Today's Sports Headlines

Including: Dave Feschuk: Blanketing the Beard was an ‘interesting experiment’ for the Raptors — but it blew up [Star Logo] Sports Headlines OPINION [Dave Feschuk: Blanketing the Beard was an ‘interesting experiment’ for the Raptors — but it blew up]( [James Harden and the Rockets hadn’t seen this particular brand of extreme double-team. It held the NBA’s most potent offence force to a modest 23 points, but his teammates more than picked up the slack from long range. Back to the drawing board, Dave Feschuk writes.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [The Raptors cooled off James Harden, but the Rockets were just too hot]( [With a devastating display of long-range shooting — hardly any of it involving the NBA’s scoring leader — the Rockets handed the Raptors their second straight home defeat, 119-109 at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night.]( [Read More [arrow]]( OPINION [Rosie DiManno: Sheldon Keefe earns points for creativity, but the Leafs’ backup goalie disaster needs a GM’s touch]( [If Kyle Dubas is indeed the boy genius — and he has demonstrated deftness before — then he absolutely must bring in a better backup goalie, even if that means parting with a valuable asset in return, Rosie DiManno writes.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Gregor Chisholm: There are lots of excuses for the Blue Jays' lack of spending and not all of them have merit]( [A closer look at the primary arguments GM Ross Atkins and his staff might have for not making a big splash in free agency.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [More women in NHL roles could lead to a bigger wave of hockey hiring]( [Engaging women at all levels of hockey has been a strategy for good reason. Roughly 40 per cent of NHL fans are women, and girls and women’s hockey is growing three times faster than men’s hockey.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Life’s half grand for Morgan Rielly at the 500-game mark]( [Turnovers have been an issue the past two seasons, but Rielly doesn’t play a traditional role on defence. His sky-high ice time suggests the Leafs are happy with his work.]( [Read More [arrow]]( ANALYSIS [NBA watchers take the good (Doncic) with the bad (Warriors) after the opening quarter]( [Good? Sure, but who knew Luka Doncic of the Mavericks would be in the MVP discussion and averaging close to a 30-point triple-double? It’s one of the most surprise twists in the NBA tale at the quarter mark of the regular season, Doug Smith writes.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Toronto FC to open 2020 MLS season with road game against San Jose]( [Toronto will begin on the road before hosting New York City FC in its home opener on March 7, 2020.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Jessie Fleming eyes College Cup as a UCLA victory lap]( [Midfielder Jessie Fleming, a veteran of Canada’s women’s soccer team, will try to cap off her tenure at the University of California, Los Angeles by leading the UCLA Bruins to a College Cup crown this weekend in San Jose.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Pickle juice can chase cramps away]( [Long touted as a natural, low-calorie alternative, to sugary sports drinks, pickle juice has testimonials from athletes such as New Jersey Devils centre Blake Coleman and tennis player Frances Tiafoe.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [The Star]( If you’re not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you’d prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Manage Your Email Preferences]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](