Celtics C Nikola Vucevic (finger) sidelined 3-4 weeks

Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic could miss the rest of the regular season following surgery to repair a broken right ring finger.

The injury occurred during the first quarter of Friday’s 120-100 victory against the visiting Dallas Mavericks. He had surgery to stabilize the fracture on Saturday at Boston’s New England Baptist Hospital, the team announced.

The Celtics said that Vucevic, 35, will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks. The regular season ends on April 12. Boston (42-21) entered Saturday in second place in the Eastern Conference, four games behind the Detroit Pistons.

Vucevic has averaged 10.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 21.7 minutes in 12 games (one start) since being acquired from the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 5.

A two-time All-Star, Vucevic has career averages of 17.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 1,032 games (957 starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers (2011-12), Orlando Magic (2012-21), Bulls (2021-26) and Celtics.

(Reuters)

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Warm Saturday, Storm Chances Sunday, Then a Big Cooldown Late Week

Warm Saturday, Storm Chances Sunday, Then a Big Cooldown Late Week

Akari notches third straight win, downs Capital1

The Akari Power Chargers extended their winning streak to three games after defeating the Capital1 Solar Energy Solar Spikers, 17-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-17, in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday night at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.

Libero Justine Jazareno anchored the Power Chargers floor defense and was named Player of the Game after tallying 17 excellent digs and three excellent receptions as they moved up to a 3-3 mark.

Jazareno said the team made sure to maintain its intensity throughout the match, knowing that any drop in energy could make things difficult against the Solar Spikers.

“I think we worked hard for this three to four sets, kasi hindi puwedeng bumaba ‘yung energy namin kasi mahihirapan kami eh,” said Jazareno.

She also credited the collective effort of the team and the trust given to them by head coach Tina Salak.

“Happy kami kasi talagang tulong-tulong kami sa panalo na ito, at pinagkakatiwalaan rin kami ni coach Tina,” she added.

After dropping the opening set, the Power Chargers regrouped and leaned on consistent defense and improved energy to take the next three frames and secure the victory.

The Solar Spikers, on the other hand, slipped to a 3-4 mark in the standings. (AC)

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Four people indicted in Georgia Dept. of Driver Services fraud case

ATLANTA (WRBL) — Four people in various counties in the state are now facing indictments for allegedly fraudulently creating and forging checks using Department of Driver Services (DDS) information, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced Thursday. According to the attorney general's office, Aieriana Turner, 25, of Columbus, Nakesha Bryant, 40, of Richland, Ashanti Asberry, 26, of Lawrenceville, and Daria Martin, 25, of Bremen, fraudulently [...]

Tyler Herro drills 8 3s, Heat snap Hornets’ win streak

Tyler Herro hit eight 3-pointers and scored 33 points as the visiting Miami Heat edged out the Charlotte Hornets 128-120 in a close game between two of the NBA’s hottest teams on Friday night.

Herro, who also contributed nine rebounds and nine assists, was 8-for-10 from beyond the arc to lead Miami’s perimeter attack, which included 18 baskets from 3-point range. The Hornets made 19 3s.

Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Heat won their fourth game in a row. Jaime Jaquez Jr. racked up 21 points off the bench and Davion Mitchell supplied 13 points.

The Hornets’ six-game winning streak ended despite 27 points from Kon Knueppel, 22 from Brandon Miller and 21 from LaMelo Ball. Knueppel hit six 3s, and Ball made five. Coby White scored 13 points off the bench, while Grant Williams and Miles Bridges each added 12 points.

Neither team led by more than six points through the first three quarters in a game that produced similar statistics for both teams. But some ball-handling issues hurt the Hornets, who finished with 13 turnovers.

The Hornets led 108-106 before Adebayo’s tying basket and Herro’s go-ahead 3-pointer helped the Heat take a 115-108 lead. Herro hit another 3 for a 118-111 advantage.

Charlotte got within 124-120 with about a minute to play but couldn’t convert again.

Moussa Diabate grabbed 14 rebounds and Miller had 13 boards for the Hornets.

Charlotte entered the game with a six-game winning streak, each victory by 15 or more points, tying the second-longest streak in NBA history.

The Heat played without Andrew Wiggins, who was sidelined with a knee injury. Miami’s top scorer, Norman Powell, has now missed over a week due to a groin strain. (Reuters)

The post Tyler Herro drills 8 3s, Heat snap Hornets’ win streak first appeared on Fastbreak.

Warm weekend ahead with isolated storms possible

Isolated showers and storms are expected to continue through the weekend, with temperatures cooling down by Sunday and returning to the 80s on Monday, before another weather front moves in mid-week bringing scattered showers and storms and cooler temperatures.

Last-minute qualification in Columbus mayoral race brings final candidate count to six

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Minutes before the qualifying window closed for local elections, Attorney Chris Breault entered the race for Columbus mayor. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Qualifying begins for local and state elections: Who's running? Breault joins other candidates, Steve Kelly, former city manager, Isaiah Hugley, District 7 councilwoman Joann Cogle, Mark LaJoye and Jaketra Bryant. Breault [...]