Kings sweep season series with Mavericks with a 125-121 win on Tuesday night

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

Mavs starters

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento Kings trailed the Mavericks by eight points with 4:48 to in the game on Tuesday night in Dallas. The Kings then tied the game at 116-all with 1:33 remaining in the contest. Sacramento then took the lead on a Buddy Hield 25-foot 3-point jump shot, and the Kings never looked back. They won the game 125-121.

The victory evened the Kings record at 37-37 for the season. That is a 10 win improvement over the 2017-18 season with eight games to go on the schedule. That means the Kings could win 40 games which would be an incredible 13-game improvement over the previous year.

No reporter or expert would have predicted that the Sacramento Kings would be in a position to win 40 games prior to the beginning of the season. This season has been nothing short of incredible.

Mavs Fox
Fox was the Kings leading scorer Photo: @SacramentoKings

Why did the Kings win the game?

  1. They shot 50.6-percent (44/87) overall for the game. The Kings hit five more field goals than the Mavericks.
  2. Sacramento hit 10-of-23 (43.5%) 3-point attempts.
  3. The Kings were spectacular from the free throw line. They converted 27-of-32 (84.4%) shots from the charity stripe. The number of opportunities and percentage of conversions represents one of their best performances of the season.
  4. SAC took great care of the ball. They turned it over just seven times which resulted in just 11 Dallas points.

Top Performances

Mavs Hield
Hield helped the Kings late in the game Photo: @SacramentoKings

Kings

  • De’Aaron Fox was the Kings leading scorer with 23 points. His key contribution came at the free throw line where he hit 11-of-12 shots. Fox also dished out eight dimes.
  • Harrison Barnes made his first trip back to Dallas since being traded. The Mavs honored him with a tribute video during the second quarter. Barnes put up 18 points shooting 7-for-16 from the field and hitting 3-of-5 from 3-point land.
  • Buddy Hield saved his best until late in the game. Hield scored 17 points. He went a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Hield also grabbed five rebounds.
  • Willie Cauley-Stein put 16 points in the book. He went 7-for-8 from the floor in the contest. He also hauled in seven rebounds.
  • Marvin Bagley III and Bogdan Bogdanovic each scored 14 points versus the Mavs.

Dallas

  • Luka Doncic was the high-scorer in the game with 28 points. He went just 9-for-20 from the floor but hit 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Doncic made it a double-double by recording 12 rebounds.
  • Dwight Powell put a double-double in the book by scoring 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. He hit 6-of-7 shots from the field and went 9-for-11 from the charity stripe.
  • Maxi Kleber came off the bench to record 17 points. He went 6-for-10 from the field including four 3-point baskets.

Up next

The Kings travel on to New Orleans where they will play the Pelicans on Thursday night.

The Mavericks travel to Miami where they will face the Heat on Thursday.

 

Giants close out Spring Training on a sour note

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Well, from here until September 29, the games will count; however, the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s played one final exhibition game.

Mark Canha drove in three runs, as he hit a double off of Jeff Samardzija in the top of the second inning and then added a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, as the A’s completed a three-game sweep of the Bay Bridge Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in a game that was called after six innings due to rain, before a crowd of 24,992 at Oracle Park.

Canha drove in Jurickson Profar, who walked to leadoff the second inning, then Marcus Semien singled and then Canha doubled in Profar, and the scoring ended in that inning ended, when former Giants catcher Nick Hundley hit a sacrifice fly to Yangervis Solarte in left field.

Two innings later, Canha launched a Samardzija offering into the left-center field bleachers to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.

Samardzija ended up going 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out five.

“Always good to get it done,” said Samardzija, who added, “got thru came and get this going.”

The Giants cut into the A’s lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Gerardo Parra singled in Connor Joe and Alan Hanson; however, the rally and the game ended, when Pablo Sandoval struck out versus Jerry Blevins.

Mac Williamson, who suffered a devastating concussion on April 24, 2018 when he dove for a foul ball near the left field bullpen took a pitch off the right wrist, but stayed in the game.

“Results are negative,” according to Bruce Bochy.

NOTES: Chris Stratton was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for left-handed pitcher Williams Jerez.

Ty Blach was optioned prior to the game to Triple-A Sacramento, and Andrew Suarez was optioned to Sacramento on Monday.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner will take the mound on Thursday afternoon, as the Giants begin 137th season on the road against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Left-hander Eric Lauer will take the mound for the Padres, who will begin their 50th season in “America’s Finest City.”

Following Bumgarner will be Derek Holland on Friday, Dereck Rodriguez on Saturday and Samardzija on Sunday before heading 120 miles up Interstate 5 and begin a three-game series against two-time defending National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Charlie O: No escape in trying to beat the Lakers; Kings battle Mavs for 125-121 win

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Photo credit: @Covers

On the Kings podcast with Charlie O:

#1  Charlie talks about the Kings’ last game in Los Angeles on Sunday in a tough loss to the Lakers 111-106.

#2 The Kings defense seemed to struggle in the early first quarter, putting up only 20 points and allowing 22.

#3 In the second quarter, the Kings struggled with their shot, but figured it out with 29 points and the Lakers got only 26.

#4 Third quarter was another tough outing for Sacramento, the Lakers scored 39 points and in the fourth quarter. The Kings launched a comeback, scoring but falling five points short of victory.

#5 The Kings battled the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki Tuesday night and get the win 125-121. Charlie O sets this one up.

Charlie O does the Kings podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s win 4-2 in a rain-shortened game, sweep the Bay Bridge Series

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

SAN FRANCISCO — The A’s and Giants played the final game of Spring Training at Oracle Park Tuesday night. The weather conditions were much better than Monday night, but they deteriorated in the fifth. The rain came down in buckets in the sixth, and the umpires called the game. The A’s beat the Giants in all five games the teams played this preseason.

The teams are off on Wednesday, and the A’s have their home day opener on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels and their $430 Million Dollar Man, Mike Trout. The A’s are 0-2 in the regular season as they lost two games to the Mariners in Tokyo on March 20th and 21st. The Giants will open on the road against the San Diego Padres and their $300 Million Dollar Man, Manny Machado.

The game summary follows below.

The A’s scored two runs in the second and two runs in the fourth to send Giants’ starter Jeff Samardzija to an early exit. The A’s center fielder Mark Canha blasted Samardzija’s 89 MPH four-seam fastball into the seats to give the A’s a 4-0 lead. Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy decided he had seen enough and removed Samardzija from the game with two outs in the fourth.

The Giants put two on the board in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Connor Joe started the rally with a single. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Brian Schlitter to relieve Brooks. Schlitter walked Alen Hanson and then hit Mac Williamson with a pitch to load the bases. Melvin removed Schlitter and Jerry Blevins, who tried to get a spot in the A’s bullpen, served a single to Gerardo Parra. Two runs were scored on the play. The Giants had runners on first and third with two out. Blevins struck out Pablo Sandoval for the final out (and of the game) as the rain came down and the umpires decided that conditions were too severe to continue. The A’s won 4-2 and swept the Bay Bridge Series.

Game Notes: A’s starter Aaron Brooks, who is out of options, pitched very well for the A’s. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and one run. The A’s have to make a decision on his status Wednesday as they have to be down to 25 players by Thursday.

Up Next: The A’s meet the Angels Thursday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. Mike Fiers will pitch for the A’s. Game time will be at 1:05 pm.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason: Mad, Mad, Mad, March; A’s host Angels; Giants are in San Diego on Thursday

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Photo credit: @CalAthletics

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 March Madness is in full tilt: Bears vs. Bears and the Cal women (20-13) lost a tough one at Baylor (33-1) 102-63. It was Cal’s hopes to get this one at Baylor it was too much Baylor who ran off 39 points on Cal. The Lady Bears have had an awesome year.

#2 Duke’s Zion Williamson got a crucial basket on Sunday to help beat Central Florida 77-76 by just that much.

#3 Talk about the Stanford Cardinal women (30-4) and visiting BYU (29-5). This has been another unforgettable season for both teams, who shared identical records before Monday night’s game. Stanford who had the home floor advantage made it pay off with a 72-63 win to advance.

#4 Turning to baseball, the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants concluded their Bay Bridge series to conclude the exhibition season. The A’s will continue their regular season on Thursday afternoon at the Coliseum.

#5 The Giants open their regular season against Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres on Thursday at Petco Park.

Barbara Mason is a freelance sports writer for Area Grande and is filling in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Dave Chaney to be enshrined in CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

Dave Chaney, the first San Jose State Spartans football player to be a two-time All-America selection since the Spartans began playing the sport at the major college level in 1950, will be enshrined in the CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor during the 2019 football season. SJSU AD Marie Tuite made the announcement.

Chaney was a linebacker on the 1969 to 1971 SJSU teams from his sophomore through senior seasons. The product of Greenfield, Calif., and King City (Calif.) High School played much bigger than his 5-foot-11, 210-pound listed size. In his three seasons, he established school career records for tackles, interception return yardage and interceptions returned for a touchdown. His 527 career tackles in just three seasons still remains a SJSU record 48 years later.

“There are 11 guys on the field at one time — 10 other guys out on the field with me. I don’t want to take all the credit,” said Chaney.

“There are not enough words in the dictionary. I’m in awe of the award. What can I say? I played with some great players and we had good teams. What do you say when someone drops a ‘bomb’ on you and catches you off guard.”

The 1970 second-team All-America selection cemented his spot as a first-team All-America in 1971 with his National Lineman of the Week performance in SJSU’s stunning 13-12 upset over #10-ranked and eventual Rose Bowl champion Stanford. Chaney was credited with 17 tackles (12 unassisted), 4.0 tackles for lost yardage, two fumble recoveries and a third-quarter pass interception on a day when Stanford had 95 offensive plays.

Chaney became the first modern era SJSU player to be selected as a first-team All-America. The two-time, first-team all-conference and All-West Coast honoree would become the first Spartan to accept an invitation and play in a Senior Bowl.

“There is no doubt Dave Chaney is one of the greatest football players in San Jose State history. His legend as a Spartan clearly has stood the test of time and lives on today. It is clearly time to have his name in our Ring of Honor for what he symbolizes as a San Jose State football player — an unparalleled playing career and a noteworthy professional career of accomplishments and service to his local community,” said Tuite.

Though he was a 1972 draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs, Chaney elected to pursue a career as a high school special education teacher and was a successful tennis coach. His teams won 12 league championships and more than 400 dual matches in a 20-year coaching career.

This latest SJSU honor follows having his jersey #52 retired, being named to the SJS Sports Hall of Fame, and being named to the SJSU football All-Century team in 1995.

He’s also enshrined in the Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame and was named as the #5 greatest athlete in the Salinas area of the 20th century by the Salinas Californian.

Chaney is joining Bob Bronzan, Jack Elway, Claude Gilbert, John Ralston, Dick Vermeil, Bill Walsh and Pop Warner, best known for their coaching achievements; quarterbacks Steve DeBerg and Jeff Garcia; running back Gerald Willhite; and five-time Pro Bowl defensive back Louie Wright in the CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor started in 1998 to celebrate the university’s history, tradition and excellence in sports.

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Could Warriors be back on track after recent win against Detroit?; Why did DeMarcus Cousins sit on Sunday?

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Photo credit: nba.com/warriors

On the Warriors podcast with David:

#1 The Warriors got a bounce back 121-114 win against the Detroit Pistons after a tough loss to Dallas.

#2 The Warriors started Stephen Curry, Andrew Bogut, and Shaun Livingston, and sat DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala on Sunday night.

Listen to the Warriors podcasts each Tuesday with David at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Larry Baer suspended by MLB for physical altercation with wife

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sfgate.com file photo: San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer is serving a five month suspension including retroactive time going back to March 4th and will be back to work July 1st. The suspension was issued by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday.

by Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO — Calling for warranted discipline and after reviewing a TMZ video of San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer on March 1st getting up and pulling a cell phone out of the hands of his wife Pam where she was seated and fell off her chair and Baer walking away in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has suspended Baer without pay until July 1st.

Manfred said that the suspension without pay will be retroactive from March 4th when Baer had went on voluntary leave of absence from the club on March 4th. Baer had made a statement after the incident that he apologized for his actions the same evening of the altercation.

Baer’s wife Pam at the time said that she had an injured foot and that she couldn’t keep her balance while hanging onto the phone and Baer was pulling up on the phone and she fell off her chair screaming “oh my God help.”

The question now remains can Larry Baer remain CEO of the Giants after something like this and still have the respect of the community, players, fans, women’s right’s groups and have his front office and MLB colleagues still listen and respect his business decisions?

Manfred said that Baer is held to a higher standard and as the face and front person of the Giants he should have been better than that. The total amount of suspension time including retroactive time without pay amounts to a five month suspension. Baer will be allowed to return to work on July 1st but the Giants partnership may also decide to ask Baer to step down when he returns.

Jeremy Harness is a San Francisco Giants beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Miss Out on Gaining Ground in Pacific, Fall to Red Wings 3-2

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mercurynews.com photo: San Jose Sharks drop their sixth straight game to the Detroit Red Wings Monday night at SAP Center the Sharks started out before the skid with a six game winning streak. 

By Matthew Harrington

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks let a prime opportunity to tighten the gap from 1st place in the division slip to the wayside Monday night at home. The Sharks fell to the Detroit Red Wings 3-2, failing to take advantage of a Calgary Flames shutout loss to the cellar-dwelling Los Angeles Kings.

San Jose sits six points back of the Flames with six games left to play and seem destined for a first-round playoff nightmare match-up against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Sharks were looking to snap an 0-4-1 skid due in large part to absences by key contributors like Joe Pavelski and Erik Karlsson, but a Red Wings goal just 38 seconds into the game put a heavy weight on the Sharks early. Andreas Athanasiou added his team-leading 29th goal with 4:23 left in the second for a 2-0 edge. 

Martin Jones made three saves on breakaways to keep the Sharks in the game to open the third period, but a lackluster San Jose backcheck on the power play gave Christopher Ehn an easy short-handed rebound goal for a 3-0 lead at the 8:38 mark. 

Evander Kane would score his 28th goal as the power play continued but the Sharks couldn’t find another until Tomas Hertl scored with five seconds left in regulation. Jonathan Bernier made 39 saves to finish off the Sharks, who were expecting to feast on a struggling Winged Wheel side that will miss the playoffs for a third straight time.

San Jose draws the Chicago Blackhawks at home Thursday night, facing a team trying to keep its head above the elimination from contention waters. The Sharks will hope to right the ship by then with the team directly behind them (Vegas) and in front of them (Calgary) coming to the Shark Tank for back-to-back weekend home games. 

Washed Out: Giants’ offense looks familiar, creates concern

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — The one thing the Giants’ offense can’t afford? Looking like they’re long in the tooth.

The transition envisioned by GM Farhan Zaidi hasn’t moved the needle yet with the team’s roster changes. The 2018 infield returns intact, Mac Williamson has another opportunity to capture the left field job and 32-year old Gerardo Parra could be the team’s most impactful addition.

That means a bunch of at-bats by hitters approaching or beyond 30-years of age, and a scouting report and approach to get them out that won’t change much regardless of opponent.

Simply, bring the heat and challenge the middle-aged lineup to succeed while facing a steady diet of 90’s and mid-90’s fastballs.

The Giants looked the part on Monday, ultimately going the first 15 innings of the Bay Bridge exhibition series without scoring a run. The Giants rallied in the seventh, but still fell short, losing 5-4.

The at-bats involving the regulars followed a pattern:

Brandon Belt batting in the first inning with two on and one out: struck out swinging on a 94-mph fastball, Liam Hendricks’ fastest pitch of the sequence.

Buster Posey in the third on a 3-1 count with two runners on, one out: rolls over on a 92-mph fastball, and is doubled up, third to first. The 92-mph, two-seam fastball from Fernando Rodney is his hardest offering of the at-bat.

In the fifth, A’s closer Blake Treinen threw five consecutive pitches–92 and above–to Joe Panik with a runner in scoring position: the fifth pitch was a cut fastball that inducted a ground out to first.

A small sample size with all three players leaving the game early, and before the four-run, seventh-inning rally, but the offense hasn’t had great numbers all spring. The 140 runs scored ranks the Giants’ third worst among Cactus League teams that played a full schedule. The Royals scored 72 more runs than the Giants, the Dodgers 10 more than the Giants despite a seven-game losing streak and an inferior won-loss record.

Last year? The Giants finished second-to-last in the National League in runs scored (603) and home runs (133).

NOTES: The A’s and Giants experienced a 84-minute rain delay on Monday, then played for 3 hours, 12 minutes without interruption. The drizzle continued throughout the evening but didn’t regain any intensity… The A’s used their bullpen approach and got nine, different hurlers into the game. The A’s improved to 4-0 against San Francisco this spring… Both teams scored four runs in the seventh inning. Erik Kratz delivered a two-run single in his Oracle Park debut.