Hobbyclub » open Raymond Felton for a 3-pointer to give

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - C.J. Miles wasnt too happy with his play this preseason and was eager to gain some positive momentum heading into the regular season.Mission accomplished.Miles came out shooting Thursday night and scored 23 points to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Charlotte Hornets 88-79 in the preseason finale for both teams.Miles made six of his first seven shots and from the field, and Luis Scola had 15 points and 12 rebounds. David Sloan added 11 points and eight assists.As a team and an individual, I felt like we needed a game like this to get some rhythm, Miles said. Ive been kind of off a little bit.The Pacers played without George Hill (knee), Rodney Stuckey (foot), David West (ankle) and, of course Paul George, who is recovered from a gruesome leg injury this summer.Coach Frank Vogel offered no timetable for their returns, saying he would know more next week.I feel like I want to get guys healthy, but Im also excited about getting the regular season started, Vogel said.Indiana (3-4) limited Charlotte (3-5) to 37 per cent shooting from the field.Brian Roberts started for the injured Kemba Walker and led Charlotte with 19 points. Al Jefferson had 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting and added seven rebounds, while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist chipped in with 13 points.The Hornets are limping into the regular season as well.Wallker (foot), Lance Stephenson (groin) and Gerald Henderson (hamstring) and forward Noah Vonleh (ankle) sat out with injuries.The Hornets trailed by 14 to begin the fourth quarter but cut it to 75-73 with 5:13 left behind rookie P.J. Hairston, who had a fast-break dunk off a steal and a 3-pointer.But Miles made a driving layup sandwiched in between a pair of free throws and a baseline jumper from Solomon Hill to help the Pacers squash the rally and pull ahead for good.Hairston, one of the teams first-round draft picks, finished with 11 points.Charlotte clearly lacked firepower with Walker and Stephenson on the bench.Coach Steve Clifford wasnt happy with his teams overall effort, calling in unacceptable after the game.We had guys just show up and get a workout in, Clifford said. Thats not an approach you can have in this league. We dont have a ton of talent. If we dont have the intensity of last year we will have a hard time winning.TIP-INSPacers: Roy Hibbert said he spent time Wednesday night with Stephenson and made his ex-teammate buy him dinner after signing a three-year, $27.4 million contract with the Hornets this off-season. I had to call him and tell him he was going to pay, Hibbert joked. ... Chris Copeland had 11 points off the bench.Hornets: Gary Neal has been one of Charlottes best players during the season, but he had a rough night. Neal was 1 of 11 from the field and was ejected in the fourth quarter after picking up two technical fouls for arguing with officials.PLAYING DefenceHairston is a guy wholl be able to help the Hornets on the offensive end, but the concern may be if he becomes a defensive liability. He has to understand how to learn how to play better defence, but thats normal for a rookie, Jefferson said. I think hes much better off now though than when we first started training camp.MKGS JUMPERMichael Kidd-Gilchrists jump shot has improved to a certain extent as his shooting elbow no longer flails to the side. Kidd-Gilchrist worked with former NBA star and Hornets assistant coach Mark Price extensively during the off-season to alleviate the hitch in his motion. Its a work in progress, but so far things are looking better.UP NEXTIndiana hosts Philadelphia in the regular-season opener Oct. 29.Charlotte hosts Milwaukee in the regular-season opener Oct. 29. Denzel Valentine Jersey . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. Sean Kilpatrick Jersey . -- Tony Finau won the Stonebrae Classic on Sunday for his first Web. http://www.officialbullsfanstore.com/.com) - Nino Williams posted 18 points and seven rebounds, as Kansas State edged No. Scottie Pippen Jersey . "After consultation with the Team USA medical staff and officials, it was determined that he should return to Winnipeg as a precaution due to his previous injury history," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday in a statement. Toni Kukoc Jersey . 31-Feb. 2. While organizers havent decided if itll be red or green clay, they feel their choice of surface will give the Americans an advantage over Britain, which is expected to be led by defending Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.NEW YORK -- Carmelo Anthony kept losing the ball all night long, and now the New York Knicks have lost their hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Anthony committed nine turnovers and Bradley Beal made another big shot at Madison Square Garden, a go-ahead jumper over Tyson Chandler with 6.9 seconds left as the Washington Wizards beat the Knicks 90-89 on Friday night. Beals jumper quieted the Garden crowd just as he did back on Dec. 16, when he beat the Knicks for a go-ahead layup. "Its pretty cool, I guess", Washingtons second-year guard said. "For them to go silent, thats kind of, Wow." John Wall, who added 19 points, combined with Beal for Washingtons final 12 to dampen New Yorks playoffs hopes. Anthony was favouring an ailing right shoulder he said he initially banged up during the win against Brooklyn on Wednesday. He felt it go out during the first half but decided to keep playing. He lost control of the ball as he tried to go left into the lane on New Yorks last possession, but J.R. Smith, who as of late has recaptured the form that earned him last years Sixth Man of the Year award, recovered it but missed a potential winning 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left. Smith finished with a season-high 32 points. "I felt like I lost the ball," Anthony said. "It was a tough loss, man. I wish I could have did better and played better. For the most part I thought my teammates did what they had to do. J.R. had a phenomenal game. I wish I could have rewarded that." The Knicks announced after the game that Anthony strained his right shoulder but X-rays were negative. He said he expects to play Sunday against the Miami Heat. New York dropped out of the final playoff position just two nights after moving into it by beating the Nets. Struggling Atlanta went back ahead by one game after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier Friday. Smith would have liked to have had the chance to take the initial shot. "Yeah, no matteer who that is, I always want the last shot.dddddddddddd Its something Ive never been shy about", Smith said. Anthony, held to 10 points, made a jumper to cut the Wizards lead to 88-86 lead with 1:33 remaining. After Wall missed a long shot in front of the arc at the top of the key, Anthony tried to connect with Tim Hardaway Jr., who was open near the Washington bench for a 3, but Martell Webster intercepted Anthonys pass. The Knicks got the ball back after Wall lost control of it as he drove to the basket. With 33.5 seconds left, Anthony then found an open Raymond Felton for a 3-pointer to give the Knicks an 89-86 lead, but Beal answered with his jumper over Chandler, who had come out to help. It was the second straight win for Washington, which clinched its first playoff since 2008 on Wednesday. "Our defence was pretty good but Trevors (Ariza) defence on Carmelo was outstanding", Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "Trevor fought and fought him. At the end we decided to trap him and make someone else beat us." The Knicks couldnt and now they will face a tough challenge Sunday when they travel to face the Miami Heat, who have already beaten them twice this season. The Knicks have five remaining games, three on the road, against three teams that are all playoff-bound in the East. New York cant afford to have its leading scorer out. "Well I knew it was bothering him, but you know weve got to have Melo on the floor," Woodson said. "Again, it was a hard-fought game. Our guys came up defeated, so now we have to figure out how were going to get it back because ... Atlanta won tonight." Notes: Former Buffalo Bills quarterback and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly attended the game with his family. Kelly, who is battling his second bought with cancer, will undergo treatment next week at a hospital in the city. ... Before the game, the Knicks honoured Anthony with a plaque to celebrate his 62-point, Madison Square Garden record, set Jan. 24. 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