NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Orlando Magic 96, Chicago Bulls 94
Magic 96, Bulls 94 – Banchero hits turnaround jumper with 1 second left as Magic beat Bulls 96-94
Paolo Banchero nailed a turnaround jumper with one second remaining, and the Orlando Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 96-94. The Magic led by as much as 19 in the third quarter, only to have Chicago tie it in the closing seconds of the game on a 3-pointer by Zach LaVine. Banchero then got the ball down low following a timeout and buried a fadeaway shot to give Orlando a wild win. Banchero led Orlando with 17 points and Goga Bitadze had 15 points and 11 rebounds. LaVine scored 19 for the Bulls, who were without fellow star DeMar DeRozan, who missed the game for personal reasons.
NBA – W’s Draymond Green suspended 5 games for grabbing Rudy Gobert; 3 players fined
The NBA has suspended Golden State’s Draymond Green for five games for grabbing Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert around the neck “in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.” Also penalized by the league for their roles in the incident, which happened early in Tuesday’s game between the Timberwolves and Warriors, were Gobert, his Minnesota teammate Jaden McDaniels and Golden State guard Klay Thompson — all fined $25,000 by the league. McDaniels and Thompson were both ejected from the game, as was Green. But Green will pay the biggest price, both in terms of games missed and money lost. The suspension will cause him to forfeit $769,704 in salary.
NBA – Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, Will Bynum convicted in NBA insurance fraud scheme
Former Boston Celtics forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis and ex-Piston Will Bynum were convicted by a New York jury in a scheme that prosecutors say defrauded an insurance plan for NBA players and their families of more than $5 million. More than 20 people have been convicted in the case. Many of them were onetime NBA players who submitted fictitious dental and medical claims to the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan. First-round draft pick Terrence Williams was sentenced in August to a decade in prison as a ringleader of the scheme. Prosecutors said doctors and dentists working with the players created fraudulent invoices that were submitted to the supplemental insurance plan for reimbursement.
NCAAMBB – Men’s College Basketball
Last Night
Central Michigan 68, South Florida 63
CMU 68, USF 63 – Pritchard’s 22 lead Central Michigan over South Florida 68-63
Anthony Pritchard scored 22 points as Central Michigan beat South Florida 68-63 on Wednesday night. Pritchard also contributed six rebounds, five assists, and three steals for the Chippewas (1-3). Markus Harding scored 13 points while shooting 4 of 5 from the field and 4 for 6 from the line, and added five rebounds. Paul McMillan IV was 4 of 8 shooting (2 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points. Chris Youngblood finished with 20 points for the Bulls (1-1). Selton Miguel added 16 points and three steals for South Florida. Corey Walker Jr. also had nine points and nine rebounds.
Tonight
Auburn at Notre Dame, 9:00 p.m.
NFL – National Football League – Week 11
Tonight
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m.
NFL – Bears say QB Justin Fields healthy enough to start against Lions
Justin Fields will be back at quarterback for the Chicago Bears Sunday when they play at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions after missing four starts with a dislocated right thumb. The Bears are looking for consistency from Fields according to coach Matt Eberflus. They’re weighing Fields’ ability over the final seven weeks of the season with an eye on the future at the position. Eberflus expects the running game to pick up with the addition of Fields’ speed to the attack. The offensive line also is undergoing change with Nate Davis returning from injury at right guard, Teven Jenkins moving back to left guard and long-time veteran starter Cody Whitehair relegated to the bench.
NCAAFB – College Football – Week 12
Last Night
Ohio 34, Central Michigan 20
Ohio 34, CMU 20 – Rourke, Bangura help Ohio defeat Central Michigan 34-20
Kurtis Rourke threw for 222 yards, Sieh Bangura added 126 yards on the ground, and Ohio defeated Central Michigan 34-20. O’Shaan Allison’s 1-yard run with 4 minutes to go in the third quarter gave the Bobcats a 31-14 lead and they held on to win. Central Michigan’s Jase Bauer had touchdown passes of 50 and 62 yards, but he threw for only 45 yards the rest of the game. He was 10-of-21 passing for 157 yards, with the two scores and one interception. Rourke was 14-of-23 passing without a touchdown or interception.
NCAAFB – Ex-Michigan staffer Connor Stalions did not file any expense reports
The former Michigan staffer at the center of sign-stealing investigation by the NCAA didn’t file any expense reports during the 17 months employed by the football program. The school says there were no responsive records for Connor Stalions’ expense reports. The NCAA obtained documented plans and budgets outlining the scouting scheme of Michigan opponents and shared the materials with the school and conference. The Big Ten says the NCAA also has evidence that showed Stalions purchased tickets and had people sit in those seats to obtain video of the sideline signals.
NCAAFB – Notre Dame OT Joe Alt is a once-in-a-generation talent even for the Irish
It might be the worst-kept secret around Notre Dame’s campus. NFL executives are impressed with left tackle Joe Alt. He towers over even other prototypical offensive tackle at 6-foot-8, 322 pounds. And he’s flexible at that size, too. Those are only part of the reason draft analysts expect Alt to be a top-10 pick in April’s draft. So, it’s likely that Saturday’s home finale between the 20th-ranked Fighting Irish and Wake Forest will be his final at Notre Dame Stadium.
NCAAFB – Northwestern rewards coach David Braun for turnaround by removing ‘interim’
Northwestern rewarded coach David Braun for a remarkable turnaround following Pat Fitzgerald’s firing in the wake of a hazing and abuse scandal by removing the “interim” label from his job title. Hired in January as the team’s defensive coordinator, Braun and the Wildcats are in a position few would have envisioned. Braun seemed more like a place holder given his background when he was elevated to interim head coach three days after Fitzgerald was fired, ending a 17-year tenure. He had never coached at an FBS program let alone led one. But after spending the past four seasons as defensive coordinator at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, he’s been a steadying force at Northwestern. The Wildcats are 5-5 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play.
NHL – National Hockey League
Today
Detroit Red Wings vs. Ottawa Senators, 2:00 p.m. at Stockholm Sweeden
Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:00 p.m.
NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night
(16) Notre Dame 110, Northwestern 52
(16) Notre Dame 110, Northwestern 52 – Sonia Citron scores 23, Notre Dame women overwhelm Northwestern
Sonia Citron scored 23 points, Hannah Hidalgo added 21 and No. 16 Notre Dame won its 29th-straight home opener, coasting to a 110-52 win over Northwestern. Hailey Weaver and Melannie Daley had 11 points each for the Wildcats. After Northwestern scored the first eight points of the game, the Fighting Irish reeled off the next 15, nine by Hidalgo on two 3-pointers and a three-point play. Citron hit a jumper and a buzzer-beating 3 to make the score 25-16 after one quarter. Citron then had the last 11 points of a 13-0 run to end the half, including another buzzer beater, for a 56-26 lead at the break. Citron had 19 points and Hidalgo 15 in the first half.
Tonight
Western Michigan at Youngstown State, 5:00 p.m.
Detroit Mercy at Michigan State, 6:30 p.m.
MLB – Gerrit Cole a unanimous winner of AL Cy Young Award. Blake Snell takes NL prize
Gerrit Cole was a unanimous winner of his first American League Cy Young Award, and Blake Snell took the NL honor in becoming the seventh hurler to earn baseball’s top pitching prize in both leagues. After coming close several times before, Cole finally finished on top following an outstanding season for the New York Yankees. The ace right-hander received all 30 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He became the sixth Yankees winner and first since Roger Clemens in 2001. Snell was the National League winner after leading the majors with a 2.25 ERA for the San Diego Padres. The free-agent lefty was picked first on 28 of 30 ballots.
MLB – MLB owners set to vote Thursday on proposed relocation of Athletics to Las Vegas
Major League Baseball owners are set to vote on the proposed relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas at the end of their league-wide meeting Thursday. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is presenting his recommendation to the 30 owners during the three-day meeting. It comes about six months after the A’s reached a tentative agreement for a new stadium in Las Vegas after being unable to reach a deal for one in Oakland. Any recommendation for a move would require a vote from at least 23 owners for approval. MLB hasn’t had a team relocate since the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals in 2005.
F1 – F1 roars into Vegas with parties, concerts, celebs and, eventually, an actual race
Formula One has arrived in Las Vegas for a week of parties, concerts, celebrity-packed events and eventually Saturday night’s race. F1’s first trip to Las Vegas in 41 years promises to be nothing like any other race on the 24-event calendar. The casinos, clubs and restaurants have packaged fan experiences catered toward F1 for fans looking for something to do while waiting for the cars to hit the track late each night beginning Thursday. There’s no shortage of F1-centric events and the drivers have been impressed by the opulence of the week.
AHL – American Hockey League
Last Night
Grand Rapids Griffins 5, Chicago Wolves 2
NBAGL – NBA G-League
Tonight
Grand Rapids Gold at Sioux Falls Skyforce, 7:30 p.m.
MCCAA – Michigan Community College Athletic Association
Tonight
Women’s Basketball
Andrews University at Southwestern Michigan College, 5:30 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
Andrews University at Southwestern Michigan College, 7:30 p.m.
Hope College JV at Lake Michigan College, 7:30 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Today
Volleyball – State Semifinals
Division 3 at Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek
Monroe St. Mary’s vs. Kalamazoo Christian, 12:00 p.m.
