DENVER — LeBron James was upset after the Los Angeles Lakers squandered a good opportunity.

His annoyance wasn’t so much over losing a 20-point lead. Or his late missed 3-pointer, which rimmed out with the game tied. Or Jamal Murray’s fadeaway buzzer-beater that lifted the Denver Nuggets to a 101-99 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their first-round series on Monday night.

James’ rage came from a greater distance: the NBA’s replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey. At the center of his rage was a second-half foul on Michael Porter Jr. that was reversed by the league because MPJ made only minor contact on D’Angelo Russell.

LeBron James Rants At NBA’s Replay Center For Calls, Lakers Lose On Buzzer-Beater, Trail Denver 2-0

“I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest,” said James, whose team returns to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday, behind 2-0. “D-Lo was certainly smacked in the face during the drive. What the (expletive) do we have a replay center… it makes no sense. It doesn’t make sense. “It bothers me.”

James was not his normal talkative self in his postgame interview after the Lakers saw Murray and the Nuggets come back from a 68-48 deficit to win their 10th straight game against the Lakers.

With about 16 seconds remaining, James had a wide-open 3-pointer that could have given the Lakers the lead.

“Rimmed out,” bemoaned James, who had 26 points and 12 assists.

Porter collected the rebound, setting up Murray’s game-winning fadeaway shot over Anthony Davis as time expired.

LeBron James Rants At NBA’s Replay Center For Calls, Lakers Lose On Buzzer-Beater, Trail Denver 2-0

James got straight to the point after the game.

— On Denver’s comeback, which featured a 32-20 fourth-quarter loss: “We missed shots. We still had terrific looks, we just missed them. “They made it.”

— On Russell shooting seven three-pointers after going one for nine from deep in the series opener: “We never lost faith in him.” “D-Lo is D-Lo.”

— On whether the Lakers can carry any momentum from this victory into victory 3 in Los Angeles: “Every game is its own challenge.”

— On the difficulties of a painful loss: “Of course, it’s a heartbreaking game, and you don’t want to lose in that way.”

That’s when James started expressing his dissatisfaction with the replay center. Earlier in the game, Murray was called for a foul when James drove to the basket, but the Nuggets successfully challenged the ruling.

LeBron James Rants At NBA’s Replay Center For Calls, Lakers Lose On Buzzer-Beater, Trail Denver 2-0

In his replay-center diatribe, James referred to Monday’s previous game, in which the New York Knicks rallied in the final 30 seconds for a thrilling 104-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Donte DiVincenzo hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 13 seconds left, capping off a drive that began when they stole the ball from Tyrese Maxey. Joel Embiid said Maxey was fouled, and that coach Nick Nurse and several players tried to call a timeout before the Knicks got the ball.

“What are we doing?” James stated as he concluded his postgame interview.

SOURCE – (AP)

PGA Golfer Scottie Scheffler has won the 2024 RBC Heritage on Monday in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with a 19-under 265 score. The world number one has won four of his past five contests.

Scheffler shot a 3-under 68 in his final 18 holes at Harbor Town Golf Links. The final round was postponed due to rain on Sunday afternoon and ultimately halted due to darkness.

“I got off to a slow start on Thursday, but played some really nice golf in the middle of the tournament,” Scheffler said on the Golf Channel. “Yeah, it’s nice to be done.”

Scheffler entered Monday’s round at 20-under par, with three holes to play. He made pars on 16 and 17 before finishing with a bogey on 18 to win the event and $3.6 million.

Scheffler has won $16.25 million in the last 44 days, including $3.6 million from winning the 2024 Masters Tournament last week.

He began his rich run by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational — and the $4 million first-place prize — on March 10 in Orlando, Florida. A week later, on March 17, he won the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, earning $4.5 million.

 RBC Heritage his 10th career PGA Tour victory

He won his green jacket and second Masters title two weeks later at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Scheffler recorded 20 birdies and an eagle during his 36-hole victory at the RBC Heritage. A double bogey on Thursday, along with a bogey on Monday, resulted in his lowest scores of the event.

On March 31, Scheffler tied for second at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. The world number one won $553,735 from the five-way tie.

Sahith Theegala shot a 16-under 268 to finish second at the RBC Heritage, three strokes behind Scheffler. Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay tied for third place after shooting 15-under 269s.

Scheffler, who made his professional debut in 2018, currently has ten career PGA Tour victories. He won his first tournament in 2022.

Zurich Classic in New Orleans

The PGA Tour’s next tournament is the 2024 Zurich Classic in New Orleans. The competition will take place from Thursday to Sunday at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana. Scheffler is not included in the team event field.

Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, is expecting their first child later this month. The second major of the season, the PGA Championship, will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 16 to 19.

The RBC Heritage is an annual PGA Tour event that takes place at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. It’s one of the tour’s must-see events, taking place in April immediately following the Masters.

Pete Dye developed the course, which is known for its tight fairways, overhanging trees, and short greens, giving it a true challenge for professional golfers.

The tournament has drawn elite players since 1969, because to its gorgeous setting and tough layout. Harbour Town’s renowned 18th hole is a beast, with a shot over Calibogue Sound to a tiny green.

Every year, fans gather there to witness the drama unfold. The winner receives the renowned plaid jacket, making the RBC Heritage one of golf’s most prestigious non-major tournaments.

Source: Yahoo Sports

 

NFL Network has reported the New York Jets will trading quarterback Zach Wilson and a seventh-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos. According to the report, the Jets will receive a sixth-round pick in return and will cover a portion of Wilson’s $5.5 million salary next season.

Wilson joins the Broncos following three unsuccessful seasons in New York. The Jets selected Wilson as the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, hoping he would blossom into their long-awaited franchise quarterback. Instead, he was benched regularly for bad play in his first two seasons before the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers before the 2023 season.

Wilson received another chance to start when Rodgers tore his Achilles on his first drive as New York’s quarterback. He continued to struggle through 11 starts in 2023, as the Jets finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs. He now has a new home.

Wilson joins a Broncos club in the midst of its own quarterback crisis. After two unsuccessful seasons, Denver decided to abandon the Russell Wilson experiment this off-season.

The Broncos terminated Wilson in March, incurring a $85 million dead salary cap penalty over the next two seasons. It also left the Broncos without a reliable starting quarterback on their roster.

News York Jets 12-21

Zack Wilson’s departure sent Jarrett Stidham to the top of Denver’s depth chart. The four-year NFL veteran has made four career starts. Throughout his career, which includes 16 game appearances for three clubs, he has completed 59.6% of his throws for 7.2 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

Wilson has significantly more starting experience. That experience does not give the Broncos optimism that they are any closer to resolving their quarterback issues.

Wilson completed 57% of his throws in 34 career games, including 33 starts, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt and 185.1 yards per game while scoring 23 touchdowns and intercepting 25 others.

The New York Jets were 12-21 in games he started. He was the weak link on a 2023 team with a top-3 defense and playmakers on an offense that had the potential to challenge in the AFC East with respectable quarterback play.

Rather of making an in-season deal to upgrade the position, the Jets stuck with Wilson for the majority of the season, finishing third in the AFC East and missing the playoffs.

For now, Zach Wilson expects to fight for the starting job in Denver next season. Prior to Wilson’s arrival, practice squad quarterback Ben DiNucci was the only Broncos quarterback under contract aside from Stidham.

2024 NFL Draft

Wilson is a low-risk acquisition for the Broncos in the form of a late-round draft selection swap. If he does not develop, the Broncos will not have suffered significantly. However, Broncos supporters who expect for a competitive squad in 2024 are still waiting for the franchise to make a substantial move at quarterback.

The NFL Draft on Thursday will provide Denver with the finest opportunity to address the position further. The Broncos have the No. 12 choice but will most likely have to move up to get one of the draft’s top quarterback prospects.

The 2024 NFL Draft promises to be an entertaining event for both fans and clubs. Top college prospects will have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and realize their ambition of playing in the NFL.

Teams will thoroughly assess each player’s potential in order to make the best decisions to bolster their lineups.

The NFL draft order will be determined by the previous season’s results, allowing struggling teams to acquire top players. Experts predict a strong group of quarterbacks, defensive linemen, and offensive tackles.

Teams with glaring needs at those areas will keep a close eye on the best prospects. The draft is a critical opportunity for organizations to redefine their destiny with strategic picks that could catapult them to success in the coming seasons.

Source: Yahoo Sports