Happy Valentines Day to All! The Miami Heat take on the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight in a rematch of last year’s championship series. The Heat won the first game between these teams this season on Christmas Day, 103-97. Miami comes in to tonight’s game riding a six-game winning streak, but are just 12-11 on the road this year. The team recalled Dexter Pittman from the D-League as forward Udonis Haslem’s status is questionable due to a leg injury he suffered in the Heat’s win over Portland. Tonight’s game, the last one for the Heat before the All-Star weekend, will tip off at 8:00 pm and will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: What Miami Heat player or staff member was once selected in the NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys? Tell you later, Alligator.
In the NBA last night:
Atlanta 108 Orlando 76
Josh Smith led the way with 30 points and 10 rebounds, Al Horford added 26 points and 12 boards.
San Antonio 96 Cleveland 95
Kawhi Leonard’s 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining gave the Spurs the win. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 24 points. San Antonio has the best record in the NBA at 42-12.
Indiana 101 Charlotte 77
Paul George led the way with a triple-double, 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Toronto 92 New York 88
Alan Anderson scored 26 points coming off the bench and DeMar DeRozan added 20 points. The Knicks have lost three out of their last four.
Boston 71 Chicago 69
Kevin Garnett scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to lead a late Boston rally.
Brooklyn 119 Denver 108
Joe Johnson scored 26 points, CJ Watson had 25, and Brook Lopez added 23.
Detroit 96 Washington 85
Greg Monroe dominated in the paint with 16 points and 18 rebounds. Jose Calderon led the way with 24 points.
New Orleans 99 Portland 63
Anthony Davis led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Milwaukee 94 Philadelphia 92
Monta Ellis scored a game-high 27 points. Brandon Jennings had 21 points in the win.
Utah 97 Minnesota 93
Paul Millsap scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, Al Jefferson added 20 points and 11 boards.
Dallas 123 Sacramento 100
Vince Carter paced the Mavs with 26 points. Darren Collison had 18, Dirk Nowitzki added 17 points.
LA Clippers 106 Houston 96
Blake Griffin ended with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler each added 19 points in the victory.
TONIGHT’S GAMES:
Miami @ Oklahoma City 8:00 pm TNT
LA Clippers @ LA Lakers 10:30 pm TNT
Moving over to college hoops, I told you yesterday that rivalry games are never easy, and we saw that last night in Tallahassee when the #3 ranked University of Miami Hurricanes took on the Florida State Seminoles. Florida State jumped off to a 13-2 lead, but Miami settled down to take a 38-30 lead at halftime. It remained close the rest of the way, with the Seminoles tying the game at 51-all midway through the second half. That’s when Hurricane guard Shane Larkin took over, scoring 13 of his 22 points in the last 7 1/2 minutes to lead the Canes to a 74-68 win. Miami is the first team in 12 years to start 11-0 in the ACC. The Canes have won 12 in a row, and improved their season record to 20-3. They are off to Clemson, where they will take on the Tigers on Sunday at 6:00 pm.
In the best college rivalry going, the unranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels squared off against #2-ranked Duke last night at Duke. The Blue Devils overcame a slow start, rallied to overcome a double-digit deficit, and came back to win 73-68.
FIU is in Troy, where they battle the Trojans tonight, before returning home to take on Western Kentucky at the US Century Bank Arena on Saturday night.
Spring Training is here! I will be bringing you analysis of all 30 teams over the next three weeks. One team from each league every day, in alphabetical order. Today, may I present to you the representatives from the state of Ohio, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians.
CINCINNATI REDS 97-65 Mgr. Dusty Baker
The Central Division Champions last year look to go further this year after losing in the division series in 2012. The Reds added OF Shin-Soo Choo, but there is still a question as to whether he is going to be able to adjust to playing CF. The Reds do have a fall-back play, with Jay Bruce available to move from RF to accommodate Choo. The really big question mark with the Reds is Cuban fireballer Aroldis Chapman. The Reds are going into Spring Training with the mindset of moving Chapman to the starting rotation after signing former Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton to a 3-year, $21 million deal. We should also keep our eyes on Joey Votto and how he recovers for last season’s knee surgery.
CLEVELAND INDIANS 68-94 Mgr. Terry Francona
First, the Tribe went out and hired Terry Francona as their manager. Now, they are giving him some weapons. The Indians signed OF/1B Nick Swisher. 1B/DH Mark Reynolds and just signed OF Michael Bourn. They added som quality names like P Brett Myers, OF Drew Stubbs, P Matt Albers, P Matt Capps, and OF Ben Francisco. After collapsing in August, when they posted a 5-24 record, things are looking better for Cleveland.
TOMORROW: The Colorado Rockies and Detroit Tigers
In other baseball news, here’s the latest on Mariano Rivera’s comeback and his plans for the future, thanks to the NY Daily News:
In more Yankee news, manager Joe Girardi believes that his team can win 95 games this season. Not a lot of love from the NY Post on that one:
Regardless of what you read or hear, I am still told that MLB is continuing its efforts to try and “persuade” the Marlins ownership to sell the ball club, possibly to Governor Bush and his group. (Maybe a financial incentive?) We’ve already seen how MLB is willing to punish South Florida as long as Jeffrey Loria owns the team.
Dear Jeffrey Loria and minions:
You're still here?!?!? What do you mean, you still haven’t sold the team? What are you waiting for now? Valentine’s day? Easter? Next year’s HOF election? Haven't you done enough damage already? Baseball fans in South Florida need a Marlins owner that loves the game of baseball, and doesn’t just love owning a team. We need an owner that wants to win, not one that just treats it only as a money-making business.
Stay alert out there, Mr. Loria. Your window of opportunity to get out of town is opening up in just a few days. The five-year anniversary of the Marlins and Miami-Dade County agreement for the baseball stadium is coming up on February 21, 2013. After that time, the “penalty” for selling the team is only 5%, a mere pittance, based on a $250 million value of the team. You’ve already saved much more than that on the salary dump this season alone. Of course, you and your minions have already decided not to field a quality major league roster this coming season, hopefully setting up the sale of the team. (I’m sure MLB is willing to cough up the 5% just to get you out of their hair.)
We’ll continue to keep our fingers crossed and light a candle in the meantime.
Here’s the answer to today’s question: What Miami Heat player or staff member was once selected in the NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys?
Heat President Pat Riley was drafted by the Cowboys in the 1967 draft as a wide receiver out of the University of Kentucky.
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 some great recipes!
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Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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