Weekday Morning Sports – Wednesday November 29, 2017

sportsreport-326
sportsreport-326

NHL

LAST NIGHT

NASHVILLE PREDATORS 3, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 2
LOS ANGELES KINGS 4, DETROIT RED WINGS 1
RINNE MAKES 37 SAVES, PREDATORS BEAT BLACKHAWKS 3-2

PEKKA RINNE MADE 37 SAVES TO LEAD THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS TO A 3-2 WIN OVER THE
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ON TUESDAY NIGHT. FILIP FORSBERG, AUSTIN WATSON AND ROMAN JOSI SCORED GOALS FOR THE PREDATORS, WHO HAVE WON 10 OF 12. TOMMY WINGELS AND LANCE BOUMA HAD THE GOALS FOR CHICAGO, WHICH HAD ITS TWO-GAME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED. WITH NASHVILLE CLINGING TO A ONE-GOAL LEAD LATE IN THE THIRD, RINNE MADE HIS BEST SAVE OF THE NIGHT WHEN HE DENIED NICK SCHMALTZ’S BACKHAND FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE CREASE ON A SHORTHANDED BREAKAWAY. HE LATER DENIED WINGELS WITH THE LEFT PAD IN THE GAME’S FINAL MINUTE. NASHVILLE ENTERED TUESDAY WITH THE LEAGUE’S BEST HOME POWER PLAY CONVERSION RATE AT 41.5%. THE PREDATORS WERE 1-4 IN THE GAME WITH THE MAN ADVANTAGE. THE PREDATORS HAVE SCORED AT LEAST ONE POWER-PLAY GOAL IN EACH OF THEIR 11 HOME GAMES. CHICAGO IS 2-5-
0 AGAINST FELLOW CENTRAL DIVISION TEAMS.

KOPITAR SCORES 2, QUICK STOPS 23 SHOTS, KINGS BEAT WINGS 4-1

DUSTIN BROWN AND ANZE KOPITAR SCORED 2:10 APART LATE IN THE SECOND PERIOD TO PUT THE LOS ANGELES KINGS AHEAD AND THEY WENT ON TO BEAT THE DETROIT RED WINGS 4-1 ON TUESDAY NIGHT. JONATHAN QUICK MADE 23 SAVES, INCLUDING SOME SPECTACULAR STOPS IN THE SECOND PERIOD THAT KEPT THE KINGS WITHIN A GOAL. DETROIT’S MIKE GREEN BROKE A SCORELESS TIE LATE IN THE SECOND PERIOD AND JIMMY HOWARD FINISHED WITH 32 SAVES. THE KINGS HAVE WON TWO STRAIGHT AFTER LOSING THREE IN A ROW AND SEVEN OF EIGHT. THE RED WINGS HAVE LOST FIVE STRAIGHT, ONE SHY OF THEIR SEASON-LONG SKID FROM LAST MONTH, AFTER WINNING SIX OF THE PREVIOUS NINE GAMES.

BLACKHAWKS PLAYERS FINED BY NHL

THE NHL HAS FINED BLACKHAWKS RIGHT WING PATRICK KANE AND WILD DEFENSEMAN MATT DUMBA $5,000 EACH. KANE WAS PUNISHED FOR SLASHING ANAHEIM’S NICK RITCHIE ON MONDAY, AND DUMA WAS FINED FOR UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT IN MONDAY’S GAME AGAINST WINNIPEG.

PENGUINS LOSE GOALIE

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS COACH MIKE SULLIVAN SAYS GOALTENDER MATT MURRAY IS “WEEK TO WEEK” WITH A LOWER-BODY INJURY SUFFERED DURING MONDAY’S 5-4 OVERTIME WIN AGAINST PHILADELPHIA. MURRAY WAS ON THE ICE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE MAKING HIS WAY TO THE BENCH AND LIMPING DOWN THE RUNWAY TO THE LOCKER ROOM WHILE FAVORING HIS RIGHT LEG. THE TEAM PLACED MURRAY ON INJURED RESERVE ON TUESDAY, MEANING HE WILL BE OUT AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS.

NBA

LAST NIGHT

PHOENIX SUNS 104, CHICAGO BULLS 99

TONIGHT

PHOENIX SUNS @ DETROIT PISTONS – 7 PM
INDIANA PACERS @ HOUSTON ROCKETS – 8 PM
BOOKER SCORES 33 AS SUNS TOP BULLS 104-99

DEVIN BOOKER SCORED 33 POINTS, AND THE PHOENIX SUNS HELD OFF THE CHICAGO BULLS FOR A 104-99 WIN ON TUESDAY NIGHT. BOOKER LOOKED JUST FINE AFTER SITTING OUT A GAME BECAUSE OF INFLAMMATION IN HIS RIGHT BIG TOE, NAILING FIVE 3-POINTERS AND GRABBING NINE REBOUNDS. T.J. WARREN SCORED 25 FOR PHOENIX, AND ALEX LEN TIED A CAREER HIGH WITH 18 REBOUNDS. THE SUNS DOMINATED ON THE GLASS 57-41 WHILE SNAPPING A THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK. THE REBUILDING BULLS ARE A LEAGUE-WORST 3-16 AFTER DROPPING THEIR SIXTH STRAIGHT. JUSTIN HOLIDAY MADE SIX 3-POINTERS ON HIS WAY TO 25 POINTS FOR CHICAGO. KRIS DUNN ADDED 24 POINTS, HITTING ALL FOUR FROM LONG RANGE, AND EIGHT ASSISTS. THE SUNS SWEPT THE BULLS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 2007-08 SEASON.

CLIPPERS’ GRIFFIN HAS SPRAINED LEFT KNEE, COULD BE OUT UP TO 8 WEEKS

THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS COULD SPEND UP TO EIGHT WEEKS WITHOUT FORWARD BLAKE GRIFFIN BECAUSE OF A SPRAINED LEFT KNEE SUFFERED LATE IN LAST NIGHT’S WIN OVER THE LAKERS. THE TEAM SAYS AN MRI REVEALED A SPRAINED MCL, BUT THERE IS NO OTHER STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE KNEE. HE WAS GOING FOR A LOOSE BALL IN THE PAINT WITH TEAMMATE AUSTIN RIVERS AND LAKERS ROOKIE LONZO BALL WHEN IT APPEARED RIVERS FELL ON GRIFFIN.

FORMER NBA PLAYER BEN GORDON ARRESTED

FORMER NBA PLAYER BEN GORDON HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ROBBERY IN LOS ANGELES FOR ALLEGEDLY PUNCHING AND PULLING A KNIFE ON AN APARTMENT MANAGER. A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAYS GORDON WENT TO A BUILDING SATURDAY WHERE HE RENTED TWO APARTMENTS AND DEMANDED HIS SECURITY DEPOSIT. GORDON WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK IN NEW YORK FOR DRIVING WITH A FORGED LICENSE.

NCAA BASKETBALL

TONIGHT – BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE
MICHIGAN @ #13 NORTH CAROLINA – 7:30 PM (7 PM PREGAME) 957 & 1400 WSJM SPORTS
#1 DUKE @ INDIANA – 9:30 PM

PURDUE UPSETS #17 LOUISVILLE IN BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE

VINCE EDWARDS SCORED 15 POINTS AND CARSEN EDWARDS AND DAKOTA MATHIAS SPURRED A LATE RUN TO SEND PURDUE PAST 17TH-RANKED LOUISVILLE 66-57 IN THE ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE. THE BOILERMAKERS WENT ON AN 11-4 SPURT DOWN THE STRETCH AND WON THEIR FIRST GAME SINCE THEIR 41-WEEK STREAK IN THE TOP 25 ENDED.

UCLA PLAYERS WORKING OUT WHILE SUSPENDED

UCLA’S THREE SUSPENDED BASKETBALL PLAYERS ARE WORKING OUT ON THEIR OWN WHILE THEY AWAIT A FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER THEY’LL BE ALLOWED TO PLAY FOR THE BRUINS THIS SEASON. COACH STEVE ALFORD SAYS HE DOESN’T THINK “WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MONTHS” REGARDING A TIMETABLE TO DECIDE THE FATE OF FRESHMEN LIANGELO BALL, JALEN HILL AND CODY RILEY. THE THREE WERE SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY FOR SHOPLIFTING IN CHINA EARLIER THIS MONTH.

NFL

GIANTS SEND QUARTERBACK ELI MANNING TO THE BENCH

THE OFFENSIVE LINE HAS BEEN HORRIBLE, THE RECEIVING CORPS HAS BEEN DECIMATED AND THE PLAY-CALLING HAS BEEN SECOND-GUESSED. AND WITH THAT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS HAVE DECIDED A QUARTERBACK CHANGE IS IN ORDER AFTER THE TEAM FELL TO 2-9 WITH A LACKLUSTER 20-10 LOSS TO WASHINGTON ON THANKSGIVING NIGHT. ELI MANNING HAS BEEN BENCHED AFTER STARTING EVERY GAME SINCE THE MIDDLE OF HIS ROOKIE SEASON 13 YEARS AGO. THE GIANTS WILL GO WITH GENO SMITH, WHO WASHED OUT WITH THE NEW YORK JETS AFTER BEING TAKEN IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE 2013 DRAFT OUT OF WEST VIRGINIA. COACH BEN MCADOO SAYS HE GAVE THE 36-YEAR-OLD MANNING THE OPTION OF STARTING TO KEEP HIS STREAK OF 210 CONSECUTIVE STARTS ALIVE, BUT THE TWO-TIME SUPER BOWL MVP DIDN’T WANT ANY PART OF THAT. ONLY BRETT FAVRE HAS STARTED MORE CONSECUTIVE GAMES AMONG NFL QUARTERBACKS IN LEAGUE HISTORY.

SUSPENSIONS REDUCED FOR CRABTREE, TALIB

RAIDERS RECEIVER MICHAEL CRABTREE AND BRONCOS CORNERBACK AQIB TALIB HAVE HAD THEIR SUSPENSIONS REDUCED FROM TWO TO ONE GAME ON APPEAL. THE PAIR WAS PUNISHED FOR THEIR FIGHT DURING SUNDAY’S GAME AT OAKLAND. THE FIGHT WAS A CONTINUATION OF A DISPUTE THAT STARTED LAST SEASON WHEN TALIB RIPPED CRABTREE’S CHAIN OFF DURING THE SEASON FINALE.

GAROPPOLO TO START FOR NINERS AGAINST BEARS

QUARTERBACK JIMMY GAROPPOLO WILL MAKE HIS FIRST START OF THE SEASON WHEN THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS TAKE ON THE BEARS IN CHICAGO ON SUNDAY. THE NINERS HOPED GAROPPOLO WOULD EMERGE AS THE TEAM’S LONG-TERM QB WHEN THEY ACQUIRED HIM ON OCT. 31 FROM NEW ENGLAND FOR A 2018 SECOND-ROUND PICK. GAROPPOLO MADE HIS SAN FRANCISCO DEBUT IN THE FINAL MINUTE OF SUNDAY’S 24-13 LOSS TO SEATTLE AFTER STARTER C.J. BEATHARD LEFT WITH INJURIES TO HIS HIP AND KNEE.

MCFADDEN RETIRES AFTER RELEASE BY COWBOYS

RUNNING BACK DARREN MCFADDEN HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT TWO DAYS AFTER HIS RELEASE BY THE COWBOYS. THE 10-YEAR VETERAN HAD HIS SECOND 1,000-YARD RUSHING SEASON JUST TWO YEARS AGO, BUT HE WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT FOR THE COWBOYS EVEN AFTER 2016 NFL RUSHING LEADER EZEKIEL ELLIOTT STARTED HIS SIX-GAME SUSPENSION OVER ALLEGED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. MCFADDEN FINISHED WITH 5,421 YARDS RUSHING AND 28 TOUCHDOWNS.

SPIELMAN WANTS TO EXPAND CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT

A FORMER OHIO STATE AND NFL FOOTBALL STAR WANTS TO EXPAND HIS CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT ALLEGING IMPROPER USE OF EX-PLAYERS’ IMAGES IN MARKETING CAMPAIGNS TO INCLUDE POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF FORMER ATHLETES NATIONWIDE. AN UPDATED FEDERAL COMPLAINT BY EX-LINEBACKER TURNED BROADCASTER CHRIS SPIELMAN ACCUSES TALENT MANAGEMENT GIANT IMG AND APPAREL-MAKER NIKE OF WRONGLY USING THE LIKENESSES OF CURRENT AND FORMER PLAYERS AT 89 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

NCAA FOOTBALL

NEW PLAYOFF RANKINGS HAVE CLEMSON #1, WISCONSIN #4

THE LATEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS RANKINGS SHOW CLEMSON AS THE #1 TEAM, FOLLOWED BY AUBURN, OKLAHOMA AND WISCONSIN. ALABAMA SLIPPED FROM FIRST TO FIFTH WITH SATURDAY’S LOSS TO AUBURN, AND MIAMI PLUMMETED FIVE SPOTS TO FIFTH BY FALLING TO UNRANKED PITTSBURGH. GEORGIA IS SIXTH AND HAS A CHANCE TO CRACK THE TOP FOUR IF THE BULLDOGS CAN BEAT AUBURN IN SATURDAY’S SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. 12-0 WISCONSIN TAKES ON #8 OHIO STATE IN THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SATURDAY AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM IN INDIANAPOLIS, SO THE RANKINGS CAN STILL GET AN OVERHAUL ONE MORE TIME. THE BADGERS AND #14 CENTRAL FLORIDA ARE THE ONLY TWO UNDEFEATED TEAMS REMAINING, AND AUBURN IS IN THE PLAYOFF
PICTURE DESPITE HAVING TWO LOSSES. THE FINAL RANKINGS COME OUT SUNDAY.

FLORIDA FINALIZES BUYOUT OF FORMER COACH JIM MCELWAIN

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HAS WORKED OUT A BUYOUT WITH FORMER FOOTBALL COACH JIM MCELWAIN, WHO WILL RECEIVE $7.5 MILLION ACROSS SIX PAYMENTS BETWEEN NOW AND 2021. THE FIRST INSTALLMENT WILL BE A $3.75 MILLION TRANSITION PAYMENT FRIDAY. MCELWAIN’S ORIGINAL BUYOUT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE THAN $12.5 MILLION, AN AMOUNT THE TEAM AND COACH NEGOTIATED AFTER HE FAILED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF ALLEGED DEATH THREATS IN LATE OCTOBER. MEANWHILE, A PERSON FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT NEW COACH DAN MULLEN HAS DISMISSED DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR RANDY SHANNON
AND FIVE OTHER ASSISTANTS.

NASCAR

NASCAR HALL OF FAMER, WORLD WAR II VET BUD MOORE DIES AT 92

NASCAR HALL OF FAMER BUD MOORE HAS DIED AT AGE 92. MOORE WON THE NASCAR TITLE IN 1957 AS CREW CHIEF FOR BUCK BAKER AND CAR OWNER TITLES IN 1962 AND 1963 WITH JOE WEATHERLY. THE WORLD WAR II VETERAN LANDED ON UTAH BEACH ON D-DAY AND WAS AWARDED FIVE PURPLE HEARTS AND TWO BRONZE STARS.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

GIRLS BASKETBALL
LAST NIGHT
BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK 40, ST. JOSEPH 38
LAKESHORE 39, PAW PAW 32
EDWARDSBURG 52, NILES 31
BRANDYWINE 50, DOWAGIAC 30
MICHIGAN LUTHERAN 42, BANGOR 21
PARCHMENT 40, BENTON HARBOR 37
COLDWATER 49, PORTAGE CENTRAL 12
LAWRENCE 62, NEW BUFFALO 35
COMSTOCK 58, VICKSBURG 39
WHITE PIGEON 36, RIVER VALLEY 20
PLAINWELL 43, MATTAWAN 30
SAUGATUCK 58, HOLLAND CALVARY, 16
CENTREVILLE 45, CONSTANTINE 31
LANSING SEXTON 36, BATTLE CREEK CENTRAL 31
LANSING WAVERLY 57, KALAMAZOO LOY NORRIX 42
MASON 45, BATTLE CREEK LAKEVIEW 43 – OT

HARPER CREEK BEATS ST. JOSEPH

ST. JOSEPH STARTS THE SEASON WITH A NARROW 40-38 DEFEAT AT BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK. ANNA FISCHER HAD 13 POINTS TO LEAD ST. JOE. FAITH MYERS SCORED 9 OF HER GAME HIGH 15 POINTS IN THE FIRST HALF TO GIVE HARPER CREEK THE EARLY ADVANTAGE.

LANCERS BEAT PAW PAW

LAKESHORE GOT A GAME HIGH 20 POINTS FROM CASSIE PALLET TO GIVE LAKESHORE A 49-32 SEASON OPENING WIN OVER PAW PAW. THE LADY LANCERS ALSO GOT 14 POINTS FROM NATALIE STAMPFLY. ANNA VAVRA HAD 14 POINTS TO PACE PAW PAW.

EDWARDSBURG TOPS NILES

KAITLYN ZARYCKI HAD A GAME HIGH 35 POINTS TO LEAD EDWARDSBURG OVER NILES 52-31. LAJAN MITCHEL HAD 12 POINTS TO LEAD NILES.

BRANDYWINE BEATS DOWAGIAC

ZAKIYYAH ABDULLAH’S GAME HIGH 18 POINTS LED BRANDYWINE TO A 50-30 WIN OVER DOWAGIAC. NICHOLE
SACHMAN HAD 14 FOR THE BOBCATS. DOWAGIAC WAS LED BY TAYLOR PYE WITH 11 POINTS.