Entries by Mateo Mayorga

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Big-time fourth-quarter heroics saved the Sparks in the win over the touring Mystics

Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby kept the Sparks from folding against the visiting Mystics. Despite Washington being eliminated from playoff contention, they tried to play spoiler, hanging around until the end. Los Angeles’ flimsy playoff hopes stay alive with six games remaining, the last three being at home.  The Sparks took first blood with a 12-0 […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “I’m the human definition of ‘stay ready so you don’t have to get ready’”: Sims and Fever break LA’s heart

Odyssey Sims nailed a left-handed floater in the lane, lifting the Fever to their 21st win and sinking the Sparks perhaps out of the playoff race. It was her first visit back to LA against the team that waived her on July 2. Aside from the Fever exposing the paint for 52 digits, they outscored […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: A’ja Wilson should have the lead for the MVP crown

Napheesa Collier returned from her seven-game absence (ankle), dicing coverages with jumpers and runners, reminding everyone that she was the MVP front-runner before her injury in the Minnesota Lynx’s win over the visiting Indiana Fever on Sunday. She racked up 32 points on 68.8% shooting, with nine rebounds plus two offerings and sat down as […]

Abass Baraou defeats Yoenis Tellez, becoming the new interim WBA junior middleweight titleholder

Abass Baraou schooled the Cuban prospect Yoenis Tellez, ripping his interim WBA junior middleweight belt, handing him his first loss in a unanimous 12-round decision at Caribe Royale Orlando. Despite close punch outputs from both fighters, the German’s pressure caused frustration, and he delivered the harsher blows, winning his eighth fight in a row.   […]

Today in history: Looking back on “Lightning” Lonnie Smith’s win over the favored Billy Costello for the WBC super lightweight championship

Denver—“Lightning” Lonnie Smith violently struck down Billy Costello on Aug. 21, 1985, for the WBC super lightweight championship. The latter had an undefeated record, the more respected experience and more of Madison Square Garden’s crowd on his side, but he didn’t have the speed to hang with someone whose skills lived up to his nickname. […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “I ended up getting pushed through the door to coach Showtime”: Pat Riley’s statue unveiling date announced and notes on the WNBA Rookie of the Year race

Pat Riley will have his statue unveiled at Star Plaza by the Lakers when they host the Celtics on Feb. 22, per a team press release. He is still second in regular season wins (533) and second in winning percentage (.733), never having below a 50-win campaign as the head. Additionally, he is also second […]