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Butler leads Heat to second ECF in three years

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Butler leads Heat to second ECF in three years


PHILADELPHIA — The Miami Warmth are headed to the Jap Convention finals for the second time in three years after closing out the Philadelphia 76ers 99-90 in Sport 6 of their second-round sequence on Thursday evening.

As has been the case all through the sequence, it was Jimmy Butler who led the best way when his staff wanted him essentially the most. After going simply 3-for-10 within the first half, Butler obtained rolling within the third quarter, scoring 14 of his 32 factors whereas carrying his staff throughout the end line.

Max Strus picked up the offensive slack for the second recreation in a row, pouring in 16 of his 20 factors within the first half whereas setting the tone for a Warmth staff that got here in assured it could knock down pictures after going simply 14-for-65 from past the arc throughout losses in Video games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid’s accidents had been the principle storylines, each coming into and throughout the sequence. However it was Butler’s general efficiency that rose to the forefront during the last week and a half as Embiid, who was additionally coping with a ligament damage in his thumb as properly an orbital fracture, struggled to place up the identical sort of MVP-caliber performances that outlined his common season.

After a shaky Sport 1 the place he went simply 5-for-16 from the sector, Butler discovered his rhythm and pushed his recreation near the extent he carried out at throughout the playoffs in 2020. Butler had 73 factors mixed in Video games 3 and 4 and racked up 23 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists throughout an important Sport 5 win on Tuesday evening.

“Greater than something, my teammates, my coaches, this complete group, actually consider within the participant that I’m,” Butler mentioned after Sport 5, explaining why he has repeatedly been capable of increase the extent of his recreation throughout his three years in Miami. “The participant that I’ve change into over time. So they permit me to be me right here.

“They permit me to simply hoop and never say an excessive amount of. Good, unhealthy, detached, they rocking with me. And I feel that is the very best feeling to have, particularly proper now within the playoffs. And I feel that is the explanation coach Pat [Riley] introduced me right here and we’re the place we’re.”

Now the Warmth await the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks-Boston Celtics sequence. The Bucks have a 3-2 sequence lead. Sport 6 of that sequence is Friday evening in Milwaukee.

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A Bucks-Warmth matchup would mark the third straight season the 2 groups have met within the playoffs. The Warmth beat the Bucks within the Jap Convention semifinals in 2020 earlier than the Bucks swept the Warmth within the Jap Convention quarterfinals in 2021.



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Miami, FL

Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill says he’s ‘opening the door’ to leave Miami

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Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill says he’s ‘opening the door’ to leave Miami


Tyreek Hill is willing to leave the Miami Dolphins after a disappointing 2024 season.

“I don’t even know,” Hill told reporters when asked what his message to his teammates was this offseason following their season-ending loss to the New York Jets. “This is my first time that I haven’t been in the playoffs, man. For me, I’ve just got to do what’s best for me and my family. Whether that’s here or whoever the case may be, I’m finna opening that door for myself. 

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“I’m opening the door. I’m out, bro. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day I got to do what’s best for my career. I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”

In a follow-up question, Hill was asked if that meant he could end up leaving Miami. He initially said, “If it is … ” before walking away.

Soon after, Hill went on social media and thanked Dolphins fans for their support, hinting at his possible departure. 

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel downplayed Hill’s comment when asked about it following Sunday’s game. 

“I’m not going to put too much weight on second-hand postgame disappointment statements,” McDaniel told reporters. “We will see how (the) next couple days progress in convos with him and I.”

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Hill has two seasons left on a three-year, $90 million extension he signed with the Dolphins in August. The 30-year-old had a relatively down year in 2024, but he was still productive in his ninth season despite Tua Tagovailoa missing six games due to injury. In 17 games, Hill recorded 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns. 

Outside of the 2019 season (when Hill played in 12 games with the Chiefs), those are his lowest yardage and TD numbers since he was a rookie.

“It is what it is,” Hill said when asked how it felt not to reach 1,000 receiving yards on the season. “It’s life, man. At the end of the day, there’s a lot of things that I need to reassess about my career — just seeing what I need to do to continue to get better as a player so I can continue to reach that 1,000-yard mark. So, it is what it is.”

Hill also didn’t play in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. However, Hill and McDaniel pointed at the other on whose decision it was to pull him. While Hill said he was dealing with the right wrist injury that’s bothered him for much of the season, he added, “Coach kind of pulled me out.”

“I was informed he was unavailable right before a drive,” McDaniel said of Hill’s injury. “I was not informed that it was a new injury. Focus was on players on the field.”

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As Hill mentioned, this season was the first time in his career that he won’t play in the playoffs. Miami went 8-9, with the injuries to Tagovailoa playing a key role in the Dolphins’ inability to make it back to the postseason for a third straight year. 

“It was a tough season,” Hill said. “It sucks missing QB1. It really hurts a lot, not having him. [Tyler Huntley] did a great job filling in, whenever he learned the offense and getting us going. But whenever you’re missing your franchise player, it kind of sucks.”

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Women's Basketball: Canes drop heartbreaker to Virginia Tech, 68-64

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Women's Basketball: Canes drop heartbreaker to Virginia Tech, 68-64


CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team fell heartbreakingly to Virginia Tech (10-4, 1-2) Sunday afternoon by a final score of 68-64. The Hurricanes (11-4, 1-3) led for 32 minutes and 56 seconds throughout the contest; however, they surrendered a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, as the Hokies ended the game on a 21-5 run to earn the victory.

Miami displayed a balanced offensive attack, with six players scoring five or more points, including three players reaching double figures in scoring. The Canes shot 44.6 percent from the field and 81.8 percent at the free throw line as a team while limiting Virginia Tech to just 38.2 percent shooting from the field, but the Hokies finished with a stellar clip of 37.9 percent from behind the arc.

Individually, Cameron Williams led the way for Miami, as she recorded a double-double with a 15-point, 10-rebound performance.

Jasmyne Roberts chipped in 13 points, and Haley Cavinder had a stellar all-around outing, scoring 12 points grabbing six rebounds, and recording a game-high six assists.

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Hanna Cavinder added nine points, and freshman Leah Harmon posted six points off the bench for Miami.

The Canes jumped out to a 6-0 lead after burying three of their first four shot attempts. Virginia Tech fought back, and the two squads found themselves even at 10 points apiece with 3:33 left in the first quarter. The Hokies outscored the Canes 6-5 over the remainder of the period, as Miami entered the second quarter trailing Virginia Tech 16-15.

The back-and-forth play continued in the second quarter, and Miami and Virginia Tech entered halftime even at 28 points apiece. The Canes came out strong in the third period, opening the quarter on a 14-2 run to build a 42-30 advantage at 4:16. Miami maintained their lead and entered the final stanza ahead by seven points.

The Canes started the fourth quarter similarly to the third period. They went on an 8-3 run to take a 59-47 lead with just 7:36 to play. The Hokies began to move, taking a one-point lead with 1:03 remaining.

Miami made a lone free throw to tie the contest with 41 seconds left, but Virginia Tech was fouled and made a pair of free throws to retake the lead with 13 seconds to go. Miami missed a shot to tie the game, and VT made two more free throws to ice the game.

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The Canes will return to the court next Sunday, January 12, as they are slated to travel to Syracuse to take on The Orange at 6 p.m.

Courtesy of Miami Athletics



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How to watch the Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets – NFL: Week 18 | Channel, stream, preview, pediction

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How to watch the Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets – NFL: Week 18 | Channel, stream, preview, pediction


EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — One of the last playoff spots in the league will be determined on Sunday afternoon as the Miami Dolphins look to win their way into the postseason when they visit the New York Jets.

  • Watch the NFL on FuboTV (7-day free trial)

Miami Dolphins (8-8) vs. New York Jets (4-12)

  • When: Sunday, January 5
  • Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
  • Where: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
  • Channel: FOX
  • Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), DirecTV Stream, Sling

The Dolphins, despite all of the adversity they have faced this season, can still punch their ticket to the playoffs. With grit and willpower, they bounced back from losing six of their first eight games of the season to win six of their previous eight, including a 20-3 whipping of the Cleveland Browns last Sunday. Along with beating the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, Miami looks like they could be a threat if they can sneak into the postseason.

However, the Dolphins will need some help if they want their season to continue. Along with having to beat the Jets, they need the Denver Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs, who are resting some key players.

The Jets are eyeing a pretty comfortable spot in this year’s NFL Draft. Thanks to complete disarray with the trainwreck that is this franchise, the other team that plays in New Jersey has been just as bad as the other. The team heads into the final week of the season, having lost six of its last seven games, only beating the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15.

The Jets did give the Dolphins a run for their money in Week 14, with Miami needing overtime to come out on top. The Dolphins have won 12 of the last 14 meetings with the Jets.

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MY PICK: Dolphins win, 21-17

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Check out the NFL schedule



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