Tuesday Tidbits You Might Have Missed
NBA
The Oklahoma City Thunder routed the league leading Boston Celtics 150-117, and did so without their leading scorer. Josh Giddey scored a season-high 25 points, Lu Dort had 23 points and Jalen Williams, Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe all added 21 points a piece for Oklahoma. Jaylen Brown had 29 and Jayson Tatum had 27 in Boston's losing effort. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla saying after the game:
"You have to play with a sense of humility every night knowing your opponent wants to beat you. We have to match that, and we didn’t. We got outplayed in every aspect of the game.”
The New Orleans Pelicans announcing on Tuesday that big man Zion Williamson suffered a strained hamstring on Monday night. He will be out for the time being and re-evaluated in 3 weeks. The 22-year-old acquired the injury in the 3rd quarter of Mondays game against the Philadelphia 76er's. Williamson has missed 8 games so far this season. New Orleans has already been playing without star Brandon Ingram who has been out since November 25th with a toe injury.
Charlotte Hornets forward Kelly Oubre is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks. The 27-year-old suffered a torn ligament in his shooting hand during the 1st week of the season and has just been playing through the pain. He is now set to have surgery on Thursday to repair the ligament.
NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews raking up his 500th career point with an assist in Tuesdays matchup against the St. Louis Blues. Making the 25-year-old the fastest player in franchise history to accomplish this. Matthews was credited with a secondary helper on William Nylander's goal to reach the accomplishment.
Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana was placed on waivers Tuesday. Vrana has only played 2 games this season, he was reinstated from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program on Dec. 16. The 26-year-old was the 13th overall pick in 2014, and has 189 points in 323 career games.
The Carolina Hurricanes win streak was snapped at 11 games after losing on Tuesday to the New York Rangers 5-3. Artemi Panarin, K’Andre Miller and Filip Chytil scored goals in the 3rd period, Jacob Trouba and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the Rangers.
MLB
The Boston Red Sox and 3rd baseman Rafael Devers have come to an agreement on a 1 year deal. The contract is reportedly worth $17.5 million. The 26-year-old is in the final year of arbitration and will be eligible to take on free agency for the 1st time next winter.
The Washington Nationals have come to an agreemant with 1st baseman Dominic Smith on a 1 year contract. The deal has a $2 million price tag, with the possibility of an additional $2 million in performance bonuses.
The Kansas City Royals announcing on Tuesday that they have traded 1st baseman and outfielder Ryan O'Hearn to the Baltimore Orioles in return for cash considerations.