ditch effort fell short when Middletons jumper at the buzzer from the right corne

CHICAGO - Anthony Davis made several long jumpers from the top of the key. He put the ball on the ground and drove to the basket. He protected the lane for New Orleans, gliding to the rim for several big rebounds and blocked shots.Davis return to Chicago was one impressive show.The 6-foot-10 power forward was outstanding in his first NBA game in his hometown, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots in the Pelicans 107-100 loss to the surging Bulls on Saturday night.Playing in front of several family members and friends, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 draft showed no signs of any jitters or nerves.It was another scary display for the rest of the league, the type of monster performance that is coming with increasing frequency this season. Davis is averaging 24.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and three blocked shots per game — all team highs and better numbers than he had in his first two years. And he is just 21 years old.As he gets stronger and his mind develops, he is going to be an even better player, Pelicans coach Monty Williams said.The player that showed up at the United Center on Saturday night had the Bulls shaking their heads with respect. It was Davis sixth game of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots; he accomplished that feat five times all of last season.He is a great player, and great well beyond his years, said Joakim Noah, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year who guarded Davis for part of the night. I thought that for somebody to come in, playing in front of your hometown, usually theres some anxiety. I just saw a lot of composure from him tonight.Davis grew up on Chicagos South Side and led Kentucky to the national championship in his only season with the Wildcats. He had a mild concussion when New Orleans visited Chicago during his rookie year, and he broke his left hand before the Pelicans road game against the Bulls last December.Davis played at the United Center in August with the U.S. national team and scored 20 points in a 95-78 victory over Brazil in a tuneup for the Basketball World Cup.He put up more big numbers in his first pro game at the longtime home of the Bulls, but was disappointed with the outcome.I just want to win, he said. I could have had 50 (points) and we lose, it really doesnt matter, cause it doesnt mean anything.Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau got a closer look at Davis when he worked alongside Williams on Mike Krzyzewskis staff for the U.S. national team last summer. Davis played a key role as Team USA won gold in Spain.He had a great year last year and you could see how highly motivated he was throughout the entire summer, Thibodeau said. The way he practiced, the way he worked with Monty before and after practice, the way he worked with their strength coach, you know you could see how important it was to him, and just the way he played with Team USA. I thought he was phenomenal last year, and I thought he was even better in the summer.Davis was a guard growing up, and then moved inside when he had a big growth spurt in high school. The result is a matchup nightmare.In one sequence in the first quarter against the Bulls, he blocked a shot by Pau Gasol, and then used a spin move to set up a nifty left-handed layup. He used a couple dribbles to get open for a face-up jumper in the second period. And he just kept going, all night long.He can make plays, and hes real hungry, and thats probably the biggest thing, Thibodeau said. You can see, very intelligent, driven, and those types of guys, when you combine that with his overall talent, its scary to think what hes going to become.Davis is just looking for some wins. Even with Davis fast start, New Orleans was just 15-15 heading into Tuesday nights home game against Phoenix.But the Pelicans have at least one big reason to believe they are on the right track, with the improving Davis leading the way.Hes the best, and hes a special person, Williams said before the game in Chicago. This city should be proud.___Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Doug Williams Redskins Jersey . Schaub will start for an injured Case Keenum and try to help the Texans end a 12-game skid. Schaubs last action in Houston came when he took over late in a game against Oakland on Nov. 17 as Keenum was struggling. 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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kemba Walker said the most notable transformation between this years Charlotte Bobcats and teams of the past is now they expect to win games. "Thats what it is," Walker said. "We go into games knowing that we have a chance. We have the players and we have the character. Thats the difference." The Bobcats went 28-120 in their previous two seasons, but a renewed sense of confidence and determination is paying off. Well, that and a having a big man who can dominate in the low post. Centre Al Jefferson had a season-high 26 points, Walker nearly had a triple double and the Bobcats overcame an 18-point deficit to escape with a 111-110 overtime over the Milwaukee Bucks for their fourth victory in the past five games Monday night. Walker had 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, and Anthony Tolliver had 12 points on four 3-pointers as the Bobcats avenged a hard-to-swallow loss at home Saturday night against the Utah Jazz. Rookie Cody Zeller added a career-high 12 points for the Bobcats (14-15) in what coach Steve Clifford called his best NBA game. Jefferson told Walker this summer that he was signing as a free agent with the Bobcats because he expected to win games. He didnt want to play for a cellar dweller. "I told him Im not going to get used to losing," Jefferson said. "We want to try to turn things around. So far, so good." Its the third time in the last four games the Bobcats have come back from at least 16 points down to win. "We dont like getting down that early, but it happens," Walker said. "We are showing our resiliency. We are showing that when we get down, were not out. Were going to keep fighting. The game is never over, especially in this league." Brandon Knight had 26 points and 14 assists to lead the Bucks (6-22), who have lost five of their last six games. The Bucks had a chance to tie in overtime off an inbounds play with 1.6 seconds left, but officials ruled Khris Middletons foot was on the line and his jumper counted as two points instead of three. "I didnt know where I was," said Middleton, who had 19 points. "It was a good play and a good shot, but obviously my foot was on the line. Anybody wants that situation. I just caught it and shot it." It was Chharlottes third victory this season against Milwaukee, although this one was much closer than the previous two.dddddddddddd The Bobcats beat the Bucks twice in November by 24 and 16 points. But it was Milwaukee that jumped out to a 35-17 lead in the second quarter by dominating the boards. Charlottes starters were 6 of 20 from the field at one point before Jefferson started to get hot toward the end of the second quarter and helped the Bobcats trim the lead to 54-52 at the break. The teams entered the fourth quarter tied, but Tolliver knocked down his fourth 3-pointer with 4:02 left on the clock to give Charlotte a 96-94 lead. The Bucks would cut the lead to one with 35 seconds left before Walker hit a pull-up jumper from 13 feet with 16 seconds left. After a timeout, Middleton missed a 3-pointer, but O.J. Mayo grabbed the loose rebound and knocked down a 25-footer to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, the Bobcats took a one-point lead late on a free throw by Jefferson. The Bucks had a chance to take the lead but Middleton missed a jumper and Walker grabbed his ninth rebound of the game. Walker knocked down two free throws with 1.6 seconds left to push the lead to 111-108. Milwaukees last ditch effort fell short when Middletons jumper at the buzzer from the right corner went in, but was ruled a two-pointer. Replays showed his foot was on the line. "We just have to get over the hump," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "Were knocking at the door. We just have to get over the hump. Were putting ourselves in position. Like I told the guys, we can have good stretches and then we have breakdowns. Bad shots are just as good as a turnover. Particularly on the road. You have to be disciplined enough to get good shots." The Bobcats had a season-high 10 3-pointers including a 4-for-4 effort by Tolliver, who took over as the starter after Jeffery Taylor tore his Achilles tendon last week. NOTES: The Bobcats announced that Taylor had surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon and is expected to miss six to nine months. ... Jefferson has scored in double digits in 16 straight games for the Bobcats. ... Former North Carolina Tar Heel P.J. Hairston was on hand for the game against the Bucks watching former college teammate John Henson. ' ' '