Heat top Grizzlies 98-91 for 13th straight win

MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane Wade scored 22 points, LeBron James shook off his worst shooting night of the season to hit a key 3-pointer in the final half-minute, and the Miami Heat extended their winning streak to 13 games by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 98-91 on Friday night.

James scored 18 points on a season-worst 4 for 14 shooting, plus added 10 assists and eight rebounds. Shane Battier scored 14, Chris Bosh added 13 and Ray Allen had 10 for Miami, which snapped Memphis' eight-game winning streak.

Marc Gasol scored 24 for the Grizzlies, who got 14 points apiece from Zach Randolph and Mike Conley, and 10 more from Quincy Pondexter.

Gasol tied the game with a pair of free throws with 2:44 left, before the Heat scored the next five — and quickly — to build a bit of breathing room. Bosh had a three-point play, and Wade took off in transition for a slam that put Miami up 90-85.

Memphis wasn't done. Gasol made two more free throws, then scored off a dribble-drive with 42.5 seconds left to get the Grizzlies within 90-89.

But that was the last gasp. On the next Miami possession, James — even after slogging through what was his worst shooting night since another 4-for-14 against Orlando last March 18 — delivered the game's biggest shot, a 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining, and the Heat made free throws from there to close out the win.

"I've got confidence I'm going to knock it down, just like all the other ones I've missed," James said. "I had confidence in those too, but they just don't go down. That's how the ball goes sometimes. But I'm always confident in my next shot. D-Wade gave me a great pass and I was able to knock it down."

For the Heat, this week was filled with attention for things like pregame dunking exhibitions and their version of a "Harlem Shake" video — which generated more than 5 million views on YouTube in about 24 hours of being posted.

According to STATS LLC, the most recent time before Friday that there was a game between two teams that were carrying at least 12- and eight-game winning streaks was Dec. 3, 1993, when Atlanta (which had won nine straight) beat Houston (which had won 15 straight).

In fact, the Heat-Grizzlies game was just the eighth in NBA history pitting two teams with active winning streaks of at least eight in a row.

Want more significance? Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins were announced earlier in the day as the Eastern and Western Conference coaches of the month, respectively. And news came just before tipoff that James was picked yet again as the East's player of the month, making him 4-for-4 in that department this season.

Added Hollins: "I'm the head coach and I get the credit and I get the blame, but those guys have been playing extremely well ... coming together with all the turmoil and all the chaos that we've had."

So of course, in a game between the NBA's two hottest teams, the start was ice cold. The teams combined to miss 23 of their first 32 shots.

After the best shooting month of his career — the three-time MVP made 64 percent of his shots in February, the best month of any NBA player with 200 attempts since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shot 65 percent in March 1983 — James' run in March started in a decidedly different manner.

James made a 3-pointer on his first attempt of the night, then missed his next eight tries, and had just four points after three quarters.

A dunk with 9:19 left in regulation was just his second made field goal of the night, and he hit a runner midway through the fourth to reach double-digit scoring for the 475th straight regular-season game, going back to Jan. 6, 2007.

NOTES: The Heat had the blessing of team officials when they took a half-hour before practice Thursday to tape the "Harlem Shake" video in their locker room. "We don't need to be serious all the time," Bosh said. ... Battier has at least one 3-pointer in 14 straight games, the fourth-best such streak of his career. ... The Grizzlies got a scare on their first possession when Randolph took an awkward tumble and appeared to turn his left ankle. Hollins called a 20-second timeout, Randolph walked off the injury and remained in the game. ... Miami is at New York on Sunday, facing a Knicks team that has already beaten the Heat twice — by 20 points each time.

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Turkish Baseball Fans, Barred From Stadium, Have The Ability To Start...

Istanbul membership FenerbahAe's Europa League fit last Thursday was a sight to see. The overall game was played in an empty arena as punishment for a December fit in which fans hurled fireworks onto the message, so the group setup a sizable viewing screen outside. Supporters launched dozens of flames mounted on small parachutes from the plaza, and they carefully cascaded into the stadium. It was gorgeous and innovative, but it came with a FenerbahAe was fined, and is likely to be required to perform yet another match in an empty ground. This might not perform, as FenerbahAe supporters do have the technology to launch flares from outside. Uncertain if UEFA recognized. [Hurriyet]

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Birmingham City vision up move for Eliaquim Mangala - Express.co.uk

Eliaquim Mangala is on Manchester City's radar The Porto opponent is in sought after following his reliable shows this season. AC Milan also provide a tangible curiosity about the person, who are looking to enhance at the rear. Town may allow Joleon Lescott leave the Etihad at the conclusion of the summer season and Mangala might fill his emptiness. Italian report Corriere dello Sport mentions Milan sent a team to operate the rule over him all through Porto's Champions League wrap with Malaga. Roberto Mancini is pondering a move for Mangala AC Milan also provide a concrete curiosity about the gamer They observe that City's sporting manager Txixi Beguiristain has added Mangala to his prospect of potential summer recruits. Mangala will not come inexpensive although as he is valued by his membership at A17.2m. He has served Porto keep five clean sheets in their last six games. %=o.Comment.formattedDate% Thursday, 28th February 2013 See today's front and back pages, acquire the newspaper, order back problems and utilize the historical Daily Express newspaper store.

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Middlesbrough versus Chelsea Hamilton Academical LIVE Criticism - Goal.com

World Membership ChampionshipPremier LeagueFA CupCapital One CupUEFA Winners LeagueEuropa LeagueEngland - ChampionshipEngland - Soccer Group OneEngland - Football Group TwoOlympic GamesEuro 2012La LigaSerie AAfrica Pot of NationsFA Neighborhood Shield1. BundesligaLigue 1EredivisieInternational FriendliesItaly - Bernard SupercupUEFA American U-21 ChampionshipCopa AmericaWorld Cup Diploma - AfricaWorld Pot Qualification - AsiaWorld Cup Diploma - North AmericaWorld Glass Certification - OceaniaUEFA Tremendous CupCopa del ReyClub FriendliesWorld Cup Qualification 2014 (Europe )World Glass Diploma - South AmericaWorld - FIFA Womens' World CupHome Places CupRussia - Initial LeagueAFC Winners LeagueItaly - Coppa ItaliaFrance - Coupe delaware FranceMLSArgentina - AperturaGermany - Play-OffsGermany - Tremendous CupSpain - Tremendous CupRussia - European CupRussia - Supercup Everton Oldham Running 2010/2011 German Bundesliga

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Hamilton Academical Barcelona DC A COPA DEL REY: BarAa COMPARED to Real Madrid...

Just like in the quarter closing round of the Copa del Rey, the semi-final can come down seriously to the 2nd leg result. Winner takes all at Camp Nou where in actuality the players is likely to be welcomed by 90,000 waving FCB banners showing the team shield on a background of red and blue trimmed with the Senyera (Catalan banner). Join the Penya at Elephant and Castle this Tuesday to encourage the Blaugrana after dark Merengues and into the Copa del Rey closing! ADonat miss some of the motion at E&C! Visca el BarAa!

Bale will not forget Spurs for Madrid - he's a house boy, says former leader King - Daily Mail

UPDATED: 06:58 EST, 1 March 2013 Former Tottenham opponent Ledley King claims ahome boya Gareth Bale will avoid any temptation to join Real Madrid and stay at White Hart Lane. The giants are believed to be lining up a A50million transfer for Bale if they can't influence his contract to be extended by Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu beyond 2015. But King, who spent five years with Bale at Spurs, believes the Welshman isn't the kind of personality to be attracted abroad and directed to the difficulties experienced by Luka Modric since he left Tottenham for Madrid last summer. aI donat think he'll (get ),a King told BBC 5live Breakfast. aHeas pleased at the club and playing his most readily useful baseball there. aTop participants desire to perform in the Champions League and Tottenham is likely to be going all out to ensure that occurs. Warm property: Bale's most current masterclass involved two aims against West Ham to gain 3-2 aKnowing Gareth the way I really do heas a serious house boy and heas near his family. On another side the grass isn't always greener. Place viewed Luka Modric leave and head to Real Madrid, and heas found it hard. aThatas not to say that would happen would happen with Gareth. But heas enjoying his most readily useful football right now and heas happy so I donat see any reason for him to go. aHeas a really down to earth guy. Heas enjoying his soccer at Tottenham and seems at home there. I donat see why they canat actually progress to the Champions League and wish completely the Premier League (title) in the next four years.a In the know: King (left), playing last year against Norwich, was a of Bale's for five years Bale took his total for the summer season to 23 with a sensational late success at West Ham on Monday, and King agrees he is currently among the best people in the entire world alongside Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The former England centre-back, who retired last summer from serious knee issues, is pleased he didnat need to face Bale on too many occasions, saying: a enough I didnat practice too often so I didnat appear against him a' I just watched out of the window! aI think on current form he is certainly one of the top three in the world at the moment. aIave maybe not seen a lot of people hit the Premier League away like he's this year. Cristiano Ronaldo probably was very similar. Heas only going to go from strength to strength.a Substitute? Madrid want Bale if Cristiano Ronaldo, above, does not sign a fresh offer Spurs allowed themselves to be overtaken by opponents Arsenal in the race for a League place last year but, as they make to host the North London derby on Sunday, King hopes it does not occur again. He added: aI remember being in the same situation last time and we'd a huge details lead over them. You have to get one game at a time, in the Premier League itas never over until itas over. aSeven factors is really a good cushion and the way the team is playing youad expect them to find it out, nevertheless, you just never know.a

Inside Manchester United: Ferguson's future & the Lewandowski quest - Goal.com

Prev Inside Manchester United: Ferguson's future & the Lewandowski quest With a 12-point lead towards the top of the Premier League, an away target benefit against Real Madrid in the Champions League and a place within the last few nine of this season's FA Cup, it's small wonder the Scot has been quick to dismiss talk of his retirement this time. But behind the scenes at Old Trafford, United's greatest ever director has positioned herself as a key figure in the planning process in choosing his or her own heir. Ferguson has made moves to secure the long-term potential of the club's playing team, following an exchange plan alongside outgoing chief executive David Gill of only signing young players who is able to be molded and improved at the club. Robin van Persie was the club's first signing aged over 26 since Michael Owen last year, while over 50% of the group that began in United's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid two weeks ago were 25 or under. Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have both been reserved by the 71-year-old as possible successors, although Spaniard's new appointment at Bayern Munich, plus doubts among members of the United structure over the Madrid manager's relevance for the part have left substantial doubts over both men perhaps getting over at Old Trafford. Brian Moyes, who has additionally often been linked to the position, is considered to have been eliminated because of his lack of European knowledge, despite Ferguson having proclaimed his great love for Everton boss both privately and publicly. Important United results, such as the Glazer family, are comfortable with Ferguson having significant insight into plans regarding the club's long-term footballing potential, nevertheless the Scot has usually gone on record to demand that he will not speculate on an upgraded publically. Or is he likely to declare a potential retirement time, after this in 2001 backfired, de-stabilising his squad. As a result, the time of his exit remains difficult to estimate. Yet for a person who is able to look back on so much all through his time at Old Trafford, it is the long run that remains at the front of Ferguson's mind. Prev Inside Manchester United: Ferguson's future & the Lewandowski pursuit

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