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Cung Le Went to Extremes to Heal His Foot, Even So Far as Bloodletting

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 07:41:31 PST

source: MMAWeekly

Cung Le wanted to fight in the main event of the UFC’s first event in China, bad.

How bad?

Bad enough that he tried everything under the sun to make sure the foot he injured in his last fight would be ready for Saturday’s UFC on Fuel TV 6 in Macao.

Le suffered a deep bone bruise in his win over Patrick Cote at UFC 148 in early July. Medically speaking, he was borderline as far as being able to make it to Saturday’s fight with Rich Franklin. But in Le’s mind, without question, he was always going to make it to the fight. So he did everything he could so that the foot would be in good enough shape that he could fight.

“I did so much crazy stuff to get my foot ready from Eastern medicine to Western medicine,” Le told Fuel TV. “But the craziest thing was bloodletting, where they punch a whole bunch of holes in my foot and then they drain it with all the stuff that was blocked up in there. Pretty, uh, pretty nasty.”

Le, of course, has refrained from giving his foot the full test in training, but feels like the fight with Franklin won’t be an issue. He’s ready to unleash the beast.

“I think my foot’s a hundred percent. I haven’t really kicked anyone in the head lately, but we’ll definitely find out (on Saturday).”

UFC 153 Results: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Proves Strength of Jiu Jitsu; Submits Dave Herman

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 04:52:22 PDT

source: Andrew Potter | MMAWeekly

After having his arm broken by Frank Mir at UFC 140, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-7-1) returned to the Octagon against Dave Herman (21-5) at UFC 153 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, earning a second-round submission finish.

Herman came out kicking early, before sweeping Nogueira, earning the takedown, but he quickly let the BJJ black belt back to his feet. Herman tested the right arm of Nogueira in the clinch against the cage, but the round was mostly fought with both fighters trading shots.

Nogueira tagged Herman with a big shot in the opening of the second round. Nogueira followed him down and passed guard, moving to side control, and attempted an Americana. Herman fought off the initial onslaught, but his arm was quickly snatched by Nogueira. The position was lost, however, and the fighters returned to their feet.

After tagging Herman, Nogueira once again brought his opponent to the mat. After taking Herman’s arm, he was able to earn the tap at 4:31 of round two.

“I feel so happy. This man said jiu-jitsu doesn’t work, but jiu-jitsu does work,” Nogueira told Joe Rogan. “It’s Brazilian and an art.”

UFC 153 Results: Phil Davis Mauls and Then Submits Wagner Prado

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 04:51:37 PDT

source: Damon Martin | MMAWeekly

Following a strange ending in their first fight after an accidental eye poke, Phil Davis wanted to leave no doubts in his rematch with Wagner Prado at UFC 153.

Call it mission accomplished for the former NCAA champion in wrestling.

The two fighters opened with some brief striking exchanges, but once Davis found his range, he was slipping under for takedown after takedown, putting Prado on his back.

The former Penn State Nittany Lion was like a bear determined to maul his prey, and he certainly showed his dominant ground work putting Prado in bad position after bad position throughout their fight.

After a dominant first round, Davis went back to work on the mat in the second, and Prado simply had no answer.

While Davis missed on an arm triangle choke, he quickly and fluidly transitioned to an anaconda choke, quickly rolling to his side and Prado tapped immediately.

“That’s one of my high percentage moves right there, I didn’t even get a chance to fully lock it in, but it worked,” Davis said about the submission.

2012 has been tough on Phil Davis who kicked off the year with his first professional loss to Rashad Evans at UFC on Fox 2, and then the odd ending in his bout with Prado back in August.

“Normally, I’m the young lion coming in, but I’ll tell you what it’s a definitely a different feeling getting in the gym knowing someone like Wagner Prado’s coming to take your block off,” Davis said about his preparation.

Now with an overwhelming victory over Prado at UFC 153, Davis can finally celebrate before 2012 comes to an end.

Dan Hardy credits Carlos Condit loss for improvement as a fighter

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 09:51:15 PDT

source: Luke Thomas | MMA Fighting

Dan Hardy relished the opportunity to compete in his hometown of Nottingham, England. But he didn't bring home the Hardy that earned fame from wild brawls or the 'kill or be killed attitude' of reckless striking exchanges. According to Hardy himself, that version of himself is gone. He hasn't been seen since losing to Carlos Condit at UFC 120 in October of 2010.

"The old Dan Hardy got knocked out by Carlos Condit," Hardy said at the post-fight press conference for UFC on FUEL TV 5.

And the new Hardy? He doesn't engage in dangerous striking exchanges for the sake of entertaining the crowd or to offer opponents a dance partner in the tango of senseless brawling.

Sure, he still feels the urge to do those things and admitted as much to the media on Saturday. He heard his name being chanted by the crwod in the first round of his bout with Amir Sadollah. That got his adrenaline pumping and ignited his old instincts to sit down on his punches to prove he was the 'better' man.

But something else told him not to. A new instinct, maybe.

Call it maturity. Call it a new attitude. Call it a fresh perspective. Whatever you call it, it helped guide Hardy to a unanimous decision win over Sadollah. More importantly, the win came from a performance that saw Hardy use his striking as well as newly developed offensive wrestling and ground and pound skills honed since training in Las Vegas, Nev., with Roy Nelson and Frank Mir.

The win over Sadollah brings Hardy's UFC win streak to two. But the numbers are irrelevant. It's the complexion of the fight that matters and it what says about the new Hardy. No longer one to complain about the perils of those who hold wrestling advantages in MMA, Hardy now recognizes how vital a complete offensive arsenal is to his future.

Everyone seemed to notice just how radical the departure was for Hardy on Saturday, not least of which was the head of the organization he is fighting for.

"Dan Hardy looked like a mixed martial artist tonight," said UFC President Dana White at the post-fight press conference. "He didn't look like a kickboxer."

While less so in the first frame, Hardy paraded his new abilities in the second and third rounds. Using double leg takedowns against the cage and in the center of the Octagon, Hardy routinely took Sadollah to the mat. From there he avoided Sadollah's submissions while battering him with elbows and punches from top position. In fact, it was these moments that presented Hardy as his most dominant throughout the contest. He won a unanimous decision, earning a 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28 mark from the evening's judges.

As for what's next, Hardy himself is non-committal. The old Hardy would hold a focus on the grandeur of what's possible too down the line, causing him to not fail against his most present challenges. "It's a deep division," Hardy said. "I made the mistake of looking too far ahead in the past. Now I'm just focused on my journey."

He told those in attendance at the press conference he is happy to take whoever the UFC gives him as he worried more about fixing his own issues and developing his own progress than challenging any particular fighter in the hopes of some grandiose future prize that may never come.

Whatever one thinks of his internal focus, it seems to have finally righted his once flagging career. After four consecutive losses that had some fans and pundits calling for Hardy to be released from the UFC, the Brit seems to understand not simply what skills are required for success at the highest level but the accompanying attitude as well.

"He seems like his head is in a good place. He's with a good camp," White said. "We'll see what happens."

After Productive Meeting, Dana White Changes His Tune on Alistair Overeem

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 09:55:34 PDT

source: Ben Fowlkes | mmafighting.com

Jul 8, 2012 - LAS VEGAS -- From the sound of things, Alistair Overeem may have clawed his way out of Dana White’s doghouse and back into the good graces of the UFC. All it took was a willingness to show up at the Zuffa offices and wait for an audience with the UFC president, which is apparently exactly what the former Strikeforce and K-1 champion did.

Following Saturday night’s UFC 148 press conference, White told reporters that Overeem, who tested positive for elevated testosterone levels following a surprise drug screening by the Nevada State Athletic Commission back in March, had come to the Las Vegas office to meet with company co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta. When White saw him, he said, he immediately went into his office and shut the door.

UFC 148 Results: Griffin Comes Out On Top In Ortiz’s Last Fight

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 03:33:21 PDT

source: Andrew Gladstone | mmaweekly.com

In the co-main event of the evening, former champions Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin gave it their all in a third epic fight. Ortiz ended his career with a decision loss, but he gave it everything he had and hurt Griffin twice in the fight.

The first round was razor thin. Early on, Griffin wasted no time throwing kicks. Tito secured the clinch and took Griffin down early. From there Ortiz landed a hard elbow in Griffin’s guard. Griffin used the butterfly sweep to get back to his feet and for the rest of the round, Griffin lit Ortiz up with kicks to the leg.

Ortiz landed a big right hand early and the fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena started chanting Ortiz. Griffin is able to regain his composure and gets back on the outside and starts throwing more leg kicks. Ortiz looked noticeably tired late in the round and Griffin is able to get the better of the boxing. At the end of the round Ortiz shot for that Griffin easily sprawled on.

In the third round, Ortiz knocked Griffin down early again, and then gets the takedown. Griffin was able to keep his composure and not let Ortiz mount any offense in his guard and then scrambled to his feet. Griffin once back on his feet landed a few small strikes. The two men closed the round swinging for the fences.

Immediately, after the fight, Griffin walked right out of the Octagon and UFC officials went and stopped him and brought him back to the Octagon for the judge’s decision.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor of Forrest Griffin

Griffin went on to take the microphone and interviewed Ortiz after the bout. The bout was so close, Griffin seemed like he was a little surprised Ortiz was still retiring.

“I gave it my all, Ortiz told Griffin. I gave it my all. This was my last fight tonight. I’ve been doing this for 15 years man.

Griffin believed that the fight should’ve been scored a draw and that he’d be happy to go a fourth round. In fact, Griffin believes that all three fights could’ve been scored a draw.

“I felt like we had three draws to be honest,” Griffin said post-fight. “I wish we could go a fourth round tonight.

With the loss, the former champion Tito Ortiz exits the UFC with a 16-11-1 record and went an overall 1-4 in his last five bouts in the Octagon.

Play a free Fantasy Sports Game and Win $5

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:08:59 PDT

We've teamed up with DraftDay -- a daily fantasy sports website that offers SINGLE-DAY fantasy games -- to give our readers a chance to play a FREE 1-on-1 fantasy game against a friend where the winner receives $5! DraftDay differs from other fantasy sports sites because a DraftDay team lasts for just one day -- you don't need to commit to a team for an entire season, fret about your roster when you're too busy to play, or stare at a pile of injured players for weeks on end after a bad night on the fantasy field.

Here's how the challenge works:

All you need to do is click on this link and follow the instructions provided at DraftDay. You'll be asked to choose your sport and then you'll get to draft five players to add to your roster for that evening. After setting up your account (which takes about 30 seconds), you're ready to go! Your friend will receive an invite via email so they can join in and draft their team as well; if your team scores more fantasy points than your opponent's squad, you'll win $5! When your game starts, you'll get to watch your score update automatically with an easy-to-read stat-tracking interface that posts fantasy points live as the action unfolds. After you win your $5 and dispense with the ceremonial smack-talking, you can turn your winnings into even greater profits with the wide variety of daily fantasy games that DraftDay offers -- including daily freeroll tourneys, guaranteed contests and create-your-own custom games. DraftDay pays out thousands of dollars every day in real cash prizes -- so sign up now and get your piece on the action!

Roach satisfied with Baguio camp

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:41:18 PDT

source: Christian Jacinto | The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – Just hours before leaving the country to resume Manny Pacquiao’s training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Freddie Roach found time to talk to the media about his ward’s preparation for the fight with Timothy Bradley.

And things, according to Roach, are looking good so far.

About a week after declaring that Pacquiao is still not in fighting shape, Roach is now optimistic with how they ended their training camp at the Shape Up Gym in Baguio City.

“We’re doing very well. The camp was very well. It’s a good starting place for us, a routine training place for us,” Roach said at the SCOOP weekly forum at Kamayan restaurant on Padre Faura Street in Manila.

“We’re at about 50 percent now and we still have five weeks to go. I think we’re right on schedule,” added the bespectacled trainer, who graced the forum with Marvin Somodio, Pacquiao’s new strength and conditioning coach.

Roach expressed delight at how Pacquiao has been working out, allaying fears that his ward is taking the Bradley fight lightly.

“Bradley’s a new guy, he’s undefeated. That’s some challenge for Manny. We didn’t have a good fight the last time out [against Juan Manuel Marquez], so it’s a challenge. He’s undefeated and he’ll come to fight,” he said.

For his part, Somodio, a late replacement for Alex Ariza who left the Pacquiao training camp for California, said the eight-division champion is doing better as time progresses.

Somodio said he focused on the things that gave Pacaquiao problems before, particularly his leg which had been prone to cramps.

“His conditioning now is looking very well. I’ve focused on his leg which always seems to be cramping but it is okay now,” he said in Filipino.

“During the early parts of training, his leg was always stiffening. But given the proper exercises, we’ve worked on it and it is good now,” Somodio added.

Roach, meanwhile, was all praises for Bradley, saying the undefeated fighter possesses resiliency and toughness.

“He’s strong, very resilient, never been knocked down or knocked out,” Roach said. “There’s no quit in Bradley, he works really hard, he trains all the time.”

But in the end, Roach said Pacquiao will be too much for the American.

“I don’t think he (Bradley) will last 12 (rounds), but it’s too soon to give a prediction. But he won’t last 12 rounds,” the chief cornerman declared.

Draft Day

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:50:54 PDT

We've teamed up with DraftDay — a daily fantasy sports website that offers SINGLE-DAY fantasy games — to give our readers a chance to play a FREE 1-on-1 fantasy game against a friend where the winner receives $5! DraftDay differs from other fantasy sports sites because a DraftDay team lasts for just one day — you don't need to commit to a team for an entire season, fret about your roster when you're too busy to play, or stare at a pile of injured players for weeks on end after a bad night on the fantasy field.

Here's how the challenge works:

All you need to do is click on this link and follow the instructions provided at DraftDay. You'll be asked to choose your sport and then you'll get to draft five players to add to your roster for that evening. After setting up your account (which takes about 30 seconds), you're ready to go! Your friend will receive an invite via e-mail so they can join in and draft their team as well; if your team scores more fantasy points than your opponent's squad, you'll win $5!

When your game starts, you'll get to watch your score update automatically with an easy-to-read stat-tracking interface that posts fantasy points live as the action unfolds.

After you win your $5 and dispense with the ceremonial smack-talking, you can turn your winnings into even greater profits with the wide variety of daily fantasy games that DraftDay offers — including daily freeroll tourneys, guaranteed contests and create-your-own custom games. DraftDay pays out thousands of dollars every day in real cash prizes — so sign up now and get your piece of the action!

Click here to take the DraftDay $5 Challenge!

BREAKING: Frank Mir Steps in to Fight Junior dos Santos at UFC 146

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:37:12 PDT

source: Ken Pishna | mmaweekly.com

When it was revealed that Alistair Overeem tested for an elevated ratio of testosterone-to-epitestosterone, almost everyone immediately jumped on the thought that Junior dos Santos would get an opponent change for his May 26 title defense. Almost everyone targeted Frank Mir as the most likely, and most deserving, option.

UFC officials did not make and immediate change, and UFC president Dana White fanned the flames of speculation when he tweeted in response to a fan question on Twitter that Frank Mir would still be fighting Cain Velasquez.

How quickly things change.

Following Friday night’s live fight on The Ultimate Fighter, just before taking off to Atlanta for Saturday night’s UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans, again turned to his favorite social media platform to inform everyone that Overeem has been removed from the UFC 146 title fight with dos Santos.

“Taking off to Atlanta!!!! May 26 th is now Mir vs JDS for the HW title in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand,” tweeted White.

It’s unclear why the change came just days before Overeem was slated to go before the Nevada State Athletic Commission to offer up his reasoning for a T/E ratio of 14-to-1 at a surprise drug screen in March. A normal ratio for most men is 1-to-1, although the NSAC set a ratio of 6-to-1 before an athlete is considered beyond the allowable limit.

The announcement, however, isn’t a good indicator that Overeem is likely to be successful in arguing his case to the NSAC.

With little more than a month to go until UFC 146, company officials have little time left to promote the new title fight, but don’t be surprised if they start at UFC 145 on Saturday night.

There had been no word yet at the time of publication if Cain Velasquez would remain on the card, and if so, who he would fight.

Juanma To Appeal One Year Suspension Early Next Week

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:35:36 PDT

source: Jhonny Gonzalez | BoxingScene.com

Early next week, former world champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez will appeal the sanctions imposed by the Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico (CBPPR). On April 3rd, the commission punished Lopez for last month's comments against referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. During a live televised interview, Lopez called Ramirez "a gambler" after getting stopped in ten rounds by Mexico's Orlando Salido on March 10th in San Juan.

The Puerto Rico Commission suspended Lopez for a period of one year, and he was hit with a $10,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. A few weeks go, Lopez held a press conference to issue a public apology to Ramirez - and he stated during a hearing with an officer appointed by the Puerto Rico Commission that he didn't have any evidence to support his remarks that Ramirez had a gambling problem.

Lopez's suspension will officially begin on May 3rd and expires on the same date in 2013.

Spurs beats Lakers 121-97

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:35:00 PDT

source: The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) The San Antonio Spurs' stars made sure Kobe Bryant's return wasn't a triumphant one.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all scored at least 20 points to help San Antonio beat the Los Angeles Lakers 121-97 on Friday night and remain atop the Western Conference.
Bryant, who had missed the previous seven games with a bruised left shin, scored 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

The Lakers went 5-2 without the NBA's scoring leader, but with only two games left in the regular season for Los Angeles, Bryant returned as he aims to get into a rhythm before the playoffs begin.

Bryant wore a black sock over his lower left leg, with a padded sleeve protecting the injured area. While the Spurs said after the game that he's not the old Bryant just yet, he's not so sure.

''I'm back now,'' Bryant said. ''It took me a half. The second half, it felt like I was back in a good rhythm. The game just got away from us.''

The Spurs (46-16) won their sixth straight game and remain a half-game ahead of Oklahoma City for the No. 1 seed in the West. The Lakers (40-24) missed a chance to clinch home court in the first round of the playoffs.

These teams could meet in the opening round, and judging by their latest meeting, it would be a mismatch.

San Antonio has given Los Angeles its two worst losses of the season, Friday night and 112-91 on Tuesday. Duncan had 21 points and eight rebounds, Parker had 20 points and 10 assists, and Ginobili added 20 points and seven assists on Friday.
San Antonio broke the game open in the third quarter, when Bryant played his best. The Lakers' star hit 5 of 6 shots in the quarter, directing his teammates on offense and yelling at them to
''D-up'' on defense.

It hardly mattered, though, as he was repeatedly on his heels on defense as the Spurs pushed the ball. San Antonio outscored Los Angeles 35-21 in the quarter.

''They did a great job spacing the floor,'' Bryant said. ''As a result, our defense was always late. It was always playing catch up on possessions. They did a great job shooting the ball. They did a great job on close outs. They played extremely well.''

While Bryant was sidelined, several Lakers increased their scoring, none more than Metta World Peace. World Peace more than doubled his scoring average with Bryant out of the lineup, but he had only 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting against the Spurs.

Andrew Bynum scored 17 points for the Lakers, while Matt Barnes had 14 and Pau Gasol 11.
The Lakers have little time to transition Bryant back into the system before the postseason, but Parker has been around long enough to expect the best from him.

''Yeah, he looked a little bit rusty,'' Parker said. ''It's going to take some time. But I'm not worried about him. He'll be ready when the playoffs start.''
Bryant isn't worried facing the Spurs in the playoffs, despite the recent blowouts.

''Nah, listen. This team, (coach Gregg) Popovich, the experience that they have, the adjustments that they make, it is going to happen every now and then,'' Bryant said. ''But you have to make adjustments. If we're fortunate to see them in the postseason, we'll make our adjustments defensively.''

Kawhi Leonard, a rookie who was drafted largely for his defensive ability, started the game guarding Bryant. Popovich said before the game that it was time for his young players to see

''the real thing.'' Bryant quickly gave Leonard a taste, taking him down low and burying a shot over him while getting fouled. Bryant hit the ensuing free throw, but he didn't score again until he hit a 15-foot jumper with 34 seconds left in the quarter.

''He did well,'' Duncan said of Leonard. ''It's a learning process obviously, and Kobe got him with some vintage stuff and some and-ones. But Kawhi is a quick learner, very long and a very good defender. If we have to see him again, I think the experience is great for him.''

Cavaliers stun playoff-bound Knicks

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:34:34 PDT

source: TOM WITHERS | The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) Amare Stoudemire came back. The Knicks went missing.
Stoudemire returned after missing 13 games with a back injury, but playoff-bound New York looked tired after clinching a spot in the postseason and played one of its most uninspired games in weeks, losing 98-90 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

''There's nothing about tonight's game that I liked,'' Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. ''We just didn't compete. That's unacceptable.''
Stoudemire, who had been sidelined since March 24 with a bulging disk, scored 15 points and didn't show any signs of the injury. But the Knicks came out flat, stayed that way until making a late run and lost to a Cleveland team that won for just the fourth time in 19 games.

''We could have come out with more energy and did a better job out there,'' Stoudemire said.

''We felt complacent, being that we clinched, we felt like we accomplished something. We just got to keep our focus going into the postseason.''

The Knicks dropped to 15-6 under Woodson, who took over when Mike D'Antoni resigned on March 14. New York may have missed a chance to move any higher than the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. As it stands now, the Knicks will face LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in the first round.

''There's no reason to panic right now,'' Stoudemire said. ''We feel like we can do some damage in the postseason.''

Carmelo Anthony added 12 points, but he and Tyson Chandler sat out the entire fourth quarter as Woodson chose to rest some of his starters before a matchup with Atlanta on Sunday.

''There was a 20-point lead at about the 7- or 8-minute mark,'' Woodson said. ''I started to go back (to them) and I just said no. I'm thinking this is seven games in 11 days for us, maybe they are tired, but that's not an excuse. You have to give Cleveland credit.

''They kept playing and didn't quit playing from the beginning to the end.''

Manny Harris had 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to lead the Cavs, and rookie Kyrie Irving scored 21 points in his second game back from a shoulder injury.

Samardo Samuels added 15 points for the Cavs, who have won 10 straight at home over the Knicks. New York hasn't won in Cleveland since Nov. 29, 2006.

''I can't explain it whatsoever,'' Cavs coach Byron Scott said of Cleveland's dominance over New York. ''We came out ready and they were kind of not into it.''

Stoudemire was in foul trouble in the first 5 minutes and never got into a groove. Anthony, who has had to carry the scoring load with the team's No. 2 scoring option sidelined, went just 5 of 13 from the field in 29 uninspired minutes. The Knicks didn't wake up until the final minutes when they cut a 19-point deficit to eight on two free throws by Stoudemire with 2:33 left.
New York had a chance to get closer, but Toney Douglas made a silly pass for a turnover and JR Smith then fouled Harris on a 3-point miss. Harris knocked down two free throws and Cleveland's Donald Sloan drove past four Knicks standing like statues for an easy layup to put the Cavs ahead 96-82.

''I've seen this happen over the years,'' Woodson said. ''You clinch a spot. Guys take a sigh of relief and they stop playing.''
Not the Cavs.

They outhustled the listless Knicks to loose balls, and with only the NBA lottery to look forward to, had one of their best home games this season.
Cleveland had a little luck, too.

Leading 74-60, the Cavs were in danger of turning it back over when Harris lost control of the ball. But he ran it down near halfcourt, turned and launched his 42-footer that caromed in off the glass as the horn sounded.

''I knew it had a chance,'' Harris said. ''I tried to aim a little higher and what happened, happened.''

Irving showed some nice flashes in 26 minutes. The presumptive rookie of the year made two driving layups in traffic and dropped all eight free throw attempts. Scott didn't put his young star back on the court in for the fourth and said it's possible he will sit Irving out in one of the final four games.

''He's a difference-maker,'' Scott said. ''When he's on the floor, I think guys feel a little more comfortable and they know he's going to get things done.''

Thunder beats Kings 103-92

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:34:27 PDT

source: The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) With Oscar Robertson sitting courtside and soaking up the crowd's adulation in recognition of his Hall of Fame career, it would have been a fitting occasion for Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant to record the first triple-double of his career.

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of his triple-double season in 1961-62 - the only one in NBA history - the ''Big O'' was being recognized by the Sacramento franchise on Friday night. Playing for the Cincinnati Royals, Robertson had an amazing 41 triple-doubles that season.
Durant would be thrilled to just have one.

He came close against the Kings, getting 29 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Thunder to a 103-92 victory.

''I've been flirting all season with it but I haven't been able to seal the deal yet,'' Durant said. ''Hopefully I will get one before my career is over. Oscar Robertson is a legend, someone I really look up to. It was a joy playing in front of him tonight.''
Known mostly for his scoring early in his career, Durant has evolved into an all-around player and is a strong candidate for MVP this season. He played like one against the Kings. Durant made 9 of 15 shots, including two 3s, hit 9 of 10 free throws, and was the game's leading rebounder.

''We all know that Kevin can score,'' Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. ''But he has to continue making his teammates better. He definitely did that tonight with seven assists. He's a very unselfish basketball player.''

The Thunder took the lead for good midway through the first quarter and went on to their second consecutive victory and fourth in five games.

Oklahoma City (46-17) remained in contention for the best record in the Western Conference. The Thunder are one-half game behind San Antonio and have three games remaining, including Tuesday against the visiting Kings. The Spurs defeated the Lakers at home on Friday.
James Harden had 20 points and Russell Westbrook scored 18 for the Thunder, who have a 7-5 record in April. Serge Ibaka had 12 points and eight of the Thunder's 11 blocks and Kendrick Perkins had 10 points.

''We had to guard three of the most difficult guys in the league. Those guys - James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant - can score,'' Kings coach Keith Smart said. ''Then of course you throw the big guys in there and you can see why they're one of the best teams in the NBA.''
DeMarcus Cousins had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Kings, who have lost nine of 10. Tyreke Evans scored 16 points, Jason Thompson added 13, Isaiah Thomas 12 and Jimmer Fredette 11 for the Kings (20-43), who are tied with New Orleans for the worst record in the Western Conference.
The Kings had their problems offensively against the aggressive Thunder, who tend to gamble with a shot-blocker like Ibaka and the tenacious Perkins backing them up. Sacramento shot 41 percent and was the 12th team in 15 games that Oklahoma City held under 100 points.

''They play good team defense and obviously with Ibaka and Perkins down low it's a tough matchup for anybody,'' Fredette said. ''Then they have some great scorers and move the ball so well.''
The Kings trimmed the Thunder's 15-point lead to eight with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter, aided by Fredette's six points. But the Thunder kept their composure down the stretch to maintain the lead and preserve the victory.

''We made them miss shots in the second half and I thought we rebounded better in the second half,'' Brooks said. ''We did a great job of moving the ball. Everybody had shots, everybody had looks, and Kevin was solid.''

At halftime, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson talked about opening the line of communications with the Kings owners regarding plans for a tentative new downtown arena that fell apart last week. Johnson, who has been very critical of the owners' decision, met with the Maloofs in Las Vegas on Friday and will talk sometime again next week.

''I understand a little bit of where George's (Maloof) perspective was,'' Johnson said. ''Not that I fully agree with it, but I fully understand his perspective. It (today) was a solid step forward.''

It's been another difficult season for the Kings both on and off the court. Besides the arena plan seemingly derailed, Sacramento has experienced its sixth straight losing season.
Durant made all three shots in the third quarter, including two 3s, and had eight points to help the Thunder lead 81-70 after three.

After Thomas' 3-pointer pulled the Kings within three points, the Thunder ran off eight straight points. Westbrook banked in a jumper and then knifed through the defense for a layup. Two free throws by Harden put the Thunder up 75-64 at the 4:39 mark.
Sacramento played the game without leading scorer Marcus Thornton, who suffered a left quad contusion in Wednesday's game against San Antonio.

Notes: Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists in 1961-62. ... Thomas was given the annual Oscar Robertson Triple-Double award, which signifies excellence both on and off the court. . Trailing by seven points in the game's first 5 minutes, the Thunder outscored the Kings 22-6 the remainder of the period to take a 32-23 lead into the second. ... Angered over some non-calls following a flurry of blocked shots by the Thunder late in the second quarter, Smart got a technical foul. . Kings veteran John Salmons missed his 14th straight game with sore hip and appears unlikely to return this season.

Doc: Dwight Howard will recover fully

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:34:17 PDT

source: ESPN.com

The team doctor for the Orlando Magic said he believes Dwight Howard will recover fully after undergoing back surgery on Friday, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Dr. Craig Mintzer told the newspaper that Howard is doing well after the surgery and should recover in about four months without complications.

"He shouldn't have restrictions whatsoever. He should come back fully. There shouldn't be an issue there. Really, it's just a matter of time," Mintzer told the Sentinel.

Howard has been complaining of back problems since early March, but it wasn't until Los Angeles-based spine surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins examined him last week that the herniated disk was discovered.

Howard received an epidural to alleviate the pain at that time, and the plan was that he'd rest and rehabilitate his back for 10-14 days before deciding if he could return to play or if further treatment might be necessary. But his back has worsened and both Watkins and the Magic's medical staff determined surgery was necessary.

Mintzer said Howard was disappointed at the news, but not surprised at the medical staff's decision, according to the Sentinel.

"He was as unhappy as you'd expect, but he knew what could happen. He wasn't surprised. He knew what could happen," Mintzer told the newspaper.

The back issues have forced Howard to miss eight games this season, one more than he missed in his first seven seasons combined.

Howard will miss the rest of the Magic's season, as well as this summer's London Olympics.

Meanwhile, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy doubted Hedo Turkoglu's ability to return for the playoffs.

"I think it's going to be very tough," he told the Sentinel.

Turkoglu had surgery on April 7 to repair cheekbone fractures. The minimum time Turkoglu could be out is three weeks, but Van Gundy told the Sentinel that trainer Keon Weise told him Turkoglu's fractures are normally a "6- to 8-week injury."

Turkoglu was inadvertently hit in the face April 5 by the Knicks' Carmelo Anthony's elbow.

Lakers' Bynum likely won't play for U.S. team

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:34:10 PDT

source: Dave McMenamin | ESPNLosAngeles.com

SAN ANTONIO -- The season-ending back surgery the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard underwent on Friday means USA Basketball will be without its presumed starting center this summer at the London Olympics. It won't be Andrew Bynum to the rescue in Superman's absence, either.

"Probably not," Bynum said after the Lakers' 121-97 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday when asked if he had any intentions of trying out for the national team. "I got to take care of my legs in the offseason."

When asked if USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo had reached out to Bynum to gauge his interest in joining the player pool that will participate in a July training camp in Las Vegas to choose the final 12-man roster, the 24-year-old replied, "Not yet."

Bynum said he planned to travel overseas for treatment during the summer. He has already undergone multiple knee surgeries in the past and used part of All-Star weekend this year to receive a Synvisc and cortisone injection to maintain the health of his right knee.

"I got some things planned for my knees," Bynum said.

When Bynum was asked if he wanted to rest his body in the offseason, he said, "I need it; I don't want it. I got to do some therapy that I'm going overseas to do, so that will be tough."

USA Basketball likely will turn to the New York Knicks' Tyson Chandler to play center and will also give consideration to Minnesota's Kevin Love and Miami's Chris Bosh to play the position at times.

David, Caguioa top candidates for Best Player of Commissioner’s Cup

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:34:03 PDT

source: InterAKTV

Powerade’s Gary David could end up as the winner of the Best Player of the Conference for the second straight tournament.

David stayed at the No. 1 spot in statistical points race after the semifinal round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

And his closest competitor for the BPC plum could be Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa.

David’s 34.5 SPs average was still on top of the category even though his Tigers were booted out early in the elimination round.

Ending up second was Caguioa with 31.0 SPs average. He missed all the games in the semifinal round against eventual winner B-MEG due to an eye injury.

Marcio Lassiter, recently traded to Petron Blaze, ranked No. 3 in stats with 30.3 SPs, followed by Alaska teammates Cyrus Baguio (29.1) and LA Tenorio (29.0).

Only the top five in the SPs are eligible for the top individual honor of the tournament.

This will be the first time that the BPC winner will not come from any of the two teams playing in the finals in six years.

The Llamados and Talk ‘N Text are fighting for the Commissioner’s Cup crown with Game One on Monday.

Tropang Texters forward Ranidel de Ocampo ranked No. 9 with 26.1 SPs average.

The SPs comprise 40 percent of the voting. Media votes comprise 30 percent, and players’ votes 25, while the PBA commissioner’s office takes the remaining five percent.

In the Best Import derby, B-MEG’s Denzel Bowles is almost a shoo-in to win the award as he topped the stats with 45.24 SPs. He was followed by Gabe Freeman of Barako Bull (43.57), Talk ‘N Text’s Donnell Harvey (42.09) and Ginebra’s Jackson Vroman (35.73).

Bowles is the only import who has been with the team since Day One of the tournament.

PETRON FINALLY LANDS LASSITER

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:33:55 PDT

source: pba.ph

Powerade prized forward Marcio Lassiter landed at Petron Blaze in the end.

Petron didn’t stop pursuing Lassiter and eventually netted the versatile Fil-Am player in
sweetening the pot it offered to Powerade in exchange.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud, on Friday, gave his nod on a five-player transaction that also
involved Tiger back-up guard Celino Cruz and Petron players Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Rey Guevarra and
Lordy Tugade.

“The terms of the revised trade are hereby approved. There is acceptable parity in the cumulative skills, value, use and potential the players from each side of the trade will bring to their respective new teams,” said Salud in a statement.

The original trade proposal that was disapproved by the PBA commissioner involved only Lassiter for Guevarra and Noy Baclao.

That time, Lassiter has proved to be a gem. On the other hand, Baclao was then nursing an injury
while Guevarra hardly got playing minutes from coach Ato Agustin.

Lassiter, a former Smart Gilas picked by Powerade at No. 4 overall in the most recent draft, formed part of the Powerade “Big Three” with Gary David and Jvee Casio, leading the Tigers to a
second-place finish in the Philippine Cup.

The 6-foot-2 forward sizzled through in the Commissioner’s Cup, emerging as among the contenders
for the Best Player of the Conference award.

The Powerade management went through with the deal despite pronouncement by coach Bo Perasol that he didn’t want Lassiter to be dealt away.

“We are very happy with this trade. We are getting a much-needed big man in Rabeh Al-Hussaini and getting two proven shooters and scorers in Guevarra and Tugade,” said Powerade top official Ronnie Asuncion as quoted by interaksyon.com.

Al-Hussaini, the 2011 Rookie of the Year awardee, has just returned from an ACL injury.

Guevarra, the 2010 PBA Draft third pick, has yet to get his potential while Tugade, at 34, is
fighting to prolong his playing career. (SB)

A TOSS-UP

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:33:50 PDT

source: pba.ph

Two powerhouse teams, two talented imports and two great minds make up for a real exciting PBA
championship series unfolding Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

For PBA commissioner Chito Salud, it’s the best final match-up arranged in the league in a long
while.

No one seems to have a good argument to disagree.

“Both teams have great talents, players on top of their game. There’s no clear favorite between
them. It’s really exciting and a big treat to the PBA fans,” said Salud during the pre-finals
press conference at the Gateway Suites in Cubao, Quezon City.

It’s a series to remember with the proud defending champion on one side and a formidable
desire-driven challenger on the other side.

Both have their strengths and advantages, and it could be a battle of will and desire as each one pursues their aspiration.

Talk n Text is out to stretch its reign, chasing a second straight championship and fourth in the last two seasons.

B-Meg, on the other hand, hopes to rise back to the top, toasting a championship only in its second conference under coach Tim Cone.

The Llamados are fresher and hungrier, making them dangerous threats to the Tropang Texters who are fighting inroad fatigue following all those battles they’ve gone through in making the finals of all the last five PBA tourneys.

“I agree that’s gonna take its toll on our bodies. That’s a fact that we have to deal with. We
also have to deal with the other side – their being the toughest, tallest and deepest team in the league right now. We need to find a way to beat them,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

Cone opined, though, that everyone’s already banged up, his team included, this being the last
stage of a grind.

And even if Talk n Text is worn-out, Cone believes the Tropang Texters have what it takes to fight and live through it with the character and confidence they’ve built, being always there in the finals in the last five conferences.

“Yes, they’ve been playing a lot of games. But I feel on my experience (with Alaska), the
experience you gather doing it over and over again, winning in every conceivable way, makes your
confidence extremely high,” said Cone.

“That’s their edge. But I take that we’re fresh and hungry, and we’ll see how far that takes
us,” Cone added.

The two coaches said the battle could boil down to which team can impose their will over the other.

Talk n Text is the league’s second best offensive team behind Powerade, averaging 100.4 points a
game while B-Meg is the best on defense, limiting its opponents to an average of only 87.06 an
outing.

“It will be close and it will be about who’s able to execute at the finish,” said Reyes.

“If they can play up-tempo, we may not have the chance. But if we can slow them down, make the
game ugly, then we have a chance,” said Cone.

The two know each other so well, being good buddies and having sat on the same bench together here and there.

“Everybody’s talking about triangle offense when Tim’s name is mentioned. But his calling card
really is details in preparation and devotion on defense,” said Reyes of Cone.

“Chot is not just a coach. He’s a leader. He develops leaders in his team. His team grows all
the time and gets better. He’s not sticking to one thing. He uses different systems and he does
well most of the time,” said Cone of Reyes.

They have figured in five title playoffs with Reyes winning in three.

The import matchup likewise promises to be a battle.

“I already have my bag in the van. I’m ready to lace my playing shoes anytime,” said Talk n
Text’s Donnell Harvey.

“This is new to me. It’s a big step in my career and I only intend to go hard in every game and
in every situation,” said B-Meg’s Denzel Bowles.

Curiously, the Tropang Texters whipped the Llamados, 102-96, though playing without an import in
their elimination-round face-off on Feb. 29.

Of course, this is an entirely different game with the championship at stake. (SB)

Keith Jardine: The Fighter Who Always Said Yes

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:39:04 PDT

source: Damon Martin | mmaweekly.com

Having a reputation as a fighter that will always step up whenever the UFC or Strikeforce asks you to can be a commendable thing in the sport of MMA.

Most fighters in the industry know it as an unspoken rule, but Zuffa officials love fighters who will step up and help save a fight card when injury strikes or something pops up on late notice that requires someone take a chance.

Throughout Keith Jardine‘s long career from his days in King of the Cage to his stint on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter to his recent Strikeforce fights, he’s always been the fighter willing to say “yes.”

When the UFC needed someone to face Chuck Liddell after his loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in a bout most assumed would be the former champion’s way to blaze a comeback trail, they called Jardine.

As UFC 96 fast approached and no main event had been named, the UFC picked Rampage as one of the fighters, but they needed an opponent, so they called Jardine.

When Strikeforce needed an opponent on eight days notice for Gegard Mousasi after Mike Kyle suffered an injury in training, they called Jardine.

And when Tim Kennedy was injured and unable to take a title fight against Luke Rockhold in January and Strikeforce was desperate for a main event, they called Jardine once again.

Why did they call Jardine so often? Because he was a performer and fighter that always showed up, that always gave it his all, and left his heart and soul inside the cage. He was the fighter who always said yes.

But after the loss to Rockhold, Jardine decided he needed to take some serious time to reflect. Throughout his nearly 11 year pro career, Jardine has never taken any long stretches of time away from the sport, and after suffering a devastating knockout loss to Rockhold in January, he decided it was long past time to step away from active competition.

“I’m taking a little bit of time off working on a few things back here, trying to get healthy, and I’m not sure when I’m going to come back and fight yet, but I’m not going to do it until I feel like I’m 100-percent healthy and ready to go,” Jardine told MMAWeekly.com.

“I feel like I didn’t show up in that last fight. That’s the first time ever in my career I felt like I was just kind of a shell of myself. I should have had a test fight first, but how can you turn down a title fight? I’m going to stay the course, I’m going to give it another shot and see what happens.”

The test fight Jardine was speaking about was a first attempt at cutting down to 185 pounds after spending almost his entire career fighting at 205 pounds. Sure, the cut was hard, but Jardine counts the loss to Rockhold as his house of cards that came tumbling down.

“Right now in my career, realistically I have to take things one fight at a time, and in my last fight I don’t think I gave all of myself. I think I held a lot back and I need to be in a position where I can give 100-percent,” Jardine stated.

This may be the first time ever that if the UFC or Strikeforce came calling right now, Jardine may actually say no to a fight.

“Now I’m in a weird position because for maybe for the first time in six years, ever since I was fighting in the UFC, I’m not interested to jump in a fight. I haven’t been 100-percent healthy in a long time, and just really want to concentrate on myself a little bit,” Jardine commented.

The road back to the cage is going to be a long and winding one, but it won’t be something Jardine will jump into blindly. He’s getting back to his roots, traveling around to a few different gyms to see what new tricks he can learn, and most importantly he’s letting his body heal up for maybe the first time since he started fighting in 2001.

“I’m training a lot of different places. I spent some time with Rashad (Evans) down in Florida. I spent some time up at Renzo’s (Gracie) in New York. I’m just really going to take this time to mix it up and when I feel like I’m ready to go give 100-percent, I’m going to go do it,” Jardine said.

“That fight two fights ago when I fought (Gegard) Mousasi, I fought on eight days notice and I was out of shape, but one thing I was confident in was I gave everything I had. I didn’t come away with that feeling in my last fight.”

Does Jardine see a light at the end of the tunnel as far as his fight career goes? That is yet to be determined, but if there’s one thing Keith Jardine can guarantee, it’s when he says yes to his next fight, he will leave everything – his heart, his soul and everything he can give – in the cage.

“If it is my last fight my next fight, I’ll know I gave 100 percent and I gave all of myself,” said Jardine.

“Usually they know whenever they want me I’ll fight, and this is the first time where I want to wait until I’m ready to go out there and put it all on the line.”

Roach: Pacquiao By KO

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:37:28 PDT

source: Nick Giongco | The Manila Bulletin

Don’t be misled by Manny Pacquiao’s seeming inability to score knockouts the last couple of years.

Unable to score a stoppage win since 2010, Pacquiao is meeting Tim Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas in what is being hyped as the return of the Pacquiao of old: Mean, merciless and menacing.

Trainer Freddie Roach told the Bulletin that he swears that Pacquiao took pity on Mexican mauler Antonio Margarito and American Shane Mosley, preventing the Filipino pound-for-pound king from handing them a nasty beating that guys like Oscar De la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto sustained earlier.

“I’d like to see Manny knock Bradley out,” said Roach.

Roach, who will set up the first phase of training camp in Baguio this weekend, said Pacquiao “carried” the Margarito and Mosley fights when he could have dispatched them with the efficiency of an assassin.

After stopping Cotto in the 12th round in Nov. 2009, Pacquiao seemed content in winning on points as he got past Joshua Clottey, Margarito, Mosley and struggled against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Meanwhile, Bradley told the website fightsaga that he knows Pacquiao inside and out and is excited to get it on with him at the MGM Grand.

“If he wants to bang, you already know I’m gonna box him. If he’s gonna lay back, you know I’m gonna go to him. Whatever he wants to do, I’m gonna know from the first round.”

Despite his sterling 28-0 win-loss record, Bradley has been tagged as a handpicked foe for Pacquiao, somebody who will make Pacquiao look sensational.

But Bradley has other things in mind.

“I know he’s not afraid of my skill set but everyone is going to see on June 9th I bring a lot to the table. I already know what to do, it’s in my head already. I’ve watched all the Manny Pacquiao tapes and am already dialed in.”

2 injured in road mishap involving Pacquiao’s dad

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:37:00 PDT

source: ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines -- Two were injured when the private vehicle of Rosalio Pacquiao, father of Sarangani Representative and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, collided with a mini-tricycle in General Santos City on Sunday.

The elder Pacquiao’s pick-up vehicle, manned by driver Pedong Pacquiao, was making a turn along NLSA Road in Barangay San Isidro when it collided with a mini-tricycle driven by a certain Bacar Lihang.

Rosalio, his bodyguard Arfenio Lico, and Pedong were unharmed, while Lihang sustained a bump and a gash on his brow. His passenger Ronald Albarina also sustained minor injuries on his elbow and back.

Albarina claimed that Lico punched him following the accident. But Pedong Pacquiao and Lico denied this.

The collision left the Pacquiao-owned vehicle with a shattered mirror, a scratched door and a dented stepboard.

Meanwhile, the operator of the mini-tricycle said it is open for negotiations with Pacquiao’s camp. – Report from Francis Canlas, ABS-CBN News

Melo's 43, big 3 in OT spoil Rose return

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:36:54 PDT

source: BRIAN MAHONEY | AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Carmelo Anthony called it a statement game, and the message should be clear for the Chicago Bulls.

If they do meet in the playoffs, the Bulls better finish off Anthony and the Knicks when they have the chance.

Anthony scored 43 points, his most since coming to New York last February, and made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.2 seconds left in overtime as the Knicks spoiled the return to the lineup for a rusty Derrick Rose and beat the Bulls 100-99 on Sunday.

Anthony tied it with a 3 late in regulation and scored the final five points of overtime in his signature performance since coming to New York last February. He only had the chance to pull it out because the Bulls missed four straight free throws in the final 34 seconds of regulation.

“This was a playoff game. We have a chance, we might play these guys in the playoffs if we keep doing what we’re doing and get that seed, so this was a big statement game for us and we willed this one tonight,” Anthony said.

It had the look and sound of a playoff game in the tense final minutes at a frenzied Madison Square Garden. The loudest roars went to Anthony, who screamed “This is my house!” after the second 3-pointer in a place where he heard boos just last month.

He said Sunday’s big basket was one of the best of his career.

“This was one of the top,” he said. “Overtime, Easter Sunday, everybody’s watching, everybody’s in the Garden, so this ranks as one of the top.”

The Bulls trailed by 21 in the first quarter, fought back to lead by 10 in the fourth, then lost for the third time in four games despite having their starting five together for only the 11th time this season. Their NBA-best record fell to 43-14.

Rose scored 29 points after missing the previous 12 games with a strained right groin, but he shot only 8 of 26 from the field and missed a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left in regulation and the Bulls ahead by three.

“It’s tough. It was definitely tough,” Rose said. “When you lose a game, especially for us, it’s tough. It’s going to hurt us no matter who we lose to, but that team played great, man. They were knocking down shots. Didn’t give up when we went up that big lead. They kept fighting.”

The Knicks increased their lead over Milwaukee to one game for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They travel to Chicago on Tuesday, visit Milwaukee on Wednesday, and close a difficult week by hosting Miami next Sunday.

“I was proud of my teammates the way we stuck in there,” center Tyson Chandler said. “That’s a great team that we faced today. We knew they would battle back. You know, a lot of ups and downs in the game, but the one thing we did was keep our composure, kept believing in each other and we were able to will through to win.”

Iman Shumpert scored 15 points and JR Smith had 14 despite 6-of-22 shooting for the Knicks, still without the injured Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin but with a sensational effort from Anthony, who made 16 of 31 shots. Chandler grabbed 16 rebounds.

Carlos Boozer had 13 points and 16 boards for the Bulls, who fell to 9-2 with their regular starting five. Rose committed eight of Chicago’s 20 turnovers.

Rose had only seven points on 1-of-6 shooting in the first half, then scored 14 in the third quarter. After trailing the entire game, Chicago finally took its first lead in the final minute of the period, later going ahead 89-80 on Rose’s four-point play with 5:04 remaining in the fourth.

The Knicks were down 10 before Smith made a 3-pointer—his fourth basket in 21 attempts—and Anthony scored four in a row to make it 91-88. Luol Deng missed two free throws with 34 seconds left, and after Steve Novak’s potential tying 3-point attempt went all around the rim before coming out, Rose missed a pair from the line with 19 seconds to go.

Anthony rushed up the floor and pulled up for a long 3 that tied it at 91 with 11 seconds remaining, and it went to overtime when Rose missed everything on a jumper.

Chicago took a pair of four-point leads on baskets by Rose, but was shut out after his jumper with 2:51 remaining. Anthony gave the Knicks a 100-99 lead with 8.2 seconds remaining and the Bulls had trouble getting into their offense on the final possession, with Rose forced to shoot and miss a tough runner as time expired.

Chicago hadn’t had its regular five of Rose, Richard Hamilton, Boozer, Deng and Joakim Noah together since March 5 against Indiana. Hamilton left that game in the opening minutes with an injured right shoulder and only recently returned with his minutes closely monitored, and Rose was hurt a week later in a victory over the Knicks.

Their lack of cohesion was obvious early. Chicago missed 11 of its first 12 shots and perhaps let the struggles affect its usual rock-solid defense. The Knicks started 12 of 16 from the floor, building a 27-6 lead when Shumpert converted a three-point play with 3:30 remaining in the period.

“We should be able to overcome all of that stuff,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “You just have to do the right things. We do the right things, you’re not going to have those problems. You’re not going to have those turnovers. Simple plays: Protect the ball, keep the ball moving, quick decisions, hit the first open man, sustain your spacing, protect the ball, tuck it on the catch, fight for your space, get your space. Simple.”

The Bulls trailed 53-45 at even though Rose and Hamilton shot 2 of 11 and All-Star Deng was 3 of 10 while Anthony repeatedly beat him on his way to 22 points.

Spurs' streak hits 11 with win over Jazz

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:36:18 PDT

source: PAUL J. WEBER | AP Sports Writer

SAN ANTONIO (AP)—The San Antonio Spurs pushed their winning streak to 11 on a night when coach Gregg Popovich committed to playing just 10 men.

That health prioritizing isn’t likely to change—whether first place is on the line or not.

Tony Parker scored 28 points, Manu Ginobili had 23 off the bench and the Spurs reached their second 11-game winning streak of the season, beating the Utah Jazz 114-104 on Sunday night to maintain their slim lead atop the Western Conference.

Tim Duncan added 13 points and 16 rebounds, making this 28th win in 33 games for the Spurs look like countless other Big Three showcases. But different this time was Ginobili, who has missed 29 games with injuries this year, deliberately seeking out contact to toughen up before the playoffs. Popovich also sat starting center DeJuan Blair for the first time all season.

“It’s time for me to join in,” Ginobili said following his biggest game since returning from a broken hand in March.

Yet he may not join the Spurs on Monday night in Salt Lake City, when the Spurs and Jazz finish an unusual home-and-home in consecutive nights. Someone shouted to Ginobili in the locker room they’d see him when they got back from Utah, though Ginobili said he did not know if he was making the trip.

Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 19 points and 10 rebounds for Utah, which dropped 1 1/2 games behind Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot with nine games to go. Devin Harris had 18 points and reserve DeMare Carroll had 16 for the Jazz. Guard C.J. Miles left in the second quarter with a strained left calf, and is scheduled to undergo an MRI when the team returns to Utah.

“Any time you lose your top guys, it’s tough. But we’re a deep team. Injuries happen,” Harris said. “They’re unfortunate, but it’s more playing time for the other guys. We just have to keep playing and fighting through.”

Six of Utah’s remaining games are against winning teams. The Jazz (29-28) are trying to return to the playoffs for the first time in three years and are poised to decide their own fate if they get there. Utah still has meetings left against Dallas, Phoenix and Houston, all of whom entered Sunday within 1 1/2 games of each other.

The Spurs (40-14) have played two more games than the Thunder (41-15). San Antonio overtook Oklahoma City in the standings for the first time all season Friday and owns the tiebreaker with 12 games remaining.

Expect to see the Spurs cashing in on their new stockpile of depth between now and then. Aside from Popovich sitting Blair, newcomer Stephen Jackson didn’t play, either.

Danny Green had 14 points. Ginobili was 14 of 15 from the foul line, saying he made the conscious decision to attack the basket, in part, because he’s essentially trying to get used to absorbing physical contact again.

“I’m trying to start to be more aggressive going to the rim. I haven’t been fouled much,” Ginobili said.

The Jazz trailed by as many as 19 but made a game of it in the fourth. Utah cut the lead to 108-100 with around 2 minutes left, but after Duncan pulled down his 15th rebound on a missed jumper by Gordon Hayward jumper, Parker scored the final six points to finish off the pesky Jazz.

Parker went 9 of 14 from the floor and hit all 10 of his foul shots.

Popovich has insisted that health will trump seeding down the stretch, but the Spurs keep winning in spite of him trying to limit the mileage on his stars before the playoffs. San Antonio is one of just four teams with at least 10 players averaging 19 minutes—New York’s the only other winning one—and a rare Spurs midseason shopping spree has given them the luxury of even more depth.

Boris Diaw scored 9 points in his first start since signing with the Spurs on March 23. Along with Jackson and point guard Patty Mills, the Spurs are 11-1 since giving their bench a facelift around the trade deadline.

Parker said Popovich is breaking the news about who’s in and out prior to tipoff.

“He’s telling before who he’s not going to play,” Parker said. “We all have to be ready.”

Heat roll, improve to 10-1 without Wade

noreply@blogger.com (Fighthits) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:36:10 PDT

source: TIM REYNOLDS | AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP)—James Jones had a big night for the Miami Heat, and coach Erik Spoelstra is going to have some big decisions soon.

LeBron James scored 26 points, Chris Bosh finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, and the rarely used Jones scored 18 off the bench as the Heat steadily pulled away to beat the Detroit Pistons 98-75 on Sunday night.

Getting his biggest chunk of playing time since mid-January, Jones tied a career-best with six 3-pointers and also had four steals for the first time in his career. Spoelstra is already trying to figure out how Miami’s playoff rotation will work, and nights like Sunday from Jones probably further complicated some already-tough choices.

“Right now, every guy’s on edge pretty much, trying to play to their utmost capabilities,” said Jones, who entered Sunday having scored 22 points in Miami’s previous 23 games. “We understand it’s the playoffs and we need to play better as a team. From one through 15, every guy needs to play better.”

Miami played without Dwyane Wade for the 11th time this season. Wade sat out with right ankle soreness, which the team said was caused by an awkward landing on a missed dunk attempt against Memphis on Friday night.

The Heat are now 10-1 when Wade is sidelined this season, and are 18-1 in their last 19 home games.

“Guys just step up in his absence,” James said. “We’ve got a veteran ballclub. Whenever someone is down, guys step up.”

Detroit rookie Brandon Knight, playing as a pro in the city where he was born for the first time, scored 16 for the Pistons. Greg Monroe and Rodney Stuckey added 11 apiece for Detroit, which had a season-low eight assists.

“They thoroughly outplayed us,” Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said.

Knight had more than 500 friends and family members at the game, and returned to the court long after the final buzzer to address the group. Born in Miami, Knight was a star at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, and his fans showed up early wearing T-shirts bearing both his name and that of the school.

“I thank you for your support for everything I have done,” Knight told the crowd. “It is just a blessing. I can’t say enough how thankful I am.”

Miami’s win, combined with Chicago’s overtime loss at New York earlier Sunday, pulled the Heat (40-15) within two games of the Bulls (43-14) for the best record in the Eastern Conference. The teams have two more head-to-head meetings, the first of those in Chicago on Thursday night.

Up next for Miami: The Boston Celtics visit on Tuesday, barely a week after dealing the Heat a 19-point loss.

Besides Wade’s absence, there were two lineup issues of note for Miami. First, Mike Miller returned after missing 14 games with a sprained left ankle. Secondly, with slumping Norris Cole out of the rotation Sunday until the final minutes in part because of a 2-for-21 slump, Jones got meaningful minutes again.

He made them count, too.

“A lot of this will be compelling,” Spoelstra said. “A lot of guys are making compelling cases to play.”

Detroit led 21-19 after a sleepy first quarter—the teams combined to shoot 1 for 12 from 3-point range in the opening 12 minutes—but Jones gave the Heat a boost from long range to get the offense going in the second.

Jones made his first three 3-point attempts in the second quarter, after not making a single first-half basket since March 20, helping spark a 31-point period by Miami. A 15-5 run midway through the second, capped by a putback dunk by James, put Miami up 42-32 with 3:40 left.

The margin was still 10 at halftime, before Detroit’s offense went from cool to downright cold.

The Pistons started 1 for 10 from the floor in the first 9 minutes of the second half, and that drought eliminated any guesswork regarding the outcome as Miami turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 22-point cushion. James had nine points in what was a 17-5 run to start the third quarter, the run ending when James found Shane Battier under the basket for a layup that put Miami up 67-45.

Ronny Turiaf had two blocked shots and a steal in that start-of-third push by Miami, including swatting away a dunk attempt by Tayshaun Prince.

“They got all of the shots they wanted,” Knight said. “It was easy for them. We had turnovers, missed shots, and it all led to the lead piling up.”

The fourth quarter started even worse for the Pistons.

They missed their first eight shots from the floor, Miami scored the first nine points of the final quarter—all with James on the bench—and a layup by Mario Chalmers made it 78-54 with 9:23 left.