Bewerbungen » mpionship series between the Miami Heat and

SAN ANTONIO -- In the first NBA Finals game of his reign as the leagues commissioner, Adam Silver had to deal with a sweltering arena. Compared to what hes gone through in recent weeks, that seemed like a breeze. Speaking to The Associated Press on Friday at an NBA Cares event, Silver said hes thrilled that the leagues attention can be on the championship series between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs -- and not, as it was for so much of the post-season, on the off-the-court matters involving the banishment of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling and now the looming sale of that franchise. "No question," Silver said. "In fairness to all the players and the teams, they worked so hard to get to this moment and a hot building is part of the competition in essence. And all those other things that weve been talking about the last several weeks are not." Posing for photos with Spurs players, coach Gregg Popovich, general manger R.C. Buford and others, Silver was all smiles when the ceremonial red ribbon was cut at the leagues latest "Learn & Play Center" at a San Antonio elementary school. Its the 897th time that the league has been involved with opening a facility like that, and another similar event will be held in Miami when the series shifts there next week. Silver made no prediction, other than saying he thinks the Heat-Spurs matchup could be a long series. He also said he was satisfied that the air conditioning issues that overshadowed Game 1 have been cleared up and will not affect play when the series resumes in San Antonio on Sunday night. "We learn something new all the time," Silver said. "The league checklist continues to get longer, the things that we need to ensure are functioning properly before games." The Sterling matter was Silvers first true test since taking over for David Stern as commissioner, and many players raved about his response, both in terms of message and swiftness. Silver barred Sterling for life after the longtime owner acknowledged making racist comments on tape, plus fined him $2.5 million. Now, the Sterling matter looks to be essentially over. The Clippers are poised to be sold to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion, and Sterlings attorney said earlier this week that issues between Sterling and the NBA will be resolved without need for a lawsuit -- a decision that basically clears the biggest hurdle that would have precluded a sale. "Im pleased and proud that the attention is on the greatest basketball in the world," Silver said. Thomas Welsh Nuggets Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Michael Porter Jersey .Morse gets a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $7 million next season and $8 million in 2016 under the agreement announced Wednesday. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Thomas-Welsh-Nuggets-Jersey/. -- Chicago manager Darold Butler has a message for the Windy City. Malik Beasley Nuggets Jersey . Chelsea ripped apart Hull inside 25 minutes at Stamford Bridge, with the early goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard securing a 2-0 victory. While Lampard had earlier missed a penalty, Roberto Soldado had no such trouble from the spot for Tottenham, scoring on his debut to clinch a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace. Jamal Murray Nuggets Jersey . PETERSBURG, Florida – Heading into Thursday nights action, Dioner Navarro had caught 14 innings combined from starters Drew Hutchison and Mark Buehrle.ORLANDO, Fla. -- A big early deficit and an opponents hot shooting hand didnt faze Nikola Vucevic or the rest of the Orlando Magic. Vucevic scored 24 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson had five points in overtime as the Magic edged the Charlotte Bobcats 110-105 on Friday night. Aaron Afflalo, who finished with 17 points, sent the game into overtime with a 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds remaining as Orlando won its second straight. In overtime, Nelsons 3-pointer with 2:26 left put Orlando ahead for good. "I knew it would turn around," Vucevic said. "I kept my confidence high. I had all good looks," said Vucevic, who was 11-for 22 from the field. "A 15-16 point lead in this league is nothing. You have to keep fighting, grinding and thats what we did tonight." Vucevic, who recorded his fifth career game with 20 points and 20 rebounds, keyed a dominant rebounding effort (57-36) by Orlando. His first-half total of 16 matched Charlottes team total through two quarters. Orlando, which trailed during the first 44 minutes, took a 94-93 lead on an Afflalos free throw with 1:12 left. But Josh McRoberts, who had a career-high 24 points, drove the lane to put Charlotte ahead. Kemba Walker then hit a fadeaway jumper with 14.6 seconds left to put the Bobcats up three -- setting up Afflalos tying 3. "It was great fight by all of the guys," Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn said. "Whether it was the unit that started the fourth quarter and really got us going defensively to put up a 16-point quarter versus a team like that or the mental fight of Nik Vucevic, who starts out the game 4-for-14 and doesnt give in and wills his way and helps his team. Pretty impressive in a lot of different ways." The Bobcats looked as though they had escaped after Walkers final basket in regulation, but a defensive lapse gave Afflalo a look, and the game went to overtime. "All youve got to do is do what were supposed to do right there and the game ends. That was it," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. "We have to make one play that you make time after time and we didnt make the play.&quuot; Tobias Harris had 15 points for the Magic, while Victor Oladipo added 14 and Kyle OQuinn 13.ddddddddddddNelson, who missed the last four games with a sore knee, had 11. Walker matched McRoberts with 24 points for Charlotte, while Al Jefferson scored 20. Gerald Henderson added 14 and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 10. "That was our biggest emphasis coming in: to get to the glass and be physical," Clifford said. "We werent willing to do that to start the game and thats what kept them (Orlando) in the game. I want to see a recommitment to the way we were defending and rebounding early in the year consistently. Were sporadic now." Orlando pulled to within one point twice in the third quarter, the last when OQuinns layup made it 59-58 with 7:17 remaining. Charlotte answered as McRoberts drained back-to-back 3-pointers and scored eight points during a 16-6 run that pushed the Bobcats lead back to double-digits at 75-64. Charlotte took an 81-74 lead into the fourth quarter. McRoberts, whose six 3-pointers were a career high, was often left unchallenged from 3-point range and took full advantage. He was 4-for-6 from behind the arc for all 12 of his first-half points as the Bobcats took a 50-41 halftime lead. Charlotte scored the games first five points and hit nine of its first 11 shots to take a 22-10 advantage on Kidd-Gilchrists dunk with 6:52 remaining. The Bobcats led by as many as 16 in the opening quarter. Orlando used 11 rebounds from Vucevic and eight points off the bench from Harris in the second quarter to get as close as 43-39 with 1:31 remaining in the second quarter. Charlotte then scored the next six points and finished the half on a 7-2 run to take a nine-point halftime lead. NOTES: The loss sent Charlotte 2 1/2 games behind Washington for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. ... This was only the third time since January that Charlotte lost to a team with a losing record. ... This was Orlandos 1,000th regular-season victory. ... Nelson also had eight assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes. ... The Magic went to the free-throw line 35 times, compared to Charlottes 14. ' ' '