simmytbone
11-02-2013, 02:21 AM
Hey guys,
Tuesday Night, the Bulls suffered their 1st lost on the road to the Heat and the Clippers suffered their 1st lost in Lakers Territory, but 2 nights later, these 2 teams got their 1st win @ home
The Chicago Bulls def. the New York Knicks while the Clippers def. the Golden State Warriors
Here are the stories:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rose-floater-lifts-bulls-82-030510862--nba.html
Rose floater lifts Bulls to 82-81 win over Knicks
By JAY COHEN (AP Sports Writer) | November 1, 2013
CHICAGO (AP) -- Forget about the neck stiffness that almost postponed Derrick Rose's homecoming. Forget about all those missed shots, too.
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Rose made the only play that mattered Thursday night, and it was just like old times for the Chicago Bulls.
Rose connected on a baseline floater with 5.7 seconds left to lift Chicago to an 82-81 victory over the New York Knicks in his first home game since he injured his left knee 18 months ago.
''That's what builds your resume,'' Rose said. ''Leaves a mark on your legacy.''
The 2011 NBA MVP had 18 points on 7-of-23 shooting and committed four turnovers. But there was no doubt who was getting the ball after Tyson Chandler went 1 for 2 at the line to give New York an 81-80 lead with 10.8 seconds remaining.
Rose, who was a game-time decision for Chicago's home opener due to an achy neck, got the ball on the wing, drove to the baseline and lofted a well-placed floater over the 7-foot Chandler and Raymond Felton for the go-ahead basket, drawing a standing ovation from the delirious crowd of 22,022.
''I was right there. He just made a big-time play,'' Chandler said. ''I don't know if he saw the basket to be honest with you.''
New York had one last chance but Carmelo Anthony missed a long jumper. Anthony then stood with his hands on his hips as the Bulls celebrated.
''I got the look I wanted,'' Anthony said.
Chicago had just two field goals in the final period - both by Rose - and committed six turnovers in the last 12 minutes. But it still managed to equal a franchise record with its sixth consecutive win in home openers.
Luol Deng had 17 points and Carlos Boozer finished with 14 as the Bulls beat the Knicks for the sixth straight time.
''It's tough when you go into a game and you don't know who you have,'' coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''That's all part of it. It's the start of the season. As long as we are putting everything into each and every day and strive for improvement, it will work out.''
New York coach Mike Woodson opted for a bigger look against Chicago, inserting 7-foot Andrea Bargnani into the starting lineup and using guard Pablo Prigioni as a reserve. But the Bulls still enjoyed a 46-24 advantage in points in the paint and a 48-42 rebounding edge, led by Joakim Noah's 15 boards.
''We competed tonight. It says a lot for our club,'' Woodson said. ''Now I just need to do a better job getting us through down the stretch.''
Amar'e Stoudemire made his season debut for the Knicks and had five points in 11 minutes. The power forward, who turns 31 on Nov. 16, is coming off minor knee surgery over the summer and looked as if the years of health problems had robbed him of much of his athleticism.
''Very pleased with how I felt tonight, as far as my body,'' he said. ''Just going to continue to keep building and keep getting better.''
New York trailed 76-66 with 7:53 remaining, but rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. made a 3-pointer to spark a 12-0 run for the Knicks. Felton connected from long range, Iman Shumpert had a dunk and Anthony closed out the spurt with a turnaround jumper that put New York in front with 4:10 remaining.
The last part of the game mostly consisted of turnovers and missed shots, but Chicago managed to survive behind Rose.
''He showed a lot of toughness,'' Thibodeau said. ''It was a struggle early on in the game. He found his way at the start of the third, that got him a little lift.''
Jimmy Butler finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago, which lost 107-95 at NBA champion Miami in its season opener on Tuesday night.
Anthony led New York with 22 points on 8-of-24 shooting. Chandler had 19 rebounds, but the Knicks were unable to open the season with consecutive victories on consecutive nights. They were coming off a 90-83 victory against Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Wearing strips of black tape on either side of his achy neck, Rose received a thunderous ovation from the sellout crowd when he was the last player introduced during the pregame festivities. He showed no outward emotion as he ran out of the tunnel with fans waving glowing red sticks in celebration of the return of the Chicago native.
After Rose got on the court, chants of ''M-V-P! M-V-P!'' rang out from the seats at the United Center.
It was Rose's first real game at the Bulls' longtime home since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the first game of the 2012 playoffs against Philadelphia. What followed was a long and arduous rehabilitation process that raised questions about Rose's toughness when he was unable to return last season.
That whole ''Will he or won't he play'' episode was long forgotten when he took the court against the Knicks, taking a quick moment to blow a kiss toward the luxury boxes before tipoff.
The speedy point guard was just 2 for 11 from the field in the first half, but Deng had 12 points to help Chicago to a 43-38 lead at the break.
''I'm not going to continue missing shots that I'm missing,'' Rose said, pointing to what he thinks will be even better days ahead. ''I work too hard.''
NOTES: Chicago improved to 27-21 in home openers, including a 12-8 record at the United Center. ... Hardaway provided a spark as a reserve, finishing with 10 points.
Meanwhile....
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/clippers-win-home-opener-beating-055340917--nba.html
Clippers win home opener, beating Warriors 126-115
By JOE RESNICK (AP Sports Writer) | November 1, 2013
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Clippers finished nine games ahead of second-place Golden State last season to win the franchise's first division championship. That margin would have been larger had the Warriors not beaten them three times.
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The teams renewed their intense rivalry Thursday night as Chris Paul scored 42 points and had three of his 15 assists on consecutive alley-oop dunks by Blake Griffin during a 30-second span of the third quarter, helping lead Los Angeles to a 126-115 victory in the Clippers' home opener.
''Those three plays started with defense, and that's what got us going,'' Griffin said. ''That's a positive thing, and we have to learn from that. We have to know that we can extend a lead and put the game where we need it to be with our defense.''
The Clippers, coming off a club-record 56-win season, began their 30th season in Los Angeles on Tuesday with a 116-103 loss to the Lakers, that night's home team in the shared arena.
This is the first season in which the Lakers' championship banners and retired numbers will be covered up during Clippers home games by banners depicting some of their players in action - an innovation by new head coach Doc Rivers.
Griffin had 23 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 3:53 remaining for the Clippers. Reserve Jamal Crawford added 17 points and DeAndre Jordan had 17 rebounds and nine points.
Golden State's Stephen Curry, who set an NBA single-season record with 272 3-pointers last season made nine 3s against the Clippers and finished with 39 points and nine assists. David Lee scored 22 points before fouling out with 4:10 to play, and center Andrew Bogut had 17 points.
Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who had a career-high 38 points on 15-for-19 shooting in a 125-94 rout of the Lakers on Wednesday night, did not attempt a field goal against the Clippers until he was awarded a basket on a goaltending call against Jordan with 5:04 left in the half. Thompson finished with 10 points.
''We're not running our offense through Klay. That's not who we are,'' coach Mark Jackson said. ''We pick and choose, find the hot hand, we run our offense and we execute. Last night he had it going and we made a steady diet of Klay. Tonight we were trying to find a rhythm and then Steph got it going.''
Trailing by as many as 19, the Warriors sliced the deficit to 110-102 on a four-point play by Curry, who was fouled by Jared Dudley on his fourth 3-pointer of the fourth quarter with 6:05 remaining.
''It's crazy. I mean, you give him one or two inches and he can still get his shot off,'' Griffin said. ''I thought we did a decent job on him, but he was just in one of those zones where it seemed like he was hitting everything he put up.''
The Warriors, however, never got closer as the Clippers responded with a 10-5 run capped by newcomer J.J. Redick's 3-pointer with 3:12 left.
''When you're on the road playing against a team like that, one that thrives off turnovers and easy baskets, you can't give them a game like that,'' Curry said. ''It's disappointing for me to let my shooting performance be overshadowed by my 11 turnovers. But it's not going to keep me down.''
Lee committed his fifth foul with 6:38 left in the third quarter and went to the bench with the Warriors trailing 77-67. Paul and Griffin then worked the sellout crowd of 19,060 into a frenzy with their sudden reprise of ''Lob City,'' helping the Clippers pull away to an 88-70 lead with 4:31 left in the quarter.
Los Angeles led 68-55 at halftime with four players reaching double digits, including Paul with 18 points. The Clippers took their biggest lead, 65-47, on a 21-footer by Redick that capped an 11-2 spurt with 1:43 left in the second quarter. He finished with 17 points.
''We had no business being in this game, but we fought, we battled and we hung in there. We just couldn't get over the hump,'' Jackson said. ''We just lost to a good basketball team. You can't turn the ball over against them because they'll make you pay the price.''
After getting in early foul trouble, Bogut picked up his third with 2:50 left in the half when he hacked Jordan on the arm as the Clippers' center backed into him while dribbling the ball in the paint. The two players got into a shoving match before they each received technical fouls. The Clippers were leading 58-45 at the time.
''It's just basketball,'' Jordan said. ''He fouled me and I thought he followed through a little bit, so I want to protect myself at all times. It's didn't escalate anymore, and that's it.''
The Clippers did not raise a banner signifying the first division championship in franchise history, which dates back to the 1970-71 season when they were the Buffalo Braves. Nor was it mentioned during the pregame introductions.
''I didn't have a lot of say in that this summer,'' Griffin said with a smirk. ''We did win the division, but whether there's a banner up there or not, we have such bigger goals that that. Just getting to the playoffs is not enough. Our goal is to win four series in the playoffs.''
NOTES: The Clippers are 15-15 in home openers since moving from San Diego to Los Angeles for the 1984-85 season. ... The Clippers have beaten the Warriors at least once in each of the last 27 seasons, their longest such streak against any club. ... Jordan recorded his 1,000th regular-season field goal in the NBA on an alley-oop dunk set up by Paul in the first quarter. Jordan's league-best 64.3 shooting percentage last season was a franchise record, topping James Donaldson's old mark in 1984-85, the Clippers' first season in L.A. ... The Clippers franchise is 5-11 on Halloween and 2-8 since the club moved to Los Angeles.
credit: sports.yahoo.com
Tuesday Night, the Bulls suffered their 1st lost on the road to the Heat and the Clippers suffered their 1st lost in Lakers Territory, but 2 nights later, these 2 teams got their 1st win @ home
The Chicago Bulls def. the New York Knicks while the Clippers def. the Golden State Warriors
Here are the stories:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rose-floater-lifts-bulls-82-030510862--nba.html
Rose floater lifts Bulls to 82-81 win over Knicks
By JAY COHEN (AP Sports Writer) | November 1, 2013
CHICAGO (AP) -- Forget about the neck stiffness that almost postponed Derrick Rose's homecoming. Forget about all those missed shots, too.
Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Basketball in Partnership with NBA.com
Rose made the only play that mattered Thursday night, and it was just like old times for the Chicago Bulls.
Rose connected on a baseline floater with 5.7 seconds left to lift Chicago to an 82-81 victory over the New York Knicks in his first home game since he injured his left knee 18 months ago.
''That's what builds your resume,'' Rose said. ''Leaves a mark on your legacy.''
The 2011 NBA MVP had 18 points on 7-of-23 shooting and committed four turnovers. But there was no doubt who was getting the ball after Tyson Chandler went 1 for 2 at the line to give New York an 81-80 lead with 10.8 seconds remaining.
Rose, who was a game-time decision for Chicago's home opener due to an achy neck, got the ball on the wing, drove to the baseline and lofted a well-placed floater over the 7-foot Chandler and Raymond Felton for the go-ahead basket, drawing a standing ovation from the delirious crowd of 22,022.
''I was right there. He just made a big-time play,'' Chandler said. ''I don't know if he saw the basket to be honest with you.''
New York had one last chance but Carmelo Anthony missed a long jumper. Anthony then stood with his hands on his hips as the Bulls celebrated.
''I got the look I wanted,'' Anthony said.
Chicago had just two field goals in the final period - both by Rose - and committed six turnovers in the last 12 minutes. But it still managed to equal a franchise record with its sixth consecutive win in home openers.
Luol Deng had 17 points and Carlos Boozer finished with 14 as the Bulls beat the Knicks for the sixth straight time.
''It's tough when you go into a game and you don't know who you have,'' coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''That's all part of it. It's the start of the season. As long as we are putting everything into each and every day and strive for improvement, it will work out.''
New York coach Mike Woodson opted for a bigger look against Chicago, inserting 7-foot Andrea Bargnani into the starting lineup and using guard Pablo Prigioni as a reserve. But the Bulls still enjoyed a 46-24 advantage in points in the paint and a 48-42 rebounding edge, led by Joakim Noah's 15 boards.
''We competed tonight. It says a lot for our club,'' Woodson said. ''Now I just need to do a better job getting us through down the stretch.''
Amar'e Stoudemire made his season debut for the Knicks and had five points in 11 minutes. The power forward, who turns 31 on Nov. 16, is coming off minor knee surgery over the summer and looked as if the years of health problems had robbed him of much of his athleticism.
''Very pleased with how I felt tonight, as far as my body,'' he said. ''Just going to continue to keep building and keep getting better.''
New York trailed 76-66 with 7:53 remaining, but rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. made a 3-pointer to spark a 12-0 run for the Knicks. Felton connected from long range, Iman Shumpert had a dunk and Anthony closed out the spurt with a turnaround jumper that put New York in front with 4:10 remaining.
The last part of the game mostly consisted of turnovers and missed shots, but Chicago managed to survive behind Rose.
''He showed a lot of toughness,'' Thibodeau said. ''It was a struggle early on in the game. He found his way at the start of the third, that got him a little lift.''
Jimmy Butler finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago, which lost 107-95 at NBA champion Miami in its season opener on Tuesday night.
Anthony led New York with 22 points on 8-of-24 shooting. Chandler had 19 rebounds, but the Knicks were unable to open the season with consecutive victories on consecutive nights. They were coming off a 90-83 victory against Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Wearing strips of black tape on either side of his achy neck, Rose received a thunderous ovation from the sellout crowd when he was the last player introduced during the pregame festivities. He showed no outward emotion as he ran out of the tunnel with fans waving glowing red sticks in celebration of the return of the Chicago native.
After Rose got on the court, chants of ''M-V-P! M-V-P!'' rang out from the seats at the United Center.
It was Rose's first real game at the Bulls' longtime home since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the first game of the 2012 playoffs against Philadelphia. What followed was a long and arduous rehabilitation process that raised questions about Rose's toughness when he was unable to return last season.
That whole ''Will he or won't he play'' episode was long forgotten when he took the court against the Knicks, taking a quick moment to blow a kiss toward the luxury boxes before tipoff.
The speedy point guard was just 2 for 11 from the field in the first half, but Deng had 12 points to help Chicago to a 43-38 lead at the break.
''I'm not going to continue missing shots that I'm missing,'' Rose said, pointing to what he thinks will be even better days ahead. ''I work too hard.''
NOTES: Chicago improved to 27-21 in home openers, including a 12-8 record at the United Center. ... Hardaway provided a spark as a reserve, finishing with 10 points.
Meanwhile....
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/clippers-win-home-opener-beating-055340917--nba.html
Clippers win home opener, beating Warriors 126-115
By JOE RESNICK (AP Sports Writer) | November 1, 2013
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Clippers finished nine games ahead of second-place Golden State last season to win the franchise's first division championship. That margin would have been larger had the Warriors not beaten them three times.
Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Basketball in Partnership with NBA.com
The teams renewed their intense rivalry Thursday night as Chris Paul scored 42 points and had three of his 15 assists on consecutive alley-oop dunks by Blake Griffin during a 30-second span of the third quarter, helping lead Los Angeles to a 126-115 victory in the Clippers' home opener.
''Those three plays started with defense, and that's what got us going,'' Griffin said. ''That's a positive thing, and we have to learn from that. We have to know that we can extend a lead and put the game where we need it to be with our defense.''
The Clippers, coming off a club-record 56-win season, began their 30th season in Los Angeles on Tuesday with a 116-103 loss to the Lakers, that night's home team in the shared arena.
This is the first season in which the Lakers' championship banners and retired numbers will be covered up during Clippers home games by banners depicting some of their players in action - an innovation by new head coach Doc Rivers.
Griffin had 23 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 3:53 remaining for the Clippers. Reserve Jamal Crawford added 17 points and DeAndre Jordan had 17 rebounds and nine points.
Golden State's Stephen Curry, who set an NBA single-season record with 272 3-pointers last season made nine 3s against the Clippers and finished with 39 points and nine assists. David Lee scored 22 points before fouling out with 4:10 to play, and center Andrew Bogut had 17 points.
Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who had a career-high 38 points on 15-for-19 shooting in a 125-94 rout of the Lakers on Wednesday night, did not attempt a field goal against the Clippers until he was awarded a basket on a goaltending call against Jordan with 5:04 left in the half. Thompson finished with 10 points.
''We're not running our offense through Klay. That's not who we are,'' coach Mark Jackson said. ''We pick and choose, find the hot hand, we run our offense and we execute. Last night he had it going and we made a steady diet of Klay. Tonight we were trying to find a rhythm and then Steph got it going.''
Trailing by as many as 19, the Warriors sliced the deficit to 110-102 on a four-point play by Curry, who was fouled by Jared Dudley on his fourth 3-pointer of the fourth quarter with 6:05 remaining.
''It's crazy. I mean, you give him one or two inches and he can still get his shot off,'' Griffin said. ''I thought we did a decent job on him, but he was just in one of those zones where it seemed like he was hitting everything he put up.''
The Warriors, however, never got closer as the Clippers responded with a 10-5 run capped by newcomer J.J. Redick's 3-pointer with 3:12 left.
''When you're on the road playing against a team like that, one that thrives off turnovers and easy baskets, you can't give them a game like that,'' Curry said. ''It's disappointing for me to let my shooting performance be overshadowed by my 11 turnovers. But it's not going to keep me down.''
Lee committed his fifth foul with 6:38 left in the third quarter and went to the bench with the Warriors trailing 77-67. Paul and Griffin then worked the sellout crowd of 19,060 into a frenzy with their sudden reprise of ''Lob City,'' helping the Clippers pull away to an 88-70 lead with 4:31 left in the quarter.
Los Angeles led 68-55 at halftime with four players reaching double digits, including Paul with 18 points. The Clippers took their biggest lead, 65-47, on a 21-footer by Redick that capped an 11-2 spurt with 1:43 left in the second quarter. He finished with 17 points.
''We had no business being in this game, but we fought, we battled and we hung in there. We just couldn't get over the hump,'' Jackson said. ''We just lost to a good basketball team. You can't turn the ball over against them because they'll make you pay the price.''
After getting in early foul trouble, Bogut picked up his third with 2:50 left in the half when he hacked Jordan on the arm as the Clippers' center backed into him while dribbling the ball in the paint. The two players got into a shoving match before they each received technical fouls. The Clippers were leading 58-45 at the time.
''It's just basketball,'' Jordan said. ''He fouled me and I thought he followed through a little bit, so I want to protect myself at all times. It's didn't escalate anymore, and that's it.''
The Clippers did not raise a banner signifying the first division championship in franchise history, which dates back to the 1970-71 season when they were the Buffalo Braves. Nor was it mentioned during the pregame introductions.
''I didn't have a lot of say in that this summer,'' Griffin said with a smirk. ''We did win the division, but whether there's a banner up there or not, we have such bigger goals that that. Just getting to the playoffs is not enough. Our goal is to win four series in the playoffs.''
NOTES: The Clippers are 15-15 in home openers since moving from San Diego to Los Angeles for the 1984-85 season. ... The Clippers have beaten the Warriors at least once in each of the last 27 seasons, their longest such streak against any club. ... Jordan recorded his 1,000th regular-season field goal in the NBA on an alley-oop dunk set up by Paul in the first quarter. Jordan's league-best 64.3 shooting percentage last season was a franchise record, topping James Donaldson's old mark in 1984-85, the Clippers' first season in L.A. ... The Clippers franchise is 5-11 on Halloween and 2-8 since the club moved to Los Angeles.
credit: sports.yahoo.com