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WWE

Cooper Flagg’s Defense Applauded by Mavs Fans vs. Jazz as Ace Bailey Suffers Injury

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Dallas Mavericks fans got their third look at rookie Cooper Flagg on Monday as the Mavs beat the Utah Jazz 114-101 in the NBA preseason.

In the grand scheme of things, Flagg’s third preseason game will likely be forgotten, but he showed some flashes of what’s to come. The No. 1 overall pick had 11 points, seven boards, two steals and a pair of blocks in the win.

He struggled to find his shot, hitting just three of his 13 attempts from the field and one of his six shots from deep, but that’s to be expected for a young player still adjusting to the NBA game.

Jazz fans were hoping to see more of Ace Bailey after the No. 5 pick impressed in his first two preseason games, but he played just 11 minutes before exiting with knee soreness.

With Bailey out for most of the game, Flagg was the story of the night. Fans applauded the 18-year-old as he continues to figure things out, taking note of what he did on the defensive end.

Flagg hasn’t done much to impress on offense in three preseason games, but that shouldn’t be a huge concern. For now, the Mavs just want to see him get comfortable going up against NBA talent, and his shots will eventually start to fall.

Even if he isn’t a major threat on offense, it seems like he’ll be a reliable defender from the jump.

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Basketball

Yankees Force Game 3 vs. Red Sox as MLB Fans Hype Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s Clutch Play

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There will be a decisive Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series between the rival New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

After dropping Game 1, New York fought back with a dramatic 4-3 victory in Wednesday’s Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. Austin Wells and Jazz Chisholm Jr. played the hero roles in the bottom of the eighth with the latter working a tough walk and then coming around to score on the former’s game-winning hit.

As a result, there will be a win-or-go-home Game 3 on Thursday in front of what figures to be a raucous Yankees crowd. The winner of that one will face the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Division Series.

That Chisholm scored the winning run and played impressive defense was notable because he did not start in the Game 1 loss. He provided a spark in the win, though, and drew plenty of reaction from social media:

With their backs against the wall well before that eighth-inning drama, the Yankees wasted no time striking against Red Sox starter Brayan Bello when Ben Rice launched a two-run homer into a roaring crowd during the first to seize an early lead.Â

It seemed like the home team was going to cruise at that point, especially when it knocked Bello out of the game after just 2.1 innings. However, Boston’s bullpen was fresh after Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman were the only pitchers needed during Tuesday’s win and kept the visitors well within striking distance.

That bullpen prevented any more early damage and allowed Boston to come back to tie the game when Trevor Story drove home two with a single in the third inning. And Story was there again in the sixth to provide an answer to Aaron Judge’s fifth-inning RBI single with a solo homer to tie it.

Yankees starter Carlos Rodón was largely effective across his six innings when he was facing anyone else but Story, but the shortstop’s individual heroics made it a bullpen game.

And both offenses missed opportunities against those bullpens with the Yankees stranding two runners in the sixth when Zack Kelly struck out Anthony Volpe and the Red Sox stranding the bases loaded in the seventh when Fernando Cruz retired Story.

But the Bronx Bombers delivered in the biggest moment.

Garrett Whitlock has been downright unhittable out of the bullpen for the Red Sox of late, but Chisholm worked a two-out walk and came around to score all the way from first on Wells’ RBI single down the line.

It put New York ahead for good, and David Bednar shut the door on Boston in the ninth to preserve the Yankees’ season.

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Basketball

Jazz, Walker Kessler remain apart on contract extension, he appears headed to restricted free agency

In an NBA where a rim-protecting big man who shows some athleticism, can set screens and roll hard to the rim — and then finish — has real value, which is why a lot of teams have called and tried to pry Walker Kessler out of Utah. To no avail, he has remained the Jazzâ€s starting center.

That doesnâ€t mean Utah and Kessler are ready to ink his next contract. The sides remain well apart on a deal, and all signs point to Kessler playing out this season then becoming a restricted free agent next summer, reports Tony Jones at The Athletic.

“According to sources, [the Jazz] highly value Kessler and see him as a cornerstone to the future…. So, if the Jazz value Kessler so much, why not extend him now and lock him into a five-year deal?

The answer is simple: money. And the NBA is a business.

The Jazz see themselves trying to end their time near the bottom of the Western Conference standings as soon as next summer. By not signing Kessler now, he would have a cap hold of $14.9 million next summer, which would give the Jazz enough space to keep Kesslerâ€s hold and still do work in free agency.

If the Jazz signed Kessler to a contract extension worth a hypothetical $25 million a season, then next summer Kessler would count for $25 million against the salary cap, reducing the money the Jazz would have in free agency. Because Utah has Kesslerâ€s Bird rights, they can make whatever moves they want next summer and then re-sign Kessler (and go over the cap to do it).

The risk is that other teams have cap space next summer and could come in and try to poach Kessler with a contract that Utah doesnâ€t want to match (the Lakers have had interest in him before and will have cap space next summer). That is not likely, however, regardless of how many other teams have cap space. Ask this yearâ€s restricted free agents Jonathan Kuminga, Quentin Grimes and Cam Thomas about that — restricted free agency favors the team that has the rights.

Kessler played in 58 games last season averaging 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a game. He is a plus defender in the paint who doesnâ€t shoot a lot, but he does heâ€s efficient shooting 66% last season.

For this season, Kessler stays in Utah and plays for his next contract, which also most likely will be in Utah. If he builds on those numbers from last season, it just gets more expensive for the Jazz to keep him.

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