Quarterback Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal following a 23-10 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl.

Leonard completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 90 yards and a touchdown for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish’s defense managed to create turnovers and stymied the Georgia rushing attack in the victory.

Notre Dame forced Georgia to fumble three times and two were recovered by the Irish. The Bulldogs also struggled to get the run game going, finishing with just 62 rushing yards.

The game was played Thursday after the Sugar Bowl was postponed Wednesday as a result of the deadly attack in New Orleans.

Georgia became the fourth and final team that earned a first-round bye to lose in the quarterfinals. Ohio State, Texas and Penn State earned victories earlier in the week to advance to the semifinal.

Ohio State is scheduled to play Texas in the Cotton Bowl. 

Notre Dame will play Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Notre Dame and Penn State each have nine wins in the 19-game series. The Fighting Irish and the Nittany Lions had a game end in a scoreless tie in November 1925.

Here are the highlights for Notre Dame’s decisive win in the Sugar Bowl:

Highlights: Riley Leonard leads Notre Dame to victory

Final: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10

The Fighting Irish are moving on to the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Notre Dame leads at the two-minute timeout

The Fighting Irish lead the Bulldogs 23-10 with two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Riley Leonard has completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 90 yards and a touchdown for Notre Dame. He’s also contributed to the run game with 14 carries for 80 yards, including a 32-yard run for a first down in the second quarter.

Score update: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10

Kicker Mitch Jeter had his number called again for a third field goal attempt from 44+ yards. Jeter had a successful 47-yard attempt to increase the Fighting Irish’s lead with 13:47 left in the fourth quarter. He made a 44-yard and 48-yard field goal in the second quarter.

End of 3: Notre Dame 20, Georgia 10

Notre Dame leans on running back Jadarian Price for a pair of runs to help move the ball down the field as time expires in the third quarter. Price had gains of eight and seven yards respectively. Wide receiver Jordan Faison also had a six-yard gain on the final play of the quarter for Notre Dame.

Georgia unable to capitalize

The Bulldogs were unable to convert on fourth-and-2 despite quarterback Gunner Stockon completing a pass to receiver Dillon Bell. The completion did not result in any yards gained. Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts was credited with a quarterback hurry on the play.

Notre Dame turns ball over after Riley Leonard’s unsuccessful run attempt

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard had some success running the ball this evening but was unable to gain any yards with a keeper up at midfield on fourth-and-1. Notre Dame turned the ball over on downs and Georgia has a chance to narrow the lead. Notre Dame leads Georgia 20-10 with 5:45 left in the third quarter.

Georgia shows signs of life in third quarter

Georgia managed to find some offense and put some points on the scoreboard to stop Notre Dame’s 20 unanswered points. Quarterback Gunner Stockton found Cash Jones for a 32-yard touchdown. Notre Dame leads Georgia 20-10 with 9:36 left in the third quarter.

Scoring update: Notre Dame 20, Georgia 3

The Fighting Irish carried its first-half momentum into the second half with a kick return for a touchdown to begin the third quarter.

Jayden Harrison returned the kick 98 yards for a touchdown with 14:45 left in the third quarter.

Sugar Bowl crowd enjoys fervor amid safety protocols 

A group of Notre Dame fans in sparkly hats walked toward the Superdome two hours before the Sugar Bowl’s kickoff. Their green hats suited the Irish and New Orleans. They moved at a much quicker pace on foot than the gridlocked traffic on Claiborne Avenue as frustrated drivers inched forward. A half-mile journey into a left-handed turn off Claiborne took an hour.

At Garage 6 near the stadium, a police dog walked around an entering vehicle, while a police officer asked the driver to pop the hatch for a quick search. Outside the gate for the Crown Royal Signature Club, the entry line was lengthy and slow-moving, but fans showed good spirits as they waited to walk through metal detectors.

As kickoff approached, plenty of empty seats remained, but those in attendance perked up for the national anthem, with some chanting, “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”

— Blake Toppmeyer

Halftime: Notre Dame 13, Georgia 3

Notre Dame takes the momentum into the locker room after following up Mitch Jeter’s 48-yard field goal with a quick turnover and touchdown. Defensive lineman RJ Oben forced Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton to fumble the ball on a sack before it was recovered by defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka.

On the next play, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard completed a pass up the middle to receiver Beaux Collins for a 13-yard touchdown with 27 seconds left in the second quarter.

Mitch Jeter plays key role for Notre Dame in first half

Jeter has managed to make an impact in the second quarter with a pair of field goals to build a 6-3 lead over Georgia. The South Carolina transfer made a 44-yard and 48-yard field goal this evening.

Score update: Notre Dame 6, Georgia 3

Notre Dame worked its way back into field goal range after Riley Leonard rushed for 10 yards on another quarterback keeper. Mitch Jeter was able to make the 48-yard field goal attempt with 39 seconds remaining in the first half.

Notre Dame sacked out of field goal range

Riley Leonard completed a pass to Mitchell Evans for a 10-yard gain that helped get Notre Dame in field goal range. The Fighting Irish were briefly brought back out of field goal range when Leonard was sacked by Smael Mondon Jr. for an 11-yard loss.

Score update: Notre Dame 3, Georgia 3

Notre Dame evens the score with Georgia after Mitch Jeter made a 44-yard field goal attempt with 8:20 left in the second quarter on fourth-and-7.

The scoring drive featured a run from Riley Leonard on a quarterback keeper for 32 yards to pick up a first down. Leonard has been the second-leading rusher for Notre Dame this season.

Score update: Georgia 3, Notre Dame 0

Peyton Woodring, a Louisiana native, produced a successful 41-yard field goal attempt to give the Bulldogs the first lead of the game with 12:14 left in the second quarter.

Georgia player called for rare interference penalty

‘Bulldogs redshirt sophomore defensive back Parker Jones was called for a sideline interference call following a 66-yard pass-and-catch between quarterback Gunner Stockton and wide receiver Arian Smith, who advanced the ball to the Notre Dame 11-yard line. However, the penalty moved the ball back to the 26-yard line.’ – Ehsan Kassim

Georgia’s explosive play put the Bulldogs in scoring position

Quarterback Gunner Stockton completed a 66-yard pass to receiver Arian Smith on the first play of a drive. The Bulldogs did lose some of that progress after a sideline interference penalty was enforced. The ball was moved back five yards from the Notre Dame 16 to the Notre Dame 21-yard line.

End of 1: Georiga 0, Notre Dame 0

The Sugar Bowl remains scoreless after one-quarter of play. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton completed all six of his passes with 42 passing yards. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard completed three of his four attempts for six yards.

Trevor Etienne fumbles ball, Notre Dame recovers

Georgia had a 14-play drive end with running back Trevor Etienne fumbling the football after a gain of six yards. Safety Adon Shuler forced the fumble before it was recovered by linebacker Jaiden Ausberry at the Notre Dame 10-yard line with 2:37 left in the first quarter. The game remains scoreless.

Notre Dame runs into Georgia punter twice

The Fighting Irish might be playing nervous or overly aggressive having run into the punter Drew Miller early in the first quarter.

Miller’s first college career punt attempt resulted in a penalty after Notre Dame was called for a five-yard penalty for running into the kicker. Miller was brought back out for another attempt.

Bryce Young was called for the penalty. Young has been successful on special teams this season, having three blocks this season, which ranks second in FBS.

Miller’s second attempted resulted in a 36-yard punt to the Notre Dame 32-yard line. Georgia kick returner Max Hurleman managed to return it just four yards.

U.S. President Joe Biden provides message before kickoff

Biden provided a video message before the start of the ESPN broadcast in response to the New Orleans terror attack.

Notre Dame wins the coin toss

Notre Dame called the toss. The Fighting Irish have decided to defer their choice for the second half of the game. Georgia will receive the ball.

When is Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia? 

The Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Georgia Bulldogs was rescheduled for Thursday and kicks off at 4 p.m. ET at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

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How to watch Notre Dame and Georgia in Sugar Bowl 

The Sugar Bowl game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Georgia Bulldogs will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch Notre Dame take on Georgia with a Fubo subscription

Notre Dame fans attend Mass in New Orleans before Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS — An estimated 500 Notre Dame football supporters gathered at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside late Wednesday morning for the Catholic Mass that is traditionally held on game days.

This experience, however, was sadly different after Wednesday morning’s attack on Bourbon Street.

“This is what we do, right?” Rev. Nate Wills said in an interview after presiding over the service.

– Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune

Georgia coach Kirby Smart speaks ahead of Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS — The Georgia football team arrived Thursday afternoon to the Superdome about two hours prior to kickoff.

It came a day after the Sugar Bowl was postponed after a terror attack on Bourbon Street killed 14 and injured dozens of others hours after the new year. Coach Kirby Smart was asked on ESPN by Marty Smith on the field as players headed to the locker room what the last couple of days have been like in New Orleans.

“Tragic,” Smart said in his first public comments since the attack. “A lot of people lost their lives. It’s saddening and scary. … These kids want to come play a football game and do what they love to do and they’ve got an opportunity to do that today.”

– Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald

Bourbon Street reopens ahead of Sugar Bowl

– Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

Superdome security heightened before Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS – Seven minutes.

That’s how long the GPS says it should take the charter bus from the Sheraton Canal Street to the Caesars Superdome in advance of Thursday’s Sugar Bowl quarterfinal game between Notre Dame and Georgia.

Traffic, both on foot and in the street, was heavier late Thursday morning than Wednesday afternoon, when seemingly no one was around for blocks. Poydras Street is a collection of green street lights and red brake lights. And flashing lights. There remains a heavy police presence around the Superdome following Wednesday’s morning’s attack on Bourbon Street. When the media shuttle pulls into the parking garage – nine minutes after departing – officials conduct a thorough search of the luggage bays.

Media are escorted from the bus into the Dome garage, which leads to media check in. It resembled a TSA airport security line, with no pre-check option. Even at half past 10, the line stretches through the underground garage and is 25-30 deep. It takes 20 minutes to clear security – laptop in a bin, everything out of your pockets, but please, keep your shoes on.

Once inside the Dome, it looks and feels like business as usual. Doors don’t open to fans until 1 p.m. local ahead of kickoff at 3. On the field, the Georgia marching band works through its program. Officials are there to point the way to the field, to the work room and to the press box way up high.

It starts to feel again like football. Finally. – Tom Noie, South Bend (Ind.) Tribune 

Increased police presence in New Orleans around Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS — Outside the Superdome late Thursday morning was a Jefferson Parrish Sheriff’s Office mobile command center and about a half dozen trucks lining a street.

New Orleans police also were spotted and a dog from a K-9 unit was brought up to help make sure a media bus approaching a gate had no suspicious cargo. New Orleans police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said hundreds of local, federal and military police will enhance the Sugar Bowl security lining the streets.

“We are staffing up at the same level, if not, what we were preparing for the Super Bowl,” Kirkpatrick told NBC’s Today Show. The Super Bowl will be held in the Superdome on Feb. 9. Capacity is around 68,000.

The ATF was called in bringing explosive detection canines to use at the Superdome and other areas, ATF special agent Joshua Jackson said at a Thursday morning press briefing. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landy told Fox News that expanded road closures was part of the plan.

There were long lines outside some restaurants less than a mile from the stadium with fans trying to get a table for a pregame meal.

Gates open at 1 p.m. CT, two hours before kickoff. – Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald

Georgia fans cheer on team at hotel

Both Georgia and Notre Dame were on lockdown at the hotel on Wednesday while police investigated the deadly attack. But, the Bulldogs were seen leaving the hotel for a walkthrough last night as fans looked on.

Sugar Bowl predictions: Norte Dame vs. Georgia

USA TODAY: No. 3 Notre Dame over No. 2 Georgia

Paul Myerberg writes: ‘Here’s the first major upset of the playoff. One thing to keep in mind is the potential availability of quarterback Carson Beck, who was injured just before halftime of the SEC championship game and underwent an MRI on Sunday. Even if he’s back in the lineup, will Beck be healthy enough to deliver against the nation’s best pass defense? Notre Dame has allowed opponents to complete just 48.7% of attempts with 17 interceptions against just nine touchdowns.’

ESPN: Notre Dame 19, Georgia 17

Adam Rittenberg writes: ‘Expect the defenses to shine in this game, which likely will come down to turnovers, special teams and field position. But Georgia doesn’t defend the run as well as it normally does, and Notre Dame’s ability to move the ball with its trident of Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price and Riley Leonard will show up in the second half. Georgia makes a late charge before Xavier Watts seals the win with an interception.’

College Football News: Georgia 24, Notre Dame 20

Pete Fiutak writes: ‘Notre Dame has everything in place to win this, win again, and win again to become the national champion, but it’s playoff time. Until proven otherwise, assume we’re getting Playoff Georgia in a low scoring defensive fight. The D will come through against Leonard enough in the second half to grind this out.’

Notre Dame vs. Georgia: Sugar Bowl odds

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are favorites to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Wednesday, Jan. 1

Spread: Notre Dame (-1.0)
Moneyline: Georgia (-110); Notre Dame (-110)
Over/under: 45.5

When are the College Football Playoff semifinals?

The CFP semifinal games will be played on January 9 and 10.

Thursday, Jan. 9

Orange Bowl: No. 6 Penn State vs. Sugar Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL

Friday, Jan. 10

Cotton Bowl: No. 5 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX

College Football Playoff first-round results

Friday, Dec. 20

Game 1: No. 7 Notre Dame def. No. 10 Indiana, 27-17

Saturday, Dec. 21

Game 2: No. 6 Penn State def. No. 11 SMU, 38-10
Game 3: No. 5 Texas def. No. 12 Clemson, 38-24
Game 4: No. 8 Ohio State def. No. 9 Tennessee, 42-17

Notre Dame vs. Georgia all-time record 

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldogs have faced each other three times in their history. Georgia owns a 3-0 record in the series.

The Bulldogs beat the Fighting Irish in the most recent match-up, 23-17, on Sept. 21, 2019.

Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman’s high-stakes game

Marcus Freeman looks good on Notre Dame. Beating Georgia would make him look so much better.

The Fighting Irish’s first College Football Playoff victory in program history affirmed Notre Dame doesn’t miss Brian Kelly.

That’s a delicious comeuppance for Irish fans who for the past three years harbored two favorite teams: Notre Dame, and whichever team played Kelly’s LSU Tigers. Sometimes, it seemed as if the pecking order might be flipped.’ — Blake Toppmeyer

CFP national championship game schedule

Monday, Jan. 20

Game: Orange Bowl winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

Former Princeton WR Tiger Bech killed in New Orleans attack

Former Princeton football player Tiger Bech was killed in the New Orleans truck attack early Wednesday morning, his brother, TCU standout Jack Bech, confirmed on social media.

Jack Bech led the Horned Frogs with 1,039 receiving yards and nine touchdowns this season, emerging as one of the best receivers in the country in 2024. Tiger Bech, 28, was an All-Ivy League performer, spending three seasons at Princeton from 2016-18.

‘Love you always brother,’ Bech wrote on X. ‘You inspired me (every day) now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us.’ — Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Network

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Three months into his rookie season, Nashville Predators forward Zach L’Heureux has shown his potential as a feisty, puck-retrieving winger with a knack for bothering opponents.

But in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss at the Minnesota Wild, L’Heureux pushed the boundaries of the NHL rulebook too far and it led to a three-game suspension. He will forfeit $13,489.59 in pay.

At the 3:19 mark of the second period, L’Heureux was assessed a game misconduct for a slew-foot on Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon. As both players chased a loose puck in the corner, L’Heureux engaged with the back of Spurgeon’s legs using his left leg, then simultaneously pushed Spurgeon’s upper body backwards as he crashed into the wall − a textbook slew-foot move, as per NHL rule 52.1.

Spurgeon didn’t return to the game and didn’t practice on Thursday.

Slew-footing is an automatic match penalty, which removed L’Heureux from the game. It was L’Heureux’s first game misconduct in the NHL − but he is not unfamiliar with being removed from hockey games for dangerous play.

All things Predators: Latest Nashville Predators news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

L’Heureux was suspended on nine separate occasions while playing junior hockey in the QMJHL, the longest being a 10-game suspension for jabbing his stick in the direction of opposing fans as he was leaving the ice. In the American Hockey League, L’Heureux was suspended on two separate occasions, including a two-game suspension for sucker punching a player from behind.

Most of L’Heureux’s suspensions have been for high-sticking, fight instigation and unsportsmanlike conduct. His last suspension came in the AHL on March 7, a one-game suspension following a fight with multiple Manitoba Moose players.

While L’Heureux has tamed his erratic physical play since arriving in the NHL − he previously had only 12 penalty minutes in 32 games − his dangerous play on Tuesday earned him a call from the NHL.

In November 2021, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was suspended three games for a similar slew-foot on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey has suffered a broken fibula in his left leg, a source confirmed to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. It’s a significant injury blow for the 22-year-old, who was in the midst of a career-best season.

A Pistons spokesman told the Free Press that the team will provide an official injury update at a later time. The news initially was reported by ESPN.

‘It’s tough on the whole group,’ Pistons guard Cade Cunningham said postgame of Ivey’s injury. ‘To see him hurting like that is tough on us. He’s built for it, he’s going to shake back knowing him. He’s going to work his tail off and he’s going to be better than ever when he gets back. It’s hard to see that, for sure.’

Jaden Ivey’s leg injury leaves Pistons shaken

Ausar Thompson appeared to be teary-eyed on the bench and Magic guard Cole Anthony, who dove for a loose ball and collided with Ivey, was also in tears while standing next to Ivey as trainers examined his leg. 

All things Pistons: Latest Detroit Pistons news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

After Ivey exited the game, the Pistons circled for a quick prayer before returning to play. 

‘We said a prayer for him, and just wanted to collect ourselves and talk about it and make sure everybody was on the same page about what we had to do from that point on,’ Cunningham said. ‘We already had a lot of attention with this game. Jan. 1, we wanted to start the year off right. Seeing that happen, that was tough on us and we wanted to make sure everybody was on the same page about what the mission was.’

Without Ivey, the Pistons surpassed their 2023-24 season win total with Wednesday’s 105-96 home win.

‘They care about each other, and they care about JI and what this means to him and the sacrifices that he’s made within his game, within himself to help this team and each other’s individual growth,’ coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. ‘They banded together because they know that’s what he would’ve wanted him to do.’

Who replaces Jaden Ivey for Pistons?

Ivey injury will pose several challenges to the roster. Bickerstaff has staggered Cunningham and Ivey this season, leaving at least one on the floor at nearly all times. Ivey is the team’s secondary initiator on offense and point guard when Cunningham sits.

Ivey’s absence would leave second-year guard Marcus Sasser as the team’s lone backup to Cunningham. 

‘It’s tough on all of us,’ Bickerstaff said. ‘No better teammate, person than JI. No one who cares more about this thing than him. It’s tough to see.’

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The calendar has turned, it’s a new year, and NBA action is starting to heat up. The balance of power is starting to come into focus as the season hits its third month, though it’s clear that some teams are legitimate contenders: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.

That means that there’s a gem of a matchup Friday night, as the teams with the two longest winning streaks in the NBA, the Knicks (nine games) and Thunder (12 games) square off in what could potentially be a Finals preview. 

That’s not the only intriguing matchup of the weekend, as the Celtics face the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday in Minnesota, and the Cavs head to Dallas Friday to battle the Mavericks.

Here are some takeaways from the ninth week of the NBA regular season.

Warriors are in free fall. What has gone wrong?

For one, the team’s bench hasn’t been nearly as productive as it was during the start of the season. Through the first 14 games of the season – when the Warriors put up an 11-3 record – Golden State’s reserves were averaging 55 points per game. Now, 32 games into their campaign, the Dubs are getting 8.3 points per game fewer.

That’s not the only reason Golden State (16-16) has won only four of its last 17 games. Stephen Curry, who has struggled to finish at the rim, is averaging just 22 points per game, which would be his lowest mark in a full season since 2011-12, his third year in the league.

It’s no surprise, then, that Golden State’s production from 3 has fallen off. Last season, the Warriors ranked seventh in the NBA in 3-point percentage (38%). This year, they’re 17th (35.9%). Their 20th-ranked offensive rating (110.7) is the worst since they also ranked 20th in 2020-21, with a rating of 110.5.

The roster looks old and needs scoring help. The trading deadline becomes essential, or this season could slip away.

Knicks continue their surge, but is it a mirage?

New York (24-10) owns the longest winning streak in the Eastern Conference at nine games, but the quality of opponent over that stretch has been on the weaker side. The combined winning percentage of the teams the Knicks have faced over that span is .357. 

New York has seen the Washington Wizards (6-25) twice, the Utah Jazz (7-25), Toronto Raptors (8-26) and New Orleans Pelicans (5-29), and its best wins have been against the Orlando Magic (20-15), though Orlando is missing its two best players.

Nonetheless, the Knicks continue to be a force, and one that could potentially catch up to the Celtics (24-9) in the Eastern Conference, as Boston has hit something of a rough patch over the last two weeks.

The Knicks rank fourth in net rating (8.4) and have found exceptional chemistry in their starting five. They play complementary ball, and the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns has eased massive pressure off of Jalen Brunson to be the driving force on offense.

Don’t let the recent easy schedule fool you. The Knicks are efficient on offense, share and protect the ball, solid on defense and elite in rebounding – all things that help teams go on runs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes his case for MVP

The season is so long, and it’s still so early, but the work Thunder (27-5) guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has done over the past month has Oklahoma City looking like a potential championship contender.

SGA has been on fire, averaging 33.4 points per game over OKC’s last 12 games – all of them wins. In fact, he’s averaging 33.6 per game over the Thunder’s last 22 games – all of which have been without Chet Holmgren. This is precisely why Gilgeous-Alexander’s play has been so remarkable: he’s doing all this without a key weapon and with more defensive attention drawn his way.

Gilgeous-Alexander is smooth and gets to his spots almost effortlessly, appearing to glide down the court. He’s efficient and gets to the line, and he’s also a demon on defense, tied for third in the NBA in steals (two per game). He leads the NBA in plus-minus at 12.1.

Rockets’ lack of composure shows there’s room to grow

It wasn’t just Amen Thompson flinging Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro down to the court, inciting a small scuffle, it was also coach Ime Udoka getting tossed and not leaving the floor promptly. But, even before then, it was veteran guard Fred VanVleet getting ejected – in what was then a close game – after he argued a five-second violation and made contact with an official. 

The Houston Rockets (22-11) have all the talent and athleticism to emerge as a breakout team in the West, currently in third place. But they also have moments when they lose their focus, discipline and composure, which in turn affects their decision making and shot selection. 

Against the Heat, when VanVleet got ejected, it was a four-point game with 47.1 seconds left to play. After the Heat made three free throws from all the technical fouls, the lead ballooned to seven. The bench, meanwhile, celebrated the fight, rather than locking in for a tight finish.

The Rockets rank 29th in 3-point percentage (44.3%), but 19th in attempts (36.2 per game). Increased efficiency would help them take the next step. Composure would go a long way, too.

Frustrating Bulls lack identity

In the last two weeks, the Chicago Bulls (15-19) have defeated the defending champion Celtics and the NBA Cup champion Milwaukee Bucks. 

And then on Wednesday, they lost to the worst team in the Eastern Conference, a Wizards team that entered the night with five victories. The loss was emblematic of Chicago’s issues this season.

The Bulls lack presence in the paint, and when they shoot inefficiently – especially from 3 – they have almost no chance of winning. The Bulls rank 17th this season in points in the paint (47.6 per game). They’re tied for 21st in blocks per game (4.7), with the leader in the statistic, rookie Matas Buzelis, averaging just 13.1 minutes per game.

The Bulls are weirdly caught in that middle space between contending and a rebuild; they’re currently the 10th seed in the East, at the bottom of play-in contention, but they don’t have the consistency or scoring proficiency of a team that can make a run. 

Another oddity from this Bulls season: the team is just 5-11 at home this season, which has only heightened the angst fans feel toward this team. And, perhaps making matters worse, seven of the next eight are coming at the United Center.

During a news conference ahead of his team’s Week 18 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, Kingsbury was asked if he would like to be an NFL head coach again.

‘Yeah, I’m sure at some point,’ Kingsbury told reporters with a smile.

Kingsbury has improved his resume during his first season with the Commanders. The 45-year-old helped rookie Jayden Daniels seamlessly transition into the NFL – recording a 101.2 passer rating through Week 17 and earning a Pro Bowl nod. He also guided Washington to its first postseason appearance since 2020.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Kingsbury is expected to be one of the top coaching candidates during the 2025 NFL offseason. He has often been linked to the Chicago Bears because of his ties to quarterback Caleb Williams. Both were at USC during the 2023 season, with Kingsbury serving as a senior offensive analyst on Lincoln Riley’s staff and Williams as the team’s starting quarterback.

That said, Kingsbury wouldn’t guarantee he would leave Washington, even if he draws interest for a head coaching job.

‘I won’t comment on that,’ Kingsbury said when asked about being a head coach in 2025. ‘We’ll see how everything plays out.’

Why won’t Kingsbury necessarily bolt to take on another head coaching job? He made it clear that he is ‘very happy’ in his role with the Commanders.

‘This has been an awesome place and has really helped me kind of rekindle my love for the sport,’ Kingsbury said.

With that in mind, Kingsbury doesn’t seem to be in a rush to become an NFL head coach again despite his aspirations. He seems happy to be patient and find the right fit while learning whatever he can from Commanders head coach Dan Quinn.

That includes the most valuable lesson Kingsbury learned during his first coaching stint in Washington.

‘I don’t think I set a foundation the way I would do it after watching DQ and how he set the foundation from Day 1,’ Kingsbury said when asked what he would do differently in a second run as a head coach. ‘It was, ‘These are the standards. This is where we won’t compromise. This is what we’re gonna be.’ I definitely could have done a better job of that.

‘Once you don’t lay it out like that, it’s hard to put it back in,’ he added. ‘It’s hard to reset it, and I think that’s where he’s done a great job. It’s like, ‘This is what we’re gonna be from Day 1.’ There’s no ifs, ands or buts. The guys bought in, and he’s led in an incredible way by doing that.’