Sacramento Kings game wrap: Kings can’t keep up with Grizzlies lose third straight 124-110

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The Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes (22) gets a hand on the Memphis Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas (17) shot in the first half at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Sat Feb 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Sacramento Kings came into their game on Sunday night licking their wounds. The Kings previous game they took on the Orlando Magic.

In Friday’s game, the Kings couldn’t really manage to contain the Magic. Nikola Vucevic ran all over the Kings defense by scoring 42 points. Ultimately, the absence of De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley proved too costly for the Kings to overcome losing 124-110.

On Sunday night, the Kings were set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Kings and Grizzlies had to postpone their previous two game due to COVID-19 protocols. The game was set for 7 PM PST in Sacramento. The Kings were behind for much of the game but got some scoring but never could catch up and lost by 14 points as the Grizzlies come away with a 124-110 victory.

In the first half, the Kings struggled on both sides of the ball. In the first quarter, the Kings were our scored by the Grizzlies 30-22 as neither the offense of defense was able to get a player to do well on either side of the ball.

The second quarter was more of the same. The Grizzlies out scored the Kings again in the second 32-24. If the Kings were looking to win the game they would need to improve play on both ends of the court. The Kings entered halftime down 62-46.

In the second half, the Kings offense improved but the defense wasn’t able to get stops. The Grizzlies outscored the Kings in the third quarter 37-33 to really put the game out of reach for the Kings.

In the fourth, the Kings managed to outscore the Grizzlies for the first time in the game 31-25 but it wasn’t nearly enough. The Kings have looked poorly on the defense end the last few games and it will be crucial for them to get that side of the ball back on track in order to snap the now three game losing streak. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 23 points as Jonas Valanciunas scored 25 points for the Grizzlies.

Up Next: The Kings will prepare to take on the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night in Sacramento a 7:00pm

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Realignment A’s Class A Team in Vermont affected

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Image of the Oakland A’s minor league affiliate the Vermont Lake Monsters a team that is on the bubble of folding due to MLB directives of closing minor league teams (image from thinkvermont.com)

Realignment: A’s Class A Team in Vermont affected

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball announced the elimination of more than 40 affiliated teams (Minor Leagues). This leaves 120 affiliated teams which breaks down to four per each MLB franchise.

MLB announcement mentions that all 120 teams have signed what is now a Professional Development License, and these agreements are going to be for at least ten years, not the two or four years they previously had.

According to MLB, many affiliates will be in much closer geographic proximity. On average, the report says that the MLB clubs will now be over 200 miles closer to their Triple-A affiliates.

Looks like that the previous long-standing names of “International League, “Pacific Coast League”, “Midwest League” and Florida State League will disappear according to this new alignment. The local economical impact will be substantial in these cities that now will not have any minor league team.

Among those cities the Oakland Athletics affiliate, the Vermont Lake Monsters located in Burlington, Vermont. They played their games at the University of Vermont’s Centennial Field, but were inactive last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Lake Monsters have been an affiliate. Class A Short Season, of the Oakland Athletics since 2011.

Bernie Sanders, US Senator for the State of Vermont, who last year showed his displeasure with the proposed elimination of the Vermont minor league franchise said: “If the multimillionaire owners of Major League Baseball have enough money to pay hundreds of millions in compensation to a single superstar baseball player,” Sanders said, “they have enough money to prevent 40 minor league teams from shutting down in Vermont and all over this country.”

The State of Vermont has a population of 623,989 as of 2019; Burlington is the most populated city with 42,545 residents. The elimination of this team is bound to hurt the local economy in many ways.

This is the statement by Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred: “We are excited to unveil this new model, which not only provides a pipeline to the Majors, but continues the Minor Leagues’ tradition of entertaining millions of families in hundreds of communities.

In modernizing our Minor League system, we prioritized the qualities that make the Minor Leagues such an integral part of our game while strengthening how we develop professional athletes on and off the field.

We look forward to demonstrating the best of our game throughout local communities, supporting all those who are working hard to grow the sport, and sharing unrivaled technology and resources with minor league teams and players.”

The release says that all minor leagues in this affiliated system will have salary increases of 38 to 72 percent. It is expected that MLB will take over merchandising, broadcast and sponsorship rights, splitting net revenues 50-50 with the minor league clubs.

Definitely not the news that most people like to hear, especially baseball fans and people involved in the business of the national pastime. All over the country and especially at this time, where the economy is still bleeding from the covid-19 pandemic.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NCAA basketball podcast with Michelle Richardson: Indiana University says mascot, logo and name have to go; Ex-Rugters player arrested for murder; plus more

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Valparaiso Crusaders head coach Matt Lottich (right) with Sheldon Edwards (13) and Ben Krikke (23) come back to the bench during a time out in their game against Drake on Sun Feb 7, 2021. The team name Crusaders, logo, and mascot are being done away with. (AP News photo)

On the NCAA basketball podcast with Michelle:

#1 Michelle, Indiana University Valparaiso said it’s changing the name from Crusaders to something else. The University is made up of Lutherans and the student president Kaitlyn Stienhiser said the Crusader name doesn’t represent the core values of the university and that logos, the nickname, the mascot will all have to go.

#2 Former Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball player Logan Kelly 26 was arrested for murder. Kelly is accused of slashing a Tijuana night club employee’s throat. Kelly had walked up behind the employee and killed the woman. He was detained by club employees and arrested. The woman was 19 years old. Kelly played for Rutgers during the 2012-2013 season.

#3 NAIA school Bluefield College in Virginia had it’s game forfeited by the university’s president David Olive because the players were taking a knee during the national anthem. Olive who is white ordered the players to stop taking a knee before the anthem and suspended all players involved in the kneeling saying they were disrespecting the flag, the country and the military veterans.  Olive said he supported their message but didn’t want them taking a knee before games. There could be some political blow back for Olive here.

Michelle’s Final thoughts

Join Michelle for the NCAA basketball podcasts each Sunday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: Minor league baseball cutting teams; Texans players leaving Houston; plus more

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Minor League Baseball has cut two leagues and 40 teams and it looks like a permanent fix (image from TMZ)

By Daniel Dullum

1 New alignment announced for Minor League Baseball, 40 teams and a couple of leagues get the ax

2 What’s going on in Houston with the mass exodus from the Texans?

3 Report: Britt Reid ‘no longer a KC Chiefs employee’ after car crash that critically injured a young girl

4 Coyotes’ Johan Larsson suspended two games for illegal check to the head of Blues forward Zach Sanford

5 Daughter of Lombardi Trophy’s designer wants an apology from Tom Brady for tossing trophy between boats in Bucs’ celebration

6 Tebow gets one last spring training shot with the Mets

Join Daniel for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Cal breaks losing streak with 71-62 win, and hands Colorado a damaging blow to its NCAA aspirations

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA — A month ago, Colorado handed Cal its worst loss. On Saturday night, the Bears returned the favor.

Matt Bradley scored a career-best 29 points to lead Cal past Colorado, 71-62, snapping their seven-game losing streak in the process. Makale Foreman converted a pair of free throws with 16:58 remaining and the Bears never trailed again, a stunning reversal after the Bears lost by 29 points at Boulder on January 14.

“We played as well as we have all year,” coach Mark Fox said.

Buffs coach Tad Boyle tried to impress upon his club beforehand the sneaky challenge Cal presents in that they’ve piled up the losses while becoming increasingly competitive which they were in losing to Utah 76-75 on Thursday.

Apparently, Boyle’s club didn’t get the message.

“Cal is a team that’s playing better,” Boyle said. “They’re a helluva lot better than their record, I can tell you that. With that being said, this is a game we should have won, but we weren’t good enough tonight.”

“We did a lot of standing around,” said McKinley Wright IV. “The coaches had the perfect scouting report and we just didn’t execute.”

Colorado allowed the Bears to impose their plodding tempo, a task that became a lot easier with Cal getting off to a rare, fast start. The Bears led 10-4, 14-13 and after a long drought, recovered to lead 36-33 at the break. It was freshman Jalen Celestine, making his second start in place of Ryan Betley, that came up big for Cal in that regard.

Celestine scored nine of the Bears’ first 22 points–on three 3-pointers–to energize Cal while also taking the challenge of guarding Wright, a candidate for Pac-12 Player of the Year. While Celestine sizzled, Wright was held in check, finishing with 13 points (on 3 of 11 shooting) and two assists.

Bradley seamlessly followed Celestine’s lead with 15 before the break, and 14 after including a critical 3-pointer with 40 seconds that increased Cal’s lead to 65-60. The junior guard was 9 for 17 from the floor and 9 of 10 from the line in surpassing the 20-point mark for the fifth time in his last six games.

Colorado (16-5, 10-5) blew past Stanford on Thursday for their ninth win in 11 games, a run that has them in good standing with the NCAA Tournament selection committee. But should the Buffs falter in games against USC, UCLA or Oregon in their final stretch, earlier losses to Washington (167 in the Pomeroy ratings) and Cal (134) will receive greater scrutiny as bad losses.

“It gives us our fifth (Pac-12) loss and we’re back in the pack,” Boyle said. “Thought we had a chance to compete for a championship. We’ve just got to figure out how win our next one.”

Beating one of the conference’s best teams after nearly a month of losing typified the season for Cal (8-15, 3-13). Not particularly talented by Pac-12 standards, nor tall or deep, the Bears have confounded by staying engaged, when other teams might have splintered. Fox deserves credit for that along with his staff that hasn’t hesitated to shake things up. Celestine’s emergence is one of those moves. After not playing in seven games, and never seeing more than 18 minutes of action in any one game, the freshman played 33 minutes against Colorado.

“We felt like in the game today we could use him defensively against McKinley Wright because he has athleticism and size and he’s got great balance and so defensively I thought he was really good,” Fox explained.

The Bears travel to Washington next with their Pullman stop to face Washington State on Thursday. The battle not to finish last in conference play comes Saturday in Seattle against UW.

Nets rout the Warriors 134-117

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Photo credit: @warriors

By Jerry Feitelberg

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors welcomed the Brooklyn Nets to the Chase Center Saturday night. Former Warrior Kevin Durant visited the Bay Area for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. His former teammates gave him a lovely welcome as they appreciated his efforts as a Warriors member. Durant won two titles and probably would have won a third had he not been injured in the series against Toronto. The Warriors had a nice tribute for Durant before the game.

“Tribute video was cool. I think about those moments daily,” Durant said. “Every single moment that I have had in this league, I think about it and try to analyze it and get better. My time here in Golden State was so much fun. It was such a big learning experience, especially learning basketball in a different philosophy. I’m gonna take that with me for the rest of my life.”

The Nets, in addition to superstars Kyrie Irving and Durant, traded for another outstanding player, James Harden. The Nets, if they stay healthy, should be in contention to make the NBA Finals this season.

The plucky Warriors, winner of two straight games, were still missing two key players. James Wiseman and Kevon Looney were not available Saturday night. The Warriors had to go with a small lineup. They needed to find a way to defend the three Brooklyn superstars and then make shots from downtown. It was too much to hope for as the Nets routed the Warriors 134-117.

The Warriors could not handle Brooklyn’s attack in the first half. The Nets won both quarters and finished the first half leading by 15 points, 66-51. The Warriors attempted 20 three-pointers, but only four went for a bucket.

Brooklyn won the third quarter 42-31 to put the Warriors back on their heels. The Warriors outscored the Nets in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.

Game Notes and Stats: With the loss, the Warriors are now 14-13 for the season. The Nets improved to 16-12.

Steph led the Warriors with 27 points. He was 10 for 17 from the floor, and he connected on two threes in nine tries. Draymond Green injured his knee in the first half, but was able to return later. The Warriors had four other players in double figures. Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre, Jr. each had 17. Eric Paschall had 16, and Kent Bazemore had 11. The team shot 48.9% from the floor. That would usually be good enough to win. However, the Nets shot 53.8% from the floor and made 16 threes. The Warriors were 9 for 34 from behind the three-point arc.

The Nets had six players in double figures. Kyrie Irving led with 23, Kevin Durant had 20, James Harden had 19, Bruce Brown had 18, Joe Harris had 15, and Jeff Green had 14.

The Nets outrebounded the Warriors 51-45. Brooklyn recorded 35 assists on 50 made baskets. James Harden had 16.

Up Next: The Warriors host the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night at the Chase Center. The game will start at 7 pm PT.

Cardinal return to the win column by upending Utes 73-66

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, February 13, 2021

With Spencer Jones leading the charge, Stanford bounced back from Thursday’s loss and defeated Utah 73-66 Saturday in Pac-12 men’s basketball at Maples Pavilion.

Jones sank a career-high five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points. He made two of his 3s in the final 5:02 as the Cardinal (13-8 overall, 9-6 Pac-12) held off a late Utes charge.

Jones was 6 of 11 overall from the field, 5 of 9 behind the arc.

Oscar da Silva scored 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting for the Cardinal, and Michael O’Connell and Jaiden Delaire added 11 points each for Stanford, as the Cardinal finished the game hitting 54 percent of its field goals.

Utah (9-8, 6-7) cut the Cardinal lead to five in the final minute after trailing by double digits most of the second half.

Alfonso Plummer scored eight of his 14 points in the opening minutes of the first half, sparking the Utes to a 12-2 lead. But Stanford outscored the Utes 30-8 over the rest of the first half, using runs of seven and 11 straight points.

The Cardinal held a 34-22 halftime lead.

Timmy Allen led the Utes with 18 points, and Branden Carlson added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Allen scored 14 of his points in the second half.

Stanford travels to Washington on Thursday, and to Washington State next Saturday.

Stars edge Barracuda 5-3, even series 1-1

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The Texas Stars evened its three-game series with a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday evening at HEB Center At Cedar Park.

Texas scored the eventual game-winning goal when Cole Schneider fired a one-timer that deflected off the pad of ‘Cuda goalie Sam Harvey at the 7:44 mark of the third period. Josh Melnick, who set up the Stars captain, received the primary assist.

Texas (3-2-0) drew first blood in a wild first period that featured five goals. Colin Markison sent a pass over to Joseph Cecconi up at the right half wall. Cecconi sent a wrist shot that beat ‘Cuda goalie Sam Harvey on the short side for his first goal of the season at the 5:42 mark.

San Jose (1-2-1) scored the equalizer just over two minutes later. Anti Suomela fed a pass up to Jake McGrew to start an odd-man rush for the ‘Cuda. McGrew skated in from the right side and fired a wrist shot top-shelf past Stars goalie Tomas Sholl for his first career AHL goal at the 7:48 mark.

Ben Gleason gave the Stars back the lead with his first goal of the season at the 15:21 mark when a pass from Nikita Scherbak glanced off Gleason’s skate that Harvey had no chance at.

The Barracuda answered back immediately just 29 seconds later when Brinson Pasichnuk sent a pass into the middle of the faceoff circles where Joachim Blichfeld collected the puck, turned around and lasered a wrist shot past Sholl for his second goal of the season.

The Stars once again had a one goal lead after a turnover by Chaz Reddekopp led to Riley Damiani sending a cross ice pass to Anthony Louis who blasted a one-timer past Harvey his second goal at the 19:21 mark of the opening frame.

San Jose came back with the equalizer early in the middle frame when Ryan Merkley found Blichfeld and he backhanded the puck past Sholl for his second goal of the evening at the 5:10 mark.

It was Blichfeld’s third multi-point game in the four games played.

Despite outshooting the Stars 13-7 in the third period, the ‘Cuda weren’t able to score the equalizer for a fourth time.

Thomas Harley scored an empty-netter, his first goal of this AHL career, with 22 seconds left to ice the game for Texas.

Sholl made 26 saves on 29 shots to earn the victory. Harvey made 30 saves on 34 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0-for-2 on the power play. Texas was 0-for-3.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda finish off its three-game series with the Stars on Tuesday 2/16 at 5:00 pm at HEB Center at Cedar Park.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Cuda and Stars face off for game two tonight in Texas

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Game one post game stats from Fri Feb 12, 2021 results between the San Jose Barracuda and Texas Stars at H-E-B Center (image from sjbarracuda.com)

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko how important is it to start a three game series on the road against the the Texas Stars with a 5-2 win?

#2 The Barracuda got five goals from five different skaters with Ozzy Wiesblatt and Kyle Topping each scoring their first AHL goals.

#3 The Barracuda had Sam Harvey in net who allowed two Texas goals and stopped 29 shots in his first win of his pro career.

#4 Wiesblatt’s goal was the fifth Barracuda goal of the night and his first in his pro career how important is that to start the first road trip of the season and getting your first career goal on the same night?

#5 The Barracuda and Stars tangle again on Saturday night at H-E-B Center for the second game in a row between both these teams tonight for a 5:00pm face off.  Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer started Harvey in goal tonight.

Join Marko each Saturday night for the SJ Barracuda podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic Sat Feb 13, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings host Grizzlies on Sunday night after Fri loss to Magic

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The Sacramento Kings forward Glenn Robinson III (right) takes the ball to the hoop against the Orlando Magic’s center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the first half on Fri Feb 12, 2021 at Golden One Center (AP News photo)

On the Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings play tonight at Golden One Center after the Kings came off a 123-112 loss on Friday night to the Orlando Magic.

#2 The Kings who had a four game win streak but ran into the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night and lost 119-111 and again suffered another loss on Friday night to the Magic. They really miss Marvin Bagley and De’Aaron Fox in the line up.

#3 Against the Magic the Kings defense just couldn’t do anything with Magic center Nikola Vucevic who dominated in scoring with 42 points, nine rebounds and four assists the Kings simply couldn’t shut Vucevic down.

#4 On the Kings offensive side of the ball the top scorer Buddy Hield finished with 19 points, followed by Nemanja Bjelica who had 15 points but it wasn’t enough as the Kings were without their key player De’Aaron Fox whose been their meal ticket on offensive scoring.

#5 Jeremiah the Kings host the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday night for a one game match at Golden One Center will they get Marvin Bagley and Fox for this one?

Join Jeremiah for Kings basketball podcasts Friday mornings at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson Sat Feb 13, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud