SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2015 Seahawks seek to topple Pats dynasty in 49

PHOENIX: and the scandal-tainted will aim to strike a blow for the old order in Super Bowl 49 on Sunday as they face a formidable team bidding to forge a dynasty. After a build-up dominated by the “deflategate” saga, the Patriots are determined to puncture the dreams of a Seahawks outfit chasing back-to-back Super Bowls for only the eighth time in history. The last team to accomplish the feat were the Patriots, whose 2004- 05 titles capped a glorious run of three wins in four seasons. Brady piloted the Patriots to all of those victories, and now vies to join his boyhood idol Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as starting quarterbacks with four Super Bowl rings. But the game at University of Phoenix Stadium in suburban Glendale could just as easily see a passing of the torch, from old- guard Brady to rising star . The 26-year-old Seahawks signal-caller is now 10-0 in his career when he goes head-to-head against quarterbacks who have won a Super Bowl. That includes the Seahawks’ crushing victory over Peyton Manning and the in last year’s title game. Seattle have made some changes since then but they still boast an elite defense, led by their ferocious corps of defensive backs-the Legion of Boom. The Seahawks are the first team since the 1969-71 Minnesota Vikings to lead the NFL in scoring defense for three straight seasons- lending credence to defensive end Michael Bennett’s claim that Seattle now boasts the best defense “ever to play football.” A Super Bowl repeat would go a long way to further backing up the claim that the Seahawks “D” has surpassed Pittsburgh’s famed “Steel Curtain” or the imposing squads of the 1980s Bears and 2000 Ravens. “I am too young to be thinking about legacy right now,” said Seattle safety , “but sometimes you don’t have to say anything because your work speaks for itself. We definitely have that on the table.” Brady is gearing up for the challenge. “There is nothing easy about what they do,” Brady said of the Seahawks defense. “They’re LOS ANGELES: Robert Sacre of the Los Angeles Lakers (right) is blocked by Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls during their very disciplined. They’re very smart. They’re very well-coached. NBA game at the Staples Center. — AFP “You’ve got to run good routes, you’ve got to make good throws, you’ve got to throw it through tight windows. “They’ve got a lot of eyes on the quarterback, so you’ve got to be Lakers snap losing streak conscious of those things. But you still have to be able to play aggres- sively and play with confidence.” Brady and the Patriots, who suffered Super Bowl disappointment LOS ANGELES: Jordan Hill scored 26 for the eighth time in the last nine. Bucks led 59-44 halftime and then blew in 2008 and 2012, could yet secure their status as the league’s domi- points and forced the second overtime open the game in the third period. nant team for more than a decade-despite the whiff of scandal car- with a clutch jumper, and the Los BUCKS 115, MAGIC 100 ried by the 2007 “Spygate” illegal videotaping affair and the Angeles Lakers snapped their nine- Jerryd Bayless scored 19 points, Jared PACERS 103, KNICKS 82 “Deflategate” controversy over improperly inflated footballs that fol- game losing streak in thrilling fashion Dudley and Khris Middleton had 17 Rodney Stuckey scored 22 points, lowed them to Phoenix. with a 123-118 victory over the Chicago apiece and Milwaukee ended a 17-game Roy Hibbert had 18 points and 10 The Patriots, from coach on down, have tried to set Bulls on Thursday night. losing streak in Orlando. rebounds, and Indiana routed New York. the matter aside this week and focus on the task in hand. The Bucks never trailed and placed The struggling Pacers (17-31) picked up Brady’s options have expanded this season with the return of a Wayne Ellington scored 23 points seven players in double figures, includ- their most lopsided home victory of the healthy at tight end and the addition in November and rookie Jordan Clarkson added 18 for of productive running back LeGarrette Blount. the Lakers, who held off the Bulls for ing all five starters. Brandon Knight had season by winning for only the second New England’s defense this season has been bolstered by the their first victory since Jan. 9. 16 points and eight assists, O.J. Mayo time in 10 games. return of safety and the addition former cor- With big late baskets from everybody scored 13 points and John Henson had Carmelo Anthony scored 18 points, nerbacks and Brandon Browner. in their patchwork lineup, the Lakers 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Magic 12 in the first 9 minutes for the Knicks In addition to contending with the resourceful Wilson-adept at avoided matching the 1994 squad have lost seven straight and 13 of their (9-38). Lou Amundson added 17 as New throwing on the run and capable of significant gains on the ground, coached by Magic Johnson for the last 15 games. Victor Oladipo led York managed just 33 second-half Orlando with 21 points. Nik Vucevic points and fell behind Philadelphia for the Pats defense will have to find a way to slow down Marshawn longest skid in the 16-time champion added 17 points and 14 rebounds. The the worst record in the East. — AP Lynch, set career highs with 13 rushing and four receiving touch- franchise’s history. downs to lead the league with 17 total TDs. The contest promises to All-Star Jimmy Butler matched his be a classic, and that’s just what the NFL would like to see as they try to finish a season full of low notes on a high. —AFP career high with 35 points for the Bulls, NBA results/standings who rallied from a nine-point deficit in 70 seconds late in regulation. Milwaukee 115, Orlando 100; Indiana 103, NY Knicks 82; Memphis 99, Denver 69; Pau Gasol had 20 points and 10 LA Lakers 123, Chicago 118 (OT). rebounds in his Staples Center return to Eastern Conference Western Conference face the Lakers, and he forced the first Atlantic Division Northwest Division overtime with the tying tip-in shot with W L PCT GB Portland 32 14 .696 - 11 seconds left. Toronto 31 15 .674 - Oklahoma City 23 23 .500 9 Brooklyn 18 27 .400 12.5 Denver 19 28 .404 13.5 GRIZZLIES 99, NUGGETS 69 Boston 16 28 .364 14 Utah 16 30 .348 16 Zach Randolph had 15 points and 17 Philadelphia 9 37 .196 22 Minnesota 8 37 .178 23.5 rebounds, Jeff Green added 13 points NY Knicks 9 38 .191 22.5 Pacific Division and Memphis won its fifth straight. The Central Division Golden State 36 7 .837 - Grizzlies held the Nuggets to 11 points Chicago 30 18 .625 - LA Clippers 32 14 .696 5.5 in the first quarter and were never Cleveland 27 20 .574 2.5 Phoenix 27 20 .574 11 threatened the rest of the way as Milwaukee 24 22 .522 5 Sacramento 16 28 .364 20.5 Randolph recorded his 10th consecutive Detroit 17 30 .362 12.5 LA Lakers 13 34 .277 25 Indiana 17 31 .354 13 double-double. Southwest Division Southeast Division Courtney Lee, Nick Calathes and Memphis 34 12 .739 - Beno Udrih, starting in place of the Atlanta 38 8 .826 - Washington 31 16 .660 7.5 Houston 32 14 .696 2 injured Mike Conley, scored 11 apiece, PHOENIX: The Vince Lombardi Trophy sits alongside the Miami 20 25 .444 17.5 San Antonio 30 17 .638 4.5 helmets of the Seattle Seahawks(left) and New England while Marc Gasol had 10 points. Wilson Charlotte 19 27 .413 19 Dallas 30 17 .638 4.5 Patriots before a press conference of the coaches of Super Chandler and Kenneth Faried each Orlando 15 34 .306 24.5 New Orleans 24 22 .522 10 Bowl XLIX at the Phoenix Convention Center. — AFP scored 10 points for Denver, which lost