The Warriors finished 2018 as they routed the young and improving Phoenix Suns 132-109. The Warriors won their 17th in a row over the Suns and eighth straight in Phoenix. The Warriors won all four quarters of the game, but it was midway through the second quarter with the second unit on the floor as they caught fire and put the game away. The Warriors finished the first quarter with a four-point lead 31-27. They ended the first half leading by 17, 69-52.
The Warriors refused to let the Suns back in the game. They won the third quarter 39-32 and also the fourth quarter 24-22.
Steph Curry led the Warriors with 34 points, 4 rebounds and, nine assists. Kevin Durant helped out with 25. Klay Thompson added 15. Draymond Green had 7 points and 7 assists and was plus-20 when he was on the floor. The Warriors’ bench contributed 46 points Monday night and that effort put a big smile on Steve Kerr’s face.
The big rookie, 7-foot 1-inch Deandre Ayton, from the University of Arizona knocked down 25 points. T.J. Warren added 24, Devon Booker 20, and Kelly Oubre, Jr. 15.
The Warriors, as a team, shot 54.8% from the floor and were 14-for-28 from 3-point range. The Warriors’ defense outrebounded the Suns and the defense had 7 steals and 8 blocked shots during the contest.
The Warriors improved to 25-13 while the Suns drop to 9-29. The Warriors return home to play the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena The Rockets, after a slow start, are now 21-15 and are in first place in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. Game time will be at 7:30 pm.
Both teams combined for 13 goals as the Flames Calgary was the victor in an 8-5 match versus the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Saddledome Monday on New Year’s Eve.
The Flames started and ended the game the same way with three goals in the opening and closing periods. Except for San Jose’s one goal in the first, both teams had multiple goals in each period.
Calgary maintained their lead atop the Pacific Division, now separating themselves from the Vegas Golden Knights in points with 52.
For the Flames, Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau each had two goals and two assists, Mikael Backlund had two goals, Elias Lindholm had a goal and two assists and Sean Monahan led all with a whopping five assists. Joonas Donskoi had two goals for the Sharks.
Each team had at least one power play goal and traded goals except for two straight to end the first period and three straight in the third.
Backlund started the party early at home, just 1:10 into the game, finding goalie Aaron Dell’s open left side. Michael Frolik got the second assist after the puck hit him when Brent Burns was trying to clear.
Lukas Radil tied it up at 6:53.
However, Backlund, Frolik and Tkachuk struck again at 10:55, with Backlund at the helm once more to make it 2-1. Frolik and Tkachuk switched places with the assists.
Calgary created their first two-goal lead when Tkachuk scored off the game’s first power play at 17:24.
Burns tallied the match at 3-2 with Joe Pavelski, also on the power play, at 3:55 of the second.
Tkachuk played spoiler though at 10:47 with his second of the game.
The last two goals of the second came with under two minutes. Donskoi earned his first goal at 18:22 and in return, Lindholm potted the puck at 19:33.
Both sides saved the most goals for last with a total of five in the third period.
Donskoi’s second goal 48 seconds in marked the beginning.
The Flames then scored three straight goals in just under 3:30. James Neal scored at three minutes and then Gaudreau scored his 20th and 21st goals at 5:48 and 6:29.
Joe Thornton made sure to at least end the game with a San Jose goal, as he put the puck past goalie David Rittich at 13:15. This was the Sharks’ second power-play goal.
That was not all however. With less than 30 seconds in the game, Calgary’s Sam Bennett committed a controversial hit on Radim Simek before fighting Barclay Goodrow.
Up Next: The Sharks’ first game of the New Year will come January 2 versus the Colorado Avalanche at 6:30 pm.
SANTA CLARA — Six is by no means a magic number. Just ask Coach Mark Dantonio and Michigan State, they’ll tell you.
But six is Michigan State’s number, they earned it, and with their 2018 football season concluded, they have to live with as well.
It’s not a comfortable union.
The Spartans, blessed with the nation’s top-rated run defense, stymied Oregon and quarterback Justin Herbert for three quarters only to see the Ducks squeeze a fourth quarter touchdown out of an afternoon stuck in neutral, then make it stand up in their 7-6 victory in Monday’s Redbox Bowl at Levi’s Stadium.
The Spartans loss marked the third time in their final four games they got a whale of an effort defensively, only to see their offense sputter to the extent they managed just two field goals all game. In each case, the MSU offense was put in position to make winning plays late only to fail miserably on all three occasions.
“Never got that bust-out play,” Dantonio said. “You’re not going to win many games scoring six points.”
Not only did the Spartans fail to register any big-gainers, they made far too many mistakes, especially in their kicking game which had two, fourth quarter shots at a kicking a potential, game-winning field goal only to flub both.
Other than play lights out defense for three quarters–and hold the Ducks 30 points below their 37 points per game average–the finest moment for Michigan State may have come in the postgame presser in which Dantonio and four of his players maintained a united front and declined to point any fingers pitting their stout defense against the anemic offense.
“We’ve had ups and downs this season, but that’s what you’re gonna have in life. You have to take the lows with the highs,” said MSU linebacker Andrew Dowdell.
Knowing the Redbox Bowl matchup would lean heavily towards both defenses, the Spartans spent the five weeks of preparation revamping their offensive scheme in hopes of cooking up a couple of difference-making touchdowns.
With junior quarterback Brian Lewerke back from injury–and playing his first full game since October 20 against Michigan–the Spartans ran their offense at much faster tempo and frequently utilized bubble screens and short passes designed to go for big yardage if the Ducks failed to tackle one-on-one.
But the Ducks did tackle, and Lewerke’s 18 incompletions on 40 pass attempts didn’t get the Spartans moving consistently enough. In the end, Michigan State punted too often (seven times), failed to convert a pair of fourth down opportunities, and saw a 50-yard field goal attempt with 1:43 remaining in the game turn into the follies when Lewerke mishandled the snap.
“The ball kind of hit my hand on top of the ball. I tried to make something happen. That’s what happens,” Lewerke recounted.
Dantonio admitted afterwards injuries throughout the season on the offensive side of the ball weighed heavily on his club. Besides Lewerke’s absence, the receiving corps was thinned, and without a true number one on the outside, the remaining pass catchers lacked quickness and failed to get separation from opposing secondaries.
All that adversity combined meant too much pressure fell on prolific tailback LJ Scott. On Monday, Scott drew plenty of attention from the Ducks, who limited him to 86 yards on 24 carries.
To Oregon’s credit, they stayed the course. And that wasn’t an easy feat with their standout quarterback and top NFL prospect Justin Herbert bumping his head far too often with the game with the Spartans’ defense.
“We felt like it was going to be that kind of game just watching them on defense,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said. “We kept battling and battling. You take a victory whether it be one point, two points or 50 points.”
In what resembled an old wild, wild west shoot out, the San Jose Barracuda needed all four-second period goals to hold on late to upend the Stockton Heat 6-5 on New Year’s Eve at Stockton Arena.
San Jose (19-6-1-3) drew first blood in the first five minutes of the game in a seesaw first period. Jayden Halbgewachs collected the puck at the far side, circled around the net and centered the puck over to Alex True, who beat Heat goalie Tyler Parsons (3-3-0) for his 10th goal of the season at the 5:36 mark. Jacob Middleton received the secondary assist.
Stockton (14-15-3-0) evened it up on the power play just over two minutes later. Curtis Lazar moved the puck over Matthew Phillips who threaded a pass over to Kirby Rychel and he buried the puck from point-blank range past Cuda goalie Josef Korenar (13-1-1) 15th goal of the season at the 7:47 mark.
The Cuda regained the lead when Maxim Letunov skated into the Heat zone from the neutral zone went up high and then down low, very similar to Halbgewachs, and fed a pass over to Manny Wiederer, who buried the puck past Parsons for his eighth goal of the season at the 16:47 mark.
However, like the first lead, the second one would be short-lived as well. Rob Hamilton fed a pass over Buddy Robinson, whose shot deflected off the left pad off Korenar. Brett Pollack was in front to clean up the rebound for his second goal of the season at the 17:34 mark. Pollack has two goals in last four games.
Jon Martin gave the Cuda their third lead at the beginning of the second period on a 3-on-2 odd man rush. Halbgewachs led the rush and drop passed the puck over to the Martin who snapped a wrister past Parsons inside the far post for his fourth goal of the season at the 1:49 mark. True received the secondary assist.
Phillips tied it up for the third straight time when his initial shot was stopped by Korenar, but he followed up on his rebound and put it through the five-hole of Korenar for his ninth goal of the season. The rookie forward is on a six-game point streak.
Vincent Praplan gave San Jose their fourth lead when he skated down the left-wing side, went behind the net and his wrap-around shot sneaked past underneath the pad of Parsons for his second goal of the season at the 8:56 mark. Captain John McCarthy and Dylan Gambrell were credited with assists.
Halbgewachs gave the Cuda their first two-goal lead of the game just 15 seconds later. Spencer Foo’s shot off a face off was blocked and True sprung a pass out that led to a breakaway for Halbgewachs, who put a deke on Parsons and snapped the puck in the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season at the 9:11 mark. It was Halbgewachs’ first goal in his last nine games. Martin received the secondary assist.
Praplan padded the lead for San Jose with his second goal of the night. He ended up with the puck out of a scramble in front of the net was able to beat Parsons for his third goal of the season at the 17:06 mark. The sixth goal allowed by Parson would be enough to send him to the showers for the rest of the night. He was replaced by Jon Gillies. Anti Suomela and Calvan Fitzgerald were credited with assists.
Stockton inched closer at the beginning of the third period with their second power play goal. Hamilton sent in an innocent looking wrist shot on net that had eyes of its own as Korenar never saw the puck and was in the back in the net for Hamilton’s third goal of the season at the 2:55 mark. It was his first goal in his last 12 games. Phillips and Rychel received assists.
Ryan Lomberg made it a one-goal game when he was able to poke the puck past Kornear in a mad scramble, where Korenar lost vision of the puck. Lomberg’s third goal of the season came at the 11:38 mark. left pad over and into the back of the net. Alan Quine received the only assist.
Korenar made 21 saves on 26 shots, including a huge save on Phillips with just seconds remaining to preserve the win, to earn his 13th victory of the season and seventh in a row. Parsons suffered the loss giving up six goals on 31 shots. Gillies stopped all 14 shots he faced in 22 minutes of mop up duty.
GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0/2 on the power play. Stockton was 2/2.
In seven games against San Jose, Rychel has scored eight points (6G, 2A).
The announced attendance was 3,450.
UP NEXT: San Jose continues their three-game road trip in San Diego as they take on the Gulls on Friday, January 4 at 7:00 pm.
ALAMEDA, Calif — The Raiders have found their new general manager in NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, the organization announced on Monday. Considered as a draft expert, Mayock will work hand-and-hand with head coach Jon Gruden in preparing for the upcoming draft in May.
News of Mayock’s hiring was first reported by NFL Network.
“Mike and I go back about 20 years to 1995 when I was with the Eagles,” Gruden said during a news conference Monday. “We’ve been friends and associates for a long time. … I don’t know anybody who knows and loves (football) like Mike.”
Mayock, 60, replaces former general manager Reggie McKenzie, who was fired by Oakland on Dec. 10, in what turned out to be disappointing season that saw the team trade away All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack (to Chicago) and former fourth-overall pick in wide receiver Amari Cooper (to Dallas).
Both Mack and Cooper were instrumental in their teams winning their respective divisions and qualify for the playoffs, were drafted by McKenzie.
In his six-plus seasons as general manager of the Raiders, McKenzie compiled a 39-70 record and one playoff appearance. Whispers around the organization about McKenzie’s control as the final decision-maker began to surface once the Raiders signed Gruden to a 10-year contract for $100 million last year.
Back in September, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Gruden had his own staff of people that would help him evaluate talent and make decisions, separate from McKenzie, who had his own team of scouts and evaluators.
“I’m really happy to be here,” Mayock said. “I’ve probably had over 300 text messages [since behind hired by the Raiders]. A couple of them are like Archie Manning going, ‘you guys are a great fit.’ And the more I was just kind of scrolling through, all these football guys were reaching out and saying ‘you and Gruden are a great fit.'”
Mayock began his tenure at the NFL Network in 2004, and should bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Silver and Black. Mayock is well-known for his sharp eye in evaluating draft prospects and analytics. His extensive scouting reports and mock drafts are well respected around the NFL.
Oakland finished the 2018 season 4-12, own three first-round picks in next year’s draft.
Information from the NFL Network was utilized in this report.
SANTA CLARA — Justin Herbert changed the Redbox Bowl with just one toss to Dillion Mitchell and the Oregon Ducks.
Herbert threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell early in the fourth quarter, as the Ducks defeated the Michigan State Spartans 7-6 at Levi’s Stadium.
The Spartans dropped a chance to possibly win the game, as Brian Lewerke was unable to hold onto the ball on a potential game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter.
Herbert, who announced last week that he was returning to Eugene for another year, threw for 166 yards and stretched his streak to 28 games for touchdown passes.
“We felt like it was going to be that kind of game just watching them on defense,” said Ducks head Mario Cristobal. “We kept battling and battling. You take a victory whether it be one point, two points or 50 points. These guys found a way to get it done.”
The Ducks crossed midfield only three times and were not able to get on the scoreboard until Herbert found Mitchell for the only touchdown of the game.
Late in the game, the Spartans were getting ready for a potential game-winning 50-yard field goal; however, Lewerke, who is also the holder, was unable to hold to the ball, then tried to run, but then threw an incomplete pass near the Ducks sideline.
“It’s one that I have to come up with,” Lewerke said. “The ball kind of hit my hand on top of the ball. I tried to make something happen. That’s what happens.”
Following a three-and-out by the Ducks, the Spartans got the ball back, as they got the ball back at their own 42; however, Lewerke’s pass on 4th-and-12 was knocked down by Ducks cornerback Thomas Graham to secure the victory for the Ducks.
On the afternoon, Lewerke went 22-for-40 for 172 yards with an interception, as the Spartans were unable to get into the end zone for the third time in their past four games.
LJ Scott carried the ball 24 times for 84 yards, as he ended his Spartans career with a one-point defeat. Scott, who played in just five games decided against redshirting and is leaving East Lansing, as he declared for the NFL draft earlier this month.
Matt Coghlin kicked two 34-yard field goals to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead until Herbert found Mitchell for the game-winning touchdown. Coghlin missed a 50-yard field goal.
“We never got that bust-out play,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. “You’re not going to win many games scoring six points.”
Mitchell ended the day with six catches for 70 yards, as he set the single season school record with 1,184 yards, breaking the record set by Josh Huff in 2013, as he gained 1,140 yards.
NOTES: Defensive end Kenny Willekes left the game in the third quarter on a cart, as he broke his left fibula. On the season, Willekes led the Spartans in sacks with 8.5.
UP NEXT: The Spartans will open the season at Spartan Stadium on August 31 against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, December 31, 2018
Stanford did its part to defend the honor of the Pac-12 Conference Monday, squeaking out a 14-13 victory over Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl at El Paso, Texas.
The Cardinal finished its season 9-4, and played the game without star running back Bryce Love, who sat out the game to prepare for the NFL Draft. Pitt wound up 7-7.
Stanford won, despite being held to 208 yards of total offense, and converting only 1 of 10 third downs.
The Cardinal were trailing 13-7 when, with 11:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, quarterback K.J. Costello tried to score from the Pitt 1-yard line, but fumbled. The ball was recovered in the end zone by Cameron Scarlett, who filled in for Love.
Jet Toner’s PAT kick provided the margin of victory. Bobby Okereke racked up five tackles with a sack and a pass break up. Sean Barton added a team-high eight tackles.
The Panthers opened the scoring early in the second quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Alex Kessman. Stanford took its first lead at 7:39 on Scarlett’s 1-yard plunge, putting the Cardinal up 7-3.
A 6-yard touchdown run by Darrin Hall put Pitt ahead 10-7 with 2:32 remaining in the half.
Pitt extended its lead to 13-7 on Kessman’s 28-yard field goal with 8:13 left in the third quarter.
Costello completed 6 of 17 passes for 105 yards and no interceptions. Scarlett gained 94 rushing yards on 22 carries while scoring both Cardinal touchdowns. Dorian Maddox averaged 5.8 yards on four attempts.
JJ Arcega-Whiteside caught 3 passes for 94 yards.
Hall gained a game-high 123 rushing yards for the Panthers on 16 attempts. Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett threw for 136 yards on 11 of 29 passing. Taysir Mack caught four passes for 68 yards, and Maurice Ffrench snared 5 passes for 49 yards.
Oregon celebrates after winning the Redbox Bowl (Photo by Eric He)
By: Eric He
SANTA CLARA – 24 hours ago, the future of the Oregon football program was in limbo. With Mark Richt’s surprising retirement from Miami on Sunday, rumors swirled around Mario Cristobal returning to coach at his alma mater.
Would he spurn the Ducks, hours before they were to play in the Redbox Bowl — and, more importantly, leave a program after bringing in the nation’s sixth-ranked recruiting class in 2019?
The answer was clear to Cristobal. On the bus on the way to practice on Sunday, he heard the chatters.
“It got a little bit noisy,” he said. “Felt it was good to address it before it became noisy.”
So he called a team meeting, and told his players in no uncertain terms: “This is where I want to be. There was no waffling. It was put to bed quickly.”
Coupled with a 7-6 win over Michigan State on Monday at Levi’s Stadium, the 24-hour period went from potentially catastrophic to one worth celebrating. Tack on quarterback Justin Herbert’s announcement last week that he would return for his senior season, and 2018 could not have ended on a higher note for Oregon.
“Games like that typically have not gone in our way over the last few years,” Cristobal said. “This culture has changed the program. I feel like we’re just getting started.”
The game itself was nothing to write home about.
For three quarters, Herbert and the high-powered Oregon offense was stymied: 11 drives, 10 punts.
But for one drive early in the fourth, it came together. There were two first-down passes to Jaylon Redd. Then, two strikes to Herbert’s favorite target, Dillon Mitchell — the latter a 28-yard perfect throw in the back of the end zone.
Six plays, 77 yards, a minute and 40 seconds. Paydirt, and a 7-6 lead.
That drive wiped out a frustrating offensive performance for the Ducks. They managed just 203 yards of total offense. Their run game was stifled by the Spartans’ No. 1 rushing defense, which held Oregon to 37 yards on 27 carries. They did not cross midfield until the fourth quarter. They held the ball for nearly 15 fewer minutes than Michigan State.
Herbert, too, was rattled by the Spartans’ defense. He completed 19-of-33 passes for 166 yards, his second-lowest total of the season. But the projected top selection in the 2019 NFL Draft before his decision found a way on that one key drive.
“Things haven’t always gone our way this year, but we battled through together,” Herbert said. “We won our championship today.”
Oregon, which finishes its season with a 9-4 record, is a program on the rise. According to Cristobal, it starts with the culture change on the team.
“I can’t speak enough about these guys and what they represent as competitors,” Cristobal said. “I’m not an old man but I’m not a young man. You’re not going to find guys like this. It’s great to see them achieve that next-level success and continue elevating the program.”
Cristobal continued: “If they showed up on the bus by themselves without a coaching staff, they could get the job done.”
On the field, in a nationally-televised interview, Cristobal affirmed his commitment to Oregon.
“I’m a Duck,” he said, to rousing cheers.
The players followed with a chant: “Cristo-bal, Cristo-bal, Cristo-bal.”
Cristobal is back. Herbert is back. The incoming recruiting class is tops in the Pac-12.
#1 The Cal Bears had a 18-point deficit on Saturday against the Seattle Redhawks (12-3) and rallied, but just couldn’t get the win.
#2 It was stated for Cal, the loss marks one of the darkest days for the Bears. Why is that?
#3 Bears head coach Wyking Jones said that he has to do a better job preparing the team from now on. Morris works he tells us what steps Jones has to take to get ready for a game.
#4 Seattle helped top the Bears with Morgan Means’ 24 points and Myles Carter’s 26 points. Once you have two players shooting in the 20s, that could do a lot of damage to your defense.
#5 The Bears host the UCLA Bruins for a Thursday night thriller to open the Pac 12
Photo credit: sacbee.com Kings loss in Los Angeles at Staples Center on Sunday
On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Charlie O:
#1 How stunning was it for the Kings being able to beat the Lakers 127-118 last Thursday night?
#2 Leading scorers for the Kings in the first half included Willie Cauley-Stein (11 points), Nemenja Bjelica (9 points), and Iman Shumpert (9 points). Leading the Lakers was Kyle Kuzma (23 points), Brandon Ingram (16 points), and Lonzo Ball (9 points).
#3 Notably not available for the Lakers was Lebron James, Rajon Rondo, and Javale McGee. Needless to say, the Kings were feeling good about the matchup.
#4 The Kings played the Lakers again on Sunday. Talk about how that one turned out.
#5 Next up it’s the Portland Trail Blazers on New Year’s Day Tuesday night.
Sports Radio Service 