ascendency heading toward the interva

DENVER - Kenneth Faried had 20 points and Aaron Brooks hit four straight free throws in the final 12 seconds, helping the injury-riddled Denver Nuggets hold off the Washington Wizards 105-102 on Sunday night. Randy Foye added 17 for a Nuggets team that was missing J.J. Hickson, who suffered torn ligament in his right knee on Friday. Wilson Chandler also didnt play (strained left hip) and Jan Vesely didnt return after bruising his rib cage late in the third quarter. Bradley Beal wound up with 21 points as the Wizards wrapped up a four-game road swing with a 1-3 record. Trevor Ariza scored 15 of his 18 points in the first quarter and John Wall added 15, but also had eight turnovers. Evan Fourniers floating jumper with 7:36 remaining started a 7-0 run to give the Nuggets a 91-84 lead, which they wouldnt relinquish. Wall struggled down the stretch, turning the ball over twice in the five minutes on offensive charges. But Wall had a steal and a layup with 12.6 seconds remaining to cut Denvers lead to 99-97. Brooks then stepped up to the line and hit two free throws. Beal followed with a dunk when the Nuggets fell asleep on an in-bounds pass with 10.7 seconds remaining. Brooks was then fouled and hit two more free throws to seal Denvers fifth straight home win. The Wizards led by as many as 14 points in the first half, only to squander it away. Ariza put the Wizards up 49-47 at halftime when he hit a 20-footer as the buzzer sounded. Hickson was the latest player to be lost by the Nuggets. They were already without Danilo Gallinari (left ACL), JaVale McGee (broken tibia) and Nate Robinson (left ACL), who all have undergone season-ending operations. Vesely was having one of his best games of the season, before leaving the court late in the third quarter with a bruised rib cage. He had 10 points in 15 minutes. Andre Miller made his return to the Pepsi Center for the first time since New Years Day, when he got into an on-court confrontation with former coach Brian Shaw. Miller, now a backup guard with the Wizards, was originally suspended by the Nuggets, but it was later rescinded. Miller stayed away from the squad until he was dealt to the Wizards on Feb. 20. Both Miller and Shaw said before the game theyve moved on from the incident. To show it, they shook hands when Miller entered the game to start the second quarter. "Im sure both of us didnt take this personal," Shaw said. "Its unfortunate that it had to happen and neither one of us wanted that to happen but I dont have a problem with him. I have the most respect for Andre Miller." NOTES: Miller had two points in his return. ... Denvers bench scored 52 points. Darrell Arthur led the way with 15. ... Asked about the mounting injuries before the game, Shaw said: "I hope its karma in reverse and that all of the bad stuff is out of the way this year and everything will be uphill from here on out." Cheap Nike Shoes Black Friday .com) - Jeff Teague had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 90-85 on Saturday night. Nike Shoes Black Friday Sale . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year. http://www.nikeshoesblackfriday.com/ .Y. - Referee Ed Hochuli referred to replay official Tom Sifferman by his nickname Jungle Boy, which was heard on the in-stadium microphone during the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers NFC wild-card game Saturday. Nike Shoes Black Friday China . Felix Pie had an RBI double earlier in the inning, as Baltimore rallied for three runs to overcome a 3-2 deficit. J.J. Hardy had two hits and Matt Wieters chipped in with an RBI double for the Orioles, who pushed their winning streak to three games. Nike Shoes Black Friday Discount .com) - Even on the day his New Hampshire football team became the nations top-ranked team two weeks ago, coach Sean McDonnell conceded something about the team they replaced at No.DUBLIN, Ireland -- Brian ODriscoll put on a show to remember in his last home test by spearheading Ireland to a 46-7 win over Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and setting up their Six Nations closer in Paris next week as the title decider. While history counts against Ireland in Paris, where they havent won since 2000, ODriscoll said they have the momentum and ability to win their second Six Nations in 29 years at the expense of France. Ireland leads the standings with a points differential of plus 81, while next-best England, hosting Wales on Sunday, was at plus 21. "We go to France with huge positivity," he said. "Were capable of doing great things and we have to start next week by trying to win a second championship with this unit of players." ODriscolls final bow at home in an illustrious 15-year international career was his 140th test, making him world rugbys most capped player. He played for only 62 minutes, walking off to a standing ovation, but had a hand in three of Irelands four tries by then. After he left, Ireland poured in three more tries as Italy tired in having to make more than 200 tackles. Bemused by all the attention and embarrassed to be named man of the match, he addressed the packed crowd and the meaning of the day finally got to him. "I feel really humbled by the reaction today," he said, misty-eyed. "It seems a bit of a joke to get man of the match for 60 minutes. "Ive loved my time playing in this jersey and unfortunately it does have to come to an end, and Im glad Ive got to go out at home with a big win." It was a tribute to ODriscoll that he produced his best game of the championship in an emotionally charged atmosphere that ramped up when he led the team out. For the hour he spent in the game, he was in the middle of all the main moments. His no-look flick over his left shoulder sent flyhalf Jonathan Sexton, on the loop around, scampering past the bewitched defence and to the try-line just six minutes in. Coach Joe Schmidt called ODriscoll a magician. The man hhimself said, "I take as much satisfaction in setting up tries as scoring them, I have to these days, I dont tend to get too many myself anymore.dddddddddddd" The tackling on both sides took a quick toll: Tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni, extending his Italy caps record to 105, walked off with broken ribs, then Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray with nausea. Italy contributed to the occasion with backplay that was genuinely threatening. When Ireland accidentally conceded possession on halfway, Italys attack appeared to die when the ball was jolted by Ireland wing Andrew Trimble. But ODriscoll booted the ball straight to Italy wing Leonardo Sarto, who blasted off. Sarto ran through fullback Rob Kearney and inside his winger brother Dave for the first try Ireland has conceded at home in the championship. After replacement scrumhalf Eoin Reddan almost scored from a solo dart, Sexton regained the lead for Ireland with a penalty for 10-7. With Italy on the ascendency heading toward the interval, it lost possession on the Ireland 22 and the hosts counterattacked. Rob Kearney surged to the Italy 22, Ireland went through the phases, and finally ODriscoll unlocked the defence in a crowd with a basketball pass to Trimble, who was too close to the line to be stopped. Ireland went to the break 17-7 up. Irelands third try came in the 53rd, a tap penalty leading to prop Cian Healy scoring with a helpful shove from Paul OConnell, then walking straight to the bench. ODriscoll found himself in space but, too slow to have a go, he ran across field looking for support, only to be levelled. After regaining his wind, he then featured in Sextons second try with another offload, a reverse flick to Rob Kearney, who fed brother Dave, who found Sexton inside. That was enough for Sexton, whose Racing Metro club thought he couldnt play with an injured thumb, and ODriscoll, who was replaced by Fergus McFadden, who scored a try as Italy ran out of gas. Further tries to replacement forwards Sean Cronin and Jack McGrath further overwhelmed Italy. ' ' '