NBA lockout: Is the season saved?

NBA lockout likely to end after players and owners reach a tentative agreement early Saturday. If players, owners approve the 10-year deal, NBA lockout could end in time for Christmas Day games.

After nearly two years of bickering, NBA players and owners are back on the same side.

Skip to next paragraph

"We want to play basketball," Commissioner David Stern said.

Come Christmas Day, they should be.

The sides reached a tentative agreement early Saturday to end the 149-day NBA lockout and hope to begin the delayed season with a marquee tripleheader Dec. 25. Most of a season that seemed in jeopardy of being lost entirely will be salvaged if both sides approve the handshake deal.

Barring a change in scheduling, the 2011-12 season will open with the Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, followed by Miami at Dallas in an NBA finals rematch before MVP Derrick Rose and Chicago visiting Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

Neither side provided many specifics about the deal, and there are still legal hurdles that must be cleared before gymnasiums are open again.

"We thought it was in both of our interest to try to reach a resolution and save the game," union executive director Billy Hunter said.

After a secret meeting earlier this week that got the broken process back on track, the sides met for more than 15 hours Friday, working to save the season. Stern said the agreement was "subject to a variety of approvals and very complex machinations, but we're optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin Dec. 25."

The league plans a 66-game season and aims to open training camps Dec. 9, with free agency opening at the same time. Stern has said it would take about 30 days from an agreement to playing the first game.

"All I feel right now is 'finally,'" Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade told The Associated Press.

Just 12 days after talks broke down and Stern declared the NBA could be headed to a "nuclear winter," he sat next to Hunter to announce the 10-year deal, with either side able to opt out after the sixth year.

"For myself, it's great to be a part of this particular moment in terms of giving our fans what they wanted and wanted to see," said Derek Fisher, the president of the players' association.

A majority on each side is needed to approve the agreement, first reported by CBSSports.com. The NBA needs votes from 15 of 29 owners. (The league owns the New Orleans Hornets.) Stern said the labor committee plans to discuss the agreement later Saturday and expects them to endorse it and recommend to the full board.

The union needs a simple majority of its 430-plus members. That process is a bit more complicated after the players dissolved the union Nov. 14. Now, they must drop their antitrust lawsuit in Minnesota and reform the union before voting on the deal.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/7cvppKRbDwo/NBA-lockout-Is-the-season-saved

justin bieber paternity denver news kym johnson how old is justin bieber how old is justin bieber north dakota jobs referendum

Top-ranked Tar Heels stunned by UNLV, 90-80

UNLV's Chace Stanback celebrates with fans after the Rebels defeated North Carolina 90-80 in an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

UNLV's Chace Stanback celebrates with fans after the Rebels defeated North Carolina 90-80 in an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

From left, North Carolina's James Michael McAdoo, Dexter Strickland, John Henson and Tyler Zeller watch from the bench in the closing minute of play against UNLV in an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Las Vegas. UNLV upset North Carolina 90-80. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

UNLV's Chace Stanback reacts after hitting a three point basket against North Carolina in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Las Vegas. UNLV won 90-80. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

North Carolina's Reggie Bullock reacts after a turnover in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against UNLV, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Las Vegas. UNLV won 90-80. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

UNLV's Brice Massamba, left, draws a charge on North Carolina's John Henson in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? UNLV had been playing under the radar after winning their first six games this season against non-ranked teams.

Not anymore.

Chace Stanback had a career-high 28 points and added 10 rebounds to help UNLV beat top-ranked North Carolina 90-80 on Saturday night in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Mike Moser added 16 points and 18 rebounds, Oscar Bellfield had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Anthony Marshall finished with 13 points for the Rebels (7-0).

"I could tell on the bus on the way over and at shoot-around how focused we were," said first-year UNLV coach Dave Rice. "North Carolina is so well coached. We expected to play really, really well. We felt we had a chance to be competitive. We have four seniors. We don't want one game to define our program. We want to be judged on our consistency."

P.J. Hairston and John Henson each had 15 points for North Carolina (5-1).

"Needless to say, we are extremely disappointed. I would like to congratulate coach Rice and his team," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "They did a nice job. We could never get our focus offensively the entire game. What killed us, they got 20 points on offensive rebounds to our six."

Dexter Strickland had 12 points and John Henson added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Tar Heels, who were out-rebounded 48-39.

"I was surprised that we didn't rebound the basketball better," Williams said. "I was surprised about a lot of things we didn't do. We have to be stronger with the basketball. We have to guard the basketball better. We never did get the flow going. We have to be whole lot more patient."

After North Carolina took a 42-38 halftime lead, UNLV opened the second half with a 14-0 run as the Tar Heels missed their first 10 shots. The Rebels built a 77-63 lead on Lopez's basket off a rebound with 5:39 left.

Rebels fans stormed the Orleans Arena court after the victory.

"Chace was going 100 percent in the second half. His defense carried us," said Moser, who was named the Mountain West Conference player of the week. "Oscar Bellfield broke down his defender. Anthony Marshall did all he wanted to do. North Carolina is a great team."

The Tar Heels shot 31 percent in the second half.

The Rebels, who won for the first-time in four games against North Carolina, gambled early, taking 10 of their first 15 shots from 3-point range and hitting four. The strategy paid off with the Rebels jumping out to a 17-9 advantage. They went 13-of-32 from long range in the game.

"It was a big game for us," said Bellfield, who had 13 first-half points, including three 3-pointers. "You got to show up in the big game or in any game. You have to shoot with confidence. Open shot, you just take it."

The Tar Heels held UNLV scoreless for 4 minutes and took their first lead, 18-17, on Barnes' baseline jumper with 10:30 left in the opening half.

"Playing at Louisville and at home against them and playing at Wisconsin, that helped a lot," Bellfield said. "We're just cherishing the moment. We feel we're getting better every day. In the second half, we took another step."

This was the first time UNLV played a No.1 team since 1985, oddly enough against the Tar Heels at the Great Alaskan Shootout.

The game was played at the Orleans Arena, five miles from the UNLV campus. The teams have met only on a neutral court. They last played on Dec. 4, 1999 in the championship game of the Food Lion/MVP Classic in Charlotte, N.C., where the Tar Heels won 102-78. The teams also met in the 1977 NCAA Final Four in Atlanta, where North Carolina won 65-60.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-11-27-T25-North%20Carolina-UNLV/id-34179b7b886a4cb2b5ec2f92e230f723

kevin durant miranda lambert kim kardashian divorce generators generators lesean mccoy while you were sleeping