Heat visit Bobcats in key Eastern Conference showdown
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03/09/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwyane Wade is doing everything he can to keep the Miami Heat in playoff contention. But, first he has to figure out a way to beat the
Charlotte Bobcats when the two teams collide Tuesday in the Tar Heel State.
The Bobcats have won the first two meetings with Miami this season and eight
of the previous 12 matchups between the clubs. The Heat have also lost five of
their last six trips to the Queen City.
Wade and the Heat are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings,
just a half-game in front of Chicago, and have ripped off three straight wins,
including a 100-94 triumph versus Atlanta on Saturday in the finale of a
perfect three-game homestand. Wade recorded a game-high 38 points and had 10
assists for Miami, which has won three straight following a four-game slide.
He has notched three consecutive double-doubles, one shy of his career-high.
Michael Beasley provided a big lift with 14 of his 22 points in the fourth
quarter and tallied the final seven points of an 8-0 run that put the Heat in
front, 98-92, with 46.8 seconds to play in the game.
"(Wade) just punched me in the chest and was yelling, 'I need you,'" Beasley
said. "No more feeling sorry for myself. I just have to play. I definitely
needed this game."
The Heat will try to snap a two-game slide on the road Tuesday and are 15-17
away from south Florida in 2009-10. In other team news, guard Rafer Alston has
been suspended indefinitely from the team, while Jermaine O'Neal (knee) and
Dorell Wright (knee) are both questionable against the Bobcats.
Charlotte will try to close out a perfect three-game homestand Tuesday and has
won two straight and three of its last five games. In a 101-90 victory versus
the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, D.J. Augustin scored 19 points off the
bench and Gerald Wallace provided 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats,
who are just a half-game behind the Bulls for the eighth and final postseason
berth in the East.
Boris Diaw compiled 14 points and 12 boards, while Stephen Jackson and Theo
Ratliff chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the win.
"Gerald, Boris and D.J. (made the difference in the fourth quarter). We were
struggling but I thought those guys did a nice job," said Bobcats coach Larry
Brown, whose squad is giving up an average of 94.2 points per game, which is
the second-lowest opponent average in the NBA. "We defended great. Their zone
made us shoot a lot of jumpers, a lot of three-point shots, but when we
started to get the ball in the middle to Boris, he broke the zone down."
Augustin has scored in double figures in each of his last three games,
averaging 14.3 points on .533 shooting in that time. The Bobcats enter
tonight's game with a 22-8 home record, leaving them one game shy of matching
the franchise record of 23 home wins in a season set last season. Charlotte's
22-8 home record is the fourth best in the East.
Bobcats newcomer Tyrus Thomas is averaging 12.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6
blocks over his first nine games with the team. He had just five points
against the Warriors.
<< IUPUI and Oakland collide for Summit League title
Sioux Falls, SD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The IUPUI Jaguars and the Oakland Golden
Grizzlies will battle tonight in the championship game of the Summit League
Tournament. The prize for the winner is an automatic bid to the NCAA
Tournament.
IUPUI,
<< Bulldogs battle Raiders for Horizon League crown
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the fifth straight season the 12th-
ranked Butler Bulldogs will take part in the Horizon League Tournament
Championship Game when they host the Wright State Raiders this evening at the
Hinkle Fieldhouse.
<< North Texas takes on Troy in Sun Belt title tilt
Hot Springs, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded Troy Trojans and the second-
seeded North Texas Mean Green have advanced to the championship game of the
2010 Sun Belt Conference Tournament, and they will compete for an automatic
bid to the "B
<< Surging Bucks host Allen, Celtics
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweet-stroking veteran Ray Allen has already recorded his
20,000th career point and will add to that mark tonight, when the Boston
Celtics hit the road to Milwaukee for a showdown with the Bucks.
On Sunday, Allen hit a go-
<< Sixers, Pacers clash in Indy
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers finally got off the schneid with a
big win at Toronto this weekend, and hope that carries over into Tuesday's
road bout against the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Philadelphia was able to snap
Bruins hope to bolster playoff chances vs. Maple Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins will try to bolster their playoff hopes
when they visit the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs for tonight's clash between
Original Six clubs at Air Canada Centre.
The Bruins are currently holding onto the ei
2010 Big West Conference Tournament Preview >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 35th annual Big West Conference
Tournament will once again take place at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena
for a tenth straight season. The bottom four seeds of the eight-team field
will take part in fi
2010 Pac-10 Conference Tournament Preview >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nine team will converge on the Staples
Center in Los Angeles to compete for the Pac-10 Conference Tournament
championship beginning on Wednesday, March 10th.
The only member of the league that isn't compet
2010 Mountain West Conference Tournament Preview >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It is the usual suspects that are destined
to do the most damage in Las Vegas this week, as the members of the Mountain
West Conference descend on the Thomas & Mack Center for the 11th annual
conference t
2010 Southeastern Conference Tournament Preview >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The competition level will be through the
roof in Nashville this week, as all 12 SEC teams will compete in the 51st
annual conference tournament. On the line is an automatic bid to the NCAA
Tournament, and th
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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