LOS ANGELES -- The Miami Heat played the final minutes the way championship
teams are supposed to.
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Jersey . The Los Angeles Clippers are still perfecting the art of
closing out games against the elite teams. LeBron James had 31 points, 12
assists and eight rebounds, Ray Allen hit a clinching three-pointer in the final
minute, and the Heat snapped a five-game road losing streak against the stubborn
Clippers with a 116-112 victory on Wednesday night. Allen had 15 points off the
bench for the two-time defending NBA champions, who began a six-game road trip
that will be interrupted four games in by the All-Star break. Dwyane Wade, one
of seven Miami players scoring in double figures, had 14 points and eight
assists in his 700th regular-season game. The Heat had lost 10 of their previous
12 road games against the Clippers, and hadnt beaten them at Staples Center
since Dec. 9, 2007. Los Angeles, coming off Mondays stinging 116-115 loss at
Denver on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by ex-Clipper Randy Foye, got a season-high
43 points and 13 rebounds from Blake Griffin and 31 points from Jamal Crawford.
DeAndre Jordan extended his franchise record of consecutive double-digit rebound
performances to 29 games with 16 boards and 16 points. The Pacific Division
champions are 11-6 since Chris Paul went down with a separated right shoulder on
Jan. 3 at Dallas. With Darren Collison and Crawford replacing Paul and
J.J. Redick (sore right hip) in the starting lineup, the Clippers bench produced
only two points -- a 20-foot jumper by Jared Dudley with 3:17 left in the first
quarter -- until Willie Green hit a pair of free throws to pull Los Angeles
within 91-84 with 9:51 to play. Allen, who holds the NBA record for career
three-pointers, converted a four-point play after Green fouled him behind the
arc. That extended Miamis lead to 99-87 with 8:07 remaining. His second three, a
rainbow from the left corner, made it 112-107 with 42.4 seconds to go. "Thats
when the talent kicks in," James said. "The play was broken down a little bit,
but D-Wade made a heck of a play by getting into the paint, and Ray just kept
moving into his favourite spot -- one of those corners. D-Wade found him with a
great pass, and Ray nailed it." Allen, in his 18th NBA season, played in his
1,271st regular-season game and overtook John Havlicek for 19th place all-time.
"Hes a pro and he takes care of himself. Hes in just phenomenal shape, and he
can run forever," said Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who had Allen for five seasons
with the Celtics. "What impressed me the most when we were in Boston was his
professionalism and his ability to make big shots. Ray could go 0 for 20, or 20
for 20, and the next day hed be the first guy in the gym, shooting all of his
shots from his exact spots at the exact speed. Ray lives that." The Clippers,
who held Miami to just two field goals over the first 7:47 of the fourth
quarter, narrowed the gap to 99-95 with a 10-0 run capped by Griffins tip-in
with 5:15 left. But James responded with a three-pointer and a layup 53 seconds
apart. "Obviously weve had our battles with Doc, being in the Eastern Conference
for so long, so we know how well his team is going to be prepared," James said.
"I think it was just our mental toughness, especially in the third quarter when
they made their run. We just stayed composed and found a way to get a win. We
made stops and executed offensively." The Heat opened the third quarter with an
11-5 run that extended their seven-point halftime lead to 73-60. Wade set up an
alley-oop dunk by James, and Mario Chalmers hit a three-pointer from in front of
the Clippers bench to cap the rally with 8:48 left in the period. Chalmers
basket put all of Miamis starters in double-figure scoring. Griffin led all
scorers in the first half with 22 points and Crawford added 18, including a
buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter. But the Heat led
62-55 at intermission after shooting 57 per cent. Miamis ball movement was
superb from the outset, recording assists on all but one of its first 18 field
goals and building a 43-24 lead with 9:44 left in the second quarter. The Heat
had 33 assists on 41 field goals overall. "We pride ourselves on moving the
ball, and we know that makes it easier for all of us," James said. "We keep
everyone in a rhythm when were passing the ball and sharing the ball. Tonight we
had some turnovers, including myself. I mean, I was the main culprit (with
seven), and Ive got to be more conscious of that and not turn the ball over so
much." NOTES: James was called for a reach-in foul against Griffin with 3:17
left in the third quarter, his first of the game, and was assessed a technical
foul by referee Bill Kennedy for complaining about it with Miami leading 81-69.
... The Clippers began a five-game homestand that includes four opponents that
entered Wednesday with a combined 126-62 record -- Portland and division leaders
Miami, Toronto and San Antonio. ... Miami improved to 8-2 against teams that
currently lead their division. The Clippers are 3-6 in that department.
Colombia Soccer
Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year
contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration.
Carlos Bacca Colombia Jersey . Defenceman
Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks
breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night.
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. The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa
del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. ROCKFORD,
Ill. -- T.J. Brennans power-play goal early in the third period proved to be the
winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 in AHL action on
Monday afternoon. Brennans 17th goal of the season at 4:13 of the third gave
Toronto (22-11-4) a 3-2 advantage. Rockfords Joakim Nordstrom rounded out the
scoring on the power play at 12:42.
Edwin Cardona Jersey. . Gregg McKegg and
Abbott Spencer had the other goals for Toronto while Drew MacIntyre stopped 40
shots. Alex Broadhurst also scored for Rockford (18-18-6) while Jason LaBarbera
made 19 saves.
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