to move up and down
The Dallas Mavericks have found an early groove without some key players.
O.J. Mayo and Chris Kaman each scored 22 points as the short-handed Mavericks won their third straight game, beating the Toronto Raptors 109-104 Wednesday night.
Andrea Bargnani scored 25 points and DeMar DeRozan added 24 for the Raptors, who are 3-14 in Dallas. Starting point guard Kyle Lowry, the team’s leading scorer, didn’t play after spraining his right ankle Tuesday night against Oklahoma City.
The Raptors trailed by double digits most of the game before narrowing the lead to five in the final minute.
“The group we had in there played with a purpose,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. “They really put us in position to win the game after having a slow start.”
Picked off: Charles Tillman had the ball thrown right into his hands. All the Chicago Bears cornerback had to do was grab it and run 25 yards untouched down the sideline for a touchdown.
Lance Briggs had to go three times farther and sidestep a few Dallas Cowboys on his way to the end zone.
The interception returns by Tillman and Briggs, who are among the five 30-something starters on Chicago’s defence, came in a 34-18 win over the Cowboys on Monday night when Tony Romo matched his career high with five picks.
“This has to be a wakeup call for us. I don’t say that nonchalantly. It has to be,” said Jason Witten, the Cowboys’ 10th-year tight end. “You can’t bounce back and forth like this and try to compete come December-time. You can’t do it. We have been in that situation before. You cannot do it. And we know that, and we’ll get better.”
Making things worse for the Cowboys, they now head into their bye week. And their next game is Oct. 14 at Baltimore, starting a stretch of playing four of five on the road.
“These next two weeks are going to be very long,” running back DeMarco Murray said. “They’re going to seem like forever.”
No, this is not Tony Romo. Texas Rangers closer Joe Nathan can do a pretty good impersonation of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
The pitcher and New York Giants fan had no choice.
Nathan paid off a bet with fellow reliever and Cowboys fan Mike Adams by donning a full Romo uniform, including pads and football cleats, during the Rangers’ batting practice before Tuesday night’s game against Cleveland.
It was the Rangers’ first home game since the Cowboys’ season-opening 24-17 victory at the Giants last Wednesday.
Nathan even threw a few passes to teammates in the outfield before signing autographs for fans while still wearing the No. 9 jersey and helmet with a star.
Adams also had a bet with general manager Jon Daniels, who will have to wear a Cowboys cap during a media session.
Meet the Mavericks’ newest member
Just kidding. U.S. President Obama receives a team jersey from Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (L) while hosting the 2011 NBA champions in the East Room at the White House in Washington, January 9, 2012. At right behind Obama is team owner Mark Cuban. REUTERS/Larry Downing
NBA: Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki makes a face for photographers with the NBA Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy during media day at the team’s headquarters. REUTERS/Tim Sharp
Face plant
Dallas Cowboys’ receiver Dez Bryant hits the ground hard after he was unable to make a catch against the Washington Redskins during the first half on Sunday. Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Let the sunshine in
Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff of the Dallas Cowboys applies pressure to quarterback A.J. Feeley of the St. Louis Rams at Cowboys Stadium on October 23, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. Photo: Layne Murdoch/Getty Images
Mike Modano hangs up his skates
Mike Modano, the greatest American scorer in NHL history, has announced his plans to retire from the game. Here he is with Brett Hull and the Dallas Stars in 1999. Jeff Mitchell/Reuters
