WSJM Sports March 21, 2023
NBA
Last night
Charlotte Hornets 115, Indiana Pacers 109
Chicago Bulls 109, Philadelphia 76ers 105
Tonight
Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks 7:30 pm
Pistons Visit Atlanta Tonight
The Pistons are in Atlanta to take on Trae Young and the Hawks tonight. Detroit has dropped three in-a-row and 14 of its last 15 overall following Sunday’s home loss to Miami. The Pistons remain last in the NBA at 16-and-56.
Bulls Snap 76ers Win Streak
The Bulls stormed into Philadelphia and snapped the 76ers’ win streak after a 109-105 double-overtime victory. A Tyrese Maxey a layup forced the first OT, while DeMar DeRozan’s driving score sent the game to another five-minute period. A scrappy final minute led to Zach LaVine and Coby White making a pair of free throws to seal the win for Chicago. LaVine and DeRozan combined for 51 points as the Bulls improved to 34-and-37. Chicago is 10th in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls host Philadelphia tomorrow.
Pacers Fall Short Against Hornets
The Hornets snapped a four-game losing streak after coming from behind to beat the Indiana Pacers 115-109 in Charlotte. The Hornets trailed by eight points at halftime before separating from Indiana in the fourth quarter. Myles Turner and Buddy Hield led the Pacers in scoring with 20 points apiece. Isaiah Jackson recorded a double-double off the bench after scoring 12 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Indiana is now 12th in the Eastern Conference at 32-and-40 and will visit the Toronto Raptors tomorrow night
NHL
Last night
Florida Panthers 5, Detroit Red Wings 2
Colorado Avalanche 5, Chicago Blackhawks 0
Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues 8 pm
Red Wings Drop Third Straight; Visit St. Louis Tonight
The Red Wings’ losing streak is up to three straight after getting pounded by the Panthers 5-2 at LCA. Pius Suter and Dylan Larkin scored for Detroit, which has dropped 10 of its last 12 overall. The Wings now sit 10 points behind Florida for the final Wild Card spot in the East. The Wings visit St. Louis tonight.
Blackhawks Get Blanked By Avalanche
The Blackhawks couldn’t get the puck past Alexandar Georgiev during a 5-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Chicago had all 27 of its shots stopped by the Colorado goaltender. Meanwhile, Alex Stalock also made 27 saves, but he also surrendered five goals in the losing effort. Chicago remains in last-place in the Central Division with 54 points and a 24-40-and-6 record. The Blackhawks visit the Capitals on Thursday night.
MLB
Yesterday
Toronto Blue Jays 5, Detroit Tigers 0
Arizona Diamondbacks 7, Chicago White Sox 3
Cubs were off
Today
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees 1:05 pm
Chicago White Sox at Milwaukee Brewers 4:10 pm
Chicago Cubs at Kansas City Royals 9:05 pm
Tigers Blanked By Blue Jays; Lorenzen Scratched
The Tigers were held to just five hits in a 5-0 loss to the Blue Jays in Lakeland. Riley Greene had two of the five hits for Detroit, while reliever Garrett Hill was tagged for all five runs to take the loss. Starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen was scratched from the start due to groin tightness. The Tigers visit the Yankees today.
White Sox Fall To Diamondbacks
The White Sox surrendered four second-inning runs during a 7-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Spring Training yesterday. Franklin German was charged with the loss after giving up four earned runs in just an inning-and-a-third. Eloy Jimenez left the game early with a calf cramp, and Hanser Alberto hit a home run and drove in three runs. The Southsiders are 9-and-9 in exhibition play. They send Lucas Giolito to the rubber against the Brewers today.
Cubs Visit Royals
The Cubs take on the Kansas City Royals in a Spring Training game at Surprise Stadium tonight. The Cubs were off yesterday and are coming off a 5-2 win over the Padres on Sunday. Chicago is 11-and-10 in exhibition play this Spring. Jameson Taillon gets the start for the Cubs.
World Baseball Classic
Last night
Japan 6, Mexico 5 (Semifinals at Miami, FL)
Tonight
United States vs Japan – 7 pm (Championship Game at Miami, FL)
World Baseball Classic Final Set
The stage is set for the World Baseball Classic Final. The United States is set to take on Japan on tonight in Miami for all the marbles. Japan defeated Mexico 6-5 in the semifinals on Monday night on a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning. Masataka Yoshida hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to get Japan on the board after six innings of scoreless offense. Shohei Ohtani totaled two hits and a scored a pair of runs in the win. Luis Urias hit his first home run of the WBC and drove-in three runs in the losing effort for Mexico. The United States is looking to defend its WBC title after claiming the last championship in 2017. Japan is aiming to claim its third title in the fifth-ever Classic.
NCAA Tournament
MSU Preps For Sweet 16
Michigan State is gearing up for the Sweet 16. The seventh-seeded Spartans will square off with third-seeded Kansas State on Thursday in New York. The winner will move on face either Tennessee or Florida Atlantic in the Elite Eight this weekend.
NFL
Roger Goodell Extension Happening Soon
The NFL’s commissioner will be sticking around for awhile. ESPN reports Roger Goodell and NFL owners are expected to finalize a multiyear contract extension at next week’s owners meeting in Phoenix. The commissioner’s extension has been in the works since last season where the sides discussed a three-year deal. It’ll be the fourth time Goodell has been extended since he took over the position in 2006. NFL owners have seen their teams skyrocket in value with Goodell at the helm. The Vikings sold for 600-million-dollars before past commissioner Paul Tagliabue stepped down. The Broncos sold for 4.5-billion-dollars last year.
Deadline For Rodgers Trade Is NFL Draft
An ultimatum is being given for the Jets to trade for Aaron Rodgers. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the NFL draft in late April has been set as a deadline to get a deal done. The NFL insider joined the Pat McAfee show and said deadlines are always what drives these kinds of things. He said, “It’s about 2023 draft picks, and like, when you actually have to use them is the deadline.” The star quarterback said he wants to play for the Jets, but both teams are still figuring out trade compensation. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported the Jets are in no rush to get a deal done.
Report: Magic Johnson Joins Group To Buy Commanders
A Hall of Famer is looking to get in on the Commanders. According to ESPN, Earvin “Magic” Johnson has joined a group led by Josh Harris bidding to own the Washington Commanders. Harris also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Johnson was part of the Harris group when it failed to land the Denver Broncos last summer. Harris’ group is one of four who toured Washington’s facilities in advance of the sale. Current team owners Dan and Tanya Snyder announced their intention to sell the team in November. Forbes listed the value of the franchise at 5.6-billion-dollars.
Boys Basketball – State Quarterfinals
Division 3 at Portage Central
Brandywine vs. Pewamo-Westphalia, 7:00 p.m.
Divison 4 at Gull Lake
Kalamazoo Hackett vs. Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian, 7:00 p.m.
