http://www.mail.com/organizations/3780-nba-central-division.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/organizations/3780-nba-central-division.html http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1760238-griffin-leads-streaking-clippers-bulls-94-89.html CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Paul liked the way the Los Angeles Clippers grinded out an ugly win when they were challenged. Blake Griffin had 22 points and 10 rebounds to help Los Angeles beat the Chicago Bulls 94-89 on Tuesday night for its seventh straight victory, the team's longest winning streak in two decades. Marco Belinelli hit a 3-pointer with less than ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 05:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1760238-griffin-leads-streaking-clippers-bulls-94-89.html 2012-12-12T05:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1759920-magic-johnson-lakers-play-inside-game.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Magic Johnson questioned new coach Mike D'Antoni's system with the slumping Los Angeles Lakers, saying "it doesn't fit the talent the Lakers have." The Lakers (9-12) fell to 4-8 in the 12 games since D'Antoni took over from the fired Mike Brown with a 100-94 loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday night in Cleveland. "I'm not down on him yet a... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1759920-magic-johnson-lakers-play-inside-game.html 2012-12-12T04:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1760036-irving-cavs-deal-lakers-loss-100-94.html CLEVELAND (AP) — There had to be a low point. The Los Angeles Lakers can only hope they've reached it. This chaotic season has gotten worse. Kyrie Irving scored 28 points in his return after missing 11 games with a broken finger, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-94 win over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, who look nothing like a team projected to win ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 03:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1760036-irving-cavs-deal-lakers-loss-100-94.html 2012-12-12T03:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1752356-miller-leads-nuggets-pacers-92-89.html INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Denver's Andre Miller brought back a blast from the past Friday night. The 36-year-old backup guard scored eight of his 15 points during a 10-0 run in the final three minutes, leading the Nuggets past the Indiana Pacers 92-89. Miller had a hand in all of the points, also getting an assist on JaVale McGee's dunk during the decisive spur... Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:55:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1752356-miller-leads-nuggets-pacers-92-89.html 2012-12-08T01:55:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1737524-rick-majerus-college-basketball-coach-dies.html ST. LOUIS (AP) — At Rick Majerus' final stop, the lone concession to the coach's health woes were the footstools stationed at each corner of the practice court. Close by anytime he needed a breather. Close enough, too, to jump up for some hands-on assistance with the proper stance or to lead a quick walkthrough. The jovial, basketball-obsessed coach who l... Sun, 02 Dec 2012 05:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1737524-rick-majerus-college-basketball-coach-dies.html 2012-12-02T05:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1734628-t-wolves-rubio-set-1st-practice-9-months.html MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For Ricky Rubio, the waiting has been the hardest part. Now that Minnesota's dynamic young point guard is achingly close to playing in his first game in nearly nine months, Rubio says it's important to be patient with his recovery from torn ligaments in his left knee. He was cleared to return to full-contact practice this week and is ex... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 20:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1734628-t-wolves-rubio-set-1st-practice-9-months.html 2012-11-30T20:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1727756-hills-clutch-shot-pushes-pacers-lakers-79-77.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant is often at his most dangerous when he's fighting the flu, and the ailing superstar carried the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink of yet another under-the-weather win. One dramatic shot by George Hill left the Indiana Pacers feeling a whole lot healthier. Hill's high-arching shot banked in over Dwight Howard with 0.1 seconds l... Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1727756-hills-clutch-shot-pushes-pacers-lakers-79-77.html 2012-11-28T06:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1712576-wizards-fall-to-0-9-with-96-89-loss-to-pacers.html WASHINGTON (AP) — After his Washington Wizards, the only winless team in the NBA, dropped to a franchise-worst 0-9, coach Randy Wittman sat down for his postgame news conference, sighed loudly, took a sip of water and glanced at the stat sheet. Wittman chose various ways to try to explain the Wizards' problems Monday night during a 96-89 loss to the India... Tue, 20 Nov 2012 03:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1712576-wizards-fall-to-0-9-with-96-89-loss-to-pacers.html 2012-11-20T03:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1712550-cavaliers-irving-month-with-broken-finger.html CLEVELAND (AP) — When the Cavaliers opened training camp, star point guard Kryrie Irving insisted he wasn't worried about being injury prone. Well, he's hurt again. Irving will miss at least one month with a broken left index finger, an injury the Cavs initially diagnosed as a bruise before tests revealed a fracture. The NBA's reigning rookie of the year ... Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:08:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1712550-cavaliers-irving-month-with-broken-finger.html 2012-11-20T01:08:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1701698-boozer-helps-bulls-outlast-suns-112-106-ot.html PHOENIX (AP) — Carlos Boozer's latest big game against Phoenix came in handy when the Chicago Bulls blew an 18-point lead. Boozer had 28 points and 14 rebounds, and the Bulls scored the first eight points in overtime to outlast the Suns 112-106 on Wednesday night. Boozer, who scored 31 against Phoenix in the previous meeting last season, was a force at po... Thu, 15 Nov 2012 05:21:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1701698-boozer-helps-bulls-outlast-suns-112-106-ot.html 2012-11-15T05:21:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1698816-derozan-leads-raptors-pacers-74-72.html INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Toronto Raptors had all of the excuses in the world. The Indiana Pacers, on the other hand, didn't. Jose Calderon scored with 4:05 left in the first quarter to give Toronto a 19-17 lead and the Raptors led the rest of the way, holding on to beat the Pacers 74-72 on Tuesday night to snap a four game skid. DeMar D... Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1698816-derozan-leads-raptors-pacers-74-72.html 2012-11-14T02:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1688786-durant-helps-thunder-edge-bulls-97-91.html CHICAGO (AP) — Oklahoma City went to Kevin Durant in the fourth quarter. Chicago was missing its best closer, so all the Bulls had to pitch in. Durant and Co. were just too much to overcome. The NBA scoring champion had 10 of his 24 points in the final period and the Thunder beat the Bulls 97-91 on Thursday night. "It was one of those games you have to gr... Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1688786-durant-helps-thunder-edge-bulls-97-91.html 2012-11-09T05:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1684968-pacers-without-granger-3-months.html INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana needs to find a long-term replacement for Danny Granger. Team officials announced Wednesday that the one-time All-Star forward is expected to miss up to three months after receiving an injection in his left knee to treat patellar tendinosis. Losing Granger for an extended period is a big blow for a team that entered this season... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:19:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1684968-pacers-without-granger-3-months.html 2012-11-07T18:19:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1683666-iguodala-lifts-nuggets-to-109-97-win-pistons.html DENVER (AP) — First, Andre Iguodala threw a bad pass. Then, he took too many steps. Two costly turnovers late in a close game. In his Denver home debut, no less. Miffed by his miscues, Iguodala went to work, scoring six of his 17 points over the final three minutes to help the Denver Nuggets hold off the Detroit Pistons 109-97 on Tuesday night. ... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 04:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1683666-iguodala-lifts-nuggets-to-109-97-win-pistons.html 2012-11-07T04:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1683480-deng-bulls-hand-magic-loss.html CHICAGO (AP) — For nearly three quarters, the Orlando Magic looked like the team that has been the surprise of young NBA season. Then, the Chicago Bulls found the right mix. Luol Deng scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 99-93 win over Orlando on Tuesday night, the Magic's first loss of the season. ... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 04:11:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1683480-deng-bulls-hand-magic-loss.html 2012-11-07T04:11:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1680982-spurs-beat-pacers-101-79-4-0-start.html SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs have won four NBA championships, made 32 playoff appearances and captured 18 division titles in their 40-year history. Yet for all their success, they had never opened a season with four straight victories. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the Spurs finally did so Monday night, rolling past the Indiana Pacers 101-79 to ... Tue, 06 Nov 2012 04:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1680982-spurs-beat-pacers-101-79-4-0-start.html 2012-11-06T04:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1678284-lakers-top-pistons-108-79-finally-1st-win.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol have raised enough championship trophies to realize they really shouldn't be getting excited about any win in the first week of November. After the Los Angeles Lakers stumbled through the past five weeks without winning any games anywhere, Kobe and Pau figured it's fine to enjoy a small victory. Dwight Howard s... Mon, 05 Nov 2012 05:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1678284-lakers-top-pistons-108-79-finally-1st-win.html 2012-11-05T05:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1675458-bobcats-snap-losing-streak-23-games.html CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Bobcats figured they'd set one dubious NBA record last season. They didn't need want start this season off by setting another. After finishing 7-59 and etching their name in the NBA annals with the worst winning percentage (.106) in league history last season, diminutive point guard Kemba Walker and the Bobcats made ce... Sat, 03 Nov 2012 08:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1675458-bobcats-snap-losing-streak-23-games.html 2012-11-03T08:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1675148-bobcats-snap-23-game-slide-beat-pacers-90-89.html CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The agony is over for Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats. Kemba Walker scored a career-high 30 points in Mike Dunlap's coaching debut and the Bobcats snapped a 23-game losing streak with a 90-89 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. The Bobcats lost their final 23 games last season to finish 7-59, the worst winning ... Sat, 03 Nov 2012 01:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1675148-bobcats-snap-23-game-slide-beat-pacers-90-89.html 2012-11-03T01:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1672580-jordan-im-committed-to-bobcats-long-haul.html CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan could no longer hide his frustration midway through the Bobcats' dismal season last year. Not wanting anyone to see how angry he was, Charlotte's owner moved from his seat at the end of the team's bench to his more secluded luxury suite high above the court. Still, he didn't give up on his club then and he isn't now. ... Fri, 02 Nov 2012 03:43:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1672580-jordan-im-committed-to-bobcats-long-haul.html 2012-11-02T03:43:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1670412-harden-brilliant-rockets-beat-pistons-105-96.html AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — With a new team and a new role, James Harden looked as comfortable as could be. Harden had 37 points and 12 assists in a sensational debut for Houston, and Carlos Delfino made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to lift the Rockets to a 105-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Detroit led... Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:32:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1670412-harden-brilliant-rockets-beat-pistons-105-96.html 2012-11-01T07:32:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1670194-bulls-taj-gibson-agrees-to-4-year-extension.html CHICAGO (AP) — Taj Gibson agreed to a four-year, $38 million contract extension with the Chicago Bulls, just before the NBA deadline Wednesday night. Gibson broke the news following a season-opening win over Sacramento, after emerging from a meeting with executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman. The new ... Thu, 01 Nov 2012 03:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1670194-bulls-taj-gibson-agrees-to-4-year-extension.html 2012-11-01T03:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1650274-bulls-vow-to-without-rose.html CHICAGO (AP) — Their superstar is injured, their so-called "bench mob" pretty much gone and despite all that, the Chicago Bulls insist one thing hasn't changed. They're not rolling over. The obits are premature. The Bulls believe they still have plenty left even though Derrick Rose is expected to miss a big chunk of the season recovering from a torn anter... Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1650274-bulls-vow-to-without-rose.html 2012-10-23T17:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1647954-congressman-ill-rep-jackson-en-route-to-mayo.html CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who covertly went on medical leave months ago and has given no sign of when he'll return to work, seems to be in a "fragile state" and is heading back to the hospital where he was treated for bipolar disorder, a fellow Democratic Illinois congressmen said Monday. U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush said Jackson looked well whe... Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1647954-congressman-ill-rep-jackson-en-route-to-mayo.html 2012-10-23T01:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1636144-mcjordan-barbecue-sauce-fetches-10000.html BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A man who used to own McDonald's restaurants in North Dakota is about $10,000 richer after selling a 20-year-old container of McJordan barbecue sauce to a buyer in Chicago. The sauce was used on McJordan Burgers, named for basketball icon Michael Jordan. The promotional item was sold in limited markets for a short time in the 1990s, ... Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1636144-mcjordan-barbecue-sauce-fetches-10000.html 2012-10-17T14:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1600742-rose-expects-to-better-than.html DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Derrick Rose isn't sure he'll be the same player once he returns from his knee surgery. He thinks he might be better. The superstar point guard's recovery remains the biggest issue hanging over the Chicago Bulls, particularly after they announced a four-year contract extension for coach Tom Thibodeau on Monday. Rose is expected to m... Mon, 01 Oct 2012 20:19:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1600742-rose-expects-to-better-than.html 2012-10-01T20:19:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1561314-bulls-rose-knees-improving.html CHICAGO (AP) — Derrick Rose couldn't hold it in. He had just seen a video clip of himself tearing the ACL in his left knee and then rehabilitating the injury. He was asked about his fans' support and the emotions came pouring out, a stream of tears and heartfelt appreciation. His voice cracked as he answered. "It's truly a blessing wit... Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1561314-bulls-rose-knees-improving.html 2012-09-13T18:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1548152-12-12-miller-nellie-10-enter-hoops-hall.html SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Reggie Miller wasn't always the biggest name in his own family. On Friday night, he was the top star in the biggest basketball Hall of Fame class in half a century. The former UCLA and Indiana Pacers star was inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, joining sister Cheryl as the first brother-sister pair in the S... Sat, 08 Sep 2012 01:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1548152-12-12-miller-nellie-10-enter-hoops-hall.html 2012-09-08T01:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1486360-trail-blazers-hire-terry-stotts-head-coach.html PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers hired Terry Stotts as head coach on Tuesday, filling the NBA's last coaching vacancy. Stotts had a 115-168 record as coach of the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks before spending the past four seasons as an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks. He inherits a team that fell drastically short of expectations ... Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1486360-trail-blazers-hire-terry-stotts-head-coach.html 2012-08-07T23:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1438026-trail-blazers-match-t-wolves-offer-batum.html The Portland Trail Blazers weren't bluffing about Nicolas Batum after all. The Blazers matched Minnesota's four-year offer sheet worth more than $45 million for the restricted free agent, keeping the 23-year-old swingman in Portland just like GM Neil Olshey said they would all along. Olshey made the announcement on Wednesday in Las Veg... Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/basketball/1438026-trail-blazers-match-t-wolves-offer-batum.html 2012-07-19T00:37:00Z