The Spurs clinched a playoff spot for the 19th straight season with a 97-81 win over the Pistons. The 51-and-9 Spurs have won 38 in-a-row at home dating back to last season.
The Thunder blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead for the second time in five days in a 103-98 loss to the Clippers. OKC squandered a big lead in Saturday’s loss to the Warriors, who host the Thunder tonight looking to match the record for the longest home winning streak in NBA history.
The Bulls were no match for the Magic in a 102-89 loss in Orlando. Derrick Rose recorded 16 points and six assists to pace Chicago, which fell to 30-and-30 with its fourth straight loss. The Bulls host the Rockets Saturday.
Artemi Panarin scored twice as the Blackhawks roughed up the Red Wings, 5-2. Patrick Kane netted his 37th goal of the year for Chicago, which is two points ahead of Dallas for the top spot in the West. Corey Crawford made 31 saves. The ‘Hawks are right back in action tonight against the Bruins.
The Cardinals opened exhibition play with a 13-6 win over Florida Atlantic. Jacob Wilson hit a grand slam and drove in five and Patrick Wilson homered with four RBI for St. Louis, which scored 12 times in the eighth inning to overcome a 6-1 deficit.. The Cards host the Marlins today.
The Cardinals are locking up second baseman Kolten Wong long-term. The two sides have agreed to a five-year contract through 2020 with an option for 2021. The deal will cover three years of arbitration and at least his first year of free agency. Wong hit .262 with 11 homers last year.
The Cubs throw their first pitches of Cactus League play in Arizona today. Chicago opens the exhibition slate against the rival Brewers in Maryvale. The White Sox also open Cactus League play this afternoon against the Dodgers in Phoenix.
Illinois is on the road tonight at 12th-ranked Maryland. The Fighting Illini knocked off Minnesota 84-71 on Sunday to snap a two-game skid. Illinois is 13-and-16 overall and 5-and-11 in the Big Ten. The Terrapins have lost three of their last four to slip to 23-and-6 on the season.
The Baltimore Ravens are locking up quarterback Joe Flacco for additional years. The two sides have agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2021. ESPN reports it’s worth 66.4-million-dollars, with 44-million guaranteed. The deal will help lower Flacco’s nearly 29-million-dollar cap hit before the start of free agency next week. The 31-year-old passed for 2,791 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year before having his season cut short in Week 11 with a torn ACL. Flacco was named Super Bowl MVP when the Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 47 in 2013.
The Falcons are parting ways with their all-time leading receiver. Atlanta released wide out Roddy White yesterday after 11 seasons with the team. The 34-year-old has 808 career catches for 10,863 yards.
Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins is putting pen to paper for his franchise tender. Cousins signed the non-exclusive franchise tag, which will give him a 2016 salary close to 20-million-dollars. The 27-year-old threw for over 41-hundred-yards and 29 touchdowns last season.
Tiger Woods isn’t sure when he will return to competitive golf. Woods said in a statement he continues to make progress in his recovery from back surgeries, but there is no timetable for his return. The 14-time major champion hasn’t played in a tournament since August.
Coming up Friday Night on Talk 101FM, it’s High School Basketball as the Talk 101 High School Game of the Week presented by World of Powersports makes it’s way to Lincoln High School as the Eisenhower Panthers take on either Springfield Southeast or Lincoln for the Regional Championship. The Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy Pregame Show gets underway at 6:45p.m. and the tipoff follows at 7:00p.m. Join Scott Busboom and Kevin Hale with all the action Friday night from Lincoln High School on Talk 101, and online at decatur radio dot com.