Mourinho admits La Liga slipping away,NBA: Lakers roll with Bryant,NBA: James soars as Heat down Hawks

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Mourinho admits La Liga slipping away

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho conceded it is "practically impossible" for his side to now retain La Liga after dropping two more valuable points at home to Espanyol.

Stuttering Madrid, who have already lost more competitive matches this season than they did in the whole of the last campaign, were held to a 2-2 draw by second-bottom Espanyol at the Bernabeu after conceding an 88th-minute equaliser to Juan Albin.
To compound Madrid's misery, arch rivals Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the top-of-the-table encounter at the Nou Camp in the evening's late kick-off to stretch their lead over the defending champions to 13 points.
Although he insists his side will not give up the fight, Mourinho believes that gap could now be too large for his side to make up.
Speaking before Barcelona's win over Atletico, Mourinho told reporters: "It's practically impossible. It's 10 points which could become 13. 13 points in December are a lot. We had eight last year and despite drawing two matches we maintained that distance."
Although the league title may be slipping from his side's grasp, Madrid have progressed through to the last 16 of the Champions League and would secure a quarter-final berth in the Copa del Rey if they can overturn Wednesday's 2-1 first leg loss to Celta Vigo in the return meeting at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho said: "We will try to finish the season as well as possible.
"If we improve in La Liga, it would help us to improve in the Copa del Rey and in the Champions League, where we have chances to be stronger.
"We can't worry about finishing first, second or third. We have to be stronger."
Sunday's result left Madrid with 10 wins, three draws and three defeats from their opening 16 league games. Last season they finished with 32 wins, four draws and just two defeats while earning a record-breaking 100 point haul.
Mourinho said: "It seems crucial that we try to improve. I've never seen a situation where there's been so many points lost and that a team of mine was so far from its objective. It's a new situation for me.
"The league is almost impossible, but we need to continue, Real Madrid demand the maximum dignity. In my coaching career I've always, or almost always, achieved my objectives and this is new for me."

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NBA: Lakers roll with Bryant

The Los Angeles Lakers have won their first back-to-back games in almost a month after topping the Philadelphia 76ers 111-98.

Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and Metta World Peace added 19 with 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who last enjoyed a winning streak of any kind with three victories between November 16 and 20.
But even with the win they remain three games below .500.
But if the Lakers feel they have had to wait a long time for consecutive wins, try the Toronto Raptors who achieved the feat for the first time in eight months by beating the Houston Rockets 103-96.
Jose Calderon led the way with 18 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
JaVale McGee came off the bench to score 19 points as the Denver Nuggets enjoyed a comfortable 122-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Damian Lillard's buzzer-beating three-pointer lifted the Portland Trail Blazers to a 95-94 victory over the reeling New Orleans Hornets.
The Hornets had rallied from 16 down to tie the game at 92-92 inside the final minute but even though Portland lost LaMarcus Aldridge to a late injury, Lillard's dagger inflicted a sixth-straight loss on New Orleans.

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NBA: James soars as Heat down Hawks

LeBron James had 27 points and Dwyane Wade 26 as the Miami Heat edged one game in front of the Atlanta Hawks in the Southeast Division with a 101-92 win.

Chris Bosh added 14 points with 10 rebounds as the Heat shot 58 percent to see off Atlanta for the second time this season.
Josh Smith led Atlanta with 22 points while Al Horford had 20 points with 11 boards.
Jeremy Lin had his best game since joining the Houston Rockets but his 38 points were in a losing cause as they went down 134-126 to the San Antonio Spurs in overtime.
Gary Neal scored 21 of his 29 points from three-pointers, while Tony Parker amassed 27 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for the Spurs, who won a fifth straight game.
Stephen Curry returned to his hometown and put on a show the locals did not want to see, with his 27 points leading the Golden State Warriors to a 104-96 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats in North Carolina.
David Lee helped out with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bobcats have now lost eight straight game.
A 31-3 run in the first half powered the Dallas Mavericks to a 119-96 win over the Sacramento Kings.
OJ Mayo led the Mavs with 19 points.
Jrue Holiday had 25 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-97 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 30 points and 12 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers topped the Toronto Raptors 92-74.