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Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
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Fan ranker: Who will be MVP of the NBA? Visit each week during the regular season to rank the candidates. NBCSports.com |
Kobe or LeBron? LeBron or Kobe? Trying to settle on the best player in the NBA — Lakers guard Kobe Bryant or Cavaliers forward LeBron James — is no easy choice.
But, according to Sporting News' panel of experts, Bryant is the clear-cut No. 1. Bryant tops SN’s list of the 50 greatest players in the NBA today, as selected by a panel of 107 Hall of Famers, major award winners, executives, current players and coaches and other basketball experts.
Bryant received almost twice as many first-place votes as James, 62 to 34.
Heat guard Dwyane Wade was third on the list and received 11 first-place votes. Magic center Dwight Howard was fourth, and Spurs power forward Tim Duncan fifth.
Rounding out the top 10: Hornets point guard Chris Paul, Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett, Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki, Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony, and Celtics small forward Paul Pierce.
"I think what we've seen from Kobe in the last two, three years is that he has become an incredible leader," former Lakers great Magic Johnson said about Bryant. "That was the only thing he had to do that was left on his resume. Before, there was no question that he was the best basketball player in the world, like he is now. He was dominant every night, but he didn’t take on that leadership role. ... Now, he is the total package."
SN's Top 50 breakdown
By team
5: Lakers
4: Celtics, Spurs
3: Hawks, Nuggets, Rockets
2: Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Pistons, Raptors, 76ers, Suns
1: Bulls, Bucks, Clippers, Heat, Hornets, Nets, Pacers, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Wizards
0: Bobcats, Kings, Knicks, Timberwolves, Warriors
By position
Point guard: 11
Shooting guard: 12
Small forward: 11
Power forward: 10
Center: 6
SN's Top 50 players
1. Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers
2. LeBron James, SF, Cavaliers
3. Dwyane Wade, SG, Heat
4. Dwight Howard, C, Magic
5. Tim Duncan, PF, Spurs
6. Chris Paul, PG, Hornets
7. Kevin Garnett, PF, Celtics
8. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks
9. Carmelo Anthony, SF, Nuggets
10. Paul Pierce, SF, Celtics
11. Steve Nash, PG, Suns
12. Deron Williams, PG, Jazz
13. Tony Parker, PG, Spurs
14. Brandon Roy, SG, Trail Blazers
15. Yao Ming, C, Rockets
16. Shaquille O'Neal, C, Cavaliers
17. Pau Gasol, PF, Lakers
18. Chris Bosh, PF, Raptors
19. Amare Stoudemire, PF, Suns
20. Chauncey Billups, PG, Nuggets
21. Kevin Durant, SF, Thunder
22. Manu Ginobili, SG, Spurs
23. Jason Kidd, PG, Mavericks
24. Tracy McGrady, SG, Rockets
25. Joe Johnson, SG, Hawks
26. Derrick Rose, PG, Bulls
27. Ray Allen, SG, Celtics
28. Gilbert Arenas, PG, Wizards
29. Ron Artest, SF, Lakers
30. Vince Carter, SG, Magic
31. Danny Granger, SF, Pacers
32. Baron Davis, PG, Clippers
33. Devin Harris, PG, Nets
34. Ben Gordon, SG, Pistons
35. Al Horford, C, Hawks
36. Carlos Boozer, PF, Jazz
37. Nene, C, Nuggets
38. Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics
39. Andre Iguodala, SG, 76ers
40. Josh Smith, PF, Hawks
41. Rudy Gay, SF, Grizzlies
42. Hedo Turkoglu, SF, Raptors
43. Lamar Odom, SF, Lakers
44. Shane Battier, SF, Rockets
45. Elton Brand, PF, 76ers
46. Richard Jefferson, SF, Spurs
47. O.J. Mayo, SG, Grizzlies
48. Charlie Villanueva, PF, Pistons
49. Michael Redd, SG, Bucks
50. Andrew Bynum, C, Lakers
Sporting News panel
Gene Banks, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Butch Beard, Walt Bellamy, Travis Best, Otis Birdsong, Muggsy Bogues, Jeff Bower, Bill Bradley, Terrell Brandon, Allan Bristow, Dee Brown, Hubie Brown, Mike Brown, P.J. Brown, Marcus Camby, Rick Carlisle, Bill Cartwright, Tyson Chandler, Phil Chenier, Doug Christie, Archie Clark, Jim Cleamons, Wayne Cooper, Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Mike D'Antoni, Don Delaney, Joe Dumars, Mike Dunleavy, Mark Eaton, Craig Ehlo, Mario Elie, Gar Forman, Harry Gallatin, Dick Garmaker, Mike Gminski, Cliff Hagan, John Hammond, Tim Hardaway, Tom Heinsohn, Rod Higgins, Bob Hill, Lionel Hollins, Bob Houbregs, Bailey Howell, Eddie Johnson, Marques Johnson, Bobby Jones, George Karl, Steve Kerr, Bob Kurland, Frank Layden, Tim Legler, Ronnie Lester, Earl Lloyd, Donyell Marshall, Bob McAdoo, Rodney McCray, Dick McGuire, Brad Miller, Earl Monroe, Daryl Morey, David Morway, Tracy Murray, Tom Nissalke, Norm Nixon, Kevin O'Connor, Will Perdue, Geoff Petrie, Bob Pettit, Randy Pfund, Scot Pollard, Gregg Popovich, Kevin Pritchard, Jack Ramsay, Frank Ramsey, Arnie Risen, Oscar Robertson, Scotty Robertson, Jimmy Rodgers, John Salley, Flip Saunders, Charlie Scott, Bill Sharman, Purvis Short, Jim Spanarkel, Steve Stipanovich, Ed Stefanski, Rod Thorn, Jay Triano, Kelly Tripucka, Jack Twyman, Dick Van Arsdale, Kiki Vandeweghe, Stan Van Gundy, Dick Vitale, Chet Walker, Bobby Wanzer, Mark Warkentien, Slick Watts, Bill Wennington, Jerry West, Lenny Wilkens, Pat Williams, and Brian Winters.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
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