SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2013 Chargers shock Broncos

DENVER: The Denver Broncos’ seemingly ence to Denver quarterback Peyton easy road to the AFC West title and top Manning. seeding in the American Conference took Rivers finished 12 for 20 on passing for an unexpected jolt on Thursday with a 27- 166 yards while Chargers running back 20 home loss to the San Diego Chargers. Ryan Matthews matched his season high San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers threw with 127 yards on 29 carries. After Denver’s two touchdown passes to Keenan Allen and long dry spell on offense, San Diego had kept the Chargers’ offense on the field for taken a 24-10 lead, and though the Broncos nearly 39 minutes to produce a surprising (11-3) had overcome double-digit deficits result. four times this season to win, it didn’t hap- Denver is now 11-3; the same number of pen this time. losses as American Conference rivals New They got back within seven points and England and Kansas City. Denver owns the Manning had the ball on the Denver 3-yard tiebreaker against the latter but not the for- line with 5:50 left. He moved the Broncos 30 mer. The Broncos’ next two games are yards in two plays with the help of a penal- against strugglers and Oakland so ty. But the Chargers’ maligned defense pro- they still stand a strong chance of securing duced some pass rush and forced a bad the top seeding, but Thursday’s home loss throw, which linebacker Thomas Keiser against a mediocre team means anything picked off at the Denver 33. now seems possible. The Chargers (7-7) got a to go Disorganized on defense and never able up by 10. Denver answered with a field goal to crank things up on offense, the Broncos but couldn’t recover the onside kick and the gained only 13 yards on the 13 plays after Broncos lost to an AFC West foe for the first taking a 10-3 lead late in the first quarter. time in 11 games. Manning’s final numbers That covered four fruitless drives during seemed decent - 27 for 41 for 289 yards and which they picked up just one first down. two touchdowns - but padded during des- “The longer you keep the ball and the less peration time. It was Denver’s first regular- he has it, the better off you’re going to be,” season defeat at home in 14 games, dating said Chargers coach Mike McCoy in refer- to last September against Houston. — AP Blazers pulverize Rockets 111-104 PORTLAND: Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge put in “I was shocked that Kevin came over before a superb individual performance, scoring 31 the game because he has a routine,” Rivers said. points and having a career-high 25 rebounds, to Garnett said Rivers had been a mentor to him, not power the Western Conference-leading Trail only on the court but in life. “No one’s perfect, all Blazers to a 111-104 win over Houston on humans have their flaws or whatever, but ... shoot, Thursday, In the day’s other game, Brooklyn beat he’s damn near close to it,” Garnett said of his for- the Clippers to give Paul Pierce and mer coach. “I’m just grateful he came into my life, Kevin Garnett a victory over their old Boston and that I had that experience to him.” Pierce, coach Doc Rivers. who came off the bench for a second straight Portland, which also got 16 points and 10 game, said he and Rivers remained in touch. DENVER: San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) leaps over Denver Broncos rebounds from Robin Lopez, led by 10 points ear- “We talk, we keep in contact all the time, we cornerback Kayvon Webster (36) on his way to the end zone for a touchdown in the sec- ly in the fourth quarter, but Houston closed that text,” Pierce said. “So when you accomplish some- ond quarter of an NFL football game on Thursday, Dec 12, 2013. — AP to two with 4:45 to go. Nicolas Batum’s 3-pointer thing special, a championship, I still keep in con- pushed Portland’s lead to 102-95 before Wesley tact with a lot of my teammates that were on that Matthews’ layup and made it 108-96 championship team. It’s like a connection you with 2:04 left and effectively ended the contest. have for life when you do something special like Broner puts his title on the line had 32 points and 17 that.” Pierce, Garnett and Ray Allen were the core rebounds for the Rockets, who five weeks ago of the Celtics championship team coached by LOS ANGELES: Unbeaten American Adrien coming to play,” Broner added. “It’s going to be inflicted on of only two home defeats suffered Rivers in 2008. Broner puts his welter- the AB show and I’m going to be victorious.” On this season by the Blazers. Rockets coach Kevin Garnett and Pierce were traded to Brooklyn in weight world title on the line today against fero- the same card, WBA light heavyweight champi- McHale was not with the team because of the July, a month after Rivers departed for the cious puncher at the on Beibut Shumenov of Kazakhstan defends his death of his mother, with assistant Kelvin Clippers after nine years guiding the Celtics. While in , Texas. Brash 24- title against Slovakia’s Tamas Kovacs. Shumenov, year-old Broner brings an impressive 27-0 now based in Las Vegas, brings a record of 13-1 Sampson filling in. the Clippers and Nets had met once already this record, with 22 knockouts in his first defense of with eight knockouts to his third fight in the Houston guard Jeremy Lin returned after miss- season, neither Garnett nor Pierce played in that the title he won in stepping up two weight class- United States. ing the previous six games with a sprained right game. es to beat Paul Malignaggi by split decision in Shumenov will be back in the ring for the first knee. Brooklyn’s Andray Blatche and Joe Johnson Rivers said before the game that it would be June. But the flamboyant Broner will face one of time since he posted a 12-round unanimous each scored 21 points in the Nets’ 102-93 victory “strange” to coach against the pair, but he expect- his toughest tests in Argentina’s Maidana, a for- decision over Mexico’s Enrique Ornelas in Las over the Clippers. had 16 points for ed it to be more fun than the emotionally draining mer junior world champion who Vegas in June of 2012. Kovacs is unbeaten in 23 the Nets, who won their season-high third visit to Boston on Wednesday night, when the has knocked out 31 of his 37 opponents in build- fights with 14 knockouts, but the 36-year-old, straight. scored 20 points but had just Clippers emerged with a 96-88 victory over the ing a 34-3 record. who didn’t turn pro until he was 30, will be tak- two assists. It was the first time this season the Celtics. “I know Paul and Kevin, and I know how “Adrien is now an established welterweight, ing a step up in quality competition in his first Clippers had lost when he had scored at least 20 competitive they are, so it will be a lot of fun,” no doubt about it,” Maidana said. “But the only fight against a name opponent. “I know Tamas is points. Pierce and Garnett won both games of Rivers said. problem is he has not been tested by a natural undefeated, he’s very ambitious and he came clashes with old Bostonians this week, beating the However it was the Nets, who have endured welter like me. That’s why this is the hardest here to take what’s mine,” Shumenov said. “But Celtics on Tuesday then getting better of Rivers. their struggles this season, who were laughing. fight of his life.” Maidana said his pre-fight scout- I’m not going to let him take my title.” Blatche added nine rebounds and ing has shown him flaws in Broner’s style that Also on the card, rising welterweight talent NETS BEAT CLIPPERS scored 15 points with five rebounds and four he’s prepared to exploit. “I won’t tell you what will take on Jesus Soto Karass, Joe Johnson and Andray Blatche had 21 points assists for Brooklyn, who won a third straight mistakes I’m talking about, but you will see it on with both fighters aiming to put themselves in each Thursday, but it was Kevin Garnett and Paul game for the first time this season. Chris Paul led December 14th,” the challenger said. Broner, a the picture for a shot at the winner of Broner- Pierce in the spotlight as Brooklyn beat Doc the Clippers with 20 points. Rivers said he thought title winner in three weight classes and still the Maidana. Thurman, 21-0 with 19 knockouts, said Rivers’ Los Angeles Clippers 102-93 on Thursday. the game in Boston on Wednesday had taken a ’s lightweight champion, he’ll be looking to stop Mexico’s Soto Karass, promised “something special” against Maidana- who boasts a record of 28-8-3 with 18 knock- Pierce had 10 points and Garnett scored just two, toll on his players. something even his critics wouldn’t be able to outs. “Christmas came early and I have two pres- but the former Boston stars emerged with the vic- “I told our coaches I was concerned about the fault. ents for Soto right here-my right and my left,” tory over their former Celtics coach Rivers in their game after my pregame talk,” Rivers said. “Just “It’s going to be a hell of a fight,” Broner said. Thurman said. “I’m looking forward to putting first meeting since Rivers took the helm of the looking at the guys, it was pretty dead.” “I don’t go for knockouts, but I really feel I’m him down on that blue canvas and make sure he Clippers this season. “I’ll always have a special Although the Clippers raced to an early 13-point going to knock this guy out. I’m going to be his gets to sleep real nice.” Mexico’s Leo Santa Cruz place for Doc,” said Garnett, who made a point of lead, the Nets closed the first quarter on a 10-2 first stoppage. I’m going to stop this guy and defends his WBC super-bantamweight belt shaking Rivers’ hand and giving his old coach a scoring run and took the lead for good in the we’re going to move on to the next one. “I’m not against Puerto Rico’s Cesar Seda. — AFP quick hug before the game. second quarter. — Agencies