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LAst Night's Action: A Tale of Three Runs
Sasha Vujacic feeling an unwelcome feeling of loss. AP Photo/Darron Cummings
Indiana Pacers defeat LA Lakers 118-117. The Lakers outscored the Pacers in the first three quarters. They led by 16 points a minute into the fourth quarter. Then the Pacers went on a scoring run that was capped off by a Troy Murphy put-back off of a miss right before the buzzer went off in the fourth that gave the Pacers the one-point victory. Despite being 7-10 the Pacers also handed the Celtics a 16-point defeat in their second game of the season. The Lakers meanwhile suffer only their second loss of the season and face Philadelphia tonight.
Dallas Mavericks defeat LA Clippers 100-98. It looked like it was going to be a repeat of the November 9th game at the Staples Center when the Clips got their first win against the Mavs 103-92. Like the Lakers they had the lead in the fourth quarter, leading by as much as 10 points with four minutes left to go. But the Mavs did like the Pacers and mounted a furious comeback while the Clips just watched. The Mavs are now over .500 for the first time this season while the Clips. Well.
Phoenix Coyotes defeat LA Kings 4-2. Like the Lakers and Clippers, the Kings were leading 2-1 heading into the third period when the Coyotes scored three goals in the third period. The young Kings have made a habit of sleepwalking through the third period.
Notable
Notes
F Yous
I've been in a very chappy mood lately since there has been nothing redeeming in sports lately. So here are some F Yous.
- F You to Charlie Weis. The head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish not only has a worse winning percentage than the two previous head coaches Bob Davies and Ty Willingham but is a miserable mass of a man. After driving the program into the ground with two horrible seasons despite playing against no ones, it seems like there will be a presser later today announcing that he will remain as head coach of that sinking ship. Not only has he never defeated USC, he still hasn't "out-schemed" the opponents.
- F You to the NFL. They just suspended six players for using a diuretic that can be a masking agent. StarCaps, an over-the-counter weight loss supplement, was what these six players were taking. Despite evidence the NFL knew what was in this supplement, they never made public to the NFL players that this supplement was banned.
- And finally a big stinking F You to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. After hearing Dallas Stars' player Sean Avery talk about his ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert, Bettman suspended Avery indefinitely. Now what he said was definitely not proper, but neither was is threatening, racist or homophobic. Sure it was very douchey, as Avery is wont to do, but perhaps a fine would have sufficed. But no. You have players who have ended other players' careers skating around the rink *cough*ToddBertuzzi*cough*. Avery's comments here.
Tonight's Action
LA Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers look to rebound from the bad loss in Indiana when they face Elton Brand and the 76ers. This is also Kobe Bryant's homecoming where he has not felt at home. 4:00 pm KCAL 9 , AM 570 KLAC.
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LA Clippers at Houston Rockets. The Clippers will make their way through Texas against the Tracy McGrady-less Rockets. 5:30 pm FSN Prime Ticket, AM 710 KSPN.
Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks. The Ducks are looking to rebound on the road. 5:30 pm FS West, AM 830 KLAA.
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