Here is the latest sports news: Pats and Eagles square off in Super Bowl 52. Pats will have “Gronk.” NBA reveals All-Star Saturday Night participants. Griffin has big game in Pistons’ debut. MLB putting fan safety first.
>>Super Bowl 52 Preview
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Super Bowl 52 hype is about to subside for the actual game. The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles meet on Sunday at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for the right to raise the Lombardi Trophy. New England is attempting to win its sixth Super Bowl under the leadership of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. A victory would give the Eagles franchise their first Super Bowl “W.”
>>Patriots’ Gronkowski Out Of Concussion Protocol
(Bloomington, MN) — The New England Patriots will be at full strength for Sunday’s Super Bowl 52 against the Eagles. Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been cleared from concussion protocol. Gronkowski had been a question mark after taking a shot to the helmet in the team’s AFC Championship Game win over Jacksonville. He missed last year’s Super Bowl comeback over the Falcons following back surgery.
>>NBA Announces All-Star Saturday Night Participants
(Los Angeles, CA) — The NBA announced its participants for All-Star Saturday night at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on February 17th. The dunk contest will feature Magic forward Aaron Gordon, Lakers forward Larry Nance Junior, Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Junior and Pacers guard Victor Oladipo. Gordon was the runner-up in the 2016, while Nance Junior and Smith Junior are first-time contestants.
>>Griffin Wins Debut With Pistons
(Detroit, MI) — Blake Griffin tallied 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as the Pistons beat the Grizzlies 104-102 in Detroit. It was Griffin’s first game since he was traded by the Clippers to Detroit. The Pistons are one game behind the 76ers for the eighth seed in the East.
>>All 30 MLB Clubs To Have Extended Protective Netting This Season
(New York, NY) — Major League Baseball says all 30 clubs will have extended protective netting at ballparks this season. The netting will extend at least to the far end of each dugout and be ready by Opening Day. Teams have been moving in this direction over the last couple of seasons, but this year will mark the first where all 30 clubs have it in place. It’s an effort to help protect fans from foul balls and broken bats that fly into the stands.
>>THURSDAY’S SCOREBOARD
NBA
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Washington Wizards 122, Toronto Raptors 119
Detroit Pistons 104, Memphis Grizzlies 102
Houston Rockets 102, San Antonio Spurs 91
Minnesota Timberwolves 108, Milwaukee Bucks 89
Denver Nuggets 127, Oklahoma City Thunder 124
NHL
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Florida Panthers 4, Buffalo Sabres 2
Ottawa Senators 2, Anaheim Ducks 1 (OT)
Carolina Hurricanes 2, Montreal Canadiens 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New York Rangers 0
New Jersey Devils 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3
Boston Bruins 3, St. Louis Blues 1
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Winnipeg Jets 2 (OT)
Nashville Predators 5, Los Angeles Kings 0
Dallas Stars 4, Arizona Coyotes 1
Colorado Avalanche 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 (OT)
Tampa Bay Lightning 7, Calgary Flames 4
Vancouver Canucks 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Top-25 College Basketball (“USA Today” Coaches’ Poll)
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#1 Villanova Wildcats 98, Creighton Bluejays 78
#12 Gonzaga Bulldogs 69, San Diego Toreros 59
#14 Saint Mary’s Gaels 79, San Francisco Dons 43
Temple Owls 81, #16 Wichita State Shockers 79 (OT)
Washington Huskies 68, #23 Arizona State Sun Devils 64
PGA
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Waste Management Phoenix Open (at Scottsdale, AZ)
1. Bill Haas (-7)
T-2. Rickie Fowler (-5)
T-2. Billy Horschel (-5)
T-2. Byrson DeChambeau (-5)
T-2. Chesson Hadley (-5)
T-2. Chris Kirk (-5)
>>FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE (All times are Eastern)
NBA
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7:00 p.m. – Indiana Pacers at Charlotte Hornets
7:30 p.m. – Portland Trail Blazers at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. – Los Angeles Lakers at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. – Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics
8:00 p.m. – Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers
8:00 p.m. – New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks
9:00 p.m. – New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder
9:00 p.m. – Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns
10:30 p.m. – Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings
NHL
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7:00 p.m. – San Jose Sharks at Columbus Blue Jackets
7:00 p.m. – Detroit Red Wings at Carolina Hurricanes
7:00 p.m. – Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins
8:00 p.m. – Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild
Top-25 College Basketball (“USA Today” Coaches’ Poll)
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7:00 p.m. – #21 Rhode Island Rams at VCU Rams
PGA
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Waste Management Phoenix Open (at Scottsdale, AZ)
