Sports
Celtics lose Jayson Tatum to apparent serious injury after squandering another double-digit lead to Knicks
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The city that never sleeps will be awake for a long time.
The New York Knicks overcame yet another double-digit deficit in the second half on Monday to take a 3-1 series lead over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Knicks trailed by 14 with nine minutes left in the third quarter, but ended the frame on a 30-13 run to lead heading into the fourth.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dunks the ball as fans celebrate in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
And after both teams threw several jabs throughout the fourth, the Knicks eventually pulled away to a 121-113 victory.
The Celtics took a 99-98 lead with just over seven minutes to go after Jayson Tatum drilled his seventh three-pointer of the night to give him 42 points on the evening. But the Knicks were unfazed.
New York then went on another huge run, outscoring Boston 18-5 over the next five minutes.
During the span, though, Tatum appeared to suffer a serious non-contact lower leg injury while going for a loose ball. Tatum immediately called timeout himself and was carried off the court. Cameras showed him in the locker room with a towel covering his face.
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics is looked over on the court after being injured against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)
The Celtics are already shockingly down 3-1 in the series, and odds go even more in the Knicks’ favor if Tatum’s injury is what it’s feared to be.
Four of the Knicks’ five starters finished with at least 20 points, with Jalen Brunson leading the way with 39.
Game 5 is back in Boston, where the Knicks won both of the first two games of the series. With a win, the Knicks will be back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
Trainers help Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) off the court after he was injured during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Celtics will have to make the NBA’s 14th comeback from a 3-1 deficit to extend their title reign.
Nobody has come from 3-1 down since Denver did it twice in 2020 at the Walt Disney World resort. It hasn’t happened when a team had to win a true road game since Cleveland rallied past Golden State in the 2016 NBA Finals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
Josh Allen reflects on growth he’s made since joining Bills and becoming expectant father
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has had a terrific 2025.
He and his wife, actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, got married in June and last week he announced the two were expecting their first child together. Not to mention, he started the year being awarded the NFL MVP trophy.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Allen expressed some appreciation for how he’s grown as a person since he arrived in Buffalo in 2018 as his life took him from a small town in California to Wyoming to the NFL and on the brink of leading a championship-starved city to a Super Bowl appearance.
“Yeah, I guess it’s like the evolution of life,” he said Wednesday. “I consider this place my home. It’s where I’ve done a lot of growing up. And it’s a place that I’ll raise a family. It’s really cool.”
As his work-life balance becomes more rigid, The Associated Press noted a curious comment he made in October during “Monday Night Football.” He was asked what Steinfeld has taught him during their relationship. He responded, “Maybe I am more than a football player.”
Allen confirmed to The Associated Press that Steinfeld’s pregnancy factored into his response.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
“Overjoyed, absolutely overjoyed,” he said, while confirming that he knew he was going to be a dad before the ESPN interview occurred.
Allen is a three-time Pro Bowler and coming off an MVP season. While he’s done more than enough to warrant talk of back-to-back MVPs, Allen shook that notion off going into Week 16.
“I’m just trying to do my job, just trying to find a way to get in the playoffs here,” he said.
Beating the New England Patriots last week after being down 21 points was a good first step. Buffalo has had ups and downs all season long but the team seems to be hitting its stride now with four wins in their last five games.
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Buffalo will go up against the Cleveland Browns on the road on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
NFL Week 16 picks: Rams defeat Seahawks; Broncos edge Jaguars
Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: CBS, Paramount+.
Line: Bills by 10½. O/U: 41½.
After an amazing comeback against a really strong New England team last Sunday, the Bills are emboldened and Josh Allen is on an MVP pace. Cleveland relies on its stout defense, but that unit didn’t show up in Week 15 against Chicago, surrendering 31 points. Buffalo, which is 7-2 outside the division, wins this going away.
Pick: Bills 27, Browns 16
Sports
Heisman Trophy voter blasts Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia for F-bomb remark in fiery column: ‘Punk move’
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One Heisman Trophy voter isn’t staying silent after seeing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s message about finishing second over the weekend to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Chase Goodbread of The Tuscaloosa News, who has a Heisman vote, wrote a piece this week about Pavia saying “F— all the voters” after finishing a distant second behind Mendoza. Pavia wrote it in the caption of an Instagram story post with a picture of his Commodores teammates.
While Pavia apologized for his initial response to the loss in New York City, Goodbread wasn’t impressed by what Pavia had to say.
Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy before the 2025 Heisman Trophy presentation at Marriott Marquis Hotel Dec. 13, 2025, in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
“He’s a big boy now,” Goodbread wrote in his column. “Old enough to have more than one college degree. Old enough to beat the NCAA in court to gain extra eligibility, and old enough to make the pile of NIL money that came with that. Old enough to know better. And old enough to handle some criticism.
“It was a punk move, Diego. This voter wasn’t sitting right next to Mendoza Saturday night, but my congrats for him are at least genuine.”
Goodbread added that Pavia’s behavior was “jackassery,” saying, “After 6 years in college, you’d think Pavia would’ve signed up for at least one course in humility by now.”
DIEGO PAVIA KNOWS EXPLICIT OUTBURST AGAINST HEISMAN VOTERS WAS ‘UNACCEPTABLE,’ VANDERBILT AD SAYS
Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189.
The Vanderbilt athletic director released a statement on Monday after Pavia’s comment.
“Diego knows his actions were unacceptable, and he has apologized,” athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean Monday. “I know he is contrite and regrets the hurt he caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, it does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.
“We believe in growth and accountability, and we will continue to support Diego as he learns from this moment.”
Pavia later apologized for his comments on X.
Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
“I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” he wrote in a statement. “I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry.
“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award. I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments as well as the success that Jeremiyah [Love] and Julian [Sayin] had this season. I’ve been doubted my whole life,” he wrote.
“Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because Ive learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been in my corner, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them — I am grateful for them. — and I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team one more time in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”
Pavia, playing in his second season at Vanderbilt after starting at New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2% completion rate with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 yards passing and nine rushing scores. He rushed for 826 yards on 152 attempts.
Pavia’s reaction to the voting results wasn’t much of a shock, though. He has always been self-confident to the point he kept telling voters to send him to New York City because he felt he deserved the Heisman.
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws to an open teammate against South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 9, 2024. (Imagn)
“The Heisman Trophy winner goes to the best player in college football,” Pavia said on OutKick’s “Hot Mic.” “I believe that to be myself. You check the numbers, and especially — there’s two things that don’t lie to you: Numbers and tape. I’ve been taught that since I was young. You go check that out. I feel like I’m undoubtedly the best player in college football.”
Vanderbilt had a 10-2 record on the year, ranking No. 14 nationally at the end of the regular season.
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