Post by jenny123 on Jan 19, 2014 22:55:12 GMT -5
BOSTON -- The New Orleans Pelicans players had to block out thoughts of a teammates scary fall while holding on against the Boston Celtics. Anthony Davis had 23 points and nine rebounds and Tyreke Evans scored 16 points with a key basket late to lead the Pelicans to a 95-92 win over the Celtics on Friday night. The win may prove costly for the Pelicans after reserve forward Ryan Anderson was taken from the court on a stretcher after he collided with Bostons Gerald Wallace early in the fourth quarter. Both players went to the floor hard. Anderson had 13 points and seven boards before leaving. The Celtics said a preliminary diagnosis indicated a "cervical stinger." He was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated. "I cant really disclose that stuff," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said when asked about Anderson. "We are just praying for his health. He looked like he was OK. I was more worried about his mother. I know shes at home, a nervous wreck, so hopefully she hears this message and is cool with the fact that hes OK and in good hands." New Orleans won for the fourth time in six games, but had lost six of its last seven on the road. "We were praying for him, but at the same time weve got to win a game," said Davis, who grabbed a pair of clutch rebounds. "Its good that hes OK. Were praying for him." Avery Bradley led Boston with 22 points. Jeff Green and Brandon Bass each scored 16. Jared Sullinger added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Green also had 11 boards. The Celtics, who missed 22 of 26 shots from the field in the final quarter, lost for the sixth time in seven games. "I thought we had really good looks for the most part, I really did," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. "I thought we were much more aggressive and, for whatever reason, we didnt make shots." Anderson was on his back on the court for a few minutes, getting checked out by the teams trainer and a Celtics team doctor. After about five minutes, a stretcher was brought out and both teams surrounded him on the court as he was put on a back brace before being wheeled off with 11:02 to play. Wallace stood at the foul line -- about 20 feet away -- nearly the entire time, biting a towel. "I didnt even see him," Wallace said. "We collided. I didnt even know he was there. He said he was all right." New Orleans then had to play its best late. "We got some crucial rebounds and I think defensively we put them in some tough situations down the stretch and we were able to rebound," Brian Roberts said. With the Pelicans clinging to a 91-90 lead, Evans scored on a driving basket, but Green hit two free throws for Boston with 35.2 seconds left. The Celtics had a chance to grab the lead after Evans lost the ball out of bounds after his driving shot was deflected by Kris Humphries. But Bradleys drive down the middle tipped off the rim and, after a scramble, Davis grabbed the rebound. Following a timeout, Roberts was fouled and hit two from the line with 7 seconds left, making it 95-92. Sullingers 3-point attempt caromed off the backboard and Davis grabbed the rebound just before the horn sounded. Greens 3-pointer had given Boston an 86-83 lead with just under 5 minutes to play. After Davis putback sliced it to one, Jordan Crawford, who missed 12 of his initial 13 shots, nailed a long jumper, making it 88-85 with 3 1/2 minutes left. Boston, which trailed by six at the half, used an 8-0 run in less than a minute to take a 65-62 lead on Bradleys two free throws with 3 minutes left in the third. But the Pelicans scored seven of the quarters final nine points to grab a 73-72 edge at the break. The Pelicans led 22-17 after one and had a 49-43 edge at the intermission. NOTES: The Celtics were delayed by the snowstorm that hit the area and didnt arrive in Boston until 1 p.m. after travelling back from Thursdays nights loss in Chicago. ... Sullinger has been bothered by a bruised left hand. "Hes uncomfortable, but he wants to play," Stevens said. "Unless he gets hit, theres nothing really thats a long-term issue to him playing." ... Davis entered the game leading the league in blocks per game (3.2). ... New Orleans guard Eric Gordon played his second straight after missing three with a bruised hip. He scored 12. Percy Harvin Super Bowl Jersey . The trainer of Orb said he had experienced a variety of emotions during the week, and those mixed feelings remained as the race drew near. Chris Clemons Super Bowl Jersey . His Ontario rink was unbeaten at 7-0 at the Tim Hortons Brier after Wednesday nights draw. "The best thing is that second number stays at zero," Howard said. www.seattleseahawkssuperbowljersey.com/Super-Bowl-Christine-Michael-Jersey/ .C. Lions. "Im very pleased Mark has accepted this opportunity to become our new defensive coordinator," said Eskimos Head Coach Kavis Reed. "He gives us the best of both worlds. Max Unger Super Bowl Jersey . -- The Washington Capitals resorted to a familiar formula against the Florida Panthers -- find Alex Ovechkin and let him do the rest. 12th Fan Super Bowl Jersey . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Tennessee Titans strategy was simple -- put on spy on Cam Newton and try to confuse him. It worked to perfection. Tennessees defence left the rookie shaking his head in disbelief after its 30-3 rout of the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Titans (5-4) sacked Newton five times, intercepted him once and took away Carolinas downfield passing game. Carolina came in ranked fifth in the league on offence and first in plays of 20-plus yards, but the Titans limited Newton to 209 yards passing and held Steve Smiths, the NFCs leading receiver, to 33 yards. Chris Johnson ran for a season-high 130 yards and scored a touchdown, most of his yards coming in the second half after the Tennessee defence had set the tone. The Titans sacked Newton four times on first down and put the Panthers in several third-and-long situations. "(Newton) holds the ball," said defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. "If a quarterback is going to hold onto the ball like that, were going to get to him. We kept him in the pocket. He couldnt do anything but sit there. Having the spy on him meant he couldnt run, and our guys got to him." After the game, Newton still seemed confused over what the Titans did exactly to disrupt what had been a potent offence throughout the first half of the season. Newton said he couldnt remember playing quarterback in a game in which his team didnt score a touchdown. "Never, ever, ever," Newton said. Newtons longest completion was 19 yards, and the Panthers failed to pick up a first down on seven of their 13 possessions. "This is embarrassing, man," Newton repeated three times while shaking his head. "This is as poor of a performance as a team as Ive ever seen. Poor performance by myself. Theres no pointing fingers without looking at yourself and asking yourself what you could have done better. I know I could have done a lot of things better. Its a reality check, thats what it is. " The Panthers (2-7) came in averaging 415 yards and more than 23 points per game behind a big-play offence, but Tennessees defence completely took away their downfield passing game -- and just about everything else. At times Newton rolled out in the pocket and couldnt find anyone to throw the ball to. "The thing is, Cam has the ability to extend plays, then slingshot one down the field 50 or 60 yards," said Titans safety Jordan Babineaux. "We knew coming into the game they had some down-the-field threats, and we couldnt let No. 1 get comfortable. We did a good job of harassing him and making sure he didnt have time to get back on his feet and make accurate throws." The Titans finally got Johnson involved in the offence. He came in with only 366 yards rushing, but had 174 yards from scrimmage and eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time since Oct. 2. Johnson had 104 yards rushing in the secoond half and scored his second touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter.dddddddddddd Johnsons touchdown was set up by Matt Hasselbeck, who scampered 21 yards on a quarterback bootleg before getting knocked out of bounds at the Carolina 1 without much of an effort from the veteran to score. As Johnson entered the media room, Hasselbeck walked out and yelled, "Fantasy points!" "Matt told me I was on his fantasy team, and that he stepped out at the 1 to help me get in the end zone," Johnson said with a laugh. "So everyone has to thank Matt and all the fantasy owners." Said Titans coach Mike Munchak: "We finally gave him carries. This was one of those games we have been waiting for." The Titans piled up 172 yards on the ground. "We were on the same page as an offence, executing plays," Johnson said. "Some of the plays we ran in the second half, wed run in the first half and didnt have a lot of success. There are those situations as an offensive line and as a running back to get more of those opportunities to run the same plays, and eventually, it will work out." The Panthers appeared to be sleepwalking early on after coming off a bye week. After Carolina went three-and-out on its first possession, Marc Mariani returned Jason Bakers punt 79 yards for a 7-0 lead. It was the third long punt return for a touchdown allowed by the Panthers this season and the 11th against Baker, the most of any active punter in the NFL. Tennessee quickly made it 14-0 on its first possession when Damian Williams turned a short pass from Hasselbeck into a 43-yard scoring play after defensive backs Sherrod Martin and Darius Butler missed tackles. Williams finished with 107 yards receiving. Hasselbeck was 15 of 27 for 219 yards with his only mistake, a third-quarter interception, leading to a Carolina field goal. Even then, the Tennessee defence held after the Panthers took over deep in Titans territory. Five of Carolinas eight first-half drives ended in three-and-outs and two others were halted by costly mistakes by tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen fumbled in the red zone early on then dropped an easy 16-yard reception late in the first half that would have made for a short field goal attempt by Olindo Mare. Instead, Mare missed the ensuing 50-yard kick on the final play of the first half, and the Titans took a 17-0 lead into the locker room. "We didnt do anything right," Olsen said. "There isnt one thing that we can hang our hat on. It was just an overall pathetic effort by us." NOTES: Rob Bironas 38-yard field goal in the second quarter was the 200th of his career. ... Chris Gambles third-quarter interception was the 26th of his career, giving him the Panthers all-time franchise record... The Panthers are 4-21 over their last 25 games. ' ' '