Chicago defeats Detroit for 16th straight time
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- A monster game from Joakim Noah Friday lifted Chicago to a 108-104 victory over Detroit, a team the Bulls have defeated 16 straight times.
Noah scored 30 points and grabbed a staggering 23 rebounds. His two free throws with 8 seconds remaining gave the Bulls a seven-point lead.
Carlos Boozer added 24 points for Chicago and both Luol Deng and Marco Belinelli had 16. It has been almost four full years since Detroit last defeated Chicago and that drought continued despite the Pistons building as much as a 17-point lead in the second period.
Chicago cut its deficit to five by halftime and finished the third quarter with a four-point advantage.
Detroit was led by Rodney Stuckey with 24 points and seven assists. Brandon Knight contributed 21 points for the Pistons, losers of four of their last five.
Andre Miller paces road-weary Nuggets
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Andre Miller gave Denver a seven-point lead entering the final minute Friday and the Nuggets survived a late Indiana charge to down the Pacers 92-89.
Denver climbed back to the .500 mark by improving to 1-1 on a five-game road trip that will continue through Wednesday with stops in New York, Detroit and Minnesota.
At the end of the trip the Nuggets will have played 16 road games this season and only six at home.
After Miller's jumper gave Denver a 92-85 lead with 1:01 to play, Paul George hit a 3-pointer for the Pacers. Miller then missed a jumper, which eventually led to Lance Stephenson making 1-of-2 free throws that cut the Indiana deficit to 92-89.
Indiana chose to let the 24-second shot clock wind down rather than foul and that strategy worked when George Hill blocked a 3-point attempt by the Nuggets' Ty Lawson with 13 seconds left.
That gave Indiana a chance to tie it, but George Hill missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
Corey Brewer and JaVale McGee both scored 20 points to lead Denver. McGee made all nine of his field goal attempts while the rest of the Nuggets shot just 37 percent. Miller added 15 points with eight assists.
George had 22 points for the Pacers, followed by David West with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Indiana had won its previous two games.
Vick, McCoy out for Eagles this week
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick and running back LeSean McCoy have been ruled out for the Eagles' game Sunday, the team said Friday.
Both Vick and McCoy have been diagnosed with concussions.
Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid said this week rookie Nick Foles would start the rest of the season at quarterback.
Bryce Brown, another rookie, will start in McCoy's place. Brown has 75 carries for 488 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Vick hasn't played since suffered a concussion Nov. 11.
Philadelphia said safety Kurt Coleman, with a sternum bruise, and defensive tackles Mike Patterson, who is said to have viral pneumonia, will miss this week's game.
The Eagles, who have lost eight straight in falling to 3-9, play at Tampa Bay Sunday.
Love, Snedeker team to lead in Shootout
NAPLES, Fla., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Davis Love III and Brandt Snedeker put together a 10-under 62 Friday to seize a two-shot lead after one round of the Franklin Templeton Shootout.
The event hosted by Greg Norman is in its 24th year and Love won the title 20 years ago while teaming with Tom Kite.
Twelve two-man teams are battling for the championship this week at the Gold Course of the Tiburon Golf Club and Friday's play was conducted in the alternate-shot format, the most difficult of the three used for the tournament.
Sean O'Hair and Kenny Perry teamed to shoot a 64 to stand alone in second place. There was a third-place tie at 66 among the teams of Bud Cauley-Rickie Fowler, Jason Dufner-Vijay Singh and Charles Howell III-Rory Sabbatini.
Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele, who won the tournament last year, were tied for sixth at 67.
The better-ball format will be used for Saturday's play and on Sunday the teams will take part in a "scramble," in which the best shot from each player will be used throughout the round. Sunday's scores should be the lowest of the week with expectations that some teams likely shooting in the 50s.
