Author: Sports Radio Service

Kings hit rock bottom can’t stop Suns’ Booker in 112-110 loss

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azcentral.com photo: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center, is defended by the Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, left, and Kings forward Richaun Holmes, right, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019.

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings have hit rock bottom. In what was a season with such high expectations going in, the Kings have not impressed. Granted, the Kings have had a fair share of adversity this season. Early season injuries to Marvin Bagley and De’Aaron Fox have not made things easy for the Kings as the Kings have now lost six straight losing to Phoenix 112-110 Saturday night.

However, after spending a significant amount on players such as Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hied, Kings fans expect more. After a tough loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, the Kings would look to bounce back against the Phoenix Suns at 6 PM PST.

In the first, both teams were shooting the ball well. The Kings managed to put up 30 points on 48% shooting floor. Having struggled in his last few contests, Buddy Hield put up a team-leading 8 points in the first quarter. The Suns shot 57% in the first led by Kelly Oubre Jr. who had 9 points. The Kings would look to play a little more solid defense in the second to take the lead on the Suns. It was 31-30 Suns leading going into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, the shot-making disappeared for the Kings. With 4:45 left in the second, the Kings had only scored 8 points in the quarter. Bad shot selection and the inability to hit shots. The Kings only managed to score 19 points as the Suns dropped 28 points on the Kings lacking defense. Leading the Kings in scoring through the first half was Corey Joseph who scored 10 first-half points.

The Suns were led by Kelly Oubre Jr. who had 15 points followed by Devin Booker who had 14. The Kings would go into the second half trailing the Suns 59-49 and in need of a comeback to snap the teams five-game losing streak.

In the third quarter, the Kings played better than the previous quarter but not well enough to take the lead. The Kings put 28 up on the scoreboard in the third compared to the Suns 22. Buddy Hield continued a good bounce-back night for the Kings ending the third with 19 points on 7-15 shooting. Devin Booker did what Devin Booker does in the first three quarters putting up 21 points on 9-15 from the field. In what has been a rough stretch for the Kings they looked to put a solid fourth-quarter together to snap the skid.

In the fourth, the Kings came storming back to tie the game at 81 with 10:48 left in the game. It was a new game and whichever team played better the rest of the way would win the game. The next five-plus minute’s teams would trade baskets back and forth. The game would come down to the final 30 seconds.

With 20.9 seconds left and the score 109-107 Suns ahead, Richaun holmes was fouled and made only 1 of his free throws to make it 109-108. The Suns had the ball with the shot clock off and took a timeout. Out of the timeout and with 18.9 seconds left, they inbounded to Devin Booker in the backcourt while leaving Aron Baynes wide open for a layup.

The score was 111-108. After a few fouls from both teams, the final possession would be the Kings down 112-110 and 5.9 seconds remaining. The Kings inbounded after the timeout to Buddy Hield who kicked to Harrison Barnes on the perimeter and missed the open three to end the game.

Up Next: The Kings travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets on Sunday at 5 PM PST. The Suns Travel to Portland to take on the Trailblazers on Monday night.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: NJ’s Severson puts goal in wrong net; Rinne allows 3 goals in Preds loss, plus more

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nhl photo: New Jersey Devils defenseman Damon Severson (28) back handed a goal into his own net as New Jersey goalie McKenzie Blackwood (29) could only watch. The goal was the game winning goal for Toronto.

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Toronto goaltender  Michael Hutchinson said that lucky bounces go your way which it did for Toronto when New Jersey defenseman Damon Severson backhanded the puck into his own net to give Toronto a 5-4 win on Friday night.

#2 Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry stopped 30 shots as the Penguins won their fifth game out of six. Pekka Rinne for the Nashville Predators allowed three goals and was pulled as the Pens beat the Preds 5-2.

#3 The St Louis Blues David Peron scored at 3:14 in overtime to give the Blues the win over Winnipeg Jets 5-4. Tyler Bozak scored twice for the Blues to help with their five goal tally.

#4 What happened to the San Jose Sharks they led after two periods 2-0 but the Los Angeles Kings came roaring back to victory with three unanswered goals two in the third period to tie the game and Jeff Carter to score the game winner in overtime.

#5 The Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron scored two goals and Jaroslav Halak stopped 26 shots against the Buffalo Sabers in a 3-0 shutout. For Bergeron it was his third straight game to scored two goals.

Join Matt each Saturday for the NHL podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Businesses taking interest in Jack London Square future home of the A’s

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nytimes.com file photo: Oakland A’s team president David Kaval lounges in the upper deck at the Oakland Coliseum during the 2019 season. Jack London Square will start building new restaurants and businesses drawn to the idea of the A’s breaking ground at the site.

On That’s Amaury pod for today:

#1 Amaury businesses are taking an interest to start construction at Jack London Square restaurants, hotels, condos could this be a move in anticipation of an Oakland A’s ball park?

#2 A’s president David Kaval has worked hard this off season to make sure some of these proposals stick he had to sweat through the City of Oakland law suit that was dropped that would have blocked the A’s from purchasing the Coliseum property.

#3 How big is public transportation for this project to get done. Do you agree that some sort of transit must be in place to get people from 12th Street Broadway BART in downtown Oakland to the ball park?

#4 In other baseball news how surprising is it that former San Francisco Giants outfielder Kevin Pillar who was the Willie McCovey Award recipient from last season is still not signed?

#5 The Chicago White Sox are doing some shopping take a look at some of the free agents that their studying, Nolan Arenado, Francisco Lindor, Yasiel Puig, and Nicholas Castellanos.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play by play announcer and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Fighting Illini comes to the Bay Area to face the Cal Golden Bears

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news-gazette.com photo: Josh Imatorbhebhe of the Illinois Illini makes a 83 yard catch against the Michigan State Spartans, Imatorbhebhe and the Illini battle the Cal Bears at Levi Stadium on Mon Dec 30th for the Red Box Bowl

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-With the Redbox Bowl in basically their own backyard, the California Golden Bears will have the home field advantage, but do not tell that to their opponents, the Fighting Illini of Illinois.

During the 2019 season, the Fighting Illini went 3-2 on the road, including a 37-34 victory over the Michigan State Spartans that came after the Fighting Illini entered the fourth quarter trailing 31-10 when the final stanza began.

Josh Imatorbhebhe was on the receiving end of an 83-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Peters to cut the Spartans lead down to 31-17.

Reggie Corbin then cut the lead down in half, as he scored on a six-yard run just three minutes after the Peters to Imatorbhebhe touchdown pass.

The Fighting Illini defense got in on the act, as they tied up the game, when Sydney Brown returned an interception 76 yards to get them within one.

After Michigan State kicked a field goal to increase their lead up to four points, Peters and the Fighting Illini got the ball back for one final drive.

The Fighting Illini then converted a fourth-and-17, then got another first down when the Spartans were called for pass interference in the end zone on another fourth down possession.

Peters then gave them the lead for the first time on the afternoon, as he found Daniel Barker for a five-yard touchdown pass with five seconds remaining in the game to give the Fighting Illini their sixth win of the season and bowl eligible for the first time since the 2014 season.

This was the biggest comeback in school history, and the 27 points scored by them in the fourth quarter were the most by an opponent in the 96-year, 544-game history of Spartan Stadium.

In all, the Fighting Illini went 3-2 away from Memorial Stadium.

Lovie Smith, who is in his fourth year in Champaign as head coach leads the team to their first bowl game since the 2014 Zaxbys Heart of Dallas Bowl, where they lost to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 35-18.

As for coming to bowl games in Northern California, this is not the Fighting Illinis first trip to the Bay Area.

The Fighting Illini came to the area in 2011, where behind Nathan Scheelhaase went 18-for-30 for 139 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. Scheelhaase was also the leading rusher, as he gained 110 yards on 22 carries and the Fighting Illini defeated the UCLA Bruins 20-14 at AT&T Park.

Overall, this is the eighth trip to California in a bowl game for the Fighting Illini, as they are 3-2 in the Rose Bowl, 0-1 in the Holiday Bowl and 1-0 in what was then known as the Kraft Hunger Bowl, now known as the Redbox Bowl.

A graduate transfer from Big 10 rival Michigan, Peters started 10 games for the Fighting Illini and led them in passing, as he went 130-for-238 with 1,611 yards passing with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Corbin was the leading ground gainer, as he carried the ball 129 times for 691 yards and six touchdowns.

Imatorbhebhe led the team in receptions with 33, yards with 634 and nine touchdowns.

Heat blast Barracuda in 8-1 blowout victory

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sjbarracuda.com photo: San Jose Barracuda assistant coach John McCarthy on Dec. 10, McCarthy, 33, suffered an Ischemic stroke due to a previously undetected hole in his heart. McCarthy immediately retired from the game and has been working behind the Barracuda bench. Here he is on Friday against the visiting Stockton Heat.

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- The Stockton Heat proved why they are the top offensive team in the AHL this season. They exploded for five goals in the second period, including a hat trick from Alan Quine, en route to a 8-1 blowout victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Friday afternoon at SAP Center.

Stockton snapped their two-game losing streak and have won the first five meetings against their NorCal rival. For the ‘Cuda they have lost four of their last five games.

Stockton (18-5-2-3) drew first blood late in the first period when Quine stuffed home a puck that pinballed out in front of the crease past Cuda goalie Josef Korenar for his fourth goal of the season at the 16:02 mark. Glenn Gawdin and former ‘Cuda forward Buddy Robinson received helpers on the goal.

Despite controlling play for the most of the opening 20 minutes and outshooting Stockton 7-4, San Jose (10-15-0-2) found itself down 1-0 as they headed into the first intermission.

The Heat doubled their lead early in the second period. Corey Schueneman fired on net that Korenar made the initial save but the rebound jumped out to Quine all alone and he buried home the rebound for his second goal of the game and his fifth of the season at the 5:45 mark.

Stockton scored their third unanswered goal just under two minutes later. Zac Leslie found Matthew Phillips down low and he chipped it over the pad of Korenar for his team leading 14th goal of the season at the 7:21 mark.

Quine completed the hat trick when Robinson set him up on a 2-on-1 rush where the former sixth round pick of the Calgary Flames fired a one-time past Korenar for his sixth goal of the season at the 11:20 mark. Quines has scores in three straight games against San Jose.

The goal ended the afternoon for Kornear who gave up four goals on just 12 shots in 31:20. Andrew Shortridge replaced Korenar between the pipes.

The Heat kept their foot on the gas pedal when Leslie sent an outlet pass up the ice that led to a breakaway for Gawdin.  Gawdin skated in and beat Shortridge with a wrist shot over the glove on the short side for his 10th goal of the season at the 14:11 mark. It was the first shot Shortridge faced after replacing Korenar.

Stockton made it 6-0 right before the end of the middle frame when Phillips set up Austin Czarnick and he snapped a wrist shot past Shortridge for his third goal of the season at the 18:05 mark.

The Heat continued their dominance in the third period when Quine returned the favor when he fed Schueneman from the point and he blasted a low slapshot past Shortridge for his first goal of the season at the season at the 3:50 mark. Quine ended the afternoon with a five-point game. (3G,2A).

San Jose spoiled the shutout bid for Heat goalie Jon Gillies on the power play. Maxim Letunov fed a pass over to Sasha Chmelevski and he fired a wrist shot to the farside under the cross bar past Gillies for his fourth goal of the season at the 10:58 mark.

The Heat concluded the scoring when Gawdin led a 2-on-1 break and fed a pass over to Robinson and he joined the goal scoring party when he buried a shot past Shortridge for his 13th goal of the season at the 12:48 mark.

Gillies made 25 saves on 26 shots for his seventh win of the season. He is 3-0 versus the ‘Cuda this season. Shortridge made three saves on seven shots in mop-up duty.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1-for-2 on the power play. Stockton was 0-for-0.

Captain John McCarthy announced his retirement from the game of the hockey earlier in the morning due to a medical condition. He will be joining the ‘Cuda coaching staff immediately and will join co-head coaches Jimmy Bonneau and Michael Chiasson on the bench during games. McCarthy, 33, holds all major Barracuda records including games played (275), goals (62), assists (76), points (138) power play goals (17) and short-handed goals (5).

Forward Joel Kellman was called up by the San Jose Sharks. Forward Noah Gregor and defenseman Jacob Middleton were reassigned back to the Barracuda.

Quine now has five career hat tricks. He is the first player to have five points against the ‘Cuda this season.

Leslie had four assists in the game.

Joachim Blichfeld had his five-game point streak snapped.

The announced attendance was 3,036.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda host the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday 12/29 at 5:00pm at SAP Center.

 

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks hope to do much better with back to back games tonight and Saturday

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file photo from fearofthefin.com: San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner who didn’t speak to the media after last Sunday’s loss to the Vegas Knights will go back to the drawing board tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at SAP Center in San Jose

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Sharks have back to back games starting tonight with the Los Angeles Kings they’re coming off losing back to back game from last weekend to St Louis and Vegas and they have lost nine of their last ten games.

#2 Talk about one of the things that needs attention and that’s been taking advantage of the power play.

#3 You had a chance to talk to Sharks captain Logan Couture and he told you that first they were losing games in the shootouts and overtimes now their having problems holding leads in the last ten minutes of the game

#4 Things were so frustrating for San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner who is 1-5 since taking over since Dec 12th that he forgoed the post game presser after last Sunday’s game against with the Knights and sent out former San Jose Barracuda head coach now Sharks assistant Roy Sommer to talk to the media.

#5 Two games tonight with the Kings and Saturday night with the Flyers Mary Lisa sets these two up for us.

Join Mary Lisa each week for the San Jose Sharks podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes: Combination of things have to happen for Raiders to make AFC Playoffs

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sfgate.com photo: Oakland Raiders wide receiver DeAndre Washington (33) scores a touchdown also had 23 receptions for 85 yards

On the Raiders podcast with J Hawkes:

#1 The Oakland Raiders  are coming off a victory against the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday it was a hairline victory for the Raiders who got a winning field goal from kicker Daniel Carlson in the closing moments of the fourth quarter.

#2 The Raiders who lost four straight games until the game in Los Angeles what did the Raiders do differently from the last four games which they lost.

#3 DeAndre Washington provided some good catches for 85 yards on 23 receptions and one touchdown

#4 The Raiders will depend on their receivers in this one wide receiver Hunter Renfrow last Sunday tallied seven receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown.

#5 The Raiders (7-8) are in Denver to face the Broncos (6-9) this Sunday they have to beat the Broncos next Sunday, then the Texans need to beat the Titans and the Ravens need to beat the Steelers, and the Colts need to beat the Jaguars, and a victory by at least one of these teams Bears, Lions, Chiefs or Patriots in order to make the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.

Join J Hawkes for the Raiders podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: 49ers can go through Seahawks O-Line like butter on Sunday Night Football

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sfgate.com photo: Seattle Seahawks work out this week included Marshawn Lynch (left) who will be playing with quarterback Russell Wilson (right) this Sunday at Century Link Field against the San Francisco 49ers

On the 49ers podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 The 49ers have a pretty good shot at getting to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on Sunday at Century Link Field due to the Seahawks questionable offensive line.

#2 The Seahawks have been hampered with allowing sacks being the seventh most in the NFL.

#3 In spite of the Seahawks acquiring Marshawn Lynch the Hawks head coach Pete Carroll is concerned about the Seattle front five and said “I hope we can make it”

#4 For the 49ers another great outing for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams going 16-27 for 248 yards, one interception and two touchdowns.

#5 Joe 49ers will be assured home field through the playoffs their first step is to take out the Seahawks in a very noisy hostile Century Link Field better known as the 12th man

Join Joe each Friday for the 49ers podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings put up a pathetic showing bow to the Timberwolves 105-104; Skid hits five

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sacbee.com: Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox left Thursday night’s game at Golden One Center with back spasms and never returned, Fox had just recently returned after a previous injury. He’s day to day.

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–It’s been a rough month for the Kings. December has not treated them well. Going into this month, the Kings were looking at a break in the schedule. Instead, this has turned into a bit of a nightmare. The Kings were 4-8 in the month and they should be well over .500 in December if they hope to be a playoff team. Tonight was their shot. Their opponent, the Minnesota Timberwolves, were without their star Karl-Anthony Towns and still were able to win 105-104. The Kings were looking to get back on track against the Timberwolves at 7 PM PST.

In the first quarter, both teams started out slow. The Kings managed to put up 26 points in the quarter followed by Minnesota’s 21. The leading scorer in the game at this point was Marvin Bagley with nine points and teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic with eight. Robert Covington led the Timberwolves in the first with five points. Though the Kings were leading in the first, bad news loomed. Early in the first De’Aaron Fox came limping off the court in discomfort. It was later revealed he left the game with back spasms and would not return. Kings fans would hope for the best as Corey Joseph would run the point the rest of the game.

In the second, things did not get better for the Kings. They only managed to put up 22 points while the Timberwolves scored 29. This led to a 50-48 Timberwolves lead going into halftime. The Kings shooting was non-existent in the first half. They shot a combined 34.1% while shooting 23.5 from the long-range. The Timberwolves weren’t able to do much better. They shot a combined 40% and 22.7 from deep. The Kings have yet to play five games with all starters healthy, and it shows. The Kings are not able to find a rhythm on offense and the defense has also suffered of late. They would need to pick it up in the second half if they hoped to go home winners.

In the third, the Kings played better. They put up 31 points and held the Timberwolves offense to 21 points. Richaun Holmes and Harrison Barnes both added 8 points to their totals as Bogdan Bogdanovic was a steady force finishing the third with 15 points. The Kings would take a 79-71 lead into the final quarter.

Unfortunately for the Kings, the improved play didn’t last. The Kings disappeared in the fourth quarter. With 4:09 remaining in the quarter, the Kings had only scored seven points. It was a pathetic showing from a team that has been struggling to get an offensive rhythm all season. In the final minutes, the game didn’t get much better.

The Kings and Timberwolves continued to miss shots in an unimpressive game. At one point in the fourth, the Kings fans were so uninterested in the game they started doing the wave. The game would be tied 90-90 with 27.4 on the clock and Timberwolves ball. That possession would end with no points and a rebound. The game would go to overtime.

In overtime, both teams would trade shots. The game would be decided with 5.6 left in the game and Kings ball tied 97-97. That possession would end with a missed shot that went out of bounds with .5 remaining in the game. The Timberwolves had one last shot in overtime to go home with the win. They weren’t able to inbound as time expired and it was double overtime in Sacramento.

In double overtime, the Timberwolves went on a 6-0 run before Luke Walton called a timeout with 3:33 remaining in the game. From there, the Kings made it a game at the end. It was 104-105 and the Kings had the final possession with just over 10 seconds left. Buddy Hield dribbled on the perimeter and ultimately missed the final shot as the Kings lose 105-104. It was a rough game and the Kings were unable to pull it out. Richaun Holmes finished as the Kings leading scorer with 20 points. Gorgul Dieng led the Timberwolves with 21.

Up Next: The Kings stay home to take on the Pheonix Suns at 6 PM PST on Saturday. The Timberwolves go home to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday at 5 PM PST.

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Terry has been a force in Cardinals’ success as Kansas comes calling Sunday

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gostanford.com photo: The Cardinal bench erupts in celebration as they defeated San Diego last Sat Dec 21st at Chase Center at the Al Attles Classic

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Jerry talk about the job that guard Tyrell Terry, Terry led the Cardinal (11-1) in scoring against San Diego (6-8) last Saturday at Chase Center in the Cardinal’s win 62-59.

#2 Terry’s numbers were impressive and he’s been the go to guy to throw the ball down he amassed 20 points, seven assists, and three assists.

#3 Second in scoring for the Cardinal was Oscar da Silva with 19 points scored, 11 rebounds, and one assist. da Silva very consistent and reliable in helping Stanford get those critical points.

#4 The Cardinal held their own getting a three point win over San Diego 62-59, for San Diego a team that is two games under .500 playing a team that is 10 games over .500 they didn’t cave a bit either.

#5 Kansas Jayhawks (9-2) come in next Saturday Dec 29th and although the Cardinal have lost only one game out of their last 12 games the Jayhawks are no slouches.

Jerry Feitelberg does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com