Raptors open home-and-home set with Pacers
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01/31/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors shoot for their fifth straight win when
they open a home-and-home series Sunday versus the Indiana Pacers at Air
Canada Centre.
Toronto, which will then head to Indy on Tuesday, is coming off a 106-104
victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden thanks to Jarrett
Jack's go-ahead basket with 50.2 seconds remaining in the game. Chris Bosh
scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Raptors, who currently sit
fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Hedo Turkoglu added a season-high 26 points and 11 boards in the win.
"I had the ball in my hands. Tonight I was able to get the ball early and be
more aggressive," said Turkoglu.
The Raptors have eclipsed the 100-point mark in 12 straight games and own a
16-6 ledger at home this season.
Indiana has lost two straight and six of its last eight games, including
Friday's 94-73 setback versus the Cleveland Cavaliers at Conseco Fieldhouse.
LeBron James had 22 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds and four blocked shots
against a Pacers squad led by Danny Granger's 13 points.
Granger also grabbed 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who got 12 points and six
rebounds from Brandon Rush. Dahntay Jones chipped in 11 points in defeat.
"We tried our best and it just wasn't good enough," Jones said. "We got some
stops and kept it fairly close for a while. We are a step or two away from
getting things together and being the kind of basketball team that we want to
be."
The Pacers are 6-18 as the guest and have split two meetings with Toronto this
season. Indiana has won four of the previous seven encounters with the
Raptors, who have beaten the Pacers three straight times at home.
<< Lakers take on rival Celtics in Beantown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers will visit a familiar foe this
afternoon, when they take on the Boston Celtics in a battle of division
leaders at TD Garden.
The Celtics defeated the Lakers in six games two years ago to
<< Nuggets try to bounce back in San Antonio
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets have a tough task at getting back into
the win column, as they close out a three-game road trip Sunday against the
San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.
The Northwest Division-leading Nuggets
<< Panthers visit Bulls in Big East fray
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The South Florida Bulls will try to continue
their recent surge today, as they seek an upset of the 17th-ranked Pittsburgh
Panthers in Big East action at the Sun Dome.
After a slow start to conference play, the B
<< Buckeyes put perfect home mark on line in clash with Gophers
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 20th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are set to
take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a Big Ten Conference clash from Value
City Arena in Columbus.
Minnesota was desperate for a victory on Tuesday, as it carr
<< SEC showdown pits Gators against Vols
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Gators carry a four-game win
streak into this afternoon's SEC clash with the 14th-ranked Tennessee
Volunteers.
With the recent success, Florida has improved to 15-5 overall and 4-2 in
conference.
Cavs kick off homestand vs. Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will take their seven-game winning
streak back to Quicken Loans Arena tonight, when they open a seven-game
homestand versus the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Cavs will also play host to Memphis
76ers visit Atlantic Division-rival Nets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers hope to catch a break this evening,
when they pay a visit to the lowly New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center.
The Sixers played tough in Friday's 99-91 home loss to the defending champion
Los Angeles
Magic hope to maintain division lead at Detroit >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic are back on top in the Southeast Division
and hope to stay there when they pay a visit to the Detroit Pistons Sunday
night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Magic are a half-game ahead of Atlanta
Durant, Thunder play host to Warriors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will resume a
four-game homestand Sunday versus the struggling Golden State Warriors at the
Ford Center.
Durant is third in the NBA with 29.3 points per game and has scored
T-Wolves welcome Knicks to Target Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of also-rans get together this evening in the Twin
Cities, as the Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the New York Knicks at the
Target Center.
The Timberwolves ended a five-game losing streak and won for the s
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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