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OKLAHOMA CITY -- After a six-month layoff, Russell Westbrook looked a lot like his old self. [url=http://www.authentickcroyalspr

in Regeln und Informationen 16.12.2017 09:22
von jokergreen0220 • Halb Gott | 2.085 Beiträge

OKLAHOMA CITY -- After a six-month layoff, Russell Westbrook looked a lot like his old self. Kendrys Morales Jersey . The All-Star point guard had 21 points and seven assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite shooting 2 of 18 from 3-point range, beat the Phoenix Suns 103-96 on Sunday night. Kevin Durant had 33 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who won their fifth straight home opener and defeated Phoenix (2-1) for the 11th straight time. The Suns last beat Oklahoma City (2-1) in December 2010. Westbrook, sidelined after first tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee during the second game of the NBA playoffs, then having a medical setback, returned three to five weeks ahead of the teams previously announced timetable. He said before the game he never thought it would take him that long to come back. After the game he said he felt a little rusty but seemed satisfied with his effort. "I just missed some easy ones but that will come," Westbrook said. "Im able to do what I want. I could be better but thats all right. Thats expected. Im not expected to come back and be bionic man. Im just going to work my way through it." Thunder coach Scott Brooks came away impressed with Westbrooks outing. "There are two things that (Westbrook) does at a high level," Brooks said. "He wins. Hes a winner. The guy plays the game like its supposed to be played. Its not always going to be perfect but he plays with everything he has every single night. To me thats inspiring. The second thing is leadership. Its taken him some time to get that . Now he is our leader." Brooks wasnt as glowing about the teams shooting. "Obviously, weve got to shoot the ball much better," he said. "We cant continue to shoot that from the 3-point line. I dont like to talk about it much but its hard to hide 2 for 18. But I will say this -- I believe in the guys taking shots. Theyre getting good looks. . Theyre going to fall." Eric Bledsoe scored 26 points -- one off his career high -- and added a career-best 14 assists for Phoenix, which opened the season with home wins over Portland and Utah. The Suns stayed with Oklahoma City thanks to 14-of-37 3-point shooting but eventually were done in by 23 turnovers. Serge Ibaka added nine points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Phoenix led 79-73 after a 3-pointer by Bledsoe with 7:46 left, but the Thunder scored next eight points, including layups by Westbrook and Reggie Jackson, the latter putting Oklahoma City ahead 81-79 with 6:11 left. Channing Fryes basket tied the game for Phoenix, but the Thunder went on a 14-6 run, highlighted by three-point plays from Ibaka and Derek Fisher, to take a 95-87 lead with 2:19 left. The Suns pulled within 95-92 before Durant slammed home a missed layup by Westbrook with 32.8 seconds left. Gerald Green hit a 3-pointer from the corner to cap a 21-point performance, but Westbrook and Durant combined to go 6-of-6 from the free throw line over the final 29.3 seconds to seal the win. "Our guys fought hard and thats a good team and we had a chance to win on their court, so Im pretty happy with the effort," Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said. "Thats the ultimate goal, when you go on the road, is to have a chance at the end, especially a team like this. Its very difficult to win in this gym. We were right there and had some chances." Westbrooks action was his first since April, when Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley banged knees with him while going for a steal after Westbrook had stopped to call a timeout. Westbrook underwent an initial surgery for the injury on April 27. He underwent another surgery on Oct. 1 to remove a loose stitch from the first procedure. At the time, the Thunder said he would miss the first four to six weeks of the regular season. Under that timetable, Westbrook could have been out for as many as 22 games. Instead, he missed only two games -- a win at Utah on Wednesday and a loss at Minnesota on Friday. Usually the first player announced during pre-game introductions, Westbrook instead was the last and he drew an enormous roar from the sellout crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena. A team spokesman said after the game that Durant -- who usually is introduced last -- asked that Westbrook be announced last instead, although Durant declined to take credit for the idea when asked about it. "It was good for him to be back," Durant said. "I know how much he loves the game. The crowd was great. Unbelievable. Classy group of fans. Always behind (Westbrook) and accepted him so well tonight. It was cool to see." Westbrook immediately returned to his aggressive self on the court, scoring his first basket at the 7:16 mark of the first quarter on a driving layup. It quickly became apparent, however, that the Thunder will have to readjust to having Westbrook in the lineup. Oklahoma City struggled with its shooting in the first half, going 16 of 40 (40 per cent) and allowing the Suns to lead 45-44 at halftime. Frye scored 19 points and Goran Drajic had 10 for the Suns on 5-of-9 shooting before leaving the game with a sprained left ankle at the 10:08 mark of the third quarter. NOTES: Hornacek said the ankle Drajic injured is one "thats been bothering him before so hopefully hes not out too long." He didnt say if Drajic might miss any games . Despite the closeness of the game, Brooks played 11 of the 13 players who suited up and all for at least 8:47. It was evident that rookie Steven Adams is now the backup centre, having supplanted Hasheem Thabeet, one of the two players who didnt see action . The sellout was the 89th straight during the regular season at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Lorenzo Cain Royals Jersey . His stated reason for abruptly resigning as head coach of Canadas Olympic womens hockey team was he felt there were doubts about his ability to coach the team to Olympic gold in February. Kansas City Royals Hoodie . -- Novak Djokovic benefited from an erroneous call and claimed he didnt realize he had broken the rules. http://www.authentickcroyalsprostore.us/Yordano-Ventura-royals-jersey/ . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result.MONTREAL - While Connor McDavid will be the star, he will likely share the 2015 world junior championship spotlight with goaltender Zach Fucale.Fucale will not only be one of the local boys, he is also a Montreal Canadiens draft pick and will have a huge cheering section when Canada opens the tournament Dec. 26 at the Bell Centre against Slovakia.Theres pressure everywhere, whether its in junior or anywhere you step on the ice, the Halifax Mooseheads goalie said Monday as Hockey Canada released a list of 29 players invited to the team selection camp that opens Dec. 11 in Toronto.Were living the moment and we dont really have time to think about it. We just try to get ready for the games.Canada finds itself in a five-year gold medal drought — and two years without any medal at all — at the event officially called the IIHF Under-20 World Championship. It hopes to end that by icing a team of mostly 19-year-old players, at least seven of whom are returning from last years tournament in Malmo, Sweden.They include Fucale, defencemen Chris Bigras of the Owen Sound Attack and Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders, plus forwards McDavid of the Erie Otters, Frederik Gauthier of the Rimouski Oceanic, Nic Petan of the Portland Winterhawks and Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay ice.All are 19 except McDavid, the 17-year-old phenom who is expected to go first overall in the NHL draft in June. The Newmarket, Ont., native broke a bone in his right hand in a fight Nov. 12 with the Mississauga Steelheads Bryson Cianfone.While McDavid, who was leading the Ontario Hockey League with 51 points in 18 games when he got hurt, has not returned to action, there was no concern about inviting him to the selection camp. He is expected to skate with the team in camp and be ready for the tournament.Its a no-brainer to select him, said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canadas vice-president for national teams. Even with one hand, he still might be one of the best players in the world.Weve had good conversations with Connor and his family and we feel hes going to be 100 per cent ready to go. Hes getting another evaluation (on Dec. 9) and hopefully gets clearance at that time. Well ease him back into the process, but we expect that on Dec. 26, hell be a huge part of our team.Still unclear is whether some 19-year-olds currently playing in the NHL will be loaned to Team Canada. The clubs have until the Dec. 19 NHL roster freeze to decide.Hockey Canada has already been told that Florida defenceman Aaron Ekblad will remain with the Panthers, but there is a chance to have Jonathan Drouin of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Curtis Lazar of the Ottawa Senators or Bo Horvat of the Vancouver Canucks, who played at last years world juniors, or New York Rangers forward Anthony Duclair.Actually, 2013 first overall pick Nathan MacKinnon is still eligible, but hes firmly established with the Colorado Avalanche.The team coached by Benoit Groulx will be pared to 22 players for the tournament. The 29 invitees include 10 defencemen, 17 forwards and only two goalies: Fucale and Eric Comrie of the Tri-City Americans.Seven will be cut after camp to leave two goalies and likely seven rearguards and 13 up front.It is a second year in a row Canada has chosen its goalies in advance. Director of player persoonnel Ryan Jankowski said Fucale and Comrie have been the countrys most consistent junior puck-stoppers over the last two years. Eric Hosmer Jersey. A third goalie can be added during the tournament if needed.It gives them longer to prepare mentally for the challenge ahead of them, said Jankowski. They know theyre the goalies and we have confidence in them. Thats more important than a competition in camp.Added Salmond: Zach is a very composed young man. We really believe Zachs the guy who can handle that pressure. We talked about it in depth. We believe his ability on the ice and his mental capacities and maturity will allow him to be at his best.Last years team coached by Brent Sutter was its second-youngest ever at the tournament. It was seen at the time as a planned move to have a more experienced squad with this years event played at home. Canada plays the group stage in Montreal and the knockout games in Toronto.Among 19-year-olds who could make the team are six-foot-seven defenceman Samuel Morin of Rimouski and six-foot-four Darnell Nurse of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, first round picks in 2013 by Philadelphia and Edmonton respectively.Among forwards, there are first rounders Max Domi of the London Knights (Arizona) and Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats (Calgary).Some highly regarded 18-year-olds (born in 1996) include the Kelowna Rockets Rourke Chartier, currently leading the Western Hockey League with 29 goals and 48 points in 27 games, Vancouver first rounder Jake Virtanen of the Calgary Hitmen and Red Deer Rebels defenceman Haydn Fleury, taken seventh overall in June by Carolina.This team will be built on speed and skill, said Salmond. There will be an opportunity for all four lines to play with skill.When we look at the last couple of years, we havent got the production from what people would term our bottom six. So were looking for more production from those guys, which translates into more skill on the third and fourth lines.Other defencemen invited were Madison Bowey of Kelowna, Dillon Heatherington of the Swift Current Broncos, Joe Hicketts of the Victoria Royals, Travis Sanheim, a Flyers first rounder from the Hitmen, and Seattles Shea Theodore.Hicketts is fifth in WHL scoring with 36 points, including seven goals.Forwards also invited were Nick Baptiste of Erie, Lawson Crouse of the Kingston Frontenacs, Michael Dal Colle of the Oshawa Generals, Jason Dickenson and Robby Fabbri of Guelph, Remi Elie of the Belleville Bulls, Nick Paul of the North Bay Battalion, Brayden Point of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Nick Ritchie of the Peterborugh Petes.Jankowski said Paul and Elie were not on the teams radar a year ago but have played themselves into contention. Elie, Hicketts, Chartier and Crouse were not invited to the teams camp last summer, but also changed some minds over the last six months.A danger of going with an older squad is that there will be few returnees for 2016, when the tournament will beheld in Helsinki. It will be back in Montreal and Toronto in 2017.Were focused on this year, said Jankowski. Last year, it wasnt a great group of 94s.Thats why all the 95s ended up playing. As much as wed like to prepare some guys for next year, its about winning now. Well deal with next year as we move forward. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '

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