It is amazing how injuries to several key players can send a season spiraling south. The Warriors were without the four All-Star players Sunday night, and they were slammed by a very young, hungry, and torrid Utah Jazz squad as they fell 110-91. The Jazz are now 23-4 in their last 27 games.
The Warriors were the first NBA team to have four starters named as All-Stars, and it appears that they may also be the first team to have all four All-Stars injured and unable to play at the same time.
The Warriors’ two-time NBA MVP, Steph Curry, injured his medial collateral ligament in his left knee in last Friday’s game against Atlanta. He will be reevaluated by the team’s doctors in three weeks on April 14th. It does not mean he will return to action in the first playoff series as the injury normally takes four to six weeks to heal.
The Warriors need Klay Thompson (broken thumb), Kevin Durant (injured rib cartilage), and Draymond Green (bruised groin and the flu) to return as soon as possible. The Warriors may be facing Utah in the first round, and they will need every able-bodied player to be at full strength to be able to handle Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and company.
The Warriors, coached by Steve Kerr, and the Jazz, coached by Quin Snyder, played a fairly low-scoring first period. The Warriors started five players that had never played together as a unit. All five players had been relegated to the bench during the season.
Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Patrick McCaw, Kevon Looney, and Quinn Cook took the floor for Steve Kerr’s club. They played excellent defense and held the Jazz to just 18 points, while scoring 22 in the first 12 minutes of action.
The Jazz–behind Gobert, Mitchell, and Ingles–outscored the Warriors 35-25 in the second quarter and finished the half leading 53-47. Andre Iguodala led the Warrior offense with nine points. Andre mad all three-point shots he attempted in the first half. Quinn Cook and JaVale McGee each had eight.
The Jazz increased the lead to 23 at the end of the third quarter. They scored 36, and their defense held the Warriors to just 18 points. The Warriors took the fourth quarter, 26-21, but they could not come back from a 23-point deficit.
Game Notes and Stats: The Warriors had just two players that scored double-digit points. Cook led the Warriors with 17 and Iguodala finished with 12. Nick Young and David West had nine apiece while JaVale McGee and Patrick McCaw had eight.
The Jazz had a balanced attack as they had seven players in double figures. Donovan Mitchell had 21, Rudy Gobert 17, Jae Crowder 14, Joe Ingles 14, Dante Exum 13, Ricky Rubio 11, and Derrick Favors 10. The Jazz shot 48.3% from the floor and made 12 3-point shots. The Warriors were held to 41.8% from the floor, and they made six treys in 20 attempts.
Up Next: The Warriors need one more win or one Portland loss to sew up the second seed in the NBA Western Conference. They play the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday night and the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento Saturday night.
Baseball returned to the Bay Area on Sunday afternoon as the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics played the first of three annual Bay Bridge Exhibition Series games at the Coliseum in Oakland. The G-Men came out on top in game of one as they downed the A’s 5-1 before 21,229 fans on very chilly day.
Johnny Cueto made the start for the Giants and Daniel Gossett took the hill for the A’s. If you are a Giants fan you are very happy with the way Cueto pitched especially with the loss of Bumgarner. The big righthander pitched 5.2-innings giving up just one run (earned) on five hits. He struck out six and walked just one batter. Cueto threw 82 pitches (57 strikes). He looks ready to go for the regular season.
The Athletics Daniel Gossett looked good for the first two innings and then ran into some real trouble in the top of the third inning. Gossett gave up three runs off three three hits with the real damage coming from a Buster Posey two-run double that slammed off the center field wall. He would give up a solo run in the fourth inning.
Gossett worked 3.2 innings giving up those four runs (all earned) on five hits. He struck out two and walked one. Gossett threw 78 pitches (47 strikes).
“I thought his stuff was good. Similar to what we saw during regular Spring Training. He just did’t throw enough strikes,”said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “He got himself in a jam and Posey got a big hit … they scored some runs off of it. He has to be a little more efficient with his strikes and get ahead in the count.”
The A’s used six pitchers in the contest:
Yusmeiro Petit worked 1.1 scoreless innings giving up no hits.
Daniel Coulombe struck one and walked one but did not give up a hit in his one inning on the mound.
Liam Hendricks posted all zeros in his inning on the hill. Melvin said it was his best outing of the training season.
Raul Alcantara struggled in his one inning giving up one run on one hit. The hit was a home run to the Panda – Pablo Sandoval. Melvin indicated Alcantara has to start throwing his breaking ball for strikes.
Simon Castro closed out the game by giving up no runs on no hits while striking out two and walking one.
There were not the many highlights on offense. The A’s only run came in the bottom of third inning when Dustin Fowler led off the inning with base hit. After Joyce came close to hitting one of out the park to deep center field, Semien grounded out to short and that moved Fowler into scoring position at second base. Jed Lowrie then hit a single up the middle and the speedy Fowler raced home to score the only run of the game for the Athletics.
The totals in game for the Giants were five runs, seven hits and no errors while the A’s posted one run, six hits and two errors. San Francisco is now 14-15 for the spring and Oakland falls to 13-15.
The two meet in San Francisco on Monday night.
Athletics Current Roster
Khris Davis is ready for the season to begin Photo: @Athletics
The A’s have 17 pitchers, seven infielders, seven outfielders and three catchers for a total of 34 players. That number must be cut to 25 by Thursday. Look for Oakland to keep 13 pitchers, 10 position players and 2 catchers.
Due to injuries, the A’s are down to five starting pitchers by default. It appears the bullpen will receive maximum usage this season. The team did work at upgrading the relief corps in the off-season and now it appears it is a good thing they did with the injuries to the starters.
Who will play center field?
The battle is between Dustin Fowler, Boog Powell and Jeff Smolinski. Powell saw action with the A’s in 2017 playing in 29 games and hitting .282 including three home runs. He also played in 23 games for the Seattle Mariners before being traded to Oakland. Smolinski appeared in 16 games for the Athletics batting .259 with an OPS .607.
The Athletics acquired Fowler from the New York Yankees in the Sonny Gray trade. Fowler appeared in one game for the Yankees which is the total of his MLB experience. When Fowler was traded, he was on the disabled list with a ruptured right patellar tendon. He came off the DL last November.
Powell is hitting .250 for the spring with an OPS of .665. He has hit two home runs and two stolen bases. Fowler is batting .195 in 41 trips to the plate this spring. He has not hit a home run but has recorded four RBI and has three stolen bases. His OPS is .471.
Smolinski has hit .289 this spring with an OPS of 1.003. He has hit four home runs and recorded 13 RBI. Those are some numbers that may be hard to ignore
This appears to be a battle between power and speed. The advantage that Fowler possesses is his speed which can be a real asset on defense and could be a real help on offense if he could use that speed to get into scoring position. The problem is the on-base-percentage of .227. If that OBP is over .350, now that speed becomes a weapon.
The fact is the experience and offensive production of Powell and Smolinski gives them a real advantage in staying with the “big club” on Thursday and beyond. The A’s need Fowler to develop into a leadoff hitter who can get on base by the base hit, bunt or base-on-balls. He probably needs some time at Triple-A to work on those skills.
After the game on Sunday, Bob Melvin had this to say about Fowler, “He’s doing a nice job and he’s starting to swing the bat better. He’s starting to hit the ball the other way which means he’s getting on top of the ball and more on track. Early in the spring that wasn’t the case. His bats are getting better and better.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Boston Celtics came into Sacramento on Sunday. The last time the Sacramento Kings played here at Golden 1 Center, it was locked down due to protests.
On Sunday, however, the doors opened without any incidents as fans funneled in to see the Kings take on the Celtics.
These two teams could not be having different seasons. The Kings came into Sunday’s matchup at 24-49. Meanwhile, the Celtics are in second place in the Eastern Conference and have a record of 49-23. Sunday’s matchup was set for tip-off at 3:00 pm PST.
The Celtics won the tipoff and they were underway at 3:10 pm. The first four minutes were not very crisp basketball. Both the Kings and the Celtics tried to keep a handle on the ball. Willie Cauley-Stein was fouled with 6:29 to play in the first quarter and gave the Kings a 10-9 lead.
With 3:23 to go in the quarter, De’Aaron Fox slammed a dunk home with absolute authority. That followed by a three ball from Skal Labissiere put the Kings up 21-17. Both teams ended the first quarter with the Kings leading 27-24.
In the second quarter, the Celtics and Kings duked it out on the court. Not to mention that Duke and Kansas were also going at it during March Madness. Nearly at the halfway point in the second, the Kings had a 38-33 lead. Cauley-Stein and Bogdan Bogdanovic teamed up for a flashy alley-oop to give the Kings a 50-43 lead with 2:58 to go in the first half. The Kings added 10 more points before the end of the half to make it a 60-52 lead going into halftime.
The third quarter was when the Celtics retook the lead. Before they had even reached the halfway point in the third, the Celtics stormed back to snatch the lead. They continued to put up points, and at the 2:46 mark, the Celtics had a 74-68 lead. Buddy Hield was fouled with 1:01 to play in the third, and pulled the Kings within two, 78-76. At the conclusion of the third, the Celtics led 80-78.
In the fourth quarter, both teams would struggle to score with only 6:45 to play the game as the Celtics were on top 88-84 Celtics. Mason got a layup to fall to pull the Kings within two, 88-86. Though, the Celtics started to pull away, making the game a 97-86 match with 3:47 to play. The Celtics extended that lead to make it 104-91 with one minute to play.
At that point, the Kings conceded the game and the final was 104-93 Celtics over the Kings.
What’s Next?
The Kings stay home to host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at 7:00 pm PST.
The Celtics continue their road trip and head to Phoenix to face the Suns on Monday at 7:00 pm PST.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Barracuda aimed to rebound from their previous loss prior to their tilt with the Tuscon Roadrunners at SAP Center Sunday.
Things appeared to be bright for the Cuda, who killed their first penalty (Jacob Middleton for high-sticking at the 13:18 mark of the first period) and then Alex Schoenborn scored his first goal on the season with 9:21 left in the first. Caleb Herbert picked up the lone assist on Schoenborn’s goal.
The Cuda took a 2-0 lead with 4:28 left in the first. Julius Bergman scored on the power play for his ninth goal on the season. Bergman fired a shot to beat Roadrunners goalie Adin Hill. Assists went to Radim Simek and Manuel Wiederer.
The Cuda led the Roadrunners 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. However, shots were 8-6 in favor of Tuscon.
The Roadrunners finally got on the board to cut the Cuda’s lead in half 2-1 at the 16:50 mark of the second period. Lawson Crouse scored his 10th goal on the season. Assists went to Mike Sislo and Dakota Mermis.
The Cuda immediately made it a 3-1 game just 2:12 later. Wiederer scored his seventh goal on the season. Emerson Clark picked up the lone assist on Wiederer’s goal.
The Cuda held onto their 3-1 lead through 40 minutes of play. Shots were tied at 16 apiece.
Well, the Roadrunners have come back from two-goal deficits in the past, so there was a chance that they might do it again. Not this time though.
Roadrunners’ Ryan MacInnis brought his team within one, 3-2, with his fifth goal of the season just 20 seconds into the third period. Assists went to Tye McGinn and Dysin Mayo.
Cuda goalie Stephon Williams made quality saves throughout the game. Williams finished with 27 saves in San Jose’s win.
The Cuda escaped with a 3-2 win over the Roadrunners.
For the Roadrunners, Hill allowed three goals on nine shots before being pulled in favor of Hunter Miska, who stopped all 20 shots he faced.
Three stars of the game
1. Manuel Wiederer
2. Lawson Crouse
3. Alex Schoenborn
Notes
Cuda starters: Stephon Williams, Radim Simek, Manuel Wiederer, Julius Bergman, Jon Martin and Emerson Clark.
Roadrunners starters: Adin Hill, Andrew Campbell, Tye McGinn, Dysin Mayo, Lawson Crouse and Ryan MacInnis.
Up Next
The Cuda kick off their brief, two-game road trip with a game against the Griffins this Friday at 4:00 pm PST.
OAKLAND — It may be just an exhibition game, but whenever the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s get together, it is always a good time.
Buster Posey hit a two-run double in the top of the third inning that scored Gregor Blanco and Nick Hundley, as the Giants took the first game of the Bay Bridge Series with a 5-1 victory over the A’s before a crowd of 21,229 at the Coliseum.
The Giants added another run in the inning, as Joe Panik scored on a sacrifice fly by Pablo Sandoval.
Jed Lowrie got the A’s on the board in the bottom of the inning, as he singled to centerfield to score Dustin Fowler.
Stephen Duggar robbed Matt Joyce of a potential home run, as the center fielder went over the wall to bring the ball back into play.
Johnny Cueto looked great in his final preseason start, as he went five and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking one and striking out six.
Sandoval put the game out of reach in the top of the eighth inning, as he launched a Raul Alcantara offering onto the stairs in right field for his fourth home run of the spring.
NOTES: With the victory, the Giants improved to 14-16-2 this spring season.
When the Giants open the season on Thursday at Dodger Stadium, this will be the 31st meeting between the two rivals on Opening Day since 1900 and the records between to the two teams is 15-15.
Madison Bumgarner suffered a displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal on his left hand after getting hit by a Whit Merrifield line drive on Friday.
Jeff Samardzija was diagnosed with a strained pectoral muscle and will rest for 10 days before beginning to throw again.
UP NEXT: The Bay Bridge Series between the Giants and A’s will shift to AT&T Park Monday night at 7:15 pm PST.
Families and students gather at the Gentile Arena for “Family Mass” August 21, 2014, where Father Michael Garanzini proclaimed Sister Jean Delores Schmidt, BVM Day, also her 95th birthday. | Sun-Times files
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image from chicagonow.com: 2013 circa photo of retired Chicago Blackhawk Danny Carcillo who is leading a class action suit with former NHL players in a concussion lawsuit against the NHL
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With the regular season starting in just five days, the San Francisco Giants have returned to Northern California after breaking camp in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Before their exhibition ending three-game series against the Oakland A’s beginning on Sunday at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Giants headed 90 miles north to Sacramento, the state capital of California, to face the Sacramento Rivercats.
Shaun Anderson started the game for the Giants, as he went 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned), not walking a batter and striking out four. However, he did not fare in the decision.
Jerry Sands hit a two-run home run off of Cory Gearrin in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Rivercats hung on to defeat the Giants 6-5 at Raley Field.
D.J. Snelten struck out the side in the top of the sixth inning to pick-up the victory for the Rivercats, who open the season on April 5 against the Tacoma Rainiers.
In his only inning of work, Gearrin gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and walked two, before giving way to Jose Valdez.
Despite giving up two hits in the top of the ninth inning, Reyes Moronta struck out the side to pick-up the save for the Rivercats.
The Giants played their regulars Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, Andrew McCutchen, Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Hunter Pence, Pablo Sandoval, Austin Jackson and Nick Hundley went a combined 7-for-23 against Rivercats pitching.
Kelby Tomilnson went 1-for-2, as did Jordan Arenado, the younger brother of Colorado Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado.
NOTES: Madison Bumgarner underwent surgery on his left pinkie, where pins were inserted into the hand. Bumgarner will miss six to eight weeks.
UP NEXT: The Giants and A’s begin their annual Bay Bridge Series on Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum, before heading across the Bay to finish the last two games at AT&T Park.
SAN JOSE — For their third match of the 2018 season, the San Jose Earthquakes took on the visiting Club Léon, to whom they fell 1-0.
Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski came close to a breakaway goal just over a minute into the first half before he was called offsides. After receiving a smooth pass from Quincy Amarikwa, Magnus Eriksson attempted a shot with much force at the net at the seventh minute, which went over the bar. Léon’s Landon Donovan, a former Earthquake, broke the scoring silence at the 19-minute mark when he struck the ball past Quakes starting goaltender Andrew Tarbell.
The board remained scoreless for the remainder of the match with both teams having subbed out several starters from the 46th minute to the 74th minute and received numerous good scoring chances accompanied by good defense. Léon took home the 1-0 victory.
Donovan, who scored the game’s only goal (the game-winner), is known to be the greatest American men’s soccer player. He was on a loan with San Jose from 2001 to 2004 and helped lead the Quakes to MLS Cup wins in 2001 and 2003.
The Quakes will return to Avaya Stadium on Saturday, March 31 to face New York City FC. Kick-off is at 4:45 p.m. PDT.
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