Blatche and Wizards take down Boston
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04/09/2010 -
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andray Blatche poured in 31 points and came down
with 11 rebounds and the Wizards snapped a six-game skid against Boston with a
106-96 triumph at TD Garden.
Shaun Livingston added 25 points and seven assists for Washington, which was
swept in three games last season by Boston and was in danger of a four-game
whitewash this season, but the Wizards dominated the playoff-bound Celtics on
Friday.
Nick Young scored 19 and JaVale McGee added 14 points and 11 boards for the
Wizards, who won for the fourth time in six contests since a 16-game losing
streak.
The loss left Boston a game behind Atlanta for third place in the Eastern
Conference with just three games left for each team. The Hawks beat Toronto,
107-101, on Friday. Atlanta also holds the tiebreaker over Boston by virtue of
sweeping the season series.
The Celtics were a woeful 12-of-40 from the field in the first half and fell
behind 52-31 at the break. They never recovered even though a pair of Nate
Robinson three-pointers late made it a six-point game.
Rajon Rondo ended with 17 points and 12 assists, while Robinson scored 13 for
Boston, which lost for the fifth time in seven games.
Young had 11 points in the first quarter, a period which the Wizards finished
on a 15-2 burst. Young culminated the push with a three-pointer for a 30-17
cushion.
It only got worse for the Celtics in the second, as Blatche scored seven
straight points for a 47-19 spread with 4:33 remaining in the half.
Boston trailed by a hefty amount the entire third quarter and went to the
fourth staring at a 75-54 deficit. With under a minute left, Robinson made a
three-pointer, then stole the ball from Livingston before banking in another
shot from beyond the arc, this one with 50.4 seconds remaining for a 97-91
difference.
Young countered by making two free throws and Washington held on from there.
Game Notes
Boston has road games against Milwaukee and Chicago before finishing at home
against the Bucks...Kendrick Perkins, Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace each had
10 points for the Celtics...Boston's starting forward tandem of Paul Pierce
and Kevin Garnett combined to shoot 7-of-24 and had 17 points between
them...Boston has lost four of its last five home games.
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Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pau Gasol was the offensive catalyst for
the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers, tallying 29 points and 15 rebounds to help Los
Angeles secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 97-88 decision
over Mi
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blew out the New York Yankees, 9-3, in the opener of a three-game series.
Jason Ba
<< Pistons snap Miami's nine-game winning streak
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ben Gordon drained 7-of-11 three-pointers for a
season-high 39 points, as Detroit handed Miami a 106-99 defeat, snapping the
Heat's nine-game winning streak.
Tayshaun Prince added 28 points, seven assists
<< Hawks deal blow to Raptors' playoff hopes
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamal Crawford finished with 25 points to lead
a balanced attack, as the Atlanta Hawks got back on track with a 107-101
victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Josh Smith had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four
<< Stubbs' grand slam helps Reds top Cubs
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drew Stubbs' eighth-inning grand slam proved
to be the difference, as Cincinnati edged the Chicago Cubs, 5-4, in the opener
of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Orlando Cabrera drove in the ot
Cruz homers again as Rangers down Mariners >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 with a solo home
run, two RBI and two runs scored to help Texas take a 6-2 decision over
Seattle in the opener of a three-game set.
Vladimir Guerrero went 2-for-4 with a
Dodgers use late burst of offense to top Marlins >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - James Loney paced the offense with two runs
batted in and a run scored, while Hiroki Kuroda gave up one unearned run in
eight innings of work, as the Los Angeles Dodgers used a four-run seventh to
defeat
Williams leads Jazz over Hornets >>
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Deron Williams poured in 27 points and
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114-103.
Wesley Matthews added 20 points for the Jazz, who are tied for third in
Thunder edge Suns in playoff-positioning battle >>
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Durant finished with 35 points and
nine rebounds, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a key 96-91 victory over
the Phoenix Suns.
Durant sank 14-of-16 free throws for the Thunder, who got 15
Granger, Pacers pull out win over Cavaliers >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Danny Granger scored 13 of his game-high 36
points in the fourth quarter, as the Pacers pulled out a 116-113 victory to
deal Cleveland, playing without star LeBron James, only its fifth home loss of
the sea
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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