Sports: Pistons Start New Chapter Tonight in Detroit
The Pistons host the Hornets tonight at Little Caesar’s Arena. It’ll be the first regular season game for the Pistons in their new downtown Detroit home. The team will definitely have a different look. Coach Stan Van Gundy says off-season moves addressed several key needs.
He says they wanted tough, competitive players, and feels they got one in shooting guard Avery Bradley. They had to trade Marcus Morris to Boston to get him, but Bradley is considered one of the best defenders in the league against outside shots.
Detroit also brought back power forward Anthony Tolliver, who along with Bradley should help with 3-point shooting. Free agent guard Langston Galloway and 12th round draft pick Luke Kennard should also help in that department.
Van Gundy is optimistic that top picks from 2015 and 2016, Stanley Johnson and Henry Ellenson, can take the next step. Johnson is expected to start at small forward.
Center Andre Drummond showed signs of improving his free throw percentage in the preseason, and lost 35 pounds. He also had surgery to clear his nasal passages.
Baseball Playoffs
The Yankees won Game 4 in New York, 6-4 to even the series with the Astros at two games apiece. Aaron Judge homered for the second straight game. Gary Sanchez knocked in three runs. Both starters Sonny Gray for the Yanks and Lance McCullers for the Astros, pitched well, but the Houston bullpen was roughed up. Dallas Kuechel starts against Masahiro Tanaka tonight at 5 in New York.
The Dodgers are on the brink of eliminating the World Champion Cubs after a 6-1 win at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. L-A leads the National League Championship Series, 3-0. The Dodgers had home runs from Andre Ethier and Chris Taylor, and also benefitted from two Cubs’ errors and a passed ball. Yu Darvish pitched into the seventh, allowing the only Chicago run. Game 4 is tonight at Wrigley Field. Alex Wood will start for the Dodgers against Jake Arietta of the Cubs.
Red Wings
The Red Wings travel to Toronto for their next game tonight. They host the Capitals on Friday in Detroit.
NBA Season Opens
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics 102-99 to open the NBA season.
LeBron James scored 29 points. His former teammate. Kyrie Irving, finished with 22 points for his new team.
Boston Celtics newly-acquired forward Gordon Hayward had to be carted off the floor after breaking his left ankle in the first quarter of Tuesday's loss to Cleveland.
The Houston Rockets rallied in the fourth to beat Golden State 122-121 Tuesday on the night the Warriors received their championship rings.
Volleyball
The KCC Volleyball team lost a tough, 5-set match in Muskegon on Tuesday. KCC lost the first two sets, but re-grouped to win the next two before falling in the fifth set. Kirby Frodge and Rose Tecumseh each had 14 kills to lead the Lady Bruins. The team is now 19-8 on the season, and 9-6 in conference play. They end the regular season on Tuesday at Ancilla College.
Boys Soccer – Districts
- Portage Northern 3, Lakeview 1.
- Marshall 2, Parma Western 1.
Today....
- Harper Creek hosts Gull Lake.
- BC Calhoun Christian hosts Kalamazoo Christian
Girls Swimming and Diving
- Lakeview 103, St. Joseph 80
Michigan State increases police presence, security at events
A week and a half after they announced they were investigating general threats made against sporting events at the university, MSU and East Lansing police have announced new security measures for Spartan sports events. Police say they’re instituting a no-bag policy starting this week for all events at indoor athletic facilities. That means no purses, large bags, camera and binocular cases, and other similar bags at indoor athletic facilities, including the Breslin Center and Munn Ice Arena. That goes for concerts and special events too. Police also will have a more visible presence at high-profile events such as home football games.
College Football
MSU has homecoming this Saturday as they welcome in Indiana. Indiana is 3-3. Michigan State's run defense is ranked third in the Big Ten, and they’re allowing 65 fewer yards per game compared to last season. Hear the game this Saturday at 2pm on 95.3 WBCK.
Michigan hits the road to take on second-ranked Penn State on Saturday night, 6:30pm on 104.9 the Edge.
Elliott Gets Court Reprieve
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has received another legal reprieve in his fight to avoid a six-game suspension over domestic violence allegations. A New York federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the league's suspension, clearing Elliott to play Sunday at San Francisco.
Lions
The Lions are off next weekend. Punter Sam Martin has practiced for the first time this season. Martin was removed from the reserve/non-football injury list. Lions coach Jim Caldwell has repeatedly refused to say how Martin was hurt and he has not been available for interviews.
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