Golden State (2-4) at Indiana (2-3)
The Golden State Warriors aren’t making a big deal over their two victories in the young season, but they realize how important it is to build off the most recent one.
The Warriors open a season-high five-game road trip against the Indiana Pacers, who are trying to climb back to .500 after a slow start.
Golden State (2-4) has only beaten Memphis and Minnesota—owners of the worst records in the Western Conference—but has momentum on its side after dismantling the Timberwolves 146-105 on Monday night.
“You have to understand that our two wins were against teams that are struggling so I wouldn’t make too much out of it,” coach Don Nelson said. “But we did play very well and we did a lot of things we’ve been working on.”
Stephen Jackson(notes), whom Nelson is still trying to trade after the disgruntled swingman made the request in the offseason, had 10 points and a career-high 15 assists as the Warriors shot 57.1 percent and scored their most points in more than 15 years.
Jackson, who played with the Pacers for two-plus seasons from 2004-07, has averaged 20.5 points in four games versus Indiana since being dealt to Golden State on Jan. 17, 2007.
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Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors
Chicago (4-3) at Toronto (3-4)
The Chicago Bulls thought they had won their fourth straight game, but upon further review the referees didn’t agree. Playing seven of their next eight on the road to conclude November might make it tough to recover.
The Bulls open that daunting stretch Wednesday night when they visit the Toronto Raptors.
Chicago (4-3) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end in somewhat controversial fashion with Tuesday’s 90-89 loss to Denver. Brad Miller(notes) took an inbounds pass with 0.3 seconds to play and appeared to hit a shot at the buzzer, clinching another victory for the Bulls. However, the officials took around 10 minutes to review the play before deeming Miller hadn’t released the shot in time.
“I thought it was good when I first saw it,” Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said. “That is irrelevant. The refs have to make the call. My understanding - 0.3 is enough time to catch and shoot. But I guess the ball was on his fingertips, probably. The refs made the call after looking at it about 20 times.”
The Bulls will have to put that disappointment behind them quickly, as they begin a rough stretch that includes seven road games between now and the end of the month.
After visiting Toronto (3-4), Chicago returns home to face Philadelphia on Saturday before playing six games in two weeks during its annual road trip caused by the circus at the United Center.
The Chicago Bulls thought they had won their fourth straight game, but upon further review the referees didn’t agree. Playing seven of their next eight on the road to conclude November might make it tough to recover.
The Bulls open that daunting stretch Wednesday night when they visit the Toronto Raptors.
Chicago (4-3) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end in somewhat controversial fashion with Tuesday’s 90-89 loss to Denver. Brad Miller(notes) took an inbounds pass with 0.3 seconds to play and appeared to hit a shot at the buzzer, clinching another victory for the Bulls. However, the officials took around 10 minutes to review the play before deeming Miller hadn’t released the shot in time.
“I thought it was good when I first saw it,” Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said. “That is irrelevant. The refs have to make the call. My understanding - 0.3 is enough time to catch and shoot. But I guess the ball was on his fingertips, probably. The refs made the call after looking at it about 20 times.”
The Bulls will have to put that disappointment behind them quickly, as they begin a rough stretch that includes seven road games between now and the end of the month.
After visiting Toronto (3-4), Chicago returns home to face Philadelphia on Saturday before playing six games in two weeks during its annual road trip caused by the circus at the United Center.
PACQUIAO GRAND ARRIVAL IN VEGAS watch video
Manny Pacquiao made his grand arrival at the MGM Grand on Tuesday, marking the first time in the world champion’s career the Las Vegas ceremony didn’t take place at Mandalay Bay.
Although Pacquiao is known to be superstitious — he stays in the same hotel room at Mandalay Bay for each of his Las Vegas fights — head trainer Freddie Roach said Tuesday’s change wouldn’t throw off his fighter.
“He is superstitious, but stuff like that he doesn’t care about,” Roach said with a shrug.
“Of course,” he added, “He’ll still be staying in the same room.”
Pacquiao’s fans certainly had no trouble tracking him down, as they packed their way into the hotel’s lobby to catch a final glimpse of the Filipino before his WBO welterweight title fight with Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday.
By the time Cotto arrived 90 minutes later, the scene had noticeably died down a bit.
After months of promoting the fight with the reigning pound-for-pound king, however, Cotto says he’s used to Pacquiao’s crowd and that it hasn’t affected his mindset coming into the fight.
“I’ve known since we agreed to do this fight that it’s just going to be me and him in the ring,” Cotto said. “When we get in there, no one can help Manny. No one can hand him something to hit me with.
“I expected it to be like this. Everything Manny has, he has earned.”
Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KO) is seeking a world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class when he takes on Cotto (34-1, 27 KO) Saturday night.
He claimed his first on Dec. 4, 1998, when he defeated Chatchai Sasakul for the WBC flyweight title in his 25th professional fight.
As time progressed and opportunities at world titles in heavier weight classes continued to present themselves, Pacquiao transformed from the 105-pound fighter he started his career as to a legitimate welterweight contender.
A transformation of such magnitude actually, that he says he can barely recognize the kid he once was.
“I watch the tape when I was fighting at 105 pounds and I think, ‘I’m just a kid,’” Pacquiao said. “I think back to moving up to 108, then 112, 115, 118, up to welterweight — I can’t believe it. It’s just happened.”
In addition to world titles, another incentive for Pacquiao to move up in weight (at least initially) may have been a desire to stop cutting weight — a process Pacquiao admits was difficult in the early stages of his career.
“It was a struggle,” he said. “When I captured my first title in the flyweight division, I lost my belt because I didn’t make the weight. I decided after that fight to move up to 122 pounds.”
Cutting down won’t be an issue this week, as Roach said they’re feeding Pacquiao five times per day to keep the weight on.
According to his trainer, Pacquiao weighed 148 pounds Tuesday morning and will weigh-in right at 145 for the Nevada Athletic Commission on Friday.
“When he doesn’t have to miss a meal and can eat before weigh-in, which he’ll do twice, he’s happy,” Roach said. “He’ll weigh 149 to 150 pounds at most on fight night. I don’t like him gaining too much weight before the fight.”
While Pacquiao has shown the ability to maintain his speed no matter how much weight he adds, Roach said he believes this will be the last stop in his move up the weight classes.
“With the right opponent we could move up again,” Roach said. “But for top-level guys, I think this is it.”
The historical implications of Saturday night is enough that Pacquiao’s father, Rosalio, will travel to the U.S. from the Philippines to watch his son box live for the first time.
Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, saw her son live for the first time in May when he fought Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.
“It is the first time my father is coming so I am very excited, he wanted to see this fight,” Pacquiao said. “This is a very important fight for me because I can do it, it’s going to be history in boxing. It’s an honor.”
Although Pacquiao is known to be superstitious — he stays in the same hotel room at Mandalay Bay for each of his Las Vegas fights — head trainer Freddie Roach said Tuesday’s change wouldn’t throw off his fighter.
“He is superstitious, but stuff like that he doesn’t care about,” Roach said with a shrug.
“Of course,” he added, “He’ll still be staying in the same room.”
Pacquiao’s fans certainly had no trouble tracking him down, as they packed their way into the hotel’s lobby to catch a final glimpse of the Filipino before his WBO welterweight title fight with Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday.
By the time Cotto arrived 90 minutes later, the scene had noticeably died down a bit.
After months of promoting the fight with the reigning pound-for-pound king, however, Cotto says he’s used to Pacquiao’s crowd and that it hasn’t affected his mindset coming into the fight.
“I’ve known since we agreed to do this fight that it’s just going to be me and him in the ring,” Cotto said. “When we get in there, no one can help Manny. No one can hand him something to hit me with.
“I expected it to be like this. Everything Manny has, he has earned.”
Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KO) is seeking a world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class when he takes on Cotto (34-1, 27 KO) Saturday night.
He claimed his first on Dec. 4, 1998, when he defeated Chatchai Sasakul for the WBC flyweight title in his 25th professional fight.
As time progressed and opportunities at world titles in heavier weight classes continued to present themselves, Pacquiao transformed from the 105-pound fighter he started his career as to a legitimate welterweight contender.
A transformation of such magnitude actually, that he says he can barely recognize the kid he once was.
“I watch the tape when I was fighting at 105 pounds and I think, ‘I’m just a kid,’” Pacquiao said. “I think back to moving up to 108, then 112, 115, 118, up to welterweight — I can’t believe it. It’s just happened.”
In addition to world titles, another incentive for Pacquiao to move up in weight (at least initially) may have been a desire to stop cutting weight — a process Pacquiao admits was difficult in the early stages of his career.
“It was a struggle,” he said. “When I captured my first title in the flyweight division, I lost my belt because I didn’t make the weight. I decided after that fight to move up to 122 pounds.”
Cutting down won’t be an issue this week, as Roach said they’re feeding Pacquiao five times per day to keep the weight on.
According to his trainer, Pacquiao weighed 148 pounds Tuesday morning and will weigh-in right at 145 for the Nevada Athletic Commission on Friday.
“When he doesn’t have to miss a meal and can eat before weigh-in, which he’ll do twice, he’s happy,” Roach said. “He’ll weigh 149 to 150 pounds at most on fight night. I don’t like him gaining too much weight before the fight.”
While Pacquiao has shown the ability to maintain his speed no matter how much weight he adds, Roach said he believes this will be the last stop in his move up the weight classes.
“With the right opponent we could move up again,” Roach said. “But for top-level guys, I think this is it.”
The historical implications of Saturday night is enough that Pacquiao’s father, Rosalio, will travel to the U.S. from the Philippines to watch his son box live for the first time.
Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, saw her son live for the first time in May when he fought Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.
“It is the first time my father is coming so I am very excited, he wanted to see this fight,” Pacquiao said. “This is a very important fight for me because I can do it, it’s going to be history in boxing. It’s an honor.”
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