Times wires
Saturday, March 5, 2011
LONDON — Travis Outlaw and the Nets were up to the challenge of providing excitement for NBA fans in Europe.
The Raptors more than did their part, too.
Outlaw scored the final eight points in New Jersey's 137-136 triple-overtime win Saturday night that gave the Nets a sweep of their two games in London.
The game featured four missed buzzer-beaters and provided the kind of finish league officials sought when they brought regular-season games to Europe for the first time.
Outlaw made two free throws with 12.6 seconds remaining to put the Nets ahead for good and Andrea Bargnani missed a jumper at the buzzer as New Jersey swept the doubleheader at London's O2 Arena.
"Hats off to the NBA … because I think it's a huge success," Nets coach Avery Johnson said of the European experiment. "This is one of the best wins I've been a part of."
GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Kevin Martin scored 20 for the host Rockets, who started the third quarter with an 18-4 run in a 112-95 win over the Pacers.
MAGIC'S HOWARD OUT: The league did not rescind a technical called Friday against Orlando center Dwight Howard, meaning he'll serve a one-game suspension. He will sit out Monday's home game against the Trail Blazers.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: The Boston Herald reported that the Celtics signed guard Carlos Arroyo for the rest of the season. The Heat waived Arroyo last week. … The Grizzlies signed free agent forward Leon Powe. … Bobcats forward Stephen Jackson (left hamstring) sat out his team's game at Portland.
Heat seeks turnaround
MIAMI — The Heat has often masked its problems this season.
Losses have always been chalked up to injuries, chemistry issues or how the team's whole project remains a "process."
Those excuses are no longer an option, and the team is finally openly realizing serious concerns in the midst of a three-game losing streak including late Friday's 125-95 blowout loss at San Antonio.
The only question is if the players can get it righted during a grueling stretch, which continues today at home against the Bulls.
"Nobody's happy about this; certainly if you get the doors blown off in a big game, you're not happy about it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Friday's game. "We understand that the only people that really matter to us are the people in the locker room. We've got to stay connected, which we are."
The Heat faces the Bulls on the heels of three deflating defeats.
Miami blew sizable second-half leads against the Knicks and Magic before being embarrassed by the Spurs.
"We're still a confident bunch," forward LeBron James said.
Nets 137, Raptors 136, 3 OT
TORONTO (136): J.Johnson 2-7 0-0 4, A.Johnson 3-10 4-4 10, Bargnani 11-28 10-10 35, Calderon 3-10 0-0 9, DeRozan 11-26 7-7 30, Bayless 4-7 2-2 10, Weems 2-5 0-0 4, Davis 4-6 4-8 12, Ajinca 0-0 0-0 0, Barbosa 7-12 5-5 22. Totals 47-111 32-36 136.
NEW JERSEY (137): James 2-3 0-0 4, Humphries 8-17 4-8 20, Lopez 14-24 6-8 34, Williams 7-20 4-4 21, Vujacic 7-16 5-6 25, Farmar 4-9 1-1 12, Outlaw 4-8 6-8 14, Petro 1-3 0-1 2, Gaines 1-5 3-3 5, Graham 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 48-105 29-39 137.
Toronto 30 32 26 22 9 7 10— 136
New Jersey 23 42 23 22 9 7 11— 137
3-Point Goals—Toronto 10-20 (Barbosa 3-5, Calderon 3-6, Bargnani 3-7, DeRozan 1-2), New Jersey 12-29 (Vujacic 6-9, Farmar 3-5, Williams 3-9, Petro 0-1, Outlaw 0-2, Gaines 0-3). Fouled Out—Lopez. Rebounds—Toronto 61 (Davis 15), New Jersey 74 (Humphries 17). Assists—Toronto 27 (Calderon 9), New Jersey 34 (Williams 18). Total Fouls—Toronto 32, New Jersey 30. A—18,689 (14,467).
Wizards 103, Wolves 96
MINNESOTA (96): Beasley 8-20 1-2 18, Love 8-18 4-5 20, Pekovic 6-7 1-2 13, Ridnour 7-15 0-0 14, Ellington 6-11 1-2 15, Hayward 0-6 2-2 2, Randolph 2-6 2-4 6, Tolliver 1-3 1-1 3, Flynn 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 40-90 12-18 96.
WASHINGTON (103): Lewis 3-11 2-2 10, Blatche 9-18 2-4 20, McGee 5-9 4-6 14, Wall 8-17 2-6 18, Crawford 3-10 1-2 8, Seraphin 1-1 0-0 2, Martin 2-8 1-2 7, Booker 3-5 1-2 7, Evans 5-10 2-2 15, Shakur 0-1 2-2 2, Yi 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 39-91 17-28 103.
Minnesota 29 20 23 24— 96
Washington 25 26 17 35— 103
3-Point Goals—Minnesota 4-14 (Ellington 2-2, Flynn 1-3, Beasley 1-4, Tolliver 0-1, Ridnour 0-1, Hayward 0-1, Love 0-2), Washington 8-18 (Evans 3-5, Martin 2-4, Lewis 2-4, Crawford 1-5). Fouled Out—Ridnour. Rebounds—Minnesota 61 (Love 21), Washington 58 (Wall 11). Assists—Minnesota 21 (Ridnour 6), Washington 21 (Wall 8). Total Fouls—Minnesota 22, Washington 20. A—18,216 (20,173).
Rockets 112, Pacers 95
INDIANA (95): Granger 4-13 8-8 16, McRoberts 6-11 0-0 12, Hibbert 6-14 3-4 15, Collison 2-7 2-3 6, Rush 1-5 0-0 2, Hansbrough 8-18 1-2 17, George 3-4 2-2 8, Stephenson 2-7 1-1 5, Foster 1-4 0-0 2, D.Jones 2-4 0-0 4, Price 3-5 1-2 8. Totals 38-92 18-22 95.
HOUSTON (112): Budinger 7-15 3-4 18, Scola 7-15 2-4 16, Hayes 1-6 0-0 2, Lowry 5-9 5-6 18, Martin 8-17 3-3 20, Miller 0-4 0-0 0, Lee 5-11 2-2 13, Patterson 4-5 1-2 9, Dragic 5-11 1-1 12, Hill 2-2 0-0 4, Williams 0-2 0-0 0, Thabeet 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 44-98 17-22 112.
Indiana 18 31 19 27— 95
Houston 29 36 29 18— 112
3-Point Goals—Indiana 1-5 (Price 1-2, Granger 0-1, Collison 0-2), Houston 7-21 (Lowry 3-6, Lee 1-2, Dragic 1-3, Budinger 1-3, Martin 1-4, Williams 0-1, Miller 0-2). Rebounds—Indiana 57 (Foster, Hansbrough 10), Houston 60 (Hayes 10). Assists—Indiana 15 (Stephenson 5), Houston 23 (Lowry 6). Total Fouls—Indiana 18, Houston 17. Technicals—Hibbert, Hayes, Houston defensive three second. A—14,965 (18,043).