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The United States men's national team is out of the World Cup, and it wasn't pretty. Christian Pulisic struggled to get into the game against Belgium, losing possession eleven times in the first half alone, and goalkeeper Matt Freese handed the Belgians a two-goal lead with a catastrophic lapse that proved impossible to recover from. A brutal exit for a squad that had genuine expectations.
Shifting to Denver, Nikola Jokic has spoken on his future with the Nuggets, and the message is measured but meaningful. The three-time MVP says he'll wait until next offseason to discuss a contract extension, which stops short of demanding a trade but doesn't exactly scream long-term commitment either. Every front office in the league is paying close attention right now.
And some good news out of Los Angeles, where Evan Phillips is back in the Dodgers bullpen after thirteen months away recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander was reinstated off the injured list Monday, giving Dave Roberts a proven arm in high-leverage situations at exactly the right point in the season. The Dodgers needed this one.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
