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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Another Indy 500 race not likely until Kyle Larson's NASCAR career ends
Kyle Larson waves as he's introduced before the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Kyle Larson, second from left, is checked after he hit the wall in the second turn during Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jamie Gallagher) Kyle Larson is introduced to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) Kyle Larson is introduced to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) Kyle Larson waves as he's introduced before the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Kyle Larson, second from left, is checked after he hit the wall in the second turn during Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jamie Gallagher) Kyle Larson is introduced to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) — Kyle Larson hasn't spent much time thinking about his latest failed attempt at becoming only the second driver to run all 1,100 miles of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway again may just have to wait until Larson's NASCAR career ends. Advertisement 'That's not me shutting down the 500 again,' Larson said. "Someday, maybe when I'm done with Cup racing, I would definitely love to do the 500 again, and devote all of my time to it. It's such an awesome event, like it is the greatest event in the world. So I don't want to miss out on that too much.' Larson said Saturday the attempt just doesn't make sense logistically with any small delay, weather or crash throwing off the entire schedule. He's been dealing with a bit of a 'Double' hangover since last weekend's attempt. He also made a quick trip to Mexico to check out the altitude and area for NASCAR's race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15. He slept much of Friday after getting sick. Larson made his first try at one of the toughest challenges in motorsports in 2024 when four hours of rain delays at the Indianapolis 500 wrecked his plans at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then made him late to Charlotte with the NASCAR race called before he ever took a lap. Advertisement Last week, Larson crashed on Lap 91 of the Indianapolis 500, flew to Charlotte and then had his NASCAR race end on Lap 246 when caught up in a wreck ending his bid to join Tony Stewart who finished sixth in the 2001 Indy 500 before flying to Charlotte where he finished third in the Cup Series race. John Andretti was the first driver to try the double in 1994, and Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch also have given it a shot. Asked what changes could help make competing in both races and finishing the Double possible, Larson said moving the start time up for the Indy 500 wouldn't work. That race already starts at 9:45 a.m. on the West Coast with people there unlikely to wake up earlier. Larson said the Coca-Cola 600 can't start much later. Even with not many cautions, that race still ends after 11 p.m. Eastern. 'I don't know how those guys did in the past, like that must have been perfect, weather and cautions and all that,' Larson said. ___ AP auto racing:
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pacers top defender Aaron Nesmith will play in Game 4 of Eastern Conference finals against Knicks
Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) celebrates after scoring against the New York Knicks during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith, left, is defended by New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) is assisted off the court during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) is assisted off the court during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) celebrates after scoring against the New York Knicks during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith, left, is defended by New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) is assisted off the court during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers will have Aaron Nesmith, their top defender, available Tuesday night for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks. Coach Rick Carlisle had said Monday that Nesmith's sprained right ankle was 'sore' and that he would likely be a game-time decision. But during his pregame news conference, Carlisle confirmed Nesmith would play. Advertisement He's been Indiana's primary defender against All-Star guard Jalen Brunson and after Nesmith left Game 3 in the third quarter, the Pacers blew a big lead in a 106-100 loss. Nesmith did return late in the game but did not look the same. Indiana leads the series 2-1. 'He's doing better than expected,' Carlisle said, before addressing whether Nesmith's minutes would be limited. 'It's to be determined. Not as of now, but I always watch everybody's minutes so, it'll be something that in real time, we'll have to gauge.' Nesmith was injured when he landed awkwardly after making a pass into the corner that sailed into the seats. Nesmith scored a playoff career-high 30 points in Game 1, setting the Pacers' postseason record with eight 3-pointers. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Knicks vs. Pacers: Aaron Nesmith reportedly available for Game 4 after ankle sprain
Aaron Nesmith sprained his right ankle in Game 3 of the series on Sunday. (AP/AJ Mast) Aaron Nesmith is apparently good to go after all. The Indiana Pacers forward is available to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Nesmith had been considered a game-time decision after he rolled his right ankle in Sunday's Game 3 loss to the New York Knicks. The Pacers hold a 2-1 series lead over the Knicks headed into Tuesday night's contest in Indianapolis. This post will be updated with more information shortly.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man charged with stabbing Knicks fans at Indiana brewery during playoff series
The Knicks and Pacers are playing each other in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks and Pacers are playing each other in the Eastern Conference finals. Photograph: AJ Mast/AP An Indiana Pacers fan has been charged with stabbing two supporters of the New York Knicks on the night of their teams' playoff series. According to court documents, 24-year-old Jarrett Funke of Hamilton county in Indiana, was charged with battery by means of a deadly weapon, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, and criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon. Advertisement Officers were called to a brewery in Carmel, Indiana, on the evening of 23 May, when the local NBA team, the Pacers, were playing the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals at New York's Madison Square Garden. The Pacers beat the Knicks to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Funke is said to have knocked the Knicks cap off one of the alleged victims. After Funke was removed from the premises, he is said to have returned and confronted the two alleged victims. One of the men who was stabbed said he showed a knife to Funke but did not intend to use it and put it back in his pocket. An altercation ensued during which Funke allegedly stabbed the two Knicks fans. Court documents said one of the fans had a wound to his back, and the other a laceration on one of his legs. Funke claims the Knicks fans were 'talking shit' and punched and shoved him, before he swung his knife in self-defence. According to court documents, several witnesses say Funke was the aggressor in the situation. Funke was scheduled to appear at a hearing in Hamilton county on Tuesday afternoon. The incident is not the first involving friction between Pacers and Knicks fans during the playoffs. A Pacers fan was pelted with garbage near Madison Square Garden after the Knicks' victory over the Boston Celtics in the previous round.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Haliburton, Pacers look to make corrections after 2nd half collapse allows Knicks to get within 2-1
Fans watch during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, middle, tries to pass the ball between New York Knicks guard Miles McBride, left, and forward OG Anunoby during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, middle, reaches for the ball in front of Indiana Pacers center Tony Bradley (13) during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after scoring against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after scoring against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Fans watch during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, middle, tries to pass the ball between New York Knicks guard Miles McBride, left, and forward OG Anunoby during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, middle, reaches for the ball in front of Indiana Pacers center Tony Bradley (13) during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after scoring against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton blamed himself for the Indiana Pacers' second-half collapse in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Coach Rick Carlisle figured Haliburton's teammates played their part, too. Advertisement Less than 24 hours after blowing a 16-point lead in the final 20 minutes Sunday night and allowing the New York Knicks to cut their series deficit to 2-1, the Pacers went back to work Monday in search of solutions. Game 4 will be Tuesday night in Indianapolis. 'I felt like we got kind of stagnant on that end,' Haliburton said minutes after the 106-100 loss. 'I thought we just didn't do a good job of continuing to play fast. I felt like I did a poor job of keeping pace in the game, especially in the fourth quarter. I feel like I was walking the ball up every play, so I know it's got to be a big area of improvement for me.' Clearly, it wasn't just Haliburton — or his teammates — struggling to seal a victory that would have put the Pacers within one win of reaching the franchise's second NBA Finals. An increasingly aggressive Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 of his team's 36 points in the fourth quarter and an increasingly shifty defense slowed down Indiana just enough to hold them to a playoff-low 42 points in the second half. Carlisle credited the Knicks' defense for making the right adjustments. Advertisement And just like that, New York managed to avoid the dreaded 3-0 hole that no team has recovered from and climb back into the series, giving themselves a chance at evening the series Tuesday. Strangely, the road team has won each of the first games and the Knicks have won six of seven on the road this postseason, their only loss coming at Boston as last year's champions briefly delayed a second-round exit by winning Game 5. 'I think we have to continue to fly around (defensively),' Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson said Monday. 'Obviously, we don't want to have breakdowns and when we do, we've got to continue to slide and help each other out, giving my team more opportunities to shoot the ball and score the ball instead of turning the ball over I think will be a big key for us.' Coach Tom Thibodeau's chess moves could be crucial, too. After benching Josh Hart in favor of starting Mitchell Robinson in Game 3, Hart and Towns played key roles in the fourth-quarter rally as Brunson was stuck in foul trouble. Advertisement But Towns and Hart appeared to suffer knee injuries Sunday. Thibodeau remains hopeful both will be available — and play well — Tuesday night. 'I don't know if you're aware but our medical team has been voted the best in the league," Thibodeau said, drawing laughter. 'They are tough-minded and I think at this time of year, the mental toughness is probably more important than the physical toughness and both of those guys are mentally tough.' But the Pacers have been here before. Just two weeks ago after winning the first two conference semifinal games at Cleveland, they lost to the desperate Cavaliers at home before Haliburton and the Pacers rebounded with a shooting clinic and beat Cleveland in Game 4 before closing out the series on the road. Advertisement Could it happen again? The Knicks prevented Indiana from implementing its usually track-like tempo, outscoring the Pacers 22-8 in transition while limiting them to 5-for-25 shooting from 3-point range. The Pacers have their own injury concern with Aaron Nesmith, their top defender who has primarily been paired against Brunson, who sprained his right ankle Sunday. 'Aaron is sore as is to be expected,' Carlisle said Monday. 'He will be likely a game-time decision, probably listed as questionable and we've got to play better." Nobody understands it better than Haliburton, who will have plenty of motivation Tuesday. Advertisement His father, John, will be watching from a Gainbridge Fieldhouse suite — the first game he has attended in person since being banned following his run onto the court after Indiana closed out the first-round series against Milwaukee. And, of course, he has something to prove again as the Pacers try to position themselves for a second straight series-clinching victory at Madison Square Garden. 'I didn't do a good job getting downhill and making plays,' Haliburton said. 'I've got to do a better job there. I think I've relied a lot down the stretch of games getting guys in the right positions and I feel like I didn't do, personally, a great job with that. Execution down the stretch, we definitely can be better and that starts with me.' ___ AP NBA:
