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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Serena Williams says she asked for a wildcard into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to combat boredom once she believed her back injury was on the mend. "My back finally started to feel better but it wasnt better in time for me to play Doha at the level Id like to play," said Williams, in a pre-match media interview on Monday. "So then it became more about what can I play next and this was next on the calendar. "It gets boring to have to practice every day. I was like, I dont want to practice anymore. I want to play a match." The American has been sidelined with an aching back since losing a three-set, fourth-round match to Ana Ivanovic at the Australian Open last month. The top-seeded Williams isnt just playing singles this week in Dubai. She and sister Venus, who also was given a singles wildcard into the main draw, were granted a wildcard into the doubles as well. "I think its actually going to be good for me to do (play singles and doubles) because it will give me some more match play," Williams said. "I need to get used to the conditions and moving so its definitely helpful." Williams, who received a first round bye, will play the winner of the all-Russian encounter between Alisa Kleybanova and Elena Makarova in the second round. In the doubles, the Williams sisters will face the second-seeded Russian pairing of Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the first round. Jaime Barria Jersey . With their coach gone, they finally played offence the way he would have wanted. Amare Stoudemire made all seven shots in the first half, Anthony passed and shot well, and the Knicks shook off the surprising departure of their coach to rout the Portland Trail Blazers 121-79 on Wednesday night, snapping a six-game losing streak. Frank Robinson Jersey . Bookies were offering odds of 13/1 before kickoff that the home team Houston Dynamo would prevail by three goals to nil. https://www.cheapangels.com/2113j-chuck-...sey-angels.html. Azarenka needed exactly one hour in a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Austrian Yvonne Meusburger to start the night session at Laver Arena. Sharapova had a much easier time earlier in the day with cooler conditions and took full advantage in 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) win over Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, while Radwanska had to rally for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Felix Pena Angels Jersey . "I dont know where we would be without him," McClendon said. "Hes done a tremendous job for us and (Wednesday) was no different." Logan Morrison drove in two runs in Seattles big sixth inning, Young pitched seven strong innings and the Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep. Griffin Canning Jersey . As if he had been rehearsing it, Vasquez looked around with a grimacing stare as he clinched two fists and flexed his muscles. What do you think of DeMar DeRozans face after he hits a big shot, he was asked moments earlier. PHILADELPHIA -- Thaddeus Young always had his confidence. He just needed to find his stroke. Once he did, Young gave the 76ers a rare bright spot in a bleak season. Young hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left to lift Philadelphia to a 95-92 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. "I was like, Im making this shot," Young said. "I hadnt made one the whole game. But I was like, whatever it takes, it was going to go down." So did the Bobcats. Young hit the final big shot in a fourth quarter loaded with back-and-forth baskets, a poorly contested jumper from the left of the arc off a feed from Michael-Carter Williams. Young scored 11 points and his winner was his only 3-pointer of the game. Kemba Walkers last-gasp shot was off the mark. Spencer Hawes had 17 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Sixers. Evan Turner scored 23 points and Carter-Williams had 20. "You find those (wins) from time to time to help promote what youre doing," coach Brett Brown said. "They work hard. They really invest time. They completely get along." Walker led the Bobcats with 26 points and Al Jefferson had 24. Hard to believe, the Bobcats (16-24) entered the game as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. But this one had the feel of a bad preseason finale until the final minutes. Charlottes Gerald Henderson missed his first nine shots. Philadelphias Tony Wroten spent more time throwing the ball into the stands than to a teammate. Sixers forward Brandon Davies was whistled for four fouls in 5 minutes. Both teams shot clunkers from the free throw line (Bobcats 17 of 26; 76ers 11 of 20) and 3-point arc (Bobcats 5 of 20; 76ers 6 of 15). And the turnovers. So many turnovers -- a sloppy 24 for the Sixers that led to 25 points and helped the Bobcats rally from 11 down. "You fight hard to come back, then you just cant come up with the plays to win the game," Henderson said. Henderson stripped Turner and dunked for a rare easy basket and a one-point lead late in the fourth. Hawes followed with a 3 to put the Sixers up 89-87. Jeffersson tied it.dddddddddddd Turner went inside to make it 91-89. Walker tied it at 92-all. This one seemed set for overtime. Young took care of that with one of his biggest shots of the season, a needed lift for a team with only 13 wins. "We have to get better at finishing games and keeping our turnovers down," Young said. "We dont have very many (wins), so we have to cherish what weve got." The sputtering Bobcats have lost nine of 10. "When the games on the line, youve got to have one clean coverage," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said. "We did a poor job with the two guys involved in that." While the win helped the Sixers snap a four-game losing streak, they are still all about building for the future and have steeled themselves for a season spent near the bottom of the standings. They hope Nerlens Noel helps take them to the top. Noel, the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft, hasnt played this season as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The 6-foot-11 centre was injured last season playing for Kentucky. The Sixers are taking a cautious approach toward bringing along their top prospect. Sixers president Sam Hinkie said some restrictions on Noel have been lifted and he is now able to participate in limited on-court work. "There are several benchmarks Nerlens still must meet, and during that time we will closely monitor his progress and regularly evaluate his status," Hinkie said. "Our goal remains the same, which is to give Nerlens every opportunity to ensure a long, productive NBA career." Brown said there was "no definitive timeline" on when Noel would play for the Sixers. "At age 19, hes got an awful lot to offer, an awful lot to give," Brown said. "I personally cant wait to coach him. Hes excited. He wants to get out there. But we have to do right by him." Notes: Hawes and Carter-Williams each scored 12 points to help the Sixers take a 53-45 lead into halftime. ... The Sixers held a 50-42 rebounding edge. ... There were four lead changes and three ties in the fourth quarter. ' ' '