NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight

Utah Jazz 126, Detroit Pistons 111

Chicago Bulls 113, Miami Heat 103

Jazz 126, Pistons 111 – Markkanen scores 38 to lead Jazz past Pistons 126-111 

Lauri Markkanen scored 38 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers, and the Utah Jazz defeated the Detroit Pistons 126-111. Jarred Vanderbilt added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who outscored Detroit 65-51 in the second half. Utah had at least 30 points in all four quarters. Jaden Ivey led Detroit with 30 points. Pistons rookie Jalen Duren had 15 points and 14 rebounds. He has at least 11 rebounds in seven straight games, matching Dwight Howard’s 2005 mark for the longest streak by a teenager.

Bulls 113, Heat 103 – Bulls snap 4-game slide, top short-handed Heat 113-103 

Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and the Chicago Bulls stopped a four-game slide by beating the short-handed Miami Heat 113-103. Zach LaVine scored 21 and Coby White added 14 for the Bulls, who used a 30-7 run in the second half to take control. Bam Adebayo made his first nine shots and scored 27 points for Miami. Adebayo also had 12 rebounds for the Heat, who got 19 from Tyler Herro, 18 from Haywood Highsmith, 14 from Victor Oladipo and 13 from Duncan Robinson.

Tonight

Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:00 p.m.

Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m.

Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m.

NBA – Mat Ishbia agrees to buy Suns, Mercury for $4 billion

Mortgage executive Mat Ishbia has agreed in principle to buy the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury from embattled owner Robert Sarver for $4 billion. The sale is expected to take several weeks to complete. Ishbia is chairman, president and chief executive of United Wholesale Mortgage. He also is a former Michigan State basketball player and a member of the Spartans’ NCAA championship team in 2000. Sarver was suspended by the NBA in September over workplace misconduct that included racist speech and hostile behavior toward employees.

NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight

Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 p.m.

Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.

NCAAFB – College Football
Yesterday
FBS Bowls
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, ID

Eastern Michigan 41, San Jose State 27

EMU 41, SJSU 27 – E. Michigan beats San Jose St. in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Taylor Powell threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, Samson Evans rushed for a pair of scores and Eastern Michigan defeated San Jose State 41-27 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Eastern Michigan (9-4) won a bowl game for the second time in program history. The team last won a bowl game in 1987, beating San Jose State in the California Bowl. San Jose State (7-5) turned the ball over three times. It was first time this season that the Spartans had multiple turnovers in a game. Chevan Cordeiro led the Spartans offensively, completing 26 of 44 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

NFL – Bears’ Jenkins may practice this week after neck injury

Chicago Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins might practice this week after being carted from the field with a neck injury. Jenkins was at the team’s practice facility Tuesday, two days after he was injured against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Matt Eberflus said “it’s a possibility” Jenkins practices this week with Chicago set to host the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Bears held a walkthrough on Tuesday. Jenkins was carted from the field and taken to a hospital during Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jenkins went down while blocking for David Montgomery on a running play on the game’s opening drive.
NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Today

Sienna Heights at Western Michigan, 1:00 p.m.

Oakland at Michigan State, 6:30 p.m.                            Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM 5:30

Youngstown State at Central Michigan, 7:00 p.m.

Michigan at North Carolina, 7:00 p.m.                          News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM

Notre Dame at Florida State, 8:30 p.m.

NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night

James Madison 78, Eastern Michigan 43

(19) Michigan 76, (6) North Carolina 68

Michigan State 98, Prairie View A&M 50

(19) Michigan 76, (6) North Carolina 68 – Brown scores 25, No. 19 Michigan rolls past No. 6 UNC 76-68

Fifth-year senior Leigha Brown had 25 points and eight rebounds, and 19th-ranked Michigan knocked off No. 6 North Carolina 76-68 on Tuesday night at the inaugural Jumpman Invitational. The 6-foot-1 Brown was 9 of 15 from the field and made three 3-pointers in her 113th career game for the Wolverines. Laila Phelia added 20 points for Michigan, which shot 46% from the field, while holding North Carolina to 32%. Deja Kelly had 15 points and Eva Hodgson had 13 for North Carolina, which couldn’t complete the comeback after falling behind by 23 points in the first half.

Today

Western Michigan at (5) Notre Dame, 12:00 p.m.

Eastern Michigan at Wright State, 1:00 p.m.

MLB – Michael Lorenzen, Tigers finalize $8.5M, 1-year contract

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and the Detroit Tigers finalized their $8.5 million, one-year contract. Lorenzen was 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts last season with the Los Angeles Angels. Since making his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015, he is 31-29 with a 4.10 ERA. The 30-year-old Lorezen began his career as a starter before mostly pitching out of the bullpen for the Reds. He can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses for innings: $250,000 each for 100, 125, 150, 175, 195 and 205.

MLB – Bellinger looking forward to fresh start after joining Cubs

Cody Bellinger is looking forward to a fresh start with the Chicago Cubs and showing that he can once again be a productive hitter. He went from winning the NL MVP with the Dodgers in 2019 to being cut by Los Angeles in November. The years in between were marked by injuries and plummeting production. Bellinger says he will “be able to learn from” his experience. The Cubs hope he can experience a bit of a resurgence at the plate while giving them an elite glove in center field as they try to climb back toward contention. They finished third in the NL Central at 74-88. It was their second straight losing season after making the playoffs five of the previous six years, but they went 40-31 in their final 71 games.

FIFA – More than 25 million watched World Cup final in U.S.

Argentina’s dramatic World Cup final victory over France is the second most-watched soccer match of any kind in the United States. That’s according to early numbers from Nielsen, Fox and Telemundo. Sunday’s match had an English- and Spanish-language combined audience of 25,783,000. That trails the 2015 Women’s World Cup final that was watched by 26.7 million when the United States beat Japan 5-2. That match aired in prime time in most of the U.S. Fox’s numbers from Sunday should increase when the “match-only” rating is released later Tuesday.

Golf – Masters – Masters to keep criteria, invite all eligible players in ’23

The Masters is keeping its criteria the same for next year. That means 16 players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf will be at Augusta National to compete for a green jacket. Club chairman Fred Ridley says he’s disappointed in the fractured nature of golf. But he says the focus of the Masters is to bring the top players together from around the world. The 16 players from LIV Golf include six former champions and six who qualify by being in the top 50 in the world ranking. Ridley said the club still reserves the right to alter its criteria for 2024.

ECHL – ECHL Hockey League
Tonight

Cincinnati Cyclones at Kalamazoo Wings, 7:00 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball

Lakeshore 40, Berrien Springs 29
Jack Carlisle had 18 points to lead Lakeshore to a 40-29 win at Berrien Springs, J.J. Frakes added 13 in the Lancers first win of the season.

Brandywine 50, Our Lady of the Lake 24
Brandywine’s Jeremiah Palmer had a game high 18 points as the Bobcats beat Our Lady of the Lake 50-24.  Owen McLoughlin led the Lakers with 15 points.

Gull Lake 57, Plainwell 40

Paw Paw 56, Dowagiac 40

Concord (IN) 33, Edwardsburg 20

Eau Claire 82, Martin 36

South Haven 77, River Valley 48

Schoolcraft 78, Three Rivers 36

Hopkins 54, Allegan 45

Cassopolis 75, Bloomingdale 19

Comstock 75, Marcellus 56

GR West Michigan Aviation 77, Kalamazoo Christian 61

Saranac 45, Delton-Kellogg 37

Saugatuck 55, Byron Center Zion Christian 48

Mason 81, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 46

Portage Northern 46, Coldwater 35

Battle Creek Central 70, Lansing Everett 49

Galesburg-Augusta 55, Vermontville Maple Valley 43

Girls Basketball

Otsego 46, St. Joseph 39
Despite at game high 23 points from St. Joseph Sophomore Jaslynn Ward, St. Joe fell at Otsego 46-39.  Ward had 13 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Bears comeback fell short.  Eleah Hedstrom added 10 for St. Joe.  Hailey Guerrant had 11 to lead Otsego.

Lakeshore 73, Berrien Springs 40
Lakeshore jumped out to a 23-2 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in a 73-40 win over Berrien Springs.  Lakeshore had 4 players in double figures, led by Ainsly Ashby’s game high 17 points.  Paige Lies scored 16, Emily Lockman had 14 and Megan Wurster had 13.  Aubreona Smith had 14 points to lead the Shamrocks.

Edwardsburg 43, Mattawan 32

Watervliet 46, Paw Paw 44

Dowagiac 48, Parchment 24

Plainwell 34, Gull Lake 33

Bangor 43, Fennville 40

GR South Christian 64, Kalamazoo Christian 38

Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 33, Martin 31

Three Rivers 43, Schoolcraft 22

Cassopolis 55, Bloomingdale 34

Mendon 29, Decatur 16

White Pigeon 31, Lawrence 28

Kalamazoo Central 64, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 50

Coldwater 41, Portage Northern 37

Galesburg-Augusta 48, Vermontville Maple Valley 16

Hopkins 47, Allegan 32

Saugatuck 42, Bryon Center Zion Christian 31

Today
Boys Basketball

White Pigeon at Buchanan, 5:45 p.m.

Vicksburg at Plainwell, 7:15 p.m.

Gobles at Kalamazoo Hackett, 7:00 p.m.

Girls Basketball

River Valley at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m.

Plainwell at Vicksburg, 7:15 p.m.

Kalamazoo Hackett at Gobles, 7:00 p.m.

Wrestling

Lakeshore, Mattawan, Battle Creek Central at St. Joseph, 5:00 p.m.

Otsego, Plainwell, Sturgis at Three Rivers, 6:00 p.m.

Allegan, Gobles, Martin at Delton-Kellogg, 6:00 p.m.Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) passes the ball as Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, left, and forward Duncan Robinson, right, defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Eastern Michigan running back Samson Evans (22) stiff arms San Jose State linebacker Alii Matau (8) on a run in the first half of the Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)Michigan guard Leigha Brown celebrates three point basket against North Carolina during the first half of a NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

NBA – National Basketball Association 
Tonight 
Utah Jazz 126, Detroit Pistons 111 
Chicago Bulls 113, Miami Heat 103

Jazz 126, Pistons 111 – Markkanen scores 38 to lead Jazz past Pistons 126-111 
Lauri Markkanen scored 38 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers, and the Utah Jazz defeated the Detroit Pistons 126-111. Jarred Vanderbilt added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who outscored Detroit 65-51 in the second half. Utah had at least 30 points in all four quarters. Jaden Ivey led Detroit with 30 points. Pistons rookie Jalen Duren had 15 points and 14 rebounds. He has at least 11 rebounds in seven straight games, matching Dwight Howard’s 2005 mark for the longest streak by a teenager.

Bulls 113, Heat 103 – Bulls snap 4-game slide, top short-handed Heat 113-103 
Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and the Chicago Bulls stopped a four-game slide by beating the short-handed Miami Heat 113-103. Zach LaVine scored 21 and Coby White added 14 for the Bulls, who used a 30-7 run in the second half to take control. Bam Adebayo made his first nine shots and scored 27 points for Miami. Adebayo also had 12 rebounds for the Heat, who got 19 from Tyler Herro, 18 from Haywood Highsmith, 14 from Victor Oladipo and 13 from Duncan Robinson.
Tonight 
Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:00 p.m. 
Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. 
Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m.
NBA – Mat Ishbia agrees to buy Suns, Mercury for $4 billion 
Mortgage executive Mat Ishbia has agreed in principle to buy the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury from embattled owner Robert Sarver for $4 billion. The sale is expected to take several weeks to complete. Ishbia is chairman, president and chief executive of United Wholesale Mortgage. He also is a former Michigan State basketball player and a member of the Spartans’ NCAA championship team in 2000. Sarver was suspended by the NBA in September over workplace misconduct that included racist speech and hostile behavior toward employees.
NHL – National Hockey League 
Tonight 
Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 p.m. 
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
NCAAFB – College Football 
Yesterday 
FBS Bowls 
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, ID 
Eastern Michigan 41, San Jose State 27

EMU 41, SJSU 27 – E. Michigan beats San Jose St. in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl 
Taylor Powell threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, Samson Evans rushed for a pair of scores and Eastern Michigan defeated San Jose State 41-27 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Eastern Michigan (9-4) won a bowl game for the second time in program history. The team last won a bowl game in 1987, beating San Jose State in the California Bowl. San Jose State (7-5) turned the ball over three times. It was first time this season that the Spartans had multiple turnovers in a game. Chevan Cordeiro led the Spartans offensively, completing 26 of 44 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.
NFL – Bears&#8217; Jenkins may practice this week after neck injury 
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins might practice this week after being carted from the field with a neck injury. Jenkins was at the team’s practice facility Tuesday, two days after he was injured against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Matt Eberflus said “it’s a possibility” Jenkins practices this week with Chicago set to host the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Bears held a walkthrough on Tuesday. Jenkins was carted from the field and taken to a hospital during Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jenkins went down while blocking for David Montgomery on a running play on the game’s opening drive. NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball 
Today 
Sienna Heights at Western Michigan, 1:00 p.m. 
Oakland at Michigan State, 6:30 p.m.                            Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM 5:30 
Youngstown State at Central Michigan, 7:00 p.m. 
Michigan at North Carolina, 7:00 p.m.                          News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 
Notre Dame at Florida State, 8:30 p.m.
NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball 
Last Night 
James Madison 78, Eastern Michigan 43 
(19) Michigan 76, (6) North Carolina 68 
Michigan State 98, Prairie View A&amp;M 50

(19) Michigan 76, (6) North Carolina 68 – Brown scores 25, No. 19 Michigan rolls past No. 6 UNC 76-68 
Fifth-year senior Leigha Brown had 25 points and eight rebounds, and 19th-ranked Michigan knocked off No. 6 North Carolina 76-68 on Tuesday night at the inaugural Jumpman Invitational. The 6-foot-1 Brown was 9 of 15 from the field and made three 3-pointers in her 113th career game for the Wolverines. Laila Phelia added 20 points for Michigan, which shot 46% from the field, while holding North Carolina to 32%. Deja Kelly had 15 points and Eva Hodgson had 13 for North Carolina, which couldn’t complete the comeback after falling behind by 23 points in the first half.
Today 
Western Michigan at (5) Notre Dame, 12:00 p.m. 
Eastern Michigan at Wright State, 1:00 p.m.
MLB – Michael Lorenzen, Tigers finalize $8.5M, 1-year contract 
Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and the Detroit Tigers finalized their $8.5 million, one-year contract. Lorenzen was 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts last season with the Los Angeles Angels. Since making his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015, he is 31-29 with a 4.10 ERA. The 30-year-old Lorezen began his career as a starter before mostly pitching out of the bullpen for the Reds. He can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses for innings: $250,000 each for 100, 125, 150, 175, 195 and 205.
MLB – Bellinger looking forward to fresh start after joining Cubs 
Cody Bellinger is looking forward to a fresh start with the Chicago Cubs and showing that he can once again be a productive hitter. He went from winning the NL MVP with the Dodgers in 2019 to being cut by Los Angeles in November. The years in between were marked by injuries and plummeting production. Bellinger says he will “be able to learn from” his experience. The Cubs hope he can experience a bit of a resurgence at the plate while giving them an elite glove in center field as they try to climb back toward contention. They finished third in the NL Central at 74-88. It was their second straight losing season after making the playoffs five of the previous six years, but they went 40-31 in their final 71 games.
FIFA – More than 25 million watched World Cup final in U.S. 
Argentina’s dramatic World Cup final victory over France is the second most-watched soccer match of any kind in the United States. That&#8217;s according to early numbers from Nielsen, Fox and Telemundo. Sunday’s match had an English- and Spanish-language combined audience of 25,783,000. That trails the 2015 Women&#8217;s World Cup final that was watched by 26.7 million when the United States beat Japan 5-2. That match aired in prime time in most of the U.S. Fox’s numbers from Sunday should increase when the “match-only” rating is released later Tuesday.
Golf – Masters – Masters to keep criteria, invite all eligible players in &#8217;23 
The Masters is keeping its criteria the same for next year. That means 16 players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf will be at Augusta National to compete for a green jacket. Club chairman Fred Ridley says he&#8217;s disappointed in the fractured nature of golf. But he says the focus of the Masters is to bring the top players together from around the world. The 16 players from LIV Golf include six former champions and six who qualify by being in the top 50 in the world ranking. Ridley said the club still reserves the right to alter its criteria for 2024.
ECHL – ECHL Hockey League 
Tonight 
Cincinnati Cyclones at Kalamazoo Wings, 7:00 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports 
Last Night 
Boys Basketball 
Lakeshore 40, Berrien Springs 29
<ul>
<li>Jack Carlisle had 18 points to lead Lakeshore to a 40-29 win at Berrien Springs, J.J. Frakes added 13 in the Lancers first win of the season.</li>
</ul>
Brandywine 50, Our Lady of the Lake 24
<ul>
<li>Brandywine’s Jeremiah Palmer had a game high 18 points as the Bobcats beat Our Lady of the Lake 50-24.  Owen McLoughlin led the Lakers with 15 points.</li>
</ul>
Gull Lake 57, Plainwell 40 
Paw Paw 56, Dowagiac 40 
Concord (IN) 33, Edwardsburg 20 
Eau Claire 82, Martin 36 
South Haven 77, River Valley 48 
Schoolcraft 78, Three Rivers 36 
Hopkins 54, Allegan 45 
Cassopolis 75, Bloomingdale 19 
Comstock 75, Marcellus 56 
GR West Michigan Aviation 77, Kalamazoo Christian 61 
Saranac 45, Delton-Kellogg 37 
Saugatuck 55, Byron Center Zion Christian 48 
Mason 81, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 46 
Portage Northern 46, Coldwater 35 
Battle Creek Central 70, Lansing Everett 49 
Galesburg-Augusta 55, Vermontville Maple Valley 43
Girls Basketball 
Otsego 46, St. Joseph 39
<ul>
<li>Despite at game high 23 points from St. Joseph Sophomore Jaslynn Ward, St. Joe fell at Otsego 46-39.  Ward had 13 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Bears comeback fell short.  Eleah Hedstrom added 10 for St. Joe.  Hailey Guerrant had 11 to lead Otsego.</li>
</ul>
Lakeshore 73, Berrien Springs 40
<ul>
<li>Lakeshore jumped out to a 23-2 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in a 73-40 win over Berrien Springs.  Lakeshore had 4 players in double figures, led by Ainsly Ashby’s game high 17 points.  Paige Lies scored 16, Emily Lockman had 14 and Megan Wurster had 13.  Aubreona Smith had 14 points to lead the Shamrocks.</li>
</ul>
Edwardsburg 43, Mattawan 32 
Watervliet 46, Paw Paw 44 
Dowagiac 48, Parchment 24 
Plainwell 34, Gull Lake 33 
Bangor 43, Fennville 40 
GR South Christian 64, Kalamazoo Christian 38 
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 33, Martin 31 
Three Rivers 43, Schoolcraft 22 
Cassopolis 55, Bloomingdale 34 
Mendon 29, Decatur 16 
White Pigeon 31, Lawrence 28 
Kalamazoo Central 64, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 50 
Coldwater 41, Portage Northern 37 
Galesburg-Augusta 48, Vermontville Maple Valley 16 
Hopkins 47, Allegan 32 
Saugatuck 42, Bryon Center Zion Christian 31
Today 
Boys Basketball 
White Pigeon at Buchanan, 5:45 p.m. 
Vicksburg at Plainwell, 7:15 p.m. 
Gobles at Kalamazoo Hackett, 7:00 p.m.
Girls Basketball 
River Valley at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m. 
Plainwell at Vicksburg, 7:15 p.m. 
Kalamazoo Hackett at Gobles, 7:00 p.m.
Wrestling 
Lakeshore, Mattawan, Battle Creek Central at St. Joseph, 5:00 p.m. 
Otsego, Plainwell, Sturgis at Three Rivers, 6:00 p.m. 
Allegan, Gobles, Martin at Delton-Kellogg, 6:00 p.m.Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) passes the ball as Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, left, and forward Duncan Robinson, right, defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Eastern Michigan running back Samson Evans (22) stiff arms San Jose State linebacker Alii Matau (8) on a run in the first half of the Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)Michigan guard Leigha Brown celebrates three point basket against North Carolina during the first half of a NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Southwest Michigan's Sports Leader

WSJM Sports

NBA – National Basketball Association Tonight Utah Jazz 126, Detroit Pistons 111 Chicago Bulls 113, Miami Heat 103 Jazz 126, Pistons 111 – Markkanen scores 38 to lead Jazz past Pistons 126-111 Lauri Markkanen scored 38 points,