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NBA Preview: Dallas Mavericks (15-15) at Minnesota Timberwolves (15-15)

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NBA Preview: Dallas Mavericks (15-15) at Minnesota Timberwolves (15-15)

After historic offensive showing, T-wolves host Mavs

The Minnesota Timberwolves will try to follow up their best offensive night in franchise history when they face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night in Minneapolis in the first of consecutive games between the teams.

The Timberwolves set franchise marks of 150 points and 57 field goals during Sunday’s rout of the visiting Chicago Bulls. Minnesota made 65.5 percent of its field-goal attempts and knocked down a season-best 23 3-pointers out of 43 attempts.

Anthony Edwards led the assault with a season-best 37 points and career-high 11 assists in the 150-126 trouncing of the Bulls.

Minnesota will try to keep the offense moving against a Dallas squad that has lost four of its past six games. The Mavericks are awaiting word on whether Luka Doncic, the NBA’s second-leading scorer at 33 points per game, will be available.

Doncic (quadriceps injury) is questionable after missing Saturday’s 100-99 overtime loss to the host Cleveland Cavaliers. Kemba Walker took advantage of Doncic’s absence to score 32 points.

Dallas and Minnesota also will play Wednesday night in Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, the scoring splurge by the Timberwolves came two games after they staggered to a season-low total in a 99-88 road loss against the Los Angeles Clippers.

But on Sunday, everybody who fired away was seeing the ball go through the net. That includes D’Angelo Russell, who scored 28 points after missing the previous two games with a knee injury.

Russell has topped 20 points in each of his last six appearances.

Minnesota could be without Rudy Gobert (ankle injury) for the third straight game. Fellow big man Naz Reid left Sunday’s game with an injured trapezius muscle.

If Doncic is unable to play, Walker could be in line for another huge dose of playing time for the Mavericks, who are ailing in the backcourt.

Spencer Dinwiddie (knee) is expected to be available, but Tim Hardaway Jr. (non-COVID illness) is questionable and Josh Green (elbow) will miss the contest.

Walker played 42 minutes against Cleveland in just his third game for Dallas. He added seven assists, five rebounds and made four 3-pointers in the opener of a four-game trip.

The four-time All-Star said he plans to build off the strong effort. But his competitiveness left him disappointed due to the close loss.

Christian Wood also excelled with 26 points and 14 rebounds, but he missed a long 3-pointer as time expired for the Mavericks.

The teams split four meetings last season, with the home team winning each time.

NBA Preview: Orlando Magic (11-20) at Atlanta Hawks (15-15)

NBA Editor
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NBA Preview: Orlando Magic (11-20) at Atlanta Hawks (15-15)

The Atlanta Hawks will be looking for revenge when they begin a three-game homestand on Monday against the Orlando Magic, who have won six in a row.

In their last meeting on Dec. 14 in Orlando, the Magic scored a franchise-record 50 points in the first quarter against the Hawks. It was the most points allowed by Atlanta in a quarter this season and gave the Magic the momentum needed to cruise to a 135-124 win.

A franchise-record eight Orlando players scored in double figures in that victory.

That was Orlando’s first win against Atlanta this season. The Hawks had won the first two games, by 10 and 17 points. This will be the final game of the season series.

The Magic began their four-game road trip with two wins over the Boston Celtics, including a 95-92 victory on Sunday. Paolo Banchero scored 31 in helping the Magic extend its winning streak to six, their longest since March 2019.

Orlando had lost nine straight and 11 out of 12 before catching fire.

Banchero leads the team in scoring (21.6) and averages 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He has scored 20-plus points in seven straight games. Franz Wagner averages 19.9, Cole Anthony averages 13.5 points and Bol Bol averages 12.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

Atlanta is coming off a 125-106 win over Charlotte on Friday, which allowed the Hawks to finish 1-2 on their road trip. Trae Young scored 31 points, but Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 28 in his first start of the season.

Bogdanovic has been playing on restricted minutes since returning from offseason knee surgery. He had come off the bench in the previous six games but was needed in the lineup due to the absence of Clint Capela (calf strain), John Collins (left ankle) and Dejounte Murray (left ankle).

Bogdanovic was 7 for 10 on 3 pointers. That was a boost to an Atlanta team that ranks next-to-last in 3-point baskets. Bogdanovic replaced rookie A.J. Griffin in the starting lineup. Griffin came off the bench to score 13.

Young leads Atlanta with 27 points and 9.9 assists per game. De’Andre Hunter averages 15.4 and Bogdanovic is averaging 19.3 since returning.

NBA Preview: Toronto Raptors (13-17) at Philadelphia Sixers (16-12)

NBA Editor
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NBA Preview: Toronto Raptors (13-17) at Philadelphia Sixers (16-12)

The Philadelphia 76ers will look to win their fifth straight game when they host the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

The Sixers captured their fourth in a row with a 118-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

Even playing without Tyrese Maxey (fractured left foot), Tobias Harris (back) and Furkan Korkmaz (non-COVID illness), the Sixers received 34 points and 13 rebounds from Joel Embiid and 27 points and nine assists from James Harden.

Having Embiid in the lineup on any night can mask a lot of issues.

Embiid has scored at least 30 in six straight games, the longest active streak in the league.

Not only have the Sixers won four straight at home, they’re 10-1 in the last 11 at Wells Fargo Center. It’s a good sign for a team which struggled early.

The struggling Raptors will aim to snap a five-game losing streak when they battle the Sixers.

The Raptors fell 126-110 to the depleted Golden State Warriors on Sunday despite 27 points from Pascal Siakam, 22 from Fred VanVleet and 17 from Scottie Barnes.

Toronto has been without OG Anunoby (hip) for the last four games and Gary Trent Jr. (thigh) for the last two. The prognosis appears to be more encouraging for Anunoby.

As for Trent Jr.,”it doesn’t look like it’s getting much better,” Nurse said. “I think they’re searching for more information at this point.”

The Raptors’ five consecutive losses is their worst skid since a seven-game losing streak to complete the 2020-21 season.

The losing streak can be correlated to some key injuries. But miscues on defense have also been a consistent issue.

Golden State shot 53.1 percent from the field, including 18 of 39 from 3-point territory.

CFB: Myrtle Beach Bowl Preview – Marshall Thundering Herd (8-4) at Connecticut Huskies (6-6)

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB: Myrtle Beach Bowl Preview – Marshall Thundering Herd (8-4) at Connecticut Huskies (6-6)

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD NOTES:

All-time Bowl Game Record: 12-6

The Last (and only) Meeting
St. Petersburg, Fla. – Marshall secured its fifth consecutive bowl victory with a 16-10 win over the UConn Huskies at the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 26, 2015. The Herd was first to strike with a two-play drive that was set up by a Deandre Reaves punt return. After bobbing and weaving his way through several potential tacklers, Reaves found a crease and returned the punt for 26 yards to the Huskies’ 20-yard line. The drive started with a 4-yard run by senior Devon Johnson, who made his first appearance since Oct. 17 at Florida Atlantic. On the next play, quarterback Chase Litton ran a play action pass as the UConn defense committed to the run and hit an open Ryan Yurachek for a 16-yard touchdown pass. The lead did not last long for the Herd, as UConn had a 13-play drive for 75 yards on the ensuing possession that resulted in an 8-yard rushing touchdown for Ron Johnson. The first drive of the second quarter for Marshall resulted in points, as the Herd put together its own 13-play drive that set up a chip-shot field goal for Nick Smith, a 21-yard try with 8:04 remaining in the half to put Marshall ahead, 10-7. Marshall went on to close the second quarter the same way it started the period, with a double-digit play drive. This time the Herd went 15 plays for 85 yards to set up another Smith field goal. After UConn attempted to freeze Smith with two straight timeouts, he converted a 29-yard field goal to give the Herd a 13-7 lead at halftime. Marshall was held scoreless despite out-gaining the Huskies, 79-41 in the third quarter. UConn’s Bobby Puyol connected on a 52-yard field goal late in the period. With a three-point lead in hand, Marshall took over at its own five yard line with 8:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, and turned to the fresh legs of Keion Davis, who ran for a combined 12 yards on his first two attempts to give the Herd breathing room. On the next play, Davis found an opening and ran for 41 yards, the longest rush of the game. Marshall continued to run down the clock and run the ball with Davis until it was stopped at the UConn 15 yard line with 1:49 remaining. Marshall’s kicker, Smith, lined up and made his third field goal of the game from 32 yards to give the Herd a 16-10 lead. UConn got the ball back with 1:44 on the clock in the fourth quarter, but was unable to get into Marshall territory and ultimately turned the ball over on downs.
Marshall would take the ball with 21 seconds left and kneel down to seal its fourth bowl win under head coach Doc Holliday. Leading the way on offense for the Herd was Litton with 218 passing yards and one touchdown on 23 completions. Davis led Marshall on the ground with 73 yards rushing, while Reaves, who was named the game’s MVP, had 88 yards receiving on nine receptions. On defense, Kendall Gant was tied for a team-high nine tackles with Devontre’a Tyler. Gary Thompson and Ryan Bee each had one sack. With the victory, the Herd clinched its third straight season of 10 or more wins. Marshall went 10-3 this season, while going 13-1 in 2014 and 10-4 in 2013.

CONNECTICUT HUSKIES NOTES:

Last Meeting vs. Marshall
Dec. 26, 2015 – Marshall 16 – UConn 10 – Tropicana Field Marshall quarterback Chase Litton completed 23 for 34 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown as the Thundering Herd defeated the UConn Huskies 16-10 score in the 2015 St. Petersburg Bowl at Tropicana Field. The Huskies, who were back in bowl play for the first time since the 2010 season, finish the year at 6-7 while Marshall was 10-3. UConn redshirt quarterback Bryant Shirreffs completed 10 of 17 passes for 86 yards and gained 75 yards on 19 carries for the Huskies. The Huskies got within 13-10 on a 52-yard field goal by r-junior Bobby Puyol with two seconds left in the third. The 52-yarder was tied as the sixth-longest in school history and tied as the third-longest in UConn’s FBS history. It was also a career-long for Puyol and the longest in UConn bowl and St. Petersburg Bowl history. Puyol was named UConn’s Game MVP by the bowl. Marshall’s Nick Smith had three FGs for the Thundering Herd, including a 32-yarder with 1:44 to play for a 16-10 lead, capping off a 13-play, 80-yard march that lasted 6:35 to put the game-away. UConn sophomore cornerback Jamar Summers got his eighth interception of the season, including six in the last five games. Summers’ eight interceptions tied for second in UConn single-season history and first in the Husky FBS era. Husky sophomore tailback Arkeel Newsome had five receptions for 33 yards for the Huskies. Senior safety Andrew Adams led the UConn defense with 14 tackles.

Scouting the Thundering Herd…
The Marshall Thundering Herd will play in a postseason bowl game for the six-straight season after an 8-4 season. The Thundering Herd are led by second year head coach Charles Huff who guided the team into the Sun Belt Conference this season. Marshall finished 5-3 in the East Division in year one and head to Myrtle Beach having won four-straight and five of their last six. The Thundering Herd’s signature win came back in early September when they traveled to Notre Dame and knocked-off the No. 8 nationally ranked Fighting Irish, 26-21. Marshall owns one the top defensive units in the country, ranking 10th in the nation in total defense (292.8 ypg), sixth in rushing defense (88.8 ypg) and seventh in scoring defense (16.2 ppg). The Thundering Herd are the best team in the nation on third down defensively at .234 percent. Junior linebacker Eli Neal leads the team with 88 tackles while r-junior defensive lineman Owen Porter has 54 tackles, 14 for a loss including a team-leading 9.5 sacks, ranking 11th in the country. In the defensive backfield, r-junior Micah Abraham had five interceptions, eighth in the nation, and eight pass break-ups. On the offensive side of the ball, sixth-year student running back Khalan Laborn has 1,423 yards rushing, 12th in the NCAA, and posts 127.5 all-purpose yards per game. The Thundering Herd average 205.6 yards per game on the ground, ranking 21st in the nation. Marshall is looking to snap a three-game bowl losing streak, falling in the New Orleans Bowl last season to Louisiana, 36-21.

2022 OFFENSIVE NOTES
The UConn rushing attack heads into the postseason ranked 32nd in the NCAA averaging a shade under 200 yards per game at 194.9 ypg. The Huskies have gone over 200-plus yards rushing yards as a team in six games including three-straight games to end the season. The Huskies high mark for the season was a 295 effort on 46 carries in a win at FIU. Freshman Victor Rosa has seen his workload steadily increase over the season and has a team-high 124 carries for 561 yards and nine touchdowns. Rosa’s nine TD runs touchdowns rank 55th in the country for rushing touchdowns. Rosa closed out the season with his best performance of the year, recording his first career 100-yard game with 111 yards on 12 carries at Army. Rosa’s 100-yard game at Army marked the fourth UConn running back this season hitting the century mark on the ground. He followed up 100-yard efforts from fullback Robert Burns and backs Devontae Houston and Nate Carter.

2022 UConn 100-yard Games:
Victor Rosa at Army – 12 att., 111 yards, TD
Robert Burns vs. Liberty – 11 att., 111 yards, TD
Devontae Houston at FIU – 12 att., 125 yards
Devontae Houston vs. Fresno State – 23 att., 105 yards, TD
Nate Carter vs. CCSU – 23 att., 123 yards, TD
Nate Carter at Utah State – 20 att., 190 yards

Grad student Robert Burns saw his carries increase over the season as well and had double digit carries in four of the final five games. He finished the year with 371 yards on 71 touches, an average of 5.2 yards per carry. His previous high for a season was in 2019 when he was at Miami and he carried it 29 times for 116 yards. Burns had a career-high 104 yards rushing on 11 carries including a career-long 58-yard run to help lead the Huskies to a upset at home over No. 19 Liberty. Sophomore Devontae Houston is second on the team in rushing with 538 yards on 79 carries, a team-best 6.8 yards per rush. After missing a pair of games with injury, Houston returned for the UMass game and ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run on his first carry back. It was a career-long run for Houston and the longest play from scrimmage this season for UConn as well as the longest scoring play. In eight games he has run for a team-high 455 yards on 69 carriers, a 6.6 per carry average, with three scores. Sophomore Nate Carter piled up 405 yards through four games before seeing his season end due to injury and has entered the transfer portal. R-Sophomore Ta’Quan Roberson won the starting quarterback battle out of summer camp but saw his season cut short in the first quarter of the opening game at Utah State suffering a season-ending knee injury. True freshman Zion Turner stepped in and started the remaining 11 games on the slate leading the Huskies. Turner finished the season throwing for 1,241 yards and nine touchdowns. He completed 60.6 percent of his passes (140-231) on the year. Turner’s main target on the season was sophomore wide receiver Aaron Tuner who caught a career-high 52 passes for 462 yards and three scores. Turner hauled in a career-high 10 passes for 66 yards in the upset win over Liberty. Turner caught a pass in every game this season and over his two seasons in Storrs has hauled in 85 balls for 695 yards in 24 games. Classmate Kevens Clercius had a career-best season, catching 24 passes for 288 yards. Clercius only TD on the year came when he hauled in a 30-yard hook-up from Zion Turner in the fourth quarter for the go- head score against Liberty. True freshman tight end Justin Joly came on midway through the season and finished third on the team with 17 catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns. A pair of UConn receivers were lost to injury early this season but have worked their way back to the field in the last weeks of the season. Sophomore Keelan Marion caught a 13-yard touchdown in the season-opener at Utah State but suffered an injury on the play that kept him out until the Boston College game. He has been limited in his return but has caught a two-point conversion in the Liberty win and had a seven-yard reception at Army. R-sophomore Cam Ross suffered a foot injury in summer camp after missing all but the first two games of 2021 with an injury. In 2019, he led the Huskies as a freshman with 60 catches for 723 yards and four scores. He has seen limited action in the last three games, returning a punt at Army. The Husky offensive line of center Jake Guidone, guards Christian Haynes and Noel Ofori-Nyadu and tackles Valentin Senn and Chase Lundt have started all 12 games this season. Not only helping fuel the UConn rushing attack, the unit ranks 30th nationally in sacks allowed, giving up 17 on the year (1.42 pg). UConn ranks 36th in the country in converting in the red zone at .875 percent. The Huskies have scored on 28 of 32 trips into the redzone including 19 touchdowns.

2022 DEFENSIVE NOTES
Junior linebacker Jackson Mitchell is the Huskies top-tackler and is fourth in the country in total tackles with career-best 133 stops this season. He is ranked fourth in tackles per game at 11.1 pg. He collected 16 tackles at Army, the third time this season he matched-his career-high of 16 tackles in a game. Mitchell had six games this season where he posted double digit stops. He has 8.0 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries on the season as well. Over his three seasons and 34 games played, Mitchell has posted 318 tackles, 16.5 for a loss. Mitchell was named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2022 Butkus Award and was also named to the 2022 All-New England team by the New England Football Writers. He was the winner of the New England Gold Helmet Award after leading UConn to at win over Boston College with a dominant defensive performance. Mitchell finished the game with 12 tackles, a sack and an interception while also forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble to lead a UConn defense that held BC to just three points and 76 yards rushing. The Huskies took a 10-3 lead into the fourth quarter where Mitchell did the most damage of the night. Starting with BC’s drive with 9:53 to go, the junior linebacker had a hand in forcing three-straight Eagle turnovers to help UConn seal the win. The Husky defense is ranked 33rd in the nation in turnovers gained with 20 on the year and are 55th with a +2 turnover margin. Linebacker Jackson Mitchell has five fumble recoveries, the most for any player in the country this season, and recorded his first career touchdown after a scoop and score against Liberty. As a team, the Huskies have 12 interceptions this season, ranking 29th in the NCAA. Senior cornerback Tre Wortham joined Mitchell by earning a spot on the All-New England team this season. Wortham finished with four interceptions this season and ranks 17th in the NCAA in interceptions. He Wortham with a career-high 38 tackles on the season and a team-best nine passes defended. Over the past two seasons, Wortham has played in all 24 games and has 74 tackles and six picks. Junior defensive end Eric Watts had a break-out season for the Huskies and has 44 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 7.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks, all career-best numbers. Watts is currently ranked 51st in the NCAA in sacks. The rest of the Huskies defensive line has been a force as well. R-Freshman Pryce Yates registered 41 tackles, 8.0 for a loss with 3.5 sacks.
The two have helped anchor a defensive front that has recorded 18 of the Huskies 25 sacks on the year. Sophomore Colin McCarthy has chipped in 3.0 sacks, sophomore Jelani Stafford has 2.0, r-sophomore Dal’mont Gourdine has 1.5 and r-junior Sokoya McDuffie has 1.0. Senior linebacker Ian Swenson is wrapping up his Husky career in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Swenson has been a cog on the UConn defense since the 2018 season and over his career he has posted 254 total tackles, 14 for a loss, four sacks and an interception. This season, he has 84 tackles, 3.0 for a loss, and a pick. The Huskies brought in grad transfer linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle this season and he finished third on the team with 88 tackles. Bouyer-Randle also had 8.0 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble on the season. He also had stops at Michigan State and Texas Tech. Sophomore safeties Malik Dixon-Williams and Durante Jones were mainstays in the defensive backfield all season and among the team’s top-tacklers. Jones was second to just Mitchell in tackles, making 89 stops in 11 games. He added an interception and forced fumble. Dixon-Williams was fourth on the team in tackles, making 85 stops, 47 solo, with six pass break-ups and an interception.

2022 SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
Sophomore kicker Noe Ruelas was thrust into the starting role during summer camp when returning starter Joe McFadden suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. McFadden was the Huskies leading point producer in 2021, hitting on 12 of 17 field goals and all 19 of his extra point attempts. Ruelas saw his first action in 2022 and held down the place kicking duties all season, making 12 of 15 field goals. Ruelas is the Huskies leading point producer with 62 points through 12 games. He kicked the first field goals of his career, hitting a pair in the 4th quarter (47yd, 54yd) in the loss at Utah State. Ruelas’s 54 yarder was the first 50-plus yard field goal at UConn since Michael Tarbutt hit from 50-yards at Tulsa in 2018. Ruelas now owns the second longest field goal in UConn school history, with his 54-yarder coming in behind school record holder Jim McManus who hit a 56-yard field goal against New Hampshire in 1998. It is the longest field goal in UConn’s FBS history (2002-present). R-Sophomore George Caratan transferred to UConn from Arkansas this season and took over the punting duties. McFadden was also the Huskies punter a year ago, punting 61 times on the season and averaged 39.8 yards per kick and put 14 punts inside the opponent 20-yard line. Caratan punted 62 times in 12 games this season, averaging 40.4 yards per punt with a long of 55 yards. He only had one touchback on the season and put 18 punts inside the opponents 20-yard line on the year. Freshman running back Victor Rosa has handled the majority of return duties this season, leading the team in both kickoff and punt returns. Rosa brought back 14 kickoffs this season for 259 yards, averaging 18.5 yards per return to rank 52nd in the country. He had a long of 28 yards on the season. Sophomore Devontae Houston has seven kick returns for 143 yards, an average of 20.4 yards. Rosa has nine punt returns for 53 yards with a long of 25 yards. The Huskies blocked four kicks this season, a pair of field goals, a punt and an extra point. Defensive lineman Eric Watts blocked a field goal in the win over Central Connecticut and blocked an extra point attempt in the season finale at Army. Defensive back Malcolm Bell had a blocked field goal in the loss at Ball State and linebacker blocked a punt in the CCSU win.

Seven From Sunday – Week 15

NFL Editor
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Seven From Sunday – Week 15

A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, December 18, the 15th week of the 2022 season.

  • Four teams clinched a playoff spot in Week 15:

    On Sunday, the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS clinched their seventh-consecutive AFC West division title with a 30-24 overtime victory at Houston, tying the 1973-79 LOS ANGELES RAMS for the second-longest streak of division titles in NFL history. Only the 2009-19 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (11 consecutive seasons) had a longer streak.

    On Thursday Night Football, the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS defeated Seattle, 21-13, to win the NFC West for the first time since 2019.

    On Saturday, the MINNESOTA VIKINGS recorded the largest comeback victory in NFL history, overcoming a 33-0 deficit to defeat Indianapolis, 39-36, in overtime to clinch the NFC North for the first time since 2017.

    On Saturday night, the BUFFALO BILLS defeated Miami, 32-29, as time expired to clinch a playoff berth for the fourth-consecutive season.
  • COMEBACKS: The JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat Dallas, 40-34, as safety RAYSHAWN JENKINS registered the game-winning 52-yard interception return for a touchdown in overtime. It marked the seventh-longest game-winning interception return for a touchdown in overtime since 1974 and the longest since ROBERT ALFORD on October 11, 2015 (59 yards).

    Three teams – MINNESOTA (33-point deficit), CINCINNATI (17) and JACKSONVILLE (17) – each overcame deficits of at least 17 points to win in Week 15. It marks the first time in NFL history that three teams came back to win after trailing by 17-or-more points in a single week.

    There have been 44 games in which a team has overcome a deficit of at least 10 points to win or tie this season, the most such games through the first 15 weeks of a season all-time.

    The LAS VEGAS RAIDERS defeated New England, 30-24, as defensive end CHANDLER JONES registered a game-winning 48-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown on the final play of the fourth quarter.

    With Jenkins and Jones’ game-winning defensive touchdowns this week, it marks the first time since 1970 that there were two game-winning defensive scores on the final play in a single week.

    Six teams – BUFFALO and MINNESOTA on Saturday along with DETROIT, JACKSONVILLE, KANSAS CITY and LAS VEGAS on Sunday – came back to win after trailing in the fourth quarter.

    There have been 71 games in which a team has come back to win or tie after trailing in the fourth quarter, the most such games through the first 15 weeks of a season all-time.

    Seven teams – BUFFALO, DETROIT, JACKSONVILLE, KANSAS CITY, LAS VEGAS, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS and MINNESOTA – each recorded a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime in Week 15.

    There have been 56 games this season decided by a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime, the most such games through the first 15 weeks of a season all-time.
  • CLOSE GAMES: With two games yet to be completed in Week 15, there have been 101 games decided by a touchdown (six points) or less, the most such games through the first 15 weeks all-time.

    Thirteen of 14 games (92.8 percent) that have been completed in Week 15 have been within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter and there have been 171 games within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter this season, the most such games through the first 15 weeks in NFL history.
  • Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES completed 36 of 41 pass attempts (87.8 percent) for 336 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 117.1 rating and added a rushing touchdown while tight end TRAVIS KELCE recorded 10 receptions for 105 yards in the Chiefs’ 30-24 overtime win at Houston.

    Mahomes’ 87.8 completion percentage is the highest single-game completion percentage among players with at least 40 attempts in NFL history.

    Mahomes completed his final 20 pass attempts and is the first player to finish a game with at least 20 consecutive completions since DREW BREES on December 16, 2019 (22 consecutive completions).

    Mahomes leads the NFL with 35 touchdown passes in 2022 and is the fifth quarterback in NFL history to record at least 35 touchdown passes in four-or-more different seasons, joining TOM BRADY (six seasons), AARON RODGERS (six), DREW BREES (four) and Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (four).

    Kelce has 10,150 career receiving yards and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer SHANNON SHARPE (10,060) for the fourth-most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ (15,127), JASON WITTEN (13,046) and ANTONIO GATES (11,841) have more.
     
  • Philadelphia quarterback JALEN HURTS recorded 376 total yards (315 passing, 61 rushing) and his second career game with three rushing touchdowns while wide receiver A.J. BROWN registered nine receptions for 181 yards in the Eagles’ 25-20 win at Chicago. Last week, the Eagles became the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season.

    Hurts is the third quarterback ever with at least 300 passing yards and three rushing touchdowns in a single game, joining DAK PRESCOTT (September 20, 2020) and JACK KEMP (October 26, 1963).

    Hurts is the fourth quarterback in NFL history with two career games of at least three rushing touchdowns, joining DUANTE CULPEPPER, JOHNNY LUJACK and TOBIN ROTE.

    Hurts has 13 rushing touchdowns this season, surpassing STEVE GROGAN (12 rushing touchdowns in 1976) and CAM NEWTON (12 in 2020) for the second-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season in NFL history. Only Newton (14 in 2011) has more.

    Hurts has 26 career rushing touchdowns and surpassed JOSH ALLEN (25) for the second-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in his first three seasons in the Super Bowl era. Only CAM NEWTON (28 rushing touchdowns) has more.

    Hurts has eight career games with at least two rushing touchdowns, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famers OTTO GRAHAM (seven games) and STEVE YOUNG (seven), as well as JACK KEMP (seven) and STEVE MCNAIR (seven), for the second-most such games by a quarterback all-time. Only CAM NEWTON (10 games) has more.

    Since entering the NFL in 2019, Brown has seven career games with at least 150 receiving yards, the fifth-most such games by a player in his first four career seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers LANCE ALWORTH (10 games), RANDY MOSS (eight) and JERRY RICE (eight) as well as JUSTIN JEFFERSON (eight) have more.
  • Detroit quarterback JARED GOFF passed for 252 yards, including the game-winning 51-yard touchdown pass with 1:49 remaining the fourth quarter, while rookie linebacker JAMES HOUSTON recorded a sack in the Lions’ 20-17 win at the New York Jets.

    Goff has 25,020 passing yards in 97 career games and tied Pro Football Hall of Famers PEYTON MANNING (97 games) and KURT WARNER (97) as the third-fastest player ever to reach 25,000 career passing yards. Only MATTHEW STAFFORD (90 games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (92) reached the mark in fewer games.

    Houston is the third rookie since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least one sack in each of his first four career games, joining SANTANA DOTSON (1992) and TERRELL SUGGS (2003).

    Houston is the second player since 2000 with at least five sacks in his first four career games, joining ELVIS DUMERVIL (five sacks in his first four games in 2006).
  • Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT recorded 1.5 sacks in the Steelers’ 24-16 win at Carolina.

    Watt has 76 sacks in 84 career games and became the third-fastest player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to reach 75 career sacks. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (65 games) and J.J. WATT (82) reached the mark in fewer games.
  • Additional notes from Sunday include:
    • Los Angeles quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT passed for 313 yards in the Chargers’ 17-14 win over Tennessee.

      Herbert has 4,019 passing yards this season and is the first player in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards in each of his first three career seasons.
    • Appearing in his 40th career game, Cincinnati quarterback JOE BURROW recorded four touchdown passes in the Bengals’ 34-23 win at Tampa Bay.

      Burrow has 78 career touchdown passes and became the fifth player since 1970 with at least 75 touchdown passes in his first 40 career games, joining PATRICK MAHOMES (101 touchdown passes) and JUSTIN HERBERT (82), as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers DAN MARINO (90) and KURT WARNER (86).

      Burrow, who also has 10 career rushing touchdowns, joined ANDREW LUCK (86 passing, 12 rushing) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 75 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in their first three seasons.
    • Chicago quarterback JUSTIN FIELDS had 95 rushing yards on Sunday and leads all quarterbacks with 1,000 rushing yards this season.

      Fields is the third quarterback ever with at least 1,000 rushing yards in a season, joining LAMAR JACKSON (1,206 rushing yards in 2019 and 1,005 rushing yards in 2020) and MICHAEL VICK (1,039 in 2006).
    • Appearing in his 100th career game, Tennessee running back DERRICK HENRY totaled 163 scrimmage yards (104 rushing, 59 receiving) and a rushing touchdown on Sunday.

      Henry has 77 rushing touchdowns in 100 career games, the sixth-most rushing touchdowns by a player in his first 100 career games in the Super Bowl era. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers EMMITT SMITH (103 rushing touchdowns), LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (102) and ERIC DICKERSON (80) as well as SHAUN ALEXANDER (91) and ADRIAN PETERSON (86) had more.
    • Dallas linebacker MICAH PARSONS registered his 13th sack of the season and had a fumble recovery on Sunday.

      Parsons, who led all rookies with 13 sacks in 2021, is the third player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 13 sacks in each of his first two seasons, joining ALDON SMITH and Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE.

NBA Preview: Portland trail Blazers (17-13) at Oklahoma City Thunder (12-18)

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NBA Preview: Portland trail Blazers (17-13) at Oklahoma City Thunder (12-18)

Damian Lillard hit the signature shot of his career against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Now, the Portland Trail Blazers star is set to reach a major milestone against the Thunder.

Lillard enters Monday’s game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City — the first of two games in three days between the teams — needing just 21 points to pass Clyde Drexler to become the leading scorer in franchise history.

In Saturday’s 107-95 win in Houston, Lillard scored 25 to become the 77th player in NBA history to reach 18,000 career points.

Lillard has scored 20-plus points in 23 of 34 career games against the Thunder. That includes his 50-point performance of the 2019 first-round playoff series when Lillard hit a 37-footer to eliminate Oklahoma City.

Drexler played 867 career games with the Trail Blazers. Lillard’s next will be his 730th career game.

Portland comes into Monday’s game having won six of its last eight games, including two of its first three to begin their current six-game road trip.

The Trail Blazers have won 10 games away from home this season. Only Boston has won more road games this season.

Oklahoma City is coming off a 115-109 win over Memphis on Saturday in a game in which it was without its two top scorers — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed the game with a lower back contusion. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he didn’t expect Gilgeous-Alexander to miss much time.

Giddey was out with a non-COVID illness. Darius Bazley has missed back-to-back games for the same reason.

Oklahoma City has also been without Ousmane Dieng, who has missed the last six games with a right wrist fracture, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who has missed the last three with a right ankle sprain.

Monday’s game is the first of four between the teams this season.

The Thunder swept last season’s four-games series. All four meetings occurred after Lillard was lost with a season-ending abdominal injury.

NBA Preview: Milwaukee Bucks (21-8) at New Orleans Pelicans (18-11)

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NBA Preview: Milwaukee Bucks (21-8) at New Orleans Pelicans (18-11)

The Milwaukee Bucks are extremely good with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

Apparently, they also are pretty good without them.

The Bucks, who entered Sunday tied with the Boston Celtics for the best record in the NBA, routed the visiting Utah Jazz 123-97 on Saturday while Antetokounmpo and Middleton sat out because of knee soreness.

Milwaukee, which rebounded from a 41-point road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, will visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.

Bobby Portis started in Antetokounmpo’s place and led the Bucks with 22 points and 14 rebounds. He scored 15 of his points in the first quarter.

Former Pelican Jrue Holiday had 21 points and eight assists for Milwaukee, rookie MarJon Beauchamp added 18 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili, who is on a two-way contract and played in the G-League on Friday night, had six assists and eight rebounds in 23 minutes.

Budenholzer said that Joe Ingles is expected to make his Milwaukee debut against New Orleans. The Bucks signed the former Utah Jazz forward in the offseason and he has been rehabilitating from surgery to repair a knee injury that occurred Jan. 30.

The Pelicans left home a week ago after winning seven consecutive games, but they return having lost a season-worst three in a row – two at Utah and one at Phoenix.

On Saturday night, they lost a 24-point lead in a 118-114 loss to the Suns, who were led by Devin Booker’s 58 points.

New Orleans held an 83-59 near the midway point of the third quarter, but the lead was reduced to five points after a Phoenix run of 25-6 to close the period. Booker scored 25 consecutive Suns points during a stretch covering part of the third and fourth quarters.

New Orleans trailed by two points with less than two minutes remaining and missed a chance to tie when Larry Nance Jr. missed two free throws with 1:52 on the clock. Chris Paul answered with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put Phoenix in control.

Pelicans coach Willie Green said “second-chance points were definitely big for them” after Phoenix outscored New Orleans 17-5 on second chances.

NBA Preview: San Antonio Spurs (9-20) at Houston Rockets (9-20)

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NBA Preview: San Antonio Spurs (9-20) at Houston Rockets (9-20)

The issues that are endemic with the Houston Rockets are often commonplace with the younger teams in the NBA, with variances in performance and consistency yielding a wide range of results.

After winning five consecutive home games, the Rockets dropped their second straight contest in Houston on Saturday, falling 107-95 to the Portland Trail Blazers with an effort that bore little resemblance to the competitive zeal Houston delivered when it was stringing victories together at home.

The Rockets will host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday seeking to rediscover the level of play they displayed before their current slide.

Staggered by poor perimeter shooting early, the Rockets seemed unable to find their touch and confidence in the second half. Houston started 0-for-10 from behind the 3-point line en route to a 3-for-29 shooting display from deep, one that affected their overall offensive approach.

With the starting backcourt of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. shooting a combined 8-for-26 overall while missing all 12 of their 3-pointers, the Rockets bogged down offensively in the second half. Houston totaled just seven assists while shooting 39.5 percent after the intermission.

Following his ragged start from the perimeter in the first half, Green did not attempt a 3-pointer after the break. He and Porter both failed to record an assist in the second half despite logging 13 and 14 minutes, respectively. With their primary scorers struggling, the rest of the Rockets followed suit, further emphasizing the need for ball movement when the shooting is wayward.

Similarly, the Spurs surrendered the momentum generated by a surprising three-game winning streak with back-to-back, double-digit losses to the Trail Blazers and Miami Heat. San Antonio had dropped 11 consecutive games before a Dec. 8 victory over the Rockets, then shockingly managed winning efforts in Miami and at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But almost as quickly, the Spurs struggled to muster the requisite energy needed to turn back Portland before coming undone in the fourth quarter against Miami in Mexico City on Saturday.

The Spurs shot just 4 of 12 in the final period while committing seven turnovers against Miami. The Heat posted a plus-14 scoring margin in the fourth quarter with 12 paint points and six second-chance points, exemplifying the vigor that the older, veteran Heat played with. The younger Spurs, so spirited in recent games, didn’t have the energy to draw from when needed.

NBA Preview: Utah Jazz (17-15) at Cleveland Cavaliers (20-11)

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NBA Preview: Utah Jazz (17-15) at Cleveland Cavaliers (20-11)

A fashion choice by a spectator attending the World Cup final at Qatar on Sunday made waves on social media on the other side of the globe.

While a camera focused on Argentina fans, most donning the country’s sky blue and white colors, one man stood out at the bottom of the frame. He was sporting a bright yellow Utah Jazz shirt with a No. 45 across the front.

Donovan Mitchell had some fun with the TV shot, sharing the image on Twitter and writing: “Gotta get buddy the new one.” He added three tears-of-joy emojis to the tongue-in-cheek tweet.

Mitchell was suggesting a change to his new Cleveland Cavaliers shirt with his No. 45 on it, instead of his old Jazz wear.

Leave it to the World Cup, of all things, to offer a reminder that Mitchell is set to face his old team for the first time since being traded from the Jazz to the Cavaliers during the offseason.

In exchange for the explosive All-Star guard, the Jazz received Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, rookie Ochai Agbaji, three unprotected first-round picks (2025, ’27 and ’29), and first-round drafting swap rights in 2026 and ’28.

So far, it has been worth the hefty price for the Cavaliers, who have the NBA’s third-best record at 20-11. Mitchell is having his best statistical year, averaging career highs in scoring (29.5 points per game), shooting (50.3 percent), 3-point accuracy (42.4 percent) and minutes (36.9).

The Jazz are pleased with their return package, too. Markkanen leads Utah in scoring (22.3 points) and rebounding (8.3). Sexton has missed time recently with a hamstring injury, but he’s played well in stretches while averaging 14.3 points on 49.3 percent shooting.

Utah has cooled since a surprise vault atop the Western Conference a month into the season, but the Jazz still enter with a better-than-anticipated 17-15 mark.

Mitchell made it clear he’s enjoying his time in Cleveland, while also supportive of the players remaining with Utah. Only five players from the Mitchell era are still with the Jazz after the team went through a major overhaul, including a new head coach. Utah traded away Mitchell, three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic.

That wasn’t the case in the Jazz’s most recent outing, a 123-97 blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. It was a disappointing bump in the road for Utah, which had momentum again after two wins over New Orleans.

Cleveland is coming off a grind-it-out 100-99 overtime win over Dallas on Saturday, which upped the Cavs’ NBA-best home record to 14-2.

NHL Preview: Calgary Flames (13-12-6) at San Jose Sharks (10-16-6)

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NHL Preview: Calgary Flames (13-12-6) at San Jose Sharks (10-16-6)

CALGARY FLAMES NOTES:

FLAMES LAST GAME RECAP
DECEMBER 16, 2022 – ST. LOUIS BLUES [5] vs. CALGARY FLAMES [2]
The Calgary Flames finished off a mini two-game homestand on Friday night against the St. Louis Blues. The Blues struck first with Ivan Barbashev scoring the games opening goal just 4:07 into the contest, but later in the frame, Connor Mackey would net his first of the season for the Flames and the two teams would skate into the first intermission tied at one. In the second Jordan Kyrou would bury the only goal of the period and through 40 it was 2-1 Blues. Pavel Buchnevich recorded his 10th of the season just under four minutes into the third to extend the Blues lead to two, but later in the period Connor Mackey would strike again for Calgary, scoring his second of the game for his first NHL multi-goal game, drawing the Flames within one. The Blues would quickly restore their two-goal lead with Brandon Saad scoring just over a Minute later. Kyrou would score his second of the night in the late stages of the game, and the Blues won 5-2.

CGY GOAL SCORERS: Mackey (1,2)
GOALIE: Markstrom (19/24, .792 Sv%)
PP: 0/3 (0%)
PK: 1/2 (50%)

FLAMES LAST FIVE RESULTS, RECORD: 0-2-3
DATE RESULT GWG CGY GOALIE OPP. GOALIE
December 16, 2022 STL [5] vs. CGY [2] Buchnevich Markstrom Greiss
December 14, 2022 VAN [4] vs. CGY 3 Kuzmenko* Markstrom Martin
December 12, 2022 CGY [1] at MTL 2 Dach* Markstrom Allen
December 10, 2022 CGY [4] at TOR 5 Marner Vladar Murray
December 9, 2022 CGY [1] at CBJ [3] Robinson Markstrom Korpisalo/ Merzlikins
*shootout winning goal

FLAMES UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
DATE TIME
(MST) OPPONENT VENUE
December 18, 2022 8:00pm at San Jose Sharks SAP Center
December 20, 2022 8:30pm at San Jose Sharks SAP Center
December 22, 2022 8:30pm at Los Angeles Kings Cryto.com Arena
December 23, 2022 8:30pm at Anaheim Ducks Honda Center
December 27, 2022 7:00pm vs. Edmonton Oilers Scotiabank Saddledome

TONIGHTS STORYLINES & STATS
This is the first of four matchups this season between the Flames and Sharks. The Flames went 1-3-0 against San Jose in their four meetings last season. This is a Pacific Division Matchup; The Flames have an overall record of 3-2-1 against Pacific Division opponents this season and a record of 7-4-1 against Western Conference opponents.
Calgary Flames: Media Notes

LAST SEASON AGAINST SAN JOSE:
The Flames and Sharks squared off four times last season, with the Flames going 1-3-0 against their Pacific Division opponent. Their first meeting came on November 9th at the Saddledome where Andrew Mangiapane scored the Flames lone goal in a 3-1 loss. They met again in San Jose just under a month later where Adam Ruzicka scored his first NHL goal at the SAP Center in a 5-3 defeat. The teams wouldn’t see each other again until the new year where the Flames fell in Calgary in the first meeting of 2022, but in their final matchup in San Jose, Elias Lindholm had two goals to help the Flames knock off the Sharks 4-2.

HUBERDEAU 700:
Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau skated in his 699th career game in the NHL on Friday night and will skate in game number 700 tonight in San Jose. Huberdeau was drafted third overall in 2011 by the Florida Panthers and skated in a franchise leading 671 games with the Panthers. He also leads the Florida Panthers franchise in assists (415), points (613) and even strength goals (150). Since being acquired by Calgary, Huberdeau has five goals and 13 assists for 18 points so far this season.

CONNOR MACKEY:
Connor Mackey scored two goals on Friday night against St. Louis for the first time in his NHL career, making him the second Mackey to record a multi-goal game in the NHL. His father, David Mackey, had one multi-goal game in his NHL career on January 18th 1990 against the Quebec Nordics as a member of the Minnesota North Stars in a 7-4 win for the North Stars. Connor Mackey matched that feat 12,020 days later and his first goal of the game came 576 days after his previous NHL goal on May 19, 2021.

DUBE’S HELPERS:
Dillon Dube had two assists on Friday night against St. Louis for the second straight game. Dube also recorded two assists on Wednesday night against the Canucks and has had a pair of helpers three times this season with the other coming on November 29th against the Panthers. The Golden, BC native has five assists over his last four games and is just three assists shy of matching his career high (14) which he set last season. Dube’s second assist was the 50th of his NHL career and his 91st NHL point.

LOOK BACKS AT IT:
Mikael Backlund will be skating in his 900th regular season and playoff game, all as a member of the Calgary Flames. Backlund has skated in 857 games in the regular season, and an additional 42 games in the playoffs which ranks him third in Flames franchise history trailing Jarome Iginla (1273) and Mark Giordano (972). Backlund passed Al MacInnis when he skated in his 899th regular season and playoff game with the Flames on Friday night against the Blues. The Vasteras, SWE native has 172 goals and 282 assists for 454 points in the regular season and 12 goals with 10 assists for 22 points in the playoffs.

DID YOU KNOW?
Adam Ruzicka scored his first NHL goal on December 7th, 2021 at the SAP Center against the Sharks. MacKenzie Weegar and Timo Meier were teammates on the Halifax Mooseheads during the 2013-14 season.

CALGARY FLAMES vs. SAN JOSE SHARKS
ALL-TIME HOME AWAY L10 STRK
CGY vs. SJS 65-53-8-6 34-24-4-3 31-29-4-3 4-6-0 W1
GAME INFO:
Calgary Flames vs. San Jose Sharks
7:00pm PT
SAP Center
TV: Sportsnet West
Radio: Sportsnet Fan 960

2022-23 Season Series: 0-0-0 (Home: 0-0-0, Road 0-0-0)
Dec. 18, 2022 – CGY at SJS
Dec. 20, 2022 – CGY at SJS
Mar. 25, 2023 – SJS at CGY
Apr. 12, 2023 – SJS at CGY

2021-22 Season Record vs. SJS: 1-3-0 (Home: 0-2-0, Road: 1-1-0)
Last Home Win vs. SJS: December 31, 2018 – San Jose [5] vs. Calgary [8]
Last Road Win @ SJS: April 7, 2022 – Calgary [4] at San Jose [2]
Last Home Loss vs. SJS: March 22, 2022 – San Jose [4] vs. Calgary [3]
Last Road Loss @ SJS: December 7, 2021 – Calgary [3] at San Jose [5]

2022-23 CALGARY FLAMES
FLAMES RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
Nov. 15 – recalled Dennis Gilbert (D) from Calgary (AHL): reassigned (D) Nick DeSimone to Calgary (AHL)
Nov. 27 – reassigned Dennis Gilbert (D) to Calgary (AHL)
Dec. 8 – placed Kevin Rooney (F) on waivers; cleared waivers
Dec. 8 – recalled Matthew Phillips (F) from Calgary (AHL)
Dec. 9 – recalled Radim Zohorna (F) from Calgary (AHL)

FLAMES RECENT INJURIES (Total man games lost – 24)
Noah Hanifin – illness (1 game: Oct. 21)
Chris Tanev – upper-body (5 games: Nov. 3 – Nov. 10)
Jonathan Huberdeau – upper-body (3 games: Nov. 8 – Nov. 12)
Michael Stone – lower-body (11 games: Nov. 7 – Nov. 25)
MacKenzie Weegar – non-COVID illness (1 game: Dec. 12)
Elias Lindholm – upper-body injury (1 game: Dec. 12)
Chris Tanev – upper-body injury (2 games: Dec. 14 – Dec. 16)

SAN JOSE SHARKS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Game 32 – 12/17 – SJS 2 at LAK 3 SO…Timo Meier (1g, 1a) scored his team-leading 15th goal of the season to move into sole
possession of 10th on San Jose’s all-time points list. Marc-Edouard Vlasic appeared in his 1,193rd game, good for fifth most by a
defenseman with one franchise in NHL history. Netminder James Reimer saved 39 of 41 in his second consecutive start.
SJ Goals: Meier (15 pp), Labanc (7)
SF: 25
SA: 41
SJ PP: 1/3
SJ PK: 3/4
W: Copley
SOL: Reimer

RECENT TRANSCACTIONS
12/12 Activated G James Reimer off IR; Assigned G Eetu Makiniemi to the San Jose Barracuda
12/7 Activated F Nico Sturm off IR
12/6 Placed F Matt Nieto on IR; recalled F C.J. Suess from the San Jose Barracuda
12/6 Assigned G Aaron Dell to the San Jose Barracuda; recalled G Eetu Makiniemi from the San Jose Barracuda
12/1 Assigned F Jeff Viel to the San Jose Barracuda

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: CALGARY FLAMES
The Sharks have recorded points in four consecutive games (2-0-2) entering tonight’s contest, where they will be facing the Calgary Flames in the first of two consecutive meetings. Flames forward Adam Ruzicka has emerged as a scoring threat this season, with 17 points (6g, 11a) in 21 games, including eight points (1g, 7a) in nine December contests. The Flames have posted strong penalty kill (81.2%, seventh) and shot differential (+6.0, fourth) numbers this season. San Jose earned a 3-1-0 record against the Flames last season and were led in scoring by Logan Couture (4g, 2a, three-point night on Dec. 7). Toma Hertl (4g, 1a) registered the Sharks first hat trick of the 2021-22 campaign in a Dec. 7 home tilt against the Flames. Calgary’s two leading scorers against the Sharks last season are no longer with the club, with Matthew Tkachuk (1g, 5a) having been traded to Florida and Johnny Gaudreau (2g, 3a) signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets

STORYLINES
IN RARE COMPANY…Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson continues to lead NHL defensemen in goals and points and stands as one of two defensemen this season to cross the 10-goal threshold (other: Rasmus Dahlin). By earning one point within his next eight games, Karlsson can become the fastest defenseman to reach 40 points in a season in franchise history, eclipsing Brent Burns’ 41-game requirement set three separate times (2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19). The fewest games Karlsson has needed to reach 40 points in a season are 36 games during the 2015-16 season (w/ OTT). In November, Karlsson became the first Sharks defenseman to reach 20 points in a calendar month with a position-leading 21 points (6g, 15a) in just 15 games. He has factored into 39 of 97 goals scored for San Jose this season (40.2%). Per NHL PR, the highest-ever rate in the NHL’s modern era (since the 1943-44 season) at which a defenseman factored into team goals for a season was Bobby Orr at 43.3% in 1969-70.

A BENNING BONANZA…Matt Benning ranks second among all Sharks defensemen in points since Nov. 21 with nine assists in 12 games. He ranks fifth in even strength points (eight) by NHL defensemen in the span. Benning matched the longest point streak of his career with a point in three straight contests from Dec. 4 thru Dec. 9 (0g, 4a). His 11 points at the 30-game mark were the most through the first 30 games of a season in his career and he is on pace to set career highs in assists, points and time on ice.

HERTL HEATING UP…Tomas Hertl scored both of San Jose’s goals in their 2-5 loss in Ottawa on Dec. 3, four days after potting a pair in a shutout win over Montreal. The forward has now found the scoresheet in 17 of the past 23 games dating back to Oct. 27 with eight multi-point efforts and a team-leading +7 rating in that span. Hertl registered a season-high three points in San Jose’s Nov. 5 game against the Anaheim Ducks. He had goals in three consecutive contests for the first time this season from Nov. 5 thru 11 and notched his 400th career NHL point on November 11 with an assist. His .94 point-per-game pace (30 in 32) this season is the second highest single-season pace of his career.

IT’S TIMO TIME…Timo Meier ranks third on the Sharks with 27 points and leads the team with 14 goals since Nov. 1. The winger took sole possession of 10th on the Sharks all-time list in goals with a strike on Nov. 10 and took sole possession of 10th on the Sharks all-time points list with a goal on Dec. 17. Meier ranks first on the Sharks with 15 markers on the season. He logged a five-game goal-scoring streak (Nov. 1 thru Nov. 11, 6g) and found the back of the net in eight of 15 November games. The Swiss forward currently ranks second in the NHL with 148 shots on goal. Last season, Meier rifled off 326 shots on net, the most by any Sharks forward (third most by a Sharks player) in a single season.

CAPTAIN COUTURE…Logan Couture took the team goal-scoring lead with his 14th of the season on Dec. 7 against Vancouver, breaking a tie with Timo Meier, which was re-established two days later. Couture’s second period goal was the Sharks first shorthanded tally this season and moved Couture into a tie with Owen Nolan and Marco Sturm (14) for second most shorthanded goals in franchise history. Since debuting in the 2009-10 season, the center ranks T-14th in shorthanded goals and T-15th in shorthanded points among League skaters. The captain posted a career-long five-game goal streak which ended on Nov. 27, finishing one game behind San Jose’s team record of six games. Couture has lit the lamp in 10 of the past 118 contests dating back to Nov. 10 with six multi-point efforts and 19 points (10g, 9a) in that span. He totaled 16 points (9g, 7a) in 14 November contests.

SUPREME SPECIAL TEAMS…The Sharks’ power play has been hot as of late, cashing in on 16 of 58 (27.6%) trips to the man-advantage since the start of a six-game home stand on Oct. 25, good for sixth in the NHL in that span. San Jose has gone empty in just nine games in that stretch, including Nov. 10 at St. Louis and Nov. 30 at Toronto when the team had zero power play opportunities and Nov. 17 against Detroit and Nov. 19 against the New York Rangers when they had just one each. The Sharks penalty kill has struggled as of late, allowing multiple goals in three consecutive games from Dec. 3 thru Dec. 7, but still enters tonight’s contest as the league’s second best unit this season at 84.2%. The Sharks posted stout 6-for-6 and 3-for-3 efforts against Montreal on Nov. 29 and Toronto on Nov. 30, respectively. The Maple Leafs had a scorching 28.3% power play at home this season entering Nov. 30’s game. San Jose’s penalty kill killed off its first 22 penalties of the season before finally allowing a power play goal on Oct. 22 at New Jersey. The Sharks have been operating at a League-best 85.7% shorthanded efficiency since the 2022 NHL All-Star break, and the Sharks have the league’s T-3rd best penalty kill percentage since the start of the 2020-21 season (83.3%).

COMEBACK KIDS…The Sharks overcame a two-goal deficit en route to a 3-2 shootout victory on November 13 at Minnesota, the team’s first multi-goal comeback win of the season and first since 4/24/22 at Vegas, a 5-4 shootout decision. San Jose has come from behind in four of 10 wins on the year, including each contest of a three-game win streak Friday (Nov. 11) at Dallas (trailed 1-0), Sunday Nov. 13) at Minnesota (trailed 2-0) and Tuesday (Nov. 15) at Vegas (trailed 1-0 and 2-1). San Jose was the first team to earn a win over Vegas when trailing after two periods on the year (the Knights had been 7-0-0). Per NHL PR, the three-game road trip was the first time since March 14 thru 17, 2018 that the Sharks earned three consecutive come-from-behind wins in one road stint.

REIM TIME…Sharks goaltender James Reimer returned from injury on Dec. 13 and promptly posted his 198th win of his career, having made 20 saves on 22 shots against Arizona. He earned his first shutout of the season on Oct. 23 with a 30-save performance at Philadelphia. Reimer’s shutout, his fifth as a Shark, moved him into a tie with Aaron Dell for eighth on the franchise’s all-time shutouts list. He recorded his third 41-save effort of the season on Saturday (11/19) against the New York Rangers, including saves on the first 40 shots he faced in the game. Reimer also owns a .932 shorthanded save percentage since joining the Sharks at the start of the 2021- 22 season, the best in the NHL in that span (min. 10 games played) and the second best two-season stretch by a goaltender since the NHL began tracking the statistic in 1997-98 (min. 30 games played, best is Cory Schneider from 2010-12 with a .936 SV% in 58 GP).

GRIER’S GAMEPLAN…On July 5, Sharks president Jonathan Becher and Assistant General Manager Joe Will introduced Mike Grier as the team’s fifth General Manager and first black general manager in NHL history. The 47-year-old appeared in 221 games with the Sharks from 2006 through 2008 as part of a 14-season, 1,060 game NHL playing career. Just two days later, Grier was with the team as they selected center Filip Bystedt with the 27th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. On July 13, the Sharks traded longtime defenseman Brent Burns and signed Matt Benning, Oskar Lindblom, Markus Nutivaara and Nico Sturm on the first day of free agency.

QUINN FOR THE WIN…On July 26, Grier introduced David Quinn as Head Coach of the Sharks and later named Scott Gordon, Ryan Warsofsky and Brian Wiseman as Assistant Coaches, Thomas Speer NHL Goaltending Coach and Nick Gialdini Video Coach. Quinn, who most recently served as head coach for Team USA at both the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2022 World Championship, spent three seasons as head coach of the New York Rangers from 2018 to 2021, earning a 96-87-25 record. In his three years, the Rangers held the league’s eighth-best power-play percentage (22.1%), ranked seventh in team blocked shots (4,195) and takeaways (2,244), and were tied for tenth in wins when trailing first (52). Adam Fox, who made his NHL debut under Quinn in 2019-20, was awarded the Norris Trophy following the 2020-21 season. Quinn’s first NHL win was a 3-2 overtime victory against the Sharks at Madison Square Garden with the Rangers on Oct. 11, 2018. His first NHL win with the Sharks was a 3-2 overtime victory against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 21, 2022. The 56- year-old recorded his 100th career NHL win on 11/11 at Dallas, a 5-4 final.

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