Nets/Knicks Game Postponed Due to Sandy

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The effects of Hurricane Sandy have reached the sports world. The Brooklyn Nets' season-opening game, at home versus the New York Knicks Thursday, has been postponed.

"Mayor Bloomberg informed us this afternoon that after further analysis of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy that he felt it was in the best interests of the city of New York, the teams and our fans that we postpone the Knicks-Nets game scheduled for Thursday night," NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating storm."

The game was supposed to be the first regular season game for the Nets at the new $1 billion Barclays Center.

Instead, the Nets will start their journey in their new home Saturday, when they take on the Toronto Raptors. 

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Rockets Agree to $80 Million Contract With James Harden

Oklahoma City Thunder/NBA(HOUSTON) -- The Houston Rockets have agreed to a five-year, $80 million contract with guard James Harden.

Harden, who was traded to the Rockets Saturday, played his first  three NBA seasons as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Harden served as the Thunder's sixth man, even winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award last season. But in Houston Harden will be a starter.

"You know in college I was a leader," Harden said. "I was a leader with the Thunder but I had a different role. I had to change my role. Now I'm getting back to my starter ways and I'm being a leader on the court."

Harden averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last season.

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New-Look Lakers Lose to Mavericks on Opening Night

NBA via Los Angeles Lakers(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Lakers were supposed to start their highly-anticipated season with a big win at home against the short-handed Mavericks. Instead, they were beaten by the Mavericks 99-91.

Kobe Bryant scored 22 points on 11-14 shooting despite playing on a bad foot, while Pau Gasol scored 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. But it was the new Lakers who failed to impress the Laker crowd. Steve Nash scored just seven points and handed out four assists. New center Dwight Howard scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds, but went 3-14 from the free throw line.

"It's not an excuse, but it will all come with time," Howard said. "We haven't had an opportunity to to really play together as much as we want, but we're going to get it. ...We're going to chip away, and we're going to get better."

What made the loss even more alarming was that the Mavericks were without all-star forward Dirk Nowitzki, as well as starting center Chris Kaman.

"It's growing pains, and it's a struggle," Nash said. "We're out of sync, and we're going to probably have some more moments in games like that."

In their team debuts, O.J. Mayo scored 12 points, Darren Collison scored 17 points, and Elton Brand scored eight points.

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Heat Defeat the Celtics on Opening Night

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- On the night that the Miami Heat received their championship rings, they reminded the world just how good they are after defeating the Boston Celtics 120-107.

Dwayne Wade scored 29 points, Lebron James scored 26 points and former Celtic Ray Allen dropped 19 points off the bench to give the Heat a convincing win over their Eastern Conference rival.

"It was good to cap the night off with a win," Head head coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It was an emotional time for all of us in our organization."

Arguably the most memorable part of the game happened right before Allen checked in for the first time. Allen went over to the Celtics sideline and exchanged handshakes and pleasantries with members of the Celtics coaching staff.  Though Allen went over the greet Kevin Garnett and patted him on the shoulder to get his attention, Garnett just kept staring onto the court and never unacknowledged Allen was even near him.

"I was just trying to focus as much as I could. I am such an intense person," Garnett said. "It was a blank. Obviously he's on the other side. It's time to play the game, man."

Allen spent the previous five seasons with the Celtics and won an NBA Championship with the team during the 2007-2008 season.

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MLB Announces Gold Glove Winners

Major League Baseball(NEW YORK) -- On Tuesday, Major League Baseball announced who they feel are the best defensive players in all of baseball.  They are:

Catcher: Matt Wieters (AL) and Yadier Molina (NL)

First Base: Mark Teixeira (AL) and Adam LaRoche (NL)

Second Base: Robinson Cano (AL) and Darwiny Barney (NL)

Shorstop: J.J. Hardy (AL) and Jimmy Rollins (NL)

Third Base: Adrian Beltre (AL) and Chase Headley (NL)

Left Field: Alex Gordon (AL) and Carlos Gonzalez (NL)

Center Field: Adam Jones (AL) and Andrew McCutchen (NL)

Right Field: Josh Reddick (AL) and Jason Heyward (NL)

Pitcher: Jake Peavy/Jeremy Hellickson (AL) and Mark Buehrle (NL)

The Baltiore Orioles had the most players earn a Gold Glove, with three. Neither the World Series-winning Giants nor the Series-losing Tigers had a single player win a Gold Glove.

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Dodgers Reward Reliever Brandon League with Contract Extension

Greg Fiume/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are wasting no time in getting their offseason started. The team has agreed to a three-year, $22.5 million contract with relief pitcher Brandon League.

League was acquired by the Dodgers just before the trade deadline in a deal with the Seattle Mariners.

In 28 appearances with the Dodgers, League was 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA and also registered six saves. In the month of September, when the Dodgers were fighting for a playoff spot, League had a 0.55 ERA and was one of the team's best relievers.

Because he closed at times for the team and was successful in the role, general manager Ned Colletti has said that League will start out as the team's closer. The team's other closer, Kenley Jansen, is still recovering from an irregular heartbeat.

In 2012, the Dodgers had the fourth-best bullpen ERA in the National League (3.23).

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Buccaneers Place Guard Carl Nicks on IR

NFL via Getty Images(TAMPA, FL.) -- Already dealing with injuries to their offensive line, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense has taken a big hit. The team has placed guard Carl Nicks on injured reserved because of a toe injury.

The Bucs announced Nicks will have surgery to repair a torn plantar plate in his left foot. The team has already lost one the NFL's top guards, Davin Joseph, to a season-ending injury suffered in the preseason.

This is a big blow to the Buccaneers offense and particularly to rookie running back Doug Martin. Nicks was in his first season with the team after he singed a five-year, $47 million contract. The 27-year old Nicks is considered one of the best, if not the best, interior lineman in the NFL, earning All-Pro honors last season.

Ted Larson, Jeremy Trueblood, and Cody Wallace are expected to be the final candidates to replace Nicks on the offensive line.

Nicks apparently was dealing with the injury all season but couldn't continue to play with the injured toe.

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Scoreboard Roundup - 10/30/12

Getty Images/Hemera(NEW YORK) -- NBA: The Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0) dumped the Washington Wizards (0-1), 94-84.

The Miami Heat (1-0) burned the Boston Celtics (0-1), 120-107.

The Dallas Mavericks (1-0) took down the Los Angeles Lakers (0-1), 99-91.

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Leyland Returning to Tigers

Robert Rogers/MLB Photos via Getty Images(DETROIT) -- The Detroit Tigers may have lost the World Series, but that doesn't mean the team was going to get rid of its skipper. The Tigers agreed to a one-year contract extension with manager Jim Leyland Tuesday.

This will be the second straight season Leyland works on a one-year deal with the team.

"I'm going to be here in 2013, and we'll take that from there," Leyland said. "I wanted to manage, but I did think long and hard about it, because I wanted to make sure that I was going to be doing everything that you need to do to continue to keep this club headed in the right direction."

Leyland has been to three World Series as a manager and has won one. The 67-year-old leads all active managers in wins with 1,676.

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Jaguars Trade Receiver Mike Thomas to Lions

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars traded receiver Mike Thomas to the Detroit Lions for a mid-round 2013 draft pick.

Thomas, who is in his fourth NFL season, has caught 171 balls for 1,768 yards and six touchdowns.

He will help a Lions' receiving core that lost Nate Burelson for the season two games ago.

Thomas joins a group of receivers that include Calvin Johnson, Titus Young, and rookie Ryan Broyles.

In addition to trading Thomas, the Jaguars also waived quarterback John Parker Wilson and running back Keith Toston.

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