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Chicago Bulls close the regular season with a win over the Detroit Pistons, but a sub-.500 record reflects a step back

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

When the final buzzer of the NBA regular season sounded Sunday at the United Center, it marked a clear step back for the Chicago Bulls, who finished with a 40-42 record after a 103-81 win over the Detroit Pistons.Coach Billy Donovan warned in training camp that this season would be more challenging for the Bulls after establishing themselves as a more cohesive threat in 2021-22, when they earned their first playoff berth in five seasons.But that challenge proved even stronger than the Bulls expected. They went from finishing 10 games above .500 last season to a losing record and the last spot in the play-in tournament that determines the final two playoff seeds.“You’d like to be in a situation right now where you’re in the playoffs, but we’ve got to work and find a way to get into that point,” Donovan said. “This group has stayed together. They’ve tried to work through things and tried to get better every single day. The effort, the attentio...

Celtics’ Brad Stevens endorses Jaylen Brown for All-NBA team

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

Brad Stevens knows how critical both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are to both the short-term and long-term success of the Celtics.And while Boston’s president of basketball operations doesn’t have all the power in ensuring the latter is retained beyond next season, that didn’t keep him from making an unexpected appearance at the podium on Sunday afternoon and stating his case.Brown, of course, is a candidate to be named to his first career All-NBA team this season. The voting for those teams are made by the media and will be announced some time in May. But before then, Stevens made a strong endorsement for Brown as the Celtics make one final push for their All-Star to be recognized among the NBA’s elite.“I think both Jayson and Jaylen should be on the All-NBA team,” Stevens said when asked about Brown’s candidacy. “I think, again, what they’ve done throughout the course of this year, and you asked about Jaylen so I’ll talk about Jaylen in particular, he’s also really played h...

Boston Marathon security ‘robust’ and ready, BPD commissioner says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

The BPD is ready for the seriously sizable security operation that is the 127th Boston Marathon, according to the city’s new police commissioner.“We have a whole host of law enforcement agencies — including federal — that are involved in making sure that it is a safe event,” Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said.Cox, speaking with WCVB’s Sharman Sacchetti and Ed Harding for their Sunday politics show On the Record, said that though this year’s race will be the first with him leading the Boston Police Department, it will be the “30-something-th” marathon he’s attended as a law enforcement official in the city.“I’m confident that, going into it, we’re doing all we can to continue to make sure that it’s a safe event,” he told the hosts.The race, which annually sees nearly 30,000 people from over 100 countries test their speed and endurance through 26.2 miles of Massachusetts’ roadways, does not start in Boston, a though sizable portion of the trek sees runners winding their...

Knicks end regular season with Easter Day loss to tanking Pacers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

A great regular season finished with a dud.The Knicks fell Sunday to the tanking Pacers, losing 141-136 while their defense disappeared faster than the Easter Bunny.“Defense was an issue,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.Still, the Knicks (47-35) secured the franchise’s second-best record in the last 22 years, and their most wins in a decade. The next stop is Cleveland for Game 1 over the weekend.“On behalf of my teammates and the organization we are really thankful for your support all year,” Jalen Brunson, who rested Sunday’s game, told the crowd before tipoff. “You guys make this the best place in the league, the best fanbase in the league. We really appreciate it. But we are not done yet. We’ll see you guys in the playoffs.”Obi Toppin was again a positive Sunday while scoring 34 points. The games were meaningless. Most of the opponents were tanking. But Toppin, the fast-paced spark plug, played well under the circumstances.In the fi...

Magic drop season finale to Heat, secure 6th-best draft lottery odds

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

With multiple rotation players sitting or playing limited minutes on the final day of the regular season, the Orlando Magic fell to Miami Heat 123-108 Sunday in Miami, finishing with a 34-48 record.After being eliminated from contending for a spot in the play-in tournament with their Tuesday loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Magic shifted their focus to trying out different rotations to close out the season.Orlando started with the lineup of Markelle Fultz (7 points in 11 minutes), Jalen Suggs (8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 15 minutes), Caleb Houstan, Franz Wagner (10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 15 minutes) and Wendell Carter Jr. for the first time, with most of the starting lineup playing 16 or fewer minutes.Houstan scored a career-high 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting (5 of 11 on 3-pointers).Kevon Harris had a career-high 22 points (7-of-12 shooting, 4-of-7 on 3s) and 8 rebounds off the bench. Chuma Okeke had 14 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 33...

Payton Pritchard records triple-double as Celtics finish regular season on high note

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

It has not been an easy season for Payton Pritchard. By his own admission, it’s been frustrating.“Obviously people know it’s been an up and down year emotionally and obviously physically now,” he said Sunday.The fourth-year guard and 2020 first-round pick was buried on the Celtics’ depth chart, the fourth guard in line after the offseason addition of Malcolm Brogdon. His opportunities have been scarce, often only coming in garbage time or when the C’s are shorthanded. Then over the last month came an injury that cost him 13 games.His time – at least one more in a Boston uniform – was still coming, though. Last Wednesday, the Celtics clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The final two regular-season games became mostly meaningless as the Celtics prioritized resting their regulars. But not for Pritchard, who saw it as another opportunity to prove himself.There is still discomfort in his injured heel, but it didn’t outweigh his desire to play. As he’s done all season, Prit...

Quebec City police say man, 66, dead after fire, no smoke detector in apartment

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

Quebec City police say a 66-year-old-man is dead after an apartment fire in the Vieux-Limoilou neighbourhood.Police Sgt. David Poitras says firefighters were called to the two-storey building shortly before 12:30 p.m.He says around 30 firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control in around 20 minutes and limit its spread to the other 11 apartments in the building.One man was declared dead at the scene.Poitras says there was no smoke detector in the apartment where the man was found. He says the fire commissioner, police and the coroner’s office are investigating, but that arson is not suspected. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2023.The Canadian Press

Man who opened fire at South Loop movie theater after argument identified, charged

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

CHICAGO — The man who opened fired after an argument at a South Loop movie theater Saturday has been identified and charged, according to the Chicago Police Department.CPD said 35-year-old Babacar Mbengue was charged Sunday with one felony count of reckless discharge of a firearm following an argument with a 16-year-old male where Mbengue allegedly pulled out a gun and fired 7-8 shots in the lobby of the ICON Movie Theater in South Loop.Police evacuated the movie theater and took both Mbengue and the 16-year-old into custody after the incident. A firearm was recovered at the scene by police, and no one was injured during the exchange.The 16-year-old was also charged with one felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by someone under the age of 21.Originally, CPD said officers were called to the 1100 block of South Delano Court around 7:30 p.m. Saturday for a pair of male individuals who were involved in a fight while inside a movie theater. CPD: 2 men critical after driv...

Weekend Break: Easter celebrations at GP Italiano

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

CHICAGO — Easter Sunday celebrations for some means enjoying a feast with family and friends.For hosts that don't want to spent a lot of time in the kitchen, GP Italiano is there to help.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Travis County DA Garza responds to Abbott's pardon promise for convicted murderer Daniel Perry

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:48 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Austin (KXAN) — Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza called Gov. Greg Abbott's promise to pardon convicted murderer Daniel Perry "deeply troubling" in a statement Sunday.On Friday, a jury found Perry guilty of murdering Garrett Foster during a July 2020 protest in Austin. The jury found him not guilty of an aggravated assault charge. Perry has not yet been sentenced for the conviction.But by Saturday afternoon, Abbott declared on social media that he would sign a pardon recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for Perry "as soon as it hits my desk." The Governor also said that he has instructed the agency to "expedite its review" of the case. Abbott calls for pardon of Daniel Perry after guilty murder verdict In Garza's Sunday statement, the DA noted that the jury deliberated on their verdict for 15 hours, after days of court proceedings."In our legal system, a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent – not the Gover...