Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 1.19.24
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Ravens (-9), Niners (-9.5), Bucs (+6.5), Chiefs (+3) for me this weekend.
Wolves Pull Away from Grizzlies for 30th Win
The Wolves avoided what would have been a bad home loss to an injury ravaged Memphis squad on national TV, enjoying a 20-point fourth quarter advantage for a 118-103 win late last night. Anthony Edwards scored 26 of his 28 points in the second half for Minnesota, which trailed by five heading into the fourth quarter.
It was the second half of a back-to-back, but the Wolves got plenty of rest thanks to the 9 p.m. start time due to TNT. The only reason they were in the game early was Naz Reid, who scored 12of his 20 points on perfect shooting in the first quarter.
The Wolves hit the season’s midway point with a Western Conference-leading 30-11 mark. They host the second-best team, Oklahoma City, in a showdown on Saturday.
Spurgeon Out for Year as Wild Give up 7 in Tampa Bay
On a day when they learned their captain Jared Spurgeon wouldn’t play again this season, the Wild lost 7-3 in Tampa Bay to begin a three-game southeast road trip. The Wild actually led 1-0 on a Joel Eriksson-Ek goal, but this team is just too thin on the blueline. Their PK woes continued, allowing three Lightning PPG.
Spurgeon will have surgery on his hip and back. He’ll go on long term injured reserve, which does clear up almost $8 million of cap space. Not that one guy back there will turn this team into a serious contender, of course. It’ll be interesting to see who Guerin goes after and when. Could he make a trade early enough to try to right this ship, then send that same body elsewhere at the deadline for an asset?
At least with a blowout they could spread the minutes around, with a game in Sunrise tonight against the pesky Panthers.
Gopher Hockey
The Gopher men haven’t swept a conference opponent all season-they’ll try to do that against Ohio State at Mariucci. I’m working tonight’s game, getting my first chance to look at the Gophers this season. The Gopher women, coming off a 13-1 combined shellacking at the hands of No. 1 Ohio State, should make quick work of 3-18-1 Bemidji State up north.
Gopher Hoops
The Gopher men’s seven-game win streak seems like forever ago; they’ve now lost three straight Big 10 games including a 10-point defeat at Michigan State last night. The Gophers turned the ball over 19 times. They’re off until Tuesday against Wisconsin at The Barn. The Gopher women host Michigan State on Saturday, trying to win for the third time in four games.
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