Cavs resume lengthy homestand vs. reeling Pacers
Basketball Betting Lines
02/15/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will play their fourth game on a lengthy nine-game homestand tonight, when they entertain the Central Division- rival Indiana Pacers from Quicken Loans Arena.
Cleveland is in the midst of the longest homestand in franchise history, and the last team to have a residency of nine or more games was the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1999-00 season. After opening the homestand with a win versus the LA Clippers, Cleveland has dropped consecutive contests to Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
In Saturday's 99-84 loss to the 76ers, Antawn Jamison paced the undermanned Cavaliers with 20 points, while Ramon Sessions and Alonzo Gee had 19 and 17, respectively, in Cleveland's fifth loss in seven tries. Cleveland was playing its third straight game without its No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving because of a concussion. The Cavs were also without guard Anthony Parker (lower back spasms) and center Anderson Varejao (broken right wrist).
"Like I told the guys, this is the NBA, guys get hurt. It provides opportunities for other guys and you just have to be ready to play," Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott said. "Hopefully, we'll get over this little hangover tonight and be ready to play Wednesday."
Irving was cleared to resume playing by Cavaliers Team Physician Dr. AJ Cianflocco early Wednesday morning. Scott has also said center Semih Erden will start Wednesday against Indiana.
Scott's team is 5-7 in the Forest City this season and will also welcome the Heat, Kings, Pistons, Hornets and Celtics to town on the current homestand. Sessions has filled in for Irving and is averaging 12.9 points, 9.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds in his last seven games. Over his last six games, Jamison is averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Gee is posting 14.5 points per game in his previous eight. Cleveland has lost its last five games against Eastern Conference opponents.
Indiana hopes to put the brakes on a season-high four-game losing streak and is coming off Tuesday's 105-90 home loss versus Miami.
Despite outscoring the Heat by a 32-15 margin in the final stanza, the Pacers put themselves in a big hole early on and trailed 33-16 after the first 12 minutes of action and never recovered.
David West had 14 points, Paul George and A.J. Price both had 12 and Dahntay Jones and Roy Hibbert added 10 points apiece for the Pacers, who have lost five of six games and allowed 60-plus points in the first half for the second consecutive game.
"They came out and jumped all over us. There was no way that we could battle back from the hole that we dug for ourselves," said Jones. "They're one of the better teams in the NBA and they're not going to let you back in when they get you down the way they got us down tonight."
The Pacers, who are 10-7 away from home, will open a fairly easy three-game homestand versus the Nets, Bobcats and Hornets following tonight's game.
Indiana defeated the Cavaliers, 98-91, in overtime on Dec. 30 this season at home and has won six in a row in this series. Cleveland is still 13-7 in the previous 20 matchups with Indiana, which has won three straight after losing its last 10 trips to the Q.
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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