By PATRICK ROSE
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jimmy Butler scored 28 points and Robin Lopez added a season-high 21 points and had 10 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 121-108 on Sunday night.
After a week of tension, the Bulls bounced back from consecutive home defeats to Atlanta and Miami despite blowing a 20-point lead.
Ersan Ilyasova scored a season-high 31 points for Philadelphia, and Robert Covington added 21 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. The 76ers have lost 12 straight to the Bulls.
The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who stayed in Philadelphia as he rested with a left knee contusion. Embiid is day-to-day.
Butler and Dwyane Wade returned to the starting lineup after being benched as starters in Friday's blowout loss to the Heat. Wade and Butler were critical of teammates after they blew a late double-digit lead in a loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. Rajon Rondo responded to his teammates' criticism on an Instagram post on Thursday, taking multiple shots at the team leadership. Wade, Butler, and Rondo all were fined by the Bulls.
After a team meeting, Butler and the Bulls had one of their worst performances of the season against Miami. Butler struggled off the bench, scoring just three points on 1-of-13 shooting. Against the 76ers, Butler was more aggressive, getting to the free throw line and setting up his teammates. He had seven assists and eight rebounds.
The Bulls closed out the first quarter with a 13-0 run. Rondo made a pass that traveled three-quarters of the court to Nikola Mirotic to put the Bulls up 37-23 at the end of the quarter. They extended their lead to 20 early in the second quarter.
The 76ers got the lead down to six at one point in the second quarter, and came back from the 20-point deficit in the third. T.J. McConnell had back-to-baskets to tie it at 79. Butler answered for the Bulls, making a jumper and then, on the defensive side, stole a pass and finished with a dunk to give the Bulls a 92-83 lead late in the third quarter.
The Bulls bench outscored the 76ers bench 49-15.
TIP-INS
76ers: Despite the recent success, coach Brett Brown wouldn't kid himself about where it was in the rebuild process. "We are a long ways, in my eyes, away from doing what I want to do, what we want to do as an organization," Brown said. "To be one of the elite teams annually in the NBA takes a lot. So that question to me is a very distant type of feeling." At 17-29, the 76ers are in position to reach the 20-win mark for the first time in four seasons. ... C Jahlil Okafor did not play despite suiting up. He has a sore right knee and has played only 31 minutes in the last four games. It was his eighth DNP of the season due to a coaching decision.
Bulls: F Taj Gibson missed the game after taking a cortisone shot to ease pain in his left ankle. ... G Denzel Valentine was back with the Bulls after a one-game stint with D-League affiliate Windy City Bulls. The first-round pick scored 24 points and had eight assists and seven rebounds for the Windy City. In limited minutes, Valentine is averaging 3.3 points per game for the Bulls.
UP NEXT
76ers: Return to Philadelphia on Monday to host Sacramento.
Bulls: Head to Oklahoma City on Wednesday to begin a six-game road trip. The Bulls don't return home until Feb. 14.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Man fatally shot in Brighton Park backyard
via Sun-Times Wire.
A man was fatally shot Sunday night in the Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side.
Jesse C. Montes Deoca, 31, was standing in a backyard about 11 p.m. in the 3500 block of West 38th Place when someone in a silver SUV fired shots, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Montes Deoca suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:30 p.m., authorities said. He lived in Brighton Park.
Area Central detectives were conducting a homicide investigation. No one was in custody early Monday.
A man was fatally shot Sunday night in the Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side.
Jesse C. Montes Deoca, 31, was standing in a backyard about 11 p.m. in the 3500 block of West 38th Place when someone in a silver SUV fired shots, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Montes Deoca suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:30 p.m., authorities said. He lived in Brighton Park.
Area Central detectives were conducting a homicide investigation. No one was in custody early Monday.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
New schedules on several Metra lines start Sunday
By Sun-Times Wire.
New schedules start Sunday on Metra’s SouthWest Service, Milwaukee North and Milwaukee West lines.
On inbound SouthWest Service trains, run times from Manhattan to Laraway Road will be reduced by one minute, as will the run times between Palos Park and Palos Heights, according to a statement from Metra. The arrival times at Union Station will remain the same.
Also, outbound train No. 805 will have its run time cut by one minute between Oak Lawn and Palos Park, the statement said. Train No. 815’s trip from 143rd Street to Laraway Road will also be reduced by one minute.
The route for SouthWest Service’s train No. 838 will have a flag stop added at Wrightwood, meaning the train will stop there only if someone on the train notifies the conductor that they want to get off at that station or if someone is waiting on the platform and is visible to the engineer.
On the Milwaukee North Line, run time for train No. 2017 between Grayland and Morton Grove will be cut by one minute, the transit agency said.
On the Milwaukee West Line, Mannheim will become a flag stop for trains Nos. 2202, 2206, 2212, 2227 and 2235, Metra said. Only about 30 customers board the trains at that station each weekday.
Customers who use these lines are urged to check their train schedules at metrarail.com.
Police: Man found dead in porta-potty in Rogers Park
By Sun Times Wire.
A man was found dead in a porta-potty Sunday morning in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the North Side, police said.
Officers responded to a call of a person down shortly after 6 a.m. and found the man lying inside the portable bathroom in the alley of the 1400 block of West Jonquil Terrace, according to Chicago Police. There were no visible signs of injury.
The man, whose exact age was not known, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office did not immediately provide information on the fatality.
Area North detectives are conducting a death investigation.
Woman critically injured in I-80 wrong-way crash near Minooka
By Sun Times Wire.
A woman who was driving the wrong way on I-80 was critically injured in a crash early Sunday near southwest suburban Minooka.
She was driving east in the westbound lanes about 3:10 a.m. when her vehicle crashed head-on into a semi truck near Ridge Road, according to Illinois State Police.
The woman, whose exact age was not known, was taken in critical condition to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, police said. The driver of the semi was not injured.
Police could not immediately say if charges of citations would be filed in connection with the crash as it was still under investigation Sunday morning. All lanes were reopened to traffic by 7 a.m.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Chicago police chief discloses he needs kidney transplant
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson disclosed after a public dizzy spell on Friday that he has battled a kidney condition for more than three decades and is on a waiting list for a transplant.
Johnson said his dizziness at a news conference announcing a crime initiative was due to taking blood pressure medication on an empty stomach. He was taken to a suburban Chicago hospital for several hours of evaluation and later released.
"For 32 years I've been treating a kidney condition that hasn't interfered with my ability to lead a normal life or be your police superintendent," he said at a news conference later in the day. "I don't require dialysis nor do I have diabetes."
Johnson said that once a donor is found and the operation takes place he should be back to work after three to five weeks. Johnson said that he informed Emanuel of his kidney condition before he was appointed superintendent in March.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel expressed "absolute confidence" that Johnson can run the department and his deputies can run the department in the event Johnson had to take leave.
Earlier Friday, Johnson appeared dazed and had to sit down while Emanuel was announcing an initiative to reduce homicides and shootings.
While Emanuel was speaking at the podium during the news conference, he stopped suddenly and turned to the police superintendent, asking "Are you OK?"
People then surrounded Johnson and several shouted: "Call 911." Emanuel handed Johnson a bottle of water and the superintendent drank from it after sitting down in seats reserved for reporters.
Dr. Paul Crawford, a nephrologist, said Johnson's test results did not contain anything that would require admission. He also stressed that one of every nine people in the U.S. has high blood pressure
Johnson and the mayor were announcing technological advances for police at a station on the city's South Side. Chicago police and city officials are under tremendous pressure to curb a rash of homicides and shootings in recent years.
Chicago ended 2016 with 762 homicides — or an average of two people killed per day, a rate that was widely reported at year's end. It was the highest number of homicides in the city in two decades and more than Los Angeles and New York combined. Last year, there were 3,550 shootings, a nearly 50 percent increase over 2015.
Three days ago, President Donald Trump tweeted that he would "send in the Feds" if the city couldn't fix the problem.
Johnson told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday that Trump's tweet baffled him.
"The statement is so broad. I have no idea what he's talking about," Johnson said.
Johnson replaced former Superintendent Garry McCarthy, who was fired following the release of dashcam footage showing a white police officer fatally shooting an unarmed black teenager 16 times. He didn't apply to be the city's top police officer. Emanuel chose Johnson for the job in March 2016, after rejecting three finalists recommended by the city's police board.
Attorneys: Death threats made in Chicago-area beating case
CHICAGO (AP) — Defense attorneys for four people charged in an attack caught on cellphone video of a mentally disabled man said Friday the defendants have received death threats.
Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli said after a brief Friday hearing in the case that "sensationalized, pervasive media coverage" threatens to poison the jury pool. Neil Toppel, a public defender for one of the defendants, cited an online post calling for the "public execution" of the defendants and their supporters.
Judge Peggy Chiampas has barred cameras and sketch artists from the court during preliminary hearings for the four defendants.
The four were indicted Friday and their arraignment was scheduled for Feb. 10. Defense attorneys said they would try to have bail reduced for the four. Among the charges the four face are aggravated kidnapping and two counts of committing a hate crime — one because of the victim's race and the other because of his mental disabilities.
The graphic cellphone video shows the four black suspects taunting the white victim with profanities against white people and President-elect Donald Trump.
The beating was captured on cellphone video by one of the assailants and has since been viewed millions of times on social media. Prosecutors have said the 18-year-old victim has schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
"Sensationalized, pervasive media coverage threatens to poison the jury pool for my clients," Campanelli said. "They have already been denounced in the media before anything has been proven."
The defendants are three 18-year-olds — Jordan Hill of Carpentersville, Brittany Covington of Chicago and Tesfaye Cooper of Chicago — and 24-year-old Tanishia Covington of Chicago.
The incident began New Year's Eve, when the victim and alleged assailant Jordan Hill met at a suburban McDonald's, and then called his parents later to say he was staying with Hill for a sleepover.
Instead, Hill drove the victim around in a stolen van for a couple of days, ending up at a home in Chicago, where two of the other suspects lived, police said.
The victim eventually escaped and a police officer spotted him wandering down a street, bloodied and disoriented.
Goran Dragic leads Heat to 6th straight, 100-88 over Bulls
CHICAGO (AP) — The mantra of every struggling team is to keep working and things will eventually turn around.
Although it rarely works out that way, the Miami Heat are trying to be the exception.
Goran Dragic had 26 points and 11 assists, Willie Reed scored 20 points and Dion Waiters added 19 to lead the Heat to their sixth straight win Friday night, a 100-88 victory over the bickering Chicago Bulls.
Dragic was asked what has pleased him most about the streak following an 11-30 start.
"That we're doing it as a team," he said. "We're playing for each other, we're fighting for each other. Everybody's feeling comfortable. We know what we need to do. As long as we take care of business with the defense, we feel like can play with anyone."
Dwyane Wade had 15 points to lead the Bulls, who began the day with a team meeting and ended it with a second straight frustrating loss.
Wade and Jimmy Butler started the controversy when they questioned the desire of the team's younger players following a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Rajon Rondo fired back a day later, criticizing Wade and Butler in an Instagram post.
All three players were fined, and Wade and Butler were held out of the starting lineup as punishment.
"We obviously had a very emotional day," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "It's not an excuse for how we played. It's the worst game we've played all year, in my opinion."
Butler was the first off bench and received a loud ovation from the United Center crowd when he checked in with 6:53 remaining in the first quarter. Wade also received a loud ovation when he entered 28 seconds later.
Rondo, though, was greeted by some boos when he checked in with 5:05 to go in the first.
Whether it was the controversy or coming off the bench, Butler never developed a rhythm and finished with just three points on 1-for-13 shooting.
"I'll be back," he said. "I promise I will be back. I am not worried at all."
Miami took control with a 24-14 advantage in the third quarter to break open a tie game at halftime. The Bulls tried to rally in the fourth, but the Heat answered every charge.
"I liked our toughness, in the second half especially," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
TIP INS
Heat: C Hassan Whiteside didn't play because of a sprained right ankle suffered Wednesday night against Brooklyn.
Bulls: Part of the frustration for Wade and Butler against the Hawks was losing a game in which they combined for 73 of the Bulls' 114 points. It was the first time they each had scored at least 30 points in a game this season.
MEDIA UNFRIENDLY
Besides Wade and Butler not starting, all three players were fined for airing grievances in the media and on social media. General manager Gar Forman made his displeasure known in the team meeting and in individual talks with the players.
"It's not how we want to operate," Forman said. "It is totally unacceptable, and we made it very clear to the players that were involved that it's unacceptable. It's a distraction that's not needed. I think it's a detriment to team growth."
NO REGRETS
With the controversy and recent struggles, Wade was asked if he had any second thoughts about signing with the Bulls after spending his first 13 seasons with the Heat.
"I've been happy," he said. "The process of losing ballgames is never fun. ... I'm not having fun being an average team, from that standpoint, but I am enjoying the journey."
MOVING ON
As part of his Instagram post, Rondo said his "vets" with the Celtics didn't take days off, a clear shot at Wade.
"I could take that as a personal attack," he said. "But what's that going to do for me? Come in here and fight Rajon because he said his vets practiced every day? I'm 35. I'm not practicing every day. That's very clear."
UP NEXT
Heat: Host the Pistons on Saturday night. Miami has dropped its first two games against Detroit by a combined 32 points.
Bulls: They wrap up a three-game homestand Sunday night against the Philadelphia 76ers before beginning a six-game road trip.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Bulls ride Wade and Butler to 100-92 win over Magic
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Dwyane Wade trusts his natural feel for the game when it's time to defer and allow Jimmy Butler to take over down the stretch.
The 14-year veteran guard also knows when his new team needs more of him late in the games. He sensed it Tuesday night, scoring seven of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Chicago Bulls to 100-92 road win over the struggling Orlando Magic.
It was the second straight game that Wade took over in the fourth quarter to lead Chicago to victory.
''Each game is different and it calls for something different,'' Wade said of how he and Butler play off each other. ''Like I said earlier in the year, I think we are both more dynamic when we are both able to score.''
Both took turns in the fourth as the Bulls pulled away in otherwise close game. Butler scored six of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as they took turns pulling up for jumpers and driving to the basket against a Magic team that was playing without three of its top four guards.
But Wade just seemed to have a little more energy as he played the role of scorer and facilitator in setting up his teammates for easy baskets throughout the fourth quarter.
''He's been huge lately,'' Butler said. ''He's taking and making shots, tough ones at that, passing the ball to the open guy. Me and him both decided to miss a couple of wide-open layups tonight, that's part of it. But he has been huge.''
His performance took a little pressure off Jerian Grant, who was inserted back into the starting lineup at point guard before the game. Wade's vision also played a part in backup center Cristiano Felicio's 12-point, 10-rebound performance.
''He is obviously a guy who can get it going at any time,'' Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said of Wade. ''He had three big buckets going into halftime to get him some confidence and little rhythm and then was awesome in the fourth quarter to close the game.''
TIP-INS
Bulls: Chicago shook up its point guard position before Tuesday night's game. Grant replaced Carter-Williams in the starting lineup. Hoiberg said Carter-Williams, who didn't play, has been demoted and will come off the bench and did not immediately name a backup, although Rajon Rondo was the first off the bench.
Magic: Injuries caused the Magic to shuffle their starting lineup for the second game in a row. With Augustin out with an ankle injury from Sunday's loss to Golden State, Vogel shifted C.J. Watson, who started at shooting guard Sunday, to backup point guard and coming off the bench. Jeff Green and Aaron Gordon both started at the wings to match up better against Butler and Wade, Vogel said. Fournier, the starting shooting guard, missed his sixth straight game with a sore right foot. ...The MRI on Augustin's sprained ankle came back negative but he is listed as day-to-day. ... Meeks had surgery on his right thumb Tuesday morning and is out indefinitely.
DEPLETED BACKCOURT
With Evan Fournier, Jodie Meeks and D.J. Augustin all out with injuries, the Magic's backcourt struggled.
That was most evident in the 19 turnovers the team committed. Point guard Elfrid Payton, who had to play 38 minutes because of the lack at the position, committed eight of the costly turnovers.
''Well, they're good at turning teams over and we know we can't over penetrate,'' said Orlando coach Frank Vogel. ''But we're missing our shooting guards so it's a little bit of a challenge with what we have in terms of perimeter shooting.''
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Felicio, who struggled with catching the ball in the paint early in the season, thrived underneath most of the night when Chicago went to its smaller lineup.
He defended Nikola Vucevic decently in the paint and when Butler and Wade found him for lobs inside he made good, converting four of six.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Chicago returns home to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Magic: Orlando hits the road for a three-game stretch with Boston as the first stop on Friday night.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Dwyane Wade trusts his natural feel for the game when it's time to defer and allow Jimmy Butler to take over down the stretch.
The 14-year veteran guard also knows when his new team needs more of him late in the games. He sensed it Tuesday night, scoring seven of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Chicago Bulls to 100-92 road win over the struggling Orlando Magic.
It was the second straight game that Wade took over in the fourth quarter to lead Chicago to victory.
''Each game is different and it calls for something different,'' Wade said of how he and Butler play off each other. ''Like I said earlier in the year, I think we are both more dynamic when we are both able to score.''
Both took turns in the fourth as the Bulls pulled away in otherwise close game. Butler scored six of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as they took turns pulling up for jumpers and driving to the basket against a Magic team that was playing without three of its top four guards.
But Wade just seemed to have a little more energy as he played the role of scorer and facilitator in setting up his teammates for easy baskets throughout the fourth quarter.
''He's been huge lately,'' Butler said. ''He's taking and making shots, tough ones at that, passing the ball to the open guy. Me and him both decided to miss a couple of wide-open layups tonight, that's part of it. But he has been huge.''
His performance took a little pressure off Jerian Grant, who was inserted back into the starting lineup at point guard before the game. Wade's vision also played a part in backup center Cristiano Felicio's 12-point, 10-rebound performance.
''He is obviously a guy who can get it going at any time,'' Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said of Wade. ''He had three big buckets going into halftime to get him some confidence and little rhythm and then was awesome in the fourth quarter to close the game.''
TIP-INS
Bulls: Chicago shook up its point guard position before Tuesday night's game. Grant replaced Carter-Williams in the starting lineup. Hoiberg said Carter-Williams, who didn't play, has been demoted and will come off the bench and did not immediately name a backup, although Rajon Rondo was the first off the bench.
Magic: Injuries caused the Magic to shuffle their starting lineup for the second game in a row. With Augustin out with an ankle injury from Sunday's loss to Golden State, Vogel shifted C.J. Watson, who started at shooting guard Sunday, to backup point guard and coming off the bench. Jeff Green and Aaron Gordon both started at the wings to match up better against Butler and Wade, Vogel said. Fournier, the starting shooting guard, missed his sixth straight game with a sore right foot. ...The MRI on Augustin's sprained ankle came back negative but he is listed as day-to-day. ... Meeks had surgery on his right thumb Tuesday morning and is out indefinitely.
DEPLETED BACKCOURT
With Evan Fournier, Jodie Meeks and D.J. Augustin all out with injuries, the Magic's backcourt struggled.
That was most evident in the 19 turnovers the team committed. Point guard Elfrid Payton, who had to play 38 minutes because of the lack at the position, committed eight of the costly turnovers.
''Well, they're good at turning teams over and we know we can't over penetrate,'' said Orlando coach Frank Vogel. ''But we're missing our shooting guards so it's a little bit of a challenge with what we have in terms of perimeter shooting.''
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Felicio, who struggled with catching the ball in the paint early in the season, thrived underneath most of the night when Chicago went to its smaller lineup.
He defended Nikola Vucevic decently in the paint and when Butler and Wade found him for lobs inside he made good, converting four of six.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Chicago returns home to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Magic: Orlando hits the road for a three-game stretch with Boston as the first stop on Friday night.
Johnson rallies Lightning in 3rd for 5-2 win over Blackhawks
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) In the third period, Tyler Johnson and the Tampa Bay Lightning looked more like the slick-skating group that dashed to the 2015 Stanley Cup final than a team that's been languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings this season.
Johnson scored two goals 30 seconds apart early in the third, leading Tampa Bay past the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Tuesday night to end a three-game slide.
Brian Boyle had a goal and an assist, and Nikita Nesterov and Nikita Kucherov also scored for the Lightning, who broke loose for three goals in a 3:57 span to erase a 2-1 deficit. Alex Killorn set up both of Johnson's goals, and Valtteri Filppula had two assists to help Tampa Bay win for just the third time in 11 games.
The Lightning have been battered by injuries this season, including a critical one to sniper Steven Stamkos, who hasn't skated since sustaining a meniscal tear to his right knee in mid-November. But they rallied impressively against the Blackhawks, who beat Tampa Bay in six games for the 2015 NHL championship.
''It's big for us,'' Johnson said. ''Every point matters right now, so we needed to get that in the third period.
''It's nice being back here and realizing we were two wins away from a Stanley Cup,'' he added. ''Pretty much the exact same team. We know what we can do. It's a matter of doing it.''
Killorn said the Lightning ''had a chat'' about the 2015 final on Tuesday morning at United Center - and that might have made a difference.
''We have a lot of guys in this room that can play, a team that can do some special things,'' he said. ''Once we were reminded of that, we played a lot better tonight.''
Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist, and Duncan Keith also scored for the Blackhawks, who had their three-game winning streak stopped. Chicago lost for only the third time in its last 10.
Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy made 34 saves, getting the start and delivering a strong performance after he relieved Ben Bishop for the third period of the Lightning's 5-3 loss at Arizona on Sunday.
''Their goalie was excellent tonight,'' Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. ''I think we've only generated as much offense in one or two games as we did tonight.''
Corey Crawford blocked 31 shots for the Blackhawks.
After Nesterov tied it 2-all off a faceoff 2:47 into the third, Johnson put Tampa Bay ahead for the first time at 6:14. He beat Crawford with a rising shot from the right circle after taking Killorn's feed.
Johnson made it 4-2 at 6:44 from the edge of the crease with his 15th goal after Killorn's pass from behind the net. Killorn had fired wide, then retrieved the puck and dished in front.
''We just kept on going,'' Johnson said. ''Wanted to use our speed, wanted to use our transition.''
Kucherov added an empty-netter - his team-leading 18th goal - with 2:05 left.
Toews stayed hot after getting the game-winning goal and three assists Sunday in a 4-2 victory over Vancouver. In his previous six games, the Blackhawks' captain had just two assists.
Toews' effort in this one was overshadowed by the Lightning's late burst.
''You can expect a team like that to come at us the way they did in the third,'' Toews said, ''but I think our answer just wasn't there.''
Sharp goaltending at both ends limited the score to 1-1 after a freewheeling first period filled with chances.
Toews opened the scoring at 10:23, completing a cross-ice give-and-go with Richard Panik. Toews got to the edge of the crease and tipped in Panik's feed after slipping behind Lightning star defenseman Victor Hedman.
Boyle tied it with 1:25 left in the period after taking Filppula's long feed and plowing between Chicago's top defensive pairing of Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Boyle broke in, faked Crawford to the ice and then slid the puck past him with a forehand move.
Keith put Chicago ahead 2-1 at 1:26 of the second on a shot from the left point that glanced in off Vasilevskiy's glove.
NOTES: Tampa Bay RW J.T. Brown returned after missing seven games with an upper-body injury. ... Lightning D Jason Garrison sat out his second game with an illness. ... The Blackhawks activated C Marcus Kruger (hand) from injured reserve, but he didn't play. Kruger was injured on Dec. 30 at Carolina. ... Chicago C Dennis Rasmussen played despite missing the morning skate with an illness. ... Blackhawks D Michal Kempny was back in the lineup after being benched in the third period on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Lightning: Conclude their six-game road trip at Florida on Thursday night.
Blackhawks: Host the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.
CHICAGO (AP) In the third period, Tyler Johnson and the Tampa Bay Lightning looked more like the slick-skating group that dashed to the 2015 Stanley Cup final than a team that's been languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings this season.
Johnson scored two goals 30 seconds apart early in the third, leading Tampa Bay past the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Tuesday night to end a three-game slide.
Brian Boyle had a goal and an assist, and Nikita Nesterov and Nikita Kucherov also scored for the Lightning, who broke loose for three goals in a 3:57 span to erase a 2-1 deficit. Alex Killorn set up both of Johnson's goals, and Valtteri Filppula had two assists to help Tampa Bay win for just the third time in 11 games.
The Lightning have been battered by injuries this season, including a critical one to sniper Steven Stamkos, who hasn't skated since sustaining a meniscal tear to his right knee in mid-November. But they rallied impressively against the Blackhawks, who beat Tampa Bay in six games for the 2015 NHL championship.
''It's big for us,'' Johnson said. ''Every point matters right now, so we needed to get that in the third period.
''It's nice being back here and realizing we were two wins away from a Stanley Cup,'' he added. ''Pretty much the exact same team. We know what we can do. It's a matter of doing it.''
Killorn said the Lightning ''had a chat'' about the 2015 final on Tuesday morning at United Center - and that might have made a difference.
''We have a lot of guys in this room that can play, a team that can do some special things,'' he said. ''Once we were reminded of that, we played a lot better tonight.''
Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist, and Duncan Keith also scored for the Blackhawks, who had their three-game winning streak stopped. Chicago lost for only the third time in its last 10.
Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy made 34 saves, getting the start and delivering a strong performance after he relieved Ben Bishop for the third period of the Lightning's 5-3 loss at Arizona on Sunday.
''Their goalie was excellent tonight,'' Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. ''I think we've only generated as much offense in one or two games as we did tonight.''
Corey Crawford blocked 31 shots for the Blackhawks.
After Nesterov tied it 2-all off a faceoff 2:47 into the third, Johnson put Tampa Bay ahead for the first time at 6:14. He beat Crawford with a rising shot from the right circle after taking Killorn's feed.
Johnson made it 4-2 at 6:44 from the edge of the crease with his 15th goal after Killorn's pass from behind the net. Killorn had fired wide, then retrieved the puck and dished in front.
''We just kept on going,'' Johnson said. ''Wanted to use our speed, wanted to use our transition.''
Kucherov added an empty-netter - his team-leading 18th goal - with 2:05 left.
Toews stayed hot after getting the game-winning goal and three assists Sunday in a 4-2 victory over Vancouver. In his previous six games, the Blackhawks' captain had just two assists.
Toews' effort in this one was overshadowed by the Lightning's late burst.
''You can expect a team like that to come at us the way they did in the third,'' Toews said, ''but I think our answer just wasn't there.''
Sharp goaltending at both ends limited the score to 1-1 after a freewheeling first period filled with chances.
Toews opened the scoring at 10:23, completing a cross-ice give-and-go with Richard Panik. Toews got to the edge of the crease and tipped in Panik's feed after slipping behind Lightning star defenseman Victor Hedman.
Boyle tied it with 1:25 left in the period after taking Filppula's long feed and plowing between Chicago's top defensive pairing of Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Boyle broke in, faked Crawford to the ice and then slid the puck past him with a forehand move.
Keith put Chicago ahead 2-1 at 1:26 of the second on a shot from the left point that glanced in off Vasilevskiy's glove.
NOTES: Tampa Bay RW J.T. Brown returned after missing seven games with an upper-body injury. ... Lightning D Jason Garrison sat out his second game with an illness. ... The Blackhawks activated C Marcus Kruger (hand) from injured reserve, but he didn't play. Kruger was injured on Dec. 30 at Carolina. ... Chicago C Dennis Rasmussen played despite missing the morning skate with an illness. ... Blackhawks D Michal Kempny was back in the lineup after being benched in the third period on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Lightning: Conclude their six-game road trip at Florida on Thursday night.
Blackhawks: Host the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.
Trump warns he's ready to 'send the feds' to Chicago
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump is serving notice he's ready to "send in the Feds" if Chicago can't reduce its homicide figures.
Trump tweeted Tuesday night: "If Chicago doesn't fix the horrible 'carnage' going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!"
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson responded late Tuesday, saying: "The Chicago Police Department is more than willing to work with the federal government to build on our partnerships with DOJ (Department of Justice), FBI, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) and boost federal prosecution rates for gun crimes in Chicago."
Mayor Rahm Emanuel criticized Trump on Monday for worrying about the size of the crowd at his inauguration. Emanuel, a longtime political ally of former President Barack Obama, also acknowledged his own frustration with Chicago's crime rate.
Earlier this month, before he took office, Trump tweeted that Emanuel should ask for federal help if he isn't able to bring down the homicide rate. Last year, the death toll soared to 762 - the most killings in the city in nearly two decades and more than New York and Los Angeles combined.
This year's numbers cited by Trump were slightly different to the latest tally from the Chicago Police Department. As of Tuesday, Chicago police said 234 people have been shot in 2017, including 38 who died. At this point last year, according to Chicago police, there had been 227 shot in 2016, including 33 deaths.
Trump isn't offering specifics about how the federal government could help. The White House website says: "Our country needs more law enforcement, more community engagement and more effective policing."
Trump tweeted Tuesday night: "If Chicago doesn't fix the horrible 'carnage' going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!"
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson responded late Tuesday, saying: "The Chicago Police Department is more than willing to work with the federal government to build on our partnerships with DOJ (Department of Justice), FBI, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) and boost federal prosecution rates for gun crimes in Chicago."
Mayor Rahm Emanuel criticized Trump on Monday for worrying about the size of the crowd at his inauguration. Emanuel, a longtime political ally of former President Barack Obama, also acknowledged his own frustration with Chicago's crime rate.
Earlier this month, before he took office, Trump tweeted that Emanuel should ask for federal help if he isn't able to bring down the homicide rate. Last year, the death toll soared to 762 - the most killings in the city in nearly two decades and more than New York and Los Angeles combined.
This year's numbers cited by Trump were slightly different to the latest tally from the Chicago Police Department. As of Tuesday, Chicago police said 234 people have been shot in 2017, including 38 who died. At this point last year, according to Chicago police, there had been 227 shot in 2016, including 33 deaths.
Trump isn't offering specifics about how the federal government could help. The White House website says: "Our country needs more law enforcement, more community engagement and more effective policing."
Monday, January 23, 2017
Woman shot to death near Chicago school
CHICAGO -- Chicago police said a woman was shot and killed near an elementary school in the Austin neighborhood early Monday morning.
The body was lying in a grassy area near the sidewalk just hours before school began at Spencer Technology Academy, police said.
Police shut down the block to investigate the shooting and search for shell casings. No arrests have been made after the shooting.
The body was lying in a grassy area near the sidewalk just hours before school began at Spencer Technology Academy, police said.
Police shut down the block to investigate the shooting and search for shell casings. No arrests have been made after the shooting.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Girl knifed by masked man in Indian Head Park
Officers in southwest suburban Indian Head Park responded around 6:45 p.m. to a report of a home invasion on Briarwood Court. When they arrived, a girl who lives in the home told them she had been cut by a masked man she encountered in her kitchen.
Police warned residents to keep their doors locked and outdoor lights on after the invasion.
Police said there was no sign of forced entry. The investigation is ongoing, and no one is in custody.
Police warned residents to keep their doors locked and outdoor lights on after the invasion.
Police said there was no sign of forced entry. The investigation is ongoing, and no one is in custody.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Mavericks edge Bulls 99-98 for 3rd straight win
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Wesley Matthews made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the wing with 12 seconds left, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 99-98 on Tuesday night for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Six players scored in double figures for the Mavericks, including all five starters. Harrison Barnes had 20 points, Seth Curry added 18 and Dirk Nowitzki finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Dallas trailed 98-96 after Jimmy Butler made a long jumper over Matthews with 23 seconds left, but Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle decided against a timeout and Deron Williams drove into the lane before kicking out to Matthews for the 3.
Chicago had one last chance, but Dwyane Wade missed a potential game-winning jumper from the corner on his 35th birthday as time expired.
Butler finished with 24 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the Bulls, who had won two in a row. Robin Lopez scored 21, and Wade had 17 on 8-for-21 shooting.
Wade's fadeaway jumper gave the Bulls a 94-90 lead with about 3 1/2 minutes left, but they were unable to close out Dallas. Chicago has dropped four in a row against the Mavericks, including a 107-82 loss in their first meeting of the season.
Chicago played without forward Taj Gibson, sidelined by left ankle soreness. Paul Zipser, a second-round pick in last year's draft, started in Gibson's spot and finished with five points and three rebounds in his 13th game of the season.
Gibson, averaging 12 points and 7.3 rebounds, could return Friday night at Atlanta. He had played in every game this season.
Dallas put together a 15-4 run spanning halftime to open a 64-51 lead on Barnes' turnaround jumper with 8:38 left in the third. But Chicago kept chipping away at the deficit, and Lopez's three-point play off a pass from Butler trimmed the Mavericks' lead to 76-74 heading into the fourth.
Williams had 11 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Dallas, and reserve J.J. Barea scored 12 points. Matthews went 3 for 5 from 3-point range and finished with 11 points.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: C Andrew Bogut missed his third straight game with a right hamstring strain.
Bulls: Butler received his Olympic championship ring during a pregame ceremony. He helped the U.S. win gold in Rio de Janeiro last summer. ... F Doug McDermott, who scored a career-high 31 points in Chicago's 108-104 victory at Memphis on Sunday night, finished with seven points on 3-for-10 shooting.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit Miami on Thursday night. The Mavericks have lost nine of their last 10 regular-season games against the Heat.
Bulls: Visit Atlanta on Friday night. The Bulls have dropped five in a row against the Hawks, including a 115-107 defeat at Atlanta on Nov. 9.
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Wesley Matthews made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the wing with 12 seconds left, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 99-98 on Tuesday night for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Six players scored in double figures for the Mavericks, including all five starters. Harrison Barnes had 20 points, Seth Curry added 18 and Dirk Nowitzki finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Dallas trailed 98-96 after Jimmy Butler made a long jumper over Matthews with 23 seconds left, but Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle decided against a timeout and Deron Williams drove into the lane before kicking out to Matthews for the 3.
Chicago had one last chance, but Dwyane Wade missed a potential game-winning jumper from the corner on his 35th birthday as time expired.
Butler finished with 24 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the Bulls, who had won two in a row. Robin Lopez scored 21, and Wade had 17 on 8-for-21 shooting.
Wade's fadeaway jumper gave the Bulls a 94-90 lead with about 3 1/2 minutes left, but they were unable to close out Dallas. Chicago has dropped four in a row against the Mavericks, including a 107-82 loss in their first meeting of the season.
Chicago played without forward Taj Gibson, sidelined by left ankle soreness. Paul Zipser, a second-round pick in last year's draft, started in Gibson's spot and finished with five points and three rebounds in his 13th game of the season.
Gibson, averaging 12 points and 7.3 rebounds, could return Friday night at Atlanta. He had played in every game this season.
Dallas put together a 15-4 run spanning halftime to open a 64-51 lead on Barnes' turnaround jumper with 8:38 left in the third. But Chicago kept chipping away at the deficit, and Lopez's three-point play off a pass from Butler trimmed the Mavericks' lead to 76-74 heading into the fourth.
Williams had 11 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Dallas, and reserve J.J. Barea scored 12 points. Matthews went 3 for 5 from 3-point range and finished with 11 points.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: C Andrew Bogut missed his third straight game with a right hamstring strain.
Bulls: Butler received his Olympic championship ring during a pregame ceremony. He helped the U.S. win gold in Rio de Janeiro last summer. ... F Doug McDermott, who scored a career-high 31 points in Chicago's 108-104 victory at Memphis on Sunday night, finished with seven points on 3-for-10 shooting.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit Miami on Thursday night. The Mavericks have lost nine of their last 10 regular-season games against the Heat.
Bulls: Visit Atlanta on Friday night. The Bulls have dropped five in a row against the Hawks, including a 115-107 defeat at Atlanta on Nov. 9.
Hinostroza rallies Blackhawks to 6-4 win over Avalanche
By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) -- Vinnie Hinostroza scored twice in the third period, including the go-ahead goal with 11:49 remaining, and the Chicago Blackhawks rallied for a 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.
Tanner Kero had two goals and Nick Schmaltz and Brent Seabrook also scored for Chicago, which snapped a two-game skid.
The Blackhawks switched around their line combinations, breaking up the Jonathan Toews-Marian Hossa tandem in an effort to spark the offense. It certainly worked with Hinostroza, Kero and Hossa combining for eight points. Hossa had three assists.
Matt Duchene had two goals and Blake Comeau and Matt Nieto also scored for the last-place Avalanche, who wrapped up a four-game homestand with a 1-3 mark. This game felt more like a road game, though, with all the Blackhawk fans in attendance.
The loudest cheer of the night came when Hinostroza scored the game-winner by tapping a shot past Semyon Varlamov.
Colorado pulled Varlamov with around 35 seconds remaining, but couldn't get anything past Corey Crawford. Kero added an empty-netter with 10.6 seconds left.
Hinostroza tied the game at 4 early in the third period when he took a long pass from Seabrook and skated in all alone, lifting a wrist shot over Varlamov.
The 22-year-old Hinostroza entered with four career goals.
There were a combined four goals scored in a frenzied second period, with Colorado taking a 3-2 lead on Nieto's first goal of the season. The advantage lasted all of 19 seconds as Kero answered.
On the play, Hossa had his first assist of the night to give him 600 for his career. He's the 32nd player in NHL history to record 500 goals and 600 assists.
In the first period, Duchene scored a rare power-play goal for the Avalanche. They were 2 of 41 on the man advantage over the last 11 games before Duchene tipped Nathan MacKinnon's shot past Crawford.
Given how far they're fallen, the Avalanche could soon be looking at a possible shake-up. Duchene, the team's leading goal scorer, captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Tyson Barrie have been frequently mentioned in trade rumors. The trio are part of the core that general manager Joe Sakic has been trying to build around for the last few seasons.
"I believe in the guys we have in this room," Barrie said. "It's about learning, but you can only say that for so long.
"It would be a lot of fun to win with these guys. I don't think we're too far off."
NOTES: Schmaltz scored his second goal of the season. The 20-year-old center was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League last Saturday. ... Seabrook scored his first goal since Nov. 18 at Calgary. ... F Rene Bourque played in his 700th NHL game.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: At Boston on Friday.
Avalanche: Start a two-game trip, beginning Thursday in Anaheim.
AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) -- Vinnie Hinostroza scored twice in the third period, including the go-ahead goal with 11:49 remaining, and the Chicago Blackhawks rallied for a 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.
Tanner Kero had two goals and Nick Schmaltz and Brent Seabrook also scored for Chicago, which snapped a two-game skid.
The Blackhawks switched around their line combinations, breaking up the Jonathan Toews-Marian Hossa tandem in an effort to spark the offense. It certainly worked with Hinostroza, Kero and Hossa combining for eight points. Hossa had three assists.
Matt Duchene had two goals and Blake Comeau and Matt Nieto also scored for the last-place Avalanche, who wrapped up a four-game homestand with a 1-3 mark. This game felt more like a road game, though, with all the Blackhawk fans in attendance.
The loudest cheer of the night came when Hinostroza scored the game-winner by tapping a shot past Semyon Varlamov.
Colorado pulled Varlamov with around 35 seconds remaining, but couldn't get anything past Corey Crawford. Kero added an empty-netter with 10.6 seconds left.
Hinostroza tied the game at 4 early in the third period when he took a long pass from Seabrook and skated in all alone, lifting a wrist shot over Varlamov.
The 22-year-old Hinostroza entered with four career goals.
There were a combined four goals scored in a frenzied second period, with Colorado taking a 3-2 lead on Nieto's first goal of the season. The advantage lasted all of 19 seconds as Kero answered.
On the play, Hossa had his first assist of the night to give him 600 for his career. He's the 32nd player in NHL history to record 500 goals and 600 assists.
In the first period, Duchene scored a rare power-play goal for the Avalanche. They were 2 of 41 on the man advantage over the last 11 games before Duchene tipped Nathan MacKinnon's shot past Crawford.
Given how far they're fallen, the Avalanche could soon be looking at a possible shake-up. Duchene, the team's leading goal scorer, captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Tyson Barrie have been frequently mentioned in trade rumors. The trio are part of the core that general manager Joe Sakic has been trying to build around for the last few seasons.
"I believe in the guys we have in this room," Barrie said. "It's about learning, but you can only say that for so long.
"It would be a lot of fun to win with these guys. I don't think we're too far off."
NOTES: Schmaltz scored his second goal of the season. The 20-year-old center was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League last Saturday. ... Seabrook scored his first goal since Nov. 18 at Calgary. ... F Rene Bourque played in his 700th NHL game.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: At Boston on Friday.
Avalanche: Start a two-game trip, beginning Thursday in Anaheim.
Monday, January 16, 2017
McDermott scores career-best 31 to lead Bulls past Grizzlies
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Doug McDermott’s troubles vanished in one quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies.
McDermott scored a career-high 31 points, including the final two free throws of the Chicago Bulls’ 108-104 victory over Memphis on Sunday night.
McDermott, who was 7 of 31 from the field in his four previous games, got 20 of his points in the second quarter, helping replace the scoring missing from Dwyane Wade, who did not play on the second night of a back-to-back after the Bulls beat New Orleans at home Saturday.
”You can’t be perfect every game, so you’ve just got to find a way to contribute out there and continue to work on your game,” said McDermott, who missed only one of seven shots in the second frame. ”That’s what I’ve done, and I was rewarded for the hard work.”
Taj Gibson finished with 18 points and eight rebounds for Chicago, and Jimmy Butler had 16 points.
Despite McDermott’s first-half scoring, the Bulls were still in a battle at the end. Chicago broke a 104-all tie – the 11th in the game – with 26 seconds left on a 15-footer from Butler, who also made an 18-footer with 53.6 seconds remaining. McDermott closed the scoring with a pair of free throws with just under seven seconds left.
Butler’s steal of the ensuing inbound pass sealed the Bulls’ second-straight win.
Mike Conley led Memphis with 28 points and eight assists, and Marc Gasol had 24 points and 11 rebounds. Zach Randolph finished with 15 points and a season-best 16 boards.
The game featured 16 lead changes, and neither team held a double-digit lead.
”We couldn’t get to our defensive coverage to save our lives down the stretch,” Memphis coach David Fizdale said. ”The second and fourth quarters, we didn’t defend at the level we are capable of defending.”
TIP-INS
Bulls: Nikola Mirotic missed his fourth straight game dealing with an illness. … McDermott’s 22 first-half points were more than his total for the four previous games (21). … Chicago scored 14 points in the first quarter, a season low for the opening frame, but its 38 points in the second was a season-high for a quarter by any Memphis opponent.
Grizzlies: Gasol made a pair of 3-pointers in the first half, marking 17 games this season he has made multiple shots from outside the arc. … Memphis made 11 3-pointers in the game and has converted at least 10 3s in 20 games this season, including 11 of the last 14 games.
MLK HOLIDAY
This is the 15th season Memphis has hosted a game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. The Grizzlies are 6-9 in the holiday game.
In recognition of the holiday, Memphis wore special MLK50 Pride uniforms. The black jerseys have sea foam blue numbers, letters and piping with the full T-shirt look instead of the normal sleeveless. The piping replicated the railing in front the rooms at the Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated in 1968, and the blue color was similar to the doors on the rooms.
MISSING WADE
Wade’s absence meant missing a reunion with Fizdale. Both left the Miami Heat organization after last season – Wade signing with the Bulls and Fizdale getting his first head coaching job in Memphis. Fizdale said he is sort of a ”basketball romantic” and would like to have seen Wade retire in Miami. But he predicted after the player’s career ”his statue will be out front and (Wade) will be remembered as the great player that he should be.”
UP NEXT
Bulls: Return home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
Grizzlies: Memphis travels to Washington to face the Wizards on Wednesday night.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Doug McDermott’s troubles vanished in one quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies.
McDermott scored a career-high 31 points, including the final two free throws of the Chicago Bulls’ 108-104 victory over Memphis on Sunday night.
McDermott, who was 7 of 31 from the field in his four previous games, got 20 of his points in the second quarter, helping replace the scoring missing from Dwyane Wade, who did not play on the second night of a back-to-back after the Bulls beat New Orleans at home Saturday.
”You can’t be perfect every game, so you’ve just got to find a way to contribute out there and continue to work on your game,” said McDermott, who missed only one of seven shots in the second frame. ”That’s what I’ve done, and I was rewarded for the hard work.”
Taj Gibson finished with 18 points and eight rebounds for Chicago, and Jimmy Butler had 16 points.
Despite McDermott’s first-half scoring, the Bulls were still in a battle at the end. Chicago broke a 104-all tie – the 11th in the game – with 26 seconds left on a 15-footer from Butler, who also made an 18-footer with 53.6 seconds remaining. McDermott closed the scoring with a pair of free throws with just under seven seconds left.
Butler’s steal of the ensuing inbound pass sealed the Bulls’ second-straight win.
Mike Conley led Memphis with 28 points and eight assists, and Marc Gasol had 24 points and 11 rebounds. Zach Randolph finished with 15 points and a season-best 16 boards.
The game featured 16 lead changes, and neither team held a double-digit lead.
”We couldn’t get to our defensive coverage to save our lives down the stretch,” Memphis coach David Fizdale said. ”The second and fourth quarters, we didn’t defend at the level we are capable of defending.”
TIP-INS
Bulls: Nikola Mirotic missed his fourth straight game dealing with an illness. … McDermott’s 22 first-half points were more than his total for the four previous games (21). … Chicago scored 14 points in the first quarter, a season low for the opening frame, but its 38 points in the second was a season-high for a quarter by any Memphis opponent.
Grizzlies: Gasol made a pair of 3-pointers in the first half, marking 17 games this season he has made multiple shots from outside the arc. … Memphis made 11 3-pointers in the game and has converted at least 10 3s in 20 games this season, including 11 of the last 14 games.
MLK HOLIDAY
This is the 15th season Memphis has hosted a game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. The Grizzlies are 6-9 in the holiday game.
In recognition of the holiday, Memphis wore special MLK50 Pride uniforms. The black jerseys have sea foam blue numbers, letters and piping with the full T-shirt look instead of the normal sleeveless. The piping replicated the railing in front the rooms at the Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated in 1968, and the blue color was similar to the doors on the rooms.
MISSING WADE
Wade’s absence meant missing a reunion with Fizdale. Both left the Miami Heat organization after last season – Wade signing with the Bulls and Fizdale getting his first head coaching job in Memphis. Fizdale said he is sort of a ”basketball romantic” and would like to have seen Wade retire in Miami. But he predicted after the player’s career ”his statue will be out front and (Wade) will be remembered as the great player that he should be.”
UP NEXT
Bulls: Return home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
Grizzlies: Memphis travels to Washington to face the Wizards on Wednesday night.
Surging Wild beat Blackhawks 3-2 for Western Conference lead
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO (AP) Playing on the road for the second straight night against one of their biggest rivals, Devan Dubnyk and the Minnesota Wild rallied to another impressive victory.
Not much to complain about for Wild coach Bruce Boudreau.
”They just refuse to lose at this stage,” he said.
Dubnyk made 33 saves, Jason Pominville scored in the third period and Minnesota beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Sunday to grab sole possession of the top spot in the Western Conference.
Nino Niederreiter and Chris Stewart also scored as Minnesota earned its fourth straight win and improved to 17-1-1 since Dec. 4. The Wild also beat the Blackhawks for the eighth straight time.
”To beat this team eight times in a row is really something,” said Boudreau, who was behind the bench in Anaheim when the Ducks were eliminated by the Blackhawks in the 2015 Western Conference finals. ”I don’t understand how you can do it. I wish I had had that knowledge a couple years ago.”
Minnesota (28-9-5) jumped in front for good when Marco Scandella shot the puck behind the net and it caromed right to Pominville standing all alone on the right side of the crease. He knocked it into the open net for his sixth of the season at 5:08.
Minnesota defenseman Ryan Suter was sent off for tripping with 22.4 seconds left, but Chicago was unable to get a good look even with the 6-on-4 advantage.
”It’s a big game, just point-wise,” Dubnyk said. ”If we want to be in first place, we’re going to have to win games against these guys.”
Patrick Kane scored twice on a whopping 12 shots for the Blackhawks (27-14-5), who were coming off an ugly 6-0 loss at Washington. Artem Anisimov, battling an illness, had two assists, and Corey Crawford made 29 stops.
”Frustrating. Even though it was 2-0, at 2-2 you still feel good being in a tie game going to the third at home playing a team playing on back-to-back nights,” Kane said. ”Tough not to get anything out of that game.”
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville called Friday night’s performance against the Capitals a failure ”across the board,” and he went with seven defensemen for the Blackhawks’ first game of the season against Minnesota. He also leaned heavily on Kane, who has six goals and 12 assists in his last 14 games.
”Kaner had the touch tonight,” Quenneville said.
The reigning NHL MVP beat Dubnyk on the stick side at 4:33 of the first, and then added his 14th of the season in the second. The winger dug the puck out of the faceoff circle and snapped it over Dubnyk’s left shoulder for a 2-0 lead at 4:16.
Minnesota got one back after Anisimov was sent off for tripping at 5:04 of the second. Jonas Brodin’s long shot went off Wild center Mikael Granlund in front and dropped to the ice near Niederreiter, who slammed it in for his 12th.
Stewart tied it at 2 when he beat Crawford on the short side from the left circle with 9 minutes left. Stewart also scored in Minnesota’s 5-4 victory at Dallas on Saturday night.
”We didn’t have the best legs right from the get-go, but I feel like we found a way,” Niederreiter said. ”Then we kind of find a rhythm and kept going.”
NOTES: Kane played more than 27 minutes in his first multigoal game of the season. … The Blackhawks scratched forwards Andrew Desjardins and Jordin Tootoo. … D Nate Prosser and RW Kurtis Gabriel were inactive for Minnesota.
UP NEXT
Wild: Begin a four-game homestand Tuesday night against New Jersey.
Blackhawks: Visit Colorado on Tuesday night.
CHICAGO (AP) Playing on the road for the second straight night against one of their biggest rivals, Devan Dubnyk and the Minnesota Wild rallied to another impressive victory.
Not much to complain about for Wild coach Bruce Boudreau.
”They just refuse to lose at this stage,” he said.
Dubnyk made 33 saves, Jason Pominville scored in the third period and Minnesota beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Sunday to grab sole possession of the top spot in the Western Conference.
Nino Niederreiter and Chris Stewart also scored as Minnesota earned its fourth straight win and improved to 17-1-1 since Dec. 4. The Wild also beat the Blackhawks for the eighth straight time.
”To beat this team eight times in a row is really something,” said Boudreau, who was behind the bench in Anaheim when the Ducks were eliminated by the Blackhawks in the 2015 Western Conference finals. ”I don’t understand how you can do it. I wish I had had that knowledge a couple years ago.”
Minnesota (28-9-5) jumped in front for good when Marco Scandella shot the puck behind the net and it caromed right to Pominville standing all alone on the right side of the crease. He knocked it into the open net for his sixth of the season at 5:08.
Minnesota defenseman Ryan Suter was sent off for tripping with 22.4 seconds left, but Chicago was unable to get a good look even with the 6-on-4 advantage.
”It’s a big game, just point-wise,” Dubnyk said. ”If we want to be in first place, we’re going to have to win games against these guys.”
Patrick Kane scored twice on a whopping 12 shots for the Blackhawks (27-14-5), who were coming off an ugly 6-0 loss at Washington. Artem Anisimov, battling an illness, had two assists, and Corey Crawford made 29 stops.
”Frustrating. Even though it was 2-0, at 2-2 you still feel good being in a tie game going to the third at home playing a team playing on back-to-back nights,” Kane said. ”Tough not to get anything out of that game.”
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville called Friday night’s performance against the Capitals a failure ”across the board,” and he went with seven defensemen for the Blackhawks’ first game of the season against Minnesota. He also leaned heavily on Kane, who has six goals and 12 assists in his last 14 games.
”Kaner had the touch tonight,” Quenneville said.
The reigning NHL MVP beat Dubnyk on the stick side at 4:33 of the first, and then added his 14th of the season in the second. The winger dug the puck out of the faceoff circle and snapped it over Dubnyk’s left shoulder for a 2-0 lead at 4:16.
Minnesota got one back after Anisimov was sent off for tripping at 5:04 of the second. Jonas Brodin’s long shot went off Wild center Mikael Granlund in front and dropped to the ice near Niederreiter, who slammed it in for his 12th.
Stewart tied it at 2 when he beat Crawford on the short side from the left circle with 9 minutes left. Stewart also scored in Minnesota’s 5-4 victory at Dallas on Saturday night.
”We didn’t have the best legs right from the get-go, but I feel like we found a way,” Niederreiter said. ”Then we kind of find a rhythm and kept going.”
NOTES: Kane played more than 27 minutes in his first multigoal game of the season. … The Blackhawks scratched forwards Andrew Desjardins and Jordin Tootoo. … D Nate Prosser and RW Kurtis Gabriel were inactive for Minnesota.
UP NEXT
Wild: Begin a four-game homestand Tuesday night against New Jersey.
Blackhawks: Visit Colorado on Tuesday night.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Capitals rout Blackhawks 6-0 to extend winning streak to 8
WASHINGTON (AP) Jay Beagle can’t explain his offensive success against the Chicago Blackhawks.
It’s much easier to see why his Washington Capitals are rolling against everybody.
Beagle scored twice to solidify his status as a Blackhawks killer and Washington blew out Chicago 6-0 on Friday night to win its eighth consecutive game. In a showdown of the NHL’s hottest teams, the Capitals looked the part and the Blackhawks fell flat, ending their winning streak at four.
During their eight-game run to vault to the top of the league standings, the Capitals have snapped five opposing winning streaks of three or more.
”We’re playing good hockey right now and we’re starting to get confident in our game, in our structure,” said Beagle, who has eight goals this season and is just two shy of tying his career high. ”Getting these wins against great teams can only build that confidence, and we just got to keep going moving forward.”
Beagle’s inexplicable, self-admitted ”weird” showing of six goals in eight career games against the Blackhawks notwithstanding, this winning streak has been built on contributions from almost every player. Three different lines were in on the scoring Friday as all six goals came at even strength.
But the biggest piece of the streak is goaltender Braden Holtby, who looks to be back in Vezina Trophy form. Holtby stopped all 24 shots he faced against the Blackhawks and is 9-2-2 with a 1.34 goals-against average, .950 save percentage and five shutouts in his past 14 games.
Holtby and the Capitals haven’t allowed an even-strength goal in five games dating to when he was pulled against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 3.
”I worked on a few things that I wanted to get better at, but we’ve been playing pretty well through that stretch, too,” said Holtby, who leads the league with six shutouts. ”There’s still things to work on, but our game and my game are going in the right direction.”
Chicago’s game was going in the right direction but took a nosedive Friday. A would-be goal from Vinnie Hinostroza was called back for goaltender interference and Corey Crawford was pulled after allowing five goals on 30 shots. There were no positives to be found.
Coach Joel Quenneville called it a failure ”across the board.”
”It was a big game to start with and we didn’t meet the challenge,” Quenneville said. ”Let’s forget about this one because there’s nothing good about it.”
It’s all good right now for the Capitals, who had four short-handed shots to the Blackhawks’ two on the power play. In reaching 61 points, they passed the Columbus Blue Jackets – who played later at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night – for first in the Metropolitan Division, the Eastern Conference and the NHL.
Coach Barry Trotz has eased the minutes burden on Alex Ovechkin and his top players and been rewarded with scoring depth. He was pleased that ”all four lines were pulling on the rope” against Chicago, just the latest in a line of top teams Washington has beaten.
Just in 2017, the Capitals have ended the Maple Leafs’ winning streak at five, the Blue Jackets’ at 16, the Montreal Canadiens’ at three, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ at five and then the Blackhawks’ at four. Now they have their own winning streak, which center Nicklas Backstrom said ”doesn’t matter.”
”Obviously you know it’s eight in a row, but you’re playing every other day so you just try to reset and get back to work,” Backstrom said. ”We’ve just got to play good next game.”
NOTES: D Karl Alzner became the first player in Capitals franchise history to play 500 consecutive regular-season games. Alzner joined Keith Yandle and Jay Bouwmeester as the only defensemen since 1943-44 to play 500 games in a row. Baseball ironman Cal Ripken Jr. was featured in a video message congratulating Alzner on the achievement. … Washington improved to 23-3-3 when scoring first. … D Michal Rozsival returned to the Blackhawks’ lineup after missing six consecutive games as a healthy scratch, replacing Michal Kempny.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: Host the Central Division-rival Wild on Sunday, their first game against Minnesota this season. The Wild trail the Blackhawks by just two points and have played five fewer games.
Capitals: Try to make it nine straight when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday at 1 p.m., moved back from 12:30 as a domino effect from the Steelers-Chiefs AFC playoff game shifting to prime time because of weather in Kansas City.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Knicks beat Bulls with big games from Anthony, Rose, Noah
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- To Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, it didn't matter much that they were playing their former team.
At this point, the New York Knicks just needed to beat somebody.
Carmelo Anthony had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Rose and Noah had big games against Chicago, and the Knicks beat the short-handed Bulls 104-89 on Thursday night.
"Tonight's game was because it was the next game," Rose said. "We were desperate to win and I'm just happy that we got the win."
Rose scored 17 points in his return to Madison Square Garden after skipping the last game here, and Noah finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds as the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak. Rookie forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas had a season-high 19 points.
The Knicks bounced back from a loss at the buzzer in Philadelphia on Wednesday to win for the first time this season on the second night of back-to-back games.
Dwyane Wade scored 22 for the Bulls, who were missing star swingman Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Denzel Valentine, all because of illness. They dropped their third straight.
Playing without starting forward Kristaps Porzingis, New York won for just the second time in 11 games, a much-needed victory after the mystery surrounding Rose - and then its second buzzer-beating loss of the month.
"I haven't been in situations like this too many times in my career, but I've definitely been in situations where there's been adversity and I think that today a lot of guys showed what they were made of," Noah said.
Rose went home to Chicago on Monday without telling the team, returned to practice the next day and said his absence was for family reasons. The Knicks fined him but put him back in the starting lineup and he has played well in both games since.
Rose was cheered during pregame introductions and then helped the Knicks race to an 8-0 lead. They pulled away by limiting Chicago to 14 points in the third quarter.
Butler and Mirotic both missed their second straight game. Valentine felt sick at the arena and was sent back to the hotel.
"We've got three guys out. We don't have the luxury of missing key guys," Wade said. "So hopefully Saturday, hopefully we don't have any more down. Hopefully Saturday we get at least one or two back."
The Bulls ended up giving little-used, little-known rookie Paul Zipser his first career start at forward. He had a season-high seven points in just his 11th appearance of the season.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Jerian Grant, traded to Chicago in the deal that brought Rose to New York, scored 14 points off the bench. ... Chicago was 3 for 18 (16.7 percent) on 3-pointers.
Knicks: The Knicks are 1-7 on the second night of back-to-backs. ... Porzingis missed three games recently with the Achilles problem, and coach Jeff Hornacek said the injury could have contributed to Porzingis being short on his jumpers Wednesday, including the airball that led to the 76ers' winning shot. Hornacek said Porzingis had soreness and stiffness Thursday but there was no tear or sign of serious injury.
ROSE'S RESPONSE
Rose said he didn't think much about how the crowd would greet him, saying he's been booed in Chicago, too.
"I'm used to it and if they did boo me tonight it's no hard feelings," Rose said. "I know this is sports and I know they're very passionate about their sports and like I said, I said sorry to my team, I apologized and that was something that will never happen again."
ZIPSER'S CHANCE
Zipser had played in just one of the Bulls' five games this month, 10 all season and his high game was three points. But coach Fred Hoiberg said when he told the forward from Germany's Bayern Munich that he would be starting, "He looked me right in the eye and said, 'I'll be ready, Coach.'"
UP NEXT
Bulls: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Chicago swept the series in 2015-16 for the seventh time in 10 seasons.
Knicks: Visit Toronto on Sunday, trying to snap a four-game losing streak to the Raptors.
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- To Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, it didn't matter much that they were playing their former team.
At this point, the New York Knicks just needed to beat somebody.
Carmelo Anthony had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Rose and Noah had big games against Chicago, and the Knicks beat the short-handed Bulls 104-89 on Thursday night.
"Tonight's game was because it was the next game," Rose said. "We were desperate to win and I'm just happy that we got the win."
Rose scored 17 points in his return to Madison Square Garden after skipping the last game here, and Noah finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds as the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak. Rookie forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas had a season-high 19 points.
The Knicks bounced back from a loss at the buzzer in Philadelphia on Wednesday to win for the first time this season on the second night of back-to-back games.
Dwyane Wade scored 22 for the Bulls, who were missing star swingman Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Denzel Valentine, all because of illness. They dropped their third straight.
Playing without starting forward Kristaps Porzingis, New York won for just the second time in 11 games, a much-needed victory after the mystery surrounding Rose - and then its second buzzer-beating loss of the month.
"I haven't been in situations like this too many times in my career, but I've definitely been in situations where there's been adversity and I think that today a lot of guys showed what they were made of," Noah said.
Rose went home to Chicago on Monday without telling the team, returned to practice the next day and said his absence was for family reasons. The Knicks fined him but put him back in the starting lineup and he has played well in both games since.
Rose was cheered during pregame introductions and then helped the Knicks race to an 8-0 lead. They pulled away by limiting Chicago to 14 points in the third quarter.
Butler and Mirotic both missed their second straight game. Valentine felt sick at the arena and was sent back to the hotel.
"We've got three guys out. We don't have the luxury of missing key guys," Wade said. "So hopefully Saturday, hopefully we don't have any more down. Hopefully Saturday we get at least one or two back."
The Bulls ended up giving little-used, little-known rookie Paul Zipser his first career start at forward. He had a season-high seven points in just his 11th appearance of the season.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Jerian Grant, traded to Chicago in the deal that brought Rose to New York, scored 14 points off the bench. ... Chicago was 3 for 18 (16.7 percent) on 3-pointers.
Knicks: The Knicks are 1-7 on the second night of back-to-backs. ... Porzingis missed three games recently with the Achilles problem, and coach Jeff Hornacek said the injury could have contributed to Porzingis being short on his jumpers Wednesday, including the airball that led to the 76ers' winning shot. Hornacek said Porzingis had soreness and stiffness Thursday but there was no tear or sign of serious injury.
ROSE'S RESPONSE
Rose said he didn't think much about how the crowd would greet him, saying he's been booed in Chicago, too.
"I'm used to it and if they did boo me tonight it's no hard feelings," Rose said. "I know this is sports and I know they're very passionate about their sports and like I said, I said sorry to my team, I apologized and that was something that will never happen again."
ZIPSER'S CHANCE
Zipser had played in just one of the Bulls' five games this month, 10 all season and his high game was three points. But coach Fred Hoiberg said when he told the forward from Germany's Bayern Munich that he would be starting, "He looked me right in the eye and said, 'I'll be ready, Coach.'"
UP NEXT
Bulls: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Chicago swept the series in 2015-16 for the seventh time in 10 seasons.
Knicks: Visit Toronto on Sunday, trying to snap a four-game losing streak to the Raptors.
CFB Ambulance involved in crash with SUV in Park Ridge
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- A Chicago Fire Department ambulance was involved in a crash with an SUV Friday morning in northwest suburban Park Ridge.
The ambulance was northbound on Cumberland about 8:30 a.m. when it collided with the SUV, which was eastbound on Belle Plaine, according to Park Ridge Police Deputy Chief Louis Jogmen.
The ambulance was transporting a patient at the time, and had its emergency lights and siren activated, Jogmen said. It slowed down before proceeding into the intersection, which is a four-way stop.
The SUV also slowed but did not stop before proceeding into the intersection, Jogmen said. The ambulance hit the SUV's front end on the passenger side, and sent it into the parkway on the northeast side of the intersection.
There were no injuries as a result of the crash, Jogmen said. A Park Ridge ambulance responded to the scene to finish transporting the CFD ambulance's patient to a hospital.
The driver of the SUV was cited for failure to yield at an intersection, failure to yield for emergency equipment, and an equipment violation.
via ABC 7 Chicago/Sun Times.
The ambulance was northbound on Cumberland about 8:30 a.m. when it collided with the SUV, which was eastbound on Belle Plaine, according to Park Ridge Police Deputy Chief Louis Jogmen.
The ambulance was transporting a patient at the time, and had its emergency lights and siren activated, Jogmen said. It slowed down before proceeding into the intersection, which is a four-way stop.
The SUV also slowed but did not stop before proceeding into the intersection, Jogmen said. The ambulance hit the SUV's front end on the passenger side, and sent it into the parkway on the northeast side of the intersection.
There were no injuries as a result of the crash, Jogmen said. A Park Ridge ambulance responded to the scene to finish transporting the CFD ambulance's patient to a hospital.
The driver of the SUV was cited for failure to yield at an intersection, failure to yield for emergency equipment, and an equipment violation.
via ABC 7 Chicago/Sun Times.
Bicylist fatally struck by car in Humboldt Park
CHICAGO -- A bicyclist was struck and killed by a car Wednesday night in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side, police said.
At 10:38 p.m., a Chevrolet Cruze was driving north on Sacramento when the car struck a man riding a bicycle west on Division, according to Chicago police.
The 34-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died. His name has not yet been released.
The driver of the Cruze, a 36-year-old man, stayed at the scene of the crash, police said. As of late Wednesday, no citations or charges had been issued. No other injuries were reported.
The police Major Accidents Investigation Unit is investigating the crash.
via ABC 7 Chicago.
At 10:38 p.m., a Chevrolet Cruze was driving north on Sacramento when the car struck a man riding a bicycle west on Division, according to Chicago police.
The 34-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died. His name has not yet been released.
The driver of the Cruze, a 36-year-old man, stayed at the scene of the crash, police said. As of late Wednesday, no citations or charges had been issued. No other injuries were reported.
The police Major Accidents Investigation Unit is investigating the crash.
via ABC 7 Chicago.
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