Fragen und Antworten » IP-INS:Thunder: Durant missed the first 17 games of

OKLAHOMA CITY - Kevin Durant didnt play for the Thunder on Sunday, but it seemed like he showed up in a different uniform.Anthony Davis put in a Durant-like effort, scoring 38 efficient points to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 101-99 victory over Oklahoma City.It was the third-highest point total of Davis career, and like Durant, his points piled up quickly and seemed effortless. He made 16 of 22 shots and had 12 rebounds while doing a little bit of everything. Like Durant, he scored inside and outside, put the ball on the floor and showed incredible grace for a nearly 7-foot player.Davis entered the game as the leagues No. 4 scorer and No. 1 shot blocker, and there is already talk the 21-year-old forward could follow Durant as league MVP.As far as MVP, Im not even worried about that, Davis said. Its too early in the season to get involved in that conversation. Personally, I think so. But even to hear my name talked about that, its a blessing, its an honour. Ive been putting in a lot of work all season. I wanted to come out this season and be aggressive. I think Team USA helped me to do that coming into this season.Durant missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle. Thunder coach Scott Brooks said Durant is day-to-day.Jrue Holiday scored 11 points and matched a career high with 15 assists for the Pelicans, who said Durants absence took nothing away from their victory. New Orleans was coming off a 26-point loss at home against Portland the previous night and simply wanted a win.Russell Westbrook scored 29 points for the Thunder, but he missed a 3-pointer that could have given Oklahoma City the lead in the closing seconds. Reggie Jackson scored 19 points and Steven Adams added 12 points and 10 rebounds.With the score tied at 99, Holiday stole the ball from Westbrook, then found Davis for a breakaway dunk that put the Pelicans ahead with 2:58 to play.With the Pelicans still up 101-99, Westbrook missed a 3-pointer and New Orleans rebounded. The Pelicans Tyreke Evans missed everything on a mid-range jumper, and New Orleans was called for a shot clock violation with 10 seconds remaining.Westbrook started to drive to the hoop, then dribbled back out and took a 3-pointer that bounced off the front of the rim. The Thunder couldnt get the rebound, and the Pelicans ran out the clock.Once I tried to attack, they stopped me, so I got the ball back and I went for the win, Westbrook said. I just missed.The Pelicans held the Thunder scoreless for the final 3:46.Its one of those games, youre glad that you came out on top of, and you feel like if you can learn from this, youll be a better team, because they play the same way every night, and we withstood that, Pelicans coach Monty Williams said.Davis scored 21 points in the first half on 9-for-14 shooting to help the Pelicans take a 53-48 lead.TIP-INS:Thunder: Durant missed the first 17 games of the season with a fractured bone in his right foot, and the Thunder went 5-12. Oklahoma City won seven of its first eight after his return. He is averaging 22.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists.Pelicans: New Orleans forced the Thunder into nine turnovers in the first half and 16 for the game. ... Starters other than Davis shot a combined 12 for 37 on the night.GOOD RUSS, BAD RUSSWestbrook made 2 of 9 shots and had no assists and two turnovers in the fourth quarter. Before that, he shot 8 of 18 shots with eight assists and four turnovers.Im not going to keep answering questions about me not passing now when we lose, he said. When we won eight (actually seven) in a row, nobody said nothing about not passing, so I dont want to hear it now.QUOTE OF THE NIGHTMy job is to attack when the fourth quarter comes, Westbrook said. My job is to stay in attack mode and try to score and try to make plays happen. If I miss, I miss. Im going to live and die by that every time, every night, regardless of what happens.UP NEXTThunder: Host Portland on TuesdayPelicans: Visit Indiana on Tuesday.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP. Shareef Miller Eagles Jersey . Detroits powerful offence made that unnecessary. Scherzer allowed two hits and struck out seven, and the Tigers backed their star right-hander with three early homers in an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night. Carson Wentz Jersey . "That was a great lift for the staff," Padres manager Bud Black said. Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal homered, and Chase Headley drove in three runs, as the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 11-1 on Friday night. http://www.theeaglesfootballauthentic.com/eagles-chuck-bednarik-black-jersey/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. DeSean Jackson Youth Jersey . Noah finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes. He was headed for his fourth triple-double of the season, but sat down with about three minutes left because of the lopsided score. Kirk Hinrich scored 19 points for Chicago, going 5 for 6 on 3-pointers, Carlos Boozer added 18 points, D. Mike Quick Youth Jersey .A. Happs hold on a spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation is in question.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- From practice squad to NFL starter: Quarterback Thad Lewis received the surprising news of his sudden promotion upon arriving at the Buffalo Bills facility for team meetings Monday. Shortly before 8 a.m., coach Doug Marrone pulled Lewis aside to inform him to get ready to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. "He just told me, Youre starting," Lewis told The Associated Press. "He gave me the nod, so I have to go out and do my best with it." A day after working out free agents Pat White and Dennis Dixon, and losing out to Minnesota in a bid to sign recently cut Tampa Bay starter Josh Freeman, the Bills (2-3) stayed in-house in finding an interim replacement for injured rookie starter EJ Manuel. "We thought it was best for us to move on and play with Thaddeus," Marrone said. "With Thad, he knows the whole system inside out, so at least we can give him the things that we feel hes strong with, which gives us a better chance." The scramble to find a starter began after Manuel sprained his right knee in a 37-24 loss to Cleveland on Thursday. The injury will not require surgery, but Manuel is expected to miss a few weeks, and potentially longer. The Bills had only one other quarterback on their roster, undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel, who struggled in replacing Manuel on Thursday. Tuel completed 8 of 20 passes for 80 yards and an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Lewis promotion came as a surprise after Marrone indicated last week that the team intended to look outside the organization for a replacement. Those plans changed Sunday night, once Freeman announced he was signing with Minnesota. Lewis has spent the past six weeks with the Bills. He was acquired in a trade with Detroit in late August, after Manuel was sidelined with a left knee injury and veteran Kevin Kolb sustained a concussion. Marrone acknowledged the Bills are in a tough spot at quarterback. "Its difficult when you get down to your third or fourth quarterback," Marrone said. And he defended the decision to open the season without a veteran quarterback by noting the Bills had to commit roster spots to address injuries at defensive back and with rookie kicker Dustin Hopkins sidelined by a groin injury. In promoting Lewis, the Billss placed Hopkins on season-ending injured reserve.dddddddddddd "Now, if you wouldve said to me, Hey, youre going to have two injuries (at quarterback), should you have done something different? Absolutely," Marrone said. "But that really wasnt the plan going in." Lewis played college at Duke and split most of the past three seasons on the St. Louis Rams and Browns practice squads. He has played one game, a start in Clevelands season finale against Pittsburgh last year, when he went 22 of 32 for 204 yards passing with a touchdown and interception. Calling his excitement level as being "through the roof," Lewis is attempting to keep his emotions in check. "A lot of people are like, Why arent you happy and jumping for joy?" Lewis said. "But I know its a business. And I know I have to get ready to help this team go out and win." Lewis appeared in the Bills preseason finale, going 7 of 16 for 132 yards and a touchdown in a 35-13 loss to Detroit. The Bills thought enough of his performance to sign him to the practice squad and cut fellow newcomer Matt Leinart. "I just have to go out and put my best foot forward," Lewis said. "Dont do too much because youve got playmakers around you. But do enough to put us in a good position to get this W." Marrone said it was still too early to establish a timetable on Manuels recovery. He was able to provide more encouraging updates on the status of other injured players. Starting safety Jairus Byrd is expected to play Sunday after missing the first five games with plantar fasciitis in both feet. Starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore (broken left hand) and backup Ron Brooks (broken right foot) are scheduled to practice this week. Marrone listed receiver Stevie Johnson as day to day after the starter hurt his back against Cleveland. ---- NOTES: Marrone said the starting left guard is up for grabs now that Doug Legursky has returned from a left knee injury. Legursky will compete with Colin Brown. ... The Bills claimed OG Antoine McClain of waivers, two days after he was released by Oakland, and released backup OG Sam Young. ... Punter Brian Moorman, who re-signed with Buffalo on Sunday, has his old No. 8 back. Tuel gave up the number and will no wear No. 7. ' ' '