3/2/23 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Thursday
2 March 2023 Sports
Thursday Sports
From Wayne Mausser
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks hit a season-high 26 3-pointers in a 139-117 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, extending their winning streak to 16 games.
Milwaukee’s streak is the longest in the NBA since the Phoenix Suns won 18 in a row early last season. The Bucks’ run is their longest since winning 18 straight in the 2019-20 season.
The Bucks’ franchise record for consecutive wins came in their 1970-71 championship season, when they claimed 20 straight. Milwaukee hasn’t lost since Jan. 21, when they fell 114-102 at Cleveland. The Bucks haven’t lost a game in which Antetokounmpo played since Jan. 6th against Charlott Milwaukee also has won its last 13 matchups with the Magic.
The Magic had snapped the Boston Celtics nine-game winning streak on Jan. 23 and ended the Philadelphia 76ers seven-game streak on Jan. 30, but they couldn’t stop the Bucks.
Milwaukee shot 26 of 56 from 3-point range, while Orlando went just 9 of 33.
Antetokounmpo shot 10 of 14 overall, 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 8 of 10 from the line. The two-time MVP also had seven rebounds and six assists. Jrue Holiday had 23 points and nine assists for the Bucks. Brook Lopez scored 18 and Joe Ingles 16.
Orlando’s Cole Anthony scored a season-high 28 points. Markelle Fultz added 21, Wendell Carter Jr. 19 and Franz Wagner 18. Carter also had 10 rebounds.
The Bucks host the 76ers Saturday night.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, days after emerging from his darkness retreat, says he hopes to make a decision on his future “sooner rather than later.”
The four-time MVP said in an interview on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast released Wednesday that it’s best for everyone to have a decision soon.
Rodgers, 39, spent much of the 1½-hour conversation describing his recent isolation retreat in which he said he spent four days alone in a dark room.
Rodgers said he feels good about upcoming conversations and doesn’t “want to drag anybody around” in deciding on a potential 19th season. He also said he contemplated answers to a lot of questions and insecurities about retirement — how he would spend his free time, where he would live, and “How would I fill the competitive hole in my heart? I’ve played sports since I was 6 years old.”
“There’s a finality to the decision,” Rodgers said. “I don’t make it lightly. I don’t want to drag anybody around.”
The podcast was released one day after Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was asked about Rodgers and said that they “haven’t had the conversations that we need to have yet.” Gutekunst indicated he hoped a decision was made by the start of free agency on March 15.
“There’s been some contact back and forth,” Gutekunst said. “Obviously he’s had some things on his plate. Hopefully those things will happen soon.”
Gutekunst also indicated that he believes 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love is ready to be an NFL starting quarterback. Love has backed up Rodgers the past three seasons.
Rodgers, who is due to make about $59.5 million if he plays, noted that “for everyone involved, directly and indirectly it’s best for a decision earlier.”
He referenced the latter stages of Brett Favre’s career in Green Bay, when the Packers didn’t know whether the Hall of Fame quarterback would play or retire. Rodgers backed up Favre for the first three seasons of his career.
Favre did retire in the spring of 2008 before changing his mind, leading the Packers to trade him to the New York Jets because they already had announced Rodgers as their starter.
Rodgers has noted he planned this retreat several months ago and that it wasn’t planned specifically so that he could think about his football future. Rodgers said he wanted a chance to “disconnect from technology and from the world” and give himself “the gift of rest.”
But the solitude did give him plenty of opportunities to consider the possibilities.
Rodgers said he would have plenty of incentive if he does come back after a 2022 season in which he had his lowest passer rating as a starter after the Packers went 8-9 and missed the playoffs.
In Cactus League play Wednesday the Angels edged the Brewers 4-3. The Brewers play the Rangers this afternoon at 2:10 CST.
The Badgers are back in action Thursday hosting 5th ranked Purdue on Senior Night at the Kohl Center. Tipoff is at 8:00. Purdue is leading the Big Ten with a 13-5 conference record and 24-5 overall. Wiscosnin is 8-10 in the Big Ten and 16-12 overall.
The UW-Oshkosh men’s basketball team opens their NCAA Division III Tournament Friday, playing
Fontonne (Fon-tonn) Unversity (Mo.). Tipoff is at 7:00 pm, CDT.
The UW-Oshkosh women’s basketball team opens their NCAA Division III Tournament Friday against Washington and Lee University (VA) at Ohio Northern. Tipoff is at 4:30 CDT.
Girl’s Sectionals (Thurs.)
Waupun at Lake Mills
Kewaskum at Oostburg
Winnebago Lutheran at Laconia
Wausau West at Hortonville
Eau Claire Memorial at Neenah
Fox Valley Lutheran at Notre Dame
Wrightstown at Freedom
Westfield at St. Mary Catholic
Oakfield at Lourdes Academy
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