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Shiffrin confirms she'll miss Beaver Creek World Cup racesVladislav Goldin and Nimari Burnett each scored 17 points to lead Michigan to a 112-64 win over Western Kentucky in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Sunday. Sam Walters scored 13 points off the bench, Tre Donaldson had 12 points and 11 rebounds, Danny Wolf had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Roddy Gayle Jr. added 11 points for Michigan (10-3). The Wolverines tied a program record with 19 made 3-pointers (on 40 attempts) and held a 54-27 rebounding advantage. Don McHenry scored 18 points, Julius Thedford had 11 points and Enoch Kalambay added 10 points in defeat for Western Kentucky (9-4), which shot just 5 of 25 from 3-point range. Michigan set the tone with a dominant first half, taking a 59-31 lead into the intermission in a sterling offensive performance. The Wolverines shot 57.6 percent from the field overall (19 of 33) and made 11 of 21 shots from 3-point range (52.4 percent) in the first half. It was season high for both points and 3-pointers made in a half for the Wolverines. Michigan also had a 27-9 rebounding advantage at intermission. The second half was more of the same, with Michigan opening up a 72-37 lead with 16:11 remaining in the game after a 3-pointer by Wolf. Michigan later took a 41-point lead at 87-46 with 10:23 to go after a 3-pointer by Walters. With 6:05 left, Wolf hit a 3-pointer to put Michigan over the 100-point mark and give the Wolverines a 50-point lead at 102-52. Michigan jumped on Western Kentucky from the beginning, taking a 13-2 lead just 2:41 into the game. Western Kentucky managed a run to cut its deficit to 18-14, but Michigan answered with a 10-2 run to take a 28-16 lead with 11:56 to go in the first half. The Wolverines built a 49-27 lead with five minutes remaining until halftime. --Field Level Mediann777 zone login 。

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NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The holidays are underway, and while parents are planning to be more discerning with their budgets this year, toys remain a top priority. According to new research from The Toy AssociationTM, 69% of parents plan to cut costs elsewhere to ensure their kids have the top toys for the holidays. Recently, Toy Trends Specialist at The Toy Association, Jennifer Lynch, teamed with D S Simon Media on a nationwide satellite media tour to share some of the top toys for the holiday season. While toys based on kids’ favorite characters will certainly be driving kids’ ask, parents will also be seeking out toys that spark kids’ imaginations and provide learning benefits as they play. Here are some of the top toy picks for the 2024 holiday season: Spidey & His Amazing Friends Mega Jump HQ Trackset (Jazwares) Kids can launch their favorite Spidey characters down this 39-inch race track, which features Spidey’s Web-Quarters, an elevator, web tunnels, and ramps. With two exclusive vehicles and a mega jump, this action-packed set recreates scenes from the Spidey & His Amazing Friends TV show, offering hours of imaginative play. Transformers One Power Flip Optimus Prime (Orion Pax) (Hasbro) Inspired by the new Transformers One movie, this action figure transforms between four modes: Orion Pax, Cybertronian Truck, Optimus Prime, and Ultimate Optimus Prime. Lights, sounds, and action features bring the toy to life as kids flip between modes, celebrating 40 years of the Transformers franchise. LEGO Gravity Drop (Klutz) This STEM kit lets kids build and customize marble mazes with LEGO elements and papercraft components. With 168 LEGO pieces, kids can create various maze configurations and learn about physics and engineering through play. The set also includes an instruction book packed with engaging STEM content. Booksy Dome Figures (PMI Kids) Each collectible figure comes with a tiny book hidden inside featuring life lessons and colorful illustrations. Characters from PAW Patrol, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and PMI’s Monster Tales make reading fun while encouraging interactive play. Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter Playset (Hasbro) This scooter is a ride-on toy and a Play-Doh pizza-making playset all in one. Kids can create pretend pizzas using the included Play-Doh, then "deliver" them using the scooter’s built-in pizza box slot. The set comes with 10 Play-Doh colors and 16 accessories, encouraging active, creative play. For more information, visit TheGeniusofPlay.org About Jennifer Lynch As an official spokesperson and toy trends specialist for The Toy Association, Jennifer Lynch chats with toymakers throughout the year to track trends and developments impacting the toy aisles and kids’ entertainment. She is interviewed frequently by national and local consumer and business media on toy trends and related topics. She has appeared on ABC News, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, KTLA-TV, WGN Chicago, WNBC New York, Bloomberg Radio, and CNET, among others, as well as in print publications including Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, Inc. Magazine, The Spruce, and others. She also served as the narrator for The Genius of Play’s "Once Upon a Playtime" podcast, which invited listeners to rediscover the value of play through real-life, personal stories of actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and more. Jennifer has over a decade of experience covering the toy and kids’ entertainment industries. Prior, she served as the editorial & creative manager for aNb Media and its b2c review site TTPM.com , where she oversaw all digital and print communications, reviewed product, and co-hosted a web series conducting in-depth interviews with toy industry executives. She began her career in her home state of Pennsylvania, handling marketing communications for Penn State’s art galleries (her alma mater). She resides in New Jersey with her husband and energetic three-year-old. * YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media. The video included and release was part of a media tour that was produced by D S Simon Media on behalf of The Toy Association About D S Simon Media The firm is well known as a leader in the satellite media tour industry and produces tours from its studio and multiple control rooms at its New York headquarters. Clients include top brands in healthcare, technology, travel, financial services, consumer goods, entertainment, retail and non-profits. Established in 1986 the firm has won more than 100 industry awards. Dante Muccigrosso Director of Media Integration & Client Reporting E: dantem@dssimon.com C: 973.524.0104 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2da041fb-9a20-40be-b98a-cf143ed4e399None

MARRIED At First Sight star Jordan Gayle has revealed he has split from his girlfriend after five months together. Earlier this year, Jordan , 27, went Instagram official with Australian beauty Melissa Golik,32, who works as a nurse. Advertisement 4 Jordan Gayle has split from his girlfriend Melissa Golik Credit: instagram/jordanrmgayle 4 The E4 star said he was heartbroken over another split Credit: Instagram But the pair have called time on their relationship, leaving the E4 star heartbroken just nine months after splitting from co-star Erica Roberts , 26 . Jordan took to his Instagram story to share the sad news. He wrote: "It's with a heavy heart that I announce I've gone through another break-up," followed by a broken heart emoji. Jordan continued: "When you are from the other sides of the world it makes it very difficult to work." Advertisement READ MORE ON MAFS bad blood MAFS UK’s Polly takes savage swipe at groom Adam after rumours she’s moved on SECRET SMOOCH MAFS scandal as show star reveals she KISSED another bride’s husband He added: "I wish nothing but happiness for Mel." Back in August, Jordan shared a slew of snaps with Melissa. In the images, the new couple were seen sipping on cockatils as they enjoyed romantic nights out in London. Jordan couldn't keep his eyes off the beauty as they partied in China Town and cosied up in a swanky-looking club. Advertisement Most read in News TV BIG BREAK ‘Women would be safer if men were under curfew,’ actor on new house arrest show TELLY CLAIM MasterChef's Gregg Wallace steps aside as star accuses him of 'sexualised' joke TOP TELLY BBC Scotland's Christmas schedule revealed - including Sir Alex Ferguson doc BALLSED UP Lorraine apologises on air for using phrase she 'didn't know' was a swear word Jordan wrote in his caption: "Life with you," followed by heart and lock emojis and an Australian flag. In July, the reality star reignited a very bitter feud with Erica, accusing her of recording '14 TikToks about him'. My fame-hungry MAFS ex-wife Erica Roberts' bitter rants about red flags are mind-blowing, says Jordan Gayle Exes at war Jordan hit back at his ex in a podcast and claimed she has 'dragged his name through the mud' with her videos. Erica, however, clapped back and insisted her videos are NOT about him. Advertisement But Jordan said on The Bro'Cast Podcast : "So she's done 14 TikToks where everyone has assumed it's about me. "Everyone has flooded to my page, viewed my Stories, sent me messages, saying, 'Look what she's saying about you'... that I'm toxic or my behaviour was horrible. I've done this, this, this. "She's aware that people are assuming it's about me. "Whether it is about me or it isn't, the fact that people are assuming it's about me is bringing all this negativity. It's making people look negatively at me. Advertisement "It's dragging my name through the mud. To me, I would never do that because it's not worth social media views and I wouldn't do that to anyone." Jordan added: "If I don't start defending myself, it's going to run away. This has been going on for four months now." Jordan shared a clip from the podcast on his Instagram account and added screenshots from Erica's TikTok account to it. One was from a video of Erica rolling her eyes with the caption: "I focused on myself after the breakup and you had to go seek validation from multiple women." Advertisement Erica has insisted the TikToks are nothing to do with Jordan, however, and hit back on his Instagram page. She blasted: "You are genuinely clutching at straws here. "Did I not message you 3 weeks ago to clear up that my TikTok’s were NOT about you as I’d seen you on multiple podcasts trying to run with this false narrative, so why are you still going please stop flattering yourself. "I’ve not spoken about you or the break up once online you’re the only one still yapping on." Advertisement She added: "Please go heal and move on." Jordan and Erica appeared on last year's series of Married At First Sight and tied the knot within seconds of setting eyes on each other. Their relationship appeared to be going well once outside of the TV experiment, but The Sun revealed they had split in February. A source said at the time: "It was Erica that ended her marriage with Jordan... she did everything possible to make it work but sadly they struggled and in the end, she had no choice but to give up." Advertisement Jordan previously spoke out and said he felt "a mug" for falling so hard and fast for Erica on the show last year. The fitness fanatic admitted in another podcast: “I feel like a mug for falling as hard as I did. Read more on the Scottish Sun SIP SIP HOORAY Exact time Coca-Cola truck arrives in Scotland tomorrow for Xmas tour FESTIVE CHEER Scots Xmas market tops London's Winter Wonderland as 'most stunning' in UK "It’s weird because I’ve not got emotional about it for a long time because I think I've been holding it back a bit." He added: "I didn’t care about any of the fame or the opportunities or any of the money, so losing the relationship was like the be all and end-all for me.” Advertisement 4 Jordan and MAFS co-star Erica Roberts split nine months ago Credit: Instagram 4 The pair reignited their feud over social media Credit: Channel 4

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Markets in the red U.S. markets retreated on Thursday as investors assessed hotter-than-expected wholesale inflation numbers. Asia-Pacific benchmarks followed Wall Street downward on Friday. China's CSI 300 slumped 2.33%, leading losses in the region , amid Chinese officials reemphasizing plans to support the still-flagging Chinese economy. U.S. producer prices still hot U.S. producer prices rose 0.4% in November, higher than the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 0.2%. On an annual basis, PPI advanced 3%, the most since the 12 months ended February 2023. The hotter-than-anticipated increase in producer prices comes after headline consumer prices rose at a sharper annual rate in November compared with the prior month. Inflation in India cools India's headline inflation rate came in at 5.48% in November, lower than the 5.53% expected by a Reuters poll and the 6.21% in October. The reading follows a disappointing quarter of economic growth for India and a new central bank governor , raising hopes that the Reserve Bank of India might cut rates at its next meeting in February. ECB cuts rates On Thursday, the European Central Bank lowered its key interest rate to 3%, reducing it by an expected 25 basis points. The bank also lowered its forecast for euro zone economic growth in 2024 to 0.7% from a prior forecast of 0.8%, and growth in 2025 to 1.1% from 1.3%. [PRO] Tom Lee makes his 2025 predictions Fundstrat's Tom Lee has a history of correct calls. Not only did he nail this year's rally, he also saw the S&P 500 rebounding in 2020 after the pandemic-caused crash earlier that year. Lee lays out his predictions for the stock market — and bitcoin — for 2025. Money Report UK economy shrinks unexpectedly by 0.1% in October China signals readiness to mend ties with U.S. ahead of Trump inauguration The U.S. producer price index, which measures the increase in wholesale prices, came in higher than expected on Thursday. A day earlier, the U.S. consumer price index showed annual inflation in November ticked up from the previous month. Those numbers might have been a tad uncomfortable to handle, and the markets didn't want to take inflation hot to go. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note — which affects longer-term rates such as mortgages and corporate loans — jumped to 4.334%. Major indexes also fell. The S&P 500 lost 0.54% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.53%, its sixth consecutive day in the red. The Nasdaq Composite dipped below the 20,000 level after retreating 0.66%, weighed down by losses in tech stocks. Adobe shares slumped 13.7%, their steepest drop in more than two years, after the company gave disappointing guidance for its fiscal first-quarter revenue. That said, the Nasdaq might find some reprieve the next day. Broadcom shares popped 14% in extended trading after releasing its earnings, which showed the chipmaker increasing its artificial intelligence revenue by 220% for the year. Even prior to announcing its better-than-expected earnings, Broadcom had been earning praises from analysts. "Broadcom was previously considered a value stock, but it could now be seen as a growth stock. However, it appeals to both, thanks to its continued dividend payments and growth," Nancy Tengler, CEO and chief investment officer of Laffer Tengler Investments, said in a note to clients. Indeed, the company's stock has surged 66.5% year to date — a figure that puts Broadcom in the league of the Magnificent Seven companies: Shares of Amazon are up 52.7% and that of Apple have risen 33.6% for the year. It's important, then, to keep stocks' sterling performance this year in mind even as investors wonder what it'll take to get inflation numbers below the U.S. Federal Reserve's target of 2%. — CNBC's Pia Singh, Sean Conlon and Lisa Hakyung Kim contributed to this report. Also on CNBC Inflation’s hot, but so are markets this year Alphabet and Tesla power Nasdaq to record highs Nasdaq climbs past 20,000, powered by megacap tech gains

NEW YORK-- Tesla CEO Elon Musk's net worth crossed $400 billion on Thursday, the Forbes real-time billionaires list showed, boosted by a nearly 71% surge in the automaker's shares this year and the soaring valuation of his rocket company SpaceX. Musk is Tesla's largest shareholder with about a 13% stake in the company. The EV maker's shares rose to a record high of $424.9 on Wednesday, extending a rally that kicked off following the Nov. 5 election. His net worth was also boosted by an insider share sale of SpaceX, which Musk heads. The rocket company and its investors agreed to purchase as much as $1.25 billion of its common shares, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. "What's really crazy about this is that almost no investors wanted to sell shares even at a $350B valuation!" Musk wrote in a reply to a post on X referring to the Bloomberg report. He added that SpaceX has reduced the number of shares it bought back from employees in order to bring in some new investors. Tesla investors have pinned their hopes on Musk's relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, hoping the billionaire's role in shaping the incoming Republican administration's policy agenda would benefit the automaker. Besides Tesla, Musk also heads brain technology startup Neuralink. Both SpaceX and Neuralink rely heavily on government regulation and policy and could benefit from a business-friendly administration. Musk, who spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to help Trump win the election, also owns social media site X and tunnel builder The Boring Company. Musk is followed on the billionaires list by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos - with a net worth of $243.7 billion, while Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison is in the third spot with a net worth of $223.4 billion.

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Remember Taylor Swift's police motorcades while she performed her six-show series in Toronto last month? Toronto police revealed on Thursday that the popstar's sold-out performances, including her motorcade, cost them about $1.9 million. Toronto Police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue equated the cost per concert to what it takes to police a Toronto Raptors playoff game. For a few days in mid-November, downtown Toronto shimmered with throngs of Swifties in bejeweled outfits to watch the singer-songwriter perform. Met with some skepticism, the "All Too Well" singer was escorted by a police motorcade along the Gardiner Expressway as she made her way to the Rogers Centre. Officers would patrol the decorated arena, handing friendship bracelets to fans in the downtown core, and set up a command centre to manage crowds as well as respond to service calls during the performances. "Our police presence was highly visible and vigilant surrounding the Rogers Centre and the surrounding area, and we received many compliments on social media about the professionalism and positivity of our officers," Pogue said. Pogue told the board the "primary focus" of the service's security planning was to protect the 282,000 concertgoers, and the thousands others who visited the city to celebrate the Eras Tour. "In policing, crowds like these represent a massive 'soft target' and our deployment strategy contained sufficient personnel and measures to mitigate the risk," Pogue said. Months before her Toronto concerts, the three concerts slated in Vienna were cancelled due to a foiled terror plot. The deputy chief noted the incredible energy that pulsed throughout the city then, saying it was "really inspiring to engage directly with so many women and girls." Pogue concluded it would be an opportunity for recruitment, particularly for women. "With this goal in mind, I invited 25 women members to engage with Swift fans and talk about career opportunities for women at the Toronto Police Service," Pogue said.Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau flies to Florida to meet with Trump after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Trump's picks for commerce secretary, interior secretary and national security adviser, and the three men's wives. From the Canadian side, the dinner guests included Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security. Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border. A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday. Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election CHICAGO (AP) — An emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers has seized on Donald Trump’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice,” and have been using it publicly on college campuses and even in public schools. While none of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump, experts say many young men see the former president’s return to the White House as vindication of their views on women. For many women, the words represent a worrying harbinger of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. Syrian insurgents are inside Aleppo in a major setback for Assad as government forces regroup BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents have fanned out inside Syria's largest city Aleppo a day after storming it with little resistance from government troops. Syria's army said troops have redeployed to prepare for a counteroffensive. Witnesses said insurgents were seen Saturday at landmarks in Aleppo for the first time since 2016, when they were expelled by government forces backed by Russia and Iran. The surprise offensive is a major embarrassment for Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has regained total control of the city eight years ago. Israeli strike in Gaza allegedly kills workers with World Central Kitchen charity DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a car in Gaza has killed five people, according to a senior Palestinian health official. An aid worker says three of the people killed were employees of the charity World Central Kitchen. The charity's aid delivery efforts in Gaza were temporarily suspended earlier this year after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers. Israel's military says it struck a wanted militant who had been involved in the Hamas attack that sparked the war. In a later statement, it said that the alleged attacker had worked with WCK and it asked “senior officials from the international community and the WCK administration to clarify” how that had come about. Lebanese fisherman hope ceasefire with Israel means normal life returning TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is bringing hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon. That includes fishermen who’ve long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn. For months, Israel imposed a siege that kept hundreds of fishermen at this ancient Phoenician port ashore. That upended their lives and dealt the industry a major blow. The port siege also cut people off from key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes. As war devastated their country, the loss of fish damaged a deep association with home. Now, the possibility of renewed fishing is helping fuel hope. How Brazilian police say Bolsonaro plotted a coup to stay in office SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of plotting a coup to keep him in office. The plot was allegedly comprised of several components and substantiated by evidence and testimony in the agency's 884-page report. The pieces of the puzzle include laying the groundwork by systematically sowing distrust of the electoral system among the populace. It also includes drafting a decree to give the plot a veneer of legal basis and pressuring top military brass to go along with the plan. Bolsonaro and his main allies have denied any wrongdoing or involvement and accuse authorities of political persecution. More than 100 arrested as Georgian police clash with protesters over suspension of EU talks TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — More than 100 demonstrators were arrested overnight in Georgia as protesters clashed with police following the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union, the country’s Interior Ministry said. Friday marked the second straight night of protests after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension the previous day. The Associated Press saw protesters in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators rallied in front of the country's parliament building. The violence follows Georgian Dream’s disputed victory in the Oct. 26 election, which was widely seen as a referendum on the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. Romania's parliamentary vote risks being overshadowed by presidential race chaos BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanians are preparing to go to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine a new government and prime minister to lead the European Union and NATO member country. However, Sunday's vote is sandwiched between a two-round presidential race and is overshadowed by controversies and chaos following the outcome of the first vote. While the president has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy, the prime minister is the head of the nation’s government. Sunday’s vote will determine the formation of the country’s 466-seat legislature. North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will “invariably support” Russia’s war in Ukraine as he met Russia's visiting defense chief. A Russia military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday as international concerns about the two countries’ expanding cooperation deepened after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia. During a Friday meeting, Kim and Belousov reached “a satisfactory consensus” on issues on how to further boost strategic partnership and defend each country’s sovereignty and security interests, state media said. Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest forecast to be hit with snow and dangerous cold into next week BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snow of the season has the potential to bury towns in New York along lakes Erie and Ontario during a hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend. Forecasters says winter storm conditions could persist into next week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. Forecasters predict 4 to 6 feet of blowing and drifting snow could fall in Watertown and other areas east of Lake Ontario through Monday. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a disaster emergency in affected areas.

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Biden and Trump lead tributes to Jimmy CarterTORONTO — A year ago Monday, the Toronto Raptors traded OG Anunoby, the unofficial start to the team’s rebuild. While the Pascal Siakam deal that came a few weeks later more clearly showed the path the Raptors would take, it was the first decision the Raptors made for themselves that took them further away from valuing wins above all else. Advertisement Fred VanVleet’s departure in free agency the previous summer was the first indication the Raptors would do this, but the Anunoby deal represented acceptance. The Raptors had a hybrid plan — not quite shameless tanking, certainly not putting a premium on short-term winning. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, acquired in the Anunoby deal, would surround Scottie Barnes with like-aged players, and the return for Siakam would start the Raptors’ effort to build a group of supporting players on rookie deals behind that trio and Jakob Poeltl in an attempt to not wallow in losing for years and years. The Anunoby trade happened at the end of 2023. Their 136-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday was the last home game of 2024. It was a turnover-filled offensive embarrassment two days removed from a profound defensive embarrassment . The calendar year ends with a matinee affair in Boston on New Year’s Eve. The halcyon days of November, when the Raptors were piling up moral victories, are long gone. “Right now, as a team, we hit a wall,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said. “We hit a wall. It’s very simple.” “We just can’t allow ourselves to get down to this point and keep letting teams, every single game, (score) 130 points ... or more,” Barnes said. “For these last three games, that’s just unacceptable.” Actually, they have surrendered 430 points, or more than 143 points per night, over the last three games. Who’s counting? Including the last few games, this year was the one in which the Raptors finally took the medicine they didn’t pick up from the pharmacy until the moment they had no other real choice. With the year coming to an end, there was some light irony to be found in Bruce Brown making his season debut against the Hawks. The Siakam trade was never about Brown himself; the Raptors hoped, and continue to hope, that they might be able to get something for the veteran in a trade. Brown’s salary was the vehicle that made the deal CBA compliant. The Raptors thought that while he was in Toronto, Brown could be a connective piece to help the Raptors advance on the court. Advertisement Due to an off-and-on knee injury that ultimately required surgery in the offseason, Brown played just 35 games for the Raptors in 2024, all but one happening last season. In his absence — and the long-term absences, at various times, of Barnes, Quickley, Barrett, Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk and others — the Raptors have had to throw out some lineups that strain credulity as legitimate NBA lineups. It’s possible the Raptors have unearthed some gems, with Ja’Kobe Walter and Ochai Agbaji, acquired either via the Siakam deal or in a subsequent deal, looking especially promising. Even still, it is hard to know what any individual performance has meant. “You’re always looking for continuity for your team and to have your guys available and healthy,” Rajaković said. “Only when you have that (do) you have the opportunity to see that and assess. If a backup player is in a starting role, that changes his role completely. He’s going against (a different) kind of talent. He’s playing different minutes. He’s playing a different role on the team.” They have not gotten that. Instead they have absorbed many, many losses. The Hawks loss gave the Raptors their second losing streak of 10 or more games of the year. With the defeat, the Raptors are 20-61 in 2024. Five teams, including the Raptors themselves, are on pace to finish with a worse record than that this season, while only two finished below that win total last season. By design or not, they have been one of the worst teams in the league, full stop. There are many hopes for 2025, but all of that losing leading to a high draft pick in June is near the top of the list. Forgetting any trades, the most important thing that happened to the Raptors in 2024 was some lottery balls not bouncing their way . Had they stayed at sixth or moved up in the lottery last spring, they would have kept their pick in June’s draft. They still would have owed one, potentially this year’s, to the San Antonio Spurs to complete the ill-conceived Poeltl trade . Instead, they lost their pick, with the eighth selection bound for Texas. Advertisement That medicine came with a vile aftertaste, too, but was necessary. Imagine a 2024-25 season that unfolded more or less like this one but without a guaranteed draft pick coming in June. Yes, the Raptors would have a player such as Portland’s Donovan Clingan or Minnesota’s Rob Dillingham, Memphis’s Zach Edey or Utah’s Cody Williams, and any of their rookie years would be interesting to monitor in Toronto right now. If healthy, they obviously would have had access to many, many NBA minutes. But that draft seemed short on superstar upside at the time, and nothing that has happened in the first 11 weeks of the season has made that look wrong. The 2025 draft has that sort of potential, which is exactly what the Raptors need — a player who can hit a high level quickly and help the team’s young core take a step forward with a financially sustainable payroll. That is the hope that will sustain the Raptors and their fans through the first half of 2025 and, perhaps, beyond. For now, all the Raptors can do is hope that this medicine will eventually cures what ails them. Notes • Brown checked in midway through the first quarter, and played in a bench-heavy lineup led by Barnes. He looked like a player feeling his way through his first game in a long time, but got to test out that knee and get his teammates excited at the same time. He got better as his outing went on, finishing with 12 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes. THAT'S OUR COWBOY 🤠 pic.twitter.com/fm5k77X7gg — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 29, 2024 “I felt like myself. That was just the best part,” Brown said. “(I was) playing on one leg last year. I can move. Y’all seen me out there hustling, trying to give my all. It wasn’t like that last year.” Brown said he was expecting to be back a few weeks ago, but the post-surgery swelling did not dissipate fully. Putting another credible creator in bench groups should allow Barnes to act as a screener more often, while not putting the ball in the hands of the Raptors’ non-shooters at guard, Shead or Davion Mitchell, too often. • The Raptors turned the ball over on each of their first five possessions, and six of their first seven. A few of them were home run passes that would have led to easy layups, but still. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that sort of turnover spree to start a game. Advertisement The Raptors finished with 31 turnovers, one shy of a franchise record, with Barnes having a career-worst eight on his own. A few of them were ugly and/ or careless . “We’ve got to take it much more seriously than this,” Rajaković said. “This has been an ongoing thing with our turnovers this year. We’ve got to do a much better job of addressing it. I’ve gotta do a better job of keeping guys accountable to the standard. • Barnes’ jumper looks iffy from many spots on the floor, but his turnaround jumper from the outer paint has been silky of late. • This was probably the first Canadian-to-Canadian buzzer-beater in Raptors history. BONNNJOOOUUUUUURRRRR 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0p0tlprCft — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 30, 2024 • Walter has some good basketball sense for a rookie who played just one year in college. The Hawks aren’t the mid-2000’s Detroit Pistons, but he recognized a zone quickly and found Olynyk for a gimme . (Photo: Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press via AP)

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