Home

Lakers charge to skid-snapping win over Suns, 122-111

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Davis had 27 points and nine rebounds, D’Angelo Russell added 26 points and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a six-game losing streak against Phoenix with a 122-111 victory over the depleted Suns on Wednesday night.Austin Reaves had 25 points and a career-high 11 assists after moving into the starting lineup for the Lakers, who improved to 7-5 in LeBron James’ latest injury absence with an impressive second half against the powerhouse Suns.Devin Booker scored 25 of his 33 points in the second half for Phoenix, which has lost five of six. Chris Paul had 18 points for the Suns, who hadn’t lost to the Lakers since May 2021.Kevin Durant missed his seventh straight game for Phoenix with an ankle injury, and Deandre Ayton also didn’t make the trip to Los Angeles while sitting out his second game with a hip injury.James is still sidelined with a foot injury, allowing the Suns to miss him for the third time this season. The Lakers have kept James&#...

Morant scores 17 off bench in return to Grizzlies’ lineup

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The cheers from the Memphis crowd eased Ja Morant’s emotions on his return to the court.In the postgame after the Grizzlies’ 130-125 win over the Houston Rockets, he couldn’t really explain the feeling.“I can’t really put it into words. I’m kind of numb right now,” Morant said. “Thankful to everybody.”The two-time All-Star guard was welcomed back with a standing ovation and cheers throughout the arena in his first action after missing nine games — eight because of an NBA suspension.The return was a celebration for Memphis fans, who were anxious to see what the layoff had meant for the team’s leading scorer and sparkplug.Morant ended up playing 24 minutes and finished with 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting overall and 5 for 6 from the line as the Grizzlies clinched first in the Southwest Division for the second straight season. Morant added five assists and four rebounds.“Obviously, I’m thankful and grateful for everybody w...

Mavs owner Cuban plans protest over free bucket for Warriors

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he plans to protest a two-point loss to Golden State after a confusing sequence led to an uncontested basket for the Warriors on Wednesday night.Kevon Looney had an easy dunk on an inbounds play with the Mavericks lined up on their offensive end after a timeout late in the third quarter of Golden State’s 127-125 victory.The Mavericks thought they had the ball after official Andy Nagy pointed in Golden State’s direction for possession but then quickly pointed to the Dallas bench to indicate a timeout. Looney protested when Nagy pointed toward the Dallas bench, but Nagy appeared to explain that he was signaling the timeout. The public address announcer also indicated Dallas was awarded possession.After the break, the Mavericks lined up on their offensive end, giving Looney the easy dunk with no defenders around as the Warriors took a 90-87 lead with 1:56 left in the third.Cuban said he planned to protest after posting on...

Canada lawmaker quits Trudeau’s party amid China allegations

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — A lawmaker said late Wednesday that he is stepping down from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party after a media report raised questions about his dealings with China, a claim that comes amid an investigation into allegations of Chinese meddling in Canada’s elections. Member of Parliament Hang Dong said the report quoting anonymous sources was an attack on his reputation and his loyalty to Canada. He said he will leave the Liberals and sit in Parliament as an independent lawmaker to avoid causing problems for the party. Global News, citing unidentified security sources, published a report Wednesday alleging Dong suggested to China’s consul general in Toronto in 2021 that the opposition Conservative party would benefit if Beijing released two Canadians accused of espionage. Global did not give any direct quotes from the purported conversation.Canadians Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur, were arrested in China i...

Lillard, Sharpe lead Blazers past Jazz to halt 6-game skid

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 30 points, rookie Shaedon Sharpe had a career-high 24 and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 127-115 on Wednesday night to stop a six-game losing streak.Trendon Watford added a season-best 21 points for the Blazers. Portland used a 9-0 run, sparked by Kevin Knox III’s alley-oop layup midway through the fourth quarter, to pull away.Lillard capped the spurt with a layup to make it 113-100 with 5:51 to play, and the Jazz never got it back under single digits.Lauri Markkanen had 40 points and 12 rebounds while Kris Dunn scored 15 off the bench for Utah, which had won four of five.The Trail Blazers (32-40) won three of four against Utah (35-37) this season but are a long shot to make the play-in tournament as they are still three games behind the Jazz for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference standings.The only thing that could stop Markkanen was a sore left hand that got hit on a foul late in the third quarter. The 7-footer from...

What is a 'safety plan,' and how common are they in Colorado schools?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A Denver East student who reportedly shot two staff members Wednesday was required to undergo daily searches before entering the school as part of something called a "safety plan." John McDonald is the former executive director of school safety for Jeffco Schools and said the safety plans are more common than you might think."This is not unusual in schools all over the country every day,” he said. “The safety plans are increasing at an alarming rate in schools all over the country because the behavior is escalating.”McDonald said the safety plans sometimes involve weapons, but also sometimes involve searches for things like cell phones.They are routinely done in private areas away from other students. "It’s really a contract between the student, the parents, and the school that the student will engage in certain behavior," he said. "The school will monitor to make sure that student is actually living up to the agreement.”Cherry Creek Schools confirmed that the ...

Denver mayor: Removing school resource officers was a mistake

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- How to protect students and teachers in the classroom after Wednesday's East High shooting was brought into question, and whether school resource officers would make a difference.Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said the resource officers should be back in schools. During a press conference after the shooting, he said “it's clear now that we need to do more in with our police officers inside the buildings in these types of situations.”Hancock said there will be two armed officers at the school for the rest of the year. Which DPS board members voted to remove school resource officers in 2020? SROs were removed back in 2020 after a unanimous vote by the school board. Part of the decision was the belief that the close proximity of law enforcement to students on school campuses contributes to a school-to-prison pipeline. Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said he’s advocating for school resource officers to return as well and is ready to provide those officers for the remain...

Brother of East High School student shot and killed in February speaks

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Wednesday's double shooting at East High School was a month after the deadly shooting of 16-year-old student Luis Garcia.Garcia’s brother Santos returned to the school Wednesday to speak out.“We buried him just four days ago. And, you know, we're back to back to the same place,” Santos said. “I knew it was going to happen again. I, I warned. I mean, I warned as much people as I could that it was going to happen again. And there's no cops.” Hundreds of students gather at Capitol during East High walkout Following his brother's shooting, Santos has pleaded publicly, addressing police and school board members to take action to make students and staff feel safe at East High School. “Once the cops are removed, stuff like this happens and they have to place the cops back,” Santos said. “So, it's just how long is that going to take.”Following the double shooting Wednesday, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero said at least one armed police officer w...

East High shooting victim returns home

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The community of Denver East High School continued to post and send well wishes to both shooting victims, Eric Sinclair and Jerald Mason. “I looked up and just saw a ton of officers racing towards the school. I knew something bad had happened,” coach Randy Gallegos, the head wrestling coach at Denver East High School, said. Gallegos said he is good friends with both Mason and Sinclair and when he realized they were the victims he rushed to Denver Health to see them. “You wouldn’t think he just went through the trauma he had gone through," Gallegos said about Mason. Colorado educator groups call for action Gallegos said he wasn't able to see Sinclair because he, at that point, was still in critical condition. "His surgery was successful but I wasn't able to see him because he's sedated. I couldn’t see him but there were teachers and support but hopefully, I can go back tomorrow and see him," Gallegos said. He was excited though that he was able to see and pray wit...

Kensington community calls for change after fatal crash

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:46:21 GMT

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego community of Kensington is reeling from a crash that claimed the life of a 6-year-old boy.“I saw it right away. I was crying, I still am,” Kenneth Valenti said.Police say the crash happened around 8 a.m. Wednesday, as a Jeep was crossing into an intersection from Biona Drive. It was hit by a Hyundai going east on Adams Avenue. The Jeep overturned with a 45-year-old man behind the wheel, his 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son in the back seats. Police say both were in safety seats.The 6-year-old was taken to the hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he did not survive his injuries.“We wanted to let him and his family know we’re thinking of him,” Brooke Garcia said.Garcia’s daughter goes to dance class right across from where the crash happened and stopped by to leave flowers at the site. Man shot to death in East County identified “My mom told me about what happened and I thought it was really sad because it wasn’t his fault. He didn...