PHILADELPHIA - Zaza Pachulia lifted his arms in celebration even before Brandon Knights 3-pointer swished through the net. [url=http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/Elite-Sam-Mills-Saints-Jersey/ ]Sam Mills Saints Jersey[/url] . Moments later, Pachulia looked just as confident as he drained a jumper h

PHILADELPHIA - Zaza Pachulia lifted his arms in celebration even before Brandon Knights 3-pointer swished through the net. Sam Mills Saints Jersey . Moments later, Pachulia looked just as confident as he drained a jumper himself.For the Milwaukee Bucks, it felt as if everything was going in.Brandon Knight and Khris Middleton scored 18 points apiece, and Milwaukee beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-77 on Wednesday night.The Bucks (19-18) shot 53.9 per cent from the field in their fifth consecutive road win. Pachulia had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and reserve O.J. Mayo added 15 points.We played hard, Knight said. We stuck to our principles. We know they like to play a really fast-paced game. They still did that tonight but we wanted to make sure we played at our place and played the right way.K.J. McDaniels scored 14 points and Nerlens Noel had 13 for the Sixers (5-29), who were trying to win consecutive home games for the first time since the start of the 2013-14 season.The Sixers shot 30.1 per cent from the field. Starters Michael Carter-Williams (1 for 13), Robert Covington (1 for 11) and Henry Sims (1 for 8) had particularly bad nights.Carter-Williams, the teams second-leading scorer, finished with five points and committed four of the teams 24 turnovers.I dont really have any explanation besides I was terrible tonight, he said. I was trying to make plays and my shot wasnt falling. I tried to get my teammates involved and do other things out there but the game just wasnt going our way.After 14 straight losses at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia beat Cleveland 95-92 on Monday for its first home win of the season. But the Sixers got off to a slow start against Milwaukee, falling behind by 16 after the Bucks closed the first quarter on a 17-2 run, capped by a Mayo 3-pointer right before the buzzer.The Sixers opened the second quarter with an 11-2 spurt, but the Bucks used a few transition buckets to rebuild their lead. They had a comfortable 53-39 advantage at the break.Milwaukee shot 59.5 per cent from the floor in the first half, while the Sixers shot 28.3 per cent.We were lost most of the night and that resulted in the poorest game of the year, in my opinion, Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said.While the Sixers felt they were doomed by their slow start, the Bucks were encouraged that they managed to hold their wire-to-wire lead and fend off any Philadelphia rallies.The Bucks scored the first nine points of the third period, and Knight had a big transition dunk to put the Bucks up by 24 with five minutes left in the game - before skipping all the way to the Milwaukee sideline in celebration.Thats something weve tried to be better at, Knight said. Weve gotten up against other teams with big leads and given them away. So really once we got up, our focus was on continuing do the right things and continuing to make the right plays offensively and defensively.Because they held such a comfortable lead, the Bucks even managed to get some top players a little bit of rest.With Milwaukee in the middle of a four-game-in-five-day stretch and a game against the Knicks in London looming next week, coach Jason Kidd opted to hold starting forward Giannis Antetokounmpo out for the entire second half while distributing a lot of minutes to his reserves.The game, we felt, was in control. Kidd said. And that was a good time to give them a rest.TIP-INSBucks: Milwaukee got 37 points from its reserves, including 23 in the first half. .. Center Larry Sanders missed his eighth straight game due to personal reasons. . The Bucks have won four straight over the Sixers.76ers: Tony Wroten, the subject of recent trade rumours, told reporters before the game that he is auditioning for everybody. But Phillys high-scoring guard then missed his first seven shots and finished the game with 12 points on 4-for-19 shooting. ... The Sixers registered just 11 points in the first quarter, with only three players scoring — Noel, Carter-Williams and McDaniels.GOING STREAKINGThe Bucks are thrilled with their road win streak, but are equally disappointed that they have dropped four straight at home during that same stretch.Kidd has a feeling that will soon begin to change.In this league, everything tends to balance itself out, Kidd said. Wed like to keep winning on the road, but we have to start paying attention to home and protect home.UP NEXTBucks: Host the Timberwolves on Friday.76ers: Visit Brooklyn on Friday. Rickey Jackson Youth Jersey .C. -- Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500. Taysom Hill Jersey .Mihajlovic was sent off minutes from the end of Thursdays 2-0 win over Brescia and has been punished for using a disrespectful expression toward the fourth official and throwing the contents of a bottle of water at him, thus assuming an intimidating attitude. http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/Elite-Marshon-Lattimore-Saints-Jersey/ . Notes on P.K. Subban, Dale Weise, Erik Haula, Mikael Granlund, Ilya Bryzgalov and more.(SportsNetwork.com) - Better a thousand go free than one innocent man be punished. Thats known as Blackstones formulation in criminal law and kind of explains why embattled Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be playing this Sunday in Detroits wild-card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. While thats not a popular outcome for many who find the notorious bad boy to be a blight on the game of football, hearing officer Ted Cottrell got it right by cutting the one-game penalty down to a $70,000 fine. Suh, of course, was punished for twice stepping on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers left leg in the fourth quarter of the Packers NFC North-clinching 30-20 victory over the Lions last Sunday at Lambeau Field. The video of the incident, though, was not nearly as damning as the one that cost Detroit center Dominic Raiola, another Lions player with a reputation that would make Conrad Dobler blush, the Week 17 contest against the Packers for his Randy Orton-like stomp of Ego Fergusons leg the week prior. In the case of Suh, you could at least make the argument that he had no idea that Rodgers was lying prone on the ground before he laid the boots to the star quarterback. And most who hate Cottrells judgment can at least understand that perspective but look at Suhs litany of misdeeds in the past as evidence that the 6- foot-4, 305-pound All-Pro had ill intent toward a player who routinely dismembers the Lions defense. This incident was the second time Suh was suspended for stepping on a player, following a two-game ban in 2011 for tap dancing on the arm of then-Packers lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith. Meanwhile, hes been fined on eight other occasions. The NFLs official statement on Suhs suspension never mentioned his past acts for good reason, however ... it couldnt. According to league rules, a player who goes 32 games without a violation is removed from the repeat-offender list. Suhs last infraction was in Week 1 of the 2013 season, when he was fined $100,000 for an illegal chop block on Vikings center John Sullivan, the biggest fine in NFL history for on-field conduct. So NFL vice president of football operation Merton Hanks was forced to limit himself to Suhs actions last Sunday. As Rodgers lay on the ground in a defenseless posture, you (Suh) backed up and stepped on his left leg with your right foot, Hanks claimed. You then inexplicably stepped on Rodgers left leg again, this time with your left foot. The video then shows that you raised your right foot, applied pressure, and unnecessarily pushed off Rodgers unprotected leg with your left foot. Rodgers reacted to your actions by pushing you away with his right hand as he lay on the ground. You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground. Hanks and plenty of others certainly believe that spin but the last time I looked the former 49ers ballhawk isnt Carnac the Magnificent and reasonable people could look at the same video and come to a far different conclusion. Ed Reed, the Ex-Ravens All-Pro, had a far more compelling, albeit fruitless, argument on SHOWTIMEs Inside the NFL When you have stuff like this in the game, that shouldnt be tolerated, Reed said. He probably should have (been suspended more than one game) because of the things that hes been doing up to this point -- kicking guys and really disrespecting the game of football and the brotherhood that we have. Some things you just dont do. Reeds take is far more coercive than Hanks assumptions but like most of Suhs detractors, Reed is basing his argument on the pattern, not Sunday s actions. Hanks didnt have that luxury. Think of it this way. The next time you are saddled with jury duty, you might get a burglary case with a career thief as the defendant. Any maybe that long- time criminal has a rap sheet longer than your right arm but for whatever reason judge rules that suspects past 10 arrests were inadmissible. Guess what? Youre never going to hear about those past incidents and you are going to have to make your decision based on the evidence in front of you. Thats exactly what Cottrell was facing and expecting the long-time defensive coordinator to ignore his role in order to play activist and flout the law because Suh is a bad guy is an ends-justifies-the-means mentality that we have seen fail time and time again on the personal-conduct front. Its fair to say Suh probably acted intentionally but all of our perspectives are clouded by his past, which was inadmissible. Meanwhile, if Ziggy Ansah, Jason Jones, C.J. Mosley or any other Lions defensive linemen did the same thing to Rodgers in Week 17, they wouldnt have been punished. At the bare minimum, thats plausible deniability for a serial offender like Suh and enough to keep him on the field this weekend. As for the $70K stipend? Call it a stupidity tax for Suhs ludicrous numb-feet defense. WILD-CARD WEEKEND (All Times Eastern) Arizona (11-5) at Carolina (7-8-1) (-6), Saturday, 4:35 p.m. - The Panthers didnt win a football game for over eight weeks at one point this season and now they are set to host a wild-card playoff game as the favorite. Such is life in the war of attrition that is the NFL. The NFC South champions will open up the NFL postseason against an 11-win Arizona team that will likely be relying on its third-string quarterback in Ryan Lindley. Despite ping-ponger from Carson Palmer to Drew Stanton back to Palmer and back to Stanton befoore Lindley due to injuries the Cardinals tied a franchise record with the 11 victories and have won 21 total games in their first two seasons under likely NFL Coach of the Year Bruce Arians. Archie Manning Saints Jersey. . Arizona has also won four of its past six postseason games, including a 33-13 win at Carolina on Jan. 10, 2009. Its a whole new season now, Arians said. Were all 0-0 and were in the tournament. Were going to get ready for this playoff game. Were not planning on being one-and-done. Despite their less-than-stellar record, the Panthers enter the tournament red hot, having won four straight and outscoring opponents 111-43 over that span. Under head coach Ron Rivera, Carolina is the first team to win back-to-back division titles in the NFC South after taking a dominating 34-3 road win at Atlanta last weekend. In December, the Panthers are ranked second in the NFL in rushing offense (199.3 yards per game) and points allowed (10.8 points per game). We put ourselves in this position by playing the way we did in December, Rivera said. Weve won the NFC South two years in a row and thats something to build on as we move forward as a football team. Panthers 21, Cardinals 17 Baltimore (10-6) at Pittsburgh (11-5) (-3), Saturday, 8:15 p.m. - One of footballs fiercest rivalries amps up with a primetime postseason matchup. The AFC North combatants will meet after the Ravens qualified for the playoffs with a 20-10 win over Cleveland combined with a San Diego loss in Week 17, while the Steelers earned the division title with a 27-17 win over Cincinnati in the regular-season finale. Anything can happen when you get into the playoffs, said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who guided Baltimore to a Super Bowl title in 2012 as the No. 4 seed. The Steelers used a perfect December to lock up the AFC North and boast an . offense featuring quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (4,952 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 103.3 passer rating), running back LeVeon Bell (1,361 rushing yards, 854 receiving yards, 11 total touchdowns) and wide receiver Antonio Brown (129 receptions for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns). Bell, though, is unlikely to play Saturday after hyperextending his knee against the Bengals. Were going to make the right decision, said Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin. We wont be swayed by circumstance -- the magnitude of the game and so forth. If hes healthy and able to protect himself and can be a positive contributor to our efforts, well play him. If we cant answer yes to all of those questions and then some, we wont. Its just that simple. The Steelers brought in veteran running back Ben Tate on Tuesday for insurance. Tate spent time with both Cleveland and Minnesota this season. The Ravens (0-3) have never beaten Pittsburgh in the postseason. Steelers 24, Ravens 21 Cincinnati (10-5-1) at Indianapolis (11-5) (-3 1/2), Sunday, 1:05 p.m. - Its been nearly a quarter century since the Cincinnati Bengals last won a playoff game and they will be back for a fourth straight year to try again, this time in Indianapolis on Sunday. The Bengals come in having won five of their past seven games. At the end of the day, there are only so many teams that get this opportunity, said Cincinnati left tackle Andrew Whitworth. It doesnt matter what your record is anymore. It doesnt matter where youre seeded. All that matters is if you win. Winning AFC South titles had been a way of life for the Colts over the years. Indianapolis has taken nine of the past 12 South division crowns and will be looking to build a deep playoff run off of that. Its one-and-done now, said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. We all know the stakes get higher and its single elimination. Whatever we have to do to win a game, thats what were going to do. Were going to do whatever it takes. Back in Week 7, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes, threw two scores as Indianapolis whitewashed Cincinnati 27-0. Colts 28, Bengals 23 Detroit (11-5) at Dallas (12-4) (-7), Sunday, 4:40 p.m. - Wild Card Weekend wraps up with a matchup showcasing strength against strength as the Lions stingy defense prepares to try to stop the Cowboys explosive offense. Detroit led the NFL in rush defense (69.3 yards per game) and ranked second in total defense (300.9 yards per game), holding opponents to 100 rushing yards or fewer in 14 of the teams 16 games, including five games with 50 rushing yards or fewer. Conversely Dallas running game ranked second in the NFL (147.1 yards per game) behind the games best offensive line and Pro Bowl running back DeMarco Murray, who set a franchise-record with 1,845 rushing yards. Controlling the line of scrimmage is important, said Detroit head coach Jim Caldwell, who tied a franchise record with 11 wins in his first season with the club. Our defense has been really strong in that area throughout the year. Both teams also have dynamic quarterback-to-wide receiver connections in the Lions Matthew Stafford-to-Calvin Johnson and the Boys Tony Romo-to-Dez Bryant. Johnson compiled a franchise-record 329 receiving yards in his last game against Dallas -- the second-best single-game total in NFL history, and piled up 211 yards in his only postseason contest against the Cowboys. Romo, meanwhile, led the NFL with a club-record 113.2 passer rating and Bryants 16 receiving touchdowns were a team record and topped the league. Were just getting started and were excited about the opportunity in front of us, Romo said. Cowboys 30, Lions 20 ' ' '