Home
 
 
 
 
 
Home

News

Adebayo returns as Heat win 110-96 on Warriors’ day of rest

South Florida Local News - Wed, 11/19/2025 - 19:59

MIAMI — A week ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers returned to Kaseya Center risking that they could win while giving Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley the night off.

They did, the Heat losing by 14.

Wednesday night, the Golden State Warriors took the notion of opposing rest to a higher level, going without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and others on the second night of  their back-to-back set.

The expectations of victory might not have been there, but the fight was, arguably more than expected.

Until the Heat said enough was enough.

Trailing at the start of the final period after leading by 16 earlier, the Heat pushed to a 110-96 victory, lifting their home record to 7-1.

“I think it’s human nature,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of somewhat playing down to the competition. “We jumped out to an early lead and I think it creeps in that it’s going to be an easy game.”

With Bam Adebayo back in the mix, Spoelstra somewhat reshuffled the mix while mindful of Adebayo’s minutes after a six-game absence with a toe strain.

Adebayo closed with 20 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes.

“I felt good, just trying to find a rhythm, let the game come to me, and it did at some point,” Adebayo said.

The Heat also got 25 points from Norman Powell, 17 from former Warriors Andrew Wiggins and seven points and 16 rebounds from Kel’el Ware, who shifted back to a reserve role.

“In the end,” Spoelstra said, “I thought we wore on them.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday  night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat moved to an early 16-point lead amid an 0-for-12 start from the field by the Warriors, before settling in for a 29-20 lead at the end of the opening period. The play remained ragged from there, with the Heat going into the intermission up 49-45.

The Warriors then took their first lead of the game at 60-59 in the third period, up 74-72 going into the fourth.

The Heat pushed back to a 90-78 lead with 5:17 to play after Powell and Adebayo were inserted.

“In the second half I thought our efforts were much better,” Spoelstra said.

But back came the Warriors, closing within 91-85 with 4:16 to play.

Three baskets by Adebayo then quelled the Warriors rally, with Powell and Adebayo combining for 26 of the Heat’s final 29 points.

“Down the stretch he was just really good,” Spoelstra said of Powell. “We put the ball in his hands and ran the pick and roll basically with him and Bam.”

Powell scored 17 in the fourth quarter.

“You saw a more energized group to close out the game,” Powell said. “Tonight, in the fourth quarter I was a recipient.”

2. Adebayo back: Adebayo’s return moved Ware back to the second unit, with Spoelstra otherwise staying with Powell, Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson as his starters.

It was the fourth time Ware played off the bench in his 15 appearances this season.

“Kel’el was really good tonight,” Spoelstra said. “I mentioned that to the team, that it’s not easy to be starting, playing really well, and then come off the bench and have an impact.

“But it was more about the mindset.”

Adebayo essentially picked up where he left off when he converted a 3-pointer early in the first quarter, another in the third and then one in the fourth.

Adebayo had converted at least one 3-pointer in a career-high 19 consecutive games, dating to last season, before he was limited by his toe sprain to just the opening 8:12 on Nov. 5 in Denver.

“We definitely missed him and glad to have him back,” Powell said.

Related Articles

3. Jovic out: Even with Adebayo back, Spoelstra was able to stay with his base rotation, with Nikola Jovic sidelined by a hip impingement.

That essentially had Ware cast in the role that had been held by Jovic.

“It started hurting yesterday in the morning before practice,” Jovic said of Tuesday’s practice. “I went through the practice and it was kind of getting worse and worse. I finished the practice and played some extra, just to go through the reps and I thought it was going to be better. But during the day it got a little worse.

“And today, I felt good. I got some shots up to see how it felt and it did not feel good.”

Jovic said the expectation is just a one-game absence, with the Heat next playing Friday in Chicago.

“Probably just one game, hopefully,” he said.

4. The Golden State who?: With Curry, Butler and Green out, the Warriors also were without Jonathan Kuminga and De’Anthony Melton due to ongoing knee injuries, with Al Horford given off the second night of the back-to-back set.

That had Golden State opening with a lineup of Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard, Moses Moody, Gui Santos and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

The Warriors later cycled through the likes of Quinten Post and Pat Spencer.

Podziemski led Golden State with 20 points,

“I’m really proud of the guys, of the effort, of the fight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

5. On the road again: Next up is an NBA Cup game on Friday night in Chicago, with a loss eliminating the Heat from the opportunity to advance to the knockout round.

The two-game trip then concludes Sunday in Philadelphia.

UCF offensive tackle Paul Rubelt set to wind down career with Senior Day

South Florida Local News - Wed, 11/19/2025 - 19:27

Paul Rubelt stood staring at the blank whiteboard, pen in hand, and immediately knew he was in trouble.

As a freshman offensive lineman, Rubelt was asked by his UCF coaches to diagram the differences between an even and odd front. For someone born and raised in Germany, who didn’t grow up playing American football until his teens, it was all new to him.

“I was standing there thinking: I’m not going to last a year. I don’t know the simplest thing about football,” Rubelt said recently to the Sentinel.

Nearly six seasons later, Rubelt is one of 25 seniors to be honored as part of UCF’s Senior Day on Saturday before the Knights host Oklahoma State at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium in the home finale.

“I knew I wasn’t going to quit,” Rubelt recalled of those early days. “When I start a thing, I’m going to end it, but I did think I might get kicked off the team.”

Rubelt, 25, has gone from being a virtual unknown knocked on his backside in his first practice in 2020 to being a multi-year starter at tackle for the Knights. In an age when a player’s commitment to a school is more like a summer romance, Rubelt has been a cornerstone of the program, having played through three coaching changes and a move to a Power 4 conference.

Knightro may be UCF’s mascot, but Rubelt has been the face of the program throughout much of this season with a happy-go-lucky smile despite the hard times.

UCF offensive tackle Paul Rubelt poses for a photograph with his father, Andreas. Rubelt will be honored before Saturday's game against Oklahoma State as part of Senior Day. His parents and a dozen friends and family will be on hand to help him celebrate. (Photo courtesy of Paul Rubelt)

“He’s been a great anchor for us. He’s like an ambassador for UCF,” said coach Scott Frost. “I know the passion he has for UCF. He’s loved his time here, like most of the guys have, and we’ll be sad to see him go, but I think he has bright things ahead.”

“In the short time that I’ve known him, he’s almost like a brother to me,” said senior running back Myles Montgomery.

It’s hard to miss Rubelt.

At 6-foot-10, he typically stands a head taller than the rest of the UCF players on the practice field, and at 310 pounds, Rubelt is an imposing figure. Yet his cheery disposition and sense of humor also help him stand out.

When asked what fans will most remember him for, Rubelt said, “I’m tall,” followed by a bellowing laugh.

But he quickly gets serious.

“I don’t know what people will remember. Everybody’s different, but what I want people to remember me for is that I’m loyal to the program,” Rubelt said. “That I stand for my word and am a man of my word and I hope everybody thinks I’m a great guy.”

Rubelt’s athletic career began in his hometown of Frankfurt-Oder, where he joined a local swimming club. Eventually, he traded in the pool for the green grass of a football field, playing for the Red Cocks American football club.

He came to America and played his first tackle football at Hiawatha High School near Rockford, Illinois, before eventually earning an offer from former UCF coach Josh Heupel.

It was Heupel, who coached the Knights from 2018-20, who helped out Rubelt in those early days.

“He would give me confidence when I would talk to him,” Rubelt said.

A few years later, it would be head coach Gus Malzahn and offensive line coach Herb Hand who would trust him enough to make him a starter. Rubelt credits Hand’s tutelage for the player he is today.

On Saturday, Rubelt will celebrate his final home game with his parents and about a dozen family and friends who made the trip from Germany.

Rubelt’s father, Andreas, has been in Orlando over the past couple of weeks. He arrived in time to watch Rubelt play in UCF’s Space Game against Houston on Nov. 7. Since then, the 71-year-old musician has been taking in his son’s daily schedule, including watching practice and even enjoying a meal with the offensive line.

UCF offensive tackle Paul Rubelt poses for a photograph with his mother, Kerstin. Rubelt will be honored before Saturday's game against Oklahoma State as part of Senior Day. His parents and several family and friends will be on hand to celebrate the occasion. (Photo courtesy of Paul Rubelt)

“My dad’s not really big into smartphones and stuff like that,” said Rubelt. “I’ve sent him a couple of YouTube clips of game highlights that he can watch. Other than that, he can’t comprehend the game, but he wants to understand. He’s asking the right questions, but it’s hard.”

Still, Andreas remains a proud father.

“Am I the dad? Is this my son?” Andreas said with Rubelt translating. “I knew he was always athletic because he swam and had a pretty good time doing it. I was always with him when he had competitions and I noticed early on that he liked team sports.

“When he started playing football, you could see him starting to embrace it and it fit like a glove.”

Andreas, 71, participated in track and field before eventually choosing a musical career. He picked up a trumpet at 9 years old and has been playing ever since in a variety of bands.

“Because I know about embracing the grind, that’s how he knows I’m his son,” Rubelt added.

Rubelt’s mother, Kerstin, aims to arrive on Friday from Germany along with a group of nearly a dozen friends and family. She’ll be seeing her son play football for the first time, even though she previously attended the 2023 Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa against Georgia Tech; Rubelt didn’t play in that game.

“My mom knows [football] a little bit and my uncle is trying to get into it,” said Rubelt.

It’s been tough for his family and friends back home to watch his games. They can occasionally catch them on a streaming service, but it can be difficult given the 6-hour time difference between the East Coast and Germany.

Rubelt admits he’ll have goosebumps before kickoff on Saturday, especially when taking the field with his parents during the Senior Day celebration.

“For me, football is the greatest thing in the world,” said Rubelt. “People from Germany, not everybody knows about football like that, but I know that when they see it, they’ll think this is just awesome. Everybody’s told me afterward that this is amazing. So let’s hope that’s the case this Saturday.”

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

Trump signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein case files after fighting it for months

South Florida Local News - Wed, 11/19/2025 - 18:28

By SEUNG MIN KIM, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed legislation Wednesday that compels his administration to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to political pressure from his own party after initially resisting those efforts.

Trump could have chosen to release many of the files on his own months ago.

“Democrats have used the ‘Epstein’ issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories,” Trump said in a social media post as he announced he had signed the bill.

Show Caption1 of 5Gary Rush, College Park, MD, holds a sign before a news conference on the Epstein files in front of the Capitol, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Expand

Now, the bill requires the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in a federal prison in 2019, within 30 days. It allows for redactions about Epstein’s victims for ongoing federal investigations, but DOJ cannot withhold information due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”

It was a remarkable turn of events for what was once a farfetched effort to force the disclosure of case files from an odd congressional coalition of Democrats, one GOP antagonist of the president, and a handful of erstwhile Trump loyalists. As recently as last week, the Trump administration even summoned one Republican proponent of releasing the files, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, to the Situation Room to discuss the matter, although she did not change her mind.

But over the weekend, Trump did a sharp U-turn on the files once it became clear that congressional action was inevitable. He insisted the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the GOP agenda and indicated he wanted to move on.

“I just don’t want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the Victories that we’ve had,” Trump said in a social media post Tuesday afternoon, explaining the rationale for his abrupt about-face.

Related Articles

The House passed the legislation on a 427-1 vote, with Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., being the sole dissenter. He argued that the bill’s language could lead to the release of information on innocent people mentioned in the federal investigation. The Senate later approved it unanimously, skipping a formal vote.

It’s long been established that Trump had been friends with Epstein, the disgraced financier who was close to the world’s elite. But the president has consistently said he did not know of Epstein’s crimes and had cut ties with him long ago.

Before Trump returned to the White House for a second term, some of his closest political allies helped fuel conspiracy theories about the government’s handling of the Epstein case, asserting a cover-up of potentially incriminating information in those files.

Asking Eric: I know my toxic brother, the golden child, is going to come after me at this party

South Florida Local News - Wed, 11/19/2025 - 04:23

Dear Eric: I’ve got a family party in a few weeks that I look forward to every year, but I am dreading this one.

Related Articles

Until recently my brother was extremely overweight due to eating far too much and taking no exercise. He was also a very heavy drinker. He’s turned that around now, which is great, although he still has a lot of weight to lose.

The trouble is he’s been criticizing what others eat and drink. Just the smallest comments occasionally about the calorie content of what you eat and what drinking does to you. He even occasionally comments on my size, telling me I have big hips, or I look fat in what I’m wearing.

He has a toxic personality and has always been jealous of everything I’ve done. He doesn’t say these things to be helpful; he says them to be hurtful (if he wasn’t criticizing what I eat and drink, it would be something else).

Obviously, a party has a lot of food and drink, things that you don’t have every day, and people indulge because it’s a rare thing. I intend to enjoy myself at this party and forget about it, just for one night.

I am dreading the comments he is going to make. I am self-conscious about my weight.

If I tell him to stop it the family will turn on me. It’s happened before, as he is the golden child for some reason. It will be made to look like I’m picking on him.

How should I deal with the inevitable comments without causing a scene?

– Wants to Party

Dear Party: It sounds like your brother has a long history of working out insecurity. Unfortunately, he chooses to work it out on others, particularly on you. This isn’t healthy and it won’t help him. But that’s a problem that’s on his side of the street.

In order to enjoy yourself, insulate yourself as much as possible. First, through self-coaching. Remind yourself that his words aren’t coming from a place of care or of truth. Every word is his own lack of self-confidence talking. Reframing the comments internally may lessen their impact slightly.

Second, bring backup. Bring a friend, brief them on your concerns and never leave their side. This may not stop your brother from making his comments, but they may feel different when you’ve got someone right next to you who supports and affirms you.

Dear Eric: My sister Olivia died unexpectedly about a year ago. I received the call. I in turn called my brother and other sister.

Of my family, only Olivia and I were close. My brother bullied us mentally and physically during our childhood.

She has an adult son, who decided to let the state take care of things, as they were both transient. There was no service.

I worked through a tremendous amount of grief and sadness, as well as guilt.

Almost a year later, my brother dropped this bomb that my other sister and I could purchase an urn and that he would make arrangements for a Mass and burial for Olivia. It was more of an order than a request. The bully rose again.

I did not want to do this. I had grieved my sister already and did not want to go through it again.

He went ahead with it. I was floored. Olivia had not been practicing in the faith for years.

My sister texted me asking for pictures for the Mass. I am so angry they are guilting me into this.

I decided to provide a picture display, attend the Mass and quietly leave. I will not attend the gravesite event. I couldn’t handle it.

Am I wrong about this decision?

– Grieving Sister

Dear Sister: We each grieve in our own ways. Often, especially in families, there’s an expectation that the expression of grief will be shared. People often want us to grieve in the ways that they’re grieving so that they feel validated or less alone.

Related Articles

Communal commemoration can be very healing. But if it’s not what you need right now, it doesn’t make sense for you to force yourself to go through it for your brother’s benefit.

Your brother and sister may be feeling guilt over not being more present in Olivia’s life. That’s understandable. And it’s kind of you to help them by providing photos. But your relationship to her in life, and in death, is unique. You’re not doing her a disservice by declining to attend the gravesite event.

You have and will continue to grieve her in your own way. Don’t let yourself be pressured into something that’s going to cause pain. If your brother and sister won’t take no for an answer, that’s on them. It’s not between you and Olivia.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

Miss Manners: What to do when the eulogies run past your bedtime

South Florida Local News - Wed, 11/19/2025 - 04:09

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My sister-in-law’s father died three weeks ago after a long illness, and I’ve been invited to a celebration of life at my brother and sister-in-law’s house. It starts at 7 p.m. on a weekday.

Related Articles

She texted a detailed itinerary that includes a potluck dinner until 9, followed by eulogies and speeches. They’re doing this themselves instead of having a traditional funeral.

Usually, aren’t speeches or services held before a meal, so everyone isn’t forced to stay for hours? I work early the next morning; is there any way I can respectfully leave early?

GENTLE READER: Leaving early will require you to excuse yourself, which means a conversation with either your brother or your sister-in-law. While this could happen at the event, it would be more considerate to clear it beforehand.

Picture this conversation in your mind, using the image of your brother’s face as a guide to whether you can respectfully leave early.

Miss Manners is not suggesting this as a devious way of telling you to stay — she is not that subtle. Rather, she is asking you to use your judgment in a delicate family matter.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I work at a nonprofit that prides itself on being all-volunteer, with no boss. Decisions are made at monthly meetings.

Having worked 35 years at a job with bosses, I understand that dynamic better. With this volunteer group, it seems everyone is in charge, and personal feelings are expressed frequently.

When a decision is made outside of a monthly meeting, I will either abide by it or note that we need to bring it up at the next meeting.

Any advice for dealing with emotional co-workers when you don’t want to proceed as they have told you to, and there is no boss to ask? I believe the understanding is that we are all friends. While I consider some of the volunteers friends, others I do not.

Can you clear up my thinking?

GENTLE READER: Your thinking appears to Miss Manners to be clear, except, perhaps, in holding out hope of any decisions coming out of such an organizational arrangement.

Once you have done your best to accommodate or defer decisions-by-fiat of individual co-workers, the only remaining question is how to deal with the emotional outbursts. As providing counseling is presumably not a requirement for volunteering at your nonprofit, Miss Manners recommends a triage approach based on your own astute observation that these are co-workers, not friends.

Related Articles

The first class of outburst — which we will name “Can I call you an ambulance?” — is for outbursts in which you would be required to intervene if they happened with a stranger at a bus stop.

The second class — “I’m so happy/sorry/interested to hear that. Now, what do you think we should do about this aspect of the project?” — is for everything else, as you attempt to steer things back towards work.

The final class — “Excuse me, I think Sophie needs some help over there with the label making” — is for fleeing when all attempts to get things back on topic have failed.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

ASK IRA: Will Heat’s Spoelstra have to revisit playing Adebayo, Ware together?

South Florida Local News - Wed, 11/19/2025 - 04:05

Q: Hasn’t Bam Adebayo’s injury been very beneficial to Kel’el Ware’s development? Previously Kel’el would be pulled during rough first quarters or wouldn’t play at the end of close games. With Bam out, Kel’el had to stay in the game and grind it out. – Peter, Opa-locka.

A: It would be hard to disagree, based on how Erik Spoelstra has handled the Bam Adebayo-Kel’el Ware situation when both have been available. So it will be particularly interesting to see what follows, now that Kel’el has lifted his recent play. Considering that Bam is averaging 30 minutes a game, it could be back to around 18 for Kel’el. A mitigating factor could be the ongoing struggles of Nikola Jovic, which could perhaps coax Spoelstra to play Ware and Adebayo together at times. But, yes, as you inferred, if Bam was available on Monday night, it likely would have been him, and not Kel’el, getting those minutes down the stretch.

Related Articles

Q: Norman Powell is averaging 26 points per game as the Heat’s leading man. Davion Mitchell is a great defender who is also in the Top 11 in the NBA in assists. Shouldn’t Tyler Herro return as a sixth man instead of upsetting the chemistry of the Heat’s starting backcourt? – Neal, Lauderhill.

A: You certainly could make a case for such a role with Tyler Herro’s streak scoring – but it also is not happening. Tyler has earned a starting role and soon it will be up to Erik Spoelstra to make that work, just as he will have to make the Adebayo-Ware minutes work.

Q: It’s looking more and more like they made a mistake giving Nikola Jovic that extension. Jaime Jaquez Jr. deserves it more. – Ralph.

A: One does not preclude the other. This preseason was an extension window for Nikola Jovic but only a team-option window for Jaime Jaquez Jr., both based on rookie-scale timing. Jaime certainly is playing himself into something lucrative. And, to be fair, so was Nikola, seemingly, when his window opened. But, yes, so far there has been regression.

Epstein, Trump are too much alike | Letters to the editor

South Florida Local News - Wed, 11/19/2025 - 03:00

I’ve been reading all these news articles regarding the sick, narcissistic Jeffrey Epstein.

All of us have had best friends in our lifetime. Anyone from any walk of life who thinks that two best friends didn’t try to duplicate what each other did is more than gullible — it’s stupid, too.

It’s long past due to impeach President Trump for a third time, remove him from office and save America. We all should be on board with this move, as we all are for America and against abusing young women — at least I would hope so.

Jim Tiffin, Coral Springs

A broken Congress Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., makes a statement to reporters without taking questions following a vote in the Senate to move forward with a stopgap funding bill to reopen the government through Jan. 30, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The government is no longer shut down, but Congress is still shut down.

Let’s look at the facts.

The No. 1 issue facing Congress should be finishing the 2025-2026 federal budget.

The last time Congress passed all 12 regular appropriation bills by the Oct. 1 deadline was for fiscal year 1997.

Instead of starting work on the 2026-2027 budget, Congress is still haggling over the current numbers. We have a dysfunctional Congress whose top priority is whether to release the Epstein files. It’s a task without meaningful purpose.

Congress should investigate why it takes almost two years to build a nuclear sub when we need at least 10, or why we can’t build ships or airplanes to meet our military needs.

Congress should ask why replacing Air Force One, begun under Obama, will not be complete until Trump is out of office, possibly in 2029.

This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is a systemic government problem. We should just vote them all out of office and start over.

Doug Cohen, Boynton Beach

Calling all Democrats

Democrats need to get back in the game.

Tribune photo by Nancy StoneWhite House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, left, and senior advisers David Axelrod, center, and Valerie Jarrett, right, listen as President Barack Obama holds a prime-time press conference in the East Room of the White House, marking his 100th day in office.

Let Pete Buttigieg carry the ball, and back him up with David Axelrod, James Carville and David Plouffe.

Raise lots and lots of money and choose young, high-quality candidates for the 2026 midterm election. Give them a left-centered platform that includes housing affordability, women’s rights, the restoration of the Affordable Care Act and SNAP benefits, protecting the Constitution, due process and above all, the truth.

All the things that Trump and Republicans have denied or voted against.

This “New Democratic Party” should embrace thoughts of independents and patriotic Republicans, and Barack and Michele Obama should take an active role as well.

This new campaign can operate on two fronts — calling out Trump and Republican lies and cruelty, and the message of a bright future carried by Democrats and independents.

Mark Lippman, Boca Raton

Truth as a novelty

It has become mandatory: MAGA Republicans have sworn not to believe that the truth is honest, reliable, correct, factual, accurate, frank or sincere.

Their only opinion of the truth is that it is strictly a novelty and should be used very sparingly, if at all.

Donald Kogan, Boca Raton

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length. 

[contact-form]
 
Admin Login