Morning sports update

Mookie Betts relived the bizarre World Series incident with Yankees fans: When two Yankees fans disrupted Mookie Betts' try to take a lead in Game 4 of the World Series, the Red Sox-turned-Dodgers star took a more diplomatic approach after the incident.

Two months later, Betts appeared to share his true feelings in regards to the incident. Betts was pretty blunt when asked what his message could be to those two Yankees fans during an appearance on Peacock's “2024 Back That Year Up” with Kevin Hart and Keenan Thompson.

“I would really say that [expletive] People,” Betts said. “[Expletive] Her.”

Betts elaborated a bit after receiving applause and laughter from the studio audience.

“I'm trying to get the ball, cool. But you tried to grab me [expletive]Betts said. “For example, you try to take the glove and [expletive]. I didn't even feel the guy grab my arm. I was in the moment.”

In the first inning of Game 4, Betts ran to the seats along the right field line at Yankees Stadium to try to catch a fly ball hit by Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres. Betts reached out to grab him, but was greeted by a fan trying to rip the ball from his glove and another fan yanking on his right wrist.

Torres was called out due to fan interference and the two fans were ejected from Game 4. There was also a brief moment when Betts considered retaliation.

“I thought about throwing the ball at him,” Betts said. “Then I realized, Mookie, you’re not going to do that [expletive]. Yes, you won't do that [expletive]. Go back to right field.”

Hart teased Betts about the noise he made over the on-field microphone when he made the grab. Betts laughed about it, but was also happy that justice prevailed in that moment.

“Hey man, look, it worked,” Betts said. “That's all that mattered. He was outside. This was important, folks. That was important.”

Mookie Betts has finally responded to the Yankees fans who tried to harm him within the World Series:

“I would really say, screw you.”

“I thought about throwing the ball at her and then I realized, Mook, you're not going to do shit, go back to right field!”

About Hartbeat/TT pic.twitter.com/LKfauBAfnf

– Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 26, 2024

This incident actually occurred within the one game the Dodgers lost within the World Series, after they lost Game 4 before clinching the title in Game 5. Between those two games, Betts brushed off the minor incident on the time.

“When it comes to the person in the game, it doesn’t matter,” Betts said told reporters after Game 4. “We lost. It's irrelevant. I'm doing well. He's fine. Everything is cool. We lost the game and that’s kind of what I’m focused on. We need to turn the page and prepare for tomorrow.”

The two Yankees fans who were season ticket holders were barred from attending Game 5. After the Dodgers' Game 5 win, Betts was somewhat more open about his feelings in regards to the incident, telling his former teammate David Ortiz In an interview on Fox Sports, he “wanted to fight the fans.”.

Worth knowing: With his third World Series victory, no energetic player has won more titles than Betts. Who are the 4 other former Red Sox players who’ve won so many titles since 2000?

(Note: Two of them were pitchers and the third didn't win any of his three titles with the Red Sox).

Schedule and results

The Celtics will look to bounce back from their Christmas Day loss and end their first losing streak of the season after they host the Pacers on Friday. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Boston hosts Indiana again, Sunday at 6 p.m

Meanwhile, the Bruins were back on the ice on Friday for the primary time because the holiday break. They travel to Columbus to tackle the Blue Jackets. Puck drop for this game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, Boston returns home to face Columbus at 7 p.m.

Boston College ends its football season on Saturday when it takes on Nebraska within the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. Kick-off for this game is at 12 p.m.

The Patriots will even play on Saturday, hosting the Chargers at 1 p.m

Read more at Boston.com

Luka Doncic might be out for a minimum of a month

The Mavericks, who defeated the Celtics within the 2024 NBA Finals, could have to be without their top star for some time. Luka Doncic is out for the following month with a calf injury he suffered within the Mavericks' Christmas loss to the Timberwolves. ESPN reported.

Doncic is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and seven.8 assists per game this season for a Dallas team that sits fourth within the Western Conference standings. Because of the injury, Doncic could miss the Mavericks' game against the Celtics on January twenty fifth.

Jim Harbaugh isn't nervous in regards to the Chargers playing in Foxborough weather

Before Saturday's game against the Patriots, Jim Harbaugh was asked if there was any concern that his Chargers team may be adjusting to the colder weather in New England. The Chargers coach gave him a reasonably accurate answer.

“These guys are young, they are healthy and their hearts pump warm blood. It pumps it from the arteries to the veins to the tributaries and the capillaries. All over the body. You just play ball.

“Maybe I did it in the wrong order. It’s well documented, I’m not a doctor.”

It won't be too cold for Saturday's game. The each day high is predicted to be 41 degrees, with it being mostly cloudy.

Daily highlight

Four of Thursday's NBA games were decided in the ultimate 10 seconds. Jordan Poole hit a game-winning 3-pointer to assist the Wizards beat the Pistons. Tyler Herro fired a shot with half a second left to present the Heat the win over the Magic. With a tenth of a second left, Scoot Henderson made a turnaround jumper that gave the Trail Blazers the sport over the Jazz.

But the craziest ending got here within the Pistons-Kings game. Trailing by three points in the ultimate seconds, Jaden Ivey was fouled while shooting a three-point shot. Ivey's shot went in and he converted the four-point play that gave Detroit the last-second victory.

Thursday's program featured 4 SPECTACULAR endings!

Jordan Poole's stepback triple
Jaden Ivey's 4-PT play
Tyler Herro's textbook midrange bucket
Scoot Henderson's fadeaway finisher

Relive every moment of an incredible night! pic.twitter.com/9zXDQRkgcj

– NBA (@NBA) December 27, 2024

On today

21 years ago on Friday, the Patriots ended the 2003 regular season the precise opposite way they began it. They defeated the Bills 31-0 after beating them by the identical rating within the opening game.

New England got off to a quick start within the shutout win, with Tom Brady scoring 4 touchdowns in the primary half. After Adam Vinatieri gave them a 31-0 lead within the fourth quarter, New England's shutout bid nearly ended when Travis Brown replaced Drew Bledsoe as quarterback for Buffalo. But Patriots linebacker Larry Izzo intercepted Brown's pass in the long run zone in the ultimate minutes, giving the Patriots the shutout victory.

This win improved the Patriots' 2003 regular season record to 14-2, giving them home field advantage within the AFC playoffs. Slightly over a month later, New England won its second Super Bowl.