Lakers silence Cuban and Mav’s

On Sunday the Lakers looked to pull within two and a half games of the Houston Rockets, who currently possess the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their task would not be easy however, as they faced Dirk Nowitzki and his surging Mavericks, winners

of four of their last five. The game would certainly have a playoff atmosphere and intensity level, as the Mavericks were also strug-gling to pull into the playoff picture. Which Kobe Bryant will we see? In the past month Kobe has been scoring fewer points and racking up more assists, seemingly the “winning formula”. On Friday night, how-ever, a glimpse of the

old Kobe was seen in his 40-point outing in the win over the Blazers. Kobe’s decision making early in the game could mean the difference between a strong

start and a win or a lackadaisi-

cal start leading to a loss. The Lakers came out with Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Earl Clark, and Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard started the game strong with an easy dunk while the Lak-

ers looked to contain the Mavericks defensively. The first basket of the game came to the player who has hurt the Lakers most—Darren Collison. The long and athletic Earl Clark was given the task of guarding Dirk. Kobe made his first shot of the game with a deep three pointer off of a pass from Dwight. Howard continued to look like his old self, jump-ing up high for several early rebounds while Kobe

Lebron missing Cleveland

Kyrie And LeBron: The Speculation Game

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2013 NHL Power rankings are in

where is your team?9.

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Blue Jays getting healthy

NFC Champi-ons look to trade Smith

Curtis Granderson out for at least 10

weeks

Thunder bring back PG Derek

Fisher

Texas wide receiv-er Marquise Good-win almost breaks Chris Johnson’s 40

record.

Indiana, Gonzaga 1-2 in AP’s Top 25

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From medal to murder? Pistorius

seeks to resume training

Danica Patrick makes history at

Daytona 500

Did playing with Kyrie Irving make Lebron consider a comeback tour?

STANLEY LEEStaff Writer

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See LEBRON on page 2.

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Lakers beat Mav’s 103-99

Steve Nash puts up 20 points and 4 assists in Lakers win over the Dallas Mavericks.

JOSEPH GOODMANStaff Writer

One of the most memorable moments of All-Star Week-end was watching LeBron James celebrate the three-point championship of Cava-liers guard Kyrie Irving. For a growing number of NBA players, executives, reporters and fans around the country, it was more circumstantial evidence that James’ days in Miami might be numbered. A prominent

national story line has been brewing for some time that James wants to return to Cleve-land and play with Irving after next season. The subject was so promi-nent in Houston it was impos-sible to ignore, and James’ effu-sive praise for Ir-ving during the weekend only served to fuel speculation.

Considering the way James left Cleveland in 2010, the

idea of him re-turning less than five years later once seemed preposterous. But while James has shot down every question regarding his future, he has never ruled out a return to Cleve-

land. In fact, James began

Blue Jays ready to

fly

It looked like just another mighty hack at a 2-and-0 fast-ball on the inner half of the plate, the kind of pitch Jose Bautista has been pummeling for the past three years now. Little did anyone know it was about to become the swing that wrecked the To-ronto Blue Jays’ season, once and for all.

Jayson StarkStaff Writer

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“Amnesty that” -Kobe Bryant

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Pats sign Brady through 2017 Page 4