Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 270

Steph Curry, Draymond Green back for Warriors against Timberwolves

SAN FRANCISCO – On the second night of a back-to-back, the Warriors could be back at full strength.

Both Steph Curry and Draymond Green are expected to play against the Timberwolves on Friday at the Chase Center after each were inactive in Thursday night’s upset over the Rockets.

The Rockets victory was Curry’s fifth missed game of the season. He missed three with an ankle sprain in late October and two in the past week for bilateral knee pain, which has the potential to be a nagging injury the team will have to manage throughout the season.

Green, meanwhile, missed the past two games with left calf tightness; an MRI came back clean on it and Green said on his podcast that while the injury was scary, he’s glad the training staff caught it early.

Golden State is confident that the depth it has assembled makes it more capable of withstanding absences to its stars than in years past. The Warriors are 4-1 without Curry and 1-1 without Green. Last season, the Warriors went 3-5 in games Curry missed.

Andrew Wiggins is listed as questionable and will warm up before the Warriors determine his status. He has been dealing with a right ankle impingement and has been seen icing the inside of his foot after practices.

Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, who scored a career-high 33 points, keyed the Warriors’ win over Houston, which snapped a five-game losing streak.

The Warriors have now won 15 straight games against the Rockets, a span that stretches back to 2020 – before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s weird,” Kerr said. “I mean, we haven’t beaten Denver in eight tries. … Sometimes the NBA is funny like that. It doesn’t feel, to me, like we’ve dominated Houston. Or been dominated by Denver. Played tons of close games against both teams. I think it’s more random than anything. And a lot of those games came before Houston rebuilt, so they were in rebuilding mode and didn’t have a lot of talent. Now they’ve got talent.”

The Warriors have two matchups against Minnesota before a rematch with Houston — their third meeting of the season already — on Dec. 11 in the NBA Cup quarterfinal.

Notable

— Kerr declined to name a starting lineup ahead of the Timberwolves game, but given the team has Curry and Green back, it’ll be the coach’s first chance to make the type of rotation adjustments he telegraphed during Golden State’s skid. Lindy Waters III has been a recent DNP, and Kerr will likely further trim his rotation down from 12.

— In his first 12 games of the season, Buddy Hield averaged 17.7 points while shooting 46.9% from deep off the bench. Since, he’s averaging 10 points per game on 36.1% shooting from 3.

“I think this is just part of the season,” Kerr said. “Especially for a shooter, you just go through stretches where you’re in rhythm, shooting with confidence, then it can leave you for a little bit. But the thing with guys like Buddy who have proven it over a long stretch, you just count on the fact that they know what they’re doing and they’re going to get their rhythm back. I know he will.”

Pro Soccer: Monterey Bay F.C. inks another player

SEASIDE — Monterey Bay F.C. will have a new addition to its roster in 2025 with the signing of forward Mayele Malango to a one-year contract.

The 27-year-old spent the last two seasons with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in the United Soccer League One, producing nine goals, with two assists in 47 appearances.

“Mayele is a dynamic player, who will excite our fans with his attacking flair,” Monterey Bay F.C. head coach Jordan Stewart said. “He is hungry for success and ready to elevate our team.”

Malango has played in three different professional leagues, including New England Revolution II in 2020. This will be his first stop in the United Soccer League Championship.

“My friend Nevello [Yoseke] played there two seasons ago and he told me a lot about the club, the organization, the area, the community and the fans, and I loved all he had to say about it,” Malango said. “I’m super excited to be part of something special like that. I’m looking forward to creating a bond with everyone here.”

Malango was the MASCAC soccer Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year at Salem State, before transferring to the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Kurtenbach: Do the 49ers have any pride? We’re about to find out

The scenarios for the 49ers to make the playoffs are complicated and unrealistic.

What I’m asking the 49ers to do in Sunday’s game with the Bears is simple and achievable:

Show some pride.

This might not be a team that can compete for the championship (or even make the tournament) but that doesn’t mean anyone should roll over.

This isn’t the NBA, after all.

No, in the NFL, there is still plenty to play for, even if the season’s original goals have gone up in smoke.

Sunday is the perfect spot for San Francisco to get right. They’re facing a Chicago team with a rookie quarterback, a head coach in his first game, and the general stench of chaos around them.

Don’t get me wrong, the Bears have many admirable qualities, and they can absolutely win Sunday’s game, which should be called the MiseraBowl.

But surely the Niners — for all their faults and fumbles — aren’t as bad as these guys.

Right?

Say what you will about the Niners (I’ve said it all by now), but at least they’re not possibly starting former Seahawk special teamer Travis Homer at running back Sunday—no, they’ll have rookie Issac Guerendo in the backfield. And while Bears fans wondered if interim head coach Thomas Brown (who was promoted to offensive coordinator 17 days prior) would fulfill his new gig from the booth, the Niners haven’t dealt with coaching-from-the-booth issues for over a year.

And instead of wondering if their quarterback is “the guy” to stake the franchise, like the Bears with rookie Caleb Williams, the Niners are trying to figure out how much to pay the quarterback on whom they’ll stake the franchise. That’s totally different!

But, hey, the Niners will be at home on Sunday. That has to count for something.

Ok, the margins between these two teams might be tighter than initially expected, but this Niners’ season still matters. If not the quixotic quest for the playoffs, then as a testament to quality for players and coaches and a momentum starter for the 2025 season.

“Just flush the things that have happened. Don’t worry about what has happened in the past,” George Kittle said this week. “Flush it, try to be your best self, and just move forward because we still have a lot of great players on this team that can all make really special plays. And all it takes is a spark to get the boys going, and then after that, we’ll see what can happen.”

This is the beauty of the NFL — every game has meaning, even if neither team should have any interest in actually playing the game.

And for all the conversation around the Niners tanking for a good draft pick, wouldn’t it be better to pull it together and play — for the first time all season — some solid football final weeks, making the Seahawks and Cardinals — who need a playoff berth more than the Niners — sweat until the very end, and put a dent in the notion that this team’s stock is in a tailspin?

This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league, after all. Lesser teams have earned more reputation from less than what is being asked of the Niners.

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Draft picks? That can all be sorted out in the spring. And it’s not like the Niners need to position themselves for a quarterback at the top of the first round. (We saw how that worked out last time.)

No, the Niners need both quality and quantity this upcoming offseason. They’ll need to build up both lines and their defense with young and cheap players.

But this team isn’t tearing things down to the foundation—this isn’t a full-on rebuild. No, call it a restructuring. It’s one part a penance for trying to run back the same team that went to the Super Bowl in 2023, another, the natural autophagy of a football team. It’s a crucial offseason, no doubt, and wouldn’t it be better if the Niners entered it with a reason to believe they are still a team to beat in the NFC?

The Niners built a stars-and-scrubs roster and were decimated by bad injuries to those stars. They played with fire and were burned.

After a season as disappointing as this one, the Niners have to prove that their window of contention for that long-sought sixth Lombardi Trophy is still open. That this team isn’t done, even if this season is.

Beating the Bears won’t reverse this campaign’s trend or give the Niners a leg up in 2025, but losing to Chicago certainly wouldn’t help the cause.

Whatever lie the 49ers need to tell themselves to get up for this game needs to be said. The Niners’ best might not be all that great anymore, but it’s time for that best to show itself. Great players and teams are self-motivated, after all.

Consider this the 2025 preseason, folks. What the Niners do on Sunday and in the final four games of the season will give us a great hint as to what we can expect next year.

Marina’s Hilltop Park unveiled to the community, opened to the public

MARINA – Taking a piece of elevated land that was once part of the Fort Ord Army Base and turning it into a community park with spectacular views and dotted with native plants, has been realized by the partnership that made it possible, and on Friday Hilltop Park in Marina was unveiled to the community.

Native plants dominate Hilltop Park. (James Herrera/Monterey Herald)

“Top of the world comes to mind because it’s a beautiful place to be,” said Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado. “It’s the best effort we’ve made yet to respect our natural heritage. Native plants that have grown in Marina for thousands of years are dominating this park with a lot of care from 300 volunteers so it’s a momentous time for me to celebrate something that people have been giving their heart and soul to for several years.”

In 2001, the city brought busloads of Marina citizens to the spot, said Delgado, and asked them what they wanted for this site and the response was not to put hotels or houses there, but to make it available for the public to enjoy for free because its such a special prominent sand dune.

More than 20 years later, the city of Marina celebrated the opening of Hilltop Park to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony with many community members and their dogs in attendance.

The 12-acre park began as part of a 2004 proposal by Shea Homes, developer of the Dunes On Monterey Bay community in Marina, to build residences and the park, then give the park to the city of Marina for public use.

Shea Homes invested heavily in the project with about $100,000 in the plant propagation program alone.

“We’re proud of this park, we’re proud of the effort that has been put together,” said Vice President of Community Development at Shea Homes Don Hofer.

The Dunes Specific Plan Community Design Strategy describes the Hilltop Park site as having “significant topography which yields beautiful panoramas from the top of the plateau. This park is proposed to be a passive park with an emphasis on native planting, dunes, sheltered overlooks and seating areas, picnic and barbecue facilities and a dog park. Trails should follow the site contours to provide access from 8th and 9th streets.”

That description does not do this crown jewel of a park justice when visiting it in person as the design has both a long, mild-incline, switch-backed path for those with mobility issues, and a more direct path to the top with a set of earth and wood steps and handrails. The place is home to Marina native plants which will cover the dune. Once reaching the crest, one is presented with a 360-degree view of the surrounding area including across the Monterey Bay towards Moss Landing and Santa Cruz, Lovers Point on the Monterey Peninsula, and the Gabilan Mountain Range to the east of Salinas.

During development of the park, Delgado established an ad-hoc committee focused on landscaping the park and worked closely with Cal State Monterey Bay Environmental Scientist Fred Watson to establish a native dune restoration planting plan, according to the city.

Over the past couple of years volunteers from Citizens for Sustainable Marina picked seeds for the listed species from throughout Fort Ord. Those seeds were then dried, planted and germinated with the help of Return of the Natives, a native restoration and education nonprofit out of Cal State Monterey Bay. Volunteers then re-potted and tended to the plants to prepare them to go into the ground.

Watson, who co-conceived the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway which will pass through the new park in the future, mapped existing vegetation, then the ad-hoc committee selected a list of species that would thrive in a dune ecosystem.

Once reaching the crest of Hilltop Park, one is presented with a 360-degree view of the surrounding area including across the Monterey Bay towards Moss Landing and Santa Cruz, and Lovers Point on the Monterey Peninsula, and the Gabilan Mountain Range to the east of Salinas. (James Herrera/Monterey Herald)

The Hilltop Park area is east of 3rd Avenue, west of 5th Avenue, north of 8th Street, and south of 9th Street, and will access part of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Cal State Monterey Bay North Loop when that project connects to it.

“This Hilltop Park that we’re opening, with its amazing views, is one part an amazing parks and trails network that is happening before our eyes,” said Marina City Manager Layne Long.

Not far from Hilltop Park is the equestrian center that is being transformed, the FORTAG trail network in the city has about $10 million in grants part of which will connect to Sea Haven park currently under construction and continue on into central Marina, said Long. Heading west from Hilltop Park will be a rebuilt and restored indoor aquatics and sports center, then the path continues across 2nd Avenue to the 8th Street bridge to Fort Ord Dunes State Park where an $800,000 grant will improve access to the beach.

But this week, a dune on the former Fort Ord, designed with the intent of restoring a rare California ecosystem to Marina’s coastal dunes, through a unique partnership between the city of Marina, Shea Homes, and volunteer groups, is being lauded as a place that will preserve and nurture many coastal, native plant species and provide breathtaking views from the top.

Delgado said the city will most likely rename the park through an open contest for citizens to participate in, but for now, the aptly named Hilltop Park is ready to welcome those who wish to experience its unique beauty and vantage point as it is open daily from sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Monterey man sentenced to 8 years following two-year crime spree

A Monterey man was sentenced to eight years and four months for a crime spree committed over two years.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced that Leslie Flores Sr., 59, an owner of multiple rental properties in Monterey was sentenced for a myriad of felony and misdemeanors including possession of a short-barreled rifle/assault weapon, failure to appear in court while on bail, failure to appear while on his own recognizance, reckless evading of a police officer, resisting a peace officer, various drug related charges, mail theft, assault likely to cause great bodily injury and trespassing on a renter’s property without consent.

On March 18, 2022 Flores Sr. and his son Leslie Flores Jr. assaulted a bouncer who worked at the Britannia Arms in Monterey because the bouncer would not allow them inside the establishment. At one point Flores Jr. strangled the bouncer while Flores Sr. prevented onlookers from coming to the bouncer’s aid. Afterwards, Flores Sr. punched the bouncer twice in the face, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Over the next two years while the felony court case was pending, Flores Sr. was caught multiple times with drugs, he was caught in possession of his tenants’ mail and caught on video trespassing on one of his tenant’s properties without consent or proper notice.

During a traffic stop, police found an illegal assault rifle with a shortened barrel.

“Because of changes to California’s bail laws, Flores was able to remain out of custody despite continuously committing new crimes,” the District Attorney’s Office press statement reads.

By mid-2023, Flores began to evade the court system. He repeatedly failed to appear in court, with either no excuse or telling the court he was in a treatment program when he was not.

On three separate occasions judges issued bench warrants for Flores’s failure to appear in court between December 2023 and February 2024. Flores also successfully evaded the Monterey Police, including twice when he led police on high-speed chases through residential neighborhoods in Monterey and got away.

On July 3, 2024 the Monterey Police found out that Flores was in his home on Cielo Vista Drive. The department’s SWAT team set up a perimeter to stop him from escaping. This led to a seven-hour standoff until SWAT cleared the home and found Flores barricaded in a compartment under the floor of his home. Police had to use a chainsaw to forcibly extract and arrest Flores. At that time, he had 14 pending felony and misdemeanor cases.

Flores remained in custody without bail and the trial was in October.

Flores Sr. was sentenced Wednesday. He submitted numerous letters from his own family requesting a rehabilitation program instead of prison. However, the judge found that Flores was unsuitable for probation because he regularly showed defiance to law enforcement, his own attorneys and his own family the last two years. He was also ordered multiple times to rehabilitation programs, but did not go. Flores was sentenced to six years and four months in prison and an additional two years of local jail time.

New state data shows the pandemic continues to affect student progress

New state data shows while districts are making marked improvements in chronic absenteeism and graduation rates, at the state level, academic performance is still underperforming pre-pandemic scores.

The California Department of Education recently released the 2023-24 dashboard, a color-coded centralized data portal that details how schools and districts are doing in academic performance, graduation rates and chronic absences among other markers. On the Peninsula and across the state, minimal growth in academic performance indicates Covid-19 is having a longer-term effect on students than educators had hoped.

“I am continually inspired by the unwavering dedication of our Monterey County school districts and educators, who work hard to prepare and deliver high-quality instruction tailored to the diverse needs of all learners,” said Superintendent of Schools Deneen Guss in an email.

“While much remains to be done, our strong partnerships with district leaders and their steadfast efforts demonstrate that we are moving in the right direction,” said Guss. “Together, we will continue to strive for educational excellence for every child in Monterey County.”

Recent state testing data shows that statewide, students are 13.2 points below the English language arts standard and 47.6 points below the math standard. This data reflects Monterey County numbers, which despite some growth, also still remain below the standard.

Local districts over-performed the state average in four and five-year graduation rates, which remains about the same as last year at 86.7%.

Monterey Peninsula Unified’s 2023 graduation which celebrated its four high schools: Monterey, Central Coast, Seaside and Marina. (Molly Gibbs – Monterey Herald).

Pacific Grove had the most growth in this area, with 95% of students graduating in 2024, compared to about 86% in 2023. Monterey Peninsula Unified saw a two-point growth, bringing its graduation rate to 95%. In Carmel, graduation rates fell about three points from last year’s rate of 98.3%.

Peninsula schools are also trending higher than the state average when it comes to college and career readiness. P.G. and Carmel Unified both had around 65% of students ready for life after high school, with Monterey Peninsula Unified seeing a seven-point increase to 61%

Monterey Peninsula Unified has set its default class offerings and graduation requirements to reflect the A-G requirements for admission to a CSU or UC, according to Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh. The district has also “doubled down” on Career Technical Education pathways, which allow students to gain technical and occupational knowledge.

Another big factor in this data is chronic absenteeism, which refers to students who have missed 10% or more of their instructional days while enrolled in school.

Even though the statewide absenteeism rates have fallen to 18% compared to last year’s 24%, the pandemic has proved to be a hindrance to this marker. Prior to the pandemic, the rate was much lower at 12%.

Diffenbaugh has placed an emphasis on reducing chronic absenteeism rates, which seems to be working for the district. The rate of chronically absent students has dropped to 14%, compared to about 26% last year.

“We’ve really focused hard on an attendance campaign and communicating thoroughly with families,” said Diffenbaugh. “It’s a combination of raising awareness, identifying barriers and ensuring you have a team that’s monitoring data and helping families overcome those barriers.”

Overall, the Peninsula is trending better than the statewide average in this area. P.G. Unified remains about the same as last year with around 15% chronically absent students while Carmel Unified saw a seven-point drop to about 12%.

While the pandemic has had an influence, there are still other factors keeping absenteeism rates high.

The state data showed that Black, Native American and Pacific Islander students were over twice as likely to be chronically absent than their White peers. Foster youth, students with disabilities, socioeconomically disadvantaged students and homeless students are also among those most chronically absent.

According to Guss, some common reasons for absenteeism amongst these groups tend to be transportation challenges, medical appointments, students taking care of younger siblings and inability to isolate when illnesses hit a household.

“We continue to … celebrate the growth we are seeing, but we’ve got to acknowledge the fact that we continue to face challenges,” said Adamson. “It’s critical that we work to provide needed support for our students to continue to make that growth and close opportunity gaps.”

He pointed to increased mental health concerns as well as increased dysregulated behavior amongst young students as a few post-pandemic hurdles. Another concern is that “we’ve improved (on absenteeism) but still 14% of our kids are missing over 10% of the school year and that’s significant.”

After the pandemic, districts received federal funding to support schools getting back on track, but that funding was unique and is widely running out.

“Thinking that after a few years, schools will have solved this, is, I think, wishful thinking,” said Diffenbaugh. “I don’t think as a society we’ve reconciled with the need for sustained investment over time to really ensure that our students are able to be successful despite a once in a century pandemic.”

49ers vs. Bears injury report: Bosa doubtful, Williams out; Chicago stars in question

SANTA CLARA — Neither Nick Bosa nor Trent Williams practiced for a third straight week, and that’s not great news for a 49ers team trying to shake a three-game losing streak in Sunday’s homecoming against the Chicago Bears.

Bosa was able to show enough progress to not be ruled out Friday, but he is doubtful. Williams officially is out, as are running back Jordan Mason, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety George Odum.

While Bosa has been sidelined since a third-quarter oblique strain Nov. 17 against Seattle, Williams’ hiatus is traced. mainly to an ankle injury but he’s also been coping with personal issues after his son was stillborn Nov. 24.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward did not practice Friday because of a personal matter; he played last Sunday in Buffalo in his first game since the Oct. 28 death of his 23-month-old daughter. Ward is still expected to play Sunday, although the 49ers understandably could excuse him amid his grieving.

Left guard Aaron Banks is questionable, having missed the 38-10 loss at Buffalo because of a concussion from the loss to Seattle. Safety Talanoa Hufanga is also questionable after returning to practice this week as the 49ers evaluate whether to activate him off Injured Reserve.

RUNNING BACK OPTIONS

Isaac Guerendo looks in line to start at running back, with Patrick Taylor Jr. as the next-best option, while the 49ers move past last Sunday’s season-ending injuries to Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Mason (ankle). The 49ers put McCaffrey back on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, having spent eight weeks on IR with Achilles tendinitis before his Nov. 9 activation. Mason is expected to move onto IR on Saturday.

For further depth, Israel Abanikanda was claimed off waivers from the New York Jets, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn as re-signed to the practice squad.

PURDY ALL CLEAR

Two weeks since missing the 49ers’ 38-10 loss at Green Bay because of a shoulder injury, quarterback Brock Purdy had no setbacks in his return last Sunday at Buffalo and is full-go for this game.

“He’s good. He had to wait a while give him rest and make sure it healed,” Shanahan said. “Glad to get him back to full speed and get him back to practice.”

BEARS INJURIES

Bears running back D’Andre Swift and wide receiver D.J. Moore are both questionable after quadriceps injuries forced them to miss back-to-back practices before Friday’s limited return.

Center Ryan Bates (concussion) and safety Elijah Hicks (ankle) are out. Swift’s backup, Roschon Johnson, will not play because of a concussion.

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DEEBO ‘IS THE KEY’

Deebo Samuel may be enduring one of his most sideways seasons but that hasn’t diminished opponents’ respect.

Said Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington: “Deebo Samuel, he’s a very versatile player, can play multiple positions: Tailback, slot, wide receiver. He’s the key to everything they desire to do.”

Samuel has not unlocked the 49ers offense, either as a wide receiver (38 catches, 531 yards, one touchdown) or a running back (27 carries, 79 yards, one touchdown).

HALL OF FAME COMPLIMENT

In the wake of McCaffrey’s season-ending knee injury, he wrote an extensive message on Instagram this week depicting his love for the game, and it won the admiration of general manager John Lynch. “That deal he wrote was beautiful,” Lynch said on KNBR 680-AM. “I told him, ‘Hey you wrote your Hall of Fame speech, or an excerpt for it.’ He encompassed what football is all about and why we all love it, as much as anybody I’ve ever heard.”

McCaffrey’s words on Wednesday: “Football is the greatest game on the planet to me. I love that you can find out exactly who you are without ever saying a word. It lifts you up and breaks you down and it can happen fast. It’s humbling in the best ways. You can do everything right and still fail. Thats life and that’s football. It’s a constant test of wills and those who just keep going tend to reap the benefits of their perseverance. This wasn’t my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours. You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line. I’m grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I’ll work smarter and harder than ever to come back better from this. I love my teammates, I love the 9ers, and I love football. God doesn’t miss. Onward ”

Horoscopes Dec. 6, 2024: Judd Apatow, concentrate on taking positive action

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lindsay Price, 48; Judd Apatow, 57; Tom Hulce, 71; JoBeth Williams, 76.

Happy Birthday: Moderation and simplicity are your best path forward. Honesty and integrity will keep you out of harm’s way. Concentrate on taking positive action, living by the rules and regulations, and budgeting to ensure you reach your goals and the lifestyle you desire. A career change or long-term investment will help you to raise your financial profile and to put your mind at ease. Make diet and exercise mainstays. Your numbers are 7, 13, 21, 29, 32, 38, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a second look or get the opinion of someone you trust. The information you gather will offer insight and confidence to push forward with your plans. Changing your environment, decor or routine will impact how you think and encourage you to follow your heart. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make personal gain and physical improvements your goals. Put your energy into making your space inviting and comfortable. An unusual offer will give you a reason to rethink your direction. Don’t limit your achievements because you lack confidence or let laziness prevail. Make health and love priorities. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Refrain from making an impulsive decision. Set your radar on alert and be wary of inconsistencies. Decline an invitation asking you to participate or give more than you can afford. Invest in yourself and personal growth and update your skills and qualifications. Romance is favored. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Get on the fast track and finish what you start. The sooner you put your work behind you, the more fun you can have. A social event, networking or exploring a creative pursuit will attract your interest, but before you get too excited, check out the offer’s validity. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Choose your venues carefully. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something that isn’t worthwhile or that is overpriced. Research is your ally and will help protect you from scammers. Stick to who and what you know and trust, and socialize within your means. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take control and refuse to let anyone limit your achievements. It may be challenging to say no to someone you love, but it is necessary if what you’re being asked will hinder your reputation. Look for incentives and alternative ways to accommodate others without personal consequences. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Travel, research and shop for unique gifts for loved ones. Visit old friends and catch up on gossip, but refrain from paying for someone else’s mistake or getting involved in their drama. A reunion will bring back fond memories and encourage you to revisit your dreams, hopes and wishes. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov- Nov 21): Keep your emotions safely tucked away. Refuse to let anyone needle you into an argument or pressure you to make inappropriate changes. Concentrate on domestic issues, home improvements or preparing for the festive season. Discuss plans with someone special. Choose peace and love over discord. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Play for keeps and enjoy the ride. Take pride in your work and put your energy where it promises the highest return. Refuse to let anyone take advantage of you or fold under pressure to participate in something that doesn’t matter to you. Trust your instincts. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look for solid offers at a decent price. Be quick to take a pass if something doesn’t feel right. Secure your financial position and spend only on necessities. You can’t buy love or give in to someone’s power of persuasion. A change of heart is apparent. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sit tight, wait, watch and see what unfolds. If you refuse to let your emotions tangle in someone else’s dilemma, you can dodge a mishap. Let your intelligence lead the way and offer suggestions instead of your money or reputation. A change of scenery will lift your spirits. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When uncertainty sets in, you should take a break and address personal issues. Look at your financial status and the changes you can make to lower your overhead. Taking control of your position and prospects will make your life easier and give you a reason to celebrate. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are thoughtful, astute and optimistic. You are dynamic and sporty.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Without Steph or Draymond, Warriors snap five-game losing streak against Rockets

SAN FRANCISCO — With Steph Curry and Draymond Green both wearing sweatsuits at opposite ends of the bench Thursday night, the Warriors were going to need alternate scoring options in order to snap their season-long losing streak and continue a historic run of success against the Houston Rockets.

Inserted into the starting lineup for the sixth time this season, Jonathan Kuminga understood the assignment.

An aggressive and efficient performance from the fourth-year wing helped guide the undermanned Warriors to their first win in nearly two weeks, 99-93.

The Warriors’ two sidelined stars popped from their positions on the bench to mob Kuminga after he took his defender off the dribble and finished the at rim while clinging to a one-possession lead in the final seconds for the last of his career-high 33 points.

“That was the play of the game,” coach Steve Kerr said. “It was just a beautiful drive and capped off a phenomenal night for him. He was brilliant.”

In all, 15 of Kuminga’s points came in the final quarter, providing an offensive spark the Warriors have lacked late in games without Curry on the floor. He connected on 13 of his 22 attempts from the field, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, plus another 4-for-6 from the foul line.

After the Rockets pulled within 3, 99-96, with 33 seconds left, Kerr called his final timeout and drew up a play for Kuminga.

“JK just made the play,” Kerr said. “He got a couple of ghost screens — one from Buddy (Hield) and one from (Brandin Podziemski) — just to try to confuse the switch a little bit, and JK just attacked.”

Andrew Wiggins, who was questionable with a right ankle injury, also contributed 23 points and nine rebounds.

“I don’t even know if he should’ve played tonight,” Kerr said. “But he knew Steph and Draymond were out and he knew how important this game was. He gutted it out. He’s been that way since he’s been here. Ironman. … He knew he had a lot of responsibility tonight. He and JK both did a really great job of providing the offense.”

No other Warriors scored in double figures, but the contributions from Kuminga and Wiggins were enough to get Golden State back in the win column for the first time since Nov. 22, snapping a five-game losing streak.

“We needed it a lot, especially the way we’ve had a lot of close games where we were up and gave away the lead,” said Kevon Looney, who collected 11 rebounds while posting a team-best plus-21. “This game was kind of the same. They were fighting back. So for us to close it out without two of our best players, it was big for us.”

The Warriors (13-8) haven’t lost to the Rockets (15-8) since Feb. 20, 2020, extending their winning streak to 15 regular-season games, one shy of the longest active run against one opponent in the NBA. They will have the opportunity to match the Knicks’ 16 straight wins against the Pistons next week, when the teams meet again in Houston for the next round of the NBA Cup.

By then, the Warriors hope to have Curry (knee) and Green (calf) back in lineup. Wearing a Golden State Valkyries jersey over his green sweats, Green missed his second game in a row and Curry his second game in a matter of weeks with ongoing ailments, but Kerr said both could be back as soon as Friday against the Timberwolves.

“They were very engaged,” Kerr said. “Steph and I were discussing the timeout situation, 33 seconds left, up 3. … I’m talking to Steph about it. Draymond’s talking to our guys about what’s going on defensively. We needed them.”

Golden State improved to 24-39 all-time when playing without both Curry and Green.

With their two stars moonlighting as assistant coaches, the Warriors quickly built a 15-point advantage out of halftime that they never relinquished, despite missing two-fifths of their typical closing lineup.

Houston pulled within 2, 87-85, prompting Kerr to call timeout with 4:38 remaining, and Kuminga converted a tip-in on the next possession to stave off the comeback attempt. Gary Payton II intercepted a pass from Jalen Green with 1:07 left and set up a Euro-stepping Kuminga to put the game on ice.

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Getting the starting nod in place of Green, Kuminga came out aggressive and scored a team-high eight points on 3-of-7 shooting in the opening quarter. Despite connecting on only 7 of their 22 shots from the field in the first quarter, the Warriors didn’t trail for the first time until the final minute of the period.

The Warriors took a 49-43 advantage into halftime, thanks to 12 second-quarter points from Wiggins, who converted his second 4-point play of the period to allow Golden State to take its biggest lead since midway through the first quarter into intermission.

Kuminga poured in a quick nine points to start the third quarter that helped Golden State build its largest lead of the game.

“It was a really slow start for us, 18 points in the first quarter,” Kerr said. “Couldn’t get anything going. You could tell our fans were a little frustrated. Sometimes when you’re missing your two best players, it takes a little while in a game to get going and figure out the rhythm of it. I thought those two 4-point plays from Wiggs changed the momentum.”

Warriors optimistic Steph, Draymond won’t be out long

SAN FRANCISCO — Without Steph Curry and Draymond Green for the first time all season, the Warriors put their highly touted depth to the test Friday against the Houston Rockets, the first of four straight at Chase Center.

Coach Steve Kerr expressed optimism, though, that their two stars would be back on the court Friday, when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Green missed his second straight game with left calf tightness and underwent an MRI, which revealed no structural damage, the team said. In a news release, the team described his status for Friday as “questionable,” and Kerr added, “I think it’s possible that he’ll play.”

Curry received the night off after posting team-highs with a 24-point, 11-assist double-double in a 119-115 loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday. He appeared on the injury report with a bilateral knee injury — or runner’s knee — the same ailment that forced him to sit out last week’s loss to the Thunder.

“Three in four games, he’s in pain,” Kerr said of Curry. “We can’t play him through this stretch every game and expect him to get through it. I thought he looked really good in Denver. To me, he looked more active, more agile. But we have to help him get through the woods on this one. Same thing with Draymond. Otherwise you’re chasing your tail and guys end up missing weeks at a time.”

Kerr said “the plan is for him to play” Friday “but we’re going to see how he feels” after going through treatment.

Seeking to snap a five-game losing streak, Kerr inserted Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield into the starting lineup in place of Curry and Green, alongside Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney.

Wiggins’ right ankle landed him on the injury report as questionable but was expected to play.

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“It’s enough of an issue that it’s bothering him, but it hasn’t kept him out of any games,” Kerr said of Wiggins’ ankle. “Hopefully that remains the same, and he can take a few steps forward from a pain standpoint and get through this.”

The Warriors entered Thursday 3-1 without Curry and 0-1 without Green, but their matchup against the Rockets was their first test of the season without both their top two players, in addition to De’Anthony Melton, who underwent season-ending knee surgery.

All-time, the Warriors are 23-39 without the duo, including 1-3 last season.

Kerr, who has touted the Warriors’ 12-man rotation, said, “I always enjoy these types of games.

“Obviously I’d rather have Steph and Draymond, but I always like seeing our other guys get opportunities.”