The Miami Heat ended a decade-long drought in Denver against the Nuggets last night, a streak of 10 straight losses in the Mile-High city dating back to January 29, 2002,.  LeBron James had 27 points and 12 assists to lead the Heat to a 98-93 victory.  Shane Battier added 18 points, all on three-pointers.  The Heat nearly blow a 19-point, second-half lead but held on, despite playing without Dwayne Wade due to a strained foot,  and Mario Chalmers, who had to leave the game midway through the first quarter with a tricep injury.  Bottom line, a win is a win.  Miami improved to 7-3 this season, and 3-2 on this road trip, which ends tomorrow night in Phoenix against the Suns.  Tipoff is at 9:00 Miami time, you can watch the game on Sun Sports.  

In the rest of the NBA yesterday,

Brooklyn 102 Boston 97

Deron Williams and Brook Lopez scored 24 points each.  The Nets have won four games in a row.

New York 104 San Antonio 100

The Knicks remained unbeaten at 6-0, scoring 27 points in the final seven minutes of the game.  

TODAY’S GAMES IN THE NBA

Utah @ Philadelphia 7:00 pm ESPN

Dallas @ Indiana         7:00 pm

Orlando @ Detroit 7:30 pm

Oklahoma City @ New Orleans 8:00 pm

Golden State @ Minnesota         8:00 pm

New York @ Memphis         9:30 pm ESPN

Atlanta @ Sacramento         10:00 pm

Houston @ Portland 10:00 pm

Phoenix @ LA Lakers         10:30 pm

The Miami Dolphins laid another egg last night in Buffalo, losing to the Bills 19-14.  Rookie QB Ryan Tannehill had a couple of opportunities late in the game to bring the Dolphins back, but got intercepted twice in the final two minutes of the game to ice the win for the Bills.  Miami had a horrendous first half, gaining only 50 yards total and two first downs, against a defense that came in to the game next to last in total defense and last in the league in points allowed.  The Bills scored all their points in the first half, as the Miami defense held them to 4 field goals, but the Fins special teams gave up a 79-yard punt return to Leodis McKelvin.  Next game for the Dolphins is next Sunday, the 25th, against the surging Seattle Seahawks.  Game time at the Seven-Names Stadium is 1:00 pm, and you can watch the game on Channel 4, CBS in South Florida.  

The rest of this week’s NFL schedule:  

SUNDAY

Arizona Cardinals @ Atlanta Falcons

Atl -9.5 1:00 pm

Cleveland Browns @ Dallas Cowboys

Dal -9.5 1:00 pm

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Det +3.5 1:00 pm

Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs

KC +3.5 1:00 pm

NY Jets @ St. Louis Rams

StL -3.5 1:00 pm

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins

Was -3.5 1:00 pm

Tampa Bay Bucs @ Carolina Panthers

Car +1 1:00 pm

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

Hou -15 1:00 pm

New Orleans Saints @ Oakland Raiders

Oak +4.5 4:05 pm

San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos

Den -8.5 4:15 pm

Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots

NE -9.5 4:25 pm

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pit +3.5 8:20 pm NBC   Ch 6

MONDAY NIGHT

Chicago Bears @ San Francisco 49ers

SF -5 8:30 pm ESPN

Bye week for the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks 

I’m continuing my self-imposed moratorium from talking about the Marlins and owner Jeffrey Loria and his minions until next week.  My grandmother used to say if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

In major league baseball, the MVP’s were announced yesterday.  Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants won the award in the National League, and Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers took home the hardware in the American League.  Posey returned from a devastating leg injury he suffered in 2011 to lead the NL with a .336 batting average, and he set career highs as well with 24 homers and 103 RBI. He received 27 of the 32 first place votes to outdistance 2011 winner Ryan Braun, who finished second in the voting.  Cabrera won over Rookie Mike Trout by receiving 22 of the 28 first place votes, after capturing the Triple Crown, leading the American League with a .330 batting average, 44 homers, and 139 RBI.  

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Buster Posey became the first catcher in four decades to win the MVP award, and also the first catcher to lead the NL in hitting in seven decades.  Who were those two catchers?  Tell you later, alligator.  

In college football, in top-ten action this week:

#1 Kansas State @ Baylor     8:00 pm ESPN

#13 Stanford @ #2 Oregon     8:00 pm ABC  Ch. 10

Wake Forest @ #3 Notre Dame     3:30 pm NBC  Ch. 6

Western Carolina @ #4 Alabama   12:20 pm

Georgia Southern @ #5 Georgia     1:30 pm

Jacksonville State @ #6 Florida   1:00 pm

Ole Miss @ #7 LSU     3:30 pm CBS  Ch. 4

Sam Houston State @ #8 Texas A&M   3:30 pm

Wooford @ #9 South Carolina     1:00 pm

#10 Florida State @ Maryland           12:00 noon ESPN-U

After their bye week, the FIU Panthers return to the field tonight, in Boca Raton, to take on Florida Atlantic.  Game time is 8:00 pm, and you can listen to all the FIU game broadcasts (in English) on your smartphone or on the computer at www.fiusports.com.  I will be handling the play-by-play, and Pete Pelegrin will be handling the color analysis. 

The University of Miami Hurricanes host the South Florida Bulls tomorrow at the Seven Names Stadium at 3:00 pm.  No TV for that one, you’ll have to go to the stadium if you want to see the contest.

THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Buster Posey became the first catcher in four decades to win the MVP award, as well as the first catcher to lead the NL in hitting in seven decades.  Who were those two catchers?  Johnny Bench won the NL MVP award in 1972, and Ernie Lombardi was the only catcher ever in the NL to win the batting championship back in 1942.     

Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com. 

The 9:25 am segment on Radio Esperanza is brought to you by the fine folks at La Lechonera Products.  The inventors of the original mojo criollo way back in 1970, also offer the BEST naranja agria (sour orange marinade) product on the market, along with the latest additions to the family - the SALSA PICANTE (hot sauces, both HOT and EXTRA HOT), SALSA DE ALITAS (Buffalo Wings Sauce) and the truly incredible SALSA PICANTE con AJO (Garlic Pepper Sauce - Sriracha).  Look for all the La Lechonera products at Publix, Winn Dixie, Sedano’s, Presidente, and GFS.  If they don’t have it where you shop, ask nicely the first time, then use whatever means necessary to make sure they start offering the complete line of products.  Go to www.lalechoneraproducts.com and LIKE them on Facebook.  Check out their recipe for PAVO CON MOJO (Thanksgiving Turkey with Mojo).  

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Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.  Have a great weekend.