Post by jenny123 on Jan 4, 2014 0:34:52 GMT -5
(Sports Network) - Tim Duncans numbers may be down this season but his importance to the San Antonio Spurs certainly is not. The NBA-best Spurs have now lost a season-high three straight since Duncan sprained his left ankle in a win over Golden State last Monday. To make matters even worse, San Antonio also lost star swingman Manu Ginobili for much of the second half in Sundays 111-104 loss at Memphis. George Hill had 30 points and Tony Parker added 20 points and six assists in that one for the Spurs, who have dropped three in a row for the first time since Jan. 20-25, 2010. Weve had three tough road games and theyve been in all three of them, said San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich, who was ejected in the second quarter. [Theyve] pulled together pretty well and gave it their best shot, just came out of it on the short end. The suddenly slumping Spurs now hold a four-game edge over the Lakers for the top spot in the Western Conference and a five-game lead over Dallas in the Southwest Division with nine games to play. Both Duncan and Ginobili are scheduled to remain on the sidelines tonight. The Blazers are coming off a loss in Oklahoma City on Sunday when Russell Westbrook hit a game-sealing three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, and the Thunder overcame a 40-point effort from Portlands Gerald Wallace to clinch a playoff spot with a 99-90 win over the Trail Blazers. LaMarcus Aldridge donated 20 points for Portland, which fell 6 1/2 games behind the Thunder in the division standings but remains sixth in the Western Conference, one-half game ahead of New Orleans. We need to be better at managing the clock down the stretch offensively, Portland coach Nate McMillan said. In the fourth quarter you have to make plays, its just that easy. The Spurs second loss in their current skid came in Portland last Friday when Nicolas Batums alley-oop tip-in at the buzzer gave the Trail Blazers a 98-96 win. The Blazers, however, have lost four straight away from the Rose Garden and will be aiming to avoid their first five-game road losing streak since Feb. 4-25, 2009. San Antonio, meanwhile, is an NBA-best 33-3 on its home floor and has won five consecutive and 27 of 28 in the Alamo City. Patrice Bergeron Jersey .S. Open champion Graeme McDowell qualified for the last 16 of the World Match Play Championship before they even hit a ball on Friday. Bruins Jerseys . Two days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, he wasnt quite ready to go. "Its not the pain. I feel like when I swing my belly button is going to go shooting at the pitcher," Dunn said Thursday as he sat in front of his locker. www.shopbruinsgear.com/Marc-Savard-Jersey/ . According to Yahoo! Sports, Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia were "the most vocal" at a July 27 meeting in New York. Asked about the meeting, Valentine said Tuesday, "Im glad July is over because they are still playing for me. Tyler Seguin Jersey . A day before his 21st birthday, Kuemper captured both the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the WHLs player of the year and the Del Wilson Trophy as the leagues top goalie. Johnny Boychuk Jersey . Stewart Downing scored a rare goal at the start of the second half from outside the penalty area to clinch Liverpools victory. "It was brilliant goal," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. "Hes had a rough ride here really.NEW YORK -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich are among 66 current and former NFL players enrolled in business school programs at Harvard and Northwestern this year. The program is part of the leagues initiative to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers. Since the programs inception in 2005, more than 700 players have participated. Former starr defensive back Troy Vincent, now the NFLs vice-president of player engagement, attended the program himself.dddddddddddd He says it has "assisted players -- myself included -- and their families in making smarter business decisions while inspiring others to go back to school for an MBA." The Harvard program runs from March 19-23 and the Northwestern classes are April 1-5. Nick Foles Jersey Eric Decker Jersey John Elway Jersey Tedy Bruschi Jersey Johnny Unitas Jersey Nick Foles Jersey Peyton Manning Jersey Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '