ORLANDO, Fla. -- James Harden scored 31 points, including 25 in the second half, and the Houston Rockets dug out of a double-digit, first-half hole to beat the Orlando Magic 101-89 on Wednesday night. The Rockets dominated inside, outscoring the Magic 58-26 in the paint. Dwight Howard added 19 points and 14 rebounds in his second trip to Orlando to face his former team. Houston trailed in the second quarter by as many as 14 points, but battled back to win for the 13th time in 15 outings. Arron Afflalo led the Magic with 18 points. The Magic dropped to 0-2 this season against the Rockets. Orlando played without Jameer Nelson and Victor Oladipo. Nelson was out sick and Oladipo missed his first game of the season with soreness in his left ankle. Howard scored 11 points in the third quarter, connecting on five of his six field-goal attempts, to help the Rockets take 10-point lead into the fourth. The Magics second unit surged at the start of the period, and cut the deficit to three and prompted the Rockets to quickly re-insert their starters. Harden immediately scored five straight points, and Terrence Jones added a layup to push Houstons lead back up to 86-76 with 5:37 to play. Orlando never got closer than eight points the rest of the way. Orlando fans greeted Howard with a round of boos during player introductions and another the first time he touched the ball after the game tipped off. Howard briefly silenced them, slamming down a dunk on the Rockets first possession. It was one of his few highlights early, though, as the Magic rode hot early shooting and jumped out to a 14-point first-quarter advantage on the way to a 48-41 halftime lead. The Magic did honour Howard, with a video tribute on the scoreboard between the first and second quarter as part of the teams season-long 25th anniversary celebration. But even that was met with sporadic boos during the presentation from fans. Howard said before the game that he thought the video package could bring about some emotion. He was on the bench when it was played, but managed a slight smile as the booing persisted. It continued whenever Howard touched the ball, and he struggled at different points in the half, finishing with just seven points. Orlando started the half connecting on 10 of its first 14 field-goal attempts. That cooled to 44 per cent by halftime, with Houston holding a 26-18 advantage on scoring inside the paint, and 28-18 rebounding edge. Notes: Oladipo had been the only Magic player to appear every game this season before Wednesday. Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said the rookies injury doesnt stem from a particular incident, but is just general soreness. ... Former NBA player Grant Hill sat courtside. . The traditional pre-Masters event was halted early due to inclement weather. Harrington, who tied for first in 2003 and won in 2004, became the first three-time champion of the event. . Dumont, a fifth round draft pick of the Canadiens in 2009, has four assists and 20 penalty minutes in 12 games with the Bulldogs this season. The 23-year-old split last season between Hamilton and Montreal, recording 16 goals and 15 assists in 55 regular season games with the Bulldogs.
http://www.cheapchiefsjerseyssale.com/? ... ersey-sale. In this weeks Leaf Report podcast, James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel debate whether Toronto can continue their shootout dominance and discuss what Dave Nonis game plan should be heading into the trade deadline. . -- Challenged for the first time under Major League Baseballs expanded replay system, umpires got it right. . McCutchen was cut before the series opener against Seattle on Monday night, when Lewis was set for his first start for Texas since July 18, 2012. Texas selected Lewis contract from Triple-A Round Rock.NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Zach Mettenberger knows exactly what happens when he doesnt use the proper technique when throwing to his left.I throw picks to the other team, the Titans rookie quarterback said Wednesday.Mettenberger quickly took blame for his pass to the left sideline Monday night picked off by a Steelers cornerback and returned for a touchdown, just an example of how he readily steps up for mistakes even when he could point a finger elsewhere. That accountability is what teammates want in their quarterback as a telling point of how someone reacts under pressure.Any mistake a receiver or a tight end makes theyre going to blame it on the quarterback, and he understands that, tight end Delanie Walker said. For him not to go pointing fingers, thats what you need in a quarterback. Hes a leader in the making.Mettenberger credits Cam Cameron, his offensive co-ordinator at LSU, with teaching him to handle the responsibility that goes along with being quarterback including shouldering the blame.I can take it, Mettenberger said. Ive been in a lot of situations in my life where it wasnt looking good for me, so Id rather take the blame than maybe some guy who cant mentally handle it and put him in a jar.That kind of leadership is why the Titans turned to Mettenberger last month as their starting quarterback as they try to determine if the sixth-round draft pick out of LSU can be their quarterback into the future. So far the results have been mixed so far from the strong-armed rookie already dubbed CannonBerger by a former college teammate in Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.Three starts into his NFL career, Mettenberger already has the best passer rating among four rookies who have started this season, but he wants a win more even as the Titans are rallying around their rookie. Blake Bortles of Jacksonville and Minnesotas Teddy Bridgewater already have won as starters.Ive got to keep working, Mettenberger said. Ive yet to get a win, and really thats the most important thing. And its kind of eating at me.So far, Mettenberger is throwing the ball well enough. He has completed 61.9 per cent of his passes with five touchdowns and four interceptions, and he had his best thrrow of the season Monday night hitting wide receiver Nate Washington in stride for an 80-yard touchdown.dddddddddddd Hes also becoming more comfortable with people falling at his feet leaving even less space in the pocket.The rookie also stepped in at one of the tougher stretches in the schedule with games at Baltimore and Monday night against Pittsburgh. Now the Titans prepare to visit Philadelphia (7-3), and Eagles coach Chip Kelly has been impressed by Mettenbergers arm and ability to stand in the pocket.He doesnt seem to be affected by the rush, Kelly said on a conference call. Sometimes you worry about that with a young quarterback. Is he going to look at the rush or look down the field and try to complete the ball? He stands in there and throws the ball and delivers it. I think theyre giving him a little bit more as the games go along, as he starts to kind of pile up some experience there.Mettenberger went from being sacked five times at Baltimore on Nov. 9 to not being sacked once by the Steelers. Whisenhunt said Mettenberger is doing a nice job handling protections and changing plays at the line keeping everyone on the same page. Throwing the ball faster also helped. Teammates noticed with a number of players talking to the rookie after the game.I think thats an indication of leadership, Whisenhunt said.Mettenberger also talked briefly with one of his big role models in Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and the rookie said Big Ben had a lot of encouraging words for him.For him to take time there and talk to me was a really big deal for me, Mettenberger said.Notes: TE Delanie Walker (concussion) said he was knocked out for a couple minutes when hurt Nov. 9. He is expected to be cleared by a doctor Thursday after the Titans decided Sunday not to play him against Pittsburgh. ... The Titans had a light practice Wednesday and didnt even wear helmets. WR Justin Hunter (knee) was limited with CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (back). DB Marqueston Huff (hamstring) did not practice. S Daimion Stafford (shoulder) practiced fully.___Online:AP NFL website:
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