Fun & Games Before SBLVIII

February 5, 2024

By: Carlos Alvarez

Welcome Back

It was a mild and casual sports weekend to open February with a pair of all-star events and celebrations in the NFL and NHL. Major basketball highlights and news are about to take over this week (Steph’s 60, Embiid’s injury and the trade deadline). But most of all, it’s Super Bowl week! Get ready for the biggest media circus in sports.

Letter Rip!

NFL PRO BOWL

All Fun & Games for NFC & Eli Manning

\"\"/ — *Photo: Megan Briggs / Getty Images*

NFC Holds Off AFC With 4th-Down Stop in NFL Pro Bowl Games (64-59)

The NFL Pro Bowl Games have taken on a new form in recent years, and while football diehards have their opinions, it’s difficult to replicate a real football game (with tackling and injuries) just for fun. Instead, the pro bowl games provided a spectacle of skills competitions and flag football this weekend in Orlando featuring the NFL’s super-brothers, Peyton and Eli Manning, leading the teams. Here’s how it went down.

The NFC dominated the skills competitions, outscoring the AFC 30-9 in all skills games prior to the 7-on-7 showdown, but it was the AFC who showed up for the flag football game and a huge late-Sunday comeback (50-34). Unfortunately for Peyton\’s AFC side, little brother Eli won his second straight pro bowl with the NFC thanks to a 4th-down stop on the goal line with 10 seconds left. Fun times were had, and that’s what the pro bowl is all about.

Pro Bowl Games (Scoring)

Thursday Skills: NFC: 12 / AFC: 6

Kick-Tac-Toe: NFC: 0 / AFC: 3

Move the Chains: NFC: 3 / AFC: 0

Madden: NFC: 3 / AFC: 0

Gridiron Gauntlet: NFC: 6 / AFC: 0

Best Catch: NFC: 3 / AFC: 0

Tug of War: NFC: 3/ AFC: 0

Flag Football: NFC: 34 / AFC: 50

Total Score: NFC: 64 / AFC: 59

Offensive MVP: QB Baker Mayfield(Bucs)

Defensive MVP: LB Demario Davis(Saints)

Watch: NFC Stops AFC on 4th Down to Win 2nd Straight Pro Bowl

Yahoo! Sports: Eli Manning Thoroughly Enjoys Besting Brother Peyton in NFC Triumph

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NHL ALL-STAR

Home-Ice Stars Shine in Toronto

\"\"/ — *Photo: Dave Sandford / Getty Images*

With Canadian Justin Bieber as Celebrity Captain, Maple Leafs & Auston Matthews\’ Squad Win Toronto-Hosted All-Star Weekend

It was all about Toronto (and Canada) this weekend at the NHL All-Star festivities. For the the first time in a dozen years, the All-Star Game was hosted north of the border, and Toronto made sure to take advantage. Famous Canadian pop star, Justin Bieber, was the celebrity captain for the team led by Maple Leafs’ star Auston Matthews. Matthews selected three other Toronto teammates in the All-Star Draft — Mitchell Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly — before winning the 3-on-3 slate. They beat Team (Connor) McDavid 7-4 in the finals to cap a celebratory weekend in Toronto with a victory for the home fans. Here’s a rundown of the best moments and highlights from NHL All-Star weekend.

All-Star Skills Champion: Connor McDavid(Oilers)

All-Star Game MVP: Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs)

All-Star Game Semi-Finals

Team McDavid def. Team MacKinnon (4-3)

Team Matthews def. Team Hughes (6-5)

All-Star Game Final

Team Matthews def. Team McDavid (7-4)

ESPN+: NHL All-Star Game: Ranking Every Player’s Second-Half Impact

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NBA

Steph\’s 60 Spoiled by Hawks

\"\"/ — *Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images*

Steph Curry’s 60-Point Game Adds to NBA Scoring Surge, But Warriors Still Stumbling

The NBA’s individual scoring performances continues to blitz the record books. Following four 60-point performances at the end of January, Steph Curry opened February with a 60-ball on Saturday in Atlanta. The Warriors’ marksman shot 22-for-38 and knocked down ten 3s for the 24th time in his career. Curry continues to redefine how basketball is played, and Saturday’s contest was made even more interesting by the long-range guard on the other side of the ball. Hawks’ guard Trae Young had 35 points and shot 7-for-11 from deep, delivering fans a ridiculous 17 triples from just that duo. It was truly a game where two guys could fire from anywhere on the court.

Most Games With 10+ 3s (NBA History)

Stephen Curry: 24 Games

Klay Thompson: 9 Games

Damian Lillard: 5 Games

Zach LaVine: 3 Games

James Harden: 3 Games

Unfortunately for Curry and the Warriors, the Hawks pulled away in overtime (141-134, OT). Golden State is just 21-25 and currently out of the playoff picture in the West.

Watch: Curry Drops 60, But Warriors Fall to Hawks

Other NBA Highlights

Lakers Snap Knicks’ Streak : LeBron James loves MSG. The Lakers snapped the Knicks’ nine-game win streak Saturday night in New York thanks to 24 from ‘Bron. The Lakers are back above .500 (26-25) while the Knicks’ January run pushed them past the 76ers for No. 4 in the East. (Lakers def. Knicks, 113-105)

Beal Shreds His Old Team: Bradley Beal took his turn in the Suns’ rotational game of \’hot-hand\’ Sunday against the Wizards. Beal dropped 43 against his old team. He went 15-for-21 (71%) and 4-for-5 from deep. (Suns def. Wizards, 140-112)

Dueling 40s From Giannis & Luka : The Bucks and Mavericks played a wild game on Saturday that featured star players taking turns for runs. Dallas won the first quarter 44-20. Milwaukee won the second quarter 40-21. Giannis Antetokounmpo (48-10-6) and Luka Doncic (40-11-9) each put up a 40-piece in quite a spectacle. (Bucks def. Mavs, 129-117)

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HIGHLIGHTS

Soccer

EPL: Arsenal Top Liverpool (3-1)

*Both Teams 1-2 Atop Premier League Table

SPA: Real Madrid & Atletico Madrid Draw (1-1)

*Llorente’s Stoppage-Time Goal Saves Madrid Derby Draw

NCAA Basketball (Men\’s Top-10)

#2 Purdue def. #6 Wisconsin (75-69)

#3 North Carolina def. #7 Duke (93-84)

#8 Kansas def. #4 Houston (78-65)

#5 Tennessee def. #10 Kentucky (103-92)

PGA Tour

Wyndham Clark (-17) Wins Weather-Shortened Pebble Beach

*Event Called After 3 Rounds, Clark Shoots 12-Under in 3rd Round

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STORYLINES

2026 World Cup Stadium Nods

The World Cup Final in 2026 will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The news was announced yesterday, with the U.S. Men’s National Team playing their first match at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. (ESPN)

NCAA Field of 68 Projections

With less than 50 days remaining until Selection Sunday for the 2024 NCAA Tournament, projected No. 1 seeds are somewhat solidified. You’ll see a lot of NET, RES and QUAL in the forthcoming analysis. Let’s make sense of it all. (Bleacher Report)

Belichick’s Boston Goodbye

Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick took out a full-page newspaper ad in Sunday’s Boston Globe to thank fans for their support during his time on the New England sideline. It appears Belichick’s next stop won’t be as a head coach in the NFL. (FOX Sports)

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NEWS

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SCHEDULE

Today\’s Must-Watch List

NBA

Mavericks at Nets (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Bucks at Suns (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

NHL

Islanders at Maple Leafs (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Avalanche at Islanders (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

NCAA Basketball

W: #16 Louisville at #5 NC State (7:00 pm ET, ESPN2)

M: #8 Kansas at Kansas State (9:00 pm ET, ESPN)