That is an article model of the CBS Sports activities HQ AM Publication, the last word information to on daily basis in sports activities. You possibly can signal as much as get it in your inbox each weekday morning right here.

🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE NBA CUP CHAMPION MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Time will inform if the Bucks are again, however they actually seemed near their dominant selves from just a few years in the past in Tuesday’s 97-81 NBA Cup last win over the Thunder. After an terrible begin to the season, Milwaukee has received 13 of its final 16 video games — despite the fact that this one would not depend towards the regular-season file.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 factors, 19 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks, and Damian Lillard added 23 factors.
• The offense, that includes 17 for 40 (43%) 3-point capturing, was good. The protection was gorgeous. The Thunder scored simply 31 factors within the second half and shot an abysmal 5 for 32 (16%) from 3 total. It was Oklahoma Metropolis’s fewest 3s in a sport this season. 
• The Bucks not solely get the trophy, however every participant will get over $500,000.

Sam Quinn has NBA Cup winners and losers, and the highest winner is a straightforward choose.

• Quinn: “Winner: Damian Lillard — As that is Lillard’s age-34 season, we’re creeping nearer and nearer to the chance that he retires with out ever successful an end-of-season NBA championship, so on a easy, human degree, it is good to see an all-time legend hoist a trophy on an NBA courtroom even when it is not essentially the trophy he’d choose. … It is one thing, and there was a really actual probability that, at the very least the place championships have been involved, Lillard was on his approach to retiring with nothing.”

Invoice Reiter, in the meantime, says that the NBA Cup is working for commissioner Adam Silver, even when the occasion wants some tweaking.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such morning for …

KIRK COUSINS AND THE ATLANTA FALCONS …

In March, the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, hoping he’d be the long-awaited reply at quarterback Atlanta has desperately seemed for since Matt Ryan left city.

Simply 14 video games later, not solely is Cousins not the reply, however he will not even be on the sphere. The Falcons benched Cousins for first-round choose Michael Penix Jr. On the floor, it is a gorgeous growth, however after Monday’s heinous 15-9 win over the Raiders, when Raheem Morris stated his staff wanted higher quarterback play, it virtually appears essential. Since Week 10, solely Anthony Richardson and Drew Lock have a decrease anticipated factors added per dropback.

I wrote about Cousins limiting Atlanta’s offense to the acute in “5 issues we preferred and did not like in Week 15.”

• “Cousins is throwing 96% of his passes this season from the pocket. The one greater charges on file — since 2017 — belong to Tom Brady (a number of occasions) and Philip Rivers.
• Cousins is underneath middle on simply 22% of his dropbacks this season. He had by no means been underneath 40% prior. …
• Cousins has three scrambles for 16 yards this season. That is on 480 dropbacks.

That is while you understand he is a 36-year-old quarterback coming off a torn Achilles. Merely getting underneath middle and/or getting out of the pocket is tough.”

This is how restricted the offense was: Atlanta ran the ball on 23 of 24 first-down performs Monday night time.

Atlanta is within the playoff combine at 7-7, so Penix would not have a lot of a cushion. Nonetheless, I believe he can spark this offense just by being bodily capable of transfer round a bit. Whether or not he can keep away from the errors that may plague younger quarterbacks is to be decided, nevertheless it’s not like Cousins was avoiding errors, both.

This will have been a wanted transfer, nevertheless it’s a troublesome one to swallow for each staff and participant.

As for that big contract, Cody Benjamin examined if Atlanta can get out of it.

… AND WILL LEVIS AND THE TENNESSEE TITANS

The Falcons weren’t the one staff to bench the quarterback they hoped can be “the man” for years to come back. The Titans benched Will Levis for Mason Rudolph two days after Levis dedicated 4 turnovers in a loss to the Bengals. Rudolph relieved Levis within the third quarter of that sport, and now Tennessee is making that change everlasting.

Miscues have been the story of Levis’ younger profession. My colleague Tom Fornelli has a enjoyable stat — “Whoopsy Daisy Price” that measures how usually a quarterback throws an interception or fumbles. I added sacks taken to that equation, and Levis this season has the worst fee on file (since 2007). Some names close to him embrace Deshaun Watson, JaMarcus Russell, Zach Wilson and Brandon Weeden.

Tennessee bought a brand new coach, a brand new offensive line and a number of other new offensive playmakers hoping to set Levis up for achievement. It did not work. Jordan Dajani assessed the place Tennessee goes from right here.

👍 Not so honorable mentions

⚾ Yankees purchase Cody Bellinger from Cubs

The Yankees‘ big-name offseason continues. The Bronx Bombers acquired Cody Bellinger and $5 million from the Cubs for right-handed reliever Cody Poteet.

• It is a cost-saving transfer for Chicago contemplating Bellinger’s $27.5 million wage in 2025 and $25 million wage in 2026 (or a $5 million buyout).
• Bellinger was the 2017 NL Rookie of the Yr and 2019 NL MVP with the Dodgers, however a downturn in each manufacturing and well being ensued.
• He hit free company two offseasons in the past and had a powerful 2023 with the Cubs (.307/.356/.525, 26 dwelling runs, 97 RBI, 95 runs, 20 steals), however an enormous payday by no means materialized final offseason, and he returned to Chicago on a one-year take care of two participant choices. His 2024 wasn’t as robust.
• Bellinger grew to become expendable particularly after the Cubs acquired star proper fielder Kyle Tucker from the Astros. The Yankees had been circling on Bellinger for some time.
• The Yankees’ offseason haul consists of Bellinger, nearer Devin Williams and starter Max Fried. After all, the Juan Soto rejection nonetheless stings, however these are high quality additions.

Cody Bellinger, it needs to be famous, is the son of Clay Bellinger, who received two World Collection whereas donning pinstripes. However the Yankees earn an “A” in R.J. Anderson’s commerce grades for far more than sentimentality.

• Anderson: “Defensively, he’ll seemingly begin the season in middle area, the place he is reliably graded as common or higher all through his profession. That not solely ought to enhance the Yankees protection, but additionally offers Aaron Choose a better defensive project. … The actual draw right here for the Yankees is on the plate. Bellinger ought to profit from being a left-handed hitter with lift-and-pull tendencies enjoying his dwelling video games in a ballpark that tends to reward the profile.”

🏈 NFL Energy Rankings: New No. 1 as Lions fall amid accidents

The NFL world might be merciless, and the Lions’ spate of accidents is the newest instance. Following a 48-42 loss to the Payments that noticed three starters get harm, Detroit fell from the highest spot in Pete Prisco’s NFL Energy Rankings. This is the highest 5:

1. Chiefs (earlier: 2)
2. Eagles (3)
3. Payments (5)
4. Lions (1)
5. Vikings (4)

Jordan wonders how apprehensive we needs to be about Detroit.

Although the Buccaneers jumped simply two spots from 14th to twelfth, Pete is actually impressed with the NFC South leaders. After a blowout dwelling loss towards the Packers, the Seahawks skilled the largest fall, going from tenth to fifteenth.

🏈 Why every School Soccer Playoff staff can win all of it

We’re two days away from the inaugural 12-team School Soccer Playoff kicking off, and the approaching weeks will characteristic unprecedented drama for a sport that is all the time had a aptitude for the dramatic.

Brandon Marcello has one cause every staff might win all of it, and, particularly after the Large Ten Championship, I am unable to get a possible Penn State run out of my head.

• Marcello: “(6) Penn State: Favorable draw, matchups — Even in defeat, Penn State proved itself worthy of a top-five rating in a 45-37 loss towards unquestioned No. 1 Oregon within the Large Ten Championship. Quarterback Drew Allar was stellar till a late interception sealed the loss for the Nittany Lions, and Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton each eclipsed 100 yards speeding. Ought to Penn State beat SMU, subsequent up shall be Boise State after which doubtlessly Georgia within the semifinals.”

And the way’s this for drama? Tom Fornelli says Texas has a Quinn Ewers downside, and Arch Manning is the reply.

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

🏈 Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. James Madison, 5:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Creighton at Georgetown (M), 6:30 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏀 Xavier at No. 11 UConn (M), 7 p.m. on FS1
🏒 Flyers at Crimson Wings, 7 p.m. on truTV/TNT
🏈 LA Bowl: Cal vs. No. 24 UNLV, 9 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 6 Alabama at North Dakota (M), 9 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏀 Butler at No. 9 Marquette (M), 9 p.m. on FS1
🏀 No. 14 Oklahoma vs. No. 24 Michigan (M), 9 p.m. on ESPN2
🏒 Panthers at Wild, 9:30 p.m. on TNT