Zach LaVine scored a game-high 30 points but the Bulls fell 119-103 to the Celtics at the United Center. Lauri Markkanen posted 18 points and Thaddeus Young finished with 16 off the bench for Chicago, which dropped to 7-and-10. The Bulls next scheduled game is Saturday at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Blackhawks open a two-game series tonight against the Predators in Nashville. Chicago defeated the Detroit Red Wings Sunday, improving to 2-3-and-1. The Hawks will be without defenseman Adam Boqvist and forward Alex DeBrincat after both players were added to the NHL’s COVID-19 Protocol List.
In the MLS, Chicago Fire president Nelson Rodríguez resigned yesterday after five years with the Fire. Rodríguez originally joined Chicago in September 2015 as General Manager. In January 2018, he took on an expanded role as President and GM. The 2021 Major League Soccer season will begin on April 3rd.
The Cactus League is asking Major League Baseball to delay the start of spring-training camps in Arizona due to COVID-19. A letter addressed to the MLB Commissioner outlined concerns from the league and leaders from eight cities. The letter cited a high coronavirus infection rate in Maricopa County. The request comes three weeks before The White Sox and Cubs pitchers and catchers are to report to spring-training in Arizona.
The MLB Players Association is rejecting proposals for expanded playoffs and a universal designated hitter. Multiple reports say the union has shot down both ideas, which were used during the shortened 2020 season. Major League Baseball used a 16-team playoff format this past season compared to 14 teams in years past.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are having discussions about still holding an All-Star Game in March. The two sides are talking about holding an All-Star Game in Atlanta on March 7th. The NBA All-Star Weekend was originally scheduled for February in Indianapolis but was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
Monday night’s game between the Spurs and Pelicans in New Orleans was postponed. Neither team had the required eight players available to play due to Covid contact tracing. There have been close to 20 games postponed so far in the early first half of the NBA season.
And it was one year ago today that the helicopter carrying NBA legend Kobe Bryant crashed in Southern California killing Bryant his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, the pilot and six others.
The opening spread on Super Bowl 55 from DraftKings Sportsbook makes the Chiefs a three and half point favorite over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game’s set for February 7th on the Buc’s home field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.