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Miami hands Charlotte 16th straight loss

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- LeBron James flirted with a triple-double Wednesday while fighting off a Charlotte comeback bid and leading Miami to a 105-92 win over the Bobcats.

Charlotte lost its 16th straight game despite putting on a fourth-quarter surge. The Bobcats last won on Nov. 24.

James scored 27 points to go with 12 rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Miami won its sixth in a row and avoided a letdown after defeating Oklahoma City on Christmas Day in a rematch of last year's NBA Finals.

Charlotte trailed by 17 at halftime, but rallied within two when Gerald Henderson hit a 3-pointer with 7:16 left in the game. Miami then went on a 10-3 surge to regain control.

Dwyane Wade scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth period and added nine rebounds for the Heat, winners of each of their last nine matchups with Charlotte.

Kemba Walker paced the Bobcats with 27 points.

James, who was called for his first foul since Dec. 8 during the Christmas Day meeting with Oklahoma City, picked up another one Wednesday.

Manning, Rodgers lead NFL Pro Bowl picks

NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Quarterbacks Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers headed the list of NFL Pro Bowl selections revealed Wednesday.

Manning -- making the Pro Bowl for the 12th time -- will guide the AFC squad and Rodgers will do the signal-calling for the NFC at the annual event, to be held Jan. 20 at Honolulu's Aloha Stadium.

Other quarterbacks selected to the Pro Bowl included Houston's Matt Schaub and Tom Brady of New England for the AFC, along with Atlanta's Matt Ryan and Washington rookie Robert Griffin III on the NFC side.

San Francisco landed the most selectees with nine, followed by Houston with eight.

AFC running backs chosen included Houston's Arian Foster (starting), Kansas City's Jamaal Charles and Baltimore's Ray Rice.

Meanwhile, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson will start for the NFC, with Seattle's Marshawn Lynch and San Francisco's Frank Gore also making the squad.

Detroit's Calvin Johnson and Chicago's Brandon Marshall will be the NFC's starting wide receivers, while A.J. Green (Cincinnati) and Andre Johnson (Houston) will take the field for the AFC.

The starting Pro Bowl tight ends will be New England's Rob Gronkowski and Tony Gonzalez Atlanta.

Cowboys' Brent indicted for manslaughter

DALLAS, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent has been indicted for felony intoxication manslaughter following a car crash that killed a teammate, prosecutors say.

The Dallas County District Attorney's office Wednesday announced the indictment against Brent, who police say was driving during a Dec. 8 crash that claimed the life of his passenger, Cowboys linebacker Jerry Brown.

Authorities said Brent, 24, had a blood alcohol content of .189 -- more than twice the legal limit -- when he hit a curb and flipped his car while traveling at an "unreasonable speed" on an Irving, Texas, street after leaving a Dallas nightclub.

While Brent suffered only minor injuries in the crash, Brown was pronounced dead after being taken from the scene to a local hospital.

The defensive lineman remains free on bond while awaiting the setting of a trial date.

Brent's bail was reduced from $500,000 to $100,000 last week after Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said he wasn't a flight risk, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Mariners sign Ibanez to one-year contract

SEATTLE, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez to a one-year contract, the team said Wednesday.

The 40-year-old Ibanez agreed to a $2.75 million deal, MLB.com reported.

The 17-year MLB veteran, who played for the Mariners from 1996-2000 and 2004-08, is coming off a successful year with the New York Yankees -- especially in the post-season, when he bashed three homers and drove in five runs while hitting .318 for the American League East champs.

He sports a career .278 average with 271 home runs and 1,116 RBI over 1,975 games.

To make room for Ibanez, the Mariners designating right-handed pitcher D.J. Mitchell for assignment.