Forum » series to create a work

LOS ANGELES -- When the nets finally cooled down at Staples Center, the Houston Rockets had a choice. They could be excited about their highest-scoring game of the year, or dismayed at their worst defensive effort in more than five months. James Harden and the Rockets chose to draw motivation from both sources for their playoff push after a prolific night against the Los Angeles Lakers. Terrence Jones and Harden scored 33 points apiece, and the Rockets beat the Lakers 145-130 on Tuesday night for their third straight victory. Chandler Parsons scored 19 points for the Rockets, who used a 49-point third quarter to solidify their hold on fourth place in the Western Conference standings despite their second-worst defensive performance of the year. Still, Houston won the opener of a three-game road trip without injured Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley, scoring with stunning ease against the Lakers laughable defence. "We had it going," said Harden, who had 12 assists and hit three 3-pointers. "We still gave up too many points, more than we wanted to, but we still got it going. Tonight was a tough game, a weird game." Jones scored 23 points during a dominant first half, while Harden contributed 18 points during an overwhelming third quarter for the Rockets, who made 18 of their 24 shots and hit seven 3-pointers to go ahead 115-90. Jones, who limped off the court with cramps, and Harden both sat out the fourth quarter of the Rockets third win over the Lakers this season. Rookie Isaiah Canaan matched his career high with 15 points for Houston (52-25), which leads Portland by 2 1/2 games with a game in hand for fourth place in the West. "When you go up like that, its hard to stay locked in (defensively)," Parsons said. "But we can do a better job of that. Weve just got to keep going and lock up homecourt advantage and get ready for the playoffs." Steve Nash moved into third place on the NBAs career assists list for the miserable Lakers (25-53), who tied the franchise record for losses in a single season with their worst defensive performance of the year. Afterward, Nash said his season might be over after playing through another twinge of pain in his troublesome hamstrings. "I just wanted to hang on and get this over with," the two-time NBA MVP said. "All of this is beyond my aspirations and wildest dreams. To be in that company is phenomenal." After matching the 1957-58 Minneapolis Lakers 53 losses in a 72-game season, coach Mike DAntonis injury-riddled team will finish with the clubs most losses since moving to Los Angeles in 1960. Nick Young scored 32 points and Jodie Meeks added 30 for the Lakers, who have lost five straight. Jordan Farmar had 15 points and eight assists in his return from a 10-game injury absence with a strained groin for the Lakers, who allowed 143 points by Minnesota 11 days ago. "We talk about schemes and different ways to play things, but it just seems like guys on other teams score too easily," Farmar said. "It just comes down to heart. It comes down to pride. Guys have to want it." Howard, nursing a sprained left ankle, didnt play in the Rockets second visit to the Lakers home court since he spurned the 16-time NBA champions as a free agent last summer for less money in Houston. The fans still booed and shouted "Coward!" at Howard, who came out to the Rockets bench late in the first quarter wearing bright pink pants. The home crowd gave a standing ovation to Nash when he passed Mark Jackson late in the first half with a long outlet pass to Meeks for his 10,335th career assist. The 40-year-old Nash, who is expected to return to the Lakers next season, trails only assists leader John Stockton (15,806) and Jason Kidd (12,091) in league history. Nash finished with three points and five assists in 13 minutes, sitting out the second half in just his 15th game of the season. The Lakers were down to just nine healthy players for their latest loss, playing without injured Pau Gasol, Chris Kaman, Xavier Henry and Kent Bazemore. Nash, Farmar and Young played through injury problems to suit up. Nash catalyzed a 22-8 run in the second quarter by the Lakers, who briefly took the lead before Houston went into halftime up 66-61. The Rockets made a 28-6 run in the opening minutes of the third quarter. NOTES: Late in the fourth quarter, the Lakers announced general manager Mitch Kupchak has agreed to a multiyear contract extension. The clubs longtime personnel boss had one year left on his contract. ... The Clippers scored 137 points against Houston in the fourth game of the season. ... Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley Jr. was at Staples Center to promote his rematch with Manny Pacquiao on Saturday in Las Vegas. Andy Garcia, Jason Biggs, Jenny Mollen and Robbie Keane watched at courtside. Jordan China . Fans can also watch the game on the newly launched TSN GO (currently available to Bell TV and Rogers customers), which gives TSN subscribers the freedom to live stream the networks programming from their smartphones, tablets, and computers at no additional charge – just as they would watch Canadas Sports Leader on TV at home. The following week, MLS ON TSN is at BMO Field in Toronto to deliver live coverage of TFCs home opener vs. D.C. United on Saturday, March 22 at 4:30 p. Clearance Air Jordan Store .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. https://www.jordanchina.us/.C. - Brent Sutter scored 1:32 into extra time as the Charlotte Checkers came from behind to defeat the visiting Abbotsford Heat 5-4 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. Cheap Air Jordan Free Shipping .7 million, one-year contract.The deal, announced Friday, includes a $50,000 performance bonus if the left-hander appears in 60 games. Air Jordan Discount .Y. -- Phil Jackson lost out on his preferred coach, but hes working hard on keeping his star player.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A misplay gave Omar Infante the chance to deliver another big hit against the Los Angeles Angels. Infante came through again, singling home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning that lifted the Kansas City Royals over the Angels 5-4 Sunday. Alex Gordon was hit by a pitch with one out in the Kansas City ninth. Salvador Perez followed with a grounder to shortstop Erick Aybar, but his throw glanced off second baseman Howie Kendricks glove and sent Gordon to third. Infante followed with his single. Perez thought the inning was over when he hit his grounder. "Double play. Yes, sir," Perez said. "I dont how know he missed it. Its going to happen." Royals starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie was in the trainers room icing his arm when he saw Kendricks misplay on television. "With disbelief and elation," Guthrie said. Kendrick could not believe it, either. "I peeked too soon," he said. "It was a good feed. It just came off my glove. It happens sometimes. I feel bad because the pitcher did his job. Ive dropped balls before, but I dont remember dropping one like that. I came out of it too soon." "I took my head out of the play. I had time," he said. "Perez is not a fast baserunner. I had time and the throw was right there. I looked too soon and didnt follow the ball into the glove. It opened the game up for them." Lorenzo Cain hit three doubles for the Royals, finishing with four hits and two RBIs. Infante, whose grand slam Friday night helped beat the Angels, finished with three hits, including a double. His winning single came against Los Angeles newcomer Jason Grilli (0-3). Pittsburgh traded its former closer to the Angels on Friday. "I know he throws a slider for the first pitch and I was waiting for that pitch," Infante said. "Because I saw that the first pitch to Billy (Butler) was a slider, too. In that situation you have to look for a certain pitch, a fastball or a slider, and thats why I made good contact on that pitch. It was a tough game today, a nice win for us." Greg&nbbsp;Holland (1-2) struck out two in the ninth.dddddddddddd Kole Calhoun led off the game with a home run against Jeremy Guthrie. The Angels added another run in the first on Cains error in right field, and Los Angeles took a 3-0 lead into the fourth after a two-base throwing error by Eric Hosmer. Albert Pujols opened the Angels sixth with a hit to left field and tried to stretch it into a double. He jogged into second with his left thigh bothering him and was thrown out by Alcides Escobar. "Its one of those glands that kind of grabbed something," Pujols said. "Its fine. Theyre not too concerned about it. I dont feel it when Im hitting. The first time I felt it was when I was running. Its been a couple of days. It grabbed me a little. I took some swings and I didnt want to come out. If I get on base then they would pinch-run for me. It didnt bother me to hit." Aybar homered later in the inning to make it 4-all. After the Angels loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, Kelvin Herrera was summoned to face Pujols and retired him on a fly ball. The Royals won challenges in the third and fifth inning and both resulted in double plays being converted. Cains two-run double highlighted a four-run fourth off C.J. Wilson. Wilson faced 22 batters and 12 reached base seven hits, four walks and a hit batter in 3 2/3 innings. Angels starting pitchers combined for only 11 2/3 innings in the three-game series to create a work overload for the bullpen. "Its very frustrating," Wilson said. "You make a lot of close pitches and just miss. Im not going to lay it in there and let guys tee off on you." NOTES: The Royals open a nine-game, 10-day, three-city trip Monday in Minnesota. They have only four games against Detroit in the next 24 days at Kauffman Stadium. ... Angels RHP Garrett Richards, who starts Monday at Chicago, is 4-0 with a 1.05 ERA and holding batters to a .203 average in his first five June starts. ... The Royals are 42-39 at the halfway point of the season. That is their most victories at the midpoint since 2003, when they were 43-38. ' ' '