News und Ankündigungen » half of the season on the physically una

PORTLAND, Ore. - Even a late threat from the Trail Blazers didnt rattle the steady Hawks.Paul Millsap had 27 points and Atlanta held off a late Portland rally for a 115-107 victory Saturday night for their fourth straight win.Jeff Teague added 22 points and the Hawks, playing the second game of a back-to-back, improved to 11-5 on the road, including six straight wins away from home.We just kept saying, Stay solid. Keep playing our game, and lets go out and get this game, said Kyle Korver, who added 14 points. And thats what we did.The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Trail Blazers, who have lost just three games at home this season. LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 30 points and 12 rebounds.The Hawks led by as many as 20 points in the second half. But trailing 106-96 with just under 3 minutes to go, Wesley Matthews hit a 3-pointer and Aldridge added a layup.Aldridge dunked to make it 109-103 with 1:21 left, but the rally fell short.The Hawks were coming off a 98-92 victory at Utah on Friday, which popped them into the top spot in the Eastern Conference for the first time since Dec. 27, 1997.The victory improved the Hawks to 8-2 over Western Conference opponents.This is a tough place to play, Millsap said of Portlands Moda Center. Ive played here many times over the years when I was in Utah — I know how tough it is to play here. The crowd gets into it and the team feeds off the crowd. Winning here says a lot about our team.The Blazers got a hard-fought 102-97 overtime victory at home against Toronto on Tuesday, which extend their winning streak at home to seven straight games.With Matthews effectively guarding Korver, the Blazers jumped out to an 8-0 lead after Matthews 3-pointer. But Atlanta went on an 18-3 run to lead 29-20 at the end of the first quarter.Great first few minutes, but then I thought they did a really good job of just taking us out of our rhythm and making us play too fast, Aldridge said. Their defence made us uncomfortable most of the night.Trailing by as many as 11 in the half, Portland pulled to 50-47 on consecutive late baskets from Aldridge. Nicolas Batum added a layup, but the Hawks still led 52-49 at the break.Atlanta extended the lead in the second half, going up 62-51 on Millsaps dunk. Teagues basket pushed the advantage to 81-61.The Blazers responded with a 14-2 run to close out the third quarter, capped by Damian Lillards long 3-pointer at the buzzer that closed the gap to 83-75.Aldridge thought that might be the start of a momentum shift.I thought things were definitely going to change for us, he said. Just with who we are, I thought we were getting over the hump, but they played defence and made shots down the stretch.Portland was hurt early in the fourth when centre Joel Freeland appeared to injure his right shoulder and was whisked to the locker room. Freeland had been getting more minutes in the absence of Robin Lopez, who is out with a broken hand.After the game the Blazers said an MRI confirmed that Freeland sustained a right shoulder strain. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.TIP INSHawks: Blazers coach Terry Stotts was head coach of the Hawks in 2003-04, coaching the team to a 52-85 record.Trail Blazers: Lillard was playing in his 198th consecutive game for the Blazers, ranking him second with Terry Porter on the franchise all-time list. ... Singer k.d. Lang, a Portland resident, was among the fans at the game.THE 3-POINTERSMuch was made going into the game about the potential 3-point battle between Matthews and Korver, both known for their perimeter shooting. In the end, both players finished with four 3 pointers.Overall, the Blazers made 13 and the Hawks made six. While normally the Blazers win those games where they score that many, Matthews lamented: You have nights like that sometimes.STAT OF THE NIGHTThe Hawks had 64 points in the paint, while the Blazers had 38. That was an issue for Stotts.Ive been concerned about points in the paint all season. As long as we score, if we get them in the paint, Im not as concerned. But defensively, that is a concern. The ball was getting to the rim too much.QUOTABLEWesley Matthews on the Blazers: We just werent ourselves.UP NEXTHawks: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.Trail Blazers: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. Harold Baines Jersey . And by all indications, the team is expected to select phenom Connor McDavid with their selection. The Buffalo Sabres, who were knocked down to the second overall pick after finishing with the worst regular season record, are expected to take the other generational player in Jack Eichel. Scott Heineman Rangers Jersey . Lowry and the Raptors officially announced a four-year US$48 million dollar deal Thursday. The deal was reported last week but couldnt be made official until Thursday, when the moratorium on signings was lifted. "They were real factors. I did my homework. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/1492h-joe-palumbo-jersey-rangers.html . -- Chris Jones and Louisville have done a tremendous job protecting the basketball this season and thats led to easy victories. Juan Gonzalez Rangers Jersey .com) - Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 11. Nolan Ryan Jersey . Lowry and the Raptors officially announced a four-year US$48 million dollar deal Thursday. The deal was reported last week but couldnt be made official until Thursday, when the moratorium on signings was lifted. "They were real factors. I did my homework.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - The Atlanta Falcons returned to work on Monday, a bit more upbeat after a week off.A look at the standings also gives them a reason to be hopeful.Amazingly, the Falcons are still in the mix despite a five-game losing streak.No one in the NFC South has a winning record midway through the season. The New Orleans Saints (4-4) lead pro footballs weakest division, while the Falcons (2-6) are only two games back.As bad as weve played, running back Jacquizz Rodgers said, were still in it.The Falcons are coming off one of their most discouraging losses in Mike Smiths seven years as coach. Playing in London before the bye week, Atlanta raced to a 21-0 lead on the Lions, only to lose 22-21 when Detroit kicked a field goal on the final play.Weve all had some rough moments, including me, Smith said after Mondays practice, trying to muster a smile.Given the brutal schedule, in which the Falcons have only one true home game in a two-month stretch, Smith gave his players the rest of the week off after they returned from Britain. But the coaching staff and front office did an assessment of the many areas that need improvement over the second half of the season.Its not good, Smith said. There are a lot of things weve got to get better at.In particular, he mentioned a lack of offensive efficiency, which was especially apparent when the Falcons squandered a chance to wrap up the game against Detroit. On their final possession, they ran only 22 seconds off the clock after the 2-minute warning — even though they started with a first down and Lions had only one timeout remaining. Atlanta stopped the clock twice — with a holding penalty and a dropped pass by Julio Jones — giving Detroit more than a minute longer than it shouldve had on its final drive.Next up for the Falcons: A trip to Tampa Bay to face their division rival Buccaneers (1-7), the last team to lose to Atlanta.In Week 3, the Bucs were thoroughly humiliated in a prime-time game at the Georgia Dome, falling behind 56-0 through the first three quarters. They scored a couplle of meaningless touchdowns in the final period of the 56-14 blowout.ddddddddddddTheyre going to come at us with their best shot, Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant said. Anytime you have a game like that, you know the opponent is going to come back with something to prove.The Falcons practiced in shorts for a little over an hour on a sunny fall day, getting a head start on their preparations for Tampa Bay. Normally, Mondays are devoted to getting treatment and looking at film from the previous days game.Defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux, who didnt play against the Lions because of a foot injury, took part in the workout though Smith described him as limited. He is expected to be at full speed when the team practices again on Wednesday, the coach said.Also, the Falcons are hopeful that receiver Drew Davis is close to returning from a broken foot after spending the first half of the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, hell take part in the next practice; that will start a 21-day countdown, after which the team must put him on the active roster or declare him out for the rest of the year.Injuries have been a huge problem for the Falcons, especially along the offensive line. That unit has lost five players to season-ending injuries, leaving undrafted rookie James Stone as the starting centre.Its crazy, Stone said. I cant sit here and tell you I expected this to happen at the beginning of the year.Even crazier, the Falcons are still a contender in the NFC South. If they can somehow find a way to turn things around the next two weeks — the Tampa Bay game will be followed by another road trip within the NFC South, against the Carolina Panthers (3-5-1) — the schedule finally takes a favourable turn. Four of the final six games are at home.This division is not winning as much as it usually does, Trufant said. So weve still got a chance. We know that. Were going to continue to prepare, continue to fight.___Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 ' ' '