| Author |
shushu
Joined: 26 Feb 2019
Posts: 197
07 Mar 2019 03:30 |
|
| Message |
|
|
|
MIAMI - LeBron James and Dwyane Wade wrapped each other in a pregame embrace, chatted and laughed at halftime, then hugged again after the final buzzer.Just like old times.Only this time, just one got to enjoy a victory.James return to Miami as an opponent was a success — for the Heat, that is. Wade scored 24 of his 31 points in the first half, Luol Deng had 25 points and dogged James defensively all night, and the Heat beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91 in a hyped Christmas matchup Thursday.We didnt have a bad breakup, Wade said. We played against each other for seven years, man. The weirdness just wasnt there. It wasnt like we played against each other our whole career and the breakup happened. We played against each other for seven years, then with each other for a period of time, then he went back to the same situation and Im in the same place.Heres an example of how their relationship has endured: When James, who returned to Cleveland in the off-season after four seasons and two titles with the Heat, and the Cavaliers landed in South Florida on Wednesday, the four-time NBA MVP went to Wades house for a night of Christmas Eve revelry.James turns 30 on Tuesday. He had questions for the 32-year-old Wade about what changes at that age. Thats what they talked about, no smack about how the Cavaliers are perceived to be a championship contender and how the Heat arent even at the .500 mark.We only play this game for so long, said James, who got a warm ovation when a video of his Heat highlights played in the first quarter. Youve still got life afterwards. For us were going to compete, were going to go about our business and do what we need to do in our profession. Youll never let friendship come in between that.It was fitting that they talked about life after 30 — because for the seventh time in their head-to-head meetings, both scored at least 30 points.James had 30 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who got 25 from Kyrie Irving and 14 from Kevin Love.Couple of the best in this generation, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said about the James vs. Wade nights. Spectacular. I wish I could sit back and enjoy it like a fan, because its just fantastic basketball. ... However long these two guys play, youll get your moneys worth.Deng had eight points and eight assists for Miami. Chris Andersen scored 12 for the Heat, who led by as many as 17, trailed for a moment in the fourth quarter before gathering themselves and pulling away again.Miami was again without Chris Bosh, still sidelined by a calf injury.Wade was just 2 for 12 after halftime. Backcourt mate Mario Chalmers was 2 for 12 for the game.It didnt matter.Miami found a way, even after a 17-point lead slipped away — just like a 23-pointer did against Philadelphia two nights earlier.James had a go-ahead dunk in transition with 11:20 left. After that slam put Cleveland up 78-77, he got a technical foul for hanging on the rim a bit too long — so that lead lasted exactly zero seconds.Wade made a free throw after the technical, tying the game. And up 90-87 late, the Heat finished on an 11-4 spurt.Were not that good right now, James said. Weve won some really good games, weve lost some games, but were not that good right now.TIP-INSCavaliers: Love started at centre, replacing the now out-for-the-season Anderson Varejao. James had left leg tightness after leapfrogging a row of baseline seats in the third quarter, and Irving bruised a knee in a collision in the final moments. ... Clevelands next trip to Miami is March 16.Heat: Wade made his 10th Christmas start, twice as many as any player in Heat history. Chalmers started on the holiday for a fourth time, tying Bosh and James for third-most. ... The second half was briefly delayed while lights were coming back up after Flo Ridas halftime show.FREE THROWSJames took 18 free throws. The Heat took 17.DENGS NIGHTDeng never before had a game with at least 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. This game meant a lot to a lot of people, Deng said.UP NEXTCavaliers: At Orlando on Friday night.Heat: Host Memphis on Saturday night. Air Max 720 Release Date . Huntelaar also had a penalty saved by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. The two goals brought Huntelaars total for the season to 18, level with Bayern Munichs Mario Gomez for most in the league. Cheap Air Max 720 . Hattestad managed to avoid the carnage midway through the mens final, as a crash took out three skiers, essentially leaving two men vying for gold. The Norwegian posted a time of 3:38.39, outlasting Swedens Teodor Peterson, who took silver with a time of 3:39. http://www.cheapairmax720.net/ . HABS HEADED TO CONFERENCE FINAL The Montreal Canadiens scored early in Game Seven, built a lead and protected it well on their way to a 3-1 series-clinching win over the Boston Bruins. While this game or series isnt necessarily a referendum on the value of fourth lines, the Canadiens certainly benefitted from production lower down their forward depth chart. Buy Air Max 720 Cheap . Bach, a 59-year-old German lawyer, was elected Tuesday as president of the International Olympic Committee. He succeeds Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 years. Bach, the longtime favourite, defeated five candidates in a secret ballot for the most influential job in international sports, keeping the presidency in European hands. Air Max 720 Discount . As Valanciunas was whistled for a rare technical toward the end of the third quarter - a result of waving his hand at an official after being called for a foul - Lowry pulled the Raptors sophomore aside, corralling him by his jersey and patting him on the back. CHICAGO -- The fast start for the New York Rangers was erased by the Chicago Blackhawks in a couple minutes during the first part of the second period. Playing the Stanley Cup champions in their building, Henrik Lundqvist and Co. came up with an encouraging response. Carl Hagelin scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period to lead the Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Blackhawks on Wednesday night. "We worked so hard, so this is a big one for us," said Lundqvist, who had 35 saves. "Playing such a good team and the position were in, were desperate for points and wins, so just a great feeling the way we played and got rewarded in the end with that big goal." The Rangers (22-20-3), who began the day in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, improved to 6-2-1 in their last nine games. They were coming off a 4-3 shootout loss at home against Columbus. Asked if the victory over Chicago could be a tipping point for New York, coach Alain Vigneault responded: "All I know is beating the Stanley Cup champions in this building is not an easy task." Jonathan Toews and Brandon Bollig scored in the second period for Chicago (29-8-9), which had recorded at least one point in a season-high 10 games. Coupled with Sundays shootout loss against San Jose, the Blackhawks lost consecutive home games for the second time this season. It was Chicagos first regulation loss since it was blown out at Toronto, falling 7-3 on Dec. 14. "Weve got too many guys right now that arent contributing to that level we saw most of the season," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. Marc Staal started the winning sequence with a long slap shot that was stopped by Corey Crawford, who also got in front of Hagelins first rebound attempt. But Hagelin stayed with the play and flipped the puck into the open right side with 5:57 left. It was Hagelins fourth winning goal of the season, tops on the team. He also is tied for the team lead with 11 goals overall. "Lately, we have a lot of confidence and try not to get too frustrated," Hagelin said. "Some games the puck goes in and other days it doesnt. But I think when youre creating chances yyou stay positive.dddddddddddd" Brad Richards and Mats Zuccarello also scored for New York, which earned its first win in Chicago since a 3-2 victory on Jan. 16, 2009. The Rangers and Blackhawks took turns controlling the action in the first two periods. The first belonged to New York, which made the most of a disjointed start for Chicago. Richards scored on a wrist shot at 5:06 and Zuccarello made it 2-0 when he skated behind the net for a wraparound that banked off the paddle of Crawfords stick for a power-play score at 9:29. Lundqvist had the secondary assist on Zuccarellos 11th goal. It was Lundqvists second assist of the season and 14th of his career. "Especially there in the first we were sloppy," Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith said. "We got better as the game went along, but unfortunately, they were able to get one late." Chicago bounced back in the second, using a power play to get back in the game. With Derick Brassard in the box for interference, Toews beat a screened Lundqvist high on the stick side for a rebound goal at 6:17. It was Toews 16th of the season and first since Chicagos captain scored twice during a 7-2 victory over Colorado on Dec. 27. The Blackhawks struck again 1:48 after Toews goal. Bollig skated alone down the left side and tied it at 2 with a well-placed wrist shot into the lower left side of the net. It was Bolligs fourth goal of the season. Crawford settled down after the uneven start and finished with 29 saves. He made a nice glove save on Rick Nash on a semi-breakaway with 2:05 left in the second, keeping the game tied at 2. He also used his right pad to deny Brassard early in the third. NOTES: The 26-year-old Zuccarello is tied with Richards, Hagelin and Chris Kreider for the team lead in goals. Zuccarellos previous career high was six goals when he was a rookie with New York in the 2010-11 season. ... The Blackhawks recognized their 10 Olympians on the centre-ice videoboard during a break in the first period. ... New York C J.T. Miller and D Justin Falk were scratched. ... Defencemen Michael Kostka and Sheldon Brookbank were scratched for the Blackhawks. ' ' '
|
|
Search
