Steve Kerr and the Phoenix Suns got their revenge against former Suns head coach, Mike D’Antoni earlier this season when Phoenix beat New York 111-103 at US Airways Center. This time however, it was D’Antoni who would get the last laugh.
The Suns got out to an early 24-11 lead in the first quarter, but once again were unable to maintain their lead. By the end of the first quarter the Suns lead was cut to just four. By the end of the third quarter they trailed by five and would eventually lose by that same margin.
Phoenix lost their second straight, and for the fourth time in their last 5 games. The Suns now find themselves tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Jason Richardson scored a game high 27 points, firing 21 shots, but was just 2-6 from downtown. Richardson’s 27 points surpassed his previous Phoenix scoring high of 21, which he has reached on three separate occasions.
It was however the Knicks’ bench that stole the show. D’Antoni received much criticism while in Phoenix for not using his bench enough, but continues to use his bench effectively in New York.
Knicks’ reserves, Al Harrington, Nate Robinson, Tim Thomas, and Danilo Gallinari combined to score 57 points in 99 minutes. The Suns bench of Matt Barnes, Louis Amundson, Leandro Barbosa, and Alando Tucker scored just 18 points in 56 minutes.
The Suns actually shot a better percentage from the field (47%) than the Knicks (46%) but went just 5-15 from downtown and 22-36 (61%) from the free-throw line.
The Knicks’ David Lee had another big game, scoring 25 points while collecting 16 boards. Shaquille O’Neil and Amare Stoudemire combined for just 16 rebounds, thanks to Amare’s continued lack of effort on the glass. Stoudemire had just 4 rebounds in 39 minutes.
Stoudemire had just 1 rebound against Boston in 30 minutes on Monday night, and is now averaging just 5.2 boards in his last five games.
Steve Nash was just 3-9 from the field, but had one of his better performances of the year as he dished out a season high 19 assists.
The Suns dropped to 1-2 on their 6 game East coast road trip. Their trip continues Friday evening in Charlotte as they face former Suns Raja Bell and Boris Diaw.
Since joining the Bobcats, Diaw is averaging 13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game in his starting role. In a reserve role with Phoenix Diaw averaged 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Raja Bell has increased his scoring average by 2 points to 11.1/game.
Hell just got a little bit colder on Sunday afternoon as the Arizona Cardinals are now one win away from their first Super Bowl title in franchise history. The Cardinals looked liked the team of destiny as they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25 at University of Phoenix Stadium and kept their dream season alive.
Once again, another one of the NFL’s top defensive teams was unable to stop the Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald offensive tandem, as Warner found Fitzgerald three times for touchdowns in the first half.
The first came with 9:20 to play in the first quarter. Warner was able to find Fitzgerald on a 3rd down and 7 for a 9 yard TD pass. The Eagles however, would answer back with a David Akers 45 yard field goal on their next drive, cutting the Arizona lead to 7-3.
The Eagles had a chance to trim the Cardinals’ lead further on their next possession; however Arizona dodged a bullet when Akers missed a 47 yard field goal attempt. The miss was Akers first post-season FG miss in his last 20 attempts.
On the next drive Arizona would once again turn to a trick play as Kurt Warner threw a pass to J.J. Arrington who tossed the ball back to Warner. Warner fired a pass to who else but Larry Fitzgerald who made one of his patented highlight-reel catches and ran the ball in for a 62 yard TD score to put the Cards up 14-3.
The Eagles would threaten again on their next drive after Donovan McNabb completed a pass to Kevin Curtis for a gain of 47 yards. With the ball on the Arizona 19 yard line, the Cards “D” would once again get stingy, forcing the Eagles to settle for a field goal to make it 14-6.
The Cardinals answered back on their very next drive when Kurt Warner connected with Larry Fitzgerald for his third TD reception of the first half to put Arizona up 21-6.
The Cards “D” would hold Philly again, and Neil Rackers would add a 49 yard field goal with .03 seconds left in the half to give Arizona a 24-6 lead at halftime.
Things got scary for the Cards in the 3rd quarter as Donovan McNabb awakened and the Eagles defense held Arizona to just 6 yards of total offense in the quarter.
Philadelphia cut the lead to 24-13 as McNabb found Brent Celek for a TD with 4:08 remaining in the third. McNabb would again hook up with Celek three minutes later on a 31 yard TD reception. Akers however would miss the extra point, making it 24-19 Cards.
Things would get worse before they got better for Arizona. With 10:45 to go in the fourth quarter Philly took a 25-24 lead on a 62 yard pass to DeSean Jackson. The Eagles went for the 2-point conversion but failed, meaning Arizona could take the lead with just a field goal.
Arizona took over with just over 10 minutes to play, and their dream season on the line. Kurt Warner and the Cardinals managed to put together an incredible 14 play drive that ate 7:52 off the clock. On a third and goal from the Philadelphia 8 yard line, Warner dumped the ball off to Tim Hightower who ran it in for the score. Warner would then find TE Ben Patrick to make good on the 2-point conversion and put Arizona up by a TD, 32-25.
The Eagles managed to make it past mid field to the AZ 47 yard line, but would get no further, as Donovan McNabb went 0-4 on passing attempts and Philadelphia turned the ball over to Arizona with 1:57 to play.
The Cardinals once again played underdog and are now one win away from becoming top dog!
Arizona won its first NFC Championship and earned its first ever trip to the Super Bowl. The Cardinals’ 62 year championship drought is the second longest in North American professional sports. Only the Chicago Cubs have gone longer, 100 years, without winning a title.
The Cardinals will play for the Super Bowl XLIII title on February 1 in Tampa, FL vs. the Pittsburg Steelers who beat the Baltimore Ravens 23-14 on Sunday evening.
The Arizona Cardinals’ Pro Bowl receiver, Anquan Boldin has declared himself ready to play Sunday vs. the Eagles after practicing on Wednesday.
Boldin’s strained hamstring has kept him absent from first two Cardinals playoff games against the Falcons and Panthers. Boldin is one of three Cardinals receivers with over 1,000 receiving yards on the season.
In Arizona’s 48-20 Thanksgiving Day loss to Philadelphia, Boldin had 5 receptions for 63 yards, but fumbled the ball twice and dropped a TD pass in the end zone. Afterwards Boldin called the game his worst in the NFL.
The Arizona Cardinals needed help from Leslie’s Pool Supply to sell out their first home playoff game in 62 years last week, but needed just six minutes on Sunday afternoon to sell our their first NFC Championship game.
The Cards and their fans found out they would be hosting the NFC Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium next Sunday after the Eagles beat the Giants 23-11.
Tickets went on sale about an hour after the game, at 3PM Arizona time and were sold out in just six minutes.
Last week the NFL had to grant the Cardinals two 24 hour extensions to sell out their game against the Falcons and avoid a local television blackout of the game, but with the Cards one win from the Super Bowl no such extensions will be needed this time.
After beating the Carolina Panthers 33-13 on Saturday night, the Arizona Cardinals and their fans anxiously awaited the outcome of the Eagles vs. Giants game Sunday afternoon to find out whether they’d be hosting their first NFC Championship game.
The stars aligned perfectly for the Cards Sunday afternoon as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Giants 23-11. Meaning, the Arizona Cardinals, who were deemed unworthy by many in the media to even be in the playoffs, are now one win away from the Super Bowl. Even better, they will get to play the NFC title game at University of Phoenix Stadium with a home field advantage.
The game is scheduled for 1PM Arizona time next Sunday, January 18 and will air on FOX.
Tickets to the NFC title game in Glendale are sold out, but can still be purchased online at StubHub.
The Carolina Panthers scored the first and last touchdowns of the game, but the Cardinals did everything right in-between as they upset the Panthers 33-13 Saturday night to advance to the NFC Championship game.
Arizona did the unthinkable, shutting down the Panthers running game, and handing Carolina its first loss of the season at home, while picking up their first win of the season on the East coast.
Carolina ran the ball down Arizona’s throat on their first drive of the game, as a Jonathan Stewart 9 yard TD run put the Panthers up 7-0. Carolina would hold Arizona on their next drive, forcing a punt. That would however be the last time the Cardinals would punt in the first half.
After a three-n-out on the ensuing Panther’s drive, Kurt Warner was able to find Larry Fitzgerald once again in double coverage, to haul in a 41 yard pass with another incredible catch. The play put the Cards inside the Carolina 10 yard line, leading to a Tim Hightower 3 yard touchdown reception three plays later.
Jake Delhomme committed his first of six turnovers on the very next Carolina play, fumbling the ball on a Antonio Smith sack and recovery. With the ball on the Panthers’ 13, Warner found an open Edgerrin James to put the Cardinals within 4 yards of the lead. James would run the ball up the middle on the next play, as the Cardinals took the lead 14-7.
Pass interference was called on the Cardinals Antrel Rolle on Carolinas’ ensuing drive, putting the Panthers in the Red Zone with an opportunity to tie the game at 14.
The Big Red defense would however deny that opportunity, as Domique Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Delhomme’s pass intended for Steve Smith on the goal line and returned the ball 19 yards to the AZ 20 yard line.
Arizona put together a 9 play, 49 yard drive thanks to the rushing of Edgerrin James who ran for 57 yards on 20 carries. The drive set up a Neil Rackers field goal which built the Cards lead to 17-7.
Again the Arizona “D” would hold Carolina to another three-n-out, and Rackers’ would add another field goal on the Card’s next drive. 20-7 AZ.
Carolina took over with 5:28 to play in the first half, but Delhomme would turn the ball over once again on the first play of the drive, this time finding the Cardinals’ linebacker, Gerald Hayes. Three plays later Warner would again connect with Fitzgerald on a 29 yard touchdown pass to give the Cards a 27-7 lead.
Arizona had an opportunity to add another score before half, but Neil Rackers 53 yard FG attempt with three seconds remaining in the half went just 52 yards.
Warner would throw his only interception of the game early in the third quarter, giving Carolina the ball at the Arizona 31. As if on cue, Delhomme fired another interception off a deflected pass two plays later. Anrtel Rolle ended up with the ball, returning it 47 yards to the Panthers’ 26 yard line. Rackers would add a 33 yard FG to put AZ up 30-7.
The Panthers were never able to stage a comeback, as Delhomme connected with two more Arizona defensive players, Ralph Brown, and Rod Hood to give him five interceptions and six total turnovers on his nightmare of a birthday.
Rackers hit one more field goal, and the Delhomme would finally find Smith for a touchdown with under a minute to play, as Arizona beat-up on the Panthers 33-13.
Arizona once again out-rushed their opponent, holding Carolina running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to a combined 75 yards. Tim Hightower and Edgerrin James combined for 133 of the Cardinals’ 145 rushing yards.
Even without Anquan Boldin who sat out the game with a hamstring injury, Kurt Warner threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 21/32. Larry Fitzgerald set a Cardinals post-season receiving record with 166 yards on 8 catches.
The Cardinals will await the winner of the Eagles vs. Giants which kicks-off at 11AM Arizona time tomorrow afternoon. If the Eagles beat the Giants, the Cardinals will host Philadelphia next weekend at University of Phoenix Stadium. If the Giants win the Cardinals will play at NY.
Anquan Boldin sat out practice this week to rest his injured hamstring, waiting until right before game time to test it out. The results of the test were not were not good for Arizona, who will be without one of their two Pro Bowl receivers tonight in their second round playoff game vs. the Carolina Panthers.
Boldin injured himself on a 71 yard TD scoring play last week in the Cards 30-24 victory over the Falcons.
Boldin had 9 receptions for 63 yards and two touchdowns when Arizona played at Carolina in week 8.
The No. 16 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils continued their early season domination as they destroyed the Oregon Ducks on Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. ASU has looked impressive in their three Pac 10 victories so far this season, beating Stanford, Oregon State, and Oregon by an average of 26.3 points.
The Devils are now 3-1 in Pac 10 play with their only loss coming at Cal.
With 8:40 remaining in the first half, ASU trailed by a point, but made one of their patented first half runs, outscoring the Ducks 23-8 over the remainder of the first half to take a 41-25 lead at halftime.
The Devils never looked back, ballooning their lead to 26 points in the second half.
Four of Arizona State’s five starters scored in double figures as Jeff Pendergraph had 10, Rihards Kuksiks 13, Derek Glasser 15, and James Harden 19. Harden had a rougher go of it this time, shooting just 5-12 from the field, including just 1-6 from downtown and 8-13 from the charity stripe.
Pendergraph fouled out, playing just 18 minutes while scoring 10 points on 5-7 shooting and grabbing 7 boards. Junior guard, Derek Glasser was impressive, scoring a season high 15 points and dishing out a career high 11 assists in 36 minutes.
ASU received significant contributions from Eric Boateng and Jamelle McMillan off the bench. Boateng collected 7 points, 6 rebounds, and two blocks in his 22 minutes while McMillan scored 10 points on 3-7 shooting from behind the arc.
The Sun Devils “D” clamped down again, holding their opponent to under 40% field goal shooting for the second straight game. ASU kept three of the Ducks’ five starters scoreless from the field; LeKendric Longmire was the only starter to score in double figures with 15.
Herb Sendek’s squad will face their biggest challenge so far this season when they embark on a three game Pac 10 road trip to face 10-4 USC, 12-2 #7 ranked UCLA, and 11-5 University of Arizona which begins on Thursday.
The number 16 ranked ASU men’s basketball team improved to 13-2 on the season, and 2-1 in Pac 10 play Thursday evening, as they skinned the Oregon State Beavers 69-38.
The Devils were led by James Harden’s 22 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds. While Harden’s 22 points is below his season average of 23.4 points/game, impressive was the fact that his 22 came on a blistering 10 of 12 shooting from the field (that’s 83%!). Harden’s only two misses came on three pointers, including one that he fired up with one second left in the first half.
ASU led 19-15 with 3:53 remaining in the first half before making their run. By halftime the Devils had increased their lead to 30-15. Oregon State wouldn’t score again until the 14:23 mark of the second half, by then the Devils had built a 39-17 lead.
The Beavers’ starters combined to score just 12 points on 6-18 shooting, while their bench scored 26 points on 10-26 shooting. As a team Oregon State shot just 36.4% from the field and 40% from the free throw line.
Meanwhile the Sun Devils were on fire, hitting 62.2% of their shots from the field.
Jeff Pendergraph was 3-5 from the field for 7 points and sophomore forward Rihards Kuksiks contributed 13 off the bench.
The Devils will host the 6-9 Oregon Ducks Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. Oregon is 0-3 in Pac 10 play, with losses to USC, UCLA, and UA.
Less than two weeks after signing back-up point guard Dee Brown, the Suns handed him his pink slip Tuesday. Brown played 28 minutes in just two games for Phoenix, averaging 2.5 points and 1.5 assists per game.
There is speculation that the Suns released Brown in order to pursue point guard Shaun Livingston who was released by the Miami Heat today. Livingston backed up Sam Cassel in Los Angeles for two seasons, averaging 9.3 points and 5.1 assists per game during the 2006-07 season.
Livingston, the number four overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, performed so well for the Clippers in his three seasons that he was expected to take over the starting role after Sam Cassel left.
Unfortunately for Livingston, he suffer a career-threatening injury late in the 2006-07 season, dislocating his kneecap and snapping his leg in a game against the Bobcats.
Livingston was out for twelve months while he rehabbed from his injury. He signed up the Miami Heat before the 2008-09 season, but has played in just four games for the Heat, averaging 2.3 points and 1 assist per game.
