2 record with a .910 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against-average. Oliver Ekman-Larsson leads Florida defensemen with nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points. 

Anthony DeSclafani Traded Again

     Former Miami Marlins pitcher Anthony DeSclafani has been dealt for the second time during the offseason. He has been traded by the Seattle Mariners to the Minnesota Twins for Jorge Polanco in a five-player deal. 

     DeSclafani was with the Miami Marlins for the 2014 season. He had a 2-2 record with a 6.27 earned run average in 13 games pitched. 

Al-Hilal Defeats Inter Miami CF

     Al-Hilal pushed by Inter Miami CF 4-3 at Kingdon Arena Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday. It was the first of two contests that Inter Miami CF is playing in that country. 

     It was a surprise start as Al-Hilal had a 2-0 lead early in the game. They were to get goals in the 10th minute and 13th minute of play. 

     Inter Miami CF cut it to 2-1 during the 34th minute. Luis Suarez chalked up his first goal with his new team in the preseason as he kicked a right-footed shot four yards into an open net. Al-Hilal matched it with a tally in the 44th minute and they had a 3-1 halftime lead. 

     It was cut to 3-2 by Inter Miami CF in the 53rd minute. They were awarded a penalty kick and Lionel Messi blasted the ball into the top right corner of the cage for his first preseason goal with the club. 

     David Ruiz tied the contest 3-3 less than two minutes later during the 55th minute when he powered in a 17-yard, right-footed shot from the left side. Al-Hilal pulled ahead 4-3 on a goal near the conclusion of the second half in the 88th minute. 

Matthew Tkachuk Third Star Of The Week

     Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk has been named the Third Star of the Week by the National Hockey League. The time period was from January 21 to January 28. 

     Tkachuk compiled four goals and four assists in four games during the time span. He is currently riding a five-game point streak. The last time Tkachuk appeared as one of the three stars of the week was during the 2023 All-Star Game break. 

Suns Burn Heat

     The Phoenix Suns took the Miami Heat 118-105 on Monday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat dropped another contest and have lost seven consecutive games. 

     Phoenix(27-20) jumped out to a 33-25 lead at the end of one quarter and were up 62-49 at halftime. Miami(24-23) lost more ground and trailed 100-74 at the end of the third quarter. The Heat scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter on their way to a 17-7 run, however they could not mount a comeback. 

     Miami was led by Jimmy Butler with 26 points and eight rebounds. Terry Rozier powered in 21 points for his highest total with his new team. Tyler Herro dropped in 17 points in the defeat. 

     Devin Booker chalked up 22 points and eight rebounds for the Suns. Kevin Durant added 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Bradley Beal contributed 19 points and seven assists while Eric Gordon pumped in 23 points. 

Browns Adding Ken Dorsey

     The Cleveland Browns are expected to name Ken Dorsey as their new offensive coordinator. He was the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills until being let go this past November. 

     Dorsey was once the quarterback for the University of Miami Hurricanes from 1999 to 2002. He guided the Canes to their last national championship in 2001. 

Eagles Get Vic Fangio

    The Philadelphia Eagles have signed Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator. He spent the 2023 season as the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator.

     It will be the second stint for Fangio with the Eagles. He was with that team during the 2022 season as a consultant. 

Panthers Squeak By Islanders

     The Florida Panthers played their final game before the NHL All-Star Game break and outdueled the New York Islanders 3-2 in overtime at UBS Arena on Saturday night. The Panthers next regular season game will be at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 6. 

     The Cats have won four straight contests. They also continued to expand their franchise road winning streak to eight games.

     Neither team scored in the first period. Florida(31-14-4) converted on the power play at the 7:56 mark of the second period. Carter Verhaeghe cycled the puck from the left wing to Matthew Tkachuk on the end wall. He centered it and Sam Reinhart snapped a shot from the slot area for his 37th goal this season. Reinhart set a Panthers franchise record with his 20th power-play goal of the season. 

     New York(20-17-12) would tie it 1-1 with 3:31 to go in the second. Tomas Holmstrom got to the loose puck and smacked a slap shot from the slot for his 12th goal of the campaign. 

     The Panthers regained the lead 2-1 with the man advantage at 5:59 of the third period. Aleksander Barkov released a wrist shot from the right circle and it was deflected in by Tkachuk from the right side of the crease for his 16th tally this season. 

     The Islanders pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and evened it up 2-2 with 1:29 to go in the third. Mathew Barzal handed the puck off to Noah Dobson on the right wing. He sent a diagonal pass and Kyle Palmieri ripped a snap shot from the low left circle for his 13th goal in 2023-24. 

     The Cats completed the victory at the 1:55 mark of overtime. Evan Rodrigues raced out of his own zone with the puck. He connected a pass from the right point and Oliver Ekman-Larsson put in a wrist shot from the inner left circle for his ninth goal with his new team. 

Knicks Move By Heat

     The Miami Heat fell to the New York Knicks 125-109 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. The Heat extended their losing streak to six games while the Knicks now have a six-game winning streak. 

     Miami(24-22) was able to get in front 30-27 at the end of the opening quarter. New York(29-17) bounced back and had a 61-51 lead at halftime. 

     The Knicks remained ahead 89-86 at the end of the third quarter. New York pulled off a 30-12 run to begin the fourth quarter. 

     Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 28 points and eight rebounds. Duncan Robinson came off the bench with 19 points. Tyler Herro poured in 18 points and Terry Rozier contributed 10 points. Bam Adebayo had a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds. 

     Jalen Brunson ended up being the game-high scorer with 32 points for the Knicks. Julius Randle and OG Anunaby both added 19 points each in the win. 

Panthers Freeze Penguins

     The Florida Panthers visited the Pittsburgh Penguins and won 3-2 in a shootout on Friday night at PPG Paints Arena. Florida set a new franchise record with a seven-game road winning streak. The Panthers play at the New York Islanders tomorrow in their final contest before the NHL All-Star Game break.

     Pittsburgh(21-17-7) rolled out to a 1-0 lead on the man advantage at the 1:51 mark of the first period. Erik Karlsson angled a pass from the high slot to Bryan Rust in the left circle. He sent it forward and Jake Guentzel stuffed the puck into the cage by Sergei Bobrovsky from the right of the crease for his 21st goal this season. 

     Florida(30-14-4) answered back with their own power-play goal at 4:52. Sam Bennett pushed the puck from the left wing. Oliver Ekman-Larsson snapped a shot from the top of the zone. Former Penguins player Evan Rodrigues deflected it and then backhanded in the rebound from the low slot past Alex Nedeljkovic for his eighth goal of the campaign. 

     In the second period, the Panthers took a 2-1 lead with 8:49 to go. Sam Reinhart collected his 36th goal of the season on a snap shot from the slot area while on the power play. Matthew Tkachuk and Ekman-Larsson were credited with assists on the play. 

     The Penguins pulled their goalie and tied it up 2-2 with 41.5 seconds left in the third period. Evgeni Malkin scored his 16th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the right of the crease off a feed from Sidney Crosby. 

     The Cats would get the victory in a shootout. Aleksander Barkov scored on the Panthers second attempt with a snap shot to the blocker side. Guentzel matched it on the Pens third attempt as it barely got in the net. Reinhart finished it with a wrist shot on Florida's third attempt. 

West Palm Beach Holiday Ratings 2023

     West Palm Beach sports talk format radio stations got their holiday ratings. The time span went from the first week of December to the first week of January. 

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM increased from a 0.5 to a 0.6 in the month. Florida Atlantic University remained among the top 25 men's college basketball teams in the nation. The FAU football team did not qualify for a bowl game. 

     Sports Radio 1230 The Gambler WBZT-AM lost half of their audience and dropped from a 0.4 to a 0.2 in the period. The Florida Panthers climbed higher in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Miami Marlins Change Uniforms

     The Miami Marlins will have new uniforms for the upcoming 2024 season. The uniform changes were revealed at Marlins FanFest on Friday at loanDepot park in Miami. There will be three different jerseys in black, powder blue and white. 

     The Marlins had changed their logo and colors several months after Bruce Sherman bought the club from Jeffery Loria in October 2017. They used black along with an electric blue lining prior to the start of the 2018 season.

     The Fish had used teal and black as their main color scheme from their inception in 1993 until 2002. They switched to a black and silver look on their caps and their uniform shirts in 2003.

     The organization changed their logo and colors when they finished playing their home games at Miami Gardens in 2011 and moved to their new stadium in 2012. They eliminated the F and added an M to their cap along with a different designed fish logo. The team came out with three different uniform tops of black, orange and white. 

Inter Miami CF New Uniform Sponsor

     It looks like that Inter Miami CF will have a new sponsor on their jersey for the 2024 Major League Soccer season. The logo of Royal Carribean International appears on the front of their uniform shirt. 

     Inter Miami CF has gained plenty of impact since the team signed Lionel Messi during the summer. Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Arraez have also signed with the club in the last couple of months. 

Rangers To Sign David Robertson

     The Texas Rangers are about to sign relief pitcher David Robertson to a contract. It is expected to be a one-year deal worth around $11 million. 

     Robertson began the 2023 season with the Philadelphia Phillies and was dealt to the Miami Marlins on July 28. He chalked up a 2-4 record and a 5.06 earned run average in 22 relief appearances with the Fish. 

Celtics March By Heat

     It was a rematch of the last two Eastern Conference Finals as the Boston Celtics knocked off the Miami Heat 143-110 at Kaseya Center on Thursday night. The Heat now have a five-game losing streak.

     Boston(35-10) had a 20-11 spurt at the end of the first quarter and led 42-29. The C's remained in front 77-64 by halftime. Miami(24-21) could not make a dent in the lead and trailed 113-90 after three quarters.

     Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro both had 19 points each for the Heat. Jimmy Butler drained in 17 points while Haywood Highsmith added 14 points in the defeat. 

     Jayson Tatum managed a game-high 26 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown dropped in 18 points and Jrue Holiday scored 17 points. 

Rockies Ink John Curtiss

     Former Miami Marlins pitcher John Curtiss has signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. He will try to make their major league roster in spring training. 

    Curtiss spend most of the 2021 regular season with the Marlins. He had a 3-1 record with a 2.45 earned run average in 35 games that season with Miami before being traded away to the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Miami Hurricanes 2024 Schedule

     The University of Miami Hurricanes 2024 regular season schedule has been released. The school will have two bye weeks during the season for the first time. The top two teams in the ACC participates in the conference title game. 

     Miami will open the season at the Florida Gators on August 31. The Canes will host Florida A&M on September 7 and Ball State on September 14.

     The Canes will visit South Florida on September 21. They will then return home and begin their ACC schedule versus Virginia Tech on September 27. Miami will travel to new conference opponent Cal on October 5 followed by a bye week. 

     After a stop at Louisville on October 19, the Hurricanes play at Hard Rock Stadium versus Florida State on October 26 and Duke on November 2.

     The Hurricanes head for Georgia Tech on November 9 and then have another bye week. They conclude the regular season hosting Wake Forest on November 23 and going to Syracuse on November 30. 

Vic Fangio Exits Dolphins

     Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has left the organization. It is unknown where Fangio will be employed next. 

     Fangio joined the Dolphins prior to the 2023 regular season. The Dolphins were in first place in the AFC East Division until they fell to the Buffalo Bills in the final game of the campaign. 

Grizzlies Roar By Heat

     The Memphis Grizzlies downed the Miami Heat 105-96 at Kaseya Center on Wednesday night. It was the first game for the Heat since they acquired Terry Dozier for Kyle Lowry.

     Miami(24-20) was barely ahead 22-21 at the end of the first quarter. Memphis(18-28) went on an 18-11 spurt at the conclusion of the second quarter and were in front 49-42 at halftime. The Grizzlies took control in the contest and led 82-68 at the end of three quarters. 

     Jimmy Butler dropped in 15 points while Tyler Herro added 18 points for Miami. Bam Adebayo compiled a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds. Terry Rozier finished with nine points in his Heat debut. Vince Williams Jr. led Memphis with 25 points. 

Panthers Pound Coyotes

     The Florida Panthers walloped the Arizona Coyotes 6-2 on Wednesday night at Amerant Bank Arena. It was the Panthers final home game before the NHL All-Star Game break. The Cats are now 8-1-0 at home versus the Coyotes since the 2014-15 season. 

     Florida(29-14-4) showed their dominance in the first nine minutes of the contest and had a 3-0 lead. It goals by Matthew Tkachuk at 1:53, Sam Reinhart at 8:44 and Sam Bennett at 9:01. Reinhart extended his point streak to 11 games with his 35th goal of the season. 

     Arizona(23-20-3) surrendered two more goals during the second period and trailed 5-0. Tkachuk scored again at the 4:14 mark and Anton Lundell found the net with 1:43 left in the second.

     It became 6-0 for the Panthers at 2:27 of the final period. Jonah Gadjovich placed in a wrist shot on an assist from Kevin Stenlund. 

     The Coyotes broke the shutout at the 3:25 mark of the third with a power-play goal. Dylan Guenther snapped a shot from the inner left circle past Sergei Bobrovsky for his third tally of the campaign and his sixth point in nine games played this season. Logan Cooley added another power-play goal with 3:02 to go in the game and Arizona was down 6-2. 

Miami Holiday Ratings 2023

     Sports talk format radio stations in the Miami area received their ratings. The holiday period went from first week of December until the first week of January. 

     AM 560 Sports WQAM-AM rose from a 1.2 to a 1.3 in the month. The Miami Heat were in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference with a 20-14 record. The Florida Panthers showed much improvement from the start of their season with a 23-12-2 mark. The University of Miami Hurricanes football team played in the Pinstripe Bowl and were upset by Rutgers. 

     Fox Sports 940 WINZ-AM remained at a 0.5 in the period. The Miami Dolphins had a three-game lead over the Buffalo Bills and were trying to hold on to their lead in the AFC East Division. The University of Florida football team finished off a disappointing season and missed reaching a bowl game.  

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM stayed at a 0.1 in the month. They have relied on basketball team from Florida Atlantic University. The FAU football team did not appear in a bowl game. 

Trey Mancini Joins Marlins

     The Miami Marlins have inked Trey Mancini to a minor league contract. He will be invited to their spring training camp in Jupiter and will attempt to get on their major league roster. 

     Mancini played most of his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles. He was traded by the Orioles to the Houston Astros late in the 2022 season and ended up winning a World Series title. Mancini spent the 2023 campaign with the Chicago Cubs and was released by them in August. 

Jason Demers On NBC Sports California

     Jason Demers has been working as an in-studio analyst on San Jose Sharks telecasts at NBC Sports California for the past month. He entered the television field back in August with NHL Network. 

     Demers was with the Florida Panthers as a defenseman in 2016-17. He ended up with nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points in 81 games that season. 

Matt Moore Returns To Angels

     Matt Moore has returned to the Los Angeles Angels. He signed a one-year contract with the club worth $9 million.

     Moore spent his time last season with the Angels, Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins. He made four relief appearances with the Marlins and had a 1-0 record with a 0.00 earned run average in four innings. 

Gary Sheffield Misses Baseball Hall Of Fame

     The Baseball Hall of Fame made their announcement which players were elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Unfortunately, former Miami Marlins outfielder Gary Sheffield was not elected in. It was his final year of eligibility on the writers' ballot. 

     Sheffield had stints with eight different Major League Baseball teams. He was with the Florida Marlins from 1993 to 1998. Sheffield contributed to the Marlins winning their first World Series in franchise history in 1997. 

Heat Trade Kyle Lowry For Terry Rozier

     The Miami Heat have acquired guard Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets for guard Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick.

     Lowry, who captured an NBA title in 2019, was acquired by the Heat from the Toronto Raptors in August 2021. He played three seasons with the Heat and helped the team win the 2023 Eastern Conference title.

     Rozier played his first four NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics. He spent the past five seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier has averaged 23.2 points-per-game this season with Charlotte. 

Tom Fitzgerald Promoted

     One-time Florida Panthers center Tom Fitzgerald has been promoted by the New Jersey Devils. He added the title president of hockey operations to his general manager position. 

     Fitzgerald played in the first five seasons in Florida Panthers franchise history. He is best remembered for scoring the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Vincent Trocheck NHL All-Star

     Former Florida Panthers player Vincent Trocheck has been named to the NHL All-Star Team.  It is the second time that he will participate in an NHL All-Star Game. He appeared for the first time back in 2017 while with the Panthers.  

     Trocheck played for the Florida Panthers from 2014-15 until 2019-20 and compiled 282 points in 420 contests. He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes during the middle of the 2019-20 campaign and stayed there for more than two seasons. Trocheck has been with the New York Rangers for the last two seasons and has 44 points in 2023-24. 

Panthers Beat Predators

     The Florida Panthers squeezed by the Nashville Predators 4-1 at Bridgestone Arena on Monday night. Florida snapped a four-game winless streak and have won six consecutive games on the road. 

     It was the Panthers only road game during a seven-game stretch. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice tied Barry Trotz for the second most games coached in NHL history with 1,812. 

     Neither team was able to score in the opening frame. Florida(28-14-4) took a 1-0 lead on the power play with 8:41 left in the second period. Sam Bennett won the faceoff in the left circle and Sam Reinhart collected his 34th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the top of the crease. Reinhart is now fourth all-time in Florida Panthers franchise history with 49. 

     Nashville(25-21-1) evened it up 1-1 with 7:44 to go in the second. Jeremy Lauzon placed in his fifth goal of the campaign with a wrist shot from the top of the zone. 

     In the third period, the Panthers moved ahead 2-1 at the 1:11 mark. Carter Verhaeghe chalked up his 24th goal this season on a snap shot from the high slot. Bennett added his second assist in the contest as he connected a long lead pass from his own zone.  

     Florida got two empty-net goals late in the third and led 4-1. Brandon Montour fired a shot from his own right circle for his second tally of the year with 1:39 remaining. Matthew Tkachuk scored his 13th goal of the season on a shot from the left point with 19.2 seconds left. 

FC Dallas Blanks Inter Miami CF

     Inter Miami CF was shut out by FC Dallas 1-0 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Monday night. It was the second game for Inter Miami CF on their preseason schedule. 

     FC Dallas struck quickly just over two minutes into the first half for a 1-0 lead. Jesus Ferriera blasted a 10-yard shot with his right foot from the right side. 

     Inter Miami CF replaced Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets with substitutes during the 64th minute. Neither team was able to score during the second half. 

Dan Morgan Carolina Panthers General Manager

     Dan Morgan has been named the new general manager of the Carolina Panthers. He joined the team as their assistant general manager in 2021 and became the interim general manager during the 2023 regular season. 

     Morgan played high school football with the Taravella Trojans. He then spent four seasons as a linebacker with the University of Miami Hurricanes from 1997 to 2000. Morgan was drafted by the Panthers and was there for his entire seven-season NFL career. 

Magic Push By Heat

     The Orlando Magic pulled away from the Miami Heat 105-87 at Kia Center on Sunday night. The Heat have lost three straight games. 

     Orlando(23-20) started out ahead 22-19 at the end of the first quarter. The Magic remained in front 48-46 by halftime. Miami(24-19) was outscored by 10 points during the third quarter and were down 81-69. The Heat could not get closer in the final quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo composed a double-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Heat. Jimmy Butler had 15 points while Tyler Herro added 12 points. The entire Orlando starting lineup ended up with double-digit scoring. 

Jonathan Zaslow & Orlando Franklin On ESPN Radio

     Former Miami radio sports talk host Jonathan Zaslow along with Orlando Franklin were on ESPN Radio this weekend. They both appeared and co-hosted the Saturday late night show on that network. 

     Zaslow had a stint at Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM as a producer and on-air host from August 2004 until October 2021. He also worked at AM 560 Sports WQAM-AM as a midday host from October 2021 to September 2022. Zaslow was a studio co-host with Tommy Tighe on the Miami Heat Radio Network from the 2010-11 season to the 2021-22 season. He has hosted his own podcast The Zaslow Show since October 2022. 

     Franklin was with the Atlantic Eagles in high school football and the University of Miami Hurricanes in college football. He played most of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos and had two stints at KKFN-FM in Denver as a sports talk host. Franklin is currently a college football game analyst on ESPN. 

Inter Miami CF TIes El Salvador

     Inter Miami CF tied the El Salvador national team 0-0 at San Salvador on Friday night. The team opened up their worldwide preseason schedule of seven games.

     Lionel Messi made his preseason debut with his new club. Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets just played only the first half of the contest.  

Marlins Regional Sports Network Status

     There have been recent headlines about the broadcast of Major League Baseball games for the upcoming year. It has been mentioned that Amazon would help out Diamond Sports Group in their situation concerning all of their regional sports networks. 

     The status of the Miami Marlins telecasts will be the same as last season. The team will have their games on Bally Sports Florida through the end of the 2024 regular season. 

Hawks Escape Heat

     Udonis Haslem had his number 40 jersey retired by the Miami Heat as they fell to the Atlanta Hawks 109-108 at Kaseya Center on Friday night. The ceremony for Haslem took place at halftime. His banner joined Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the rafters. 

     The Heat began their second half of the regular season while the Hawks reached the midway point. Miami had their 22-game home winning streak against Southeast Division opponents snapped. The last Heat home loss to a Southeast Division team was to the Hawks on March 2, 2021. 

     Atlanta(18-23) leaped out to a 15-9 advantage four minutes into the contest and led 32-24 at the end of one quarter. Miami(24-18) got a 10-2 spurt to start the second quarter to tie it up 34-34. The Hawks still remained in front 57-56 at halftime. 

     The Heat kept up with the Hawks and had a slight 83-81 lead at the end of the third quarter. Miami scored seven straight points and went on a 10-2 run late in the fourth quarter. The Hawks came back with five points in the final 30 seconds of the game. 

     Tyler Herro poured in 25 points for Miami. Jimmy Butler added 25 points while Bam Adebayo compiled 21 points and nine rebounds. Duncan Robinson was able to contribute 14 points. Dejounte Murray had a club-high 22 points and 11 assists to get a double-double for Atlanta. 

Wild Power By Panthers

     The Florida Panthers were surprised by the Minnesota Wild 6-4 at Amerant Bank Arena on Friday night. The contest concluded a five-game homestand for the Panthers as they compiled a 1-2-2 record. Florida is now winless in their last four games. 

     Minnesota(19-21-5) jumped ahead 1-0 on the power play at the 2:49 mark. Brock Faber passed from the left point. Matt Boldy took a forehand shot from above the right circle and Kirill Kaprizov redirected it from the crease area by Sergei Bobrovsky for his 14th goal this season. Kaprizov has not scored in the last five games. 

     Florida(27-14-4) quickly scored early in the second period 35 seconds into the frame. Carter Verhaeghe passed it off to Matthew Tkachuk on the right point. He made a drop pass and Aaron Ekblad snapped a shot from the right-circle dot past Marc-Andre Fleury for his second goal of the year. 

     It became 2-1 for the Wild with the man advantage at 3:22 of the period. Alex Goligoski angled a pass from the top of the zone and Ryan Hartman blasted a one-time slap shot from above the left circle for his 14th goal in 2023-24. 

     The Wild extended their lead to 3-1 on their third power-play goal of the contest at 7:36. Joel Eriksson Ek cycled the puck from behind the cage to Boldy on the right wing. He sent it to the blue line and Faber chalked up his third tally as he smacked a slap shot from the right point. 

     Minnesota had a three-goal margin with 9:28 remaining in the second. Kaprizov steered it from the slot area and Eriksson Ek poked it from the right circle. Mats Zuccarello placed a wrist shot from above the right circle on the power play for his eighth tally of the campaign. 

     Anthony Stolarz replaced Bobrovsky in goal for the Cats while Fleury left the game and Filip Gustavsson took over for Minnesota at the same time. It was a rare simultaneous change in net by both teams. 

     The Panthers cut it to 4-2 with 1:33 to go in the period. Eetu Luostarinen flicked a backhand shot from the edge of the blue paint for his eighth goal of the year. Anton Lundell and Ekblad were credited with assists on the play. 

     In the third period, Minnesota increased it to 5-2 just 41 seconds in on another power-play tally by Kaprizov. It was the most power-play goals that Florida had allowed since they surrendered five to the Atlanta Thrashers on October 23, 2006. 

     Florida closed it with two goals and trailed 5-4. Lundell scored his third goal on a backhand shot at 8:05 and Gustav Forsling added his seventh goal at 8:23. The Wild picked up an empty-net goal by Hartman with 11.8 seconds left for a 6-4 advantage. 

Miami Heat Retire Udonis Haslem's Number

     The Miami Heat will retire the number 40 jersey of forward Udonis Haslem to the rafters tonight at Kaseya Center. He will be the sixth Miami player to have his uniform number retired. Haslem will join Alonzo Mourning(33), Tim Hardaway(10), Shaquille O' Neal(32), Chris Bosh(1) and Dwyane Wade(3). The team has also not issued number 23 because of the impact of Michael Jordan and number 6 for the league-wide uniform retirement of Bill Russell. Heat longtime trainer Ron Culp also has a banner. 

     Haslem played his entire 20-season NBA career with the same club. Only Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks have accomplished that. Haslem is the Heat all-time leader with 5,791 rebounds. 

     He captured all three NBA championship in Heat franchise history back in 2006, 2011, and 2012. Haslem also won seven Eastern Conference titles in 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020 and 2023. 

Joe Thornton Number To Be Retired

     Joe Thornton will have his number 19 jersey retired by the San Jose Sharks next season. He was with that team for 15 seasons. 

     Thornton played his final NHL season with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22. He helped the club capture the Presidents' Trophy with five goals and five assists for 10 points in 34 games. 

Sandy Leon Inks With Royals

     Former Miami Marlins catcher Sandy Leon has signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. He will try to make their major league roster in spring training. He has been in the majors for the past 12 seasons. 

     Leon was with the Marlins back in the 2021 season. He ended up with four home runs, 14 runs batted in and a .183 batting average in 33 contests with Miami. 

Raptors Ramble By Heat

     The Toronto Raptors shelled the Miami Heat 121-97 at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night. It was the Heat's only road contest in a six-game stretch. 

     Toronto(16-25) raced out to a 15-6 lead early in the opening frame and led 41-18 at the end of the first quarter. The Raptors extended the gap to more than 30 points with nine minutes left in the second quarter and almost doubled up the Heat 78-43 at halftime. 

     Miami(24-17) went on a 24-10 run to begin the second half and trailed 94-73 after three quarters. Miami had a 12-5 spurt to start the final quarter, but they were too far behind to make it competitive. 

     Jimmy Butler ended up with a 16 points for the Heat while Tyler Herro dropped in 16 points. Bam Adebayo was able to contribute 16 points and Duncan Robinson had 14 points. R.J. Barrett helped the Raptors with 26 points and eight rebounds. 

Red Wings Skate By Panthers

     Sam Reinhart set a Panthers club record scoring in his eighth straight contest as the Florida Panthers lost to the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday night at Amerant Bank Arena. It was the third time in the past four games that Florida has played an overtime game. The Cats will complete their five-game homestand versus the Minnesota Wild on Friday. 

     The Red Wings extended their point streak to seven games. Detroit stopped a 10-game losing streak to Florida. The Panthers have collected at least a point in 10 of their last 13 contests. 

     Florida(27-13-4) picked up a shorthanded goal at the 5:38 mark of the second period. Dmitry Kulikov stripped the puck from Dylan Larkin at the Cats blue line and poked it ahead to Anton Lundell at the center circle. He angled a pass ahead and Sam Reinhart snapped a shot from the inner left circle by Alex Lyon as he tied his career-high with his 33rd goal of the season. Reinhart set a Panthers franchise record with an eight-game goal streak passing Pavel Bure, who had a seven-game goal streak in 2000-01. He also collected his 500th NHL point on the play. 

     Detroit(23-16-5) made it 1-1 with 8:20 remaining in the second. Andrew Kopp won the faceoff in the right circle. Olli Maatta released a shot from the left point and it was deflected in by Michael Rasmussen from the left circle past Sergei Bobrovsky for his 10th goal in 2023-24. 

     The Panthers answered back quickly just 16 seconds later and they had a 2-1 lead. Matthew Tkachuk backhanded the puck from the right corner and Sam Bennett touched it in the slot. Gustav Forsling took a wrist shot from the high slot for his sixth tally of the campaign. 

     In the third period, the Red Wings tied it up 2-2 at 6:15. Rasmussen carried the puck around the Panthers and to the low left circle. He passed the puck and Robby Fabbri snapped a shot from the inner left circle for his 13th tally this season. 

     Detroit would get a power-play goal in overtime at the 1:09 mark to get the 3-2 victory. David Perron connected a pass from the left wing to Shayne Gostisbehere at the top of the zone. He slid the puck over and Larkin powered in a snap shot from the high slot for his 18th goal of the season. 

Florida Panthers On National Television Tonight

     The Florida Panthers game tonight in Sunrise against the Detroit Red Wings will be picked up by TNT Sports. Their scheduled game with the Chicago Blackhawks at the Buffalo Sabres was postponed due to the inclement weather in the Buffalo area. It will be played on Thursday night instead. 

     The TNT Sports broadcast will not have a play-by-play announcer, game analyst and rinkside reporter on site. Their studio crew of Liam McHugh, Anson Carter, Henrik Lundqvist and Paul Bissonnette will announce the game from Atlanta. 

Eric Reid Florida Sportscaster Of The Year

     Miami Heat television play-by-play announcer Eric Reid has been named the Florida Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. It is the fourth time that Reid has received that honor. He was the Florida Sportscaster of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2020. 

     Reid, an Ithaca College grad, has broadcast the Miami Heat games since their inception in 1988. He started off as a game analyst alongside Sam Smith for a television and radio simulcast for three seasons. Reid eventually was elevated to the television play-by-play announcer position prior to the 1991-92 season. 

Kimmy B At WMIB-FM

     Current Miami television sports host Kimmy B is now the afternoon co-host on WMIB-FM. She will continue as the studio host of Dolphins Today on Bally Sports Florida. 

     Kimmy B has been on the Miami radio airwaves since 2004. She started at WEDR-FM and stayed there for 10 years. 

     She was with WFLC-FM as a morning show on-air sidekick from 2014 to 2016 and later was an afternoon host from 2016 until September 2021. Kimmy B joined WMIA-FM working in the morning shift from February 2022 to November 2023. 

Miami Dolphins Reserve/Futures Contracts

     The Miami Dolphins gave out several reserve/futures contracts with some members of their roster. The Dolphins were eliminated from the postseason by the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. 

     Former American Heritage wide receiver Anthony Schwartz was one of the players that was given a deal. The others are tight end Tanner Conner, wide receiver Braylon Sanders, offensive lineman Ryan Hayes, offensive lineman Chasen Hines, linebacker Quinton Bell, defensive back Ethan Bonner and defensive lineman Brandon Pili. 

Jose Urena Joins Rangers

     Former Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Urena has signed a contract with the Texas Rangers. It is a minor league deal and he will be invited to spring training camp. He split his time between the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox last year. 

     Urena was with the Marlins from 2015 until 2020. He helped the Fish reach the postseason for the first time in 17 years back in 2020. Urena had a 32-46 record and a 4.60 earned run average during his six seasons in Miami. 

Inter Miami CF Preseason Schedule

     Inter Miami CF will be playing seven preseason games prior to the start of the Major League Soccer regular season. The team will be involved in many games outside of the United States. 

     Their first preseason game will be on Friday versus the El Salvador national team in San Salvador followed by facing FC Dallas at the Cotton Bowl on January 22. 

     They will play their next two contests in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their opponents will be Al-Hilal on January 29 and Al Nassr on February 1. 

     Inter Miami CF challenges the Hong Kong All-Stars in China on February 4 and Vissel Kobe in Tokyo on February 7.  The preseason for Inter Miami CF concludes at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale against Club Athletico Newell's Old Boys on February 15. 

Heat Topple Nets

     The Miami Heat played for the second straight night and got by the Brooklyn Nets 96-95 in overtime at Barclays Center on Monday night. The Heat come off a four-game homestand. 

     Brooklyn(16-23) was up 22-16 at the end of the first quarter. The Nets expanded their lead to 45-31 by halftime. 

     Miami(24-16) controlled the third quarter and were down 69-68 at the end of the frame. Both teams were tied 88-88 after four quarters. The Heat outscored the Nets 9-8 in overtime to get the win.  
     Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 31 points for Miami. Tyler Herro had a double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Bam Adebayo also got a double-double with 11 points and 20 rebounds. Mikal Bridges led Brooklyn with 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists. 

Panthers Outlasted By Ducks

     The Florida Panthers were outscored by the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 in overtime on Monday at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers have an 10-4-1 record following a loss this season. They are now 19-0-2 when leading after two periods. 

     Both teams are celebrating their 30th anniversary in the National Hockey League. Radko Gudas and Frank Vatrano faced against their former team. 

     Florida(27-13-3) moved out to a 1-0 lead with the man advantage at 8:29. Oliver Ekman-Larsson made a lead pass from his own zone. Evan Rodrigues sent a cross-ice pass from the right point and Sam Bennett snapped a shot from the high slot by John Gibson for his ninth goal of the campaign. 

     It became 2-0 for the Cats on a shorthanded goal with 2:25 to go in the period. Nico Mikkola carried the puck through the neutral zone to the right wing. He centered the puck and Sam Reinhart backhanded it from the top of the crease for his 32nd goal this season. 

     Anaheim(15-27-1) got a tally with 3.2 seconds remaining in the first and were down 2-1. Aleksander Barkov won a faceoff left circle. Adam Henrique pushed the puck out of his zone. Alex Killorn raced down the middle of the ice alone a placed a forehand shot past Anthony Stolarz from the crease area for his fifth goal with his new club. Stolarz played against his former team for the first time. 

     In the second period, the Ducks tied it 2-2 at the 5:24 mark with a shorthanded goal. Vatrano fed a pass from the top of the zone and Henrique released a snap shot from the slot area for his 11th goal in 2023-24. Henrique is best remembered for scoring the double overtime goal against Florida in Game 7 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals for the New Jersey Devils. 

     The Panthers regained the lead 3-2 at 9:36 of the second on another power-play tally. Barkov passed the puck from the right corner and Brandon Montour angled a pass from the right point. Carter Verhaeghe ripped a wrist shot from the above the left circle for his 23rd goal this season. 

     Florida expanded their lead to 4-2 with 7:11 left in the frame. Verhaeghe made a square pass at the Ducks blue line and Matthew Tkachuk connected a cross-ice pass from the left circle to Bennett on the right circle. Bennett fired a one-time slap shot from the inner right circle for his second tally of the contest and 11th goal of the campaign. 

     The Ducks closed the gap to 4-3 with 5:02 to go in the second. Sam Carrick flipped a high pass out of his own zone. Jakob Silfverberg sprinted for the puck in the high slot and slipped a backhand shot from the top of the crease for his second goal of the year. 

     Anaheim erased a two-goal deficit for the second time and evened it up 4-4 at 3:45. Jackson LaCombe zipped a pass across the red line. Troy Terry got his 11th goal this season as he moved through the slot area to the left of the crease and backhanded a shot. 

     The Ducks completed the comeback victory just 48 seconds into overtime. Vatrano passed from the right goal line and Killorn snapped a shot from the right inner circle for his second goal of the contest and sixth goal this season. 

Dwyane Wade Statue

     The Miami Heat and Pat Riley announced that a statue of Dwyane Wade will be placed outside of Kaseya Center off Biscayne Boulevard this fall. The announcement was made during a Basketball Hall of Fame halftime ceremony honoring Wade in a game the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. 

     Wade captured three NBA titles and five Eastern Conference championships with the club during his two stints with the team. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. 

Heat Blow By Hornets

     It was Dwyane Wade Night at Kaseya Center as the Miami Heat dominated the Charlotte Hornets 104-87 on Sunday night. Wade was honored during a Basketball Hall of Fame halftime ceremony. Pat Riley announced that a statue of Dwyane Wade would be placed outside the arena in the fall of 2024. 

     The Heat have won a team-record 22 consecutive home games against Southeast Division opponents. The streak began versus the Orlando Magic on March 11,2021. 

     Miami(23-16) went on a 18-10 spurt at the end of the frame and had a 26-16 lead after one quarter. Jaime Jacquez Jr. had his most productive quarter in his rookie season as he scored 15 of the Heat's first 26 points. The Heat expanded the gap to 20 points during the second quarter and led 52-31 at halftime. 

     Charlotte(8-29) had a 19-11 run to begin the second half and trailed 77-61 at the end of the third quarter. Miami stayed out way ahead of the Hornets during the final quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo compiled a double-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Heat. Jacquez left the contest with an injury and had 15 points. Tyler Herro dropped in 21 points and Duncan Robinson placed in 19 points. 

Sergei Bobrovsky NHL All-Star

     The National Hockey League announced which players were selected for the NHL All-Star Vote. The Florida Panthers will have a second player to represent the team for the NHL All-Star Game to be held in Toronto on February 3.

     Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was selected in the NHL All-Star Vote and will join teammate cener Sam Reinhart. Bobrovsky entered Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils with a 21-9-1 record, .913 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against-average. 

Dolphins Eliminated By Chiefs

     The Miami Dolphins challenged the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and fell 26-7 in the AFC Wild-Card Game. The Dolphins have won just one road game since 1972 and not won a postseason game in 23 years. 

     Both teams had faced each other earlier in the 2023 regular season. The Chiefs were victorious over the Dolphins 21-14 in Frankfurt, Germany in Week 9. 

     Kansas City(12-6) reached the end zone on their first possession at the 11:05 mark of the first quarter. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashee Rice on the right side. They added a 28-yard field goal from Harrison Butker five seconds into the second quarter for a 10-0 advantage. 

     Miami(11-7) got their only score in the contest at 14:01 of the second and trailed 10-7. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fired a 53-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill on the right side. Hill was facing against his former club. 

     The Chiefs would extend the gap twice more before halftime for a 16-7 lead. Butker booted field goals from 26 yards with 7:39 to go and from 32 yards with 22 seconds remaining in the first half. 

     In the second half, Kansas City increased their lead. Butker kicked a 21-yard field goal with 7:52 left in the third quarter. Running back Isiah Pacheco rushed around the left end from three yards away at 11:06 of the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a 26-7 lead. 

Devils Stop Panthers

     The Florida Panthers faced the New Jersey Devils at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night and lost 4-1. The Panthers had their nine-game winning streak snapped. It began the secod half of the regular season for Florida. 

     New Jersey(22-15-3) scooted out to a 2-0 lead during the first period. Alexander Holtz scored at the 3:50 mark and Jesper Bratt collected his 16th goal of the season at 14:45. 

     The Devils extended it to a three-goal margin at 3:51. Erik Haula chalked up his 10th goal of the campaign on a wrist shot from the right circle. 

     Florida(27-13-2) broke the shutout on the power play with 33 seconds left in the second and were down 3-1. Matthew Tkachuk made a backhand pass through the crease area and Sam Reinhart snapped a shot for his 31st goal of the season. The play was set up by Brandon Montour on the right point. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra skater with over three minutes go. John Marino lifted a shot from close range into an empty net with 18.1 seconds remaining and picked up his second tally of the year for a Devils 4-1 lead. 

Heat Edge Magic

     The Miami Heat got by the Orlando Magic 99-96 at Kaseya Center on Friday night. The Heat and Magic were battling for first place in the Southeast Division. Miami has won 13 of the last 16 meetings against Orlando. 

     Miami(22-16) started ahead 10-4 and led 30-22 at the end of the first quarter. The Heat stayed in front and had a slight lead 56-55 at halftime. 

     Orlando(21-17) kept up with Miami and trailed 75-73 at the conclusion of the third quarter. Bam Adebayo made a field goal from the foul line with 18.5 seconds left in the fourth to give Miami the victory. 

     Adebayo composed a double-double of 21 points along with 11 rebounds for Miami. Jaime Jacquez Jr. put in 19 points while Duncan Robinson dropped in 23 points. Paulo Banchero got a game-high 25 points for the Magic. 

Marlee Wierda Lands In Boston

     Former Florida Panthers employee Marlee Wierda is now a sports reporter at WHDH-TV in Boston. She did once work in the Florida Panthers game presentation department. 

     Wierda, an Ithaca College grad, has been at several television stations prior to her Boston arrival. She was a sportscaster at WCIA-TV in Champaign and recently was a weekend sports anchor/sports reporter at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids. 

CBS Sports Hires Ashley Nicole Moss

     Former Miami radio talent Ashley Nicole Moss has joined CBS Sports. She will be associated with CBS Sports HQ which is based in Fort Lauderdale. 

     Moss, a Florida Atlantic University grad, was a disc jockey at iHeartMedia Miami in Miramar. She then was an on-air sidekick on The Greek Zone mid-afternoon show with The Greek on Fox Sports 940 WINZ-AM. 

     She also had stints as a digital host with several organizations. Moss hosted Laces Out on Sports Illustrated, Certified Buckets with Uninterrupted and recently co-hosted at I Am Athlete. She has been employed at SNY as an NBA reporter. 

Panthers Escape Kings

     The Florida Panthers reached the midway point of the regular season and slipped by the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in overtime at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday night. The Panthers returned from a four-game road swing and began a five-game homestand. 

     Florida extended their winning streak to nine games.  It was the first overtime game for the Panthers since November 28. 

     Los Angeles(20-10-8) broke out to a 1-0 advantage at 6:17 of the opening period. Trevor Moore powered in a wrist shot for his 18th goal in 2023-24. 

     In the second period, Florida(27-12-2) evened it up 1-1 with 9:02 left. Sam Bennett carried it through the neutral zone and angled a pass to his left. Eetu Luostarinen centered the puck from the left wing and Bennett tapped it in from the blue paint by Cam Talbot for his eighth goal of the season. Oliver Ekman-Larsson had the secondary assist on the play. 

     The Kings reclaimed the lead 2-1 on the power play with 20.1 seconds remaining in the second. Anze Kopitar won the faceoff in the left circle. Drew Doughty sent a pass from the left point to Adrian Kempe on the right wing. He returned the puck and Doughty blasted a one-time slap shot from the top of the zone. It was Doughty's first goal in 15 contests. 

     The Panthers brought out an extra attacker and tied it 2-2 with 2:18 to go in the third period. Sam Reinhart connected a cross-ice pass from the left circle. Carter Verhaeghe snapped a shot from the top right circle and it was deflected in by Matthew Tkachuk from the top of the crease for his 12th goal this season. Tkachuk and Verhaeghe extended their point streaks to seven games each. 

     The Cats picked up a power-play opportunity in overtime and capitalized for the 3-2 victory with 0.7 seconds left. Aleksander Barkov zipped a pass from above the top right circle to the right goal line. Reinhart shoveled in a backhand shot from the right of the crease for his 30th goal of the campaign. Reinhart reached the 30-goal mark for the third straight season.

     It took 41 games for Reinhart to get to 30 goals in a season, which is the second fastest in franchise history. Pavel Bure accomplished that feat in 34 games back in the 1999-2000 season. 

Dwyane Wade Starts Podcast

     Former Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade will launch a podcast on January 17. It is called The Why with Dwyane Wade on iHeartPodcasts. He is currently a television host of The Cube on TBS.

     Wade played the majority of his 16-season NBA career with the Heat. He helped Miami capture three NBA championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Wade was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. 

Thunder Ease By Heat

     The Miami Heat fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-120 on Wednesday night at Kaseya Center. The Heat continued their four-game homestand. 

     Miami(21-16) held a 33-29 advantage after one quarter. It continued to be a high-scoring first half as the Heat were up 69-65 halftime.

     Oklahoma City(25-11) stayed on pace and led 99-96 at the end of the third quarter. The Thunder scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and completed the victory.

     All five Miami Heat starters finished in double-digit scoring. Bam Adebayo led the team with 25 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Jaime Jacquez Jr. finished with 21 points while Haywood Highsmith ended up with 19 points. Tyler Herro was able to score 17 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 28 points for the Thunder. 

Elieser Hernandez Goes To Dodgers

     Elieser Hernandez has inked a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent the 2023 season with the New York Mets, but he did play in the majors. 

     Hernandez spent his first five MLB seasons with the Miami Marlins from 2018 until 2022. He ended up compiling a 10-21 record and a 5.04 earned run average in 90 contests. 

Nick Saban Retires

     Former Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban has retired as the head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide after 17 seasons with the school. His final game was the CFP National Semifinal at the Rose Bowl against the eventual 2013 National Champions the University of Michigan Wolverines on January 1. 

     Saban won six national titles with Alabama. He has been the head coach for seven championship teams, which includes once was the LSU Tigers. Saban ended up with a 292-71-1 record as a college football head coach. 

     He was once the head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006. Saban ended up with a 15-17 record in two seasons in the National Football League. 

Miami Marlins On National Television

     The Miami Marlins will appear on national television three times during the 2024 regular season. The Fish ended up as the second National League Wild-Card Team in 2023 and made the postseason for the second time in four years.

     The Marlins will be at the National League Champions the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 25 at Fox Sports 1. The Cleveland Guardians will visit Miami on June 8 at Fox while the Marlins travel to the Colorado Rockies on August 26 at Fox Sports 1.

Jorge Lopez With Mets

     Former Miami Marlins relief pitcher Jorge Lopez is now with the New York Mets. He signed a contract with that team back in December. 

     Lopez had a short stay with the Marlins last season. He was acquired from the Minnesota Twins for Dylan Floro on July 26. Lopez had a 2-0 record with a 9.26 earned run average in 12 relief appearances with the Fish. He was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on September 2.

Panthers Streak By Blues On Tkachuk Hat Trick

     Matthew Tkachuk picked up his fifth career hat trick in his hometown as the Florida Panthers disposed of the St. Louis Blues 5-1 at Enterprise Center on Tuesday night. The Panthers extended their winning streak to eight games and finished up a four-game road swing with a perfect 4-0-0 record against Western Conference foes. 

     The Cats do not have a great all-time record in St. Louis. The last time they won a contest there was their final game before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the National Hockey League in March 2020. 

     St. Louis(20-18-1) flew out to a 1-0 lead at 3:24 of the first period. Jake Neighbours released a backhand shot from the low slot which was saved by Anthony Stolarz. Brayden Schenn followed with a forehand shot from the crease area for his ninth goal of the campaign. 

     Florida(26-12-2) tied it 1-1 with 4:04 left in the first. Kevin Stenlund scored on a wrist shot for his eighth tally this season on assists from Jonah Gadjovich and William Lockwood.

     In the second period, the Panthers got a power-play goal at the 1:11 mark. Sam Reinhart collected his 29th goal of the season and his sixth goal in the last four games. Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov were credited with assists on the play. 

     It became 3-1 for the Cats at 2:18 of the third period. Tkachuk got his ninth goal in 2023-24 as he snapped a shot from close range off a fed from Carter Verhaeghe. 

     The Panthers expanded it to a three-goal margin at the 5:57 mark of the frame. Anton Lundell backhanded a pass from the left corner. Gustav Forsling took a shot from the left point and Tkachuk redirected it from the slot area for his second tally of the game. 

     Tkachuk capped the contest on the natural hat trick with 56.7 seconds left in the third. He flipped a shot high in the air from inside his own blue line and picked up his 11th goal of the season. Tkachuk now has six goals in the past six games. 

Miami Heat Give Erik Spoelstra Extension

     The Miami Heat have extended the contract of head coach Erik Spoelstra. It is an eight-year deal worth around $120 million. Spoelstra is expected to be the highest paid head coach in NBA history. 

     Spoelstra became the head coach of the Miami Heat prior to the 2008-09 season. He has guided the Heat to two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. Spoelstra has coached the team to six Eastern Conference titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020 and 2023. 

Bruce Irvin Signing With Dolphins

     The Miami Dolphins will be signing defensive end Bruce Irvin. He played in two games earlier this season with the Detroit Lions. 

     Irvin has been in the NFL for 12 seasons. He had stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. 

Dolphins Bring Back Malik Reed

     The Miami Dolphins are bringing back linebacker Malik Reed to the team and he will join the practice squad. He was with the club earlier this year and did not participate in any contests. 

     Reed was with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this season and played in four games. He was with the Denver Broncos from 2019 to 2021 and moved on to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022.

Dolphins Get Justin Houston

     The Miami Dolphins have signed outside linebacker Justin Houston. The team is gearing up for their AFC Wild-Card Game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night. 

     Houston spent just seven games with the Carolina Panthers and then was released on December 19. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2011 until 2018, the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2020 and the Baltimore Ravens from 2021 to 2022. 

Rachel Balkovec New Marlins Director Of Player Development

     The Miami Marlins will name Rachel Balkovec as their new director of player development. It is another change in the Marlins baseball operations since the end of the 2023 season. 

     Balkovec is leaving her position as the manager of the New York Yankees Single-A affiliate the Tampa Tarpons. She became the first woman full-time manager in minor league baseball history back in 2022. 

Austin Robillard Leaves Media

     Inter Miami CF reporter Austin Robillard announced that he has exited working as a media member. He has covered the club since their inception in 2020. 

     Robillard had a stint at Onside Radio, which was the original audio streaming home of Inter Miami CF broadcasts. He worked as a weekend host and as a producer from its launch in October 2020 until the organization ended in June 2021. 

     He later joined Five Reasons Sports Network as their Inter Miami CF reporter. Robillard co-hosted a podcast with Ashley Silvers named Messi and Co. 

Heat Burn Rockets

     The Miami Heat took care of the Houston Rockets 120-113 at Kaseya Center on Monday night. The Heat began a four-game homestand. It was their first home game of the 2024 calendar year for Miami following a five-game road trip. 

     The Heat have not had a home game since Christmas Day versus the Philadelphia 76ers. The Rockets are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their first NBA title in franchise history back in 1993-94.  

     It was close in the first quarter until Miami(21-15) went on a 16-11 spurt for a 34-27 lead at the end of the frame. Houston(18-17) finished off the second quarter with eight straight points and were tied with the Heat 59-59 at halftime.

     The Heat roared out to a 91-82 advantage by the end of the third quarter. Miami maintained at least a six-point margin for the entire fourth quarter. 

     Tyler Herro dropped in 28 points for the Heat. Bam Adebayo contributed a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Love was able to score 15 points. Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jacquez Jr. both placed in 14 points each. 

     Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with a game-high 32 points along with seven assists. Alperin Sengun compiled 22 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. 

Marlins Re-Sign Jonathan Davis

     The Miami Marlins have re-signed outfielder Jonathan Davis to a minor league contract. He will be invited to the Marlins spring training camp in Jupiter.

     Davis was acquired by Miami from the Detroit Tigers back in May. He ended up with a .244 batting average, two home runs and 10 runs batted in during 34 contests with the Marlins in 2023. 

Sam Reinhart First Star Of The Week

     Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart has been named the First Star of the Week by the National Hockey League. The time span went from January 1 to January 7. 

     Reinhart ended up with five goals and one assists in three road games with Florida. He capped off the week with a hat trick against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. 

     He is currently second in the NHL with 28 goals behind Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Reinhart was announced as the Third Star of the Week by the NHL back in early December. 

Bills Take Dolphins And AFC East Title

     The AFC East Division came down to the final game of the regular season as the Buffalo Bills stopped the Miami Dolphins 21-14 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday night. The Dolphins captured their first division title since 2008. 

     The Dolphins finished with the sixth seed and will visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. The Bills, who captured their fourth consecutive AFC East Division title, ended up with the second seed and will host the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday. 

     Neither club was able to score during the opening quarter. Miami(11-6) made it 7-0 at 8:51 of the second quarter. Running back De'Von Achane rushed to the right side from 25 yards away.  

     Buffalo(11-6) responded on their next possession and tied it 7-7 with 4:31 to go in the second. Quarterback Josh Allen fired a pass that was deflected at the line and was caught in the back of the end zone by wide receiver Trent Sherfield for a six-yard touchdown. 

     The Fins reclaimed the lead 14-7 with 1:43 left in the first half. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa tossed a three-yard pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill on the right side of the end zone. 

     There was no scoring in the third quarter. The Bills evened it up 14-14 at the 13:42 mark of the fourth quarter. Deonte Harty returned a punt 95 yards for the score. 

     It became 21-14 for Buffalo with 7:16 remaining in the fourth. Allen connected a five-yard swing pass to tight end Dawson Knox on the right side. 

Panthers Outduel Avalanche

     Matthew Tkachuk scored his 200th career goal and Sam Reinhart ended up with a hat trick as the Florida Panthers rolled by the Colorado Avalanche 8-4 at Ball Arena on Saturday. The Panthers extended their winning streak up to seven games. The Cats finish their four-game road swing on Tuesday in St. Louis. The Avalanche had their seven-game point streak snapped. 

     Florida(25-12-2) ripped out to a 3-0 lead within the first eight minutes of the contest. They got one goal from Carter Verhaeghe and two goals from Reinhart. 

     Colorado(25-12-3) shockingly evened it up 3-3 in the first 4:35 of the second period. Cale Makar, Josh Manson and Valeri Nichushkin all scored for the Avs. Oliver Ekman-Larsson gave the Cats a 4-3 lead at the 8:50 mark of the second on his eighth goal in 2023-24. 

     In the third period, the Avalanche tied it 4-4 at 3:31. Jonathan Drouin was able to get his ninth tally of the campaign. 

     The Panthers answered back on the power play just over two minutes later at 5:59 and reclaimed the lead 5-4. Reinhart picked up the hat trick with his third goal of the game and 28th goal of the season on a wrist shot. It was Reinhart's seventh career NHL hat trick and his 11th goal in the last nine games.  

     The rest of the third period would belong to Florida as they added to their lead with three more goals. Kevin Stenlund placed in his seventh goal at 8:59, Tkachuk reached the 200-goal mark on a wrist shot with 3:43 to go and Verhaeghe collected his second tally of the contest on a backhand shot into an empty-net goal with 3:06 left for a 8-4 advantage. 

     Tkachuk finished with a four-point game as he compiled one goal along with three assists. Aleksander Barkov got on the scoresheet with four assists. 

Baltimore Ravens Add Dalvin Cook

     The Baltimore Ravens have signed running back Dalvin Cook for the remainder of the 2024 season. The Ravens clinched the top seed in the American Football Conference following their win last week over the Miami Dolphins. He will be used by Baltimore in the final regular season game and during the postseason. 

     Cook was released by the New York Jets earlier this week. He just had 67 carries for 214 rushing yards and no touchdowns in 15 games this season. He spent his first six NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. 

     He was with the Miami Central Rockets and led them to two FHSAA Class 6A state championships in 2012 and 2013. Cook played three seasons with the Florida State University Seminoles. 

Jacob Stallings Joins Rockies

     Jacob Stallings has signed as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies. It is a two-year contract that is worth around $2 million. 

     Stallings was acquired by the Miami Marlins from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a four-player trade in November 2021. He spent two seasons primarily as the Marlins starting catcher. Stallings had three home runs, 20 runs batted in and a .191 batting average in 88 contests in 2022. 

Anthony DeSclafani Dealt To Mariners

     Former Miami Marlins pitcher Anthony DeSclafani has been traded along with Mitch Haniger from the San Francisco Giants to the Seattle Mariners for Robbie Ray. DeSclafani previously was with the Cincinnati Reds from 2015 to 2020. He spent the past three seasons with the Giants. 

     DeSclafani began his professional baseball career with the Marlins. He was there for just one season in 2014. DeSclafani had a 2-2 record with a 6.27 earned run average in 13 games while with Miami. 

Frank Vatrano All-Star

     Former Florida Panthers left wing Frank Vatrano was selected as a Western Conference All-Star by the National Hockey League. He was one of 32 players that was chosen to represent their clubs. It is the second season for Vatrano with the Anaheim Ducks.  

     Vatrano, who was named an NHL All-Star for the first time, once played with the Panthers from 2017-18 until 2021-22. He composed 73 goals and 53 assists for 126 points in 271 games. 

Suns Set Heat

     The Miami Heat were defeated by the Phoenix Suns 113-97 on Friday night at Footprint Center. The Heat completed a five-game road trip out west. The Suns are near the end of a six-game homestand. 

     Phoenix(19-16) settled with a 33-29 lead after one quarter and continued to stay ahead 62-55 at halftime. Miami(20-15) was unable to keep up and they trailed 94-75 at the end of the third quarter. The Suns had a double-digit lead throughout the final quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 28 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Miami reserves Kevin Love placed in 20 points and Josh Richardson dropped in 10 points. Jacquez Jr. was able to score 10 points. 

     Grayson Allen powered in a game-high 31 points for Phoenix. Brady Beal scored 25 points while Devin Booker added 20 points along with 10 assists. 

Panthers Sweep Golden Knights

     The Florida Panthers won for the first time ever in Las Vegas as they handled the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday night. It was the first time that the Panthers played at the venue since the Golden Knights defeated them in Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. 

     The Panthers had never beaten Vegas in Nevada during the regular season and the postseason until tonight. Florida extended their season-high winning streak to six games. Former Panthers left wing Grigori Denisenko made his debut with the Golden Knights. 

     Vegas(22-12-5) rolled out to a 1-0 lead at the 3:59 mark of the first period. Pavel Dorofeyev made a backhand pass from above the top left circle to Michael Stone in the low left circle. His snap shot was saved by Sergei Bobrovsky, but Dorofeyev put in a forehand shot from the low slot for his fourth goal of the season. Half of Dorofeyev's goals this season have come against the Panthers. 

     Florida(24-12-2) tied it 1-1 on the power play with 5:45 left in the first. Aaron Ekblad pushed the puck from the left wing. Oliver Ekman-Larsson sent a slap shot from the left point that went wide and off the back wall. Sam Bennett slide in a wrist shot from the low right circle by Logan Thompson for his seventh goal of the campaign. 

     The Panthers killed several penalties early in the second period and eventually scored with the man advantage at 6:15 for a 2-1 lead. Sam Reinhart made a square pass from the left point. Brandon Montour released a shot from the top of the zone and it was deflected in by Matthew Tkachuk from the top of the crease for his seventh tally of the season. 

     It became 3-1 for the Panthers with 1:22 remaining in the second. Montour slapped a pass from the right point to Gustav Forsling on the left point. He fired a slap shot which was saved and Carter Verhaeghe scored his 20th goal this season on a snap shot from the low right circle. It was the fifth goal for Verhaeghe in the last six contests. He reached the 20-goal mark for the third straight season. 

     In the third period, the Cats expanded their lead to 4-1 at the 5:23 mark with a power-play tally. Verhaeghe angled a pass from the right wing and Tkachuk made a quick pass from the right of the crease. Reinhart powered in a one-time snap shot from the slot area for his 25th goal in 2023-24. 

Sam Reinhart Named NHL All-Star

     The National Hockey League announced their selections for the NHL All-Star Game to be held in Toronto on February 3. There was a representative from each of the 32 NHL clubs. 

     Sam Reinhart was named an NHL All-Star from the Florida Panthers. He had been near the top among goal scorers in the league. Reinhart has compiled 24 goals and 21 assists for 45 points in 37 games played this season for Florida. 

Marlins Lose Ryan Jensen

     Ryan Jensen is no longer in the Miami Marlins organization. The pitcher was claimed by the Minnesota Twins.

     Jensen has never pitched in the majors and has been situated in the minor leagues since 2017. He never participated anywhere in the Marlins farm system and was designated for assignment by them two weeks ago. 

Heat Handle Lakers

     The Miami Heat defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 110-96 at Cypto.com Arena on Wednesday night. The Heat stopped a two-game losing streak and will complete their five-game West Coast trip on Friday against the Phoenix Suns. 

     The Heat have won six of their last eight meetings versus the Lakers since they faced each other in the 2020 NBA Finals. Miami has defeated Los Angeles in 20 of the past 30 regular season games when they challenged each other. 

     Miami(20-14) had a 15-2 spurt in the middle of the opening frame and were up 25-18 at the end of the first quarter. The Heat kept it near a double-digit lead throughout the second half and led 53-45 at halftime.

     Los Angeles(17-18) tried to cut into the deficit and trailed 72-67 at the end of three quarters. The Lakers were down 74-72 with 10:46 left in the fourth quarter. The Heat then pulled away and had a 16-point margin late in the fourth. 

     Tyler Herro had a team-high 22 points for Miami. Nikola Jovic picked up 15 points and eight rebounds. Jaime Jacquez Jr. returned to his hometown and scored 16 points while Bam Adebayo added 15 points along with seven rebounds. Duncan Robinson put in 11 fourth-quarter points and finished with 13 points. 

     LeBron James was held to his lowest scoring game of the 2023-24 season with 12 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Anthony Davis compiled a double-double with 29 points and 18 rebounds for the Lakers  Austin Reaves was able to get 24 points and eight rebounds. 

Miami Dolphins Pro Bowlers Named

     The National Football League announced players in the Pro Bowl. The event will be held in early February. 

     Six different Miami Dolphins players were selected for the Pro Bowl. They included quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, running back Rasheem Mostert, \offensive lineman Terron Armstead, fullback Alec Ingold and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Tagovailoa, Hill, Mostert and Ingold were named as starters. 

Panthers Extend Uvis Balinskis

     The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Uvis Balinskis to a two-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season. He is currently playing with their American Hockey League affiliate the Charlotte Checkers. 

     Balinskis reached the National Hockey league with Florida during the 2023-24 season. He has chalked up one goal and one assist for two points in 18 contests with the Panthers. 

Panthers Shoot Down Coyotes

     The Florida Panthers pushed by the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 at Mullett Arena on Tuesday night in their first contest of the 2024 calendar year. It was the second time that the Panthers played at that new venue. The Cats began a four-game road trip against Western Conference foes. 

     The Panthers have won five consecutive games. The Coyotes have been victorious in six of their last eight contests. 

     Aleksander Barkov passed Jonathan Huberdeau with his 416th career assist for the most in Florida Panthers franchise history. Barkov now holds the team records for most career goals, assists, points and games played. 

     Florida(23-12-2) pulled out to a 1-0 lead with 9:14 remaining in the first period. Carter Verhaeghe placed in his 19th goal this season on a wrist shot from the inner right circle. Neither team was able score during the second frame. 

     Arizona(19-15-2) evened it up 1-1 at the 3:17 mark of the third period. Alexander Kerfoot put in a shorthanded goal from the low slot for his fifth tally of the campaign. Former Panther player Lawson Crouse had the only assist with the feed. 

     In the third period, the Panthers scored twice in a 42- second span and had a 3-1 advantage. Sam Reinhart tipped in his 24th goal from the crease area on the power play at 7:56. Barkov and Verhaeghe were credited with assists on the play. Matthew Tkachuk was given his sixth goal in 2023-24 at 8:38 of the third when the Coyotes got an own goal. 

     It became a three-goal margin for Florida with 2:21 left in the third period. Gustav Forsling added an empty-net tally for his fifth goal. 

David Booth In Germany

     Former Florida Panthers left wing David Booth is now in Germany. He will play the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign with Eisbaren Regenburg in the DEL2 hockey league. 

     Booth played his first six NHL seasons with the Panthers from 2006-07 to 2011-12. He had 80 goals and 87 assists for 167 points in 309 games with Florida. 

Jets Waive Dalvin Cook

     The New York Jets have waived running back Dalvin Cook. He signed with the Jets prior to the 2023 NFL season. Cook compiled 67 rushing attempts for 214 yards and no touchdowns this year.

     Cook played high school football with the Miami Central Rockets. He captured two FHSAA Class 6A state championships in 2012 and 2013. 

     He moved on to Florida State University and was with the Seminoles for three seasons. Cook played with the Minnesota Vikings from 2017 until 2022. He rushed for 5,996 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns during his six seasons there. 

40th Anniversary Miami Hurricanes First Title

     Tuesday is the 40th anniversary of the first national football championship for the University of Miami Hurricanes. Miami took on the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 50th Orange Bowl on January 2, 1984. The Cornhuskers were ranked first in the national polls while the Hurricanes were ranked fourth by United Press International and fifth by the Associated Press going into the Orange Bowl. 

     The Canes were ahead in the contest late in the fourth quarter. Nebraska scored a touchdown with 48 seconds remaining and were down 31-30. Cornhuskers head coach Tom Osbourne decided to go for the win with a two-point conversion. A swing pass to the right side of the end zone was broken up by a Miami defender and the Hurricanes won the game. 

     This contest put the University of Miami on the college football map as they were voted the 1983 national title one day later. The Hurricanes have won five NCAA Division 1 national championships in school history. 

Miami Marlins No Free Agent Signings

     It is the start of the 2024 calendar year and Major League Baseball is currently in the middle of their offseason. Spring training camps will open up in the middle of February. 

     The Miami Marlins have not signed any free agents since the 2023 season ended. The Marlins, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies are the only MLB teams to spend no money in free agency so far. 

Goran Dragic Retires

     Former Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic announced his retirement on Sunday. He completed a 15-season NBA career in 2022-23. 

     Dragic played seven seasons with the Miami Heat from 2014-15 until 2020-21. He helped the team win the Eastern Conference title in 2020 and reach the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Clippers Collapse Heat

     The Miami Heat opened 2024 with a 121-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Cypto.com Arena on Monday night. The Heat, who continued their five-game West Coast road swing, will face the Los Angeles Lakes in the same building on Wednesday. 

     It will be the final time that Miami will play against the Clippers at Cypto.com Arena. The Clippers are moving into a new venue for next season. 

     Miami(19-13) sprinted out to a 35-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. Los Angeles(19-12) bounced back and had a 59-58 edge at halftime. 

     The Clippers scored the first six points in the second half and had a 85-75 lead after three quarters. Los Angeles had an 11-5 spurt at the beginning of the final quarter and later led by 21 points 115-94 with 4:59 remaining. 

     Bam Adebayo powered in a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Heat. Kevin Love, playing in his 900th NBA game, added 17 points in the defeat. Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Duncan Robinson both drained in 15 points each. Tyler Herro was held to 12 points. 

     Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points while Paul George dropped in 23 points for the Clippers. James Harden contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Norman Powell came off the bench with 22 points.