Sports News Roundup: Jaguars fire OC Hackett; McCann returns to Braves on one-year deal; UCLA icon Naulls dies at 84


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 27-11-2018 05:46 IST | Created: 27-11-2018 05:20 IST
Sports News Roundup: Jaguars fire OC Hackett; McCann returns to Braves on one-year deal; UCLA icon Naulls dies at 84

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Report: Fultz trade topic of 76ers-Cavs talks

76ers guard Markelle Fultz is the subject of trade talks between Philadelphia and the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to reports. Fultz is currently idle while awaiting a visit with a shoulder specialist but has lost ground in the rotation to T.J. McConnell, who is serving as the primary backup point guard to Ben Simmons.

Former NBA star, UCLA icon Naulls dies at 84

Former NBA All-Star and UCLA All-American Willie Naulls died at his home in Laguna Niguel, Calif. He was 84. Naulls died of respiratory failure. His death was caused by his battle with Churg-Strauss syndrome, a disorder where blood vessels become inflamed, his wife Anne told the New York Times.

'Everything on the table' for Ravens at QB

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh remained noncommittal about his quarterback situation moving forward, but told reporters Monday that "everything is on the table." "We'll just do whatever we think gives us the best chance, and try to use all of our players the best way we can," Harbaugh said when asked if he could consider playing both Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson for extended stretches moving forward. "So everything is on the table in that sense."

NBA roundup: Warriors pound Blazers to end skid

Kevin Durant scored 14 of his game-high 32 points in a second-quarter run-away Friday night, as the Golden State Warriors snapped a four-game losing streak with a 125-97 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Oakland, Calif. Klay Thompson was right behind with 31 points as the Warriors, who shot 56.5 percent overall and 53.1 percent on 3-pointers, beat the Trail Blazers for the eighth consecutive time at home.

Jaguars fire OC Hackett

Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. "These are always tough decisions," head coach Doug Marrone said in a statement. "But as the head coach, I have to do what I think is best for this football team."

Dolphins RB Gore dejected after loss to Colts

Buffalo Bills: Buffalo is known as a gritty, hard-working city, and Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that Buffalo has a quarterback built in its mold. "I love the fire. He personifies Buffalo, right?" McDermott said Monday, the day after Josh Allen returned from injury to lead the Bills to a 24-21 win over Jacksonville. "He's a hard worker, blue-collar kid and loves to compete. He's still young, so again, let's manage expectations. It was a good start for him." Allen was excited after the win: "I just wanted to go out there and complete the ball when it needed to be completed and make plays when plays needed to be made. I trust the guys around me, and that's kind of what we did today." Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins led Indianapolis 24-14 with less than nine minutes left in the game on Sunday and let it slip away, losing 27-24 to the Colts in a game that left the Dolphins 5-6 and further out of the AFC wild-card picture. Running back Frank Gore was clearly upset on Monday. "I'm not a talkative guy, but I feel like if it's the right time for something to be said, I'm going to say it," he said. "The way we lost that game, and gave it away, I know we should've won that game. That's why it was so hard for me." This was the second time this season the Dolphins lost a game they led by at least 10 points, and head coach Adam Gase said he understands what those two losses mean in the playoff standings. "You're disappointed because you've got two games where you're sitting there going well, 5-6 or you're 7-4," Gase said.

Could Panthers' Rivera be coaching for his job?

Atlanta Falcons: The team's run game is missing in action after having just 26 yards -- 16 by quarterback Matt Ryan -- in the 31-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving night. Then throw in the six sacks, and you have an offensive line is under fire. "Obviously when you have a run-game performance like we did, there's a lot to look at and a lot that needs our attention and our work, because that was considerably below the line," Falcons coach Dan Quinn told reporters. "That was also the same thing in pass protection. To have six sacks in the game and have the run game that we did, that's not going to get the job done." The line has struggled since losing starting guards Andy Levitre (triceps) and Brandon Fusco (ankle) with season-ending injuries. Carolina Panthers: A three-game losing streak could prompt coach Ron Rivera to feel some heat down the stretch of the season. The two-time NFL Coach of the Year is working for a new owner in David Tepper, who may not have the same type of patience former owner Jerry Richardson did. Rivera feels the urgency -- not over job security but with turning around the fortunes of the team. "It's difficult. This is a result of losing," Rivera told reporters one day after a 30-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks "If you win, it's a whole different conversation that I'm having right now. But that's just the way it is, and this is the conversation because we did have those critical mistakes at the wrong time."

Film Study: Colts QB Luck better than ever

For much of the past year, many wondered if we'd already seen the best of Andrew Luck. Even three weeks into this season, some questioned the health of Luck's surgically repaired right shoulder, citing a wealth of dink-and-dunk throws (5.3 yards per attempt in Weeks 1-3 despite a 68.6 percent completion rate) and Jacoby Brissett's cameo on a Hail Mary against the Eagles.

McCann returns to Braves on one-year deal

Catcher Brian McCann is returning to the Atlanta Braves on a one-year, $2 million contract, the team announced Monday. The 34-year-old McCann was a seven-time All-Star for the Braves between 2005-13.

Athletics: Overlooked no longer, Baker bolsters U.S. sprint hopes

American sprinter Ronnie Baker has never seen a world outdoor championship in person but after his sparkling 2018 season the world indoor bronze medallist is probably checking the weather for next year's worlds in Doha. "He has turned himself into a legitimate medal threat, and not just indoors," four times Olympic sprint medallist Ato Boldon told Reuters.

(With inputs from Reuters)

(With inputs from agencies.)

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