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The NBA will play two pre-season games in Macau starting in October, according to its deputy commissioner, who announced it on Friday that it would make its first appearance since being frozen out for more than five years.

Since two pre-season games in 2019 when Daryl Morey, the then-Houston Rockets general manager, tweeted that he supported pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, there haven’t been any NBA games played in China.

Morey posted an image that featured a proverb that was used by demonstrators to urge people to “Stand with Hong Kong.”

After NBA executives defended Morey’s right to freedom of expression, China effectively cut ties with the league by later deleting the tweet and offering an apology.

Basketball is incredibly popular in China, but until 2022, the NBA lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of being canceled from Chinese television.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum stated in Macau, “It’s my pleasure to announce that the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play two pre-season games at Sands’ Venetian Arena on October 10 and 11 in 2025.”

Macau is a special administrative region under China’s “one country, two systems” framework and is known as the country’s Las Vegas, being the only city that allows gambling.

Tatum claimed that “some of the most devoted NBA fans” in the world resided in this area.

The Adelson family, who own the majority of the Dallas Mavericks, owns the Las Vegas Sands conglomerate, which includes the Venetian Arena.

According to unnamed sources, ESPN reported that NBA China’s relationship had improved since hiring 2020’s CEO Michael Ma.

According to the South China Morning Post, the games will be a part of a multimillion dollar deal that will allow Macau to host two NBA pre-season games every year for five years.

Las Vegas Sands was “excited… (to be) announcing a multi-year collaboration with one of the most powerful and iconic global sports brands in history”, chief executive Patrick Dumont told a Macau press conference.

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&nbsp, ‘Only Macau’&nbsp,

Basketball fans in Beijing welcomed the announcement.

Zhou Dacheng, a 32-year-old fan, told AFP outside an outdoor court in central Beijing that the return of NBA games would be very beneficial for amateur basketball fans because they have been absent from China for a while.

“As a Guangdong native, I often visit Macau since it’s very close. I definitely plan to go watch these games”, Zhou added.

Some social media users, however, were pessimistic that NBA games would ever come back to the mainland.

“Can only go to Macau… this relationship (between China and the NBA) has not been repaired at all”, a Beijing-based user said.

At a sports management conference in October, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver predicted that the organization would “bring back games to China at some point.”

“We had a well-known incident there pre-pandemic with a tweet and China’s government took us off the air for a period of time”, Silver said.

“We accepted that. We stood by our values”.

The NBA has looked to grow globally, including playing recent pre-season games in Abu Dhabi.

Emirates Airlines sponsors the NBA Cup, the league’s in-season tournament.

China is home to a huge basketball fanbase and from 2004 to 2019, 17 teams played a total of 28 pre-season games there.

Macau’s multibillion-dollar gambling industry has remained its economic lifeline and main attraction for visitors, although Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged the city to diversify its portfolio.

Vinicius Junior will return from injury sooner than anticipated, according to Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is currently on the verge of a Champions League match with Atalanta on Tuesday.

The Brazilian winger was expected to miss the Intercontinental Cup final on December 18 due to a hamstring injury from November.

Vinicius was able to train on Friday, but Ancelotti announced that he would return next week after missing Saturday’s La Liga game against Girona.

Vini is recovering from an injury well, and he will play in the Champions League’s upcoming game, according to Ancelotti, who spoke on Friday at a press conference.

With only five defeats in their first five European games, Vinicius’ return strengthens the Madrid side, which sits 24th in the group stage of the Champions League.

After suffering a long-term knee injury, the coach said defender David Alaba, who also trained with the team, is returning to fitness and might play again in January.

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With Vinicius out, Kylian Mbappe’s performance since his summer arrival from Paris Saint-Germain has received even more attention.

The French forward struggled to find his best form, scoring 10 goals in his first 20 games across all competitions, after being defeated by Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao in recent weeks.

Mbappe declared on Instagram that he would “change this situation” and that he would wear his true colors.

Ancelotti said, “He is conscious of it, and the post he put out after the game is that of a player who knows what he is doing and what he can do as well as what he can do,” and that he is aware of it.

There are many players who are not at their best levels and don’t realize it, but he does know it. “We’re with him, he’s not at his best level,” he says.

Mbappe’s recent La Liga appearances against Getafe and Athletic, according to Ancelotti, gave him encouragement.

“In the last couple of games in terms of intensity he improved a lot”, said the coach, citing Mbappe’s sprinting statistics.

However, Ancelotti acknowledged that the 25-year-old might eventually be able to restrain him.

“We must support him, but supporting him does not imply that he must play every game.” A day of rest might be beneficial for him at times.

The coach felt he himself was also being attacked too much over Madrid’s recent form, although admitted he had “to accept” some criticism.

“Like stress, criticism is fuel to try and do better”, added Ancelotti.

For the final Merseyside derby in the Premier League against Liverpool on Saturday, Arsenal will only anticipate a hostile environment and will only relish a victory.

Despite failing to win for just the third time in Slot’s 21 matches in charge in a 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Wednesday, Liverpool enjoy a seven-point lead at the top of the table.

Everton, by contrast, are focused on survival to begin life in their new 53, 000 capacity stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock next season in the top flight.

The Toffees would love to deny their local rivals’ title hopes, but they defeated Wolves 4-0 in midweek to move five points clear of the relegation zone.

Goodison, which has been Everton’s home since 1892, was one of the venues where Liverpool’s challenge unravelled last season towards the end of Jurgen Klopp’s time in charge.

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Everton won a Merseyside derby at home for the first time since 2010 with a 2-0 defeat over the Reds in April.

At his pre-game press conference on Friday, Slot stated, “I think it’s going to be special for everyone — for all the fans that are in it, for all the players that are in it, as well as for the managers.

“To play this game is already special, and playing it at Goodison Park probably makes it even more special.” However, if the outcome is positive, it’s only a positive experience.

Slot is aware of the gimmick his team will likely face, but he wants to take away from Liverpool’s historic defeat when the two teams last met.

The Dutchman remarked, “You need to be aggressive if you go there because they will also be aggressive, but you also need to be aggressive in a smart way.”

“We were very aggressive when we went there last year because I watched the game back there yesterday, but after half an hour I was surprised because Liverpool’s players made 10 fouls and only one from an Everton player.

Therefore, we must be aggressive but also smart, especially since they pose a significant threat to set pieces, so it’s not smart to give away an unnecessary free kick.

Liverpool will be without suspended midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, while Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa remain out injured.

After a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, Ruben Amorim believes he must maintain his high expectations at Manchester United.

In his first two weeks as manager of the English giants, the Portuguese were introduced to a roller coaster.

Following a disappointing 1-1 draw at lowly Ipswich, Bodo/Glimt won the Europa League game 3-2.

For the first time in a Premier League game scored by four or more goals since August 2021, Everton won 4-0 at Old Trafford last weekend.

The Red Devils and those competing for the title of Premier League were able to pull off a comfortable victory on Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium, demonstrating the gulf.

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United are only three points away from the top six while they are 13th.

At his pre-match press conference prior to Nottingham Forest’s visit on Saturday, Amorim said, “It’s difficult because it’s very competitive this league and changes all the time with just one result.”

You guys were asking about the top four before this Arsenal game, and we are now back in this position. Nowadays it’s like that.

We must manage our expectations, and we must also remain calm and focused when we have bad results. ”

Off the field, it has been a sad week for United as popular former receptionist Kath Phipps, who worked at the club for over 55 years, died at the age of 85 on Thursday.

Among those honoring their own personal tributes were former stars like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, as well as members of the current squad like Marcus Rashford.

“You feel it today,” added Amorim. “It’s a sad day. Everyone discusses Kathy, the woman.

She was a really significant person here who epitomized everything that this club is because you can feel it, the love, and how Darren Fletcher (United Technical Director) approaches her.

“Friendly, professional, taking care of everybody, so it’s a sad day for us. ”

After receiving praise for the Gunners’ skill from set pieces, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta stated that his side wants to be “the best in the world” in every way.

With a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday, Arsenal’s title challenge was resurrected with two goals from corners.

That took the tally of goals scored by Arteta’s men from corners since the beginning of the 2023/24 season to 22 – five more than any other side in Europe’s top five leagues.

In his post-match punditry, former Manchester United player Dimitar Berbatov said, “Arsenal are the new Stoke City … depending on set pieces to give them the win.”

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In the Premier League, Stoke won 10 games between 2008 and 2018 and excelled from set pieces.

“I fully comprehended Dimitar Berbatov’s statement, and it was done in the most effective way.” We take it as a big compliment”, said Arteta.

“We want to be the kings of everything. On set pieces, the best in the world, on high press the best in the world, attacking in open spaces, the best in the world.

” Best atmosphere and stadium, the best at everything. Before it was we didn’t score enough, we didn’t challenge, we didn’t win big games for 20 years. We want to be the best at everything. “

Arsenal are now just seven points clear of Liverpool in the Premier League with their four straight victories, which have helped them regain form.

After missing the game against United, they travel to Fulham on Sunday and could have back-fitting defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes.

After leading Inter Miami to a record-breaking regular season campaign, Lionel Messi was named the trophy’s most valuable player in Major League Soccer on Friday.

The Argentine superstar won the trophy after helping Miami to earn its first-ever Supporters Shield and record-setting regular season points.

The 37-year-old maestro finished the regular season with a league-leading 36 goal contributions after netting 20 goals and 16 assists.

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Messi’s MVP award comes despite an injury-hit campaign that saw him make only 19 appearances this year.

Miami and Messi’s season ultimately fizzled out, when the team suffered a shock first-round defeat in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Messi is the 10th South American to win the MVP, and the fifth from Argentina after Luciano Acosta, Diego Valeri, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, and Christian Gomez.