NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Boston Celtics 128, Detroit Pistons 122 – OT
Indiana Pacers 120, Chicago Bulls 104
Celtics 128, Pistons 122 – OT – Celtics send Detroit to NBA record-tying 28th straight loss 128-122
Hoping to avoid a 28th straight loss that would match the longest losing streak in NBA history, the Detroit Pistons forced overtime against the league-best Celtics before Boston recovered to win 128-122. Despite making it to overtime for the first time in the skid, Detroit matched the “Trust the Process” Philadelphia 76ers with 28 consecutive losses. The Pistons need a win at home against Toronto on Saturday night to avoid breaking the record. Kristaps Porzingis had 35 points for Boston and Jayson Tatum finished with 31 points and 10 assists. Boston won its fourth straight and ninth in 10 games. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 31 points and nine assists.
Pacers 120, Bulls 104 – Tyrese Haliburton has 20 assists in Pacers’ 120-104 victory over Bulls
NBA assists leader Tyrese Haliburton had a career-high 20 without a turnover and scored 21 points to help the Indiana Pacers hold off the Chicago Bulls 120-104 on Thursday night. Questionable to play before the game because of a sore lower back, became the fifth player in NBA history to have 20 or more assists without a turnover, following Kevin Porter (1978), John Lucas (1983), Rickey Green (1984) and Chris Paul (2016). Myles Turner led Indiana with 24 points, and Buddy Hield added 19 points. Haliburton made a three late 3-pointers to quell a furious Bulls rally, which had seen them take a 93-90 lead with eight minutes remaining after trailing by as much as 25. Patrick Williams led Chicago with 22 points.
Saturday
Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons, 6:00 p.m.
New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers, 7:00 p.m.
Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.
Monday
Detroit at Houston, 8:00 p.m.
Indiana at Milwaukee, 8:00 p.m.
NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Nashville Predators at Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings, 5:00 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars, 8:00 p.m.
NFL – National Football League – Week 17
Last Night
Cleveland Browns 37, New York Jets 20
Browns 37, Jets 20 – Joe Flacco throws 3 TD passes and Browns clinch unlikely spot in playoffs with win over Jets
Joe Flacco passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and the Cleveland Browns clinched an unlikely playoff berth and just their second since 2002 despite numerous injuries with a 37-20 win over the New York Jets. The Browns are assured of a wild-card spot and still have a chance to win the AFC North. They’re still in the hunt for the conference’s No. 1 overall seed. That’s something unfathomable just weeks ago as major injuries piled up. Flacco threw two TD passes to running back Jerome Ford and for 296 yards in the first half. The Jets held the Browns to just 3 points after halftime.
Saturday
Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. Rock 107 WIRX 7:10
Sunday
Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m.
NFL – Campbell brings Lions to Texas, seeking end Cowboys’ 15-game home winning streak
Detroit coach Dan Campbell has the Lions rolling as he returns to his home state Saturday night to face the Dallas Cowboys. The Texas native has led his team to its first division title in 30 years. The Lions are still in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The circumstances are better than a year ago when Detroit lost at the Cowboys to fall to 1-5 and 4-18-1 under Campbell. The Lions are 19-7 since then. Dallas is on a 15-game home winning streak but is coming off consecutive losses for the first time since 2021.
NCAAFB – College Football Bowls
Yesterday
Wasabi Fenway Bowl – Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Boston College 23, (24) SMU 14
Big Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl – Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Rutgers 31, Miami 24
Pop Tarts Bowl – Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
(25) Kansas State 28, (18) NC State 19
Valero Alamo Bowl – Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
(14) Arizona 38, (12) Oklahoma 24
Today
Taxslayer Gator Bowl – Everbank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
(22) Clemson vs. Kentucky, 12:00 p.m.
Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl – Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
(19) Oregon State vs. (16) Notre Dame, 2:00 p.m.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Simmons Bank Liberty Bowl Stadium, Memphis, TN
Memphis vs. Iowa State, 3:30 p.m.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
(9) Missouri vs. (7) Ohio State, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl – Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
(11) Ole Miss vs. (10) Penn State, 12:00 p.m.
Transperfect Music City Bowl – Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Auburn vs. Maryland, 2:00 p.m.
Capital One Orange Bowl – Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
(6) Georgia vs. (5) Florida State, 4:00 p.m.
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Toledo vs. Wyoming, 4:30 p.m.
Monday – New Years Day
ReliaQuest Bowl – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Wisconsin vs. (13) LSU, 12:00 p.m.
VRBO Fiesta Bowl – State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
(23) Liberty vs. (8) Oregon, 1:00 p.m.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl – Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
(17) Iowa vs. (21) Tennessee, 1:00 p.m.
CFP National Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential
(1) Michigan vs. (4) Alabama, 5:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 4:00
CFP National Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
(2) Washington vs. (3) Texas, 8:45 p.m.
NCAAFB – Michigan built the pillars of this season’s defense off last year’s CFP failure
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter did plenty of self reflection on the plane ride back from Arizona after Michigan lost a 51-45 shootout to TCU in last year’s Fiesta Bowl CFP semifinal. Minter saw his Wolverines defense allow nearly 500 total yards and an average of 7 yards per play in their worst performance of the season. While he was disappointed, Minter also knew that he had an experienced unit returning that knew the scheme. It was now a matter of making his players understand what they needed to do. Enter Minter’s emphasis on the four pillars of his defense that have led the Wolverines back to the playoff.
NCAAFB – Player exodus leaves Notre Dame and Oregon State filling holes for Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl matching No. 15 Notre Dame and 21st-ranked Oregon State is more about who isn’t playing than who is. The Fighting Irish are without quarterback Sam Hartman for Friday’s meeting. Steve Angeli is set for his first career start as Hartman’s replacement. The headliner among the missing for Notre Dame might be All-American tackle Joe Alt. He and others are preparing for the NFL draft. The Beavers are down to their third QB in Ben Gulbranson. Starter D.J. Uiagalelei and backup Aidan Chiles entered the transfer portal. Chiles has landed along with head coach Johnathon Smith at Michigan State.
NCAAMBB – Men’s College Basketball
Tonight
Aquinas at Western Michigan, 4:00 p.m.
McNeese at Michigan, 7:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 6:30
Saturday
Virginia at Notre Dame, 12:00 p.m.
Northwood at Eastern Michigan, 1:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Loyola Chicago, 2:00 p.m.
Indiana State at Michigan State, 2:00 p.m. Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM
NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
Tonight
Saginaw Valley State at Eastern Michigan, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday
(17) Ohio State at Michigan, 12:00 p.m.
Michigan State at Penn State, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday
(13) Notre Dame at Syracuse, 2:00 p.m.
MLB – White Sox and reliever Tim Hill agree to $1.8 million, 1-year contract
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a $1.8 million, one-year contract with left-handed reliever Tim Hill, and designated right-hander Declan Cronin for assignment. The 33-year-old Hill was 1-4 with a 5.48 ERA in 48 appearances for San Diego last year. He missed most of the second half of the season because of a sprained left finger and had surgery on Sept. 20. Hill is 16-14 with a 4.16 ERA over six seasons with Kansas City and the Padres. Cronin spent most of last season with Triple-A Charlotte. He made nine appearances for the White Sox and gave up 11 earned runs in 11 innings. Chicago finished fourth in the AL Central at 61-101.
AHL – American Hockey League
Tonight
Grand Rapids Griffins at Chicago Wolves, 8:00 p.m.
ECHL – ECHL Hockey League
Tonight
Toledo Walleye at Kalamazoo Wings, 7:00 p.m.
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Yesterday
Boys Basketball
Earl McKee Holiday Tournament, Benton Harbor
Inkster International 65,Kalamazoo Phoenix 61
Benton Harbor 92, Detroit Douglas 46
Cornerstone University Holiday Tournament – Silver Division
Jenison 57, Coldwater 44
Byron Center 66, Otsego 23
Chuck Turner Fieldhouse Classic at Battle Creek Central
Battle Creek Lakeview 83, Harper Creek 45
Battle Creek Pennfield 49, Battle Creek Central 29
Girls Basketball
Chuck Turner Fieldhouse Classic at Battle Creek Central
Harper Creek 41, Battle Creek Lakeview 36
Battle Creek Central 77, BC St. Philip vs.34
Today
Boys Basketball
Hudsonville Showcase
Mattawan vs. Grandville, 5:45 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Motor City Roundball Classic at Romulus
Kalamazoo Central vs. Lake Fenton, 5:40 p.m.
