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NBA Preview: Houston Rockets (10-24) at Dallas Mavericks (19-16)

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NBA Preview: Houston Rockets (10-24) at Dallas Mavericks (19-16)

Rockets set to take crack at slowing down Luka Doncic, Mavs

With their destruction at the hands of Luka Doncic still fresh on their collective minds, the Rockets will face the Mavericks guard once again and must do so following another one of his eviscerations.

Doncic produced the first 60-point, 20-rebound triple-double in NBA history on Tuesday with 60 points, 21 boards and 10 assists in the Mavericks’ 126-121 overtime victory over the New York Knicks. It marked the Mavericks’ fourth consecutive win, and Doncic is averaging 41.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists during a run Dallas aims to extend against visiting Houston on Thursday.

Doncic recorded his second career 50-point game in Houston on Friday, totaling 50 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in a 112-106 win that evened the season series at a game apiece. The teams will cap the series in Houston on Jan. 2 with their third meeting in 11 days.

Doncic joined Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players with 50-point, 20-rebound triple-doubles. Philadelphia guard James Harden is the only other player with a 60-point triple-double. He accomplished the feat with the Rockets on Jan. 30, 2018.

The recent rampage doesn’t bode well for the scuffling Rockets, against whom Doncic is averaging 28.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists over 12 games in his career. Doncic did not play when the Rockets defeated the Mavericks 101-92 in Dallas on Nov. 16.

The Rockets had their hands full with the Boston Celtics’ tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on Tuesday in a 126-102 road loss. Tatum posted 38 points, eight rebounds and four assists; Brown had 39 points and three steals to send Houston to its sixth loss in seven games.

In ranking second to 76ers center Joel Embiid in scoring at 33.6 points per game, Doncic has clearly showcased an ability to dismantle any defense. But the Rockets’ season-long defensive woes — Houston entered Wednesday 28th in defensive rating at 115.4 points allowed per 100 possessions — certainly greases the skids for Doncic to continue his recent run of excellence.

For Houston, making the most of its day off on Wednesday would go a long way toward having more success against Doncic this time around. The Rockets’ loss in Boston was in the second game of a back-to-back and followed an impressive offensive effort in a win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

NBA Preview: New York Knicks (18-17) at San Antonio Spurs (11-23)

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NBA Preview: New York Knicks (18-17) at San Antonio Spurs (11-23)

Knicks look to avoid being on wrong end of history again, visit Spurs

The New York Knicks and host San Antonio Spurs will look to get back on the winning track when they square off for the first time this season on Thursday night.

Both teams dropped games on the road on Tuesday. New York has lost four straight, while the Spurs have been defeated in five of their past seven outings.

The Knicks fell 126-121 in overtime in Dallas as Luka Doncic scored a franchise-high 60 points, including a bucket following an intentionally missed free throw with 1 second remaining to send the game to an extra period. New York lost after being up by nine points with 33 seconds left in regulation.

The loss overshadowed a career-best night from New York’s Quentin Grimes, who poured in a personal-high 33 points and a career-best-tying seven 3-pointers.

Julius Randle added 29 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, Mitchell Robinson added 20 points and 16 rebounds and Immanuel Quickley had a career-high 15 assists and scored 13 points for the Knicks. New York played without Jalen Brunson (hip) and lost RJ Barrett to a finger injury 96 seconds into the game.

Thursday’s game in San Antonio will be the second of a three-game, all-Texas trip that ends Saturday in Houston.

The Spurs head home after a 130-114 loss at Oklahoma City in the second game of a home-road back-to-back. San Antonio beat Utah 126-122 at home on Monday.

San Antonio was within two points heading into the final period but was outscored 35-21 in the fourth. Devin Vassell scored 20 points for the Spurs and Keldon Johnson battled a sore back to add 19.

The Spurs played a majority of the game without coach Gregg Popovich, who was ejected less than a minute into the second quarter after two quick technical fouls earned by engaging with game officials. Assistant coach Brett Brown filled in for the remainder of the contest.

Jeremy Sochan added 16 points and Tre Jones had 14 in the loss. San Antonio is 1-6 in the second game of back-to-backs this season, including losses in six consecutive second games.

NBA Preview: Memphis Grizzlies (20-13) at Toronto Raptors (15-19)

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NBA Preview: Memphis Grizzlies (20-13) at Toronto Raptors (15-19)

The visiting Memphis Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors will begin the search for some consistency Thursday night after coming off losses at home.

The Grizzlies have dropped four of their past five games after losing 125-108 at home to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

The Raptors have lost seven of their past nine games after they were defeated 124-113 at home by the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

Both teams had their stars deliver despite the defeats. Ja Morant scored 34 points for Memphis and Pascal Siakam scored 36 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Toronto.

The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 125-100 in Phoenix on Friday for their only win of a four-game road trip.

The only player to score in double figures for the Grizzlies on Tuesday — other than Morant — was Desmond Bane with 14 points, including 12 in the first half. It was the second consecutive game in which the Grizzlies did not provide much offensive support for Morant.

The Raptors got only four points in 23 minutes from Fred VanVleet on Tuesday. VanVleet, who also had seven assists, was dealing with back spasms and did not practice on Wednesday. Christian Koloko had four points in nine minutes on Tuesday before leaving with a sore knee that was to be re-evaluated on Wednesday.

Malachi Flynn scored 10 points against the Clippers and could see more playing time depending on VanVleet’s status.

The Raptors shot 26.1 percent (6 of 23) from 3-point range Tuesday. Their inability to shoot 3-pointers has been a recurring problem.

The Clippers hit 39.5 percent (15 of 38) of their 3-point attempts against the Raptors.

The Raptors did shoot 51.2 percent (43 for 84) from the field on Tuesday.

Scottie Barnes recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes for his ninth double-double of the season. Barnes ranks second on the Raptors in double-doubles this season, behind Siakam’s 10.

The game against the Clippers was the first of a stretch of nine of 10 games at home for the Raptors. They have lost four straight in their own building, however.

It was a good night for two members of Toronto’s 2019 NBA championship team now with the Clippers: Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell.

Leonard, playing his second game in Toronto as a member of the Clippers, was quietly effective with 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Powell, playing his first game in Toronto since being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in March 2021, scored 22 points.

NBA Preview: Los Angeles Clippers (21-15) at Boston Celtics (25-10)

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NBA Preview: Los Angeles Clippers (21-15) at Boston Celtics (25-10)

The NBA-best Boston Celtics will look to close a seven-game homestand with their fourth consecutive win when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

Boston’s offense has come to life in the last two games, with a season-high 139 points in a Christmas victory over the Milwaukee Bucks before shooting past the Houston Rockets 126-102 on Tuesday.

Brown (39 points) and Tatum (38) combined for at least 70 points for a second straight game and the ninth time in their careers, leading the Celtics’ charge to victory in the second half. Boston had a 92-81 lead after three quarters before outscoring Houston 34-21 in the fourth.

Life is easier for everyone with Tatum and Brown, who are the only Celtics teammates ever to score 70 combined points in back-to-back games.

The Celtics won behind Stoudamire, who acted as Boston’s head coach against Houston since interim head coach Joe Mazzulla missed the game due to eye irritation.

Robert Williams III had a strong game off the bench, posting a season-high 11 points and 15 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

Williams has not been in the starting lineup in the five games he has played since returning from offseason knee surgery. Mazzulla recently said the big man could remain in a bench role.

The Clippers had Wednesday off after sweeping a back-to-back at Detroit and Toronto. They overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Pistons in overtime 142-131 before completing the set with a 124-113 win at Toronto on Tuesday.

Thursday will mark the fourth of five straight games on the road for Los Angeles.

Paul George and Ivica Zubac each had 23 points to lead the Clippers in Toronto. Zubac also pulled in 16 rebounds, 10 on the offensive boards. Zubac has nine games of at least 15 rebounds this season.

All five Clippers starters finished in double-digits, including Kawhi Leonard who had 15 points, a season-high eight assists and seven rebounds against his former team after missing Monday’s game for maintenance.

Entering Wednesday, the Clippers ranked third in the NBA in opponents’ field goal percentage (45.4) and points per game (108.6). Something will have to give, as Boston’s offense still ranks at the top in scoring average (118.9).

Boston will be looking to even the two-game season series after losing to the Clippers 113-93 Dec. 12 in L.A. George had a game-high 26 points in the Clippers’ third straight win in the series.

The Celtics have been held under 100 points in only one other game this season.

NBA Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers (22-13) at Indiana Pacers (18-17)

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NBA Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers (22-13) at Indiana Pacers (18-17)

The Cleveland Cavaliers are out to apply the brakes on their modest two-game skid Thursday when they visit the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.

Darius Garland’s sizzling 46-point performance ultimately went for naught in the Cavaliers’ 125-117 home setback to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. Garland recorded his fourth career 40-point game and third this season after making 14 of 20 shots from the floor.

Mitchell also is a team leader, however he has struggled to find his shot over the last two games. He is mired in a 9-of-32 stretch (28.2 percent) from the field after making at least eight shots in each of his previous nine games.

Mitchell certainly was better in his last encounter with the Pacers, pouring in 41 points in the Cavaliers’ 118-112 victory on Dec. 16. He averages a team-best 28.5 points per game.

Indiana enters Thursday’s clash having won three of its last four games. The Pacers posted a 129-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday in the opener of their four-game homestand.

Buddy Hield drained six 3-pointers to highlight his 28-point performance. He has made at least four 3-pointers in five of his last six games, shooting a robust 63.6 percent from distance in that span (28 of 44).

Haliburton scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday.

Haliburton collected 17 points and 14 assists in the previous meeting with the Cavaliers. Rookie Bennedict Mathurin had a team-high 22 points in that contest, while Hield chipped in 14.

NBA Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder (15-19) at Charlotte Hornets (9-26)

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NBA Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder (15-19) at Charlotte Hornets (9-26)

Close games have been a regular theme with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The need to pull out more of those is bound to be the key to how the team fares.

Another chance to show if recent successes can be sustained comes against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night in Charlotte, N.C.

Oklahoma City won four of the final five games of a seven-game homestand, including avoiding a close game by pulling away to beat the San Antonio Spurs 130-114 on Tuesday night.

The Hornets have been in the opposite situation, coming off a six-game road trip on the West Coast. They went 2-4, capped by Tuesday night’s 110-105 loss at Golden State.

The game was tied at 101-101, but Charlotte coach Steve Clifford didn’t point to the finishing stretch as being as costly as how the team started in such a rut.

Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder in scoring in 11 of the last 12 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander also had four blocked shots in the San Antonio game.

The Thunder received 68 points from reserves in Tuesday night’s game.

Charlotte hasn’t contained many of the league’s second-tier teams. The Hornets allowed 65 first-half points to Golden State in a game in which Warriors standouts Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins didn’t play.

A 2-4 road trip for the Hornets means they should be desperate to make amends at home.

The Hornets are trying to get all the parts aligned, something that has been troublesome with a rash of injuries. The encouraging part is that Gordon Hayward logged 37 minutes and LaMelo Ball played 35 minutes in Tuesday’s game.

Oklahoma City guard Luguentz Dort wasn’t feeling at full strength Tuesday night so he played limited minutes. The Thunder used some different player combinations and Daigneault said he was happy with the adjustments.

Thursday night’s game marks just a one-game trip for the Thunder, who will be back home for their next two games. Oklahoma City lost its past three road matchups.

This is the beginning of a four-game homestand for the Hornets, who’ve lost their last five home games. This is their first home game since Dec. 16.

NFL: Week 17 Quick Capsule – Los Angeles Rams (5-10) at Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

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NFL: Week 17 Quick Capsule – Los Angeles Rams (5-10) at Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

WEEK 17
LOS ANGELES RAMS (5-10) @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (9-6)
DATE: Sunday (1/1/23)
STADIUM: SoFi Stadium
TIME: 4:25 PM ET
REFEREE: Clete Blakeman

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Rams lead all-time series, 7-5
STREAKS Rams have won 2 of past 3
LAST GAME 9/23/18: Chargers 23 at Rams 35
LAST GAME AT SITE 11/23/14: Chargers 27, Rams 24 (San Diego)

LOS ANGELES RAMS
LAST WEEK W 51-14 vs. Denver
COACH VS. OPP. Sean McVay: 1-0
PTS. FOR 18.7
OFFENSE 281.5
PASSING Baker Mayfield (2022): 177-290-1,884-10-7-81.5
RUSHING Cam Akers: 148-559-3.8-7
RECEIVING Tyler Higbee (TE): 65-576-8.9-3
PTS. AGAINST 22.3
DEFENSE 331.0
SACKS Leonard Floyd: 8
INTs Cobie Durant (R): 3
TAKE/GIVE -1 (20/21)
PUNTING (NET) Riley Dixon: 48.8 (41.4)
KICKING Matt Gay: 101 (29/30 PAT; 24/26 FG)

RAMS NOTES
• QB BAKER MAYFIELD completed 24 of 28 atts. (85.7 pct.) for 230 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 124.7 rating in Week 16, his 5th-career game with 80+ comp. pct. Has 90+ rating in 2 of his 3 games with LAR. Passed for 305 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 122.5 rating in his last start at LAC (10/10/21 w/ Cle.).

• RB CAM AKERS had season-high 147 scrimmage yards (118 rush, 29 rec.) & career-high 3 rush TDs in Week 16. Has 6 rush TDs in his past 4. Aims for his 3rd in row with 100+ scrimmage yards.

• TE TYLER HIGBEE led team with 9 receptions for season-high 94 yards & 2 rec. TDs in Week 16, his 3rd-career game with 2+ TD catches. Aims for his 3rd in row with TD catch. Ranks 2nd among NFC TEs in receptions (65) & 4th in rec. yards (576).

• TE BRYCEN HOPKINS had career-high 57 rec. yards in Week 16.

• LB BOBBY WAGNER led team with 8 tackles, had career-high 6th sack of season & 13th-career INT last week. Has 126 tackles in 2022, his 11th-straight season with 100+ tackles since entering NFL in 2012 & is only player with 125+ tackles, 5+ sacks (6) & 5+ PD (5) in 2022. Has 5 TFL in his past 4 & aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Chargers with 10+ tackles.

• LB LEONARD FLOYD had 8th sack of season last week, his 3rd-straight season with 8+ sacks. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack. Has 2 sacks in 2 of his past 3 on road.

• DT LARRELL MURCHISON had 1st 2 career sacks in Week 16.

• DB JALEN RAMSEY had 3 PD & 2nd INT of season last week. Ranks tied-4th in NFL with 14 PD in 2022. Had 2 PD in his last game vs. LAC (11/12/17 w/ Jax.).

• DB COBIE DURANT (rookie) had 1st-career game with 2 INTs & 1st-career INT-TD in Week 16.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
LAST WEEK W 20-3 at Indianapolis (Mon.)
COACH VS. OPP. Brandon Staley: 0-0
PTS. FOR 22.1
OFFENSE 355.0
PASSING Justin Herbert: 431-634-4,254-21-10-91.2
RUSHING Austin Ekeler: 183-759-4.1-11
RECEIVING Joshua Palmer: 68-730-10.7-3
PTS. AGAINST 22.9
DEFENSE 342.4
SACKS Khalil Mack: 8
INTs Bryce Callahan: 3
TAKE/GIVE +4 (21/17)
PUNTING (NET) JK Scott: 42.9 (41.1)
KICKING Cameron Dicker (R) (2022): 64 (16/16 PAT; 16/17 FG)

CHARGERS NOTES
• LOS ANGELES clinched postseason berth for 1st time since 2018.

• QB JUSTIN HERBERT completed 24 of 31 atts. (season-high 77.4 pct.) for 235 yards last week. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 300+ pass yards. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 4,254 pass yards in 2022 & is 1st player in NFL history with 4,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 3 seasons.

• RB AUSTIN EKELER had 79 scrimmage yards (67 rush, 12 rec.) & 2 rush TDs last week, his 5th game this season with 2+ TDs, tied-most in NFL. Aims for 7th in row with 70+ scrimmage yards & 4th in row with rush TD. Aims for his 6th in row at home with rush TD. Leads NFL with 16 TDs (11 rush, 5 rec.) this season & is 2nd Charger ever (HOFer LaDainian Tomlinson) with 15+ TDs in consecutive seasons.

• WR KEENAN ALLEN led team with 11 catches for season-high 104 yards last week. Aims for his 5th in row with 6+ catches & 80+ rec. yards.

• WR MIKE WILLIAMS had 76 rec. yards in Week 16 & aims for 4th in row with 65+ rec. yards. Had 4 catches for 81 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting.

• LB KHALIL MACK had team-high 8th sack of season last week, his 7th-career season with 8+ sacks, tied 4th-most among active players.

• LB DRUE TRANQUILL aims for 3rd in row with 10+ tackles & sack.

• DL MORGAN FOX had career-high 2 sacks last week & has sack in 2 of past 3.

• S DERWIN JAMES had INT last week & has INT in 2 of past 3. Has sack in 2 of past 3 at home. Had 9 tackles & INT in last meeting. Ranks 5th among DBs with 109 tackles.

• CB MICHAEL DAVIS had 7 tackles, 3 PD & 1st INT of season in Week 16. Aims for 6th in row with PD & has 2+ PD in 4 of past 5.

NFL: Week 17 Quick Capsule – Minnesota Vikings (12-3) at Green Bay Packers (7-8)

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NFL: Week 17 Quick Capsule – Minnesota Vikings (12-3) at Green Bay Packers (7-8)

WEEK 17
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (12-3) @ GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-8)
DATE: Sunday (1/1/23)
STADIUM: Lambeau Field
TIME: 4:25 PM ET
REFEREE: Carl Cheffers

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Packers lead all-time series, 63-56-3
STREAKS Vikings have won 3 of last 4
LAST GAME 9/11/22: Packers 7 at Vikings 23
LAST GAME AT SITE 1/2/22: Packers 37, Vikings 10

MINNESOTA VIKINGS
LAST WEEK W 27-24 vs. N.Y. Giants (Sat.)
COACH VS. OPP. Kevin O’Connell: 1-0
PTS. FOR 25.2
OFFENSE 354.5
PASSING Kirk Cousins: 389-592-4,117-27-11-93.3
RUSHING Dalvin Cook: 244-1,109-4.5-8
RECEIVING Justin Jefferson: 123-1,756-14.3-8
PTS. AGAINST 24.9
DEFENSE 402.3
SACKS Danielle Hunter: 10.5
INTs Harrison Smith: 5
TAKE/GIVE +6 (23/17)
PUNTING (NET) Ryan Wright (R): 47.5 (42.8)
KICKING Greg Joseph: 102 (36/41 PAT; 22/27 FG)

VIKINGS NOTES
• MINNESOTA clinched NFC North for 1st time since 2017. Have 11 one-score wins (8 points or fewer), most by any team in single season in NFL history.

• QB KIRK COUSINS passed for 299 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 107.9 rating in Week 16. Has 27 TD passes in 2022 & became 5th QB ever with 25+ TD passes in 8+ straight seasons. Has 4,117 passing yards this season, his 7th-career 4,000-yard season. Passed for 277 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 118.9 rating in Week 1 meeting.

• RB DALVIN COOK has 4th-straight season with 1,300+ scrimmage yards (1,387). Aims for his 5th in row on road with TD. Has 867 scrimmage yards (108.4 per game) & 9 TDs (7 rush, 2 rec.) in 8 career games vs. GB, incl. 108 scrimmage yards in Week 1 meeting.

• WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON leads NFL with 123 catches & 1,756 rec. yards in 2022, 7th-most rec. yards in single season ever & can become 6th player ever with 130+ catches in single season. Had 12 catches for 133 yards & rec. TD in Week 16 & is 6th player ever with 10+ catches, 100+ rec. yards in 3 straight games. Has 24 games with 100+ rec. yards in 1st 3 seasons, most by player in 1st 4 seasons ever. Can become 4th player in NFL history with 11 games of 100+ rec. yards in single season.

• TE T.J. HOCKENSON had career-high 13 receptions for 109 yards & 2 rec. TDs last week, 2nd-career game with 2 rec. TDs. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. GB with rec. TD.

• LB DANIELLE HUNTER has 4th-career season with 10+ sacks (10.5) in 2022. Had sack in Week 1 meeting & aims for his 4th in row vs. GB with sack.

• LB ERIC KENDRICKS aims for his 8th in row at GB & 8th in row on road with 8+ tackles.

• CB PATRICK PETERSON had 33rd-career INT last week, 3rd-most among active players.

• S HARRISON SMITH has 4 PD, 3 TFL, 2 INTs, FF & FR in his past 5 at GB.

GREEN BAY PACKERS
LAST WEEK W 26-20 at Miami
COACH VS. OPP. Matt LaFleur: 4-3
PTS. FOR 20.9
OFFENSE 342.6
PASSING Aaron Rogders: 318-491-3,331-24-11-91.3
RUSHING Aaron Jones: 187-962-5.1-2
RECEIVING Allen Lazard: 51-688-13.5-5
PTS. AGAINST 22.3
DEFENSE 336.8
SACKS Preston Smith: 8.5
INTs Jaire Alexander: 5
TAKE/GIVE 0 (20/20)
PUNTING (NET) Pat O’Donnell: 44.8 (39.7)
KICKING Mason Crosby: 91 (31/33 PAT; 20/23 FG)

PACKERS NOTES
• QB AARON RODGERS has 13 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 102 rating in 7 home starts in 2022. Has 59 TDs (56 pass, 3 rush) vs. 8 INTs for 108.7 rating in 27 career starts vs. Min. Aims for his 4th in row at home vs. Min. with 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating. Needs 1 TD pass for 13th-career season with 25+ TD passes.

• RB AARON JONES has 125+ scrimmage yards & TD in 2 of his past 3 at home. Aims for his 3rd in row at home vs. Min. with 100+ scrimmage yards. Since 2017, Is 1 of 2 (Alvin Kamara) with 40+ rush TDs (43) & 15+ rec. TDs (17).

• RB A.J. DILLON had career-high 6th rush TD of season last week & aims for his 5th in row with rush TD. Had 2 rush TDs in last home meeting.

• WR CHRISTIAN WATSON (rookie) had career-high 6 catches last week. Has 5 rec. TDs in his past 3 at home. Ranks tied-1st among rookies in scrimmage TDs (9) & rec. TDs (7).

• WR ALLEN LAZARD has career highs in catches (51) & rec. yards (688) in 2022.

• LB QUAY WALKER ranks 3rd among rookies with 104 tackles. Has 1.5 sacks, 3 TFL, 3 PD & FF in his past 3 at home & aims for his 4th in row at home with TFL.

• LB PRESTON SMITH had sack & 1st FF of season last week. Has 5th-career season with 8+ sacks (8.5) in 2022. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 1.5+ sacks. Has 3 sacks & 4 TFL in his past 3 vs. Min.

• LB DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL had 2nd INT of season last week.

• CB JAIRE ALEXANDER had career-high 5th INT of season last week.

• CB RASUL DOUGLAS had 4th INT of season in Week 16 & aims for his 3rd in row with INT. Has PD in 4 of his past 5.

• S ADRIAN AMOS led team & tied his career high with 11 tackles last week.

Royals sign right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles to two-year deal

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Royals sign right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles to two-year deal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals announced this morning that they have signed right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles to a two-year deal. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a corresponding move, infielder Ryan O’Hearn was designated for assignment.

Lyles, 32, is a 12-year Major League veteran who has pitched for seven different teams, including Houston (2011-13), Colorado (2014-17), San Diego (2017-18), Milwaukee (2018-19), Pittsburgh (2019), Texas (2020-21) and Baltimore (2022).

Last season with the Orioles, Lyles set career highs in wins (12, tied) and starts (32), and he recorded 179.0 innings, which fell just shy of his career high (180.0) set in 2021. Lyles’ 32 starts in 2022 tied for the 3rd most in the American League, and his 359.0 innings pitched over the last two seasons are the 5th most in the American League, trailing only Robbie Ray (382.1), Gerrit Cole (382.0), José Berríos (364.0) and Cole Irvin (359.1).

After going 4-7 in 15 starts through the first three months of last season, Lyles went 8-4 with a 3.95 ERA (41 ER in 93.1 IP) in 17 starts from July 1 through season’s end. His 8 wins over the final three months matched Dylan Cease, Shohei Ohtani and 2022 American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander for the 5th most in the AL during that time, trailing only Cal Quantrill (11), Shane Bieber (10), Luis Garcia (9) and Framber Valdez (9). Lyles induced a career-high-tying 18 groundball double plays in 2022, which matched Lucas Giolito for 5th most in the American League.

Lyles was a 1st-round pick by Houston in the 2008 Draft out of Hartsville High School in South Carolina and made his Major League debut less than three years later at the age of 20. Through the first eight seasons of his career, only 115 of his 217 appearances (53.0%) were starts. But since the 2019 season, 99 of his 104 appearances (95.2%) have been in a starting role.

Giants agree to three-year contract with LHP Taylor Rogers

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Giants agree to three-year contract with LHP Taylor Rogers

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Giants and left-handed pitcher Taylor Rogers agreed to terms on a three-year Major League contract worth $33 million. Rogers will make $9 million in 2023 and $12 
million in both 2024 and 2025. Additionally, Rogers will make a donation to the Giants Community Fund of $45,000 in 2023 as well as $60,000 in both 2024 and 2025.

Rogers, 32, the twin brother of current Giants right-handed pitcher Tyler Rogers, was 4-8 with 31 saves and a 4.76 ERA in 66 combined games last season between San Diego (42 games) and Milwaukee (24 games). Rogers struck out 84 batters in 64.1 innings last season for a 11.8 K/9ip ratio, the highest of his career over a full season. He limited left-handed batters to a .167 (10-for-60) 
average last season while only allowing three extra-base hits to lefties (one double, two triples) and a .511 OPS.

Earlier this year on April 11 vs. San Diego, Taylor and Tyler both pitched in the game (Taylor for San Diego and Tyler for the Giants). It marked the second time in MLB history that two twin 
brothers pitched in the same game and the first time it was done for opposing teams. The only other time it happened prior to that was July 31, 1956 when Johnny and Eddie O’Brien, primarily position 
players for their careers, both pitched for Pittsburgh. According to Elias, this is the first time that a set of twins will be teammates since Jose and Ozzie Canseco both played for Oakland in 1990. 
Overall, it’s the fourth time that a set of twin brothers have been teammates in Major League history joining the aforementioned Canseco brothers, Eddie and Johnny O’Brien for the Pirates in 
1953 and 1955-58 and Joe and Red Shannon for Boston in 1915.

In 2021, Taylor Rogers was an All-Star with the Twins, posting a 3.35 ERA and nine saves in 40 games while amassing 59 strikeouts in 40.1 innings.

In seven Major League seasons, Rogers is 21-26 with a 3.42 ERA and 81 saves in 385 career games between the Twins (2016-2021), Padres (2022) and Brewers (2022). His 385 games since 2016 (his 
first year in the Majors) are 13ᵗʰ-most in the Majors among all relievers and are third-most among left-handed relievers in that time. Only Brad Hand (429 games) and Andrew Chafin (407 games) have 
appeared in more games since 2016 than Rogers.

To make room for Rogers on the 40-man roster, the Giants have designated IF Tommy La Stella for assignment.

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