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Archives for December 1, 2018

NHL Game Scout:

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Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins

When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 1, 2018
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
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BOSTON – The Detroit Red Wings stumbled out of the gate with seven straight losses to open the season and the most lopsided defeat was an 8-2 beating at the hands of the Boston Bruins. The Red Wings earned a measure of revenge for that drubbing with a 3-2 overtime win on Nov. 21, but they will look to end a nine-game losing streak in Boston on Saturday night.

Detroit actually had dropped 11 in a row (playoffs included) at TD Garden, last winning a regular-season game in Beantown more than five years ago (Oct. 14, 2013). The Red Wings ended a more modest slide with Wednesday’s 4-3 win over St. Louis, halting a string of three straight losses to improve to 10-4-1 since an ugly 1-7-2 start to the season. The injury-riddled Bruins have won three of four since the loss in Detroit and are 4-1-2 in their last seven despite scoring two goals of fewer six times in that span. “If we want to win games, we have to be dialed in and can’t really afford to have a night off until we get our offense going,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit Plus, NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (11-11-3): Forward Todd Bertuzzi showed he has a knack of rising to the occasion, scoring twice on his own bobblehead night and delivering the game-winning goal in the third period. Bertuzzi had scored only once in the previous 10 games before banging home a rebound for the decisive tally. ‘He’s one of those guys that doesn’t just work, he competes,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “He finds ways to win pucks, gets stick on puck. We talk about hounding in the O-zone and hounding on the forecheck and that’s what he does. He goes to the net and he’s really good around the net.”

ABOUT THE BRUINS (14-7-4): Despite the paucity of offense over the past two weeks, the Bruins have thrived behind the goaltending tandem of Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak. Rask had a shaky first month of the season but posted a 1.96 goals-against average in November and will make back-to-back starts for the first time since mid-October. “I don’t know. Maybe I just don’t want to play in October,” Rask said of his turnaround. “I don’t know. You just kind of work hard in practice, try to get some shots and work with the goalie coach, and then when the game time comes, you try to be there.”

OVERTIME

1. Red Wings F Andreas Athanasiou has seven goals in the last 10 games, including two against Boston on Nov. 21.

2. Bruins D Brandon Carlo is expected to return to the lineup following a nine-game injury absence.

3. Red Wings D Trevor Daley will miss Saturday’s game after suffering a lower-body injury on Wednesday.

NBA Game Scout:

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Boston Celtics at Minnesota Timberwolves

When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 1, 2018
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Karl-Anthony Towns

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MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Timberwolves have done well to recover from the Jimmy Butler saga and can move above .500 for the first time this season when they host the Boston Celtics on Saturday. A 128-89 rout of the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday gave the Timberwolves four straight wins and seven in nine games since they traded away Butler.

Robert Covington, one the players who came over from Philadelphia in that blockbuster deal, led the way with 21 points and nine rebounds as Minnesota improved to 9-3 at home while holding its opponent under 100 points for the third straight time. “It’s big time when you get a team like that and play an organization like that, and we come out and play defense the way we did,” center Karl-Anthony Towns told reporters after Wednesday’s win. “It’s a wonderful sight and it shows the hard work we’re putting in day-in and day-out.” The Celtics are also coming off a lopsided win after toppling Cleveland 128-95 on Friday. Kyrie Irving scored 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting as Boston shot a season-high 53.3 percent in its best offensive effort of the season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBA TV, NBCS Boston, FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (12-10): Boston has averaged 126 points in its two straight wins, which happens to coincide with Marcus Smart stepping into the starting lineup in place of the injured Jaylen Brown (back). Smart had 12 points and team highs of seven assists and three steals in the win over the Cavaliers and his play has left Brown wondering if he’ll be forced to return to a bench role. “Possibly,” Brown told reporters when asked about playing as a reserve when he comes back. “Especially if we are winning. Whatever it is that needs to be done to figure it out. Everybody has talent, everybody has ability, but obviously we have to make something work here. … If we’re winning, everything else will be fine.”

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (11-11): Covington is averaging 22.5 points in two games since a 1-for-18 shooting effort against Chicago, but he is being lauded for his impact on the defensive end. “Overall just bringing that defensive mindset here is very contagious and a lot of people are picking up on it,” Covington told reporters. “That’s part of my character. I’m very approachable and I talk to guys in a way that I know how the game is going.” Towns and Derrick Rose added 16 points apiece in the win over the Spurs while rookie Josh Okogie chipped in 12 in only 10 minutes.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Brown told reporters he hopes to return for this one.

2. Rose hit 4-of-5 3-pointers Wednesday and is shooting 48.6 percent from beyond the arc.

3. The Celtics have won each of the last four meetings.

Patriots Game Scout:

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Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots

When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, December 2, 2018
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
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Kirk Cousins

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The New England Patriots are coasting to another division title but will be banking that a return to Gillette Stadium will help raise their game as they jockey for seeding in the AFC postseason race. The Patriots are a perfect 5-0 at home but will play in Foxborough, Mass., for the first time since Nov. 4 when they host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon.

New England came off its bye week and avoided a second straight loss by pulling away in the second half for a 27-13 victory at the New York Jets, but the team expects a much stiffer challenge from Minnesota. “This has really been an impressive team to watch,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of the Vikings. “Looks like to me they’re even better than they were last year. Really well coached defensively, as good as we’ll face all year.” Minnesota, which holds down the No. 5 seed in the NFC, shut down Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers last week and will look to do the same against another multiple MVP-winning quarterback in New England’s Tom Brady. “You’ve got to give respect where respect’s due,” Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen said. “Five Super Bowl rings, they’re in the playoffs every year and he’s a large part in the team winning. He’s the GOAT. We’ve got to go out there and play our best game to beat one of the best.”

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Patriots -5. O/U: 49

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (6-4-1): Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs form one of the more lethal pass-catching tandems in the NFL, but Diggs did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, although he insisted he will play against the Patriots. Thielen is the NFL leader with 93 receptions and notched his ninth 100-yard game of the season after hauling in eight catches for 125 yards and a score against the Packers. Quarterback Kirk Cousins ranks fifth in the league with 3,289 yards to go with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but expect Minnesota to try to get its dormant running game untracked Sunday. The Vikings had four sacks last week but star cornerback Xavier Rhodes (hamstring) is questionable.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (8-3): New England slowly is getting healthy — rookie running back Sony Michel returned in the week before the bye, tight end Rob Gronkowski was back last week and running back Rex Burkhead is expected to rejoin the lineup Sunday for the first time since Week 3. Brady posted his highest passer rating (115.4) of the season against the Jets, throwing for 283 yards with a pair of touchdowns and zero interceptions. Michel rushed for a season-high 133 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while Gronkowski had three catches for 56 yards and scored for the first time since Week 1. The Patriots are vulnerable to the pass, ranking 25th with an average of 269.7 yards allowed.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Thielen needs seven catches to join Rod Smith and Wes Welker as the only undrafted players with 100 receptions.

2. Brady needs two TD passes to eclipse Peyton Manning (579) for the most in league history (playoffs included).

3. Diggs has 31 catches for 322 yards and three TDs in his last three games.

BIG EAST Game Scout:

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MIAMI – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The BIG EAST’s eight-game schedule on Saturday includes some high-level matchups along with some local rivalry games.

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The FOX broadcast network has a doubleheader starting at noon ET.  Seton Hall will meet former league member Louisville followed by No. 1 Gonzaga at Creighton at 2 p.m.

Seton Hall is led by Myles Powell, the league’s top scorer with a 24.3 average.  The Pirates (4-2) beat the Cardinals 79-77 last year in Louisville.  Creighton has won four in a row, including Wednesday’s 98-72 victory over Montana.  Guard Ty-Shon Alexander leads the Bluejays in scoring with an 18.3 average.  Last season, he averaged 5.5 points.

Also at noon, St. John’s meets Georgia Tech in the Hoop Hall Miami Invitational on ESPNU.  The Red Storm are 6-0 for the first time since 2009-10.  The last time the team started 7-0 was 1994-95.  Xavier tips at noon against Oakland on FS1.  The Musketeers (4-3) tied a school record with only three turnovers in Wednesday’s 82-55 win over Miami, Ohio.

Marquette hosts No. 12 Kansas State at 2:30 p.m. on FS1.  The Golden Eagles lead BIG EAST teams in field goal defense, limiting to opponents to 38.1 percent, and blocked shots average at 5.1.

Villanova battles La Salle and former assistant coach Ashley Howard at the Palestra at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.  The Wildcats (5-2) are coming off their AdvoCare Invitational title last Sunday.

Providence (5-2) hosts Rhode Island in their annual in-state battle.  FS1 will televise at 5 p.m.  Guard Alpha Diallo leads the Friars in points (18.7), rebounds (9.3) and assists (3.9).  Butler’s Kamar Baldwin boasts the same impressive all-around numbers for the Bulldogs who will play at Saint Louis on FSN, also at 5 p.m.  Baldwin is the Bulldog leader in points (19.7), rebounds (6.0) and assists (5.5).  Both teams are 5-1.

Odds on Football Hall of Fame ’19

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LAS VEGAS – The Pro Football Hall of Fame began with a 103 legendary players and coaching masterminds for consideration for their Class of 2019 and recently listed 25 semi-finalists for possible enshrinement.  On January 3, the list will be trimmed to 15.

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Tony Gonzalez

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Taking that into consideration, the oddsmakers at MyTopSportsBooks.com issued odds for possible induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019 and beyond.

Odds on 25 Players Nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Locks:

  1. Tony Gonzalez, TE: 1/39
  2. Ed Reed, FS: 1/29
  3. Champ Bailey, CB: 1/19

Maybes for Pro Football Hall of Fame:

  1. Tony Boselli, T: 3/2
  2. Alan Faneca, G: 2/1
  3. Isaac Bruce, WR: 3/1
  4. Edgerrin James, RB: 7/2
  5. Steve Hutchinson, G: 4/1
  6. Kevin Mawae G/C: 5/1
  7. John Lynch, FS: 7/1
  8. Ty Law, CB: 8/1
  9. Ronde Barber, CB: 12/1
  10. Don Coryell: 20/1
  11. Jimmy Johnson: 30/1

*(Players in BOLD were finalists last year)

Longshots for Pro Football Hall of Fame:

  1. Richard Seymour, DL: 35/1
  2. Hines Ward, WR: 40/1
  3. Torry Holt, WR: 45/1
  4. Steve Atwater, S: 100/1
  5. LeRoy Butler, S: 150/1
  6. Tom Flores, coach: 150/1
  7. Darren Woodson, S: 150/1
  8. Zach Thomas, LB: 250/1
  9. Clay Matthews, LB: 250/1
  10. Karl Mecklenburg, LB: 250/1
  11. Sam Mills, LB: 250/1

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