NBA on TNT crew members wear towels on their shoulders to honor John Thompson Jr.

The "Inside the NBA" crew on TNT honored John Thompson Jr. Monday night by wearing towels on their shoulders.

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Brandon Ingram named 2020 NBA Most Improved Player

Miami's Bam Adebayo finished second, Dallas' Luka Doncic third.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Iowa State to Allow 25,000 Fans at Season Opener vs. Louisiana

The Cyclones will kick off their season against Louisiana on Sept. 12.

Iowa State will allow fans to attend its season opener at Jack Trice Stadium next month amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Cyclones announced Monday that 25,000 spectators will be permitted in the stadium for their Sept. 12 matchup against Louisiana. 

In a letter to fans, athletic director Jamie Pollard said the crowd will consist of season ticket holders only. Everyone in attendance must wear a face covering at all times, and anyone who refuses to wear one will be denied access and/or removed from the stadium. No tailgating will be permitted, and Pollard asked everyone to "honor other fans' wishes for physical distancing."

"An important factor in the decision to allow fans is our belief that Cyclone fans are willing to adhere to our mitigation measures," Pollard wrote. "The purpose of this letter is to ask for your support in helping create a safe environment while also providing our team an impactful home field advantage. This is an incredible opportunity for Iowa State University to showcase its ability to successfully navigate the challenges associated with large outdoor events during a pandemic."

Pollard said if the mitigation actions are successful, the Cyclones will allow season ticket holders to attend the Oct. 3 game against Oklahoma. If Iowa State determines mitigation measures were not followed adequately at the first game, no fans will be allowed at games for the rest of the season.

Iowa State's announcement comes shortly after The New York Times identified Ames, Iowa, as a coronavirus "hotspot" city over the weekend. The Times reported Ames, which has a population of 97,117, had 964 cases in the last two weeks. Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, was second on the list.

Iowa State began holding in-person classes on Aug. 17 and has no current plans to move to online-only instruction.

New on Sports Illustrated: History up for grabs in Nuggets-Jazz Game 7

The Denver Nuggets will be seeking a first in franchise history, while the Utah Jazz are looking to avoid one, when the Northwest Division rivals meet in Game 7 of their NBA first-round playoff series Tuesday night near Orlando.

The Nuggets have ridden a scoring explosion by Jamal Murray to earn consecutive wins and necessitate a win-or-go-home series finale for both teams.

The winner earns the right to tackle the second-seeded Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals.

Playing in the sixth Game 7 in the franchise's NBA history, the third-seeded Nuggets will be attempting to advance for the first time ever in a best-of-seven in which they fell behind 3-1. Only 11 teams in the NBA's history have pulled off the series comeback from such a deficit.

Denver played a pair of seven-gamers last year, beating San Antonio in the first round before falling to Portland in the Western Conference semifinals.

The sixth-seeded Jazz will also be taking their sixth swing at a Game 7, including beating the Clippers in a deciding contest in the first round in 2017.

Utah has never failed to advance after leading a series 3-1.

Murray and Utah's Donovan Mitchell have engaged in a historic duel through six games, with each having topped 50 points twice.

Mitchell outscored his counterpart in each of the first four games, leading to three Utah wins, before Murray turned the tables in the last two meetings, winning the personal duels 42-30 and 50-44.

"I'm running out of things and superlatives for Jamal Murray," Nuggets coach Michael Malone gushed after the game. "I just want to say I'm proud of him."

Murray and Mitchell have each made 31 3-pointers in the series. The next one by either will tie the single-series playoff record of 32 set by Golden State's Stephen Curry in 2016.

Mitchell needs 10 points to break LeBron James' record of 241 in a first-round series, set in 2018. Murray, with 204 points, also stands within striking distance of that mark.

Mitchell would need a third 50-point game -- and more -- to surpass former Los Angeles Lakers great Elgin Baylor's single-series record of 284 points, set in 1962.

The All-Star tried to get his team to look ahead -- rather than back -- after Sunday's loss.

"If we're down (emotionally) now, then we've already lost Game 7," he assured reporters afterward. "There were things we could do to win this game."

Two other factors have led to the Nuggets' revival in the past two games.

Nikola Jokic, who had played Jazz center Rudy Gobert basically on even terms for four games, got the better of the head-to-head in Games 5 and 6. Jokic averaged 26.5 points in the two wins, largely on the strength of 10-for-16 shooting from 3-point range.

Gobert has countered with just an 11.0-point average, although he has completed double-doubles on both occasions with an average of 11.5 rebounds.

Also, the Denver bench was a huge difference-maker in Game 6, contributing 14 points and 26 rebounds to the win, as opposed to Utah's 21 points and five boards.

All four Nuggets reserves -- including guard Gary Harris, playing for the first time since the restart -- had plus-11 or better plus/minus figures in the 12-point win.

--Field Level Media

New on Sports Illustrated: Why Jacksonville Drafted Leonard Fournette Will Really Disappoint Jaguars Fans Now

With Leonard Fournette now on the waiver wire, let's revisit the decision to draft him fourth overall in 2017. Plus, which other running backs are watching Alvin Kamara's contract situation, Ja'Marr Chase opts out, Logan Ryan to the Giants and more.

So here we are, 10 days away from the regular season…

• The backstory of Leonard Fournette is relevant today, as the former fourth overall pick

hits the waiver wire, and (fair warning) what I’ll write here is going to be painful for Jaguars fans to hear. After Gus Bradley was fired late in the 2016 season, the team started the process of finding a new coach—and a number of guys that interviewed for the job (Josh McDaniels and Kyle Shanahan were on the list) told the team in no uncertain terms that it needed to move on from 2014 first-rounder Blake Bortles. In fact, one reason Doug Marrone was able to win the promotion from interim coach was because he was pragmatic in his thought the process, and willing to try and get Bortles right. His plan to do it was interesting: Take the ball out of the quarterback’s hands. So that offseason, the Jags went about building a ball-control offense. And in the draft, there was a perfect back to play that style, in LSU’s Leonard Fournette. Jacksonville took him, with the decision made to run it back for another year with Bortles, eliminating the chance the team would take Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes. Again, in summary, the organization made the call to stick with Bortles, then did all it could to minimize his impact on games by taking a back that would fit the kind of offense that he would necessitate (rather than more-versatile Stanford star Christian McCaffrey). For a year, to Marrone’s credit, it worked. The Jags made the AFC title game. But the long-term fallout has been undeniable. Bortles wound up lasting two more years, and his failure necessitated overspending on Nick Foles, who lasted just one year. Meanwhile, while Fournette’s fit worked in the short-term, the price paid there was missing out on McCaffrey. Three years later, both Bortles and Fournette are without jobs, and Mahomes, Watson and McCaffrey are stars. And it can all trace back to the team sticking with Bortles for a season too long.

• As for Fournette’s future, he hits the wire Monday carrying a $4.17 million number for 2020, which is why he could go unclaimed—that’s a pretty decent chunk of money to be spending on a back less than two weeks before the opener. If he does clear, the idea of Pittsburgh makes sense to me, maybe because I remember what the similarly-old-school Jerome Bettis was before he went there, and how becoming a Steeler resurrected his career. And, for what it’s worth, Fournette’s got old offensive coordinators of his in Green Bay and Chicago. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for him.

• Alvin Kamara’s run at a contract, presuming that’s what his absence from practice is, is interesting in a number of ways. One, there’s the fact that the Saints can report the absence as unexcused, which would cost Kamara an accrued season and make him a restricted (rather than unrestricted) free agent after the season. Two, there’s the choice to do this now, rather than at the beginning of camp, which actually could be solid strategically, in that the Saints need him present a lot more now than they would in late July or early August, when a holdout would typically be staged. Three, he’s a great player, and the team is in a win-now spot. They need him. So if this is the way to get a contract, and he’s confident it’s going to happen, Kamara doesn’t need to worry about accruing that season (even if does have an impact on his post-career benefits). Lots of push and pull on this one. Stay tuned.

• Also likely watching the Kamara situation: Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon and Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook. Both guys are going into contract years. How close Kamara gets to draft classmate Christian McCaffrey’s four-year, $64 million extension should at least clarify the landscape in negotiations for the other two. Kamara and McCaffrey, to be sure, are unique weapons not tied down to simply playing tailback. But Mixon and Cook have versatility too. And even if they aren’t what Kamara and McCaffrey are, if both Kamara and McCaffrey are over $15 million per year, it becomes clearer that the latter’s deal isn’t simply an outlier.

• Shout out to NFLPA president J.C. Tretter on asking the league, via a post on the union web site, for the continuation of daily testing into the season. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the success the league has had—just four of 2,600 players are on the COVID-19 list as of this writing—it’s the importance of constantly testing players. It’s pretty simple. If you don’t let COVID-19 into the building, then it can’t spread. And as well as it has worked, I think Tretter’s right. Continuing with the testing would be money well invested for the NFL.

• One thing that was interesting to hear while I was in Tampa: Fourth-year TE O.J. Howard was ecstatic to be working with Rob Gronkowski. In checking in with some people there, some concern did exist as the Gronkowski trade went down in April that Howard might not take the news well. Instead, the opposite happened—and Howard’s agent actually called the team soon thereafter to tell them that the former top-10 pick couldn’t be happier. So when I talked to Howard on Sunday, I made sure to ask him about that. “Rob is one of the greatest ever to play the position,” Howard told me. “It was an opportunity for me to go and learn, and just become a sponge and soak up a lot of knowledge. I’m always about learning more, putting more things in my toolbox, continuing to sharpen those tools and become a better player. So this is an opportunity for me to do that with him and Tom [Brady]. I couldn’t be put in a better situation at a young age, Year 4. This is only the beginning for me, it’s been a great opportunity for me to have a chance to have my career take off.” That, of course, is a great attitude to have, and it’s showing up in his play, too. Howard’s cleaned up his problem with drops, and been a star in making circus catches in contested situations all month.

• While we’re there, and just to accentuate the point I made in the MMQB column, here’s promising second-year receiver Scotty Miller on how positive Tom Brady’s been in camp: “That’s something I’ve noticed from him since the day I met him. Just extremely positive. I’d heard stuff about him, that in New England, he’d get on guys or whatever. But with us, he’s as humble as it gets. I mean, if he puts the ball on my chest and I drop the ball, he’ll be like, ‘My bad, I gotta give you a better ball,’ where it’s not his fault at all. That gives us all confidence, when we see our leader being humble and wanting to work on his game every single day. It tells us, if he’s doing that, we need to be doing the exact same thing, always willing to take the blame, and always doing your best on every single play.” And how have his teammates taken to following him? Well, I was told last week that among the veteran skill players—guys who worked with him over the spring and summer—the Bucs have seen zero (0!) soft-tissue injuries. That’s despite the adverse summer conditions in Tampa, and despite the COVID-affected camp schedule. I can’t say whether they all took up Brady’s training methods, but I do know the team thinks those guys watching and being around Brady over that time helped.

• Four weeks ago today, I gave you 12 non-quarterbacks who I believed had the sort of NFL standing to seriously consider opting out of the 2020 college season. LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase, on Monday, officially became the fourth guy on that list to do it. Those left: Clemson RB Travis Etienne, Oregon OT Penei Sewell, Alabama WR Devonta Smith, Alabama CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle, Ohio State CB Shaun Wade, Florida State DT Marvin Wilson, and Alabama LB Dylan Moses. LSU had another player opt out Monday as well—per our own Ross Dellenger, massive Tiger DT Tyler Shelvin won’t play this fall, and move his focus to getting ready for April’s draft. As it stands now, he’s probably a Day 2 pick, and so the decision to go is understandable. Also, the sudden exodus from LSU highlights something pretty interesting—the three programs that have the most sustained national success over the last decade (Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State) haven’t had a single opt-out yet.

• Good signing by the Giants, bringing Logan Ryan aboard at $7.5 million for this year. Before becoming a starting corner for the Patriots, Ryan was a core special-teamer for Joe Judge in Foxboro—Ryan was a gunner on the punt team as a rookie—so the two know each other exceedingly well. And just as Ryan was able to help Mike Vrabel establish some of those New England standards in Nashville the last two years, he should be able to do the same for Judge in Jersey the next four months. But really, this was about Ryan as a player. The Giants believe he’s still got plenty to give in that department.

• The Derwin James news is super disappointing, but another reminder that, many times, pre-draft concerns are warranted. I got asked a lot in 2018 how James slipped all the way to the 17th overall pick, where the Chargers snapped him up. Well, James was outstanding as a true freshman at Florida State, suffered a catastrophic knee injury as a sophomore, then came back and was less than 100% himself as a junior before declaring for the draft. The concern wasn’t over James’s ability to play. It was over his ability to stay healthy. Sadly, that concern’s proving warranted as a pro.

Protocols adjusted to minimize false positives

The NFL and NFL Players Association have adjusted protocols in hopes of minimizing the effects of a false positive after a COVID-19 test result, a memo sent to teams says.

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Source: Chargers' James to undergo knee surgery

Chargers safety Derwin James needs knee surgery and will be out six to eight months, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

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Jets bring in RB Pete Guerriero for visit

In the wake of the Kalen Ballage trade with the Dolphins falling through, the Jets are bringing back Pete Guerriero for a visit.

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Why Lamar Jackson is poised to be even better after winning MVP in 2019

Jackson has worked to improve in all areas as a passer, including decision-making and overall consistency. That could be trouble for the rest of the league.

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Report: Chiefs finalizing six-year contract extensions with Andy Reid, Brett Veach

The architects behind the Kansas City Chiefs' championship season are getting new contract extensions with the team.

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Patrick Mahomes thrilled as Andy Reid, Brett Veach get 6-year contracts

Coach Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach of the Kansas City Chiefs are nearing six-year contracts, each.

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Time for NFL owners to take action, call for racial, social justice

It's a lot to ask those in ownership suites of the almighty NFL to get over themselves and grow a conscience and act on it. But the timing feels right.

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Report: NFL takes over Washington Football Team workplace investigation

Commissioner Roger Goodell told Washington Football Team owner Daniel Snyder the NFL is taking over the investigation into its workplace.

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Packers ready to face Yannick Ngakoue, the Vikings’ new ‘elite’ edge rusher

The Packers are preparing to face Yannick Ngakoue, the "elite" edge rusher acquired by the Vikings this week.

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NFL coaches remember former Georgetown coach John Thompson

NFL coaches remember former Georgetown men's basketball coach John Thompson. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network

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Former center Jon Halapio among players Giants bringing in for workouts

The Giants are bringing in a few players for workout sessions with the NFL season kicking off in less than two weeks.

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Seahawks sign receiver Lance Lenoir, waive/injured RB Patrick Carr

The Seattle Seahawks added their second receiver in three days to add depth to their unit, which has struggled with injuries this offseason.

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Colts release FB Roosevelt Nix

Colts part ways with Roosevelt Nix.

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Garafolo: Giants signing CB Logan Ryan to one-year, $7.5M deal

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports New York Giants signing cornerback Logan Ryan to one-year, $7.5M deal. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network

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NFL to take over investigation into alleged workplace harassment in Washington

Goodell informed Dan Snyder that the NFL would be taking over the investigation into workplace misconduct in Washington.

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Belichick remains mum on QB starter as Pats wind down camp

The Patriots began their final week of training camp Monday, but Bill Belichick still isn't sure when he'll be ready to announce his starting quarterback. ''I don't know,'' Belichick said when asked how close he was to revealing who would be on the field for New England's opener against Miami on Sept. 13. Cam Newton, who has been the front-runner to get the nod since camp opened, was absent from the field Monday morning during the limited portion of practice open to reporters.

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Houston Texans announce cuts, trim roster to 77 players

The Houston Texans have announced roster transactions that bring their total number of players on the active roster to 77.

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Pelicans' Ingram caps breakout season with MIP

Brandon Ingram won the NBA's Most Improved Player award after setting career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and 3-point percentage.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Bruins face elimination against Lightning in Game 5

The Boston Bruins have their backs against the wall as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of their Stanley Cup Playoff second-round series Monday night at Toronto.

Since taking the first contest of the best-of-seven series, the Bruins have dropped three straight, getting outscored 10-2 between Games 3 and 4. A promising season for Boston, after coming one game short of a Stanley Cup title last year, would come to an end with one more loss.

"Can give you a bunch of cliches, but it truly is one game at a time here," said Bruins defenseman Torey Krug. "We're just focusing on (Game 5), and trying not to let things spiral out of control within a hockey game is a big part of it. We've just got to bring it next game."

For the Lightning, a win Monday would mean advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time in the last six seasons. After last year's disastrous playoff showing -- when the team was swept in the first round -- such a return would represent a level of redemption.

"Right now the guys are feeling it," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper after the team's latest win. "Let's hope it continues."

The Lightning have never lost a playoff series when up 3-1 (7-0).

In Game 4 on Saturday afternoon, Tampa Bay jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the first two periods on the strength of two goals from Ondrej Palat. Andrei Vasilevskiy held firm in net the rest of the way in an eventual 3-1 victory.

Palat now has four goals in the team's last three games and six points total in the series. He's stepping up with captain Steven Stamkos still sidelined by injury and serving as a complement to the potent production of Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov (16 playoff points apiece).

"He's always the guy that's talked about the least," Cooper said of Palat. "It's probably unfair to him, but it's probably just the way he likes it."

Though the Bruins' showing Saturday was not as disastrous as their 7-1 setback in Game 3, the goaltending remains an area in need of improvement. Jaroslav Halak, thrust into the starting role when Tuukka Rask opted out two games into the first round, allowed a bad second goal in Saturday's loss and is struggling to keep up with Tampa Bay's high-powered offense.

"This is a good hockey club, we're not scoring a lot right now. Part of that is our own issue about hitting the net," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "But they've got a very good goaltender and a good defense, so every goal matters."

Boston will be without forward Chris Wagner for Game 5 after he exited Saturday's loss early. Sean Kuraly, who has missed the last two games in the series, skated Sunday and is "progressing," though Cassidy didn't say if he would play Monday.

The Lightning have been without defenseman Ryan McDonagh due to an undisclosed injury since Game 1 of the series.

--Field Level Media

WATCH: Cole Kmet scores touchdown in Bears' scrimmage at Soldier Field

The Bears held an intrasquad scrimmage at Soldier Field on Saturday, and we have some highlights to prove it.

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Seahawks final scrimmage secondary to Carroll's message

Two weeks away from their season opener, the Seattle Seahawks held their final mock game on Sunday. On Saturday, the Seahawks canceled practice following a long team meeting and spent the day making sure everyone on the team was registered to vote for the November election. As part of the decision to cancel practice, Carroll gave a 15-minute speech during an unexpected media session imploring everyone to listen to the Black community.

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Jordan Reed mulled retirement before deciding to sign with 49ers

Jordan Reed has seen the past three seasons end on injured reserve. He did not play at all in 2019 after a seventh documented concussion last August. The tight end considered never playing again. “I definitely thought about hanging it up after last season,” Reed said Sunday, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. [more]

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Bruce Arians: Buccaneers’ offense “stunk” today

With two Sundays to go until the new-look Tampa Bay offense gets its first chance to show what it can do, it apparently has plenty of work to do. Coach Bruce Arians, who says what's on his mind at all times, pulled no punches when assessing the offensive performance from Sunday's practice. "Defense made the [more]

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Watch highlights from Rams’ scrimmage at SoFi Stadium

Check out some of the best plays from the Rams’ second scrimmage.

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Seahawks place Branden Jackson on injured reserve, ending his season

Seahawks defensive end Branden Jackson will not play this season after being knocked unconscious last week. The team placed Jackson on injured reserve Sunday. Seattle signed defensive end Pita Taumoepenu in a corresponding move. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll explained that doctors recommended Jackson not play this season after discovering a spinal condition with "possibly dangerous" [more]

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Follow Live: Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz look to close out Denver in Game 6

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Rahm's 66-foot putt in playoff stuns DJ, wins BMW

Dustin Johnson made a 45-foot birdie on the 18th to force a playoff. Jon Rahm answered with a 66-footer on the opening hole of that playoff, winning the BMW Championship. Johnson, though, stays at No. 1 in the FedEx Cup going to the Tour Championship.

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Luka Doncic and the Mavericks' championship window is approaching

Luka Doncic is the generational talent speeding up the Mavs' process. But is Dallas done searching for his sidekick?

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Carmelo Anthony praying he can return to Portland next season: ‘I found a home’

“When you find a situation that’s comfortable and allows you to be who you are, you want to stay in that situation.”

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P.J. Tucker, Dennis Schroder each fined $25,000 for run-in

The question was not if they got fined, but how much

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Why Trevor Ariza could be the key to the Trail Blazers offseason

Ariza's contract gives Portland flexibility this offseason.

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GAME RECAP: Clippers 111, Mavericks 97

Kawhi Leonard racks up a double-double with 33 points and 14 rebounds as LA beats Dallas to win the series.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Jon Rahm Makes 66-Foot Putt in Playoff to Win BMW Championship

Jon Rahm outlasted Dustin Johnson with a thrilling playoff finish to take the BMW Championship title.

Jon Rahm clinched his BMW Championship victory with some flare on Sunday.

After standing tied at four-under with Dustin Johnson at the end of 72 holes, Rahm pulled ahead by draining a 66-foot putt in a playoff. The victory marks the 25-year-old's second win in his last five PGA Tour starts.

The impressive feat wrapped up a closely contested tournament that saw a crowded leaderboard heading into Sunday. Johnson found himself tied for the lead with Hideki Matsuyama entering the final round. Meanwhile, Rahm worked his way from being tied at 51st place in the standings after a five-over first round to completing a six-under fourth round and playoff for the victory. 

Rahm was not alone in making impressive putts down the stretch of the BMW Championship. Johnson made one himself to clinch a playoff with Rahm as he drained a birdie on the 18th hole. 

With his BMW Championship victory, Rahm moves back to No. 1 in the world golf rankings. Johnson overtook Rahm in the standings last week after recording a victory in The Northern Trust last week. 

Rahm's BMW Championship title marks his fifth PGA victory since joining the Tour in 2016. Before Sunday, his latest Tour title came at the Memorial Tournament in July. 

The 2019-20 PGA Tour schedule concludes next week with the TOUR Championship in Atlanta, Ga. The U.S. Open will take place from Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., while the Masters will run from Nov. 12-15 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. 

Source: Chargers' James dealing with knee injury

Chargers safety Derwin James is receiving a second opinion on a knee injury he suffered Sunday, a source told ESPN.

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Derwin James “likely to miss significant time” with meniscus injury

Derwin James began last season on injured reserve with a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his foot. He returned in Week 13 and started the final five games of the season. A different injury will start his 2020 season in similar fashion. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports James is "likely to miss [more]

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Brent Musburger OK after scare, will call Raiders games this NFL season

Two broken ribs aren't about to stop Brent Musburger from calling Raiders games this season.

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Myles Garrett among several Browns missing Sunday’s practice in FirstEnergy Stadium

Garrett was one of 8 Browns sitting out Sunday's practice

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Dolphins’ trade of Kalen Ballage falls through after failed physical

Dolphins' trade of Kalen Ballage falls through after failed physical

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Cowboys wearing unmarked jerseys in televised practice

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said recently that, because of a lack of preseason games, he's being extra secretive during training camp. And Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst explained limits placed on beat reporters by saying "our pro scouts have always followed the local beat reporters in all the teams." It stands to reason, then, that [more]

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Jaquiski Tartt, Dante Pettis engage in friendly rivalry at 49ers camp

The competitive banter between Jaquiski Tartt and Dante Pettis was next-level on Sundau.

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Celtics' depth is showing up in these playoffs

Boston isn't missing a beat without Gordon Hayward.

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Packers' prez: NFL owners can help effect change

In a video message on the team's website, Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said Saturday that he believes NFL owners can effect change when it comes to social injustices.

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Interception spurs Lamar in Ravens' scrimmage

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson struggled in Saturday night's intrasquad scrimmage but finished on a hot streak.

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Bradley Chubb, Graham Glasgow leave practice with injuries

The Broncos saw starting right guard Graham Glasgow and starting outside linebacker Bradley Chubb leave Saturday's practice with injuries, Aric DiLalla of the team website reports. Chubb, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Week Four last season, had his knee examined by trainers after they removed the brace. "He just [more]

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OL J.R. Sweezy could be a surprise cut for Cardinals

They might be comfortable with Justin Murray at right guard and they would gain $5 million in cap savings.

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Packers CEO Mark Murphy calls on NFL owners to “make changes”

NFL owners generally have not delivered personal, individual messages of support for social justice since the movement blossomed after the murder of George Floyd and accelerated in the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake. On Saturday, the man who leads the publicly-owned Green Bay Packers delivered a video message that demonstrates the organization's commitment [more]

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Bears’ Robert Quinn: ‘I’m not going to put no game before my God dang life’

Bears' edge rusher Robert Quinn had some raw, powerful things to say about life as a Black man in the United States on Saturday.

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Aaron Donald wants to see fans at new SoFi Stadium this fall

Aaron Donald thinks the NFL ought to figure out a way to get some fans into more of its massive stadiums this fall - at a proper social distance, of course. The scrimmage was a preview of the Rams' near future in several senses.

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Bears QB competition: Mitch Trubisky outplays Nick Foles in Soldier Field scrimmage

If Nick Foles was building a lead this week, Mitch Trubisky just closed the gap.

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Murray: Skin color shouldn't decide life or death

In order to make his point that "my skin color should not determine whether I live or die," Denver's Jamal Murray placed a pair of shoes with Breonna Taylor's and George Floyd's likenesses on them in front of the camera before speaking Saturday.

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The Bucks' playoff run now has a larger purpose

The Bucks' postseason journey has evolved into something bigger than the quest for 16 wins and a trophy.

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CDL Championship Weekend Day 1: Fond farewells and picks for grand finals

In some of the best Call of Duty we've seen all year, we say goodbye to the London Royal Ravens and Chicago Huntsmen, and look forward to the $1.5 million finals matchup of Dallas Empire vs. Atlanta FaZe.

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Celtics' Jaylen Brown says he's skeptical NBA owners will follow through on pledges

The NBA returned to action Friday thanks to an agreement between owners and players.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo on Wednesday’s walkout: ‘I can’t leave my teammate behind’

The Milwaukee Bucks forwards recalls what went into his decision to follow his teammates’ lead and not play in Game 5 as scheduled on Wednesday.

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Tucker, Schroder ejected from Rockets-Thunder playoff game

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) -- Houston's P.J. Tucker and Oklahoma City's Dennis Schroder were ejected from Game 5 of their first-round playoff series Saturday night after a tussle following a hard pick that sent them both to the floor.

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Milwaukee holds off Orlando comeback to win, advance to next round

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points and 17 rebounds.

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Gary Trent Jr. will start Game 5 vs. the Lakers with CJ McCollum handling PG duties

Coach Stotts says McCollum will be the primary ball handler in Game 5 vs. the Lakers...

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GAME RECAP: Bucks 118, Magic 104

Giannis Antetokounmpo puts up 28 points and grabs 17 rebounds as Milwaukee wins the series against Orlando.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Nuggets desperate to force Game 7 against Jazz

Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell go head-to-head for a sixth time in their record-breaking backcourt battle Sunday night when the third-seeded Denver Nuggets seek to stay alive in their Western Conference playoff series against the sixth-seeded Utah Jazz in the NBA bubble near Orlando.

Murray outscored Mitchell for the first time in the series 42-30 when the Nuggets recorded a 117-107 win in Game 5 that denied, at least temporarily, the Jazz a spot in the Western semifinals against the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers-Dallas Mavericks series. Utah leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Game 7, if necessary, would be Tuesday.

Murray, who lost a historic scoring duel to Mitchell 51-50 in Game 4, has totaled 154 points in the five games. He needs 31 on Sunday night to pass Carmelo Anthony (2010) for the most points in Nuggets history in a first-round playoff series.

The 23-year-old already has surpassed Chauncey Billups' previous franchise record for 3-pointers in a first-round series (19) with 22.

Murray could find himself with a familiar sidekick in Game 6, with Gary Harris having returned to workouts following a hip injury suffered in the lead-up to the restart last month.

Harris, who averaged 10.4 points in 56 games (55 starts) this season, has not played since suffering the injury. He has been upgraded from out to doubtful to questionable over the course of the first five games, and now has benefitted from the three additional days off in the series that have followed the postponement of Game 6 on Thursday as part of the NBA's protest over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.

Mitchell had 188 points in the first five games. He led the NBA in playoff scoring upon the resumption of play Saturday.

He needs 28 points in Game 6 to break Tracy McGrady's record for most points in a Western Conference first-round playoff series, set in 2005 when he totaled 215.

The full-league record in a first-round series was set by LeBron James in 2018 with 241.

Former collegiate rivals at Louisville and Kentucky, respectively, Mitchell and Murray each have made 22 3-pointers in the series. With five more in a win on Sunday, Mitchell could break Stephen Curry's record of 26 in a six-game playoff series

Both teams have the unenviable task of refocusing on basketball after taking leading roles in the postponements earlier in the week.

Rookie Michael Porter Jr., Denver's third-leading scorer in the series at 14.4 points per game, admitted during the break, "Realizing the stuff going on in the world is way bigger than basketball for us, I feel like people look up to us. When we talk about these things, it's good for the world to realize how much it means to us, too."

Meanwhile, Mitchell announced in the aftermath of Blake's shooting that he would be donating $45,000 toward a college fund for his children.

"Education reform is something I really believe in," assured Mitchell, who wears No. 45. "Being able to be taught on a level playing field is something I believe is the key to generational success and being able to push past racism, systemic racism, voter suppression and everything."

--Field Level Media

Bolts 'feeling it;' Bruins on brink of elimination

Ondrej Palat scored two goals as the Lightning beat the Bruins 3-1 on Saturday to grab a commanding 3-1 lead in their second-round NHL playoff series. "Right now the guys are feeling it," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said.

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Bucs entrenan por primera vez en su estadio con Brady

(AP) — A casi dos semanas de que inicie la temporada de la NFL, Tom Brady se está aclimatando a su nueva casa.No a la inmensa mansión que el ganador de seis Super Bowls alquila al beisbolista retirado Derek Jeter, sino al Estadio Raymond James.

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Llaman a la policía cuando un exjugador de la NFL iba a entrar a su casa en Florida

El exjugador de la NFL Brandon Marshall publicó un video en las redes sociales en el que guardias acudieron a la Policía cuando llegó con sus hijos a su nueva casa en Florida,

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Te mostramos las mejores apps Android disponibles (septiembre 2020)

Ejercítate, trabaja, relájate, consigue la cena y haz mucho más con estas aplicaciones para Android.

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Carroll implores coaches, white people to listen

Pete Carroll said white people need to educate themselves on the issues facing Black people in America and called on coaches to lead the charge for change.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Minnesota United-FC Dallas Preview

Looking to bounce back from their first regular-season loss and get their new keeper stabilized, Minnesota United FC head south for a matchup versus FC Dallas on Saturday night.

The Loons (3-1-2), who reached the semifinals of the MLS Is Back tournament, are on their second-string keeper after Tim Miller underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. While deputy Greg Ranjitsingh does have a championship pedigree with a pair of USL titles to his credit, he does have some adjusting to do at the top tier.

He did not perform all that badly in Minnesota's 2-1 loss to Sporting KC on Aug. 21, finishing with three saves, but there is still some work to be done as the back line continues to operate without reigning two-time MLS Defender of the Yea Ike Opara.

"It's one of them that you always talk about when you're putting it in, swinging in, make sure that they stay in between the post, because that, that can happen," Loons coach Adrian Heath told the team's official website about the first goal conceded. "That's one of them things when people look as though they're gonna go for the ball and nobody touches it and it ends up bobbling in on the back post. I'll have to have another look at it. It looked soft from our position on the bench. I don't think we had enough pressure on the ball. I'll have to have another look at it."

Offensively, Minnesota United's goal came fom an own goal, and Heath lamented what he called his side's "passive start." He also noted his team has to go back to attacking in the final third, something the Loons did with success in Orlando as they totaled 10 goals in their six matches at MLS Is Back.

FC Dallas (1-1-3) is also struggling on the offensive side of the ball, having gone three full matches without a goal after sitting out MLS Is Back due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The Hoops also had their Wednesday match versus Colorado postponed as the teams showed solidarity in support of boycotts across multiple leagues in support of Black Lives Matter and protesting the use of force in the police shooting of Jason Blake in Kenosha, Wisc.

"We stand by the players and the staff in this moment to demonstrate togetherness and to bring attention for things to be better," FCD coach Luchi Gonzalez said Wednesday night in a statement. "I think it's an opportunity to learn, to be educated and to give each other love."

If there is a silver lining for the Hoops during their offensive struggles, it has been their defense. FC Dallas has claimed two points from those matches thanks to a stingy defense, which again delivered last Saturday with a scoreless draw versus Houston as they extended their shutout streak to 184 minutes.

The Hoops have won four of the six matchups between the teams since Minnesota United entered the league in 2017, including all three in Frisco. Brandon Servania's late brace lifted FC Dallas to a 5-3 victory in the most recent meeting, offsetting a two-goal effort by Ethan Finlay.

New on Sports Illustrated: Fire-New York City FC Preview

It continues to be home away from home for New York City FC, who look for back-to-back regular-season wins for the first time Saturday night when they host the Chicago Fire.

Because of the alterations to the New York Yankees schedule as a result of COVID-19, NYCFC has set up camp in the home of their Hudson River rivals, the New York Red Bulls. After a 1-0 derby loss there Aug. 21, the Bronx Blues (2-5-0) bounced back Tuesday night with a 1-0 win over Columbus.

Alexander Ring's goal just before the hour separated the sides while Sean Johnson made three saves for the clean sheet, most notably in the 82nd minute on a shot by Pedro Santos. NYCFC also watched two Crew goals get chalked off for offsides.

"I think it was a really big win for us. We were in a position where we needed points," Johnson said post-match. I think the focus was on us and what we needed to do, not so much worried about where Columbus was in the table.

"It was really important stick to the things that have made us successful in the past. We dug deep, I think there was a real fight and a real commitment to playing. I think you can see it all around the pitch. Nobody was scared, nobody backed down and we were always on the front foot."

There is still some getting used to in terms of field dimensions for New York City FC, with Red Bull arena having a wider pitch than Yankee Stadium. What would help to that end is playmaker Maxi Moralez and fellow midfieder Ismael Tajouri-Shradi being available after both missed out Tuesday night with calf and hamstring injuries, respectively.

NYCFC have struggled to find their footing offensively, with three of their seven goals in all competitions coming in their round of 16 win over Toronto FC at the MLS Is Back tournament.

The Fire (2-4-1) take to the road after a triumphant return to Soldier Field on Tuesday with a 3-0 romp past Cincinnati FC. Playing in the city of Chicago proper for the first time since 2006, Fabian Herbers and Alvaro Medran struck in the opening 10 minutes, and Ignacio Aliseda added a third in the second half as the Fire ended a 278-minute goalless drought and had a season-best seven shots on target.

"We were struggling in the past games to really be clinical in front of goal," Herbers told the Fire's official website. "We just didn't get our chances and were losing some games even though we had the chances to win those games, actually, or to at least get a tie out of those games. Today, we showed that when we are clinical in front of the goal, that we can really dominate teams and be a good team and win games."

Medran appears to be forming a fast partnership with Gaston Gimenez, who are operate as the top and bottom tips of the midfield diamond in Raphael Wicky's 4-1-2-1-2 alignment.

"We like to keep possession, so being able to speak the same language helps a lot," Medran told the league's official website. "We also are players that need games to get going, get the rhythm going. And I think that with the passage of time, we'll be able to hit our rhythm and keep getting better and playing better soccer."

NYCFC took four of six points from the two meetings last year, and the teams played to a 1-1 draw in the most recent match as C.J. Sapong and Alexandru Mitrita traded first-half goas. A change of venue may be a positive for the Fire, who had lost four straight at Yankee Stadium after getting points from draws in the first two matches there.

New on Sports Illustrated: Orlando City-Atlanta United Preview

Looking to remain unbeaten in their regional rivalry, Atlanta United faces Orlando City in the lone matinee Saturday contest in the MLS.

The Five Stripes (3-3-0), who will be without injured top scorer Josef Martinez for the season, made a successful return to action after a group play flameout in MLS Is Back, defeating Nashville SC 2-0 last Sunday. Atlanta was scheduled to play Inter Miami on Wednesday night, but players from both teams opted to sit out the match in support of the players' movement that unfolded across multiple leagues backing Black Lives Matter and protests against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc.

"It was a decision we felt we needed to make that was bigger than the two locker rooms," defender Jeff Larentowicz told media on a video conference call Thursday. "It was an acknowledgment of emotions on high. Before we're athletes, we're humans."

In addition to being without Martinez, Atlanta United interim coach Stephen Glass – who replaced Frank de Boer after the team lost all three matches at MLS Is Back – will be without two defenders. Fernando Meza is out at least the next two weeks with a knee injury suffered in the win over Nashville while Franco Escobar was suspended by the league's disciplinary committee for violent conduct in Sunday's match.

Midfielders Ezequiel Barco and Emerson Hyndman will be match-time decisions as they deal with lower-body injuries.

Pity Martinez, who accounted for both goals in Sunday's win, has factored on three of Atlanta's four goals since Josef Martinez got hurt.

Orlando City (3-2-2) avoided back-to-back regular-season losses for the first time this year by beating Nashville SC 3-1 on Wednesday. It wound up being the only MLS game played Wednesday, which did result in some blowback and criticism on social media.

"I understand maybe some people who think we should have not played," first-year coach Oscar Pareja said on Thursday. "I think we would have done it. I think we would have just not played the game if we had all the information and good timing. We didn't know the whole thing."

Daryl Dike, the No. 5 overall pick in the SuperDraft, followed up his first MLS goal in the loss to Inter Miami with a brace versus the league's other expansion franchise, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute and adding an insurance tally 20 minutes later. Dike also became the first player in club history with goals in his first two professional starts.

That type of momentum will be needed for the Lions, who are 0-2-7 all-time against the Five Stripes since entering the league in 2017. Orlando City failed to score in any of its three matches versus Atlanta United last year, with Pity Martinez and Josef Martinez scoring match-winners in 1-0 outcomes during the regular season.

Atlanta United has won six straight between the teams since a 3-3 draw in September 2017.

New on Sports Illustrated: Bruins bid to bounce back vs. Lightning in Game 4

The Boston Bruins must reset and regroup on the heels of sustaining their worst playoff loss in nearly 30 years.

The Bruins will look to rebound from a 7-1 shellacking by the Tampa Bay Lightning when the teams play Game 4 of their Eastern Conference second-round series on Saturday afternoon. The Lightning have won the last two contests to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven set.

"We're going to have to move on," Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said of Wednesday's lopsided loss. "We realize that was one of those games that nobody wants to look at. Definitely something that we have to move forward from and get ready for the next one."

Game 4 was originally scheduled for Friday, however that contest was postponed as the players exercised a form of protest against systemic racism and police brutality. The Lightning players said they were discussing a potential postponement almost immediately after their resounding win in Game 3.

In fact, veteran defenseman Braydon Coburn was asked a hockey-related question on Friday but deferred, saying he wanted only to talk about the issues facing the world.

"We want to keep the attention and conversation around the issue, and that's where our heads are at right now," Coburn said.

Boston's Brad Marchand made no bones about the importance of stepping back and offering support.

"We're not being political. It's not the goal and not what we're here for," Marchand said. "There needs to be changes throughout society. It's about people being equal."

When their focus returns to the ice, though, the Lightning will look to keep the momentum. After all, they know the Bruins will have plenty of motivation after being dismantled.

"Let's be honest, this is an aberration," coach Jon Cooper said of his team's one-sided win. "This doesn't happen in playoff hockey. They're the Presidents' Trophy champions. You turn the page on this one just like you turn the page on an overtime thriller. You can't hang your hat on that one. When a team has a clunker, you can't hang your hat on that one either. They're both just one win."

For the Bruins, that means finding their form -- including a way to combat a Tampa Bay power play that converted its first three chances on Wednesday. The first power-play goal sparked a franchise-record two tallies in 15 seconds to secure a 2-0 lead.

"Now you're in a 2-0 hole and you played not a bad period," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "So, the rest of the game, we didn't respond. The disappointing part ... is that we weren't able to get ourselves back in the game by killing any further penalties or creating offense or having our push back.

"But it's over. We're going to focus on Game 4; 7-1, 2-1, a loss is a loss. They're up 2-1. I think we've got a good group in there. I know we have a good group in there. We'll lick our wounds ... and get ready for Game 4."

The Lightning are bracing for a big pushback.

"In these games when you get up six goals in the end, the type of hockey that's played is not the hockey that is going to be played (next game)," Tampa Bay's Alex Killorn said. "You don't want to pick up any bad habits in that sense. We kind of have to switch gears, get back to playing the type of hockey we were playing at the beginning of the game and just adjust."

--Field Level Media

New on Sports Illustrated: Los Angeles FC-Sounders Preview

As MLS plans its likely return to action this weekend, Los Angeles FC must again figure out how to move forward without their biggest star.

With Carlos Vela hindered by a knee injury, visiting LAFC takes on the rival Seattle Sounders on Sunday night.

Both teams are slated to be back in action this weekend, after their respective matches from Wednesday were boycotted in the wake of the unrest and violence following the police shooting of black 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. LAFC defender Mark-Anthony Kaye has been one of the more vocal players on the subject.

"Human lives mean more the sports!" Kaye posted on his official Twitter site. He also added on the site: "What's going on in the world is not acceptable."

The Sounders, meanwhile, also spoke out about the current racial and social injustice issues around the United States, and MLS players showing awareness by their actions earlier this week.

"I fully support the players' decision," coach Brian Schmetzer told the Sounders' official website. "As an American citizen, it is clear to me that our country is incredibly divided, and it saddens me that some people seem not to understand the importance of this movement."

Back on the pitch, secondary storyline at the moment for this match is the health of Vela, the league's reigning MVP. Opting out of the "MLS is Back Tournament," Vela has played just three league matches in 2020 and was injured during LAFC's 2-0 loss to the rival Los Angeles Galaxy last week.

The official diagnosis is a Grade 2 MCL sprain, and, according to LAFC, there is not timetable of his return.

"Often times with an MCL, the player is able to start running straight ahead pretty quickly," coach Bob Bradley told LAFC's official website. "But, the timeframe is really determined as he gets into more cutting, striking the ball, as to how long it'll take."

In the meantime, LAFC (2-1-3) must find a way to bounce back from its first official loss of the season. However, Los Angeles should have some confidence after beating the Sounders 4-1 in the round of 16 at the MLS is Back Tournament. LAFC's Diego Rossi recorded a brace in a match that does not count toward the regular-season standings.

However, the Sounders (3-1-2) returned to action from the event in positive form through a 3-0 victory over rival Portland last weekend. Raul Ruidiaz had two goals and assisted on Kelvin Leerdam's late score in a needed pick-me-up performance by the Sounders.

Ruidiaz has a team-leading four official goals for Seattle. Rossi, meanwhile, has scored six official times for LAFC.

Tomlin: Privilege doesn't shield us from outrage

Mike Tomlin acknowledged that he and his team are privileged by being members of the NFL, but said that privilege doesn't shield them from outrage over injustice.

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First look: Raiders don full uniforms in Allegiant Stadium for first time

Watch the Las Vegas Raiders run through drills in their full team uniform for the first time at Allegiant Stadium. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network

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Patriots QB Cam Newton shows 'gratitude' in photo with Bill Belichick

Cam Newton posted a photo Friday showing "gratitude" for the opportunity Bill Belichick has provided him with the New England Patriots.

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Listen to the powerful words of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin

Mike Tomlin gave a powerful speed before the team's Friday night practice.

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George Kittle misses practice for precautionary reasons

George Kittle missed Friday's practice, but there's no major injury concern for the 49ers' star TE.

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Gruden tight-lipped on team's progress as Raiders close camp

It wasn't exactly the Family Day the Las Vegas Raiders would have preferred but close to 200 COVID-tested family members were socially distanced on one side of Allegiant Stadium as the team went through drills on the final day of camp Friday. The players will now get most of the weekend off before the Raiders begin to prepare for the season opener at the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13. Raiders coach Jon Gruden remained tight-lipped about how the team is doing.

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Tiger well off BMW pace after second-round 75

Tiger Woods has plenty of work to do this weekend at the BMW Championship, where he's tied for 55th after a 5-over 75 Friday and needs a major run over the next two days to qualify for next week's Tour Championship.

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Russell Westbrook practices, expected to return Saturday in Game 5

He should bring pace and an attacking style to a series where the Thunder guards have dominated the past couple of games.

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Jacob Blake's father says Bucks sent jersey signed by entire team: 'That made him smile'

"I'm from Chicago, but now I am truly a Milwaukee Bucks fan."

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Report: Jason Kidd eyeing up Sixers vacant head coach position

Lakers assistant coach and NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd is interested in the Sixers' vacant head coach position, according to a report. By Brooke Destra

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Ex-Warrior Andre Iguodala responds to Donald Trump's claim about NBA

The 2015 NBA Finals MVP, obviously, is spot on.

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Hall of Famer Michael Irvin describes his coronavirus battle as ‘three weeks of hell’

Longtime Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin said his battle with the coronavirus was “the hardest thing in the world I’ve ever dealt with.”

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WATCH: Pete Carroll, Seahawks virtually meet with Make-a-Wish kid after practice

Evan Manfredo virtually got to meet the Seahawks after Friday's practice.

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49ers move practice to quiet stadium to prepare for opener

The San Francisco 49ers returned to the field at Levi's Stadium for the first time since winning the NFC championship game there for a run-through before the season opener in a little more than two weeks. Coach Kyle Shanahan moved practice to the stadium for the first time this summer Friday to provide a test run for communications and other issues because the team won't play any preseason games before the opener Sept. 13 against Arizona. The practice consisted mostly of 11-on-11 situational drills, with the defense getting the better of the matchup capped by a couple of late pass breakups by Jason Verrett in the empty and quiet stadium.

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Cardinals S Kentrell Brice carted off field with apparent leg injury from practice

Brice was signed on August 5.

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Kyle Shanahan's frustration audible during 49ers practice at Levi's

"There's really never a practice I'm not frustrated out there."

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Steelers G Stefen Wisniewski says he’s embracing his role as a backup

Stefen Wisniewski says he's ok with being a backup lineman.

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Jimmy Garoppolo unflustered as 49ers' offense struggles in practice

The 49ers' offense had a tougher time at Friday's practice, but Jimmy Garoppolo is taking it all in stride.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Crew-FCC Preview

While MLS continues its collective recognition to social and racial injustice issues within the United States, the "Hell is Real" rivalry is scheduled to resume.

Looking to bounce back from their first official defeat of 2020, the visiting Crew aim to remain undefeated against Cincinnati on Saturday night.

After five of the six scheduled MLS matches on Wednesday were boycotted due to the unrest and violence in the wake of the police shooting involving 29-year-old Jacob Blake from Kenosha, Wis., it appears the league will play this weekend. Columbus (5-1-1) and FCC (2-4-1) were not scheduled to play Wednesday, and at the moment, are a go for this contest.

That does not mean, at least for one of these teams, the message of those actions by their fellow pro athletes did not resonate.

"The players want to make it noted that this is not something that has gone away," FCC winger Joseph-Clause Gyau told the club's official website. "I definitely think it was important to bring awareness back to the issues at hand … I can't really dictate what's going to happen Saturday. As of now, we're ready to play. We're ready to get on schedule, but there are some larger issues at hand."

Columbus, currently among the best players in the league, is 2-0-1 against its Ohio rival since FCC joined MLS in 2019. The Crew won 4-0 over Cincinnati at the "MLS is Back Tournament" last month, thanks to two goals from Gyasi Zardes (five goals) and a goal with an assist each from Lucas Zelarayan (three goals) and Youness Mokhtar.

The Crew, though, are looking to bounce back from their first non-"MLS is Back Tournament" knockout-round defeat, 1-0 at New York City FC from Monday.

While Monday marked the first time this season that Columbus was blanked in a game that counts toward the league standings, it was also the second time this year it's conceded a goal.

"We have to learn from it, obviously," coach Caleb Porter told the Crew's official website. "It's still a process, and we've been on a good run, obviously … We'll use it to get better and we have to respond now in this next game versus our rival in a big match."

Cincinnati also needs to rebound from a loss, 3-0 at Chicago earlier this week. It was the second straight contest since the resumption of the regular season in which FCC has failed to score. Cincinnati has been outscored 9-3 in those three matches versus Columbus.

"We have to continue fighting, and we have shown a better face," FCC defender Kendall Waston said. "I believe in this team that we can jump back."

Yuya Kubo's two goals lead FCC this season.

New on Sports Illustrated: Red Bulls-Revolution Preview

At the moment, it would seem MLS is slated to return to play following the boycotting of several matches earlier this week. On the pitch, it also means the New England Revolution get the chance to continue their unbeaten run.

The Revs look to make it seven straight without a loss Saturday night against the visiting New York Red Bulls.

Neither New England (2-1-4) nor New York (3-3-1) were scheduled to play Wednesday, when five of the six matches on the MLS slate were boycotted due to the unrest and violence in the wake of the police shooting involving 29-year-old Jacob Blake from Kenosha, Wis.

For the time being, it appears these teams will be playing Saturday.

Not including the knockout round of the recent "MLS is Back Tournament," New England is unbeaten since opening the season with a 2-1 win at Montreal on Feb. 29. The Revs are coming off a 2-1 win at D.C. United on Tuesday. Gustavo Bou (two goals in 2020) and Teal Burnbury (two goals) each scored in the first half for the Revolution, who held on after United pulled one back in the 72nd minute.

"It gives us a lot of confidence," defender Brandon Bye told the Revolution's official website. "Whenever we score two goals on the road, I think we have the confidence to say 'our backline can keep them in check and we can get out of there with a win.'"

New England brings things back home, where it's drawn the first matches there in 2020. The Revs have won the last two home meetings with Red Bulls.

New York has split its first two games upon the league's resumption of the regular season. It fell 1-0 at Philadelphia on Tuesday. Red Bulls have scored just one goal over their last four matches that have counted toward the MLS standings.

The result did not immediately sit well with Red Bulls coach Chris Armas.

"For us, it was a big game and we feel disappointed … It wasn't good enough on the night, because we talk about good enough being a game. Not half a game," Armas told the official MLS website.

"Before you score any goals, you have to create chances and that's hasn't been easy for us. So, as a starting point, you've got to step on the field for 90 minutes."

New York has totaled six official goals this season. Local favorite Kyle Duncan has two of them.

Yahoo Fantasy Cram Session: Should you ever take a QB in round one?

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Steelers injury update: RB Anthony McFarland Jr. in concussion protocol

Mike Tomlin offered some injury updates.

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49ers to work out 4 OL and a familiar face at TE

The 49ers are set to hold workouts for four offensive linemen and a tight end.

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Mets GM: Comments about Manfred 'unfounded'

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Players Alliance pledges salaries to fight inequality

The Players Alliance, made up of more than 100 Black current and former MLB players, announced Thursday that its members will donate their salaries from Thursday's and Friday's games to the organization to support its efforts to combat racial inequality.

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Lawyers to NFL: Investigate Washington on own

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US Open draw: Many top players missing but intrigue remains

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USMNT's McKennie in Italy ahead of Juve move

USMNT star Weston McKennie has arrived in Italy ahead of officially joining Serie A champions Juventus.

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Milwaukee Bucks Commentator Details Start of NBA Boycott

Bucks legend and Color Commentator Marques Johnson breaks down why the Bucks boycotted Game 5 of the NBA playoffs without notifying the rest of the league. He details George Hill's leadership and hesitation to play that led the team to come up with a decision. Meanwhile, Lebron James gets criticism for his actions despite the NBA returning to competition.

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Could NBA social justice protests affect the college football season? | Yahoo Sports College Podcast

Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel and Pete Thamel, and Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde discuss how the recent walkouts by NBA players for social injustice could impact the 2020 college football season.

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The truth about NBA player protests: Some just don’t want to hear it

The players were peaceful. They were eloquent. They were sincere and respectful. They didn’t involve the national anthem or the American flag. And still, some had a problem. Why?

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New on Sports Illustrated: NBA Players and Their Causes Will Benefit From Decision to Keep Playing

Right now, the power of NBA players hails from their voices. The cameras are rolling. The world is listening.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – NBA players will be back on the floor, perhaps as soon as this weekend, with the rank-and-file, after an

emotionally charged 24 hours, deciding that staying in the bubble and using their platforms to push the social justice message was stronger than any statement they could make by going home.

It’s what they can do.

At this point, it’s all they can do.

What happened on Wednesday was powerful. It was a statement. The NBA has not had a playoff game postponed since 1992, when the Rodney King riots raged through Los Angeles. Before that, 1968, when the nation mourned the death of Dr. Martin Luther King. For 24 hours, the eyes of the country were on the NBA. On the players. On the issues they were fighting for.

Yet in the hours after the league shut down, more than 100 bleary-eyed and emotionally drained players gathered in a ballroom and asked: What’s next? Did they want to go home? Jaylen Brown, a union vice president, asked why they wanted to go home. To Brown, sources familiar with the meeting said, leaving because they wanted to continue the fight elsewhere was acceptable. Leaving to escape the bubble was not.

Did they want to stay? And if they did, what needs to happen to make the decision to sit out Thursday’s games anything but symbolic? The Bucks' decision to sit backed players into a corner. Play Thursday, and what was accomplished? Play Friday, and was the attention gained from two days without basketball worth it?

For hours on Wednesday, players demanded action. But what? And from whom? The Bucks got a spotty cell phone call from Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul. They wanted information on how Kaul would proceed with prosecution of the officer who shot Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old black man who was shot seven times by a Kenosha, Wisc. police officer on Sunday. Kaul proceeded to politically weaponize the conversation, blaming a pair of state legislators for not doing enough. Players spoke of the need to do more for voting rights and police reform, though to several people in the room it was unclear how.

Players want more from owners, but owners are doing more. They signed off on social justice messages on the backs of jerseys and kneeling during the national anthem. They are committing $300 million over the next decade to boost economic growth in the black community. They have publicly stood by players every step of the way.

Could they give more money? Possibly, but is there a dollar figure that would be enough? On social media, there are calls for team owners to stop supporting police unions. To stop contracting with police departments for arena security. To commit to fight against Donald Trump, a symbol of racial division to many NBA players.

But what if owners think differently? On some issues, I do. I cringe at some of the anti-police rhetoric. There are awful officers out there, many, too many, and Rusten Sheskey, the Kenosha officer who determined firing seven times into the back of an unarmed man was an appropriate use of force, is one. But to me this is about training, not defunding, about weeding out unqualified officers before they get to carry a gun and not demonize the countless others who do it for the right reasons.

I shudder at the behavior of Trump, and often struggle to understand the people who support him. I share a popular opinion that the country will be better off when he’s gone. But does every NBA owner need to? Is there a questionnaire that must be answered before investing billions in a franchise? It would be tremendous if each owner committed a sizable percentage of their income to fight racism, to support black communities. If they denounced Trump and what he stands for. If they banded together to lobby politicians for change.

But making it a requirement for NBA ownership? Mandating it in order to finish the season?

That’s a slippery slope.

The Toyota Center will become a voting center in October, and this, this is something NBA owners should be getting behind. The Hawks have turned State Farm Arena into a polling place, the Pistons have done the same with its practice center. There’s no reason other can’t follow suit. LeBron James is among the leaders in the push for voter turnout, and NBA teams can advance that cause by turning cavernous arenas into climate controlled voting booths.

Players are hurting. Any good feelings felt after a month-plus spent advocating for social justice have washed away. Players wants answers, but there aren’t any. Players want help, but change only comes in small increments and there is only so much NBA owners can do to alter that.

Right now, NBA players' power is in their voices. The cameras are rolling. The world is listening. They want justice for Breonna Taylor, the 26-year old EMT who was shot in her own home last March. But what is justice? The officers involved with Taylor’s shooting have not been charged, and chances are, they won’t be. Legal analysts, like The Marshall Project, have suggested any criminal prosecution of the officers involved will go nowhere. They had a no-knock warrant, which while controversial, was legal. They were fired upon. They didn’t need to spray the apartment with bullets, eight of which caught Taylor. But it would be difficult, if not impossible, to convict them for doing it.

Justice is getting officers like this off the street, permanently, which means busting the powerful police unions that blindly protect them. Justice is going after no-knock warrants, lobbying for them to be banned nationwide. Justice is demanding police departments commit more time and money to training. NBA players can demand accountability from politicians, commitments that, if elected, they will be agents of change.

NBA players exercised their influence this week, and we quickly saw how strong it is. The WNBA shut down. The NHL playoffs, too. Nine baseball games were postponed, with more on the way. There is enormous power in players' voices. It’s up to them how to use them. 

Here's your last-minute position cheatsheet for 2020 fantasy football drafts

Did the proximity of the NFL season sneak up on you? Don't worry, Scott Pianowski has you covered with a positional blueprint to get you ready for your fantasy football drafts.

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Steelers OC Randy Fichtner points to special things from WR Chase Claypool

Steelers rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool has been impressing his new team at training camp.

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Chargers see new stadium but decide to cancel scrimmage

The Los Angeles Chargers saw their new home at SoFi Stadium for the first time as a team Thursday. Coach Anthony Lynn canceled practice after his players held a wide-ranging conversation in the locker room spurred by the shooting of Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin last Sunday. The Chargers were one of nine teams to call off practice Thursday.

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7 things to know about new Bills starting kicker Tyler Bass

Things to know about Buffalo Bills new starting kicker Tyler Bass.

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Pro Football Focus ranks P.J. Walker No. 30 among backup quarterbacks

As for the Panthers, their projected QB2 is quite a bit lower on the list.

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Yahoo Fantasy Cram Session: Cam Newton ranks QB12 or better and other 2020 fantasy predictions

Liz Loza, Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens drop some wild fantasy predictions ahead of the 2020 season concerning New England's Cam Newton, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Washington's Terry McLaurin.

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Banged-up 49ers call off practice, hold walkthrough instead

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan called off practice Thursday after losing two more key players this week to injuries. ''They went hard, as hard as they could go,'' Shanahan said about Wednesday's practice.

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Jaguars' Conley calls on NFL QBs to lead charge for change

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Chris Conley called on ''figures who are the face of the league'' to do more to help fight social injustice. The sixth-year pro made it clear Thursday he was talking about the NFL's top quarterbacks, the ones who have the most influence in games, in locker rooms and in communities. Think Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson, for starters.

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Mike Tomlin on Steelers practicing: We desire impact greater than statements

The NFL has only four minority coaches. Two of those -- Anthony Lynn of the Chargers and Ron Rivera of Washington -- canceled practice Thursday in light of the police shooting of Jacob Blake and the outcry that has followed. The Dolphins, who have Brian Flores as their head coach, already had a scheduled day [more]

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Report: Genard Avery didn’t tear ACL

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Former Kings star Chris Webber makes emotional speech amidst NBA boycott

Former Kings star takes a stand against social injustice.

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Milwaukee Bucks players make statement on boycott

Bucks ownership backed them. As did the NBA Coaches Association.

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It's worth listening to Chris Webber's message on NBA players' protest

Chris Webber had a message worth listening to on Wednesday after NBA players decided not to play any of that night's games.

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ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg: Isaac Okoro’s body ‘is NBA-ready’

ESPN’s Seth Greenberg says Issac Okoro's body is ready for the NBA. He was tough to keep off the glass and out of the lane. His body is NBA-ready, Seth Greenberg. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl knows what Okoro is able to do on the court after coaching him for one season

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Kenny Smith walks off NBA on TNT set in solidarity with Bucks over Blake shooting

* Blake was shot in back by police in Wisconsin on Sunday * NBA postpones playoff games after player boycottsKenny Smith walked off the set of the NBA on TNT on Wednesday night in solidarity with the Milwaukee Bucks, who boycotted their playoff game against the Orlando Magic following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.The Bucks’ decision led to the NBA postponing the three playoff games scheduled for Wednesday. Blake, who is black, was shot in the back by police, apparently in front of his children, on Sunday, and his family say he is now paralyzed from the waist down. The shooting occurred in Kenosha, Wisconsin, 40 miles from Milwaukee. A 17-year-old has been charged after two people were shot dead during protests over the killing on Tuesday night.> .@TheJetOnTNT stands with the NBA players. pic.twitter.com/39Sby1D5kn> > — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 26, 2020“Right now my head is ready to explode like in the thought of what’s going on,” Smith told his co-hosts Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. “I don’t know if I’m appropriate enough to say it what the players are feeling and how they’re feeling. I haven’t talked to any player.“Even driving here and getting into the studio … hearing calls and people talking. … And for me, I think the biggest thing now As a black man as a former player, I think it’s best for me to support the players and just not to be here tonight … And I figure out what happens after that.”Smith played in the NBA for 10 years and has forged a successful career in broadcasting since his retirement. Another player turned broadcaster, Chris Webber, gave his thoughts on TNT later.An emotional Webber spoke about the frustrations of being black in America, while sounding a hopeful note that protests such as that staged by the Bucks could lead to change.“If not now, when? If not during a pandemic and countless lives being lost. If not now, when? That’s all I want to hear from the rest of the night when everybody’s pontificating and thinking and soapboxing and all of that, we know nothing is going to change,” he said.> Every word Chris Webber says here should be listened to. pic.twitter.com/L2mKUqEHL1> > — Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) August 26, 2020“We get it. If Martin Luther King got shot and risked his life, Medgar Evers, and we’ve seen this in all of our heroes constantly taken down. We understand it’s not going to end, but that does not mean young men that you don’t do anything. Don’t listen to these people telling you don’t do anything because it’s not going to end right away. You are starting something for the next generation and the next generation to take over. “Do you have to be smart? Yes. Do you have to make sure you have a plan? Yes. Do you have to be articulate about that plan? Yes. All of those things, but that’s what you’re going to do. They’re professionals, they know how to be the best of themselves. So I applaud it. I applaud it because it’s the young people, the young people leading the way. And I applaud them.”

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Former Wizard Chris Webber gives heartfelt message in support for NBA players protesting games

Chris Webber displayed raw emotion showing support for NBA players protesting Wednesday's games.

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NBA postpones playoff games after Milwaukee Bucks boycott

The NBA postponed three playoff games after the Milwaukee Bucks players did not take the court in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. NBA analyst Bill Reiter joins CBSN to discuss.

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Why former Bulls guard Craig Hodges is proud of strikes across American sports

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Bucks team read statement to media after boycotting playoff game

Sterling Brown and George Hill read a prepared statement on behalf of the Milwaukee Bucks players.

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Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, NBA players courageous with actions, boycott

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Chris Webber's emotional reaction to NBA players walkout

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Haynes: Everybody was in agreement that they needed to make a statement

Chris Haynes offers the latest from inside the Orlando campus on the Bucks boycotting Game 5 of their first round series.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Milwaukee Bucks Fans React to Players' Decision to Protest Playoff Game Against Orlando Magic

The mood outside Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum on Wednesday was bittersweet after the team's playoff game and an accompanying watch party were canceled, though fans were overwhelmingly supportive of the players’ actions.

MILWAUKEE -- On a sunny weekday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks brought the NBA playoffs to an abrupt halt when they

declined to take the floor against the Orlando Magic in an act of protest in response to the Sunday police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., just 45 minutes south of the Bucks’ home arena. With all NBA playoff games being played in Orlando, Milwaukee fans had gathered outside Fiserv Forum for a watch party, and about 50 fans remained there an hour after the game had been canceled.

It was a historic moment, the first NBA game — playoffs or otherwise — to be postponed after players refused to take the court as an act of civil disobedience. Elgin Baylor famously took an individual stand against racism by sitting out a game back in 1959, but never before had two entire teams agreed to do so.

And yet, even though Milwaukee fans had gathered in hopes of watching their team close out the series with the Magic and advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, those that remained outside the arena were supportive of the team’s decision not to play.

“I’m proud of them,” said Karl Iglesias. “They made a statement that obviously I wouldn’t have made, because I’m here ready to watch the game. And so for them to make that statement shows the power of it.”

Iglesias was sitting with his friend Joshua Sarnowski, who agreed, saying, “I think it’s a sign of unity, in a sense. I mean, they’re sending a message that we’re in a whole newfound space. These guys are just using their platform to their advantage, and I think that’s a beautiful thing … In terms of like, what’s going on right now in reality, we definitely need to find that unity and say, 'This isn’t right.’"

One table over, fellow fan and season ticket holder Anthony Jones agreed: “I’m good with it. It’s bigger than the game.”

His tablemate, Marques Johnson added, “I think it’s huge. I think it shows the kind of organization the Bucks have. I get that sports are an outlet to tune out the world, but some things you just can’t tune out.”

Hours after the game was postponed, the Bucks organization issued a statement supporting the players. 

"We fully support our players and the decision they made. Although we did not know beforehand, we would have wholeheartedly agreed with them. The only way to bring about change is to shine a light on the racial injustices that are happening in front of us. Our players have done that and we will continue to stand alongside them and demand accountability and change.”

Alex Lasry, son of Bucks owner Marc Lasry and a senior vice president with the organization, also tweeted out support for the players, saying, “Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and org shows that we’re fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change.”

The Bucks proved to be the first domino to fall, as the subsequent Rockets-Thunder and Lakers-Trail Blazers games were canceled shortly afterwards. The day’s events cast the rest of the playoffs into doubt, as SI’s Chris Mannix reported that the players plan to meet Wednesday night to discuss whether or not to proceed.

For Bucks fans, the team’s outstanding season—No. 1 seed in the East, title favorites, a possible second MVP award for Giannis Antetokounmpo—ending without resolution would be bittersweet. But those on hand Wednesday seemed understanding of the context weighing on the players’ decision.

“It’d be sad. There’s only a limited window to win a championship,” said Brandon Rober before his wife, Alex Rober, interjected saying, “But at the same time, it’s like, if you’re going to wear things on your jersey, and if you’re gonna truly stand for things, then they're doing the right thing. Then stand for it. I guess in my eyes, boycotting one game won’t change anything, but if the NBA boycotts the whole season, that is serious … Take your stand and be proud of it, and they should. They should be proud of themselves … I think they did the right thing.”

Added Jones, “I think if the players want to [cancel the rest of the season] it’s up to them. But we’re good with it either way.”

Overall, the mood outside Fiserv Forum was bittersweet, though overwhelmingly supportive of the players’ actions. 

“I totally support it,” said Chris Bukowski. “It’s Milwaukee, it’s the state of Wisconsin. What happened in Kenosha is not right. They’re really making a statement. It’s actions.”

Bukowski's friend Jay Scott added, “I’m really, really proud to be a Milwaukee Bucks fan. This is really, really important.”

New on Sports Illustrated: Bucks Players Issue Statement on Decision to Sit Out: 'We Are Calling for Justice for Jacob Blake'

Players from the Bucks released a statement on their decision to sit out of Wednesday's game vs. Orlando.

Milwaukee Bucks players

released a statement explaining why they decided not to play Game 5 against the Orlando Magic Wednesday night.

Bucks guards Sterling Brown and George Hill initially read the statement after emerging from their team's locker room. The rest of Milwaukee's team stood behind the aforementioned guards in support.

“The past four months have shed a light on the ongoing racial injustices facing our African American communities. Citizens around the country have used their voices and platforms to speak out against these wrongdoings.

“Over the last few days in our home state of Wisconsin, we’ve seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, and the additional shooting of protestors. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball.

“When we take the court and represent Milwaukee and Wisconsin, we are expected to play at a high level, give maximum effort and hold each other accountable. We hold ourselves to that standard, and in this moment, we are demanding the same from our lawmakers and law enforcement.

“We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers be held accountable. For this to occur, it is imperative for the Wisconsin State Legislature to reconvene after months of inaction and take up meaningful measures to address issues of police accountability, brutality and criminal justice reform. We encourage all citizens to educate themselves, take peaceful and responsible action, and remember to vote on Nov. 3."

The Bucks never took the court for warmups ahead of what was an initially scheduled 4 p.m tipoff with the Magic. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, in the ensuing hours inside Milwaukee's locker room, the team was on a conference call with Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul and lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes.

The Bucks' decision comes as a response to police shooting Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, multiple times in the back Sunday in Kenosha, Wis.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Blake was conscious but partially paralyzed from a bullet that severed his spinal cord. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, according to the Wisconsin DOJ's statement.

Bucks ownership also released a statement Wednesday evening.

"We fully support our players and the decision they made," the team said in a statement signed by Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan. "Although we did not know beforehand, we would have wholeheartedly agreed with them. The only way to bring about change is to shine a light on the racial injustices that are happening in front of us. Our players have done that and we will continue to stand alongside them and demand accountability and change."

Players and teams across a number of sports followed the Bucks' lead in deciding to sit out of games. The NBA postponed the two other games scheduled for Wednesday, Rockets-Thunder and Lakers–Trail Blazers, after players from those games had also discussed not playing. The Milwaukee Brewers decided to sit out of Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. All three WNBA games initially scheduled to be played Wednesday night were also postponed after players collectively decided to sit out.