Show t--: The Herald Jourral Logan Utah Saturday Dewmber 27 2003 i- -' B3 rffl JUUSIDlltfDDini QB wants to win ‘big one’ INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Peyton Manning usually dodges criticism as skillfully as he 'avoids hits ' But the ’ Indianapolis Colts' quarterback' is having trouble avoiding one nagging issue Despite the staggering num- bers his model status on and off the Held and a propensity for winning Manning is wrapping " up his sixth season hearing ah question: Can he win a playoff game? ' ‘Usually- the player wants the same things the fans want" Manning said “We want to win championships no question But' it’s not pasy"' It’s a strange predicament for 'Manning for whom success has seemingly fbllowedlike a shad- - ' The difference is Elway Aik- man and Bradshaw earned multiple Super Bowl rings Manning ''' is 0-- 3 iii the playoffs : Fair or not that is the label Manning ha$ been branded with ' since losing 41-- 0 to the New York Jets in January Manning' and his teammates hope 'to shed that label next Week in a first- -' : round playoff game “It's not just' Peyton that ' hasn’t won one: none of us have won one" center Jeff Saturday said “One guy does not win the game for you and one guy does not lose it fbr you But when you’re the quar- - ' Y-‘- i ' His name and face have ' become synonymous with NFL products and by virtually every measuring stick he lias had the ' most successful start of any ' : - '' 1 ' Colts quarterback Peyton Manning completes half against the New Orleans Saiih$:Sunday S6pt ' Iridanapolis Pottard irHhe first tight1 end MahVsiXrjrearloiab' v Mail ' lhebek't He has more com- plctionsV yards and TD passes left Then"" after Kirilenko's turnover " We made a couple of shots ' ' Carter made si shot in the lane there but we didn’t make ' was knew We it going enough just before the buzzer Continued from B1 : In the final minute of regula- tobeadogfight”saidToron-- : ' 19 Bellscored lion the young Jazz threw the : to’s Donyell Marshall who points Raja ' ' 1 : 1 and Kirilenko had 17 points oiie but had Ml away twice and Collins only points seven rebounds six blocked missed two free throws In rebound ' shots and five assists! Kir- overtime the Jazz had four Carter sciHed 30 points and r ilenkOi however threw away ihore turnovers but their Rose had 18 for the Raptors' : an inbounds pass with 39 sec- - who have iost six of seven and : - defense kept Toronto from cap-onds to play and Carter scored arc winless on the road against italizing-- ' “We have to be tougher and just before the buzzer to send ' Western Conference opponents : the game into pvertime more consistent That kind of1 “There vyere a couple of ' stuff at the end of the game can Twonto scored five poifffitin plays that were costly a couple the final 3 seconds of regula- hurt you bad" Utah coach of plays that I felt could have tion But in overtime Kir- Jerry Sloan said gone either way with some of ' ilenko made die decisive Splays ! the referee' calls"Carter said: ' Utah played its first home ' - The : Raja Bell sCbred Utah’s first" game in two weekon a sixV game was bed at 92 when ' Kirilenko drove and banked ina '!' four points'pf overtime and roaif trip hook shot as he was from was range' and did it without starting cen- - ter Greg Ostertag-theiknocked to the floor and he ' : Carios Arroyo and DeShawn leading - V rcbqunder who had an made the fiee throw forathree- Stevenson each had IZbuf ' ' ! inflamed left knee ': point play Kirilenko harassed j hardly' played in the final 17 ' ! Carta' into three missed sh6(s in Carter scored 13 points in ’'minutes as Raul Lopez and ‘ the eittra periOd including a sen- - Bell helpCd Utah'to a 1 2-- 3 thefirst quarter but then wis ! defended by Kirilenkoand’' Sational btodL' home record ' “We just picked it up and !’ “I was strdggling on tin ' : often double-teame’ concentrated in overtime We i'road and l justfeel a lot more- ’S?" 'Toronto coach Kevin O'Neill comfortable in this building challenged his team biting a V' played like atedm andhelped k we recent lack of effort and the alido'saidBell:: eachothaThat’s itthat’s'why-thinwe won ” v"--lt — — 'with 'buzzer' " 1 - d: -- I: ’ j ' Continued firomBl had 15 for the Heat who have won four of six and seven of nine Wade sprained his right wijst when he was' pushed from behind in a scrum under - the Heat basket with 1:20 remaining ' in regulation Were negative and he was to be reevaluated Saturday Larry Hughes led the Wizards with' 21 points Washington which fell to' 0-8 against Atlantic Division teams has dropped three straight and 1 1 of 14 Jarvis Hayes added 14 points V Hornets 109 Hawks 79 ' David Wesley scored a season- - v h high 32 points including five 3 pointas and the Hornets handed the Hawks their ninth straight road loss? it was the most dominant perfor- niance inweeksfor NewOrieansv ' ' which came in having lost four of — including a blown fivp games ys - - -- 16-poi- nt leadln Cleveland on Tuesday ' Wesley who jiad some poor shoot- ing nights during the slump was j 3- from the field Baron Davis scored 21 points for New Orleans' ' fbr 16 while PJ Brown shot nine with rebounds Jo points go JamaalMagloire grabbed 11 rebounds None of Atlanta starters reached double figures 82 Pistons 79 ' Jason Kidd bad 24 points 12 assists and l l rebounds for his g fifth - ' league-leadin- triple-doub- le —MR j ' intensity to me is expected ' every game" O'Neill said : ' V (I: - — — I mean energy and wi won a'3-poi- nt NBA second-ha- lf a : 28-2- ' Alvin Williams made all three free throws after being fouled on attempt ! the: ' V 'They didn't respect us before the game but after we put up 52 points I think: they know what We were all about" Rodgers said “We knew if we just hung around that we were going to start making big play?" V There were no turnovers in the game but Rodgers ' No3-almost committed a disas-- The Hokies' Ernest Wil- troiis one when he was ford caught eight passes sacked at the Bears' 29 by for l lflgrds to break Kevin Lewis and fumbled—schoo! record for career But Cal'S Chris Murphy ' ' receptions with-12The recovered and theGolden old mark was 12l by Anto- Bears moved dowufield for nio Freeman (1991-94- ) ' the winning field goal Rodgers' despite Ms late came start suipassed Kyle : The winning drive gfter Brandon Pace's kick- - v Boiler for second in season olfweht out of bounds and passing yardage with :r ': gave pri the ball on the 35: 1 2903 Rodgers' fifth 3flb-- ’ this Fredrickson warmed up as sdtf yard passing game he watched his teammates ' wnn'nlct tied a school '' recofhd movedownfie1d ' :r “I was hoping that we’d California which wop five of its last' six trailed" v put six oii the board" he 1 said '“then when I saw the atbalftjme but clock click down to about ’ outscored the Hokies 2 seconds' I realized ‘Here inthe third quarter' we go again ‘’SC aind then “Werpuld have folded” - f: ”$ecpnd-yeCal coach-Jeftbis"’ ' -5 W Hokies backup quarter- back Marcus Vick younger brother of Michael hadn’tcaught a pass allseason ' ' But he caught four against ' Cal incliidinga touchdown pass in the first half v: v '' Virginia Tech moving from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season lost five of its last seven games after being ranked as high as - : ys ''!j : " : Chris dunk to HR I RM but Jarron Collins swished two free throws and'Jalen Rose missed a at the -- J - s ar f ' ' - J Other fonner players like ' Manning's father Archied would have done anything just toget a chance at the playoffs even if he doesn't like What he now hears-- ' routinely ' ' “As a parent you say Is this really fair to put someone under the gun like thisV' Arehie Man-ning said “Peyton has done more than anyone' in the history of pro fiKitbail in his first six years but everyone says hecan’l win a playoff ganie''’ V ' ' ' 36-ya- rd : : careers' ' - Miami's Dan Marino the NFL’s career leader in yards passing was O-- l in the NFL’s biggest game which was one more chance than Hall of Famer Daii Fouls got' ' Elway and San Franiisco‘s Steve Young heard the same " things until they won Super Bowls near the end of their - : leit-hand- ed '' ''i been in the league long enough that I heard for about 1 3 years that John Elway couldn't win the SuperBowl I heard Tom Landry’' couldn't Win the Super Bowl When you look back rtow it seems kind of funny' ’ v ’ games-in-nine-da- But until the Colts win a play- - -- ning's image “I really kind of laugh at it" coach Tony Dungy said “I've 48 seconds : 1 ig off game Dungy knows Man- -' ' ning cannot escape the criticism Manning stilj finds himself in ' ' ' good company Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton was 04 in Super Bowls - 1 i : ad game-win-liii- 4) were showing signs that this season couid be the time for a deep playoff run : Manning is playing the best football of his career and is one ' of the leading MVP candidates ' Edgeriin James is running more like his old self and Manning has more options than Marvin Harrison in the passing game A win would change Man' Famer John Unitas ( 16) Compared with eight other' quarterbacks selected No-- since to 17 joss to Denver the Colts ( go-ahe- : secondamong Colts quarter-back- s trailing only Hall of ' terback you get too' much credit both ways" Before Sunday's stinging 31- Manning wasn’t even on the field when Tennessee's Eddie : George rumbled 68 yards for’ the louchdowti in January 2000 or When Mike Vanderjagt missed 'a field goal at Miami the ? next season : quarterback in NFL history' He is the league's only player with five consecutive 4000-yar- d seasons: Nobody else has more ' thaiHhreer : His S3 career victories rank - To Manning though it’s more frustrating than laughable He bristles at thd critics iwho claim he's nevelr won a “big" ' game even though the Colts’ playoff failures are not entirely : his fault ' ' than John Elway Troy Aikmari or Terry Bradshaw ' ! 3M C Tediford said "But yoii 're-never going to find that in V this teanr" : ! ' V" Rodgers LHimpleted his firsf 13 passcs in the second half ibrJ94 ' The Bcarslook yards the lead 8 with a three-pla- y drive that lasted ' ' 52 secondsr just Rodgers threw42 yards to Lyman and 24 yards iq Burl Toler ' JO set up Adimchinobe:' touchEcheiilandji's down run with 5:59 left in the third quarter : The teams combined for 330 by the 537 yards -r- - and 49pqints-ithe first half 35-2- 66-ya- rd ’ rd " - :' Californiatook V thc’ppen-in- g' kickoff and Wenf79 yards in nine plays with ' Rodgerssneaking oyer f '' 'y ffbm the' 1 The Hokieylhough '! burned the Bears for touch- -' downs on their pext three possessions- - - 'The crowd of 42i364 551 shy'df capacity -- was the largest (or the game': since if moved to Bank One Ballpark in 2(Mj0 ': ' in the MidWCst Divisiori SaiiAnto with 16 Davis obtained in a recent r Stojakovic missed an trpen jumper ? ' : trade-witCleveland had his nio how sits atop the division Clippers 101 76ers 98 c 14 ? Celtics’ the run until Quentin Richurdstin scored 22 Orlando didn't break high wjth " ' '! aza Pachulia put in a layup with 39 ' Shawn Marion topped the Suns points and Eltim Brimd had2() points and nine!rebounds as all five slartyrs with 25 points seconds remaining The Magic v Scored in doiiible figures fbr Lov 'missed seven straight shots and had Nuggets 95 Rockets 94 Rookie Carmelo Anthony scored a three turnovers during the drought V': The Clippers shot 487 petvent '? ' career-hig- h 3? points and Voshon Bucks 101 Pacers 96 ' ' Damon Jones scored all 14 of his’ after free throws Lenard hit thite j improving ttf 8r 1 when they shoot 45 ‘ behind the' with fouled arc 83 the to in fourth percent or better franithe field being quarter help? points seconds' left' Corey Maggette had 18 points for the Milwaukee Bucks climb above of nine: X fbm the1 ' Los Angeleswfiich won its fifth ' 500 for the first time in more than Knicks98 Grizzlies 94 p Anthony was ' : : ! straight at home his field Weeks' of 22 andscored 28 six Keith Van Horn scored "'V points in ' points ' three-tim- e the ihinlquarter fpr die Nuggets: : 'The 76erS missing Michael Redd scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Allan ! NBA scoring champ Allen Ivetsoii r' ' who had lost five straight to Hous- with just' Houston added 23 points p including a key : -the sixth straight game because 22 Miller ton for added seven-gamas e the Andrp over a minute remaining points The Win snapped a " as abriiised of assists and seven came Bucks after back Knicks : Streak the right kiiee lost forihe for road losing trailing by in i Reserve Maurice Taylbr bad 22 fifthtime seveti games despite while Memphis dropped its fourth jnany as 5 Milwaukee outscored ' lndiana'34-1- 9 in the fourth quarter home points fw Houston but missed a shot ' having six players in double figures straight andhad its six-ga' It was Milwaukee’s second victory at the buzzer Ciittipo Mobley had 17 Eric Snow recorded his third winning streak stopped ' Jini 16 tries and the Jackson in Pacers as straight doubledigit assist game Van Horn connected on 10 of 17 many points against ' 13 but shot rids with and 98 9l Warriors season The Blicks shot over 53 only Kings shotsand Houston was9k)f-1- 4 from ' Jason Richardson Scored 25 points1 missal a game-tyin-g attempt the field as the Knicks shot 52 per- percentinbothgames V: and Nick Van Exel hit a running shot : dt the buzzer The victory pushed Milwaukee's cent Kurt Thomas and Frank in 'the lane with 1 88 seconds left to ? ' TVail BlazmlOl Timberwolves 92 recredto 15-- 1 41ndiana dropped tp Williams each had 18 for New York ' Jeff Mclnnfs had 21 points and 21-still record East’s best r— the 9 Williams adding six assists in a help Gblden State snap a ' ! Sacramento assistsand Portland snapped 104 102 Suns Celtics r eight V ' against role' j losing strpak reserve jMi'nnes(Xa's ie Van Exel scored five points in the winning streak Six Grizzlies finished in dbuble V' Ricky Davis hit a 20-fojumper ' Wiptley Person had 16of his 20 s with 18 seconds leftand IMI Pierce' final moments as the Warriors barely figures led by Pau Gasol with 20 ' points in the second quarter when' y scored 19 pf his 27 points in the sec- - held on for an ipipressivc sweep of pointS ' Portland outsCored Minnesota 37-- 1 7 teams NBA's Golden Celtics two a overcame the the as ond half 98 top 8 Magic Spurs take control 107-98 on beat Lakers State deficit the The San Antonio Spurs used a late 17'pbint thirdquarter jo Kevin Garnett had 27 points 10 15-- 0 lire game Was somewhat reminis ' Tuesday night before harassing the run to break open a tight game rebounds and nine assists for the? cent of the teams' meeting three: and win their 12th straight ' Kings into 4 rare night of poor shoot' Timberwolves Sam Cassell added 23 weeks ago when the Suns produced Tun Duncan led San Antonib with ing — and then holding on against ' ' h Sacramento's comeback their While the rebounds points and Latrdl SpreweH had 21 16 rally 27 points and history biggest 93-74:01 Cassell scored on arunnerto pull trailed with from 9 win down h 29 to 22 season-higThe Parker a added Kings poiilts rallying Tony t ' 12-the 0 Timberwolves to97-9- 2 with 387 on ran left a before v keyed This time it was the Celtics who going points and Robert Horry had 14 — seconds Mike from seven from behind came remaining but Person with total his high pointe the Spurs Bibbywho by answered with a turnaround jumper " finished with 28 But Bibby —an 83 The Spurs beganits winning streak : Walter McCarty added aseason- -' ' from the fop of the key with 175 Dec 5 in Orlando after losing four ' percent foul shooter — missed two high 20 points for the Celtics and ' 1 seconds left and left seconds with 5 season Mark had Blount also a last Feja into high place straight and dropping Kidd made all six of his free! throws inthe final 1:1 3 and v Chauncey Billups missed two 3- seconds the final pointers iq - Kidd shot 8 including fand Richard Jeffer- 5 qn son screed 27 for the Atlantic Division-leadin- g Nets who have ' ' won eight of 1 0 j j ' lost seven The reeling Pistons have h : f-l -- - : : '' - : ’ :'! ' - - ‘! 15-ga- ! ‘ Six-gnn- bt : ' j ' - : last-ditc- ! : free-throw- ‘i ' V - j ' - r - - |