NBA teams that break league rules designed to minimize the spread of coronavirus this season could face major penalties such as loss of games or draft picks, the league told its franchises on Saturday . The league also said it and the Players’ Association will discuss players, coaches and other staff ‘due for coronavirus vaccine’ when available, urging teams to encourage flu shot, and said it goes into effect immediately Staff 2 – which basically means players, coaches and some essential staff – should avoid bars, lounges, clubs, even if food is served, most entertainment or gaming venues, public gymnasiums, spas and swimming pools. Also prohibited: gatherings inside of 15 or more people. These rules apply both when teams are at home and when they are on the road, the NBA said. Pre-season games begin Friday and the regular season begins December 22. The protocols document, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, contains much more detail than the draft that was distributed to teams last weekend. The rules and protocols in the updated document – which even includes examples of how seating plans on planes and buses might be put together – have been approved by the NBA and NBPA. A key addition: when teams go on the road, they will have certain freedoms and will not be required to stay in their hotels when not training or playing.
COLLEGES
UMass No.8 men’s hockey overtakes Merrimack
Josh lapina scored a goal and an assist to help the eighth-ranked UMass men’s hockey team skate with a 3-0 victory over Merrimack at the Mullins Center. Lapina opened the scoring with a power play goal at 14:08 of the second period for the Minutemen (2-2-1). Eric Faith and Bobby Trivigno added goals in the third and Matt Murray made 16 stops. Chase Gresock scored the Warriors’ only goal in their season opener… Olivia finocchiaro scored on the power play in the first period as Savannah Norcross and Kelly browne each scored for their fourth goal of the season in the second as No.10 Boston College (4-2-0, 4-0-0 Hockey East) completed a weekend women’s hockey sweep with a win 3-1 on UConn (0-3-1, 0-2-0) at the Conte Forum. Maddy McArthur made 35 saves for the Eagles.
SOCCER
Americans hit the target in Europe
Three Americans scored in Europe’s top five leagues on the same day for the first time in 15 years – since the father of one of the lines was among the American players to score. Gio reyna scored his second Bundesliga goal in German club Borussia Dortmund’s 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankurt. Weston McKennie scored his first goal for Juventus in a 2-1 victory over rivals Torino in Serie A. Christian Pulisic scored his first goal this season in Chelsea’s 3-1 English Premier League win over Leeds in London. The last time three Americans scored in Europe’s top five leagues was August 27, 2005. Fulham’s Brian McBride scored in a 1-0 win over Everton, Manchester City Claudio Reyna (Gio’s father) scored the opening goal in a 2-1 win over Portsmouth and Eintracht Frankurt Jermaine jones scored in a 1-0 victory over Nuremberg… Paul pogba, Mason greenwood, and Marcus Rashford scored in 13 minutes in the second half as Manchester United returned to beat West Ham, 3-1, in London in the English Premier League opener with fans present since the coronavirus outbreak in March. Tomas Soucek scored in the 38th minute to give West Ham a 1-0 lead in front of 2,000 spectators at the Olympic Stadium. England are the first of the great footballing nations to allow fans to return to the games during the second wave of COVID-19 … Sebastien soto was added to the U.S. men’s team roster for Wednesday’s show against El Salvador in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The 20-year-old became available when he received a red card in Dutch second-tier club Telstar’s victory on Monday, causing an automatic suspension. He has six goals in nine appearances this season and has scored twice in his USA debut, a 6-2 victory over Panama on November 16 … Kylian mbappe came off the bench to score his 100th goal for Paris Saint-Germain as the French league leaders claimed a 3-1 victory in Montpellier
COLLECTION
Bottas takes pole position in Bahrain
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas took pole position ahead of his temporary teammate George russell for the Sakhir Grand Prix on Sunday in Bahrain. Bottas arrived just 0.026 seconds ahead of Russell, driving a Mercedes for the first time in the absence of the world champion Lewis Hamilton (COVID-19 recovery), and .056 out of Red Bull Max Verstappen. Hamilton sealed his record-breaking seventh F1 title last month in Turkey. The drivers raced on the Bahrain International Circuit but on a smaller 2.2 mile outdoor track (instead of 3.3) and with 87 laps instead of 54… Race in dense snow in the Italian Alps, skier Croatian Filip Zubcic had a dazzling second round to overtake the leader at half-time Zan Kranjec and win a World Cup giant slalom at Santa Caterina Valfurva. Zubcic was almost seven tenths off the lead after the first run, but clocked the second fastest in the final and beat Kranjec by 0.12 seconds. General leader of the World Cup Alexis Pinturault was eight tenths off the lead in fifth, followed by the American Tommy ford … Heavy snowfall and high winds in St. Moritz, Switzerland forced the cancellation of a women’s World Cup super-G race. A second super-G is scheduled for Sunday, which would be the first sprint race of the World Cup season. American Mikaela shiffrin is not present after choosing to focus on training in its specialties: slalom and giant slalom. The three-time World Cup champion is set to compete next weekend in two giant slaloms in Courchevel, France.
