Post by jenny123 on Jan 4, 2014 0:26:42 GMT -5
CLEVELAND -- The Phoenix Suns made a statement early on against Cleveland. The Suns, one of the NBAs hottest teams, scored the games first 12 points and never trailed in rolling to a 108-83 victory over the Cavaliers on Sunday. Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris scored 22 points apiece, while Steve Nash added 13 assists. Phoenix has won six of eight to get back into the Western Conference playoff race. The Suns improved to 11-4 since the All-Star break and are one game behind Denver for the final playoff spot in the West. "This was, by far, the best ball movement weve had this year," said Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry. "We got off to a great start, but I thought we played well for the whole 48 minutes." Gortat scored the games first 10 points, including two dunks and three layups. "It was cool," he said. "Its always fun when youre rolling like that. I could have had an easy 30 if I had executed better. My teammates found me, and I was happy I had some post-ups today." Cleveland has lost six of seven, leading coach Byron Scott to a simple conclusion. "Were not a very good team right now," he said. "Thats the bottom line. Its like we were almost sleepwalking." Rookie Kyrie Irving scored 16 points for Cleveland, which was never in the game after cutting the lead to 33-31 in the second quarter. Phoenix scored the next nine points to regain control and led 59-38 at halftime. The Cavaliers never got closer than 15 in the second half and the Suns biggest lead was 106-78 in the closing minutes. "We were setting good screens and, of course, having such a great point guard like Steve Nash makes us look better," Gortat said. Gortat, who was 10 of 16 from the field, had his way with Cavaliers rookie centre Tristan Thompson. "He ate us alive," Scott said. "I dont know if Tristan didnt know that much about him or if he didnt realize that the guy is a pretty good player. Gortat has been playing well all season long." Nash, who didnt play in the fourth quarter, finished with four points and made his only two shots from the field in 29 minutes. He didnt attempt a shot until hitting a layup with 31 seconds left in the second quarter. Nash had eight assists in the first half, matching Clevelands team total for the first two quarters. The 16-year veteran recorded his 31st double-figure assist game of the season and leads the league in that category. Nash matched his season high with 17 assists Friday against Milwaukee. "Hes so effective on the offensive end," Irving said. "At times hes a scorer and then hell find the open man. Hes one of the best for a reason and hes done it year after year." Morris, who had a career high in points, shot 9 of 12. Brown added 16 points for the Suns, who shot 51.2 per cent for the game. Irving has averaged 21 points in two games against the Suns this season. "He doesnt play like a rookie," Gentry said. "I heard he turned 20 years old (Friday). Thats frightening because I have suits older than he is." Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison, who sustained a bruised left leg and ankle in the first quarter, finished with a season-low two points. He was injured while battling Gortat for a rebound. The players fell to the floor, with Gortat landing on Jamisons leg. Jamison was on the floor for several minutes clutching his leg, but walked to the locker room on his own. Jamison, Clevelands second-leading scorer with an 18.4 average, returned in the second quarter. Jamison had his lowest point total since being held scoreless on Jan. 13, 2006 against Indiana while playing for Washington. Omri Casspi scored 14 points for Cleveland. The Cavaliers climbed back into the Eastern playoff race earlier this month with a three-game winning streak, including back-to-back road victories against Denver and Oklahoma City. Cleveland has struggled since then, with four of its six losses coming by double figures. "We cant play the rest of the season with peaks and valleys," Irving said. "We beat really good teams by playing hard for 48 minutes. We havent been doing that in the last few games." NOTES: Nash has had 17 assists four times this season. ... Phoenix finished 2-2 on its four-game road trip and is 10-14 away from home. ... The Suns host San Antonio on Tuesday. ... Cavaliers G Daniel Gibson missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle. ... F Luke Walton scored his first points with Cleveland since being acquired from the Lakers on March 15 with a basket in the second quarter. He finished with seven points. Bruins Jerseys . Then the Boston big man hit a fallaway jumper of his own. Back at the other end, Garnett grabbed a rebound to start a fast break that ended with Avery Bradley at the free throw line. Milan Lucic Jersey . Vettel, a two-time winner in Japan, secured his fourth consecutive pole at Suzuka and will be in a good position in Sundays race to further erode the championship lead of Ferraris Fernando Alonso. www.shopbruinsgear.com/Cam-Neely-Jersey/ . Many fans, some wearing Chelsea blue jerseys, cheered as their soccer (football) hero ran through the centre of Swindon on Wednesday. The 34-year-old waved as he trotted along with the torch. Drogba announced on Tuesday that he was quitting Chelsea, just days after scoring the winning penalty shot in the clubs dramatic Champions League final win over Bayern Munich. Zdeno Chara Jersey . Amir Johnson took that literally. "The ball was finding me in certain spots," Johnson said humbly after setting a new career-high with 21 boards in Torontos 92-78 bounce-back win over the league-worst Charlotte Bobcats (14-51) at the Air Canada Centre Friday. Tyler Seguin Jersey . Manager John Gibbons said on Friday that as the all-star shortstop was rehabbing with Torontos triple-A team in Buffalo, N.Y., the Blue Jays were putting themselves in a position to welcome him back.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Donte Whitner has no difficulty dealing with the love-hate relationship hes developed with Bills fans on Twitter for much of this off-season. And it hasnt hardened the soft spot the safety still has for Buffalo no matter what Bills general manager Buddy Nix has to say. For someone unsure of what the future holds, Whitner is working out in Miami anxiously waiting for the NFL labour dispute to end while making sure to keep every one of his options open. And yes, Whitner told The Associated Press by phone on Thursday, his future could include returning to play in Buffalo no matter what his critics -- "haters," he refers to them -- on Twitter might think. "Twitter is fun. I dont mind being cussed out," said Whitner, who in recent days has exchanged messages on Twitter with those who have referred to him as "whiny," and called him "a joke." "Bills fans are very passionate. It has to go on someone and Im not going to hide from it," Whitner said. "I believe when I get back to Buffalo and help turn this thing around, everything will be forgotten." Whitners reference to "when I get back," was also a way for him to respond to comments Nix made this past week about the players future. "He actually said, he didnt think I wanted to be there so I wouldnt," Whitner said, referring to what Nix had told a Buffalo radio station. "Well, I have something to say about that. I dont think Ive ever said that I dont want to be there. I do want to be a Buffalo Bill." There is a big condition, though, for that to become a reality. Whitner acknowledged his return to Buffalo would depend on the Bills sweetening the last contract offer they made to him in December. Whats unclear is whether Buffalos 2006 first-round draft pick will be eligible to be a free agent in the first place after his five-year contract expired at the end of last season. The Bills did tender Whitner a one-year contract before the lockout began, and his status will depend on what rules are in place once the NFL is back in business. If that means playing at least one more season in Buffalo, Whitners fine with that. "I wouldnt have any problem with that," Whitner said. "Im not going to goo in there and be a cancer to the football team.dddddddddddd Im not going to go in there and act out of character. Im going to go in there and do what Ive been doing for the past five years. Im going to lead." From Cleveland, Whitners relocated his base to Miami where hes working out with several NFL players, including receivers Santana Moss, Andre Johnson, Chad Ochocinco and Bills teammate Roscoe Parrish. In one of his first interviews since the season ended, Whitner also explained why he left Buffalo in such a rush by cleaning out his locker without speaking to reporters a day after the Bills season finale. Whitner said he was so disappointed with his contract talks that he wanted to avoid answering questions so not to put himself in position to say something he might regret. "That morning, I got up very, very early. I went in there, took my physical, cleaned out my locker and went home," Whitner said. "And that was the end of that. It had nothing to do with the Buffalo Bills, Chan Gailey or Buddy Nix." Whitner has had an unsettling tenure in Buffalo. Though one of the teams defensive leaders and most consistent tacklers, Whitners been part of a unit thats ranked 15th or better in yards allowed only once during his five seasons. The Bills finished 24th last year and were particularly porous against the run in allowing 200 yards rushing eight times. Though he had 138 tackles to break the 100-mark for the third time in his career, Whitners other numbers remain down. He had only one interception to up his career total to five. Whitner also has only 1 1/2 career sacks and five forced fumbles. Thats not the type of impact the Bills were expecting from a player they selected with the No. 8 pick out of Ohio State. But Whitner isnt happy with his production either. "I still have room to improve and to show people that I can make those plays," he said. "I understand this football season I continue to have something to prove. And thats what Im striving for." Love him or hate him, its a message Whitner cant help but share to the 15,000-plus followers of his Twitter account. Shortly before the interview, Whitner posted this message: "Hello to my haters. Yall cant faze me." Nick Foles Jersey Eric Decker Jersey John Elway Jersey Tedy Bruschi Jersey Johnny Unitas Jersey Nick Foles Jersey Peyton Manning Jersey Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '