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NFL Thursday Scout:

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L.A. Chargers at Kansas City

When: 8:20 PM ET, Thursday, December 13, 2018
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

Chargers at Chiefs Preview (Good Morning Football)


The Kansas City Chiefs have a chance to take a huge step toward tightening their grip on the top overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs when they host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. However, the Chiefs could see control of the conference as well as the AFC West diminish in a showdown for division supremacy against Los Angeles.

History is on the side of Kansas City (11-2), which has won nine in a row over the Chargers (10-3) and extended the streak with a 38-28 victory in Los Angeles in the season opener. “The Chargers are a good team — a team that’s on a hot streak right now — and you’re basically playing for the AFC West title,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “You have to go out there and try to get yourself ready to go — physically and mentally – to win a football game.” Los Angeles has won three in a row overall and can clinch a playoff spot with a victory Thursday, but its last win over Kansas City was in 2013 — the last time the franchise advanced to the postseason. “The nine in a row is one thing, but personally I’m 0-3 against this team, and that’s too many,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said. “We’re doing everything we can to try to break that streak. We’ve got to go out and play relaxed and very confident. That’s when this team plays its best football.”

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, FOX, NFL Network. LINE: Chiefs -3.5. O/U: 53

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (10-3): Los Angeles could again be without star running back Melvin Gordon, who has 13 total touchdowns despite missing the past two games and told reporters Tuesday that he expects to be a game-day decision. Backup Austin Ekeler sustained a neck injury and concussion in Sunday’s win over Cincinnati and is expected to sit out, leaving the possibility that rookies Justin Jackson and Detrez Newsome will carry the ground game. Philip Rivers, who is third in the league in passer rating (114.5) and has thrown for 29 touchdowns against six interceptions, has connected with wideout Keenan Allen with a scoring pass in five straight games. Joey Bosa has four sacks in four games since returning to the lineup.

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (11-2): Kansas City has withstood a pair of close calls the past two weeks since running back Kareem Hunt was abruptly released, but Mahomes supplied a late touchdown pass in each game and enters Thursday’s matchup with a league-leading 43 scoring strikes. Injuries are also a major concern for the Chiefs, who are uncertain about the status of wide receiver Tyreek Hill (foot) and expect to be without running back Spencer Ware (shoulder/hamstring). Hill torched the Chargers in the season opener with a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown and two scoring passes from Mahomes, who also has passed for an NFL-high 4,300 yards. Kansas City’s defense ranks 30th in total yards and is last against the pass (281.8 yards).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Chiefs DE Chris Jones has at least one sack in nine consecutive games, the longest single-season streak since 1982.

2. Allen had eight catches for 108 yards and a TD in the Week 1 matchup.

3. Chiefs WR Kelvin Benjamin, claimed off waivers last week, is expected to make his Kansas City debut.

Filed Under: NFL

Penn Upsets ‘Nova

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PHILADELPHIA – In the only BIG EAST game on Tuesday, Villanova saw its record 25-game winning streak in the Philadelphia “Big Five” end with a 78-75 loss to Pennsylvania at the Palestra.  The defeat also ended Villanova’s six-game winning streak and a 15-game run Nova (8-3) had in its series with the Quakers.

The Wildcat backcourt of Collin Gillespie and Phil Booth provided most of the offensive punch.  Gillespie scored a career-high 21 points.  Booth scored all of his 18 points in the second half.  Villanova lost the rebounding battle 35-22. 

Villanova’s next assignment is Saturday at No. 1 Kansas.

The light BIG EAST schedule this week has only DePaul in action on Wednesday.  The Blue Demons (5-2) host Chicago State on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET.  It’s the first of two games in the next three days for DePaul, which hosts Illinois-Chicago on Friday.  The Blue Demons have opened the season with five straight wins at home, their best home start since 2006-07.  DePaul has not lost to Chicago State in 15 meetings.

In the national polls released Monday, Villanova moved up to No. 17 in the AP and No. 16 in USA Today.    Marquette jumped into the AP poll at No. 21 after its 74-69 overtime win over then-No. 12 Wisconsin.  St. John’s, Butler, Creighton and Seton Hall received votes in at least one of the two polls.  

Bruins Defeat Coyotes

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Boston 4, Arizona 3

When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Where: TD Garden, Boston
Attendance: 17,565
By Field Level Media

Brad Marchand had two goals and an assist, and David Pastrnak added a goal and two assists as the Boston Bruins rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to win their third straight game, 4-3, over the visiting Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night.

Danton Heinen also scored a goal and David Krejci celebrated playing in his 800th NHL game with three assists for Boston, which won its 14th straight game over the Coyotes, a streak that dates back to Oct. 9, 2010.

Tuukka Rask had 30 saves for the Bruins to improve to 11-1-0 in his career against Arizona.

Nick Schmaltz, Nick Cousins and Michael Bunting scored goals for Arizona, which lost its third straight game. Darcy Kuemper, making his first start since suffering a lower body injury in a Nov. 21 game against Vegas, finished with 22 saves.

Arizona attempted just seven shots in the first period but scored on two of them in a 40-second span. Schmaltz scored the first on a power play on a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle that clanged off the left post and then bounced off the back of Rask into the net. It was Schmaltz’s sixth goal of the season and fourth in seven games since being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Cousins then made it 2-0 with his third goal of the season, firing a shot from the right point that changed direction off defenseman John Moore and beat Rask on his glove side.

Boston then exploded for four goals in less than five minutes midway through the second period to take a 4-2 lead. Heinen started the rally with his fourth goal of the season when he knocked in a crossing pass from Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson into the right side of the net.

Pastrnak tied it 33 seconds later when he drove to the net and banged in a pass from Marchand. Marchand put the Bruins ahead less than two minutes later, finishing a tic-tac-toe with Pastrnak and Krejci with a shot into the right side of the net.

Marchand made it 4-2 with his 10th goal of the season when he backhanded a rebound of a Krejci shot into an open left side of the net. The Coyotes cut it to 4-3 just 90 seconds later when Moore lost the puck by the right post of his own goal and Bunting, making his NHL debut, jammed the puck past Rusk.

Arizona pulled Kuemper with 1:15 remaining and managed three shots, but none of them were on goal.

–Field Level Media

You Better, You “Bettor,” You Bet

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LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas was named as host the 2020 NFL Draft. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the decision.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (Getty Images)

The draft, which will be the 85th annual, will be held April 23-25. The Oakland Raiders are scheduled to begin play in the city in the 2020 season.

“The NFL Draft is one of the most-anticipated events of the year and we are excited to take it to Las Vegas,” Goodell said in a statement from the NFL.

“We look forward to working with the Raiders, Las Vegas officials and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to create an unforgettable week-long celebration of football for our fans, the incoming prospects and partners.”

The league announced the decision from its December meeting in Dallas, near the location of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which becomes the 32nd venue to host the event in April.

“The Raiders are very excited for Las Vegas and are proud to help host the 2020 NFL Draft,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said.Draft-related events will take place on and around the Las Vegas Strip.

The 2018 draft was the highest-rated and most-watched in history, the league said.The first NFL draft was held in 1936 in Philadelphia and rotated among U.S. cities until makings its permanent home in New York City in 1965. In 2015, the draft began rotating among cities again, with Chicago hosting the event that year and in 2016. Philadelphia and Arlington, Texas, followed as hosts.

The 2019 NFL Draft will be held April 25-27 in Nashville, Tennessee.

–Field Level Media

The Seattle Suns?

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PHOENIX – (Wire Service Report) – The contentious battle to get Talking Stick Resort Arena renovated has led to Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver dipping into the leverage file and issuing a few threats.

In short, Sarver is telling Phoenix City Council members he will move the team to Seattle or Las Vegas if the renovation of the facility isn’t approved, according to the Arizona Republic. The Suns committed to a 40-year lease in 1992, but they can opt out in 2022.The city council was slated to vote on a $230 renovation package Wednesday, but serious backlash from the community is leading to the vote being pushed back — likely to Jan. 23.

Mayor Thelda Williams would like to host two community meetings to gain feedback before the council makes a decision. The Suns have attempted to get the city council to consider a renovation in the past, but this is the first time the council has seriously considered a proposal.

Phoenix would pay $150 million toward the renovations and the Suns would pay $80 million. The Suns would build a new practice facility and commit to playing at the downtown arena through 2037 with an option to extend through 2042. The Suns would be fined $200 million if they departed Phoenix before 2037.

Phoenix’s on-court performance hasn’t gone well. The Suns own the NBA’s worst record at 4-24 and have lost 10 straight games. Phoenix missed the playoffs in each of the past eight seasons.

–Field Level Media

NBA Game Scout:

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Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards

When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, District of Columbia
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

Celtics v. Wizards (Preview by NESN)


WASH DC – The Boston Celtics’ injury report got a bit smaller and they figure to have point guard Kyrie Irving back in action when they visit the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. Irving (shoulder) was one of four regulars that sat and watched a makeshift lineup top the New Orleans Pelicans 113-100 on Monday for the Celtics’ sixth straight win.

Al Horford (knee) and Aron Baynes (ankle) are both questionable for this one while backup forward Gordon Hayward (illness) has been listed as doubtful as Boston seeks a fourth consecutive road victory. “I think that’s been one of the, kind of, trademarks of this group has been whoever’s not available, you don’t focus on that, you just focus on how to play to your strengths,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens told reporters after Monday’s win. “And the key is when everybody is available, getting the most out of ourselves, I think.” The Wizards dropped their final two games of a four-game road trip, capped by Monday’s 109-101 setback at Indiana. Star point guard John Wall missed the contest with a sore heel and is considered day-to-day.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE CELTICS (16-10): Marcus Morris made his eighth straight start Monday and finished with a season-high 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting. “The first thing was be a leader,” Morris told the media of his mission. “We had a lot of guys down … and keep trying to play the right way with the guys out there.” Jayson Tatum finished with 21 points and Jaylen Brown added 19, giving him a scoring average of 21 in three games since returning from a back injury.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (11-16): Bradley Beal scored 30 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 23 in the loss to the Pacers, while newcomer Sam Dekker made a splash in his team debut, fueling a late comeback and finishing with a plus-20 rating. “Effort and energy and his motor. That’s just how he plays,” coach Scott Brooks told reporters of Dekker’s impact. “He obviously got a little winded out there. He hasn’t played in a while. I liked what I saw. He plays hard. You can tell that he plays with a lot of enthusiasm and loves the game. And it shows.” Dekker, who had two steals and a fast-break dunk in his 10 minutes, was acquired in a trade with Cleveland last week and was playing for the first time since Nov. 5.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Beal is averaging 31 points over his last three games.

2. Celtics rookie C Robert Williams had career highs of seven points and 11 rebounds while tying his personal best with three blocks against New Orleans.

3. Washington took three of four meetings last season.

Copyright 2018

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