With both superstars struggling, the one with the better supporting cast won.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Dallas Mavericks beat Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.
The Mavericks, who have the NBA's best record at 56-11, have won four straight and are 3-0 on a six-game road trip that has included victories over Detroit and New York.
CLEVELAND ? Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James struggled. Fortunately for Nowitzki, the rest of the Dallas Mavericks outplayed James' teammates.
Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.
"That's why we are a great team, because other guys stepped up when we needed them," said Nowitzki, who added nine rebounds and six assists.
"I've been thinking about this game for quite awhile," said Bosh, who had a career-high 41 points the last time he faced Howard.
"We knew we weren't going to have Andrea tonight. I knew I was going to have to try and control the tempo."
Bosh went 10-for-21 from the field and 14-for-16 from the line in 46 minutes.
TORONTO Chris Bosh had a double-double while outplaying fellow All-Star Dwight Howard in Toronto's 92-to-85 win over Orlando.Bosh finished with 34 points and 16 rebounds while Howard had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Bosh helped the Raptors outrebound the Magic 55-to-38.The two set career highs for points in their last meeting as Bosh finished with 41 while Howard had 32.T.J. Ford had 16 points and 12 assists for the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors, who moved six games ahead of New Jersey.Grant H...
Feigen: Bigger tests await Rockets Justice & McClain: Rockets and their winning ways ...
TORONTO - Chris Bosh had 34 points and 16 rebounds in outplaying fellow All-Star big man Dwight Howard in the Toronto Raptors' 92-85 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.
T.J. Ford had 16 points and 12 assists for the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors, who moved six games ahead of New Jersey.
Bosh went 10-for-21 from the field and 14-for-16 from the line.
The New Jersey Devils took a beating, and then lost the game. Their Atlantic Division lead could be next.
They limped into Toronto having dropped three of four and the skid got worse with a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
"We had plenty of chances," Devils forward Jay Pandolfo said. "We hit at least three posts, maybe four. We can't keep our heads down after this loss."
The New Jersey Devils took a beating, and then lost the game. Their Atlantic Division lead could be next.
They limped into Toronto having dropped three of four and the skid got worse with a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
"We had plenty of chances," Devils forward Jay Pandolfo said. "We hit at least three posts, maybe four. We can't keep our heads down after this loss."
The New Jersey Devils took a beating, and then lost the game. Their Atlantic Division lead could be next.
They limped into Toronto having dropped three of four and the skid got worse with a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
"We had plenty of chances," Devils forward Jay Pandolfo said. "We hit at least three posts, maybe four. We can't keep our heads down after this loss."
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TORONTO The Toronto Maple Leafs have pulled into a tie with Carolina and Montreal for eighth place in the East by downing the visiting New Jersey Devils 2-to-1.Mats Sundin (suhn-DEEN') set up goals by Kyle Wellwood and Nik Antropov (AN'-troh-pahv) as the Leafs prevented the Devils from expanding their Atlantic Division lead.Wellwood opened the scoring with a power-play goal late in the first period. Antropov made it 2-to-0 in the third with help from Sundin's 900th career point.Andrew Raycroft m...
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs got revenge and a needed victory. Kyle Wellwood and Nik Antropov scored, and enforcer Wade Belak got retribution for Toronto by fighting New Jersey's Cam Janssen in the Maple Leafs' 2-1 win over the Devils on Tuesday night.
The last time the teams played on March 2 at New Jersey, All-Star Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle sustained a concussion after a late hit from Janssen, who was suspended for three games.
Kaberle practiced Monday for the first time since the hit, but missed his eighth straight.
The Toronto Maple Leafs got revenge and a needed victory. Kyle Wellwood and Nik Antropov scored, and enforcer Wade Belak got retribution for Toronto by fighting New Jersey's Cam Janssen in the Maple Leafs' 2-1 win over the Devils on Tuesday night.
The last time the teams played on March 2 at New Jersey, All-Star Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle sustained a concussion after a late hit from Janssen, who was suspended for three games.
Kaberle practiced Monday for the first time since the hit, but missed his eighth straight.
ORLANDO - Dwight Howard was clowning around after practice Tuesday, throwing around a football that somehow found its way onto the basketball court. And he was dressed for the part wearing kneepads and protective sleeves on his arms.
That sort of body armor and a football mentality might come in handy tonight considering the challenge that lies ahead of the Orlando Magic franchise center.
Not only will Howard be in his customary position of anchoring the Orlando offense, but he will also at times draw the defensive assignment against fellow all-star and Team USA contemporary Chris Bosh.
Toronto, ON -- (Sports Network) - Andrew Raycroft made 24 saves and received three more from the iron around him while Mats Sundin assisted on both Toronto goals, as the Maple Leafs edged the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, at Air Canada Centre.
Kyle Wellwood and Nik Antropov scored for Toronto, which moved into a three- way tie with Carolina and Montreal for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs, with 80 points, visit Buffalo on Friday for the opener of a home-and-home set.
"No doubt, this was a big one," said Antropov. "We have to win as many of these last games as we can to get into the playoffs."
NEW YORK -- Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi was making a play he probably makes 10 times per game, sweeping his stick to try to block the lane to the front of the net.
New York Rangers forward Jaromir Jagr was behind the net with the puck, and with one minute left in regulation in a tie game, Scuderi wanted no part of him or anyone else getting a shot on goaltender Jocelyn Thibault.
Only this time, when Jagr tried to pass the puck to Michael Nylander, it hit Scuderi's stick and deflected into his own net.
NEW YORK -- Jaromir Jagr smacked a shot in off the stick of Pittsburgh defenseman Rob Scuderi with 33.8 seconds left Monday night, giving the surging New York Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Penguins.
Jagr swung around Alain Nasreddine and flipped the puck toward the net. The shot hit Scuderi and slipped underneath goalie Jocelyn Thibault, who stopped 40 of the previous 41 shots he faced. The puck disappeared, but it was revealed over the line when Thibault got up.
The goal was awarded after a video review that lasted a few minutes. Thibault hung his head in the crease and again on the bench once he was pulled for an extra skater in the closing seconds. He didn't face another shot.
NEW YORK -- Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi was making a play he probably makes 10 times per game, sweeping his stick to try to block the lane to the front of the net.
New York Rangers forward Jaromir Jagr was behind the net with the puck, and with one minute left in regulation in a tie game, Scuderi wanted no part of him or anyone else getting a shot on goaltender Jocelyn Thibault.
Only this time, when Jagr tried to pass the puck to Michael Nylander, it hit Scuderi's stick and deflected into his own net.
Blair Betts' task was simple: Shut down Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins' top line.
The veteran checking-line center did that and then some. Betts kept the NHL's leading scorer and his linemates off the board and added a goal in the third period that helped the New York Rangers to a key 2-1 victory over the Penguins on Monday night.
"We stepped up big time," Betts said of the trio that includes hard-hitters Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr. "There have been a number of times in the last dozen games or so where the majority of our ice time has come against the other team's top line.
Tyson Chandler posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Chris Paul had 15 points and six assists for the Hornets, who have won two of their last three games.Tuesday, March 20, 2007
College Hoops Madness: Brackets, news, polls and more!
Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Rasual Butler dropped in 18 points as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets routed the Boston Celtics, 106-88, at the Ford Center.
NEW YORK - Blair Betts' task was simple: Shut down Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins' top line.
The veteran checking-line center did that and then some. Betts kept the NHL's leading scorer and his linemates off the board and added a goal in the third period that helped the New York Rangers to a key 2-1 victory over the Penguins on Monday night.
"We stepped up big time," Betts said of the trio that includes hard-hitters Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr. "There have been a number of times in the last dozen games or so where the majority of our ice time has come against the other team's top line.
Dallas (54-11) has won eight of its last nine meetings with New York (30-36) overall, outscoring the Knicks by an average of 17.2 points in the victories. The Mavericks, though, lost their last trip to New York, 117-115 in overtime on Jan. 11, 2006.
Dirk Nowitzki has been key for the Mavs against the Knicks, averaging 27.7 points and 8.9 rebounds in the last seven games between the teams.
Nowitzki came up big again Sunday, scoring 21 of his 28 points in the second half and grabbing 12 total rebounds to lead Dallas to a 92-88 win over Detroit - the team with the best record in the East - to open a season-long six-game road trip.
The Penguins took the ice Monday night at Madison Square Garden much more interested in securing the two points at stake than they were about sending any messages to the New York Rangers.
That hadn't been the case the previous evening against the Ottawa Senators.
"We're looking to catch (New) Jersey and Buffalo, but as it looks right now we're kinda headed for them in the first round, so it's kinda about setting the tone," defenseman Ryan Whitney said after the Penguins' second shootout victory over Ottawa in 13 days had continued to constrict the standings in the Eastern Conference.
Sam Mitchell is a late bloomer as an NBA coach, much as it took time for him to become an NBA player.
Sports Illustrated magazine, in a poll of 428 players, rated Mitchell the worst coach last season after the Toronto Raptors got off to a 1-15 start. Then the Raptors began this season 2-8.
Now Atlantic Division leaders, the Raptors (36-31) are on track to make their first playoff appearance in five seasons. Mitchell is cast in a different light.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. Rasual Butler dropped in 18 points as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets routed the Boston Celtics, 106-88, at the Ford Center.
Tyson Chandler posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Chris Paul had 15 points and six assists for the Hornets, who have won two of their last three games. They are now 1 1/2 games behind idle Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Paul Pierce netted a game-high 28 points and Allan Ray scored 12 for Boston, which has dropped four of six and remains stuck at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
That was enough to snap Pittsburgh's winning streak at five and improve the Rangers' run to 7-1-3.
Jaromir Jagr looked for teammate Michael Nylander - and luckily found defenseman Rob Scuderi. Jagr snapped his longest scoring drought of the season Monday night when his pass for Nylander clipped off Scuderi's stick and slipped into the net with 33.8 seconds left in the New York Rangers' 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I am not 24 chasing any records anymore," said the 35-year-old Jagr, who went eight games without scoring for the second time this season. "My goal is to make the playoffs. Right now it doesn't matter as long as we win."
New York moved past idle Carolina into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two nights after getting into playoff position. The Rangers, who nearly put up back-to-back shutouts for the first time since March 2003, trail sixth-place Tampa Bay by one point with nine games left.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jaromir Jagr looked for teammate Michael Nylander - and luckily found defenseman Rob Scuderi. Jagr snapped his longest scoring drought of the season Monday night when his pass for Nylander clipped off Scuderi's stick and slipped into the net with 33.8 seconds left in the New York Rangers' 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. "I am not 24 chasing any records anymore," said the 35-year-old Jagr, who went eight games without scoring for the second time this season. "My goa...
NEW YORK — Jaromir Jagr looked for teammate Michael Nylander — and luckily found defenseman Rob Scuderi. Jagr snapped his longest scoring drought of the season Monday night when his pass for Nylander clipped off Scuderi's stick and slipped into the net with 33.8 seconds left in the New York Rangers' 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I am not 24 chasing any records anymore," said the 35-year-old Jagr, who went eight games without scoring for the second time this season. "My goal is to make the playoffs. Right now it doesn't matter as long as we win."
New York moved past idle Carolina into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two nights after getting into playoff position. The Rangers, who nearly put up back-to-back shutouts for the first time since March 2003, trail sixth-place Tampa Bay by one point with nine games left.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Jarkko Ruutu is the Pittsburgh Penguins' fourth-line winger, a player with 30 career goals in parts of seven seasons.
But now he has become a go-to guy in the shootout.
Ruutu's backhand move got the puck past goalie Ray Emery and Pittsburgh tied the Ottawa Senators for fourth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a 4-3 win Sunday night.
Earlier this month, it seemed the New Jersey Devils' lead in the Atlantic Division was untouchable, and the best the Penguins could hope for was to finish second in the division and fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Now, after a 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators at Mellon Arena on Sunday night, the Penguins sit just two points behind the Devils and the No. 2 seed in the East.
Jarkko Ruutu scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Penguins the second point after they gave up a one-goal lead in the third period for a tie game and overtime.
PITTSBURGH ? Jarkko Ruutu is the Pittsburgh Penguins' fourth-line winger, a player with 30 career goals in parts of seven seasons. But now he has become a go-to guy in the shootout. Ruutu's backhand move got the puck past goalie Ray Emery and Pittsburgh tied the Ottawa Senators for fourth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a 4-3 win Sunday night.
"He'll get another shot, that's for sure," said Penguins coach Michel Therrien of Ruutu, who is 3-for-6 in his career in the shootout. "I asked him before how he felt, and he said, 'I feel pretty good about it.'"
Pittsburgh's victory gives each team 92 points, with Ottawa having one more victory and the Penguins holding a game in hand.
Earlier this month, it seemed the New Jersey Devils' lead in the Atlantic Division was untouchable, and the best the Penguins could hope for was to finish second in the division and fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Now, after a 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators at Mellon Arena on Sunday night, the Penguins sit just two points behind the Devils and the No. 2 seed in the East.
Jarkko Ruutu scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Penguins the second point after they gave up a one-goal lead in the third period for a tie game and overtime.
Earlier this month, it seemed the New Jersey Devils' lead in the Atlantic Division was untouchable, and the best the Penguins could hope for was to finish second in the division and fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Now, after a 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators at Mellon Arena on Sunday night, the Penguins sit just two points behind the Devils and the No. 2 seed in the East.
Jarkko Ruutu scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Penguins the second point after they gave up a one-goal lead in the third period for a tie game and overtime.
Earlier this month, it seemed the New Jersey Devils' lead in the Atlantic Division was untouchable, and the best the Penguins could hope for was to finish second in the division and fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Now, after a 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators at Mellon Arena on Sunday night, the Penguins sit just two points behind the Devils and the No. 2 seed in the East.
Jarkko Ruutu scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Penguins the second point after they gave up a one-goal lead in the third period for a tie game and overtime.
Jarkko Ruutu is the Pittsburgh Penguins' fourth-line winger, a player with 30 career goals in parts of seven seasons. But now he has become a go-to guy in the shootout. Ruutu's backhand move got the puck past goalie Ray Emery and Pittsburgh tied the Ottawa Senators for fourth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a 4-3 win Sunday night.
"He'll get another shot, that's for sure," said Penguins coach Michel Therrien of Ruutu, who is 3-for-6 in his career in the shootout. "I asked him before how he felt, and he said, 'I feel pretty good about it.'"
Pittsburgh's victory gives each team 92 points, with Ottawa having one more victory and the Penguins holding a game in hand.
PITTSBURGH - Jarkko Ruutu is the Pittsburgh Penguins' fourth-line winger, a player with 30 career goals in parts of seven seasons.
But now he has become a go-to guy in the shootout.
Ruutu's backhand move got the puck past goalie Ray Emery and Pittsburgh tied the Ottawa Senators for fourth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a 4-3 win Sunday night.
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When Matt Vaughn jogged to the mound Sunday afternoon, Clemson was in dire straits.
The Tigers had already battled back from a four-run first-inning deficit against perennial ACC bottom-feeder Duke, but the Blue Devils were threatening to spoil Clemson?s would-be weekend sweep.
Runners sat at second and third, nobody was out, and the Devils? hottest hitter ? third baseman Brett Bartles, who?d already crushed a three-run first-inning homer ? was at the plate.
NEW YORK — Eddy Curry sat down, and the New York Knicks' energy level promptly went up. Rookie Renaldo Balkman replaced the foul-troubled Curry and sparked a dominant third quarter with his rebounding and defense, helping the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 92-74 Sunday.
Balkman made all seven shots he took and finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, with his play on both ends fueling a 27-5 run that turned a two-point deficit into a 20-point lead.
"I love what I've seen from Renaldo the whole year," Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said. "Defensively he can change the game, his rebounding. Whenever we give him 30-plus minutes, he normally has double-figure rebounds and double-figure points. He's just a guy that somehow finds a way to change a game."
Over their previous 21 playoff appearances, the Penguins have held home-ice advantage for 19 series. They have made successful use of it 12 times.
In other words, Mellon Arena to the Penguins has not exactly resembled the old Montreal Forum to the Canadiens. In fact, the Penguins have won just two of six decisive Game 7s played on their home ice.
Despite that lack of home dominance in the playoffs, there is no place the Penguins would rather begin the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs -- but not necessarily because they have won 10 of their past 12 games at Mellon Arena.
This is the time of year when no NBA coach wants to see his name crawling across the bottom of the TV screen.
If he does, it's usually not good news.
Just ask former Hawks coach Terry Stotts, who was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday with a year left on his contract and 20 games left in this season.
Long before Maurizio Gherardini joined the Raptors' front office last
summer to become the NBA's first European executive, he had already established
his rule of thumb: Never go by fashion.
Over their previous 21 playoff appearances, the Penguins have held home-ice advantage for 19 series. They have made successful use of it 12 times.
In other words, Mellon Arena to the Penguins has not exactly resembled the old Montreal Forum to the Canadiens. In fact, the Penguins have won just two of six decisive Game 7s played on their home ice.
Despite that lack of home dominance in the playoffs, there is no place the Penguins would rather begin the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs -- but not necessarily because they have won 10 of their past 12 games at Mellon Arena.
East Rutherford, NJ -- (Sports Network) - Chad LaRose scored twice and Carolina peppered Martin Brodeur early, on the way to a 7-2 victory over New Jersey in the back end of a home-and-home series. Josef Vasicek had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, who snapped a five-game skid versus the Devils. Scott Walker, Tim Gleason, Ray Whitney, and Rod Brind'Amour also scored for Carolina, which sits in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with 80 points, one ahead of t...
Final Score: Montreal 3, Toronto 2 (SO)
Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Saku Koivu and Andrei Kostitsyn scored in the shootout, and Jaroslav Halak made 37 saves as the Montreal Canadiens edged the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2, in a matchup between two teams looking to stay in the playoff hunt. Kastsitsyn and Koivu also scored in regulation for the Canadiens, who have won three of four. Kyle Wellwood had a goal and an assist, and Pavel Kubina also tallied for Toronto, which has dropped two straight and three of its last five....
Over their previous 21 playoff appearances, the Penguins have held home-ice advantage for 19 series. They have made successful use of it 12 times.
In other words, Mellon Arena to the Penguins has not exactly resembled the old Montreal Forum to the Canadiens. In fact, the Penguins have won just two of six decisive Game 7s played on their home ice.
Despite that lack of home dominance in the playoffs, there is no place the Penguins would rather begin the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs -- but not necessarily because they have won 10 of their past 12 games at Mellon Arena.
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins are having a lot of fun these days.
Sidney Crosby and Erik Christensen score two goals apiece, and the Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 Friday night. Pittsburgh is 6-0-1 in its last seven games and pulled within four points of Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey.
"We just come to the rink every day and try to have fun and get better," Christensen said. "We're not so much worried about the numbers. Sometimes it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play. We're focused on just coming to the rink every day and having fun and working hard and getting better."
NASCAR Nextel Cup/Kobalt Tools 500, qualifying, 5 p.m. (Speed Channel).
Craftsman Trucks/American Commercial Lines 200, qualifying, 10:30 a.m. and race, 7 p.m. (Speed Channel).
Formula One/Australian Grand Prix, qualifying, 9:30 p.m. (Speed Channel).
Jason Pominville had two goals and Ryan Miller made 35 saves, leading the Eastern Conference-leading Sabres past the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Friday night.
"This is the time of the year when things really get exciting,'' Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "The pressure builds inside the game and you see what guys are made off, whether they're going to handle it or not handle it.''
The Sabres also got a goal from Derek Roy en route to winning consecutive games after a four-game skid. Buffalo extended its lead over New Jersey for the conference's best record to four points.
The Capitals, winless since beating the Devils on Feb. 24, snapped their longest losing streak overall in 25 years. The victory also snapped Washington’s seven-game home losing streak.
Olie Kolzig made 34 saves and Boyd Gordon, Kris Beech and Tomas Fleischmann also scored once. Washington, weakened by late-season trades and a flurry of injuries, had lost 14 of 15 (1-9-5) coming into this game.
Nik Antropov scored for Toronto.
The wins keep coming for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The longest losing streak in 25 years finally is over for the Washington Capitals.
Sidney Crosby and Erik Christensen each scored twice to help the Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 Friday night to improve to 6-0-1 in their last seven games. Gary Roberts and Michel Ouellet also scored for Pittsburgh, and Evgeni Malkin and Mark Recchi had two assists apiece.
"It's definitely a big team effort and all of us should be happy with the way things are going," said winger Colby Armstrong, who had an assist. "But we have to keep our nose to the grindstone and keep things going."
Section One, Class AAA, championship, Austin vs. Winona, at Mayo Civic Arena, 6:30 p.m.
Section One, Class AAAA, championship, Lakeville South vs. Owatonna, at Mayo Civic Arena, 8:15 p.m.
(No local events scheduled).
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Penguins are having a lot of fun these days.
Sidney Crosby and Erik Christensen scored two goals apiece, and the Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 Friday night. Pittsburgh is 6-0-1 in its last seven games and pulled within four points of Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey.
"We just come to the rink every day and try to have fun and get better," Christensen said. "We're not so much worried about the numbers. Sometimes it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play. We're focused on just coming to the rink every day and having fun and working hard and getting better."
ATLANTA -- Alexei Zhitnik scored the game-winner with a slap shot on the power play at 2:18 of overtime, lifting Atlanta to a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday night and giving the Thrashers their sixth straight home win.
The Thrashers stretched their lead to four points over Tampa Bay for third place in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta took just 20 shots in regulation, but backup goaltender Johan Hedberg stopped 38 of the 39 he fa