|
(SportsNetwork. Billy Turner .com) - The Brooklyn Nets try to secure the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings and close a three-game homestand on a positive note when they host the rival New York Knicks Tuesday. You can catch all the action live on TSN2 at 8pm et/5pm pt. The Nets are 1 1/2 games ahead of Washington for the No. 5 spot with two games remaining, while the Wizards have just one game left. The Wizards hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a 3-0 mark against the Nets this season. After having a franchise-record 15-game home winning streak come to an end versus Atlanta on Friday, the Nets responded with Sundays 97-88 victory over Orlando at Barclays Center. Mirza Teletovic came off the bench and scored a game-high 20 points and added six rebounds, while Joe Johnson and Mason Plumlee netted 17 apiece. Plumlee also grabbed 11 rebounds for the Nets, winners in four of six games and owners of a 34-15 record since the start of January. "Weve got to try to fine-tune and keep this chemistry that we have going into the postseason," Johnson said. Deron Williams tallied 16 points in the win to help Brooklyn to a 28-12 record as the host. The Nets are 23-3 in their last 26 home games and 35-11 when holding teams under 100 points. In injury news for the Nets, guard Shaun Livingston (toe) is questionable Tuesday. Nets veteran forward Paul Pierce, the newest member of the 25,000-point club, had 10 points versus the Magic and is three shy of reaching 1,000 for a 15th straight season. He would become the only active player in the NBA and just the sixth player in league history to score 1,000 points in 15 or more consecutive seasons. The others were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, John Havlicek, Elvin Hayes and Robert Parish. Brooklyn will close the regular season at Cleveland on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Knicks were hoping to reach the playoffs for a fourth straight season, but missed out on that chance. The Atlanta Hawks were able to sew up the eighth and final postseason spot in the East. New York has won two straight and five of seven games, and pulled off a 100-89 victory Sunday versus the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 points and both Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith netted 17 in a losing cause. "We didnt get it done and being the coach, I just apologize to the fans because they paid their hard-earned money to come see us play and we didnt come into this season expecting this," Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said. The Knicks will try to improve their 17-23 road record Tuesday and have won eight of the last 11 games as the visitor. New York will close the season Wednesday at home versus Toronto and recently defeated Brooklyn 110-81 on April 2 at MSG. Smith buried 6-of-12 3-pointers for 24 points and Anthony added 23 and 10 rebounds to lead the Knicks, who are 2-1 in the season series and have won 10 of the past 14 meetings with the Nets. The winner in this seasons series has scored 100-plus points, while the loser has failed to post more than 83. New York has won six of eight and nine of its last 12 at the Nets. Earl Mitchell . The 25-year-old rookie forward scored the winner on his first career shootout attempt as the Philadelphia Flyers overcame an early deficit to earn a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Shelley Smith Jersey . -- The linebacker with 100 per cent attendance says theres a 99 per cent chance hes done. LOS ANGELES -- John Danks may have solved his problems away from home. The left-hander and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, Leury Garcia hit his first major league home run and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Wednesday in the rubber game of a three-game series. Danks (4-5) allowed only two hits and one run and struck out five in 7 1-3 inning for his first road win in more than six weeks. He entered the game 1-3 with a 6.83 ERA in five road starts this season. "Weve done a lot of mechanical changes and a lot of work on the side in between starts," he said. "Just been trying to stay behind the ball and keep my lanes. I was falling off and it was causing me to lose velocity and lose location, a bad combination. "Ive got to keep working on it, but Im feeling good and I feel like Im on a bit of a roll right now." He also had an infield single in the sixth inning, his second hit in 28 career plate appearances. "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut," he chuckled. "Thats pure luck right there." Dee Gordon led off the first with a bunt single, but Danks didnt allow another hit until the eighth, when Gordon doubled down the left field line to end his night. Danks threw 107 pitches and didnt allow a baserunner past second base. He walked three and hit two batters, but worked around those miscues. "I felt like I was able to make a pitch when I needed to," he said. "It wasnt as sharp as Id like but I guess you can call it effectively wild." A pair of longballs helped put him in position for the win. Garcia was homerless in his first 74 career games, but ended that drought in impressive fashion. The 23-yer old Dominican belted a first-pitch fastball from Josh Beckett deep over the centre field fence, an estimated 400 feet, to stake Chicago to a 1-0 lead. "He has power, its just more of his game is hitting on the ground," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He hit it at the right time off day thats for sure. Brian Hartline Authentic Jersey. Ball carries earlier here, if it was later in the night it may not have gone out." Dunn followed Garcia the next inning, hitting a 2-2 cutter into the right field stands for his ninth homer of the season. The Dodgers were able to get on the scoreboard once Danks left the game. Reliever Zach Putnam entered after Gordons double, and walked Yasiel Puig. Gordon came home on a Hanley Ramirez fielders choice. Scott Downs then entered and induced Adrian Gonzalez to ground out to end the threat. Chicago closer Ronald Belisario slammed the door on his former team in the ninth, retiring the side in order for his fifth save and sending the Dodgers to their sixth loss in eight games. "I really think you should talk to (the players), Im tired of answering questions honestly," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Were just not that good. Were just not getting it done." Beckett (3-3) delivered a quality start but suffered his second consecutive loss since throwing a no-hitter against Philadelphia on May 25. The right-hander went six innings and allowed two runs and nine hits, walked two and struck out six. Relievers Brandon League, Brian Wilson and Jamey Wright each threw a scoreless inning of relief, but the strong pitching wasnt enough for the Dodgers with Danks at his best. Notes: A moment of silence was held before the game for Don Zimmer, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 83. Zimmer played for the Dodgers from 1954-59 and in 1963... Injured Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford went through a full pre-game workout that included batting practice. He is on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle and is eligible to be activated May 12 ... Beckett reached 2,000 career innings after completing the fourth inning ... Ventura successfully challenged a call at third base in the bottom fourth, overturning an earlier safe call and ending the inning. Ventura is now 4 for 11 on challenges this season. ' ' ' |
