WASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards are inching closer to their first playoff spot since 2008 and can earn a post-season berth Sunday if the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks.
[b]Johnny Bench Jersey[/b] . After the Wizards sloppy 101-97 win over the free-falling Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night, they insisted theyre not looking ahead -- at least not publicly. "If the Knicks lose, Ill be more excited. Id know Id be playing in the playoffs," John Wall said. Wall scored 25 points and Drew Gooden added 16 for Washington, which is sixth in the Eastern Conference. Wall scored 13 points in the last 7:16 of the third quarter and the Wizards finally escaped the pesky Hawks, who have lost six straight and 20 of 26. Jeff Teague scored 19 points and Paul Millsap 17 for Atlanta. Washington had to overcome a slow start coming off its impressive 13-point win over Eastern Conference leader Indiana on Friday to beat the Hawks, who lead the Knicks by 1 1/2 games for the final playoff berth in the East. They also had to deal with the effects of a Saturday afternoon hockey game at the Verizon Center. Because of the Washington Capitals game with the Boston Bruins, the starting time of the Wizards game was pushed back an hour. The changeover left the floor slippery and may have caused a groin injury to Washington forward Trevor Ariza. "Good thing nobody got seriously injured, but we got to work on that. Somebody couldve really got hurt. We got to keep ourselves safe," Ariza said. "I tried to play the game as fast as I can all the time, but after I fell and slipped, I slowed down for sure." He finished with 13 points. Bradley Beal had 14. "That floor was awful tonight. I apologize for that," coach Randy Wittman said. Washington led 99-89 with 2:38 to play, but the Hawks scored eight straight including three free throws by Lou Williams and a three-point play by Teague with 39.8 to play. Teagues three points came immediately after Wall missed two foul shots. With the Wizards leading 99-97, Marcin Gortat blocked Teagues shot with 11.1 seconds left. Gooden was fouled by Teague and hit two free throws to secure the win. "We call this fatigue. We call this fatigue and too relaxed. Im glad we won that game. Otherwise, Id probably shoot myself at home," Gortat said. He had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Wittman wasnt pleased with how his team closed out the game. "Disappointed in that, but theres not a bad win in this league. Well take the win," Wittman said. Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer, whose team played well despite missing three of its five leading scorers, had been hoping for a comeback. "Its amazing how long an NBA game is and what can happen in the last two minutes," Budenholzer said. The game was interrupted countless times by the condensation, which seemed to bother Wizards players more than Hawks. It was reminiscent of a Jan. 11 game that featured two lengthy stoppages when a heavy rainstorm hit the area and delayed Washingtons game with Houston. The Hawks started hot, hitting seven of their first eight shots and running out to a 21-11 advantage, but Washington got eight late points from Gooden, outscoring the Hawks 16-7 in the last 4:31 to lead 28-27 after one. Thanks to nine points in the last five minutes by Pero Antic, Atlanta led 52-50 at halftime. Walls third-quarter offensive display gave the Wizards a 75-71 lead after going into the fourth. NOTES: Washington F/C Nene, who has missed 17 games with a left knee sprain is progressing, though Wittman isnt guessing when he may return. "Hes going on the floor a little bit, on his own, just kind of getting on his legs a little bit," Wittman said. "Where that takes us I dont know. Hes going in a good direction." ... Atlanta was without G/F Kyle Korver (back spasms) and G DeMarre Carroll (stomach virus). ... Wizards G Andre Miller was called for a flagrant foul on Hawks G Dennis Schroder in the fourth quarter, but Schroder missed both foul shots.
[b]Joey Votto Jersey[/b] . The 49ers announced the deal Thursday. San Francisco selected Kilgore in the fifth round of the 2011 draft out of Appalachian State. He has played in 33 regular-season games, plus all six playoff games the last two seasons.
[b]Billy Hamilton Jersey[/b] .Chanathip Songkrasin opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Kroekrit found the target twice in the 57th and four minutes from fulltime.Vietnam and Malaysia play their second leg on Thursday. Vietnam won the first leg 2-1.INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts victory over Peyton Manning came at a hefty price. Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. News of Waynes injury hit hard at the team complex. Second-year receiver T.Y. Hilton expressed sadness about losing his mentor. Coach Chuck Pagano tried to lean on his standard line about replacing injured players, though it didnt come with quite the same passion, and Luck blamed himself for putting Wayne in harms way with a low, underthrown ball late in the game against Denver. "Looking back it again today, there was really no one within 30 yards of him. He probably would have scored if I actually give him a decent ball. I feel somewhat responsible for the whole thing," Luck said. "I think I feel sick to my stomach about it a little bit." Wayne, who was not hit on the play, immediately clutched his right knee and stayed on the ground for several minutes as Luck, longtime friend Antoine Bethea, other teammates and a group of trainers gathered around. After making the short walk to the Colts sideline, the man who had played in 189 consecutive games limped into the locker room with tears in his eyes knowing that his season was likely over. Pagano and teammates were hoping for the best. Instead, they got the worst possible news, and theres no doubt Waynes absence will hurt the AFC South leaders. The perennial Pro Bowler leads his team with 38 catches and 503 yards this season. In 13 seasons, all with the Colts, he has 1,006 receptions, 13,506 yards and 80 TD catches -- second in each category on the franchises career charts, behind only ex-teammate Marvin Harrison and ahead of Hall of Famer Raymond Berry. But Waynes impact cant be measured merely by stats. When the Colts (5-2) decided to cut ties with more than a half-dozen high-priced veterans, including Manning, following Indys dismal 2-14 season, Wayne was one of the few holdovers who decided to stick around and rebuild. He even took less money to stay in his adopted hometown, and quickly emerged as a centerpiece of the Colts incredible turnaround. He always plays with passion, which was never more evident than last October against Green Bay. In Indys first game after Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia, Wayne caught 13 passes for 212 yards and almost single-handedly willed the Colts from a 17-3 deficit to a 30-27 victory that ended with Waynes orange gloves, a tribute to Pagano, barely crossing the goal line with 35 seconds to go. Its one of the reasons Pagano believes Wayne will return next season at full throttle. "Hes not going out like this. Hes not going to leave this game like this. Theres no way," said Pagano, who first met Wayne when they were working together at the University of Miami. "Hell fight, hell get his surgery, and hell rehab and hell grind like nobodys ever grinded. Hell do whatever it takes to get back on that football field -- even if its to catch one more pass, make one more block, do one more thing to help this organization win a football game, hell do it.
[b]Brandon Finnegan Jersey[/b]. But hes not going out like this." Pagano did not say when Wayne would have surgery though it takes most athletes a year to come back. Some require 18 to 24 months, though Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson did it quicker than that. Peterson came back in nine months and went on to win last seasons MVP Award. The then-30-year-old Woodson returned to play in the Super Bowl following the 1995 season after tearing up his knee in that seasons opener. Obstacles can be more difficult for older athletes such as Wayne, who turns 35 next month and will be heading into the final year of his contract next season. "There is a thought that the recovery process might be a little slower in athletes as they get older, but there arent any real studies that show its harder to recover," said Dr. David Geier, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, S.C. "We think being a high-level athlete in good shape can help because we know that the strength of the muscle going in plays a role how fast you get back. But being a higher level athlete, also means you have a higher bar to achieve to getting back." The Colts have seen this scenario before. In 2007, the then 35-year-old Harrison injured his knee while making a block when another player rolled up on the back of his leg. He missed most of that season and was never the same. He finished 2008 with 60 catches for 636 yards and five TDs but never played another down in the NFL after that season. Pagano doesnt believe it will happen to Wayne. "You just look in the mans eye. When he tells you hes going to do something, I can just look in his eye," Pagano said. "Again, Ive known him for a long time and watched him work over the years and he says Ill be back, I trust hell be back." Since dealing with a high ankle sprain and a sprained knee, which cost him three games as a rookie in 2001, Wayne had not missed a game. That streak that will officially end Nov. 3 at Houston when the Colts return from their bye week. Pagano would not say if the Colts will shop for another replacement. For now, they plan to go with the receivers already on the roster -- Hilton, Darrius Heyward-Bey, LaVon Brazill and David Reed -- and perhaps activate one or both of the teams practice squad, DaRick Rogers or Griff Whalen. Losing Wayne hurts even more because of what has already happened to Indys offence. Starting tight end Dwayne Allen (hip), Indys top two running backs, Vick Ballard (knee) and Ahmad Bradshaw (neck), and starting left guard Donald Thomas (quad) are already on season-ending injured reserve. Wayne is likely to join that list soon. "The first thing out of his mouth is he feels like he let his teammates down because he cant be there now. Thats how unselfish this guy is," Pagano said. "Like I told you, he could give a hoot about the numbers, all that stuff. He just wants to play and help us win a championship. Thats what hes dealing with right now."
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