Carter leads Nets past Magic

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04/11/2009 - East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vince Carter led the Nets with 27 points and nine assists, as New Jersey topped an uninspired Orlando Magic club, 103-93.

"I just kind of wanted to set the tone of how we wanted to play these last couple of games," Carter said. "We're bettering ourselves for next year, gaining confidence."

Brook Lopez added 13 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which had lost eight of 10 coming in but shot a sizzling 54.3 percent from the floor. Keyon Dooling chipped in 12 points and 10 helpers for the victors.

Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 16 points but was helped off the court in the fourth quarter after rolling his left ankle. Mickael Pietrus and Tony Battie notched 14 points each in the setback.

Dwight Howard was held to seven points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes of action for Orlando, which dropped back-to-back games for just the third time this season. The Magic now sit 2 1/2 games back of Boston for the No. 2 seed in the East.

"I think the biggest thing is defense, we're not helping," Howard said. "We have to do something about this. We have to get it going before the playoffs start."

All Star's Devin Harris (shoulder) for New Jersey and Rashard Lewis (knee) for Orlando sat out due to their respective ailments.

The Nets jumped out to a 28-24 lead after 12 minutes of action. Midway through the second frame, consecutive three-pointers by Jarvis Hayes and Bobby Simmons sparked a 10-0 flurry for the hosts that resulted in a 47-30 advantage.

Orlando's Rafer Alston hit a jumper to beat the halftime buzzer, but the Magic were still looking at a 57-47 deficit at the break.

New Jersey continued to play frontrunner in the third, taking an 83-74 cushion into the final stanza. After Turkoglu scored six straight points for Orlando early in the fourth, Anthony Johnson made a jumper to pull the Magic within 87-82 at the eight-minute mark.

But Simmons nailed a three to spark an 8-0 stretch, during which time Turkoglu went down with an injury. Another Simmons trey a little later made it 100-86 with four minutes left and it was a double-digit game the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Orlando will next visit Milwaukee on Monday, while closing out its regular season Wednesday at home against Charlotte...New Jersey has games with Charlotte and New York to close out its schedule...The Magic won the season series, 2-1...Simmons and Josh Boone each had 11 points in the win.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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