Kings hold off Toronto 124-123

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Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) drives as Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) and forward Scottie Barnes (4) defend during the second half  in Toronto on Wed Dec 14, 2022 (Canadian Press via AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Clutch free throw shooting by Sacramento in the final 32 seconds helped the Kings hold off the Toronto Raptors 124-123 Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The Kings, who had six players score in double-figures, improved to 15-12; they trail Phoenix by one-half game in the NBA Pacific Division standings. Toronto slipped to 13-15.

DeAaron Fox made a 15-foot jumper from the top of the key with 1:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Kings a 120-115 lead. Fred VanVleet responded with a 14-foot driving bank shot to pull the Raptors to within 12-117 with :47.5 to play.

After the teams swapped turnovers, Harrison Barnes sank a pair of free throws with :31.8 to go, putting Sacramento up 122-117. With :21.4 left Scottie Barnes was fouled in the act of shooting, and sank one of two at the line.

The Kings’ Malik Monk was fouled while shooting by Thaddeus Young, and made one of two free throws with :19 to play, giving Sacramento a 123-119 lead. Twelve seconds later, VanVleet scored on a short hook shot, pulling the Raptors to within 123-121.

Sacramento called a full timeout after VanVleet’s basket, and Fox was fouled while shooting with :05.9 left. Fox made 1-of-2 foul shots, and after a Toronto timeout, VanVleet missed a long 3-point attempt.

Fox led the Kings with 27 points and 10 assists, while Monk scored 24 points off the bench. Domantas Sabonis scored 21 points and grabbed 20 rebounds to go with seven assists, Terence Davis had 10 points, followed by Harrison Barnes with 12 points and eight boards, and Keegan Murray with 10 points.

VanVleet popped in a game-high 39 points for Toronto, to go with eight rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block. Scottie Barnes had 27 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, with Pascal Siakam adding 19 points and six assists.

The Kings’ Eastern road trip continues Friday, when the face the Detroit Pistons.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants “nervous money” goes to Correa

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Carlos Correa joins the San Francisco Giants on Tue Dec 13, 2022 for 13 years and a deal worth $350 million (photo from ESPN)

Giants “nervous money” goes to Correa

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–National baseball reporter Jon Heyman said about the Giants signing Carlos Correa for 13 years and $350 million; “Grossly overpaid, and so not worth it”.

A few weeks ago the Giants told their fans and the whole baseball world they were going after Aaron Judge, the Yankee slugger who established a new home run record in the American League this past season, hitting 62 home runs, that they (Giants) had all the money to make the 6′ 7 Judge a San Francisco Giant.

Among the reporters in San Diego Jon Heyman covering the winter meetings, wrote the news that the Giants had signed Aaron Judge, a few minutes letter he had to apologize as he retracted the so-called breaking news. Judge is the guy the Giants needed, to create that buzz that is not there anymore at Oracle Park, a true slugger with devastating power to all fields.

At the end, Judge decided to stay in the Bronx with the Yankees, the legacy of the most famous franchise in American history. Let’s face it, the Giants haven’t had a good farm system since GM Brian Sabean, so they were desperate to give this no opt-out, full-no trade deal to Carlos Correa, whose agent is Scott Boras, the best there is.

The San Francisco Giants needed a power bat, a hitter with power of around 40 home runs and 100 runs batted in. As good as a shortstop Correa has been, he is not your typical slugger, of that kind. But the Giants had “nervous money” that had to be given to a player in order to try to please their fan base that have been waiting for that home run, that offensive savior since they had Barry Bonds, who retired in 2007 with 762 home runs.

Giants are feeling the pressure and they want to bring another title to San Francisco, especially now when just three blocks away the Warriors play at Chase Center and have become the most successful team in San Francisco. The Giants want to recoup that “mojo” they had when they won three World Series in a six-year span. But this signing might not do it. Carlos Correa is a great defensive shortstop and a very good hitter, but he is no Aaron Judge.

The 13-years $350 million contract is the largest for an infielder in history of baseball. Correa will be 41 years old when he retires. In the history of the game only Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout ($426.5 million) Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts ($365 million) and New York Yankees Aaron Judge ($360 million) have been guaranteed more in a contract.

Giants and the Western Division. The San Diego Padres lineup is indeed a scary one: Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatís Jr. and Xander Bogaerts, not necessarily in that order, but all very productive and dangerous hitters. Tatis Jr. will miss the first 32 games of the 2023 season as he will complete his 80 game suspension from last season when he proved positive for illegal substances. San Diego manager Bob Melvin might be the team to beat in 2023 in the west.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal football podcast with Michael Roberson: Taylor says Cardinal will be “champions here”

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Stanford Athletic Director Bernard Muir (left) and newly hired head coach Troy Taylor (right) at Mon Dec 12, 2022 press conference introducing Taylor at Stanford University (AP News photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

Stanford Cardinal newly hired head coach Troy Taylor said during Monday’s press introduction that the Cardinal has a bright future and “We will be champions here. I don’t know when it will happen, but we will be champions here.” Taylor emphasized that the direction of the Cardinal is headed in the right direction despite what some people might say of the football program.

With the NIL deals and college football teams that are just all about offense with student transfer portals things in the NCAA have vastly changed impacting the way things used to be done in college football leaving the Stanford program left behind. The Cardinal attendance.

Taylor is pushing the envelope to make the Cardinal who were once bowl bound and who had many former student athletes graduate to the NFL. Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir said that the Cardinal program will be heavily involved in the NIL and transfer portal.

What was most impressive of what Muir did was hire Taylor over NFL and power 5 schools coaches. At Sacramento State Taylor didn’t have winning records when Taylor joined that program in December 2018 he got them three Big Sky titles and that impressed Muir that Taylor was able to turn the Sacramento State program around and he could do the same with more resources at Stanford.

Michael Roberson is a Stanford Cardinal football beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal basketball podcast with Michael Roberson: Cardinal host Green Bay at Maples on Friday night

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Taking it to the Max: Stanford Cardinal forward Maxime Raynaud (42) and forward Max Murrell scramble with the basketball with Arizona Sun Devils guard DJ Horne (0) in Tempe AZ on Sun Dec 4, 2022 in Pac 12 Conference play (photo by Stanford Cardinal)

On the Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 Michael the Stanford Cardinal (3-6) are coming off a heartbreak loss against the Arizona Sun Devils (8-1) in a four point loss 68-64. The Cardinal lacked a couple of buckets to get a shot at the win column but the Sun Devils have been a tough customer all season long winners of eight games.

#2 Michael, one thing the Cardinal have been able to depend on is they are getting production from their shooters we’ll take each player at a time starting with Spencer Jones who finished at the top of the leaderboard with 13 points against ASU.

#3 There’s the always quick to the basket and accurate forward Harrison Ingram head coach Jerod Haase says he likes some of things that Ingram can do on offense.

#4 Guard Michael Jones finished second in scoring against the Sun Devils on Sun Dec 4th with 12 points, Jones is averaging 10.4 pts, 3.0 rebounds, with 2.2 assists. He’s been getting his share of shots of late.

#5 Michael, I know we talked about the Green Bay Phoenix (2-8) the Cardinal’s next non conference game slated for this Friday at Maple Pavilion. The Phoenix are a struggling team they’ve won only two games and Stanford has won only three. The Cardinal have the hone floor how do you see this game shaking out?

#6 Michael wishing you a Happy Birthday it’s been a big birthday present for us to have you do Stanford basketball podcasts for us this season.

Join Michael for Stanford Cardinal podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks win second straight game, holding off Coyotes 3-2

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San Jose Sharks center Nick Bonino (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Arizona Coyotes during the first period at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Dec 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Tuesday, December 13, 2022

San Jose used early goals from Tomas Hertl, Nick Bonino and Nico Sturm in addition to a stellar effort in the nets from James Reimer, as the Sharks held off Arizona 3-2 Tuesday in a Western Conference matchup at SAP Center.

The Sharks, mired in sixth place in the NHL Pacific, improved to 10-16-5, 25 points. Arizona, playing its 15th road game in their last 17 contests to accommodate the construction schedule of Arizona State’s Mullet Arena in Tempe, is 9-14-4, 22 points in the Central Division.

Hertl’s 10th goal of the season, assisted by Radim Simek and Scott Harrington, put the Sharks on the board at 3:50 of the first period. Just over one minute later, Bonino scored his fourth goal, from Erik Karlsson and Jonah Gadjovich, putting the Sharks up 2-0.

With San Jose’s Oskar Lindblom (hooking) and Bonino (tripping) both serving minor penalties, the Coyotes took advantage of the 5-on-3 power play with a goal by Lawson Crouse – his team-leading 13th – at 18:05, cutting the Sharks lead to 2-1 at the first intermission.

Sturm’s eighth goal of the season, from Bonino and Harrington, extended the Sharks’ lead to 3-1 at 8:09 of the second period. Arizona closed the gap to 3-2 at 2:56 of the third period on Nick Bjugstad’s sixth goal.

The Coyotes went to a sixth attacker with just over two minutes to play and hit the pipe twice, but was unable to take advantage of San Jose being called for icing three times after the Sharks missed hitting the empty Coyotes net.

Reimer stopped 20 of 22 Arizona shots, while Coyotes netminder Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves.

The Sharks will try to extend their two-game winning streak on Saturday night in Los Angeles against the Kings.

Bucks coast to 128-111 victory over Warriors

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Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green shoots past Milwaukee Bucks’ Brook Lopez during the first half at Fiserv Arena in Milwaukee on Tue Dec 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

On Tuesday night, the Golden State Warriors got off to a rocky start on their six-game road trip. They had to face the Milwaukee Bucks, owners of the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks, NBA champions in the 2020-2021 season, had a height advantage over the small-ball Warriors for the 128-111 win.

The Bucks started seven-foot Brook Lopez and 6’11 Giannis Antetokounmpo in the forecourt. The tallest player in the Warrior lineup was Kevin Looney. Looney is 6’9 and plays hard, but the taller players in the Buck lineup caused problems for the Warriors all night. 

The Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins missed his fourth consecutive game with an adductor strain in his groin. The Warriors started Jordan Poole in his place. The Warriors scored the first seven points of the game. The Warriors were leading 11-7 when Milwaukee went on a 20-5 run to go ahead 27-16. The Warriors never came close to regaining the lead. The Bucks finished the first quarter leading 38-27.

The Bucks’ defense bottled up the Warriors offense in the second quarter. The Warriors only saving grace was the large number of threes they made. They made 11 but could not score in the paint. Milwaukee made three threes in the first half. They led at the end of the first half 64-52.

The Warriors could not stop Giannis when he drove to the basket. The Bucks’ Bobby Portis, Jr., coming off the bench, knocked down 14 points. Milwaukee shot 57% from the floor. The Warriors measly 38.5%

The Bucks continued to play well in the second half. The Warriors could not pierce the Bucks’ defense. Milwaukee increased the lead at the end of the third quarter. The Warriors won the fourth quarter 34-33, but it was not enough.

Game Notes and Stats: The Warriors are now 14-14 for the year. The Bucks are 20-7. Only Boston has a better record. The Celtics beat the Lakers in LA Tuesday night to improve to 22-7.

The Bucks held Stephen Curry to 20 points. Curry made three threes. Jonathan Kuminga was second with 19 points. Kuminga also had three threes. Poole had 18, and Klay Thompson had 14. Jonathan Lamb had eight, and Patrick Baldwin, recalled from Santa Cruz, knocked down two threes

Giannis, Grayson Allen, Khris Middleton, and Portis, Jr. were the Milwaukee players in double figures. The Bucks outrebounded the Warriors 62-42. The Bucks had 48 points in the paint and held the Warriors to 30.

One of the game’s oddities was that the Warriors went to the free throw line just once in the first half. They made just one of the free throws. The Bucks had 13 and made 11. Things evened out a bit in the second half. 

The Warriors didn’t help their cause, as they committed 18 turnovers. The Warriors were tagged for six technical fouls. The Bucks had four. Ten technical fouls indicate a lot of dissatisfaction with the calls made by the referees.

The Warriors play the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night in Indianapolis. The road trip then goes to Toronto, Philadelphia, New York, and Brooklyn. 

Kings embarrassed by 76ers 123-103; Sac sixth loss in ten games

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Philadelphia 76ers’ Tobias Harris goes up for a dunk during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center. (AP News photo)

Kings Embarrassed By 76ers 123-103

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Philadelphia 76ers (15-12) hosted the Sacramento Kings (14-12) at Wells Fargo Center. The Kings are in fifth place in the Western Conference playing some great basketball right now although they did lose their last game to the Knicks 112-99. Prior to that Sacramento beat the Cavaliers 106-95. The Kings just couldn’t hold on and lost by a big margin to the Sixers Tuesday night 123-103.

The Kings trailed at the end of the first quarter 39-32. They needed to make a push in the second and do their best to contain Joel Embiid who already had 16 points to start the quarter. Tobias Harris had shot for 15 points. Turnovers were hurting the Kings already with seven early in the second quarter.

Not a single King had double digits through the opening quarter. Philadelphia went on an 11-0 run early in the second quarter and extended their lead to 53-35. The Kings had a huge hole to dig out of. That hole continued to grow and at the half the Kings had given up 80 points in the first half. They trailed 80-55 in an absolute blow-out.

The Kings continued to trail through the third quarter. They just were not able to get on top of Philadelphia. Embiid continued his rampage shooting for 29 points through three while Harris and James Harden each had 17 points. The Kings did have a better quarter and a 17-7 run but the 76ers had a 101-83 lead after three.

The embarrassment continued through the fourth quarter. Poor shooting, poor defense, turnovers and barely a triple in sight, although they did hit a few more in the second half, was all Sacramento could manage. The game had turned into a glorified practice for the 76ers.

De’Aaron Fox just wasn’t on task only shooting for 13 points. Domantas Sabonis had the high score with 22. Malik Monk had 16 off the bench and Terence Davis had 12. The Kings just could not handle Embiid who finished with 31 points followed by Harris and Harden both with 21 points.

The Kings will continue on their road trip taking on the Toronto Raptors tomorrow. They will try to put this game behind them. Tipoff is schedule for 4:30 PM.

San Francisco Giants report: Stripling joins Manaea in the latest of signings

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By Morris Phillips and Michael Duca

Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ross Stripling throws against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tue Sep 20, 2022. Stripling joined the Giants signing a two year $25 million deal with a option for 2024 (AP News photo)

SAN FRANCISCO– Not waiting for the end of the year the San Francisco Giants made moves this week on Monday they signed former Oakland A’s left hander Sean Manaea who was anchor in the A’s bullpen when he pitched there. Manaea who signed a $25 million for two years with 2024 being a option year.

Manaea pitched for Oakland from 2016 until the end of the 2021 season. He joined the San Diego Padres soon after his former manager Bob Melvin went to manage in San Diego. Manaea’s 2022 season record 8-9 ERA 4.96. Manaea is being considered for the fourth or fifth spot in the Giants rotation. The Giants despite Manaea’s struggles in San Diego say they like what he brought to the Bay Area when he pitched here and he can adjust and the Giants are confident they can get him back on track.

Ross Stripling signing: On the heels of the Manaea signing the Giants signed right hand pitcher Ross Stripling in a $25 million two year deal. The contract call for an opt out after the first season. If Stripling pitches anything like he did in 2022 the Giants may not even give that opt out even a second thought. With Toronto Blue Jays Stripling went 10-4 with impressive 3.04 ERA in 134 plus innings.

Stripling 33, gets a $5 million signing bonus and will receive a $7 million salary for the 2023 season and Stripling who can reach for the brass ring and get a second year will get $12.5 million for the 2024 season. The Giants are looking to replace an effective pitching staff from the 2021 season in the pitchers of Alex Cobb, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood and the Giants are looking for Alex Wood with Logan Webb, Jakob Junis, and Sean Hjelle to fill that void.

Now with Stripling and Manaea joining the pitching staff they could very well get an effective performance that the Giants have been looking for in their rotation. No doubt about it Stripling and Manaea bring lots of experience to the pitching staff. Manaea had had some arm problems in the past when he pitched in Oakland and was looking forward to working that out when he was in San Diego but will get a chance to work with Giants pitching coach Andrew Bailey.

Michael Duca and Morris Phillips both podcast Giants baseball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Rich Perez: Raiders have home field against Patriots this Sunday

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The Los Angeles Rams Jalen Ramsey (right) wasn’t covering the eyes of Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Devante Adams (17) from watching the Raiders fall but defending him after a completed catch in first half action at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday Night Football Dec 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Raiders podcast with Rich:

#1 Rich, It seems that after the Las Vegas Raiders had won three straight that they may have righted the ship but going to Los Angeles and losing to the Rams in the last ten seconds of the game last Thursday night throws that winning streak out the window?

#2 Breaking down the play the Rams in those last ten seconds saw wide out Van Jefferson caught a 23 yard pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield to get the Rams to the promise land for the 17-16 win over the Raiders.

#3 Baker Mayfield was all but given up by the Carolina Panthers and sent packing the Monday before last Thursday’s game. Panther head coach Steve Wilks did not plan to use Mayfield as either as a starter or a back up quarterback. Mayfield wanted out of Carolina and in his first game with the Rams made good use of his time to help LA pick up their fourth win of the season.

#4 It was a game where there was just not enough offense for the Raiders who didn’t score at all in third quarter and just a field goal would have helped them get that fourth straight win but it was all for not in the one point loss.

#5 The Raiders try it all over again as they face the New England Patriots (7-6) this Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Patriots have won four of their last six games and head coach Bill Belichick has not lost his touch in his clever ways to win a football game.

Rich Perez is filling in for Tony Renteria who does the Raiders podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Purdy day to day with rib injuries and Samuel out for three weeks

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A fired up Brock Purdy takes flight after converting a first half touchdown pass against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Sun Dec 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 Dave, as reported this morning San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is listed day to day with rib injuries after going through an MRI on Monday the 49ers have listed Purdy as day to day.

#2 San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is estimated to be out for the next three games including on Thursday Night Football in Seattle. Samuel is suffering from a high ankle strain Dave talk about his absence will impact the 49ers for Thursday’s game?

#3 Dave, former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice said for the coaches to stop running Samuel up through the middle “Please stop running out skill player up the middle,” he wrote. “Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo and now Deebo Samuel all hurt!!”What’s your reaction to what Rice tweeted.

Join David Zizmor for the 49ers podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com