South Florida Local News

The Miami Dolphins incredibly haven’t won a playoff game since the end of 2000 and, after the Lions’ 24-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 14, 2024, own the longest active dry spell in the NFL. A look back at the most recent playoff wins for each NFL team (Home team in CAPS).

San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (25) scores a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Francisco 49ers

49ERS 34, Detroit Lions 31, Jan. 28, 2024

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes under pressure from Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Broderick Washington (96) during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs 17, BALTIMORE RAVENS 10, Jan. 28, 2024

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) makes a reception defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis III (24) in the first half during an NFL divisional round playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Detroit Lions

LIONS 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23, Jan. 21, 2024

 

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs against Houston Texans defensive tackle Kurt Hinish (93) during the second half of an AFC divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Baltimore Ravens

RAVENS 34, Houston Texans 10, Jan. 20, 2024

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) gets sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Greg Gaines (96) during an NFL wild-card playoff game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

BUCCANEERS 32, Philadelphia Eagles 9, Jan. 15, 2024

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) rushes during an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

Buffalo Bills

BILLS 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Jan. 15, 2024

 

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) reacts after throwing a touch down against the Dallas Cowboys of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)

Green Bay Packers

Packers 48, DALLAS COWBOYS 32, Jan. 14, 2024

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud passes against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans

TEXANS 45, Cleveland Browns 14, Jan. 13, 2024

Matt Slocum/APEagles general manager Howie Roseman, center, stands with defensive end Brandon Graham (55), offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65), defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and center Jason Kelce (62) after the NFC championship game against the 49ers on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Eagles

EAGLES 31, San Francisco 49ers 7, Jan. 29, 2023

Adrian Kraus/APBengals quarterback Joe Burrow passes against the Bills during the third quarter Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals 27, BUFFALO BILLS 10, Jan. 22, 2023

Chris Carlson/APBuccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (17) is hit by Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (6) during the second half Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Tampa, Fla.

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys 31, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 14, Jan. 16, 2023

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

New York Giants

Giants 31, MINNESOTA VIKINGS 24, Jan. 15, 2023

 

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker (44) sacks Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second half of an NFL wild-card football game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Jacksonville Jaguars

JAGUARS 31, Los Angeles Chargers 30, Jan. 14, 2023

Steve Luciano/APLos Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022 in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

Los Angeles Rams

Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20 (Super Bowl 56), Feb. 13, 2022

John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneBears linebacker Khalil Mack reaches for Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the second quarter of a playoff game Jan. 10, 2021, in New Orleans.

New Orleans Saints

SAINTS 21, Chicago Bears 9, Jan. 10, 2021

Don Wright/APBrowns safety Karl Joseph celebrates after recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown during the first half against the Steelers on Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh.

Cleveland Browns

Browns 48, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 37, Jan. 10, 2021

Nick Wass/APTennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) leaps to the end zone for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Tennessee Titans

Titans 28, BALTIMORE RAVENS 12, Jan. 11, 2020

Chris Szagola/APSeahawks quarterback Russell Wilson celebrates during the first half of a playoff game against the Eagles on Jan. 5, 2020, in Philadelphia.

Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks 17, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 9, Jan. 5, 2020

Brett Duke / APVikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) pulls in the game winning touchdown pass over Saints cornerback P.J. Williams (26) during overtime of an NFL wild-card game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans.

Minnesota Vikings

Vikings 26, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 20, Jan. 5, 2020

David J. Phillip/APDeshaun Watson. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

 

New England Patriots

Patriots 13, Los Angeles Rams 3 (Super Bowl 53), Feb. 3, 2019

Gail Burton / APLos Angeles Chargers defensive back Adrian Phillips, right, celebrates with teammate Rayshawn Jenkins after intercepting a pass in the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, in Baltimore.

Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers 23, BALTIMORE RAVENS 17, Jan. 6, 2019

Sam Riche/MCTIndianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) jokes with Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80). (Sam Riche/MCT)

Indianapolis Colts

Colts 21, HOUSTON TEXANS 7, Jan. 5, 2019

John Bazemore / APFalcons wide receiver Julio Jones (right) chats with quarterback Matt Ryan.

Atlanta Falcons

Falcons 26, LOS ANGELES RAMS 13, Jan. 6, 2018

Ed Zurga / APSteelers wide receiver Antonio Brown runs after a catch against the Chiefs on Jan. 16, 2017.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers 18, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 16, Jan. 15, 2017

Ezra Shaw / Getty ImagesPeyton Manning closed out his career with a win in Super Bowl 50. (AP file photo)

Denver Broncos

Broncos 24, Carolina Panthers 10 (Super Bowl 50), Feb. 7, 2016

Chuck Burton / APCarolina Panthers’ Cam Newton celebrates with teammates during the second half the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Carolina Panthers

PANTHERS 49, Arizona Cardinals 15, Jan. 24, 2016

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates his catch in the red zone to set up a game winning touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 26-20 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals

CARDINALS 26, Green Bay Packers 20, Jan. 16, 2016

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez celebrates his team’s 28-21 win over the New England Patriots in an NFL divisional playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New York Jets

Jets 28, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 21, Jan. 16, 2011

Scott Strazzante / Chicago TribuneTight end Greg Olsen runs after making a reception against Seattle Seahawks’ during Bears’ 35-24 win in an NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on Jan. 16, 2011.

Chicago Bears

BEARS 35, Seattle Seahawks 24, Jan. 16, 2011

Washington Redskins’ LaVar Arrington (56) runs away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Alstott (40) after intercepting a pass by Tampa Bay’s Chris Simms during the first quarter of in an NFC Divisional playoff football game Saturday Jan 7, 2006 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Washington Commanders

Washington 17, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 10, Jan. 7, 2006

Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon (12) throws in the first quarter as Tennessee Titans’ Carlos Hall (97) applies pressure during the AFC Championship in Oakland, Calif., in this Jan. 19, 2003 file photo. In two games last season, the Raiders scored 93 points on the defense, 52 in the regular season and 41 in their win in the AFC championship. The Titans will host the Raiders in Nashville for the season opener, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003 in what shapes up to be a perfect scenario for revenge. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Las Vegas Raiders

OAKLAND RAIDERS 41, Tennessee Titans 24, Jan. 19, 2003

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN / Sun SentinelField Judge Scott Steenson signals touchdown after Lamar Smith scores game-winner in overtime, giving Miami a 23-17 win over Colts on Dec. 30, 2000.

Miami Dolphins

DOLPHINS 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 OT, Dec. 30, 2000

 

 

By JOSH DUBOW (AP Pro Football Writer)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brock Purdy threw for 267 yards and a touchdown, and the San Francisco 49ers rallied from 17 points down at halftime to beat the Detroit Lions 34-31 on Sunday and reach the Super Bowl.

The 49ers (14-5) scored 17 points in an eight-minute span of the third quarter to tie the NFC championship game and then pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a rematch against Kansas City after losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl four years ago.

San Francisco mounted the fourth comeback ever from 17 points down or more in a conference title game thanks to some big plays by Purdy and bad mistakes from the Lions (14-6), including two failed fourth downs in field-goal range. Detroit fell short of reaching the first Super Bowl in franchise history.

After being questioned about whether he could lead a comeback, Purdy has now done it twice in as many weeks. He engineered a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter to beat Green Bay last week and then had an even bigger comeback against the Lions.

Christian McCaffrey had two TD runs and little-used backup Elijah Mitchell scored on a 3-yard run to make it 34-24 with 3:02 to play as the Niners got over the conference title game hump after losing the past two seasons.

The Niners blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams two years ago and then were forced to play much of last year’s title game loss at Philadelphia without a functioning quarterback after Purdy injured his elbow on the opening drive and fourth-stringer Josh Johnson left with a concussion early in the third quarter.

But San Francisco managed to make the long journey back to this stage and now is in position to deliver the franchise its record-tying sixth Super Bowl title and first since the 1994 season.

A magical season for the Lions ended in heartbreak. Detroit remains the only team to play every season of the Super Bowl era without reaching the ultimate game. This looked like it could be the year to end that drought when Detroit won back-to-back playoff games after winning just one in the previous 56 seasons.

But the Lions couldn’t finish the job despite holding a 24-7 halftime lead.

San Francisco settled for a field goal on the opening drive of the second half before the game completely flipped in a four-minute span.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the San Francisco 28, but Josh Reynolds couldn’t hold onto a pass from Jared Goff, leading to a turnover on downs.

The Lions then seemed to have a potential interception when Purdy’s deep pass bit Kindle Vildor in the face mask, but the ball popped up and was caught for a spectacular 51-yard gain by Brandon Aiyuk. Purdy found Aiyuk three plays later for a 6-yard score.

Jahmyr Gibbs then fumbled on the next play from scrimmage, setting up a 1-yard run by McCaffrey to tie the game at 24.

It only got worse from there for the Lions with Reynolds dropping another pass on third down, leading to a punt that Detroit had a chance to down at the 1 but botched.

Purdy then drove the Niners to a 33-yard field goal by Jake Moody and their first lead of the game.

Campbell bypassed a chance at a game-tying field goal on fourth-and-3 from the Niners 30 midway through the fourth quarter. Goff threw an incomplete pass and the Niners drove to the insurance touchdown.

Goff added a TD pass to Jameson Williams with 56 seconds to play, but the 49ers recovered the onside kick to seal the win. Goff finished 25 for 41 for 273 yards and a touchdown.

San Francisco’s heralded front seven had no answer in the first half for Detroit’s offensive line, which repeatedly opened up big holes, giving the backs several yards even before first contact.

The Lions ran for 148 yards in the first half, getting TD runs from Williams, David Montgomery and Gibbs.

Michael Badgley added a late field goal to give Detroit a 24-7 lead at the half, tied for the second-biggest scoring output for a road team in the first half of a conference title game since the NFL-AFL merger.

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

BALTIMORE — The Kansas City Chiefs took the extended path — and the road journey — to Super Bowl LVIII.

But they will be there — thanks to Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a defense that bottled up Lamar Jackson in Sunday’s 17-10 victory in the AFC Championship at M&T Bank Stadium.

KC’s Super Bowl appearance will be its fourth in the last five seasons.

The Chiefs made a 10-point halftime lead hold thanks to a defense that continued its second-half mastery.

L’Jarius Sneed made the biggest play to start the fourth quarter. With Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers about to extend the ball forward for a touchdown at the goal line, Sneed punched the ball out, with Trent McDuffie falling on it in the end zone.

Baltimore’s five second-half possessions went punt, punt, fumble, interception, field goal, with Deon Bush adding a fourth-quarter pick to halt a drive.

Mahomes sealed it with with help from Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the final drive. On third-and-9 from the Chiefs’ 46, Mahomes lobbed a ball deep down the middle to Valdes-Scantling, who caught it flat on his back for a 32-yard gain that iced the game

KC kneeled it three times after that to give itself a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champ in two weeks.

The Chiefs led 17-7 in a first half that Mahomes dominated.

KC’s QB went 10 for 10 for 86 yards in the first quarter, leading the Chiefs on touchdown drives of 81 and 75 yards, respectively.

There were highlight-reel moments as well. Mahomes rolled right to complete a fourth-and-1 pass to Kelce to extend one possession, then later, stepped up in the pocket on a third-and-1 to float a pass to Kelce, who caught it with full extension for a 6-yard gain.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs defense stifled Jackson after his second-drive 30-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers. The Ravens punted on three of their five non-kneeldown drives in the first half, with another ended when KC’s Charles Omenihu strip-sacked Jackson on an edge rush, with George Karlaftis recovering.

Jackson finished the first half 5 for 12 passing for 67 yards. Baltimore’s second-leading receiver was Jackson himself, who pulled down a deflected ball and advanced it 13 yards.

Mahomes finished 30 for 39 for 241 yards passing with a touchdown. Kelce had 11 catches for 116 yards with a score.

Both teams were after each other before the game. Mahomes and Kelce had a pregame tiff with Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker when Tucker set up his gear in the middle of the Chiefs’ warmups. Mahomes kicked Tucker’s gear away, and just after that, Kelce threw aside Tucker’s kicking footballs and helmet.

Baltimore cornerback Arthur Maulet and KC defensive back Jaylen Watson also had to be separated by officials after jawing back and forth before the game.

The Chiefs will play in Super Bowl LVIII against either the San Francisco 49ers or Detroit Lions at 5:30 p.m. Central on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

©2024 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

General Daily Insight for January 29, 2024

Our true selves are ready to shine through any storm! The sensitive Moon trines both passionate Mars and talkative Mercury, making it a great time to communicate how we’re authentically and enthusiastically feeling. Still, we must watch out for Luna’s opposition to confusing Neptune, as it invites a haze that could cause all sorts of misunderstandings. Thankfully, Mars works well with innovative Uranus at 6:41 pm EST, allowing us to elevate our passions and encouraging us to take the right risks. Fortune favors the bold!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You’re ready to go after what you desire professionally. There may be a career or a promotion that you are very interested in, and you have the internal fire to go after it with gusto. Even if you’re not working at this time, you’re able to improve your reputation and how other people see you. On top of that, you can build a reputation for being more social, ambitious, or passionate if you play your cards right. Don’t shy away from the spotlight!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Strong words garner strong reactions at present. You might not always speak up when you feel slighted or worry that the conversation is heading in a direction that you don’t want to go, but today, you may find that you understand what should be said to change the subject politely. It isn’t rude to be honest when you aren’t comfortable addressing specific information just yet. Don’t be afraid to say what you’re really thinking, because your honesty can carry you far when it’s delivered right.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Inner passions are rising to the surface. Strong feelings may flow through your mind, whether they’re about a recent personal endeavor or a new person in your life. You might be dreaming of all the ways that this project will improve your life or how this cool peer could elevate your hobbies, but you need to be thinking about what you can give back as well. If it is a person, be sure that you’re not dominating their desires with your dream life.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You can speak up for other people. In particular, if you notice that someone is being talked over or ignored in a group conversation, take today to be the kind of person who gives them a platform to say what’s on their heart. It might be difficult to interrupt the crowd, especially if it’s a group of popular or higher-ranking people, but it’s important to hear out everyone. Be the friend that they need — you may find that they have amazing things to say.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Personal enthusiasm can uplift an entire group of others! Perhaps you’re being actively encouraged to be the group’s cheerleader, or maybe your enthusiasm about a project you’re working on is naturally spreading happiness and joy among everyone involved. You could also be asked to make long-term decisions at any moment, but watch out for Neptune clouding your judgment. It might be best to sleep on any choice before saying yes or no, because there could be things that are obscured from you.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Other people might be confusing you. You may have thought that you understood your friends or your lover in a deep way, but updated information or shifting attitudes could have you asking yourself if you ever knew who they really were. Keep in mind that you only know what others show you. Even if you’re great at reading people, they could still have simply lied about their opinions or actions. For now, try to spend time with the people who are actually there for you.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your perception is piercing. Someone in your midst could be attempting to hide something from you, not necessarily in a malicious way — perhaps they’re simply ashamed or want to positively surprise you. However, whatever’s being hidden from you is likely to be revealed at any moment. Someone else may slip up and tell you the information, or the secret keeper might make a mistake and reveal it to you themselves. You’re a magnet for the truth, so be open to what it says!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your ears don’t deceive you, Scorpio — they did just say that! People around you are potentially spilling all the tea regarding recent dramatic developments or unexpected events. Their tales could be both entertaining and shocking. What you hear may change your opinion about someone in your life or, in more intense cases, inspire you to reevaluate your worldview. Make sure that you’re not spreading gossip, though — the source of this news matters. Pay attention to what you’re hearing and who’s saying it!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Usual routines are being switched up. You might have a very clear idea of the foundation that you want to create for any aspect of your life, and at last, you’re able to change your pattern with the support of the planets. It could be that your previous habits were not getting you close enough to your dreams. Altering them should offer you a speed boost and begin crafting a safer landing pad if you need to pivot again. Make shifts that will serve you.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Your mind might be racing. With so many thoughts buzzing around your head, it could be tough to pick one direction for all that energy. It’s okay if you have a tough time harnessing your current drive — while this may feel unnatural, contemplate the benefits of simply doing whatever comes naturally. If you’re doing the dishes and then immediately feel like changing your hairstyle or cleaning out the garage, do it! Doing something is better than nothing, so let your intuition guide you.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

You might be sharing your feelings in a unique way. Whether you’re in a group and sharing your story, or you’re simply journaling by yourself, expect to experience some emotional catharsis. Look for moments when you can show your heart to someone else — but if this is too much for you and you’d rather play your cards close to the chest, then try writing your feelings down where only you can see. Do what it takes to express yourself.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Being the “mom” friend isn’t a bad thing, Pisces. It’s possible that your pals are filled with intensity today, buzzing with enthusiasm for grand adventures and multi-step projects — and, of course, they want your help with them. No matter how much you want to support them, at a certain point, you may need to be the one who speaks up and reminds everyone that the party has to wind down at some point. It’s okay to be the one encouraging others to rest.

BOCA RATON — Johnell Davis rewarded Dusty May’s trust.

Davis scored 28 points, capping it off on a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left, and No. 22 Florida Atlantic held off North Texas 66-63 on Sunday for its sixth consecutive win.

The final play for the Owls ended up being a broken one, and May considered calling timeout on a couple of occasions as the last seconds ticked away. But with the ball in his top scorer’s hands, May rolled the dice.

Swish. Win. Again.

“I decided not to call timeout and trust him,” said May, who has coached FAU to 52 wins since the start of last season — the most in Division I, one more than Houston has in that span. “When you’ve got a potential player of the year on your team, you’ve got to trust him.”

Vladislav Goldin had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Owls (17-4, 7-1 American Athletic Conference), who led for only 3:16 of the game’s 40 minutes. But Davis — who scored more points than anyone has managed against North Texas this season — delivered with the game on the line, from just in front of the FAU bench.

“We’re very comfortable,” Davis said of FAU’s penchant for late-game heroics; the Owls are now 4-2 in games decided by five points or fewer this season. “We know what we need to do at the end of the day.”

Robert Allen scored 15 for North Texas (12-7, 5-2), while CJ Noland had 14, Jason Edwards and John Buggs III each finished with 12 and Aaron Scott scored 10. The Mean Green were bidding for their first road win in 37 tries against an AP Top 25 team since 1971 — and nearly got it, until Davis hit the shot of the day.

“Tip your cap to him,” North Texas coach Ross Hodge said.

FAU took a pair of one-point leads midway through the second half; both were quickly snuffed out by 3-pointers from Buggs, a beyond-the-arc specialist.

Buggs started the game 4 for 4 from deep, making him 9 for 9 since Dec. 30. He’s made four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points in each of his last four outings — and hasn’t scored a point other than on a 3 since Dec. 10.

But he missed a wide-open look with about 25 seconds left. And Davis hit the game winner on FAU’s ensuing possession.

The Mean Green — who led 28-26 at halftime and led by as many as seven early in the second half — are 11-0 this season when scoring 65 or more points. They’re now 1-7 when scoring 64 or less.

“He’d been 4 for 4 and he’s wide-open at the top of the key,” Hodge said of Buggs. “You can’t draw up something better than that. I told him, ‘Dude, I want you shooting that shot 1,000 out of 1,000 times.”

BIG PICTURE

North Texas: The Mean Green came into the day ranked fourth nationally in points allowed per game at 58.7 and ninth nationally in field-goal percentage defense, 38.%. The Mean Green wasted no time showing off how they do that, holding the Owls scoreless for the game’s first 3:41.

Florida Atlantic: It was the seventh time in the last 10 games that FAU trailed at halftime, and the Owls’ 26 points at intermission tied a season low. The Owls are now 2-4 this season in games where they score 30 or fewer points by halftime. When the Owls score more than 30 in the first 20 minutes, they’re 15-1.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Another close win, but another unbeaten week will almost certainly keep the Owls in the AP Top 25 for a 14th consecutive week dating back to last season.

UP NEXT

North Texas: Hosts UAB on Wednesday.

Florida Atlantic: Hosts Tulsa on Saturday.

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Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

MIAMI — The constant the past two weeks for the Miami Heat has been the losing, the skid at six games going into Monday night’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns at Kaseya Center. But what has changed, somewhat dramatically, has been the rotation.

Even in defeat, that was evident in Saturday’s 125-109 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, as the wheel of permutations took another spin.

— Jaime Jaquez Jr. returned after missing six consecutive games with a strained left groin.

— Kevin Love was back after missing the previous 1 1/2 games with a stomach illness.

— Josh Richardson was held out by coach’s decision, after seeing action in all 36 previous games he had been available.

— And after Saturday’s game, with the rotation whole with the exception of guard Dru Smith being out for the season following December knee surgery, Orlando Robinson, Cole Swider and RJ Hampton were sent to the G League Sioux Falls Skyforce.

For Jaquez, the return came in reserve, after he had started his previous seven appearances.

“I felt great. I felt at 100 percent,” Jaquez said after closing with six points on 1-of-3 shooting in 23:41, citing the work Jeff Ruiz, the Heat’s senior director of rehabilitation, had done to get him ready. “I’ve been working with him every single day. See we’re very confident in the work that we put in and I felt great.”

But amid the Heat’s struggles, coach Erik Spoelstra did not hold back when stressing that more still is needed, with the Heat outscored by 18 with the No. 18 pick in last June’s draft on the court.

“There are definitely some things defensively that he needs to fast track on and he knows that,” Spoelstra said of Jaquez. “But offensively, you can definitely see some of the intangibles that he brings.

“He just has a knack for the play, a knack for getting us some rim pressure and we need a lot more of that.”

Love was limited to 13:50 in his return, with two points and two rebounds, uneven in four games back after missing three with a bruised left knee.

With Jaquez and Love back, and with Spoelstra just going nine deep against the Knicks, it left Richardson and center Thomas Bryant, the Heat’s two offseason free-agent veteran additions, as the lone available players not to see action in New York.

Spoelstra said it is about more than being whole, instead seeking a roster wholly committed to doing what is needed to move past this slide.

“It doesn’t matter, really. There’s been moving parts,” he said. “We’ve shown that we can win this season during those times when guys have been in and out of the lineup.

“I don’t want our group leaning on rotations and having everybody available. It is about how we’re competing and how we’re imposing our will on games to put ourselves in a position to win, regardless of all that. All that stuff can be excuses, and we need to focus on doing what we need to do to win, regardless of what’s out there.”

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Amid the slide, the Heat again find themselves amid the East play-in seeds, out of the top six that automatically advance to the best-of-seven opening round of the playoffs.

While it is a path the Heat took to last season’s NBA Finals, the play-in path hardly is one of least resistance, not one that provides comfort based on the 2023 results.

“Every season is different,” Spoelstra said. “One thing doesn’t lead to another necessarily in this league. And our team is different, our personnel is slightly different. And the journey we’ve been on is different.

“I don’t even want our guys talking or thinking about last year. We’re trying to conquer where we are right now. And to do that, you have to take the first step. And that’s the present moment.”

Injury report

The only players listed on the Heat’s injury report for Monday are the three sent to the G League (Robinson, Swider and Hampton) and Smith (knee). All other are available.

A man died Sunday after he was found shot in a Lauderhill street, police said.

Lauderdale police said in a statement that officers responded shortly after 2 a.m. to a reported shooting. They found a man had been shot in the 5400 block of Northwest 15th Court, the agency said.

Lauderhill Fire Rescue took him to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Sunday they were investigating the shooting and had no further details.

Lauderhill police is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Lauderhill police at 954-497-4700 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

A crash between a Brightline train and a vehicle Saturday evening in Boca Raton left one occupant in the vehicle injured, while the second person in the vehicle fled on foot, but was later taken to a hospital, police said.

Boca police said the collision happened shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday at Camino Real and Dixie Highway.

One person in the vehicle was taken to a hospital as a trauma patient, while the other left the scene on foot, police spokeswoman Jessica Desir said via text.

Police later located the second occupant of the vehicle, who had walked away from the crash site. Shortly before 1 a.m. that person was to a hospital under the state’s Baker Act, police said. Under the Baker Act, people can be held for up to 72 hours if they are believed to pose a threat to themselves or someone else, police said in a statement.

The accident, involving the northbound train, delayed the higher-speed train service for much of the night.

“Due to extensive police activity related to an incident near the railway corridor, we experienced significant delays in Boca Raton tonight. Service has now been restored. We thank you for your patience,” Brightline posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, at 11:34 p.m. Saturday.

The accident remained under investigation Sunday, police said.

UCF will return to the practice field to open spring football camp on March 11.

The Knights are slated to participate in 14 practices over six weeks, with things winding down on April 15. According to a school official, the annual spring game date hasn’t been finalized.

The team is scheduled to participate in three practices on March 11, 13 and 15 before taking a week off for spring break. They’ll return to practice on March 26.

Practices are not open to the general public.

Who’s sliding to practice? pic.twitter.com/uyXMBHjxu4

— Coach Alex Mathis (@CoachAlexMathis) January 28, 2024

UCF is coming off a 6-7 season, its first in the Big 12, leading coach Gus Malzahn to make several significant offseason moves, including shaking up the coaching staff. Malzahn brought in longtime defensive specialist Ted Roof as the Knights’ new defensive coordinator and Tim Harris Jr. as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.

He also hired former Auburn assistant Trovon Reed to lead the cornerbacks and Anthony Kincy as the program’s new strength and conditioning coach.

“We went 6-7. That’s unacceptable,” Malzahn said. “We’ve made some changes that I feel good about moving forward.”

UCF returns several key contributors from last season, including running back RJ Harvey, receiver Kobe Hudson and defensive lineman Ricky Barber. The Knights also added close to two dozen transfers led by quarterback KJ Jefferson, a fifth-year starter from Arkansas.

UCF 2024 SPRING SCHEDULE

March 11

March 13

March 15

March 26

March 28

March 30

April 2

April 4

April 5

April 6

April 8

April 10

April 11

April 15

Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X at @osmattmurschel.

ALLAN KREDA (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored 1:57 into overtime and the Florida Panthers beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Saturday night for their fourth straight win.

Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and an assist, and Sam Reinhart also scored for Florida. Anthony Stolarz made 21 saves.

Kyle Palmieri and Simon Holmstrom had goals for the Islanders, who have lost three straight and seven of eight (1-5-2). Semyon Varlamov finished with 34 saves.

After Stolarz made a save in the extra period and sent the puck up the ice to start a Panthers rush the other way, Ekman-Larsson scored his ninth of the season for Florida’s season-high eighth straight road win.

Tkachuk scored his 16th on the power play at 5:59 of the third period to give Florida a 2-1 lead but Palmieri got his 13th to tie it for the Islanders with 1:29 remaining.

After a scoreless first period, Reinhart rifled his team-leading 37th goal past Varlamov at 7:56 of the middle period. Reinhart scored in his eighth straight road game and leads Florida with 62 points overall. Tkachuk is second with 51 points.

Holmstrom tied it for the Islanders with 3:31 remaining in the second with his 12th of the season — first since Jan. 2.

Florida goes into the All-Star break with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 31-14-4.

The Islanders are 2-7-2 in their last 11 games and 20-17-12 overall heading into next week’s break.

UP NEXT

Islanders: At Toronto on Feb. 5.

Panthers: Host Philadelphia on Feb. 6.

___

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

General Daily Insight for January 28, 2024

We may be dependent on one another for change. With balanced Venus working together well with consistent Saturn at 1:01 am EST, we can work hand in hand with someone else — as long as we dedicate our energy to keeping our promises. Communicative Mercury then cooperates with innovative Uranus, heightening our minds to think outside the box and stimulating our senses. Finally, Venus encourages auspicious Jupiter, bringing good vibes, lucky happenstances, and fresh opportunities to expand our horizons. Let’s lift each other up!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You’re finding fresh ways to create security. When it comes to your life, you are able to tap into your inner emotional reserves and be self-reliant, but sometimes you still need someone to lean on — and that’s okay! You may discover that you’re then capable of supporting someone else or even bringing in additional revenue streams for yourself and another person. This newfound security should give both of you space to relax and concentrate on more fulfilling passions. Share the benefits that you’re creating.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Your energy encourages the people around you. While you may not have had the platform or the time to sit down and share your dreams and goals with others as of late, you likely have an opportunity to do so today. They’ll possibly be very fascinated by what you have to share with them. Your dreams and goals might speak to something deep inside of them — they could be hoping that you will show them how to follow in your footsteps. Lead the way!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Right now, secrets might actually make friends! You’re potentially working on a secret project with someone close, whether it’s for your careers or your personal lives. Perhaps the two of you are aiming for higher positions as a team or simply trying to ease everyone’s workflow. Maybe it’s even a surprise birthday present for someone special in your lives! Regardless, make sure that both of you agree on each step as you move forward to get the best possible final results.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You only make promises when you mean them, Cancer. Someone in your life may be about to ask you for a favor, one that you know you’re capable of — even if it wasn’t what you were planning to do today. You don’t have to drop everything that you’re doing to do this task, as long as you are communicative and open about your timeframe. You can be their hero, so at least consider stepping up to the plate and helping them out.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

What promises have you made to yourself? Take this moment to think back and ponder things like bad habits that you’ve promised yourself you’ll drop, exercise routines that you keep meaning to start, or activities as simple as going to bed and waking up earlier. The universe wants you to focus on routines that would improve your life and provide you with more energy, rather than weights that drain you and throw off your rhythm. Get back in the groove that gives you life!

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Your joy is contagious! You may have been working long hours or traveling recently in pursuit of your dreams, but ideally, you’re now able to step aside and rest with someone who means a lot to you. While it can be difficult to pull yourself away from work in the increasingly connected world, you must make time for your loved ones — or find that you no longer know them as well when you reconnect. Indulge in some fun with someone who cares about you!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Everyone should be grateful for you today, Libra — especially your family. Whether biological or chosen, relatives are potentially asking for your support or assistance. It might be that they’re completely stumped when it comes to finding a solution to their problem, so your ability to think outside the box could catapult them over the whole issue! They may not understand your method at first, so be patient with them while you work through the problem. It should be solved in no time.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Words mean a lot at this time. It may currently seem easier to act silently, playing the background, but you are able to make a conscious attempt to expand your network in valuable ways. It’s impossible to be entirely self-reliant, as no one can have every skill in the whole world. Even if you work as hard as you can, you simply can’t be in two places at once! Make an effort to push through introversion and open up to aid from others.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

It’s okay to trust someone else to strengthen your foundation. You might typically enjoy being someone who’s not tied down, but in times where you need to find an anchor point to hang onto, consider those who you’d trust to help ground you. Look for someone who’s presently willing to nourish your new roots. This person should also understand that you still need time to yourself sometimes and will provide it. Look for a loved one who makes you feel both safe and free.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You’re seeking stimulation. You might feel bored or unchallenged lately, which may spiral into stagnancy or unfulfillment. Now is a time to create your own fun! Consider returning to any hobbies that excited you in the past or calling someone who thrills you on the phone. Your emotional barriers might not be as strong as usual, allowing you to open up and talk to others with more freedom to express yourself. Say what’s on your heart and do what makes you feel alive.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Spiritual progress might be coming to you in the form of a mentor. You may be afraid that you’re spinning your wheels or not on the right path for your soul’s health and overall routine. There could be someone that you look to and admire, even if you don’t know them personally, and you may want to look up interviews with them or memoirs that they wrote in order to learn what they did to achieve success. Find a guide and learn what they know.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You’re a part of a team, Pisces. Working hand in hand with other people increases your chances of success — perhaps you’ll even encounter a full team of people who need your help. This might be a unique job that you’re applying for, a team sport that you’re helping your community with, or another group project that your skills are necessary for. Don’t be afraid of looking silly or being a beginner! Just be there for the people that need you.

TALLAHASSEE — North Carolina had won seven straight Atlantic Coast Conference games by double digits. On Saturday, the Tar Heels showed they could win a game that was tight in the final minutes.

RJ Davis scored 24 points and freshman Elliot Cadeau scored a season-high 16 points to help No. 3 North Carolina rally from an eight-point deficit early in the second half and beat Florida State 75-68.

Davis shot 9 of 18 from the floor, although he made just 2 of 8 3-point shots, and surpassed the 20-point mark for the 12th time this season.

Cadeau shot 8 of 9 from the free-throw line and had six assists as North Carolina (17-3, 9-0) extended its win streak to 10 games.

Primo Spears scored 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting, drilling 3 of 4 3-pointers, for Florida State (12-8, 6-3). Spears had a steal and then a layup on the fast break to cut North Carolina’s lead to 70-68 with 2:36 left. But Harrison Ingram blocked a Jamir Watkins drive with 33 seconds left and the Tar Heels were able to make free-throw attempts down the stretch to seal up the victory.

“We don’t panic,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “There’s a calmness and a confidence about this group.”

The Tar Heels had to flex their muscle and did so, winning the rebounding battle 41-32 and pulling down 16 offensive boards. Ingram had 17 rebounds, including seven offensive boards.

Watkins had 10 first-half points as the Seminoles shot 16 of 32 from the floor, including 7 of 12 from 3-point range, to take a 41-36 halftime lead. But while the Seminoles quickly extended the lead to 46-38, the Tar Heels within five minutes erased the deficit and jumped ahead 58-52 on Cadeau’s jumper with 14:03 to go.

North Carolina also didn’t give opportunities away in the second half. In the first 20 minutes, the Tar Heels’ 12 turnovers contributed to the Seminoles scoring 19 points.

“Going into halftime saying, ‘We need to take care of the basketball. That would fix a lot,’” Davis said.

North Carolina certainly did, shooting 19 of 24 (79.2%) from the free-throw line.

Florida State faltered for stretches in the second half, shooting 11 of 30 (36.7%) in the final 20 minutes.

While North Carolina won its 10th straight game, the Seminoles entered the month of January on a tailspin but finished 6-2 with losses to Clemson and UNC.

BIG PICTURE

North Carolina: The Tar Heels won their 750th regular-season ACC game. This is also the first time UNC has opened 9-0 in conference play since 2001.

Florida State: When the Seminoles traveled to North Carolina on Dec. 2, they led by 14 in the second half before the Tar Heels pressed and rallied for a 78-70 win. Florida State is far improved since then and is deeper with the return of forwards Cameron Corhen (toe) and Jaylan Gainey (knee) from injury. Spears missed the first game at North Carolina as he awaited his appeal as a two-time waiver.

“We’re getting better,” Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton said. “Early in the year we had a lot of coming and going. It didn’t allow us to get the right rotation that we seem to have now. We seem to be in a good place with us learning more about how to utilize who we are.”

UP NEXT

North Carolina: Travels to Georgia Tech on Tuesday.

Florida State: Travels to Louisville on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH — Bob Baffert was the first trainer to win the Pegasus World Cup Invitational twice. And now, he’s the first to win it three times.

National Treasure, the Preakness winner last year, dug deep in the stretch to win the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The Grade 1, $3 million race is the richest of the year at Gulfstream, and National Treasure — the 5-2 favorite — had to hold off hard-charging Senor Buscador in the stretch run to get the victory.

Crupi, a 30-1 shot, was third. National Treasure was ridden by Flavien Prat and returned $7.20, $5.40 and $3.80 after finishing in 1 minute, 50.51 seconds.

“I’ve always thought he was that good a horse,” said Baffert, who has been dominant in the race with three firsts and two seconds out of his six career Pegasus entries. “And he’s getting better and better. … We felt good about him but you still need a lot of luck. You have to ship well, you have to break well, I knew there was going to be a hot pace.”

National Treasure handled it all with ease and was all alone in the stretch until the very final strides. Senor Buscador paid $7.20 and $5.20, and Crupi paid $12.60 to show.

The win snapped a four-race slide for National Treasure, which won the Preakness and then was sixth in the Belmont, fifth in the Travers, fourth in the Awesome Again and second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. But Baffert raved about how sharply the horse had been training coming into the Pegasus.

“Very brave, great preparation from Bob, he’s always on point,” Plat — who has a first and a third in four Pegasus appearances — said of National Treasure. “It was a great pleasure to ride him.”

It was Gulfstream’s biggest day of the year, replete with celebrities — rapper Rick Ross was among those in the crowd — and came a day after 1/ST Racing announced a Pegasus-type day will be held at one of its other tracks, Santa Anita, on Sept. 28. That will be a multi-million, Grade 1 race for 3-year-olds.

The California-based Baffert is already thrilled.

“Well, I’m here,” Baffert said. “I hope I have a good one.”

Warm Heart, a filly that was sent off at 2-1, made a huge move along the rail to hold off 14-1 shot I’m Very Busy and 45-1 shot Catnip to win the Grade 1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf.

Jockey Ryan Moore made the bold move along the rail about halfway into the stretch run for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Defending Pegasus turf winner Atone — sent off at 30-1 — was fourth and favored Integration was fifth.

“We’re absolutely delighted,” O’Brien said. “It’s incredible. Ryan obviously gave her an incredible ride.”

Warm Heart returned $6.80 for the win in her final career race. The 4-year-old’s retirement was planned before Saturday; her connections wanted to run her against males one final time.

Didia, a 7-2 favorite, was at the front most of the way and held off 27-1 shot Surprisingly to win the Grade 2, $500,000 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf.

Didia got her ninth win in 14 career starts. She was ridden by Jose Ortiz for trainer Ignacio Correas IV and paid $8.60 to win.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

It’s sad that this column has to be written.

It’s disheartening when those who are supposed to set the example undermine the very principles they are supposed to uphold.

It’s unfathomable that school presidents and administrators at the University of Florida and Florida State University must be convinced of one our nation’s most fundamental credos — obey the law.

I’m talking about our state’s “Sunshine Law” — on the books for more than half-a-century as a way to ensure public access to the records of our government-funded agencies. It should be pretty clear to everyone that the University of Florida, Florida State, UCF, etc. are funded by taxpayer dollars and therefore should be subject to the Sunshine Law.

If FSU and other college stars are getting paid, then they should play in bowl games | Commentary

Disappointingly, UF and FSU in recent months have acted as if the law doesn’t apply to their athletic departments.

Let’s start with the Gators, who are under NCAA investigation for allegations of recruiting violations in regard to a ridiculously exorbitant Name, Image and Likeness deal worth $13.8 million that was offered to California high school quarterback Jaden Rashada last year. The deal ultimately and predictably fell through because the Gator Collective — a third-party entity that raises money from athletic donors to fund NIL deals for athletes — orchestrated the contract but reneged on the financial terms. Consequently, Rashada ended up at Arizona State.

As if the Gators didn’t look dumb enough for getting mixed up in the biggest fiasco since NIL became legal, they have since tried to hide that they are being investigated by the NCAA. UF initially refused public-records requests from the Tampa Bay Times and Associated Press, whose reporters asked the university to turn over the NCAA’s notification-of-allegations letter sent to school president Ben Sasse.

According to Times reporter Matt Baker, UF originally claimed the NCAA letter was exempt from the Sunshine Law but finally acquiesced and turned over the letter — but only after the Times got its lawyers involved.

“I feel very strongly about this stuff,” Baker told me. “Not acknowledging open records and using exemptions that don’t apply, that’s how shenanigans happen.”

Likewise, leaders at Florida State have been trying (successfully) to circumvent the Sunshine Law by failing to comply with public-records requests from reporters at Sportico — a digital platform that covers sports business.

Sportico reported in August that FSU had contacted JPMorgan “to explore the possibility of raising institutional capital to fund its athletic ambitions. Though private equity funds are buying into major U.S. pro leagues of all sorts, they have yet to find a way into college sports at the team level. Anything Florida State does in that realm would be nationwide news and closely watched by schools and investors across the country.”

Doesn’t this sound like something Florida State fans, who are being hit with massive season-ticket increases to help pay for the $265 million in stadium upgrades, has a right know?

Well, for nearly six months, Sportico has been making public-records requests to FSU, asking the school for any documentation or written communication related to the school’s talks to raise private equity money through JPMorgan Chase to fund its athletics department. And for nearly six months, Sportico has been stonewalled.

Sportico reporter Eben Novy-Williams wrote an excellent column recently underneath the headline: “Florida State Demands ‘Sunshine’ While Keeping Public In The Dark.” The column essentially points out the hypocrisy of FSU, which is suing the ACC and accusing the conference of not being transparent with some of its documents (like the ACC’s controversial grant-of-rights media deal). And yet the Seminoles themselves aren’t even complying with their own state law regarding transparency.

“They are touting all of this stuff about transparency in their lawsuit against the ACC,” Novy-Williams told me this week. “They are telling everyone that the ACC is withholding public records from the university and from the people of Florida. Transparency has sort of become their central theme in the lawsuit. If Florida State cares so much about transparency then what about that public records request [Politico] submitted six months ago? [FSU’s rhetoric] sounds like a bunch of doublespeak.”

Added Novy-Williams: “There’s public money that is flowing from the citizens of Florida into the public universities, including Florida State. The people of the state have a right to know what’s happening with that money.”

It’s a travesty that the athletic departments at Florida State, Florida and UCF have somehow, someway been allowed to establish themselves as separate non-profit direct-support organizations (DSO), which effectively shields them from the Sunshine Law. The fact that these athletic departments are considered non-profit is, of course, laughable, but, even so, they should still be subject to the Sunshine Law.

UCF requests $176 million from tourist tax revenue to speed up athletic facility upgrades

Public money is pouring into these athletic departments in the form of student fees, fan and booster donations and, yes, UCF just received nearly $90 million in funding from the Orange County Tourist Development Tax. If that doesn’t make UCF’s athletic department a public entity, then I don’t know what does.

Kudos to Sportico, the Tampa Bay Times and all of the other media outlets and investigative reporters out there who are fighting the good fight to hold our government officials and public institutions accountable. And, believe me, it’s getting tougher and tougher to do with media companies shrinking while defiant, emboldened politicians are essentially saying, “I don’t give a damn what the law says. I’m above the law!”

Sadly, our public universities should be a beacon of enlightenment and illumination but instead have allowed their football programs to drag them into the darkness of secrecy and suspicion.

It’s sad that this column had to be written.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

 

NEW YORK — Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday’s 125-109 loss to the New York Knicks:

– Yes, there needs to be a Part B after the Terry Rozier acquisition.

– Because the Heat continue to have issues measuring up.

– This time a 29-19 rebounding deficit at halftime.

– Which matched the deficit in the score at that stage.

– It was a moment that made you miss Precious Achiuwa.

– Whose mix of size and activity is something the Heat lack beyond Bam Adebayo.

– And who provided that mix ably Saturday for the Knicks.

– Also, say all you want about Haywood Highsmith’s defense, but he lacks the needed size when starting at power forward.

– So instead the Heat had to bring a second defender at Julius Randle.

– Which led to kick-out passes for open Knicks 3-pointers.

– Part of the reason they stood 9 of 18 beyond the arc at the intermission.

– With Saturday’s rotation a reminder of what the Heat don’t have in Thomas Bryant.

– Who was out of the mix Saturday.

– Even as Erik Spoelstra praises the depth of his power rotation as the best in years.

– Yes, the Heat somewhat compensated in the second half, but that doesn’t mean the concern doesn’t remain.

– The Heat opened for the second consecutive game with a lineup of Adebayo, Highsmith, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier.

– That was after Rozier made his Heat debut off the bench.

– Inactive for the Heat were Jamal Cain, Cole Swider, RJ Hampton and Dru Smith.

– So basically only without a player out for the season (Smith) and the three on two-way contracts.

– Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson entered together in the Heat’s first substitution.

– Love had been out Friday with a stomach illness.

– With Jaime Jaquez Jr. making his return midway through the opening period.

– Caleb Martin later made it nine deep in the first period.

– That left Josh Richardson out of the revised rotation mix.

– Spoelstra acknowledged it has been a while since this many rotation options, with Saturday’s return of Jaquez and Love leaving Smith as the lone unavailable player,

– Asked if had a plan for a full rotation in mind at some point at the start of the season, he quipped, “I have, I just don’t remember when it was. It was at the beginning of the year. So that definitely is encouraging, that we basically have our full contingent.”

– But he also warned not to overstate being whole.

– “We have to take control of our identity and getting back to competing at a level to our standards and our DNA of our organization, and we simply have not been doing that of late,” he said. “But we certainly have at different stages of the season and we have to get back to it collectively.”

– That could make the next step finding the proper interlocking pieces to optimize the rotation.

– Or not.

– “It doesn’t matter, really,” Spoelstra said. “There’s been moving parts. We’ve shown that we can win this season during those times when guys have been in and out of the lineup. Yeah, do we have all the answers for the rotation right now? I don’t remember the last time we’ve had that. But I don’t want our group leaning on rotations and having everybody available.”

– He added, “It is about how we’re competing and how we’re imposing our will on games to put ourselves in a position to win, regardless of all that. All that stuff can be excuses, and we need to focus on doing what we need to do to win, regardless of what’s out there.”

– Spoelstra was asked pregame if he could recall the earliest days of the Heat-Knicks playoff rivalry back in the ’90s.

– With a smile, he said,  “That’s where all the gray hairs come from.”

– Of the Knicks’ success in the wake of acquiring OG Anunoby, Spoelstra said, “They’ve found an identity that’s helping them win games. And defensively they’ve been physical, they’ve been disruptive. Their offensive pieces seem to fit and bring out the best in this group.”

– By contrast, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked pregame against the five-game losing streak the Heat carried into Saturday.

– “There’s going to be ups and downs through the course of the season,” Thibodeau said. “I think once you dig into it, you see, OK, they made a trade. They had a couple of guys that were out. So those things matter, and who you are playing against.”

– Of Heat 2020 pick Achiuwa, who the Knicks also acquired from Toronto in the Anunoby trade, Thibodeau said, “I think each experience teaches you something. And he probably benefited from coming in with Miami and then going to Toronto. Those are two real good experiences for him. So I think the more you go through things, the more you learn. And I think he’s adapted quickly. We’re still getting to know him.”

– Herro extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 19.

– Aaron Judge, Tracy Morgan and Drake were among the faces in the Garden crowd.

NEW YORK — Added aggression from Jimmy Butler wasn’t enough.

The return of Jaime Jaquez Jr. wasn’t enough.

Terry Rozier’s third game of acclimation wasn’t enough.

To put Saturday’s 125-109 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden into perspective, consider that it extended the Miami Heat’s losing streak to six, the team’s longest since March 2021.

And then consider that the last time the Heat lost seven in a row was in March-April 2008, a season that ended at 15-67.

The only thing standing between the Heat and that type of losing-streak ignominy is the arrival of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal at the Phoenix Suns to Kaseya Center on Monday night.

“We have defensive lapses, lack of communication and it’s been happening game after game,” a solemn Heat center Bam Adebayo said afterward.

Competitive at times – certainly more than Friday night’s 143-110 home loss to the Boston Celtics – but not often enough, the Heat saw the Knicks extend their winning streak to six behind the play of Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and OG Anunoby.

“It was both ends of the court,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, “very inefficient offense . . . And then defensively (in the fourth quarter), I don’t remember us getting a stop.”

Brunson closed with 32 points, eight assists and five rebounds, Randle, who left in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury, adding 19 points and nine rebounds. And Anunoby also had 19 points, as New York improved to 29-17, further pulling away in the race for the middle playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks shot 13 of 18 in the fourth quarter.

“This is something we’re going to correct,” Spoelstra said of the shoddy defense.

The Heat got 28 points from Butler, 19 from Duncan Robinson, 18 from Tyler Herro and 12 points and 13 rebounds from Adebayo in falling to 24-22.

“Right now,” Spoelstra said, “we’re going to rally around each other, rally around our identity. It is a tough time right now.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday’s game:

1. Closing time: The Heat led 30-27 at the close of the first period after moving to an early 10-point lead. The Knicks then seized control to take a 61-51 halftime lead.

The Heat closed within three at the midpoint of the third period, later tied it, but went into the fourth quarter down 89-87.

Butler then took his customary rest at the start of the fourth quarter, returning with 8:23 to play and the Heat down 105-92.

From there, the Knicks again pushed their lead into the 20s.

“We ain’t making nobody miss,” Butler said.

2. Attack mode: Questioned about his regular-season interest, Butler was far more in attack mode than previous games, particularly early.

It was just his third 20-point game since Dec. 16. Butler entered having scored 15, 15 and 17 points, respectively, in the three previous games.

He was up to 26 entering Saturday’s fourth quarter on 10-of-16 shooting.

“We’re going to figure this thing out,” Butler said.

3. Jaquez returns: The Heat remained with a starting lineup of Adebayo, Butler, Herro, Rozier and Haywood Highsmith for the second consecutive game, after Rozier played off the bench in his Heat debut.

That had Jaquez making his return off the bench, after missing six games with a groin strain. Jaquez had started seven consecutive games before being sidelined, but that was when Butler was out with a toe injury.

Included in Jaquez’s effort was an emphatic second-period blocked shot against Anunoby.

Also back for the Heat was Kevin Love, who had missed the previous 1 1/2 games with a stomach illness. Love entered in the Heat’s first substitution, with Jaquez following shortly thereafter.

Jaquez played 24 minutes, closing with six points and four assists. Love played 14 minutes, with two points and two rebounds.

“I felt great,” Jaquez said of health. “I felt 100 percent.”

But not about the result.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” he said, “because we’re trying to figure it out, put the pieces together.”

4. Rozier 3.0: Rozier came out with an aggressive bent in his third Heat game, with six shots in the first quarter, not subbed out until replaced by Herro with 1:40 left in the opening period.

That, as expected, had his minutes stagger with Herro’s.

Rozier led the Heat with four first-half assists, with no teammate with more than two to that stage and was up to a team-high six assists entering the fourth quarter.

But the shooting remains a struggle, this time closing 4 of 12 from the field for 10 points.

“It’s been a crazy week, to say the least.” said Rozier, acquired Tuesday from the Charlotte Hornets for Kyle Lowry and a first-round pick. “I think we’re all trying to figure it out together.”

5. Effective but limited: Adebayo had his 14th double-double in the last 18 games, bouncing back from being limited to five rebounds in Friday night’s blowout home loss to the Boston Celtics.

But the Knicks also limited Adebayo’s attempts. He closed 6 of 10 from the field, failing to get to the foul line.

“Every game,” Spoelstra said, “there’s going to be somebody that’s not fully in rhythm. Right now it’s not about rhythm, it’s not about touches, it’s not about points guys are getting. At some point, it’s doing what we need to do to get the win.”

CORAL GABLES — Norchad Omier scored 18 points and recorded a block with 1.8 seconds left, and Miami withstood hard-charging Pittsburg at the end to secure a key 72-68 win on Saturday.

Out of a timeout and down 70-68 with 10.3 seconds left, Pitt’s Jaland Lowe fielded the ball in the backcourt off the inbound and drove left. Omier picked him up off a screen and deflected his flailing shot attempt as he tried to draw the foul against Omier who has a four-inch height advantage over the 6-foot-3 Lowe.

Kyshawn George made two foul shots for Miami (14-6, 5-4 ACC) with 1.8 seconds left for the game’s final margin. The Hurricanes have won two straight following back-to-back losses.

Pitt’s loss ended its two-game win streak.

George’s 3-pointer with 13:20 remaining put the Hurricanes ahead 56-37. But the Panthers began their methodical return and with 4:11 left, Blake Hinson buried a 3 to reduce the Panthers’ deficit to 64-55.

Carlton Carrington made a jump shot, Lowe made a 3 followed by one from Ishmael Leggett and Lowe made two foul shots and Miami led 68-65 with 1:23 left.

Wooga Poplar’s jumper gave Miami a five-point lead before Lowe’s 3 with 46 seconds left. Poplar missed a 3 out of Pitt’s immediate timeout after Lowe’s 3 to set up the final 10 seconds.

Nigel Pack and Poplar each scored 17 points for Miami and George scored 11.

Hinson led Pitt (12-8, 3-6) with 21 points, Lowe 17 and reserve Leggett 14.

Miami capitalized on Pitt’s 1-for-10 shooting spell in the first half and went on an 11-1 run for a 25-14 lead with consecutive 3-pointers from Poplar with 8:48 before halftime.

Pitt hosts Wake Forest on Wednesday. Miami travels to North Carolina State on Tuesday.

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GAINESVILLE — Micah Handlogten had a career high 23 points with 17 rebounds, Zyon Pullin had seven of his 20 points in overtime and Florida defeated Georgia 102-98 on Saturday after blowing a 21-point lead in the second half.

The Gators made 5 of 7 shots in the extra period, with one of them a putback by Will Richard, and all seven free throws. That hot shooting came after they went 3 of 11 during the last 7 1/2 minutes of regulation with a 16-point lead.

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Pullin opened overtime scoring with a three-point play, but it stayed a one-possession game until Blue Cain, Georgia’s hero in regulation, missed a 3-pointer. Pullin hit a jumper for a 94-89 lead halfway through. Richard pushed the lead to 96-89 with just under a minute left.

It was 100-98 when RJ Melendez converted a turnover into a deep 3 with 6.5 seconds let, but Pullin iced it at the line with 5.7 to go.

Richard and Walter Clayton Jr. each had 18 points and Alex Condon had 10 for the Gators (14-6, 4-3 SEC). Pullin distributed eight assists and grabbed rebounds. Handlogten, who had a 20-point, 19-rebound game as a freshman at Marshall, had seven offensive boards and was 10-of-13 shooting. Florida had a 48-27 rebounding advantage, 16-8 on the offensive end for a 12-3 advantage in second-chance points.

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Melendez scored a career-high 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting with six 3s. Russel Tchewa had 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting with 11 rebounds for Georgia (14-6, 4-3). Cain had 14 points, 10 in the last 3:16 of regulation when Georgia closed on a 13-2 run, including the last 10.

Georgia had 11 3s and shot 52% (39 of 75) overall. Florida shot 55% (39 of 71) with seven 3s and made 17 of 20 from the foul line.

Richard led the Gators in the first half, scoring 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and Clayton added 11, making 3 of 5 from 3-point range. The 5-of-9 shooting behind the arc and 59% overall led to a 47-24 lead.

Melendez kept the Bulldogs, who shot 39%, relatively close, with three 3s and 13 points.

Condon’s jumper five minutes into the second half had Florida’s lead at 62-41 and the teams traded baskets until a Georgia 12-2 run had the lead down to 11 with 9:14 to play.

Florida pushed the lead back to 16 and it was 81-67 with 5:35 to play before a closing 18-4 run.

Florida plays at No. 6 Kentucky on Wednesday when Alabama plays at Georgia.

A Broward pest control employee hired by a restaurant to get rid of ‘nuisance birds’ is now charged in the series of poisonings that have rattled nearby customers, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Saturday.

The FWC release did not name the employee, but said that he improperly administered the neurotoxic pesticide Avitrol to the birds at the restaurant, which is located in the Weston Town Center.

He now faces two misdemeanor charges: violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the taking of wildlife with a poison other than pesticides registered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

FWC officers began investigating after hearing reports of dead birds at the center. Though they did not find dead birds at the restaurant, footage shared on social media and by local TV station WPLG-Ch.10 showed the birds convulsing on the ground and in a cardboard box, not moving.

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A spokesperson for the Argentinian restaurant Graziano’s told the TV station that it hired a third party to address the “bird infestation” and was told it would be safe and humane. The restaurant did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.

“Although the officers did not find any dead birds at the restaurant, the restaurant owner advised them that he contracted a pest company to get rid of ‘nuisance’ birds,’ ” the FWC release said.

Many of the birds poisoned, including the boat-tailed grackle shown in the footage, are federally protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is illegal to “take or possess any part of them, including their eggs or nests without a specific federal permit,” the release said.

When ingested, the drug Avitrol causes a reaction in birds similar to “an epileptic seizure,” according to its website. The behavior caused by the “chemical frightening agent” is supposed to deter other birds.

The employee charged did not administer the drug according to the product label, according to the release. It wasn’t immediately clear Saturday how the drug was misused; the FWC referred questions to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The company describes the drug as “humane bird control” on its website, but Avitrol has caused widespread bird deaths in the past; in Portland, for example, residents reported crows “raining down from the sky,” having seizures and dying, the local director of the Audubon Society told National Geographic. The use of the pesticide has since been banned in Portland as well as other cities, including New York.

Experts say Avitrol is often not used as intended. A 2013 label for the drug published by the Environmental Protection Agency says “all dead/dying birds must be disposed of by burial or incineration” and requires that users only apply it where targeted birds are feeding.

The drug should not be used “in any manner that may endanger desirable and protected bird species,” the EPA states.

Staff writer Lisa Huriash contributed to this report.

By DAN SCIFO (Associated Press)

PITTSBURGH — Sam Reinhart scored the winner in the shootout to help the Florida Panthers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Friday night.

Jake Guentzel followed Florida’s Aleksander Barkov with a goal in the shootout for Pittsburgh, but Reinhart won it when he slipped a hard wrist shot behind Alex Nedeljkovic.

“He’s an unbelievable pro,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said of Reinhart. “He’s completely unselfish. He just plays his game and plays hard. I’m glad that he gets rewarded for it.”

Reinhart scored his 36th goal of the season in regulation, extending his career-best points streak to 12 games. He’s second in the NHL in goals behind Toronto’s Auston Matthews, and has 18 goals and 22 points in his last 16 games overall.

Reinhart has a league-best 19 power-play goals, which matches a franchise record for most in one season, shared by Scott Mellanby and Pavel Bure. Reinhart has goals in eight straight road games, also a franchise record.

Former Penguin Evan Rodrigues also scored for Florida on the power play, his eighth goal of the season.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 35 saves for the Panthers, who won their third straight game. Florida has won eight of its last 12 overall.

“Having adversity in a game, being in the penalty box all night can be a real negative, or it can be a real positive,” Maurice said. “I think they had a little bit of fun going through that game.”

Evgeni Malkin recovered from scoring in his own goal during Monday’s loss at Arizona and forced overtime Friday against Florida with his 16th goal of the season. The tying goal against the Panthers came with 41.5 seconds left in regulation.

“It was a little bit down for my confidence.” Malkin said of his mistake Monday. “I needed a goal tonight, for sure.”

Guentzel scored his 21st goal of the season in regulation, a power-play goal, but Pittsburgh finished 1 for 8 with the man advantage.

“I thought there were moments where we looked pretty good, but there were others where we looked disconnected,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said about the power play. “Obviously, it’s disappointing that we didn’t score more.”

Nedeljkovic stopped 30 shots for the Penguins, who lost their third straight overall. Pittsburgh has lost five of six and seven of its last 10 games overall.

Both teams scored a power-play goal in the first five minutes.

Guentzel stuffed a puck across the line just inside the right post at 1:51, breaking a five-game, 0-for-19 power-play slump. Erik Karlsson continued a 10-game point streak with a secondary assist, the longest active run by a defenseman.

Rodrigues tied it at 4:52 of the first period when he converted a rebound from the top of the crease.

Reinhart scored his power-play goal at 11:49 of the second period, following a double-minor to Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. Letang tripped Rodrigues and later made contact with Barkov in the same sequence. Barkov, who fell awkwardly and hit his head on the boards, remained down, but eventually left under his own power and returned later in the period.

“Barkov kind of stepped in front of me, so I peeled off and I think my skate clipped him and his foot got caught, but I did not hit him, that’s for sure,” Letang said.

The Panthers took four penalties in the final 7:05 of the second period, including a double-minor to Sam Bennett and another roughing call on Anton Lundell, both targeting Letang, but Pittsburgh was unable to capitalize.

“We got the kills that we needed to off that,” Maurice said. “We handled it incredibly well. I thought they were a confident group, killing. They care about each other.”

UP NEXT

Panthers: Visit the New York Islanders on Saturday.

Penguins: Host Montreal on Saturday.

—

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL