LA Galaxy sign former Man United man to replace Zlatan Ibrahimović

Los Angeles Galaxy have found their replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimović.
And it comes in the form of a man with his own impressive pedigree in European football.

The Major League Soccer outfit have completed the signing of Javier Hernández, aka Chicharito, from Sevilla.

The 31-year-old has racked up over 110 goals across the past decade in European football, including spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham, according to iSports football API.

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At Sevilla, he found it hard to break into Julen Lopetegui’s plans and has exited after just six months in Andalusia.

Reports in Spain claim that the Galaxy have paid a fee of €8.5m for the Mexico international’s services.

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Pelicans set table for Zion Williamson with franchise-best 21 3-pointers

The New Orleans Pelicans sure gave Zion Williamsonsomething to look forward to.

Two days before Williamson is expected to make his regular-season NBA debut, the Pelicans hit a franchise-record 21 3-pointers on their way to a 126-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

New Orleans started the season 6-22 and at one point lost a franchise-record 13 games in a row. But roughly a month ago, just as the losing streak hit a baker's dozen, the Pelicans made some schematic changes defensively and things took off.

The Pelicans have won 11 of their past 16 games and have ended the NBA's longest active winning streak twice in their past three games: Memphis' seven-game streak on Wednesday and Utah's 10-game streak on Jan. 16, as per iSports basketball API.

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So are the Pelicans playing their best basketball of the season?

"For sure," guard Lonzo Ball said. "I mean, it's a lot better than the 13 skid we had, so moving in the right direction."

Thanks to the bottom of the Western Conference, New Orleans is just 3.5 games back of the eighth spot where the Grizzlies currently sit.

Part of the Pelicans' resurgence has come because the team has simply gotten healthier. Derrick Favors returned from a monthlong absence on Dec. 13 and immediately improved the team's defense. When Favors plays at least 24 minutes this season, New Orleans is 9-5.

Favors' presence as a screener on the offensive end has helped the Pelicans as well, but according to coach Alvin Gentry, the biggest boost has been a healthy Ball.

Ball missed some time early in the season with an adductor strain, and even though he missed only six games with the injury, it took him a while to get his footing back.

Since a five-steal performance against the Warriors on Dec. 23, Ball has averaged 15.4 points, 7.5 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 38.6% from 3-point range, according to iSports NBA data.

"I think the pace of the game is great and Lonzo has done a great job with that," Gentry said. "I think we are finding the right people at the right time and I think our defense has been really solid."

The Pelicans got a big boost on Monday when Jrue Holiday returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a left triceps strain. Holiday came back and looked the best he has all season in tying a season high with 36 points while setting a new career mark with seven 3-pointers.

His defense also helped the Pelicans slow down Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, who was just 1-of-5 when Holiday was the primary defender. Morant had three points through three quarters but finished with 16 on 5-of-14 shooting, recorded by iSports basketball data.

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"I thought (Jrue) got us off to a great start," Gentry said. "More so than anything, his defense on Ja was great. Ja is having a hell of a year, so for Jrue to come back and play against him and lock in on him like that ... the kid is relentless, I'll tell you he just keeps coming at you. He's going to be a terrific player in this league for a long time. I thought Jrue did an outstanding job on him."

Holiday, who had been working out with Williamson playing three-on-three and four-on-four pregame while he was out injured, had been itching to get back on the floor.

"You see how well the team has been doing, and how they have been fighting and beating good teams and playing very well." Holiday said. "I just wanted to get back out there with them. The performance I had was just juice and I guess I just had the hot hand."

The constant for the Pelicans this season has been the play of Brandon Ingram, who is averaging a team-high 25.6 points per game. In fact, Ingram is averaging career highs in rebounds (6.7), assists (4.4), 3-point percentage (39.9%) and free throw percentage (85.8%), as per iSports API basketball data.

Ingram had a career-high 49 points against the Jazz and has blossomed into the team's No. 1 option.

"He's worked extremely hard to improve his 3-point shooting," Gentry said. "He's done it with his free throw shooting. He's in there every day putting in the work. To me, I'm sure I'm a little bit biased, but I'd be really disappointed if he didn't make the All-Star team."

Ingram said he's looking forward to getting on the court with Williamson, who again watched intently from the sidelines in a hooded sweatshirt and a sports coat. Ingram predicts there won't be many seats left once people get a look at the No. 1 overall pick.

"It's going to be sold out," Ingram said. "Every single night. When they start to see Zion playing, it's going to be sold out."

The Pelicans' plan is to start Williamson against the Spurs on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN) while monitoring his minutes. Last week, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said the team won't have a "hard minutes restriction" on Williamson but will play him in short "bursts" in order to keep him fresh.

But Gentry knows that Wednesday will be a little different from your average regular-season NBA contest.

"One, it's going to be a circus and everyone knows that," Gentry said. "What we have to do is focus on the task at hand and that is playing a really good San Antonio team ... It is going to be good to get him out there. I think the big thing for us is we just need to get him out there so all of this goes away and then we can start to figure out rotations and how we are going to play and things we are going to do.

"We have gone back already and looked at a bunch of stuff from preseason so we will just try to integrate him right into what we're doing."

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Jazz, Royce O'Neale agree on 4-year, $36M contract extension

Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale has agreed to a four-year, $36 million contract extension, agents Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports confirmed.

O'Neale, 26, has proved to be an essential element to the Jazz's elite NBA defense and elevation into the fourth seed in the Western Conference. In his third NBA season, O'Neale has become a full-time starter for the Jazz and is averaging career highs in minutes (30), points (6.2), rebounds (5.0) and assists (2.5)， according to iSports basketball livescore API.

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The Jazz announced the extension Sunday, but did not provide any contract details.

"Re-signing Royce to a long-term extension was a priority for our organization," Jazz executive vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey said in a statement Sunday. "Royce is an elite defender and has really shown the ability to spread the floor with his shooting. We feel he brings a versatility to our team that's vital to our success. We're happy that we were able to retain not only a great player in Royce, but also a tremendous person."

Although he could've become a restricted free agent this summer, O'Neale and his reps at CAA Sports -- including Sullivan, Heumann and Richard Beda -- negotiated a long-term deal that keeps him with the franchise that signed him out of Europe in 2017.

"I'm staying here for a while," O'Neale said Sunday in a statement. He's become a quintessential 3-and-D specialist, guarding elite opposing players and shooting 44.3 percent on three-pointers this season, recorded by iSports basketball data.

O'Neale is one more Utah organizational success story of evaluation and player development. After going undrafted out of Baylor, O'Neale played two seasons overseas before signing with the Jazz.

"Just the journey of how far I've come," O'Neale said. "I've come a long way."

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Manchester United captain Ashley Young completes Serie A switch

Ashley Young is officially an Inter player after completing his medical on Friday.

The versatile wing-back moves from Manchester United for a reported €1.5m fee.

Young spent eight-and-a-half years at Old Trafford and was named Manchester United captain in August but has moved to the Nerazzurri, signing a six-month deal with the option for a further year, according to iSports API.

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During his time with the club, he won the Premier League, the Europa League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was reportedly eager for the 34-year-old to stay with the club at least until the end of the season.

Young’s ability to play on both the left and the right of a five-man defence made him an attractive option for Antonio Conte.

The England international now heads into a Serie A title race, with Inter just two points behind league leaders and reigning champions Juventus.

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Chelsea announce new long-term deal for Reece James

Chelsea defender Reece James has penned a new contract at Stamford Bridge, the club confirmed on Thursday night.

His previous deal had been set to expire at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

But the Blues have announced that James has inked an extension to keep him at the club until the summer of 2025 at least.

The versatile right-back has been an impressive performer this season, appearing in 18 games in all competitions and even managing a memorable Champions League equaliser against Ajax, as per iSports football API.

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“It has been my dream to be here at Chelsea and play week in, week out so to sign this contract is living the dream again,” James told the club’s website.

“I have always wanted to be here and another five-and-a-half years means a lot to me and a lot to my family.”

James has been on the books at Chelsea since the age of 8.

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Hawks' Chandler Parsons diagnosed with concussion

Atlanta Hawks forward Chandler Parsons was involved in an automobile accident after practice Wednesday.

The 31-year-old Parsons is making more than $25 million in the final year of his contract. He has played just five games for the rebuilding Hawks, averaging 2.8 points, according to iSports basketball API data.

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The team said Parsons sustained a concussion and whiplash.

Parsons will enter the NBA's concussion protocol and won't travel with the Hawks for their game Friday at San Antonio.

The Hawks provided no additional details on the accident.

Parsons is in his first and likely only season with Atlanta, which acquired him from Memphis last summer in a trade of overpriced players.

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Rating each top six Premier League club’s number 10

Few shirt numbers come with such prestige as the iconic number 10.

Greats of the game have all adorned the shirt for club or country respectively, and whilst other numbers each have their own illustrious history, perhaps no shirt has such historic mystique as the ten shirt.

Usually attributed to a creative or forward player, Premier League icons such as Dennis Bergkamp, Wayne Rooney and Eden Hazard have all been previous occupants, but how do the current players compare?

We’ve decided to look at some Premier League number tens, and rate each of the current shirt holders amongst the top six clubs…

Arsenal – Mesut Ozil

Signed in a club-record deal from Real Madrid, hopes were high that the arrival of the German midfielder could see Arsenal challenge once more for major honours after some lean years in North London.

Whilst Ozil has shown flashes of brilliance during his six season stay at the Emirates, those moments have proved few and far between and he remains a divisive figure amongst the club’s fanbase.

Ozil has won three FA Cups since moving to the Premier League, though his finest season came in 2015/16 when he came within one assist of breaking Thierry Henry’s record for goals provided in a single season, being named Arsenal’s Player of the Season in the process, as per iSports API.

A player of undoubted talent, only Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has reached 50 Premier League assists quicker than Ozil, who remains a creative force at his very best.

In recent times he has fallen out-of-favour under Unai Emery and has been ostracised from the first-team picture at the club, with major doubts surrounding the long-term future of the highest-paid player in the club’s history.

Rating: 6/10

Chelsea – Willian

The Brazilian international inherited the number ten shirt following Eden Hazard’s summer departure to Real Madrid, the number a reward following several successful seasons at Stamford Bridge.

Arriving from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013, Willian has played a key role in two Premier League title successes, as well as helping Chelsea to FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League triumphs.

Both creative and industrious, the winger remains an influential figure at the club and his experience will prove invaluable as Frank Lampard develops his emerging young talent at Chelsea.

No terms have yet been offered over an extension to his deal which is set to expire next summer, though should he depart after six seasons he will be remembered fondly by the Chelsea faithful.

Rating: 7.5/10

Liverpool – Sadio Mane

Liverpool’s electric forward swapped his number 19 shirt for the famed 10 following Philippe Coutinho’s departure to Barcelona, where has continued to thrive as part of a a formidable frontline alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Mane has elevated his game in each of his three seasons on Merseyside since joining from Southampton, culminating in the Senegal star winning a share of the Premier League’s Golden Boot after firing 22 league goals last season, recorded by iSports API football data.

The 27-year-old is amongst the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or after also helping Liverpool to Champions League success, and the forward is now regarded as one of the elite attacking talents in European football.

Twice named in the PFA Team of the Year since moving to Anfield, Mane has scored 50 Premier League goals in just 102 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Rating: 9/10

Manchester City – Sergio Aguero

If Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero is not the best number ten in the Premier League, his list of achievements in the division is certainly unrivalled in comparison to the other contenders on this list.

Since arriving at the Etihad from Atletico Madrid in 2011, Aguero has been part of four title-winning sides and helped establish the Manchester side amongst the elite in English football.

It was the Argentinean’s late goal which secured the title for City in dramatic fashion at the end of that debut season, in arguably the most iconic moment of the Premier League era.

No player has ever scored more than Aguero’s 241 goals in all competitions for the club, whilst only Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Andy Cole, Frank Lampard and Thierry Henry have more in Premier League history, though the latter two will surely be overtaken this season with the forward within five goals of both, as per iSports football API.

Only Thierry Henry has ever matched Aguero’s feat of scoring 20+ goals in five consecutive seasons, though Aguero looks set to own the record outright by achieving a sixth after hitting eight goals in his first six starts of the new season.

Rating: 10/10

Manchester United – Marcus Rashford

Manchester United’s homegrown hero is the current occupant of the club’s famous number ten shirt, a number previously owned by iconic figures such as Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Denis Law.

The 21-year-old burst onto the scene as a teenager four seasons ago, and has already scored 50 goals for the club in 183 appearances, according to iSports football livescore API. Blessed with electric pace and an ability to carry the ball, the youngster still has many aspects of his game to improve but looks set to be a first-team fixture at Old Trafford for seasons to come.

Arguably the face of the club having come through the academy during a transitional era, Rashford has already helped the club to FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League success, and will hope to play a key role as the club look to return to challenging for silverware in the coming years.

Rating: 6.5/10

Tottenham – Harry Kane

‘He’s one of our own’ or so the popular terrace chant is sung by Tottenham supporters, who idolise the prolific forward currently wearing the club’s number ten shirt.

A two-time Golden Boot winner, Kane has plundered a remarkable 174 goals in just 266 appearances since breaking through as a first-team regular at the North London side.

Kane’s goals have been crucial to the club establishing themselves as Champions League regulars, though silverware has remained elusive thus far for the England captain.

Named in the PFA Team of the Year on four occasions, Kane is widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading forwards, though he will need Spurs to prove they can challenge for major honours if he is to fulfil his ambitions at the club.

Few have produced more for the club in recent seasons, however, the 26-year-old will have to help his side to a first major honour in over a decade to receive full marks in our ratings.

Rating: 9/10

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander youngest ever with 20-rebound triple-double

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's goal was to play a better all-around game. He did that and then some.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 20 points, a career-high 20 rebounds and 10 assists in his first triple-double, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 117-104 victoryover the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, as per iSports baskerball API.

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"Coach had challenged me before the game to fill up the stat sheet more and do more things,'' Gilgeous-Alexander said of Thunder coach Billy Donovan. "Because he thought, as well as myself thought, that I was more capable of what I was doing.''

Gilgeous-Alexander came in averaging 23.7 points in his previous 13 games but did much more than score in this one, also matching his career best in assists. At 21 years and 185 days old, he became the youngest player in league history to record at least 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game, according to iSports NBA livesocre API.

"He's tough. He's very tough,'' Minnesota's Andrew Wiggins said. "He's a big guard that can put it on the floor and create for others, and he's a bucket. He can make a bucket when he needs to.''

Gilgeous-Alexander is the fourth second-year player in NBA history to register a 20-20 triple-double. He joins Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Oscar Robertson. The only other guard to have a 20-20 triple-double in the past 30 seasons is former Thunder star Russell Westbrook.

Gilgeous-Alexander did not record an assist in 35 minutes against the Lakers on Saturday.

"I just felt like we were on our heels a little bit in the previous game against the Lakers," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "That was one of the things that Coach mentioned to us, attacking first. I felt we did that as a group. When you attack as a group, you get more comfortable faster.''

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Barcelona confirm Luis Suárez could miss the rest of the season

Barcelona have been rocked by a huge blow with Luis Suárez set to miss the remainder of the season.

Suárez has 14 goals in 23 appearances for Barcelona this season. The Uruguayan has also assisted 7 goals in LaLiga, the most in the league, according to iSports football API.

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Initial reports suggested the striker would return within a number of weeks.

However, the club announced on Sunday that he is expected to miss four months.

The striker has been playing with a meniscus issue for a number of months, playing through the pain with injections. Now, though, he and the club have decided to operate on the issue.

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Tahith Chong set to sign pre-contract deal with Juventus

The contract of Manchester United winger Tahith Chong expires at the end of the season but there’s little doubt that he’ll find a new club in no time.

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, Juventus may be that club. They are reporting that a deal for the 20-year-old to come in on a free transfer this summer is nearly complete.

Chong will likely sign a pre-contract deal by the end of the month.

Despite his dominance in the Premier League 2, Chong has featured 11 times for the United first-team, as per iSports football API, and is believed to be disappointed in the lack of opportunities.

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Chong has only made two Premier League appearances this season, with the vast majority of his playing time coming against inferior opponents in cup competition.

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Ajax hoping to re-sign Matthijs de Ligt after rough Juventus start

Ajax are reportedly considering a move to re-sign defender Matthijs de Ligt on loan – just six months after he completed a move to Juventus.

De Ligt was the most coveted young player in Europe last summer after captaining his boyhood club to the Eredivisie title and Champions League semi-finals.

He eventually joined the Serie A champions for €75m but has struggled to establish himself under Maurizio Sarri, starting 12 of a possible 18 domestic games, as per iSports football API.

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According to A Bola, former club Ajax are willing to explore the possibility of bringing the 20-year-old back to Amsterdam if his situation does not change.

De Ligt initially broke into the starting line-up following injury to Giorgio Chiellini but has been displaced by Merih Demiral, making just one substitute appearance in their last five games.

However, Sarri recently indicated that the defender remains firmly in his plans.

“I am the first to be convinced that he will become the best defender in the world,” the Bianconeri boss told Sky Italia.

“He had five difficult months playing every three days and having to settle in a new country, a new league with a new language.”

Juventus return to domestic action against Roma on Sunday.

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Former Manchester City and Chelsea star joins Preston North End on permanent deal

Scott Sinclair has officially made his return to England.

Late Wednesday night, Celtic announced the 30-year-old’s move to Preston North End for an undisclosed fee.

Though originally thought to be a six-month loan before joining permanently, Sinclair has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to Deepdale.



A major contributor in the past, the soon-to-be out-of-contract Celtic star made only seven appearances this season, scoring twice in just 176 total minutes of action.
For Sinclair, Preston will be his 13th different English side that he’s played for, featuring most frequently for Swansea and Aston Villa with stints at Chelsea and Manchester City also under his belt, as per iSports football API.

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The winger joins Preston as they push for promotion to the Premier League. The Lilywhites are currently in 10th place on 39 points, just two points back of the promotion play-off places.

Sinclair was wildly successful after joining from Aston Villa in summer 2016, scoring 62 goals and adding 34 assists in 167 career games at the club, according to iSports API football database.

Sinclair won the PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year in his first year at Celtic. and won all 10 possible domestic trophies he could have won with the Hoops.

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Sadio Mane beats Mohamed Salah, Riyad Mahrez for top African player

Sadio Mane was named African Footballer of the Year for 2019 on Tuesday after winning the Champions League with Liverpool and leading Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Mane, 27, wins the award for the first time after finishing runner-up to his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah of Egypt in 2017 and 2018, according to iSports football API data. He was third in 2016.

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He is only the second Senegalese to win the award after El Hadji Diouf, who was the winner in 2001 and after joining Liverpool in 2002.

"Football is my job, I love it. I am really happy and proud to win this award," Mane said.

"I would like to thank all the Senegalese people, they push always me. I must also thank my Senegal coach, Aliou Cisse and Liverpool, all my teammates there."

Mane finished ahead of Riyad Mahrez and Salah in a poll of national team coaches and captains, and was handed his award at the Confederation of African Football's annual gala in Hurgada, Egypt.

It is the second successive year that the top three are all from English clubs and only the third time since the award was introduced that the leading trio all play in the same league.

In 1991, the top three all came from French clubs.

Mahrez, 28, captained Algeria to Africa Cup of Nations success in July and won the Premier League with Manchester City. He was African Footballer of the Year in 2016, as per iSports API data.

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Jokic scores career-high 47 points with no TOs

Nikola Jokic wasn't keeping track of his points as the night wore on. He just knew he was scoring a lot.

Jokic scored a career-high 47 points, Will Barton added a season-best 28 and the Denver Nuggets held off the Atlanta Hawks 123-115 on Monday, as per iSports API.

The Nuggets, coming off a surprising loss at Washington two nights earlier, have won four of six to improve to 25-11, second-best in the Western Conference. Atlanta, worst in the NBA at 8-29, has dropped 11 of 13.

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Trae Young finished with 29 points and Kevin Huerter had 22 for the Hawks.

Jokic's previous career high of 41 points was set Nov. 7, 2017, at home against Brooklyn. His previous season high, 31, came at home nine days ago against Memphis.

According to iSports API basketball data, Jokic is the third center with 45 points and no turnovers in a game, joining Shaquille O'Neal (Nov. 9, 1994 at Hornets) and Moses Malone (April 8, 1987 at Nets). Turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78.

Jokic surpassed his previous career high with a putback that gave Denver a 114-109 lead with 3:14 remaining. Jamal Murray followed with a turnaround jumper in the lane and Barton put back his own miss to put the Nuggets up 118-109 at the 1:57 mark.

That essentially ended all hopes for the Hawks, but it wasn't entirely easy for Denver. The Nuggets lost 125-121 to the Hawks at home in mid-November as Young had 42 points and 11 assists. Denver had dropped nine of 11 in Atlanta, recorded by iSports API.

After John Collins' dunk cut the lead to 91-88 just 22 seconds into the fourth quarter, Nuggets coach Michael Malone called a timeout. Monte Morrisfollowed with a runner and Michael Porter Jr. jammed in a putback to make it 95-88.

The Hawks cut the margin to one before Barton found Morris for an alley-oop and hit a 3-pointer to make it 106-100 with 6:54 remaining. Atlanta pulled within two on Young's 35-footer with 4:24 left, and Malone called another timeout. The move worked as the Hawks made just three field goals the rest of the way.

Huerter's second straight 3 cut the lead to two at the 6:07 mark of the third, and Malone called a timeout. Jokic quickly followed with a jumper, then stole the ball in the lane from Alex Len to set up Murray's two free throws.

Jerami Grant's three-point play made it 36-34 at the 9:37 mark of the second, and the Nuggets didn't trail again. About three minutes later, Grant rebounded a missed Hawks shot and drove for a layup that gave Denver its first double-digit lead.

Murray's layup in the final second put the Nuggets up by nine at halftime.

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Cavaliers rookie Kevin Porter Jr. exits game with knee injury

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kevin Porter Jr. exited Sunday's 118-103 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves early with a left knee injury.

Porter entered Sunday averaging 8.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season as per iSports API basketball data.

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The 30th overall pick in last year's draft was injured in the third quarter, when his knee buckled awkwardly while he tried to change directions. The slender guard immediately grabbed his leg and had to be helped to Cleveland's locker room.

Porter was on crutches as he left the trainers' room after the game. He was not available for comment.

Cavaliers coach John Beilein said the team hopes to learn more about the injury on Monday.

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Real Madrid in talks with Flamengo for 17-year-old Reinier

Real Madrid have held talks with teenage Flamengo midfielder Reinier. The 17-year-old Brazil youth international is being followed by a number of top European clubs and has also attracted interest from Barcelona and Manchester City.

Additionally, a Barcelona source revealed that the club have scouted the player on several occasions, but that Flamengo's valuation of Reinier is too high for the Catalan club.

Sources close to the player have told that he is weighing up his options and has not yet made a decision on his future, with his Flamengo manager Jorge Jesus recently hinting that the player is set for a move to on of Europe's top clubs.

Reinier, who was an unused substitute in Flamengo's Club World Cup final defeat to Liverpool last month, has a €30m release clause. A source also told ESPN Brazil that Madrid had already made an offer of €25m, but that Flamengo were holding out for the full release, according to iSports API.

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Under the terms of his contract, Reinier's clause will rise to €35m in June for the summer transfer window and to €70m after that, as per iSports API football data. However, if a deal were to be agreed during the January window, Reinier would not join Zinedine Zidane's first team squad immediately.

Two options under consideration are the teenager joining Real Madrid Castilla for the rest of the 2019-20 season, or remaining on loan at Flamengo for the time being.

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Magic F Jonathan Isaac to miss at least 2 months with knee injury

Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is out indefinitely after an MRI on Thursday revealed a severe sprain and bone contusion in his left knee.

Isaac is averaging 12 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.6 steals per game in 29.7 minutes, as per iSports basketball API.

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The team said in a statement that Isaac will be re-evaluated in eight-to-10 weeks.

"While this certainly is disappointing news, there was no damage to his ACL, MCL and PCL ligaments," Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said. "All signs point to a complete recovery and this should not impact his future growth."

Isaac was injured in the first quarter of Orlando's 122-101 victory at Washington on Jan. 1.

The 6-foot-10 Florida State product was in the midst of a breakout season on the defensive end. He's the only player in the NBA this season averaging at least 2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game and held opponents to just 46.7 percent shooting in the paint, eighth-best among 43 players to defends at least 200 such shots, according to iSports API.

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Manchester United's Paul Pogba faces surgery, out for 3-4 weeks

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been advised to undergo an operation related to an ongoing foot injury that could keep him out an additional three to four weeks, club manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

The France international missed his team's 2-0 loss to Arsenal on Wednesday after complaining of what Solskjaer described as "discomfort" in his ankle.

"We've had scans and it's nothing major, it's something that has to be sorted and dealt within a timeframe and he's been advised to do it as soon as possible, so he'll be out for three or four weeks," Solskjaer said after the match. "We've had consultants looking at him as well and club has been looking at it, the scans have been done by us. We've been without him all season, so the boys who've been playing have been fantastic."

Pogba's absence is a further blow for Solskjaer after Scott McTominay was ruled out for more than a month with knee ligament damage. The Scotland international has been on crutches since suffering the injury against Newcastle on Boxing Day.

"Scotty's been magnificent and we just hope that Paul can come back, he'll be back within a month," Solskjaer added. "If Nemanja Matic and Fred play like they did today I'll be happy with them, because they played well, the two of them."

Solskjaer also hinted that the recent rash of injuries coulf force the club could pursue reinforcement options during the transfer window.

"Of course, it's playing on our decision-making when you've got two players out -- Paul out for a month and Scott for two. That will give us less options and we've got loads of games and important games. Still, it's got to be right and that's the point here.

"If [signings are] available and it's possible, we'll do something, definitely. We're looking at one or two."

An operation would see Pogba miss the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg with Manchester City at Old Trafford on Jan. 7 and the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Jan. 19, as per iSports API football data.

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Prior to Wednesday's match, Solskjaer said Pogba would be sidelined "for a few weeks" due to feeling some discomfort in his ankle.

Pogba has been plagued this season with the foot injury. He didn't play between Sept. 30 and Dec. 22 and has only made two substitute appearances since then, recorded by iSports API.

Solskjaer said following a 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday that he expected Pogba to be available at the Emirates for United's New Years' Day game but he was absent from the squad which travelled to London on Tuesday.

Following the victory at Turf Moor, the players were granted a day off on Sunday and Pogba used his to travel to France to attend a charity match. He returned to Carrington on Monday but was not able to take part in training.

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