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You saw the moment: Los Angeles had cut Minnesotas lead to two points with about 7? minutes left in Tuesdays much-anticipated matchup. This game, which might well have been a preview of the WNBA Finals, was living up to its billing. The Sparks, who had lost just once at Staples Center all season -- to Minnesota back in June -- were one stop away from a chance to tie it up or take the lead.One stop away. Sounds so close, doesnt it? Except if the person you have to stop is Lynx center Sylvia Fowles.In a battle of the top two teams in the league, the visiting Lynx prevailed 77-74. It didnt look like it would end up that close, until a last-second scoring surge by the Sparks. That was the kind of thing that might have Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve waking up in a cold sweat reliving it, kind of like that dream where you havent been to class all semester and then have to take a final. And you say to yourself, How the heck did this happen?But that little stumble before the finish line actually didnt hurt the Lynx (25-5). They won. They have secured one of the top two seeds in the playoffs. And they know theyll be in the best-of-five semifinals.Los Angeles (24-6) is pretty close to nailing down a bye to the semifinals too. But the Sparks know that if they are to make a title run, the Lynx are probably going to be in the way. And Fowles, who was last seasons WNBA Finals MVP after a 3-2 series win over the Indiana Fever, is helping make the Lynx seem just as hard to topple this season.So back to that moment on Tuesday. With the Lynx protecting a two-point lead, Fowles got the ball at the top of the lane on a pass from Seimone Augustus. At that juncture, Fowles had 17 points, and the Sparks tried to collapse on her. Everybody on the team -- and a few of the Sparks fans, it seemed -- got between the 6-foot-6 Fowles and the basket.OK, actually, it was only three Sparks defenders who attempted to stop her. You know, just three terrific players 6-2 or taller: Candace Parker, Jantel Lavender and Nneka Ogwumike. Fowles had to turn around, put the ball on the floor, step to the basket, not lose the ball and make a shot while closely guarded.She did just that. At which point, if youre one of the Sparks, you had to say, Theres just not much we can do about that.That is usually the case with Fowles when she gets the ball where she can do damage. You cant really prevent it, no matter how good your defense. Fowles finished with a game-high 21 points on 9 of 11 shooting and added nine rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.As great as the Lynx are collectively -- which is very, very great -- Minnesotas individual star power also displayed its wattage on Tuesday. Maya Moore -- who definitely should not be overlooked in the regular-season MVP race -- was outstanding with 20 points and seven rebounds. She followed Fowles big basket by pulling down a rebound off a missed Sparks shot, bringing the ball down the court and pulling up for a 3-pointer that swished.If that were the only one-two punch the Lynx could throw at teams, it would be devastating enough. Add in Augustus offense, Lindsay Whalens court savvy, Rebekkah Brunsons defense and rebounding, the benchs ability to give the Lynx dependable depth at every position -- and it can seem Minnesota is an insurmountable force.Yet the Sparks -- thanks in part to an unexpected but good-to-see 20 points from reserve guard Chelsea Gray -- were able to take it to the wire. Still, they and every other potential challenger to the Lynx have to look at Fowles as a particularly vexing problem.Shes a seasoned veteran and an Olympian. She has great strength, touch, footwork and resolve. And shes tough. Fowles took a fall in the opening moments of Tuesdays game that looked wincingly painful and no doubt felt a lot worse. But after a brief time on the sidelines, she was right back in the game.It was a little over a year ago that Fowles joined Minnesota after the organizations lengthy negotiations to obtain her from the Chicago Sky. Her first Lynx game, after sitting out the season to that point, was against the Sparks on July 29, 2015. She had 11 points and five rebounds that night. And while it did take some adjustments for the Lynx to fully integrate Fowles, it all worked out exactly as planned, culminating with the franchises third WNBA title.Since coming to Minnesota, Fowles has been nothing but a joy for the Lynx staff to coach, so genuine is her desire to do things just as they want them done.It seems odd to say the Lynx are back in the drivers seat in regard to the 2016 championship, because they never really seemed to be out of it. Nonetheless, it should be clear to everyone now: Minnesota is the favorite to win it all, and Fowles is a big reason why. Cheap Rockets Jerseys Authentic . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Cheap Rockets Jerseys . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. http://www.cheaprocketsjerseys.com/ .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Cheap Swingman Rockets Jerseys . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. DeAnthony Melton Jersey .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. INDIANAPOLIS -- Adam Vinatieris reunions usually consist of a personal trip down memory lane.At least there he can take a few moments to reflect on the six AFC championship teams he played on, the four Super Bowl rings he won and all those famous kicks he made along the way.One day, the Indianapolis Colts seemingly ageless kicker figures hell finally be able to participate in some of those memorable halftime celebrations, such as the one taking place Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.Until then, the leagues oldest player at age 43 will focus on what he does best -- making kicks -- and those former teammates enjoy the showThere have been a few (missed reunions), the Colts kicker said Wednesday. Some in New England, too. Yeah, they gave me the token invitation, knowing that I couldnt go because I was still playing.Forty players, nine coaches and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian are all expected to attend the 10th anniversary of Indianapolis Super Bowl title.Some of the household names -- Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Jeff Saturday -- are expected to attend.Some of the postseason stars -- Joseph Addai, Marlin Jackson, Dan Klecko and Dominic Rhodes -- also are coming back. Even a handful of forgotten players, such as Rocky Boiman and Bo Schobel, have made plans to attend.There will be several noticeable absences, too.Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy will miss the reunion because of his Sunday Night Football duties. Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the year Bob Sanders and record-setting defensive end Dwight Freeney, now with the Atlanta Falcons, are not on the current list of confirmed guests.Then there are Vinatieri and Robert Mathis, the only remaining players from the title team still on the Colts roster.While they may try to sneak out for a team dinner Saturday night or find a few spare moments to meet with some old pals, they know this is a working weekend that may force them out of most of the festivities around town.Its a good problem to have, Vinatieri said.While Vinatieri and Mathis are still focused on collecting another ring, their paths have taken divergent paths this season.The 35-year-old Mathis was slowed early by a bad knee and he has struggled to round into form in the finnal year of his current contract.dddddddddddd Through nine games, the Colts career sacks leader has 19 tackles, only two sacks and four tackles for loss.Vinatieri, meanwhile, has thrived . Hes made an NFL record 44 consecutive field goals, including his past nine from 50 yards or longer.Regardless of where their careers stand now, neither has forgotten the lessons from their postseason success.Just four weeks after allowing 375 yards rushing to Jacksonville in mid-December, the defense completely shut down Kansas Citys Larry Johnson, the leagues No. 2 rusher. In the divisional round, Vinatieri made five field goals at Baltimore -- in a 15-6 win that featured no touchdowns.In the conference championship game, the Colts used two touchdowns from linemen to rally from an 18-point deficit to defeat their biggest nemesis, New England.And they capped off their title run by pulling away from Chicago in rainy Miami.Basically it was our time and we just followed our leader, Tony Dungy, Mathis said. He drove the point home that it was our time and stayed the course. Faith is a powerful thing when you believe you can get things accomplished.Now, like then, the Colts (4-5) are trying to defy those who have been counting them out. The quest continues Sunday against surging Tennessee (5-5) .But while other guys spend the weekend retelling stories, rekindling friendships and relaxing, Vinatieri and Mathis will happily spend this weekend working.Its for them and we were part of that, Vinatieri said. But for me its about trying to win a game.Game notes Three players missed Wednesdays practice with injuries -- right guard Denzelle Good (illness), defensive end Kendall Langford (knee) and cornerback Patrick Robinson (groin). ... Defensive tackle Henry Anderson (knee), left guard Jack Mewhort (triceps) and right tackle Joe Reitz (concussion) all were full participants at practice. ... Andrew Luck was selected as the Colts Ed Block Courage Award winner after returning from a lacerated kidney that forced him to miss the final seven games in 2015.---