LOS ANGELES, Calif. - After back-to-back road losses, Chris Paul thinks all the Clippers needed was a confidence boost. They got just what they needed with a 113-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.Its crazy. When you play so many games, you think the team doesnt play off confidence. But I think we just needed to see again what it was like to defend and see the ball go through the net at the other end — and to win, Paul said. I think our spacing was a little better than the last two games, but our defence was better also. Hopefully we can start another streak now.Blake Griffin scored 18 points, DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 15 rebounds, and Paul had 11 points and eight assists, committing one turnover in 24 minutes after getting six in each of his previous two games. Jamal Crawford shot 0 for 6 from the field.J.J. Redick ended up with 14 points, hitting his first five shots, and his streak of 29 games with a 3-pointer ended one game shy of teammate Matt Barnes franchise record.He didnt get the ball as much because they started paying more attention to him, Im sure, coach Doc Rivers said. So give them credit. They made pretty good adjustments.Detroits Jodie Meeks had 20 points in his third game of the season after missing the first 22 because of a stress reaction in his lower back.I felt like I got into a rhythm, Meeks said. It is only my third game back, so I have to take it day by day — and shoot it with confidence when I am open.Andre Drummond added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who were coming off road wins against Phoenix and Sacramento after losing 13 straight.The Clippers, coming off back-to-back road losses against Washington and Milwaukee, led the Detroit 55-44 at halftime. Griffin set up a pair of alley-oop dunks by Jordan 68 seconds apart, capping a 16-4 run that turned a one-point deficit into a 47-36 lead with 4:41 left in the second quarter.Los Angeles extended its lead to 73-53 on a four-point play by Barnes, who was fouled by Kyle Singler on a jumper with 4:57 left in the third quarter. The Pistons got no closer than 16 points after trailing by 27.We quit getting stops, so we could not run, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. They shot the ball very well, moved the ball very well, and we could not keep up. They totally tore our defence apart.Griffins final basket was a 3-pointer with 27.8 seconds left in the third. With the lead secure, Griffin sat out the fourth quarter.Van Gundy received a technical foul with 7:34 left in opening quarter after Brandon Jennings was called for a foul, and Drummond got one about 2 minutes later for complaining about a non-call under the Pistons basket.___TIP-INS:Pistons: All five of their victories have come against teams that entered Monday nights games with losing records. Last season, 19 of their wins were against clubs that finished under .500, and 10 were against teams that ended up with winning records — including one each against division champions San Antonio, Indiana and Miami. ... The Pistons havent shot 50 per cent or better from the field in any of their first 25 games. Last season they did it 11 times (8-3). ... Drummond has 81 double-digit rebound games since the start of last season, the second-most in the league during that stretch behind Jordans 94.Clippers: The Clippers have beaten Detroit eight straight times — their third-longest active winning streak against one club behind Utah (11) and Minnesota (10). ... Prior to their 104-98 win on Nov. 26 at Detroit, the Clippers were 3-12 against teams coached by Van Gundy. One of those wins went overtime against Orlando, and another was decided in double-OT against Miami. ... Reserve G Chris Douglas-Roberts had nine points in 24 minutes in his second game back after missing the previous 15 because of a strained right Achilles.NEXT UP:Pistons: Host Dallas on Wednesday.Clippers: Host Indiana on Wednesday. . Johns IceCaps erased an early two-goal deficit to come from behind and defeat the host Portland Pirates 5-4 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. . Summers has seen scant playing time with the Coyotes since being selected 29th overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, having played in 47 career NHL games.
http://www.cheapshoeswebsites.com/. According to Dave Stubbs of The Montreal Gazette, preliminary talks have begun between Markov - an unrestricted free agent this summer - and general manager Marc Bergevin. . “The fact that he was willing to do the deal the way we wanted it to be done showed that he wanted me to be a part of something great," Lowry said, noting that Ujiri willingness to sign off on the proposal that both Lowry and his agent presented to the GM was the final straw that convinced him to return. .com) - The Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors are back in the great white north for a brief moment and will host the Dallas Mavericks Friday night from Air Canada Centre.SEATTLE -- Unhappy with the lack of clarity on his future, Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge popped off on Wednesday saying he feels like hes left "hanging out there" by the organization regarding his status for 2014. Wedges comments were his first regarding his contract which expires after this season. He originally signed a three-year deal to become Seattles manager in 2010 and he indicated theres been no word given whether hell receive a new deal. "Its tough. I feel like Im hanging out there, thats the reality of it," Wedge said. "But Im coming here and doing my job. You know how passionate I am about this team, and these players in particular, and this organization. The unfortunate part about how its being handled is the effect it has on the players. Thats why were all here, is for the players." Seattle is about to conclude a fourth straight losing season and a step back from the incremental progress the Mariners showed between Year 1 and 2 with Wedge in charge. Wedges season was interrupted in July when he suffered a mild stroke and missed a month and the Mariners have stumbled down the stretch since he returned to manage the club in late August. The Mariners are 10-22 since Wedge returned on Aug. 23. "Im a strong man, and Im going to be fine either way. But Id like to see this thing through," Wedge said. "Weve done a lot of developing with a lot of young players over three years. Id like to be here to lead them and turn the corner." Wedges comments came a day after the team confirmed general manager Jack Zduriencik would return for 2014. Wedge said he believed some conversations regarding his future would take place between Wednesday and the end of the regular season on Sunday but was unsure. Wedge was brought in to replace Don Wakamatsu -- who was fired during the 2010 season -- because of the track record he bbuilt in Cleveland taking the Indians through a rebuilding process and nearly leading them to the World Series.ddddddddddddBut the rebuilding never seemed to end in Seattle with a constant influx of young prospects from the minors being called up and some veterans failing to meet expectations. Wedge is 211-271 in his three seasons as Seattles manager. Seattle went from 67 wins in 2011 to 75 last season, but wont match that total this year. "We havent taken a step back. Its just the fact we keep bringing up kids. Youre going to continue to make mistakes up here while youre learning," Wedge said. "The forward part of it is we have a lot of kids that are moving forward, and that should pay off for us. But youre going to have to still add to that. Thats just the way it works." Seattle was on the fringes of contention in July, winning eight straight games when Wedge fell ill. He was helped off the field during batting practice on July 22 and getting rushed to a nearby hospital. He was diagnosed with a mild stroke the next day and became a month-long recovery process that called for changes in his diet, exercise and dealing with the stress of his occupation. Robby Thompson filled in while Wedge was out and Seattle went 13-15 during the stretch. Wedge said using his health as the reason not to bring him back would be unfair. "My best managing days are ahead of me whether its here or somewhere else. I want to be here. I moved my family out here. Im committed to the community. Im all in," he said. "I havent done anything wrong except for come out here and coach up these kids and teach them how to play at the big league level. Thats what I do. I dont bitch about anything. Im here to help these kids become good solid big league players and hopefully solid citizens in Seattle. So if that is not enough for them, then so be it." ' ' '
