Milky Way black hole snacks on hot gas

May 7, 2013 ? The Herschel space observatory has made detailed observations of surprisingly hot gas that may be orbiting or falling towards the supermassive black hole lurking at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Herschel is a European Space Agency mission with important NASA participation.

"The black hole appears to be devouring the gas," said Paul Goldsmith, the U.S. project scientist for Herschel at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "This will teach us about how supermassive black holes grow."

Our galaxy's black hole is located in a region known as Sagittarius A* -- or Sgr A* for short -- which is a nearby source of radio waves. The black hole has a mass about four million times that of our sun and lies roughly 26,000 light-years away from our solar system.

Even at that distance, it is a few hundred times closer to us than any other galaxy with an active black hole at its center, making it the ideal natural laboratory to study the environment around these enigmatic objects. At Herschel's far-infrared wavelengths, scientists can peer through the dust in our galaxy and study the turbulent innermost region of the galaxy in great detail.

The biggest surprise was the hot gas in the innermost central region of the galaxy. At least some of it is 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit (around 1,000 degrees Celsius), much hotter than typical interstellar clouds, which are usually only a few tens of degrees above absolute zero, or minus 460 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 273 degrees Celsius).

The team hypothesizes that emissions from strong shocks in highly magnetized gas in the region may be a significant contributor to the high temperatures. Such shocks can be generated in collisions between gas clouds, or in material flowing at high speeds.

Using near-infrared observations, other astronomers have spotted a separate, compact cloud of gas amounting to just a few Earth masses spiralling toward the black hole. Located much closer to the black hole than the reservoir of material studied by Herschel in this work, it may finally be gobbled up later this year.

Spacecraft, including NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, will be waiting to spot any X-ray burps as the black hole enjoys its feast.

Herschel is a European Space Agency mission, with science instruments provided by consortia of European institutes and with important participation by NASA. NASA's Herschel Project Office is based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. JPL contributed mission-enabling technology for two of Herschel's three science instruments. The NASA Herschel Science Center, part of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, supports the United States astronomical community. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

More information is online at http://www.herschel.caltech.edu , http://www.nasa.gov/herschel and http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Herschel .

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/astronomy/~3/6j2J9JQ0tHI/130507201528.htm

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Bangladesh police, Islamic activists clash; 20 die

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) ? Police banned all rallies in Bangladesh's capital for the rest of the day Monday after at least 20 people died in clashes between police and large numbers of Islamic hardliners demanding that the government enact an anti-blasphemy law, officials said.

A police official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said 13 people, including two police and a paramilitary soldier, were killed in clashes in Kanchpur just outside Dhaka. He said seven others died in Motijheel, a commercial area of the capital.

The protesters blocked roads with burning tires and logs during more than five hours of clashes. They also attacked a police station and set fire to at least 30 vehicles, including police trucks, private Ekattar TV reported.

The private United News of Bangladesh reported that the violence erupted after security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in the central commercial district.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police said in a statement that all rallies and protests had been banned in the city until midnight Monday for fear of more clashes.

The Islamic activists have been holding protests to demand that the government implement an anti-blasphemy law. The government of the Muslim-majority nation has rejected the demand, insisting that Bangladesh is governed by secular law.

On Sunday, police fired rubber bullets to disperse stone-throwing activists who were among thousands who rallied around Dhaka. Officials said at least one person died and 45 others were injured.

The ruling Awami League and an opposition alliance had both planned rallies later Monday in response to Sunday's violence but postponed their plans.

Bangladesh, an impoverished nation of 160 million people, has a history of political violence.

The opposition has sponsored a series of recent general strikes demanding that the next general election due in early 2014 be supervised by a neutral caretaker administration.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bangladesh-police-islamic-activists-clash-20-die-131753725.html

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Brakes on U.S. health spending go beyond the recession: studies

By Sharon Begley

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Slower growth in the pace of U.S. healthcare spending reflects a fundamental change in the use of medical services that could save the country nearly $800 billion in the next decade, according to two new studies released on Monday.

The research, published in the journal Health Affairs, disputes the claim that a slowdown in the rise of spending in the last few years was mostly due to a weak economy and high jobless rate that forced many Americans to cut back on trips to the doctor, use of medications and elective surgeries.

Instead, the studies conclude, everything from consumer price shopping to patent expirations on brand name drugs is transforming the world's most expensive healthcare system in ways that will constrain costs for years to come.

If their argument proves correct, the Medicare health plan for the elderly could pay out $401 billion less in 2021 than government actuaries have projected, one of the studies calculates, while total spending over the period from 2013 to 2022 would be $770 billion less.

That would reduce the pressure to make draconian changes such as raising the Medicare-eligibility age and could provide a boost to President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul.

"It's not an overstatement to say that if we solve the healthcare spending problem we solve the federal deficit," said health economist Martin Gaynor of Carnegie Mellon University, who was not involved in the new research.

Early in the last decade, healthcare spending increased 5.7 percent annually. But from 2010 to 2012, it rose only 0.9 percent a year.

The recession and continued unemployment, causing job-related insurance loss and strained finances, did keep people from going to doctors, filling prescriptions and undergoing elective surgery, according to economists David Cutler and Nikhil Sanhi of Harvard University.

But those one-off changes accounted for only 37 percent of the slowdown between 2003 and 2012, they report in Health Affairs. A decline in private insurance coverage and cuts to some Medicare payment rates accounted for a bit more.

What the economists call "a host of fundamental changes" drove the majority of the spending slowdown. Among them: fewer expensive new imaging technologies, fewer pricey new drugs and the expiration of patents on many expensive ones, patients shouldering more of the cost of care through high-deductible insurance plans, and greater efficiency by doctors and hospitals.

There are hopeful signs that might continue. Medications accounting for one-sixth of spending on prescription drugs will lose patent protection in the next five years, opening the door to cheaper generics. And more surgeries are being done on an outpatient basis, which is cheaper than a hospital stay, a trend also likely to persist.

David Cordani, president and chief executive of health insurance giant Cigna Corp, told the Reuters Health Summit on Monday that another force is at work: patients can find out where to get a $500 MRI for a battered knee rather than an identical $3,000 one, and higher-deductible insurance policies give them an incentive to seek out the $500 one.

"I believe consumer-directed plans and this information transparency are the largest drivers" of moderating healthcare spending, Cordani said. "Whether or not it's a new normal, I don't know.

HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES AND CO-PAYS

More patients have a financial incentive to find the $500 MRI: since 2006, 24 percent more workers have insurance policies with a deductible greater than $1,000 for an individual, Cutler and Sanhi report. Co-payments for doctor visits have also risen: 47 percent of plans have a co-pay greater than $25 for primary care, up from 20 percent in 2006.

Partly as a result of cost shifting to patients, physician visits fell 17 percent from spring of 2009 through the spring of 2011. There is a limit to how few doctor visits people can have, but experts suspect we are nowhere near that yet.

"When people are first exposed to the cost of medical services" through higher co-pays and the like, "they're a little bit like deer in the headlights," said Mike Thompson of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. "But over time they get better at choosing services," which suggests the slowdown in healthcare spending increases will continue.

The brakes are also being applied by providers cutting waste and reducing hospital errors, infections and re-admissions, he said. Hospital-acquired illness and avoidable readmissions account for 5 percent of U.S. healthcare spending.

"It's an uphill fight to change the supply side in a fee-for-service healthcare system," Thompson said, "but I think we're only in the infancy of these efforts," which means there is more room for reining in spending.

The conclusion that the recession explains 37 percent of the slowdown in healthcare spending is at odds with a study released last month, which attributes 77 percent of the reduced growth in healthcare spending to the economy.

"But we're in agreement that the economy is not the only factor in the historic slowdown in spending," said Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation, who led that study. "It's difficult to pinpoint the precise reasons" for the brake on spending growth, "but we clearly have made changes in the health system that are keeping costs down."

In a second study in Health Affairs, researchers conclude that both the recession and higher deductibles explain only some of the moderation in medical spending.

"What I personally believe is that there has been something of a change in the culture of providers, with doctors becoming more cost-conscious," said Michael Chernew, professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School, who led the study.

That might be reflected in the campaign by medical specialty groups to urge their members to cut back on tests and procedures that do not benefit patients. It is too soon, however, to know if this "Choosing Wisely" campaign, which began last year, is affecting how doctors practice.

(Editing by Michele Gershberg and Matthew Lewis)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brakes-u-health-spending-beyond-recession-studies-200058634.html

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Cooler weather aids fight against Calif. wildfire

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) ? Cool, moist air moving into Southern California on Sunday helped firefighters build containment lines around a huge wildfire burning through coastal mountains.

Fire crews took advantage of improved conditions as the high winds and hot, dry air of recent days were replaced by the normal Pacific air, significantly reducing fire activity.

The 44-square-mile blaze at the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains was 60 percent surrounded.

Full containment was expected Monday, according to Ventura County fire officials.

The progress led authorities to lift all remaining evacuation orders.

"We've really transitioned from a fire attack to a mop-up patrol," Nick Schuler, battalion chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the Ventura County Star.

One firefighter was injured in the Newbury Park area while battling the blaze and was taken to a hospital, the newspaper said.

The National Weather Service said an approaching low pressure system would bring a 20 percent chance of showers Sunday afternoon, with the likelihood increasing into the night and on Monday.

Nearly 2,000 firefighters using engines, bulldozers and aircraft worked to corral the blaze.

Firefighting efforts were focused on the fire's east side, rugged canyons that are a mix of public and private lands.

The change in the weather was also expected to bring gusty winds to some parts of Southern California, but well away from the fire area.

Despite its size and speed of growth, the fire that broke out Thursday and quickly moved through neighborhoods of Camarillo Springs and Thousand Oaks has caused damage to just 15 homes, though it has threatened thousands.

The fire also swept through Point Mugu State Park, a hiking and camping area that sprawls between those communities and the ocean. Park district Superintendent Craig Sap said two old, unused ranch-style homes in the backcountry burned. Restrooms and campgrounds also were damaged. Sap estimated repairs would cost $225,000.

Grateful residents hung signs thanking firefighters for saving their homes.

The blaze is one of more than 680 wildfires in the state so far this year ? about 200 more than average.

East of Los Angeles in Riverside County, a new fire that broke out Saturday afternoon burned 650 acres of wilderness south of Banning. It was 75 percent contained Sunday. Banning has been flanked by a nearly 5-square-mile fire to the north which destroyed one home shortly after it broke out Wednesday. That fire was fully contained late Saturday.

In Northern California, a fire that has blackened 11 square miles of wilderness in Tehama County was a threat to a pair of commercial properties near the community of Butte Meadows, according to Cal Fire.

Thunderstorms were expected to bring erratic winds but little rain to the area about 200 miles north of San Francisco.

Nearly 1,300 firefighters were on the lines and the blaze, which started Wednesday, was 40 percent contained.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cooler-weather-aids-fight-against-calif-wildfire-004957917.html

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Barley Aims To Be The Absolute Simplest Way To Create And Edit Websites

Sometimes the simplest product demos can be effective. Take a new web editor called Barley. To show off the product, co-founder Colin Devroe opened me a regular old web page, then changed the wording of the page with just a few keystrokes. A small editing menu opened as he typed, but didn't have to access an admin dashboard, open a separate editor, edit any HTML, or anything like that. To be clear, there was more to the demo ? but that was the heart of it. The point is to offer a web page editor with absolutely no learning curve.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/RuevMQSvw3Y/

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. Defeats Robert Guerrero In Unanimous Decision In Welterweight Title Fight (PHOTOS)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Robert Guerrero exchange punches in the fifth round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Robert Guerrero exchange punches in the sixth round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Robert Guerrero, right, listens to his father and trainer Ruben Guerrero as he sits in his corner after the ninth round against Floyd Mayweather Jr. during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, lands a blow to the body against Robert Guerrero Jr. in the eighth round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. reacts after defeating Robert Guerrero by unanimous decision in a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. reacts after defeating Robert Guerrero by unanimous decision in a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, throws a left jab at Robert Guerrero in the eighth round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. lands a left jab against Robert Guerrero in the fifth round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Robert Guerrero sits in his corner after the fifth round against Floyd Mayweather Jr. during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. lands a left jab against Robert Guerrero in the fourth round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., right, dodges a punch by Robert Guerrero in the third round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, throws a jab at Robert Guerrero in the fourth round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, throws a jab to the body of Robert Guerrero in the third round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, throws a jab at Robert Guerrero in the third round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Robert Guerrero, right, throws a jab against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the third round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, ducks a punch by Robert Guerrero in the third round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. reacts after defeating Robert Guerrero by unanimous decision in a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Robert Guerrero exchange punches in the first round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Robert Guerrero exchange punches in the first round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. reacts to fans as he sits atop the shoulders of Leonard Ellerbe after defeating Robert Guerrero during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Robert Guerrero exchange punches in the first round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr. steps into the ring to defend his WBC welterweight title against Robert Guerrero, Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, faces off with Robert Guerrero after their weigh-in, Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the WBC world welterweight title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Robert Guerrero

Robert Guerrero waves to boxing fans as he arrives for the weigh-in for the WBC welterweight title fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for Mayweather's title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. waves to boxing fans after the weigh-in for the WBC world welterweight title fight against Robert Guerrero , Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, faces off with Robert Guerrero after their weigh-in, Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for Mayweather's WBC welterweight title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. waves to boxing fans as he arrives for the weigh-in for the WBC world welterweight title fight against Robert Guerrero, Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Robert Guerrero

Robert Guerrero waves to boxing fans as he arrives for the weigh-in for the WBC welterweight title fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the latter's title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Robert Guerrero, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Robert Guerrero steps up on the scale during the weigh-in for his WBC world welterweight championship fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Robert Guerrero

Robert Guerrero poses for photos as he steps up on the scale during the weigh-in for his WBC world welterweight championship fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Floyd Mayweather squares off against Robert Guerrero for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Robert Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, faces off with Robert Guerrero after their weigh-in, Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the WBC world welterweight title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. steps up on the scale during the weigh-in for his WBC world welterweight championship fight against Robert Guerrero, Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Oscar De La Hoya waves to the crowd before the weigh in between Floyd Mayweather against Robert Guerrero for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. steps up on the scale during the weigh-in for his WBC world welterweight championship fight against Robert Guerrero, Friday, May 3, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for the title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Floyd Mayweather weighs in at 146 pounds for his fight against Robert Guerrero for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Floyd Mayweather squares off against Robert Guerrero for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Robert Guerrero plays to the crowd after weighing in at 147 pounds for his fight against Floyd Mayweather for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Robert Guerrero plays to the crowd after weighing in at 147 pounds for his fight against Floyd Mayweather for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Robert Guerrero plays to the crowd after weighing in at 147 pounds for his fight against Floyd Mayweather for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Floyd Mayweather plays to the crowd after weighing in for his fight at 146 pounds against Robert Guerrero for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Floyd Mayweather weighs in at 146 pounds for his fight against Robert Guerrero for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Ruben Guerrerro, Father of Robert Guerrero waves the Mexican flag during the weigh in against Floyd Mayweather the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Floyd Mayweather weighs in at 146 pounds for his fight against Robert Guerrero for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Robert Guerrero weighs in at 147 pounds for his fight against Floyd Mayweather for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Robert Guerrero weighs in at 147 pounds for his fight against Floyd Mayweather for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Robert Guerrero plays to the crowd after weighing in at 147 pounds for his fight against Floyd Mayweather for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Robert Guerrero - Weigh-In

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 03: Floyd Mayweather squares off against Robert Guerrero for the WBC and Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 3, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Oscar de la Hoya, Ruben Guerrero

Oscar de la Hoya, left, steps back to the microphone as Ruben Guerrero, father and trainer of Robert Guerrero, walks back to his seat while calling Floyd Mayweather Jr., a "wife beater" during a boxing news conference, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Las Vegas. Robert Guerrero is scheduled to challenge Mayweather for the WBC world welterweight title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., speaks during a boxing news conference, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Las Vegas. Mayweather is scheduled to attempt to defend the WBC world welterweight title against Robert Guerrero on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Ruben Guerrero, Oscar de la Hoya

Oscar de la Hoya, center, pushes Ruben Guerrero, father and trainer of Robert Guerrero, right, away from the microphone after Ruben called Floyd Mayweather Jr., a "wife beater" during a boxing news conference, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Las Vegas. Robert Guerrero is scheduled to challenge Mayweather for the WBC world welterweight title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/05/floyd-mayweather-robert-guerrero-fight-wbc_n_3217073.html

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Durant, Thunder edge Grizzlies 93-91 in Game 1

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, bottom right, was called out-of-bounds and the ball awarded to the Thunder in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 5, 2013. Oklahoma City won 93-91. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, bottom right, was called out-of-bounds and the ball awarded to the Thunder in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 5, 2013. Oklahoma City won 93-91. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison, right, fouls Memphis Grizzlies forward Tayshaun Prince (21) in the second quarter of Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinals NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson (15) reacts to the crowd after Memphis Grizzlies forward Quincy Pondexter missed a foul shot in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 5, 2013. Oklahoma City won 93-91. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Memphis Grizzlies Tony Allen goes to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder's Nick Collison, back, defends and Kevin Durant (35)and Thabo Sefolosha (2) look on during the second quarter of Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinals NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph (50) during the quarter of Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinals NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) ? Down by one in the final minute, the Oklahoma City's Derek Fisher turned a tough situation for the Thunder into the worst-case scenario for the Grizzlies.

Fisher poked the ball away from Memphis' Mike Conley, springing three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant into the open court with a chance to put the Thunder on top.

Durant pulled up and connected on a jumper with 11.1 seconds left for the last of his 35 points, lifting the Thunder to a 93-91 victory over the Grizzlies on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

"I just wanted to get up the floor as quick as possible and find a shot," said Durant, who finished second in league MVP voting announced Sunday. "That was the only shot I could find and, by the grace of God, it went in."

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.

Thabo Sefolosha kept the Grizzlies from going back ahead, deflecting a pass that Conley was able to corral ? but only after diving out of bounds. Reggie Jackson then hit a pair of free throws for a three-point lead, and Quincy Pondexter couldn't force overtime after getting fouled while attempting a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left.

Pondexter, a 72 percent career free-throw shooter, missed the first free throw. He made his second attempt before intentionally missing the third, but Durant swatted the rebound away and Marc Gasol's attempt at a buzzer-beater was late.

"We couldn't get stops. That's why we lost," said Gasol, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds. "We didn't lose because of free throws."

Kevin Martin scored 25 for Oklahoma City, which trailed for much of the game but was able to avoid repeating its Game 1 loss from when these two teams met in the West semifinals two years ago. The Thunder were able to rally and win that series in seven.

Fisher, a five-time NBA champion who only joined the Thunder after asking to be released by Dallas for family reasons earlier in the season, turned this game around with his defense.

Conley had gotten past him on a drive to the basket when Fisher reached in from behind and knocked the ball free. It was just the stop Oklahoma City needed.

"He makes plays, whether it's tipping the ball out and getting a steal or hitting the big shot to start the fourth," Durant said. "Or just his leadership in the huddles and the locker room is big for us. We need that."

Zach Randolph chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, and Pondexter and Conley scored 13 apiece. As a team, Memphis went 14 for 24 on free throws. Oklahoma City, which was the league's top foul shooting team with the third-best mark in NBA history, was 22 of 25.

"Obviously, we have to make free throws, especially myself," said Pondexter, who was slapped on his right arm by Jackson on his attempt at the tying 3-pointer. "We've just got to take this as a learning experience and move on."

The series opener was a competitive new chapter in an increasingly fierce rivalry, but there weren't any scuffles this time. They had combined for nine technical fouls in three meetings during the regular season, including one confrontation that got Randolph and Kendrick Perkins ejected.

After letting a seven-point lead slip away in the first half, Memphis surged back ahead with a 15-4 run early in the third quarter that featured two driving layups and a jumper by Conley. The lead stretched to 70-58 when Conley hit a free throw following 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions by Pondexter and Tayshaun Prince.

The Thunder started to rally before Pondexter's buzzer-beater from the half-court logo to finish the third quarter bumped the lead up to 73-64. That didn't stop Oklahoma City's comeback, though.

Fisher opened the final period with a 3-pointer and Martin converted a three-point play and a 3-pointer as the Thunder went on a 9-2 run, prompting Memphis coach Lionel Hollins to call a timeout with the lead down to 75-73 with 10:08 left.

"That shot at the buzzer, that's a great shot on his part. That's one of those things that it could have really took us back a little," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said, "but we still fought through that shot and kept competing when we were down."

After the timeout, the Grizzlies got their lead back up to seven before Durant sandwiched a pair of driving buckets around Fisher's 3-pointer in a 7-0 burst that tied it at 84 with 3:47 to play.

The Grizzlies went back up 90-87 when Serge Ibaka missed one of two free throws and Gasol followed with a hook shot with 1:08 to go.

"If you're up 3 and you've got a minute and a half, you've got to get a stop," Gasol said. "We couldn't get a stop."

Notes: Durant also finished second in the MVP race last season and in 2009. He got 93 of the 121 second-place votes in the balloting announced Sunday. ... The Thunder made their first nine shots in their only win of the season against Memphis, the best start to a game by an NBA team this season. They missed their first 10 in this one. ... Nick Collison was called for a flagrant foul after leveling Prince on a baseline drive in the second quarter. ... In the three regular-season games, the Grizzlies attempted 52 more shots largely because they had 24 more offensive rebounds. Memphis had just one more offensive rebound in this one and two more shots.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-05-05-Grizzlies-Thunder/id-8eb3c379c60c4f29b106505756061f4c

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