导出博客文章OKLAHOMA CITY -- As Russell Westbrook took off, he saw Clint Capela as a mere
obstacle to victory rather than an athletic 6-foot-10 shot blocker.In the blink
of an eye, Westbrook uncorked a vicious left-handed hammer dunk over Capela in
the closing seconds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Houston Rockets
105-103 on Wednesday night.Oklahoma City led by three when the 6-3 Westbrook
threw it down with 5.5 seconds left to put the Thunder up five.Westbrook said
Capelas reputation -- he had already blocked three shots on the night and ranks
among the leagues leaders -- didnt deter him.It dont matter, man, Westbrook
said. Game on the line. If you get blocked, or you make a dunk -- its one or the
other. Fortunately, it went in and it closed the game for us.Oklahoma City
center Steven Adams, who isnt easily impressed, cracked a smile when asked about
Westbrooks jam.Just happy its not me, he said. Thats pretty much like the only
thing is `Thank goodness hes on my team. That was crazy. Honestly, he did a good
job, Capela. Nice little bit of defense, honestly. Verticality, avoided the
foul, and obviously, hes (Westbrook) just a really athletic dude. Just caught
him.Westbrook finished with 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Victor
Oladipo added season highs of 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who
snapped a four-game losing streak.James Harden, the leagues assist leader and
No. 4 scorer heading into the night, finished with 13 points, 13 assists and
seven rebounds. He made just 4 of 16 shots while being harassed by Andre
Roberson.Dre did an amazing job, like hes been doing all season, Westbrook said.
James is a tough player, obviously, and he (Roberson) did a great job of making
him shoot over his length. He needs to get credit for what hes been doing
defensively all year.Capela added 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who
went scoreless for more than six minutes in the fourth quarter to help the
Thunder position themselves for the win.We didnt play well, Harden said. We
didnt shoot the ball well, and we still had an opportunity to win.Oklahoma City
led 65-63 at halftime as Westbrook had 20 points and Oladipo 17. The shot 61
percent before the break. The Rockets offense worked, despite just five points
from Harden on 1-for-6 shooting.The Rockets started strong after the break, and
a 14-5 binge put Houston up 77-70 and led to an Oklahoma City timeout. The
Rockets stretched their lead to 11, but the Thunder pulled to 90-85 by the end
of the period.Oladipos 3-pointer with just under three minutes to play tied the
score at 100, then Robersons alley-oop dunk on a lob from Westbrook finally put
the Thunder ahead.Westbrook made a free throw to extend Oklahoma Citys lead to
three with 28 seconds remaining. Houston missed an opportunity when Harden and
Trevor Ariza failed to connect while Ariza was open in the corner. That set up
Westbrooks game-clinching dunk.I still wasnt able to make a couple of passes,
Harden said. Normal game, just didnt make shots, especially down the stretch
when we needed to. That was it.TIP-INSRockets: G Patrick Beverley, one of
Oklahoma City fans most hated players, was out with a left knee irritation. He
hasnt played this season. ... Eric Gordon shot 5 for 20 from the field and
scored 13 points.Thunder: It was the second straight home game in which the
Thunder faced a core member of its team that reached the 2012 NBA Finals. Serge
Ibaka scored 31 points and made the game-winner for Orlando on Sunday. ... The
Thunder shot 75 percent in the first quarter to lead 38-32. ... Oklahoma City
made 13 of 14 free throws.STAT LINESOklahoma Citys starting guards, Westbrook
and Oladipo, combined to make 21 of 38 shots. Houstons starting guards, Harden
and Gordon, shot a combined 9 for 36.STAR POWEROklahoma wide receiver Dede
Westbrook, who is starting to gain traction as a Heisman candidate, attended the
game. He has 68 catches this season for 1,254 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10
games. The eighth-ranked Sooners will play at No. 10 West Virginia on
Saturday.UP NEXTRockets: Host Portland on Thursday night.Thunder: Host Brooklyn
on Friday night.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP
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Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more
goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days
following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League.
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With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided
the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania
80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker
and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years
ago and took bronze in 2005.
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long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed
for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free
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. - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back
coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. NEW YORK
-- The NBC commentator criticized for calling the coach and husband of Hungarian
swimmer Katinka Hosszu the guy responsible for her turnaround said Sunday it is
impossible to tell Hosszus story without crediting him.But after some online
critics suggested Dan Hicks commentary on Saturdays telecast was sexist, he said
that with live TV, there are often times you look back and wished you had said
things differently.You did it -- not your husband was among the social media
messages posted following NBCs coverage of the 400-meter individual medley.
Hosszu won the gold medal in a rout, shaving two seconds off the world
record.Hicks said he was painting as accurate a picture as he could of Hosszu
and Shane Tusups relationship. The swimmer has told him that she credits her
American-born husband for improving her strength training, intensity and
confidence, which was shattered when she lost the same event four years ago, he
said.It is impossible to tell Katinkas story accurately without giving
appropriate credit to Shane, and thats what I was trying to do, Hicks
said.ddddddddddddHicks made reference to Tusup as NBCs cameras caught video of
him shouting and cheering from the stands after Hosszus win. In a replay shortly
after, NBC showed a portion of the race in a split screen with pictures of the
demonstrative Tusup.It was an amazing experience to share this moment with
someone who I love, Hosszu said in Rio.Hicks said on the air that Tusup and his
influence on his wife were no secret to people in the swimming community.It can
be very, very harsh, Hicks said on Saturdays broadcast. In fact, its been a
little disturbing to some of the other swimmers who have observed it.While
Hosszu has acknowledged the tough love, she said hes warm and fuzzy when its
husband-and-wife time, Hicks said.But he has turned her into a tiger in the
pool, Hicks said. ' ' '
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