e first quarter. The Ravens also lost OT Rick Wagner (thigh) and endured a second straight game without rookie tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot).INACTIVESRedskins: Top draft

SAN ANTONIO -- Moments after getting his championship ring on the night this NBA season opened last October, Mike Miller walked to midcourt, grabbed a microphone and addressed the delirious crowd. "The journey that starts tonight is going to be even more challenging," Miller said. At the time, Miller had no idea how prophetic those words would seem. Stuck on the Miami Heat bench for much of the year, laughing on the outside as little more than a coping mechanism designed to hide his frustration, Miller is getting plenty of time again in these NBA Finals. A star of last years title series -- he made his first seven 3-point tries of Game 5, the clinching win against Oklahoma City -- Miller is relishing the chance to contribute to perhaps a second straight championship. "Its definitely been a good experience, but weve got a lot of basketball left," Miller said. Miller made all three of his 3-point attempts Sunday night in Miamis 103-84 victory that tied the series against the San Antonio Spurs at one win apiece. Game 3 is at San Antonio on Tuesday night. If the current trend continues, Miller will be the first sub off the bench for coach Erik Spoelstra. Over a 2 1/2-month stretch earlier this season, Miller saw first-quarter minutes exactly once. Hes now gotten them in each of Miamis last three games, after taking the role that had been filled by Shane Battier, who was sent to the bench because of a shooting slump. "The little things," Spoelstra said when asked what Miller brings to the table. "He does a lot of those things. Very similar to Shane. Some of those things dont show up in a box score, but his effort, his hustle, extra efforts, closeouts. He has a knack for being around the ball. If you see a collision or loose ball, Mike likely is involved with it somehow, some way. You add all those up, those are winning plays." And he still can shoot, which helps. Millers three shots from Game 2 might not seem like much, but they all came at key times. His first gave Miami a lead in the second quarter, and his two others helped fuel what became a 33-5 run. Miller was on the floor for all but the very first field goal in that massive Heat spurt. He replaced Dwyane Wade with 3:11 left in the third quarter, with the Heat up 63-62 pending a free throw by Mario Chalmers. When Wade returned and Miller came out with 7:43 left to play, it was 91-67. Wades locker is next to Millers, and at least once this year, Wade asked Spoelstra to find Miller some more minutes. The way Wade sees it, having Miller around without a spot for him to play has been "an amazing luxury" for the Heat this season. "I love it. I love seeing Mike Miller on the floor," Wade said. "Im just as excited to see him as I am when Im on the basketball court, because I know what he can bring to this team. And not even just his ability to shoot the ball, but his ability to rebound. Mike is an underrated playmaker as well." The problem with Millers time has been that hes playing behind guys like Wade, Battier and Ray Allen. Good luck cracking into that rotation. Spoelstra was up-front and direct with Miller from the outset. "He told me from the beginning," said Miller, who entertained retirement talk after battling about a half-dozen injury issues last season but is now feeling as good as he has in years. "If you look around this locker room, Im playing behind three Hall of Famers. So hes told me from the beginning that its going to be spot and when he calls on my number Ive just got to deliver." The Heats "Little 12" -- as they tend to call themselves in a nod to Miamis "Big Three" of Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh -- have been delivering. "Thats when theyre at their best. Thats when every team is at their best," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "When the perimeter is making shots, when the bench is playing well, when you have a lot of contributors, that helps you win basketball games." Look for more of it in Game 3. Obviously, and wisely, the Spurs defensive game plan will revolve around James, Bosh and Wade. And what just about every team has encountered over the last three years is the pick-your-poison problem of either overloading on Miamis superstars and playing off the role players, or trying to play someone like James 1-on-1 and rolling some very tricky dice. "When Mike gets the ball, our shooters got the fluorescent light on our team," James said. "Theyre not even allowed to pass. When Ray and Mike get the ball, they have to shoot it. No matter how close the defenders are, they have to shoot it. When you have that leeway and that confidence, you just have to let it go." Its expected that the Heat will try to address their luxury-tax issues over the summer, and Miller knows that hes making too much money -- about $13 million over the next two years -- to have his game-night attire essentially adhered to the bench. He could be traded. He could be the player the Heat cut loose through their still-available amnesty provision. Or he could stay. All that might get sorted out in the coming weeks. For now, theres a second ring for Miller to chase. "Ive got a lot of basketball left," Miller said. "Its the best Ive felt in five years. That might have something to do with the fact I havent played. Sometimes theres some light at the end of the tunnel even when youre frustrated. So I feel great and, knock on wood, it stays that way." Brian Urlacher Jersey .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Gale Sayers Jersey . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. http://www.custombearsjersey.com/custom-charles-leno-jr-jersey-large-2876t.html . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. Alex Bars Jersey . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Cordarrelle Patterson Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. BALTIMORE -- The Washington Redskins abandoned their usual formula for victory -- the passing of Kirk Cousins -- to extend their winning streak to three.Washington used an 85-yard punt return by Jamison Crowder and an uncharacteristically strong performance by its defense to beat the Baltimore Ravens 16-10 on Sunday.The Redskins (3-2) allowed 108 points in their first four games and came in with the leagues 29th-ranked defense. In this one, Washington gave up a touchdown on the games opening drive and smothered the Ravens (3-2) the rest of the way.The defense stepped up, coach Jay Gruden said. The first drive was a little scary. Here we go again. But we came back, took it personal and played well.The game wasnt decided until the final minute, when an apparent 23-yard touchdown catch by Baltimores Breshad Perriman was overturned by replay. Perriman got his right foot down in the end zone, but his left foot was out of bounds.That put an appropriate end to a miserable day for the Ravens offense, which was limited to 125 yards after halftime.We cant play like that and win, coach John Harbaugh said. We have to be better than we were today.Crowder scored Washingtons first TD with a sensational run through the middle of the Baltimore punt return team in the second quarter.The Redskins went ahead 13-10 in the third quarter with a 50-yard drive following a wind-shortened punt by Sam Koch. Cousins connected with Crowder for 23 yards before lofting a 21-yard pass to Pierre Garcon, who got behind Jimmy Smith and caught the ball in the left side of the end zone.The definitive momentum shift occurred minutes later. With the Redskins operating from near their own 3, Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley intercepted a pass by Cousins at the 13, but lost control of the football while reaching for the end zone. The ball rolled out of bounds in the end zone for a touchback, and the Redskins subsequently moved 72 yards for a field goal and a 16-10 lead.Cousins went 29 for 41 for 260 yards. But it was the defense that won the game for the Redskins.Washington repeatedly frustrated Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco, who was 30 for 46 for 210 yards and sacked three times.The Ravens have losst two in a row -- both at home -- after opening with three straight wins.dddddddddddd All of their games have been decided by six points or fewer.Baltimore scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the first time this season, on a 7-yard pass from Flacco to tight end Crockett Gillmore.Crowder responded with the Redskins first punt return for a touchdown since 2008. But the conversion attempt clanged off the left upright.A field goal by Justin Tucker made it 10-6 in the second quarter. The Ravens had a chance to add to the lead after recovering a fumble by Matt Jones at the Washington 15, but a fake field-goal attempt went awry.WINDBLOWNPlaying in a stiff wind, neither team got much from its kicking game. Dustin Hopkins missed an extra point for Washington and came up short on a 56-yard field goal try.Baltimore opted to try a fake field goal in the second quarter, and failed. Later, Koch got off a 36-yard punt that didnt rise more than 20 feet off the ground.INJURIESRedskins: CB Josh Norman missed part of the second quarter with an undisclosed injury. OT Morgan Moses was taken out with a head injury that was not deemed to be a concussion.Ravens: Baltimore played most of the game without receiver Steve Smith, who sprained an ankle late in the first quarter. The Ravens also lost OT Rick Wagner (thigh) and endured a second straight game without rookie tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot).INACTIVESRedskins: Top draft picks Josh Doctson (Achilles) and Sua Cravens (concussion) were on the inactive list. Also inactive: starting CB Bashaud Breeland (ankle).Ravens: CB Shareece Wright was inactive. He started the first four games, but struggled in the last three. Ravens say Wright had back spasms recently, but he practiced all week.RUNNING MENRedskins: Jones ran for 31 yards on 14 carries and lost a fumble for the first time this season.Ravens: Terrance West peeled off a 35-yard run on the opening possession, Baltimores longest of the year. He finished with 95 yards on 11 carries.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '