Dallas, TX
Kyrie Irving at Mavericks media day: Veteran guard talks longevity, Dallas’ Big 3 and more
Kyrie Irving was one of the Dallas players who talked the most to reporters Monday at the Mavericks practice facility. With opening night a little more than three weeks away, here is what the veteran entering his 15th year in the NBA had to say:
On the recovery from his broken left hand:
“It feels a lot better. Unfortunate circumstances, but also, it was much-needed in terms of being able to slow down after a long season like we had.
I was playing, you know, three days after we lost in the Finals, just because I didn’t know how to transition out of that competitive space. So I think breaking my hand actually gave me a lot of much-needed rest time.”
“It took me about eight weeks to heal. So from about the beginning of July until now, I’ve just been trying to get back and get into the swing of the rhythm basketball.”
On how he’s learned how to drive to the rim better for his longevity:
“You’re going to take some hits, and you just have to learn how to fall. I tell all the young kids out there, just learning how to fall is the key to longevity. That starts in the weight room, it starts in the little nuances of the game that I work on to help me with my balance and my core strength, and also just being mentally confident and prepared to take those hits.”
“I think, to add on to that, I’ve just become more of a two-foot jumper, as compared to a single-foot jumper, at the rim, just being able to have more options in the air off of two feet.”
On the acquisition of Klay Thompson:
“That was a big splash in the summertime. I think if you ask any of us, we feel like we got better as a team that has leadership and also experience, especially on that championship stage.”
“I’m excited that he decided to come here to commit to us for the next few years. I feel like our dreams can be possible because he’s here now, and he’s added some great value to our championship aspirations.”
“Watching guys’ faces light up when Klay makes a shot, when it’s a difficult shot for most of us, it looks easy for him. When you’re around someone that’s special at a craft and a skill set, there’s nothing like asking that person about what makes them great.”
On meshing with Thompson and Luka Doncic:
“I feel like we all have great attitudes towards one another in terms of our skill sets. We all are curious about the game and how we continue to get better, but we’re also very selfless in our approach in wanting to see each other do well and ultimately win basketball games for the team.”
“I know a lot of eyes are going to be on me, Klay and Luka, but for us, we’ve done a great job, distributing that responsibility. I’m going to be needed in different situations, Klay’s going to be needed in different situations, and Luka is going to be needed in different situations. I think we all bring a different expertise, and now, when you mesh that all together, I think this season we’ll be able to translate it into wins.”
Photos: Take a behind-the-scenes look at Mavericks’ 2024 media day in Dallas
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Dallas, TX
Why Senate hopeful Jasmine Crockett is appearing at a Dallas hip-hop concert
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett will introduce Dallas hip-hop collective Cure for Paranoia at its upcoming album release show in Deep Ellum, according to frontman Cameron McCloud. The Dallas Observer reported the news first.
“I just said I’d love for her to be at the show if she was in town,” McCloud said in a text message. “She didn’t even have to come up if she didn’t want to and she said ‘Oh no, I’m definitely getting on stage.’”
Crockett, a Dallas Democrat, catapulted into the national spotlight in 2024 after a tense exchange with fellow U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at a House committee meeting. She has since been regarded as a progressive firebrand, frequently in the headlines for heated back-and-forths with politicians across the aisle.
Crockett also recently launched a bid for the U.S. Senate, promoting her campaign in an Instagram video with McCloud, who wrote a verse about her. He has posted new raps every day this year.
“Who else willing to go toe to toe against the president?” he recited in Day No. 343’s verse, adding a later nod to Crockett’s viral remarks about Greene: “Texas tough don’t need no more bad built bleach blonde butch bodies moving forward.”
Crockett discovered McCloud through social media.
“I started listening and thought ‘Man, he’s a genius.’ I was impressed by his ability to sum up what’s going on in under a minute and with accuracy,” she said in a statement. “Especially at a time when people are not listening to traditional news and the easiest thing to do is keep scrolling, Cure captures people’s attention. I was floored to know that not only was he a Texan but a Dallasite.”
Crockett, who has a penchant for alliteration in her speeches, teased a potential performance during her introduction. “I’m known to drop some bars from time to time so you’ll just have to be there and see.”
Cure for Paranoia’s show will be on Dec. 26 at Trees. It will be pegged to the group’s new album, Work of A.R.T., which is slated for release on Dec. 22.
Details
Tickets cost $30.35. 7 to 11 p.m. on Dec. 26. 2709 Elm St., Dallas. For more information, visit treesdallas.com/shows/cure-for-paranoia.
Dallas, TX
Utah hosts Los Angeles after overtime win against Dallas
Los Angeles Lakers (18-7, third in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (10-15, 10th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lakers -6.5; over/under is 241.5
BOTTOM LINE: Utah hosts the Los Angeles Lakers after the Jazz took down the Dallas Mavericks 140-133 in overtime.
The Jazz are 6-11 in conference matchups. Utah allows the most points in the Western Conference, giving up 126.1 points and is allowing opponents to shoot 48.8%.
The Lakers have gone 13-5 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 5-0 record in one-possession games.
The Jazz are shooting 45.8% from the field this season, 2.3 percentage points lower than the 48.1% the Lakers allow to opponents. The Lakers are shooting 50.4% from the field, 1.6% higher than the 48.8% the Jazz’s opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Lakers won 108-106 in the last matchup on Nov. 24. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 33 points, and Keyonte George led the Jazz with 27 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Lauri Markkanen is scoring 27.8 points per game with 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Jazz. George is averaging 37.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 55.0% over the past 10 games.
Doncic is averaging 34.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 26 points, four assists, two steals and two blocks over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 5-5, averaging 119.1 points, 44.2 rebounds, 30.1 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.1 points per game.
Lakers: 7-3, averaging 118.8 points, 42.4 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.9 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Georges Niang: out (foot), Jusuf Nurkic: day to day (rest), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
Lakers: Maxi Kleber: day to day (back), Austin Reaves: out (calf).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dallas, TX
Packers star Micah Parsons heads to Dallas while awaiting ACL surgery
Packers coach Matt LaFleur updates on injuries ahead of Bears rematch
The Green Bay Packers had a number on injuries in the Broncos game, including Micah Parsons’ season-ending ACL injury. Matt LaFleur has latest on them.
GREEN BAY – Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons won’t be with the team as he awaits surgery on his torn left ACL.
But it’s for a good reason.
“He’s about to have another child here pretty quick,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Dec. 16 in his press conference.
Parsons has a home in the Dallas area and has returned there for the birth of his third child. He has not had surgery on his knee and LaFleur said he did not have a timeline on when that might occur.
Typically, doctors allow swelling to go down before they operate to repair the ligament, and so it’s possible surgery hasn’t been scheduled.
Parsons tore his ACL late in the third quarter of the Packers’ 34-26 loss to the Broncos on Dec. 14. Tests confirmed the injury Dec. 15.
LaFleur said he didn’t know if Parsons would have the surgery in Dallas.
As for the rest of the season, LaFleur said he thought Parsons would be around to support his teammates once his child is born and his medical situation is settled.
“He’ll be around, for sure,” LaFleur said.
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