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INDIANAPOLIS - The Pacers biggest win so far this season came Monday — off the court. One day after breaking out of a slump by beating Oklahoma City and hours before Miami rested its star players, essentially ceding the top seed in the East, the citys Capital Improvement Board approved a new deal that would help the Pacers stay financially competitive in one of the NBAs smallest markets. In exchange for providing $164 million to pay for operating costs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse over the next 10 years, the Pacers agreed to extend a lease agreement that will keep them in Indy for up to 13 more seasons. Board members voted 8-0 in favour of the deal. "This is a major factor helping us get on solid financial ground going forward," Pacers president Jim Morris said Monday. Its not the first time the Pacers have sought public assistance. Three years ago, team owner Herb Simon contended that he was losing money and could not continue to afford paying $15 million in annual operating costs. The CIB stepped in and agreed to spend up to $33.5 million through 2013. Now the quasi-government agency that runs Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the citys NBA team and WNBAs Indiana Fever; Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the NFLs Colts, and the citys convention centre will spend in excess of $10.8 million annually over the life of the deal. The contract runs for 10 years and includes three one-year extensions with the Pacers having the option for the first of those years. The last two will be mutually agreed upon. In return, the Pacers have agreed to stay at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and will give city leaders the "right of first offer" in the event the 79-year-old Simon dies and his heirs attempt to sell the team. The provision means the city could designate a new potential owner and that person would be able to make the first offer on the team or could match an offer from someone else. "With this agreement, one of our citys most important facilities will get some critical upgrades and continue to be home to some of our most amazing events," board president Ann Lathrop said after the vote. Critics argue that Simon, who is estimated to be worth more than $1 billion according to Forbes magazine, should foot the bill and that city leaders should fix roads and find more money for its understaffed police department. Mayor Greg Ballard contended the money in this deal couldnt be spent on those services anyway, though the new deal could create more money for those purposes. "By law, this money cant go there anyway," he said. "Its Economics 101. Youre trying to create more revenue for everything else. The assumption is that the pie is one size and thats not true at all. Youre trying to expand the pie." Simon has been frugal with his payroll. Larry Bird, the president of basketball operations, has made it clear Simon will not pay the NBAs luxury tax — the penalty for going substantially over the leagues salary cap. And the CIB investment should help the Pacers bottom line. The deal calls for the board to pay: — $3.7 million annually for fieldhouse operating expenses such as liability insurance, security and utilities; — $7.1 million in reimbursements for management of the arena, a price that includes an annual 3 per cent annual escalator clause: — $26.6 million in capital improvements to "major systems" such as locker rooms, concession stands and seating; — and half of the cost from the scoreboard the Pacers installed two years ago, taking over ownership at the end of the lease. The Pacers and Fever are the primary tenants at Bankers Life, but the arena hosts up to 500 different events throughout the year — everything from Indiana state basketball championships to concerts and other shows, all of which experts say helps the city prosper. But its the Pacers who needed the most help, and Morris believes this deal will keep them more competitive for the long run. "Were doing better," he said. "Weve had 28 sellouts this year, our attendance is up 15 per cent and our sponsorship is up. But weve had a tough 10 years and weve had substantial losses. Were making progress. For 10 or 11 years, we tried to find a way for the franchise to pay for the operating expenses of the building and we just couldnt." Darcy Tucker Jersey .com) - Avery Bradley scored 21 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets, 89-81. Connor Carrick Jersey . "Last year didnt go the way we wanted it to, but we need to look at what went well and what didnt go so well. 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Cagliari scored six minutes from halftime when Mauricio Pinilla blasted home from the penalty spot after Facundo Roncaglia tripped Marco Sau. The home side could have doubled its tally in stoppage time as first Fiorentina defender Stefan Savic almost scored an own goal then Albin Ekdals shot clipped the top of the upright.New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Arron Afflalo and Ty Lawson were both instrumental down the stretch to help the Denver Nuggets snap their seven-game losing streak. Afflalo had a team-high 20 points and Lawson distributed 13 assists in the Nuggets 93-85 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. Lawson had just five points on 2-of-12 shooting, but his basket late in the fourth along with a pair of assists to Afflalo aided to the win. Tyreke Evans scored 15 of his 25 points in the third quarter to pace the Pelicans, who had their four-game winning streak halted. Anthony Davis, who temporarily left the game in the third after suffering a leg injury, supplied 24 points and 12 rebounds in the setback. New Orleans trailed by six with under four minutes left in the fourth when Davis converted a runner through the lane before Eric Gordon, who went 4-of-15 shooting for 11 points, knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one. The Nuggets countered as Lawson found Afflalo for a trey, then Lawson made a layup after a nifty drive on forwards Dante Cunningham and Omer Asik, increasing the advantage to 91-85 with 1:34 remaining. We had a few defensive miscues. We gave up some timely (3-pointers). That one from Afflalo was a tough one to come back from, Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. Ryan Anderson was off the mark for the Pelicans and Denver gained an extended possession at the other end after a missed jumper from Lawson went off Davis out of bounds. Afflalo made it count, hitting a jumper on a feed from Lawson to make it an eight-point game, and the Nuggets got back in the win column. Evans 3-pointer gave the Pelicans a 55-54 lead, then he capped an 18-5 surge to open the second half with a jumper the next trip down the floor.dddddddddddd Lawson and Afflalo each connected on 3s, however, to move Denver back in front. Late in the third, New Orleans got a scare when Evans went up top to Davis for an alley-oop, but Kenneth Faried was there to intercept the pass and Davis landed awkwardly. Davis gingerly walked off the floor and was helped into the locker room by the Pelicans staff. After receiving medical attention, he came out of the locker room early in the fourth after what was diagnosed as a groin injury and was immediately inserted back into the game. Both teams went into the fourth tied at 70-70. The Nuggets made five straight shots during a 13-2 run in the first quarter, with Faried and Afflalo each alternating a pair of baskets to help the visitors grab a 24-13 lead. Denver preserved its 11-point margin after the first, then Danilo Gallinari dropped in a 3-pointer over four minutes into the second, extending the lead to 39-23. New Orleans responded with an 8-0 run that Davis capped with six straight points. Gallinari missed a 3 in the closing seconds of the half prior to Faried scrambling for an offensive rebound over Cunningham and making a mid- range jumper for a 49-39 Nuggets lead at the break. Game Notes Denver had dropped 10 of its last 12 on the road entering the game ... Jusuf Nurkic had 15 points and nine rebounds in the win ... New Oreans was successful on just three of its 15 3-pointers ... Denver scored 14 points off 10 Pelicans turnovers. ' ' '