Offtopic » The ninth-seeded Safarova doused Swede Johanna Larsson

NEW ORLEANS -- Carmelo Anthony made up his mind. He was taking the big shots in crunch time, and there wasnt anything 6-foot-10 All-Star Anthony Davis or anyone else on the Pelicans could do about it. "It was just a game where I didnt want to see slip away," Anthony said. His 12-foot jumper over Davis from the left side of the lane with 1:14 left, followed by a strikingly similar 14-footer over Luke Babbitt half a minute later, capped a 42-point performance that lifted the New York Knicks to 98-91 victory Wednesday night and halted a three-game skid. Looking to somehow stop Anthony from beating them in the waning minutes, the Pelicans sent Davis to the perimeter to guard New Yorks prolific scorer. But Anthony had no intention of giving up the shot, and had a plan to create an open look against the NBAs leading shot blocker. "Without a doubt. I knew once I beat him, just get a little bit of space from him, I had a chance of making the shot," Anthony said. A night after losing at Memphis, New York blew a 13-point, fourth-quarter lead before Anthony took over. J.R. Smith had 19 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 16 for New York, which lost Iman Shumpert to a sprained left knee in the third quarter. Tyson Chandler had 11 rebounds and a pair of blocks in the final minutes. Eric Gordon scored 28 for the Pelicans, but was shut out in the fourth quarter. Davis finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Austin Rivers finished with 14 points and Brian Roberts 10 for the Pelicans, whove lost three of four. It was almost enough in a see-saw game included 16 lead changes and six ties, if only the Pelicans had an answer for Anthony. "Our help (defence) was trying to get there, but you cant help against a guy like that if you give him one or two dribbles to the basket," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said of Anthony. "He was efficient all night long. ... He hit tough shots. A lot of those shots had a hand in his face." Then there was one critical, late sequence in which Chandler saved a lost ball after a missed shot and got it to Anthony for a layup "I just wanted to win. Whatever it took to keep that play alive," Chandler said. "Those kind of plays ultimately help you win basketball games." New York appeared to be seizing control late in the third quarter, which the Knicks closed with an 8-2 run that included two jumpers by Anthony, Hardaways breakaway dunk set up by Raymond Feltons block of Rivers, and Chandlers one-handed alley-oop finish over Davis. Smith then hit a 3 and driving layup to open the fourth quarter, giving New York its largest lead at 83-70. But the unlikely combination of Rivers, Babbitt and Roberts helped New Orleans storm back. Rivers hit a driving layup and a 3. Babbitt added a 3 and driving layup to cap an 11-2 spurt. Later, Babbitts turnaround and Roberts two consecutive driving floaters vaulted New Orleans back into the lead at 89-88 with 3:58 to go, setting the stage for Anthonys resounding finish. Anthony and Gordon wasted little time working their way into double-digit points, dueling throughout a tight first half in which neither team led by more than six points. Anthony scored 18 points in the opening two periods and Gordon 17. New York led by only a basket after Rivers pull-up jumper late in the second quarter, but Hardaway hit a 3 and Anthony added a free throw to make it 53-47 at halftime. Ultimately, Babbit said, the Pelicans were simply taken down by "one of the best one-on-one players in the league." "Carmelo was just in the zone tonight," Babbitt continued. "He was in rhythm. He made some plays down the stretch that really hurt us." Notes: Knicks F-C Amare Stoudemire sat out with left knee soreness. ... The Knicks said Shumpert would return to New York for further evaluation. He tore the ACL in the same knee in 2012 as a rookie. "They said my ACLs fine," Shumpert said. "That was my biggest concern." ... Each of New Orleans last three losses have come against Eastern Conference teams. The Pelicans next two games are on the road against East clubs Charlotte on Friday and Washington on Saturday. Michael Grabner Jersey . -- Ricky Romeros comeback bid hit another road bump Tuesday in an ugly 18-4 Jays loss to a Detroit Tigers split squad. Custom Arizona Coyotes Jerseys . Therrien would not confirm his lineup for the game, but he did have the same line combinations practicing together for the third straight day which is usually a pretty good indication of what the lineup will be. http://www.authenticcoyotespro.com/Keith-tkachuk-coyotes-jersey/ . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Bobby Hull Jersey . HABS HEADED TO CONFERENCE FINAL The Montreal Canadiens scored early in Game Seven, built a lead and protected it well on their way to a 3-1 series-clinching win over the Boston Bruins. While this game or series isnt necessarily a referendum on the value of fourth lines, the Canadiens certainly benefitted from production lower down their forward depth chart. Wayne Gretzky Jersey . The ninth-seeded Safarova doused Swede Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-3 on the green clay at Family Circle Tennis Center. The Czech player was a finalist here two years ago and captured back-to-back doubles titles in 2012 and last year.The fans have spoken: Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry is an all-star.Lowry made a late surge in fan balloting and will start for the Eastern Conference at the NBA all-star game. The scrappy Raptors guard passed Miamis Dwyane Wade in voting and will start alongside Washingtons John Wall, the first time the East has had two first-time starters at guard since 2000.Lowry finished with 805,290 votes to rally from a deficit of more than 100,000 votes at the last balloting update to overtake Wade. Fans rewarded him with his first all-star appearance for his hard-nosed play in leading the Raptors to a huge lead in the Atlantic Division. Hes the first Raptor to start since Chris Bosh in 2008.Lowry is averaging 19.8 points per game, 7.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds, career highs in all three categories.Lowry and Walls tandem is not the only first at this all-star game. Pau and Marc Gasol have been voted the first brothers to start in the NBA all-star game.Pau Gasol of Chicago will start up front for the East along with Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony for the Feb. 15 game in New York. Memphis Marc Gasol joins New Orleans Anthony Davis and the Clippers Blake Griffin in the West frontcourt.Tom and Dick Van Arsdale played in the 1970 and 1971 games, but the Gasols — once traded for each other — are the first brothers chosen to start.Wall earned his first appearance last year, and now hes earned his first start. The East hasnt had both its guards making their first start since Philadelphias Allen Iverson and Charlottes Eddie Jordan in 2000.Fans had to vote for two guards and three frontcourt players. The reserves will be picked by the head coaches in each cconference and be announced next Thursday.ddddddddddddPrime Minister Stephen Harper, who had previously asked Canadians via Twitter to vote for Lowry, tweeted out his congratulations to the Raptors point guard after the vote was announced Thursday.Great work by all of Canadas basketball fans for helping to make @Klow7 an #NBAAllStarNYC starter. Congrats, Kyle, Harper wrote.Golden States Stephen Curry made his own late surge to pass James as the overall leading vote-getter, the league announced Thursday. Kobe Bryant was also voted to start at West guard, though thats in jeopardy because of a torn right rotator cuff.The star of the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors, Curry ended up with more than 1.5 million votes, more than 42,000 ahead of James, who had a 13,285-vote lead over the sharpshooter at the last update. Curry, who just two years ago was an all-star snub, becomes the first Warriors player elected to consecutive starts since Chris Mullin in 1991-92.His partner in the backcourt is up in the air after the Lakers revealed Bryants injury earlier Thursday. Though the severity of the injury is unknown, many rotator cuff injuries require surgery and several months of rehabilitation.That could rule Bryant out of his 17th all-star appearance, second all-time behind Kareem Abdul Jabbars 19. Bryants first was in 1998 at Madison Square Garden, the site of this years game.Commissioner Adam Silver would name an injury replacement if needed, and coaches Steve Kerr (Golden State) of the West and Mike Budenholzer (Atlanta) of the East would determine who replaces an injured player in the lineup.___With files from The Associated Press Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '