[BC-MCT-SPORTS-BJT]

^Saturday's games<

(TNS)

Tribune News Service

Sports Budget for Saturday, February 9, 2019

Updated at 10 p.m. EST (0300 UTC)

This budget is now available at http://www.TribuneNewsService.com, with direct links to stories and art. See details at the end of the budget.

^TOP STORIES<

^2019 is an important year for Joe Maddon and Rick Renteria, Chicago's yin and yang of managers<

BBO-MADDON-RENTERIA-SPORTSPLUS:TB — As they dive headfirst into the 2019 season this week in Arizona, Cubs manager Joe Maddon and White Sox counterpart Rick Renteria are entering crossroads of sorts.

Maddon, coming off a 95-win season and four straight postseason appearances, needs to win to keep his job. Renteria, coming off 100 losses with most of the same nucleus returning, needs to stop losing to keep his sanity.

There may be vastly different expectations for the Cubs and Sox, but fans on both sides of town want to see one thing: improvement.

1350 by Paul Sullivan in Chicago. MOVED

PHOTOS

^Magic, 76ers trade complete as Markelle Fultz, Jonathon Simmons pass physicals<

BKN-MAGIC-FULTZ:OS — Thursday's trade between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers became official Friday when Markelle Fultz and Jonathon Simmons passed their physical exams.

A Magic team spokesman confirmed Saturday morning that the two players had passed their physicals.

The Magic sent Simmons, along with a first-round 2020 pick and a second-round 2019 pick, to the 76ers for the Fultz before the NBA trade deadline expired on Thursday afternoon.

Fultz, the No. 1 draft pick in the 2017 NBA draft, was in Orlando on Friday morning for his physical.

350 by Roy Parry in Orlando, Fla. MOVED

PHOTO

^BASEBALL<

^Peter Schmuck: Frank Robinson wasn't easy to get to know, but he was certainly worth the effort<

BBA-SCHMUCK-COLUMN:BZ — Frank Robinson was one of the toughest players in the history of baseball, but the hard shell you had to break through to get to know him was just a very effective disguise.

I found that out the hard way soon after I was hired by The Sun to take over the Orioles beat in January of 1990. The team was coming off its heart-warming "Why Not?" season and I was excited to get started. I was living in Southern California at the time, so I called Frank at his home in Los Angeles, introduced myself and asked him if I could take him to lunch and get acquainted.

1050 by Peter Schmuck in Baltimore. MOVED

PHOTOS

^Bob Brookover: Phillies need Bryce Harper or Manny Machado to win the offseason and the NL East<

BBN-BROOKOVER-COLUMN:PHI — We learned long ago and many times over that the team that wins the offseason does not always win the actual season.

The Atlanta Braves, for example, spent less money during the offseason than any other team in baseball last year and still won the National League East.

That said, the Phillies headed into November as the major league favorite to win this offseason and they have not done it yet. They leaped into contention Thursday with the acquisition of All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, a move that should be considered among the top five in baseball this offseason.

900 by Bob Brookover in Philadelphia. MOVED

PHOTO

^Phil Miller: Bottom line: Twins didn't make any major offseason deals<

BBA-MILLER-COLUMN:MS — The Twins were the most active team in baseball at last year's trade deadline, pulling off five swaps in the final days of July and another in early August. And that was just a precursor, the team's front office hinted and the MLB community assumed, to a winter spent bartering for major league upgrades in Minnesota.

"We may actually shift our attention to the trade market," Twins general manager Thad Levine said, when asked at a public forum in August about the team's plans for pursuing free agents. "This might not be the perfect time for us to invest in a guy who's 30 years old and would need to perform today in order for us to realize his true potential."

750 by Phil Miller in Minneapolis. MOVED

PHOTOS

^Royals add veteran starting pitcher Homer Bailey on minor league deal<

^BBA-ROYALS-BAILEY:KC—<The Royals added right-handed former Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey on minor league contract Saturday, adding another veteran pitcher with big league experience to the mix as they head into spring training.

Bailey, 32, has spent his entire 12-year career in the majors as a starter, and he has pitched exclusively in the National League for the Reds. Along with the minor league deal, Bailey received an invitation to spring training with the Royals.

150 by Lynn Worthy. MOVED

PHOTO

^Tommy Pham doesn't regret ripping lack of Rays fans, would like to see more of them<

BBA-RAYS-PHAM:PT — Outfielder Tommy Pham had no apologies or regrets Saturday for his recent comments saying the Rays had "really no fan base," and said he was not concerned about any backlash.

Instead, Pham made a plea, albeit more politely, for more fans to support the team.

"When you're a team of our caliber it would be nice — because I do envision us winning — to have more fan support at our games," Pham said during an appearance at the team's Fan Fest at Tropicana Field.

"I'm appreciative for the fans that we do have. I do think it would be good for the team because a lot of these guys are young and they've never had the experience yet of playing in that kind of environment."

600 by Marc Topkin in St. Petersburg, Fla. MOVED

PHOTO

^NFL<

^Ravens can't duplicate Patriots' dynasty, but here's how they can learn from it<

FBN-RAVENS-PATRIOTS-MODEL:BZ — If every Super Bowl offers insights about the NFL's past, present and future, the New England Patriots' sixth title typified the lesson that has become as dull and resounding as their 13-3 triumph Sunday over the Los Angeles Rams.

The Patriots still have Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and no one else does, and that's usually enough.

A year after losing a shootout to the Philadelphia Eagles, New England won Super Bowl LIII with defense, a game that was half-slugfest, half-punting battle. Two years after running off a 25-point comeback against the Atlanta Falcons, the Patriots all but sat on the Rams and waited for the game to end and the confetti to fall.

1200 by Jonas Shaffer in Baltimore. MOVED

PHOTO

^NBA<

^Marcus Hayes: How Moses Malone led Allen Iverson from the wilderness<

BKN-HAYES-COLUMN:PHI — Far from lights and crowds, the Chairman of the Boards mentored The Answer in his darkest hours.

Allen Iverson was the unconventional centerpiece of the Sixers franchise from 1996-2006. He often was portrayed unfairly or unjustly. That enraged him.

Moses Malone soothed him like a big brother would.

"He was able to be that guy — when he knew I was going to explode — to say, 'Come on, young fella,' " Iverson said, putting his hand on my shoulder, the way Moses did with him. "And I'm, like, 'Well, Mo said calm down. So, I guess I should calm down.' "

900 by Marcus Hayes in Philadelphia. MOVED

PHOTO

^Steve Popper: Knicks' rebuild had a good week, at least on paper<

BKN-POPPER-COLUMN:ND — It was a good week for the Knicks. Not on the court, of course, where they have continued to chase the record for the worst season in franchise history. But if you are keeping score in the realm that the Knicks are counting on — the future of their rebuild — they went 3-0 recently.

First, Anthony Davis announced that he wanted out of New Orleans and placed the Knicks on a short list of teams he would consider signing with long-term. Then he was not dealt before the trade deadline, leaving the opening for the Knicks to chase him this summer.

600 by Steve Popper in Detroit. MOVED

^Kevin Durant expected LeBron James to pick him first in All-Star draft<

BKN-WARRIORS-DURANT-ALLSTAR:SJ — Kevin Durant did not sound grateful for the honor. It sounded like he expected it.

As the captain for his respective All-Star team for the second consecutive season, LeBron James selected Durant first for his team. To which Durant says .

"What else is he supposed to do?" Durant asked, rhetorically.

Fair enough. Durant has won two NBA championships and two Finals MVPs in consecutive seasons. In his 12th NBA season, the 30-year-old Durant is ranked No. 36 on the league's all-time scoring list and counting (22,366 points).

500 by Mark Medina in Phoenix. MOVED

^Dwyane Wade on his Sacramento spill, 'It's kind of like a car accident'<

BKN-HEAT-WADE:FL — Friday night's stunning collapse from a late 17-point lead against the Sacramento Kings left the Miami Heat dazed.

Guard Dwyane Wade already was there.

Remaining on the court for several minutes after a whiplash-like slam of his head late in the first quarter of what turned into a 102-96 loss, Wade briefly retreated to the locker room, was placed in the NBA's concussion protocol, and then returned to complete what turned into a 26-minute, 15-point effort.

450 by Ira Winderman in Oakland, Calif. MOVED

PHOTO

^Stefan Bondy: Knicks are so terrible the only thing left to sell Kevin Durant on is the chance to save the franchise<

BKN-BONDY-COLUMN:NY — Kevin Durant caught flack for signing with the greatest regular-season team in NBA history. And if he's looking for approval from those critics, Durant could do the exact opposite with the Knicks.

Maybe that's part of the appeal.

The Knicks won't finish with the worst record we've ever seen in the league (not unless they drop the rest of their games), but the losing has already reached historic proportions.

450 by Stefan Bondy in New York. MOVED

Saturday's games

TNS expects coverage from the following games:

Toronto at New York, 7:30 p.m. EST

LA Clippers at Boston, 8 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Orlando at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.

^NHL<

^5 things that must happen for the Blackhawks to make the playoffs<

HKN-BLACKHAWKS-PLAYOFFS:TB — Didn't think the Blackhawks had it in them, did you? Of course you didn't, and for good reason.

Everything the Hawks had shown before their current six-game winning streak indicated this was a lost season. After falling to the Rangers on Jan. 17, they were tied with the Senators for the fewest points in the NHL.

Now they're a mere two points out of a wild-card spot — albeit with four teams to pass — and are miraculously gearing up to make a bid for the postseason.

Here are five things that must happen for the Hawks to make the playoffs.

950 by Jimmy Greenfield in Chicago. MOVED

PHOTO

^Red Wings flop at Sabres, lose matinee, 3-1<

HKN-REDWINGS-SABRES:DE — The Detroit Red Wings began their fathers trip with a dud.

After largely playing well for more than a month, their excursion Saturday at KeyBank Center disappointed. They started decently but couldn't find the back of the net, and the last two periods they looked sloppy. It ended with a 3-1 loss.

The Sabres came into the game having lost three of their previous four games. They are 9-14-5 since winning 10 straight games in November.

The game was the first on a three-stop trip during which the Wings have brought along their fathers or other male family members, or in a few cases, a friend.

450 by Helene St. James in Buffalo, N.Y. MOVED

^Wild snap four-game losing streak with 4-2 win over Devils<

HKN-WILD-DEVILS:MS — After scrambling its lines in search of a solution for a four-game slide, the Wild concentrated their offensive leaders on the first two units.

But it was the third trio featuring center Joel Eriksson Ek and wingers Marcus Foligno and Luke Kunin that was the Wild's most effective, scoring three times to set up a 4-2 slump-busting win over the Devils Saturday afternoon in front of 15,783 at Prudential Center.

The result improved the team to 6-0 in afternoon games on the road.

400 by Sarah McLellan in Newark, N.J. MOVED

PHOTOS

^Ryan Pulock's OT goal lifts Islanders over Avalanche, 4-3<

HKN-AVALANCHE-ISLANDERS:ND — Defenseman Ryan Pulock scored two go-ahead goals for the Islanders. The second one was a winner.

His goal at 2:23 of overtime gave the Islanders a 4-3 win over the Avalanche on Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 14,216 at Barclays Center.

Pulock had given the Islanders, who rallied from a two-goal deficit, a 3-2 lead on a four-on-three power play at 13:57 of the third period. Mathew Barzal and the Avalanche's Carl Soderberg were called for roughing minors after a nasty tussle near the Colorado crease and the Avalanche's Gabriel Landeskog hooked Brock Nelson off the ensuing faceoff.

300 by Andrew Gross in New York. MOVED

^Hart picks up another win as Flyers down Ducks, 6-2<

HKN-FLYERS-DUCKS:PHI — As winning recipes go, scoring four goals in a single period is a potent one.

But the Flyers found even that toxic during the barren earth portion of their season that has caused such team upheaval. The only other time they did so before Saturday's first period at the Wells Fargo Center, they finished on the losing end of the score.

That was in Calgary on Dec. 12, a debilitating loss in which the Flames scored twice in the final 66 seconds of regulation, then won it 36 seconds into overtime.

600 by Sam Donnellon in Philadelphia. MOVED

PHOTO

^Blues win fifth straight, 3-2 over Predators<

HKN-PREDATORS-BLUES:SL — Goalie sensation Jordan Binnington won again and so did the Blues, getting goals from Vince Dunn, Vladimir Tarasenko and Mackenzie MacEachern in a 3-2 victory over the rival Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon at Enterprise Center.

It was the Blues' fifth victory in a row, their longest winning streak since a six-game streak from March 17 through March 27 of last season, when they desperately — and unsuccessfully — were trying to work their way into the playoffs.

At 26-22-5, good for 57 points, the Blues stayed in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

450 by Jim Thomas in St. Louis. MOVED

^Flyers trade Dale Weise, Christian Folin to Canadiens, acquire David Schlemko, Byron Froese<

HKN-FLYERS-CANADIENS-TRADE:PHI — In a minor four-player swap announced Saturday, the Flyers acquired defenseman David Schlemko and forward Byron Froese and sent forward Dale Weise and defenseman Christian Folin to Montreal.

"Both players were looking for a bigger role and a different opportunity, and we tried to accommodate them," general manager Chuck Fletcher said about Weise and Folin.

Schlemko, 31, appeared in 19 games for Montreal this season, collecting two assists and averaging 19:51 per contest. He also played in eight games for the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, Laval.

250 by Sam Carchidi in Philadelphia. MOVED

PHOTO

^Kings' rally goes for naught in loss to Bruins<

HKN-KINGS-BRUINS:LA — A script doesn't get much more flipped than this.

From the last-second heroics from No. 73 of the Los Angeles Kings last season, to the perfect capper for No. 37 of the Boston Bruins on Saturday, it was all about alternate endings.

The Kings could have silenced the "Beat L.A.!" chants from TD Garden like they did with Tyler Toffoli's overtime goal with 0.4 seconds left two Octobers ago. But the Boston Bruins rewrote this one and Patrice Bergeron autographed it with an overtime score to hand the Kings a 5-4 loss.

Bergeron's four-on-three power-play marker punctured the Kings, who rallied from 4-2 down with goals by Nate Thompson and Oscar Fantenberg after they allowed three goals in three minutes, 22 seconds in the beginning of the third period.

700 by Curtis Zupke in Boston. MOVED

Saturday's games

TNS expects coverage from the following games:

Dallas at Arizona, 4 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

San Jose at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

^COLLEGE BASKETBALL<

^Matthews comes up clutch as Michigan beats Wisconsin, 61-52<

BKC-WISCONSIN-MICHIGAN:DE — It was a slog.

But games between these teams often seem to be.

No. 7 Michigan survived a hard-fought battle against No. 19 Wisconsin, winning, 61-52 at Crisler Center on Saturday afternoon.

Charles Matthews finished with a team-high 18 points and hit a bevy of difficult jumpers in the second half, including two late in the game.

The Wolverines (22-2, 11-2 Big Ten) held onto first place in the Big Ten, and earned a split against the Badgers (17-7, 9-4).

The second half was all Matthews.

500 by Orion Sang in Ann Arbor, Mich. MOVED

^No. 8 North Carolina avoids upset, outlasts Miami in overtime<

BKC-MIAMI-UNC:RA — Chris Lykes and the Miami Hurricanes did not care that North Carolina was at home, or that it was one of the top teams in the country.

Regardless of how good the Tar Heels were — and they have been good recently — the Hurricanes were going to try to beat them. And they nearly did. The Hurricanes took a three-point lead after Miami senior guard Zach Johnson hit a baseline jumper with 21 seconds remaining.

But UNC coach Roy Williams called a timeout and drew up a play that found senior forward Luke Maye open for a 3-pointer. He knocked it down, sending the game to overtime. In overtime, the Tar Heels outplayed the Hurricanes and won, 88-85 at the Dean Smith Center.

700 by Jonathan M. Alexander in Chapel Hill, N.C. MOVED

PHOTOS

^Lawson, Agbaji help Kansas pull away for 84-72 win over Oklahoma State<

BKC-OKLAHOMASTATE-KANSAS:KC — A short-handed Kansas basketball team, playing without injured Marcus Garrett and Udoka Azubuike and ineligible Silvio De Sousa, won its first game without senior guard Lagerald Vick on Saturday.

The Jayhawks, who learned on Thursday that Vick was headed home to Memphis for personal reasons while on an indefinite leave of absence, upended an equally depleted Oklahoma State squad, 84-72 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Taking the court without veteran Vick against an OSU team that has lost four players since the start of the new year, the Jayhawks — who Saturday were led by Dedric Lawson's 25 points and Ochai Agbaji's 23 points — welcomed a new starter into the lineup.

450 by Gary Bedore in Lawrence, Kan. MOVED

PHOTOS

^No. 5 Kentucky holds off Mississippi State, 71-67<

BKC-KENTUCKY-MISSISSIPPISTATE:LX — Maybe not with such wild swings of momentum, but Kentucky coach John Calipari expected a challenge at Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon.

That's why he took an usual, if not unprecedented step in preparing his team at dawn.

"We came over at 7:30, and we did a shootaround," Calipari said. "I never do that. I knew how tough this game was going to be. We may have run out of gas because I did that."

Calipari cited the reason he broke from custom. "We had two other games at noon," he said of matchups with Seton Hall and Alabama. "We lost both."

800 by Jerry Tipton in Starkville, Miss. MOVED

PHOTO

^Nick Ward, Michigan State snap out of funk with rout of Minnesota<

BKC-MINNESOTA-MICHIGANSTATE:DE — Nick Ward said earlier in the week he had spoken with Magic Johnson recently and received advice.

Michigan State's junior forward put on a performance to make the basketball legend proud.

On a day the Spartans celebrated Magic and the 1979 national championship team, Ward shook off a recent funk and Matt McQuaid had a career game to help No. 9 MSU end its three-game losing streak with a 79-55 victory over Minnesota on Saturday afternoon at Breslin Center.

500 by Chris Solari in East Lansing, Mich. MOVED

^Villanova rallies from 15-point deficit, but final shot falls short in 66-65 loss to Marquette<

BKC-VILLANOVA-MARQUETTE:PHI — It was a matchup of the Big East's two heavyweights Saturday at Fiserv Forum and both 14th-ranked Villanova and No. 10 Marquette showed why each was deserving of its lofty standing.

After the Wildcats rallied from a 15-point deficit to take the lead, and after the Golden Eagles answered by regaining the advantage, the contest came down to a last possession for the visitors with a chance to win. But Phil Booth got jammed inside and Jermaine Samuels rushed a shot that fell short at the buzzer, and Marquette captured a 66-65 victory

550 by Joe Juliano in Milwaukee. MOVED

PHOTOS

^No. 22 FSU upsets No. 16 Louisville in overtime<

BKC-LOUISVILLE-FSU:OS — Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said he hoped his team could learn from their mistakes while still managing to collect wins this season.

The No. 22 Seminoles lived up to those expectations Saturday at the Donald L. Tucker Center, overcoming a rough shooting night against a top team en route to an 80-75 win over No. 16 Louisville in overtime.

Louisville (17-7) looked shaky to start the overtime period, with Jordan Nwora dribbling off his foot and Dwayne Sutton missing a jumper.

600 by Chaunte'l Powell in Tallahassee, Fla. MOVED

PHOTO

^No. 2 Duke shoots way past No. 3 Virginia, 81-71<

BKC-DUKE-VIRGINIA:RA — Duke saved its best 3-point shooting night of the season for one of is biggest games on Saturday night.

The No. 2 Blue Devils made 13 3-pointers, hitting at a 61.9 percent accuracy, and never trailed to beat No. 3 Virginia, 81-71, in ACC basketball at John Paul Jones Arena.

Entering the game having made just 30.8 percent of their 3-pointers this season, the Blue Devils made seven of their first eight to build a double-digit lead and hold off every Virginia charge.

650 by Steve Wiseman in Charlottesville, Va. MOVED

PHOTO

^Clemson tops No. 11 Virginia Tech, earns fourth straight ACC victory<

BKC-VIRGINIATECH-CLEMSON:CS — Clemson had its way with some of the lesser teams in the ACC over the past couple of weeks as the Tigers dug out of a 1-5 start to league play to get back in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth.

That success carried over into Saturday afternoon as the Tigers topped No. 11 Virginia Tech, 59-51 at Littlejohn Coliseum. The victory improves Clemson to .500 in league play and is Clemson's fourth consecutive ACC win. Clemson is now 15-8 (5-5) entering Wednesday night's game at Miami. The Hokies drop to 18-5 (7-4) with the loss.

650 by Matt Connolly in Clemson, S.C. MOVED

PHOTO

^WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL<

^Napheesa Collier scores 30 in UConn's 109-74 win over Temple<

BKW-TEMPLE-UCONN:HC — Just days ago, coach Geno Auriemma said UConn's stats from its win over ECU were "fairytale land" numbers.

If Saturday's game against Temple was any indication, the Huskies are still living in the land of make believe.

No. 5 UConn beat Temple, 109-74, in its second straight triple-digit performance, showcasing an improved, pass-heavy offense and shrugging off any signs of a shooting slump.

550 by Kelli Stacy in Storrs, Conn. MOVED

PHOTOS

^AUTO RACING<

^NASCAR rising star Alex Bowman wants to be best known for winning<

^CAR-NASCAR-BOWMAN:OS—<Alex Bowman wants to be known for more than a number or a nickname.

Even at speeds exceeding 200 mph, the reigning pole-sitter at the Daytona 500 has struggled to distance himself from either one.

The driver tabbed "Bowman the Showman" enters his second full season behind the wheel of the No. 88 car made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The expectations and pressures from Junior's steadfast fan base have been inevitable. On the eve of Sunday's qualifying sessions, Bowman said he has grown comfortable fielding inquiries about succeeding a two-time 500 winner.

650 by Edgar Thompson. MOVED

PHOTO

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