Post by jenny123 on Dec 19, 2013 0:44:11 GMT -5
NEW ORLEANS -- David West made himself right at home -- at the New Orleans Hornets expense. The former Hornets forward scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and the Indiana Pacers overcame a 22-point deficit to beat New Orleans 81-75 on Saturday night, handing the Hornets their 11th straight loss. "As a group we felt that we had to get our legs back," West said. "We came out struggling in that first half. I thought the team did a good job of just gaining our composure and getting a little more focused defensively (in the second half)." West made nine of his final 11 shots, including late baskets that helped seal the victory. "He really took over the game made unguardable shots," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "It was reminiscent of Dirk Nowitzki, with his fadeaway. He really just willed us, willed our team to a win." Paul George steadied Indiana in the first half with 11 points, and finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds to help the Pacers win for the seventh time in eight games. Robin Lopez had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, stuck in their worst stretch since December 2004. Greivis Vasquez added 14 points, and Anthony Davis had 10 for the Hornets. After the Hornets took a 46-24, the Pacers outscored them 57-29 -- including 24-7 in the third quarter. "We didnt really understand the moment," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "When your starters dont have it, you expect somebody to come in from the bench and give you a little boost and we didnt get that tonight. I thought we played not to lose instead of playing to win. Its a tough one to swallow." Davis, who was guarded by West for much of the game, was 5 of 14 from the field. Late in the third quarter, Davis had scored four points on 2-of-8 shooting The Hornets, playing at home for the first time after a grueling four-game trip, led 70-69 with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter, but the Pacers scored seven consecutive points, four coming from West. "Its one of those things where our focus was to come out and we played a good first half, but in the second half we just didnt make many shots," Hornets guard Austin Rivers said. "We came out flat in the second half and to sum it all up you have to come out and play a full 48 minutes, not just one half." New Orleans cut the deficit to 75-73 on Vasquezs three-point play, but Lance Stephenson scored off an offensive rebound and West added a turnaround jumper to secure the win. The Hornets were 13 of 42 from the field in the second half, and had only seven free throws -- making five -- in the game. "We couldnt get to the line," Williams said. "The NBA is cruel that way. We have to own it and move forward." NOTES: West scored his 10,000th career point midway through the third quarter. ... Indiana improved to 16-12, and New Orleans dropped to 5-22. Alex Smith Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. Brandon Flowers Jersey . -- The London Knights acquired centre Greg McKegg, defenceman Brett Cook and goaltender Tyson Teichmann on Thursday in a trade with the Erie Otters. www.jamaalcharlesjerseys.com/Womens-Sean-Smith-Jersey/ . -- Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf tells The Associated Press that the team would significantly drop its financial contribution to a new stadium if it is built in Minneapolis instead of its preferred site in the suburbs. Anthony Fasano Jersey . Seven strokes ahead of Matthew at the start of the round, Pettersen shot a 2-over 74 to finish at 11-under 205 on Sky 72 Golf Clubs Ocean Course. The 43-year-old Matthew finished with a 67. They played the par-5 18th three times in the playoff, halving the first two extra holes with pars. Dexter McCluster Jersey . 1 ranked Laval Rouge et Or is favoured in this Friday nights Vanier Cup against the McMaster Marauders in Vancouver. LOS ANGELES -- June was a month to savour for Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig and one to forget for Philadelphia Phillies slumping first baseman Ryan Howard. Puig ended his sensational first month in the major leagues with his first four-hit game, Stephen Fife scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings and the Dodgers beat the Phillies 6-1 Sunday to take three of four in the series. "Puigs definitely brought an energy and a spark to us, and his skill level, I think, is a little more than anybody anticipated it would be," Fife said. "Ever since he first got here, Ive had a lot of friends and family ask me: Hey, whats it like? And I just say: Keep watching, because its going to be historic. And as its turned out, its been a pretty historic start." Puig finished June with 44 hits, surpassing the 42 by Pittsburghs Bob Elliott in September 1939 for the second-most in a players first full calendar month in the major leagues. Joe DiMaggio had 48 in May 1936. "Obviously, the league is going to start to make adjustments when they start figuring out what counts and what pitches he may struggle with or have less success with," Philadelphias Jimmy Rollins said. "And then hell have to readjust his game. But right now, hes done everything he needs to do." Puig also eclipsed the Los Angeles Dodgers record for most hits in a month by a rookie, set by Steve Sax in August 1982. The Cuban-born right fielder got his first major league triple in the fifth inning and scored on Adrian Gonzalezs double for a 4-0 lead. Puig singled his first two times up and stole second base both times. He scored the games first run in the fourth inning on a single by Hanley Ramirez. Matt Kemp and Jerry Hairston Jr. also had RBI singles that inning. The only reason Puig led off the fourth was because Fife was picked off first base by catcher Carlos Ruiz for the final out in the third. Puig also doubled in the seventh. "He appears to me to be a complete package of a top-tier ballplayer," Fife said. "And to see somebody do that in the big leagues for the four weeks hes been up now is very impressive. I think hes taken a lot of pressure off a lot of people in here, just because hes producing at such an unbelievable rate." A.J. Ellis had an RBI double among his three hits and threw out two baserunners trying to steal, helping lead the Dodgers to their eighth victory in nine games. He finished the month with a .436 average, 16 RBIs and seven home runs. Fife (3-2) had five strikeouts in his second straight win. The right-hander has a 2.21 ERA over in six starts since being inserted into the rotation on June 33.dddddddddddd "It was a good mix of everything," Fife said. "I tried to keep the ball down in the zone and was mixing in the changeup and the curveball throughout the whole day. My fastball command kind of went erratic in the third, so I threw the changeup and that kind of got me back on line. Then things started cruising." Jose Dominguez, promoted from Triple-A on Saturday, pitched a perfect eighth inning in his big league debut. The righty struck out his first batter, Delmon Young, on a fastball that registered 101 mph on the Dodger Stadium speed gun. Howard, back in the lineup after sitting out the previous two games because of left-handed starters, was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. He is hitless in his last 20 at-bats with 11 strikeouts. "Im not happy about it," the 2006 NL MVP said. "Obviously, you dont go out there and say: I want to go 0-for-this entire trip. Its a battle and a grind, and its a very frustrating game at times." Kyle Kendrick (7-5) gave up four runs and 10 hits in six innings. The right-hander was saved by his batting helmet in the sixth when a pitch glanced off the back of it as he tried to duck out of the way. Fife squatted on the front slope of the mound, showing concern for Kendrick before the Phillies pitcher went to first base. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt came out to settle down Fife, who induced Michael Young to hit into a forceout and got Chase Utley to ground into an inning-ending double play. "He came up to bunt in the third inning and I sailed one over his head, which was completely unintentional. Then in the sixth, I actually hit him in the head," Fife said. "For me, there are rules in this game -- and one of them is, never hit a pitcher. So I got a little rattled. My biggest worry is that he would leave the game with a concussion. I didnt really see the blow, but I heard the noise. I probably owe him more than an apology. Its not something I intend to do ever again." Rollins drove in Philadelphias run with a two-out RBI single in the ninth. NOTES: The Dodgers designated 10-year veteran RHP Matt Guerrier for assignment and promoted rookie RHP Chris Withrow from Triple-A Albuquerque. Guerrier was 2-3 with a 4.80 ERA in 34 relief appearances. Withrow made three appearances for the big club earlier this month before he was optioned to the minors. ... Dodgers LF Carl Crawford, sidelined since June 2 because of a left hamstring strain, began a minor league rehab assignment Sunday with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Starting that game against Lancaster was LHP Ted Lilly, who hasnt pitched for Los Angeles since June 4 because of a neck sprain. ' ' '