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After being declared out for just a few weeks to evaluate his status for the coming weeks, Dak Prescott is now slated to miss the remainder of the 2024 NFL season as he is now slated to go for a season-ending surgery on his injured hamstring, which he suffered in the last game he played. Earlier this week, Prescott was headed for the injured reserve after that 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The star QB exited the game in the fourth quarter right after Atlanta regained a two-point lead and had to be replaced by Cooper Rush for the remainder of the game, eventually leading to their fifth loss of the season. After that 34-6 demolition at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, it does seem that the fortunes for the Cowboys aren’t going to get any better with Prescott now expected to be out for the rest of the campaign. At this point, the odds aren’t really looking good for them and will likely be the big reason why they are going to be underdogs in almost every game moving forward. Campaign Over for Prescott According to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Prescott is now scheduled to undergo surgery within the week to address his injured hamstring, but it will cost him the remainder of the 2024 season. Prescott flew to New York earlier this week to visit a specialist and was given an option to either rest or rehab – taking him out for at least a month and a half but also guaranteeing a return for this season. However, the Cowboys would not like to risk it further considering how Prescott has been plagued with injuries for most of his career. A surgery option was chosen, which would take him on a three-month timeline for recovery. "He'll have it there in New York," Jones said. "He had a good visit last night and he wants to do that there, and he's got great medical doctors up there. His prognosis is wonderful, it just means we're not going to have him the rest of the year." Prescott’s injury was initially diagnosed as a partial tendon avulsion, which meant that the hamstring pulled partway from the bone. Considering that the Cowboys are now 3-6, it just seems that missing six or more weeks for Prescott couldn’t hurt their season any further than it is right now. An Injury Plague for the Cowboys Dallas has been hit with a flurry of injuries this season so far. Micah Parsons missed four games, Demarcus Lawrence is on injured reserve, as are Brandin Cooks, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, Amani Oruwariye, and others. This just says a lot about their season now being seen as a game over as of the time of writing, and one can say that it will be another tanking campaign. So far, Cooper Rush is taking over the minutes for Dak Prescott, and while he had a woeful start in Philadelphia, the team is still confident that they can rely on him to bring a spark and give a good showing in the coming games. "Cooper has shown that he has the capability to compete and win in games," Jones said. "He does give us our best chance. Frankly, that was really an out-of-character game for him based on what we've seen and we know about Cooper." At this point, everything is falling apart for the Cowboys, and fans could use some good news with the way their turbulent season is expected to unfold.

After Chet Holmgren went down with an injury in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s home loss to the Golden State Warriors, OKC is now out of options for the center position with all three big men out with injuries. Jalen Williams, however, has managed to step up well in their absence, providing OKC with a needed spark to stay on the winning track. OKC has been heavily criticized in the last two years for lacking size and strength in rebounding. In 2022-23, OKC relied on Jaylin Williams to be its main center for most of the season as Chet Holmgren was out with a Lisfranc injury, and the Thunder finished 40-42 after two seasons of missing out on the Play-In Tournament. The Thunder would go on to have Holmgren back in the previous season, where they improved to 57-25 but went down 4-2 in the West Semis. The team added Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason but was out with an injury of his own, as well as Williams. Now that Holmgren is expected to be out for two months, it seems that Jalen Williams will have to run the center show for now. Filling the Gap Jalen Williams was inserted to the center position in their home game against the Los Angeles Clippers. At first, the Thunder looked ridiculous for having a 6-foot-5 forward to fill in the position, but it turned out for the best for OKC as they went on to defeat the Clippers, 134-128. In the win, Williams scored 28 points, eight rebounds, and six assists – including the game-sealing dunk that iced the game with 1.4 seconds left to play. The next game? J-Dub would go on to post 31 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in a 106-88 win against the New Orleans Pelicans. He even had a promising sequence when he blocked two shots in the same possession and later had multiple highlight reels. As of the time of writing, OKC is now 2-0 when Williams starts as center. However, the next set of games for Oklahoma City will prove to be challenging with the coming teams having a lot of anchoring big men to enforce their way in the paint. Considering how OKC has practiced small ball for most of the early games, fans can expect the Thunder to have some good strides in their next set of games. Missing Centers All three of OKC’s centers are out with an injury. Hartenstein suffered a left-hand fracture in their preseason game against the Denver Nuggets, while Jaylin Williams took a hit in his hamstring way back in training camp. Holmgren recently was ruled out with a pelvic fracture and even had to be helped out off the court. Of all three centers, it is expected that Hartenstein may be the first to return as he is just slated to miss out on the first month of action. Williams, on the other hand, is still far from returning to action and has not seen on-court workouts compared to Hartenstein. Holmgren, however, is expected to miss at least two months and could be slated for a 2025 return to the lineup. He sustained a right iliac wing fracture and will be able to return this season. Missing him for the whole campaign could have been a disastrous look for OKC’s budding season with the team still sitting atop the Western Conference.

The famous lottery platform Jackpocket, which was bought last year by DraftKings, has just announced a strategic partnership with Barstool Sports. The alliance will allow Jackpocket to become the exclusive and official digital lottery partner of Barstool, which has a massive following in the US. Jackpocket, now a subsidiary of DraftKings Inc., has announced a new partnership with Barstool Sports, marking a key milestone in DraftKings' expanding presence in the US lottery and sports entertainment space. The announcement highlights the deepening connection between the sports betting industry and digital lotteries, leveraging the vast reach and cultural appeal of Barstool Sports. Building on DraftKings and Barstool's multi-year partnership The new partnership between Jackpocket and Barstool Sports is an extension of the multi-year agreement formed earlier this year between DraftKings and Barstool, which followed a business split between Barstool and Penn Entertainment. The initial DraftKings-Barstool partnership was announced last February after the Super Bowl and has quickly led to this new collaboration. Through this deal, Jackpocket now holds the title of 'Exclusive and Official Digital Lottery Partner of Barstool Sports,' creating an innovative bridge between lottery gaming and Barstool's massive fanbase. Barstool, well-known for its comedic, unfiltered sports content, reaches more than 265 million across platforms like social media, podcasts, live events, and video. The Barstool brand, powered by notable personalities like Dave Portnoy, its founder, brings a unique cultural flair to sports coverage that resonates with a young, highly engaged audience. Portnoy's excitement about the partnership reflects the potential for both brands to connect with fans through a shared love of sports and entertainment. "Everyone knows we're teamed up with DraftKings, and now we're excited to be bringing Jackpocket into the mix," said Portnoy in a statement about the deal. "Our relationship is all about making it super easy for our fans to get in on the action, no matter where they are. What's better than being able to play the lottery and potentially win the jackpot straight from your phone? Jackpocket makes it simple and fun." DraftKings' strategic move into digital lottery This collaboration with Barstool follows DraftKings' acquisition of Jackpocket earlier this year. In a $750 million transaction announced in February and completed in May, DraftKings expanded its portfolio by bringing Jackpocket into the fold. The acquisition marked DraftKings' entry into the US lottery market, aiming to complement its strong presence in sportsbook and iGaming through enhanced customer value and cross-selling opportunities. The acquisition gives DraftKings a foothold in the digital lottery market, providing the infrastructure to target new customers with a wider range of gaming options and foster stronger engagement with existing users. DraftKings' integration with Jackpocket will also benefit from Barstool's social media influence, adding to the exposure and reach of the brand among sports enthusiasts. Jackpocket is a beloved brand, and Barstool is an American entertainment powerhouse that Jackpocket fans know and love, stated Senior Vice President of Lottery at DraftKings, Peter Sullivan. "This collaboration allows us to reach our players directly and bring Jackpocket's easy, convenient lottery experience to more like-minded Americans. We're excited to bring fans opportunities to have fun and potentially win big with the best in the business." Kick-off event and new content with Barstool personalities In celebration of the new partnership, a live-streamed kickoff event featuring Barstool Sports' Jersey Jerry and the Jerry After Dark team will be held at 9pm EST tonight. During the event, the team will sift through thousands of tickets to find one lucky winner, adding an extra layer of excitement for Barstool's fanbase. In addition to the kickoff event, Jackpocket will be integrated into various Barstool content streams, including appearances with fan-favorite personalities like Big Cat and PFT from the popular 'Pardon My Take' podcast, and Wallo & Gillie from 'Million Dollaz Worth of Game.' This cross-platform integration will see Jackpocket become a prominent feature across Barstool's content, where fans will have chances to win cash and Jackpocket credits. The partnership also promises new digital activations, exclusive giveaways, and content curated specifically for Barstool's audience. With Jackpocket's lottery functionality accessible via mobile devices, Barstool followers will be able to participate in lottery gaming seamlessly, regardless of their location.

FanDuel gets the premier online sportsbook of the year award for the third consecutive time at the American Gambling Awards. FanDuel has been quite active this year, coming into different partnerships and launching a new feature named The Pulse, allowing members to wager using a cool narrative format. FanDuel has once again proven its dominance in the sports betting arena, earning the prestigious title of Online Sportsbook of the Year at the American Gambling Awards for the third consecutive year. This accolade reflects FanDuel's sustained leadership and innovation in the industry, standing out in a competitive field of sports betting giants. The New York-based company also celebrated another major win this year with CEO Amy Howe being recognized as the C-Suite Executive of the Year by the Gambling.com Group, which organizes the annual awards. To honor the 2024 winners, judges, and guests, Gambling.com Group will host an exclusive VIP dinner at Torrisi, a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York, on the 21st of November. The event celebrates the achievements of those pushing the US online gambling industry forward. FanDuel's strategic partnerships and innovations lead to further growth FanDuel's continued success can be attributed to its robust partnerships and customer-focused innovations. This year, the company introduced a new feature, The Pulse, designed to elevate the fan experience. The Pulse tracks pivotal sports storylines and offers bettors targeted betting opportunities in a narrative format. By integrating The Pulse with FanDuel's Same Game Parlay product, the company has boosted live same-game parlay usage by 15%, allowing fans to place bets on specific, real-time game developments. FanDuel's partnerships with major sports organizations have also driven considerable growth. Notably, a recent collaboration with the NFL along with YouTube TV led to a high-profile promotion that offered fans betting $5 a discount on NFL Sunday Ticket. This initiative helped FanDuel achieve its best start to an NFL season, marking a 37% increase in new customers compared to last year. The company also reported a remarkable year-over-year increase, with the total handle more than double the amount and the total bet count soaring by a whopping 163.4%. Furthermore, FanDuel's role as the official sportsbook partner of the WNBA showcases its commitment to enhancing the sports betting experience across leagues and demographics. By emphasizing user engagement and offering compelling betting experiences, FanDuel continues to “make every moment more” for its fans. A remarkable achievement for FanDuel FanDuel's third consecutive win as Online Sportsbook of the Year demonstrates its ability to innovate and enhance customer engagement in a highly competitive market. Karol Corcoran, FanDuel Sportsbook's general manager, expressed the company's pride in this recognition, stating, "We are honored to be named Online Sportsbook of the Year for the third straight year. Our focus remains on offering our customers the best sports betting experience and continuously enhancing how fans interact with their favorite teams and athletes." Charles Gillespie, co-founder and CEO of Gambling.com Group, congratulated Amy Howe and the FanDuel team on their remarkable achievements. FanDuel's ability to maintain its top position in such a competitive category speaks volumes about their consistency in execution, innovation, and customer experience, Gillespie stated. "Features like The Pulse have transformed how fans engage with sports betting, and their strategic partnerships with the NFL and NBA have driven impressive growth." He adds that FanDuel sets the standard in customer engagement and product development for the industry. Celebrating excellence in the US online gambling market The American Gambling Awards, launched by the Gambling.com Group in 2019, honors the standout companies, executives, and products shaping the regulated online gaming sector in the US. Winners in each category are awarded the Golden Eagle trophy as a symbol of their impact on the industry. This year's winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges, with categories reflecting excellence across a range of sectors within online gambling. The 12 award categories for 2024 included Online Casino of the Year, Gaming Product of the Year, Betting Product of the Year, Online Sportsbook of the Year, Platform Provider of the Year, Data Service Provider of the Year, Payment Service Provider of the Year, Responsible Gaming Award, Dealmaker of the Year, Policymaker of the Year, Regulator of the Year, and C-Suite Executive of the Year. FanDuel's impressive performance in 2024 strengthens its position as a market leader in the online sports betting industry. As the company continues to expand its offerings, it remains a powerful force shaping the future of sports betting experiences in the USA.

With all the smoke from the World Series finally gone, New York Yankees fans now have a reason to celebrate again with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto named MVP finalists for the season – alongside Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. At this point, it is expected that either of the two Yankees stars will take home the hardware. Sure, the Yankees dropped what could have been a massive campaign capped off by a World Series win for the first time in many years. Instead, Yankees fans are sulking with a tough loss to the Dodgers, and one can consider this a consolation prize with the way the timing proved to be for Soto and Judge’s inclusion for the AL MVP finalists. The Yankees have a lot to look forward to in the offseason, and it does seem that these two MVP finalists are also likely to be involved in the future of the team – whether it would influence their chances of winning in the long run or for them to be seen in different uniforms later on. Judge on the Run Aaron Judge has been hyped as the big elite performer in the American League for most of the season, and it cannot be denied that the Yankees star has been really making a lot of noise in his games over the season. Right now, he is eyeing his second career MVP award after clinching his first in 2022. At the age of 32, Judge managed to come up with slashes of .322/458/.701 (180-for-559) with 36 doubles, 58 homers, 144 RBIs, 133 walks and 122 runs scored in 158 games. That is a massive stat line that screams MVP at this point, and it cannot be denied that Judge’s case is solid as it can be, often being compared to Shohei Ohtani’s run in the NL side. By the end of the 2024 season, Judge was the league leader in homers, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (1.159), walks, times on base (322), game-winning RBIs (24), go-ahead RBIs (32) and position-player fWAR (11.2). At this point, it cannot be denied that Judge has a strong case for the MVP, and it does seem that he is expected to make his way for that award at this point in time. Soto Fit for MVP? Amidst all the rumors that Juan Soto may well be headed off to another club in the offseason, it is also worth noting that he has managed to come with an impressive climb in his games as well. At the age of 26, the star has managed to come up with impressive performances in the season while being able to work alongside Judge at an efficient level. Since being acquired from the Padres last season, Soto has made a massive impact for the Dodgers with his slashing line of .288/.419/.569 (166-for-576) with 128 runs scored, 31 doubles, four triples, 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in 157 games. At the age of 26, there’s definitely more to expect from Soto in his career. So far, the Yankees star has nailed career-highs in runs, hits, homers, hits, total bases (328) and extra-base hits during the regular season, boosting the Yankees’ massive games right from the start. Whoever wins the MVP – as long as it is between the two Yankees stars – fans at the Bronx are definitely going to have a piece of good news to look forward to before the offseason wildness rages on in the coming weeks.

There has never been a time when an Italian player went on to dominate almost the entire ATP Tour run and secure the Year-End no. 1 with a massive gap between other candidates. Now, Jannik Sinner now writes his name into the history books as he completes the feat of capping off his 2024 ATP Tour with a bang. Jannik Sinner was emotional in the celebration as he was presented with the ATP Year-End No. 1 trophy in front of the Inalpi Arena crowd. Sinner has been an impressive star for most of the season and has enjoyed a massive campaign with impressive victories against the top stars in the game, which says a lot about the steady rise to dominance imposed by the Italian star. So far, Sinner’s campaign has been one of the most historic climbs in the ATP Tour. He blew past the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev in the middle of the season and held on to the top spot all the way to the closing tournaments of the year, taking a win one competition at a time.  A Season to Remember At the age of 23, Sinner is now the 19th player to earn the year-end no. 1 honors and is the force active player to finish with the award, joining only Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Rafael Nadal on that list. He earned the world no. 1 spot back on June 10th and has not given up his spot ever since and has kept the likes of Alcaraz and Zverev at bay for the rest of the campaign after that. “It’s a nice feeling, it is special sharing these kinds of moments here in Italy with the crowd,” Sinner said after a memorable ceremony in which he was presented the award by ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, former World No. 1 Boris Becker and Head of Corporate Brand and Strategic Advisory at PIF Mohamed Alsayyad. “This would not be possible without all the people I have around and especially these kind of people I want to keep forever, because it has a journey from the beginning.” Sinner’s tennis team was joined by his family, friends, and parents. People in Turin were definitely hyped by their fellow Italian’s success. It is a special day, and Sinner is definitely pleased to see everyone rooting for his greatness in the game. “It’s a great competition between this and Grand Slams,” Sinner said. “This is a very consistent trophy. You have to play one year very consistent tennis, so this is for sure a very, very tough trophy to get.” Big Strides for the Italian Jannik Sinner finished with a 65-6 record (excluding the ATP Finals) and has managed to win a total of seven titles in that span, including the recent Rolex Paris Masters. He has snagged a total of $12,032,935 in prize money, which says a lot about the promising rise to dominance that he’s had this year. This year has been a massive ride for Sinner, and he is certainly slate to improve more in his game in the coming months with the way he has grown in this season alone. That being said, fans can hopefully expect to come up with more winning bets on the Italian star as he seeks to keep this consistent approach in the game now more than ever.

Alex Ovechkin has been eyeing that NHL all-time goals record for quite some time now. The Washington Capitals star seeks to continue putting up impressive games for the team this season, and he is now also moving closer to that career-defining record that would give him a better look by the end of his career. Ovechkin just dropped two more goals in their 8-1 win against the St. Louis Blues. Thast means he now adds to his total of 863 goals for his career. And wouldn’t you know it, the star is now just 31 goals away from tying NHL legend Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals. At this point, many are talking about how he can actually find a way to reach it faster, and also how more can he add to it all the way to season’s end. The debate over who is the greatest hockey player of all time often comes down to two names: Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin. Gretzky’s status as the "Great One" has remained virtually unquestioned for decades, largely thanks to his dominance on the ice and the seemingly unbreakable records he set. But as Ovechkin continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s all-time goals record, the question has become more pressing: Could Alex Ovechkin actually break Gretzky’s scoring record? The Record: Wayne Gretzky's 894 Goals Wayne Gretzky’s career is the stuff of legend. He retired in 1999 after 20 seasons in the NHL, with a staggering 894 career goals. To put that into perspective, his closest competitor, Jaromír Jágr, is still more than 200 goals behind. Gretzky's scoring record wasn’t just the result of being a great goal-scorer; it was about his ability to change the game’s dynamic and create opportunities from anywhere on the ice. He played with exceptional vision and an innate understanding of the game, which allowed him to rack up goals even into his late 30s. For years, this mark was thought to be untouchable. After all, breaking a record like that requires not only consistency and longevity but also the ability to defy the aging process in a sport that demands peak physical performance. Enter Alex Ovechkin, the next star in pursuit of setting his own foot in the history books. Ovechkin's Quest: 800 and Counting Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals’ captain, is arguably the most lethal goal-scorer of his generation. As of the 2023-24 season, Ovechkin has scored over 800 goals, putting him in rare company (only Gretzky and Gordie Howe have scored more). Ovechkin’s power, shooting accuracy, and relentless drive have made him a constant threat on the ice, year after year. But what really makes his pursuit of Gretzky’s record interesting is his longevity. At 39 years old, Ovechkin is still scoring goals at a high rate, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down. While many players start to see a decline in their 30s, Ovechkin’s scoring has remained remarkably steady. The Great One himself has said that Ovechkin could break his record if he stays healthy, and the numbers back that up. If Ovechkin stays healthy and continues to score at his current rate, it seems inevitable that he will surpass Gretzky’s 894 goals—perhaps in 2-3 seasons, depending on his performance and longevity. It’s an exciting time for hockey fans, as we witness one of the greatest players of all time chase down a seemingly untouchable record.

The Cherokee Nation has filed a lawsuit that challenges the results of the Issue 2 referendum in Pope County that grants it a casino license. In the recently-held elections, voters voted for Issue 2, which means that the casino license that was previously granted to the Cherokee Nation was revoked, prohibiting it from building a casino in Pope County. In a recent federal lawsuit, a subsidiary of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma claims that the constitutional rights of the Nation were disregarded by a statewide gaming referendum passed in Arkansas. The Cherokee Nation Entertainment, the tribe's commercial gaming and hospitality arm, is challenging the outcome of Issue 2, a ballot measure passed by Arkansas voters last week that repealed a previously awarded gaming license for a casino in Pope County's Russellville. The Issue 2 referendum, approved by 56% of Arkansas voters, effectively repeals the commercial casino license allocated to the Cherokees in June by the Arkansas Racing Commission. CNE had planned to invest approximately $300 million in constructing the Legends Resort & Casino in Russellville, envisioning a high-end casino and entertainment facility. However, Issue 2 amends the Arkansas Constitution to prevent the issuance of casino licenses in counties that do not support such developments through a local referendum, a requirement that Pope County did not fulfill when casinos were initially legalized in 2018. Ongoing legal disputes While the three other authorized casinos in Crittenden, Jefferson, and Garland counties have since opened, the Pope County project has remained mired in legal battles for years. In 2018, Arkansas voters approved Amendment 100, legalizing commercial casinos in those four counties, but the specific allocation of a license for Pope County has faced significant pushback. Local opposition and court disputes delayed the establishment of a casino there, even after the ARC awarded the license to the Cherokees in June, deeming their bid the only qualifying submission. Now, with Issue 2 repealing that license effective November 13, CNE has filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Arkansas, alleging that the referendum infringes on its constitutional rights. According to Bart Calhoun, an attorney for CNE, "Cherokee Nation Entertainment is firmly committed to protecting its constitutional rights, defending its lawfully issued casino license, and safeguarding the substantial investments it made in good faith based on the establishment of the Pope County casino license under Amendment 100 in 2018." The tribe has reportedly incurred significant costs in its effort to open a commercial casino in Arkansas, including an estimated $12.5 million spent to contest Issue 2 in the lead-up to the vote. Additional legal expenses over the years have added millions more to the tab. Seeking declaratory relief and injunction In its legal filing, the Cherokee Nation is seeking declaratory relief from the court, aiming to have the amendment declared unconstitutional. It has also requested a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to prevent the amendment from going into effect this Wednesday, arguing that Issue 2 effectively nullifies the tribe's established rights under the state's original casino authorization. The Cherokees maintain that the state's retroactive application of the referendum disregards both the tribe's legal status and the investments made toward developing the casino in Pope County, which they argue were undertaken with due diligence and in compliance with existing laws. Response from state officials and opposition Tim Griffin, the Arkansas Attorney General, responded to the Cherokee filing, labeling the allegations as 'baseless.' Griffin asserted that his office is prepared to defend the state's position, stating that the referendum reflected the will of Arkansas voters. Similarly, Hans Stiritz, a representative for Local Voters in Charge - a campaign funded by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma to support Issue 2 - echoed Griffin's remarks. "This legal action to attempt to bypass the voice of Arkansas voters is not unexpected," Stiritz said. "But we are fully confident in the process that brought Issue 2 to the ballot. Arkansas voters have spoken clearly on Issue 2, and we expect it to stand." Interestingly, while Pope County voters originally opposed casino development in 2018, the county recently voted against Issue 2, indicating a shift in local opinion in favor of the casino project. However, because the new amendment now mandates local approval prior to state licensing, the Cherokees' license remains in jeopardy despite this recent shift.

The hot start for the Phoenix Suns this season has really been largely credited to Kevin Durant’s impressive game so far. In their first nine games, most of those have been in the clutch, and it cannot be denied that having Durant out for a few weeks may even be more tough than one can imagine. According to the Suns management, Durant is slated to sit out the next two weeks of action as he recovers from a left calf strain. The star forward was hurt in that 114-113 clutch win against the Dallas Mavericks and will be re-evaluated after that rest period provided for him. Fans hope that Durant will come back to action right away and deliver the best of his games again. The 14-time All-Star was already bothered by the same injury during the Paris Olympics, but he did manage to come up with extensive and elite performances during that time, helping Team USA secure the gold medal finish. However, it seems that the Suns are keen to have him healed up so he can be available in the long run. A Hot Start Troubled Phoenix, who are up 8-1 in the Western Conference standings, will now have to rely on star guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to take over the scoring load until Durant returns. It is also expected that the likes of Royce O’Neal and Ryan Dunn will get more playing minutes in the coming games, which says a lot about how the Suns will navigate their next games without Durant. Durant averaged 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 42.9% from 3-point range. These are the best numbers he’s enjoyed since the 2020-21 season, and the Suns are clearly enjoying the best of their run this season after a dismal campaign in the last two years. At the age of 36, Durant’s performances helped Phoenix go 8-1 in their first nine games. Despite surviving heated and closely contested games, Durant’s killer instinct clicked well to help the Suns set a new franchise-best record of 8-1 to start the season. That says a lot about the way they have improved in his lead, and what should fans expect with him out as well. A Flurry of Injuries in the Season Among many other injured stars and key players aside from Durant, this season has indeed seen a flurry of injuries in the first months of the season. Zion Williamson was already declared out indefinitely with a hamstring injury, while Ja Morant is now set for a week-to-week status to manage his right hip injury. On the latest, Chet Holmgren just suffered a right iliac hip fracture, marking him out for at least eight to 10 weeks, leaving Oklahoma City without a center as Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams are still recovering from their respective injuries as well. Oklahoma City would go on to lose its game against the Golden State Warriors yesterday after Holmgren had to be helped out of the court. For the Suns, Durant’s injury has already been felt. They just lost to the Sacramento Kings in a 127-118 overtime thriller, yet another clutch game for the team, but this time without Durant’s help. That just shows how KD’s presence in the squad has been missed hard and will likely dampen the odds of winning for Phoenix in their games moving forward.

Tennessee is one state in the growing list of states that has restricted Bovada from operating. Tennessee has issued a $50K fine against Bovada as of last October, but now, it has made good on its promise to ban Bovada outright. The list of US states barring access to Bovada, the popular offshore sportsbook, continues to grow, with Tennessee becoming the latest jurisdiction to sever ties with the operator. The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (TSWC) announced on Thursday that the sportsbook has officially ceased its operations in the state's sports betting market. As proof of the change, the sportsbook's website now lists Tennessee among the 16 state markets where its services are restricted. In a statement, Chairman Billy Orgel of the TSWC emphasized the significance of Bovada's departure: "Our licensed sportsbook operators provide important consumer protections not found in the illegal market, and the closure of Bovada's virtual doors in Tennessee is an important step toward the eradication of unlicensed, illegal sportsbooks in Tennessee. One of the Council's primary roles is the protection of the public interest through a safe, regulated environment, and our staff will continue to work closely with our network of law enforcement at the state and federal level to eliminate illegal sports betting." Tennessee's sports betting action with Bovada takes a nosedive Earlier this year, Tennessee regulators took action against Bovada by sending a cease-and-desist letter, which serves to demonstrate the state's zero-tolerance approach toward illegal sports betting operations. The TSWC additionally imposed a $50,000 fine on Bovada as a punitive measure. In response to these regulatory pressures, Bovada notified its Tennessee users on Tuesday that all sports betting accounts in the state would be closed. The TSWC pointed out that offshore sportsbooks like Bovada lack fundamental consumer protections. The Council warned that unlicensed platforms are unable to safeguard users' financial and personal information, posing considerable risks to bettors. According to the TSWC, this shutdown is part of a larger effort to educate the public about the importance of licensed, regulated sportsbooks that ensure greater security and transparency. An increasing list of restricted states Tennessee's action comes as part of a broader wave of states targeting Bovada and similar illegal operators. Earlier in the year, Michigan initiated a significant movement to curb the influence of offshore sportsbooks by enforcing regulatory measures against Bovada. In turn, Massachusetts followed suit when its attorney general issued a cease-and-desist order, resulting in Bovada's exit from the state. As a result, Bovada has now restricted access in a total of 16 states, including: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia (DC), Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia. These states collectively contribute to a growing coalition committed to curbing illegal sports betting and prioritizing regulated sports wagering options. Sports betting fight against offshore platforms gains momentum The ongoing crackdown on Bovada highlights the larger issue of offshore sports betting within the United States. The American Gaming Association, for example, estimates that Americans wager nearly $64 million per year with illegal sportsbooks, revealing the scale of this unregulated sector. Moreover, just before the NFL season kicked off, the IRS estimated that the value of the illegal sports betting market hovers around $700 million. Efforts to address this issue have extended beyond individual states. The AGA, alongside multiple state regulators, has called for federal intervention to help restrict illegal sportsbooks. These appeals reflect a widespread concern over the risks posed by unregulated betting platforms, not only in terms of lost tax revenue but also for consumer protection. Consumer safety takes center stage The closure of Bovada's Tennessee operations shows a fundamental issue at the heart of the offshore sports betting debate: consumer safety. Regulated sportsbooks are held to the most stringent security standards to protect users' financial and personal information, providing assurances that illegal operators cannot offer. The TSWC and similar regulatory bodies are determined to continue their efforts to combat illegal sportsbooks and maintain the integrity of legal sports betting markets.

Not all teams at the top of the standings and at the odds list get to win it all. Favorites are just an educated guess. This has been the story as Inter Miami bowed out of the MLS Playoffs after losing to Atlanta United in the deciding clash, 3-2. No one expected this to be the outcome, nor for Atlanta to come up with a promising run to beat the heavy favorites to win the MLS Cup. This just says a lot about how Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have been sent home in the most humiliating and disappointing fashion. At this point, it cannot be denied that Inter Miami’s story has been hyped ever since Messi came to the club. The expectations were sky-high, and this season has been looked to be quite the year where they are going to triumph and even punctuate a historic feat for the former Barca star to be able to win in three different leagues. Instead, Atlanta United moves on to the semis of the Eastern Conference, and now the odds have been shaken up to another level with yet another upset win after the New York Red Bulls also knocked out defending champions Columbus Crew. At this point, the race to the MLS Cup is wide open. Major Upset on the Horizon Miami was the hot pick to win this clash, and they certainly looked like it right from the start of the game. Matias Rojas drilled the goal to open up the lead for Inter Miami in the 17th minute as they went up 1-0. However, Atlanta would go on to ramp up the pace as Jamal Thiare scored at a hot run with two goals in two minutes, helping Atlanta United take the 2-1 lead by halftime. Panic was not settling in for Miami, and the Lionel Messi show came into life when he drained a goal in the 65th minute to level the game at 2-2, which also marked the first goal for the Argentine in the playoffs. At that point, it was expected that a tight ending was coming – or it would go on to end in a shootout. However, it was a play from Bartosz Slisz who scored a header in the 76th minute that shocked the fans at home. Atlanta took a 3-2 lead with just minutes away from crunch time, and they certainly held on well to keep Miami from tying up the game again. It was an ending that shocked Inter Miami, its fans at home, and even the entire MLS world. With Inter Miami out, the Eastern Conference has been blown wide open – and so is the entire MLS Cup. Shake Up in the Odds At this point, the two LA teams now dominate the show in the MLS with the way things are set up for them. Both LAFC and LA Galaxy won’t meet potentially until the West Finals, which says a lot about the possible winner of the MLS Cup being unpredictable with Inter Miami out. So far, the New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United are the only two teams who are expected to make a splash in the East, and this just seems that there are a lot of talks as to how these two teams will find a way to meet each other and call it a massive series to remember. But at this point, it is everyone’s game.