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Deadspin | Jalen Duren, Pistons cruise past Bucks  Apr 08, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Caris LeVert (8) defends Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images   Jalen Duren scored 21 points with nine rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 137-111 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.  Detroit (58-22), already the owner of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, bounced back from a loss against Orlando on Monday and won its fourth game in its last five contests.  Duncan Robinson added 20 points for Detroit while its superstar Cade Cunningham made his return from an 11-game absence for a collapsed lung. He contributed 13 points with 10 assists.  The Bucks (31-49) fell for the second game in a row and eighth time in their last 10 games. Michigan native Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 23 points while Jericho Sims put up a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.  Milwaukee appeared competitive early on with AJ Green and Ousmane Dieng combining for 19 points and the Pistons holding just a six-point edge after the first quarter despite shooting 60.9% (14 of 23).   Detroit then grew a lead as large as 16 in the second quarter, though a 14-2 Milwaukee run got the Bucks back within four points.  The momentum of that run quickly dissipated as the Pistons bounced back and went into halftime with their largest lead to that point of 18, 75-57. Robinson led the charge for Detroit with 15 points in the half while Rollins came out firing for Milwaukee with 14.  The Bucks continued to make shots from deep in the second half, though the Pistons shot much more efficiently. Detroit continued to shoot around 60% from the floor throughout much of the game and went 5 of 8 from deep in the third quarter.  Detroit won the season series 3-1, marking the first time the Pistons outright won the season set against the Bucks since the 2015-16 campaign. That also was the last season Milwaukee missed the playoffs prior to this year.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Jalen #Duren #Pistons #cruise #Bucks

Deadspin | Jalen Duren, Pistons cruise past Bucks
Deadspin | Jalen Duren, Pistons cruise past Bucks  Apr 08, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Caris LeVert (8) defends Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images   Jalen Duren scored 21 points with nine rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 137-111 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.  Detroit (58-22), already the owner of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, bounced back from a loss against Orlando on Monday and won its fourth game in its last five contests.  Duncan Robinson added 20 points for Detroit while its superstar Cade Cunningham made his return from an 11-game absence for a collapsed lung. He contributed 13 points with 10 assists.  The Bucks (31-49) fell for the second game in a row and eighth time in their last 10 games. Michigan native Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 23 points while Jericho Sims put up a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.  Milwaukee appeared competitive early on with AJ Green and Ousmane Dieng combining for 19 points and the Pistons holding just a six-point edge after the first quarter despite shooting 60.9% (14 of 23).   Detroit then grew a lead as large as 16 in the second quarter, though a 14-2 Milwaukee run got the Bucks back within four points.  The momentum of that run quickly dissipated as the Pistons bounced back and went into halftime with their largest lead to that point of 18, 75-57. Robinson led the charge for Detroit with 15 points in the half while Rollins came out firing for Milwaukee with 14.  The Bucks continued to make shots from deep in the second half, though the Pistons shot much more efficiently. Detroit continued to shoot around 60% from the floor throughout much of the game and went 5 of 8 from deep in the third quarter.  Detroit won the season series 3-1, marking the first time the Pistons outright won the season set against the Bucks since the 2015-16 campaign. That also was the last season Milwaukee missed the playoffs prior to this year.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Jalen #Duren #Pistons #cruise #BucksApr 08, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Caris LeVert (8) defends Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Jalen Duren scored 21 points with nine rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 137-111 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

Detroit (58-22), already the owner of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, bounced back from a loss against Orlando on Monday and won its fourth game in its last five contests.

Duncan Robinson added 20 points for Detroit while its superstar Cade Cunningham made his return from an 11-game absence for a collapsed lung. He contributed 13 points with 10 assists.

The Bucks (31-49) fell for the second game in a row and eighth time in their last 10 games. Michigan native Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 23 points while Jericho Sims put up a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.


Milwaukee appeared competitive early on with AJ Green and Ousmane Dieng combining for 19 points and the Pistons holding just a six-point edge after the first quarter despite shooting 60.9% (14 of 23).

Detroit then grew a lead as large as 16 in the second quarter, though a 14-2 Milwaukee run got the Bucks back within four points.

The momentum of that run quickly dissipated as the Pistons bounced back and went into halftime with their largest lead to that point of 18, 75-57. Robinson led the charge for Detroit with 15 points in the half while Rollins came out firing for Milwaukee with 14.

The Bucks continued to make shots from deep in the second half, though the Pistons shot much more efficiently. Detroit continued to shoot around 60% from the floor throughout much of the game and went 5 of 8 from deep in the third quarter.

Detroit won the season series 3-1, marking the first time the Pistons outright won the season set against the Bucks since the 2015-16 campaign. That also was the last season Milwaukee missed the playoffs prior to this year.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Jalen #Duren #Pistons #cruise #Bucks

Apr 08, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Caris LeVert (8) defends Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Jalen Duren scored 21 points with nine rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 137-111 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

Detroit (58-22), already the owner of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, bounced back from a loss against Orlando on Monday and won its fourth game in its last five contests.

Duncan Robinson added 20 points for Detroit while its superstar Cade Cunningham made his return from an 11-game absence for a collapsed lung. He contributed 13 points with 10 assists.

The Bucks (31-49) fell for the second game in a row and eighth time in their last 10 games. Michigan native Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 23 points while Jericho Sims put up a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Milwaukee appeared competitive early on with AJ Green and Ousmane Dieng combining for 19 points and the Pistons holding just a six-point edge after the first quarter despite shooting 60.9% (14 of 23).

Detroit then grew a lead as large as 16 in the second quarter, though a 14-2 Milwaukee run got the Bucks back within four points.

The momentum of that run quickly dissipated as the Pistons bounced back and went into halftime with their largest lead to that point of 18, 75-57. Robinson led the charge for Detroit with 15 points in the half while Rollins came out firing for Milwaukee with 14.

The Bucks continued to make shots from deep in the second half, though the Pistons shot much more efficiently. Detroit continued to shoot around 60% from the floor throughout much of the game and went 5 of 8 from deep in the third quarter.

Detroit won the season series 3-1, marking the first time the Pistons outright won the season set against the Bucks since the 2015-16 campaign. That also was the last season Milwaukee missed the playoffs prior to this year.

–Field Level Media

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Tyson Fury to face bear-wrestling Arslanbek Makhmudov in latest comeback <div id="content-body-70842885" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Tyson Fury’s latest comeback has revived the prospect of a long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua.</p><p>First, though, the self-described “Gypsy King” needs to deal with a Russian-born heavyweight who wrestled a bear for fun. Arslanbek Makhmudov is Fury’s opponent in their 12-round fight on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.</p><p>Fury, the former two-time heavyweight champion, came out of retirement for the fifth time because he wants to “punch men in the face and get paid for it.”</p><p>The 37-year-old Fury had called it quits shortly after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024 for a second time — his only two professional defeats.</p><p>Usyk holds the WBC, WBA and IBF titles and at age 39 has indicated he only has a few fights left in him. The Ukrainian’s next bout, though, has taken everyone by surprise — he’s set to face kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in May at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.</p><p>Also in May, WBO title holder Fabio Wardley faces Daniel Dubois in Manchester.</p><p>Usyk told The Associated Press in a recent interview he foresees a trilogy bout with the charismatic Englishman: “In my head, Tyson Fury, it’s the last dance.”</p><p>In their first meeting, Fury had lost his WBC title to Usyk via split decision in May 2024. The rematch was a unanimous decision for Usyk.</p><p>Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs), if he can take care of business Saturday, has his sights set on Joshua, telling DAZN: “That’s the fight we’re looking to make next.”</p><p>The 36-year-old Joshua had called out Fury after breaking Jake Paul’s jaw in a stoppage victory in December. Days later, though, Joshua was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria. He was a passenger in the vehicle and two of his close friends were killed.</p><p>Fury has said the tragedy is part of what motivated him to come out of retirement.</p><p>Joshua appears set to resume fighting. Last weekend, he attended the Deontay Wilder vs. Derek Chisora bout in London and had a brief exchange with Wilder after the American beat Chisora.</p><p><b>ALSO READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/boxing/india-women-asian-boxing-championships-four-gold-medals-tally/article70842565.ece" target="_self">Asian Boxing Championships 2026: Indian women top charts, win four gold medals</a></b></p><p>The 36-year-old Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) has created some buzz by posting a video that showed him wrestling a bear. He explained in a February 21 social media post that “the goal was to overcome the threshold of fear and learn to control yourself in critical situations.”</p><p>Makhmudov hails from the Russian southern republic of Dagestan but lives in Canada. His most recent fight was a 12-round unanimous decision over Dave Allen in October.</p><p>Makhmudov’s left eye was swollen shut in a loss to Guido Vianello in 2024. He was felled by Agit Kabayel’s body shots in a fourth-round stoppage in 2023.</p><p>Conor Benn (24-1, 14 KOs) returns to Tottenham after two middleweight slugfests there against Chris Eubank Jr. in 2025. He lost the first one but dominated the rematch in November.</p><p>In the highlight of Saturday’s undercard, the Briton faces Regis Prograis in a bout at a catchweight of 150 lbs. The 37-year-old Prograis (30-3, 24 KOs) is a former two-time world champion at super lightweight (140 lbs).</p><p>Both men are hoping for a title shot later this year. The 29-year-old Benn has traded verbal jabs with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia.</p><p>The event begins at 7:00PM GMT (11:30PM IST) and is available on <i>Netflix</i>.</p><p>Fury’s ring walk is expected at 10:30PM GMT (3:00AM IST), about one hour after Benn vs. Prograis.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 09, 2026</p></div> #Tyson #Fury #face #bearwrestling #Arslanbek #Makhmudov #latest #comeback

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Monte Carlo Masters 2026: Fonseca eases into quarterfinals, to meet Zverev <div id="content-body-70842965" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Nineteen-year-old Joao Fonseca reached the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 event for the first time when he strode to a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win over Matteo Berrettini in Monte Carlo on Thursday.</p><p>The Brazilian’s last-eight opponent will be world No. 3 Alexander Zverev who dispatched Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5.</p><p>Fonseca, who is making his first appearance in Monte Carlo, produced some superb tennis to see off an opponent who had thrashed Daniil Medvedev 6-0, 6-0 in the second round.</p><p>The teenager is the youngest man to reach this stage in Monte Carlo since Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in 2005 and is the first Brazilian to reach a Masters 1000 quarterfinal since Thomaz Bellucci in Madrid in 2011. He is the second man born in 2006 to reach the quarterfinals at a 1000-level event, after Spaniard Martin Landaluce, who reached the last eight in Miami in March.</p><p>“It is super special. I was looking for this result for a long time,” Fonseca said on court.</p><p>“Of course I want more. I am very confident and focused. I was very happy with the way I fought today. From the beginning, putting a lot of pressure. Playing huge return games and very good serve games. I was putting a lot of pressure and that helps you stay more calm during the match.”</p><p>The world number 40, who is up five places in the live rankings, took just 73 minutes in the Monaco sun to book his place in the last eight, stamping his ticket with a winning smash on his first match point.</p><p>After despatching Bergs, Zverev praised Fonseca.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/k9jlc0/article70843023.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-09T110924Z_976434848_UP1EM490UZLKO_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MONTECARLO.JPG" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/k9jlc0/article70843023.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-09T110924Z_976434848_UP1EM490UZLKO_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MONTECARLO.JPG" alt="Zverev, a two-time semifinalist at the tournament, ruled the opening set against Bergs as the Belgian struggled on his own service, holding only once." title="Zverev, a two-time semifinalist at the tournament, ruled the opening set against Bergs as the Belgian struggled on his own service, holding only once." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Zverev, a two-time semifinalist at the tournament, ruled the opening set against Bergs as the Belgian struggled on his own service, holding only once. | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Zverev, a two-time semifinalist at the tournament, ruled the opening set against Bergs as the Belgian struggled on his own service, holding only once. | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p></div><p>“I think clay is his best surface,” Zverev said of the Brazilian. “I am excited to play him for the first time. He is a young upcoming talent and I think we will play each other a lot more in the next couple of years.”</p><p>Zverev, a two-time semifinalist at the tournament, ruled the opening set against Bergs as the Belgian struggled on his own service, holding only once.</p><p>Bergs found his serve in the second set but Zverev managed to break at 3-3.</p><p>The German lost his rhythm when he was serving for the match at 5-4. Bergs swinging freely broke to love after committing four unforced errors.</p><p>Zverev responded immediately by breaking back. He closed out the match in his next service game with an ace on his second match point to win in 1 hour 51 minutes.</p><p>“[It was] a better match from my side,” Zverev said when asked how it compared to his opening-round win on Wednesday in Monte-Carlo, where he rallied from 2-5 in the deciding set to defeat Cristian Garin.</p><p>“It was still not perfect. Still far from the level I played in the US, but this is my first clay tournament… I am happy with the level today. We move forward.”</p><p>The No. 3 player in the ATP rankings Zverev is chasing his eighth Masters 1000 crown and will now meet Fonseca for the first time. Last month, Fonseca faced Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for the first time in Miami and Indian Wells pushing both in narrow defeats.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 09, 2026</p></div> #Monte #Carlo #Masters #Fonseca #eases #quarterfinals #meet #Zverev

Deadspin | Trade target Kevin Gausman pitches Jays past Cardinals  Aug 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images   In possibly his final start for Toronto, Kevin Gausman allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the three-game series.   Gausman (5-10), a pending free agent who may be dealt by the trade deadline on Monday, scattered nine hits, walked one and struck out four.  George Springer had two hits and two RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have won three in a row. Alejandro Kirk added a two-run single.  Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan each had two hits for the Cardinals, who lost their third straight despite outhitting Toronto 11-9. St. Louis was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.  Gausman survived three singles in the third with the help of a double play grounder.  The Blue Jays scored once in third against Quinn Mathews (0-1), who was making his major league debut. Davis Schneider led off with a walk, took second on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s one-out single to right and scored on Springer’s two-out single past shortstop Masyn Winn.   Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ernie Clement singled to lead off and took third on a double by Myles Straw on a drive that popped out of the glove of diving center fielder Nathan Church approaching the warning track. With one out, Luis Urias lofted a sacrifice fly to center.  The Cardinals scored their only run in the sixth. Ivan Herrera doubled to left-center and scored on Winn’s one-out double to right-center. After Church grounded out, Gausman left to a long standing ovation and Braydon Fisher took over.  Mathews was replaced by Luis Gastelum after Daulton Varsho’s bunt single opened the sixth. Matthews allowed two runs, six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five-plus innings.  Toronto stretched the lead to 5-1 in the seventh.  Gastelum plunked pinch hitter Andres Gimenez, Guerrero followed with an infield hit to shortstop and Springer sliced a double to the right field corner past a diving Walker. Peter Strzelecki came in and gave up Kirk’s two-run single to right.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Trade #target #Kevin #Gausman #pitches #Jays #CardinalsAug 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

In possibly his final start for Toronto, Kevin Gausman allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the three-game series.

Gausman (5-10), a pending free agent who may be dealt by the trade deadline on Monday, scattered nine hits, walked one and struck out four.

George Springer had two hits and two RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have won three in a row. Alejandro Kirk added a two-run single.

Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan each had two hits for the Cardinals, who lost their third straight despite outhitting Toronto 11-9. St. Louis was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.

Gausman survived three singles in the third with the help of a double play grounder.


The Blue Jays scored once in third against Quinn Mathews (0-1), who was making his major league debut. Davis Schneider led off with a walk, took second on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s one-out single to right and scored on Springer’s two-out single past shortstop Masyn Winn.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ernie Clement singled to lead off and took third on a double by Myles Straw on a drive that popped out of the glove of diving center fielder Nathan Church approaching the warning track. With one out, Luis Urias lofted a sacrifice fly to center.

The Cardinals scored their only run in the sixth. Ivan Herrera doubled to left-center and scored on Winn’s one-out double to right-center. After Church grounded out, Gausman left to a long standing ovation and Braydon Fisher took over.

Mathews was replaced by Luis Gastelum after Daulton Varsho’s bunt single opened the sixth. Matthews allowed two runs, six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five-plus innings.

Toronto stretched the lead to 5-1 in the seventh.

Gastelum plunked pinch hitter Andres Gimenez, Guerrero followed with an infield hit to shortstop and Springer sliced a double to the right field corner past a diving Walker. Peter Strzelecki came in and gave up Kirk’s two-run single to right.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Trade #target #Kevin #Gausman #pitches #Jays #Cardinals">Deadspin | Trade target Kevin Gausman pitches Jays past Cardinals  Aug 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images   In possibly his final start for Toronto, Kevin Gausman allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the three-game series.   Gausman (5-10), a pending free agent who may be dealt by the trade deadline on Monday, scattered nine hits, walked one and struck out four.  George Springer had two hits and two RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have won three in a row. Alejandro Kirk added a two-run single.  Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan each had two hits for the Cardinals, who lost their third straight despite outhitting Toronto 11-9. St. Louis was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.  Gausman survived three singles in the third with the help of a double play grounder.  The Blue Jays scored once in third against Quinn Mathews (0-1), who was making his major league debut. Davis Schneider led off with a walk, took second on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s one-out single to right and scored on Springer’s two-out single past shortstop Masyn Winn.   Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ernie Clement singled to lead off and took third on a double by Myles Straw on a drive that popped out of the glove of diving center fielder Nathan Church approaching the warning track. With one out, Luis Urias lofted a sacrifice fly to center.  The Cardinals scored their only run in the sixth. Ivan Herrera doubled to left-center and scored on Winn’s one-out double to right-center. After Church grounded out, Gausman left to a long standing ovation and Braydon Fisher took over.  Mathews was replaced by Luis Gastelum after Daulton Varsho’s bunt single opened the sixth. Matthews allowed two runs, six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five-plus innings.  Toronto stretched the lead to 5-1 in the seventh.  Gastelum plunked pinch hitter Andres Gimenez, Guerrero followed with an infield hit to shortstop and Springer sliced a double to the right field corner past a diving Walker. Peter Strzelecki came in and gave up Kirk’s two-run single to right.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Trade #target #Kevin #Gausman #pitches #Jays #Cardinals

Amid the usual litany of off-court storylines, it’s been a superb on-court season for the Fever star.

Clark is averaging 21.5 points per game, the third-most in the league, and 7.9 assists per game, the second-most in the league. (In other words, no single player creates more on offense than she does).

She’s also quietly upped her efficiency — in her rookie season (in which she was named to the All-WNBA First Team), she shot 41.7% from the field and 34.4% from three. In her sophomore season (in which she appeared in just 13 games due to a myriad of injuries), she shot worse, hitting 36.7% of her shot attempts and 27.9% of her threes.

And, this year, she’s shooting 44.3% from the field and 35.4% from three, both career-highs. While turnovers continue to be an Achilles heel, she’s averaging fewer per game this year (4.7) than in her rookie campaign (5.6).

Clark now has the 31st-best true shooting percentage in the WNBA (60.3%), which means she’s been more efficient than a long list of top guards that includes Marina Mabrey, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Veronica Burton, Courtney Williams, and dozens of others. (Kelsey Plum, Sonia Citron, Kelsey Mitchell, Kayla McBride, Paige Bueckers, and Olivia Miles have all been more efficient, however).

It still feels like there’s another gear Clark can reach from beyond the arc — she shot 37.7% from three in college — but even if that doesn’t happen, she’s established herself as one of the league’s best guards just a season removed from a campaign in which she missed time due to groin and ankle injuries.

Most importantly, the Fever are winning. They currently have the 5th-best record in the WNBA, but they’re only a game and a half removed from second place, where the Las Vegas Aces currently sit. They have the second-highest point differential in the league (+6), which trails only the Minnesota Lynx. They’re averaging 95.8 points per game, which is 4 more points than the team with the next-highest points per game average (Minnesota).

Clark is still just 24 years old — and will likely get a lot better before she peaks. But, as strange as it is to say about the most polarizing player in basketball, she’s quietly already having a career year.

#Caitlin #Clark #playing #basketball #career">Caitlin Clark is playing the best basketball of her career  In Tuesday night’s Indiana Fever win over the Seattle Storm, Caitlin Clark was on one. Clark tallied 32 points on 9-14 shooting to go along with 7 assists and 4 rebounds, and the Fever improved to 18-10 on the season.Amid the usual litany of off-court storylines, it’s been a superb on-court season for the Fever star.Clark is averaging 21.5 points per game, the third-most in the league, and 7.9 assists per game, the second-most in the league. (In other words, no single player creates more on offense than she does).She’s also quietly upped her efficiency — in her rookie season (in which she was named to the All-WNBA First Team), she shot 41.7% from the field and 34.4% from three. In her sophomore season (in which she appeared in just 13 games due to a myriad of injuries), she shot worse, hitting 36.7% of her shot attempts and 27.9% of her threes.And, this year, she’s shooting 44.3% from the field and 35.4% from three, both career-highs. While turnovers continue to be an Achilles heel, she’s averaging fewer per game this year (4.7) than in her rookie campaign (5.6).Clark now has the 31st-best true shooting percentage in the WNBA (60.3%), which means she’s been more efficient than a long list of top guards that includes Marina Mabrey, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Veronica Burton, Courtney Williams, and dozens of others. (Kelsey Plum, Sonia Citron, Kelsey Mitchell, Kayla McBride, Paige Bueckers, and Olivia Miles have all been more efficient, however).It still feels like there’s another gear Clark can reach from beyond the arc — she shot 37.7% from three in college — but even if that doesn’t happen, she’s established herself as one of the league’s best guards just a season removed from a campaign in which she missed time due to groin and ankle injuries.Most importantly, the Fever are winning. They currently have the 5th-best record in the WNBA, but they’re only a game and a half removed from second place, where the Las Vegas Aces currently sit. They have the second-highest point differential in the league (+6), which trails only the Minnesota Lynx. They’re averaging 95.8 points per game, which is 4 more points than the team with the next-highest points per game average (Minnesota).Clark is still just 24 years old — and will likely get a lot better before she peaks. But, as strange as it is to say about the most polarizing player in basketball, she’s quietly already having a career year.  #Caitlin #Clark #playing #basketball #career

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