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"It was a good day," said Love. "I wanted to put everything aside that happened off the court and really wanted to focus on the game tonight."
The Mavericks, meanwhile, received their 2011 NBA championship rings prior to the game. Dirk Nowitzki participated in the ceremony but not the loss, missing his third straight game with a sore knee.
For Dallas, the scene was fairly reminiscent of Christmas Day, when the team unfurled its first-ever NBA championship banner to great excitement, then suffered a season-opening shellacking at the hands of the Heat.
Game Notes
The Mavericks' streak of holding its previous 15 opponents under 100 points marked a franchise record...Love would have become a restricted free agent if he and the Timberwolves didn't complete a deal before Wednesday's 11 p.m. deadline. The former No. 5 overall draft pick has averaged 15.8 points and 11.9 rebounds in three-plus seasons for Minnesota...Former Mav and current Minnesota reserve J.J. Barea received his championship ring but didn't play due to a sprained left ankle.
Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 26 points and nine rebounds, while Caron Butler and Mo Williams chipped in with 16 points apiece. DeAndre Jordan added 11 points and five rebounds for the Clippers, who lost for just the fourth time in their last 12 contests.
Bargnani, who played his second game after missing the previous six with a strained calf, scored all of his points in regulation. He played 3:55 in the first overtime before sitting the rest of the game.
Jose Calderon knocked down a three-pointer with 13.3 seconds remaining in regulation for Toronto, tying the game, while Paul Millsap buried a three with 3.0 seconds left in the first overtime to knot the contest for Utah.
"It's a tough loss for us because we know we should have won the game," said Millsap, who scored 31. "(It fell apart) in the second quarter. Our defense was poor."
The Raptors trailed by six midway through the fourth quarter after a Millsap three-pointer. They were quickly within one after that, setting up a frantic final minute of regulation.
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Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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