The revamped Chicago Bulls gave their new coach a win in his debut.
Meanwhile, Antonio McDyess was not much of a factor in his long-awaited first game with the New York Knicks.
Taking the court just a few hours after the trade that brought them from Toronto was finalized, Jerome Williams and Antonio Davis gave the Bulls a spark and gave Scott Skiles a 97-87 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in his Chicago coaching debut.
PHOTO: AFP
Skiles has Chicago running a new up-tempo offense and the Bulls seemed to take to it Monday night. Jamal Crawford had a season-high 30 points and added eight assists while Eddy Curry had 22 points as Chicago snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Curry's biggest play was a dunk that stopped a 12-0 Milwaukee run that had pulled the Bucks within 91-87 late in the fourth quarter.
Michael Redd led Milwaukee with 26 points.
"With coach Skiles' system and the new guys, it just fits our team a whole lot better," said Crawford, who hugged Skiles after the buzzer sounded. "That's the most comfortable I've been in four years. Honestly."
Williams finished with 13 points, a team-high 10 rebounds and four steals. Davis had 11 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots.
"It's a big thrill for me to get the first win," said Skiles, who had been out of coaching since leaving Phoenix in February 2002 before he replaced the fired Bill Cartwright on Friday.
McDyess and the Knicks weren't so lucky.
McDyess finally took the court for New York nearly 14 months after fracturing his kneecap but was only able to muster two points in the Knicks' 79-78 overtime loss to Detroit.
"Playing, scoring, rebounding -- that was bad," McDyess said after finishing 0-for-5 with two turnovers, scoring both of his points from the foul line. "But physically, I give myself an `A.'"
McDyess, who was so overcome with emotion before the game that he had to retreat to the locker room during the national anthem, was greeted warmly by the crowd at Madison Square Garden. The fans are eager to start seeing results from the blockbuster draft night deal of two summers ago that cost the Knicks two starters and a lottery pick and brought the former All-Star and Olympian to New York.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself to get a bucket, make a shot," McDyess said. "The crowd got me into it, every time I touched the ball I could hear them roar. I kind of got caught up in that."
Chauncey Billups scored seven of his 24 points in overtime for the Pistons, who walked off with the win after Mehmet Okur blocked Michael Doleac's jumper just before the final buzzer.
McDyess sat out the final 9:13 of regulation and all of overtime as Don Chaney stuck with his plan of bringing him back slowly.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely