Chicago Sports

The Chicago Bulls look to shake off a two-game losing streak on Sunday as they finish their west coast road trip in Sacramento against a buzzing Kings team.

The 9-13 Chicago Bulls will end their six-game road trip on Sunday against the 12-9 Sacramento Kings. Sacramento has been one of the darlings of the NBA this season with an exciting and high scoring roster, backed by a hungry and frenzied home crowd.

Working in the Bulls favor today will be the advantage of Sacramento having played yesterday on the road, optimistically allowing the potential for a tired Kings team late in today’s game.

The injury report is light today for both teams, with Alex Caruso once again ruled as probable.

The Bulls best bet of the day blog has been every bit of a roller coaster as the Chicago Bulls have been themselves. Regardless, I will be here rain or shine, with the intention of getting this thing well into the green sooner rather than later. Let’s keep the optimism levels as high as possible today, let’s see some damn red, and as always GO BULLS!!

2022 Bulls Best Bet Record: 9-13 (4L Streak)Last Pick: Patrick Williams Over 9.5 Points – L

Chicago Bulls +2.5 (Sportsbook odds may vary)

I understand I probably sound like a homer when I bring the Bulls spread or money line to these blogs, but I try to be as selective as possible, and in today’s case, I believe the Bulls are the right side.

Entering today, the Chicago Bulls are 4-2 against the spread following consecutive losses. Those two failed covers fell within the Bulls four game losing streak. Aside from that stretch, the Bulls have found success with their backs against the wall.

As mentioned in the intro, today will feature the second game of a back-to-back for the Sacramento Kings, and surprisingly this will be just their third such situation. They are 1-1 against the spread, but 0-2 straight up this season in those situations, having covered the spread the one time as double digit underdogs early in the season.

The Chicago Bulls have not yet been a very profitable team against the spread, but as a road underdog, they are 5-4-1 against the number. Contrarily, they have not fared well against Western Conference opponents, but with their backs against the wall, and frankly against a team that they match up well with defensively, a sense of urgency should be what the Bulls need to get this done.

On Friday night, the Bulls switched up their starting rotation, swapping in Alex Caruso and Javonte Green for Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams. The outcome of the game obviously did not go Chicago’s way, but hopefully the move will light a spark under Dosunmu and Williams. To open the game, they combined 5-6 shooting upon their initial entry to the game.

It is unclear if the same starting lineup will be seen today, but I would assume the same switch up will be in place today.

This game should provide some fireworks, as the game total sits just under 240 at 239.5, a frequent setting for Kings’ games this season. If I had to give out a player prop, I might suggest Demar Derozan at 27.5. After a light night on Friday in Golden State, I would be willing to guess he will be fairly aggressive against a team that shouldn’t have a clear answer for defending him tonight.

I do feel confident in the Chicago Bulls’ money line this evening, but I’ll happily take a couple of insurance points, protecting any late shots or anything of that nature. The optimism levels are certainly at a low for this fan base, and as I’ve said, this team isn’t a contender, but I do believe they have a much more successful brand of basketball to be played this season.

Let’s get back into the win column tonight! Best of luck, see red and GO BULLS!!

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SAN DIEGO — The White Sox announced their signing of free agent right-hander Mike Clevinger Sunday, the first official day of the Winter Meetings.

The deal calls for Clevinger to receive $8 million in 2023 with a mutual $12 million option for 2024 that includes a $4 million buyout.

Clevinger, 31, went 7-7 with a 4.33 ERA over 114 1/3 innings pitched in 22 starts and one relief appearance for the Padres in 2022.

In his first full season after recovering from a second Tommy John surgery, Clevinger from May 17 through August 1 posted a 3-3 record with a 2.81 ERA in 10 games (nine starts).

Clevinger joins an all-right-handed starting unit that also includes Dylan Cease, Lance Lynn, Michael Kopech and Lucas Giolito. Johnny Cueto, one of the Sox’ top starters in 2022, is a free agent.

Clevinger beat the Sox in his final regular-season start, pitching six innings of one-run, three-hit ball Oct. 1 in San Diego. But he lasted less than three innings total over two playoff starts, allowing seven earned runs. A sprained right knee suffered in spring training sidelined him for the first month of last season, and he also was sidelined by a strained right triceps in May.

Clevinger, who will turn 32 on Dec. 21, posted a combined 2.96 ERA in 2017-20 with Cleveland and the Padres.

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The Bears’ offense sputtered and stalled without quarterback Justin Fields last week in a 31-10 loss to the Jets. While they’re an underdog Sunday against the Packers, Fields’ return gives the offense a chance of keeping up with Aaron Rodgers.

Here are the Bears’ inactives:

QB Tim BoyleFB Khari BlasingameRT Larry Borom (ankle/knee)OL Ja’Tyre CarterCB Kindle Vildor (ankle)CB Kyler Gordon (concussion)S Jaquan Brisker (concussion)

Trevor Siemian had been the Bears’ backup quarterback all season and started the Jets game, but the pre-game oblique injury he suffered will keep him out the rest of the season.

The Bears signed practice squad quarterback Nathan Peterman to the active roster Sunday, making him Fields’ backup. They also picked up Boyle from the Lions’ practice squad Wednesday.

Wide receivers Chase Claypool and Equanimeous St. Brown, both of whom got hurt in the Jets game, are active against the Packers.

Right tackle is a significant concern with starter Riley Reiff dealing with a shoulder injury and Borom out. The Bears played guard Michael Schofield at right tackle last week when both players got hurt.

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NEW YORK — For the last two weeks, Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones hasn’t been able to put his formerly broken right thumb on his stick. Instead, it’s ”locked straight out” in a splint.

That will be the case for the next two weeks, too.

Yes, he had the same idea anyone else logically would: Why not make a curved splint to lock it in place on the stick? But it turns out that’s easier said than done.

”We tried to make one,” a chuckling Jones said Friday. ”They mold it, and they bent it a little bit. But they don’t want it to move too much.”

Being able to use only four of five fingers on his dominant hand has required some adjustments. Before returning to the lineup Nov. 23 against the Stars, Jones had practiced for only a few days with it. That required those adjustments to be made mostly on the fly.

But at least he’s able to play. And at least his thumb, according to another X-ray a few days ago, is healing as planned.

”It’s a little bit weird when you’re taking your hand off [the stick and] putting it back on,” Jones said. ”It can get jammed in battles and stuff, which doesn’t feel good. But it is what it is.”

Jones has resumed handling his usual massive workload, averaging 24 minutes, 49 seconds of ice time through his first five games back.

In his first two games, Jones and coach Luke Richardson thought he played very well. But in the next two — losses to the Jets and Oilers — his lingering rust after missing nearly a month was more evident. He was a minus-six in those two games combined.

”We talked to him the last few games about maybe trying to get too much into the offense too quickly, too often,” Richardson said Friday. ”[He should be] focusing more on defense with his heavy stick and killing plays and starting the rush instead of maybe trying to get ahead and lead the rush. [That way], we can be a little bit more sound, just in case there’s a hiccup and we don’t get the puck out or it bounces over someone’s stick.”

Jones was also left in a couple of tough situations — by captain Jonathan Toews’ double-pinching errors — as the only Hawks player back against two-on-one rushes by the Oilers in the third period Wednesday.

Nonetheless, Richardson thought Jones could have defended those instances better, too. He suggested Jones should drift closer toward the puck-carrier — instead of staying halfway between the two forwards — and slide a half-second later, once the rush gets closer to the net. Those changes might tempt opponents to shoot rather than try to pass.

Jones entered Saturday with a 41.4% on-ice scoring-chance ratio at five-on-five, the worst mark of his career and ranked 160th among 178 defensemen leaguewide. He was producing more scoring chances himself — 3.7 per 60 minutes at five-on-five, up from 2.8 last season — but opponents were generating a lot more against him, too.

And in the Hawks’ win Saturday against the Rangers, he tallied two power-play assists but the Rangers still recorded a 15-3 scoring-chance advantage during his five-on-five time.

Those ugly numbers largely aren’t his fault. Everybody on the team has advanced stats that are varying degrees of awful. But the struggles and mistakes that have contributed to it do weigh on him.

In spite of the rebuild, Jones knows he’s a Hawk for the long haul because of his enormous contract. Since joining the team, he hasn’t enjoyed a lot of success individually or teamwise. And that bothers him.

”There’s always going to be pressure,” he said. ”I put pressure on myself. I’m my biggest critic to be one of the top players on this team every night. Personally, I don’t think I’ve lived up to that so far.

”I’m a professional athlete. I was brought here to do a job, and I’ve been hit-and-miss at it so far. Just being more consistent is going to [make me] better. [I’m] not putting all the burden on myself, but a big part of it, for sure.”

Jones has learned through his career how to handle that pressure and self-criticism without letting it overwhelm him. Still, it subconsciously might be contributing to his recent tendency to try to do too much every shift. And especially while he remains limited by his thumb, simplifying his game might be prudent.

”I don’t think he needs to lean to the offensive side,” Richardson said. ”He has the ability to get up and down the ice so well that he can play his position properly and hard and against the top lines on the other team and still add offensively.”

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Two of the state’s best seniors and best teams clashed in the finale of the Chicago Elite Classic on Saturday at Credit Union One Arena.

The matchup was so good that for the first time it wasn’t Young or Simeon (the event organizers) in the final game. Kansas State recruit Dai Dai Ames and No. 3 Kenwood faced Michigan State recruit Jeremy Fears Jr. and No. 2 Joliet West.

Early in the second half sophomore Jeremiah Fears made a three-pointer that put the Tigers up by 11. Joliet West led for the majority of the first half and the large crowd began to wonder if the suburban team was going to take down the city powerhouse.

Then foul trouble hit Ames and Fears. Both teams played long stretches of the third quarter without their star guards.

Fears’ absence was too much for the Tigers to overcome. Kenwood’s deep and talented roster had multiple answers and the Broncos took control with a devastating run, holding Joliet West without a bucket for three minutes on the way to a 72-66 victory.

“They need to understand that I’m a genius at this,” Broncos coach Mike Irvin said. “I’ve been putting teams together all my life. They thought because [Nick Irvin] left another Irvin wasn’t going to come in and get it done. We can compete with anyone and we are ready to win the city and state championship.”

Tyler Smith ignited the 14-0 third-quarter run with a three-pointer. He finished with 17 points. Junior Calvin Robins scored 21 in the game and 13 in the fourth quarter to help hold off any comeback from Joliet West.

Ames finished with 12 points for Kenwood (4-0).

“I’ve been putting up 30 and 40 points all my life,” Ames said. “My goal today was to win a basketball game and that’s what I did.”

Jeremiah Fears led Joliet West (5-2) with 17 points and Jeremy Fears finished with 16. Junior Justus McNair added 15 points and Matthew Moore had 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

“They talked a lot and we talked back,” McNair said. “It was a good matchup in a fun environment.”

Jeremy Fears and Ames picked up a technical foul for talking to each other in the first half. It’s been a regular issue for Fears, who fouled out after picking up a technical foul in Joliet West’s season-opening win against St. Louis Cardinal Ritter.

“I just have to keep playing,” Fears said. “Stuff happens in basketball. I have to focus on the main goal, winning.”

Fears played at Joliet West as a freshman and then transferred to La Lumiere in Indiana when the basketball season was delayed due to COVID. He returned this fall.

“[Ames] is the best player in the state,” Irvin said. “We don’t let anybody come from out of town, from these prep schools and all of a sudden they are at the top and better than everybody. Ball is Life and all these media people following [Joliet] around. Follow us around.”

Both teams opened the season with major wins. Joliet West knocked off Cardinal Ritter, St. Rita and Metamora. Kenwood took down Young on the first day of the season.

“As a competitor you don’t like to lose but the goal is to be prepared for March so we can withstand this kind of environment against a competitive team that’s been much further than we have as a program,” Tigers coach Jeremy Kreiger said.

Kenwood has now beaten two of the state’s best Class 4A teams. The Broncos aren’t even at full strength, star junior Chris Riddle is out with an injury and is expected back relatively soon.

“I thought it was disrespect that we started out the season ranked three in the Chicago Sun-Times and we knocked off a powerhouse in Young and we are still three,” Irvin said. “They aren’t respecting what we do.”

Watch the final minute of Kenwood vs. Joliet West:

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NEW YORK — The Blackhawks’ losing streak is finally over.

The Hawks defeated the Rangers 5-2 on Saturday, snapping their eight-game skid, in an eventful game that included some of everything.

”It was a great win for the team,” Hawks star Patrick Kane said. ”We’ve obviously had leads and given them up. We built on our lead tonight and stuck together as a team through a couple of tough plays.”

Kane notched three points, becoming the 50th player in NHL history to hit the 1,200-point milestone, and beat beloved former linemate Artemi Panarin for the first time since Panarin joined the Rangers in 2019.

The two have managed to keep their bromance alive for five years now. As warmups wound down, Kane shot pucks at Panarin across the red line to interrupt his pregame routine, then outlasted him to be the last player to leave the ice. Kane elected not to rub in the victory after the game, however.

”He’s someone I got really close with when he was here, and it’s always fun to see him,” Kane said. ”I’m happy he’s found a good spot here in New York. Every time you play him, he amazes you with the plays he makes.”

Largely because of his friendship with Panarin, the Rangers have been considered a likely landing spot for Kane if he accepts a trade later this season. A growing rivalry of genuine distaste between the Hawks and Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, however, adds an interesting subplot.

Trouba, who infamously knocked out the Hawks’ Jujhar Khaira with a hit to the head last December, fought Khaira in a charged bout early in the second period, then later took a massive run at Andreas Athanasiou.

Athanasiou was unscathed, but the high hit prompted a line brawl in which 32 penalty minutes were doled out. Hawks captain Jonathan Toews picked up 17 of them — including a misconduct — for rushing in to fight Trouba, which teammate Max Domi later called the ”best part of the game.”

One crucial ingredient to the victory was the Hawks scoring the first goal for the first time since Nov. 10. Reese Johnson gave them that early advantage by tipping in a shot by Jake McCabe less than three minutes in.

Starting goalie Petr Mrazek (21 saves) departed at the second intermission, however, after injuring his groin opposite the side he injured previously this season. Coach Luke Richardson said Mrazek likely would miss some time.

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NEW YORK — The Blackhawks’ losing streak is finally over.

The Hawks defeated the Rangers 5-2 on Saturday, snapping their eight-game skid, in an eventful game that included some of everything.

”It was a great win for the team,” Hawks star Patrick Kane said. ”We’ve obviously had leads and given them up. We built on our lead tonight and stuck together as a team through a couple of tough plays.”

Kane notched three points, becoming the 50th player in NHL history to hit the 1,200-point milestone, and beat beloved former linemate Artemi Panarin for the first time since Panarin joined the Rangers in 2019.

The two have managed to keep their bromance alive for five years now. As warmups wound down, Kane shot pucks at Panarin across the red line to interrupt his pregame routine, then outlasted him to be the last player to leave the ice. Kane elected not to rub in the victory after the game, however.

”He’s someone I got really close with when he was here, and it’s always fun to see him,” Kane said. ”I’m happy he’s found a good spot here in New York. Every time you play him, he amazes you with the plays he makes.”

Largely because of his friendship with Panarin, the Rangers have been considered a likely landing spot for Kane if he accepts a trade later this season. A growing rivalry of genuine distaste between the Hawks and Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, however, adds an interesting subplot.

Trouba, who infamously knocked out the Hawks’ Jujhar Khaira with a hit to the head last December, fought Khaira in a charged bout early in the second period, then later took a massive run at Andreas Athanasiou.

Athanasiou was unscathed, but the high hit prompted a line brawl in which 32 penalty minutes were doled out. Hawks captain Jonathan Toews picked up 17 of them — including a misconduct — for rushing in to fight Trouba, which teammate Max Domi later called the ”best part of the game.”

One crucial ingredient to the victory was the Hawks scoring the first goal for the first time since Nov. 10. Reese Johnson gave them that early advantage by tipping in a shot by Jake McCabe less than three minutes in.

Starting goalie Petr Mrazek (21 saves) departed at the second intermission, however, after injuring his groin opposite the side he injured previously this season. Coach Luke Richardson said Mrazek likely would miss some time.

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Senior DeAndre Craig has led Mount Carmel’s basketball revival over the past few years. The high-scoring guard elevated the Caravan’s profile and made them a fixture in the Super 25.

Craig led Mount Carmel to the Pekin Holiday Tournament championship last season and was the event’s MVP.

Expectations are high this year, but the Caravan isn’t going to need Craig to score 20 points in every game this season.

“A little pressure has definitely been taken off me,” Craig said. “Our whole team can score.”

Junior Angelo Ciaravino emerged as a scoring threat last season and is now an even bigger threat. He scored 26 points to lead the Caravan to a 72-48 win against North Lawndale on Saturday in the Chicago Elite Classic at Credit Union One Arena.

“We prepared really well for this game,” Ciaravino said. “We were focused in practice and paid attention to the little details that hurt us in the Oak Lawn loss.”

The upset loss to Oak Lawn last week knocked Mount Carmel (5-1) out of the top ten.

“People were questioning if we were really that good after the loss,” Craig said. “We aren’t worried about that. We’re focused on getting better.”

Craig scored 20 against the Phoenix and Lee Marks, a 6-5 transfer from Homewood-Flossmoor, added 17 points and 13 rebounds. Marks is athletic and aggressive and adds another dimension to the Caravan’s attack.

“We really had a chance to refocus this week and get back to basics like taking care of the ball,” Mount Carmel coach Phil Segroves said. “[North Lawndale] turned on the pressure late in the game and we did a good job.”

North Lawndale (1-2) cut the Caravan’s lead to nine after turning on the defensive pressure early in the fourth quarter. But Mount Carmel responded with a 20-3 run.

“We played as a unit in this game,” Craig said. “We are still working on our teamwork. It’s not top-notch but this is the best game we’ve played together. That was the biggest factor, relying on the man behind you.”

Segroves expects to pick up a major addition next week. Senior Asher Tomaszewski is returning from a football injury.

“Asher is a 6-5, 250 pound lineman committed to Kansas State,” Craig said. “He’ll bring what we need, another big body that can set screens and rebound.”

Senior guard Jemarje Windfield led the Phoenix with 18 points and junior Davarus Spann added 10.

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Here we go, one of the biggest days of the high school basketball season is underway.

And things are very different here at UIC’s Credit Union One Arena on the West Side. There’s a shot clock (likely for the first time in the history of Chicago high school basketball). UIC doesn’t have the high school three-point line on the court either, so they are using the college three-point line.

Today’s lineup:

No. 23 Hyde Park 58, U-High 34: Jurrell Baldwin, a 6-6 junior, scored 22 for the Thunderbirds. The H-F transfer has had an excellent start to the season.

No. 18 Mount Carmel 72, North Lawndale 48: Senior DeAndre Craig has led Mount Carmel’s basketball revival over the past few years. The high-scoring guard has elevated the Caravan’s profile and made them a fixture in the Super 25. Expectations are high this year, but Mount Carmel isn’t going to need Craig to score 20 points in every game this season.

“A little pressure has definitely been taken off me,” Craig said. “Our whole team can score.”

Junior Angelo Ciaravino emerged as a scoring threat last season and is now an even bigger threat. He scored 29 points to lead the Caravan to the win.

Craig scored 20 and Lee Marks, a 6-5 transfer from Homewood-Flossmoor, added 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Senior guard Jemarje Windfield led the Phoenix with 18 points and junior Davarus Spann added 10.

Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 77, No. 8 St. Ignatius 59: The Wolfpack was able to hang with the national powerhouse for about a half. I haven’t looked it up but it feels like Gonzaga comes to the CEC and beats one of our local teams every season. Junior Reggie Ray led St. Ignatius with 19 and senior Jackson Kotecki added 12.

Kendall Gill and Will Perdue were sitting in the front row to watch Gill’s son Phoenix, a promising sophomore at St. Ignatius.

No. 10 Curie vs. St. Louis Vashon, 4:30

No. 5 Young vs. National Christian (Maryland), 6

No. 1 Simeon vs. No. 4 St. Rita, 7:30

No. 3 Kenwood vs. No. 2 Joliet West, 9

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Saturday, December 3, 2022

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Carmel at Benet, 7:00

METRO SUBURBAN – BLUE

Riverside-Brookfield at IC Catholic, 7:30

Timothy Christian at Wheaton Academy, 7:30

NIC – 10

Hononegah at Belvidere North, 7:30

NON CONFERENCE

Clifton Central at Hoopeston, 6:30

Cristo Rey-St. Martin at Elgin Academy, 1:00

Fremd at Grant, 7:30

Galena at Rockford Christian, 1:00

Glenbrook South at Crystal Lake South, 1:30

Grace Christian at Peotone, 11:30

Hinsdale South at Hinsdale Central, 6:00

Indian Creek at Woodstock, 2:30

Julian at Horizon-Southwest, 5:00

Kaneland at Raby, 4:30

Kennedy at Leyden, 2:30 (West)

Lake Forest Academy at Yorkville Christian, 6:30

Lakes at Maine West, 3:30

Latin at Payton, 2:00

Lincoln Park at Metamora, 2:00

Lisle at Newark, 6:30

Lyons at Downers Grove South, 4:00

Maine East at Wheeling, 4:00

Marian Central at St. Viator, 2:30

McNamara at St. Thomas More, 4:30

Morgan Park at Rich, 2:45

Mundelein at Evanston, 4:00

North Chicago at Rockford Lutheran, 2:30

Northside at Northridge, 5:00

Oswego at Waubonsie Valley, 6:00

Oswego East at Lincoln-Way East, 2:30

Palatine at Libertyville, 4:30

Phillips at Rantoul, 5:30

Proviso West at Dunbar, 2:30

Rolling Meadows at Maine South, 6:00

Round Lake at Hersey, 6:00

Sandwich at Richmond-Burton, 1:00

St. Anne at Cornerstone Christian, 4:30

St. Charles North at South Elgin, 3:30

St. Francis de Sales at Brother Rice, 1:30

Sterling at Harlem, 7:00

Stevenson at Westinghouse. 2:30

Sycamore at Harvard, 4:00

Tri-Point at Iroquois West, CNL

Von Steuben at Loyola, 3:30

Walther Christian at Ridgewood, 1:00

Warren at Jacobs, 1:30

West Chicago at Glenbard North, 3:00

Yorkville at Plano, 6:00

CHICAGO ELITE CLASSIC

at Credit Union 1 Arena

Hyde Park vs. University High, 12:00

Mount Carmel vs. North Lawndale, 1:30

Gonzaga (DC) vs. St. Ignatius, 3:00

Curie vs. Vashon (MO), 4:30

Young vs. National Christian (DC), 6:00

Simeon vs. St. Rita, 7:30

Kenwood vs. Joliet West, 9:00

CLARK

Prosser vs. Senn, 12:00

Francis Parker vs. Hope Academy, 2:30

Crane vs. Clark, 5:00

EASTLAND

East Dubuque vs. Marengo, 1:30

Aquin vs. Wethersfield, 3:00

Eastland vs. Warren (IL), 4:30

Byron vs. Hinckley-Big Rock, 6:00

HALL

Marquette vs. Mendota, 3:00

Fieldcrest vs. Bureau Valley, 4:30

Princeton vs. St. Bede, 6:00

Stillman Valley vs. Hall, 7:30

MARION

Lawrenceville vs. Ballard (KY), 2:00

Mascoutah vs. Effingham, 3:30

Kankakee vs. Carbondale, 5:00

Triad vs. Nashville, 6:30

Marion vs. Poplar Bluff (MO), 8:00

MT. VERNON / BELLEVILLE LINDENWOOD

Antioch vs. Lift for Life (MO), 2:30

WHEATON-WARR. SOUTH

Addison Trail vs. Glenbard East, 12:00

Wheaton North vs. Highland Park, 1:30

Naperville Central vs. Hoffman Estates, 3:00

Naperville North vs. Huntley, 4:45

Batavia vs. Glenbard West, 6:15

Wheaton-Warr. South vs. York, 7:45

AURORA CHRISTIAN

Seventh Place, 3:00

Fifth Place, 4:30

Third Place, 6:00

Championship, 7:30

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