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02/21/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Nets open up a five-game homestand this evening when they welcome the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets to the Continental Airlines Arena.
However, the big question for the Nets is how many of those games star guard Jason Kidd will play in.
Kidd, the recent subject of trade rumors, has missed New Jersey's last two games because of a strained lower back that also kept him out of the All-Star Game. He is questionable for tonight's game.
However, New Jersey's rumored attempts to deal Kidd, who is averaging 14.3 points, eight rebounds and 8.7 assists per game, may lead it to keep him out of the lineup again tonight.
The Nets come out of the All-Star break 4 1/2 games behind the Toronto Raptors for the lead in the Atlantic Division. Those same Raptors sent the Nets into the break on a losing note after handing New Jersey a 120-109 loss last Wednesday.
Bostjan Nachbar poured in a career-best 26 points and also grabbed eight rebounds while Eddie House and Marcus Williams chipped 19 points apiece for the Nets, who have lost two in a row. Vince Carter had 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in the loss, the sixth in nine games for New Jersey.
Carter did play in the exhibition tilt, and had seven points in the East's 153-132 setback.
New Jersey is 14-13 as the host this year and is currently two games out of a playoff spot. It will also host Sacramento, New York, Washington and Boston on the current stand.
The Nets have had recent success against the Hornets, having won six straight and eight of the last 11 in the series. They have also won three in a row at home.
New Jersey swept a pair of meetings last year with New Orleans, which hasn't captured a victory over the Nets since November of 2003. This is the first meeting between the clubs this year.
The Hornets, though, have been having success against the rest of the NBA. However, they came out of the break on Tuesday and suffered a 104-100 loss to Charlotte, just the club's fourth defeat in its last 13 games.
Despite the setback, New Orleans is just one-half game behind Minnesota for the eighth playoff spot in the West.
Chris Paul scored 20 points and tallied seven assists for the Hornets, while Tyson Chandler finished with 16 points and 20 boards. Desmond Mason added 17 points with six boards, and David West scored 16 points and racked in seven boards.
Paul represented the Hornets in the battle between the NBA's freshman and sophomore stars. The second-year Wake Forest product tallied 16 points with 17 assists and nine steals in the sophomore's 115-114 victory.
Tonight's tilt is the second of back-to-back road games for New Orleans, which has lost three of its last four on the road and is just 8-18 as the visitor. The team returns home on Friday to host Seattle.
<< Knicks visit Atlantic Division-rival Philadelphia
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers conclude their seven-game homestand
tonight when they welcome the Atlantic Division rival New York Knicks to the
Wachovia Center.
The Sixers fell to 2-4 on their stand before the All-Star break when
<< Florida inches closer to SEC crown, as Gators host Gamecocks
Gainesville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked Florida Gators have
been knocked off their perch atop the college basketball world, at
least temporarily, but they continue to rule the SEC and are heavy
favorit
<< Louisville seeks 20th victory of the season
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 20th-ranked Louisville Cardinals gun for
their fourth straight win tonight, as they host the St. John's Red Storm
in Big East play from Freedom Hall.
The Cardinals moved into the Top-25 this
<< Streaking Commodores set to battle Bulldogs
Starkville, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off one of the most memorable
victories in recent memory for the program, the 17th-ranked Vanderbilt
Commodores hope to carry the momentum into tonight's SEC clash with the
Mississ
Timberwolves open homestand vs. Bobcats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Timberwolves hope home is where the
heart is when the struggling club opens up a five-game homestand this evening
against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Target Center.
The Timberwolves have lost six of their l
Celtics continue swing in Phoenix >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns welcome the
NBA-worst Boston Celtics tonight to US Airways Center.
This is the second and final meeting of the campaign between the squads. On
December 8th, Shawn Marion poured i
Kobe, Lakers get back to work against Portland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - All-Star Game MVP Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers
return to the court tonight, as they welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to the
Staples Center.
Bryant scored 31 points, dished out six assists and had six steals to
Miami's Pat Riley returns to bench in Houston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat welcome head coach Pat Riley back to
the bench tonight when they travel to Houston to battle the Rockets at the
Toyota Center.
Riley announced before the Heat's 104-85 win over Portland last Tuesday he
wo
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."
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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