(Milwaukee, WI) — The Bucks played without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo but were still able to handle the Golden State Warriors, 120-110. Ryan Rollins scored a career-high 32 points and tacked on eight assists in the Thursday action. Antetokounmpo sat out with a sore left knee. Golden State sliced the lead to 106-104 with four minutes to go, but Milwaukee went on an 11-2 run to ice the game. The Bucks host the Sacramento Kings Saturday.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins vowed that the contract he signed before the season wouldn’t cause him to lower the tenacity that had enabled him to earn that payday. That three-year, $12 million deal is looking like more of a bargain for the Bucks with each passing day. Rollins moved into Milwaukee’s starting lineup after Kevin Porter Jr. sprained his left ankle in the Bucks’ season opener. Rollins has been capitalizing on the opportunity ever since. He followed up a 25-point performance against New York by scoring a career-high 32 points in a 120-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist, Tristan Jarry made 26 saves and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat Minnesota 4-1 to hand the Wild their fifth straight loss. Rust’s tip-in of Ryan Shea’s long pass from the point broke a 1-1 tie 6:29 into the third. Ben Kindel added an insurance goal a minute later. Shea also scored and Anthony Mantha had an empty-net goal for Pittsburgh, which improved to 5-1-1 on the road. Kirill Kaprizov had the lone goal for Minnesota, which has lost eight of nine, including four straight to start a six-game homestand. Filip Gustavsson made 30 saves.
(Madison, WI) — The Wisconsin men’s hockey team opened this weekend’s Border Battle with a 5-2 victory over Minnesota. Thursday’s decisive win keeps the Badgers undefeated. Christian Fitzgerald was the scoring star with a hat trick. Logan Hensler and Blake Montgomery also found the back of the net with shots. Wisconsin outshot the Golden Gophers 43-16 and killed two of the three power plays by the visitors. The teams take tonight (Friday) off, then wrap up the series Saturday.
(Green Bay, WI) — Packers defensive captain Quay Walker sat out Thursday’s practice as the team prepares for the Carolina Panthers. Walker has a calf injury. Sports Illustrated reports that he leads Green Bay in tackles. Coordinator Jeff Hafley has called him an “elite” linebacker. Also sitting out the latest practice were defensive end Lukas Van Ness, wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, and special teams standout Nick Niemann.
Pregame at 10am. Kickoff at noon on Sunday on 96.1FM
The Detroit Lions are 5-2, aiming to keep up with Green Bay in the NFC North and top teams in the conference. The Minnesota Vikings are 3-4 after losing two straight and three of the past four games in a season that is slipping away. The Lions had a bye after beating Tampa Bay 24-9. The Vikings lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 37-10 in their previous game. J.J. McCarthy is expected to start at quarterback for Minnesota, returning from an ankle injury to play in front of fans who cheered for him during Michigan’s 2023 national championship season.
Pregame at 11am. Kickoff at noon on Sunday on 99.1FM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have picked former bench coach Derek Shelton as their new manager. Shelton managed the Pittsburgh Pirates for five-plus years. The Twins made a formal announcement on Thursday and scheduled an introductory news conference for Shelton on Tuesday. Shelton had an overall record of 306-440 with the Pirates before he was fired just 40 games into this season. The 55-year-old was the bench coach for the Twins in 2018 and 2019 under two different managers, Paul Molitor and Rocco Baldelli. Shelton never finished higher than fourth place in the NL Central or better than 76-86 with the Pirates.
(Madison, WI) — Badgers volleyball hosts the top-ranked team in the country tonight (Friday) when Nebraska visits the UW Field House. The Cornhuskers are undefeated after 20 games, including 10-and-0 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin head coach Kelly Sheffield has a 13-and-8 record against Nebraska. The Badgers will count on a loud home crowd as they deal with the absence of All-American setter Charlie Fuerbringer. She has a shoulder injury.
HSVB Sectional Semifinals
Rice Lake beat St. Croix Falls 3-1
Grantsburg topped Bloomer 3-0
Barron beat Stanley Boyd 3-0
Barron and Grantsburg will play for the Sectional Championship on Saturday.
Pregame at 6:45pm. First serve at 7pm on 99.1FM
HSFB tonight
Rice Lake vs Wawatosa East
Pregame at 6:40pm. Kickoff at 7pm on 96.1FM and the WJMC YouTube page.