Dein erstes Forum » scoring the fight 48-47 in his favo

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Retaining fifth-year center Hassan Whiteside was a major priority for the Miami Heat last summer.Whiteside, an emerging star, showed why it was so important for the Heat keep him as the cornerstone of their rebuilding during Wednesday nights season opener. The 7-footer dominated the paint in helping deliver a 108-96 win in Miamis first game without perennial All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.He led the Heat with 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. It was a statement night even if that wasnt Whitesides intention.Its not about trying to make a statement, Whiteside said. Its just that Im coming out here and playing. My teammates made it easier for me and we just played as a team. Im coming out there with a chip on my shoulder, a lot of guys are counting us out. These guys have an edge to them so Im excited.Whiteside showed some flashes in the first half, but it was in the second that his athleticism and strength became too much for the Magic, who were without center Bismack Biyombo for Wednesday nights game. Whiteside scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots in the final two quarters to help the Heat blow open a back-and-forth game.Miami never relinquished the lead again after a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter that was sparked by a big block by Whiteside and one of his several slam dunks.He was enjoying the game and competition, even when he was on the bench and that is important, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. We need him to be great and he was that in the third quarter. He really anchored our defense and ignited everyone else.His prowess on the inside started a dunk-fest as the Heat owned the paint the second half. Goran Dragic scored 16 points and Justise Winslow added 15, while Tyler Johnsons 15 points led three players off the bench in double figures for Miami.Miami scored outscored Orlando 74-36 in the paint.Orlando guard Evan Fournier led all five starters in double figures with 20 points while Nikola Vucevic turned in a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds.But none of it was enough to prevent Frank Vogel from suffering a loss in his coaching debut with the Magic.TIP INSHeat: Second-year guard Josh Richardson did not play Wednesday night due to a sprained MCL in his right knee. ... Both Tyler Johnson and James Johnson came off the bench to give the Heat a boost, scoring eight points each in the first half. ... The Heat have won six straight openers, the longest such current streak in the NBA.Magic: Point guard Elfrid Payton had an up and down night, scoring 16 points, but he only had four in the second half and committed four costly turnovers. ... Serge Ibaka managed 14 points but shot just 6 of 17 from the field in his debut with the Magic.MILESTONE WINIt was Spoelstras career win No. 400.I was talking to Pat (Riley) about that and he said `Oh, 400. When I was with the Lakers that many years, I had about 700, Spoelstra said. Thats puts it in perspective. Im just glad I had an opportunity to coach this many games. I should have been fired three or four times.HEATED RIVALRYFournier says there is no better opponent for the Magic to start the season with than their in-state rival Miami.Playing Miami the first game is special, Fournier said. We dont like them and they dont like us. Its no secret.MIDDLE MANWith Biyombo serving an NBA-mandated one-game suspension for exceeding the flagrant foul limit in last seasons playoffs, the Magic had to shift some things around. Ibaka had to slide over and play center quite a bit when Orlando went to its smaller lineup and Vucevic went to the bench.UP NEXTHeat: Miami will open its home schedule on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets without Wade on the roster for the first time since the Heat drafted him in in the first round in 2003. Wade is playing for the Chicago Bulls.Magic: On Friday Orlando begins an early season three-game road swing with the first stop at The Palace of Auburn Hills to take on the Detroit Pistons. The Magic will also play NBA champion Cleveland and then Philadelphia on the trip. Pittsburgh Pirates Pro Shop . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Stitched Pirates Jerseys .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/ . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Cheap Pirates Jerseys . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Pittsburgh Pirates Gear . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U.Michael Bisping earned a career-best victory to defeat Anderson Silva at UFC London having withstood everything the mighty Brazilian could throw. The Lancashire veteran won a unanimous decision at The O2 Arena after surviving a hairy moment at the end of the third round when the legendary Silva was celebrating a knockout - only to be told the fight hadnt yet ended.It was the crowning moment on the 37-year-olds 25-fight UFC career and puts him in a strong position to finally challenge for the middleweight championship, an opportunity that has eluded him throughout his decade-long run. Ill fight Bisping UFC champion Rockhold open to rematch Bisping led the dance for much of the opener but the 40-year-old Silva was just getting warmed up, confusing the home fighter with awkward hand movement. At the close of the first round both men stung each other upstairs as things heated up.Silva was at his playful best at the restart, voluntarily putting his back to the cage and goading Bisping in. The Brit would have none of it - backing up, hands on hips. They reengaged with Silva trying to throw Bisping off his focus with trademark dance-like movement - the Englishman duly floored him with a right hand and the bell to end the second round was a saving grace for the Brazilian. Anderson Silva is regarded as one of the greatest fighters ever The third round ended bizarrely as Bispings mouthpiece fell out but, as the referee hadnt signalled to stop, Silva landed a devastating flying knee. Amid the chaos as Bisping dropped, bloodied, the Brazilian thought he had scored a knockout victory and began a lavish celebration. To the home crowds joy he was reminded that he had merely heard a bell to end the round, not the fight.The fourth saw the veteeran pair tire but maintain the trading of strikes as the fight continued to avoid the floor.dddddddddddd Bisping, suffering from the cut sustained from Silvas controversial knee earlier, had to be patched up in the final round but was buoyed on by a vocal support. Bisping was awarded a unanimous decision A front kick to the face from the Brazilian staggered Bisping backwards but the Brit eventually did enough to be awarded the decision, with all three scoring the fight 48-47 in his favour. Both men bowed down in a mutual display of respect at the conclusion.Elsewhere, London veteran Brad Pickett tearfully vowed to fight on after winning a split decision against Francisco Rivera. The 37-year-old admitted he would have hung up his gloves had he lost a fourth consecutive fight but, after and back-and-forth brawl with Rivera, kept his 37-fight career alive. Brad Pickett out-punched Francisco Rivera to keep his career active Birminghams Tom Breese, at the opposite end of his UFC journey, then ground out a points win over Keita Nakamura. Gegard Mousasi of the Netherlands won the co main-event over Brazils Thales Leites via unanimous decision.On the undercard, Scott Askham delivered the nights most impressive knockout with a head kick win over Chris Dempsey. Arnold Allen and Davey Grant also secured unanimous decision wins but it was a rough homecoming for three Brits. Rustam Khabilov of Russia throws Norman Parke through the air Bradley Scott, Mike Wilkinson and Northern Irishman Norman Parke all came out on the wrong end of judges verdicts. ' ' '