“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL
TUESDAY’S SCORES
BATESVILLE 89 SOUTH RIPLEY 81
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 63 CHESTERTON 55
BOONE GROVE 57 SOUTH NEWTON 55
BROWN COUNTY 90 SWITZERLAND COUNTY 61
CHARLESTOWN 57 SOUTHPORT 53
COLUMBIA CITY 59 FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 43
EASTERN HANCOCK 63 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 53
EVANSVILLE NORTH 57 EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 48
FISHERS 60 PARKE HERITAGE 38
FRANKTON 39 WAPAHANI 35
GOSHEN 65 EAST NOBLE 42
HANOVER CENTRAL 63 RIVER FOREST 50
HOBART 71 WESTVILLE 19
HUNTINGTON NORTH 68 MANCHESTER 32
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 80 GREAT CROSSING (KY.) 74
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 58 JEFFERSONVILLE 53
KNOX 55 CULVER 40
KOKOMO 48 LEBANON 47
LAKE CENTRAL 66 MUNSTER 30
MONROE CENTRAL 63 NORTHEASTERN 52
NILES (MICH.) 59 MISHAWAKA 43
OAK HILL 80 MACONAQUAH 23
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 66 SETON CATHOLIC 37
ORLEANS 60 MITCHELL 39
PARK TUDOR 53 MONROVIA 51
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 44 WEST NOBLE 43
SHOALS 63 LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 47
SOUTH BEND RILEY 64 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 57
SOUTHWOOD 67 EASTERN (GREENTOWN) 50
TAYLOR (OHIO) 57 LAWRENCEBURG 33
TRI-WEST 66 BEECH GROVE 61
TWIN LAKES 58 FRONTIER 51
WARSAW 72 MERRILLVILLE 41
WHITELAND 40 SEYMOUR 38
WINAMAC 60 NORTH NEWTON 22
WINCHESTER 52 ADAMS CENTRAL 42
CARROLL COUNTY (KY.) CLASSIC
DESALES (KY.) 63 SOUTH DEARBORN 50
CASS COUNTY INVITATIONAL
LOGANSPORT 73 PIONEER 49
CASTON 49 LEWIS CASS 32
LEWIS CASS 49 PIONEER 40
CASTON 72 LOGANSPORT 71 OT
GIBSON COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SOUTH KNOX 64 DANVILLE 45
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 51 NORTH POSEY 40
OWENSBORO CATHOLIC (KY.) 60 WOOD MEMORIAL 34
PRINCETON 61 GIBSON SOUTHERN 48
HALL OF FAME TOURNAMENT
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 62 NORTHVIEW 51
CROWN POINT 76 SILVER CREEK 65
SILVER CREEK 74 NORTHVIEW 62
CROWN POINT 60 MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 56
HAMILTON HEIGHTS TOURNAMENT
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 75 HAMILTON HEIGHTS 52
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 48 MCCUTCHEON 36
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 64 MCCUTCHEON 42
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 78 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 55
HENRYVILLE INVITATIONAL
HENRYVILLE 97 MTI KNOWLEDGE 22
RIVER CITY HOMESCHOOL 77 MTI KNOWLEDGE 30
HENRYVILLE 69 LOUISVILLE WESTERN (KY.) 66
HIGHLAND TOURNAMENT
ANDREAN 72 CALUMET 53
PORTAGE 54 LAFAYETTE JEFF 51
LAFAYETTE JEFF 64 CALUMET 41
PORTAGE 69 ANDREAN 46
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 58 CLINTON CHRISTIAN 26
ST. THOMAS MORE 59 BETHANY CHRISTIAN 47
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 62 WHITKO 51
NOBLESVILLE TOURNAMENT
GARY 21ST CENTURY 61 BREBEUF JESUIT 45
NOBLESVILLE 72 EVANSVILLE REITZ 43
BREBEUF JESUIT 84 EVANSVILLE REITZ 44
NOBLESVILLE 51 GARY 21ST CENTURY 30
WHITEFIELD (KY.) TOURNAMENT
WHITEFIELD (KY.) 71 SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) 67
===========
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL
TUESDAY’S SCORES
BELLEVILLE (MICH.) 65 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 50
BORDEN 50 ROBINSON (ILL.) 45
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 61 PROVIDENCE 60 2OT
CENTER GROVE 72 INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 27
CHESTERTON 77 HOBART 35
CLINTON CENTRAL 48 CLINTON PRAIRIE 39
CORYDON CENTRAL 66 SEYMOUR 40
CULVER 38 KNOX 28
EAST CENTRAL 68 DECATUR CENTRAL 66
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 45 EVANSVILLE NORTH 35
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 55 SCOTT CITY (MO.) 42
FORT WAYNE DWENGER 40 GARRETT 38
FORT WAYNE SNIDER 76 DETROIT MUMFORD (MICH.) 39
GREENSBURG 49 BROWNSBURG 48
HUNTINGTON NORTH 73 FORT WAYNE LUERS 57
JENNINGS COUNTY 58 COLUMBUS NORTH 49
LOOGOOTEE 51 FOREST PARK 48
MISHAWAKA MARIAN 58 MISHAWAKA 33
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 71 YORKTOWN 43
PIKE 73 BIG WALNUT (OHIO) 66
SHENANDOAH 74 WES-DEL 22
SOUTH SPENCER 58 OWENSBORO APOLLO (KY.) 35
TRITON CENTRAL 66 BATESVILLE 49
WEST NOBLE 58 PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 53 OT
WHITKO 73 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 45
WINAMAC 45 ROCHESTER 41
CARROLL (FLORA) TOURNAMENT
UNIVERSITY 52 TIPTON 27 CON
WESTERN BOONE 65 CARROLL (FLORA) 62 SF
WESTERN 39 FAITH CHRISTIAN 36 CON
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 43 LEWIS CASS 42 SF
FAITH CHRISTIAN 46 TIPTON 39 7TH
UNIVERSITY 52 WESTERN 33 5TH
LEWIS CASS 47 CARROLL (FLORA) 42 3RD
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 55 WESTERN BOONE 41 1ST
GIBSON COUNTY TOURNAMENT
NORTH POSEY 57 DANVILLE 46 7TH
GIBSON SOUTHERN 61 INDIAN CREEK 49 5TH
PRINCETON 51 WOOD MEMORIAL 40 3RD
EVANSVILLE REITZ 48 OWENSBORO CATHOLIC (KY.) 47 1ST
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT
CLINTON CHRISTIAN 38 LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 26 5TH
BETHANY CHRISTIAN 32 HAMILTON 27 3RD
NOBLE-WHITLEY HOMESCHOOL ST. THOMAS MORE 4:00 PM
MONTINI CATHOLIC (ILL.) TOURNAMENT
ST. FRANCIS WHEATON (ILL.) 43 HAMMOND CENTRAL 30 CON
HINSDALE SOUTH (ILL.) 54 HAMMOND NOLL 40 CON
CHICAGO CRANE (ILL.) 51 MERRILLVILLE 18 CON
RICHMOND TOURNAMENT
PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 66 MARION 31 CON
CHARLESTOWN 53 BEECH GROVE 30 SF
GUERIN CATHOLIC 59 RICHMOND 41 CON
BEN DAVIS 59 PARK TUDOR 36 SF
RICHMOND 59 MARION 30 7TH
GUERIN CATHOLIC 66 PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 64 OT | 5TH
PARK TUDOR 41 BEECH GROVE 38 3RD
BEN DAVIS 36 CHARLESTOWN 24 1ST
WHITEFIELD (KY.) TOURNAMENT
SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) 30 WHITEFIELD (KY.) 23 3RD
============
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
===========
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOP 25
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
===========
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOP 25
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
===========
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
TUESDAY, DEC. 23
LOUISVILLE 27 TOLEDO 22 BOCA RATON BOWL
WESTERN KENTUCKY 27 SOUTHERN MISS 16 NEW ORLEANS BOWL
OHIO 17 UNLV 10 FRISCO BOWL
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24
8 P.M. | CAL VS. HAWAI’I | HAWAI’I BOWL (HONOLULU, HAWAI’I) | ESPN
FRIDAY, DEC. 26
1 P.M. | NORTHWESTERN VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN | GAMEABOVE SPORTS BOWL (DETROIT, MICH.) | ESPN
4:30 P.M. | NEW MEXICO VS. MINNESOTA | RATE BOWL (PHOENIX, ARIZ.) | ESPN
8 P.M. | UTSA VS. FIU | FIRST RESPONDER BOWL (DALLAS, TEXAS) | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 27
11 A.M. | EAST CAROLINA VS. PITT | MILITARY BOWL (ANNAPOLIS, MD.) | ESPN
12 P.M. | CLEMSON VS. PENN STATE | PINSTRIPE BOWL (BRONX, N.Y.) | ABC
2:15 P.M. | UCONN VS. ARMY | FENWAY BOWL (BOSTON, MASS.) | ESPN
3:30 P.M. | NO. 12 BYU VS. NO. 22 GEORGIA TECH | POP-TARTS BOWL (ORLANDO, FLA.) | ABC
4:30 P.M. | MIAMI (OH) VS. FRESNO STATE | ARIZONA BOWL (TUCSON, ARIZ.) | THE CW NETWORK
5:45 P.M. | UNT VS. SAN DIEGO STATE | NEW MEXICO BOWL (ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) | ESPN
7:30 P.M. | NO. 19 VIRGINIA VS. MISSOURI | GATOR BOWL (JACKSONVILLE, FLA.) | ABC
9:15 P.M. | NO. 21 HOUSTON VS. LSU | TEXAS BOWL (HOUSTON, TEXAS) | ESPN
MONDAY, DEC. 29
2 P.M. | GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. APP STATE | BIRMINGHAM BOWL (BIRMINGHAM, ALA.) | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 30
2 P.M. | LOUISIANA TECH VS. COASTAL CAROLINA | INDEPENDENCE BOWL (SHREVEPORT, LA.) | ESPN
5:30 P.M. | TENNESSEE VS. ILLINOIS | MUSIC CITY BOWL (NASHVILLE, TENN.) | ESPN
9 P.M. | NO. 16 SOUTHERN CAL. VS. TCU | ALAMO BOWL (SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS) | ESPN
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31
12 P.M. | NO. 14 VANDERBILT VS. NO. 23 IOWA | RELIAQUEST BOWL (TAMPA, FLA.) | ESPN
2 P.M. | DUKE VS. ARIZONA STATE | SUN BOWL (EL PASO, TEXAS) | CBS
3 P.M. | NO. 13 TEXAS VS. NO. 18 MICHIGAN | CITRUS BOWL (ORLANDO, FLA.) | ABC
3:30 P.M. | NO. 15 UTAH VS. NEBRASKA | LAS VEGAS BOWL (LAS VEGAS, NEV.) | ESPN
7:30 P.M. | NO. 2 OHIO STATE VS. NO. 10 MIAMI (FLA.) | COTTON BOWL (CFP QUARTERFINAL) (ARLINGTON, TEXAS) | ESPN
THURSDAY, JAN. 1
12 P.M. | NO. 4 TEXAS TECH VS. NO. 5 OREGON | ORANGE BOWL (CFP QUARTERFINAL) (MIAMI, FLA.) | ESPN
4 P.M. | NO. 1 INDIANA VS. NO. 9 ALABAMA | ROSE BOWL (CFP QUARTERFINAL) (PASADENA, CA.) | ESPN
8 P.M. | NO. 3 GEORGIA VS. NO. 6 OLE MISS | SUGAR BOWL (CFP QUARTERFINAL) (NEW ORLEANS, LA.) | ESPN
FRIDAY, JAN. 2
1 P.M. | RICE VS. TEXAS STATE | ARMED FORCES BOWL (FORT WORTH, TEXAS) | ESPN
4:30 P.M. | NAVY VS. CINCINNATI | LIBERTY BOWL (MEMPHIS, TENN.) | ESPN
8 P.M. | WAKE FOREST VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE | DUKE’S MAYO BOWL (CHARLOTTE, N.C.) | ESPN
8 P.M. | SMU VS. ARIZONA | HOLIDAY BOWL (SAN DIEGO) | FOX
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
7:30 P.M. | FIESTA BOWL (CFP SEMIFINAL) (GLENDALE, ARIZ.) | ESPN
FRIDAY, JAN. 9
7:30 P.M. | PEACH BOWL (CFP SEMIFINAL) (ATLANTA, GA.) | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 19
7:30 P.M. | COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (MIAMI, FLA.) | ESPN
===========
NFL
WEEK 17
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS VS. DALLAS COWBOYS
DATE: THURSDAY, DEC. 25
GAME TIME: 1 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: NETFLIX
LOCATION: LANDOVER, MARYLAND
====
MINNESOTA VIKINGS VS. DETROIT LIONS
DATE: THURSDAY, DEC. 25
GAME TIME: 4:30 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: NETFLIX
LOCATION: MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
====
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS VS. DENVER BRONCOS
DATE: THURSDAY, DEC. 25
GAME TIME: 8:15 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
LOCATION: KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
====
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS VS. HOUSTON TEXANS
DATE: SATURDAY, DEC. 27
GAME TIME: 4:30 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: NFL NETWORK
LOCATION: INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA
====
GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. BALTIMORE RAVENS
DATE: SATURDAY, DEC. 27
GAME TIME: 8 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: PEACOCK
LOCATION: GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN
====
NEW YORK JETS VS. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 1 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: FOX
LOCATION: EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY
====
CAROLINA PANTHERS VS. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 1 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: CBS
LOCATION: CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
====
TENNESSEE TITANS VS. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 1 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: CBS
LOCATION: NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
====
MIAMI DOLPHINS VS. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 1 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: FOX
LOCATION: MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA
====
CLEVELAND BROWNS VS. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 1 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: CBS
LOCATION: CLEVELAND, OHIO
====
CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. ARIZONA CARDINALS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 1 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: FOX
LOCATION: CINCINNATI, OHIO
====
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS VS. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 1 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: FOX
LOCATION: INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
====
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. NEW YORK GIANTS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 4:05 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: CBS
LOCATION: PARADISE, NEVADA
====
BUFFALO BILLS VS. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 4:25 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: FOX
LOCATION: ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK
====
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS VS. CHICAGO BEARS
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GAME TIME: 8:20 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: NBC/PEACOCK
LOCATION: SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
====
ATLANTA FALCONS VS. LOS ANGELES RAMS
DATE: MONDAY, DEC. 29
GAME TIME: 8:15 P.M. ET
TV CHANNEL: ESPN
LOCATION: ATLANTA, GEORGIA
============
NBA
BROOKLYN 114 PHILADELPHIA 106
CHARLOTTE 126 WASHINGTON 109
MILWAUKEE 111 INDIANA 94
CHICAGO 126 ATLANTA 123
CLEVELAND 141 NEW ORLEANS 118
TORONTO 112 MIAMI 91
DALLAS 131 DENVER 130
MINNESOTA 115 NEW YORK 104
SAN ANTONIO 130 OKLAHOMA CITY 110
PHOENIX 132 LA LAKERS 108
MEMPHIS 137 UTAH 128
ORLANDO 110 PORTLAND 106
DETROIT 136 SACRAMENTO 127
LA CLIPPERS 128 HOUSTON 108
============
NHL
TORONTO 6 PITTSBURGH 3
DETROIT 4 DALLAS 3 OT
NY RANGERS 7 WASHINGTON 3
MONTRÉAL 6 BOSTON 2
FLORIDA 5 CAROLINA 2
BUFFALO 3 OTTAWA 2 OT
NY ISLANDERS 2 NEW JERSEY 1
NASHVILLE 3 MINNESOTA 2 OT
COLORADO 1 UTAH 0
EDMONTON 5 CALGARY 1
PHILADELPHIA 3 CHICAGO 1
VEGAS 7 SAN JOSE 2
SEATTLE 3 LOS ANGELES 2
============
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES
NFL NEWS
WEEK 17 NFL PREVIEW
With two weeks remaining, 10 playoff spots have been clinched: five in the AFC (Buffalo, Denver, Jacksonville, the Los Angeles Chargers and New England) and five in the NFC (Chicago, the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle).
Philadelphia (NFC East) is the only team to secure a division title so far and since 2002, this marks the third season, along with 2010 and 2013, that one or fewer divisions have been clinched with two weeks remaining.
With Chicago, Jacksonville, New England, San Francisco and Seattle all reaching the postseason, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs after failing to make the postseason the year before in 36 consecutive seasons (1990-2025).
With Chicago, New England and San Francisco all qualifying for the playoffs after finishing last in their division in 2024, at least one team has made the playoffs the season after finishing in last or tied for last place in 27 of the past 30 seasons (1996-2025).
This week, there are four matchups between teams currently in playoff position: on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network), the Houston Texans (10-5) visit the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4); on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (CBS), the Seattle Seahawks (12-3) visit the Carolina Panthers (8-7) and at 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX), the Buffalo Bills (11-4) host the Philadelphia Eagles (10-5); and on Sunday night (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), the Chicago Bears (11-4) visit the San Francisco 49ers (11-4).
For Week 17 capsules, click here.
For Week 17 Playoff Scenarios, click here.
For the 2026 Pro Bowl Games rosters, click here.
Here’s a look at each division race entering Week 17:
AFC East: The New England Patriots (12-3) have clinched their first playoff berth since 2021 and lead the Buffalo Bills (11-4) by one game in the AFC East. The Patriots finished last in the division in 2024 and in 19 of the past 22 seasons (2003-24), at least one team finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place.
- The Patriots visit the New York Jets (3-12) on Sunday(1 p.m. ET, FOX) and with a win and a Bills loss or tie, can clinch their first AFC East division title since 2019.
- The Bills, who host Philadelphia (10-5) on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX), are the only team that has qualified for the postseason in each of the past seven seasons (2019-25).
AFC North: The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) lead the Baltimore Ravens (7-8) by two games and look to secure their first division title since 2020. Pittsburgh visits Cleveland (3-12) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS) and with a win or tie, will clinch the division title for the eighth time and a playoff spot for the 13th time in 19 seasons under head coach Mike Tomlin.
- The Steelers, with their Week 16 win at Detroit, secured their 22nd consecutive season with a .500-or-better record and surpassed the Dallas Cowboys (21 consecutive seasons from 1965-85) for the longest such streak in NFL history.
AFC South: The Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) have won six consecutive games and lead the Houston Texans (10-5), who have won seven consecutive games, for first place in the AFC South. The Jaguars, along with the Patriots, have clinched playoff spots after selecting in the top five in the 2025 NFL Draft. In seven consecutive seasons (2019-25) and in 22 of the past 24 seasons (2002-25), a team that chose in the top five of the NFL Draft has qualified for the postseason.
- The Jaguars visit Indianapolis (8-7) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX) and with a win and a Texans loss or tie, will secure their first division title since 2022.
- Houston, looking to become the fifth team since 1990 to begin 0-3 and qualify for the postseason, visits the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network) in a matchup between two AFC teams currently in Wild Card position. The Texans, who have won the AFC South in each of the past two seasons, can clinch a playoff berth with a win or tie or an Indianapolis loss or tie.
AFC West: The Denver Broncos (12-3) hold a one game lead over the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) in the AFC West and currently hold the No. 1 seed in the AFC after clinching a playoff spot for the second-consecutive season. Denver visits Kansas City (6-9) on Thursday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) while the Chargers host Houston (10-5) on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network). The Chargers are the only team with an undefeated record within their own division this season (5-0) and will visit the Broncos in Week 18.
- The Broncos can win 13 games in a season for the first time since 2013 and the AFC West title for the first time since 2015.
- The Chargers have qualified for the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since four straight playoff appearances from 2006-09.
NFC East: The Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) clinched a division title in Week 16 and became the first team to repeat as NFC East champions in 20 seasons, since they won four consecutive division titles from 2001-04. The Eagles are currently the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoff standings, trailing Seattle (12-3) and Chicago (11-4).
NFC North: The Chicago Bears (11-4) clinched their first playoff berth since 2020 last week after overcoming a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Green Bay (9-5-1), 22-16, in overtime. The Bears are the first team in NFL history to win six games after trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.
- The Bears visit San Francisco (11-4) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) and with a win, will clinch the NFC North for the first time since 2018.
- The Packers, who host Baltimore (7-8) on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET, Peacock), can qualify for the postseason for the fifth time in the past six seasons with a win or tie in Week 17.
NFC South: The Carolina Panthers (8-7) defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8), 23-20, in Week 16 to take over the top spot in the NFC South and will meet again in Tampa in Week 18. The Panthers host Seattle (12-3) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS) while the Buccaneers visit Miami (6-9) in Week 17 (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
- The Buccaneers have won four consecutive division titles since 2021 while the Panthers are seeking their first NFC South title since 2015 and first playoff berth since 2017.
NFC West: The Seattle Seahawks (12-3), Los Angeles Rams (11-4) and San Francisco 49ers (11-4) have each clinched a playoff berth. The Seahawks overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat the Rams, 38-37, in overtime last week to take over the division lead.
- The Seahawks, who travel to Carolina (8-7) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), reached the postseason for the first time since 2022 and can win the division for the first time since 2020.
- The Rams, who visit Atlanta (6-9) on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Week 17, qualified for the playoffs for the seventh time in nine seasons under head coach Sean McVay and can win the NFC West for the second-straight season.
- The 49ers, who host Chicago (11-4) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), qualified for the postseason for the fourth time in the past five years and can win the NFC West for the third time in the past four seasons.
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
AFC
CLINCHED:
Buffalo Bills (11-4) – playoff berth
Denver Broncos (12-3) – playoff berth
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) – playoff berth
Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) – playoff berth
New England Patriots (12-3) – playoff berth
Denver Broncos (12-3) at Kansas City (6-9); Thursday night, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video
Denver clinches AFC West division title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
- DEN win + LAC loss or tie + NE loss + BUF loss or tie + JAX loss or tie
Denver clinches AFC West division title with:
- DEN win + LAC loss or tie OR
- DEN tie + LAC loss
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at Indianapolis (8-7); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Jacksonville clinches AFC South division title with:
- JAX win + HOU loss or tie OR
- JAX tie + HOU loss
New England Patriots (12-3) at New York Jets (3-12); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
New England clinches AFC East division title with:
- NE win + BUF loss or tie OR
- NE tie + BUF loss
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) at Cleveland (3-12); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title with:
- PIT win or tie OR
- BAL loss or tie
Houston Texans (10-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (11-4); Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network
Houston clinches playoff berth with:
- HOU win or tie OR
- IND loss or tie OR
- HOU clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over IND
*Note: HOU needs the following to happen to clinch a tie in strength of victory with IND:
BAL win + BUF win + KC win + SF win + ATL loss + MIA loss
NFC
CLINCHED:
Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) – NFC East
Chicago Bears (11-4) – playoff berth
Los Angeles Rams (11-4) – playoff berth
San Francisco 49ers (11-4) – playoff berth
Seattle Seahawks (12-3) – playoff berth
Seattle Seahawks (12-3) at Carolina (8-7); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Seattle clinches NFC West division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:
- SEA win + LAR loss or tie + SF-CHI tie
Seattle clinches NFC West division title with:
- SEA win + LAR loss or tie + SF loss or tie OR
- SEA tie + LAR loss + SF loss
Carolina Panthers (8-7) vs. Seattle (12-3); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Carolina clinches NFC South division title with:
- CAR win + TB loss or tie OR
- CAR tie + TB loss
Chicago Bears (11-4) at San Francisco (11-4); Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Chicago clinches NFC North division title with:
- CHI win OR
- GB loss OR
- CHI tie + GB tie
Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) vs. Baltimore (7-8); Saturday night, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock
Green Bay clinches playoff berth with:
- GB win or tie OR
- DET loss or tie
==========
CHARGERS LB DENZEL PERRYMAN LOSES APPEAL OF 2-GAME SUSPENSION
Linebacker Denzel Perryman will miss the Los Angeles Chargers’ last two regular-season games after his appeal of a league-issued suspension was denied on Tuesday.
The punishment resulted from “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players,” according to the NFL.
Hearing officer Jordy Nelson, a former NFL wide receiver, turned down Perryman’s appeal. Nelson was jointly appointed by the league and the players association.
Among the plays the NFL cited in handing down the suspension was a hit to the helmet of Ryan Flournoy after the Cowboys receiver was down following a catch on Sunday. The play drew a 15-yard penalty in a game Los Angeles won 34-17.
Perryman, 33, had 47 tackles, four for loss, and three passes defensed in 10 games this season. He began his second stint with the club in 2024, having played for the Chargers from 2015-20. In between, he earned his lone Pro Bowl selection for the Raiders in 2021, then played for Las Vegas again in 2022 before spending 2023 with the Houston Texans.
He was suspended two games in 2023 and has received multiple fines related to impermissible use of the helmet.
In 129 career games (109 starts), Perryman has 764 tackles, 57 for loss, along with 7.5 sacks, five interceptions, 17 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
The Chargers (11-4) have clinched a playoff berth, but they are one game behind the Denver Broncos (12-3) in the AFC West. Los Angeles plays host to the Houston Texans (10-5) on Saturday before concluding the regular season at Denver the following weekend.
===========
NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: SPURS KNOCK OFF THUNDER IN MATCHUP OF WEST’S BEST
Keldon Johnson poured in 25 points off the bench and Stephon Castle added 24 as the host San Antonio Spurs waylaid the Oklahoma City Thunder 130-110 on Tuesday in a matchup of teams with the best records in the Western Conference.
The Spurs have won seven straight for the first time since a nine-game run in the 2018-19 season. Two of the victories in the current run came against Oklahoma City, the league’s top team all season.
Harrison Barnes scored 20 points for San Antonio, with Devin Vassell hitting for 17 and Victor Wembanyama scoring 12 off the bench. Wembanyama did not have a blocked shot, snapping a 101-game streak with at least one block.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced 33 points and eight assists for the Thunder, who have dropped three of their past five following a 24-1 start. Jalen Williams added 17 points and eight assists.
Mavericks 131, Nuggets 130
Cooper Flagg finished with a game-high 33 points along with nine rebounds and nine assists and Anthony Davis added 31 points and nine rebounds as Dallas halted Denver’s franchise-best road winning streak at 11.
Naji Marshall scored 15 points, Ryan Nembhard chipped in 11 points and seven assists and Brandon Williams, Caleb Martin and D’Angelo Russell all scored nine points off the bench for the Mavericks.
Jamal Murray led the way for the Nuggets with 31 points, a season-high 14 assists and seven rebounds. Nikola Jokic added 29 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 23 points on a season-high-tying seven 3-pointers and fellow reserve Bruce Brown filled up the statsheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
Hornets 126, Wizards 109
LaMelo Ball scored 23 with the help of four 3-point baskets and Charlotte beat visiting Washington.
Brandon Miller poured in 20 points and Kon Knueppel provided 15 of his 19 points in the second half as the Hornets used a strong fourth quarter to secure the win. Miles Bridges added 10 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while Moussa Diabate scored 12 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds.
Khris Middleton led Washington with 16 points, Marvin Bagley III had 15 points off the bench, and Bilal Coulibaly and CJ McCollum both finished with 14 points.
Cavaliers 141, Pelicans 118
Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Sam Merrill tied his season high with 22 points and made six 3-pointers as Cleveland pulled away for a victory over visiting New Orleans.
Cleveland had nine players reach double digits in points for the second time in franchise history. Jaylon Tyson scored 18 points, Thomas Bryant had 15 points and Jarrett Allen logged 14 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 21-23.
Zion Williamson scored 26 points in 21 minutes off the bench for the Pelicans, who had their season-best winning streak snapped at five games. Rookie Derik Queen posted 19 of his 21 points in the second half, while Trey Murphy III chipped in 14 points.
Suns 132, Lakers 108
Dillon Brooks scored 25 points, Devin Booker went for 21 points and 11 assists, and host Phoenix rolled past Los Angeles, which was playing without the injured Luka Doncic.
After taking the lead for good late in the first quarter, the Suns steadily built on their advantage and blew the game open with a 45-point third quarter. Phoenix went on a 16-4 run coming out of intermission and held Los Angeles to just one made field goal for the first three-plus minutes of the second half.
Four Suns knocked down multiple triples, led by Royce O’Neale’s 4-of-5 shooting from deep. Mark Williams finished with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points.
Bulls 126, Hawks 123
Coby White scored 24 points and made the go-ahead free throw following an away-from-the-ball foul with 1.9 seconds left to give visiting Chicago a come-from-behind win over Atlanta.
Chicago earned its fourth consecutive win and swept the three-game season series with Atlanta. The Hawks took their fourth straight loss. Vucevic had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Josh Giddey recorded 19 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists for his seventh triple-double of the season.
Atlanta was led by Jalen Johnson with 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, his 11th straight double-double. Trae Young added 22 points and 15 assists, and Alexander-Walker finished with 21 points.
Bucks 111, Pacers 94
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 24 points to help Milwaukee top host Indiana in Indianapolis, handing the Pacers their sixth straight loss while snapping the Bucks’ own three-game skid.
Ryan Rollins added 23 points for the Bucks while Kyle Kuzma scored 15 and Bobby Portis finished with 14 points and nine rebounds for Milwaukee. Myles Turner chipped in 10 points in the win against his former team.
T.J. McConnell led Indiana with 16 points, followed by Pascal Siakam’s 15 and Andrew Nembhard’s 14.
Nets 114, 76ers 106
Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 of his 28 points in the first half as visiting Brooklyn topped Philadelphia.
Egor Demin added 20 points for Brooklyn, which improved to 6-3 in its last nine games. Nic Claxton chipped in with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the visitors.
Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 27 points, while Paul George contributed 19 points. Tyrese Maxey, who came into the night averaging 31.7 points, was limited to 13 points on 3-of-14 shooting as the Sixers lost for just the third time in their last nine games.
Timberwolves 115, Knicks 104
Anthony Edwards scored 38 points and Julius Randle logged 17 of his 25 in the fourth quarter as Minnesota topped visiting New York.
Rudy Gobert added 11 points and 16 rebounds as the Timberwolves won for the 10th time in 12 games. Randle caught fire against his old team in the fourth quarter, at one point scoring 15 straight points and flexing for the crowd.
The Knicks played without starters Jalen Brunson (right ankle injury management) and OG Anunoby (left ankle soreness). Karl-Anthony Towns got a warm reception from the Minnesota crowd that remembered him from his days with the Wolves, and he kept New York close with a game-high 40 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Tyler Kolek made his first NBA start for the Knicks, filling in for Brunson, and finished with career-high totals of 20 points and 11 rebounds to go with eight assists. New York took just its third loss in 14 games.
Raptors 112, Heat 91
South Florida native Scottie Barnes scored a game-high 27 points and added eight rebounds and four assists to lead Toronto past host Miami.
Barnes, held to just six points in his previous game, made 10 of 14 shots. Immanuel Quickley added 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds as Toronto snapped a two-game losing streak. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles had an impressive game, leading all players with nine offensive rebounds. He finished with 11 points and a career-high 12 total boards in 25 minutes off the bench.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 21 points off the bench as the Heat lost their third straight and their eighth in nine games. Miami also got 17 points from Norman Powell and 14 from Andrew Wiggins. The Heat played without All-Star guard Tyler Herro (toe injury) as well as Nikola Jovic (elbow) and Pelle Larsson (ankle).
Grizzlies 137, Jazz 128
Santi Aldama scored a career-high-tying 37 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 and GG Jackson scored 18 with nine boards to lead Memphis past Utah in Salt Lake City.
Aldama’s total included a career-best seven 3-pointers to go with seven assists and five rebounds. He was 13 of 21 from the field. Memphis also got a double-double of 11 points and a career-high 13 assists from Cam Spencer. Memphis shot 55.7% overall and 42.2% from long range (19 of 45).
Kyle Filipowski led the Jazz with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Keyonte George contributed 24 points and Taylor Hendricks scored 21. Rookie Ace Bailey added 17 points for Utah, which lost its fourth straight.
===========
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: LEON DRAISAITL, CONNOR MCDAVID STEER OILERS PAST FLAMES
Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick and Connor McDavid added five assists as the Edmonton Oilers upended the visiting Calgary Flames 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers, who improved to 8-2-1 both overall and in their past 11 meetings with the Flames. Edmonton goalie Connor Ingram made 18 saves.
McDavid, the NHL’s first star of the week, registered his second career five-assist game, tying Draisaitl and Paul Coffey for the second most in franchise history. Wayne Gretzky logged 12 five-assist games for the Oilers.
MacKenzie Weegar tallied for the Flames and Dustin Wolf stopped 34 shots.
Sabres 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Bowen Byram scored his second goal of the game 31 seconds into overtime and Buffalo extended its winning streak to seven games with a victory against host Ottawa.
Byram one-timed a feed from Ryan McLeod from the right circle. Byram also had an assist, and Noah Ostlund added the other goal for the Sabres. Alex Lyon made 24 saves in the win.
Ridly Greig and Tim Stutzle scored and Linus Ullmark made 22 saves for the Senators, whose four-game winning streak ended.
Predators 3, Wild 2 (OT)
Steven Stamkos scored 53 seconds into overtime to lift Nashville to a victory in Saint Paul, Minn.
Stamkos finished with a goal and an assist for the Predators, who achieved their first three-game winning streak of the season. Ryan O’Reilly also notched a goal and an assist, and Roman Josi added a goal. Juuse Saros turned aside 30 of 32 shots.
Brock Faber and Joel Eriksson Ek scored one goal apiece in a losing effort for the Wild, who are 7-1-1 in their past nine games. Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson allowed three goals on 29 shots.
Red Wings 4, Stars 3 (OT)
Dylan Larkin scored the tying goal late in the third period, then tallied again 34 seconds into overtime to give host Detroit a win over Dallas.
John Gibson made 19 saves as the Atlantic Division-leading Red Wings improved to 9-2-1 this month. James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist and Emmitt Finnie also scored.
The Stars had their four-game winning streak snapped, and they are 8-2-2 in December. Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn and Roope Hintz scored, Mikko Rantanen logged two assists, and Casey DeSmith stopped 21 shots.
Golden Knights 7, Sharks 2
Mitch Marner scored two goals and Reilly Smith and Mark Stone each had a goal and an assist for Vegas, which scored five times in a record-setting first period en route to a victory over San Jose in Las Vegas.
Brett Howden, Colton Sissons and Tomas Hertl also scored goals for the Golden Knights. Thirteen Vegas players recorded a point in the opening 20 minutes, the most in a single period in team history. Carter Hart made 21 saves to pick up his 100th career win as Vegas snapped a three-game losing streak (0-2-1).
Macklin Celebrini and Collin Graf each scored a goal and Tyler Toffoli had two assists for the Sharks, who lost their third straight game.
Islanders 2, Devils 1
Adam Pelech scored the winning goal with 1:15 left as New York edged New Jersey in Elmont, N.Y.
After Pelech sent Simon Holmstrom’s shot off the boards past Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom far side, New Jersey called timeout and pulled Markstrom almost immediately after ensuing faceoff. But Islanders goalie David Rittich turned back New Jersey’s lone 6-on-5 shot, a backhander by Timo Meier with 19 seconds left.
Simon Holmstrom had a goal and an assist for the Islanders, who ended a three-game losing streak Rittich, playing in place of injured starter Ilya Sorokin, made 31 saves. Brett Pesce scored for the Devils, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 shots.
Panthers 5, Hurricanes 2
Sam Reinhart had three assists as Florida scored five unanswered goals for a win in Raleigh, N.C., the Panthers’ second comeback victory against the Hurricanes in five days.
Niko Mikkola, Luke Kunin, Anton Lundell, Sam Bennett and Seth Jones scored for Florida, and Eetu Luostarinen and Aaron Ekblad each had two assists. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 17 shots for his 445th career win, tying Terry Sawchuk for eighth place on the all-time NHL goaltender victory list.
Eric Robinson and Andrei Svechnikov scored the Hurricanes’ goals. Frederik Andersen allowed five goals on 22 shots.
Rangers 7, Capitals 3
Vincent Trocheck scored twice during New York’s five-goal third period as the visiting Rangers stormed back to end their four-game head-to-head losing streak against Washington.
Former Capital Taylor Raddysh joined Trocheck in amassing two goals and an assist and Alexis Lafreniere snapped a tie at 9:18 of the third period for his 100th career NHL goal. Igor Shesterkin made 29 saves as the Rangers handed the Capitals their sixth loss in the past seven games (1-4-2).
Aliaksei Protas had a goal and an assist for Washington, and John Carlson and Dylan Strome also tallied during the Capitals’ three-goal second period.
Maple Leafs 6, Penguins 3
Max Domi scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Toronto went on to defeat visiting Pittsburgh.
William Nylander recorded two goals — one into an empty net — and two assists for the Maple Leafs, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Matias Maccelli, Steven Lorentz and Bobby McMann (empty net) also scored. Domi also had an assist while Joseph Woll made 29 saves.
Bryan Rust, Rutger McGroarty and Anthony Mantha scored for the Penguins, who have lost nine of 10. Stuart Skinner stopped 25 shots.
Canadiens 6, Bruins 2
Montreal broke a tie with four unanswered goals in the third period on the way to its four-goal victory at Boston.
Zack Bolduc scored the winning goal at the 7:04 mark to spark Montreal’s late run. All four goals came in a 5:18 span. Nick Suzuki, Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and an assist apiece and Sammy Blais and Cole Caufield also scored. Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson both dished out three assists, while Jacob Fowler made 26 saves.
Marat Khusnutdinov and Alex Steeves scored goals and Jeremy Swayman stopped 23 shots for the Bruins, who are on a four-game winless streak (0-3-1), all at home.
Flyers 3, Blackhawks 1
Travis Konecny had a goal and the 300th assist of his career as visiting Philadelphia earned the win over skidding Chicago.
Noah Cates and Carl Grundstrom also scored and Sean Couturier had two assists as Philadelphia won for the second time in as many nights. Goaltender Samuel Ersson recorded 20 saves as the Flyers registered at least a point for the eighth time in the past nine games (4-1-4).
The Blackhawks were outshot 26-21 while losing a season-worst sixth straight game. Ryan Donato scored and Spencer Knight stopped 23 shots as Chicago fell to 2-8-1 in December.
Avalanche 1, Mammoth 0
Scott Wedgewood turned away 32 shots to earn his second shutout of the season as surging Colorado beat Utah in Denver.
Samuel Girard scored an unassisted goal for the Avalanche, who have won 13 straight at home and have earned at least one point in all 17 home games (15-0-2) this season. Colorado improved to 27-2-7, tied for the second-most wins before the holiday break since 1972-73.
Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka was a late scratch with an upper-body injury. Vitek Vanecek filled in and made 25 saves.
Kraken 3, Kings 2
Jordan Eberle and Frederick Gaudreau both scored for a second consecutive night as Seattle defeated host Los Angeles.
Ben Meyers also tallied and Eeli Tolvanen had two assists for the Kraken, who swept the three California teams after opening their four-game road trip with a loss at Calgary. Seattle went 1-9-1 over its previous 11 games before arriving in the Golden State.
Joey Daccord made 35 saves as the Kraken won the second half of a back-to-back for the first time since late in the 2023-24 season. Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko scored for the Kings, who lost for the sixth time in their past seven games (1-4-2). Pheonix Copley stopped 25 of 28 shots.
===========
TOP INDIANA HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES
INDIANA PACERS
GAME REWIND: PACERS 94, BUCKS 111
Playing for the final time before Christmas, the Pacers fell to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the second night of a back-to-back, 111-94.
Indiana (6-24) has now dropped six straight games heading into the holidays. The Pacers’ last win came on Dec. 8 and head coach Rick Carlisle remains one win shy of 1,000 career victories.
It was an offensive struggle all night for Indiana on Tuesday. The Pacers shot just 40.7 percent from the field overall, 8-for-31 (25.8 percent) from 3-point range, and 20-for-33 (60.6 percent) from the free throw line.
T.J. McConnell was a rare bright spot, scoring 16 points off the bench on 7-of-9 shooting while also dishing out six assists. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam added 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and nine rebounds, while Andrew Nembhard tallied 14 points and six assists.
Kevin Porter Jr. led Milwaukee (12-18) with 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting while also collecting six rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
The Bucks were without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has not played since Dec. 3 with a right calf strain. Five players missed Tuesday’s game for Indiana, including center Isaiah Jackson, who sustained a concussion in a loss in Boston on Monday night.
Both offenses scuffled at the start of Tuesday’s contest. The Bucks started 5-for-16 from the field, while the Pacers went just 7-for-20 in the first quarter. But Milwaukee did manage to make a few shots at the end of the opening frame, closing the quarter with an 11-5 spurt to take a 26-20 lead.
The Bucks extended their run at the start of the second quarter, scoring seven straight points to push the lead to 13. The visitors maintained a double-digit advantage all the way up to halftime, stretching the margin as high as 18 and taking a 59-44 lead into the intermission.
The Pacers shot just 40 percent from the field and went 4-for-16 (25 percent) from 3-point range over the first two quarters. They also struggled at the free throw line, going 8-for-17 (47.1 percent).
The struggles carried over to the second half. Indiana trailed 65-53 following a Pascal Siakam free throw with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter. But the Pacers committed two turnovers and were whistled for five fouls over the next five minutes as Milwaukee reeled off a 21-8 run to stretch its lead to 25 points.
The Blue & Gold did score seven straight points to close the third quarter thanks to two McConnell buckets and a Jarace Walker three, but still entered the fourth quarter trailing, 86-68.
The Pacers continued their charge at the start of the final frame, opening the quarter with a 10-4 run to pull within 12. But a basket by Kyle Kuzma and a 3-pointer from AJ Green quickly quelled Indiana’s comeback bid.
The Blue & Gold didn’t pack it in, however, gradually chipping away at the deficit. By the time rookie guard Ethan Thompson knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:34 remaining, the Bucks’ lead was down to 99-90.
After a Milwaukee timeout, Kevin Porter Jr. converted a fallaway jumper to put the Bucks back up by double digits. Ryan Rollins added a layup on the visitors’ next possession and Indiana never seriously threatened the rest of the way.
“I was disappointed in the first half tonight,” Carlisle said after the loss. “We just didn’t have the fire that we needed. The second half — I guess I should say the fourth quarter — was good. But you can’t have a lag for three quarters.
Bennedict Mathurin was the fourth and final Pacer to reach double figures, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds.
Rollins scored 23 points and pulled down seven rebounds off the bench for the Bucks, Kyle Kuzma had 15 points and seven boards, and Bobby Portis finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Longtime Pacers center Myles Turner finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and three blocks for the Bucks in his second-ever game against his former team, though he went just 4-for-14 from the field and 1-for-8 from 3-point range.
The Pacers will have two days off before hosting Boston on Friday and then will embark on a two-game road trip to Miami and Houston before returning to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Orlando on New Year’s Eve.
Inside the Numbers
Siakam surpassed 12,000 career points early in the third quarter. He entered the night eight points shy of the milestone and finished with 15. He has scored in double figures in all of his 29 games this season.
McConnell’s 16 points matched his season high. He has scored exactly 16 four times this season, including both of the past two games.
The Bucks outscored Indiana 52-40 in the paint.
The Pacers shot under 41 percent from the field for the 10th time this season and failed to reach 100 points for the fifth time overall and the third time in the last five games.
You Can Quote Me On That
“We’ve hit some droughts for different reasons, I suppose. Some is make or miss, there’s occasionally stagnancy that comes in, sometimes it’s decision making. But the last three games, there have been positives. We’ve got to work on building on those.” -Carlisle on Indiana’s recent offensive struggles
“Just maybe out of rhythm. I think that sometimes we stand a little bit too much. It puts a lot of pressure on Pascal to go make a play for us. We’ve got to do a better job of getting him better shots and moving for him.” -McConnell on the offensive issues
“We all have got to ask ourselves what can we do and everyone’s got to come in wanting to make a change and wanting to win…We’ve had some good stretches, [but] it’s not enough.” -Siakam on the Pacers’ six-game losing streak
“I think the frustrating part sometimes is obviously we have six wins, but some of the losses we haven’t played to our full potential, we haven’t fought the way we do. If we lose a game, but we fight to the finish, I think a lot of us can live with that. We have to do that more consistently.” -McConnell on the frustrations with losing
“I think Pacers fans deserve it. We’ve all got to do better. And I’m going to keep trying, trying to do my best to do what I can for us to win…We’ve got to keep going. We’ve got to keep fighting. We’ve got a lot to fight for. We’ve just got to find that joy, we’ve got to find that togetherness to get us out of it. That’s the only way.” -Siakam on finding a way to bounce back from adversity
“I like Furphy very much. He’s an easy player to like. He plays extremely hard, he plays for the team. He runs hard, he moves, he passes it quickly, he crashes. Everything he does, he does it with purpose. He’s had some really good stretches…He’s earning more minutes.” -Carlisle on second-year forward Johnny Furphy’s contributions
Stat of the Night
Indiana’s .606 free throw percentage was a new season low, as the Pacers missed 13 free throws. Siakam was 2-for-8 from the charity stripe.
Noteworthy
The Bucks swept both games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season. They will host the Pacers in Milwaukee on Feb. 6 and March 15.
Indiana is now 2-3 on the season when playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
Pacers rookie guard Kam Jones played in his second career game on Tuesday and his first game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. After scoring two points at the end of Monday’s game in Boston, Jones knocked down his first career 3-pointer in the final minute of Tuesday’s contest.
Up Next
The Pacers will welcome Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, Dec. 26 at 7:00 PM ET.
===========
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
KIKI GRANBERRY SIGNS WITH VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Veteran middle blocker Kiki Granberry, who has four years of college experience under her belt, will join the Indiana volleyball program for the 2026 season. Head coach Steve Aird made the signing official on Tuesday (Dec. 23) morning. Granberry will enroll for the spring semester in January.
“Our program is thrilled to add Kiki to the roster,” Aird said. “She brings a mix of experience and skill to the table, along with a personality that meshes so well with our team. Our goal is to continue to build on a fantastic season and adding a player of this caliber is a great step in that direction. We have a group that is physical, tough and proud to represent IU. I am positive that Kiki will have a tremendous impact on the group, compete like crazy and develop into a pro that will thrive at the next level.”
Granberry spent the last four seasons at Tennessee where she was one of the nation’s most efficient offensive forces. In her time on Rocky Top, Granberry was a career .376 hitter (509-134-997). During her junior campaign in 2024, she hit .455 with 189 kills and just 36 attacking errors and finished second in the country in hitting percentage.
The 6-foot-3 native of Florida will join a deep and talented collection of middle blockers in Bloomington. Current freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray hit .378 with 152 kills and 106 blocks in her debut season. Sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema was the conference’s leading blocker (1.40 per set) before a season-ending injury in October. Collectively, IU’s four middle blockers for next year have a career hitting percentage of .366.
Granberry was one of Tennessee’s best blockers during her career in Knoxville. She recorded 314 blocks in four seasons including over 100 in each of her first two years. She had a career-high 11 blocks in a contest against Western Kentucky in 2024. Her career high in kills (14) came against Elon in 2022.
She will have one year of eligibility in 2026 after taking a medical redshirt last season. She played in just three matches in 2025 but finished her time in Knoxville as the second-most efficient hitter (.376) in program history. Granberry was a 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team member and a 2024 AVCA South All-Region Team selection.
Granberry will wear the 77 jersey for the Hoosiers, becoming the first player in program history to wear the number. She graduated from Tennessee with an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Electronic Media this December. She will join the Hoosiers for the beginning of spring practice in January.
==========
ROSE HULMAN MEN’S BASKETBALL
Rose-Hulman closed out the first half of the HCAC season in impressive fashion with an 85–81 win over Olivet, heading into the Christmas break unbeaten in conference play at 4–0 and 7–4 overall. In a game that tested both composure and toughness, the Engineers rose to the occasion, making key plays down the stretch to secure a statement victory on their home floor.
The win not only keeps Rose-Hulman perfect in HCAC action but also builds strong momentum heading into the break. Battles like this help define a season, and grinding out a close win against a quality opponent shows the growth and resilience of this team. With confidence high and conference standings looking favorable, the Engineers head into Christmas with plenty to feel good about and even more to build on in the second half of the season.
==========
SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES
UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/
MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
===========
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
ON DECEMBER 24 IN …
1927 – TEST CRICKET DEBUT OF WALTER HAMMOND, WHO SCORED 51 AND TOOK 5-36 VERSUS SOUTH AFRICA.
1934 – CLARRIE GRIMMETT TAKES 9-180 IN CRICKET FOR SOUTH AFRICA AS QUEENSLAND MAKE 430.
1935 – DONALD BRADMAN SCORES 233 IN 191 MINUTES, SOUTH AFRICA VERSUS QUEENSLAND, 28 FOURS 1 SIX.
1961 – HOUSTON OILERS BEAT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 10-3 IN AFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
1974 – SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS’ LOU BROCK IS NAMED SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR.
1982 – CHAMINADE, WITH A STUDENT BODY OF ONLY 850 STUDENTS, BEATS #1 RANKED VIRGINIA 77-72 IN A HONOLULU HOLIDAY BASKETBALL CLASSIC.
1990 – MONTREAL EXPOS TRADE TIM RAINES TO CHICAGO WHITE SOX FOR IVAN CALDERON AND BARRY JONES.
BIRTHS OF SPORTS FIGURES ON DECEMBER 24
1885 – BIRTH OF ARTHUR DOLPHIN; CRICKET PLAYER (YORKSHIRE AND ENGLAND KEEPER, LATER TEST UMPIRE).
1921 – BIRTH OF BILL DUDLEY; NFL HALFBACK (PITTSBURGH STEELERS, DETROIT LIONS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS).
1924 – BIRTH OF ROY MILLER; CRICKET PLAYER (WEST INDIES ALL-ROUNDER IN ONE TEST 1953, 23 AND 0-28).
1926 – BIRTH OF RONALD DRAPER; CRICKET PLAYER (SOUTH AFRICAN BATSMAN VERSUS AUSTRALIA 1949-50).
1932 – BIRTH OF COLIN COWDREY; CRICKET PLAYER (IN INDIA ENGLAND BATSMAN, FIRST TO 100 TESTS).
1940 – BIRTH OF PAUL TAGLIABUE; NFL COMMISSIONER (1989-).
1944 – BIRTH OF ERHARD KELLER; GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC 500-METRE SPEED SKATER (OLYMPICS-GOLD-1968, 1972).
1955 – BIRTH OF ANWAR KHAN; CRICKET PLAYER (BOWLED FOUR OVERS FOR PAKISTAN 1979).
1963 – BIRTH OF TIMO JUTILA IN TAMPERE, FINLAND; HOCKEY DEFENSEMAN (TEAM FINLAND).
1964 – BIRTH OF ELBERT SHELLEY; NFL CORNERBACK (ATLANTA FALCONS).
1964 – BIRTH OF MARCEL VAN DER NET; DUTCH SOCCER PLAYER (FC UTRECHT).
1965 – BIRTH OF ERIKA VON HEILAND IN ANGELES CITY, PHILIPPINES; US BADMINTON PLAYER (OLYMPICS-1992,1996).
1965 – BIRTH OF MICHAEL HAYNES; NFL WIDE RECEIVER (NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, ATLANTA FALCONS).
1965 – BIRTH OF NANCY RENO IN ELMHURST, ILLINOIS, USA; WPVA VOLLEYBALL PLAYER (OLYMPICS-1996).
1965 – BIRTH OF WINSTON MOSS; NFL LINEBACKER (SEATTLE SEAHAWKS).
1968 – BIRTH OF JOE SCUDERI; CRICKET PLAYER (SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ALL-ROUNDER).
1970 – BIRTH OF FILMEL JOHNSON; NFL DEFENSIVE BACK (BUFFALO BILLS).
1970 – BIRTH OF MARIAN SMERCIAK IN MARTIN, CZECHOSLOVAKIA; HOCKEY DEFENSEMAN (TEAM SLOVAKIA 1998).
1970 – BIRTH OF MICHAEL BATISTE; NFL/WLAF DEFENSIVE TACKLE (DALLAS COWBOYS, FRANKFURT GALAXY).
1970 – BIRTH OF ROMEO WOUDEN; DUTCH SOCCER PLAYER (DORDRECHT 1990, HEERENVEEN).
1971 – BIRTH OF TAMIR BLOOM IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA; FENCER-EPEE (OLYMPICS-1996).
1973 – BIRTH OF EDDIE POPE IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, USA; SOCCER DEFENDER (OLYMPICS-GOLD-1996).
1975 – BIRTH OF NATALIE WARD; AUSTRALIAN SOFTBALL SHORTSTOP/SECOND BASEMAN (OLYMPICS-BRONZE-1996).
DEATHS OF SPORTS FIGURES ON DECEMBER 24
2022 – DEATH OF KATHY WHITWORTH AT AGE 83; AMERICAN GOLFER (HIGHEST NUMBER OF TOURNAMENT WINS).
===========
TV SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, 12/24/25
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| HAWAII BOWL: CALIFORNIA VS. HAWAII | 8:00PM | ESPN |
About The Author
