Broken Wings » originally said he was concerned about Hamlin

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats arent content with just securing a playoff spot, they want to move up in the Eastern Conference before the playoffs. If they play like they did on Tuesday night, they might just make it. Al Jefferson scored 30 points, Anthony Tolliver added 22, and the Bobcats had a franchise-record 42 assists to earn a rare win over the Dallas Mavericks, 114-89 on Tuesday night. "These guys, you can see it in their eyes. Now, were playing for something and trying to reach our goals," Jefferson said. "I think we can have a chance to make a move when we come back from the All-Star break." First, there is the matter of playing the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. The Nets are currently seventh in the East, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Bobcats. "It was really important to get this one and go to Brooklyn and beat a seed ahead of us," Jefferson said. The Bobcats had lost 17 of 18 against the Mavericks, but scored 60 points in the paint and tied a season-high with 12 3-pointers. Charlottes 42 assists on 45 field goals was the highest percentage (.933) in the NBA this season. "We were able to make the right play and knock in some shots," said Josh McRoberts, who had a career-high 13 assists. "We shared the ball pretty well, and it helps when youre making shots." Charlottes relatively easy victory came on the night it was announced that the wife of Bobcats owner Michael Jordan gave birth to the couples identical twin daughters. Jordans spokeswoman Estee Portnoy told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that Yvette Jordan gave birth to Victoria and Ysabel on Sunday in West Palm Beach, Fla. Jordan missed his teams fine performance. "I told them we couldnt lose concentration," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said. "We had games this year where we were down 16 or 18 points in the third quarter and we came back. In this league it happens all of the time." But there was no comeback for the Mavericks. Dallas Dirk Nowitzki sprained his left ankle in the second quarter and was taken to the locker room for observation. He returned in the second half and finished with 16 points in 25 minutes. The Bobcats went 12 of 24 from beyond the arc, led by Tolliver, who was 5 of 6. Jefferson was 14 of 23 from the field and reached the 20-point plateau for the 14th time in 15 games. He has averaged 27 points per game during that span. Charlotte built a 58-44 lead at halftime behind 16 points each from Jefferson and Tolliver. Gerald Henderson added 15 points, and Bismack Biyombo scored 10 points on 5 of 5 shooting and blocked a 3-point attempt by Vince Carter. Nowitzki had been 16-0 against the Bobcats while averaging 26.1 points per game. But he had just two points in 10 minutes of action in the first half before rolling his ankle when he landed on McRoberts foot. Nowitzki said he will play Wednesday night at Indiana. He wasnt quite sure what went wrong in a game that was never close in the second half. "They really got whatever they wanted," Nowitzki said. "Jefferson on the block scored. When we doubled, he passed out and they shot the ball well. They broke us down on some penetrations. They had 40-something assists, which is unheard of. "Every time there was a breakdown defensively, and they made us pay all night long." Dallas primary problem was stopping Jefferson in the paint. Playing at the top of his game, the 10-year NBA veteran scored almost at will with a series of low post moves, pump fakes and up-and-under moves. And when he wasnt doing that he was moving the ball and helping create shots for his teammates. NOTES: It wasnt all good news for the Bobcats as point guard Kemba Walker left the game with tightness in his Achilles in the second half and didnt return. He is day-to-day. ... The Bobcats handed out a season-high 42 assists. ... Monta Ellis had 16 points and has reached double figures in six straight games for Dallas. ... The Bobcats honoured six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. Jaxson Hayes Jersey . Ronaldo failed to connect on an ample number of opportunities at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. But Karim Benzema and Jese Rodriguez scored in each half for Madrid to come out of the first leg with the firm advantage. Jahlil Okafor Jersey . -- Brady Heslip scored a season-high 20 points to help Baylor beat No. https://www.pelicanslockerroom.com/Jrue-Holiday-City-Edition-Jersey/ . - Jason Day and Cameron Tringale shot an 8-under 64 on Friday in modified alternate-shot play to increase their lead to three strokes in the Franklin Templeton Shootout. Josh Hart Jersey . Ireland was the last unbeaten side in the championship after France fell to Wales on Friday, and was favoured to end a three-match losing run to England with a side with more than twice as many caps, rampant momentum, and added incentive to celebrate Brian ODriscolls world record-tying 139th test cap. Zion Williamson Pelicans Jersey . American Lindsey Jacobellis was third, while Japans Yuka Fujimori finished just off the podium. Maltais, from Petite-Riviere-St-Francois, Que., earned bronze at the 2006 Olympic Games and is set to return to the Games this February in Sochi, Russia.MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Being told he couldnt race last weekend because of an eye and vision problem will not make Denny Hamlin less likely to seek the help of medical staffs available at NASCAR tracks every weekend, he said Friday. Hamlin let Sam Hornish Jr. drive his car last weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., after he sought the assistance of the on-site medical team when his face swelled up and his vision blurred. Initially thought to be a sinus infection, it turned out to be a small piece of metal in his eye, Hamlin said at Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin said he doesnt blame the two doctors who examined him for failing to see the rusting metal, and it wasnt until he saw an optometrist that it was discovered, removed, and he started feeling better. "It took someone who was in the business of eyes to find it," he said. Hamlin has been cleared to return this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where he has won four times, and he took umbrage at the notion that his reputation might have been tarnished when he missed the race. "People who think negatively of me or think that we side-stepped some sort of drug test or something is ridiculous," he said, adding that he was making an effort not to get angry at the suggestion that something untoward was afoot. "Im in one of the top-tthree cars in NASCAR.ddddddddddddI would have to be an absolute moron — moron — to risk that." Dale Earnhardt Jr., who originally said he was concerned about Hamlins point of view about how he wound up being told he couldnt race, said his concern wasnt for the medical teams competency, but for his fellow driver. "I feel great about the process and what NASCAR has had in place for years," Earnhardt said. NASCAR travels with two registered nurses who have access to each drivers medical records each week, and tracks work with local doctors and hospitals to staff a full trauma unit when cars are on the track. Hamlin, 34, said hes frustrated by spending so much time answering medical questions. The Fontana race was where he sustained a broken back a year ago, and he rushed back into competition hoping to make the playoffs, but came up short. "I feel better than I ever have," he said. "Pilates has changed my life as far as my back is concerned. My back is no longer an issue — knock on wood. Everything — you hate getting attention for those reasons, but a lot of it is because we havent won a whole lot over these last year and a half. "Were going to change that this weekend." ___ Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr ' ' '