days win against the Pelicans. The total broke a mark the 2013 Rockets shared with the 2009 Orlando Magic. They shot 61 3-pointers in the win, breaking another record they had set earlier this season when they shot 50 in a game.It was one of those nights where it didnt feel like we put up 60 3s, said

NEW YORK -- Nobody takes to October like Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants.Bumgarner pitched a four-hitter for his latest postseason gem, outlasting Noah Syndergaard in a classic duel between aces, and injury substitute Conor Gillaspie hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning that sent San Francisco to a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night.This game was everything we thought. Two really outstanding pitchers going at it, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. One of the best postseason games Ive been a part of.Gillaspie connected off All-Star closer Jeurys Familia, who led the majors this year with a club-record 51 saves while allowing only one home run.With their ninth consecutive victory when facing postseason elimination, Bochy and the Giants advanced to play the NL Central champion Cubs in a best-of-five Division Series. Game 1 is Friday night at venerable Wrigley Field in Chicago.I like our chances, Bumgarner said.The good news for the Cubs as they attempt to end a championship drought that dates to 1908 is this: Bumgarner probably wont start until Game 3 -- and would only be available once on full rest.The big left-hander has been untouchable under pressure.Its unbelievable what hes done, Gillaspie said.The last time Bumgarner was on the mound in the postseason, he saved Game 7 of the 2014 World Series in Kansas City with five scoreless innings on two days rest to cap one of the greatest playoff performances in baseball history.Including his four-hit shutout at Pittsburgh in the 2014 wild-card game, he has tossed 23 straight scoreless innings in winner-take-all games -- all on the road.Sandy Koufax. Bob Gibson. Whitey Ford -- Bumgarner ranks right up there with any of `em when it comes to October clutch.Hes one of the games great big-game pitchers, Mets manager Terry Collins said.Asked how he wants to be remembered, Bumgarner said: Im a winner. Thats all anybody wants to be.After having the best record in the majors at the All-Star break, San Francisco was 26-42 in the second half before finishing with a four-game winning streak to hold off St. Louis by one game for the final NL playoff spot.Now, the Giants have a chance to extend their pattern of even-year titles after winning World Series crowns in 2010, `12 and `14.In a matchup between the past two NL champions, Syndergaard struck out 10 in seven innings of two-hit ball. Familia entered in the ninth and Brandon Crawford lined a leadoff double. Angel Pagan struck out after failing to get a bunt down, and Joe Panik walked.Gillaspie, starting at third base for injured All-Star Eduardo Nunez and playing his first postseason game, drove a 96 mph pitch to right field and pumped his arm as he rounded first.I dont know what I was thinking. Normally Im not a fired-up guy. I let some frustration out from the first six innings with that swing, said Gillaspie, who was 7 for 14 with five RBI in his final five games of the regular season.Before he connected, the Giants had a pinch-hitter on deck to bat for Bumgarner.When the ball cleared the fence, it stunned a revved-up, orange towel-waving crowd of 44,747 that sank into its Citi Field seats with a collective groan.I missed the location, Familia said simply.With the Giants finally ahead, Bochy sent Bumgarner back out. He closed with a 1-2-3 ninth against the 3-4-5 hitters and smacked his glove in triumph when rookie T.J. Rivera flied out to end it.San Francisco players hugged each other behind the mound and headed for the clubhouse to celebrate with bubbly, cheered by a happy contingent of Giants fans behind their dugout.Bum just did his thing, Bochy said. We won the game because of him.With his sizzling fastball clocking 99 mph and long, blond locks dangling down his neck, Syndergaard held San Francisco hitless until Denard Spans two-out single in the sixth.Mets center fielder Curtis Granderson kept the game scoreless with a courageous grab of Brandon Belts deep drive, crashing hard with his left shoulder into the padded fence 408 feet from home plate and tumbling to the warning track.Syndergaard simply overpowered the Giants at times, but Bumgarner kept the Mets off balance by mixing pinpoint pitches and changing speeds from around 93 mph down to 77 mph.New York came out swinging after Collins said before the game his hitters had seen enough video of Bumgarner over the past two days to know he would challenge them. But the aggressive approach played right into the hands of Bumgarner and the Giants, who never had to use a shaky bullpen that struggled badly down the stretch.The big lefty was able to get quick outs early and went the distance on 119 pitches, striking out six and walking two -- one intentional. He needed only seven pitches to get through each of the first three innings, with the help of a double play.I really thought, `Hey look, if we can get to him early, Collins said. We probably need to do a little better job of working the count.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: Nunez (strained right hamstring) was left off the wild-card roster. An AL All-Star this season with Minnesota, he was acquired in a July 28 trade but hasnt played since Sept. 25.Mets: INF Wilmer Flores (wrist) was missed, particularly because of his prodigious numbers against left-handed pitching. Flores has been sidelined since Sept. 10 after getting hurt in a home-plate collision. Surgery is planned this week to remove the hamate bone in his right wrist, and Flores is expected to be healthy for spring training next year.THEIR TIME OF YEARThe Giants have outscored opponents 50-11 in their last nine postseason elimination games. They have won all 11 postseason rounds under Bochy, matching manager Joe Torre and the 1998-2001 New York Yankees for the longest streak in major league history.FAMILY TIESNew York had a runner on second when Bumgarner caught Asdrubal Cabreras not-so-hard liner to end the eighth inning. Pumped up by the play, he tossed the ball deep into the stands as he approached the dugout. Just to be able to snag that thing was pretty big for us, Bumgarner said. Its OK to say it now since nobody knows, but that was our family section, so just threw the ball there.HEAT INDEXSyndergaard fired 42 pitches at least 98 mph -- more than the Phillies (41) and Indians (35) threw all year, according to a tweet from Inside Edge.UP NEXTGiants: RHP Johnny Cueto figures to start the Division Series opener against LHP Jon Lester. The Cubs had the top record in the majors this year at 103-58.Mets: Open next season April 3 at home against Atlanta.Stephon Gilmore Womens Jersey . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Andre Tippett Womens Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. http://www.shoptheofficialpatriots.com/Elite-Sony-Michel-Patriots-Jersey/ . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Stephon Gilmore Patriots Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Stephon Gilmore Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark".MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to find any sense of traction this season and will have yet another chance to win back-to-back games for the first time when they play at home Saturday night.Standing in Minnesotas way is just the team on the hottest streak in the NBA: the Houston Rockets.The Timberwolves (7-18) host Houston on Saturday night after the Rockets (20-7) won their ninth game in a row on Friday, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 122-100 in Houston.We came in today and had a different swagger about us, Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns told the Minneapolis Star Tribune a day after the Timberwolves 99-94 comeback win in Chicago. A different swagger that we have never had; an arrogance in a way that great teams have.Minnesota recovered from a 21-point deficit against the Bulls, the largest comeback in the NBA this season. The Timberwolves felt good about themselves and also had three days off before the Rockets come to town.But its a Minnesota team that hasnt won two games in a row all season. The Timberwolves hope something changed this time.I think, in Chicago, thats the first time we played team basketball, forward Gorgui Dieng told the Star Tribune.Minnesota can benefit from back-to-back practices as well, a rare occurrence rare in todays NBA. The young Timberwolves need the practice as much as anyone as they continue to learn the ways of new coach Tom Thibodeau.For us, practicing hard and practicing well is critical, Thibodeau told the Star Tribune. It is not punishment, but it is what we need to do to build habits. This is all about building habits and building a foundation.Tuesdays comeback was made possible because of defense. It was the first time in 10 games that Minnesota had held a team below 100 points.ddddddddddddChicago scored 56 total points in the final three quarters.Stopping the Rockets is a more daunting task.The Rockets entered Friday second in the league in scoring with 122.8 points per game. That was before Houston bombarded New Orleans.Houston hit 24 3-pointers in Fridays win against the Pelicans. The total broke a mark the 2013 Rockets shared with the 2009 Orlando Magic. They shot 61 3-pointers in the win, breaking another record they had set earlier this season when they shot 50 in a game.It was one of those nights where it didnt feel like we put up 60 3s, said forward Ryan Anderson, who was 2 of 8 from 3. They were in-motion shots, they were good shots.Eric Gordon was 7 of 12 on 3-point shots in scoring 29 points. James Harden was 6 of 12 from beyond the arc on the way to his sixth triple-double of the season with 29 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Trevor Ariza added five 3s and scored 20 points.We can still be better, Gordon said. I wouldnt doubt that before the season is over well break that record (for 3-pointers made) again.I think itll happen again for sure. A lot of teams like to load up trying to not let us get layups and it forces us to shoot 3s. Its like, Why not? I think well have that chance again.Harden also passed Hakeem Olajuwon with his 15th triple-double for Houston, the most in team history.The Rockets have played twice while the Timberwolves rested and practiced. Houston also put up 132 points in a win on Wednesday over Sacramento, which scored just 98 points in the game. ' ' '