Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg are considered the frontrunners for the Kia Rookie of the Year award. Several NBA heavyweights recently shared their takes on the rookie race, with some arguing in favour of Knueppel. Iman Shumpert likened the Flagg-Knueppel battle to the LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony race in 2004.
Donovan Clingan, the Portland Trail Blazers’ player, has been named the unsung hero for his team. His improved conditioning and three-point shot, combined with court vision, have seen him rise in the rankings. The Trail Blazers’ front office are being credited for drafting Clingan.
Alperen Şengün delivered a double-double as the Houston Rockets secured a dramatic win over the Miami Heat. Şengün’s influence in the paint helped spark a chaotic finish. Other Turkish players made contributions across the NBA.
The Sultanes de Monterrey and the San Francisco Giants will face off in a pair of exhibition games. These games serve as a final evaluation opportunity for the Giants before the season. The games will be held in San Francisco.
Lauren Betts had 22 points and 10 rebounds, while her sister Sienna Betts had 10 points and 12 rebounds in UCLA’s win over California Baptist. The sisters’ performance helped secure UCLA’s advancement in the NCAA tournament. It marked a rare achievement, with both sisters recording double-doubles in the same game.
Markelle Fultz is signing a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors. The 27-year-old last played in the NBA last season for the Sacramento Kings. Injuries have plagued Fultz since the 76ers drafted him in 2017.
Daniss Jenkins has answered the call for the Detroit Pistons, confirming his ability to translate his per-36 appeal to a bigger role. With Cade Cunningham sidelined, Jenkins has proven that he’s ready for his number to be called and the void in the shot creation department to be filled. Jenkins’ emergence as a capable scorer and playmaker will be essential on multiple fronts.
The best-of-three finals of TGL’s SoFi Cup tees off Monday night. No. 4 seed Jupiter Links GC stunned No. 1 seed Boston Common Golf in a 9-5 rout. No. 2 seed Los Angeles Golf Club rallied from a 4-1 deficit to take down Atlanta Drive Golf Club 6-4.
Coco Gauff reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open after a win over Sorana Cirstea. Gauff will face Amanda Anisimova or Belinda Bencic. Aryna Sabalenka also progressed, defeating Zheng Qinwen.
The Houston Rockets are heading out for their second-to-last road trip of the season. They will play four straight on the road, followed by two more back at Toyota Center. The Rockets’ next game is against the Chicago Bulls.
