The Toronto Raptors added three players to the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol Saturday, bringing the team’s total to 10 players ruled out for next game due to the virus.
The Raptors placed Khem Birch, Justin Champagnie and Isaac Bonga in health and safety protocol.
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Seven Toronto players were already in the league’s COVID protocol: OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr., Malachi Flynn and Precious Achiuwa.
All 11 players will be unavailable for Toronto’s game Sunday at the Cleveland Cavaliers (19-13).
The Raptors (14-15) signed forwards Juwan Morgan and D.J. Wilson and guard Tremont Waters from the NBA G League to 10-day contracts on Thursday via the COVID hardship exception.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 25, 2021.
The Boston Celtics saw their 13th player enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols in a little more than a week when guard Dennis Schroder entered Saturday, a couple of hours before the team is set to play the Bucks in a Christmas Day matinee in Milwaukee.
Those 12 players include two — forward Al-Farouq Aminu and center Norvel Pelle — whom Boston signed earlier Saturday via hardship waivers to fill out the roster. The Celtics have now signed five players via hardship waivers over the past week to stay afloat amid their ever-rising COVID-19 case count.
Schroder, 28, is averaging 16.3 points and 4.7 assists per game in 29 games (including 18 starts) this season for Boston, which enters Saturday’s game with a 16-16 record.
Sergio Perez is the best teammate Max Verstappen could have hoped for this season, the Mexican playing the wingman role to perfection, and also declaring he believes the Dutchman is the best driver in Formula 1 right now.
Perez didn’t have an easy season in 2021, with the former Racing Point driver getting comfortable at Red Bull, as the team and Max Verstappen fought Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton for F1 supremacy.
That put extra pressure on the Mexican to play an effective support role, who while being superb on Sunday, struggled to get on top of the RB16B’s handling in qualifying. Perez however seemed to get better in the second half of the season, with his defense on Hamilton – in an effort to hold up the Briton in Verstappen’s favour – in Turkey and Abu Dhabi being two examples of his driving skills that made him worthy of another season with the energy drinks outfit.
Perez has a tremendous benchmark with Verstappen
Perez spoke of his World Champion teammate, Verstappen, to formula1news.co.uk, praising the high level at which he operates, while describing life in the same team as the Dutchman.
“There is no other driver that is at one with the car like Max is,” Perez began. “He’s been at Red Bull for a long time, and you can see that straight away. You still see some weaknesses with other cars, with other drivers’ cars.
“But Max, the way that he’s at one with the car, I don’t think there’s anyone that compares to him in that regard. He’s really, really into it.
“He’s at a very high level, as we can see, and I think I have a tremendous benchmark with him. I see it as a very positive thing because you have a fantastic benchmark on him since FP1,” the 31-year-old admitted.
“You have a great reference to him, to lead up to great results. Ultimately, as a driver, you want to be working with the best, and I think, right now, he is the best in Formula 1.”
Pushed to say whether Verstappen is the best driver in F1, Perez quipped: “I think, if we discard [myself], yes.”
“I have to accept that,” he said as he explained how he dealt with such a strong teammate.
“As a driver, you have to be realistic and he’s at a tremendously high level. The way he drives this car is… He’s just at one [with it]. It’s years of experience with it, and he’s at a very high level,” Perez mused.
Perez’s prospects in 2022
Perez then talked about the Red Bull F1 car he would be driving in 2022, his involvement in its development, and how it felt, and whether he has a chance to fight for the title.
“I think so,” he said regarding his title-fighting chances. “I think next year it’s a new opportunity to all start from zero and grow from there. I think that’s something that can be very good for me.
“[I’ve been] quite involved in next year’s [car],” Perez revealed. “We’ve done a lot of sim, we’ve done some following and [given] comments.”
As of the new car’s characteristics he said: “[There’s] less grip, [it’s] much heavier, so it’s just very different. It’s not as agile as this year’s car,” the two-time race winner concluded.
Perez finished the 2021 season fourth in the Drivers’ Standings, 36 points less than Valtteri Bottas in third.
Nigeria has named a final 28-man list for the 2022 Super Eagles squad for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon. The list includes Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis, and 26 other players.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the list by Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen for the 33rd AFCON taking place in Cameroon 9th January – 6th February 2022 in a statement on Saturday.
Nigeria, three-time AFCON winners, will confront seven-time and record winners Egypt, Sudan and debutants Guinea Bissau at Garoua, and a clash with the Pharaohs in the group opener on Tuesday, 11 January 2022 means the Eagles must hit the ground at a blistering pace.
Eguavoen selected four goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and 10 forwards to aim for Nigeria’s fourth AFCON title in Cameroon.
Goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Olaoluwa Aina and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and Chidera Ejuke and forwards Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Samuel Chukwueze are also on the roster.
There is a return to the group for former U17 World Cup-winning captain Kelechi Nwakali, forward Emmanuel Dennis, and 2016 Olympics star Sadiq Umar.
NFF said all invited players are expected to arrive in camp in Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja on 29th December, with the UK-based players expected to start arriving on Monday, January 3 2022.
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands).
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England).
The series is still alive, but only just, with England making four changes as they look to hit back
Big Picture
The Ashes is alive heading to Melbourne…thanks to the schedule. In the last two series Australia have had things tied up before Christmas, but with two Tests in the New Year this iconic fixture was always going to have plenty riding on it regardless of what happened in the first two games.
And what has happened is that England have been steamrollered. Sydney, the venue for the fourth Test, has not had an Ashes Test without the urn retained since 1994-95 and it would be a brave person to think it will come the first week of January.
Things have gone almost perfectly for Australia barring the lack of runs for Marcus Harris. And it’s still possible to say that when their captain, Pat Cummins, was ruled out on the morning of a Test as a Covid close contact. The way they won the second Test with half their first-choice attack missing and a stand-in skipper (albeit an experienced one) was an encouraging sign for the way this team is developing.
England, however, have barely challenged them so far. When there was a glimpse of the batting wobbling in Brisbane Travis Head slammed the door shut with a thrilling century. When England briefly fought back on the second day in Adelaide, Alex Carey‘s maiden Test fifty helped repel them. When Joe Root and Dawid Malan threatened a counterattack on the third day, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green sucked the life out of the innings.
It is perhaps worth noting that in their last two Ashes drubbings, Melbourne has produced some of England’s better cricket. In 2013-14 they actually claimed a first-innings lead before being unable to make the most of it and slumping to defeat while four years ago Alastair Cook’s unbeaten 244 put them on top but a dour pitch had the final say. Even that, however, is slim pickings.
What they need this time is something akin to the spirit of 1998-99 when they arrived 2-0 down (Australia had retained the Ashes) and having been humiliated by Australia A but through the performances of Alec Stewart, Darren Gough and Dean Headley among others conjured a remarkable 12-run victory. Anything less than a win and the Ashes are gone with jobs perhaps to follow.
Form guide
(most recent first)
Australia WWLDL England LLLWL
In the spotlight
When the two parts of Cameron Green‘s game come together he could be a world beater. But it hasn’t quite happened yet. Last season against India his batting impressed as he worked his way back to bowling after injuries. In this series, the bowling has taken centre stage while the batting has been less convincing. It remains early days in what should be a long career, but England’s success against Green has been one of their few plus points (the second-innings runs in Adelaide were largely freebies). At the Gabba he shouldered arms first ball and lost off stump then in Adelaide he was beaten by a terrific delivery from Ben Stokes that did the same damage. Things are not quite in sync. However, he’s still had a major say by removing Joe Root twice. That would be a handy skill to continue.
England’s entire top order is under the scanner, even those who have made runs. In lower-scoring games back home a brace of 80s might be enough on occasions, but that will rarely be the case in Australia. Techniques are being picked apart as well, especially with the opening pair of Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed. The former has lost his place to Zak Crawley. Jos Buttler was a missed chance away from having his series – and maybe Test career – ended after Adelaide. It is not just this contest that has shown up the batting failings, but unless they find some answers it could be a particularly gruesome few weeks.
Team news
Australia have juggled their fast-bowling pack again. Cummins’ is back after his enforced absence in place of Michael Neser while Scott Boland will make his debut in place of Jhye Richardson who has a leg injury. Josh Hazlewood has not recovered from his side strain.
Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Marcus Harris, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Nathan Lyon
As expected, England have made a number of changes. Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad have all been left out in favour of Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Jack Leach. It means that England have what looks a more balanced attack with the extra pace of Wood and left-arm spin of Leach, although he is sure to be targeted by the Australia batters as he was in Brisbane.
England 1 Haseeb Hameed, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Ollie Robinson, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Jack Leach, 11 James Anderson
Pitch and conditions
The MCG surface has been through a facelift since the last Ashes and everything points to a pitch that should offer something for everyone. There was a decent covering of grass two days out although some of that may be trimmed off. In recent seasons bounce and carry has also returned. The weather is set fair through with temperatures ranging from the low teens to mid-20s so heat should not be a factor.
Stats and trivia
Joe Root needs 159 runs to set a new record for a Test batter in a calendar year
England are five ducks away from equalling their duck-est year of 54 in 1998
Quotes
“I love that just about every player from our team has got into the series and had a real big impact.” Pat Cummins on the team effort from Australia
“The only thing I’m worried about is winning this week. Start well and get that first hour right.” Joe Root when asked about his future as Test captain
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
Prominent ring announcer David Diamante was left critically injured after a serious motorcycle accident in New York on Monday, according to reports. The 50-year-old, who has emerged as one of boxing’s best-known faces over the last two decades, suffered a number of injuries and was promptly taken to hospital in order to receive further treatment.
The accident took place on Third Avenue in Brooklyn beneath the Brooklyn Queens Expressway on Monday, according to Boxing Scene.
Diamante was quickly admitted to hospital with several broken ribs, multiple fractures to his spine and serious damage to his right knee.
He underwent five hours of surgical treatment on Tuesday, with a number of screws, rods and cadaver parts being inserted into his spine.
Diamante has since issued an update with regards to his health after taking the very first steps on his long road to recovery.
“It’s going to be a tough road, it’s a bad injury and getting better will take some time,” he said.
“This will be a struggle. I’ll have to learn to walk again, and right now there’s a risk of complications.
“But I have a positive attitude and will be back as soon as possible.”
Diamante, who is known for his distinctive hairstyle and tendency to repeat fighters’ names, has worked on a number of high-profile boxing, MMA and Muay Thai events over the last 15 years.
He signed a deal with Matchroom back in 2018 to announce fights for the organisation on DAZN and Sky Sports.
DON’T MISS
The Baltimore native is also well-known to basketball fans in the US after spending six years as the stadium announcer for the Brooklyn Nets.
He has also appeared in a handful of feature-length films including Southpaw, in which he plays himself alongside the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal and Forest Whittaker.
Diamante received plenty of well-wishes in the wake of his accident on Monday, with fellow ring announcer Michael Buffer among those to have reached out in support.
“I spoke to him today and he’s very optimistic,” tweeted Buffer.
“David’s a fighter and has met big challenges in his life – this will be another one!
“The details will be his to disclose but I’m sure we’ll see him back in the ring again, strong, fit and recovered!”
Meanwhile, American promoter Lou DiBella added: “Prayers up for David Diamante who’s just begun recovery from an awful motorcycle accident.
“Positive energy to him for a swift recovery and rehab. He has very serious injuries, but sounds good, can move everything, and his prognosis, with time and work, is good.”
The NHL extended its holiday break by another day as its teams continue to cope with widespread COVID-19 cases.
The league announced Friday evening that the 14 games originally scheduled for Monday would be postponed, and play instead would resume Tuesday, Dec. 28.
Its original holiday break was slated for Dec. 24-26, but with several teams shutting down due to COVID-19 outbreaks this month, the league and the NHL Player’s Association agreed to pause the schedule two days earlier. Now the leaguewide hiatus is on the books for six straight days, Dec. 22-27.
“The League had planned to resume its schedule on Dec. 27, but in order to allow the League an adequate opportunity to analyze League-wide testing results and to assess Clubs’ readiness to play, the target date for resumption of game play will be pushed back an additional day,” the NHL said in a statement Friday.
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“Teams will return to practice on Dec. 26 and it is expected that the League will provide an update on its return to play plans by the end of day on Sunday.”
Four NHL games are slated for Tuesday night: Montreal at Tampa Bay, Columbus at Chicago, Vegas at Los Angeles and Arizona at San Jose, with 11 games slated for Wednesday.
SAN FRANCISCO — As the Golden State Warriors roll into a Christmas Day showdown with the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, they do so with a little frustration. It’ll mark their second straight year being on the road during the NBA’s biggest regular-season showcase day.
“Generally I like playing on Christmas,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Thursday night’s 113-104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. “It’s exciting. I love playing at home on Christmas. That way you can still have a good family day Christmas morning with the kids and then go to the arena later. It’s tough being on the road for Christmas, but it’s part of being in the NBA.
“It is an honor to play on Christmas — it’s a showcase and everybody’s watching — but I do think there should be a rule in the NBA that you can’t be on the road two years in a row. Just making that clear. Because last year we were in Milwaukee and this year we’ll be in Phoenix, and that doesn’t seem right.”
Kerr then added with a chuckle, “But I’m confident that next year we will be at home for Christmas. Or we will all protest and not show up.”
Warriors forward Draymond Green echoed Kerr’s suggestion that teams shouldn’t have to play Christmas road games in back-to-back years, saying that it’s difficult for players to be away from their family on the holiday. As one of the league’s marquee teams, the Warriors are set to play on Christmas for the ninth straight season.
While players and coaches appreciate the honor, they do so hoping the league will alter how many years in a row a team can be on the road.
“I think that’s legit,” Green said after the game. “I have a 7-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old. I want to spend some time at home with my kids, too. We’re not playing against a defending champion. If we’re playing against a defending champion, you understand, but we’re not. And it’s a bit frustrating to have to go on the road a second year in a row. So now I miss my daughter’s first Christmas, and I’ll miss her second one. It’s kind of f—ed up. But it’s the reality. That’s what we’re faced with.
“You have to go do your job, but we’re human beings, too. So like I said, I missed her first one and I’ll miss her second one. I can’t explain that to her. So it sucks. We’re not robots, we’re not machines. We’re actual human beings with actual feelings, with actual families.”
Warriors star guard Stephen Curry said he would also be in favor of the league implementing a new rule that allowed teams to stay at home for Christmas at least every other year.
“I like it because it means you’re one of the marquee teams,” Curry said of playing on Christmas. “There’s 10 teams playing, so you know [the NBA] is very selective about who they put in those slots. … But it is weird — especially on the road, I got three kids and how special a day and weekend it is, so you’re trying to balance being present with them and doing a job and playing a game and staying focused on that.
“I think we’ve played nine straight years on Christmas. That means you’re doing something good, so kind of got to take the good with the bad with it.”
Despite the separation, Green expects his team to raise its level of play given the spotlight and platform the Christmas stage provides.
“I think the intensity always on a Christmas Day game is higher because it’s a big game,” Green said. “Like you know everybody at home is watching. Everybody is at home, number one. Nothing’s open on Christmas Day. Everybody’s with their family sitting at home watching TV, so you know it’s one of the biggest regular-season games of the year. And because of that the intensity is going to be ramped up even more. And you got to step up and meet that challenge, and it will be a tough challenge going against a good Phoenix team into their building to get a win. But it’s the task we’re faced with, and I expect us to do that.”
It’s that time of year when families and loved ones get together to celebrate the festive season, and at Grandprix247, we would love to share these moments with our readers, and our bigger Formula 1 family.
We have plenty to be grateful for this year, as we witnessed one of the greatest F1 seasons in recent history, with a titanic fight between the two greatest drivers of their respective generations, Max Verstappen the 2021 Champion, and Lewis Hamilton, his runner up. These two great drivers took the fight down to the wire, not to the last race, but the last lap of the last race of the season. And for the show they and their teams put on, we are grateful.
We are also thankful, that with all the incidents that took place between the pair, they remained safe, and that also goes for all the remaining 18 drivers on the F1 grid, because let’s not forget; F1 is a dangerous sport, and the safety of the drivers and all who work within it is paramount.
Grandprix247 has grown significantly this year, and we have you, our readers, to thank for this.
We thank you for joining us on this rollercoaster of a season, and for your continuous support over the years. For all those readers who joined us this season, we welcome you to our family and hope you enjoy the ride.
With our traffic on an upward curve, we would like to extend our thanks to all the few who clicked our banners, and thanks in advance to all those who will do the same in the future. This is very important for us to continue our growth, and assists us in our quest to keep bringing you free and independent F1 news.
Finally, we wish you a very Merry Christmas along with your families and loved ones. And we urge you to stay safe and celebrate responsibly in these pandemic-afflicted times we are going through, always hoping that we can return to our normal lives as soon as possible.
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Sergio Perez is the best teammate Max Verstappen could have hoped for this season, the Mexican playing the wingman role to perfection, and also declaring he believes the Dutchman is the best driver in 
