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30 CARIFTA medals

TEAM Bahamas delivered a strong opening to the 53rd CARIFTA Games, collecting medals across both track and feld events over the frst two days at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium and building early momentum in the standings.

FIELD EVENTS

Defending champion Taysha Stubbs led the way in the under-20 girls’

javelin, retaining her title with a winning throw of 48.84 metres to secure The Bahamas’ frst gold medal of the Games.

“It defnitely feels surreal, I gotta give thanks to God, but it does haunt me a little bit that I didn’t get the record, but I guess that’s just for my teammates to get, but next time,” said Stubbs.

“Its been seven months since I’ve competed so all of that time has been my ofseason I’ve been training, conditioning, weights, pylos, all of the things so for

my frst meet in Miami my coach at Nebraska made sure I was ready for that but I think just the quick turnaround is not something I’m used to but, at the end of the day, no excuses, still came out here and put on a show,” said Stubbs.

Stubbs’ win followed a strong build-up season, including her NCAA debut at Nebraska where she recorded a throw of 56.34 metres - the fourth-best

mark in school history - at the Hurricane Invitational in Miami. She was joined on the podium by Kamera Strachan, who secured bronze with a throw of 44.88 metres in her frst CARIFTA appearance.

“It feels really good because last year I didn’t get the chance to make it, so this year I just wanted to get a chance to support my team,” said Strachan.

On what the medal meant to her, she said: “It means a lot because I got to throw in front of everybody, and I liked that feeling.”

“It feels good because Taysha (Stubbs) really pushed me to go further,” said Strachan.

On the boys’ side, under-17 standout Akheel Williams added a silver medal with a throw of 58.23 metres. “I feel very grateful because this season I didn’t get to perform the way I wanted to because of my injury, but just to come out here and get the silver medal, I am very blessed,” said Williams.

TRACK EVENTS

On the track, Team Bahamas found immediate

success in the sprints, led by a double podium fnish in the under-17 girls’ 100 metres. Jazae Johnson secured silver in 11.30 seconds, with Brion Ward following with bronze in 11.63 seconds.

“In the moment I felt really excited, but seeing that I got the silver, I’m really not mad about it because I know what I came out here to do and I went and did it,” said Johnson. “It feels amazing, and I'm coming back bigger and

WORLD and Olympic champion quarter-miler Shaunae Miller-Uibo posted a good comeback performance in her frst 200 metres for the season over the Easter holiday weekend. She was joined by the third place fnish in the men's event by fellow Bahamian double global champion, Steven Gardiner, also back from injuries, at the Pepsi Florida Relays at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Also at the meet, a number of Bahamians, including throwers Tarahj Hudson, Calea Jackson and Terrell McCoy, national pole vault record holder Brenden Vanderpool, thrower Calea Jackson and hurdlers Oscar Smith, Tahj Brown and  Clinton Laguerra competed for their respective schools.  Miller-Uibo, the multiple Bahamian national

record holder, opened her outdoor campaign clocking a winning time of 22.44 seconds in the women's 200m Olympic Development race at the Percy Beard Track in Gainesville, Florida. Camryn Dailey, representing Nike Elite, was a distant second in 22.73. Miller-Uibo, coming of an injured 2025 season and the birth of her second child, followed her indoor season opener on January 31 when she ran 35.79 for her victory in the 300m at the Bob Pollock Invitational at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex in Clemson, South Carolina, on January 31.

"It means a lot," said Miller-Uibo about running her fastest season opener since 2022. "I came out here and I give God all thanks and praise.

"Coming back from two pregnancies and a few injuries and to just come out here and put down a nice time in my season

BAHAMIAN second baseman Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm and his New York Yankees just missed completing a three-game sweep against his former team, Miami Marlins, at the Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, over the Easter holiday weekend.

After winning the frst two games in an 8-2 rout on Good Friday and coming from behind in a 9-7 slugfest in a three hour and 40 minute marathon on Saturday, Chisholm and the Yankees fell short 7-6 to the Marlins in the fnale on Easter Sunday, a game that was delayed by a three hour and 35 minute rain delay.  With the 2-1 win-loss against Miami, New York still maintained their Major League's American League Eastern Divisional lead with a 7-2 record.   The 28-year-old Chisholm, batting sixth in the line-up, was not as efective as expected in the series against the Marlins until he broke out of a slump in the bottom of the ninth in the fnale.

Miami, who leads the National League East, came from a 4-3 defcit in the top of the eighth inning to go ahead 7-4 as they avoided being swept by New York in the series. Then with Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice getting consecutive walks, Chisholm came up to bat with two out and he produced his best at-bat in the series.  After he lined the frst two shots fouled, Chisholm

30 CARIFTA medals: Track and feld team wins 8 gold, 12 silver, 10 bronze

better.”  “My execution was just to remain focused and control what I could have and just keep my form,” said Johnson.

Keyezra Thomas added another silver medal in the under-17 girls’ 400 metres, running 52.58 seconds after a composed race through the fnal stretch.

“I knew coming into this race I was going to have a really fast run, I just went out there and did my best and trust in the work I put in coming up to this moment, and I just went out there and gave it my all,” said Thomas.

“It was a little disappointing, but I was able to get a huge PR out of it, so I’m really thankful for it,” said Thomas.

In the under-20 boys’ 400 metres, Zion Davis secured silver in 46.18 seconds, staying in contention throughout the race and fnishing strong.

Zion Bradford added bronze in the under-17 boys’ 400 metres with a personal best of 48.43 seconds.

“The race was okay, I got out a little bit too slow, the wind was not what I expected, it was a bit strong, but I knew in the last 150 (metres) I could come back and hold it to get a medal,” said Bradford.

“I fgured as long as I kept swinging my arms and moving my feet, I would have caught them,” said Bradford.

There was also huge disappointment for the under-20 mixed relay team of Zion Shepherd, Saige Demeritte, Lamorn Moxey Jr and Alexis Roberts, who initially secured bronze in a time of 3:23.11 before being disqualifed due to a late exchange on the frst leg.

DAY TWO – FIELD

EVENTS

Team Bahamas continued its momentum into day two, again producing results in the feld.

Jazae Johnson captured gold in the under-17 girls’ long jump with a leap of 6.02 metres, while teammate Taree Forbes secured silver with 5.70 metres to complete a one-two fnish.

“It feels amazing, although it wasn’t the jump that I wanted, I’m very proud of myself because I went out there and did what I had to do, and I just tried my best and pushed hard,” said Johnson. “I just want to thank God and my supporters for just being out there for me.”

“It feels amazing to come out here my second time in my second year in under 17 and place silver, it may have not been the result I wanted but I trusted in the Lord and I know something better is going to happen along the way and I would just like to thank my country, the Lord and my village for supporting me in this,” said Forbes.

“It felt amazing to know I had someone by my side to push me and help me execute, and I knew that she (Jazae Johnson) would do her best.”

Joshua Williams added silver in the under-20 boys’ high jump, clearing 2.00 metres. “First of, I want to thank God for allowing me

to be here, but today was a pretty competitive day. This was one of my most competitive CARIFTA Games I’ve ever had, and it was a really good experience. I had a lot of confdence going into it, and I knew I could medal,” said Williams.

“It feels really good to have two individual medals in two diferent CARIFTA Games,” said Williams.  Ethan North added another silver medal in the under-20 boys’ javelin with a throw of 62.80 metres.  DAY TWO – TRACK EVENTS

The under-17 girls’ 4x100 metre team delivered one of the standout performances of the meet, winning gold in 44.21 seconds and setting a new CARIFTA record.

“It went good, I knew as soon as the gun went of I had to execute and push out the blocks and get it to Brion (Ward),” said Forbes.

“My mindset was just to go keep the position we were in and get the baton to KK (Keyezra Thomas) as

fast as I could,” said Ward.  “It feels amazing that the team trusted me to run the curve, I’ve never run a curve ever in my life for a relay, so it feels good that I was able to go out there and do my best,” said Thomas.

“I just knew what I had to do and wanted to make my team and country proud, so we went out there and did what we had to do,” said Johnson.

On the feeling of breaking the CARIFTA record, anchor leg Jazae Johnson said: “It feels amazing, I know that we worked hard and put in all the hard work.”

The under-17 boys’ 4x100 metre team of Ky’len Johnson, Avonte Lotmore, Lavario Ferguson and Emille Higgins also secured gold in 41.36 seconds.

In the under-17 boys’ octathlon, Justin Shepherd won gold with 5,387 points, while Ashley Demeritte added silver with 4,897 points. “These few days have been pure domination,

that’s what I came here for. This my frst CARIFTA and I actually wanted to come out here and win a gold medal, and I succeeded,” said Shepherd.

“I came here wanting to make my family proud and make my country proud.”

On the feeling after winning the silver medal, Demeritte said: “It feels good, I wanted to get gold or silver for my family, and I’m happy my teammate Justin was able to do it. We came close in a lot of races and mostly PB in every race we did, and I’m just thankful.”

“It ain’t an easy event, just have to stay focused, take it event by event, and if you mess up, get your mind right for the next event.”

Similarly to day one, day two did not conclude without its heartbreaks, with one of the biggest coming in the under-20 girls’ 400 metre hurdles, where Syrmiah Crawley, who ran an exceptional prelim to get into the fnals, tripped over

the last hurdle, causing her to stumble in the last 40 metres of the race.

Crawley, before the last hurdle, was in contention to medal but sadly fnished in last place with a time of 1:13:79. This was Crawley’s frst time competing in the under 20 age group. At last year’s CARIFTA Games, Crawley fnished frst in her last  under-17 400-metre hurdles with a time of 1:02.85.

DAY THREE – FIELD

EVENTS Team Bahamas continued to collect medals in the feld on day three, highlighted by another gold medal performance in the under-17 girls’ triple jump. Jazae Johnson secured the title with a winning mark of 12.35 metres, extending her gold medal count to three at her second CARIFTA Games.

“I want to give thanks to God, my family members, my coaches and all of my supporters for just supporting me and being there when I needed them,” said Johnson.

“My expectations are to come back next year bigger and better and to possibly win all of my events,” said Johnson.

In the under-20 boys’ discus, Tehja Thompson earned bronze with a throw of 38.92 metres to secure a place on the podium for Team Bahamas. Alexandria Komolafe also added to the medal count in the under-20 high jump, clearing 1.70 metres to claim bronze.

DAY THREE – TRACK

EVENTS

Keyezra Thomas secured bronze in the under-17 girls’ 200 metres, clocking 24.03 seconds to earn her second individual medal of the Games.

In the under-20 boys’ 200 metres, Eagan Neely added bronze in 20.73 seconds, continuing Team Bahamas’ consistency in the sprint events.

Shawne Ferguson III also reached the podium in the under-17 boys’ 110 metre hurdles, taking bronze in 14.30 seconds.  Team Bahamas ended the night with multiple podium fnishes in the 4x400m relays across multiple divisions.

Kicking it of was the under 17 girls’ relay team consisting of Zara Fraser, Brianna Bootle, Nenaeh Mackey and Keyezra Thomas securing a silver with a time of 3:44.39.  In the under 17 boys, the team of Va’ron Pinder, Aiden Musgrove, Avonte Lotmore and Zion Bradford captured the silver medal with a time of 3:13.81.

Heading to the under-20 division, the team of Syrmiah Crawley, Kei-Mahri Hanna, Saige Demeritte and Alexis Roberts secured a silver medal for Team Bahamas with a time of 3:37.92.

Unfortunately, the last race of the meet ended in disaster as the under20 boys’ team of Zion Davis, Eagan Neely, Zion Shepard and Javano Bridgewater was disqualifed after a disastrous exchange to the second leg of the race, exchanging out of the zone.   Team Bahamas ended its run at the 53rd CARIFTA Games on a sad note but left Grenada with eight gold medals, 12 silver and 10 bronze, pushing the total medal count to 30 medals.

On the track, Team Bahamas continued their strong performances in the sprints, relays and hurdles. Emmile Higgins led the way in the under-17 boys’ 200 metres, capturing gold and breaking the CARIFTA record with a time of 20.98 seconds with a composed run through the curve and a strong fnish. Zion Bradford added to the medal count also with bronze in 21.54 seconds.

CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Martinique

Team Bahamas ‘in control’ after day 3

TEAM Bahamas drew closer to claiming its eighth straight CARIFTA Swimming Championship title as they remained on top of the leaderboard last night in Martinique.

At the end of the third of four days of competition at the Pierre Samot Community Aquatic Centre, The Bahamas extended its lead to 613.50 points, ahead of second place Jamaica, who trail with 558. Trinidad & Tobago is in third with 545.

The fnal day of competition will take place today before The Bahamas’ 12-member team will compete in the open water competition in the Anses d’Arlet coastal area on Wednesday morning.

Highlighting yesterday’s performance for The Bahamas’ 36-member team was Christan Joseph with gold in the boys’ 13-14 100 and 200m free, 100m fy and 400m IM.

Other gold medal performances came from Tristan Hepburn in the boys’ 15-17 50m breast and Star Seymour in the girls’ 50m breast.

Among the silver medallists were Isabelle Munroe in the girls’ 11-12 100m free. And some of the bronze medallists were Joseph in the 50m breast, Tiah Seymour in the girls’ 13-14 100m free, and Kimaya

Closer to claiming our 8th straight title

Saunders in the girls’ 15-17 50m breast.

The Bahamas, with its 36-member swim team, stayed on top of the point standings after day two on Easter Sunday with 386.5 points. Jamaica was close behind in second with 375.

Trinidad & Tobago was in third with 357, followed by Barbados in fourth with 318 and the Cayman Islands

rounding out the top fve with 282.5.

Highlighting Team Bahamas’ performances were Christon Joseph with gold medals in the boys’ 13-14 200m free, 50m fy and 400IM. Also, Isabella Cuccurullo got another gold in the girls’ 400m medley in 5:25.65, while Sean Norville Smith got a silver in the boys’

100m backstroke in 1:02.99 and a silver from co-captain Will Farrington in the boys’ 400m medley in 4:47.77.

Team Bahamas opened competition on Saturday, behind the gold medal performances from Cuccurullo, Hepburn and Joseph to surge ahead of their rivals.

Cuccurullo got her gold in the girls’ 13-14 200m breast in 2:47:37, Hepburn

followed in the boys’ 15-17 200m breast in 2:24.66 and Joseph added his own in the boys’ 13-15 100m fy with Harold Simmons claiming the silver.

The Bahamas also got silver medals from Logan Comarcho and Isabella Munroe and bronze from Star Seymour and Sean Norville-Smith. At the end of the frst of the four days of competition, The Bahamas had surged out front with a total of 196 points. Jamaica is closely behind in second with 191 points, Trinidad & Tobago rounds out the top three with 152, just two points ahead of Barbados. The Cayman Islands is in ffth with 145 and host Martinique is in sixth with 114. The swim championships will wrap up today.

‘Golden Girl’ Shaunae posts good comeback  performance in her frst 200 for the season

opener, I’m really happy with it.” In making some changes to her race module, Miller-Uibo said the aim is to execute the curve a little better and she was pleased with it, but admitted that she actually eased up a bit on the home stretch.

“But I’m pretty happy with it. I’m really strong. My top end speed has always been there,” she stressed. “I’m just trying to get the fow back in.”

Miller-Uibo expressed her gratitude to the fans for inspiring and praying for her, especially when she went through her difcult moments.

“I’m just thankful to be back and I hope to put on a show for everybody this season,” she stated. “I’m really just waiting to get back with the girls and put on great performances for the rest of the year.”

“The main goal is simply to stay injury-free. That’s the one thing I’ve been so far this season. My training has been good and this is the longest I’ve been injury-free, so we’re going to have a lot of fun this season.”

The 2022 world champion and two-time Olympic champion in 2016 and 2020, is regaining her prominence after she had

a subpar season marked by injuries in 2024 that forced her to skip 2025 with the birth of her second child.

With this not being a major international year for the World Championships or the Olympics, Miller-Uibo said she will concentrate on the 200/400 double and mix it up with some 200m races.

“The main thing is to get the speed back under our belt,” she summed up.

Gardiner, 30, also competing at the same meet, lowered his season’s best from 20.71 from his season opener in Puerto Rico on March 13 to 20.46 for third place in the men’s 200m Olympic Development race.  Makanakalshe Charamba and Joseph Fahnbulleh, both of Zupco Express, took the top two spots in 20.31 and 20.44 respectively.

Gardiner, working on getting back to tip-top form when he won the men’s 400m world title in 2019 and the Olympic gold medal in 2020, showed some versatility as competed in the 100m at the Hurricane Invitational at the University of Miami’s Cobb Stadium in Coral Gables, Florida, where he won in 10.36.  Hudson, 23, came through on the sixth and

fnal throw in the men’s discus with a season’s best heave of 179-feet, 2-inches or 54.61 metres. He threw 176-4 (58.76m) on his frst attempt to take the lead.

Hudson was surpassed by Delano Lawrence, a freshman from Hampton, who threw 176-6 (53.81m) to move into the lead. Hudson then came through with the best throw of the day on his fnal attempt.

Vanderpool, a 20-yearold sophomore at Illinois, cleared 17-4 1/2 (5.30m) for fourth place in the men’s pole vault as he tied his national record that he established with his victory in the under-20 boys’ division at the 2024 CARIFTA Games in St George’s, Grenada.

McCoy, a student at Bolles School, was sixth in the girls’ high school shot put with a heave of 42-2 (12.85m). McCoy was also ninth in the discus with 125-11 (38.68m). Jackson, 20, contested the women’s discus where she placed 10th. The junior at the University of Miami had a best toss of 153-9 (46.87m).

Smith, a 24-year-old senior at Louisiana, led the Bahamian duo in the men’s 110m hurdles by fnishing 11th in 14.03, while Brown, a 19-year-old freshman at Liberty coming of his

debut at the World Indoor Championships, was 15th in 14.22.

Laguerra, a junior year team-mate of Hudson, also competed in the meet in the men’s 400m hurdles where he ran a season’s best of 53.31 in the men’s 400m hurdles to fnish 31st overall. He was sixth in his preliminary heat.

Adderley third/fourth

Also on the feld at the Jerry Quiller Classic in Boulder, Colorado, Wyoming’s sophomore Koi Adderley soared to third place in the women’s long jump with a leap of 18-3 3/4 (5.58m).

Adderley also got fourth in the high jump with a clearance of 5-5 1/4 (1.66m). She reached her season-best height on her second try before bowing out at 5-7 1/4 (1.71m).

Kerr fell short in 100m

Ian Kerr, competing at the Miramar Invitational at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, ran 10.49 for ffth in the second of three heats in the preliminaries of the men’s 100m.

The 29-year-old, who is coming of his appearance at the 2025 World Championships, has a personal best of 10.14, but he wasn’t able to advance after he ended up 13th place overall.

Local Sports Calendar

BASKETBALL

NPBA FINALS THE New Providence Basketball Association is scheduled to kick of its 2025/26 best-of-fve championship series tonight at the AF Adderley Gymnasium. In the division one opener at 8:15pm, the Caribbean Moonshine Rockets will take on the Commonwealth Bank Giants. That will be followed by the division II series between the APs Insurance Heatwave and Your Essential Store Giants at 9:30pm. Game two of the series will be played on Thursday with game three on Saturday. If necessary, game four will be on Monday with the ffth and deciding game on Tuesday.

CYCLING SPRING ROAD

For more information, persons can contact 4335568 or 436-0685 or email bommus1967@gmail.com. Registration forms can be picked up at Cycles Unlimited online.

CONSTITUENCY SOFTBALL TOURNEY

THE New Providence Sports Council, in conjunction with the Bahamas Softball Federation, will hold the Constituency Games Softball Tournament from Tuesday, April 28 to Sunday, May 3, in the Bankers’ Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. The men will play modifed pitch during the tournament, while the women will play slowpitch. For more information, persons can contact BSF president Marvin ‘Togie’ Wood at 808-7281.

CLASSIC THE New Providence Cycling Association will hold its Spring Road Cycling Classic over the weekend of April 11-12 at Clifton Pier. The individual time trial will begin at 5pm on Saturday, April 11, with the juniors competing over six miles and the adults covering 12 miles. The road race will be held on Sunday, April 12, starting at 7:35am. The senior elites will ride 64 miles, under23 will do 64 miles, open females 52 miles, masters male and female 46 miles, public races 24 miles, juniors (17-18) 52 miles, juveniles (14-16) 46 miles and-under 12 miles. Prizes, including cash, trophies and medals will be presented to the various winners.

Flagg scores 45 points, Mavs beat Ayton and injury-depleted Lakers

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 45 points and the Dallas Mavericks ended their longest home losing streak in 32 years at 14 games with a 134-128 victory over the depleted Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

LeBron James had 30 points and 15 assists for the playof-bound Lakers, who led for just 13 seconds in the opening minutes of their frst game since injuries sidelined Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the rest of the regular season.

Bahamian centre Deandre Ayton contributed 13 points, four rebounds, one assist and a block in 19 minutes of playing time.

Doncic, the NBA scoring leader, has a left hamstring strain, and Reaves, LA's No. 2 scorer, is out with a left oblique strain. Both were injured in a blowout loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Flagg, who had nine assists and eight rebounds, recorded consecutive 40-point games for the frst time two nights after the 19-year-old rookie No. 1 pick scored 51 to become the frst NBA teenager with

a 50-point outing. Flagg is the frst rookie with backto-back games scoring at least 40 points since Allen Iverson (1996-97 season).

Luke Kennard had his frst career triple-double with 15 points, a careerhigh 16 rebounds and 11 assists for the Lakers, who dropped into a tie for third in the Western Conference with Denver, although LA holds the tiebreaker on the Nuggets.

Houston has a chance to get into the third-place mix in the fnal week of the regular season.

P.J. Washington Jr. scored 13 of his 15 points after halftime for the Mavericks, whose home skid was their longest at 25-year-old American Airlines Center. They lost the frst 19 games of the 1993-94 season at since-demolished Reunion Arena.

James scored 16 points in the second quarter, when the Lakers cut a 22-point defcit to six at halftime.

The 41-year-old in his record 23rd season had back-to-back dunks before the break, then a soaring alley-oop slam from Kennard to get the Lakers within 72-70 early in the third quarter. But LA never got closer.

Bahamian centre contributes 13 points, four rebounds, one assist and a block in 19 minutes of playing time

SAN ANTONIO (AP)

— Stephon Castle had 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs held on to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 115-102 last night after Victor Wembanyama left in the frst half due to a left rib contusion.

Wembanyama's status for the fnal week of the regular season is unknown.

San Antonio (60-19) is is 2 1/2 games behind Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City (62-16) and assured of fnishing no worse than second in the conference.

Philadelphia lost its second straight as it battles to stay out of the play-in tournament. The 76ers (4336) are a half-game behind

the Toronto Raptors (4335) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia centre Joel Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 points.

Wembanyama did not play in the second half after taking an elbow from George near midcourt.

Wembanyama was sprinting up-court when George attempted to defect a pass, but instead struck the 22-year-old in the side at the 1:11 mark of the second quarter. Wembanyama remained on the court for about a minute before being subbed.

Wembanyama returned to play fve more minutes before asking San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson to take him out of the game with 44 seconds left in the frst half. He did not return.

San Antonio opened a four-game homestand to close its regular season before hosting the frst two games of the opening round of the playofs. Wembanyama had 17 points, fve rebounds and three blocks in 15:40. It constitutes an ofcial game per the NBA guidelines, which allow two exceptions of 15 to 19:59 minutes to count toward the league-required minimum of 65 games played for award eligibility. Wembanyama has said he wants to win the league's MVP award this season. Wembanyama had played 63 games this season, including the NBA Cup Final. Luke Kornet, who started the second half in place of Wembanyama, had 10 points and three rebounds. It was Castle's ffth triple-double.

INJURED: San Antonio Spurs centre Victor Wembanyama reacts after being called for his second personal foul in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Denver.

‘VJ’ Edgecombe scores 19 points in 76ers’ 116-93 loss as Pistons clinch the top seed in Eastern Conference

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Tobias Harris scored 19 points, and Daniss Jenkins added 16 points and 14 assists as the Detroit Pistons beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-93 Saturday night to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference playofs.

The last time the Pistons (56-21) were the top seed in the East was in 2006-07. They have already clinched the Central Division title for the frst time since 2007-08.

Jalen Duren added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Ausar Thompson had 14 points for the Pistons, who have won 12 of their last 15 games.

Both Duren (illness) and Harris (left knee contusion) had been listed as questionable. The Pistons are 8-2 in the 10 games that Cade Cunningham has missed with a collapsed left lung.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 23 points. Paul George scored 20 points, and rookie guard Valdez

“VJ” Edgecombe added 19. The Rising Stars MVP also

contributed six rebounds, one assist, two steals and a block. George has averaged 25.8 points in six games since returning from a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who was ruled out with right oblique injury maintenance/illness in the second half of a

back-to-back. The Sixers had won eight of their last 11. The teams went back and forth in the frst half, the Pistons leading by 10 points after one quarter before the 76ers tied the game in the second. A 15-4 run to end the frst half gave Detroit control, and the Pistons stretched their lead to 26 points in the second half.

Chisholm and Yankees just miss three-game sweep against his former team

took a ball and then ripped a shot to right feld for a two-run double to cut the defnit to 7-6. Anthony Bender was intentionally walked and pinch hitter JC Escarra struck out to end the game.

Chisholm fnished with a 1-for-5 night with his two RBIs, 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in the opener on Friday.

He came back on Saturday and was 0-for-5 and even had what was described as a defensive blunder.

As he started his second full season with the Yankees, Chisholm is averaging.194 at the plate with

seven hits and three RBI (runs batted in).

Chisholm, who is expected to be a free agent after this season, was traded to the Yankees during the 2024 season after he began his MLB debut in Miami in 2020.

Chisholm and the Yaankees will be back in action tonight at 7:05pm when they take on the American League West’s last place Athletics in Sacramento, California, a three-game series through Thursday.   They will then close out the week with a three-game stint against the American League East’s second place Tampa Bay Rays from Friday to Sunday in New York.

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