Warriors Drop Second In a Row to Timberwolves 129-114

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Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) collides with Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney as Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, left, watches at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Tue Mar 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Drop Second In a Row to Timberwolves 129-114

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Golden State Warriors (43-19) took on the Minnesota Timberwolves (34-29) at Target Center. After Sunday’s game against the Mavericks, what we will see from the Warriors is the question of the day.

Will we see the mental mistakes that we saw Sunday? Will we see another meltdown? Will they start making those open shots? A lot of questions that will be answered tonight.

The team will still be missing Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala. The Timberwolves Anthony Edwards will not be starting tonight.

The Timberwolves led for most of the first half. After one quarter they led 34-27. The Warriors continued to hang around until the final minutes of the second quarter when Minnesota took their largest lead of the game 68-56.

More turnovers for Golden State and again missing those open shots was hurting the Warriors. The Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns had the high score for Minnesota with 20 points and D’Angelo Russell had 15 at the half. The Warriors were being tested defensively in this game. Kevon Looney had seven rebounds but also had three personal fouls at halftime.

The Warriors needed to slow down Towns in the second half and start hitting those open shots if they wanted to rebound and win this game.

In the third quarter the Warriors started hitting those open shots. After trailing by 12 the Warriors had cut the deficit to four points. Five Warriors were in foul trouble, Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton with four so another obstacle that Golden State had to deal with.

Every time the Warriors would get close, the Timberwolves would come back and extend their lead. The Warriors had worked so hard to pull to within four only to watch Minnesota extend their lead back out to 12 points.

The biggest problem in this game was for every point that Minnesota gave up, the Timberwolves would make up offensively. The Warriors were unable to slow Towns or Russell. In the fourth quarter the Timberwolves had their biggest lead of the game at 18 with six minutes left in the game.

When you miss 17 open shots it makes it difficult to come away with a win. The Warriors were looking at their second loss in a row since the All-Star game. Golden State trailed by 20 plus for most of the final four minutes of the game. The final was 129-114.

Towns finished the game with 39 points and Stephen Curry had 34 for Golden State. The Timberwolves were just too much for the Warriors tonight. Golden State got beat offensively and defensively. This could possibly be a playoff match-up as we head into the playoffs. The Warriors are in a real rut that they have to shake off going into their next game.

The Warrior have dropped six of their last eight games as they head into Dallas Thursday night to take on the Mavericks. Tipoff is schedule for 5:30 pm PST.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB History of Work Stoppages

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Former Major League Baseball Players Association Executive the late Marvin Miller who organized the first strike in MLB history in 1972. Here is Miller addressing players of the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox during spring training 1977 (New York Times file photo)

MLB History of Work Stoppages

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

MLB History of Work Stoppages (strike=players) (Lockout=Owners) caused by humans.

Date Days Reason

April 1972 13 Strike

February 1973 18 Lockout

Feb-March 1976 17 Lockout

April 1980 8 Strike

June-July 1981 50 Strike

August 1985 2 Strike

Feb-March 1980 32 Lockout

Aug 1994-March 1995 232 Strike

December 2021-Present 91 Lockout *

*2022 MLB cancels first two series of the regular season that was to begin on March 31.

Join Amaury Pi for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB: Owners and Players No Deal – – Season on Life Support

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The ball and chain of the MLB lockout continued when owners and players were far apart on the major issues at the lockout negotiations in Jupiter Florida for the ninth straight day of in person meetings (file photo from the Athletic)

MLB: Owners and Players No Deal – – Season on Life Support

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Jupiter, Florida… Owners and players’ union representatives negotiated for 16 hours, beginning Monday, Feb. 28 at 10AM until around 4 AM Tuesday the 1st of March. Both sides were dead locked this morning.

The main sticking point is the CBT (Competitive Balance Tax). Negotiations were extended after the first deadline expired. The owners made the last proposal and it was rejected unanimously by the players union. And Adios! everybody left and went home empty handed.

It has been 91 days since MLB locked out the players. The lockout started on December 2, 2021. It was thought some progress was made but not enough to close a deal that would run the business of baseball until 2027.

It has been a heck of a roller-coaster of a ride during these past eight continuous days of negotiations. Meetings have been held at the St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training park, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in sunny Jupiter, Florida.

Major League Players’ Association leaders agreed unanimously not to accept MLB’s final proposal and there will be no deal on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement before today’s 5PM ET deadline. MLB threatened to cancel its March 31 Opening Day without a new deal. Owners also said, as late as Sunday, they were willing to cancel the entire April calendar of games.

A sad situation for the game of baseball, and for all in the business of baseball that has a financial interest. This includes the ancillary people, self-employed, media, reporters, radio and TV stations, announcers, stadium workers, vendors, food truck drivers, Uber/Lyft drivers, local restaurants, the hospitality people and many more.

In other words all the people that depend on the baseball industry to put food on their table, pay their mortgage, pay the car note, the rent and raise their kids, are “up a creek without a paddle”. All because people that rule the business, owners and players, billionaires and millionaires, could not get their own greedy ways. In my book, and overall, I blame booth sides – owners and players. A $5 gallon of gas doesn’t affect them much.

One thing I do agree with this Commissioner, (which I agree few times), this is “a disastrous outcome” to the game. A sport that once was called “The National Pastime”, today has become “The National Joke” .

Amaury Pi Gonzalez will update you on the MLB lockout at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Whose the pressure on most MLB or the Players as both sides continue to meet today; plus more news

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Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper going to the dugout after striking out against the Miami Marlins in file photo on Sat Oct 2, 2022 at LoanDepot Park in Miami. Harper is seriously considering joining the Japanese League if the lockout continues at length (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury:

#1 Amaury, Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Union negotiated until 2:30 AM this morning and agreed to meet again this morning. It was reported that there were gaps in some of the major issues and that some progress was made. This is the ninth day in a row of negotiations between both sides.

#2 Amaury update us on the two options the owners presented to the players on one of the major deals that looks like it can get worked out. A. 14 playoff teams, a minimum salary of around $700,000 and around $40 million in a bonus pool divided among the top pre-arbitration players. or B. 12 playoff teams, a minimum salary of around $675,000 and around $20 million in the pre-arbitration bonus pool. 

#3 Amaury, NHL announced that the NHL immediately has cut all ties with the Russian hockey leagues and any league affiliated with Russia because of the attacks and invasion on Ukraine. The league will cease doing business with any Russian league and freeze any new players coming to the NHL. The NHL currently has 50 Russian players who can stay on board with the their NHL teams.

#4 Amaury, It’s a very difficult time for the Russian players and their families who have been put in a rock and hard place. The Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin said that he hopes for peace and knows that this will be a long tried and true test for NHL Russian players and their families.

#5 Florida Marlins CEO Derek Jeter is stepping down from the top position and he also is giving up being a part owner as well, Jeter who came over from the New York Yankees after retiring to be CEO at the Marlins.

#6 Jeter’s first act of duty when took over as CEO in 2017 was to fire long time former Marlins players who worked in the front office, Andre Dawson, Tony Perez, Jeff Conine, and former manager Jack McKeon which were unpopular moves at the time.

Join Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB says a deal must be in place by 5 pm today or first week of regular season will canceled

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Both MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred (left) and MLB Players executive Tony Clark (right) are seen at 2017 World Baseball Classic in file photo. Both MLB and the Players Union have agreed to extend negotiations until 5 PM today in Jupiter FL Tue Mar 1, 2022 (file photo from Bleed Cubbie Blue)

MLB and MLB Players called it a night at 2:30 AM EST and will resume negotiations later this morning

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Union reported at 2:30 AM that there are still some gaps in some of the major issues. Both sides will resume meeting later this morning but MLB has said that if an agreement is not met by 5:00pm EST today the first week of the regular season will be canceled which is scheduled to start on March 31st.

Owners and players negotiated past the “deadline” that had been established by Commissioner Rob Manfred, which was 12:00 midnight, Feb 28. According to the Commissioner and MLB baseball that deadline, if not met, would have canceled at least Opening Day March 31.

A day prior to this agreement the owners said they will be ready to cancel all the games in the month of April. MLB locked out the players last December 2. The season is suppose to begin on March 31.

If a new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) is agreed upon it would expire in 2027.

More details to come.

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez with all the latest on the MLB-MLBPA negotiations on Tuesday’s podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings use big second half to knock off Thunder 131-110 in OKC

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Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) shoots between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), forward Isaiah Roby (22) and guard Aaron Wiggins, right, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Mon Feb 28, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Monday, February 28, 2022

The Sacramento Kings (23-40) had six players in double-figures Monday, as the Kings traveled to Oklahoma City (19-42) and emerged with a 131-110 win over the Thunder.

The Kings (23-40) emerged from a 59-all halftime deadlock with a big second half, outscoring OKC 72-51 in the final 24 minutes after the Thunder opened the second half with a 9-0 run. The Kings battled back to take a 99-90 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Oklahoma City cut the Kings’ lead to 102-96 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but could get no closer, as Sacramento snapped a four-game losing streak.

DeAaron Fox led the Kings with 29 points and ten assists. Trey Lyles was next with 24 points, followed by Harrison Barnes with 23, and Domantas Sabonis with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Donte DiVincenzo and Davion Mitchell added 14 and 13 points, respectively, off the Sacramento bench.

DiVincenzo did his offensive damage in 22 minutes, and Fox’s ten assists matched his personal season high.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 37 points for the Thunder (19-42) to go along with seven rebounds, ten assists and three steals.

Oliver Sarr was next for OKC with 12 points, followed by Tre Mann with 11 and Vit Krejci with ten . Atemleksej Pokusevski finished with nine points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.

The Kings continue their road trip on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris Phillips: How big was Cal’s win for morale over Stanford on Saturday?

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The Cal Bears Joel Brown (1) gets up on the Stanford Cardinal Spencer Jones (left) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sat Feb 27, 2022 (photo by the Santa Cruz Sentinel)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 Cal (12-17) got a Big Game win over the Stanford Cardinal (15-13) 53-39 in the lowest scoring game of the season for the Cardinal. Was it a matter of Cal’s defense was on or Stanford’s shooting was just off?

#2 Morris, it’s like you wrote in your game recap on Saturday it was a cold night outside in Berkeley and the game for Stanford was like they had to stay outside in their uniforms and warm ups on offense they just froze.

#3 Winning after a lengthy streak of rough results didn’t deter the Golden Bears. Instead it strengthened them, according to coach Mark Fox.

#4 Cal’s Jordan Shepherd led with 28 points no other player got into double figures for Cal but his 28 held up and then some.

#5 Up next the Cal Bears are at Arizona State (12-16) this Thu Mar 3, the Bears are coming off a win against the Cardinal could you see then keeping the momentum going at ASU.

Join Morris for the Cal Bears podcasts through the Pac 12 Tournament which starts Mar 9th at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: Warriors suffer their four loss in seven games to Mavs 107-101

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, tries to dribble to the hoop against center Dwight Powell (7) screens Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Feb 28, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara, talk about how close of game this was for Golden State (43-18) to the Dallas Mavericks (36-25) 107-101?

#2 The Mavericks Luka Doncic led the Mavericks was the go to guy leading with 34 points and Spencer Dinwiddie finished second in scoring for Dallas with 24 points.

#3 The Warriors Stephen Curry can do all the heavy lifting that he can but it just wasn’t enough to keep up with the Mavericks. Curry led Golden State with 27 points.

#4 Doncic was the key player for the Mavericks hitting two free throws with 7.9 seconds left in the game to help the Mavericks come back from 21 points down.

#5 Golden State has lost four of their last seven games and tip off against the Minnesota Timberwolves (32-29) on Tuesday night. The Wolves got crushed in their last game against the Philadelphia 76ers (36-23) 133-102. Minnesota is on a three game losing streak. How do you see the Wolves and Warriors Tuesday?

Join Barbara for the Warriors podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Beat Kraken 3-1, End First Goal Drought

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 San Jose Sharks’ Ryan Dzingel (14) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Seattle Kraken in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sun Feb 27, 2022 (photo by Bay Area News Group)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE– The San Jose Sharks defeated the Seattle Kraken 3-1 Sunday, handing Seattle their seventh loss in a row. Ryan Dzingel, Scott Reedy and Jonah Gadjovich scored for the Sharks. James Reimer made 39 saves for the win. Morgan Geekie scored for Seattle and Phillipp Grubauer made 21 saves in the loss.

The game was Reimer’s eleventh start in a row. After the game, he was asked about his fatigue level. He said:

“When you’re winning you feel a lot better than when you’re losing. So, yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, we’ve had a couple games here in a row. Like I said, I enjoy playing, I enjoy coming to the rink and working and so, it’s fun to play so I’ll never say I’m too tired to play.”

The Sharks got the first goal of the game, for a the first time in a long time. Ryan Dzingel scored it, his first as a Shark, at 17:19 of the first period. Noah Gregor carried the puck in deep then made a backwards pass to Logan Couture above the circle. Couture passed it across the slot to Dzingle for the shot.

Morgan Geekie tied the game just ten seconds later. As Geekie skated to the net, he fanned on a shot but gathered the puck up for a last-second backhand as he passed the post. Assists went to Ryan Donato and Austin Czarnik.

The Kraken out-shot the Sharks 19-4 in the first period.

Early in the second, Calle Jarnkrok put the puck in the net but the goal was called back after the Sharks challenged for goaltender interference. Marcus Johansson got a leg tangled up with Reimer after trying to get around Vlasic in front of the blue paint.

Scott Reedy made it 2-1 Sharks with his first NHL goal at 7:15 of the second period. He had just missed scoring when he took too long to take the shot. After the next face-off, the puck came to him and he took the shot even before the face-off scrum had cleared. Jasper Weatherby got the assist.

The second period was busy for defenseman Jacob Middleton. He fought Jeremy Lauzon a couple of minutes into the period. The he went back to the box with Ryan Donato for matching roughing minors. The Sharks recovered in the shot department, winning 11-9. Their power play had no shots but their penalty kill had one had gave up just one shot to the Kraken.

Jonah Gadjovich scored his first NHL goal at 14:37 to make it 3-1. A shot from Brent Burns went off of the goaltender and then off of Gadjovich’s skate. Seattle challenged it for goaltender interference but the goal was upheld. Assists went to Weatherby and Burns.

The total shot count was 40-24 Kraken. In the third period, the Kraken took three penalties and the Sharks power play got four shots in the period. San Jose had a slight edge in the face-off circle at 54% for the game.

Jonathan Dahlen was out due to illness and so Reedy was called up from the AHL. Defenseman Mario Ferraro, injured in Saturday’s game, had surgery to repair a broken leg. He will be out for six to eight weeks. Defenseman Nicolas Meloche, however, was back on the ice for Sunday’s game. Andrew Cogliano missed a second game attending to a personal matter.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday at 7:00 PM PT in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights.

Warriors Lose A Stunner to Mavericks 107-101; Golden State drops fourth out of seven games

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) scores past Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell (7) at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Feb 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Lose A Stunner to Mavericks 107-101; Golden State drops fourth out of seven games

By Barbara Mason

Sunday the Golden State Warriors (43-18) took on the Dallas Mavericks (36-25) in a late afternoon game. The Warriors will be playing without Klay Thompson in the starting roster. Besides Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II and Moses Moody will round out the starters.

The keys to this game will as always be protecting the ball limiting the turnovers and most of all containing big man for the Mavericks Luca Doncic.

Golden State could not have started out this game any better with some great offensive and defensive work. After nine minutes there were no turnovers for the Warriors and they led by the score of 30-14. It was the best first quarter start the Warriors could have hoped for. Doncic was visibly frustrated and that’s exactly where you want to keep this guy.

As the first quarter came to an end the Warriors held a 37-24 lead. They had 10 assists and a single turnover. Wiggins had a great start with 11 points and Dallas’ Doncic had 10 points.

Golden State started the second quarter with a couple of forced runners on a team that is very stingy in that department. At half-time the Warriors held a 60-48 lead. They were doing a great job containing Doncic.

He had six turnovers, one assist and only three rebounds. He finished the first half with 12 points and also had a technical foul so the Warriors continued to frustrate Doncic.

The Warriors had an amazing first half with 30 points in the paint. Wiggins had 11 points and had Doncic right where he wanted him. It had been a great offensive and defensive effort in the first half for Golden State.

The Warriors continued to pile on the points in the third quarter leading 70-52 in the early minutes. The Mavericks had trimmed a 21 points deficit to single digits before the Warriors took back control of this game. After three Golden State led 88-74. Doncic had nine turnovers in this game which tied his career high.

The fourth quarter got uncomfortably close when Dallas got within three points trailing 93-90. The lead that Golden State had enjoyed had vanished and all the momentum was on the side of the Mavericks. There were 16 unanswered points for the Mavericks and Golden State had to pull it all together in the final six minutes as the Warriors went over six minutes without a field goal.

Dallas was coming up with some incredible defense. With 3.25 left in the game Dallas took their first lead. A real disaster was brewing after three amazing quarters for the Warriors. The Dallas Mavericks would pull this game out 107-101.

This was a horrible loss for the Warriors especially with the way that the team started this game off. It was the six minute drought that finished off Golden State. It was a fourth quarter that you do not want to ever repeat again. Dallas outscored the Warriors in the fourth quarter 33-13 in a stunner.

Curry had 33 points and Wiggins finished with 18. The missed points at the line was a huge factor for the Warriors. Luca Doncic had a 34 point night as the Mavericks walked away with this win.

The Warriors now will go on the road taking on the Timberwolves Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM.