Hedo Turkoglu successfully scored 31 points, while Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis had 23 each and the Orlando Magic did a perfect four-game West Coast trip with a massive 106-88 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Denver on Saturday night. Dwight Howard made 14 points and 20 rebounds which effectively helped the Magic to mark their seventh straight and ninth win in past 10 games. It was Howard’s second straight 20-rebound game. Linas Kleiza made a season-high 26 points for Denver, and Chauncey Billups had 16.

Orlando with 33-8 now has the most wins in the NBA. The percentage points behind Cleveland for first

overall in the Eastern Conference. The Magic beat all three Western Conference division leaders on the trip. Orlando, which effectively defeated the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, showed no signs of fatigue against the Nuggets. The Magic led by nine after three and extended the lead to six at 85-71 with consecutive 3-pointers from Turkoglu and Courtney Lee with 10:01 left. Denver was not able to reach closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

Turkoglu took over the power in the third quarter, and scored 12 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Magic a 79-70 lead heading into the fourth. Kleiza led the Nuggets with seven points in the third. Turkoglu and Nelson got off to strong starts in the first period, and scored 10 points each helping the Magic take a 26-23 heading into the second quarter. Nelson didn’t slow down in the second quarter, and went ahead for 5-for-8 from the field and finishing with 21 points at the half. Kleiza helped the Nuggets overcome Nelson’s big first half with 14 points to help give Denver a 48-47 lead at the break. Nene was earlier called for a foul on the play. Howard, moments later drew his second personal and a technical.

Tags : NBA, score, Saturday, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, Linas Kleiza, Rashard Lewis, Chauncey Billups, Denver, point, Courtney Lee, Orlando Magic

Taking a look at the structuring of professional leagues in the U.S. and Canada will help Indian cricket in managing finance in effectively. The players in the NBA, NFL or the baseball leagues are perfect professionals who along with playing also know how to manage the finance. They have a market place to get supported. Talent will do find market without any extra effort. Most of the players in the west sign up professional contracts for seven years based on the performance. Major leagues will provide berths based of performance. If you fail to make it, then is dumped to minor leagues. But, Indian cricket is miles away from that.

Financial experts feel a lot of difference between the sports scenario in India and the US. In India, the market is not as deep as it is in the U.S. Generally, in the Indian market talent to command price tag bring high price, while those who are not part of that small group fails to earn big money. But in the U.S., compensation comes on the basis of performance. The endorsement packages in most times are much higher than the performance many, may be by many multiples. It is time to ask our self that if it is the right way. This comes in the background of doubts raised by puritans regarding the assets garnered by cricket players. Is big money killing the game?

Cricket in India is a religion. It is lucrative and attracts flow of immense money. The effective marketing strategy adopted by the cricket bodies of mixing the game with films, have run well. Cricket stars do attract a lot of endorsements with their mass appeal and popularity that they enjoy among a large section of the nation. No one can deny that good money is a must for the growth of the game. No one even is upset of celebrities endorsing products. But the question is, whether do they deserve such a large wealth? Aren’t this heavy cash burning their talent? If someone doubts of many players commitment to the game; we cannot find fault in that.

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