Schwarz/Weiß » ry to Houstons game plan. The Rockets shoot a ton of

LOS ANGELES -- History? Pressure? Jason Collins would have none of it after becoming the NBAs first active openly gay player. After all, it was almost game time. "Right now Im focusing on trying to learn the plays, learning the coverages and the game plan and the assignments. So I didnt have time to really think about history," Collins said at a crowded press conference less than an hour before his Brooklyn Nets faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. Collins signed a 10-day contract with the Nets earlier Sunday and played in the first half against the Lakers, grabbing a rebound and committing a couple of fouls. The 35-year-old centre revealed at the end of last season he is gay, but he was a free agent and had remained unsigned. Collins said he was aware of the magnitude of his signing, but repeatedly said he was most concerned with learning the Nets schemes. "The pressure is playing in an NBA game tonight and last time I played in an NBA game was last April," Collins said. "So I think thats enough pressure right there." With a need for another big man, the Nets turned to the 7-foot Collins, who helped them reach two NBA Finals in the early 2000s. "The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision," general manager Billy King said in a statement. "We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract." Collins has played 12 NBA seasons, including his first seven with the Nets, when they were in New Jersey and Jason Kidd was their point guard. Kidd is now the Nets coach and Collins has been a teammate of several other current Nets. "Jason told us that his goal was to earn another contract with an NBA team. Today, I want to commend him on achieving his goal. I know everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment," Commissioner Adam Silver said. The Nets worked out Collins during the All-Star break and met with him again Sunday, with his twin brother, Jarron, hinting that history would be made. "Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. Today should be a pretty cool day!" Jarron Collins wrote on Twitter. The news on Jason Collins comes as Michael Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year from Missouri who recently revealed he is gay, is taking part in the NFL draft combine. Sams on-field workouts in Indianapolis are scheduled for Monday. Collins was asked if he felt the tide is turning regarding gay players coming out, including Sam. "I hope so. What Michael said was it was about him being a football player and me being a basketball player, and going out there and trying to help our respective teams win," Collins said. He played 38 games last season with Boston and Washington and averaged 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in limited minutes. For his career, the 7-foot Collins averages 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds. "Im a solid veteran, and hopefully Ill be in the right place" on the court, Collins said. "I know I can execute the game plan. Its just about focusing on the task at hand and not thinking about history or anything along those lines. I just want to make it difficult for the Lakers tonight." Collins entered the game with 10:28 left in the second quarter and the Nets leading 35-26 after Nick Young made the first of his two free throws. The crowd welcomed him with a nice ovation when public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced his name. Collins announcement last spring was followed by numerous NBA players insisting he would be welcomed in the locker room. Collins has played for five other teams and is well respected inside and outside the league -- he attended the State of the Union as a guest of first lady Michelle Obama. "I just know Jason as a person and as a player. Thats what Im happy about. He has earned it. Hes a great guy. Its good for the league. The important thing is to judge him as a person and a basketball player," Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I know people who have coached him, and I know how highly thought of he is." Former Suns player Kevin Johnson, now Sacramentos mayor, said he saw Collins two weeks ago at the White House "and I thanked him for his courage and being strong and wished him well and to keep fighting hard. "I think its incredible for him. I think its incredible for the league. If Im on the Nets, my commitment is I want to get in the playoffs and I want to go far. All that is fine but I need him to win games and I think hes up for that challenge." The Nets had an opening for a big man after trading Reggie Evans along with Jason Terry to Sacramento on Wednesday for guard Marcus Thornton. King said Thursday that Collins would be among the players they would look at, insisting they wouldnt be concerned about any extra attention the signing of Collins would provide. "Were going to bring in a basketball player," King said. "Its not about marketing or anything like that." The Nets posted a photo on their Twitter account of Kidd watching Collins sign his contract, encouraging followers to retweet it to welcome Collins to Brooklyn. Collins is third in Nets history with 511 games played, and also ranks in their top 10 in minutes played, and offensive rebounds and total rebounds. A limited offensive player, the Nets hope he still provides a presence defensively and on the boards. "I know Jason Collins is a competitor. One thing I know about him is he fouls very hard," Miamis Dwyane Wade said with a laugh. "Hes one of those tough veterans. Im sure hes happy to be back playing in the league. Welcome back." Since making his announcement last year, "Life is more exciting for me," Collins said. "I mean, I dont have to hide who I am and I can be my normal self. The past 10 months have been incredible. Im making new friends, hearing different peoples stories, sharing experiences. Its just been an overall positive." Collins grew up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles and has a house here, so there was some normalcy to his day. "It was pretty easy for me just to come to the game tonight," Collins said, "drive down the 405, take the 10 and get here in 20 minutes." Gabriel Landeskog Avalanche Jersey . Yet coming off consecutive series losses at St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Los Angeles needed some sort of spark as August approaches. The Dodgers found it in the ballpark of their biggest rival, and left the Bay Area in first place following an emphatic three-game swing. Matt Calvert Avalanche Jersey .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/authentic...che-jersey/.com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season. John Wensink Avalanche Jersey . You can watch the game live on TSN2 and TSN Mobile TV at 9pm et/6pm pt. Jonathan Huberdeau and Quinton Howden are expected to make their debuts for Team Canada. Cale Makar Avalanche Jersey . The 21-year-old Wickham headed Sunderland into a 26th-minute lead --to add to the double he scored at Manchester City and his strike in last weekends win at Chelsea -- and then sealed the win with a late header.MIAMI - Theres no mystery to Houstons game plan. The Rockets shoot a ton of 3-pointers, feed Dwight Howard when the long ball isnt there, and run when they can.So far, its been foolproof.James Harden was one rebound away from a triple-double, Howard scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and the Rockets stayed unbeaten by beating the Miami Heat 108-91 on Tuesday night.Weve started great, Howard said. We just want to finish great.Harden finished with 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for Houston, which has won all five of its games — four on the road — by double digits. And after an off-season filled with questions about why Houston didnt do more, the Rockets have been dominant to start.I dont care what anybody thinks, Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. Why would I care what youve thought? I dont care. I care about what we do in that locker room with our guys.Trevor Ariza added 19 points for the Rockets, who used a 13-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away. Patrick Beverley scored 15 for Houston.Chris Bosh scored 21 points for Miami (3-1). Dwyane Wade added 19 for the Heat, with Shawne Williams and Mario Chalmers each scoring 12.Thats tough at the end, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Probably more mental breakdowns than anything else physically going down the stretch. ... You do have to credit them. They dont make it easy. They have a high-octane offence.Houston went 17 for 37 from 3-point range and now has 213 points from beyond the arc this season, as opposed to 198 points on 2-pointers.Youve got the most dominant big man in the league roaming around the rim so somebody has to take him, Harden said. And then you have tremendous shooters on the wing. Its pretty hard to guard.A 17-8 run by the Rockets closed the half and gave Houston a 57-55 lead at intermission. The run continued in the third.Houston scored 18 points in a 44 1/2-minute stretch that was capped by three 3-pointers in 66 seconds — the last two by Beverley, helping the Rockets turn a tied game into a 77-64 lead.ddddddddddddMiami ripped off 10 straight points to get within 83-80 early in the fourth, and 3s from Justin Hamilton and Shabazz Napier cut Houstons lead to 90-86 with 7 minutes left.But Ariza hit a 3, Harden laid in his own miss and then Ariza — over the outstretched arm of the 7-foot Bosh — made a high-arcing 3 to put Houston up 12 and in control for good.That was huge, McHale said.___TIP-INSRockets: Beverley missed Mondays game in Philadelphia with hamstring pain but showed no ill effects. ... F Donatas Motiejunas started because Terrence Jones (knee) was out. ... The Rockets were one of two teams with four road games in the first eight days, along with Oklahoma City. Houston plays eight of its next 11 at home. ... Harden was 10 for 10 from the line in the first half, doing that for the second time in his last three games.Heat: It was Miamis 1,000th regular-season loss. ... Miami was without Danny Granger (hamstring), Udonis Haslem (quad) and Chris Andersen (ribs). ... Heat President Pat Riley sat with his former point guard, Magic Johnson. ... Hamilton, who had three 3-pointers in his career entering the night, made three, including two in a 19-second span of the first quarter.PERFECT STARTHouston is now 5-0 for the first time since 1996-97, a season when it began with marks of 6-0, 15-1 and 21-2. And the Rockets didnt get their fourth win of 10 points or more on the road last year until Christmas.DEFENSIVE STRUGGLEMiami allowed a total of 17 3-pointers in its first three games. The Rockets made 17 against the Heat on Tuesday, the eighth time in Miami history an opponent has hit so many.UP NEXTRockets: Host San Antonio on Thursday.Heat: Visit Charlotte on Wednesday. ' ' '