race in any Chase races in a lower series next year, so th

MIAMI -- Hassan Whiteside likes when teams challenge him inside.The reigning NBA blocks leader piled up seven to go with 12 points and 17 rebounds and the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 96-73 on Thursday night to end a six-game losing streak.Theres two different types of coaches and teams, Whiteside said. Theres coaches that say, `Hassan Whiteside is down there, dont attack him. And then there are coaches that say, `Hassan Whiteside is down there, lets attack him, God bless those teams. Long live those teams. I need more of those teams.Dion Waiters led Miami with 23 points, and Josh Richardson added 18. The losing streak was the Heats longest since 2008.Its just another game, we cant get too happy about one win, Richardson said. Were glad we won, but weve got to move on to the next game.Point guard Goran Dragic returned for the Heat after missing three games with a sprained left ankle. He had 16 points in 35 minutes.Rusty a little bit, Dragic said. I didnt feel quite fast enough. The first half I struggled a little bit and then I finally got my legs under me a little bit and in the second half I felt great.Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tony Snell each had 14 points for Milwaukee. The Bucks shot 32.9 percent (28 of 85) from the field and have lost four of five.As a team we struggled on the defensive end, Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said. We couldnt guard the ball. We couldnt grab rebounds when we had to. We gave them second opportunities. On the offensive end, we just lost our patience.Richardson hit a corner 3, Whiteside blocked a layup attempt by Antetokounmpo, and Dragic hit a 3 in a flurry of big plays to give Miami an 80-69 lead with 7 minutes left.That was a big sequence for us, Richardson said. Hassan, when he gets blocks like that it energizes everybody and were running I think were a dangerous team.The Heat held on the rest of the way, with a 3 by Waiters making it 88-73 with 3:31 left.Miami outscored Milwaukee 29-11 in the fourth quarter.The Bucks entered the game leading the NBA in points in the paint, averaging 49.8 a game after leading the league a year ago, but were held to 34 and just 10 in the second half.They cover so much ground in particular G.A. and (Jabari) Parker, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. They really have a way of cutting and attacking, and catching and going into the paint. You have to have guys who are willing to compete, be physical, and do it with technique and discipline. And then when you get beat it helps to have a great eraser back there (with Whiteside).Milwaukee jumped out to a 20-6 lead, which included three impressive dunks by Parker, including taking one around-the-back on a dribble to avoid Richardson, and holding the Heat to 3-for-18 shooting.Miami quickly bounced back as Tyler Johnsons 3 gave the Heat a 30-27 lead and the teams were knotted at 48 at the break.Josh Richardson hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Heat during a 13-4 run in the third quarter to give Miami a 65-54 lead.Miami led 67-62 to start the fourth quarter.Our best basketball was in the second half, Spoelstra said.BUCKS STARS STRUGGLEAntetokounmpo and Parker, who entered the game averaging over 41 points, combined to score 25 on 10-of-35 shooting (28.6 percent).(Whiteside) did a good job of contesting shots, but I go to the basket, and I didnt get nothing the whole game, Parker said. I didnt get no calls.McGRUDER, COACHES RECEIVE RINGSMiamis Rodney McGruder and assistant coaches Dan Craig and Octavio de la Grana received their NBA D-League championship rings for winning the title last season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miamis affiliate.Thats the same rock we got, thats awesome, Spoelstra said in reference to the Heats three championship rings. We all felt that we were a part of it.McGruder, a Kansas State product who went undrafted in 2013, made his NBA debut this season and recently earned his first start.UP NEXTMilwaukee will host Golden State on Saturday. The Bucks handed the Warriors one of their nine regular-season losses last year ending their 24-game winning streak to start the season.Miami begins a four-game, seven-day trip Saturday at Washington. Vince Carter Raptors Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Marc Gasol Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/Authentic-Serge-Ibaka-Jersey/ . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Jodie Meeks Raptors Jersey . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Norman Powell Raptors Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Busch won for the 10th time in the Xfinity Series this season with a victory at Phoenix International Raceway on the night NASCARs second-tier series set its inaugural championship field.The final four for next weekends race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be a battle between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joe Gibbs.Both car owners got two drivers each into the championship field the first year NASCAR rolled out the Chase for its lower two national series. The Chase uses the same elimination format as the Sprint Cup Series, and eight drivers were competing for the final four slots on Saturday night.Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones, both driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, got in. JR Motorsports qualified Justin Allgaier and Elliott Sadler.But, after the race, Sadlers car was being inspected by NASCAR for an apparent loose lug nut on his car. Its unclear if Sadler could face a points penalty that would knock him out of the championship field.I think we might have a loose lug. Theyll look at it. But, hey, we did what we had to do, Sadler said.Sadler, a longtime NASCAR veteran, is seeking his first title at the national level and has his best chance this year in this winner-take-all format.Were pumped about it, we really put all our eggs in one basket, and thats that Homestead car, he said.Allgaier had to stretch a drying gas tank over the closing laps to claim his spot and keep Blake Koch out of the field. Koch was keeping aan eye post-race on Sadlers situation, but immediately apologized for an earlier incident with Darrell Wallace Jr.dddddddddddd that knocked Wallace out of title contention.Busch, meanwhile, is racing Sunday for a spot in Cups final four. New rules will make him ineligible to race in any Chase races in a lower series next year, so this was his last victory in the fall race at Phoenix.Busch noted hed learned something about the tires by running the Xfinity race, and he planned to confer with his Cup team to get better prepared for Sundays main event. The reigning Sprint Cup champion had the fastest car in Saturdays final practice.We got a lot better, I feel like were at least in the ballpark, Busch said of Sunday. Weve got a top-five race car and well go from there.Brendan Gaughans championship chances ended when he wrecked with 63 laps remaining. He was in a must-win situation and came to Phoenix last in the eight-driver standings.Wallace, who was seventh in the standings, was wrecked when Koch ran into Wallaces lane to cause the accident. Wallace was mourning his grandmother, who died earlier this week, and had trouble controlling his emotions after.My grandmother was giving me the ride of my life, said Wallace, nearly sobbing. That was the most fun I have had all year. Just circumstances took us out. ' ' '