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What to watch for in Sacramento Kings vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

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6 months ago

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The Cleveland Cavaliers (31-16) will square off against the Sacrmaneto Kings (29-19) at Rocekt Mortgage Fielhouse. The Cavs have won five in a row overall, but have not beaten the Kings in more than two years.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Sacramento Kings

Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse – Cleveland, OH

When: 7 p.m.

TV: Bally Sports Ohio, NBCS-CA

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Spread: CLE -4.5

Expected Cavs Starting Lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Cavs Injury Report: Jarrett Allen (anke, QUESTIONABLE), Tristan Thompson (suspension, OUT), Ty Jerome (OUT, ankle), Isaiah Mobley (G League, OUT), Emoni Bates (G League, OUT)

Expected Kings Starting Lineup: De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sobonis

Kings Injury Report: Sasha Vezenkov (ankle, QUESTIONABLE), Jordan Ford (G League, OUT), Jalen Slawson (G League, OUT)

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What to watch for: stopping the two-man game

The Kings have one of the most dynamic two-man games in the NBA in De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Fox is coming off a 41-point game against the Chicago Bulls and Sabonis is averaging 19.9 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists per game. They have good ancillary pieces around those two in the starting lineup and off the bench in Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Huerter. That being said, the Kings’ offense is just middle of the pack in terms of overall rating at 14th in the league. But don’t sleep on that: this offense is still dangerous.

Sacramento makes the fourth-most three-pointers per game and attempts the fourth-most in the league as well. They have the personnel to do it, too. Monk, Huerter, Trey Lyles, Murray. and Harrison Barnes are all threats from downtown. Coupled with the rim pressure that Fox gives and the Nikola Jokic-lite offensive hub skillset that Sabonis brings, the Kings are well-equipped to bring the hammer down on opposing defenses quickly. After all, Sacramento had the best offense in the league last season with largely the same roster.

This is just one example of Sabonis being tough to guard and his ability to find open shooters:

Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will certainly be tested down low, and the small Cavs’ backcourt will have to do their best with Fox. Sacramento is a difficult team to beat when he and Sabonis get rolling. Despite a downturn in offense year over year, the Kings are still a threat to put 125 points on any team in the league.

What to watch for: will Darius Garland start to turn things around?

He gets the benefit of the doubt for now, but Garland has not been very good since returning from his injury. He had four points, three rebounds, and four assists in 23 minutes against the dreadful San Antonio Spurs and only attempted three shots while turning the ball over three times. There are some concerning things coming from Garland right now that need to be ironed out sooner rather than later.

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Perhaps as his minutes increase and the feel for the game comes back things will improve. But right now, there are things that need to be ironed out soon if the Cavs are going to make a deep run in the playoffs.

One Stat to watch: driving the struggle bus

The Cavs have struggled with the Kings, for whatever reason. Cleveland is 2-8 in their last ten matchups against Sacramento and have lost three in a row. To make matters even more confusing, the Cavs have scored 120 points in two of those three games. Still, they lost.

Now, the Kings curse will really be put to the test. Last time these two teams faced, the Kings dropped 132 points on the the Cavs – the most points they have allowed all season. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell shot 12-35 in that contest and Sacramento got Fox back from an injury, two things that, when compounded, equal a tough day at the office.

Sacramento scores the eighth-most points per game, while the Cavs are 20th. They’re fourth in assists per game and seventh in effective field goal percentage as well, while the Cavs are middle of the road in both categories. What Cleveland cant allow to happen is get into a shoot-out. The Cavs, despite being healthy, may not be well-equipped to get into an offensive battle – especially with Garland still working his way back from a broken jaw. They will have to force some turnovers and keep the Kings off balance if they want to secure a victory.



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Cleveland, OH

List Of Athletes That Participated In WWE Public Tryouts During SummerSlam Week In Cleveland, OH.

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4 hours ago

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August 5, 2024

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List Of Athletes That Participated In WWE Public Tryouts During SummerSlam Week In Cleveland, OH.


A list of those who participated in the WWE SummerSlam Public Tryouts in Cleveland, Ohio has surfaced online.

X user @lexveraux shared the following list of male and female talents that took part in the latest WWE tryouts.

Sirena Linton (NCAA All-American Gymnast)
Sofia Grace Iaderosa (Pro soccer player)
Terralicia Mercadel (Track and Field athlete and Powerlifter)
Daryn Harris (Kickboxer)
Emilie Henningsen (Acrobat and Tumbler)
Darci Khan (Track & Field Athlete)
Hayley Montoya (Volleyball Player)
Makenna Turner (Stanford Rowing Team)
Alona Olshevska (NCAA All-American)
Emily Buchette (Lacrosse Player)
Jaiden Fields (Softball Player)
Kaitlyn Banas (Track And Field Athlete)
Karyn Best (Track And Field Athlete)
Kennedy Brace (Track And Field Athlete)
Elena Carter (Track And Field Athlete)
Bayley Humphrey (Gymnast)
Naofal Abouelhouda (Crossfit Athlete)
Elijah Holyfield (Football Player, Son of Evander Holyfield)
Shane Bonner (Defensive End)
Camden Gagnon (Defensive Lineman)
Chase Kline (Linebacker)
Atrilleon Williams (Football Player)
Greg Benton Jr (Football Player)
Jeremy Mercier (Linebacker)
Kyle Klink (Linebacker)
Carlos Aviles (Track And Field Athlete)
Matthew Tago (Football Player)
Isaiah Chambers (Defensive Lineman)
Hayden Hatcher (Linebacker)
Terrance Taylor (Linebacker)
Von Young IV (Football Player)
Jack Freeman (Offensive Lineman)





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Guardians bolster bullpen with two fresh arms ahead of series finale against Orioles

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11 hours ago

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August 5, 2024

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Guardians bolster bullpen with two fresh arms ahead of series finale against Orioles


CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians bolstered their bullpen with a pair of fresh arms ahead of Sunday’s series finale against Baltimore, recalling right-hander Eli Morgan from Triple-A Columbus and selecting righty Connor Gillispie from the Clippers.

Lefty starter Joey Cantillo, who allowed three runs in four innings during Saturday’s 7-4 loss to the Orioles, and righty Xzavion Curry, who surrendered four runs in three relief innings, were optioned to the minors to make room on the active roster.

Gillispie, 26, was selected by the Guardians in December as part of the minor league phase of the 2023 Rule 5 draft. Prior to joining Cleveland’s organization, Gillispie made 87 appearances (40 starts), going 19-17 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and eight saves in 11 opportunities as part of Baltimore’s farm system. He was a ninth-round pick of the Orioles in the 2019 MLB draft.

This season, Gillispie has started 11 games and worked out of the bullpen in nine for the Clippers, compiling a 3-7 record and 4.01 ERA in 89 2/3 innings. He has posted a 23.3% strikeout rate and a 10.5% walk rate while surrendering 19 home runs.

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Pitching coach Carl Willis said Gillispie has started and worked out of the bullpen this season and brings a five-pitch mix to the mound. After using righty Pedro Avila on back-to-back nights against Baltimore, the Guardians felt Gillispie was best positioned to help the bullpen in the short term.

“We needed some length, and just from a strike-throwing perspective and the pitch mix, we felt like he was our best option to come up and give us some length here (Sunday),” Willis said.

Morgan, 28, is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 13 appearances for Cleveland this season, including 10 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. He spent two stints on the major league injured list before being optioned to Columbus on July 4.

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Ravens Using Veteran DE as Inspiration

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18 hours ago

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August 4, 2024

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Ravens Using Veteran DE as Inspiration


As Baltimore Ravens defensive end Brent Urban prepares for his 11th NFL season, it’s just as important as ever for him to remember where he came from.

A Mississauga, Ontario native, Urban suffered a torn ACL during his 2010 freshman season at Virginia, but rebounded to eventually become a starting defensive lineman. Then once he got to the NFL, he suffered three season-ending injuries – a torn ACL in 2014, a torn bicep in 2015 and a Lisfranc foot injury in 2017 – all in his first four seasons. As a result, he played just 25 games across those four seasons, 16 of them coming in 2016.

Urban, now in his second stint with the Ravens, has certainly been through the wringer throughout his career, but his perserverance to get where he is now is extremely impressive. As such, head coach John Harbaugh is using Urban’s story as inspiration for his younger teammates.

“I’m going to start using [Brent Urban] as an example for those guys, because it’s a perfect point,” Harbaugh told reporters. “I can remember him right over there, we were doing an inside-run drill against the [San Francisco] 49ers when we had the joint practices all of those years ago, and he tore his ACL right at the end of practice. It was like, ‘Oh.’ It was so heartbreaking, and [he] missed that whole year.

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“We had high hopes for him coming out, we thought he was an odd-front defensive end in the Pittsburgh Steeler kind of realm, like the Brett Keisels of the world, and he’s turned out to be just that. He’s just that kind of player; he plays so well. But those first couple of years were tough, and here he is now. He’s got a testimony as a result of all the tests he’s been through.”

After his first stint with the Ravens came to an end in 2019, Urban has played for the Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys. He then returned to Baltimore in 2022, and last season, he set a career high with three sacks.

Now the veteran on the Ravens’ defensive line, Urban is happy to be a mentor to the younger players at his position group.

“Just being in the league is privilege,” Urban said. “Every single day, you’ve just got to relish it, because you see so many guys in and out, and just even looking at my class now, nobody’s still around; so just finding your own role, just appreciating it. As I get older, I’ve started to be able to take a seat back and really just appreciate how thankful I am to be here.”

Make sure you bookmark Baltimore Ravens on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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