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Gogi’s trusted aide joins BJP campOil prices have bounced around quite a bit this year. WTI, the primary U.S. benchmark price, rose to over $85 per barrel at one point. However, it's currently down modestly for the year and was recently just below $70 a barrel. Crude oil pricing has a significant impact on the cash flows of oil producers like Devon Energy ( DVN 0.82% ) . Here's a look at whether the current oil price affects the buy thesis for the oil stock . Offsetting the oil price decline Devon Energy generated $1.7 billion in operating cash flow during the third quarter, an 8% increase from the previous quarter. That uptick came even though the company realized an average of $74.26 per barrel of oil sold during the period , down from $78.95 in the previous quarter. Devon offset the decline in oil prices by producing more oil and gas (its companywide production rose 4%), thanks to the strength of its Delaware Basin position across Texas and New Mexico and its acquisition of Grayson Mill Energy, which closed right near the end of September. The company also benefited from a 7% decline in production costs. The timing of the Grayson Mill Energy deal is worth noting. The company didn't get the full benefit of that deal, which it expects will be highly accretive to its cash flow. Devon bought that company at a double-digit free cash flow yield. In addition, it expects to capture savings from cost synergies and benefit from Grayson Mill's midstream assets in the Williston Basin region of North Dakota and Montana, which provides options to capture higher pricing for its production in the area. So, while lower oil prices will act as a headwind for Devon, rising production, falling costs, and the accretive Grayson Mill Energy deal will help cushion the blow. Dirt cheap, and doing something about it Devon Energy expects to produce a lot of cash flow next year, even if oil prices continue to fall. It can generate about $1.5 billion in free cash at $60 oil and more than $2.5 billion if oil averages $70 a barrel. Given its current market cap , Devon trades at a 5% free cash flow yield at $60 oil and 9% if oil averages $70 a barrel. That's much cheaper than the broader market, which trades at a low-single-digit free cash flow yield. The company's relatively attractive valuation is driving it to use more of its excess free cash flow to repurchase shares . Devon produced $786 million in free cash flow during the third quarter. The company used its excess cash (free cash flow and balance sheet cash) to pay its quarterly dividend, retire $472 million of debt at maturity, and repurchase $295 million of its stock. Devon elected not to pay a variable dividend in the quarter, -- which used to be its hallmark -- opting instead to strengthen its balance sheet following the Grayson Mill Energy deal and repurchase shares. Going forward , Devon expects to return 70% of its free cash flow to investors (retaining the other 30% to strengthen its balance sheet). Paying a growing fixed dividend remains its top priority. After that, given its currently attractive valuation, it intends to prioritize repurchasing its shares over paying a variable dividend. Devon has now repurchased $3 billion of stock since launching its current program in late 2021. In conjunction with the Grayson Mill Energy deal, the oil company boosted its share repurchase authorization to $5 billion, which it expects to complete by the middle of 2026. That bigger buyback showcases its conviction that buying back its shares is a wise use of capital in the current environment. Devon is still a deal below $70 a barrel Devon Energy expects to continue producing a gusher of free cash flow over the next year, even if oil prices continue to weaken. Because of that, it will still trade at a relatively attractive value even if oil falls below $60. That's why it's prioritizing repurchasing shares at the moment. So, if you're seeking a value play in the oil patch, Devon still looks like an attractive buy, even with crude prices slipping below $70 a barrel.San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will not play Sunday and head coach Kyle Shanahan said the lingering discomfort is a concern. Purdy sat out Friday after he participated in the start of Thursday's practice with the 49ers, then retreated indoors for what Shanahan said was a treatment session. Brandon Allen, 32, will start in Purdy's place, and the 49ers are also without defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique). Shanahan said players believe in Allen, even if he's an unknown. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said they are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy. Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. Shanahan said Allen's confidence grew throughout the week and he doesn't anticipate a major change in how he calls the offense. Left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) also missed practice for the third consecutive day. Without disclosing the nature of the ailment to Purdy's throwing shoulder, general manager John Lynch confirmed Friday an MRI exam took place to determine the severity of any injury. Allen worked with the first team most of Thursday and Friday with Joshua Dobbs also taking snaps. Lynch described Purdy's status for the 49ers (5-5) this week as "tenuous." "Hopefully, he makes progress, and we can have a shot at this weekend, but we'll see," Lynch said in an interview with KNBR in San Francisco. "I think it's tenuous." When Purdy was on the field this week, he primarily worked on the side in position-specific drills with QB coach Brian Griese. Williams played through an ankle injury last week after being listed as questionable but exited the stadium with an exaggerated limp on Sunday. Run game coordinator Chris Foerster said the 49ers aren't where they want to be at 5-5 because they haven't won close games, not because of injuries. "Seven games left is like an eternity," Foerster said. "So much can happen. Do the math. What was our record last year? It was 12-5. I was on a 13-win team that was nowhere near as good as the team last year." With or without Purdy, Foerster said the challenge for the 49ers is not to give up the ball to a defense that has 19 takeaways. The 49ers have 13 giveaways this season. --Field Level Media
The Australian sharemarket has avoided an embarrassing start to the Christmas trading week, with the market operator managing to fix its system for processing trades made by investors. On Friday, trading on the ASX was hampered by a technical issue delaying the settlement of trades on its Clearing House Electronic Subregister System, known as CHESS. The glitch forced the market operator to defer settlements scheduled for Friday to Monday, December 23, leaving brokers in a jam as billions of dollars worth of transactions couldn’t be finalised. The ASX narrowly avoided a festive fumble on Monday morning after a key system for processing trades was hampered by a glitch on Friday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The ASX said on Sunday that it had successfully resolved the technical issue, with settlement services to start as normal and will process all trades from last Wednesday and Thursday held up by the glitch. The CHESS system manages the transaction of shares between a buyer and a seller. Had the issue not been resolved, the ASX could have been forced to delay the time of market opening on Monday, or at worst cancel trading altogether. The ASX suffered a full-day trading outage in November 2020, and the market operator’s effort to upgrade the ageing CHESS system, which is 30 years old, has suffered significant delays. However, investors are set to be rewarded with only a meagre rise on Monday following a grim week for both local and international stocks, despite a small rally in US markets on Friday. Local futures indicate at market open the S&P ASX200 will gain just 0.16 per cent to 8079 points. At the end of last week, the S&P500 rose 1.1 per cent for its best day in six weeks and shaved its loss for the week down to 2 per cent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 498 points, or 1.2 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1 per cent. Superstar stock Nvidia and other big tech companies led the market, which got a lift after a report said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use, was slightly lower last month than economists expected. It’s an encouraging signal following recent reports suggesting inflation may be tough to get all the way down to the Fed’s 2 per cent goal from its peak above 9 per cent. The threat of higher inflation was one of the reasons Fed Chair Jerome Powell gave this week when the central bank hinted it may deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier expected. That warning sent a shock through the stock market, which had run to 57 all-time highs this year amid the widespread assumption the Fed would deliver a string of cuts to rates into 2025. Now traders are largely betting on one, two or perhaps even zero next year, according to data from CME Group. “When optimism is rising and market multiples are expanding, it just takes a little fear to take the veneer off a market rally,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. Friday’s better-than-expected inflation data pushed traders to trim their bets for zero cuts in 2025, which they now collectively see a 16 per cent chance of. Easier interest rates would boost the economy by making it cheaper for households and businesses to borrow, but they could also provide fuel for inflation. Critics had been warning stock prices were vulnerable to drops after running so high and that the market likely needed everything to go correctly to justify its stellar gains for the year. Besides the diminished hopes for several rate cuts next year, Wall Street got another reminder late Thursday that everything may not go as expected. In crypto markets, Bitcoin continues to toil under historical highs, dropping below $US100,000 at the end of last week where it remains, trading at $95,300 on Monday morning. In the bond market, Treasury yields eased. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.52 per cent from 4.57 per cent late Thursday. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Asia and Europe. - with AP The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each weekday afternoon .Ofosu Ampofo Calls for Mass Voting in Protest Against NPP GovernmentNo. 4 South Carolina women rout Purdue 99-51
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Oregon Football Legend Posts Strong Message on Ryan Day, Ohio State
It’s just days until Christmas and the holiday season is here, so everyone is getting their wish list for Santa written and ready. Average of 9 LIVE Regular Season games per week plus the best of the NBA Playoffs, including every game of the NBA Conference Finals & NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Foxsports.com.au runs through every NBA team’s Christmas wish heading into 2025. ATLANTA HAWKS Dare to dream Could this team be capable of a Pacers-esque run to the conference finals? The Hawks sure are dangerous. One of the big improvers, Atlanta has a newfound defensive identity with Dyson Daniels in town. Meanwhile Jalen Johnson is flourishing as the number two offensive option alongside Trae Young, who continues to do Trae Young things. The Hawks have looked particularly good since getting their full strength team together on the court – with one of the deepest benches in the league — and will only benefit from their semi-final NBA Cup run. While Atlanta has one of the most exciting young cores set up for the long term, why could do damage in the playoffs and potentially claim a scalp or two in the weaker Eastern Conference. BOSTON CELTICS No serious Kristaps Porzingis setbacks The Celtics can probably win another championship without Kristaps Porzingis. They’re that good. But he certainly gives them a much greater chance and raises their overall ceiling, so ensuring the oft-injured star centre is healthy in the lead into the playoffs is crucial. Of course, Boston breezed its way through last season’s playoffs without Porzingis for the most part, while he only played three games In the NBA Finals before undergoing off-season ankle surgery. He’s looked great after a delayed start to the season, averaging 19.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in just 27.7 minutes. Fair to say the Celtics might face stiffer competition at the top East this season with the Cavaliers, Magic and a healthy Knicks — teams you feel like Boston would need Porzingis’ interior defence against in big games. BROOKLYN NETS Get maximum value in trade/s They’ve already sent Dennis Schroder to Golden State, so what else could they do? Not many could’ve seen the Nets starting the season in such solid fashion. It certainly hasn’t been by design. But behind the lead of their veterans plus a breakout season from Cam Thomas, Brooklyn is much better than expected and has looked more like a play-in team as opposed to a lottery team. That came after the Nets committed to an all-out rebuild after trading away Mikal Bridges for a bounty of draft picks, so ownership and the front office mightn’t be so thrilled with the team’s results in the first quarter. Everything should be on the table now by way of trades for this Brooklyn team to bring in long-term assets and boost its lottery chances to ultimately try and nab projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. Whether that’s moving Thomas for a huge haul, completing a smaller deal for one of their veterans like Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, or a combination of both, the Nets should be open minded about how to best set themselves up for the future. CHARLOTTE HORNETS See what they’ve got at full strength It’s been another rocky season in Charlotte, heavily impacted by injury. The likes of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams have all missed time, with Ball’s stint on the sidelines due to a calf issue clearly the most costly for new coach Charles Lee. Getting a healthy season out of Ball is crucial to their hopes of climbing the standings after ankle problems restricted the star guard to 22 and 36 games respectively over the past two seasons. But from a bigger picture, simply seeing what this team can be at full strength before making further roster moves given they haven’t had their key guys all healthy at once together yet. CHICAGO BULLS Find a good deal for Zach LaVine/Nikola Vucevic Trading both LaVine and Vucevic might be a bit extreme, unless of course the Bulls want to really commit to a reset. But there has to be a good deal out there for at least one of the two veterans. While the team has had a solid enough season to date as a play-in contender, the Bulls are clearly moving in a different direction and building around the likes of Josh Giddey, Coby White, Patrick Williams and rookie Matas Buzelis. Despite LaVine’s massive contract (in the third year of a five-season, $215 million deal), the former two-time All-Star has restored trade value in a strong, injury-free campaign. Surely there’s a team out there that needs a shake up and could talk themselves into him. Meanwhile Vucevic is having one of the best seasons of his career, so it could be the ideal time to trade the 34-year old while he has value. If anything, it’d probably make more sense to move LaVine to give Giddey and White more backcourt touches to really allow them a chance to flourish. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS Convert NBA-best regular season form to playoffs Obviously every team in the NBA wants its good regular season form to translate to the playoffs. But of all teams where that could convey to a genuine title run, it’s the Cavs. Cleveland has the best record in the NBA at 25-4 as well as the second-best net rating. Everything has fallen into place for the Cavaliers in a well-ran offensive system by new coach Kenny Atkinson. Where after question marks if the fit of Donovan Mitchell with Darius Garland in the backcourt and Evan Mobley with Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt, Cleveland’s core looks like a real contender. While Boston still has the throne in the East, the Cavaliers look like its biggest challenger despite Orlando and New York posing threats, while Milwaukee is rising after a slow start to the season. DALLAS MAVERICKS Luka Doncic to be the best player in the NBA in 2025 It’s been a relatively slow start to the season for Doncic by his lofty standards, even if he’s starting to heat up. Still, the Slovenian superstar is averaging under 30 points for the first time since the 2021/22 season, with his shooting, rebounding and assist numbers are all down. It came after it was all set up for Doncic, 25, to win his first MVP this season and build off Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals. While the Mavs have built into form and look like a contender in the West yet again, the likes of Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum have all led their teams better than Doncic. For Dallas to go one better than last season, you feel like Doncic needs to assert himself as the best player in the league given the team and its heliocentric offence lives and dies by the five-time All-Star. Clearly, the bar is high for Doncic. The Mavericks will also be hoping for a consistent third option to emerge alongside Doncic and Kyrie Irving come playoff time, though he sum of the Mavs’ supporting cast is greater than its parts. DENVER NUGGETS Jamal Murray to get back to his best There’s a variety of reasons the Nuggets have fallen down the standings in the West and don’t look like the NBA champions of two years ago despite Nikola Jokic’s utter dominance. From key players departing creating depth issues, to their young players not standing up, a lack of 3-point shooting and middling defence. But an up-and-firing Murray, which they haven’t had, cancels out a lot of those problems. The star guard, who’s been hampered by several lower body injuries in recent years, just hasn’t had the same bounce and firepower. Nor has Murray come close to getting back to his incredible form in the 2023 Playoffs during that title run. He’s averaged 18.7 points per game on 42.8 per cent shooting from the field and 35.6 per cent from downtown – not numbers of a superstar that signed a four-year, $209 million max extension on the eve of the season. Jokic desperately needs more help and the Nuggets can’t afford to waste his ridiculously good prime. Murray needs be his star running partner like we’ve seen in the past, otherwise, this Denver team might be forced to make a trade, with Zach LaVine and Brandon Ingram reportedly on its radar. DETROIT PISTONS Make the play-in Some teams, like the Pistons, just need a win. Detroit fans haven’t had much to cheer about for the better part of two decades including the team having the worst record over the last five years (94-238). But its years of rebuilding through the draft seem to be starting to come to fruition as the team is now a challenging for a play-in spot. Leading from the front is Cade Cunningham, who has superstar written all over him. Cunningham has averaged a career-high 24.0 points per game to go with 9.7 assists (ranked third in the NBA) and 7.1 rebounds per game. Detroit will go as far as Cunningham takes them, though others stepping up — like Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Malik Beasley – has also been crucial to the team’s jump this season. Remember, Detroit hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2008. While making the playoffs may be unrealistic, getting to the play-in should be the real goal, especially considering how shallow the Eastern Conference is. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Another superstar to play with Steph Curry The Warriors have outperformed expectations so far, in touch with the top of the Western Conference standings. But if they’re serious about contending and winning another championship with Steph Curry, they need to find one more piece and a true number two option to play alongside the sharpshooting champ. Sure, Dennis Schroder will give them a nice bump, but it’s probably not a needle moving move. According to reports, LeBron James and Jimmy Butler are on Golden State’s radar after it struck out on Paul George and Lauri Markkanen last off-season. The Warriors have a ton of depth – and have been showcasing it with a 12-man rotation most nights – primed to package some of those role players for a genuine superstar that can help them compete against the best teams in the West. HOUSTON ROCKETS Work out who their core stars are Houston has arrived ahead of its time. One of the most exciting and athletic teams in the league that cause havoc on defence and have a plethora of different line-ups and general weapons to throw at opponents, the emerging Rockets are well placed – both to make a deep playoffs run this season and beyond. They’ve already worked out their identity under Ime Udoka, now it’s about establishing who their core stars are long term. They can only keep this roster together for so long before it gets too expensive, or their key pieces start losing value. While stranger things have happened, they don’t feel like a championship-calibre team as constructed and may explore a three-for-one type of trade, having been linked to Jimmy Butler. So whether it’s hunting a superstar on the market or refining what they already have, Houston needs to figure out which players are going to lead this franchise to its next title. INDIANA PACERS Rediscover last season’s offence Missing person check. What has happened to the fun, exciting, up-and-down Pacers from last season? It’s like watching an entirely different team this season, with Indiana dropping from having the second-best offensive rating in the NBA last season to 13th-best currently. Tyrese Haliburton, though still a star, has been symptomatic of the team’s overall decline, struggling to recapture last season’s enormous heights. There’s also question marks on Pascal Siakam’s fit on the team and whether they were better off in the first half of last season when the ball was popping more. Time is on their side, especially in the East, but Rick Carlisle and company should be desperate to rediscover that up-tempo offensive DNA that made the Pacers such a handful last season ... or find other pieces that can help them. LA CLIPPERS A healthy Kawhi Leonard This one is obvious. The Clippers have somehow managed to sit in the top eight in the West for most of the season despite Paul George’s departure and Kawhi Leonard not playing a single minute due to a knee inflammation. We finally got an update on Leonard after radio silence for the majority of the campaign, with the six-time All-Star returning to practice in a positive step in the right direction as he nears his season debut. The prospect of adding Leonard to this James Harden-led Clippers team that has the No. 6 defensive rating is tantalising. That’ll really get the Intuit Dome rocking. But just as importantly, Leonard staying on the court for a meaningful period before we consider just how good this team can be and how far they could go. For having Leonard and his $49 million salary sitting on the sidelines leaves a big void on the court and a black hole in the team’s roster build. LA LAKERS Hope Father Time continues to hold off Is Father Time starting to catch up to LeBron James? The near 40-year old has freakishly defied the odds and all logic of nature for so long. But in year 22 the superhuman champ has started to look human with signs of decline including a particularly rough stretch to start December. The question is whether it’s just that – a slump – or if we’re witnessing the beginning of the end of a player many consider the greatest to ever touch a basketball. James recently took personal leave from the Lakers as trade rumours swirl that the Warriors are monitoring the four-time MVP after they reportedly had interest last season. So there’s a fair bit of unknown about what’s ahead for James and the Lakers in 2025. While LA, like always, would be canvassing the trade market ahead of the February deadline to improve its supporting cast around James and Anthony Davis, the reality is it’ll still need James somewhere near his best to contend for the title. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Desmond Bane to resurrect outside shot After a down, injury-ruined 2023/24 season, the Grizzlies are back in business. They’ve won 11 of their last 13 games and sit top six in both offensive rating and defensive rating, with one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. It’s seen them climb into the two seed in the Western Conference, and there’s every reason to believe they can make a deep playoff run. The one key area for improvement? Desmond Bane’s shooting. A career 40 per cent shooter from beyond the arc, Bane is currently hitting his 3-point shots at a personal worst 34.2 per cent clip. It’s a key reason why Bane is averaging just 14.9 points per game – the star guard’s lowest return since his rookie year – and down from 23.7 points per game and 21.5 respectively over the last two campaigns. While it’s clearly not hurting the Grizzlies overall, the team does rank 14th in the NBA in 3-point percentage. So a shooting bump from Bane could help unlock an ever higher level for Memphis and he may have turned a corner recently, going 7-for-13 from deep in his past two games. MIAMI HEAT A resolution to the Jimmy Butler situation The longer Jimmy Butler stays on this Heat roster without an extension or trade, the longer the star forward risks becoming a distraction for Miami. Rumours have swirled about a Butler trade, with the 35-year old effectively in a contract season given he can opt out of his player option for 2025/26 and become a free agent. All signs point to him getting moved ahead of the February deadline, for Miami could risk losing him for nothing in the off-season if it doesn’t act first. The team has already started to move away from Butler as its alpha star too, with Tyler Herro flourishing as the No. 1 option in a career-best season for the guard. Miami had quietly played itself into form with four-straight wins including eight from its last 11, but has since dropped three in a row. Whether Butler and Miami do end up working out an extension or he gets trades, it’ll be best for all parties once they reach some sort of resolution. MILWAUKEE BUCKS Khris Middleton levelling up as third star... or finding someone who can be After a worrying 2-8 start to the season, the Bucks have won 12 of their last 15 games to climb into the top five in the East including winning the NBA Cup. Giannis Antetokounmpo has largely put the team on his back, bulldozing (figuratively and literally) through everything and anyone in his sight as an MVP contender. Damian Lillard is quietly putting his own strong season in arguably the best the star guard and Antetokounmpo have looked together since joining forces ahead of last season. But there’s still one piece missing – Khris Middleton. Middleton recently returned from off-season surgery on both ankles and will now spend some time ramping up to a full workload. As promising as this Milwaukee run has been, it’s hard to see the team being a real challenger in the East without Middleton as the third key cog. But there’s serious question marks on if Middleton, 33, can ever get back to – or even something close to – his All-Star best after several injuries in recent years. As well as concerns on him simply being able to stay on the floor. So whether it’s Middleton stepping up as the third star or the team making a move to find one, the already cash-strapped Bucks can’t afford to have a $31 million player not producing at a high level. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Revive hard edge ... or find a new identity While still early days, the Karl Anthony-Towns trade couldn’t be going much worse for the Wolves. Minnesota had a towering and robust defensive-orientated DNA last year that caused major problems for other teams and powered it to the Western Conference Finals. But they now feel like just a middle-of-the-road team in the West – where they currently sit - despite big defensive improvements in recent times. Julius Randle is a flawed star and strange fit on the Wolves, while Donte DiVincenzo is proving to be nothing more than a good role player. It might take another trade for Minnesota to figure out exactly what they want to be or some general soul searching. But change of some sort is needed for Anthony Edwards and company to get back to where they were last season. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS Get to the bottom of Zion Williamson injury problems once and for all Sure, the Pelicans have been badly smashed by injuries. But one thing’s clear, Williamson’s ongoing setbacks are more costly than anything, and New Orleans will only go as far as the former No. 1 pick takes it. Coming off his healthiest season yet, the 24-year old has again been bit by the injury bug, sidelined indefinitely with a hamstring issue. And so we’re back to having the same discussion we have seemingly every season about Williamson and his durability concerns and not fulfilling his enormous potential. It comes after the Pelicans recruited Dejounte Murray to assemble arguably the most talented roster around Williamson yet, but they sit dead-last in the West with a 5-24 record. Again, the Pels deserve some lenience given all their key stars have missed time, though it’s become an unfortunate theme in Williamson’s career to date. Time to have some hard conversations and get to the root cause of the injuries, for no team can get by with their superstar missing months each season. And if it’s related to the two-time All-Star’s work ethic and not respecting the importance of staying in peak physical condition, it might be time for the two parties to go their separate ways. NEW YORK KNICKS Find another rotation piece It’s been a strong first quarter of the season for New York, who went in with big expectations after acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. In many ways they’ve gone under the radar compared to some other teams despite posting the second-best offensive rating in the NBA. While their middling defence is a concern, perhaps the bigger issue is how shallow their roster is given the Knicks went all in on this starting line-up. It’s resulted in Tom Thibodeau playing his starters huge minutes (though that’s nothing new), while their bench ranks bottom eight in the NBA in scoring. Granted, they’ve been without Mitch Robinson, but you worry that their main guys will run out of puff, or worse, break down by the playoffs. Whether it’s via trade, on the buyout market or Robinson or someone else already on the roster is the answer, it feels like this Knicks rotation might be one piece short from contending ... and to help preserve the core five for the business end of the season. In the first step towards doing just that, the Knicks agreed to a deal with veteran guard Landry Shamet on Monday. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER A healthy Chet Holmgren to help title push The Thunder were dealt a major blow just 10 games into the season, with rising star Chet Holmgren struck down with a rare hip injury set to sideline him for months. While Holmgren is expected to return later in the season, we don’t for sure when – or even if – that’ll happen. An update on the big man’s status is expected at some point in the new year. OKC has gotten by just fine without Holmgren in a scary prospect for the rest of the league, sitting first in the Western Conference with the best defensive rating in the NBA. The addition of centre Isaiah Hartenstein has clearly helped and been important insurance, while we’re still yet to see the Thunder at full strength after Hartenstein was sidelined to start the season. OKC will be ultra cautious with Holmgren given the seriousness of his injury and won’t risk compromising the 22-year old’s long-term health, with the team set up for title contention for many years ahead. But Holmgren could also be the difference between the Thunder winning it all this season, so his recovery to full strength will be a key storyline to follow in the second half of the season. ORLANDO MAGIC Find a cure for oblique injuries Clearly this is tongue in cheek ... but what are the chances of Orlando’s two key stars – Paolo Banchero then Franz Wagner - both suffering oblique injuries!? Losing Banchero in the first couple of weeks of the season was brutal enough after the former No. 1 pick – like the Magic as a whole - looked set to make another leap. But the silver lining was Orlando rallying behind Wagner, who really levelled up his play including leading the team to 12 wins from 13 games through November and early December as the Magic shot up to the No. 3 seed in the East. That was until Wagner sustained the same injury as his Magic running partner in a seriously cruel second twist of fate. Could it now be Jalen Suggs’ turn to look like a superstar? You feel like this team will still find a way, with its elite defence always holding it in good stead. Plus Wagner’s rise puts Orlando in an overall stronger position when it gets to full strength ... whenever that will be. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS Pray Joel Embiid isn’t cooked Not only for this season, but beyond. It’s been one injury after another for the Embiid, so you just worry after multiple knee surgeries whether it’s all catching up to the star centre. Embiid has played in just seven of a possible 24 games for the 9-17 Sixers, with his absence badly hurting the team in a season it was seen as one of, if not the, big threats to Boston in the East. But now multiple teams in the conference like Cleveland and Orlando have gone past Philadelphia, while we don’t even know how good Nick Nurse’s team can be at full strength as it’s been so rare. From a bigger picture perspective, Embiid, 30, signed a behemoth three-year, $193 million contract contract with Philadelphia on the eve of the season that kicks in from 2026/27. It has the makings of a disaster deal if Embiid is in the beginning of a decline due to his significant injury history, which we’ve seen prematurely cripple the careers of other bigs over the years. PHOENIX SUNS Preserve Kevin Durant The impact of Durant’s health on the Suns can’t be understated. On the numbers, it’s similar to Denver’s unhealthy overreliance on Nikola Jokic. In fact, Phoenix is 13-4 in games he’s played this season and just 1-9 without the 36-year old star forward. It comes with Durant averaging 35.9 minutes per game, which is ranked top 20 in the NBA. While that mightn’t seem crazy, it’s a big number for a player with as many miles under his legs as Durant, in his 17th NBA season. Phoenix simply can’t win the title without Durant healthy, but playing him so many minutes not only compromises the team regular season if he’s forced to miss more time, but also risks him breaking down by the playoffs. The Suns have gone all in with this team, with Durant’s health central to everything. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Scoot Henderson to fulfil his potential Or at least something close to. It’s frankly been a disappointing start to Henderson’s career since he was taken with the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. It was a draft where Charlotte drew some criticism at the time for taking Brandon Miller over Henderson a pick earlier and the Spurs landed Victor Wembanayma with Pick 1. While unfair to compare anyone else from that class to Wembanyama, Portland clearly came away with the worst player of the top three. So much so that the rebuilding Blazers aren’t even starting Henderson and don’t appear to be putting a heap of stock into developing their No. 3 pick, who was touted as their face of the future, instead prioritising others. There’s clearly something they don’t like about his game, for other early picks are given all the opportunities in the world. It’s only year two for Henderson, so it’s not quite panic stations yet, but at some stage this season or next the team would want to see signs that Henderson is going to be their long-term point guard cornerstone. SACRAMENTO KINGS A contract extension with De’Aaron Fox While it’s been an underwhelming season for the Kings following the high-profile addition of DeMar DeRozan, Fox continues to play at a high level. The All-Star has averaged 26.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game as one of the best point guards in the NBA. Simply put, Sacramento can’t afford to lose Fox. It comes after Fox, eligible for free agency in 2026, bypassed a three-year $165 million extension with Sacramento as he eyes a bigger deal in 2025. In waiting for a bigger contract, the 26-year old opens up the possibility of signing a four-year, $229 million maximum extension with the Kings. If he’s named to an All-NBA team, he becomes eligible for a five-year, $345 million supermax deal, though that looks less likely with the 13-16 Kings currently outside the play-in. The team should, and you’d think will, prioritise getting something locked away with Fox as soon as possible, as rival teams would have him circled as a potential target. SAN ANTONIO SPURS Work out the best pieces to put around Victor Wembanyama The Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs have climbed the Western Conference standings this season to sit in the play-in mix, with the arrivals of Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul adding valuable veteran presence. Meanwhile Stephon Castle is the favourite for Rookie of the Year and Julian Champagnie has taken strides forward. But unless they make a big swing on the trade market, it’s hard to see San Antonio making the playoffs as constructed. The priority is working out the best players to put around Wembanyama long term, and from next season onwards, it should be go time as far as trying to contend. They’re too good to tank at this stage, so selling veterans would only be warranted for the right return. Whether it’s on the trade and free agency market or simply doubling down on the pieces they already have, everything and anything they do should revolve around Wembanyama and giving him the best supporting cast possible long-term, with the ultimate goal of winning a championship. TORONTO RAPTORS Scottie Barnes to be the superstar they need Barnes is now getting paid like a superstar after signing a five-year, $224 million extension with the Raptors that kicks in from next season. It’s the kind of money that demands Barnes be the franchise face of Toronto. In fairness, the 23-year old has only gotten better and better with each passing season, averaging career highs across the board this campaign in points per game (20.3), assists (7.3) and 3-pointers made (1.9) despite being hampered by injury. The team will build the team around Barnes moving forward and it’ll go as far as he takes them. The 2022 Rookie of the Year, Barnes has a genuine claim to being the best player from that star-studded crop that also featured Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Alperen Sengun. RJ Barrett also deserves credit for picking up the slack in a massive way in Toronto amid wholesale injuries in the best version we’ve ever seen from the former Pick 2. But the sky is the limit for what Barnes could be and the best version of him could really propel the Raptors. UTAH JAZZ Commit to playing the kids It’s set to be another long season in Utah as it dwindles at the bottom of the Western Conference. They’re one of many teams in lottery contention hoping to land No. 1 prospect Cooper Flagg. That’s the ideal long-term outcome, but the Jazz should also be focused on developing the youngsters they already have. If you look at their starting line-up right now, Keyonte George, 21, is the only young player among it. Walker Kessler is only 23, but he’s been constantly linked to trade rumours to potentially suggest he’s not going to be part of the Jazz’s long-term future. Taylor Hendricks, 21, was set to play a key role before cruelly going down with a season-ending leg injury. With that in mind, you’d love to see the likes of Cody Willams, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh get more opportunities to show what they can do, while trading their veterans would clearly help open up the runway. WASHINGTON WIZARDS Get the No. 1 pick There’s no team that should be more desperate to get its hands on the No. 1 pick – and ultimately Cooper Flagg – than the Wizards. This is a team sitting dead-last in the East at 3-21 and crying out for a superstar to be the face of the franchise - much like John Wall and Bradley Beal were all those years ago - to lead it into the future. Sure, the likes of Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington look like nice players and might even have star potential if things shake out for them the right way. But they’re probably not going to be franchise-altering players that can really change Washington’s fortunes in a meaningful way like a Paolo Banchero has for Orlando or Victor Wembanyama for San Antonio. Only Detroit has had a worse record than Washington over the last five seasons, while the Wizards unlike other teams like San Antonio, OKC, Brooklyn and Utah aren’t sitting on a plethora of draft picks. So getting that prized No. 1 pick would make a heck of a difference for their long-term outlook. Beyond that, they should also be looking at continuing to bolster their draft hand long term and sell their veterans with currency like Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon.India’s vibrant and diverse cultural landscape offers limitless opportunities for travelers. With a surge in startups in travel experiences , exploring unique adventures has become more accessible than ever. These startups blend technology, personalization, and local expertise to deliver curated travel experiences. Whether it’s thrilling adventures, immersive cultural tours, or offbeat destinations, here’s a list of the top 10 best Indian startups in travel experiences for 2025 that are reshaping the way we explore. 1. Thrillophilia Thrillophilia has become a household name for adventure enthusiasts. Offering curated experiences across India and globally, it caters to thrill-seekers and families alike. Why It Stands Out : Over 15,000 curated travel experiences Adventure activities like trekking, rafting, and camping Easy online booking and customer support Thrillophilia ensures high-quality, verified experiences for travelers seeking excitement. 2. WanderOn WanderOn is a startup that focuses on group travel experiences for millennials. Their trips are designed to bring like-minded travelers together. Key Features : Group travel packages for adventure and leisure Customizable itineraries Hassle-free arrangements with experienced trip leaders With its community-driven approach, WanderOn has captured the hearts of young explorers. 3. The Blueberry Trails Specializing in bespoke travel, The Blueberry Trails crafts offbeat itineraries that offer a mix of adventure and culture. What Makes It Unique : Focus on personalized travel planning Experiences include road trips, nature treks, and cultural tours Handpicked local stays and activities This startup is ideal for travelers looking for authentic and offbeat experiences. 4. India Someday India Someday is a travel consultancy startup that helps independent travelers plan their trips across India. Why It’s Popular : Personalized trip planning based on budget and preferences Expert advice on accommodations and activities Strong focus on sustainable tourism Their customized approach has made India Someday a preferred choice for international travelers. 5. Unventured Unventured focuses on eco-friendly and immersive travel experiences, offering tours that combine adventure with cultural exploration. Highlights : Cycling tours through scenic routes Guided cultural and heritage experiences Commitment to responsible travel practices Unventured is perfect for travelers seeking a sustainable way to explore India’s beauty. 6. Offbeat Tracks True to its name, Offbeat Tracks focuses on experiences in unexplored destinations, offering a mix of adventure and cultural immersion. Key Offerings : Remote Himalayan treks and homestays Curated cultural tours in lesser-known regions Personalized trip planning Their dedication to showcasing hidden gems makes them a standout in the travel startup space. 7. Headout Headout is a travel startup offering on-demand access to local tours, events, and activities in major cities and destinations. What Sets It Apart : Real-time booking for attractions and activities App-based user interface for convenience Wide range of experiences, from city tours to outdoor adventures Headout has become a go-to for urban explorers and last-minute planners. 8. SeekSherpa SeekSherpa connects travelers with local experts for personalized tours and experiences. Why Travelers Love It : Access to local guides for authentic experiences Unique offerings like food trails, heritage walks, and photography tours Affordable and customizable packages This platform bridges the gap between tourists and local expertise. 9. Adventure Nation Adventure Nation is all about adrenaline-pumping activities. From trekking to paragliding, it offers a plethora of options for adventure lovers. Top Features : Specialized in adventure travel packages Verified safety standards and professional guides Wide range of options across India Adventure Nation is a paradise for thrill-seekers. 10. Padhaaro Padhaaro focuses on showcasing India’s rich heritage and culture through personalized experiences. Unique Offerings : Guided city tours by local experts Focus on cultural immersion and historical exploration Affordable pricing for international tourists With its tagline “Atithi Devo Bhava,” Padhaaro embodies the spirit of Indian hospitality. Why Startups in Travel Experiences Are Thriving The rise of startups in travel experiences can be attributed to evolving traveler preferences: Personalization : Travelers seek curated and authentic experiences. Technology Integration : Seamless bookings and real-time assistance make travel hassle-free. Diverse Offerings : From adventure activities to cultural immersion, startups cater to varied interests. Sustainability : Focus on eco-friendly practices appeals to conscious travelers. The Future of Startups in Travel Experiences in India The startups in travel experiences in India is poised for exponential growth, with startups leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI and AR to enhance user experiences. Innovations in sustainable travel, community-based tourism, and hyper-localized offerings are likely to dominate the industry in the coming years. Conclusion The top 10 best Indian startups in travel experiences for 2025 are redefining how people explore and engage with India’s rich cultural and natural treasures. Whether you’re an adventure enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or a leisure traveler, these startups in travel experiences offer something for everyone. As they continue to innovate and expand, the future of travel in India looks incredibly exciting and inclusive.
Fresh off its biggest win of the season, Penn State plays its first true road game Tuesday when it visits Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. Aces will be wild for the Nittany Lions (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) and the Scarlet Knights (5-4, 0-1) as Penn State's Ace Baldwin Jr. will square off against Ace Bailey of Rutgers. Baldwin is the Nittany Lions' leading scorer at 15.1 points per game and dishes out 8.1 assists -- fourth in the nation entering Monday's action. He registered 17 points and six assists Thursday in an 81-70 victory over then-No. 8 Purdue in a game where Penn State led by as many as 27. Freddie Dilione V chipped in 14 points for the Nittany Lions, who had not defeated a Top 10 team since 2019. "A win like that's a statement win," Dilione said. "I just think it's going to put everybody on notice. We're just a walkover team. We're always going be the underdogs, and that's our mentality. We've just got to come in every game and just punch everybody in the mouth." Penn State must be careful not to suffer a letdown against a talented Rutgers squad led by freshmen Dylan Harper (23.1 points per game) and Bailey (17.9). The duo combined for 30 points in the Scarlet Knights' last game -- an 80-66 setback at Ohio State. The defeat was the fourth in the last five games for Rutgers, which plays seven of its next eight in New Jersey. "We've got to get better," Scarlet Knights coach Steve Pikiell said. "We got to get some more consistency out of a lot of things, especially our defense. Can't give up 80 points on the road and expect to win in this league." In last season's meeting with Penn State, it was offense that was Rutgers' biggest issue. The Scarlet Knights shot just 1-of-17 from 3-point range and 34 percent overall in a 61-46 home defeat. "(It's about) finding ways of how to bounce back as a team and staying together," Harper said. "Even though we lose, we're still going to find a way." --Field Level Media
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