Clan Wars » Anytime you go out and face a team like that, esp

INDIANAPOLIS -- If the opening tip-off was any indication as to how the game would go, it was clear the Indiana Pacers didnt have anything for Dwight Howard and the Atlanta Hawks.As the referee tossed the ball between Myles Turner and Howard, Turner opted against jumping, conceding the tip-off to Howard and the Hawks. It was indicative of how the rest of the game would play out Wednesday night.The effort and energy (tonight) started with me and I have to make sure that every night I bring the same effort and energy, Howard said. When Im able to get in there and crash the boards, just get a feel for the game, it makes everything easier.Howard had 23 points and 20 rebounds to help the Hawks beat the Pacers 96-85. Paul Millsap added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks.I thought (Dwight) came out with a mindset from the beginning of the game, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. It felt like he was getting every rebound, going to the offensive board and getting put backs. He had something to say before the game to the team. I think starting the right way was important and I think he did it with his actions, he did it with his play,Indiana rallied to cut Atlantas lead to a point with 3:42 left in the third quarter, but the Hawks pulled away with a 19-2 run. The Pacers failed to make a basket in the first 4 minutes of the fourth quarter.Budenholzer noted it was Atlantas finish to the third quarter, extending its lead to eight points, that was ultimately what gave the Hawks enough to keep the Pacers at a distance.Thaddeus Young led the Pacers with 24 points and had seven rebounds. Monta Ellis added 19 points, and Paul George had 18.The Hawks outrebounded Indiana 56 to 37, and outscored the Pacers 48 to 34 in the paint, and 19 to 11 in second chance points. Indiana had just seven offensive rebounds.We just didnt squash down on Howard. I think he had nine offensive rebounds and thats huge when playing a team like the Hawks. You cant let them get offensive rebounds and extra possessions, Young said.AN IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY:The Pacers are third in the NBA in turnovers created, forcing their opponents into 16.2 mistakes per game, ranking fourth with an average of 9.2 steals per game. On Wednesday night, the Hawks turned the ball over 21 times, and of those 15 were the result of an Indiana steal.LOCKED UP:The Hawks are second in the NBA in fourth quarter defense, allowing opponents 21.8 points per game in the fourth quarter. On Wednesday night, the Hawks held Indiana to 19 points. It was the eighth time this season Atlanta has held it opponent to fewer than 20 points in the fourth quarter. The Hawks are 6-2 when achieving this milestone.TIP INS:Indiana: Jeff Teague has scored in double figures in each of the last nine games. ... Youngs 24-point effort was just the second time this season he has scored 20 points or more.Atlanta: The victory was the Hawks 100th over Indiana ... The Hawks have held at least a 10-point lead in 12 games this season and have six double-digit wins.UP NEXT:Indiana: Hosts Brooklyn on Friday.Atlanta: At Utah on Friday. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Cheap Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. http://www.cheapbluejacketsjerseys.com/ . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Wholesale Blue Jackets Jerseys . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Cheap Blue Jackets Jerseys Authentic . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros have struggled to beat the Texas Rangers all season.Ian Desmond hit a tiebreaking single in the 11th inning and the Rangers beat Houston 5-3 on Sunday for their 11th win in 13 games against the Astros this year.Texas took two of three in the weekend series and extended its AL West lead to 7 1/2 games over Houston.Weve had a hell of a time matching up with these guys, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. Were always going to counter-punch. Were not just going to sit here and take it.Houston went 2-5 on its homestand and has lost eight of its last 10 games overall.Anytime I leave this podium after a loss I hate it, Hinch said. I dont care what teams on the other side, I dont care what division theyre in, what league theyre in and how the loss happened.Clearly games against the Rangers matter when theyre ahead of us, they matter when theyre behind us, theyre in our division. So Im not naive, I know that those games are going to be magnified. You get into August and were in a playoff race, these games get a little heightened awareness.After Shin-Soo Choo led off the 11th with a double, Desmond followed with a single against Chris Devenski (0-4). Rougned Odor later hit an RBI double.Matt Bush (5-2) pitched the 10th, then struck out George Springer with runners on the corners in the 11th.Theres plenty of time, theres still a lot of baseball left, Houston closer Ken Giles said. We competed throughout the entire series, it wasnt a blowout. They didnt blow us out, we didnt blow them out. It was just one of those weve got to go out there and compete. They did the little things right, we just need to maximize on their mistakes next time because they maximized on ours.Texas starter Yu Darvish pitched seven shutout innings, striking out eight and giving up five hits.Alex Bregman hit an RBI double, and Jose Altuve followed with an RBI single off Jeremy Jeffress to cut the Rangers lead to 3-2 in the eighth.ddddddddddddTony Kemp tied it in the ninth with a single off Sam Dyson that scored pinch-runner Carlos Gomez, who slid around Jonathan Lucroys tag.Lucroy put the Rangers ahead with an RBI double in the fifth. Jurickson Profar hit a two-run double off Giles to extend the lead to 3-0 in the eighth.Kemp had three hits after coming in as a pinch hitter in the eighth.Joe Musgrove allowed one run on five hits in seven innings, striking out six in his first major league start. The right-hander threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in relief in his debut Tuesday.Im more comfortable just because Im in what Im used to in the starting role, Musgrove said. Anytime you go out and face a team like that, especially with a guy like (Yu) Darvish on the mound you cant really afford to give up many runs because hes a top tier pitcher.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: OF Carlos Beltran was out of the lineup after leaving Saturdays game with a left quad contusion. He pinch-hit in the 10th and flied out to leave the bases loaded.Astros: OF Colby Rasmus was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a cyst in his right ear. Its been bothering him for a while, Hinch said. Clearly, there are some things going on there that we need to look into further. Kemp was recalled from Triple-A Fresno. ... INF Luis Valbuena (right hamstring strain) is progressing slowly and hasnt done any baseball activities, Hinch said.UP NEXTRangers: LHP Cole Hamels (12-3) will start the first of a two-game series in Colorado on Monday. Hamels is second in the AL in ERA at 2.89 and has the lowest road ERA in the AL at 1.90 in 12 road starts.Astros: RHP Collin McHugh (7-8) starts the first of four games in Minnesota on Monday. McHugh allowed a season-high three home runs in his last outing Wednesday against Toronto. ' ' '