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It seems safe to say that Ja Morant has a moment.

The Memphis Grizzlies defender has a breakthrough season in his third year in the NBA. He is gaining strength in the race for MVP, not to mention the approval of Alan Iverson. And he ignites NBA’s social media channels with accent after accent.

Morant’s exploits reached a new peak on Monday when he broke a career-high 52 points in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs, including this absurd buzzer at the end of the first half.

Fans have obviously liked the video enough that it is now the most watched video in the history of the NBA’s Instagram account, the league revealed on Wednesday. The video reportedly garnered 42.1 million views, part of the more than 80 million views that Morant garnered for the entire game.

Morant’s 325 million views are reported to be the third highest number of views per player in the NBA. only at the back Stephen Curry and LeBron James. This is pretty good for a player who competes in the smallest market in the league.

Of course, you don’t need a social media engagement number to know that Morant seems to be becoming something special.

For the season, Morant currently has an average of 27.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.8 percent of the field and 33.4 percent of 3 points. Beyond statistics, he has become one of the funniest players in the NBA, capable of making posters and deep 3 points.

This record holder may not even have been his best game of the night, as he did with poor Spurs center Jakob Pöltl:

As the pearl of the young core of the Grizzlies, Morant is third in the Western Conference with a record of 43-20. He won his first NBA All-Star Award this season and we’ll have to wait and see what other hardware he will take by the end of the season.

SYRACUSE, New York – Syracuse coach Jim Boheim said Wednesday that he has a plan when he retires.

Boeheim, in an interview with ESPN Radio in Syracuse, did not reveal any details about the agreement, because it could have an effect on recruitment. He said the university would decide when to make it public and expected to contribute to the election of his deputy.

“There is a plan,” Boheim said. “I’m just telling you there is a plan.”

Boheim, who at 77 is the second most profitable coach in the history of Division I with 997 victories, behind only Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, is at the end of his 46th season. He has repeatedly said that he intends to train next season with a handful of freshmen who will enroll.

“I think if I say I’m giving up now that I’ve given my word to these players, it will look like, ‘Oh, they had a bad year, so he’s just going to give up,'” Boheim said Saturday night after an unexpected loss at home from Duke. “It simply came to our notice then. Maybe not to you. Maybe not someone else’s. But I would see that. “He has given his word to these players, he is healthy, he feels great, but they are having a bad year, so he will just give up.”

Syracuse (15-15) has one more game left in the regular season, against Miami on Saturday at the Carrier Dome, before the ACC tournament begins. Boheim has never had a losing season.

“At the end of the day, I can promise you that I am trying to leave this program in the best position it can be when I leave,” Boheim said. “I think we can do it.”

This is the second plan for Boheim’s retirement. When Syracuse was hit by NCAA sanctions in 2015 and Boheim lost 101 of its victories, former assistant coach Mike Hopkins was determined to succeed him. Instead, after 25 years on the program as a player and coach, Hopkins abruptly left in March 2017, when he was offered a job in Washington and Boheim continued to coach the Orange.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The man, who was in the car with two others at the time, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after the shootings near Monterey Road and Bailey Avenue.

According to court documents, the target of the shooting – 43-year-old Harry Goularte – faces charges of a felony for torturing a child who is a close relative of Velazquez. He was unharmed in the shooting, authorities said.

“The actions of (Velazquez) on February 28 were very reckless,” said prosecutor Aaron French. “It is unfortunate that he took matters into his own hands instead of waiting for the penal system.”

Gularte was indicted in the Santa Clara County Supreme Court on February 25th. He was released on condition that he remain under house arrest in Morgan Hill, stand 100 yards from each child under the age of 14 and wear an electronic surveillance bracelet.

Authorities say he was on his way to pick up the monitor when Velázquez tried to shoot him during an 11-mile high-speed chase.

Goularte’s 63-year-old stepfather was hit once in the driver’s seat but is expected to survive.

Goularte’s mother runs a day care home, where Velázquez has been a client for two years, where the abuse is alleged to have taken place. SKY7 received a video of the home, which has a large play structure and a baseball diamond in the backyard.

Gularte did not work in kindergarten, but lived in the home.

“After MPs interviewed the 4-year-old and other countries involved in the facility, they later found that sexual violence had taken place,” Santa Clara County Deputy Sheriff Russell Davis told ABC7 News.

RELATED: Former UFC champion Kane Velazquez has arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after an SJ shooting, police said

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) shared information about the center and its latest inspection. According to a search of a medical facility, the last inspection was on January 11.

According to the facility’s assessment report, a supervisor made a note to the occupants of the home. We have removed sensitive information from the statement in parentheses:

“The licensee states that the adults over the age of 18 living in the home are: she, her husband (name removed) and her son (Harry Gularte). All adults living in the home have a criminal history clearance, signed criminal records (removed) and a tuberculosis test. “

If you are in the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Deputy Davis said Goulart’s mother had voluntarily closed the kindergarten for the ongoing investigation.

“Currently we have about 20+ minors coming and going through this kindergarten,” he added.

Coinciding with the day of the shooting, the CDSS immediately handed Goularte an exclusion order.

RELATED VIDEO: Court: Former UFC star tries to kill man suspected of harassing relative

According to a document shared with ABC7 News, he demanded that Goularte be removed from his home and not have contact with clients of any childcare facility.

“The department has determined that continuing or future contact with clients or presence in any child care center or housing facility licensed by the California Department of Social Services poses a threat to the health and safety of clients in care,” the letter said. Goularte Read.

The decision to release Goularte in the SORP contradicted the advice of the Santa Clara District Attorney.

“Our office also demanded that this accused in this case be detained, as we thought he also posed a risk to public safety,” said Santa Clara Co. Ace. DA Angela Bernhard said. “The court did not agree with us and he can be released without bail.”

The former UFC champion appeared in court for the first time today in San Jose.

A large crowd of supporters wearing Free Cain T-shirts filled the courtroom, many of them Velazquez teammates and AKA training partners in San Jose.

“He is a good man and everyone knows him, especially everyone who is close and connected to him,” said teammate David Dzasohov. “We just know that he would never have done such a thing if he hadn’t really crossed the line.

District Attorney French told reporters: “It’s unfortunate that he took matters into his own hands instead of waiting for the penal system.”

“Our belief is that based on what we know – the allegations and the report – there was no legitimate request for self-defense under the law,” he added.

The indictment was adjourned until next Monday at the request of Velazquez’s legal team.

Velazquez will continue to be detained without bail due to the gravity of the charges. The judge approved three restraining orders against the people in the car in which Velázquez is accused.

Velázquez remains in prison on charges of attempted premeditated murder and other related charges.

NASCAR Hall of Fame owner Richard Childress is donating 1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine to help in their war against Russia, he announced on Wednesday.

Childress is currently a member of the board of directors of Ammo, Inc. and said he turned to President Fred Wagenhals shortly after hearing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ask for ammunition instead of helping flee the country shortly after Russia’s invasion last week.

Childress said he was still unsure how and when the ammunition would be delivered to Ukraine.

Childress, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017 after more than five decades in and around NASCAR, is just the latest sporting figure to speak or take action since the conflict began.

The International Skating Union banned all Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions until further notice on Tuesday, and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich announced he would sell Chelsea and donate the proceeds to help those in need in Ukraine on Wednesday. FIFA has already imposed sanctions on Russia and banned it from participating in the 2022 World Cup, and EA Sports’ video game “FIFA 22” has removed all Russian clubs from play.

IN The NHL also cut ties with all Russian partners The Russian Grand Prix in Formula 1 was canceled and Russian President Vladimir Putin was stripped of his honorary president by the International Judo Federation.

PHILADELPHIA – After a third consecutive sterling performance in a 76ers uniform – but first in front of fans here at the Wells Fargo Center – James Harden announced that Philadelphia feels at home.

“Just exciting,” Harden said after finishing 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Philadelphia’s 123-108 victory over the New York Knicks in front of a large crowd here Wednesday night. “Love, fans, I feel at home. Only love, support, man, from looking around, hearing, “We love you, James.”

“It makes me go out and play harder and I just wanted to do whatever it took to win.”

So far in a 76er uniform, Harden is 3-for-3 in that regard, as Philadelphia – combined with Milwaukee’s last-second victory over Miami on Wednesday night – now sits two games behind Heath for first place in the East. Conference ranking.

The only thing anyone focused on here, however, was Harden, who finally came out on the court in uniform in front of his new fans for the first time since Philadelphia acquired him in Ben Simmons’ hit exchange with the Brooklyn Nets three weeks ago. Harden’s slow build-up of hamstring injuries in his last days in Brooklyn led him to miss the team’s last home game on Feb. 15 and saw him make his Minneapolis debut last Friday against the Timberwolves before playing again on Sunday. Square Garden vs. Knicks.

Both games, such as Wednesday’s rematch with New York, ended in Philadelphia’s victories. And although it is still extremely early in this grand experiment and far more difficult opponents are ahead, all involved are quite pleased with the early progress.

“I mean, we just fit together,” said Joel Embiid, who finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, stolen and two blocks in 34 minutes. “You have someone in James who comes with his experience and ability to play, ability to score a goal and you add what he adds and he’s amazing and what we have on the team. Everything fits.”

Appropriate in part because of the continued appearance of second-year goalkeeper Tyree Maxi, who took it one step further after impressing as a full-back all season when Simmons was away from the team looking for a replacement.

Maxi’s 25-point performance on Wednesday was his third in a row with more than 20 points since Harden joined the squad. On Wednesday, 21 of Maxi’s points came after halftime when he said Harden had given him a wake-up call.

“Well, James came to me and asked me if I was going to play today,” Maxie said with a smile at their half-time conversation, “and I said, ‘Yes.’

“Having guys like James, [Embiid]Tobias [Harris], I’m just saying I have to be aggressive … I can’t stretch like I’m passive. I have to help these guys and we have to help these guys as a team as much as possible. “

“He has to be aggressive,” Harden said later. “I know it’s hard because Joel and I have the ball, but when he has the opportunity, he has to be aggressive.”

In the end, however, Philadelphia goes as far as the new superstar tandem of Harden and Embid can take them.

When the 76ers were introduced before the game, Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself” echoed through the speakers and bounced through the sold-out arena.

The song, dedicated to capturing the moment and not letting your only chance at greatness slip away, was appropriate when you look at 76ers in general. The acquisition of Harden was made with the championship in mind – both for Harden, who lacks a ring in his resume for the first vote in the Hall of Fame, and for 76ers, who have not won a championship for nearly 40 years and have not won t do the 2001 NBA Finals

Early Friday, when the Cleveland Cavaliers came here, the 76ers played nine of their next 10 playoff games before embarking on a five-game trip to end the month – a far more difficult period than the first three games they played. in the Harden era.

For now, however, the 76ers will take the win when they manage to get them, as they continue to try to build on what they hope will be a long playoff cycle this spring.

“Every game will be difficult for us,” said Harden. “We are new, we are relatively new, we are still learning from each other. Every game will be a learning experience for us and we just need to find ways to keep dropping out, keep getting better, win or lose. It’s obviously better when you win to understand it, but it will be a great test for us and we are really looking forward to it. “

It seems that Islam Mahachev will have to fight once more before winning the UFC title, after it is claimed that he threw himself into a short battle for change on Saturday.

After Rafael dos Agnos lost his original opponent for UFC 272, Mahachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) was one of the fighters who offered his services. The rising lightweight contender recently won the main event over Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night 202 last weekend, but raised his hand to fight Dos Agnos in a match that has been canceled three times before.

Dos Anyos was all-in in the situation, even offering to move to the welterweight division to ease Mahachev’s pressure to lose a lot of weight. However, the momentum died down there, because shortly after it was confirmed that Renato Moikano will fight dos Anjos at UFC 272. Former UFC champion and Makhachev they later blamed each other because it fails to materialize.

UFC President Dana White clarified what happened on Wednesday and pointed to Makhachev and his team to prevent a fight.

“I thought we did,” White said in an interview with Barstool Sports. “When I went to bed one night there, I thought it was over. I woke up the next morning and realized that (Makhachov) had refused.

“This is ‘What is the best match you can make?’ The best battle we could make would be him and Islam.” RDA against Islam. Islam rejects the battle: “What is the best battle you can do? Moikano.”

Although White did not express any anger or disappointment at Makhachev, who currently has a series of 10 victories and is high in the queue for the title with 155 pounds. However, it seems that Mahachev’s quest for a championship match between the winner of Charles Oliveira against Justin Getzhi at UFC 274 on May 7 will remain unfulfilled.

Instead, White said he wanted to see Mahachev fight Beneil Dariush (21-4-1 MMA, 15-4-1 UFC), who suffered a serious leg injury that forced him to leave UFC Fight Night 202, where was replaced by Green.

“I love the battle with Dariusz,” White said. “Since he rejected this battle, we will remake the battle with Dariusz. I’m dying to see this battle. And then (if) it goes through Dariusz, that’s very interesting. “

Connected

INDIANAPOLIS – There were so many things that went wrong for the Giants last season that it can be difficult to list and arrange the wines in the right order. So many failures in the standings.

Somewhere on the list is the sad state of affairs in the final position. The vision – Evan Engram as the elusive playmaker, the newcomer Kyle Rudolph as a veteran touchdown maker – never came into focus and the blur was another spokesman in the offensive wheel of incompetence.

Engram is an upcoming free agent and is expected to sign elsewhere. There will be a market for the 27-year-old with 262 career receptions, as Engram with a new team will be unencumbered by the high pedigree, which he failed to withstand.

Rudolph said goodbye on social media on Wednesday, after becoming the first of several salary cuts that new general manager Joe Schoen will make. This move saves the Giants $ 5 million from the ceiling.

The Giants will have to fill that position and there is no doubt that they are in the market with limited positions this week in the NFL Scouting Combine.

It is certainly not inconceivable that the Giants have been thinking long and hard about the secret end of the second day (2nd and 3rd rounds) of the NFL draft. Somewhere in Day 3 (4-7 rounds) it’s probably more reasonable. New head coach Brian Dabol needs some sort of threat in the end to make Daniel Jones’ life easier by entering a season of standing up or breaking up. Not surprisingly, the Giants hosted a formal meeting Wednesday night with Trey McBride of Colorado, who is set to be one of the first tights off the board.

McBride called Andy Bischoff, the Giants’ new coach, a “great man” based on a conversation they had earlier in the day.

A man from a small town in Fort Morgan, Colorado, McBride won the John Mackie Award for Best Tight End in College Football in 2021. As a senior, he caught 90 passes for 1,121 yards and likes to compare his game to that of George Keatle. at 49ers. To hear his name first, before any other tight end, would be something special.

“It really would be a dream come true,” McBride said. “Just being the first person to be chosen would be an incredible honor and something I am constantly working on to achieve that goal.”

The giants cannot lose this position. They have only one healthy end of the list, Chris Myarick. Jake Houseman was signed with a reserve / future contract. Three secret ends – Caden Smith, Levine Toilolo and Raisen John – are on the reserve / wounded list.

Engram, selected from the first round of 2017, had 46 assists of 408 yards and three touchdowns in his fifth and almost definitely final season with the Giants. Four passes to the Giants in 2021, a total of 78 catches in 715 yards and five touchdowns.

McBride is the most successful tight end to pass in this draft. Jeremy Rockert of Lindenhurst on Long Island is near the other end of the spectrum. He caught 54 passes for 615 yards and 12 touchdowns in his four-year career in Ohio. With a set of Buckeyes weapons, the narrow end was often the fourth or fifth option, and the accumulation of eye-catching numbers would not happen.

“I don’t know if underestimation is the right word,” Rockert said of the perception that he has a suspicious ability to make passes. “I am confident. People may not think this is one of my strengths, but I believe in myself, I know what I can do.

“I knew that going to Ohio, the production might not be there, but the person I became, the player I became, the flexibility I was able to adapt to, I don’t regret it at all. That’s what brought me here. “

Other options for the Giants: Cade Otton (Washington), Jalen Weidermeier (Texas A&M), Isaiah Lickley (Coastal Carolina) and Jake Ferguson (Wisconsin).

The giants could add a tight end to the free agency, but they won’t have much to spend. The draft is a more affordable option. With nine choices, there’s room for maneuver, and if Daboll sees the prospect of becoming a tight-end target, it makes sense to add it to the mix.

“I think I’m having a hard time doing anything,” McBride said.

If the Giants agree with this assessment, it could be a match.