Paolo Mariano Articles - Page 12

The Houston Rockets welcomed a special guest at Toyota Center on Monday as they faced off against the Phoenix Suns. Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai was on hand to watch the game at courtside. Imai recently signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Astros after spending nine years with the Saitama Seibu Lions in […]

We’re putting this in capital letters so it sinks in quicker: THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS DEFEATED THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER. Read it again: THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS DEFEATED THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER. Yes, the lowly Hornets completed a massive upset of the league-leading Thunder by 27 points, 124-97, stunning the fans at Paycom Center and freezing hell […]

Pittsburgh Steelers star DK Metcalf has largely remained mum about his two-game suspension following his controversial interaction with a fan of the Detroit Lions in Week 16. Safe to assume, his legal team advised him to keep his mouth shut, especially since the fan, Ryan Kennedy, is seeking a civil lawsuit. But the 28-year-old Metcalf […]

There was a bit of a problem during the game between the Houston Rockets and the Phoenix Suns on Monday, and Tari Eason really took it sitting down. The game clock malfunctioned in the first minute of the second quarter. While it was being fixed, Eason, instead of going back to the bench, sat down […]

The Detroit Pistons chose to be zesty against the New York Knicks on Monday. But it had nothing to do with the players. The Pistons looked to get back-to-back wins as they hosted the Knicks at Little Caesars Arena, where they have a 12-3 record. They are coming off a convincing win against the Cleveland […]

Two of the league’s top defenders, Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks, faced off on Monday as the Houston Rockets hosted the Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center. They guarded each other in the early goings of the game, and in one instance, it was Thompson who got the better of Brooks. After a defensive stop, the […]

The defensive unit of the Los Angeles Chargers will be in full force for their wild-card round tussle against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. With quarterback Justin Herbert and running back Omarion Hampton being bothered by a hand injury and an ankle injury, respectively, the defensive crew will be expected to […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers should enjoy their season-ending win against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday. They deserve it after surviving a back-breaking affair. But for coach Mike Tomlin, they should save the bigger celebration for their real mission. The Steelers beat the Ravens, 26-24, to rule the AFC North for the first time […]

It’s fascinating how emotions can change in just a few minutes. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers was in a jubilant mood after scoring a crucial touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. But when the final buzzer sounded, he was an image of despair, as the Ravens fell short against the Steelers, 26-24. With […]

For the second straight time, the Memphis Grizzlies learned a hard lesson: When Luka Doncic is cooking, the Los Angeles Lakers are virtually unstoppable. The Lakers beat the Grizzlies, 120-114, at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, with Doncic pouring in a game-high 36 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the field. He also had nine rebounds and […]

Tyler Loops’ notifications must be blowing up right now—but for the wrong reason. The Baltimore Ravens absorbed a painful loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 26-24, at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, with Loop muffing the game-winning field goal. The tough defeat left the Ravens out of the playoffs, with the Steelers claiming the AFC North. Loop’s […]

The winner-take-all season-ender between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday lived up to the billing as it ended in nail-biting fashion. The Steelers escaped with the win, 26-24, at Acrisure Stadium behind the late touchdown connection between Aaron Rodgers and Calvin Austin III. It came after the Ravens took the lead following […]

When the going gets tough, Lamar Jackson gets going. The Baltimore Ravens trooped to Acrisure Stadium on Sunday to face the Pittsburgh Steelers for the crown in the AFC North, with Jackson also continuing his quest to finally make it to the Super Bowl. The Steelers took the lead, 20-17, with less than five minutes […]

It’s a family affair for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday as brothers Connor Heyward and Cam Heyward connected on a touchdown. With the Steelers down by seven, 10-3, on first and goal in the third quarter, they employed an end zone punch, with the younger Heyward scoring after […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a huge boost against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday as TJ Watt returned from a lung injury. It was perfect timing for the Steelers since they were battling the Ravens for the division title. Watt’s presence alone immediately improved their defense. The 31-year-old linebacker even made a huge play in the […]

No one is harder on Sean Payton than Sean Payton. The Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers, 19-3, at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, but Payton was not in a celebratory mood. The Broncos, who improved to 14-3, secured the top seed in the AFC for the first time since 2015. They […]

Matt Ryan could be back in a very familiar place after the Atlanta Falcons fired Terry Fontenot as general manager on Sunday. Fontenot spent five years with the Falcons before getting the pink slip, along with Raheem Morris, who was fired as coach. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Falcons are eyeing Ryan to […]

Some things never change. Unfortunately for the New York Jets, that adage becomes even truer every year. The Jets finished the season with a 3-14 record, including five straight losses after getting trampled by the Buffalo Bills, 35-8, at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. The Jets will miss the playoffs for the 15th straight time, the […]

Raheem Morris’ stint with the Atlanta Falcons came to an end on Monday after he was fired as coach. Morris recently addressed his future in Atlanta, saying he has not spoken yet to owner Arthur Blank. Well, now, the team has made a decision, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Sources: Raheem Morris is out […]

The despair continues for the long-suffering fans of the New York Jets as the team will miss the playoffs for the 15th straight year. The Jets closed out their season with a five-game losing streak, including getting routed by the Buffalo Bills, 35-8, at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. The Jets finished with another lowly record, […]

In just a few days, another new year will arrive. As usual, it will come with a lot of deeply reflective questions: Will the world ever find peace? How can economic equality be achieved? Will there be another “Fast and the Furious” movie? But for the Kansas City Chiefs, it has increasingly become obvious: Will […]

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic played Santa Claus and gifted everyone with one of the most iconic performances on Christmas Day in league history. Jokic dropped a monster triple-double of 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists to power the Nuggets past the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime, 142-138, at Ball Arena. He also had two blocks […]

Tari Eason has carved out a consistent role for the Houston Rockets as one of the spark plugs off the bench. While he is not as heralded as Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, and Amen Thompson, Eason has no problem being under the radar. Eason has missed 14 games this season due to an oblique strain […]

Are the Los Angeles Lakers in deeper trouble than they seem to be? The Lakers suffered their third consecutive defeat after getting manhandled by the Houston Rockets, 119-96, at Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. While it was not exactly a season-altering loss, frustrations seem to be simmering under the surface. After the game, Luka Doncic […]

The Los Angeles Lakers absorbed their third straight loss after bowing to the Houston Rockets, 119-96, at Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. The Lakers had a lackluster start and failed to find their groove after halftime, allowing the Rockets to cruise to the easy win. The Lakers fell to 19-10, including 7-5 at home. They […]

Luka Doncic did not have to look far to find someone to blame after the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets, 119-96, leaving their fans disappointed at Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day. The Lakers allowed the Rockets to have a strong start, scoring 37 points in the first quarter. The Purple and Gold […]

Over the years, games on Christmas Day have become one of the NBA’s most cherished traditions, as they have evolved into a national stage for the league’s brightest stars and biggest rivalries. It is among the many ways of the NBA to give back to fans, who spend money on tickets or tune in on […]

It was a sweet reunion for the once-vaunted trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green as the Golden State Warriors welcomed the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center on Christmas Day. It was Thompson’s third game at the storied venue since joining the Mavericks in 2024, and as expected, he was received warmly by […]

The smoke billowed and the lights flashed as Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was introduced at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day. While it remains unclear if it would be his last holiday game, one thing is for sure: Kelce will always miss the feeling of stepping on the field. The Chiefs hosted the Denver […]

The season began roughly for Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons, and unfortunately, it ended similarly after he suffered a campaign-ending ACL injury in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos. Parsons, who had to go through a much-publicized contract dispute with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Packers, is now rehabbing his left […]

Former teammates Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry reunited on the floor on Christmas Day as the Dallas Mavericks visited the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Thompson was back in his old stomping grounds, and Curry made sure to make it extra memorable. The two-time MVP led the Warriors to the win, 126-116, while wearing […]

The Detroit Lions are now out of contention for the playoffs after getting routed by the Minnesota Vikings, 23-10, at US Bank Stadium on Christmas Day. The Lions fell to 8-8, including a three-game skid that could not come at a worse time. They will now relinquish their throne in the NFC North, which they […]

Karl-Anthony Towns was deeply hurt when the Minnesota Timberwolves traded him to the New York Knicks in a shocking move last year. He never saw it coming, as he envisioned himself playing for the Timberwolves for the foreseeable future. But he has since moved on from the painful development, as he has endeared himself to […]

Santa Klaws came to town a little early as Kawhi Leonard led the Los Angeles Clippers past the Houston Rockets, 128-108, at Intuit Dome on Tuesday. Leonard was definitely anything but nice to the Rockets, exploding for 41 points on 16-of-23 from the field. He also added eight rebounds and five assists as he gift-wrapped […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder will have an extra chip on their shoulder when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Christmas Day. Fortunately for the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama already knows that. The Spurs dominated the Thunder, 130-110, at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, dealing the defending champions two of their four losses after eliminating them […]

Karl-Anthony Towns had a monster effort, but the New York Knicks fell short against the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-104, at Target Center on Tuesday. With Jalen Brunson sitting out due to an ankle injury, Towns picked up the cudgels for the Knicks, finishing with a double-double of 40 points and 13 rebounds. He shot 14-of-24 from […]

Another day, another impressive showing from Cooper Flagg. The fast-rising rookie led the Dallas Mavericks over the Denver Nuggets in a nail-biting finish, 131-130, at American Airlines Center on Tuesday. Flagg finished with a game-high 33 points on 14-of-21 shooting. He also had nine rebounds and nine assists in a triple-double. With his all-around performance, […]

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has always been a big fan of Rudy Gobert. After their win on Tuesday, he once again reminded everyone how important the defensive-minded big man is to their quest for glory. Gobert helped the Timberwolves upend the Knicks, 115-104, at Target Center to claim their third straight win. Gobert had […]

The Philadelphia 76ers had another scare regarding Joel Embiid after he hurt his right knee against the Brooklyn Nets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Tuesday. Embiid had to exit the game in the third quarter after banging his right knee during a play. Fortunately, he was able to return and finish the game, although the […]