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New Orleans takes on Chicago on 4-game slide

By The Associated Press

New Orleans Pelicans (8-26, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (15-17, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Chicago; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans comes into the matchup with Chicago after losing four straight games.

The Bulls have gone 8-8 in home games. Chicago ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 54.8 points per game in the paint led by Josh Giddey averaging 9.2.

The Pelicans are 2-11 in road games. New Orleans is fourth in the Western Conference with 12.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Yves Missi averaging 3.0.

The Bulls score 118.3 points per game, 4.5 fewer points than the 122.8 the Pelicans give up. The Pelicans average 10.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.1 fewer made shots on average than the 13.8 per game the Bulls give up.

The two teams match up for the third time this season. The Pelicans defeated the Bulls 114-104 in their last matchup on Dec. 15. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 20 points, and Coby White led the Bulls with 20 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nikola Vucevic is averaging 16.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Bulls. Matas Buzelis is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games.

Murphy is averaging 20.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals for the Pelicans. Zion Williamson is averaging 32 points, two steals and two blocks over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 6-4, averaging 117.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, 30.8 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.2 points per game.

Pelicans: 5-5, averaging 123.4 points, 45.8 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.8 points.

INJURIES: Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Trentyn Flowers: out (knee), Lachlan Olbrich: out (ankle).

Pelicans: Herbert Jones: out (ankle), Dejounte Murray: out (leg).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

NYPD says dozens rescued from human trafficking during World Cup

By WTOP Staff
▶ Watch Video: Inside look at security preparations for World Cup Forty-three people, including seven minors, were rescued from human traffickers during the World Cup matches in the New York City area, according to the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit.The rescue operations were carried out between June 11 and July 19 by specialized NYPD detectives who arrested 89 individuals."The surprise was really the outpouring of support behind the mission and the collaboration with all our partners," said Inspector Gary Marcus, commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit.Those rescued, largely the victims of sex trafficking, are now being supported with an array of social services for the victims, including food, housing and counseling.The 87 operations carried out during the World Cup have generated new leads, officials said, and law enforcement agencies are building more cases based on the investigations already underway."We have ongoing investigations now as a result of these operations," an NYPD official told CBS News.Major sporting events are known to law enforcement as hotbeds of human trafficking.Years in advance, the NYPD devoted significant resources to preparing for the World Cup. Eight matches were played at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, including the final on Sunday."When we talk about the outreach and the prep we do, a large part of that involved visiting the known sex offenders, particularly the known human traffickers, in our registry," Marcus said. "Whether they're on parole or probation for human trafficking, we visited them to make sure they're compliant with the terms of their release, and secondly, to let them know that the NYPD is watching."The matches were held in multiple cities around the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Preparations to secure those games and prepare for crimes like human trafficking were coordinated between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.Police departments in many locations that hosted World Cup matches have made arrests and rescues connected to human trafficking, including in Georgia, New England and Missouri. Nationally, there were more than 673 arrests on human-trafficking charges made during the World Cup, and 61 adults and 13 minors rescued, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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