WHAT: Mother's Day rally against gun violence

WHO: Former Pennsylvania Governor and Philadelphia Mayor Ed RendellPennsylvania state Representative Steve SantarsieroRepresentatives from Coalition for Peace Action and other sponsoring groups

WHEN:TOMORROW Saturday, May 11, 20132:00p.m. in Trenton, NJ3:00 p.m.in Morrisville, PA (approximately)

WHERE:Rally begins 2:00p.m. at First Baptist Church, 128 Centre Street, Trenton, NJ 08611March across the Trenton Makes Bridge to Morrisville, PA at about 2:55 p.m.Rally continues at about 3:00p.m. in Williamson Park, 639 N Delmorr Ave, Morrisville, PA 19067

RSVP: Dave Scholnick,

Co-sponsoring organizations include:

Bucks Safe, Bus for Progress, Coalition for Peace Action (regional office and Buxmont Chapters), CeaseFirePA, Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia, Mothers Against Violence, Heeding God's Call, NJ Million Mom March Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Bucks Against Gun Violence, Keystone Progress, Lower Merion United, NJ Citizen Action, PA 7 United for Sensible Gun Laws, The Peace Center (based in Langhorne, PA); New Jersey, Philadelphia and Southeastern PA Chapters of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; Trenton Friends Meeting, Trenton NAACP, Chester County Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

About Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Since its creation in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 members to more than 950 mayors from across the country. We have more than 1.5 million grassroots supporters, making us the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country. The bipartisan coalition, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, has united the nation's mayors around these common goals: protecting communities by holding gun offenders accountable; demanding access to crime gun trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns. Learn more at

CONTACTDave Scholnick,or 717-723-8864Kate Downen,or 406-224-5056

SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns

MIAMI (Reuters) - Miami Heat bounced back from their series-opening loss to Chicago to thrash the Bulls 115-78 on Wednesday and level their Eastern Conference semi-final at 1-1.

The 37-point margin was the heaviest defeat the Chicago Bulls had suffered in a playoff game and the biggest ever post-season margin of victory for the Heat.

The Bulls upset a rusty Miami in Game One on Monday but the defending NBA champions responded with an aggressive opening quarter that turned into a masterclass, then a massacre.

Monday's defeat had clearly provided the Heat with a wake-up call that resulted in a performance worthy of the defending champions.

"I think this was our first real adversity of the season, losing Game One at home was tough," said Miami's Dwyane Wade.

"We had to go back and look at ourselves in the mirror, look at each other in the eye and say 'listen, what reason are we here for?'.

"I think we did a good job of coming out early in the game and setting the tone," he added.

The margin of victory could have been even more emphatic given Miami led by 46 points with 8:16 remaining in the fourth quarter before resting their first choice players.

'POISE AND UNDERSTANDING'

Most Valuable Player LeBron James, who had been restricted to two first half points in Game One, was back to near his best, shooting six of six in the first quarter and ending up with 19 points for the game, a number which didn't reflect his influence on the outcome before he sat out the fourth quarter.

"People think he should dominate and score 40 every night," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.

"If the game calls for it, he will. If it means he is going to make the right play by setting someone else up, or letting another guy make the play, he will. That's his poise and understanding," he said.

Ray Allen top scored for Miami with 21 points including ten of ten from the free throw line as the Heat bench scored a franchise record 55 points.

In a physical game, with a total of nine technical fouls, the Bulls had Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson ejected in the fourth quarter - any league ruling on fines or suspensions is expected on Thursday.

Noah, who faced some strong provocation from some in the Miami crowd, conceded the Bulls lost their composure as the game ran away from them.

"We had a lot of technical fouls. Yeah, I would call that not keeping our cool, not being very zen," he said.

"We didn't play well but it's not the end of the world. It's one to one and it is going to be a big game three in Chicago."

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau was clearly upset with the officials but said his team would have to handle the pressure better when they return to their own court.

"We got sidetracked and you can't do that. We showed a lot of frustration ... you have to have poise under pressure.

"You come in here, you're not going to get calls, that is the way it is, that's reality, you can't get wrapped up in that stuff. You have to stay focused.

"You can't allow people to get you back on your heels. That has to be corrected."

(Editing by Ian Ransom)

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) celebrated its 20th anniversary this year and provides eligible employees with up to 12-weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave for reasons that include to care or bond with a new child. The United States is one of only four countries in the world that does not provideto workers.

Only slightly more than a third of all workers in the United States work in workplaces with paid maternity leave, according to the Family and Medical Leave in 2012 Survey. Even among the top 100 most family-friendly companies, as selected by Working Mother magazine, close to one in five only provide one to two weeks , or none at all.

In good news, since 2006, paid leave for birth fathers and adoptive parents has become more common among Working Mother's top 100 family-friendly companies. There has been a marked increase in the number of top 100 companies that are providing paid leave to adoptive parents, from 54 percent in 2006 to 80 percent in 2012.

"The evidence is clear: paid parental leave is good for children, for mothers, and for fathers," said Barbara Gault, Ph.D., Vice President and Executive Director at IWPR. "The absence of paid parental leave is particularly pernicious for low-waged families, hurting both the current and next generation."

"The evidence presented in the briefing paper shows that paid leave insurance is affordable and workable," said Ariane Hegewisch, Study Director at IWPR. "All we are asking for this Mother's Day is evidence-based policymaking for balancing work and family needs."

is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women and their families, promote public dialogue, and strengthen communities and societies.

SOURCE Institute for Women's Policy Research

A line drive that hit J.A. Happ in the head so hard the "thwack!" could be heard up in the press box.

And then, silence.

Desmond Jennings' second-inning liner caromed squarely off the left side of Happ's head, and the Blue Jays pitcher was taken off the field on a stretcher during Toronto's 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

The team said Happ was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where he was alert and undergoing tests. Nursing supervisor Natasha Keller told The Associated Press that Happ had been admitted to the hospital and was in stable condition.

"I think the last indication was that he was alert and feeling better and had gone for a CT scan. That's the last I heard," Toronto pitcher R.A. Dickey said.

The ball went all the way into the bullpen in foul territory halfway down the right-field line. Happ dropped face down at the front of the mound, holding his head with his glove and bare hand.

Jennings ended up on third base with a two-run triple. Team trainers, paramedics and medical officials rushed to Happ's aid as Tropicana Field fell into a hush.

"It's devastating. ... I could barely watch it," Dickey said. "You just don't know what to think, really. It paralyzes you a little bit. And when it sounds like two bats, when you hear the sound off the bat and it sounds like it hits another bat, it's scary. It's really, really scary. I just started praying in the spot. That's all I knew to do."

Jennings stood with his hands on his head, and other players were visibly concerned as they watched Happ receive medical attention for about eight minutes.

"I just saw it come off the bat hot, and when it hit him I knew it hit him hard," said Ryan Roberts, who was in the on-deck circle for Tampa Bay. "I instantly started praying for him. That's a situation you never want to see. It's unfortunate. I hope he recovers and hope he's back pitching as soon as possible. That's something in a game you hate to see."

Jennings left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters.

Toronto manager John Gibbons stood on the mound as Happ was strapped to a backboard and immobilized. The left-hander was lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled off the field through an opening behind home plate.

"That was a real scary moment," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "That was awful. I hope that he's well."

Just before he disappeared under the stands, Happ raised his right hand and waved. He received a standing ovation from the crowd, and the game resumed after an 11-minute delay.

Happ's injury was the latest to a pitcher struck by a batted ball during the last few years, and Major League Baseball has discussed ways to protect hurlers on the mound.

"We are actively meeting with a number of companies that are attempting to develop a product, and have reviewed test results for several products," MLB spokesman Pat Courtney told the AP in an email after Happ was injured Tuesday night. "Some of the products are promising. No company has yet developed a product that has satisfied the testing criteria."

Oakland right-hander Brandon McCarthy was hit in the head by a line drive last September, causing a skull fracture, an epidural hemorrhage and a brain contusion that required surgery. He was released from the hospital six days later.

Not long after Happ was injured Tuesday night, McCarthy's wife, Amanda, tweeted: "Thoughts go out to Happ and his family. Such a scary moment."

Major league general managers discussed the issue during their meetings in November and MLB presented several ideas at baseball's winter meetings only weeks later.

MLB staff have said a cap liner with Kevlar, the high-impact material used by military, law enforcement and NFL players for body armor, is among the ideas under consideration.

The liners, weighing perhaps five ounces or less, would go under a pitcher's cap and help protect against line drives that often travel over 100 mph.

MLB could implement the safety change in the minor leagues, as it did a few seasons ago with batting helmets, but would require the approval of the players' union to make big leaguers wear them.

Brad Lincoln replaced Happ, who gave up four runs all in the second and five hits in 1 1-3 innings.

Several players around the majors tweeted their thoughts and prayers for Happ and his family.

"Take for granted how fast this sport can be, Especially for players that close. No reaction time!" Dodgers infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. wrote.

Happ began spring training without a spot in Toronto's projected rotation. He earned a starting role when the Blue Jays left struggling Ricky Romero behind in Florida to work on mechanics when the season began.

Happ was obtained by Toronto in a trade with Houston last July 20. He was placed on the disabled list Sept. 7 and missed the rest of the season due to a broken right foot.

The Blue Jays grabbed a 6-4 lead in the ninth on Maicer Itzuris' solo homer and an RBI double by Melky Cabrera off Joel Peralta (0-2). Toronto, which trailed by three early on, tied it at 4 in the eighth on Jose Bautista's RBI double.

Toronto was coming off an 8-7 victory over the Rays on Monday night in which the Blue Jays rallied from a 7-0 deficit.

Adam Lind put the Blue Jays up 1-0 in the second on his first homer this season. Cody Rasmus cut the deficit to 4-3 on a two-run homer in the seventh.

"It took us a few innings to regroup," Lind said. "The energy in the dugout was very sad and we weren't really in the mood. I think that was obvious, and then we got some hits and got our minds off things that were bad and got our minds pointed in the right direction."

Steve Delabar (3-1) threw two scoreless innings before Casey Janssen pitched the ninth for his ninth save. The Blue Jays have won three in a row for the first time this season.

Tampa Bay starter Roberto Hernandez went six innings, allowing one run and five hits. He had seven strikeouts and one walk.

Maddon was ejected in the second for arguing by plate umpire Marty Foster prior to Happ getting hurt.

Foster ruled that Sean Rodriguez's hand missed the plate as he tried to score from third during a slide on Jose Molina's bunt. Maddon was tossed after swiping his hand across the plate where the manager thought Rodriguez had touched it.

Foster also threw out Edwin Encarnacion after the Toronto first baseman struck out to end the ninth.

NOTES: Rays RF Ben Zobrist rejoined the team after missing two games following the death of his grandmother. ... Toronto secured at least a split in the four-game set, which snapped Tampa Bay's streak of winning 17 straight home series against the Blue Jays. ... A group of injured Toronto pitcher rehabbing at the team's complex in nearby Dunedin were at the ballpark.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with advanced cancer tend to get more aggressive care at the end of life and spend more time in the intensive care unit if they receive spiritual support from their religious communities, according to a new study.

The report's lead researcher said that finding was "quite the opposite" of what her team was expecting - in part because of evidence that spiritual support coming from within a patient's medical team leads to less aggressive care and more use of hospice.

In the new study, spiritual patients who reported high levels of support from their religious communities were two to three times more likely to receive aggressive end-of-life treatment than those who got less support. However, spiritual support from doctors, nurses and chaplains was tied to a 77-percent drop in aggressive interventions, consistent with past research.

"The spiritual supporters that are integrated into the medical team, knowing the diagnosis of the patient and where things are, are much more able to see the bigger picture of where someone's illness is heading," said Dr. Tracy Balboni, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

She told Reuters Health the new findings point to a need for more collaboration between religious communities and medical teams - so a patient's religious supporters understand the "medical realities" of terminal cancer.

"Where there is that better collaboration and communication, that increase in aggressive interventions at life's end is no longer seen," Balboni explained.

Her team surveyed 343 patients with terminal cancer at seven hospitals in New England and Texas, analyzed their medical records before and after their deaths and interviewed caregivers about patients' quality of life in their final days. Almost all patients reported a religious affiliation, most commonly Catholic, Protestant or Baptist.

Among patients who said they received little or no spiritual support from religious communities, about 11 percent underwent aggressive medical interventions at the end of life - such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or being put on a ventilator.

That compared to more than 16 percent of those with high spiritual support who had aggressive measures taken to prolong their lives.

Likewise, less than 4 percent of people receiving little support from religious communities died in the ICU instead of at home, for example, compared to 12 percent with high religious-based spiritual support.

In contrast, aggressive care and ICU deaths were both significantly less common when cancer patients were spiritually supported by their medical team, the researchers reported this week in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Religious community support was not tied to a better quality of life near death.

"I really think (the study) speaks to the type of information that medical providers would be giving to patients and the type of information that the religious leaders don't have, certainly," said Allison Applebaum, a clinical psychologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Still, she told Reuters Health that doctors have to acknowledge how important religious ties are for many patients, including in the way they see their disease.

"If that is the case, it makes absolute sense and it's important to involve their religious guides at end of life," said Applebaum, who wasn't involved in the new study.

What's most crucial, she said, is talking about what treatment - and how much - a patient wants at the end of life early on, when the patient is stable and able to make that decision. Both patients and their families can benefit from being on the same page about prognosis and options, she added.

Balboni said that if patients want all measures taken at the end of life, that's okay and doctors should care for them in accordance with their values. But being religious doesn't have to mean always pursuing the most aggressive treatment possible and hoping for a miracle, she added.

"I think there are also times when it is placing things in God's hands to let aggressive medical technologies go and pursue care that's focused on supporting patients' quality of life and symptoms and focus more on spiritually supporting them and their families," Balboni said.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/17Iuyco JAMA Internal Medicine, online May 6, 2013.

Financial details of the acquisition by the British drugmaker's MedImmune unit were not disclosed.

AstraZeneca's new CEO Pascal Soriot said last month he planned to build up the company's sparse drug pipeline by striking more deals, with cardiovascular and metabolic disease a particular priority.

Cardiovascular and metabolic disease is one of three core therapy areas for AstraZeneca - along with oncology and respiratory/inflammation - but the company currently has few experimental compounds for such conditions.

AlphaCore will help plug the gap, although it will not deliver any marketable products for many years. Its leading drug candidate ACP-501, a genetically engineered liver-derived enzyme called LCAT, only completed Phase I clinical tests last year.

Drugs need to go through three phases of lengthy tests before being approved for sale.

The hope is that ACP-501 will help in the management of cholesterol to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It could also play a role in a rare, hereditary disorder called familial LCAT deficiency in which the LCAT enzyme is absent.

"As the science in this area continues to evolve, we are committed to exploring unique pathways that could lead to new combination or standalone therapies for patients living with chronic and acute cardiovascular diseases," said MedImmune head Bahija Jallal.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Tom Pfeiffer)

Some of the fast-track reforms he championed in August 2011 have been slowed down by the governing body's legislative process. Simplifying the rule book has proven trickier than expected. His own enforcement staff got swept into a major scandal earlier this year, and Emmert has come under increasing scrutiny for presiding over all of this.

Yes, it's been a rough start to 2013.

"It's just a demonstration that this is a membership association and decision-making is hard. It's hard to find agreement among all the members and that's the nature of democratic processes," Emmert told The Associated Press this week. "As Winston Churchill put it, it's the worst of all systems except for everything else."

At least Emmert can still laugh a little as the NCAA's board of directors prepares to meet Thursday. A lot has changed since the committee last met in person in mid-January.

Shortly after that meeting, Emmert announced publicly that the NCAA had botched its investigation of the University of Miami. A monthlong external investigation confirmed the initial findings and led to the ouster of NCAA enforcement director Julie Roe Lach. As speculation swirled about Emmert's own future, the board issued a rare -- and perhaps unprecedented -- vote of confidence in his leadership.

Last month, the board suspended rules passed in January that would have deregulated which coaching staff members could perform recruiting tasks and what printed materials could be sent to recruits. It also agreed to take a second look at a new rule that would have prohibited coaches from scouting future opponents in person and watched closely as at least 75 schools, the minimum needed to override a board vote, objected to allowing coaches unlimited contacts with recruits outside the traditional non-contact periods.

Those rules went into effect in men's and women's basketball last summer, and the coaches approve. Football coaches don't see it the same way.

"We have serious concerns whether these proposals, as currently written, are in the best interest of high school student-athletes, their families and their coaches," the Big Ten coaches and athletic directors said in critiquing the changes in February. "We are also concerned about the adverse effect they would have on college coaches, administrators and university resources."

It's enough to even make Emmert consider the possibility of implementing sport-specific rules -- something that would cut against his initial argument to shrink and simplify the NCAA's massive rulebook.

There was also Emmert's annual Final Four press conference, which turned contentious. Emmert now acknowledges the tone didn't help either side but made no apologies for what was said.

Two more enforcement staff members have left in the past month, and during Tuesday's opening remarks to a seemingly friendly audience at the NCAA's second Inclusion Forum, Emmert was questioned about the impact of the academic reforms that established new, tougher eligibility standards for incoming freshmen. The man who asked wondered if it would cause a growing disparity among college athletes from low-resource schools. Emmert explained that the new standards would lead to better results, such as higher graduation rates, rather than negative consequences.

In the background are a number of lawsuits against the NCAA, including the high-profile suit from Ed O'Bannon and others over the use of amateur athletes' images. Some critics have continued to call for a change at the top.

Don't bet on it after the board's unusual February announcement.

"Well, it was (unusual), but it was an unusual moment," Emmert said when asked directly about the vote of confidence. "They decided to take that action and there was, at that moment, I think so much discussion out there that they felt the need to make clear that they were supporting what I was engaging, a task that they wanted me involved in. I have great confidence in the board and the agenda we are trying to work through."

Several board members did not return messages seeking comment from the AP.

The hardest part is that little has gone right lately for Emmert and the Indianapolis-based NCAA. Thursday's agenda illustrates what's at stake.

More discussion is expected on a rule passed in October 2011 that allowed schools to give athletes up to $2,000 beyond the cost of tuition, room and board, books and fees. It was later overridden by the membership and the board has spent more than a year working on a new proposal.

Additional discussions are expected on a second phase of rulebook changes.

The board plans to talk about the recruiting rules that are now on hold. The board could take action, though the American Football Coaches Association has said the NCAA has asked the organization to serve on an advisory committee that will help draft modified legislation.

That's why Emmert describes this meeting as "framing" the big issues for the future rather than a headline-grabbing action meeting.

"We've been making really good progress, really great headway on a whole host of issues most notably the academic and rules reforms," Emmert said. "The work we've conducted on all of our enforcement work and those things have been really positive. Obviously, the distractions of the Miami case and the way that was handled have been frustrating to no end."

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) will be released in May. Yahoo is featuring first-person stories from Americans who are diagnosed with some of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. Here's one story.

FIRST PERSON | My mom handed me the phone, "It's for you."

"Mr. Jepson, this is the Henrico County Police Department. Come outside."

What was this? I thought. I felt like a criminal.

I went outside, and saw the police with shields.

"Put down the telephone," one of them asked over the telephone.

I did so after he told me to come outside. It was raining. I walked on the driveway.

"Get on your knees!" another one yelled.

"Put your hands in the air!" another officer yelled.

About four police officers rushed toward me.

"Lay on your stomach," the same officer said in a monotone voice.

There was a river of water running down the driveway at my parents' house in Virginia back in 2005. My whole front got wet as they put me in handcuffs. The police were there because I refused to take my medication, and it was showing. I was 24. This wasn't the first time I had gone to the mental hospital.

I thought it was the end, but really it was a new beginning.

My first stay in a mental hospital was during my time in the Army. It was voluntary. I was a diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2004 while I was stationed at Fort Irwin, Calif., in the Mojave Desert. I was hearing voices in my head, and II thought I had special powers that allowed me to use my telepathy to talk back. Looking back, my illness really broke out after I experience hazing. I was duct-taped. Sometimes people didn't believe that I experience hazing, because I have schizophrenia, but I assure you I did. I was 23 years old, and I was later honorably discharged.

When I was home, I didn't take my medication, and my life was spiraling out of control. Without risperidone, I would probably be homeless or in jail. Now I get injections of my medication, and I take a pill every day.

I perceive myself as optimistic, yet hesitant or cautious. I sometimes worry whether I can do everyday things like leave my apartment. With this disorder, I've experienced mood fluctuations. It is in fact known as a mood disorder. I go to the veteran's hospital for therapy on Mondays and Fridays. I do my own laundry and grocery shopping and cleaning.

Schizophrenia can be treated, and just because you have a mental illness doesn't mean you can't be productive. It is not the patent's fault he has schizophrenia or any mental illness, for that matter. We were just dealt a bad hand.

Everyone has issues. Schizophrenia, however, is a full-time job and a marriage at the same time. It dominates your time and can be very stressful. And dealing with this stigma is hard. I have to really know someone before I tell someone I have schizophrenia. I wait until we are good friends and perhaps have already shared other secrets. I think most people see those living with schizophrenia as dangerous (like, for instance, a serial killer) or deranged. But chances are, I can write better than they can.

If anything, you just have to conclude some people will never understand your condition.

Piquet and RCR driver Brian Scott tangled on the track during Friday night's Nationwide Series race and in the pits after. Crews for both drivers confronted each other when Scott went over to Piquet's car, and Piquet shoved him and then kicked Scott in the groin.

"When I went to talk to him, he just pushed and shoved me and then kicked me below the belt," Scott said after the race. "It's just a chicken move."

Henrico County police said there was a fight in the motorhome lot that led to the arrests of two crew members. Michael Searce was arrested on two charges of misdemeanor assault, and Thomas Costello was arrested on one count of misdemeanor assault. They were released early Saturday.

"Several members of another race team confronted a group that included Nelson Piquet Jr., resulting in the arrest of two individuals from the other race team," Turner Scott Motorsports said in a statement.

Team owner Richard Childress said his crew members were on their way home when the incident occurred.

"Our team members were walking to their cars and words were exchanged with members from another team, which led to an altercation," Childress said. "I am still learning all the exact details and, because it did happen outside of the track, and local authorities became involved. We are working with them to resolve this matter.

"We are now concentrating on winning the Sprint Cup race tonight."

NASCAR said it doesn't comment on ongoing police investigations, but officials were gathering information and would address the situation at a later date.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With a billionaire owner and a dazzling new stadium in New York City's most populated borough, the Brooklyn Nets are not everyone's idea of an underdog.

But in a sport where giants really do walk the court, the Nets have some legitimate claims to being a David among the Goliaths of the National Basketball Association.

For starters, they have no LeBron James or Kobe Bryant and have never won an NBA title. And even if they had they would still remain in the lengthy shadow of their cross-city rivals, the New York Knicks.

The Nets have come a long way over the last 12 months, defying the odds to make the NBA playoffs, but they remain longshots to win the championship.

A year ago the Nets were one of the worst teams in the NBA, struggling to win games and failing to fill seats at their old arena in New Jersey, which they shared with the National Hockey League's Devils.

Thanks to the financial backing of Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who helped build the Barclays Center, they have a new home which is filled for every game, and a new name in Brooklyn.

The turnaround has been as rapid as it has been impressive.

The Nets finished the regular season with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, earning home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, where they were paired with the Chicago Bulls.

Even a win over Michael Jordan's old team might only be a temporary stay of execution with the Miami Heat lurking as the next opponent for the victor.

After winning the first game in the best-of-seven series, the Nets lost the next three and were suddenly facing the prospect of early elimination.

A year full of promise was in danger of ending on a flat note, but on Monday, back at home, they showed they had the stomach for a fight, beating the Bulls 110-91 to force a sixth game.

Brook Lopez, the 7ft (2.13m) center, scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while guard Deron Williams chipped in with 23 points and 10 assists as the Nets piled on 33 points in the final quarter.

"I don't really have a social life, but I really didn't want to go home yet," said Lopez.

Nets forward Gerald Wallace was also keen to stay around a little longer: "It's win or go home," he said. "And right now, I don't think any of the guys are ready to go home."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)