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He won’t return as president of basketball operations and he isn’t staying on as Detroit’s coach, either.

Van Gundy held both those roles for four years, and at times the Pistons seemed to be making progress. But they made the playoffs only once during his tenure, in 2016, and the team announced his departure Monday. Owner Tom Gores said it was a difficult decision.

”I am grateful to Stan for everything he’s done for the Pistons and for the city of Detroit,” Gores said. ”He rebuilt the culture of our basketball team, re-instilled a winning attitude and work ethic, and took us to the playoffs two years ago. He went all-in from Day One to positively impact this franchise and this community.

”But over the past two seasons our team has not progressed, and we decided that a change is necessary to regain our momentum Buccaneers Cheap Jerseys ,” Gores said.

The Pistons went 39-43 this season, missing the playoffs for the third time in four years under Van Gundy. They’ve made the postseason just once in the past nine seasons, and even a blockbuster trade for Blake Griffin wasn’t enough to salvage 2017-18.

The Pistons went 152-176 over the past four seasons under Van Gundy, and his personnel decisions have come under more criticism than his coaching. Detroit hasn’t been able to make the most of its draft position, spending first-round picks on Stanley Johnson, Henry Ellenson and Luke Kennard.

This past season, Kennard shot over 40 percent from 3-point range, but he was taken one spot ahead of Donovan Mitchell in last year’s draft. Mitchell has blossomed into a Rookie of the Year candidate for Utah.

The trade for Griffin was a bold one for the Pistons and left them with limited flexibility. Not only did the team take on Griffin’s big contract, but Detroit also sent a protected first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in the deal.

Gores indicated last month that changes would be coming Authentic Customized Browns Jerseys , but it wasn’t clear if that might mean a front office shake-up or a coaching change. Now the Pistons are embarking on both.

The team’s news release Monday didn’t shed much light on the decision-making process of these past few weeks. It did say that Van Gundy wanted to return.

”Stan is a competitor and he wanted to finish the job,” Gores said. ”He retooled a roster that we think can be very competitive in the East. I know he’s disappointed, and that he cares deeply about his players, his staff, this organization and this city. He’s also a professional who will make sure this is a seamless transition, and someone I hope will be a friend and adviser to me long after this transition is completed.”

Van Gundy declined comment via text message Monday.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue was unaware and stunned to learn of Van Gundy’s dismissal. Lue played for Van Gundy on Orlando’s Eastern Conference title team in 2009.

”It’s just crazy to see that you let a great guy like Stan go,” Lue said before the Cavs hosted Toronto in Game 4. ”I know he’s emotional because he’s into the game, he loves the game that much. But as far as X’s and O’s, understanding different teams Youth DJ Moore Jersey , different schemes, his players, he’s one of the best as far as knowing the basketball game and what it takes.”

When Van Gundy was hired, he talked about how there would be a good connection between the front office and the coaching staff – that much was obvious, since he was going to be part of both. Setups like that aren’t unheard of in the NBA – Tom Thibodeau is Minnesota’s coach and president of basketball operations – but it’s not that easy to make it work.

Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer had the title of president of basketball operations, but he gave up that position last year. Now he’s no longer coaching the Hawks either .

Doc Rivers had dual roles with the Clippers, but last offseason, Lawrence Frank took over responsibility for basketball operations while Rivers remained the coach. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also has the title of president, but he has help from general manager R.C. Buford Youth New Orleans Saints Jerseys , a two-time NBA Executive of the Year.

A decade ago, the Pistons were one of the game’s most respected organizations after reaching the Eastern Conference finals six straight years and winning the NBA title in 2004. They sank quickly into irrelevance after that.

Detroit missed the playoffs the final five seasons of Joe Dumars’ tenure as team president, and Gores – who took over as owner in 2011 – eventually brought Van Gundy in.

The Pistons made the playoffs in Van Gundy’s second season, but they couldn’t build on that breakthrough. This past season was particularly disappointing because it may have been the most productive of center Andre Drummond’s career.

With Drummond leading the way, Detroit started 19-14 and won on the road against the likes of Golden State, Oklahoma City and Boston. Then an ankle injury to point guard Reggie Jackson derailed the season, and not even the trade for Griffin in late January was enough to push the Pistons to the playoffs in their first season at downtown Detroit’s new Little Caesars Arena.

”Would like to take a min to wish Stan the best and thank you for everything you’ve put into our team the last four years,” Drummond said Monday in a message on his Twitter account.

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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.

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Walks were the closer’s culprit again.

Miguel Rojas followed Lewis Brinson’s RBI single with a go-ahead base hit as the Miami Marlins rallied against Strickland in the ninth inning and overcame an early four-run deficit, beating the Giants 5-4 on Monday night.

”It’s unacceptable,” Strickland said. ”Obviously I’m not thrilled about it right now, I didn’t do my job.”

Strickland (3-3), San Francisco’s second reliever, blew his fourth save in 17 chances. He walked Brian Anderson to begin the ninth then surrendered J.T. Realmuto’s RBI double.

”All the credit to Andy in the ninth inning, putting that at-bat against their closer Authentic Customized Rams Jerseys ,” Rojas said of Anderson. ”That for sure rattled him right there. He wasn’t expecting that at-bat from the leadoff guy and I think everything started from that at-bat.”

Tayron Guerrero (1-2) pitched the eighth before Kyle Barraclough closed out the 2-hour, 47-minute game for his third save as Giants fans booed the home team.

Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer in the second and Andrew Suarez struck out seven, but San Francisco failed to hold a lead as it opened an extended stretch at home.

Joe Panik added an RBI single in the second after Buster Posey led off the inning with a double that center fielder Brinson misjudged, letting it go over his head.

Suarez had his third straight no-decision and second in a row against the Marlins after the Giants’ 5-4 loss at Miami on Wednesday, when the clubs played a four-game series in South Florida to begin last week.

Mac Williamson also had an RBI single as the Giants lost for just the second time in their last nine home games. They began a schedule with 20 of 26 at AT&T Park after nearly a month with only eight games in the Bay Area.

”For eight innings we played great baseball,” manager Bruce Bochy said.

Marlins starter Caleb Smith, who made his first start against the Giants last Wednesday and matched up against Suarez for a second straight outing Youth Justin Bethel Jersey , was done after four innings, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two.

Miami committed two errors and had managed only Rojas’ two-run single in the fifth before getting to Strickland. Among the Marlins’ most reliable hitters this month, Anderson played at AT&T Park for the first time and went 0 for 3 – making him 0 for 10 in his past three games.

BART ARRIVES

Giants’ first-round draft pick and catcher Joey Bart, the No. 2 overall selection who signed for a bonus of more than $7 million, arrived to AT&T Park for a stop before he returns to Arizona to get some at-bats before reporting to Class A short-season Salem-Keizer in the Northwest League.

”This is unbelievable,” he said. ”I’m lucky to be in this position. I’m ready to take off from here.”

Bart planned to ride BART – Bay Area Rapid Transit – on Tuesday.

He enjoyed the atmosphere at the ballpark.

”I’d love to be out here as soon as possible Chicago Bears Jerseys Womens ,” he said of reaching the big leagues.

JOHNSON’S GREETING

Marlins second-round pick Osiris Johnson of Alameda’s Encinal High – where cousin Jimmy Rollins and Dontrelle Willis also played – met manager Don Mattingly before the game and watched batting practice.

”I’ve seen a lot of good things,” Mattingly said, ”moving around at short, swinging it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: Mattingly is hopeful 3B Martin Prado will return from a strained left hamstring that put him on the disabled list May 26 sometime before the All-Star break. Prado is on a running progression and taking groundballs and hitting back home. ”He’s been a surprise he’s doing this good this fast,” Mattingly said. ”He’s been 100 percent.” … 1B Garrett Cooper (bruised right wrist) played four innings at Class A Jupiter and will do so again Tuesday before continuing his rehab with Triple-A New Orleans.

Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto threw a 40-pitch, two-inning simulated game, facing Hunter Pence as one of the hitters Cheap Customized Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys , as he works back from inflammation in his pitching elbow. The Giants will determine the next step – starting a rehab appearance or throwing again to live hitters – based on how he feels Tuesday. … RHP Jeff Samardzija, on the disabled list for a second stint this time with tightness in his pitching shoulder, threw a bullpen and will make a rehab outing with Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday and then it will be determined if he needs another or is activated. … Athletic trainer Dave Groeschner will travel to Los Angeles to be with Evan Longoria as the third baseman has surgery Tuesday on his fractured left hand. … SS Brandon Crawford went on the paternity list for the birth of his son and fourth child and INF Kelby Tomlinson was recalled from Sacramento.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Dan Straily (2-2, 4.23 ERA) is 4-0 with 2.82 against the Giants entering his seventh career start vs. San Francisco.

Giants: RHP Dereck Rodriguez (1-1, 4.34) makes his fourth career start after a no-decision in a 16-inning Giants win against the Marlins last Thursday.

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He also believes that was the case a year ago.

If Bamba – the massive Texas center who will likely be taking his 7-foot-10 wingspan to a lottery team at the NBA draft next month – was a high school senior in 2020 Youth Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys , he probably would have bypassed college and made the jump straight to the league. The expectation around the NBA is that will be the year where so-called ”one-and-done” rule will come off the books and players will no longer have to wait a season before going to the pro ranks.

So Bamba went to college and waited his turn, though he’s not sure it was needed.

”I thought about it a lot,” Bamba said. ”It’s an area I probably would have explored.”

Out of the 30 first-round picks that will be made at the draft, it’s entirely possible that as many as 25 will have played no more than one season of college basketball. Some didn’t even play in college – there are a couple of European players likely to be first-rounders, and intriguing combo guard Anfernee Simons did a year of postgraduate work at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Simons tested off the charts at the draft combine this week Authentic Customized Titans Jerseys , with a 41 1/2-inch vertical. He’s a former Louisville commit, who decided to hold off on college after the scandal that ultimately led to the dismissal of coach Rick Pitino.

”I’ve just been working hard on all aspects of my game, trying to get better every day,” Simons said.

The NBA makes no secret of the fact that one-and-done doesn’t work ideally for any party involved – the pro ones or the college ones. The league has talked about making 20 the minimum age where a player can enter the NBA; the players’ union has said it would prefer it going back to 18. And now with the college game on the cusp of massive changes amid an ongoing federal investigation, it seems quite likely that the one-and-done policy will be scrubbed soon.

Bamba’s reaction to that: About time.

”It’s only right by the athletes,” Bamba said. ”Some kids have lifelong dreams of wanting to play in the NBA. Not manipulating Cheap Chicago Bears T-Shirts , but changing the rules so we have more of an option as players is what’s most beneficial to us.”

There were 38 freshmen who applied to be early entry candidates in this draft. Some will go back to college, but the majority of those should get picked.

Some guys simply needed the year.

Kentucky’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played his way onto NBA draft boards and decided to leave after one season, with Wildcats coach John Calipari raving about how hard he worked and how much better he got in his one college season.

And Duke’s Trevon Duval, who had 207 assists in his lone college year, isn’t exactly sure that he was ready to go pro out of high school either.

”My whole thought process and training process would have been a little bit different if the rule was in effect,” Duval said. ”I think it’s a good rule. There are definitely kids who can go straight from college to the NBA.”

Sometimes Youth Derrick Nnadi Jersey , the perceived one-and-dones get to college and realize they’re not ready.

Miami guard Bruce Brown Jr. came to the Hurricanes with that one-and-done label. He wound up staying for two seasons, and knows that was the better move for his development. Same goes for Michigan State’s Miles Bridges, who insists he’s better for having stayed.

”I’m more ready now,” Bridges said.

In his interviews with teams this week at the combine, Bridges was often asked about why he didn’t come out as a freshman. His sense was that they liked his answer.

”They were kind of impressed with that,” Bridges said. ”So Youth Green Bay Packers Jerseys , me staying was a good thing. I stayed so I could mature and they respect that about me.”

Bamba sees a similar payoff in himself as well.

As much as he would have liked to be in the NBA already, he’s not resentful about having to wait. And he does concede that the college experience made him better than he was when he exited high school.

”I got everything I wanted out of Texas,” Bamba said. ”Obviously, you’d love to win more. You’d love to win a national championship and compete at that level. But as far as relationships and development, I couldn’t be happier.”

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Jose Peraza kept up the parade of slams, sending Matt Harvey and the Reds over the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 Sunday.

Peraza connected in the sixth inning for the Reds’ major league-leading ninth slam this year, tying the single-season franchise record set in 2002. It was Cincinnati’s second in two games and third in the last eight – pitcher Mike Lorenzen had a pinch-hit slam Saturday, and pitcher Anthony DeSclafani went deep with the bases loaded on June 24 against the Cubs.

”I just tried to hit the ball,” the shortstop said. ”When I hit the ball in the sky, I say Durham Smythe Jersey Dolphins , `Wow, it’s a home run.’ Everybody is happy.”

Peraza hit his first career slam, tagging reliever Aaron Wilkerson.

Eight different Reds have hit grand slams. Adam Duvall is the only player with two.

The last-place Reds have won 11 of 14, and the last eight of 11 against teams that were in first place when their series started.

”We know we can play with these guys (division leaders),” manager Jim Riggleman said. ”We’ve got to go through those guys and win our share.”

Harvey (4-5) allowed two hits in 5 2/3 innings and won his third straight start as the Reds salvaged a split of the four-game series. Ryan Braun’s two-run homer in the ninth allowed the Brewers to avoid their 11th shutout loss of the season.

Joey Votto, National League RBI leader Eugenio Suarez and Scott Schebler had consecutive run-scoring singles in the first inning against previously unbeaten rookie Freddy Peralta (3-1).

Harvey Trent Murphy Jersey Bills , acquired in May from the Mets, struck out six and walked none. The right-hander didn’t return after a 54-minute rain delay.

”It was one of those when you come in and try to do as much as you can,” Harvey said. ”You come in and put a heat pack on, but once it creeps up to an hour … That’s the best I’ve felt in a long time. I could smell the CG (complete game) coming or at least getting deep in the game. I was pretty much in control the whole time, but I’m happy about the outing and another Reds win.”

Pitching in a gametime temperature of 93 humid degrees, Harvey retired the first 12 batters before Travis Shaw outflanked a defensive shift with an opposite-field single to left leading off the fifth.

Cincinnati’s first six batters reached base against Peralta Youth Troy Niklas Jersey , who’d allowed just a .093 opponents’ batting average (7 for 75) in his first four starts, all Milwaukee wins. He recovered from throwing 43 pitches in the first inning to retire the last 10 and 15 of the last 16 batters he faced.

”It started out rough,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ”He righted it. It was cool to see him right it. That’s a lesson that you’ve got to get it going right away or a big league team will take advantage of it. I thought he handled it very well.”

CHANGE OF SCENERY

The Brewers optioned .197-hitting SS Orlando Arcia to Triple-A Colorado Springs before the game. ”He’s been a good major league hitter,” Counsell said. ”He’s been a dominant minor league hitter. We’re confident he will get things going again.”

MOVING UP

Votto’s two hits pushed him past Hall of Famer Frank Robinson into ninth place on the Reds’ career hits list with 1,674. Brandon Phillips is eighth with 1,774 hits.

LAST MINUTE

Braun’s ninth-inning homer gave the Brewers at least one in each of their last 19 games at Great American Ball Park Cordy Glenn Jersey Bengals , the longest streak by any team, including the Reds.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: OF Christian Yelich took some swings before Sunday’s game, the third he’d missed since leaving Thursday’s game with a tight lower back.

UP NEXT

Brewers: LHP Brent Suter (8-5) is 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA over his last eight starts.

Reds: RHP Luis Castillo (5-8) didn’t allow a home run in his last start, but he still leads NL pitchers in homers allowed with 18.

Vonn amped up her preparations for the Pyeongchang Games by winning a World Cup downhill by a large margin Saturday while Italian rival Sofia Goggia avoided a major crash with the help of a safety air bag.

Vonn clocked 1 minute Cheap Customized Cleveland Browns Jerseys , 36.48 seconds on the sun-drenched Olympia delle Tofane course for a massive 0.92-second advantage over Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein.

”I know what I’m capable of. This weekend just proves it,” Vonn said. ”No matter what happens from here to the Olympics I’ll be confident. I have a good feeling on my skis. I feel balanced, in control and solid. This weekend was really important for me.

”This is just the momentum that I was hoping for and that I was planning on going to the Olympics,” added Vonn, who celebrated by riding an electric bicycle – a gift from the local organizing committee – around on the snow in the finish area.

Vonn’s U.S. teammate Jacqueline Wiles finished third, 0.98 behind Cassius Marsh Jersey 49ers , for her second career podium result.

Goggia, the winner of the past two downhills, lost control landing a jump in the Tofana Schuss and made a quick recovery but could not continue.

”I was able to control the fall with the help of the air bag,” Goggia said. ”I ran a big risk. It was scary.”

Many racers wear an air bag in a vest under their racing suits. A complicated algorithm triggers inflation during falls when skiers reach a point where they can no longer regain control.

Vonn clocked 129.8 kph (80 mph) in the schuss, an imposing and narrow chute between two huge rock outcrops on the top section of the course.

”It was good, clean skiing today. I didn’t make any big mistakes like yesterday Derwin James Jersey Elite ,” said Vonn, who finished second in Friday’s downhill after an error midway down.

”And it was just really fun to race. It was a beautiful day – normal, perfect Cortina sunshine – and perfect conditions,” Vonn added. ”So it made me really happy just to be out there on the mountain today.”

It was Vonn’s second win this season, a record 12th in Cortina and 79th of her career – moving her within seven of Ingemar Stenmark’s record 86 World Cup victories.

”My focus right now is so much on the Olympics that I haven’t really thought about it that much this season,” Vonn said of Stenmark’s record. ”After the Olympics Customized Dallas Cowboys Jerseys , that will be my No. 1 priority again and I’ll try to rack up as many wins as possible before I retire.”

After a couple of crashes and a jarred back at the start of this season, Vonn had been holding back or sitting out races when conditions were difficult due to fog or ice.

So how will she handle it if the conditions for the Olympic downhill on Feb. 21 are not perfect?

”When I get to Korea there will be no holding back no matter what the conditions are. This is what I’ve been working for for the last eight years,” said Vonn, who missed the 2014 Sochi Games due to a series of knee injuries.

”The tactics leading into the Olympics are so that I can get to the Olympics healthy – not that I’m afraid to push myself in bad conditions,” Vonn added. ”I know what I’m capable of and if I choose to ski aggressively I know what I can do. It’s all or nothing in Korea.”

Wiles was on course to finish second – trailing Vonn by just 0.30 seconds at the penultimate checkpoint – but then drifted too wide on a turn and lost a big chunk of time.

Still, Wiles was especially honored to share the podium with Vonn Logan Woodside Jersey Bengals , who supported her financially when she was getting started on the circuit.

Wiles is also an ambassador for the Lindsey Vonn foundation.

”She’s done a lot for my career and she gave me an amazing course report and pumped me up through the radio before my run,” Wiles said. ”I’m really grateful she’s such a great friend and role model I have to learn from.”

Up next is a super-G on Sunday.

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Sixteen games have passed since Week 1, when the Saints needed a late, inconsequential touchdown just to reduce the Vikings’ victory margin to 10 points.

New Orleans has lost numerous players to injuries. Other players have grown into more significant roles. Chemistry developed, and coaches became more adept at playing to the strengths and covering up weaknesses of various players. The result has been a NFC South championship and a victory in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.

”There are some similarities in regards to scheme. But when you go through the course of an NFL season and you look at the attrition that takes place, there’s – shoot – eight or nine of our (regulars) that were playing in that game that aren’t playing in this game,” Payton said Monday. ”You begin to take shape as the season progresses as to who you become.”

Seven players listed as starters in Minnesota in Week 1 won’t be playing for New Orleans this weekend. Running back Adrian Peterson was traded after four games. Six others are injured: left guard Andrus Peat; right tackle Zach Strief; defensive end Alex Okafor; linebackers A.J. Klein and Alex Anzalone; and safety Kenny Vaccaro.

In addition, tight end Coby Fleener, a regular in the passing game to start the season, is on injured reserve.

As Payton discussed the most striking aspects of the Saints’ evolution this season, he began by highlighting ”the amount of guys we’ve had to replace and the new faces that are stepping up.”

Payton complimented the way linebackers Craig Robertson and Manti Te’o have handled increased roles. Robertson has two sacks Youth Josh Sweat Jersey , two interceptions, five tackles for losses, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Te’o has made or assisted on 62 tacklers, including seven for losses, and has a fumble recovery.

Payton also named tight end Josh Hill, guard Senio Kelemete, cornerback P.J. Williams and fullback Zach Line in a similar vein. Hill had a touchdown and key first-down catches in New Orleans’ playoff triumph over Carolina. Kelemete, pressed into service often this season because of injuries, filled in at guard after Peat fractured his fibula against the Panthers.

Williams, a third-year pro who missed nearly all of his first two seasons with separate injuries Buccaneers Elite Jerseys , has two interceptions this season and saw increasing playing time in five-defensive-back formations because of Vaccaro’s injuries.

Line, who scored a short TD against Carolina, wasn’t on the regular-season roster until Oct. 4.

The contributions from such players have been ”the most encouraging thing,” Payton said, adding that ”the resiliency and the fight” of his team ”is something that’s great to be around.”

New Orleans’ defense, in particular, has played much better since the Minnesota loss, when the Saints gave up 470 yards and allowed the Vikings to convert nine of 14 third downs.

”We’ve been playing together for a while now, so we kind of know the strengths and the weaknesses of the guys. We know how to play together, we know where people are going to be and so we’re a lot more confident Youth Taven Bryan Jersey ,” Te’o said. ”Week 1, we were a relatively young team as far as experience goes and as far as time together.”

Now, Te’o said, ”We kind of know who we are and what we can do and what our strengths are … and also what things we need to work on.”

Offensively, the Saints have evolved as well, particularly with the emergence of versatile running back Alvin Kamara, who put up regular-season numbers (728 yards and eight TDs rushing, 826 yards and five TDs receiving and a kickoff return TD) worthy of rookie-of-the-year consideration. His immediate comfort with Payton’s scheme precipitated Peterson’s trade to Arizona.

Meanwhile, receiver Ted Ginn, known primarily as a deep threat before the Saints acquired him in the offseason Youth Trent Brown Jersey , demonstrated enough chemistry with quarterback Drew Brees as the season progressed to convert key first downs on intermediate routes as well.

”I believe that we are different. We didn’t know what we had in store,” Ginn said when comparing the Saints to Week 1. ”We messed around with a lot of options, a lot of different players, different things like that. But as the season went on, we kind of found our mojo.”

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Except maybe a bit of pride.

It showed Wednesday night as Kevin Connauton scored twice to lead the Coyotes over the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights 3-2.

It marked Arizona’s first victory over the expansion Golden Knights in the teams’ fifth and final game this season.

”It was a good complete game for us,” Connauton said. ”It’s big, I mean right now we’re focused on building for next year. We still have a group here that has a lot of pride and that is gonna play hard right to the end.”

Richard Panik also scored for the Coyotes, and Antti Raanta improved to 18-16-6 by making 27 saves.

”We knew that we had lost all the games against this team and we wanted to show that we’re not that bad a team,” Raanta said. ”Everybody knows that we’re not gonna go to the playoffs, but we want to show that we can beat anybody in this league. A little bit of a better start (this season) we could actually be in the hunt for a playoff spot.”

The Coyotes began the season 0-10-1 and were 9-27-5 heading into 2018 Authentic Customized Cardinals Jerseys , but now they’re on a 15-7-2 roll, including an impressive 4-1 victory at Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay on Monday night.

”It was a huge thing to come from Tampa and start working again, it was a big thing for the team for sure,” Raanta said. ”It’s showing to the fans and showing to the league that we can beat anybody in this league when we are playing like we played today and in Tampa. It’s a confidence boost for sure.”

Erik Haula and Alex Tuch each scored power-play goals for the playoff-bound Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 shots.

Vegas is in a 7-6-3 rut and holds a five-point lead over surging San Jose for first place in the Pacific Division. The Sharks were idle Wednesday and visit Vegas on Saturday night. The Golden Knights are 27-10-2 at home this season.

The Golden Knights continued to struggle at the start of games, getting outshot by Arizona in the first period 15-5.

Vegas has been outshot 41-22 in the first period over its past three games.

”It’s bothering me a lot,” Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said of his team’s sluggish starts. ”First game of our road trip in San Jose we had an unbelievable first period and the last three since then it’s been chasing the game every game. That’s three in a row and we gotta fix it. We gotta be better Authentic Customized Bengals Jerseys , we gotta be more prepared for those starts and get our game ready.”

The Coyotes opened the scoring when Connauton found the loose puck after a deflection in front of the crease and backhanded it in a wide-open net.

Vegas tied it after James Neal took advantage of a turnover and fed Haula for a one-timer.

With a little more than three minutes left in the first period, Arizona rookie Clayton Keller stole the puck, maneuvered around the defense and served an attacking Panik, whose backhand beat Fleury.

Keller, who leads the team in scoring, continued a red-hot March and has now recorded a point in 10 straight games. Keller’s 18 points this month is the most by a rookie Cheap New England Patriots T-Shirts , while his 39 assists and 62 points this season are also team records by a rookie.

Tuch deflected Jonathan Marchessault’s slap shot late in the second period to knot the game at 2, but moments later Connauton scored his second goal when his shot from the point made its way through the five-hole.

”It was big because obviously this is a great hockey team we’re playing. This is a tough building to play in, a loud building,” Arizona coach Rick Tocchet said. ”We held our own, you gotta give our team credit. It’s a tough road trip. I like the way some of these guys are buying in. You do the right things, good things happen.”

Arizona Cordy Glenn Jersey Elite , which is 6-3-1 in its last 10 road games, played its fifth game of a six-game road trip that started in Buffalo, and continued through Carolina, Florida, Tampa and Vegas. The Coyotes finish their road trip tomorrow in Los Angeles.

NOTES: Arizona is on a winning run of 16-1-1 when holding opponents to two goals or fewer. … Fleury remains one win away from moving into sole possession of 11th on the NHL’s career wins list. … Neal is two games shy from his 700th career game. … Marchessault is two games away from his 200th career contest.

UP NEXT

Arizona: Visits Los Angeles on Thursday night.

Vegas: Hosts St. Louis on Friday night.

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Westbrook was controlled, and he was too much for Utah. Silent and serious, the reigning league MVP scored 33 of his 45 points in the second half, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from 25 points down to fight off elimination and beat the Jazz 107-99 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

”It was win or go home,” Westbrook said. ”Regardless of what is going on in the game, you have to give yourself a chance to win, and I thought our guys did a good job of that tonight. They did an amazing job of sticking together.”

Westbrook got sidetracked during Monday’s Game 4 by a one-on-one matchup with Ricky Rubio. He was in foul trouble for much of Oklahoma City’s loss and was later fined $10,000 and assessed a technical for an altercation late in that game.

With Oklahoma City trailing 3-1 in the series Cardinals Elite Jerseys , he focused up in Game 5 and helped keep the season alive. He made 5 of 16 shots in the first half, then 12 of 23 in the second.

Westbrook also had 15 rebounds and seven assists. Paul George added 34 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder, who forced a Game 6 in Salt Lake City on Friday.

”We stopped playing defense,” Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell said. ”We stopped getting back. Our offense got stagnant. They made adjustments and we didn’t make the right adjustments back. We will watch the film and figure out what went wrong, but from my analysis right after the game, we just stopped getting back in transition and they just fed off of that.”

Jae Crowder scored a career playoff-high 27 points, Mitchell had 23 and Joe Ingles added 16 for the Jazz, who still have a 3-2 lead in the series.

They realize it probably should already be over.

”We need to do a better job Uchenna Nwosu Jersey Chargers ,” Rubio said. ”Of course, you have to give them credit. They made a lot of shots. They took their pride and forced a Game 6. But we are going home and we’ve got to be strong and be confident.”

Oklahoma City took advantage after Utah’s post players, Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors, got into foul trouble. Both finished with five fouls, and Oklahoma City was able to get to the basket consistently for the first time in the series.

Gobert’s absence, in particular, caused problems.

”It’s a different feeling when you don’t have big fella back there,” Mitchell said. ”It’s hard that we put all the pressure on him. We have had success but eventually it’s not going to work and we have to play better defense as guards ourselves.”

Utah opened the second half on an 8-1 run to go up 64-42 Cheap New England Patriots Hoodie , and Crowder’s 3-pointer made it 71-46 with 8:34 left in the third quarter.

Westbrook made back-to-back 3-pointers, then after a 3-point play by George, Westbrook made a jumper and a layup to cut Utah’s lead to 73-60 and bring energy back into the arena.

Gobert picked up his fifth foul with 3:46 left in the third quarter. Westbrook’s 3-pointer tied the game at 78 heading into the fourth quarter. He scored 20 points in the third.

Westbrook scored immediately at the start of the fourth to finally put the Thunder in front. Back-to-back 3s by Westbrook and Alex Abrines put Oklahoma City up 96-91, and a jumper by Westbrook with 1:24 left put Oklahoma City up 107-99.

”We just never quit,” George said. ”We never quit. I can’t pinpoint one thing we did wrong. We just never got down on ourselves, regardless of the lead they built and the shots they were making. We could surge back and we did.”

TIP-INS

Jazz: Shot 57 percent in the first quarter to take a 34-29 lead. … Crowder scored 15 points in the first quarter. … Mitchell was fouled on a 3-pointer with 11.1 seconds left in the first half. Before Mitchell shot his free throws, Thunder coach Billy Donovan was called for a technical. Mitchell made all four free throws, and Utah led 56-41 at the break. … Rubio finished with 10 points Youth Da'Ron Payne Jersey , 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Thunder: Former Thunder forward Enes Kanter, who was sent to New York in the deal that brought Anthony to Oklahoma City, attended the game. Kanter played for Utah before playing for the Thunder. … George made a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer.

STAT LINES

Westbrook had only scored 36 points in the second half of the first four games combined before unleashing 33 in Game 5.

”Just staying aggressive,” Westbrook said. ”Just trying to pick my spots, the same shots I’ve been getting. I’ve just got to concentrate on making them.”

MISSING IN ACTION

Carmelo Anthony scored just seven points on 2-for-6 shooting and played just 26 minutes. When he subbed out in the third quarter, the Thunder trailed 71-53. By the time he subbed back in, Oklahoma City led 88-87.

QUOTABLE

George on not resting in the second half: ”What were we going to rest for? We wanted this game tonight. We needed this game tonight. We were just going to give it everything we had.”

UP NEXT

Game 6 is Friday in Salt Lake City.

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MIAMI — Philadelphia 76ers reserve guard Justin Anderson scored six points on Thursday Customized Cleveland Browns Jerseys , but he played a major role nonetheless in a 128-108 playoff win over the Miami Heat.

It was Anderson who worked on the psyche of teammate Joel Embiid, the 76ers’ All-Star center who returned after missing 10 straight games because of a concussion and left-eye injury.

“Justin was hyping me up on the bench, telling me I’m one of the best players in the league and that I have to take over,” said Embiid, who wore a mask during the game. “I liked that.”

Embiid, with that added boost of confidence, produced 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 30 minutes. He missed his first five shots from the floor and then made five of his next six, including three 3-pointers.

In addition Oren Burks Jersey Packers , Embiid made 10 of 15 free throws, wrapping up his highly successful NBA playoff debut.

On Saturday afternoon, the teams will meet again at AmericanAirlines Arena in a first-round series the Heat trails 2-1.

Certainly, the Heat will try to corral Embiid, but Miami gave its own star center, Hassan Whiteside, just 13 minutes on Thursday, in part because of foul trouble.

Whiteside produced just five points, two rebounds and one block. He made his only shots from the field, but his four fouls helped to keep him off the court.

“I want to get more minutes Antonio Callaway Jersey Browns ,” said Whiteside, who led the NBA with 3.7 blocks in 2015-2016 and with 14.1 rebounds last season. “Even with the fouls, I could’ve been out there. I would not have fouled out.”

This season, Whiteside is averaging 14.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. But, on average, his minutes per game are down seven minutes from last season and even more in the playoffs.

Whiteside said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra “wants me to just be in a corner and set picks.”

Spoelstra, meanwhile, said “it’s part of my job to figure out how he can get to his strengths and make an impact on defense and rebounding.”

Aside from the two centers, the other big story line in this series revolves around the 76ers Youth J'Mon Moore Jersey , a young team that won 18 of its past 19 games. After years of horrendous records amid a major teardown and rebuild effort, the 76ers have looked like the best team in the league during the past month.

They didn’t just beat the Heat on Thursday — they ran them over, making 18 of 34 3-pointers (52.9 percent). They also shot 50.6 percent overall and were plus-eight on rebounds and plus-14 on paint points.

Ben Simmons, the 76ers’ star point guard, nearly had a triple-double with 19 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and seven assists.

JJ Redick, one of the top shooters in the league, scored just 10 points, but 76ers teammates Dario Saric and Marco Belinelli each scored 21 points and each hit four 3-pointers to help the offense flow.

Miami was led by 23 points and eight assists from point guard Goran Dragic. Heat reserve forward Justise Winslow scored a season-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. But Miami’s top three shooting guards — Tyler Johnson, Dwyane Wade and Wayne Ellington — combined for just 21 points.

The game’s biggest factor was Embiid Su'a Cravens Jersey Broncos , who had been listed as unlikely to play until Thursday afternoon, when he was cleared by doctors.

Embiid had a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter, which continued a trend. In Philadelphia’s two wins in this series, they have outscored the Heat by 31 and 21 points, respectively.

Anderson said Embiid has been a team player throughout.

“One of the things (Embiid) told me during (Thursday’s) game was to tell Coach that he didn’t want any plays run for him,” Anderson said. “He just wanted to play within the scheme.”

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

MIGGY’S DONE

Miguel Cabrera’s season is over Billy Price Jersey Bengals , leaving Detroit without its biggest star at a time when there wasn’t much else for Tigers fans to latch onto. Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon on a swing Tuesday night, ending the two-time MVP’s year just a couple of weeks after he returned from a DL stint due to a right hamstring strain. The 35-year-old Cabrera will have surgery this week. He batted .301 with three homers and 22 RBIs for a team that wasn’t expected to compete in the AL Central.

POWER PLAY

Mike Trout leads the majors with 23 home runs and he’s gone deep twice each of the last two nights, becoming the first player with consecutive multihomer games at Safeco Field in Seattle. But that hasn’t been enough for the Angels, who lost both times. Trout tries to keep it going at the plate when Los Angeles faces left-hander Marco Gonzales (7-3, 3.28 ERA) and the first-place Mariners again. Gonzales has allowed only three earned runs in his past five starts Derwin James Jersey Chargers , a span of 33 1/3 innings. Garrett Richards (4-4, 3.26) pitches for the Angels. He shut out the Mariners over 6 2/3 innings on May 4 but hasn’t won since.

BRUISED IN THE BRONX

One night after the Yankees hit Washington star Bryce Harper with a pair of pitches, the teams play again in New York. Could the Nationals look to retaliate? ”No ill feelings at all,” Harper said after his team lost 3-0. The slugger gave Washington a scare when he fell to the ground in pain after getting plunked on the right elbow by a 90 mph pitch from CC Sabathia. Harper remained in the game but then came out after he was hit on the left foot by Dellin Betances’ 89 mph slider in the eighth. The 2015 NL MVP said he had an X-ray on the toe and he’s fine. ”Elbow feels OK, and the big toe just hurts a little bit Youth Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys ,” he explained. Harper leads the NL with 19 homers but is batting just .215 since May 1. He had been hit by a pitch only once previously this season and had not been dinged twice in a game since August 2013 at Atlanta.

JAKE-BITTEN

The Mets try to snap a most puzzling skid when Jacob deGrom pitches against Atlanta. DeGrom has a 1.24 ERA in his past four starts, and yet New York has lost each of those outings. Only the Marlins and Reds have worse records in the NL than the Mets, and general manager Sandy Alderson is shouldering the blame. ”When you’re scoring runs at the anemic rate that we have, something hasn’t worked. So from that standpoint, I take full responsibility for where we are Customized New Orleans Saints Jerseys ,” he said Tuesday. As the All-Star Game next month and the July 31 trade deadline approach, Alderson acknowledged he would consider retooling if the Mets’ record doesn’t improve.

GERRIT GOING OFF

Gerrit Cole aims to keep up his stellar season when Houston faces Oakland. Cole (7-1, 2.16 ERA) has won five straight decisions and entered Tuesday leading the AL with 124 strikeouts. He has yet to allow more than three earned runs in a start this season. Paul Blackburn (1-0, 1.50) is up for the A’s following a terrific season debut last week against Kansas City.

MAEDA IT BACK

Kenta Maeda is set to return for the Dodgers against Texas, though most of his usual rotation-mates are still on the disabled list. Maeda has been out with a hip injury since May 29 Cheap Mike Remmers Jersey , and he’ll come off the DL a day after rookie right-hander Walker Buehler was added to the list. Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dennis Santana remain on the DL for the Dodgers.

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