Raptors make a stop in New Jersey
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03/20/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors are clinging to the eighth and final
postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, and hope to stay there when they
open a short trip Saturday against the New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center.
The Raptors will also visit Minnesota and are 10-23 away from Canada this
season. They are currently 2 1/2 games ahead of Chicago, which has dropped 10
in a row to hamper its playoff chances.
Toronto has lost six of seven and 10 of its last 12 games, including Friday's
115-89 setback versus the Oklahoma City Thunder at Air Canada Centre. Chris
Bosh paced the Raptors with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrea Bargnani
ended with 15 points for Toronto, which shot 43.8 percent from the field.
"They came in acting like the better team and they carried themselves that
way," Bosh said of the Thunder. "They were trying to run us out of our own
building."
Bargnani entered the game averaging 17.0 points and 6.2 rebounds over his last
five games. Bosh was averaging 19.0 points and 8.7 rebounds through six games
before Friday's loss.
New Jersey has the worst record in the NBA at 7-61 and is trying desperately
to avoid finishing with the worst record in NBA history, set by the 1972-73
Philadelphia 76ers (9-73).
The Nets have lost six in a row overall and 12 straight as the host. Tonight
they'll open a four-game residency versus the Raptors, Heat, Kings and
Pistons, and are 3-29 at the Meadowlands in 2009-10. In Wednesday's 108-97
road loss at Philadelphia, Chris Douglas-Roberts had 23 points off the bench
and Kenyon Dooling chipped in 15 for New Jersey, which is winless in its last
five road games and played without guard Devin Harris for the second straight
contest due to an upper respiratory illness.
"One thing about this team that has been consistent is they don't give up,"
Nets coach Kiki Vandeweghe said. "They keep coming back, they keep fighting. I
thought that we just dug ourselves too big of a hole."
Harris and forward Yi Jianlian (ankle sprain) are both probable for this
evening's game.
Toronto is aiming for a four-game sweep of the Nets tonight and is unbeaten in
the previous four meetings. The Raptors have won three in a row at New Jersey.
<< Sliding Bulls try to snap skid in Philly
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls will take their untimely losing streak to
the road tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.
Chicago has lost 10 straight and is winless in its last six road games. The
Bulls lost
<< Ohio goes for second straight upset in clash with Tennessee
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-seeded Ohio University Bobcats will
try to continue their Cinderella run today, as they lock up with the sixth-
seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the second round NCAA Tournament at the Dunkin'
Donuts Cen
<< Northern Iowa seeks upset of top-seeded Kansas
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks clash with
the ninth-seeded Northern Iowa Panthers in the second round of the NCAA
Tournament this evening at the Ford Center. The winner of this Midwest
Regional pairing will
<< Gaels and 'Cats clash in second round of NCAA Tournament
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a trip to the "Sweet 16" on the line,
the Villanova Wildcats will battle the Saint Mary's-CA Gaels in the second
round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament from the Dunkin' Donuts Center in
Providence, Rhode Island
<< ODU challenges Baylor in second round of NCAA Tournament
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second-round action in the South Region of
the NCAA Tournament will take place this evening when the Baylor Bears battle
the Old Dominion Monarchs at the New Orleans Arena.
The Monarchs earned just their th
Heat close out homestand vs. Bobcats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat will try to avoid being swept in the season
series against the Charlotte Bobcats when they close out a six-game homestand
Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Heat have lost the first three meetings
Grizzlies, Warriors square off in Memphis >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies are still mathematically alive for a
postseason berth and will play host to the Golden State Warriors tonight at
FedEx Forum.
Memphis and Houston are both 5 1/2 games behind Portland for the ei
Celtics face tough test in Dallas >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics are closing in on their third straight
Atlantic Division title and will resume a three-game western road trip
Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
Boston has won
Nuggets take on Bucks at Pepsi Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets will try to close out a three-game
homestand on a perfect note tonight, when they welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to
the Pepsi Center.
Denver has won the first two tests of the residency and seve
Jazz welcome Hornets to Salt Lake City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz will kick off a short homestand tonight
versus the New Orleans Hornets at EnergySolutions Arena.
Utah will also welcome Boston to Salt Lake City, where it has won five
straight and owns a 27-8 m
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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