Fernandez, Blazers beat Heat in Oden's return

Basketball Betting Lines

11/12/2008 - Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rudy Fernandez logged 14 of his team-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, as the Portland Trail Blazers welcomed back Greg Oden with a resounding 104-96 victory at Miami.

Oden made his return after missing six games with a right foot sprain sustained in the season-opener. The seven-footer was a non-factor offensively in 16 minutes of play, finishing with three points, two rebounds and a pair of blocks while sitting the bench for most of the fourth quarter.

Brandon Roy contributed 22 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 14 and added seven rebounds for Portland, which has won four straight.

Dwyane Wade deposited 36 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Miami, which had won its first three home games of the year. Michael Beasley scored 14 points but failed to score in the final 20 minutes of the Heat's second loss in three contests.

With the score tied, 79-79, at the nine-minute mark of the fourth, the Blazers buckled down defensively and started hitting their outside shots. A Fernandez three-pointer and a three-point play by Aldridge highlighted an 11-2 run to put Portland ahead for good.

Wade nearly brought the Heat back single-handedly, and his emphatic two-hand dunk with 40 seconds left made it a 98-94 game. But on the ensuing Blazers possession, Roy drove the lane and kicked it out to a wide open Steve Blake, who banged home a three-point dagger from the corner to seal the game with 17.1 seconds remaining.

Portland came out and moved the ball effectively en route to taking a 27-19 lead at the end of one period. But Wade and Beasley score 19 of the Heat's 28 second-quarter points to carry Miami back to a 50-47 deficit at the break.

Miami got the better end of a back-and-forth third quarter and held a slim 75-73 edge going into the pivotal fourth.

Game Notes

Wade has scored 30-plus points in four straight games...Miami's Udonis Haslem led all players with 11 rebounds...Heat forward Shawn Marion (groin) and guards Marcus Banks (groin) and Shaun Livingston (knee) did not play in the loss... Oden's only field goal -- and first of his career -- came on a uncontested dunk with less than a minute to play in the first quarter...Portland has won three straight against Miami.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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