Kreativecke » be a rough one for everybody, Collins

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Defense was the difference for the Trail Blazers.After struggling for the past half-dozen games, Portland had more of a complete effort in a 119-104 victory over New Orleans on Friday night. Damian Lillard scored 27 points and CJ McCollum added 24 to snap the Pelicans four-game winning streak.I think what we did on the defensive end allowed us to get out in transition and move the ball, and play at the pace that we wanted to be at. It worked in our favor, once we did it consistently, Lillard said.Lillard added 11 assists for the Blazers, who were coming off a 1-4 road trip. It was the 2,000th win in franchise history.Anthony Davis, who went into the game ranked second in the league with an average of 31.3 points a game, led the Pelicans with 31 points and 13 rebounds.The Blazers led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but the Pelicans closed to 105-101 on Terrance Jones dunk and Jrue Holidays jumper. Portland responded with an 8-0 run, capped by Maurice Harkless reverse layup that made it 113-101, and New Orleans couldnt catch up.Obviously its really good to get a win, Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. Weve been struggling a little bit. I thought offensively we were pretty good for most of the night. Defensively, after about two minutes into the second quarter, we were good the last three quarters.The Pelicans have rebounded after an eight-game losing streak to start the season and were coming off a 117-96 victory at home over the Timberwolves. But the win was costly because New Orleans lost Dante Cunningham in the first half because of a non-displaced right proximal fibula fracture. He will miss four to six weeks.The four-game winning streak coincided with the return of Holiday, who missed the start of the season to care for his wife, Lauren Holiday, following the birth of their child and surgery to remove a tumor on the right side of his wifes brain. Lauren Holiday was a standout on the U.S. womens national soccer team for eight years until her retirement last year.Holiday finished with 16 points.Portland, coming off a 137-125 loss in Cleveland, led by eight points in the first quarter but New Orleans pulled in front by the second, taking a 38-32 lead on Holidays 3-pointer. Portland reclaimed a 47-43 lead on consecutive baskets from Jake Layman and McCollum.McCollum led all scorers in the first half with 19 points and the Blazers led 66-57.The Blazers went on an 8-0 run to open the third quarter, capped by McCollums 3-pointer that made it 74-57. Meyers Leonards dunk and Lillards long 3-pointer extended Portlands lead to 94-78.If youre going to be content to exchange baskets with this team youre probably going to struggle because theyre really good offensively, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.TIP-INSPelicans: New Orleans players and coaches had Thanksgiving dinner at the family home of Jones, who grew up in Portland. His family was terrific to us, Gentry said. ... The Pelicans have four players on the injured/inactive list: Tyreke Evans (right knee), Quincy Pondexter (left knee), Cunningham (right leg) and Cheick Diallo (D-League assignment).Trail Blazers: It was Stotts birthday. ... There was no update on the status of Al-Farouq Aminu, who has a strained left calf. ... Mason Plumlee finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds. ... Portland has won 11 straight over the Pelicans at the Moda Center.SECOND CHANCESThe Blazers had 23 second-chance points compared to two for New Orleans, something that was a concern to Gentry: You give up 12 offensive rebounds and they get 23 second-chance points, he said, that means theyre scoring every time they get a rebounds and that puts way too much pressure on your offense.MILESTONESBesides his birthday, it was also Stotts 191st win as coach of the Blazers. He ranks fourth in franchise history behind Jack Ramsay (435), Rick Adelman (291) and Nate McMillan (266).Portland is the 15th NBA team to hit 2,000 wins.UP NEXT:Pelicans: New Orleans visits the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.Trail Blazers: Portland hosts the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Erik Karlsson Jersey . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Brenden Dillon Sharks Jersey . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. http://www.officialsharksnhlshop.com/martin-jones-jersey/ . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Brent Burns Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Kevin Labanc Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. NEW YORK -- The Mets circled the bases in record fashion like the cartoon Gas-House Gorillas in front of Bugs Bunny, then handed fans the shirts off their backs.They hoped a 17-0 rout of the Phillies on a melancholy Sunday was not this seasons Citi Field finale.It really kind of sunk in today that it was the last regular-season homestand, pitcher Noah Syndergaard said. The clubhouse was like, we dont want it to be the last game we play here this season.On a difficult day filled with sadness following the death of Miami star pitcher Jose Fernandez, the Mets produced the largest shutout victory in their 55-season history and the teams highest-scoring game at Citi Field. Asdrubal Cabrera hit a seventh-inning grand slam, Jose Reyes had four RBI with a two-run double and a pair of bases-loaded walks, and Curtis Granderson reached 30 home runs for the first time since 2012.Even slumping Jay Bruce had his first multi-hit game since Sept. 4.New York moved one game ahead of San Francisco for the NLs top wild card, with St. Louis a half-game behind the Giants for the second spot, and fans chanted We want playoffs! in the ninth inning. Hoping for their first consecutive postseason appearances since 1999-2000, the Mets close with three games each at Miami and Philadelphia after finishing 44-37 at home.Injured second baseman Neil Walker expects success on the road.Hopefully spray some champagne, he said.New York improved to 23-11 on its stretch run with another pitching performance from a surprise fill-in. Robert Gsellman, a 26-year-old making his sixth big league start, allowed three hits over seven innings, struck out a career-best eight and walked two, leaving to a standing ovation. He also reached on a bunt single in the third for his first major league hit; Philadelphias defense was puzzling, given that Gsellman (3-2) has a torn left rotator cuff and cant swing.If the Mets reach the Division Series, the tattooed right-hander could get a start because of injuries to Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler. Gsellman made his big league debut on Aug. 23.It kind of came pretty fast, he said.New Yorks previous high for runs in a shutout was 14, against the Chicago Cubs in 1965 and Cincinnati in 1998. New York scored 25 unanswered runs after falling behind 10-0 in the fourth inning Saturday night.Wearing 1986 commemorative uniforms for perhaps the last time tthis year, the Mets batted with the bases loaded 11 times in 50 plate appearance.dddddddddddd Reyes came up with the bases full four straight times.We needed one of those, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Our bullpen was shot.In a matchup of rookie starters, Jake Thompson (3-6) allowed three runs and five hits in four innings, and the Mets abused Philadelphias bullpen for three runs in the fifth, five in the seventh and six in the eighth. Phillies relievers allowed 28 runs -- 27 earned -- over 17 innings in the four-game series.I dont think we got much length and then the bullpen came in and didnt do our jobs, said Frank Herrmann, who gave up Cabreras slam.James Loney hit a run-scoring double-play grounder in the second, and Granderson led off the fourth by driving a 0-2 changeup into the bullpen in right center. Granderson has just 56 RBI despite getting 30 homers for the fourth time -- with 10 in his last 23 games.Now the Mets head to Miami, where Fernandez will be honored before Mondays game against the Marlins. The All-Star died early Sunday in a boating accident off Miami Beach.Tomorrow is going to be a rough one for everybody, Collins said. Im sure theyre going to be all fired up to not only beat us, but in honor of Jose.HONORING FERNANDEZAt the suggestion of chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, Mets star Yoenis Cespedes taped a No. 16 jersey with Fernandezs name on a dugout wall. Like Fernandez, Cespedes defected from Cuba by boat.Thats not something that I would ever recommend to any ballplayer in Cuba, to maybe leave the way that we did, Cespedes said through a translator, but those who have I very much admire.HOMER HAPPYNew York hit a team-record 112 home runs at home and has 212 overall, also a franchise mark. Thirty-two of the homers were hit against Philadelphia.AT THE GATESundays crowd of 35,093 raised the Mets home attendance this season to 2,789,602, up from 2,569,753 last year and the highest since the club drew 3,154,262 during Citi Fields inaugural season in 2009.OUCHNew York set a team record when four batters were hit by pitches -- Cespedes, Rene Rivera, T.J. Rivera and Gavin Cecchini. Phillies pitchers also walked nine and threw three wild pitches.UP NEXTMets: RHP Bartolo Colon (14-7) starts Mondays trip opener. ' ' '