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Magic drop season finale to Heat, secure 6th-best draft lottery odds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

With multiple rotation players sitting or playing limited minutes on the final day of the regular season, the Orlando Magic fell to Miami Heat 123-108 Sunday in Miami, finishing with a 34-48 record.After being eliminated from contending for a spot in the play-in tournament with their Tuesday loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Magic shifted their focus to trying out different rotations to close out the season.Orlando started with the lineup of Markelle Fultz (7 points in 11 minutes), Jalen Suggs (8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 15 minutes), Caleb Houstan, Franz Wagner (10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 15 minutes) and Wendell Carter Jr. for the first time, with most of the starting lineup playing 16 or fewer minutes.Houstan scored a career-high 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting (5 of 11 on 3-pointers).Kevon Harris had a career-high 22 points (7-of-12 shooting, 4-of-7 on 3s) and 8 rebounds off the bench. Chuma Okeke had 14 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 33...

Payton Pritchard records triple-double as Celtics finish regular season on high note

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

It has not been an easy season for Payton Pritchard. By his own admission, it’s been frustrating.“Obviously people know it’s been an up and down year emotionally and obviously physically now,” he said Sunday.The fourth-year guard and 2020 first-round pick was buried on the Celtics’ depth chart, the fourth guard in line after the offseason addition of Malcolm Brogdon. His opportunities have been scarce, often only coming in garbage time or when the C’s are shorthanded. Then over the last month came an injury that cost him 13 games.His time – at least one more in a Boston uniform – was still coming, though. Last Wednesday, the Celtics clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The final two regular-season games became mostly meaningless as the Celtics prioritized resting their regulars. But not for Pritchard, who saw it as another opportunity to prove himself.There is still discomfort in his injured heel, but it didn’t outweigh his desire to play. As he’s done all season, Prit...

Quebec City police say man, 66, dead after fire, no smoke detector in apartment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Quebec City police say a 66-year-old-man is dead after an apartment fire in the Vieux-Limoilou neighbourhood.Police Sgt. David Poitras says firefighters were called to the two-storey building shortly before 12:30 p.m.He says around 30 firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control in around 20 minutes and limit its spread to the other 11 apartments in the building.One man was declared dead at the scene.Poitras says there was no smoke detector in the apartment where the man was found. He says the fire commissioner, police and the coroner’s office are investigating, but that arson is not suspected. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2023.The Canadian Press

Man who opened fire at South Loop movie theater after argument identified, charged

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

CHICAGO — The man who opened fired after an argument at a South Loop movie theater Saturday has been identified and charged, according to the Chicago Police Department.CPD said 35-year-old Babacar Mbengue was charged Sunday with one felony count of reckless discharge of a firearm following an argument with a 16-year-old male where Mbengue allegedly pulled out a gun and fired 7-8 shots in the lobby of the ICON Movie Theater in South Loop.Police evacuated the movie theater and took both Mbengue and the 16-year-old into custody after the incident. A firearm was recovered at the scene by police, and no one was injured during the exchange.The 16-year-old was also charged with one felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by someone under the age of 21.Originally, CPD said officers were called to the 1100 block of South Delano Court around 7:30 p.m. Saturday for a pair of male individuals who were involved in a fight while inside a movie theater. CPD: 2 men critical after driv...

Weekend Break: Easter celebrations at GP Italiano

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

CHICAGO — Easter Sunday celebrations for some means enjoying a feast with family and friends.For hosts that don't want to spent a lot of time in the kitchen, GP Italiano is there to help.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Travis County DA Garza responds to Abbott's pardon promise for convicted murderer Daniel Perry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Austin (KXAN) — Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza called Gov. Greg Abbott's promise to pardon convicted murderer Daniel Perry "deeply troubling" in a statement Sunday.On Friday, a jury found Perry guilty of murdering Garrett Foster during a July 2020 protest in Austin. The jury found him not guilty of an aggravated assault charge. Perry has not yet been sentenced for the conviction.But by Saturday afternoon, Abbott declared on social media that he would sign a pardon recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for Perry "as soon as it hits my desk." The Governor also said that he has instructed the agency to "expedite its review" of the case. Abbott calls for pardon of Daniel Perry after guilty murder verdict In Garza's Sunday statement, the DA noted that the jury deliberated on their verdict for 15 hours, after days of court proceedings."In our legal system, a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent – not the Gover...

Round Rock ISD student named to 2023 U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A Round Rock ISD student has a new title to add to her resume after she was named a participant in the 2023 U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program. Round Rock High School sophomore Anagha Deepak will participate in the program in Ecuador, per a news release.Deepak is one of 18 students selected to visit Ecuador as part of the program, among thousands of applicants from 26 countries. "The Youth Ambassadors Program aims to develop a network of young adults with a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to their communities, an awareness of current and global issues, and strong interpersonal leadership skills," the release read in part.Participants were named based on leadership, foreign language and critical thinking skills, as well as their involvement in volunteer efforts. KXAN previously covered Deepak's community work as co-founder of HEARD Foundation, a RRISD student-led nonprofit assisting refugee and immigrant children resettling in Texas.“It’s ama...

Driver strikes, kills pedestrian Saturday in Spring Lake Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Police say a man walking near state Highway 47 and 81st Avenue NE in Spring Lake Park was struck and killed by a woman driving a sedan late Saturday night.The Anoka County Sheriff’s office said that at 10:53 p.m., 911 received calls that a person in the roadway had been hit.When emergency responders arrived they pronounced the man dead at the scene.The woman driving the sedan stopped and is cooperating with authorities. The death is under investigation.No further information was available Sunday.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Canine influenza causes Animal Humane Society’s Twin Cities shelters to close Crime & Public Safety | Biden pushes econ policy during Fridley visit as Trump indictment gets attention Crime & Public Safety | Former paraprofessional sentenced in child sextortion scheme Crime & Public Safety | Two men charged in killing of Hugo man outside Fridley Cub Foods Crime & P...

Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers puts new swing into action

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Ryan Jeffers didn’t initially set out to revamp his whole swing this whole season. The beginning of the process was more an assessment of what he did well and how he could build around that.The result, though, was major changes through hours and hours of work this offseason with hitting coach David Popkins, who was on the other side of the country, over FaceTime. Jeffers hasn’t had a chance to show off much of his new swing, but he’s produced in a limited sample size, going 4 for 11 to begin the season with a home run.It started early this offseason, about a month and a half earlier than normal. It began with tee work. At nights sometimes Popkins would FaceTime from Southern California and Jeffers, in North Carolina, would head to his garage, grab a broomstick and test out different things with Popkins offering feedback.They talked so frequently that if there was a day where Jeffers didn’t send video of himself, Popkins would text asking, ” ‘Hey, where’s my video?’...

Timberwolves top Pelicans to claim No. 8 seed in play-in, will meet Lakers on Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

In a turbulent game during which a number of things went wrong for the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards reminded everyone what an eraser of mistakes he can be.The star guard tallied a number of massive defensive plays and rebounds while also scoring 24 points to power Minnesota to a 113-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Target Center.The win gives the Timberwolves the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament. They will need to win just one of two play-in games to go back to the playoffs. The first of those will come Tuesday, when they travel to play the Lakers in Los Angeles. A win there means Minnesota will be the No. 7 seed.A loss there, and the Wolves will play Friday at home with a chance to be the No. 8 seed.Edwards’ loudest play Sunday came in the closing minutes, when Pelicans guard CJ McCollum appeared to be free to walk into the lane for an easy dunk. But Edwards came over help side and met the guard at the rim, sending the ball away.Edwards did turn the ball over...