The Starting Five

(Wall Street Journal)

Kris Humphries gets punched on by Chicago’s Taj Gibson.

The Chicago Bulls got a split against the Nets in Brooklyn with hopes of feeding off some home cooking in their return home for Game 3. The Bulls were able to grind it out and make it ugly — holding off the Brooklyn Nets 79-76.

The Memphis Grizzlies felt Game 2 against the LA Clippers was theirs for the taking. Back in Memphis for Game 3, the Grizzlies and Zach Randolph were able to play at their pace. Their deliberate approach paid off as they defeated the Clippers 94-82, but they still trail the series 2-1.

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(NBA/SI)

OKC’s Serge Ibaka was the defensive catalyst in Game 2 with six blocked shots.

The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed headed for a classic collapse in Game 2 against the Houston Rockets. The Thunder blew a  fourth quarter lead, only to gain it back and hold off the inspired Rockets 105-102. The Thunder lead the series 2-0.

James Harden big night was offset by OKC’s duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Thunder forward Serge Ibaka was a defensive anchor with six blocked shots.

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(David Zalubowski/AP)

Bad News Barnes: Harrison Barnes’ reverse dunk was the highlight of the Warriors Game 2 victory.

The Golden State Warriors shot a blistering 65 percent from the field and 56 percent from beyond the arc in their Game 2 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Denver — who is one of the NBA’s best defensive teams, was torched for 105 points over the final three quarters. The best of seven series is even at one game apiece.

Golden State was without leading rebounder David Lee — who is out for the series. Rookie Harrison Barnes pick up some of the offensive slack — scoring 24 points, including 17 in the second half.

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(China.org)

Chris Paul’s lay up gave the Clippers a 93-91 victory and a 2-0 series lead.

Chris Paul’s floater with :01 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Los Angeles Clippers a 93-91 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of their first-round series. Memphis trailed by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter before going on a 9-2 run — which tied the game with 1:37 remaining. Chris Paul and Marc Gasol exchanged baskets to even things at 91. Paul’s bucket off the glass sealed the victory for the Clippers.

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(GMA Network)

Andre Miller watches his game-winning shot in the Nuggets Game 1 victory. 

The opening games of the 2013 NBA Playoffs saw the home teams hold serve in impressive fashion. The unheralded and under-appreciated Andre Miller scored a game-high 28 points, including the game-winning layup with 1.2. seconds remaining as the Nuggets held off the upstart Golden State Warriors 97-95 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Warriors suffered a devastating blow when they lost forward David Lee for the remainder of the playoffs with a hip flexor injury.

Paul George notched the first triple-double by an Indiana Pacer since Mark Jackson in 1998. George was only 3-13 from the field but he converted 17 of 18 free throws. Indiana handled the Atlanta Hawks rather easily in a 107-90 victory.

Here are the results from Sunday’s games.

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(Yahoo)

Cleveland Gladiators wideout Jamar Howard caught two second half touchdown passes.

The Cleveland Gladiators came into their contest against the American Conference Champion Philadelphia Soul winless and in dire need of a break or two. After allowing a score in their first defensive series, the Soul opened up a 14-point lead. In the second half, momentum slowly shifted to Cleveland. The Soul offense was stifled and the Gladiators were able to spoil the Soul home opener 64-57 in overtime.

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(UOL.com)

Fans unfamiliar with Indiana’s Paul George will be in for a treat.

The NBA’s second season begins with some highly anticipated series on tap. In the East the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks continue their heated rivalry for at least another four games. Paul George has assumed the lead role in Indiana and is prepared to introduce himself to the national spotlight against the Atlanta Hawks. Playoffs basketball returns to Brooklyn as the Nets and Chicago Bulls tangle.

In the West, the Denver Nuggets will try to slow down the high-scoring Golden State Warriors. The Memphis Grizzlies are looking to avenge last season’s playoff loss against the Los Angeles Clippers. Finally, can the Los Angeles Lakers pull together without Kobe Bryant and knock off the injury-prone San Antonio Spurs?

Here are my first-round predictions.

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(Jaime Squires/Getty Images)

Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.

The 2013 NFL schedule has been released and fans around the country have circled dates on their calendar. There are grudge matches from last year’s playoffs as well as players and coaches facing their former teams.

Here are the games I have marked as must see T.V.

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(USA Today)

Is Byron Scott to blame for the Cleveland Cavaliers reluctance to rebuild?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have removed head coach Byron Scott of his duties. In three seasons, Scott coached the Cavs to a record of 64-166 (.278).

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(Yahoo)

The Lakers have banded together in Kobe Bryant’s absence to grab the West’s 7th seed.

The Los Angeles Lakers are more deserving of a spot in the NBA playoffs than any team I can think of. Injuries, the firing of Mike Brown, the early struggles under Mike D’Antoni, sniping between Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant, the criticism of Pau Gasol and the passing of beloved owner Jerry Buss were enough excuses for the Lakers to pack it in. The season-ending injury to Kobe Bryant pointed all but confirmed the latter.

Not only have the Lakers made it to the postseason, they’ve earned the seventh seed with a critical 99-95 victory over the Houston Rockets. The Lakers will open the first round against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

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(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE /Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Clippers season has been full of more highs than lows. Defeating the Sacramento Kings in the season finale awards the Clippers home court in the first round of the playoffs. Vinny Del Negro’s group moved closer to their goal with a 93-77 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers for their sixth straight win.

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(Atlanta Journal Constitutional)

The Emmy-Award winning voice of Pat Summerall will be missed by fans of all sports.

Pat Summerall, one half of the greatest broadcasting duo in sports history has passed  away at age 82. Summerall was paired with former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden in 1981. The NFL’s dynamic broadcasting duo worked together for 22 years on two different networks.

Summerall played ten seasons as a placekicker for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Cardinals and the New York Giants.

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The Negro League Museum began in a one room office in 1990.

As your grandmother heads out to the porch just like any other day, you wonder what runs through her mind as she rocks…quiet and sipping her usual tea through the cultured edges of the proudest of smiles. You, your brother and sister run around the big tree that is mere yards away from the dusty diamond with the rusty backstop. The three of you have gloves, worn baseballs and new bats propped against the oak’s massive trunk. Your sister is the youngest at 7. Her bat is pink and has a lot of pop. She has that good fire in her eyes. You are 12 and your brother is 9. He’s the speedy one. You are the pitcher of promise. An all star on your pop’s team. Dinner was so good and you couldn’t wait to get outside and onto that field. Ever so often each of you glance over to her to see if that last sip is finally gone. She puts down cup that he gave her, gets that old glove out of the basket beside her chair and walks over to play the lovely game her father also loved. The game the Philadelphia Star pictured all over the household walls gave his soul to and collectively, the baseball spirits of the aforementioned ride instinctively through the three of you. Yes, you the siblings of Negro League legacy. This is what the dream should be and hopefully will be on this day…Jackie Robinson Day.

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(CBS Sports)

Paul Milsap and the Utah Jazz need a win combined with an LA Lakers loss to get into the NBA postseason.

Tomorrow night, the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers’ respective seasons have come down to one game. The Jazz defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 96-80. The victory sets up a meaningful game Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers face the Houston Rockets. The math here is simple: A Jazz win and Lakers loss and Utah is in. A Lakers victory eliminates the Jazz. Utah holds the first tie-breaker.

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(Charles Krupa/Associated Press)

The earliest reports have 23 injured with two fatalities after two explosions at the 117th running of the Boston Marathon.

One of the most historical days in Boston has been marred by tragedy. Two explosions occurred at the north side of Boyleston Street, near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

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