TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013 SPORTS Johnson widens Photo of the day points lead

AVONDALE: Jimmie Johnson seized con- to 30th, two laps down, and he restarted trol of the NASCAR Sprint Cup champi- behind Johnson at the one opportunity onship battle following a disastrous per- he’d had to make up some ground. formance by Matt Kenseth on Sunday at “After that issue, we came to pit road Phoenix International Raceway. and left, and I expected him to be ahead of Johnson widened his lead in the Sprint us,” Johnson said. “He was behind me and I Cup standings to 28 points over Kenseth knew it was just about trying to get points heading into next Sunday’s season finale at on him from there.” Homestead by finishing third in a work- Kenseth’s finish was his worst of the manlike performance for the five-time Chase, and worst since he was 23rd at champion. Johnson will take his sixth title Watkins Glen in August. He only had four by finishing 23rd or better next week. finishes worse than 23rd all season, and “We’re heading into Homestead in the three were either for an engine failure or a position we want to be in,” Johnson said. crash. “I’ll have to go down there and run 400 So off in the waning laps, Kenseth’s frus- miles. It’s far from over. You’ve got to finish tration could be heard over the radio when that race. Although we have a nice cushion, he couldn’t pass Bobby Labonte and David we still have to go down there and take Gilliland. care of business.” “Man, this is bad,” Kenseth said. “I can’t Kevin Harvick won Sunday at Phoenix believe I can’t even pass these two cars.” for the second consecutive year, but all Although he wasn’t great all weekend, eyes were on Kenseth, who struggled Kenseth said he never saw Sunday’s per- mightily for the first time in the Chase for formance coming. the Sprint Cup championship. Kenseth fin- “No, because we haven’t had a day like ished 23rd. this all year,” Kenseth said. “I can’t say I was His car was off at the very start of the overly confident about what we had. race and Kenseth struggled to tell crew Obviously, it didn’t drive good or we would chief Jason Ratcliff what adjustments to have been up there with the front group. I make on a Toyota he described at one just did all I could with it, which wasn’t Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttilla race during the FIA World Rally Championship in Salou, Spain. —www.redbull.com point as “just not drivable.” much.” “I don’t even know what to tell you to After seven wins this season, Kenseth’s fix, to be honest,” Kenseth radioed. “I am so first driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, Ratcliff aero tight. So aero tight.” Figuring track did not believe the team choked. Thunder roll past Wizards position and clean air was the only fix, “Everybody’s going to say, ‘Oh, the pres- Ratcliff opted for a strategy of having sure got to them,’ “ he said. “Just poor exe- Kenseth do the opposite of other drivers: If cution on a track that’s so hard to pass. OKLAHOMA: Kevin Durant scored 33 points, they pitted, Kenseth did not, and vice versa. You’re trying to make up for something including a tying 3 late in regulation and the It worked as Kenseth cracked the top 10, that happened earlier and it just snowballs go-ahead foul shots in overtime to send the but then backfired horrifically on a disas- on you. The car wasn’t responding to Oklahoma City Thunder past the Washington trous pit stop at the worst possible time. changes. We’d make a change and wouldn’t Wizards 106-105 on Sunday. John Wall missed Moments after contact between help it, so we’d put that back and make a a driving layup attempt at the buzzer for Johnson and Carl Edwards knocked another change and I don’t know if that Washington, which was seeking its third Johnson out of the groove and forced him was better or worse, so I was like ‘Just quit straight win. Bradley Beal scored a career-high to save his Chevrolet from wrecking, a cau- working on the thing, it’s not responding.’ 34 points for the Wizards. tion was called for Josh Wise’s spin. The Joe “We were just trying to make something Oklahoma City trailed 92-82 with 3:26 left Gibbs Racing crew botched the pit stop, out of nothing.” Harvick, meanwhile, picked with the fourth quarter, but went on a 14-4 changing strategy mid-stop, and Kenseth up his fourth win of the season when run. Durant capped the burst with a straight- compounded the problem by running over Edwards ran out of gas headed to the white away 3-pointer with 13.6 seconds left. his air hose. His car had to be backed up flag. Harvick sailed by on the last lap for his Beal missed a running 12-footer at the before it could be serviced. It dropped him fourth win of the year. —AP buzzer while being closely guarded by Serge Ibaka. In overtime, Durant blocked a shot by Wall and streaked toward the other basket. He made both free throws for a 106-105 lead with 40.7 seconds left.

TIMBERWOLVES 113, LAKERS 90 Kevin Martin scored 27 points, Kevin Love had 18 of his 25 points during Minnesota’s 47- point first quarter as the Timberwolves snapped a 22-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Lakers. Ricky Rubio had 12 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who hadn’t beaten the Lakers since March 6, 2007. Minnesota took a 28-point lead during the highest-scoring quarter in franchise history and maintained a healthy advantage all night in their first win over the Lakers at Staples LOS ANGELES: Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (left) puts up a shot as Los Center since Dec. 2, 2005. Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, of Spain, defends during the second half of an NBA basket- Steve Blake scored 19 points with five 3- ball game. —AP pointers, and Jodie Meeks added 16 for the 54 percent. The Spurs spoiled the season anti-drug program, Smith shot 1 of 9 and Lakers, who have lost five of seven. debut of Knicks guard J.R. Smith, last season’s scored five points in 20 minutes. Carmelo Sixth Man of the Year. Suspended the first five Anthony and Andrea Bargnani both scored 16 SUNS 101, PELICANS 94 games of the season for violating the NBA’s for the Knicks. —AP Eric Bledsoe scored 24 points and Markieff Morris came off the bench to score 23 as the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans. NBA results/standings Morris shot 9 of 12, and has gone 30 for 38 from the field over his past three games while San Antonio 120, NY Knicks 89; Oklahoma City 106, Washington 105 (OT); Phoenix 101, New Orleans 94; Minnesota averaging 24.7 points in that span. 113, LA Lakers 90. Gerald Green scored 15 and Goran Dragic Eastern Conference Western Conference added 12 for the Suns, who have won four of Atlantic Division Northwest Division five. Suns coach Jeff Hornacek became the first W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 5 1 .833 - coach in franchise history to win his first four Philadelphia 4 3 .571 - Minnesota 5 2 .714 0.5 home games. Jason Smith scored 22 points Toronto 3 4 .429 1 Portland 4 2 .667 1 while Jrue Holiday and Anthony Morrow each Boston 3 4 .429 1 Denver 1 4 .200 3.5 had 16 for the Pelicans. NY Knicks 2 4 .333 1.5 Utah 0 7 0 5.5 Brooklyn 2 4 .333 1.5 Pacific Division Central Division Phoenix 5 2 .714 - SPURS 120, KNICKS 89 Indiana 7 0 1.000 - LA Clippers 4 3 .571 1 Danny Green had 24 points and a career- Cleveland 3 4 .429 4 Golden State 4 3 .571 1 high 10 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs Milwaukee 2 3 .400 4 pounded the New York Knicks for their fourth Detroit 2 3 .400 4 LA Lakers 3 5 .375 2.5 straight victory. Kawhi Leonard scored 18 Chicago 2 3 .400 4 Sacramento 1 5 .167 3.5 Southwest Division points and Tony Parker had 17 in a game that Southeast Division San Antonio 6 1 .857 - was close for about 3 minutes. San Antonio Miami 4 3 .571 - Atlanta 3 3 .500 0.5 Houston 4 3 .571 2 scored the first 10 points, led by as many as 37, Dallas 4 3 .571 2 AVONDALE: Kasey Kahne (5) (bottom left) and Brad Keselowski (2) (bottom right) Charlotte 3 3 .500 0.5 and was in complete control in between. Tim Orlando 3 4 .429 1 Memphis 3 3 .500 2.5 lead the field into turn one on a restart during the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Duncan took just four shots but finished with Washington 2 4 .333 1.5 New Orleans 3 4 .429 3 Series auto race. —AP 11 points and 10 rebounds as San Antonio shot Shakedown? Rite of passage? Or a bargain?

NEW YORK: A friend makes vague threats if you Stanford who was in the audience that day, said they ever dreamed of, and think they’re set for the media but I guess it’s to be expected. Yes, I refuse to kick $15,000 into the kitty so he and that as jaws dropped throughout the room, co- life. They get caught up in the lifestyle, and need a job, who doesn’t? Yes, I want to be out his pals can take a trip to Vegas without you. panelist Terrell Owens looked over at Jones, either don’t know, don’t want to, or can’t pull there playing the game I love and earning a At certain times and places, that’s called a smiled and said simply, “Man, you crazy!” And back. paycheck, who wouldn’t?” shakedown, Or worse. At the moment, in at Owens should know. “As a veteran, you see it and try to tell guys, That response hints at another reason why least one NFL locker room and probably more, Now 39 and unable to convince an NFL team ‘Dude, that’s not worth it.’ Personally, I think it’s football players may run into money problems it’s a rite of passage. to give him another shot, he’s trying out pro the agent’s responsibility to do that. But there’s faster that their pro counterparts. According to It’s hard to know who to believe as the war of bowling as a second act, desperate to replenish guys I look back and wish I could have reached the NFL Players Association, the average career words between Miami teammates-turned- the bank account he drained - aided by bad them,” Mathis said finally. “But all you can do for runs 31/2 years, compounded by the fact that antagonists Richie Incognito and Jonathan investments - the first time around. some of them is pray.” those players’ first - and often only - contract Martin escalates. Among the many points of Similar stories abound in every sport. Mike Even divine intervention, though, might not contains the least amount of guaranteed mon- contention is whether Martin handed over the Tyson and Evander Holyfield are only the most have worked with Vince Young. The former ey. And add up the price of a home or two, sev- $15,000 - as Incognito contends - because he recent examples in a racket whose history of Tennessee Titans quarterback went through a eral cars, vacations, tailored clothes, generous pulled out of the trip; or, as the rookie Martin profligacy stretches back a century. Baseball, reported $26 million in little more than five gifts and lavish parties, agent and management maintains, because he feared being hazed even basketball, hockey and even golf have seen years, easy to believe when you hear about the fees, taxes and in a few cases, bad investments more for violating the code that prevailed inside their of newly-minted marks party their way time Young wanted to fly home to Houston in and child support - and it’s easy to see how the the Dolphins’ locker room. right up to the door of the poor house. But peace and bought up the remaining 120 of 130 gravy train could run out of steam. It will be up to NFL commissioner Roger there is plenty of evidence to suggest that no seats on a Southwest flight. It wasn’t the only In some places back up the track, players are Goodell to decide, once he receives a report one does it faster or more foolishly than pro story, either. already applying the brakes. In the Baltimore from Ted Wells, a respected New York attorney football players. A 2009 report in Sports During a segment on a Tennessee radio show locker room Sunday, right after the Ravens’ the league appointed to investigate the matter. Illustrated, citing a variety of sources, found that 13 months ago, callers claiming to be bar- overtime win against Cincinnati, someone And if true, the $15,000 payoff could turn out to 78 percent of NFL athletes, or nearly four out of tenders and servers at some of Young’s favorite asked cornerback Corey Graham how the team be a bargain. every five, are flirting with bankruptcy within haunts testified to his largesse: routinely picking planned to celebrate. Just this past summer, Adam Jones, the five years of retirement. up the tab for teammates and just about every- “Some guys go out, some guys go to dinner reformed Cincinnati Bengals cornerback known “That sounds about right,” cornerback body in the bar at local T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant - with their families, some guys do crazy things. I as “Pacman” in a previous incarnation, told the Rashean Mathis said matter-of-factly in the visi- average cost $6,000 a night; that after about don’t know what’s going to happen but I’ll fig- gathering at the NFL’s annual rookie symposium tors’ locker room Sunday after his Lions beat the $5,000 a week eating out at the Cheesecake ure something out.” how he dropped $1 million in Las Vegas - over Bears. “I’ve been in the league 11 seasons and Factory during his rookie season. Young tweet- But a moment later, the six-year veteran the course of a single weekend. Colts tight end seen or heard about a few along the way. Guys ed his response soon after: “It’s a shame to see added, “Nothing crazy. I’m getting a little older, I Coby Fleener, a former teammate of Martin’s at come into the league, get more money than people revel in and rally around negativity in don’t do too much.” —AP