Timberwolves-ClippersGame Review

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Kevin Love knocked down a three-pointer as time expired, sending the Timberwolves to a 101-98 comeback victory over the Clippers on Friday night.

Minnesota, which has won three straight and four of five, trailed 98-94 with under a minute remaining, but Ricky Rubio scored the next four points, hitting a free throw before knocking down a game-tying three with 20 seconds left.

After Chauncey Billups missed a layup, which was contested by Rubio, Love grabbed the rebound and, out of a timeout, received an inbounds pass at the top of the key and drained the open trey as the buzzer sounded.

Love finished with 17 points and 14 boards while Darko Milicic had 22 points and seven rebounds.

It was a [well] executed play, said Love. I got a good look and I hit it. It was our defense that gave us a chance to win.

The Clippers, who were without All-Star Chris Paul for the fourth consecutive game, have dropped two of their last three. Mo Williams scored a game-high 25 points before being ejected in the fourth quarter.

We didnt lose the game on that play, Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said of Loves shot. We turned the ball over too much and we didnt execute when we needed to. Its a little frustrating right now.

Los Angeles, which saw its seven-game home win streak come to an end, was coming off of Wednesdays dramatic 91-89 win over the Mavericks, in which Billups drain the game-winning three-pointer with one second left.

Williams was also key against the Mavs, scoring 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Against the Timberwolves, the reserve guard scored 21 first-half points, missing just two shots over that span, as the Clippers led by as many as 15 and took a 59-48 lead into the break.

The Timberwolves methodically worked their way back into the game. They cut the deficit to four on a Wesley Johnson foul shot midway through the third and trailed 79-72 at the end of the quarter.

Williams opened the fourth with a jumper, but Timberwolves rookie Derrick Williams scored five straight to make it 81-77. The Clippers, though, quickly pushed the lead back to double-digits, going up 89-77 on Randy Foyes driving layup with 9 1/2 minutes remaining.

The advantage was 96-90 on a Billups trey before Milicic scored four straight, finishing in close off a pair of deft feeds from Rubio. Billups made it 98-94 with a pair from the line and Blake Griffin had a chance to add to the advantage with a minute remaining, but missed two from the charity stripe.

Rubio then drove, drew the foul and knocked down 1-of-2 to make it 98-95 with 51 seconds left. Clippers forward Ryan Gomes missed a jumper on the other end and Rubio, who had missed his first 10 shots from the field, knocked down a corner trey to tie the game.

After a timeout, Billups drove hard to the lane, but Rubio stayed in front as the shot bounced off the rim and into the waiting arms of Love. After a timeout, Love found himself open courtesy of a Rubio screen and calmly knocked down the winning shot.

Playing over at the La Quinta Country Club, Mark Wilson was taking the outright lead of the tournament. Through 15 holes on Saturday, he was 5 under for the day and 21 under for the tournament, 3 shots better than Ben Crane and 4 better than Zach Johnson.

I played eight holes with basically no wind, and then I was on number 18 tee when it started blowing, said Wilson, who started his round on the 10th hole.
The par-3 third hole was probably the wildest. I had no idea what club to hit and I was between 4-iron, 3-iron, 2-iron, all different clubs, and I hit a good shot up around the green. It went 30 yards over just because the wind took it. I went from the mentality of making birdies to just making solid pars when I could.

Over at the Nicklaus course, the wind was about the only thing that could slow down Robert Garrigus, who had nine birdies through 13 holes before play was stopped. Garrigus is 5 shots back of Wilson at 16 under par.

Its too early to say if all 72 holes will be completed by Sunday evening, with several groups still with nine or more holes to play of their third rounds. Though the weather forecast is good, the tour isnt ruling out a Monday finish.

When play for the day was finally called at 2:50 pm PT, Clinton signed more autographs and thanked fans for coming out before leaving PGA West. On Friday, he said that he was committed to coming back to the tournament every year, and that he wanted to get the players more involved in the Health Matters conference that precedes the event.

Hopefully, the worlds problems can allow him freedom to work on his game so hell hit better shots in next years tournament and wow us with not just his charm, but also the substance of his golf.

Farrell Evans covers golf for ESPN and can be contacted at evans.espn@gmail.com.

Cavaliers-HawksGame Review

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) – Joe Johnson finished with 25 points and the hot-shooting Atlanta Hawks routed the Cleveland Cavaliers, 121-94, on Saturday.

Jeff Teague and Jannero Pargo both scored 14 points for the Hawks, who dropped a 90-76 decision in Philadelphia on Friday, but returned home to shoot 55.4 percent.

Atlanta made 11-of-24 shots from beyond the arc in its fifth win in six games, and will now head on the road for five games, starting Monday in Milwaukee.

Its always great to get a win, regardless of who youre playing, Johnson said. Weve just got to try and build on it, try to go out on the road and do the best we can.

Kyrie Irving scored 18 points to pace the Cavaliers, who have dropped three in a row. They were coming off Fridays loss against Chicago.

Thats just a learning experience for us, Irving said. Play two great teams and just seeing things they do offensively and defensively, I think we all can learn something from it.

Cleveland led by two just past the midway point of the first quarter, but the Hawks followed with an 11-0 run to take control. Johnson knocked down a three during the rally, which he ended with a dunk for a 25-16 advantage.

The Cavaliers faced a 27-19 deficit moving into the second quarter and stayed close for most of the period. With 5:49 left, Irvings long-distance make had them within 43-36.

But the Hawks followed with the next eight points, and a pair of threes by Johnson later in the half helped Atlanta carry a 61-42 lead into the break.

Atlanta removed any doubt about the outcome by beginning the third quarter with a 14-4 run. Zaza Pachulia closed the burst with a dunk to extend his teams lead to 75-46.

The Hawks made 10-of-19 shots in the third quarter, held an 89-63 lead moving into the fourth, and led comfortably throughout the final period.

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Freshman Angel Rodriguez scored 14 points in his second start, Jamar Samuels added 12 points and 12 rebounds and No. 25 Kansas State snapped an 11-game losing streak at Gallagher-Iba by beating Oklahoma State 66-58 on Saturday.

Every year Ive been here, somethings happened where weve unraveled and K-State hasnt won here since `93. You know these things, Martin said. I dont tell them that.

You sit there and youre saying, This cant happen again. I was real proud of the way that they stayed the course.

The Wildcats 14-4, 3-3 Big 12 held Oklahoma State without a made basket for a 15-minute stretch spanning halftime, building up a 46-33 lead after Will Spradlings runner in the lane with 9:08 to play. Then, they held off a late charge as the Cowboys 9-10, 2-4 pulled within 59-56 with just over 2 minutes left.

Rodriguez and Rodney McGruder combined to make seven of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal the Wildcats first win in Stillwater since 1993. It was the teams longest losing streak in any conference venue, starting when both teams were in the Big Eight.

We got the W in Stillwater. Ive never won in this place, and it feels good to win, Samuels said.

Its good to get a road win in the Big 12, and to be in Stillwater makes it a lot better.

Keiton Page had 17 points on 4-for-17 shooting to lead Oklahoma State, and Markel Brown scored 14.

Brown converted a three-point play off a steal that led to a two-handed slam during a string of nine straight points for the Cowboys to get the lead down to four. Pages 3-pointer from the left wing – Oklahoma States only make in 16 attempts from 3-point range – cut it to 59-56 with 2:01 remaining.

Kansas State didnt allow another point until Pages jumper at the buzzer, securing the victory at the foul line despite making only 23 of 40 free throws during the game.

This is one of most intimidating places that Ive ever coached a basketball game in, Martin said. The crowd, the way it sits right on top of you, it seems like the court is smaller because everything is so congested there.

Its awesome. I mean, its incredible.

McGruder, who had been averaging 22.7 points over the previous seven games, finished with 14. The Wildcats had a 50-29 rebounding advantage while playing without top shot blocker Jordan Henriquez, who was suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team.

There were 52 fouls called in a physical game, and Cowboys coach Travis Ford — who earned a technical foul late in the first half — suggested there could have been 102.

That was a wild deal, that game. That takes the game back, Ford said. Good grief.

Ford said he spent the two days before the game marveling at how roughly Kansas States previous game against Texas had been and feeling grateful his team hadnt played in it — until the Cowboys turn ended up much the same.

Thats going to be a tough night for us when its played like that, Ford said. This time next year, well be able to battle — when these guys get a little bigger and stronger and we get other players back.

Both teams entered the day stacked up in a four-way tie for fifth place in the conference, along with Texas and Oklahoma.

Kansas State charged ahead to stay with a 13-0 run midway through the first half, getting the first 11 points in a 40-second span. Rodriguez hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to get it started, and the Wildcats didnt even have to go back across midcourt to score the next eight.

Rodriguez stole a backdoor pass and got fouled while converting a fast-break layup. He missed the free throw but the rebound went out of bounds to Kansas State, and Thomas Gipson scored underneath also while getting fouled. He, too, missed the free throw and Samuels tipped it in. An Oklahoma State turnover on the inbounds play led to another bucket by Gipson underneath.

The Cowboys finally crossed the center line before Gipsons hook shot made it 21-11 with 10:34 left before halftime.

Michael Cobbins led Oklahoma State back, converting a pair of three-point plays during a 10-0 response. The second, off of a two-handed dunk of LeBryan Nashs alley-oop, got the Cowboys back within 24-23 with 3:58 to go before the half.

The Cowboys then missed their final three shots of the first half and 10 straight to start the second half.

Brown finally snapped the drought with a layup that led to a three-point play with 8:57 remaining, and the Cowboys were still within striking distance down 46-36 but never could overcome the deficit.

Defense is always the most important thing in our team. Thats how we play, Rodriguez said. We knew that it wasnt going to be an easy game here. We took the challenge, we stepped up and played good D and it gave us a win.

• By Jake Roth, US Presswire

  Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) tends the goal. Hiller made 31 saves in Saturdays game against the Ottawa Senators.

AUSTIN, Texas Maybe it wasnt a spot Bill Self wanted to be in, down four and on the road, facing the leading scorer in the Big 12 who suddenly had a hot hand. And, oh yeah, there were just three minutes left.

But it was a spot the Kansas coach relished.

We needed that, Self said.

The Jayhawks hadnt been in a one-possession game since facing Georgetown in Maui in November. They won that one. The No. 7 Jayhawks (16-3, 6-0) won this one too, 69-66 over Texas (12-7, 2-4) in front of 16,734 fans at the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday.

The games will matter soon — sooner than anyone would prefer — and the Knicks will accept that cold reality with a mix of trepidation and self-assurance. They are too new to be entirely comfortable, but talented enough to feel secure.

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Barton Silverman/The New York Times

Iman Shumpert, the Knicks’ rookie guard, driving to the basket against the Nets on Wednesday.

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• On Basketball: Former Teammates, 2 Big Men Went Different Ways
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The Knicks closed a truncated two-game preseason Wednesday night with an 88-82 victory over the Nets, their final tune-up for a truncated 66-game season that begins Sunday at Madison Square Garden, against the Boston Celtics.

In so many ways, the Knicks are clearly not ready. Their starting backcourt is shaky, their vaunted frontcourt is still getting acquainted and their bench is still, well, developing. But fans got an encouraging preview of what the reconstructed Knicks may become.

Tyson Chandler, in his first game under the Garden lights as a Knick, grabbed 12 rebounds, blocked 2 shots and scored 8 points. The building roared with each block and howled when he soared over the Nets rookie Marshon Brooks for a dunk attempt, although he missed when Brooks fouled him.

Amar’e Stoudemire finished with 15 points, and Carmelo Anthony 21, a rough approximation of what the Knicks expect from their star frontcourt.

“That’s going to be typical,” Chandler said. “But it’s going to get better. It’s only going to get better.”

The blemishes and the rust from an abnormally long off-season were evident, too. The Knicks shot 33.7 percent from the field, with Stoudemire going 5 for 14. The 2-0 preseason record is nice, but meaningless, both wins having come against an unfinished Nets team.

Deron Williams, the Nets’ star point guard, had 21 points and 7 assists. Damion James, the second-year forward, had 13 points and 9 rebounds.

It had been nearly eight months since the Knicks’ last Garden appearance — a 101-89 playoff loss to the Celtics. The long layoff did nothing to soften Knicks fans, who relished the chance to boo someone again. Their chief target was Kris Humphries, whose tumultuous off-season included a televised wedding to the reality-show star Kim Kardashian, followed by a humiliating separation.

Humphries, who re-signed with the Nets on Tuesday, was loudly booed when he entered the game and every time he touched the ball in the first half. He did not play after halftime, to the fans’ chagrin. They repeatedly chanted, “We want Humphries!” in the closing minutes.

“It’s whatever,” Humphries said. “We’re here to win games. Got to do that, I guess.”

The booing seemed to support the results of a Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research poll, released Wednesday, that named Humphries as the N.B.A.’s most hated player — ahead of LeBron James and eight other players with far more N.B.A. fame.

Anthony momentarily expressed sympathy, but then smiled and said: “New York fans is New York fans. I like it, to be honest with you. That’s how it should be. Our fans shouldn’t be cheering for nobody else.”

With four days left until the opener, the Knicks are still adding players. They claimed Steve Novak, a 3-point shooting specialist, off waivers Wednesday, bolstering a still-suspect bench.

“You can’t have too many shooters,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said.

Novak, a 6-foot-10 forward, shot 41.7 percent on 3-point attempts in five seasons with the Rockets, Clippers, Mavericks and Spurs. He effectively replaces Shawne Williams, who signed with the Nets last week.

The Knicks are still thin at both forward spots and have a $2.5 million cap exception to spend. But they have apparently chosen not to pursue James Posey or any other free agents at this point.

“We’re not against doing something,” D’Antoni said, “but I don’t see it for the foreseeable future.”

The Knicks may be holding the exception for one of the players still under contract in China, Kenyon Martin or J. R. Smith. Martin cut ties with his team on Wednesday, according to Yahoo Sports but, like Smith, he is ineligible to play in the N.B.A. until the Chinese season ends in March.

Wilson Chandler, who was traded from the Knicks to the Denver Nuggets last February, is also playing in China. But Chandler is a restricted free agent, and the Nuggets will surely match any offer he receives upon returning to the United States.

The Knicks are also waiting for Baron Davis, who signed this week, to recover from a herniated disk, which could take two months. Until then, D’Antoni will lean on a suspect bench that has no natural scorer, no reliable big men and three rookies.

D’Antoni is hoping for rapid growth from the Knicks’ two 2011 draft picks, Iman Shumpert and Josh Harrellson. After a strong debut against the Nets on Saturday, Shumpert struggled with his shot, going 2 for 12 from the field. Harrellson impressed, with 10 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 steals.

Given the Knicks’ lack of depth, both rookies could become rotation fixtures.

“Just keep thinking that they’re going to be part of everything, that they’ve earned some time,” D’Antoni said. “So that’s one question mark that seems to be O.K. right now.”

REBOUNDS

Mike Bibby sat out the second half because of back spasms. Bill Walker (groin) and Jared Jeffries (calf) did not dress for the game. Both are expected to be available for Sunday’s season opener. … Shawne Williams again missed the chance to face the Knicks, his former team, because of flulike symptoms.

HBO Films seems to have two essential mission statements. First, to corner the market on Al Pacinos good acting (see: Angels in America, You Dont Know Jack, the upcoming Phil Spector biopic. Second, and more importantly, the moviemaking arm of the network appears to be constructing a complete chronology of American history, from the Revolution (John Adams) through the Great War (Band of Brothers, The Pacific), and right up to our disturbing modern moment (Recount, Too Big to Fail).

Next years Game Change is an intriguing new entry in the HBO History canon, adapting the addictive behind-the-scenes muckrake of the 2008 presidential campaign into a star-studded film. Intriguingly, the film apparently wont follow the books fascinating portrayal of the Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama primary fight; instead, it will focus entirely on the eleventh-hour arrival of Governor Sarah Palin in John McCains campaign. The first trailer features Ed Harris as McCain, but predictably, Julianne Moores Palin steals the show. Watch below:

Hey, maybe when Game Change airs, Julianne Moore can host Saturday Night Live, and she can do her Palin impersonation, and then the real Sarah Palin can walk onstage and say, I wouldve preferred that Jodie Foster play me, and then Jodie Foster can walk onstage and do a Sarah Palin impression. And then Tina Fey can show up and give birth in character as Sarah Palin. I guarantee itll get, like, two million hits on YouTube.

Follow Darren on Twitter: @EWDarrenFranich

Read more:
First Look: Ed Harris as John McCain
Woody Harrelson joins Game Change

Claude Giroux had a goal and three assists in his return from a four-game absence caused by a concussion, and the surging Philadelphia Flyers beat the host Dallas Stars 4-1 Wednesday night.

Wayne Simmonds and Jaromir Jagr added power-play goals, and defenseman Andrej Meszaros connected at even strength for Philadelphia. The Flyers improved to 10-2-1 in their past 13 games and 13-3-2 on the road this season.

Giroux, who leads the NHL with 43 points, had been out since he was injured in a game against Tampa Bay on Dec. 10 when he was accidentally hit in the back of the head by Simmonds knee.

Giroux received medical clearance to play last weekend, and he was inserted into the lineup after he was able to participate in Wednesdays morning skate.

Hes clearly established himself as a top player in the league, Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette said. He missed some time and wanted to get back in there. Hes capable of that. It shouldnt surprise anybody.

The game was heated at times, with three misconducts issued and several skirmishes after whistles.

I had a lot of fun just playing and was kind of in Dallas face, and they were pretty much doing the same thing to us, Giroux said.

In addition, there was an incident after the first period when Laviolette shoved Dallas agitator Steve Ott in the back as the teams headed to their locker rooms.

Laviolette entered the tunnel while the Stars were exiting, and Ott thought the Flyers coach should have waited until the home team had cleared.

Its disrespect of our building. Just let our team off; its not a big deal, Ott said.

Robert Griffin III could be making his final appearance in front of the home fans Saturday when he and the No. 17 Baylor Bears go for a second consecutive victory over the No. 22 Texas Longhorns.

Griffin is a junior, but he was granted a redshirt in 2009 after sustaining a devastating knee injury that hes clearly put behind him. He graduated last December with a degree in political science three years after enrolling at Baylor. He is a top three Heisman candidate and depending which draft boards you look at he could be as high as the third quarterback selected in Aprils NFL draft.

What he has meant to Baylors football fortunes on the field and its profile off it is practically immeasurable. Coach Art Briles, who first recruited the Copperas Cove star to Houston before taking the Baylor job, would certainly love to have Griffins rare combination of brilliant athleticism on the field and humility off it for one more season.

It might be wishful thinking.

Its something Ive got to decide with coach Briles, coach Kaz Kazardi, our strength coach whos played in the NFL, my family and anybody else whos out there that Ive felt close to to give me advice, Griffin said last week before sustaining a concussion and being knocked out early in the Bears 66-42 victory over Texas Tech. I dont want it to be about money or about draft status or anything. If its time for me to go then its time for me to go. But, if I come back it wont be because Im not a high enough draft pick, it will be because God told me this is where I need to be, and Im definitely proud to be a part of whats going on here at Baylor.

Whats going on at Baylor is a second consecutive bowl berth, an eight-win season for the first time since 1991 and the possibility of the first nine-win season since 1986 and first 10-win season since 1980. Such progress is a testament to the entire program, from Briles on down, but who can fathom the Bears being this good without a gem like Griffin at the helm?

He will have a decision to make. Some say it shouldnt be difficult, that he should not risk injury playing another year in college and go to the NFL in April. It will be his call.

Its something that Ill decide, but right now I am a Baylor Bear, Griffin said. Were guaranteed [two] games, but Im not guaranteed another day, so Im going to make sure I seize every moment as a Baylor Bear.