Sports

Hawai’i HC June Jones turns down program’s offer to return

Hawai’i is still on the look for its next head football coach, as June Jones turned down the school’s offer Friday.

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NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 01: Head coach June Jones of the Hawai’i Warriors hangs his head against the Georgia Bulldogs during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 1, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Upon Todd Graham resigning as head coach after verbal abuse allegations on Jan. 14, Jones immediately expressed interest in the job. Jones was head coach of the Rainbow Warriors from 1999-2007, a time in which Hawai’i enjoyed the most success in the history of the program. Jones went 76-41, capping off his eight-year run with a Sugar Bowl loss to Georgia in 2007.

But there won’t be a reunion for the 68-year-old and Hawai’i after all.

“I understand that there has been a lot of support for Coach Jones this past week, but he has declined our offer,” athletic director David Matlin said in a statement Friday night, via ESPN. “I respect his decision and we need to move forward in our search. At the end of the day, we couldn’t agree on a succession plan that I felt was important for our student-athletes and supporters of Rainbow Warrior football.”

NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 01: Quarterback Colt Brennan #15 of the Hawai’i Warriors talks with head coach June Jones against the Georgia Bulldogs during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 1, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

While Matlin said there was a disagreement on a succession plan, Jones explained his side on Twitter.

“So I would like to comment and give my thoughts on the Football Head Coaching job,” Jones wrote. “..I am still interested in this job for the people of Hawaii but the job offered to me today there is no way I could accept with the conditions offered me …No coach in their right mind would accept!

“Dictating who can be on my staff and only 2 year contract..What recruit would come if I was here for 2 years???..this has never been about money-but it is about giving me the ability to turn our program around and not have people tell me who is on my staff or how to coach my team.”

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NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 01: Head Coach June Jones of the Hawaii Warriors looks over his play list during his game against against the Georgia Bulldogs on January 1, 2008 during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 1, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Bulldogs won 41-10. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/Getty Images)

ESPN reports that the two sides clashed over Jones’ potential staff and successor. Matlin reportedly wanted Timmy Chang, former Hawai’i quarterback and current Colorado State wide receivers coach, to succeed Jones after the two years were up. Chang played under Jones from 2000-04, becoming the school’s all-time leading passer.

As signing day approaches on Feb. 2, Hawai’i still has lots of work to do without a head coach in place. The Rainbow Warriors have 20 players in the Transfer Portal, including starting quarterback Chevan Cordeiro and starting running back Dae Dae Hunter.

Two weeks after DUI, Raiders’ Nate Hobbs cited for reckless driving

Just two weeks after Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of DUI, the rookie was cited by Nevada State Highway Patrol on Sunday for reckless driving.

Larry Browns Sports reports that Hobbs was driving 110 mph on freeway 215, according to the 8 News Now report.

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Cornerback Nate Hobbs #39 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 41-14. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)

ESPN reported in early January that the LVMPD received a call that a driver was asleep in a vehicle parked on the exit ramp of a parking garage. The driver, identified as Hobbs, failed a field sobriety test and was transported to the Clark County Detention Center before being booked for DUI. Photos courtesy of Getty.

ESPN reported in early January that the LVMPD received a call that a driver was asleep in a vehicle parked on the exit ramp of a parking garage. The driver, identified as Hobbs, failed a field sobriety test and was transported to the Clark County Detention Center before being booked for DUI.

Nate Hobbs #39 of the Las Vegas Raiders in action against Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 07, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Raiders 23-16. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Hobbs’ attorneys, David Z. Chesnoff and Richard A. Schonfeld, contested the charge a day later, ESPN reports.

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Bryce Perkins #16 of the Los Angeles Rams looks to pass against Nate Hobbs #39 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at SoFi Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

“The facts and circumstances related by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to the news media leave serious concerns that this does not qualify as a DUI under Nevada law,” they said regarding the DUI charge.

The 22-year-old Hobbs — a fifth-round pick in last year’s draft out of Illinois — had 74 tackles, a sack and an interception in 16 games this season.

City drops points, drone stops play on unusual day in EPL

Man City dropping points. Newcastle winning a game. A drone stopping play.

There were plenty of unusual occurrences in the Premier League on Saturday, even if a late, late winner by Manchester United at Old Trafford felt ever so familiar.

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Few could have expected City to fail to win at Southampton, with a 1-1 draw ending the leaders’ 12-match winning run that stretched back to Oct. 30. City is ahead of Liverpool by 12 points but the Reds have played two games fewer, meaning there is still some life in the title race.

Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Before a 1-0 win at Leeds, Newcastle’s only previous victory in its 23 games in all competitions this season was against Burnley on Dec. 4. Beating Leeds wasn’t enough to lift the Saudi-owned northeast team out of the relegation zone, yet it might be the start of a late-season resurgence for Newcastle — especially if more signings come in before the end of January.

Most bizarre of all Saturday was the sight of players from Brentford and Wolverhampton being led off the field by the referee because a drone was hovering above the pitch in their match in west London.

Play was suspended for nearly 20 minutes in a match Wolves ended up winning 2-1.

In other games, Marcus Rashford scored in the third and final minute of stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 win for United against West Ham, lifting the team to fourth place. Aston Villa won 1-0 at Everton.

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CITY HELD

Man City needed a 65th-minute header by Aymeric Laporte to earn a point at St. Mary’s, after Southampton took the lead through Kyle Walker-Peters in the seventh.

Kevin De Bruyne, who supplied the cross for Laporte’s goal, and substitute Gabriel Jesus hit the same post in the second half for City, for whom Raheem Sterling had a gilt-edged chance from close range saved by Fraser Forster before halftime.

Southampton’s players defended stoutly after the break, just like they did when collecting a 0-0 draw at Etihad Stadium in September.

SECOND WIN

Newcastle is heading to Saudi Arabia during the winter break on the back of a big win in its fight for survival.

Jonjo Shelvey’s low, curling free kick flew past a slew of outstretched legs in the area and squeezed into the far corner of the net in the 75th minute at Elland Road.

Eddie Howe’s team is only one point from safety with a game in hand on fourth-to-last Norwich, which won at Watford on Friday.

“It was a heroic effort,” Howe said, “in the sense that we committed everything to the game and I thought the players were outstanding.”

RANGNICK’S GAMBLE

Man United ended the game against West Ham with four strikers on the field in something of a throwback to better days at the club under Alex Ferguson.

Much to Ralf Rangnick’s delight, they combined for the clinching goal that came so late it was almost in what was once known as “Fergie Time.”

After the ball broke free, Cristiano Ronaldo passed the ball forward to one sub, Anthony Martial, who slipped in another, Edinson Cavani, who crossed for another, Rashford, to tap home at the far post. There was a slight concern that Cavani had been in an offside position but the goal stood after a VAR check and United could celebrate a second win in four days.

“An extremely emotional moment if you score in the last second of the game,” Rangnick said, “knowing that there is no time anymore for the other team to reply.”

DIGNE’S RETURN

Lucas Digne had an eventful return to Goodison Park.

Barely a week after leaving Everton because of a falling-out with its then-manager Rafa Benitez, the France left back was back at his former club with Aston Villa and set up the winning goal for his new team.

Digne’s inswinging corner was glanced by Emi Buendia in first-half stoppage time for what proved to be the only goal.

Then, as Digne was celebrating with other Villa players in front of a section of Everton fans, he fell to the ground and clutched his face, having been struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd. A supporter was later arrested.

Everton, which had Duncan Ferguson in caretaker charge while the club searches for a replacement for the fired Benitez, dropped to within four points of the relegation zone.

Streaking No. 2 Auburn wins 80-71 over No. 12 Kentucky

Walker Kessler scored 19 points and K.D. Johnson added 17, helping No. 2 Auburn keep its hot streak alive with an 80-71 victory over No. 12 Kentucky on Saturday.

The Tigers (18-1, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) rallied from a 10-point deficit to win their 15th straight in likely the biggest home game since Auburn Arena opened in 2010. It was big enough that the traditional football school had students set up tents Friday morning, camping out to make sure they got in.

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The Tigers, who have matched the highest ranking in program history, made it worth the wait. Fans chanted No. 1 in the final moments, hoping to supplant Gonzaga.

Kentucky’s No. 2 scorer, TyTy Washington, only played eight minutes and scored four points before being helped off the court with a left ankle injury. He didn’t return.

Johnson made 3 of 5 3-pointers for Auburn. Kessler hit 8 of 10 shots and had seven rebounds. Jabari Smith had 14 points and seven boards for the Tigers, who hit their first 15 free throws in the second half.

Wendell Green Jr. was scoreless for the first 28 minutes, then hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 25-second span and finished with 11 points.

Auburn students and fans stand outside Auburn Arena as people camped out for the NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Oscar Tshiebwe had 16 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots for Kentucky (15-4, 5-2). Kellan Grady made 4 of 7 3-pointers and scored 17 points. Sahvir Wheeler, Johnson’s former teammate at Georgia, also scored 17 points and had four assists.

The Tigers, who trailed by 10 points during the first half, took a 64-52 lead with 6:07 remaining. Johnson hit three free throws after getting fouled on a 3-point shot — as Jaylin Williams and Jabari Smith had earlier in the half.

Grady’s 3-pointer from the right corner cut it to four points with 3:20 to play.

The Wildcats scored 13 consecutive points to build a double-digit lead six minutes into the game. Auburn managed to whittle it down to 33-29 by halftime with back to back dunks by Kessler in the final 38 seconds.

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BIG PICTURE

Kentucky was short-handed without Washington and cooled off after a hot start. The Wildcats did shoot 50% (29 of 58).

Auburn made 26 of 44 shots (56.8%) to outpace the league’s highest scoring team. The Tigers have won six of the last 11 meetings in a series mostly dominated by Kentucky historically.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Tigers are hoping this win, coupled with a blowout of last-place Georgia, will be enough to secure their first No. 1 ranking. Kentucky likely won’t fall far after beating Texas A&M in mid-week.

UP NEXT

Auburn visits Missouri on Tuesday night.

Kentucky hosts Mississippi State on Tuesday night.

Griffin hits 5 3s, No. 6 Duke beats Syracuse 79-59

AJ Griffin attempted 10 shots Saturday, nine of them from behind the arc. If Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had his way, Griffin would’ve put up even more.

“AJ is our best shooter. I’d really like for him to be even more aggressive,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s a key guy, there’s no question about it. Every guy on our team has complete confidence in him.”

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Griffin hit five 3-pointers — the most by a Duke player this season — and the sixth-ranked Blue Devils routed visiting Syracuse 79-59.

“We’re more connected on the offensive end with balanced scoring,” Krzyzewski said. “There were a couple of really good minutes of outstanding offense. It looked like the (Carolina) Hurricanes playing. There were a lot of hockey assists.”

Griffin was one of four players for Duke (15-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) with 15 points, joining Paolo Banchero, Wendell Moore Jr. and Mark Williams. Banchero had 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Jeremy Roach added 11 points.

Jesse Edwards led Syracuse (9-10, 3-5) with 12 points and nine rebounds. Jimmy Boeheim also had 12 points.

Griffin swished 3-pointers on his first two shots to spark Duke’s 11-2 run out of the gate. Syracuse surged back with a 13-5 stretch but never took the lead from Duke.

Duke forward A.J. Griffin (21) reacts following a basket against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

A 24-11 run from the Blue Devils to start the second half extended their lead to 27. Moore tallied 10 points during that span. Duke grew its lead to 31 points during the second half.

Saturday marked the 16th meeting between Krzyzewski and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, who are 1-2 atop the career wins list among Division I men’s basketball coaches. Krzyzewski leads the head-to-head series 11-5.

“We’re really good friends, and that’s separate from basketball. When we come here, we want to win,” Boeheim said of facing Krzyzewski for the last time at Cameron Indoor Stadium. “There’s so many good memories, on the court, but more than many off the court.”

Duke hit 14 of 37 3-pointers (37.8%).

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BIG PICTURE

Duke: The Blue Devils bounced back from their loss to Florida State in an emphatic way, beating Syracuse in nearly every facet of the game. The Blue Devils were efficient in sharing the ball, too, totaling 25 assists on 30 made field goals for an 83% assist percentage, its best mark of the season.

“We have great players all over the floor,” Banchero said. “Everyone trusts each other to make shots, so we’re never hesitant to pass it for open looks.”

Syracuse: The Orange have lost five of their last seven games and their hopes of earning Boeheim another NCAA tournament berth are dwindling. Syracuse made just five 3-pointers, tied for its lowest of the season.

KEEL OUT, ROACH RESPONDS

Freshman guard Trevor Keels did not play for Duke as he recovers from a leg injury he suffered against Florida State. Krzyzewski said the injury shouldn’t be “long-term.”

In-place of Keels, sophomore Jeremy Roach started after three games of coming off the bench. He responded by dishing out a career-high nine assists, along with six points and three rebounds.

STAT OF THE NIGHT

Duke held Syracuse to 17.2% shooting from behind the arc. The Blue Devils have held seven straight opponents — and 13 on the season — to 30% or worse from 3-point range. Duke entered the game ranking 41st nationally and second in the ACC in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 29.7% from deep this season.

Buddy Boeheim, the Orange’s leading scorer (19.2) was 2 of 15, including 1 of 10 from behind the arc. Joe Girard, who entered the game leading the ACC in 3-point shooting at 45.5% and was tied for the conference lead with 51 made 3s, was 1 of 9 from deep. Each scored seven points.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Duke finishes the week 1-1. The Blue Devils weren’t the only ranked team that lost this week though, as No. 8 Wisconsin and No. 4 Purdue were also among those who suffered defeats. Duke will likely be part of a reshuffling in the next poll.

UP NEXT

Duke: Remaining at home, the Blue Devils host Clemson on Tuesday.

Syracuse: The Orange stay on the road, playing at Pitt on Tuesday.

Gillespie scores 28, No. 11 Villanova beats Georgetown 85-74

Collin Gillespie scored 28 points, Justin Moore added 19 and No. 11 Villanova won at Georgetown 85-74 on Saturday.

Gillespie connected on 6 of 9 3-pointers, including four in the second half. Villanova erased an eight-point, second-half deficit to continue its dominance over Georgetown. The Wildcats (14-5, 7-2 Big East) have won five of six over the Hoyas and 17 of the last 20.

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“I was just playing off my jump shot, taking what I saw,” Gillespie said. “We don’t care if it looks good or it’s ugly, we are going to make those plays.”

Gillespie finished two points shy of matching his career-high 30, which came against Georgetown on Feb. 3, 2019.

Collin Holloway led Georgetown (6-10, 0-5) with a career-high 25 points and Dante Harris added 17. Georgetown has lost six straight and now starts Big East play with five straight losses for the first time in program history.

Jermaine Samuels had 18 points for Villanova, which avoided back-to-back losses after dropping a rare home game to Marquette on Wednesday. The Wildcats shot 53.6 % from the field and made all 16 free throws.

Coach Jay Wright’s program improved to 23-13 all-time against Georgetown.

Villanova forward Eric Dixon (43) defends against Georgetown center Timothy Ighoefe (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

“Good road victory…I’m proud of our guys,” Wright said after his Wildcats improved to 4-1 on the road in the Big East. “If you can win on the road, you’ve done something special.”

Georgetown led 47-39 a few minutes into the second half after a Holloway 3-pointer. Villanova used a 9-0 run to regain the lead and then led most of the way. Aminu Mohammed added 13 points for Georgetown.

Four of Georgetown’s five conference losses have come by double digits.

“It’s disappointing that we let this one slip away,” said Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing. “We were right there.”

Villanova last trailed after a Holloway layup with 10:43 left put the Hoyas up 56-55. Gillespie nailed two of his 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions and Georgetown never got closer than three the rest of the way.

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BIG PICTURE

Villanova: The Wildcats responded after their rare home loss to keep pace just behind Providence at the top of the Big East standings. Villanova last lost consecutive conference games in the 2019-20 season when they dropped three in a row to Creighton, Butler and Seton Hall in early February 2020.

Georgetown: The Hoyas are in danger of posting a second losing record in the last three seasons under Ewing. In his fifth season back at the school he led to the 1984 National Championship, Ewing has just one winning season at Georgetown and fell to 68-69 all-time.

ALL TIED UP

Villanova tied up the all-time series at 45 with the win on Saturday. The last time the series was tied came in the 1981 season at 7-7. Georgetown led the series 42-28 after a win in 2012.

UP NEXT

Villanova: Host DePaul on Tuesday night. Villanova beat the Blue Demons 79-64 on Jan. 8.

Georgetown: The Hoyas play at No. 25 UConn on Tuesday night. The Huskies swept Georgetown last season.

NFL ends daily COVID-19 testing for all players

The NFL is curtailing daily testing of all players, vaccinated or unvaccinated, for COVID-19.

In a memo sent to the 32 clubs and obtained by The Associated Press, the league said Friday that medical experts from the NFL and the players’ union agreed to the change. Those doctors have seen enough evidence of a decrease in positive tests in the last month to feel comfortable with dropping daily tests.

This is a general overall interior view of SoFi Stadium as the Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. A late-season surge in COVID-19 cases had the NFL in 2021 looking a lot like 2020, when the coronavirus led to significant disruptions, postponements and changing protocols. The emerging omicron variant figures to play a role all the way through the playoffs, including the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, where California has always been aggressive with policies to combat the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)

AARON RODGERS TALKS COVID VAX DRAMA, ALLEGES ‘CENSORSHIP’ IF OPINIONS DON’T FOLLOW THE MAINSTREAM

Last month, weekly testing for vaccinated players and personnel was stopped, but anyone who reported symptoms of COVID-19 or was part of targeted surveillance still was subjected to testing.

“Following consultation with our jointly retained infectious disease experts, the NFL and NFL Players Association have updated the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 protocols to eliminate the distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated players to determine testing cadence,” the memo said. “Effective immediately, all players and tiered staff will be subject to strategic and targeted testing.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell looks on before the Las Vegas Raiders play the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium Oct. 4, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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The league will continue symptom-based testing and screening for symptoms.

“This comprehensive, symptom-based approach to testing reflects our recent experience with the omicron variant and conforms to current public health recommendations and best practices employed in health care,” the memo said, “and offers the best opportunity for identifying and treating cases promptly and avoiding spread within the facility.”

Curry hits winning jumper, Warriors beat Rockets 105-103

Confetti fell and Stephen Curry flexed. He danced and celebrated a January victory against the lowly Rockets as if it were a playoff game in May.

Oh how the Golden State Warriors needed this one. Curry needed this one.

His dependable, smooth shot abandoning him for much of the night again, Curry nailed a game-winning 20-foot jumper from the top of the key as the clock hit 0.0 and the buzzer blared, scoring 22 points and sending the Warriors past Houston 105-103 on Friday.

“It felt great,” Curry said. “The way the whole last 48 hours have been with the way we played grinding out last night, going overtime, losing, the disappointment with that and then coming into this game, the back and forth, just grind-it-out mentality we had, the resilience we showed to give ourselves a chance the second half was impressive.

“It reminds you to keep the big-picture perspective on what we’re trying to do.”

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, chases the ball after fouling Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) during the first half of a game in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

SUNS RALLY LATE TO BEAT MAVS, SWEEP 5-GAME ROAD TRIP

The sellout crowd went into a frenzy as Curry pumped his arms in triumph at midcourt, exhaling after he had missed two 3-pointers in the final 1:48. It was the first buzzer-beating winning shot of Curry’s career. He had seven to win games in the final 5 seconds.

It had been since high school.

“It’s just how the game kind of goes, I hit some shots .1, .4, 1 second, whatever it is, big shots,” he said. “But it’s a different feeling when it’s a walk-off. It’s good to know what that feels like finally.”

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates after the Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets in San Francisco Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Curry overcame a slow start to lift the tired, mentally spent Warriors back up from an ugly loss to Indiana a night earlier. He also dished out 12 assists.

“I was shocked. I just talked to him. It was his first ever walk-off game-winner,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Obviously he’s had plenty in the final seconds. I didn’t know that. A fitting end to a grind-out game that we really needed. I think in some ways we had forgotten how hard you have to play to win in this league.

“I think tonight our guys remembered that lesson.”

BULLS’ LONZO BALL TO HAVE KNEE SURGERY, SIDELINED 6-8 WEEKS

Houston had the ball with 11.5 seconds left and the game tied at 103, but Garrison Mathews missed a 3 and Otto Porter Jr. secured the rebound before a Warriors timeout.

Porter’s driving dunk with 3:38 to play got Golden State within 101-99.

Curry missed his initial eight shots — including an 0 for 5 in the first quarter when he had only a single free throw — and finally made his first field goal with a 3-pointer 48.8 seconds before halftime. Golden State trailed 54-43 at the break then went into the final quarter tied at 76.

The reigning scoring champion shot 6 for 21 with four 3’s. Andrew Wiggins added 17 points for the Warriors following a 121-117 overtime loss to the undermanned Pacers on Thursday night.

Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors stands on the court prior to the start of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La., Jan. 6, 2022. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Klay Thompson sat out the second game of the back-to-back, and Jordan Poole scored 20 while returning to the starting lineup as rookie Jonathan Kuminga came off the bench.

Poole went down hard with 1:17 left in the third when Mathews clobbered him in the face, a play that was ruled a Flagrant 1 foul after review.

Christian Wood had 12 of his 19 points in the first quarter and grabbed 15 rebounds, and Kevin Porter Jr. scored 17 points for Houston, which wrapped up a five-game road trip. The Rockets came in having won three of four but dropped their fifth straight to the Warriors, including three in a row in the Bay Area.

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Golden State used a 33-point third quarter to get back in it a day after the Warriors shot a dismal 9 for 42 from 3-point range and coach Steve Kerr blamed himself for not having the team prepared to play a Pacers team missing three starters with injuries.

Golden State committed 21 turnovers against Indiana, another 19 on Friday and hasn’t played the kind of smothering defense that defined the Warriors early on this season. And they are clearly missing injured Draymond Green’s presence on both ends.

“Without Draymond, we lose a huge part of who we are identity wise, force wise, competitive wise,” Kerr said.

All US Olympians vaccinated against COVID

The U.S. Olympic team’s top doctor says all of the 200-plus athletes heading to Beijing for the Winter Games next month are fully vaccinated, and not a single one asked for a medical exemption.

Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Finnoff told The Associated Press the 21-day quarantine period the IOC is requiring for unvaccinated participants, combined with the education the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee provided, “really resonated with the athletes.”

CHINA MANDATES 3-DAY OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY AMID VIRUS CONCERNS

“Vaccination is sort of the foundation of our COVID mitigation protocol,” Finnoff said Thursday.

In September, the USOPC introduced a policy requiring U.S. athletes to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 1 unless they had a medical exemption. About a month later, the IOC put out guidelines calling for full vaccinations or a three-week quarantine period upon entering China.

Heading into Summer Olympics in Tokyo last year, Finnoff estimated that 100 of the more than 600 Americans competing weren’t vaccinated.

A woman wears a Beijing 2022 hat while walking inside the main media center at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The U.S. will finalize the members of the winter team this week. It is expected to include about 240 athletes. Qualifying for the Paralympics is still ongoing, but Finnoff said so far, the USOPC hasn’t received requests for exemptions from potential Paralympians.

The USOPC has been organizing testing and flights for the athletes, many of whom will go to Beijing on charter flights. All need two negative tests — one within 96 hours of their flight to China, and another within 72.

The federation is holding more informational meetings with athletes over the next week, at which it will reiterate the requirement of athletes to adhere to the host country’s laws when considering any type of protest or demonstration.

COVID-19: NEARLY HALF OF VIRUS HOSPITALIZATIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE FOR OTHER ISSUES

Earlier this week, a group of human rights activists urged athletes not to criticize China for fear they could be prosecuted.

“Certainly, the culture and laws of China are distinct from ours,” CEO Sarah Hirshland said. “And we have a duty and an obligation to make sure that they’re well-informed. At the same time we need to assure them that they’ve got a robust support team behind them along the way.”

With reports swirling that personal information could be compromised online in China, the USOPC joined some other countries in telling athletes to bring burner phones if possible.

Hirshland called NBC’s decision earlier this week to not send on-air reporters to cover the games a case of the network doing “the right business continuity planning” to ensure they can deliver complete coverage to the United States.

Not surprisingly, Hirshland would not commit to a medals prediction. She did point out that the U.S. heads into the games with 11 athletes who are ranked No. 1 in their respective disciplines. That includes Mikaela Shiffrin in the Alpine World Cup overall standings and Red Gerard in the World Snowboard Points list for slopestyle.

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The U.S. won 23 medals at the Pyeongchang Olympics, good for fourth on the medals table.

“You add the potential for COVID and we face the same reality as we did going into Tokyo, unsure what the starting lines will look like,” Hirshland said. “But we’re not in a distinct situation from the rest of the world. We’re all facing the same challenges.”

Should Jim Harbaugh stay at Michigan?

The Michigan Wolverines just completed their most successful season in recent memory. Many students at the University of Michigan weren’t old enough to remember the last time the Wolverines were the champions of the west, some were in middle school the last time they beat Ohio State, and since its inception in 2014, the College Football Playoff has seemed like a pipe dream.

Jim Harbaugh conquered all those mountains in 2021.

While their Playoff performance against Georgia still left something to be desired, they had finally been invited to the party of college football elites.

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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh watches during an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 37-33. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

Despite all that success, Jim Harbaugh is still flirting with the NFL… and flirting might be putting it too lightly. He hasn’t publicly denied his openness to explore NFL opportunities, and this week sources from inside the Michigan athletic department leaked that he would “take an NFL job if it was offered.”

While many Wolverine (and Buckeye and Spartan) faithful would love to have Harbaugh there in Ann Arbor ’til the end of time — or at least as long as he’s still vertical — there’s a contingent of fans who wouldn’t mind moving on from the head man.

Here are the cases for both:

One day is fine…

It may have taken seven years, but Harbaugh not only beat Ohio State in 2021, but he did so in dominating fashion. He’s come close before. There was that double overtime thriller back in 2016 that came down to a 4th down spot that ultimately doomed the Wolverines.

Though the defense was a huge problem for several years, it appears that they finally have it figured out. After last season, Harbaugh called in a favor from his brother John and brought in Mike Macdonald from the Baltimore Ravens to coordinate the defense. The move paid off, and the Wolverines sported one of the top defenses in the country in 2021, which included two of the top edge rushers in the nation, Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. Both will most likely be first round draft picks.

Quarterback has been another problem since Harbaugh was hired, but this season, Cade McNamara played well. He was efficient and managed the game the way Harbaugh would have, had he still been a player. In addition to McNamara’s consistent play, Wolverine fans are also excited about the glimpses they saw of freshman signal caller JJ McCarthy. He was explosive and dynamic in brief regular season appearances. He played much of the second half against Georgia and provided a nice boost, including the only touchdown of the night for the Wolverines. He showed the skill that made him a 5-star recruit out of high school, and the McCarthy era might be starting sooner rather than later for the Wolverines.

The staple of any of Jim Harbaugh team has been a dominant run game, and last year, Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum headlined a power rushing attack that was reminiscent of Harbaugh’s time at Stanford. Multiple tight ends with shifts and motions made this offense feel like a throwback that relied on an old school ground game.

While there were many solid veterans on the Michigan depth chart, the real excitement was generated by the youth. Freshman running back Donavon Edwards was versatile and explosive, and freshman receiver Andrel Anthony provided a similar spark.

After seven seasons at his alma mater, Jim Harbaugh has a 61-24 record and is now coming off a 12-2 season featuring the program’s first Big Ten championship since the inauguration of the Big Ten Championship Game in 2011.

The next is black…

FILE – In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh calls a timeout in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)

Despite the success of the 2021 season, Jim Harbaugh has struggled mightily to return Michigan to its former glory. After back-to-back 10-3 seasons to start his tenure with the Wolverines, they dipped to 8-5. They also had an extremely rough COVID riddled 2020, going a mere 2-4.

The regular season peaks and valleys have been accompanied by a glaring lack of postseason success. Though they won the Citrus Bowl in 2015, Harbaugh is a mere 1-5 in bowl games, including a 31-11 shellacking at the hands of Georgia in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

Jim Harbaugh was also supposed to be the quarterback whisperer. His development of Andrew Luck and Colin Kaepernick were supposed to help him draw the top high school talent in the nation, and then once they arrived on campus, he would quickly turn them into first round draft picks.

That has not happened at all. Michigan has failed to develop any of the topflight quarterbacks they’ve recruited, and even 5-star transfer Shae Patterson appeared to regress during his time in Ann Arbor. This season, Cade McNamara was effective but appeared to be little more than a game manager with few NFL prospects.

The rivalry games haven’t been something to celebrate either for Michigan fans. Harbaugh was supposed to be the guy who understood the Michigan tradition better than anyone. He is a Michigan man and the player who in 1986 guaranteed a victory over Ohio State — and then went out and delivered. Despite his performances as a player against the Spartans and Buckeyes, Harbaugh has never beaten both in the same season. (Michigan lost at Michigan State in 2021.) As a coach, Harbaugh is a meager 3-4 against the Spartans and 1-5 against the Buckeyes.

Jim Harbaugh was supposed to be the answer to Urban Meyer and Ohio State, but he has constantly underperformed in rivalry games. He is currently 0-2 against Spartan head coach Mel Tucker. Combine that with his constant flirtations with the NFL and it seems like he may never have sustained success with the Wolverines. He has recruited well, but he has never brought in a top 5 national class. This year likely won’t be any different. To beat Ohio State consistently and compete with the Georgias and Bamas, that has to change. But so far, it hasn’t.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with his team after the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. Michigan won 42-3. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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It’s always tease, tease, tease…

In other words, if he goes, there may be trouble, but if he stays, there may be double. Hopefully soon, he’ll let us know — will he stay or will he go?

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