Best 15 Minutes in Sports–Friday
……….(Basketball)………..
Aztecs-L-Utah State (57-45)…SDSU loses game and loses leading scorer Matt Mitchell..went down with scary hyper-extended knee injury with 5-minutes left in game driving to the basket….Was being examined for ACL damage by USU team doctors…Likely MRI on Friday morning in Logan.
..Aggies jumped to 13-point lead in first half hiting 5-3’s
..USU bench buried State (13-2) in first half
..Matt Mitchell held to 1-basket in first 14-minutes of game
..Jordan Schakel (3-10) shooting
..State shot just 36% from floor..turned it over 11-times
..SDSU cut lead from 13-points down to 5-in 2nd half
..Aztecs hit 4-3’s to start second half to climb back into game
..USU wound up with 9-3’s…forced 16-turnovers..had 10-steals
..SDSU shot just 32% for the game
..Neemias Queta (14P-16R) in win
..Aggies won 9-in row
..Aztecs now (9-3) but 13-game road win streak snapped
SDSU-USU…2nd game of series will be Saturday morning (10:30am) Logan, Utah time.
USD-Santa Clara…Toreros (1-4) face Broncos in WCC action…USD has had 5-games cancelled by Covid issues.
Oregon..cancel games with Arizona State-Arizona this weekend with Covid issues…Ducks (9-2) on season.
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(NBA)
Lakers-New Orleans…Friday night matchup…..Lakers (10-3) on season and (7-0) on road..Pelicans may not have C-Zion Williamson-covid issues
Clippers-at-Sacramento..Friday night road game…Clippers (8-4) on season
Suns-Indiana…Sunday game postponed-virus issues…NBA-7th game cancelled this week.
NBA…Mandates each team give additional 40-PCR-tests to both teams morning of games..
Houston…Veteran C-DeMarcus Cousins…G-John Wall criticize James Harden for quitting on team forcing trade to Brooklyn….Cousins called Harden “disrespectful”….Wall said Harden “sabotaged” team.
NBA G League….”Ignite” team signs veteran G-Jarrett Jack (37Y) to join team of young high school stars who will play in G-League this year.
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……………(NFL-Playoffs)…………
Packers-Rams…Snow showers in forecast with gametime temp (32) but windchill (21) with 15mph winds…Jared Goff will start at QB coming off (9-19) passing performance last weekend…DT-Aaron Donald will play with rib cartilage issue…..Rams have 58-sacks on season…Defense allowed just 31-TDs in 17-games…QB-Aaron Rodgers (48TD-5Int-4300P-49% conversion on 3rd downs…QBR 121)…WR-Davante Adams (117R-18TD)..Young WRs (118R-20TDs)….RB-Aaron Jones (1105R-5.5YPC)
Ravens-Bills..Snow showers with wind chill (21) and possible gusts to 20mph by 8pm kickoff…Bills have won 10-of-11…QB-Josh Allen (4900APY-48TD)…WR-Stefon Diggs (133R) on season…Ravens won 6-in a row..QB-Lamar Jackson coming off (310APY) playoff game…Jackson has (4072APY)..Ravens scored 53TDs this year.
Browns-Kansas City…41-degrees and sunny at Arrowhead Stadium…Andy Reid (18-3) coming off bye weeks in coaching career….Browns must run ball with Nick Chubb-Kareem Hunt (2106APY)…Baker Mayfield (29TD-8Int)…QB-Patrick Mahomes (4740P-38TD-6Int-108R)..TE-Travis Kelce (105R-13YPC)..Tyreek Hill (87R-14YPC)..Mahomes just 22-sacks…KC offense (418YPG-57TD)
Tampa Bay-Saints…Drew Brees-vs-Tom Brady…QBs combined 85-years old…Brady (5034P-42TD) this season..Offense (385YPG)..Mike Evans-Chris Godwin-Antonio Brown combined (180R) this year…Saints RB-Alvin Kamara (1800APY)..Saints defense (310YPG-45 sacks) this year.
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(NFL)
Jacksonville…Negotiating with Urban Meyer to become Head Coach-Director FB Operations…Meyers (187-32) at Ohio State-Florida-Utah-Bowling Green…was (83-9) at Ohio State.
Chargers..Interview Richard Saleh-49ers a 2nd time
Atlanta..Hire Terry Fontenot-GM-ex Saints
Atlanta..Interview Arthur Smith-Titans..2nd time
Carolina..Hire Scott Fitterer-GM-ex Saints
Lions..Hire Brad Holmes-GM-ex Rams
Houston..Interview Brandon Staley-Rams Def Coord for coaching job
Eagles..Ask permission interview Kellen Moore-Cowboys for coach job
Titans..Interview Teryl Austin-Steelers for Titans Def Coord job
Washington..Will interview JoJo Wooden-Chargers for GM job
Steelers..Fire Off Coord-Randy Fitchner..OL coach Shaun Sarrett…DB-coach Tom Bradley…Will retain Def Coord-Keith Butler
Steelers..Will interview Jim Caldwell..Adam Gase..Anthony Lynn for vacant Off Coord job.
Seattle…Will interview Anthony Lynn for vacant Off Coord job.
Miami..Will interview Pep Hamilton-Chargers..Tony Elliott-Clemson…Mike McDaniel-49ers for Off Coord job
Raiders..Owner Mark Davis completes deal to purchase WNBA-Las Vegas Aces franchise.
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(College Football)
Alabama…QB-Mac Jones..WR-Jaylen Waddle..DT-Christian Barmore file for NFL draft.
Colorado State..QB-Patrick O’Brien transfers to Washington
Washington..QB-Jacob Sirmen transfers to Central Michigan
Oregon..Will interview Zach Arnett-ex San Diego State Def Coord for Ducks job..Arnett went to Syracuse but then left to coach at Mississippi State under Mike Leach.
Michigan….Hire Mike Hart as RB-coach…had bgeen assistant at Indiana.
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……………..(Baseball)……………..
Dodgers..Sign FA-P-Enny Romero (29Y)…spent 5Y-as reliever..Washington-Royals-Pirates…(4-6) record (5.12-ERA)
Angels..Open contract talks FA-P-Joakim Soria..had (2.92-ERA) with A’s..former Royals closer
Phillies..Sign FA-P-Archie Bradley-ex Diamondbacks-Reds
Phillies..Open talks with FA-SS-Freddy Galvez-ex Reds-Padres
Cardinals..C-Yadier Molina considering retirement if St Louis does not offer him (2Y-40M) extension
Yankees-Mets…offer contracts to FA-P-Corey Kluber-ex Indians-Rangers who has had injury problems 2-years in a row
Mets..Sign FA-1B-Jose Martinez-ex Tampa Bay-Cardinals-Cubs
Seibu Lions-Japan..Resign 3B-Corey Spangenberg-ex Padres..hit (.268) last year in Japan
Pirates-A’s..Bucs trade P-Nick Turley to A’s in cash deal
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(MLB)
MLB…Hires Theo Epstien as Assistant to Commissioner to handle “On Field Operations”…ex Cubs-Red Sox GM
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………….(Hockey)……………
Ducks-Las Vegas…Tied (2-2) at Press Time in 3rd period…Maxime Comtois scored 2-goals for Ducks in opening period….NHL Opener
Kings-Minnesota…Led (3-1) in 3rd period at Press Time…Jeff Carter-Adrian Kempe scored goals for Kings in their NHL Opener
Gulls..Acquire LW-Andrew Agozzino..had 14G-last year with Penguins AHL team in Wilkes Barre
NHL Opening Night…Record 6.6M-viewers watched opening night of season on Sportsnet-Canada network.
NY Rangers..#1-draft pick Alex Lafreniere made debut on Thursday
Columbus…F-Pierre Luc Dubois asks team to trade him
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…………..(General)………….
PGA..Sony Open-Honolulu….1st round
..(-8-62)..Peter Malnatic
(-6-64)..Vaughn Taylor-Jim Herman
English Premier League
..Arsenal-Tie-Crystal Palace..Gunners 3-match win streak snapped
English Premier League..Top weekend games
..Liverpool (9-2-6)-vs-Manchester United (11-3-3) battle for 1st place
..Manchester City-vs-Crystal Palace
..Chelsea-vs-Fulham
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