Today's Sports Headlines

Including: It’s no secret why the Thunder are so high on Toronto’s Shai [Star Logo] Sports Headlines [It’s no secret why the Thunder are so high on Toronto’s Shai]( [Lightning quick and just starting to take off. Humble, with mom to keep him honest. Toronto-born Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the centrepiece of the return for Paul George in a summer trade that rocked the NBA. Oklahoma City has no regrets.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [What do the Raptors eat? Team chef takes us inside the kitchen]( [Ryan Gallagher, who prepares meals for the Raptors players and personnel at the team’s practice facility, focuses on swapping out unhealthy ingredients to improve nutrition while still being tasty. In general, Gallagher says he tries to scale back gluten and dairy and add more protein.]( [Read More [arrow]]( Get the best deal of the year on a new digital subscription to the Star It's Boxing Week, and there's a great deal on now for a digital Star subscription that you should know about: one year of unlimited access to TheStar.com for only $7.49 a month plus tax. That's 50% off our regular price — and our biggest discount of this year for an annual subscription. If you're already a subscriber, thank you. If you're not, [head here to start your subscription today](. And hurry: you've only got till midnight on December 31 to take us up on the offer. [Gilgeous-Alexander brings the thunder in hometown win over Raptors]( [The Oklahoma City guard scored 32 points at Scotiabank Arena, the most ever by a Canadian against the Raptors.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Rosie DiManno: Eddie Olczyk’s survival guide reveals some harsh truths about hockey life and beyond]( [It’s been a heck of a ride for former NHLer Eddie Olczyk, cancer survivor: Drafted by his hometown team, Stanley Cup winner, Olympian, coach, broadcaster, even horse racing impresario. His new book — “Beating The Odds in Hockey and in Life” — sheds light on the highs and lows of his playing career, and the importance of focusing on what matters most before it’s gone.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Top NHL prospect Lafreniere could return from knee injury before world juniors are done]( [Alexis Lafrenière, hurt in Saturday’s loss to Russia, walked without a limp or brace after watching Sunday’s off-day practice in the Czech Republic. Canada plays Germany on Monday.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Suddenly, no lead is safe against Keefe’s comeback Leafs]( [The Leafs were 0-6-1 when trailing after two periods under coach Mike Babcock this season. In their last three games with Sheldon Keefe behind the bench, they’ve trailed going into the third each time and managed to come away with five points.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Wild finish bad news for Patriots with NFL playoff matchups set]( [No playoff bye for defending champion New England, for the first time since 2009.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [Niners hold the line for top playoff seed in Seattle thriller]( [The 49ers needed Dre Greenlaw’s heroics on the final play (and a replay review) to stop an insatiable Seahawks’ rally in the final game of the NFL regular season.]( [Read More [arrow]]( ANALYSIS [The Canadian women’s soccer program has some catching up to do in 2020]( [Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics and bringing home another medal would help erase bad memories of the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Meanwhile, the national men’s team is on the rise under John Herdman after an October breakthrough against the Americans.]( [Read More [arrow]]( [The Canadian Cowboy moved the chains for running backs in 2019]( [Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard led the NCAA in rushing in the regular season, then broke the 2,000-yard mark in the Texas Bowl. Like Andrew Harris of the Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers, Hubbard put Canadian-born running backs front and centre in the discussion of football’s top performers of the year.]( [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](