NBA playoffs: Carmelo Anthony, Knicks down Celtics

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">NEW YORK — <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/carmelo-anthony/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carmelo Anthony</a> scored 36 points, and the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/new-york-knicks/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">New York Knicks</a> beat the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/boston-celtics/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Boston Celtics</a> 85-78 on Saturday in their playoff opener.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">After knocking the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/boston-celtics/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Celtics</a> from the top of the Atlantic Division, the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/new-york-knicks/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Knicks</a> took the first step to knocking them out of the playoffs by holding Boston to three baskets and eight points in the final period.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/carmelo-anthony/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Anthony</a>, the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/nba/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">NBA</a>’s scoring leader, shot only 13 for 29 from the field but scored eight points in the fourth quarter, including consecutive baskets late in the period that finally gave the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/new-york-knicks/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Knicks</a> breathing room in a tight game.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Game 2 is Tuesday night before the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/boston-celtics/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Celtics</a> host Game 3 on Friday in what will be their first home game since <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/boston-marathon/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">the Boston Marathon</a> bombings.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/jeff-green/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jeff Green</a> scored 26 points and <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/paul-pierce/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Paul Pierce</a> added 21 for the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/boston-celtics/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Celtics</a>, who badly missed injured point guard <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/rajon-rondo/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Rajon Rondo</a>, committing 21 turnovers that led to 20 points. The <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/new-york-knicks/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Knicks</a> got their hands on the ball at will in the fourth quarter, when Boston shot 3 of 11.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/kevin-garnett/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Kevin Garnett</a> had eight points and nine rebounds but shot only 4 of 12 from the field. <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/jason-terry/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jason Terry</a>, another veteran on a </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and guard Jason Kidd, right, react in the final moments of the fourth quarter of Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, April 20, 2013. The Knicks won 85-78. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)" src="http://media.washtimes.com/media/image/2013/04/21/celtics-knicks-basket_lanc_s160x169.jpg?7e15846e1fc8e67ccfbc73ab387a445995b4eb81" /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">young <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/boston-celtics/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Celtics</a> team, missed all five shots off the bench.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">CLIPPERS 112, GRIZZLIES 91</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">LOS ANGELES (AP) — <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/chris-paul/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Chris Paul</a> led seven players in double figures with 23 points, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/eric-bledsoe/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Eric Bledsoe</a> had 15 and the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/los-angeles-clippers/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Clippers</a> beat the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/memphis-grizzlies/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Grizzlies</a> while getting just one dunk in their playoff opener.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/chauncey-billups/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Chauncey Billups</a> scored 14 points, and <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/caron-butler/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Caron Butler</a> and <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/jamal-crawford/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jamal Crawford</a> had 13 apiece on a night when <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/blake-griffin/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Blake Griffin</a> was held to 10 points and five rebounds before fouling out with 3:32 left as Lob City was grounded.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Reserve Jerryd Bayless led the Grizzlies with 19 points, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/marc-gasol/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Marc Gasol</a> had 16 and <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/zach-randolph/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Zach Randolph</a> had 13 points and four rebounds while playing with five fouls in the rematch of last year’s first-round series, won by the Clippers in seven games. Bayless was one of four Grizzlies with four fouls.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Game 2 is Monday night at <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/staples-center/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Staples Center</a>.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Memphis closed within a point early in the fourth on a 3-pointer by former Clipper Keyon Dooling. Los Angeles answered with a 15-3 run to go up 92-79, equaling the 13-point lead it had in the first half. <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/eric-bledsoe/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Eric Bledsoe</a>, who had seven points, opened and closed the spurt with layups as the reserves played an important role in the key stretch.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">NUGGETS 97, WARRIORS 95</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">DENVER (AP) — <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/andre-miller/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Andre Miller</a> scored a playoff career-high 28 points and sank a nifty layup with 1.3 seconds left that lifted the Nuggets to the win in Game 1 against the Warriors.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/andre-miller/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Miller</a> drove left past rookie Draymond Green, did an up-and-under between two defenders under the basket and banked the ball off the glass with his right hand.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Golden State inbounded the ball and Stephen Curry’s desperation 3-pointer wasn’t anywhere close as the horn sounded and Denver celebrated its 24th straight win at the Pepsi Center.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/andre-miller/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Miller</a> scored 18 in the frenetic fourth quarter.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Game 2 is Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center, where the Nuggets posted an <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/nba/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">NBA</a>-best 38-3 home record during the season.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">NETS 106, BULLS 89</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">NEW YORK (AP) — Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and the Nets turned the Brooklyn blackout into a blowout.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Williams scored 22 points, Lopez had 21 and the Nets ripped apart the Bulls’ vaunted defense with a spectacular second quarter, when they made 16 of 20 shots.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Joe Johnson finished with 16 for the Nets, who made their successful first season in Brooklyn even better with a victory in their first playoff appearance since 2007. They will host Game 2 on Monday night.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">The Nets wore their road black uniforms and fans were encouraged to wear black as well to make it a “blackout” for the first major postseason game in Brooklyn since Oct. 10, 1956, when the Yankees beat the Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series at Ebbets Field.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Carlos Boozer had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who had Joakim Noah in the starting lineup despite foot pain. But he was clearly limited, and there was no reason to play him more than the 14 minutes he got with the game never in doubt after halftime.</div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br /></span></div>

NBA NBA playoffs: Carmelo Anthony, Knicks down Celtics

NEW YORK —  Carmelo Anthony  scored 36 points, and the  New York Knicks  beat the  Boston Celtics  85-78 on Saturday in their playoff opener...

Read more »

Rajon Rondo out for season, leaving Celtics in hard spot

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14px;">Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports From: </span><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/">http://www.usatoday.com</a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Rondo 1-27-13" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/gameon/2013/01/27/rondo-1-27-13-4_3_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the rest of season, dealing the Celtics a serious blow to their playoff chances.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The injury was announced Sunday during the Celtics' home game against the Miami Heat. No date has been set for Rondo's surgery.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"Oh my God," Pierce told ABC's Doris Burke when she informed him of Rondo's injury after the Celtics defeated the Heat 100-98 in double overtime.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>WATCH: </b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/01/27/paul-pierce-doris-burke-rajon-rondo-injury-acl-tear/1868437/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/01/27/paul-pierce-doris-burke-rajon-rondo-injury-acl-tear/1868437/">See Pierce's face-twisting reaction</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Pierce sounded and looked like he was hearing the news for the first time.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"We've just got to rally around each other," Pierce said. "I feel for him. He was having such a great season, making the All-Star team. It's disappointing news. Guys just have to step up."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>MORE NBA: </b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2013/01/24/reserves-tim-duncan-russell-westbrook-kyrie-irving-james-harden/1862917/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2013/01/24/reserves-tim-duncan-russell-westbrook-kyrie-irving-james-harden/1862917/">All-Star teams announced</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Rondo was said to have hyperextended his right knee in Friday's 123-111 double-overtime loss at the Atlanta Hawks. Rondo played 45 minutes and recorded his second triple-double in a row.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Rondo, Boston's most important player, was a late scratch Sunday after gingerly working out before the game and left for New England Baptist for the MRI, which confirmed the injury. He told Burke that he was just bothered by soreness and never considered he had torn his ACL. The Celtics were concerned enough to send Rondo for the MRI.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Rondo's agent, Billy Duffy, said he expects Rondo to return to form just as Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson did from a similar injury – just as good and possibly even better than before the injury.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"Of course, until there's surgery, we don't know the gravity of it," Duffy told USA TODAY Sports. "But under any circumstance, I expect him, with his work ethic and body, to come back stronger than ever."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Rondo, who watched the final minutes of the Heat-Celtics game from courtside, is averaging 13.7 points, an NBA-high 11.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 38 games.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Celtics coach Doc Rivers received the news before the game but did not tell his players.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"Obviously, the Rondo news is tough. … Obviously, it was pretty emotional," Rivers told news reporters after the game. "We'll find someone who's ready in our locker room who will step up. You can write the obituary (on this season), but I'm not."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Rivers and Duffy are on the same page.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"We've got a guy in the NFL, Adrian Peterson, who we can look at," Rivers said. "Whatever he did, we'll do."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The Celtics defeated the Eastern Conference-leading Heat by compensating for Rondo's absence with strong performances from forwards Kevin Garnett (24 points) and Paul Pierce (17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists).</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">It was the second double-overtime game in a row for the Celtics, who ended their six-game losing streak, the longest in the Garnett era.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Guard Courtney Lee started in Rondo's place but had just four points on 1-of-7 shooting. Heat forward LeBron James had 34 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The Celtics began Sunday in eighth place in the Eastern Conference at 20-23. They had been just two games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and four games ahead of the Detroit Pistons. Could the Celtics be in the draft lottery year?</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>PHOTOS: Injured NBA stars</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/01/27/usp-nba_-boston-celtics-at-atlanta-hawks-4_3_rx512_c680x510.jpg?0f5c31de35bf4ef88a50c2e35ee3bc4da4bf3083" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="None" border="0" height="300" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/01/27/usp-nba_-boston-celtics-at-atlanta-hawks-4_3_rx512_c680x510.jpg?0f5c31de35bf4ef88a50c2e35ee3bc4da4bf3083" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The Celtics have made the playoffs five consecutive seasons, winning the title in 2008, advancing to the Finals in 2010 and reaching the conference finals last season.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Without guard Ray Allen, who left in the offseason for the Heat, the Celtics have struggled as they added several players, including guard Jason Terry, Lee, forward Jeff Green (back after missing all of last season) and rookie big man Jared Sullinger.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Now that Rondo's injury impacts the rest of Boston's season, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge could make franchising-altering moves before the trade deadline expires Feb. 21.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Does this give Ainge more incentive to trade Pierce and end another strong era for the Celtics? Garnett has a no-trade clause in his contract. Ainge recently said he will not make a trade just for the sake of it, but Rondo's injury changes the dynamics.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The season-ending injury will prevent Rondo from playing in the All-Star game Feb. 17 in Houston. He was voted a starter for the Eastern Conference.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">NBA Commissioner David Stern will select Rondo's replacement – possibly Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, who was not selected by fans or the coaches. Either the Philadelphia 76ers' Jrue Holiday or Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving likely will start in Rondo's place.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>PHOTOS: </b>Eastern Conference All-Stars</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><img alt="None" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/01/27/usp-nba_-boston-celtics-at-new-york-knicks-4_3_rx512_c680x510.jpg?0f5c31de35bf4ef88a50c2e35ee3bc4da4bf3083" /></div></div>

NBA Rajon Rondo Rajon Rondo out for season, leaving Celtics in hard spot

Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports From:  http://www.usatoday.com Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo has a torn anterior cruciate ...

Read more »

New Orleans Pelicans -- new nickname lacks the sting of Hornets

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="The Pelicans" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-5101ce27/turbine/la-sp-sn-new-orleans-pelicans-nickname-2013012-001/600" /><br /><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;">The logo of the New Orleans Pelicans, who will come into existence next NBA season. </span><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;">(<span class="photographer">Hornets.com</span>)</span><br /><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="toolSet" style="background-color: white; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-right: -50px; margin-top: 6px; width: 335px;"></span></span><br /><div class="byline" style="color: #292727; float: left; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"><span class="byline" style="display: block;">By Dan Loumena From: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/">http://www.latimes.com</a></span><div class="date" style="color: #930000; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateString" style="display: inline;">January 24, 2013</span><span class="dateTimeSeparator" style="border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: white; display: inline; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-left: 6px;">, </span><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;">4:44 p.m.</span></div></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"></span><div id="story-body-text" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">The New Orleans Pelicans will come into existence next <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/national-basketball-association-15008001.topic" id="15008001" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="National Basketball Association">NBA</a> season when the Hornets nickname is retired.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">The franchise decided to go with something more Louisiana, and since the pelican is the state bird, it appears on the flag and the state's nickname is "the Pelican State," it seems appropriate.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">But it does lack some credibility. Pelicans are not your typical bird, and they also aren't your typical bird of prey, which usually flashes from the sky to pounce upon its victims. Eagles, hawks, falcons and osprey (seahawks) are almost regal.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Not to say pelicans can't be majestic, flying over water and scooping up meals of fish, <span class="st">crustaceans, tadpoles and turtles or diving directly on top of them, stashing the food in the pouch of their oversized bill.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"><span class="st">Pelicans are also smart -- they'll hunt in groups, trapping their prey. Pelicans are adaptive -- they're found on every <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/intl/antarctica-PLGEOREG0000013.topic" id="PLGEOREG0000013" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Antarctica">continent</a> but Antarctica.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"><span class="st">But pelicans don't seem like they should be a pro franchise's mascot or nickname. A college team? Maybe. Something like the Mad Pelicans? Angry birds could work, but not the New Orleans Pelicans.</span></div></div></div>

NBA New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans Pelicans -- new nickname lacks the sting of Hornets

The logo of the New Orleans Pelicans, who will come into existence next NBA season.  ( Hornets.com ) By Dan Loumena From:  http://www.latime...

Read more »

Kobe gets record 15th straight All-Star start

From: <a href="http://www.nba.com/">http://www.nba.com</a><br /><br /><div class="nbaStoryByLine" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: -10px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="nbaStoryByLine" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: -10px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted Jan 17, 2013 8:20 PM</div><div class="nbaStoryText" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York (AP) -- </strong>Kobe Bryant has been voted to his NBA-record 15th consecutive All-Star start, leading four Los Angeles players into next month's game.</div><div class="IEContainerRinline" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="IErow" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="266" scrolling="no" src="http://www.nba.com/video/cvp/leaguearticleplayer.html?videoID=/video/channels/allstar/2013/01/18/20130117-allstar-west-starters.nba&width=384&height=216&context=nba&env=nba" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="384"></iframe></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lakers teammate Dwight Howard and the Clippers' Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will join Bryant in the Western Conference lineup for the<a href="http://www.nba.com/allstar/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Feb. 17 game in Houston</a>. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, the MVP of last year's game, rounds out the five.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kevin Garnett held off Chris Bosh in fan balloting, giving the East two Boston Celtics and two Miami Heat players. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will represent the defending champions and receive passes from Rajon Rondo. New York's Carmelo Anthony is the other starter.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bryant finished with 1,591,437 votes, edging James by about 7,800 to finish as the leading vote-getter and break a tie with Shaquille O'Neal, Jerry West and Karl Malone for the most consecutive starting nods.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The NBA's leading scorer is a four-time MVP of the All-Star game and last year became its career scoring leader.</div><div class="IEContainerRinline" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="IErow" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="266" scrolling="no" src="http://www.nba.com/video/cvp/leaguearticleplayer.html?videoID=/video/channels/allstar/2013/01/18/20130117-allstar-east.nba&width=384&height=216&context=nba&env=nba" style="background-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="384"></iframe></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Garnett beat Bosh, who took to Twitter to stump for votes in the final days of balloting, by about 25,000 votes. He tied Bryant and O'Neal for second all-time with his 15th selection behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was elected to 19 games.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It's the second straight year that Los Angeles teams will make up four players. Last year it was Bryant, Paul, Griffin and Andrew Bynum, who was dealt to Philadelphia in part of the deal that sent Howard from Orlando to Los Angeles.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ballot changed this year, eliminating the center position. Fans were required to vote for three frontcourt players and two guards.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They picked an interesting mix in the East. Anthony and Garnett exchanged words during a game on Jan. 7 and Anthony was suspended a game by the NBA when he tried to confront Garnett afterward in the tunnel area and by the team bus.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rondo was injured in the playoffs two years ago after getting tangled up with Wade and landing awkwardly on his arm, part of what's become a tense rivalry between the Celtics and Heat.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reserves will be announced next Thursday. Coaches will vote for seven players in their conferences: two guards, three frontcourt players and two players regardless of position, and can't vote for a player on their own team.</div></div>

NBA news SPORT Kobe gets record 15th straight All-Star start

From:  http://www.nba.com Posted Jan 17, 2013 8:20 PM New York (AP) --  Kobe Bryant has been voted to his NBA-record 15th consecutive All-St...

Read more »