Super Bowl 53 Almost Here

(Atlanta, GA) — Super Bowl 53 is almost here. The Patriots and Rams meet with the media one last time yesterday ahead of Sunday’s big game in Atlanta. The Pats are in the Super Bowl for the third straight year and fourth time in the last five seasons. It’s the fourth-ever appearance for the Rams.

Pro Football Hall Of Fame Inductions Tomorrow

(Atlanta, GA) — The Pro Football Hall of Fame will reveal its Class of 2019 tomorrow in Atlanta. Among the 15 modern-era finalists are first-year eligibles in tight end Tony Gonzalez, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Champ Bailey. Returning finalists include wide receiver Isaac Bruce and safety Ty Law.

Spurs Slip Past Nets

(San Antonio, TX) — Derrick White scored a career-high 26 points as the Spurs slipped past the Nets 117-114 in San Antonio. LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who have won four in-a-row to up their record to 31-and-22 overall. DeMar DeRozan donated 15 points and 10 boards in the victory. D’Angelo Russell scored 25 points to lead Brooklyn, which hasn’t won in San Antonio since 2002. DeMarre Carroll and Joe Harris both had 18 points in the setback. The Nets are 28-and-25.

Short-Handed Mavericks Stumble In Motown

(Detroit, MI) — The short-handed Mavericks faded in the fourth quarter in a 93-89 loss to the Pistons in Detroit. Dallas was outscored 30-to-19 in the final quarter. Harrison Barnes was the only Dallas starter in double-figures with 27 points. Devin Harris added 15 points off the bench. Dallas rookie Luka Doncic did not play because of left ankle soreness. In addition the Mavericks were without Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews, who were shipped to the New York Knicks in the trade for Kristaps Porzingis. The Mavericks will wrap up this three-game trip tomorrow in Cleveland.

NBA
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Orlando Magic 107, Indiana Pacers 100
Detroit Pistons 93, Dallas Mavericks 89
Milwaukee Bucks 105, Toronto Raptors 92
San Antonio Spurs 117, Brooklyn Nets 114
Los Angeles Lakers 123, LA Clippers 120 (OT)
Philadelphia 76ers 113, Golden State Warriors 104

Rockets Begin Trip Tonight In Denver

(Denver, CO) — The Rockets will play four consecutive road games to start February beginning tonight against the Nuggets in Denver. Houston went 8-and-6 in January. James Harden has scored 30 or more points in 24 consecutive games. Houston will play tomorrow night at Utah in the second leg of the trip. They will continue to Phoenix and Sacramento before returning home on February 9th against the Thunder.

NHL
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New York Rangers 4, New Jersey Devils 3
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Boston Bruins 2 (OT)
Winnipeg Jets 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3

Stars Host Wild Tonight

(Dallas, TX) — The Stars will host the Minnesota Wild tonight in a key game as both teams jockey to make the playoffs. The Wild have 55 points, one more than Dallas. Minnesota ranks sixth in the Western Conference, while Dallas holds down the seventh slot. The top eight make the post-season. The Stars will go on the road tomorrow, playing at Nashville.

Fowler In Three-Way Tie At Phoenix Open

(Scottsdale, AZ) — Rickie Fowler is in a three-way tie following the opening round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Fowler, Justin Thomas and Harold Varner the Third all shot seven-under 64’s in Thursday’s first round to share the clubhouse lead. Martin Laird and J.T. Poston are tied for second place at six-under. Bubba Watson and four others share sixth place at minus-five. Fan favorite and ASU alum Phil Mickelson and Amarillo native Ryan Palmer are in a group tied for 27th at three-under.

Rangers Switching To Synthetic Grass

(Arlington, TX) — When the Rangers move into the newly constructed Globe Life Field in 2020 they will play on an artificial turf. The original plan with a retractable roof was for a grass field, but the club announced a change to a synthetic turf.

Astros To Sign Miley

(Houston, TX) — Multiple-outlets have reported the Astros and left-hander Wade Miley have agreed to a one-year contract. Miley will be guaranteed four-million and five-hundred thousand dollars. The 32-year-old went 5-and-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 16 starts last season with Milwaukee. He has a 71-and-76 record with a 4.16 ERA in 216 games, all but four of them as a starter, in eight years in the majors.

Report: Padres Meet With OF Harper

(Las Vegas, NV) — A new team is in the running for free agent outfielder Bryce Harper. Multiple sources state Harper met with the San Diego Padres on Thursday in Las Vegas. Harper still remains a free agent with less than a month before spring training begins. The Nationals, Phillies and White Sox were previously believed to be the top contenders for Harper’s services. The Amarillo Sod Poodles are a farm club of the San Diego Padres.

Moore New Cowboys’ Offensive Coordinator

(Frisco, TX) — The Cowboys made it official, promoting 29-year-old Kellen Moore from quarterbacks coach to be the offensive coordinator. He replaces Scott Linehan, who was not retained. Jon Kitna will be the Cowboys quarterback coach.

College Basketball (Top-25 Coaches Poll)
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#4 Gonzaga Bulldogs 93, BYU Cougars 63
#13 Houston Cougars 73, Temple Owls 66
#18 Purdue Boilermakers 99, Penn State Nittany Lions 90 (OT)

College Hoops Roundup

(Undated) — In college hoops action, North Texas lost 72-61 at Old Dominion to fall out of first place in Conference USA. Tomorrow, TCU will go to Baylor, SMU is at Cincinnati, Texas will meet Iowa State in Ames, Texas A&M will host number-one Tennessee, UT-Arlington will play at Texas State and North Texas will be at Charlotte.

West A&M Basketball Roundup

(Wichita Falls, Texas) – The #14 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M failed to find a rhythm offensively on Thursday night as they turned the ball over a season-high 24 times to snap an 11-game win streak and lost 66-61 to the rival Mustangs of Midwestern State in Lone Star Conference action.

No. 11 West Texas A&M men defeated MSU Texas 87-62 behind a near triple-double from Brandon Hall giving the Buffs consecutive road wins in the series for the first time since 1959. Hall finished the game with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the WT reached the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight season under head coach Tom Brown.

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