12042017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Fowler rallies with 61 to win in Tiger’s return

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

R

ickie Fowler delivered his best performance of the tournament when it mattered most and shot a blistering course record 61 (-11) on the final day to claim the 2017 Hero World Challenge title.

Fowlerm, who shot -18 for the event to finish well ahead of the field and surpass Charley Hoffman, entered the final day with a five-stroke lead at the Albany Golf Course. He started the final round with seven straight birdies to earn his second tour win of the year and move into the No.7 spot in the world.

“It was pretty special. Obviously, it’s not a full-field event, but the 18 guys that are here I feel like we’ve all earned our way here. In a way this tournament’s always I feel like been looked at as a celebration of, like I said, earning your way here.

No one gets here by mistake,” he said.

“It was a great week here. Obviously, I knew I needed to get off to a hot start today to give myself a chance, and Charley’s been playing some solid golf and I wasn’t expecting him to come back to me, I knew I was going to have to go out and get him. Like I said, get off to a decent start and at least show my face a little bit. I wasn’t expecting seven out of the gate, but I’ll take it.”

Fowler’s previous win on tour this year was at the Honda Classic and he was tied for third in last year’s Heo World Challenge.

“I think coming off of this past year, being arguably one of my best years when you look across the board stat-wise, I didn’t win as much as I would have liked to. But that being said, the two events that I’ve played through I guess my mini-offseason, Mayakoba and finishing second there and put myself in a position to win, and then coming here and not necessarily being in contention but going out there and putting myself in a position to go win.

“After the hot start with these two finishes through the fall going into what will be a little break before we go to Maui, I’m looking forward to next year,” he said.

“I think the big thing was to not, I guess, not lose what we had going

SEE PAGE 2

RICKIE FOWLER, right, poses with Tiger Woods and the trophy after Fowler won the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at the Albany Golf Club yesterday.

(AP Photo/Dante Carrer)

NFL

Week 13, Page 3

NPBA: GIANTS, STINGERS IN WIN COLUMN

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Commonwealth Bank Giants were on the right end of a blowout and the PJ Stingers withstood a late charge to score wins in the New Providence Basketball Association on Saturday night.

The Giants won 114-45 over the Vita Malt Chargers while the Stingers topped the Rhythm Rebels 95-90 at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

Seven Giants scored in double figures, and nine players scored at least seven points in the rout.

The Giants field several former national team members and current members of the team that competed last week at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Tehran Cox scored a game-high 22 points and shot 4-5 from threepoint range.

Tehrad Rahming posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, Darstyn Baker stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points and seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, Michael Bain scored 15 and added six steals, Jeffrey Henfield scored 16 points with four steals, Herbert Knowles scored 12 and Kevin Hinsey added 11.

D’Shon Taylor had a near double-double with nine points and eight rebounds while David Tayler scored seven.

An offensive struggle all night for the Chargers, Andrew King led the team with 10 points and Dennis Turnquest scored seven.

The Giants limited the Chargers to just eight points in the first quarter to pull away early. An Alexander Bullard layup pulled the Chargers within two (7-5) at 6:32 left to play.

Baker scored a tip-in to spark a run for the Giants.

They closed the quarter on a 17-2 run. At the 2:21 mark, they ended with 10 unanswered points to take a 24-8 lead. The Giants had

SEE PAGE 2

Blazers and Bobcats visit Bahamas Bowl site ahead of big game

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net COACHES and administration from both participating teams

Buddy, Page 5

in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl had an opportunity for their first site visit ahead of the December 22 matchup.

The UAB Blazers and Ohio University Bobcats hosted their first joint press conference to speak on the significance of the game for both programmes and their expectations headed into bowl season.

Both teams accepted early bids following the completion of “rivalry week” after they each finished the regular season at 8-4. Their 16 combined victories are tied for the most in Bahamas Bowl history with last year’s matchup between Eastern Michigan and Old Dominion.

The Blazers come into the Bahamas Bowl with six victories in their last eight games to finish second in Conference USA’s West Division. The Blazers average

29.6 points per game and UAB has scored 30 or more points six times.

“Seeing the improvements that have been made is tremendous.

It will be a true battle and a test when we play those guys. As all of this was coming to fruition at the end of the season, we said very quickly that we would want to come to this ball game,” Blazers head coach Bill Clark said.

“The programme was at total shutdown, the students voted to raise their tuition to bring our programme back and for our players, coaches to do this was such a big deal, it really capped off a storybook ending to this season.”

The Blazers’ were 8-4 and 6-2 in conference play. The football programme was cut in 2014, and in just three short years have returned to prominence.

Due to the fundraising effort by

DECEMBER 22, 2017 12:30PM ET

businesses and fans in the Birmingham area, there was an announcement six months later by the university that the programme would return in 2017.

“It is a tremendous pleasure and honour for us to be a part of this game. UAB has had a great year but we are also privileged to play an esteemed institution as Ohio.

“This UAB team has endured so much during the year and has accomplished so much,” said UAB senior associate athletic director and CFO Bryant Carter.

“This opportunity has been presented to a team that is very deserving. We had not played in two years, no one outside of our UAB community thought we would be here but we did it and we did it the right way. We have written history and I think we have answered the call.”

UAB BLAZERS

SEE PAGE 2

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Ohio, which also went 8-4 but also went 5-3 in the Mid American Conference play, will be led to its’ 11th all-time bowl appearance by head coach Frank Solich, who is in his 13th season at Ohio.

He has taken the Bobcats to nine bowls, including in each of the last three seasons. He is the thirdlongest tenured coach in the FBS ranks.

“Very excited to be here and right away you recognise the hospitality has been amazing. To all of those people that are involved in putting this on, we thank you.

There is an excited group of Bobcats coming down and we are certainly looking forward to it,” he said. “As I look at our team and what they have accomplished it has been nothing short of amazing. It should be a great football

OHIO BOBCATS

For more info, contact the Stadium Box Office at 325-0376

19 DAYS TO KICKOFF

PAGE 2, Monday, December 4, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

TIGER GETS PASSING GRADE IN 1ST ROUND IN 10 MONTHS

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods was watching the leaderboards, and he wasn’t alone.

Woods returned to competition for the first time in 301 days, and just like his previous four comebacks from back surgeries, no one was quite sure what to expect.

Matt Kuchar was among those who looked for Woods’ name whenever he passed a scoreboard at the Hero World Challenge.

“Absolutely, we wanted the Tiger Woods update,” Kuchar said Thursday. “I think everybody was excited and couldn’t wait to see how he would do.”

In his first tournament in 301 days — his first time competing since a fourth back surgery in April — Woods did fine. He made five birdies. He muffed two chips.

He saved par. He twice dropped choice words. He once slammed his 6-iron into the turf after a poor tee shot.

And he shot 69 .

It was enough for Woods to feel like he hadn’t been gone since February 3.

“It was not only nice to get the first round out of the way, but also I’m only three shots out of the

lead,” Woods said. “So to be able to put myself there after not playing for 10 months or so, it was nice to feel the adrenaline out there.”

Tommy Fleetwood shot a 6-under 66 for a one-shot lead.

Woods was in a tie for eighth in the 18-man field at Albany Golf Club. It’s progress from last year, when he wasted a good start with a pair of double bogeys over the last three holes, shot 73 and was nine shots out of the lead.

The first round brought a mix of everything, most of it good.

OFF THE TEE: Woods played the opening round with Justin Thomas, the PGA Tour player of the year and one of golf’s big hitters.

He was alongside most of the day, and occasionally past him.

For a guy who turns 42 at the end of the month, and who has had four back surgeries since the spring of 2014, he hasn’t lost much power.

His only big miss was on the par-5 15th hole, so far right he hit a provisional in case he couldn’t find it. He found it, took a penalty drop and made bogey.

Woods said the driver and putter were the best two parts of his game.

“I knew he was a great putter from the amount of putts I’ve seen him make on TV in the past,” said Thomas, who was 3 when Woods turned pro.

TIGER Woods plans his putt on the second hole of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club yesterday.

(AP Photo/Dante Carrer) ON THE GREEN: As for that putter, the biggest fist pump was on an 18-foot putt on the fourth hole to save par. Woods avoid another bogey on the par-5 11th by making a 10-foot putt, and he finished his round with a 6-foot par putt on the 18th.

He also made birdie putts of 12 feet, 15 feet and 25 feet. Most importantly, he missed only one putt inside 10 feet.

TIGER AND FRIENDS: The biggest difference from this comeback and last year in the Bahamas was preparation.

Woods felt strong enough that he said he played nine consecutive days with players who live near him in Florida — Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Daniel Berger and one round with Dustin Johnson, Brad Faxon and President Donald Trump.

“They really want to help me come back and play, especially playing with Rickie a few times,” Woods said. “I always had to ask him, ‘What are you hitting?’

Because I didn’t know how far I was hitting clubs. When I left the game, I was much shorter than Rickie. And next thing you know, I’m about the same length.”

CHIPPING: The one area that can be suspect for Woods is chipping, and there were a few glaring moments in the opening round.

From below the green at No. 4 and at No. 9, Woods didn’t even reach the green .

Cause for alarm? Not necessarily. Because of Hurricane Irma, the grass at Albany is still not flush, leading to lies around the green that were tight and thin.

It was tough on more than just Woods.

“It’s frustrating, because I have a hard time with into the grain, ball sitting down,” Woods said. “I have to hit the ball high. I’m used to using the bounce and hitting behind it a little bit and getting it up. But it’s so sticky that it’s really hard to do. I haven’t quite figured it out yet.”

NO BIG NUMBERS: Woods made 24 birdies when he played the Hero World Challenge last year and still finished 15th out of 18 players, 14 shots out of the lead.

One of his goals Thursday was to avoid big numbers, and he really only had one close call on the 15th hole when he had to take the penalty drop from the sand dunes.

“I just didn’t want to have holes like that where I could make bogeys or doubles or anything higher than that,” Woods said.

“So there were a couple of times, yeah, I probably played a little bit safer than I normally would.”

Fowler rallies with 61 to win in Tiger’s return NPBA: GIANTS, STINGERS IN WIN COLUMN FROM PAGE 1

this past year because it was a very solid year across the board, and I think what we’re going to work on going forward is just picking up a few of the little things that could have made just that -- just that difference to put us in the winner’s circle more on Sunday because we gave ourselves a lot of chances. No, this is a nice way to go into Christmas.”

Hoffman finished four back at -14 for the event. “You know what, actually hit it off the tee better than I had all week, just irons weren’t quite as sharp today. The par 5s I was in position, (inaudible) iron shots in on my second shots and just never really got anything going, never had a chance. Rickie obviously had it going all day and I didn’t, but it was nice to see him play well,” Hoffman said.

“You know, I played good, just didn’t play as good as I needed to today. Mostly I didn’t think someone’s going to go out and shoot 11 under par. With that, I got sort of steamrolled.”

Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood, who is set to be married in the Bahamas tomorrow, were tied for third at -12 for the event.

Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed and Justin Rose shot -11 to tie for fifth place.

Reed was paired with Fowler for the afternoon and got to witness his historic round firsthand.

“Yeah, just made me look like I was playing absolutely horribly.

You know, I felt like I was playing some solid golf there through seven holes. I was three under par and next thing you know he’s seven under par. Yeah, kind of one of those things where he was hitting the ball really solid. Once he got his speed down on the first hole making the first putt, it just seemed like the hole was about the size of a dinner plate, he just never missed.

It was awesome to watch. It was good to see. But man, that was an impressive front nine.” Reed said.

The return of Tiger Woods was again the focal point at the Hero World Challenge for the second consecutive year.

Tournament host Woods played for the first time since he withdrew

FROM PAGE 1

RICKIE Fowler watches his shot from the 18th tee during the final round of the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at Albany Golf Club yesterday. Fowler won the tournament.

(AP Photo/Dante Carrer) from the Dubai Desert Classic on February 3 with back spasms.

He had a fourth back surgery two months later and been sidelined ever since. Woods shot -8 to tie for ninth place. “I’m excited. This is the way I’ve been playing at home and when I came out here and played, I was playing very similar to this. Not quite hitting it as far, but I had the adrenaline going and overall I’m very pleased. I’m excited the way this week has gone on. With not only as the competitive rounds but also all the functions at night. I still got my training in. It was a very good week,” he said. “Well, I knew I was

going to be able to play all four rounds, that wasn’t going to be an issue.

“I played a lot at home. Came down here, I played, so that wasn’t going to be the issue. The issue was how was my scoring going to be, how was my feel, how am I going to get used to the adrenaline in my system for the first time in a while. You know, that took a little bit of time. I was still good with my irons, I drove it pretty good all week, made some good putts. But overall I’m very pleased. I showed some good signs, I hit some really good shots out there and a bright future.”

The 18-man field featured eight of the top 10 in the world rankings.

The Hero World Challenge is a four-round, 72-hole stroke play event with a $3.5 million purse, a $1 million winner’s prize and Official World Golf Ranking points awarded.

Live television coverage of the Hero World Challenge is provided by Golf Channel during all four rounds and by NBC during the third and fourth rounds. The Tiger Woods Foundation is the event’s primary charitable beneficiary, along with the Tavistock Foundation and Bahamas Youth Foundation.

Blazers and Bobcats visit Bowl site ahead of big game FROM PAGE 1 game and there is no question they are a great football team on the opposite side that we will have to defeat to win this game.

I think we have a very good team and has been as much fun for me as any team I have been around. They have made the game fun for me and easy for me, that has been appreciated.

They enjoy the sport and take in the moment.”

The Bobcats come into the Bahamas Bowl with four victories in the last six games as Ohio finished second in the MAC East Division. On defence, the Bobcats have held opponents to 25.8 points per game.

“This is a great experience for both of our schools and we are excited to be here for this tremendous opportunity,” said

Ohio director of athletics, Jim Schaus.

“When they heard they were coming to the Bahamas they were excited and jumping up and down and who wouldn’t be? The teams from our conference that have played here couldn’t say enough about the bowl, the experience the people here and the hospitality so we are very grateful and excited.”

Slated for 12:30pm, the game will be televised on ESPN and broadcast on the Bahamas Bowl Radio Network in the first matchup between the two programmes.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard said the Bahamas will once again look forward to an exciting game on the field and performing their role as hosts.

“The energy is very high.

During the holiday season,

Bahamians participate enthusiastically in a wide range of events and it is our intention to make it a special one for you.

“We are all waiting with great anticipation to see this battle and we are looking forward to experiencing the competition,” he said.

“Sports is a developmental tool, not merely providing entertainment but building powerful men and women who take characteristics from athletics and use them to transform their communities. We can guarantee Bahamian hospitality and a long-term relationship which will pay dividends for both of us.”

Ticket sales for the 2017 Bahamas Bowl went on sale at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium box office and online at NSA-Bahamas.com on November 1. Prices start at $10 for general admission

and range from $10-30.

Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium Box Office or via the National Stadium Authority-Bahamas website at NSA-Bahamas.com.

For more information, call the National Stadium Box Office at 325-0376.

The 2017 gameday entertainment includes a pregame performance by the Bahamas AllStar Band, a halftime performance by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and Junkanoo groups will perform during the break between the first and second quarters as well as the break between the third and fourth quarters.

For the second straight year, the game date falls at the start of a long holiday weekend in the Bahamas, allowing for an early Friday afternoon game.

Crowds of over 13,000 each year in Nassau have watched the only current bowl game played outside of the United States. The inaugural game in 2014 saw WKU beat Central Michigan 49-48 in a memorable offensive shootout.

In 2015, Western Michigan beat Middle Tennessee 45-31 and last year, Old Dominion held off Eastern Michigan 24-20 “You don’t have to be a football fan, we ought to be a fan of every effort to put forth to promote this country and you get to see why we are going out into the market to host these events,” said NSA general manager Jeff Beckles, “To those experienced the Bahamas for the first time we want to create partnerships for a lifetime. The only place we want them to think about is coming to the Bahamas.”

their most productive quarter in the second but a Bain scored a late jumper with 20 seconds left to play and the Giants took a 49-26 lead at the half. The Giants outscored the Chargers 65-19 in a dominant second half. Vitamalt made a single field and added a pair of free throws for their only points of the third. Knowles scored a late layup with 37 seconds left to play and the Giants took an 81-30 lead into the fourth.

The Giants shot 57 per cent from the field and 46 per cent from three while the Chargers shot 28 per cent from the field and 16 per cent from three. Commonwealth Bank held an overwhelming advantage in assists (29-5), steals (20-3), points in the paint (58-24), points of turnovers (46-5) and bench points (61-18).

Four Stingers scored in double figures and Able Joseph nearly posted a triple-double in the win.

Devon Ferguson led a team with a game-high 18 points, Randy Williams scored 17 points, Mark Hanna scored 15 and Salathiel Dean had a double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds five blocks and three assists.

Joseph had 11 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and five points while Mario Pickstock scored eight.

Antario Collie led the Rebels with 17 points, Adorn Charlow had 15 points and eight rebounds while Craig Buchanan scored 13.

The Rebels opened the game on a 9-2 run but the Stingers responded with 15 unanswered points to and eventually took a 19-16 lead. The Rebels’ Rashard Williams made a layup to tie the game at 32 at the 3:17 mark in the second quarter.

After the teams traded baskets late, the Stingers took a late advantage and led 43-37 at the half. The run continued early in the third quarter and Ferguson’s layup gave the Stingers’ a 50-39 lead. The Rebels worked their way back into the game 57-53 on Brian Bain’s free throws, but the Stingers extended their lead again. Dean’s layup capped a 9-0 run to give the Stingers a 13-0 lead. They took a 74-63 lead into the fourth.

The lead reached as much as 19 when Vernon Stubbs made a layup at the 4:27 mark for an 89-70 lead.

In tonight’s matchups at the AF Adderley Gymnasium, Leno Eagle’s Nest will face the Triple K Stampers and the Island Game Pros take on the Rockets.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, December 4, 2017, PAGE 3

Onside kick the capper as Miami drubs Denver 35-9

MASTERFUL WILSON LEADS SEAHAWKS PAST EAGLES 24-10

By STEVEN WINE Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, the last a 15-yard strike to J.D. McKissic with 7:29 left, and the Seattle Seahawks stayed in the NFC playoff hunt with a 24-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

Seattle (8-4) snapped Philadelphia’s nine-game winning streak thanks largely to another masterful performance by its quarterback.

Wilson was 20 of 31 for 227 and threw touchdowns of 11 yards to Jimmy Graham, 1-yard to Tyler Lockett and the TD to McKissic after the Eagles had trimmed the lead to seven.

Philadelphia (10-2) was the highest-scoring team in the NFL averaging 31.9 points per game. But the Eagles got just 10 points out of seven drives that at some point reached Seattle territory.

Carson Wentz was 29 of 45 for 348 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Wentz had a costly fumble at the Seattle 1 on the opening drive of the second half that could have pulled the Eagles even at 10-all.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — With his team on the verge of ending a five-game losing streak, Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase was in no mood to ease up, even against close friend and counterpart Vance Joseph.

The Dolphins pulled off a successful onside kick to set up their final score as they drubbed the woebegone Denver Broncos 35-9 yesterday.

“We found a way today,” Gase said.

The Dolphins (5-7) regained their bearings with the help of Xavien Howard’s first two career interceptions, a franchise-record two safeties and a breakout performance by Kenyan Drake, who rushed for 120 yards.

Meanwhile, the Broncos (3-9) looked more lost than ever, extending the franchise’s longest losing streak in 50 years to eight games.

• Here are things to know about the rout: WANTING MORE The victory was the Dolphins’ first since Week 7, and by far their

NFL CAPSULES PATRIOTS 23, BILLS 3 ATLANTA (AP) — Case Keenum threw a pair of touchdown passes, and the Minnesota Vikings extended their winning streak to eight straight games, keeping the Atlanta Falcons out of the end zone in a 14-9 victory yesterday.

Keenum, who was 25 of 30 for 227 yards, hooked up with Jerick McKinnon on a 2-yard scoring play in the second quarter, and went to Kyle Rudolph for a 6-yard TD on the first play of the fourth quarter, capping an 89-yard drive that consumed more than eight minutes.

PATRIOTS 23, BILLS 3 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Rex Burkhead scored twice and the Patriots won their eighth straight in an AFC East showdown overshadowed by injuries and cheap shots.

Bills starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor had a towel draped over his head while being carted off the sideline with a left knee injury early in the fourth quarter.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, meanwhile, was accused of making a dirty hit after pile-driving

Denver linebacker Von Miller lodged no complaint either. “I’m not going to stay on the sideline and say, ‘Man, why are they doing an onside kick? Just give us the ball back,’” Miller said. “That’s loser football. This is the pros.”

DOLPHINS strong safety Jordan Lucas (21) congratulates cornerback Xavien Howard (25), after Howard intercepted a pass and ran it for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos yesterday.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) most lopsided of the year. But with 10 minutes left and Miami leading 33-9, Gase wanted more, and Alterraun Verner recovered the onside kick. “We’re just playing for 60 minutes,” Gase said.

shoulder-first into the back of the head of Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White, who was laying on the field after making an interception with 4:50 remaining.

SAINTS 31, PANTHERS 21 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Rookie sensation Alvin Kamara scored two tackleshedding touchdowns, and New Orleans took advantage of a pair of Carolina special teams gaffes asthe Saints reclaimed sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

Mark Ingram rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown for the Saints (9-3), who own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Carolina (8-4) with four games to go.

CHARGERS 19, BROWNS 10 CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Philip Rivers passed for 344 yards and hit Keenan Allen for a touchdown, and the surging Chargers moved into a tie for first place in the AFC West with a victory over the winless Browns.

Allen had 10 catches for 105 yards in his third straight big game for the Chargers (6-6), who have won six of eight to pull even with Oakland and slumping Kansas City atop the division with four games to go.

“We’re not going to slow down, and I don’t care what the score is.”

Joseph, who was Gase’s defensive coordinator last year, had no objection to the tactic.

“That’s his choice,” Joseph said.

RAMS 32, CARDINALS 16 GLENDALE, Ariz.

(AP) — Jared Goff passed for two touchdowns, Los Angeles took advantage of two early interceptions thrown by Blaine Gabbert, and the Rams solidified their grip on first place in the NFC West.

The Rams (9-3) won for the sixth time in seven games to clinch their first winning season since 2003 when they were in St. Louis.

They took the season series with the Cardinals for only the second time in the last 14 years and first since 2012.

WHO’S THE QB? A dismal performance by Trevor Siemian only intensified the Broncos’ quarterback quandary. He had a rating of 30.5, with three sacks and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown by Howard.

“Trevor wasn’t very good,” Joseph said. “You can’t have three interceptions and a pick-six and the sacks. But it wasn’t all him.”

Denver averaged 3.8 yards per pass play. Starting wideouts Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders were targeted 17 times but combined for only four catches for 38 yards. “It’s just a tough day. A couple of throws I’d like to have back,” Siemian said.

“We didn’t get off to a good start.

From there on, no rhythm.”

Siemian was the third starter at quarterback for Denver in as many weeks. Joseph said he’ll weigh his options as to who will start next Sunday against the New York Jets.

scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 2:15 left, and the Jets bounced back from a brutal start for a wild and wacky win over the spiraling Chiefs.

Chandler Catanzaro kicked a 21-yard field goal to put the Jets (5-7) ahead with 3:55 left. But Kansas City’s Bennie Logan was called for a personal foul for hitting long snapper Thomas Hennessy on the play. That gave the Jets the ball at the 1 with a new set of downs.

JAGUARS 30, COLTS 10 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Blake Bortles threw two touchdown passes, Leonard Fournette scored for the first time in six weeks and the Jaguars swept the series for the second time since they joined the AFC South in 2002.

The Jaguars (8-4) bounced back from a lastsecond loss at Arizona, reached eight wins for the first time since 2010, and remained in the thick of the playoff picture.

PACKERS 26, BUCCANEERS 20, OT GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Jones’ 20-yard touchdown run on his only carry, with 5:59 left in overtime, won it.

With the passing game struggling, Green Bay (6-6) wore down the Buccaneers on the ground. Brett Hundley had runs of 18 and 7 yards on the drive to start overtime. The Packers grinded out a win to stay in the playoff race, though they trail NFC North leader Minnesota by four games.

They hope to get starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers back from a collarbone injury in a couple weeks.

JETS 38, CHIEFS 31 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Josh McCown

TITANS 24, TEXANS 13 NASHVILLE, Tenn.

(AP) — LeShaun Sims

intercepted a pass intended for DeAndre Hopkins in the end zone with 1:02 left, and the stayed atop the AFC South.

Marcus Mariota also ran for a touchdown and threw for another, but the Titans needed the interception to preserve the win with Tom Savage throwing for a career-high 365 yards despite the Texans losing four offensive players to injuries during the game.

RAVENS 44, LIONS 20 BALTIMORE (AP) — Joe Flacco threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns, and the Ravens survived a strong comeback bid by Matthew Stafford and the Lions.

After relying heavily on their opportunistic defense for much of the season, the Ravens (7-5) finally received an ample contribution from the league’s 31st-ranked offense.

Flacco helped Baltimore take a 20-0 halftime lead and directed three scoring drives in the fourth quarter to keep the Ravens in front.

49ERS 15, BEARS 14 CHICAGO (AP) — Robbie Gould kicked a 24-yard field goal in the closing seconds and Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 293

yards in his first San Francisco start.

Gould made five field goals in his first appearance at Soldier Field since Chicago cut him prior to the 2016 opener.

The Bears’ all-time leader in points and field goals made, he shouted at their sideline after he nailed the winner.

Garoppolo was solid in his first start since the 49ers (2-10) acquired him from New England before the trade deadline in October.

The suburban Chicago product completed 26 of 37 passes with an interception.

RAIDERS 24, GIANTS 17 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland’s Marshawn Lynch had a 51-yard touchdown run and got his first 100-yard rushing game since coming out of retirement, in New York’s first game without Eli Manning starting in 13 years.

Oakland (6-6) overcame the absences of starting receivers Michael Crabtree (suspension) and Amari Cooper (injury) to win consecutive games for the first time since the opening two games of the season.

The Raiders moved into a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West with Kansas City and the Chargers.

PAGE 4, Monday, December 4, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, December 4, 2017, PAGE 5

SACRAMENTO Kings’ Buddy Hield, right, steals the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.

(AP Photos/Jeffrey Phelps)

Hield scores 19 in 109-104 loss to Bucks

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BUDDY Hield gave the Kings a spark off the bench but the Sacramento Kings’ comeback effort fell short as they lost their second game against the Milwaukee Bucks within a week.

Hield finished with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists in the Kings’ 109-104 loss to the Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Saturday night.

It was his third double-figure scoring effort in the last five games.

He shot 6-12 from the field and 4-6 from threepoint range in 30 minutes in the second night of a backto-back. He played just seven minutes and did not score Friday in a 107-106 win over the Chicago Bulls.

The Bucks opened the game with 14 unanswered points before head coach Dave Joerger swapped all

five starters for Hield and the bench.

“They kind of pushed us around, we turned the ball over and didn’t play with any energy,” Joerger said. “The guys didn’t quit, though. They kept fighting.

“Playing the second night back-to-back. There’s a mental toughness to that.”

Hield assisted on the Kings first score and made his first basket with 3:14 left to play in the first quarter.

He made a pair of threepointers, added free throws late and scored 10 points in the quarter. Hield made another three in the second quarter to keep the Kings in contention, trailing by nine. The Kings made a run in the fourth quarter and came within one when Bogdan Bogdanovic made two at the line to make the score 101-102 with 1:43 left to play. The Bucks added a John Henson field goal, Bogdanovic missed a free throw and Giannis Antetokounmpo added two at

the line for a five-point lead. Hield then missed a three-pointer and Kris Middleton added more free throws to seal the win for the Bucks. Hield added a late three-pointer for the Kings’ final score.

Hield remains the Kings’ best shooter at 46 per cent from three and has produced his most effective numbers in catch-and-shoot situations.

In Tuesday’s matchup against the Bucks, Hield scored 13 points, including a three-pointer. He also grabbed two rebounds and

SACRAMENTO Kings’ Buddy Hield (24) puts up a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first half on Saturday in Milwaukee.

Westbrook has triple-double, Thunder beat depleted Spurs OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook had his seventh triple-double of the season to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the shorthanded San Antonio Spurs 90-87 last night.

Westbrook had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Thunder.

Steven Adams added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which won even though No. 2 scorer Paul George had just eight points on 2-for-17 shooting.

Dejounte Murray had 17 points and Derrick White added 16 for San Antonio. With a chance to tie it at the end, Brandon Paul missed a 3-pointer and the Thunder rebounded.

Spurs starters LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker sat out. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said Aldridge rested with a minor knee issue and Parker was “dinged-up.” The Spurs still are waiting for forward Kawhi Leonard’s right quadriceps injury to heal. San Antonio’s Kyle Anderson sprained his left knee with a minute remaining in the third quarter and did not return.

WARRIORS 123, HEAT 95 MIAMI (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 30 points in 30 minutes, Kevin Durant added 24 and the Golden State rode a big third-quarter run to pull away and beat Miami.

Klay Thompson scored 19 points for the Warriors, who started the second half on an 18-3 run and outscored Miami

37-17 in the third. Golden State’s lead was only two at the half, then ballooned to 99-77 going into the fourth.

Curry — playing with a sore finger on his shooting hand — had 16 of his points in the first quarter, then 10 more in the third.

Goran Dragic scored 20 points for the Heat. They led by eight in the early going and 36-33 after the first quarter. The Heat then scored 41 points in the next 24 minutes.

Starting with a layup by Curry late in the half, Golden State made 10 out of 11 shots in one stretch. Curry had two 3-pointers in that third-quarter barrage, and his driving score pushed the lead out to 80-63. At that point, he had 30 points in the game’s first 28 1/2 minutes.

He didn’t score again, didn’t even play in the fourth, and the Warriors didn’t need much more help anyway.

MAGIC 105, KNICKS 100 NEW YORK (AP) — Nikola Vucevic scored 34 points — eight straight in a decisive 10-0 fourth-quarter run — and Orlando beat New York.

With the score tied at 85 midway through the fourth quarter, Vucevic made a short basket, a three-point play and a 3-point shot in succession to give the Magic the lead for good. Evan Fournier had 20 points, Jonathon Simmons added 16, and Elfrid Payton had 15 for Orlando.

Michael Beasley, who replaced the injured Kristaps

OKLAHOMA City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives around Spurs guard Dejounte Murray (5) yesterday.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Porzingis in the starting lineup, led the Knicks with 21 points.

Courtney Lee had 19, and Enes Kanter added 18 points and 16 rebounds.

TIMBERWOLVES 112, CLIPPERS 106 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 20 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, Taj Gibson added 20 and Minnesota outlasted Los Angeles. The Wolves overcame a

season-high 30 points from Austin Rivers, who matched his career best with seven 3-pointers.

Rivers’ final 3-pointer gave L.A. a 92-91 lead with 6:54 to play before Butler scored nine in a row to send the Clippers to their third straight loss.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota for his NBA-leading 19th double-double of the season.

had a steal, shooting 2-2 from the free throw line and 5-10 (50 per cent) from field-goal range.

After suffering a sprained ankle on November 17 that looked worse than it turned out to be, Hield returned to the court for the Kings after missing just two games. Hield missed two games and finished with 10 points off the bench in the Kings’ 113-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Golden 1 Center on November 22. It was an efficient game for Hield who shot 4-7 from the field and made one of his three shot attempts from long range in just 15 minutes.

Two days later he scored 27 points off the bench and made a career-high seven three-pointers in a 97-95 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at the Golden 1 Center. Hield remains second on the Kings in scoring at 11.8 points per game and leads the team at 1.1 steals per game.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, December 4, 2017, PAGE 7

Champions League group stage reaches climax

By STEVE DOUGLAS Associated Press MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Eight places in the Champions League’s last 16 are still up for grabs heading into the final round of group games.

Three traditional heavyweights — Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich — are already through, as are former champion Chelsea and two of the nouveaux riches in Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City. Tottenham and Besiktas complete the set of current qualifiers.

A look at what’s happening around the Champions League this week: ATLETICO IN DANGER Atletico Madrid needs a lot to happen to keep alive its streak of four consecutive appearances in the knockout stage.

Diego Simeone’s team, twice a finalist in the last four years, must beat Chelsea away and needs Roma to draw or lose against

Azerbaijani team Qarabag at home.

Atletico didn’t win any of its first four matches in Group C. Among its setbacks were back-to-back draws against Qarabag.

Sevilla is in a much more comfortable position as it can reach the last 16 for the second straight season with a draw at Maribor on Wednesday. Sevilla can win Group E with a win if Liverpool fails to defeat Spartak Moscow at home.

to progress as Group B winner. PSG beat Bayern 3-0 in Paris and has a far superior goal difference.

Germany’s fourth team, Hoffenheim, didn’t make the group stage after losing in the playoffs to Liverpool.

MORE ITALIAN HEARTACHE? None of the three Italian clubs in the competition have advanced yet, setting up a nail-biting finish to the group phase that is being compared to Italy’s World Cup playoff loss to Sweden.

Napoli appears to have the toughest path to the knockout stage.

Fresh off a devastating loss at home to Juventus in Serie A, the Partenopei must win at Feyenoord on Wednesday and hope Manchester City beats Shakhtar Donetsk in Group F. Juventus, a finalist in two of the last three seasons, can go through with a win at Olympiakos in Group D on Tuesday or if Sporting Lisbon fails to beat Barcelona.

MANCHESTER City’s David Silva celebrates scoring his side’s second goal against West Ham United yesterday.

(Martin Rickett/PA via AP) had five teams in the knockout stage of the Champions League.

ENGLISH SWEEP? England is already assured of having two group winners in the last 16, through Manchester City and Tottenham. By Wednesday, it could have five.

On Tuesday, Manchester United needs just a point at home to CSKA Moscow to seal first place in Group A, and already qualified Chelsea will finish top of Group C by beating Atletico.

A day later, Liverpool can secure top spot in Group E by beating Spartak. The English have never

qualification from Group H. Ahead of its visit to Real Madrid on Wednesday, Dortmund has just two points from five games, the same as Cypriot team APOEL. Leipzig still has a chance to progress on its European debut but needs a favour from Monaco at Porto in Group G. Leipzig, which is level on points with Porto, hosts group winner Besiktas on Wednesday and will only go through if it secures more points than the Portuguese side. Bayern hosts Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday needing to win by a four-goal margin

GERMANY DISAPPOINTS Germany’s representation in the last 16 could come down to just one team, Bayern Munich, after disappointing campaigns from the Bundesliga’s best — Borussia Dortmund in particular.

Dortmund, which reached the final in 2013, is already out after failing to win any of its group games and the side is competing with APOEL for the consolation of Europa League

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Partly sunny

Partly cloudy with a stray shower

Partly sunny, a shower; breezy

Some sun, a shower or two; humid

Variable clouds with a few showers

Variably cloudy, a t‑storm; humid

High: 84°

Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 72°

High: 85° Low: 70°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

87° F

72° F

88°-74° F

93°-78° F

96°-79° F

95°-72° F

ORLANDO

TAMPA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 64° F/18° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C

8‑16 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

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High: 81° F/27° C Low: 68° F/20° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 73° F/23° C

8‑16 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 69° F/21° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 68° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 85° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/23° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 38.63” Normal year to date ................................... 38.60”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 72° F/22° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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KEY WEST

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

E

W S

10‑20 knots

High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

7:49 a.m.

8:10 p.m.

3.7 2.9

1:26 a.m. ‑0.9 2:18 p.m. ‑0.7

Tuesday

8:41 a.m.

9:05 p.m.

3.7 2.8

2:18 a.m. ‑0.9 3:11 p.m. ‑0.7

Wednesday 9:35 a.m.

10:01 p.m.

3.6 2.8

3:12 a.m. ‑0.8 4:05 p.m. ‑0.6

Thursday

10:29 a.m.

11:00 p.m.

3.4 2.7

4:08 a.m. ‑0.6 5:01 p.m. ‑0.5

Friday

11:26 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

3.2 ‑‑‑‑‑

5:07 a.m. ‑0.3 5:58 p.m. ‑0.3

Saturday

12:02 a.m.

12:26 p.m.

2.6 3.0

6:11 a.m. 0.0 6:57 p.m. ‑0.2

Sunday

1:07 a.m.

1:27 p.m.

2.6 2.8

7:17 a.m. 0.2 7:56 p.m. ‑0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:40 a.m.

5:20 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

6:44 p.m.

7:30 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Dec. 10

Dec. 18

Dec. 26

Jan. 1

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

E

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LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map H

tiDes For nassau

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

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10‑20 knots

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

CAT ISLAND

E

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EXTENDING THE RECORD After hammering seven goals past Celtic two weeks ago in Group B, PSG and its impressive offensive armada of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani will also try to improve what is already a tournament record of 24 goals in this season’s group stage.

PSG is seeking a sixth straight group win and to rebound from a shock 2-1 loss to promoted Strasbourg in the French league.

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 61° F/16° C

Roma will also go through with a win against Qarabag in Group C on Tuesday, or if Atletico Madrid fails to beat Chelsea.

Amid sluggish ticket sales, Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco has been urging fans to show up at the Stadio Olimpico.

“We want to win and sing together,” Di Francesco wrote on social media after opening a Twitter account.

“On Tuesday we’ll need all of your support.”

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

10‑20 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

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E

W

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10‑20 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots E at 15‑25 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots E at 15‑25 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots E at 15‑25 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots E at 15‑25 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots

WAVES 3‑5 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑8 Feet 3‑5 Feet 5‑9 Feet 3‑6 Feet 5‑9 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑8 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑8 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 78° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 81° F 81° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F 79° F 79° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 79° F 79° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F