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Miami, FL
Duke Blows Miami Out, 89-54
Remember when Miami was a team you had to take seriously? That Miami could hurt you. That Miami could float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. That was not the Miami we saw Tuesday night and frankly we miss that other Miami.
Duke beat this Miami by 35, 89-54, and it was nolo contendere, no mas, no way for the ‘Canes, and that started early.
Miami tied the game at 6-6 and then Duke took over and went on a three point binge.
Kon Knueppel hit two, then Mason Gillis hit two then Knueppel hit another. Then it was Sion James and Isaiah Evans hit a pair. By that time it was 30-15 and the game was effectively over.
Duke shot 8-12 on threes in the first half and finished the game 17-32 and 53.1 percent on threes is not bad.
Duke’s defense was also imposing. The Blue Devils held Miami to 6-20 on threes (30 percent) and 23-59 overall (39 percent). The ‘Canes only had eight turnovers, but that doesn’t reflect the number of pressured shots, airballs and shot clock violations that Duke pushed them into.
Lynne Kidd was the only real threat Miami had for most of the game and he did surprisingly well against Khaman Maluach, finishing with 20 points and just one rebound.
Austin Swartz got 11 points and that was about it for the ‘Canes. Jalil Bethea had seven; no one else had more than five.
No doubt a lot of people were looking for Cooper Flagg to erupt again after his 42 point game against Notre Dame but that didn’t happen. Flagg finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
The leading scorer was Knueppel. Playing like he wanted to make up for the end of the Notre Dame game, Knueppel finished with 25 on 9-11/6-8 shooting. He also had three assists.
Tyrese Proctor didn’t score in this one and that followed a three-point outing against the Irish. Prior to that he had 14, 13, 14 and ten in the previous four games.
Sion James finished with five points, five assists, two rebounds and three blocks, including one terrific one in the second half.
Mason Gillis was tremendous too. His role has really expanded in the last two games. He’s just playing at a much higher level.
Caleb Foster played well, scoring nine points on 3-6/2-3 from the floor. He has been working hard to get to the basket lately and that’s a nice complement to the hot outside shooting.
Duke used Patrick Ngongba for 18 minutes in the absence of Maliq Brown, and he showed some improvement too. He finished with four points and five rebounds and certainly didn’t hurt the team. That’s pretty good for a freshman who was pushed back by injury.
Isaiah Evans played well and aggressively, finishing with eight points and two boards.
Darren Harris got in for eight minutes and also did well. He didn’t score much – just a free throw – but he was comfortable on the court.
You’ve probably noticed that we haven’t gotten to Khaman Maluach yet and that’s because we saved the best for last.
Well, Knueppel was the best tonight. But we could certainly say Maluach was the most exciting thing about this game.
In the earliest games this season, Maluach was tentative. At times he was almost timid. Those days, if they’re not gone, nearly are.
Maluach is a different player. It’s not his stats though they were excellent. He had 12 points on 6-7 from the floor and 15 rebounds. Maluach was tremendous Tuesday.
What really excited us though was his alertness and confidence. There was no tentativeness. There was no uncertainty. And best of all, there were two plays in a row in the second half where he was near the basket and just took the ball straight up. First time was after a rebound and the second he just went up for a jump hook.
These were things he just didn’t do earlier. It wasn’t a question of ability. It was just a lack of confidence and experience. He’s improving with unbelievable speed.
It’s really one of the most striking things we’ve ever seen at Duke. We’ll have to think about this but who has ever improved like this this quickly?
With the win, Duke moves to 15-2 and the losses to Kentucky, by five, and Kansas, by three, don’t seem as concerning.
Next up for the Blue Devils is a trip to Boston College Saturday, then three straight Tobacco Road opponents – at Wake Forest, then NC State and UNC at home.
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Miami, FL
One huge Miami Heat X-Factor, defending the Detroit Pistons and other keys
The match-up on Saturday night between the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons is more than just a homecoming game for one specific sharpshooter. The number one seed vs the number three seed in the Eastern Conference is quite the draw.
Duncan Robinson making his return to the building is a fun storyline as well, considering the Heat will be giving him a tribute video pregame.
The Heat will be trying to extend their winning streak to seven, yet it should be their biggest test to date.
So, let’s get into some keys for this matchup:
1. How will the rotation shake out now?
Jaime Jaquez Jr’s questionable tag in this game is the one swing factor for game-plans shifting for Miami. Other than that, it’s pretty simple how the Heat need to treat this rotation. For one, many of the fans in favor of Kel’el Ware starting may be in for a treat tonight, as the positional size of the Pistons could cause problems with Heat going small. Aside from the starting lineup talk, staggering Norman Powell and Tyler Herro instead of a five man bench unit again is important. Running Powell with that second unit to allow him to find his offensive rhythm is a definite key. Will the Heat need Simone Fontecchio’s shooting? Can they play both Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith? A tough matchup like this will shine light on the guys Erik Spoelstra trusts most.
2. One X-Factor Heat player tonight.
There’s a real X-Factor in this match-up that I believe will be a big reason if the Heat do indeed extend their winning streak to seven. It’s not their two elite scorers in the back-court. It’s not their two-way big man captain. It’s not even their second year 7 footer who has been on a massive run. Actually, the guy to watch for is Andrew Wiggins. For one, he’s the guy to watch when it comes to evening out lineups across the game, just due to his off-ball fit in many spots. But in this match-up, his defense will absolutely be needed. Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren in the front-court aside, Ausar Thompson and Cade Cunningham are not easy covers for small guards. Wiggins will be needed to stay out of foul trouble, and bother their lengthy perimeter guys much of the night.
3. What to watch for when defending the Pistons?
The Pistons roster consists of constant paint threats that can hurt you in different ways. Duren around the rim off second chance opportunities or lobs. Thompson or Harris on short paint shots. Cunningham off normal dribble penetration. Yet with all that two point success, they currently rank 28th in three point attempts. Sometimes the Heat’s early clock offense can get them in trouble when taking too many twos, but the Pistons style doesn’t consist of jacking up three balls all night. But the area that will hurt is the free throw line. Detroit ranks third in free throw attempts a night, and it’s the simplest way to slow down Miami’s offense. Easier said than done, but Miami needs to prioritize containing in this one.
Miami, FL
Inter Miami vs. New York City FC: Three Key Battles That Could Decide MLS Eastern Conference Final
Inter Miami are in the form of their lives. They hope this continues when they welcome New York City FC to Chase Stadium on Saturday night for the Eastern Conference final, with a berth in the 2025 MLS Cup on the line.
While Miami brings star power and holds home pitch advantage, they come up against a New York City side riding high after eliminating the Supporters’ Shield winners. And there are reasons for NYCFC to believe they can pull off another upset here.
Sports Illustrated takes a look at three key battles that could define which team earns the honor of facing San Diego FC or Vancouver Whitecaps FC in MLS Cup on Dec. 6
Lionel Messi has been on an absolute heater for Inter Miami all season and has taken things a step further in the playoffs. After a regular season that saw him score 29 goals and register 19 assists in 29 games, he now has six goals and six assists in just four playoff games.
But, he hasn’t seen a goalkeeper like U.S. men’s national team backstop, Matt Freese. The 27-year-old has been in stellar form as well, posting five saves–including four outstanding stops–against the Philadelphia Union, to help NYCFC advance past the Supporters’ Shield champions.
While Messi has shown his ability to score in nearly every way possible, the clear-cut opportunities he saw and created against FC Cincinnati and Nashville will be fewer against a stronger defensive team. The opportunities he does get will come up against a better goalie between the posts.
If NYCFC pulls off the upset, Freese will have a big part to play in it. If he’s not on his game, well, Miami can put together its plans to beat San Diego or the Whitecaps in MLS Cup.
Kevin O’Toole has had quite a few weeks. He was called up to Ireland for the first time, making the bench as the Irish beat Portugal in a game Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off. Now, he’s clashing with Sergio Busquets in midfield, as well as Messi and the other stars in Miami.
If anyone is playing with confidence, it’s him. Against Philadelphia, he shut down Danley Jean Jaques and recorded eight defensive contributions.
He will likely be paired with Aidan O’Neill (who served a one-match suspension against Philadelphia) and tasked with combating Busquets in central midfield, and working the ball away from the Spaniard and Rodrigo De Paul. Busquets, in particular, has been potent with his ability to slide passes through Nashville and FC Cincinnati’s midfield and clogging things up in that area of the pitch will be critical for NYCFC.
Outside of the individual player level, the mentality of both teams is starkly different, with NYCFC on the road and Inter Miami facing a match of defining proportions.
Led by the veteran poise of Maxi Moralez, New York City FC knows how to win playoff games on the road. In their run to the 2021 MLS Cup title, NYCFC played every game after the first round on the road, just as they would have to do should they make it all the way to the trophy this time around.
Meanwhile, Miami has fallen short in the most defining games. So far through the playoffs, it has been about seeing off disaster in the wake of the 2024 first-round elimination against Atlanta United.
They have been able to push the season through two rounds for the first time in club history, but now comes their first massive test–they would even get to lift the Eastern Conference trophy should they win here.
Miami’s ability to win trophies doesn’t paint a pretty picture: A 2024 Leagues Cup final loss and a 2023 U.S. Open Cup loss hangs alongside their 2023 Leagues Cup title, the only knockout trophy Miami has captured to date.
On Saturday, one of those aspects has to fall. Will it be NYCFC’s away abilities, or Miami’s poor record in big games?
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Miami, FL
North Miami marks 50th Thanksgiving Day parade
NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — The sound of drums and cheers filled Northwest 125th Street on Thursday as North Miami carried on a beloved holiday tradition — its annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Hundreds lined the route early, including longtime resident Joann Cesar, who has been attending for two decades.
“It’s a family tradition. We make it every time to support the culture and the residents,” Cesar said. “I love coming every year.”
City leaders say the parade has become a signature Thanksgiving morning event.
“For families, it’s coming together,” Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe said. “Who else has a parade if you can’t go to Macy’s, right? We have our own little Thanksgiving Day parade here in North Miami.”
It wasn’t just locals taking in the festivities. Cheng Li, visiting from China, said his family arrived early to get a good spot along the route.
“This is our first time celebrating this holiday because in China this is not a public holiday,” he said.
City officials say this year’s parade took a full year to plan, bringing together schools, community groups and local bands to help kick off the holiday.
“This is the only parade in South Florida on Thanksgiving morning,” Timothe said. “Here in the city of North Miami, we are celebrating with community, with schools, with local bands.”
This year’s event also carried extra excitement as North Miami prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday.
“We will be celebrating our centennial, so this makes it more special,” Mayor Alix Desume said.
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