NBA
The NBA is continuing its Christmas Day marathon this year with five games on the slate. Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Miami Heat in the opener. The Golden State Warriors will battle the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn is at Boston, the Dallas Mavericks face the Lakers in Los Angeles, and the LA Clippers clash with the Nuggets in Denver.
NFL
The Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints are set to meet today in New Orleans. The Vikings are clinging to slim playoff hopes at 6-and-8. A loss or an Arizona Cardinals’ win on Saturday would eliminate them from playoff contention. The Saints currently hold the second-seed in the NFC at 10-and-4.
Detroit Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell and four assistant coaches are going to miss tomorrow’s game against the Buccaneers due to COVID-19. Bevell has been ruled a high-risk close contact to someone who tested positive for the virus. Defensive coordinator Cory Undlin, defensive line coach Bo Davis, defensive backs coach Steven Gregory and linebackers coach Ty McKenzie will also miss the game. Wide receivers coach Robert Prince will serve as interim head coach, while quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan will call offensive plays.
MLB
The Washington Nationals are adding some more pop to their lineup. The Nats acquired first baseman Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitching prospects Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean. Bell hit .226 with eight home runs and 22 RBI during the shortened 2020 season. In 2019, he hit .277 with 37 homers and 116 RBI.
College Football
The finalists for college football’s most prestigious award have been announced. Alabama’s Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith along with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask are finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Jones and Smith helped guide Alabama to the top seed in the College Football Playoff, while Lawrence has Clemson back in as the second seed. Trask finished with 43 touchdowns to just five interceptions for the Gators. The winner will be announced in a virtual ceremony on January 5th.
Chevan Cordeiro threw for three touchdowns as Hawaii topped Houston 28-14 in the New Mexico Bowl in Frisco, Texas. Calvin Turner finished with 88 receiving yards for the Rainbow Warriors. Clayton Tune threw two touchdowns and three picks in the loss for Houston. The game was moved to Frisco amid the ongoing coronavirus.