Raiders close out regular season against Chargers at StubHub Center

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Oakland Raiders’ Amari Cooper (89) catches a pass against Philadelphia Eagles’ Corey Graham (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — The Raiders will wrap up the 2017 regular season on the road against the Chargers at the StubHub Center. Sunday’s game will also conclude the regular season series between these longtime rivals, who first met back in 1960. Los Angeles defeated the Raiders back in Week 6, 17-16, in Oakland. Raiders lead the all-time series 62-51-2.

Oakland (6-9) dropped their third straight game, losing to the now 13-2 Philadelphia Eagles 19-10 before a national televised audience on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. The Raiders’ defense played strong, holding the Eagles to just 216 yards of total offense (138 passing and 78 rushing).

The Silver and Black held the Eagles to just 1-of-14 on third downs. Middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman led the Raiders with seven tackles, while defensive linemen Denico Autry and Jihad Ward each recording a sack; it was Ward’s first career sack.

Safety Reggie Nelson was around the football the entire night, forcing two turnovers against Philadelphia in the second half. Nelson forced a fumble that was recovered by cornerback TJ Carrie, and then registered an interception off Eagles starting quarterback Nick Foles in the fourth quarter. For the game, Nelson finished with six tackles and three pass defensed.

Offensively, Oakland’s running game came alive behind starting running back Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for 95 yards on 25 carries. Starting quarterback Derek Carr threw for 140 yards on 15-of-29 passing with one touchdown and one interception.

After missing the previous two games with an ankle injury, wide receiver Amari Cooper returned to the lineup and finished with three catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. Cooper got great separation from Eagles starting cornerback Jalen Mills running a slant-and-go for a 63-yard score in the first half.

Los Angeles (8-7) enters Week 17 with a shot at making the AFC playoffs. After a slow start to the season, the Chargers have now won five of their last six games after dispatching the New York Jets, 14-7, last Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The Chargers can clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Raiders, coupled with losses by both the Tennessee Titans (8-7) and Buffalo Bills (8-7).

Starting quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 290 yards on 22-of-40 passing with one touchdown against the Jets last week. The 14-year veteran enters the final weekend of the season ranking third in the NFL in passing yards with 4,128 and ninth in touchdown passes with 25 and only 10 interceptions.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen appears to be all the way back from the torn ACL he suffered last season, ranking fourth among wide receivers in the NFL with 1,260 receiving yards to go along with 93 catches–all career-highs for the fifth-year pro. Allen has caught five touchdowns this season.

Running back Melvin Gordon is Los Angeles’s most versatile offensive weapon. Gordon is tied for third in the NFL with 12 touchdowns (eight rushing and four receiving). The third-year pro rushed for 81 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown against the Jets, helping him eclipse 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

Gordon enters Sunday’s matchup against Oakland rushing for 1,012 yards on 257 carries, to go along with 52 catches for 445 yards this season.

The Chargers have one of the better defenses in the league, ranking fifth in the NFL with 41 sacks. Second-year defensive end Joey Bosa leads the team with 11.5 sacks, while fellow defensive end Melvin Ingram is close behind with 10 sacks. After finishing tied for the NFL lead in interceptions in 2016, Los Angeles is currently tied for third with 17 interceptions this season.

Safety Tre Boston and cornerback Casey Hayward are tied for the team lead with four picks apiece.

Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT.

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Mary Walsh: Sharks last game with Kings very physical; SJ prepares for Calgary Flames for Thursday

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San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) squares up with an incoming shooter during the third period of the regular season game between the San Jose Sharks and the LA Kings held December 23, 2017 at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Allan Hamilton/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

On the SJ Sharks Podcast with Mary Lisa:

Without Logan Couture in the line up for the San Jose Sharks they played a big game against the Los Angeles Kings last Saturday night at SAP and it was clear that the Sharks goaltender Martin Jones was motivated to beat his old team and get his 100th career win in the bag. It was a very strange game the way the refs were calling it they were letting some very obvious penalties go.

One play had one of the Kings pushing somebody out with an elbow and the refs didn’t say anything and then one of the Sharks goes along and taps someone on the head with a stick and all my gosh they call it it’s penalty. Then there were pile ups in the corner it was really weird and a rough and tumble game. It was much more chippy than we’ve seen this season.

Mary Lisa has lots more on the SJ Sharks podcast and each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Jose Barracuda Podcast with Marko Ukalovic: As the Cuda make the Stars fall in their last game SJ gets ready for Stockton on Thursday

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sjbarracuda photo: San Jose Barracuda Forward Filip Sanberg (45) skates for the puck against the Texas Stars last Friday at SAP Center

On the SJ Barracuda Podcast with Marko:

1  The Barracuda played on back to back night last Thursday in Bakersfield and at SAP Center on Friday against the Texas Stars. It’s always a tough offering playing an away and home game back to back

2 The game in San Jose vs. Texas they beat the Stars 3-1 in a two goal win

3 John McCarthy scored the game’s first goal last Friday vs. Texas a power play goal at 9:12 in the first period

4 Forward Danny O’Reagan always good for finding the net shot one off Texas goalie Landon Bow that McCarthy took for the goal

5 Thursday is a rare day game with the Stockton Heat paying a visit to SAP Arena Marko talks about this match up

Marko does the Barracuda podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Quarterbacks on display in Foster Farms Bowl; Boilermakers’ Elijah Sindelar vs. Wildcats’ Khalil Tate

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AP File Photo: Arizona Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate (14) looks to pass just out of reach of Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Alani Latu (44) during the college football game between the Arizona Wildcats and the Arizona State Sun Devils on November 25, 2017 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — When the Arizona Wildcats and the Purdue Boilermakers meet in the Foster Farms at Levi’s Stadium, it is going to be a good one.

The one player that the Boilermakers will be keying on will be Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate, who is now a candidate for the Heisman Trophy in 2018.

Tate played little in the first four games of the season, as he rushed for 86 yards and passed for 41 yards. Once he finally got on the field as a starter against the Colorado Buffaloes in week 5, Tate went nuts.

In that game, Tate ran for 327 yards and went 12-of-13 for 154 yards passing with a touchdown and did not throw an interception in a huge 45-42 Wildcats victory.

Over the next five games, Tate continued his torrid pace, as he rushed for a total of 1,207 yards in those six games and the Wildcats went 5-1 during that stretch.

Unfortunately, the season did not end well for Tate, as the Wildcats ended up losing their last two games and fell out of the Pac-12 South race.

On the other sideline, this is the first season for head coach Jeff Brohm, who actually played for the San Francisco 49ers in the late 1990s.

Brohm led the Boilermakers to a 6-6 record and 4-5 in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers won their final two games just to get bowl-eligible for the first time since the 2012 season.

Like the Wildcats, the Boilermakers changed quarterbacks. However, it was due to an injury to David Blough, who was sharing the position with Elijah Sindelar.

Blough suffered a season-ending ankle injury on November 4. Brohm turned the reins and quarterback position over to Sindelar. Over the final three games of the season, the Boilermakers won two of them, including a win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, who were ranked 25th at the time. Sindelar threw seven touchdowns and one interception in those final three games.

Markell Jones finally got the running game, as he rushed for 217 yards in a huge win over the Indiana Hoosiers.

Harrell leads efficient Clippers over Kings 122-95

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~ (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Los Angeles’ Montrezl Harrell had a season-high in points and rebounds as Sacramento endured a bigger drubbing than last Tuesday, 122-95.

The Clippers shot 55% from the field, compared to 41.7%, had almost double the amount of threes, and went to the line 27 times.  

Harrell scored 22 points with eight rebounds. In the fourth quarter, he scored 12 points, got seven rebounds and went to the line four times.

The Kings meanwhile continued a WW-LL pattern. Sacramento’s opponents have scored over 100 points in the Kings’ last eight losses and Los Angeles has scored over 100 points in each of their last four games.

No one on the Kings scored over 10 points except for Willie Cauley-Stein. He had 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Lou Williams added 21 points for the Clippers, Milos Teodosic had a season-high 10 assists and teammate Austin Rivers was held to eight points. It was Rivers’ lowest total  since he returned from a concussion, ending a four game double point streak.

Both were close in the beginning with 30 apiece in the first quarter, but then the discrepancy grew to 18 as scored Los Angeles scored 41 and Sacramento 23 in the second. The first half points allowed matched a season record for the Kings.  Sacramento’s last lead came with 10:30 left in the second quarter.

In the second quarter, Milos Teodosic had six points and five assists while the Kings went to the free throw line five times. Starting with 7:26 left, the Clippers extended their lead to double digits with 11. Los Angeles’ Sam Dekker’s touch into the net with 5:05 left (also an 11 point difference) would be the closest the Kings got for the rest of the game.

Los Angeles stretched a 12-0 run in between the third and fourth quarters.

Sacramento’s Justin Jackson got the score to within 19 points after a three with 2:45 left to go, but then the Clippers scored the last eight points. Meanwhile, after the Kings’ Malachi Richardson was blocked by Willie Reed, Sacramento missed their last five shots with three attempts by Georgios Papagiannis.

Game notes: Sacramento plays the second of back-to-back games Tuesday at 7pm hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a six-game homestand.

San Francisco 49ers Podcast with David Zizmor: After getting past one of the NFL’s best 49ers and Jimmy G host Rams Sunday

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By David Zizmor

SANTA CLARA–There are two things, number one this was going to be a big test for the 49ers when they hosted one of the NFL’s best teams the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday. The Jaguars came into the game with hands down one of the best defenses in the league just by all the numbers. The Jags are noted for being particularly stingy against quarterbacks and the Jaguars allowed only 164 passing yards.

Then you have 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo comes out and added 130 yards in the first quarter alone and ended up with 240 yards passing total. The Jaguars have a great defense, they lead the league in sacks their secondary is shedding multiple drives. The Jaguars are a team that have hard hitting fast units on defense. This Jaguars defense was modeled similar to the Seattle defense.

Dave hosts he 49ers podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len Shapiro: After shutout of Kings Saturday Sharks fired up for the Heat of the Flames Thursday

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San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) stops a shot next to Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown, center, and Sharks defenseman Justin Braun during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

On the Sharks Podcast with Len:

1 Sharks goaltender Marty Jones performance in goal against the Los Angeles Kings saw his best performance of the season with 28 saves

2 It was the first time the Sharks shutout the Kings in over a decade

3 For Jones it was his 100th career NHL win

4 The Sharks had goals scored by Marcus Sorenson and Joe Pavelski

5 The Sharks host the Calgary Flames Thursday night at SAP Len takes a look at this match up

Join Len each Monday for the San Jose Sharks Podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears Basketball Podcast with Morris Phillips: After big defeat to Portland State a look how Cal gets ready to play at Stanford on Saturday

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AP Photo File: Wyking Jones fields questions during a NCAA college basketball press conference to announce his new appointment as California men’s basketball coach Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Cal Bears Basketball Podcast with Morris Phillips:

1 Saturday 30th The Big Game for Cal (6-7) will be playing at the farm at Stanford (6-7) Morris takes a look at what Cal needs to do to prepare for this one

2 In their last game they hosted the Portland Vikings only to lost 106-81

3 The Bears started out the fist half slowly but in the first two minutes the Vikings held a nine point lead

4 No Bears players converted a three point shot in the first half and trailed most of the first half by at least 20 points

5 For Cal head coach Wyking Jones whose coming off the loss with Portland State how much preparation will have to go into getting ready for Stanford

Morris does the Cal Bears each Monday and on Tuesday with Michael Duca at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Christmas haunts Raiders as they drop 19-10 decision to Eagles

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Philadelphia Eagles’ Jake Elliott (4) and Donnie Jones (8) celebrate past Oakland Raiders’ T.J. Carrie (38) after Elliott’s field goal during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

By Jeremy Kahn

With a possibility to be spoilers to the Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff plans, the Oakland Raiders were unable to take advantage of that.

Jake Elliott kicked a 48-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining in the game, as the Eagles defeated the Raiders 19-10 at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday night.

With the victory, the Eagles improved to 13-2 on the season and clinched home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. The last time the Eagles were home throughout the entire NFC Playoffs was during the 2004 Playoffs. The Eagles ended up in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, where they lost to the Patriots 24-21.

The game-winning field goal by Elliott was set up by a Ronald Darby interception that was returned 52 yards for a touchdown. However, Darby was ruled down by contact by Amari Cooper.

Nick Foles went 4-for-4 on the ensuing drive for a 21-yard drive that culminated with the Elliott field goal.

The Eagles got on the board in the first quarter, as Foles found Jay Ajayi for a 17-yard touchdown pass.

Derek Carr tied up the game with a 63-yard touchdown pass to Cooper, as cornerback Jalen Mills attempted to jump the route.

Giorgio Tavecchio gave the Raiders their only lead of the game, as he kicked a 25-yard field goal on the Raiders’ opening series of the third quarter.

The two teams traded turnovers on three consecutive possessions, beginning when Patrick Robinson intercepted a Carr pass.

Ajayi fumbled the back to the Raiders, and then Marshawn Lynch gave the ball back to the Eagles on the next play, as he fumbled.

Elliott then tied up the game at 10, as he nailed a 35-yard field goal.

With a chance to give the Raiders the lead, Tavecchio missed a 48-yard field goal with just under eight minutes remaining in the game.

Foles was unable to get the Eagles going, as he threw an interception that bounced off the hands of Zach Ertz and into the hand of Reggie Nelson.

Malcolm Jenkins then got the ball back for the Eagles, as he stripped Jalen Richard of the ball and he recovered it on their own 16.

Following three consecutive three-and-outs, Darby intercepted Carr’s pass that eventually turned into Elliott’s game-winning field goal.

The final points of the evening came on the final play of the game, as Derek Barnett scored on a 23-yard fumble return, when Jalen Richard’s pitch back to Carr fell to the Lincoln Financial Field ground and Barnett scooped it up and went into the end zone.

NOTES: With the postseason no longer in their sights, the Raiders will close out their 2017 season against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Stubhub Center on Sunday afternoon at 1:25 pm PT.

Warriors give fans a Christmas present with 99-92 win over Cavs

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Photo credit: @_LegendaryEdits

By: Ana Kieu

OAKLAND, Calif. — On Christmas day, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers met in a rematch at Oracle Arena. The Warriors beat the Cavs 99-92 in Oakland.

Prior to the much anticipated matchup, the Warriors saw their 11-game win streak snap after the Nuggets embarrassed them with a 96-81 blowout win Saturday. Meanwhile, the Cavs were just looking to extend their win streak to two games. The Cavs edged the Bulls 115-112 at Quicken Loans Arena Thursday.

Both teams played excellent defense to start the first half. There was no score until 10:15 of the first quarter as Jae Crowder hit a three-pointer to put the Cavs on the board 3-0. Jose Calderon added another three to make it 6-0 Cavs with 9:38 left in the first.

The Warriors then started to get back into the game. Draymond Green made a driving floating bank jump shot and one of two free throws. Klay Thompson hit a three. Kevin Durant missed a couple of shots, but later snagged a rebound and made a driving finger roll layup shot. The Warriors pulled within two (12-10) with 7:15 left.

LeBron James hit a three to put the Cavs ahead 15-10 with 6:05 left. Durant then made a jump shot to bring the Warriors within four (16-12), but Kevin Love hit a three to expand the Cavs’ lead to 19-12 with 4:38 left.

James continued to work his magic on the court with a couple of layups. Kyle Korver hit a three with 21.7 seconds left. The Warriors trailed the Cavs 28-24 at the end of the first.

Both teams battled it out in a back-and-forth second quarter. The score was tied at 33 with 6:16 left in the second. Thompson made the game-tying shot–a jump shot.

Again, the score was tied at 39 with 3:57 left. Bell made a cutting dunk shot for two points for the equalizer.

The Warriors missed plenty of shots, but so did the Cavs. Durant helped the Warriors out with a three before Iguodala entered the game in his relief.

Omri Casspi made a pair of two free throws to end the first half. The Warriors led the Cavs 46-44 at halftime.

The score remained close throughout the second half.

Love hit a three to start the third quarter, but the Warriors began to pick up the pace. Love continued to contribute to the Cavs’ offense, but the Warriors gave the Cavs a hard time as Patrick McCaw hit a three and made a driving layup shot before his scoring streak ended and Andre Iguodala entered in his relief.

Casspi and Nick Young relieved Bell and Thompson late in the third. The Warriors made it rain with Durant’s pair of free throws and Casspi’s cutting dunk shot before the Cavs took a timeout.

The Iguodala show was in full effect as Iguodala made a dunk shot and a running finger roll layup shot to give the Warriors a 71-64 lead over the Cavs at the end of the third.

Dwayne Wade made it a one-point game with a three with 8:49 left in the fourth. The Warriors continued to lead 78-77, but Shaun Livingston made a dunk shot before receiving a personal foul from the referees. Durant then substituted for Iguodala.

Love made a pair of free throws, but the Cavs continued to trail the Warriors 85-81 with 5:59 left in regulation. Green, Durant and Bell fired up the Warrior offense, while the Cavs missed some much-needed shots.

James made a floating jump shot to tie the game at 92 with 1:59 left. Durant responded with a three to put the Warriors back on top 95-92 just 26 seconds later.

The Cavs got a lot of fouls in the final two minutes of the game and that seemingly affected their overall performance. Thompson closed out the game with a pair of free throws and the Warriors beat the Cavs 99-92.

Notes
Warriors’ starters: Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Jordan Bell, Klay Thompson and Patrick McCaw.

Dwayne Wade’s teams have won 10 games on Christmas day–the most in NBA history.

Kevin Love (20) and LeBron James (22) have a combined 42 double-doubles, tied for the most among all NBA teammate duos this season.

Up Next 
The Warriors host the Jazz on Wednesday, December 27 at 7:30 pm PT.

The Cavs take on the Kings on Wednesday, December 27 at 7:00 pm PT.