Maurice Cheeks reunites at Blazers game with national anthem singer he famously helped in full-circle moment

The national anthem has become a staple of major American sporting events, and with versions sung every single night, every sport has its share of infamous performances. One that stands out in NBA history came back in 2003, when the Portland Trail Blazers were hosting the Dallas Mavericks in a first-round playoff game.

Natalie Gilbert, then 13 years old, took center court to sing, but midway through the performance, she forgot the words. Fortunately, she had an eager helper in the form of then-Blazers head coach Maurice Cheeks, who stepped up and encouraged her to keep going.

Cheeks even finished the song alongside her, embracing her afterward and turning what could have been a horrible night into a heartwarming moment that made national news.

Fast forward 22 years and Cheeks is an assistant coach under Tom Thibodeau with the New York Knicks. Those Knicks make only one trip to Portland per year, and the Blazers decided to bring back a very special anthem singer for the occasion.

Gilbert, now 35, stepped onto the floor to once again sing in front of Cheeks. She nailed her performance this time.

The Portland crowd gave Gilbert a rousing ovation after her performance, and the camera even cut to a grinning and applauding Cheeks. Even now, more than two decades later, Gilbert remains thankful to Cheeks for his kindness.

“This moment changed my life. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Gilbert said on the broadcast, according to ESPN. “I would not go back in time and change it at all. Seeing him and seeing that he’s still the standup guy today that he was back then. It’s amazing.”

The age of the internet has made it easier than ever for a single embarrassing moment to snowball into something that defines someone’s life. Were it not for Cheeks, that perhaps could have been the case for Gilbert. Instead, the two were able to give fans in Portland and around the NBA two of the most memorable national anthem renditions the league has ever seen.

Oliver Miller, nine-year NBA veteran and Arkansas star, dies at 54

Oliver Miller, the big man who helped Arkansas reach the Final Four before becoming the No. 22 pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, died Wednesday at 54. Miller, a talented all-around center, spent nine seasons in the NBA, bouncing between five teams.

His death was announced by both the NBA Players Association and the Arkansas basketball program. No cause of death was disclosed, but Arkansas announced that he had cancer during an event honoring its 1990 Final Four team last month.

Known as “The Big O,” the 6-foot-9 Miller reportedly weighed around 380 pounds at his heaviest during his career and is believed to have been one of the heaviest players in NBA history.

Miller grew up in Texas and was recruited to play for Nolan Richardson during his legendary stint at Arkansas. The Razorbacks reached the Final Four in 1990 with Miller as a key piece of their front court, but ultimately lost the national semifinal to Duke. A year later, he won Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors by averaging 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.7 assists per contest. Miller averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds across his four seasons with the Razorbacks.

Miller was drafted by the Suns and began his career as a backup in a Phoenix front court rotation that included Charles Barkley and A.C. Green and was a member of the 1993 team that reached the NBA Finals. He was traded to the Pistons after his second season, and later had his most successful year in during the 1995-96 campaign as a starter for the inaugural season of Toronto Raptors history. Starting 72 games, Miller averaged 12.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest.

That proved to be the peak for Miller, who signed with the Mavericks in the following offseason only to eventually make it back to Toronto. The Raptors held a moment of silence for Miller before their game against Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

“The Toronto Raptors are saddened to learn of the passing of Oliver Miller, who spent three seasons with our organization,” the team said in a statement. “He holds a special place in our history as a member of our inaugural team in 1995, and we are so grateful for all his contributions. We send our deepest condolences to the Miller family.”

Miller would also go on to play for the Kings and Timberwolves along with a number of foreign and minor league teams. He even suited up for the Harlem Globetrotters for two short stints.

For his NBA career, Miller had averages of 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Mikal Bridges game-winner bails out Josh Hart after rare blunder nearly costs Knicks against Blazers

Mikal Bridges made news before the New York Knicks tipped off on Wednesday when he publicly lobbied for head coach Tom Thibodeau to play his starters fewer minutes. As it turned out, the Knicks needed every one of Bridges’ 41 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers.

With Jalen Brunson still sidelined, Bridges took the reins of New York’s offense and scored 33 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer, in what was perhaps his best game with the Knicks.

The game was a classic even before the Bridges dagger, though. It included 42 lead changes in 53 minutes. And were it not for the shot Bridges drilled at the end, we’d remember this game for an entirely different reason. With 7.2 seconds remaining and the Knicks leading 111-110, Josh Hart needed to simply inbound the ball and wait for a teammate to get fouled so New York could extend the lead to two or three.

Instead, he committed one of the rarer violations in all of basketball. Hart moved several steps before he inbounded the ball, which isn’t allowed unless the inbound is coming after a score. This inbound came after the ball went out of bounds on Portland, so Hart was not allowed to maneuver the baseline. As a result of his blunder, the ball went back to the Blazers.

The call was so rare that broadcaster Mike Breen said on the air that he had never seen it at the end of a game in 33 years. The Blazers took advantage. While Mitchell Robinson blocked Deni Avdija on his go-ahead layup attempt, Avdija secured the rebound, made the putback and got fouled in the process.

That gave Portland a 113-111 lead, but with the game on the line, Thibodeau drew up the play for Bridges. He delivered with a game-winning triple.

After the game, Tom Haberstroh noted a somewhat shocking bit of NBA history that came on this Bridges shot. The tracking-era record for most lead changes in a game is 43. That was set in an overtime game between the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks. In that game, Bridges hit a game-winner to secure a 114-113 victory for his team, just as he did tonight in a game that included the second-most lead changes of the tracking era (42).

It’s been an uneven debut season for Bridges with the Knicks. Despite rejoining his Villanova teammates Brunson and Hart, Bridges is having his worst 3-point shooting season since his rookie year. His defense hasn’t been up to its typical standard either, and after the Knicks gave up five first-round picks to get him, expectations were understandably high.

Perhaps this shot is a sign of things to come for Bridges down the stretch with the postseason approaching. If nothing else, Hart owes him a big thank you for the bail out.

DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson suffer concussions as several players exit win over Saints

DeVonta Smith and Lane Johnson were two of several Philadelphia Eagles players that exited Sunday’s 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints. Johnson suffered a concussion and had to leave the game as he was seen throwing up on the Eagles sideline, per the Fox broadcast.

Pam Oliver with an update on Eagles’ Lane Johnson ⬇️

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Fk44KJ2gAj

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 22, 2024
In the second half, Smith was ruled out with a concussion after a hit by Khristian Boyd. Smith did not return after this hit that left him down for several minutes. He did walk off under his own power.

Direct helmet to helmet late hit on DeVonta Smith which left him down on the field motionless. No flag on the play.

pic.twitter.com/dYtFf8RLXB

— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) September 22, 2024
The Eagles had to replace their entire right side of the line after Johnson left with a concussion. Right guard Mekhi Becton left in the second quarter with a finger injury. Tyler Steen went in for Becton at right guard and Fred Johnson filled in for Johnson at right tackle. Per TruMedia, Steen did not allow a pressure in 46 snaps.

In addition to Philadelphia replacing the entire right side of its offensive line, wide receiver Britain Covey was ruled out with a shoulder injury. Covey was hit after a third-down catch when he left the game in the first half and was seen in a sling later in the game.

Darius Slay also left with an undisclosed injury in the fourth quarter after a Trevor Penning continued a block out of bounds. Penning was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Darius Slay down, looks to be in lots of pain. pic.twitter.com/6mxzt1cyeJ

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 22, 2024
The Eagles already had A.J. Brown (hamstring) out and lost three other starters on offense. They finished the game with Jahan Dotson, Parris Campbell and Johnny Wilson at wide receiver. Campbell was a practice squad elevation Saturday. Philadelphia still scored all 15 of its points in the fourth quarter and had 460 yards of offense in the win.

Philadelphia will provide updates on each of these players leading up to next Sunday game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it’s clear the Eagles are banged up.

Giants WR Malik Nabers takes over against Browns in Week 3 with highlight-reel catches, two straight TDs

The New York Giants are doing all they can this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns to avoid an 0-3 start, and first-round pick Malik Nabers appears to be someone who can help the Giants get back into the win column.

The first-year star receiver caught 10 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown in the loss to the Washington Commanders last week, and is having another big performance in Week 3. Nabers sparked two touchdown drives in a row late in the second quarter to get the Giants a 14-point lead at halftime.

On a second-and-8, Nabers turned what could have been a Daniel Jones interception into a 28-yard gain.

This Nabers catch 😲

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/dlgfJSdBbr

— New York Giants (@Giants) September 22, 2024
Just four plays later, Nabers finished off the 14-play, 93-yard drive with a 3-yard, spinning touchdown reception — where he showed off his impressive body control by getting both feet inbounds.

YOU ALREADY KNOW!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Vg7lXDfYqp

— New York Giants (@Giants) September 22, 2024
Malik Nabers is like that 😤

📺: #NYGvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/luCHu3qBib

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
After the Browns fumbled away their next possession, the Giants were set up with great field position at the Cleveland 30-yard line. While New York had just 32 seconds to work with, Nabers picked up 12 yards on the first play of the possession, and then finished off the drive with another touchdown catch — this time a 5-yard grab.

Malik Nabers has another TD! ⭐️

📺: #NYGvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/23mftzurY4

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Nabers has clearly decided to take things into his own hands here in Week 3. By halftime, he had six receptions for 66 yards and the two touchdowns.

Model shares 2024 Week 3 NFL predictions

The Carolina Panthers (0-2) look to turn their season around when they visit the Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) in an NFL Week 3 battle on CBS and Paramount+. Carolina has struggled with former first-overall pick Bryce Young under center and now turns to veteran Andy Dalton to right the ship. Meanwhile, the Raiders head into their first home game of the season after a 26-23 upset win on the road against the Baltimore Ravens. You may be able to stream Sunday’s game live on Paramount+, which you can now try free for the first seven days and get 50% off your first year when you sign up here (expires 9/23/24).

Kickoff from Allegiant Stadium is at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Raiders are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Raiders vs. Panthers odds via SportsLine consensus, and the over/under for total points scored is 40. Sunday’s game will be streamed live on Paramount+ with their must-have Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, which you can now get for 50% off your first year plus a 7-day free trial.

Paramount+ is the only place to watch every minute of every NFL on CBS game this season. A subscription also gives you access to other sports content including the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, NWSL, Serie A, and countless movies and shows. You can now get 50% off one year of Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, plus a free 7-day trial. The offer is valid until 9/23/24, so sign up right here.

How to watch Panthers vs. Raiders
Raiders vs. Panthers date: Sunday, Sept. 22
Raiders vs. Panthers time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Raiders vs. Panthers TV channel: CBS
Raiders vs. Panthers streaming: Paramount+
Week 3 NFL picks for Panthers vs. Raiders
Before tuning into Sunday’s Raiders vs. Panthers game, you need to see the NFL picks from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season on an incredible 187-130 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 41-22 roll on top-rated NFL betting picks since Week 7 of 2022.

For Raiders vs. Panthers, the model is backing Las Vegas to cover the spread at home. Putting Dalton under center won’t completely fix the Panthers’ offense. Las Vegas’ pass defense has also only allowed one touchdown through the first two games of the season and will be extra confident after playing so well against Lamar Jackson in Week 2.

Raiders QB Gardner Minshew is ranked third among starting quarterbacks with 533 passing yards over the first two games of the season. He and Davante Adams should connect plenty of times on Sunday against a Panthers defense that is giving up 364 yards per game on average. You may be able to stream the game here.