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hurting from its first loss a
in Stronghold Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:39 amby zxlbxj1 • Farseer | 487 Posts | 4870 Points
(SportsNetwork.com) - The San Antonio Spurs are one win away from another trip to the NBA Finals, and theyll try and take that step Saturday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final. Follow all the action live on TSN and TSN GO beginning at 8:30pm et/5:30 pm pt. The series shifts back to Chesapeake Energy Arena Saturday night where the Thunder have won nine straight against San Antonio, including two in this postseason. "Its a tough place to play, and weve lost however many in a row there, and theyre going to be fighting for their lives. All those factors altogether is not going to make it an easy game for us," said Spurs forward Tim Duncan. "But we feel we play the right way." The Spurs moved within a game of a repeat appearance against the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals thanks to a 117-89 blowout in Thursdays Game 5. The Heat prevailed last year, but San Antonio owns four titles since Duncan and head coach Gregg Popovich united in Alamo City. For the Thunder, this is the third time this postseason theyll face an elimination game. Since theyre playing on Saturday, their success thus far has been unquestioned. "We just have to worry about the next game," Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant said. "Were guaranteed 48 more minutes. Its been an up-and-down series but we have to find a way to come with it in Game 6." They didnt "come with it" in Game 5. The Spurs made 13 3-pointers and had six players score in double figures in Game 5s drubbing. Duncan led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Manu Ginobili carried a bench attack that outscored Oklahoma Citys reserves by a wide 55-26 margin. Ginobili scored 19 points, fellow reserve Boris Diaw netted 13 and Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard each had 14 for the Spurs. After holding the Spurs to under 40 percent shooting in Games 3 and 4, the Thunder watched helplessly as San Antonio made 51.3 percent of its shots. "We didnt have the defensive disposition that weve had the last two games," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. "We have to regroup and come back better in a few days." Durant and Russell Westbrook finished with 25 and 21 points, respectively, for Oklahoma City, a far cry from the duos superb 71-point dual effort in Tuesdays victory. Serge Ibaka was limited to six points and just two rebounds in the loss. The Spurs tweaked their starting lineup for Game 6, inserting sharpshooter Matt Bonner in place of Tiago Splitter, a traditional center. Bonner was not a factor, but the rest of the Spurs usual reserves were instrumental in the strong start. "It worked for a while," Popovich said. "Im not too interested in talking to you about specifics about why things worked or didnt work. Id rather have other people figure that out." Three-pointers from Patty Mills and Green tied the game at 32-32 heading into the second, and Ginobili led the way in a one-sided second quarter with nine points on 4-of-4 shooting. Ginobilis layup and 3-pointer had the hosts ahead by as many as 13 late in the half before Westbrook beat the buzzer with a deep make to pull Oklahoma City within 65-55. The Spurs owned a 16-2 advantage in the paint in the second quarter, then capped the third on a 12-4 run to essentially put the game away. With the score at 94-74 entering the fourth, both teams emptied their benches with Game 6 on the horizon. If needed, Game 7 would be Monday in San Antonio. Braden Smith Jersey . Ortiz hit a pair of two-run homers, including his 400th shot in a Red Sox uniform, and drove in a career high-tying six runs to power Boston past the Houston Astros 10-7 on Saturday night. Darius Leonard Jersey . Ryu (8-3) allowed a run and three hits in six innings and struck out six in his 13th start. In his first 13 starts last season -- his first in the major leagues -- the left-hander was 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA. This was the ninth time this year that Ryu has allowed fewer than three earned runs, and he is 7-0 in those games. http://www.footballcoltsteamprostore.com...y-Elite-Jersey/. -- Arizona came out of its last meeting with California a bit discombobulated, hurting from its first loss and the loss of forward Brandon Ashley for the rest of the season. Eric Ebron Colts Jersey .C. -- Gleason Fournier scored the shootout winner as the Grand Rapids Griffins defeated the Abbotsford Heat 4-3 Friday in American Hockey League action. Marshall Faulk Colts Jersey . The lightning strike was in the parking lot of Crew Stadium on Saturday night, but its not known if the off-duty lieutenant was struck directly, Columbus Fire Department Battalion Chief Tracy Smith said. The firefighter, identified as Lt.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Zach Sudfeld always figured hed be the guy avoiding tackles, not making them.But the New York Jets backup tight end has been consistently taking down kick returners this season, leading the team with 15 total special teams tackles. Not bad for a guy who, as far as he can remember, last regularly tackled someone in his high school days.Oh, man, it feels great, Sudfeld said Friday. When you make a good tackle, its like, Man, this is awesome. I can see why people love playing defence so much. Its a lot of fun.At 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds, Sudfeld — nicknamed Sasquatch by coach Rex Ryan — isnt exactly the prototypical special teams player.You just dont see it from that body type too much, said linebacker and special teams standout Nick Bellore. Not from a guy that tall, that big.Sudfeld has a nose for the ball carrier, though, and he has become one of the biggest surprises this season for special teams co-ordinator Thomas McGaughey.When I got here last spring and I saw him on tape, McGaughey said, if you would have told me that that guy would be our lead tackler this year, and if he was sitting right there, I would say the same thing — and Ive said this in the meetings — its unbelievable.Sudfeld is third on the depth chart at tight end behind Jeff Cumberland and rookie Jace Amaro and has just two catches for 35 yards this season. While he works for more snaps on offence, Sudfeld has made himself a valuable part of the special teams unit.Hes starting to become more of a leader, McGaughey said. Hes more vocal. He has more confidence because he has been making plays. The one guy that I would say that really shocked me is Zach.And, it came about almost by chance.Sudfeld didnt play special teams in high school and rarely did so in college at Nevada. He had some spot duty as a blocker on punts last season, his first with the Jets, but didnt see much time on special teams in the preseason this year. But in the season opener against Oaklandd, McGaughey needed someone to cover a kickoff and Sudfeld was sent in.ddddddddddddHe assisted on the tackle — his first since he played some linebacker at Modesto Christian High School in California.I kind of just jumped out there and no one blocked me, Sudfeld said. No one accounted for me, so I was in on the tackle. From then on, it was like, Hey, I could do this. I dont have much technique, though. I just try to grab them and wrap em up somehow.Its not pretty all the time, with some awkward-looking arm tackles and near-body slams, so it makes for some laughs among the other special teamers who tackle for a living. But, it gets the job done.We dont really mess with it because some of the ways he gets guys down is pretty creative, Bellore said. I mean, he had one last week where he kind of got his arm in between a guys feet and tripped him up. Its been working for him.Sudfeld has spent extra time with assistant defensive backs coach Brian Smith working on tackling techniques, and he also asks questions of teammates Bellore and rookie linebacker Trevor Reilly.I think they all know that its not just second nature for me, Sudfeld said. Its a credit to a lot of the other guys making plays in there, so the returners kind of bounce out to me and Im just kind of there to clean up.So, if the tight end stuff doesnt work out, perhaps Sudfeld could think about a position switch.I dont know, man, he said, laughing. You see guys like Calvin Pace and David Harris and Quinton Coples, and those guys are pretty spectacular at what they do. I dont think Id be a very good defensive end or something like that in this league.But, making 15 tackles — including eight solo — isnt too shabby.Really, 15? Wow, Sudfeld said, smiling. I didnt know that. Thats a lot, man. To really be contributing, you go into meetings and you feel like you can really provide a service to the team. Its just great.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Youth NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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