Moissis Madu is making a timely return to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats offence.A hip pointer that also affected his back and spine forced Madu to miss last weekends 25-23 home win over Edmonton. But with incumbent C.J. Gable (shoulder) going on the six-game injured list this week, Madu gives the Ticats an experienced tailback for Saturdays game in Winnipeg.Man, I hate sitting out, I hate being injured, Madu said Thursday. Id never missed a game in my life before and to miss that one game it hurt me.I wanted to go out and help my teammates.The Ticats were in a real bind against Edmonton when Gable was hurt on their first play from scrimmage. With no other running back on the roster, sophomore fullback C.O. Prime, a converted linebacker, was pressed into action, forcing Madu, 26, a native of Bedford, Texas, to assume an impromptu role as running backs coach.He knows the offence because hes in meetings with us but I wanted to give him a little pep talk and provide some pointers, Madu said. I just told him to go out and relax and play the game.When it comes down to it, its just a childs game that we played as kids.The six-foot-one, 255-pound Prime had five carries for 17 yards, added a one-yard reception and provided solid pass protection. Not bad considering the 25-year-old Montreal native last carried the football eight years ago while in high school.He went and did his thing, Madu said. After the game I was so happy for him.He was all smiles. He got a few carries, he loved it.Now its Madu whos all smiles about being on the field as Hamilton (4-7) looks for its fourth win in five games. The Ticats enter weekend action tied atop the East Division with Toronto and Montreal (both 4-8).The six-foot, 197-pound Madu 187 yards rushing on 44 carries this season with 25 catches for 293 yards. The former Oklahoma Sooner signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFLs Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 11 and played nine games that season, registering 55 yards rushing on 15 carries and 10 receptions for 72 yards before being released in August 2012.He joined the New York Jets on Aug. 4, 2013 but was let go 27 days later. Madu signed as a free agent with Hamilton on Feb. 27.Saturdays game is also important to Winnipeg (6-6), which is coming off a bye week with ground to make up in the West Division. Calgary (10-2) leads the standings followed by Saskatchewan (9-3), Edmonton (8-4) and B.C. (7-5).Given the struggles of East Division teams, the crossover option looks very viable this year. If the fourth-place Western squad compiles a better record than the third-place Eastern club, it will become the Easts third playoff seed.Despite its record Hamilton controls its playoff destiny, especially with five of its seven remaining games being against East rivals. That includes two against both Toronto and Ottawa and a regular-season finale at home against Montreal.Weve talked about it . . . its our future, Madu said. We want to win the East Division and weve got to do it.Finishing first or second would secure Hamilton a playoff game at Tim Hortons Field, where the club is 3-0 since moving into the facility on the Labour Day weekend. The Ticats opened the season playing at Ron Joyce Stadium, compiling a 1-2 record there.Work continues at Tim Hortons Field but its seating capacity of 18,000 is nearly triple that of Ron Joyce Stadium. And Ticats fans have been much more vocal in their support of the home team at the new stadium.Its a great atmosphere to be in, Madu said. Every game has been packed compared to McMaster.It got so quiet (at Mac) that sometimes you could hear a pin drop. Thats the one thing about the atmosphere, its going to motivate you to play . . . you know its going to get loud out there.Unfortunately, Saturdays game is at Investors Group Field and Hamilton is a dismal 0-5 on the road. However, Winnipeg starter Drew Willy (shoulder) will be a game-time decision and the Bombers defence is allowing a CFL-high 128.2 yards rushing per game.We always want to get a good run game going because its going to open up things for the passing game and will help the quarterback out, Madu said. We have a good run gameplan this week so I hope we put it to work.There are no such questions regarding Hamiltons offensive leader. The Ticats are 3-1 since starter Zach Collaross return after missing five games with concussion-like symptoms.It means a lot, Madu said. I love Zach, hes a real cool guy, man.Hes a good leader, he takes charge of the huddle and hes a guy who plays with confidence. He goes out there and just slings the ball and throws his body around. You want to play for a guy like that. Ross Stripling Dodgers Jersey . The defeat leaves the 41-year-old Nestor to concentrate on the mixed-doubles event after winning 12 straight matches and winning Australian titles in Brisbane and Sydney with two different partners. "This was a little bit of a let down, but all credit to them," said Nestor. Maury Wills Dodgers Jersey . INJURIES - Reds RF Jay Bruce is facing knee surgery for a torn meniscus and it could cost him a month of playing time. Chris Heisey, who has shown some pop (43 home runs, . http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-babe-...ca/CurlingSkins - with the Top 16 curlers earning a ticket to Banff, Alta. to compete in the TRAVELERS ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME Presented by Pintys, running Jan. Rich Hill Dodgers Jersey . -- James Harden scored 31 points, including 25 in the second half, and the Houston Rockets dug out of a double-digit, first-half hole to beat the Orlando Magic 101-89 on Wednesday night. Kirk Gibson Dodgers Jersey . In fact, with a few improvements, this could very well be a decent team over the next few seasons. I will go into more detail when digging into the Canucks Off-Season Game Plan, which will be coming earlier this year since they are part of the non-playoff contingent, there are some reasons to think this is a favourable situation for President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden and whomever he selects to be the new general manager.MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade came off the bench for the first time in more than six years. The Larry OBrien Trophy wasnt at stake. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sported a casual, no-tie look. An NBA Finals rematch, yes. An NBA Finals replay, it was not. Either way, it still wound up going how the Miami Heat wanted. Chris Bosh scored 24 points on 9 for 10 shooting -- making him 17 for his last 18 from the floor -- and LeBron James added 18 points as the Heat rolled past the San Antonio Spurs 113-101 on Sunday, never trailing and leading by as many as 29 points along the way. "Did that feel like The Finals? No, it did not feel like The Finals," is how Heat coach Erik Spoelstra opened his postgame remarks, without anyone even asking the question. Mario Chalmers scored 16 points for Miami, which used Wade as a reserve for the first time since Jan. 6, 2008. Wade -- an All-Star starter again this season -- had not played in any of Miamis most recent four games while dealing with ongoing knee rehabilitation, and finished with eight points and five assists in 24 minutes. Wade said not starting was his idea, and seemed generally pleased with his first game in nine days. "Ive only had one practice in a while," Wade said. "Team was in a good groove. I wanted to work my way into my rhythm." Michael Beasley scored 12, Norris Cole scored 11 and Ray Allen added 10 for Miami (32-12). Spoelstra said afterward that nothing is set in stone about Wades status going forward. "It was just good to have him out there," Spoelstra said. Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 23 points. Boris Diaw added 15, Marco Belinelli scored 12 and Tony Parker finished with 11 for the Spurs, who were without three players who played key roles in last years Finals. Kawhi Leonard (hand), Danny Green (hand) and Tiago Splitter (shoulder) all remain sidelined for San Antonio (33-11), which lost for just the fourth time in 20 road games. "Everybody has injuries. You have to deal with them during the season," said Parker, who jammed a finger Sunday but didnt seem concerned.dddddddddddd "Obviously, its hurting us but theyre going to come back. We just have to keep pushing and try to get better." The game was tied at 44 late in the first half. Before long, it was a runaway. Miami closed the second quarter with a 14-6 spurt, outscored San Antonio 33-21 in the third and opened the fourth on a 13-4 run, just in case there was any remaining doubt, which hardly seems likely. Add it up, and over a 20-minute stretch the two-time defending champs outscored the Spurs 60-31. "They kind of got in a comfort zone," Duncan said. "Obviously a very good team and very good at what they do, just didnt get them off their game at all." Sundays game was the first official meeting between the teams since Miami won Game 7 of last seasons Finals. San Antonio visited Miami in the preseason, a night where the title rematch was the only thing really worth talking about, but at least the Spurs didnt have to see Miamis third championship banner hanging from the rafters of AmericanAirlines Arena that night. "Obviously, it brought back memories, for sure," James said. "But its a regular-season game where both teams were trying to get better." The third quarter decided just about everything. Bosh was 4 for 4 from the field, on the way to a 12-point quarter. Miami outrebounded San Antonio 14-3 in the period, with James and Cole each grabbing one more rebound than the entire Spurs roster did collectively. "Its a bad combination when were not disciplined enough defensively and theyre making shots," Popovich said. "They shot it really well -- came with their A game." NOTES: Only two of the teams last eight non-Finals meetings have been decided by less than 12 points. ... The Heat have played their last 98:33 without facing a deficit. ... Actor John Malkovich was in the sold-out, largely late-arriving crowd for the 1 p.m. start. ... Popovich remained tied with Red Auerbach on the all-time NBA coaching wins list, with 938. ... The Spurs scored 100 or more points for the 15th straight game. ' ' '