12-18-2019, 06:20 AM
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Sacramento Kings will try to halt a five-game losing streak Sunday when they welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to Sleep Train Arena. This homestand has been a disaster for the Kings. They are 0-4 with losses to the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks. During this stretch, Sacramento fired head coach Mike Malone and replaced him with Tyrone Corbin. The former Utah Jazz coach is 0-2 since taking the helm and the most recent setback was crushing. Not even the return of DeMarcus Cousins could help the Kings find the win column Thursday night against the Bucks. Cousins, who returned from a 10-game absence due to viral meningitis, had a chance to win it in the closing seconds, but his jumper was off the mark as the buzzer sounded. He finished with game highs of 27 points and 11 rebounds in just under 33 minutes in the Kings fifth straight loss. Sacramento went 2-8 in Cousins absence. (Cousins) did a great job out there in trying to will us to a win, Corbin said. Ben McLemore added 22 points, followed by 20 from Rudy Gay. Darren Collison chipped in 15 in the setback. The Lakers have lost two straight following a three-game winning streak. On Friday, LA fell at home to the Thunder, 104-103. OKC was without Kevin Durant, who sprained his ankle in a Thursday loss to the Golden State Warriors. It didnt matter as Russell Westbrook carried the Thunder with 31 points. Ed Davis paced the Lakers with 18 points to go along with nine rebounds, while Ronnie Price and Carlos Boozer chipped in with 14 points apiece. Kobe Bryant finished with a season low-tying nine points on 3-for-15 shooting. He did add a team-high eight assists with eight rebounds. Obviously we fouled them way too many times, Lakers coach Byron Scott said. They got to the free throw line 29 times. Our margin of error is not big enough to do that to give up 29 free throws and give up 11 offensive rebounds. The Lakers were down one and, out of a timeout, Bryant received the inbound pass, dribbled to the elbow and pump-faked to get OKCs Andre Roberson in the air, but Roberson stood tall and Bryant came up short on the potential-winning basket. The Lakers defeated the Kings by three in Los Angeles on Dec. 9. The Lakers have won six of the last seven against Sacramento, but the Kings have taken four of six as the host in this series. Balenciaga Pas Cher Chine .com) - The NBA will be on display overseas Thursday with the New York Knicks taking on the Milwaukee Bucks at O2 Arena in London. Air Max 97 Fausse . In a matchup of teams battling head-to-head for the final playoff spot in Major League Soccers Western Conference, the Whitecaps run to the post-season took a hard hit when FC Dallas blew open a tie game with two goals in the final minutes for a 3-1 victory Saturday night. http://www.pascherbasketnike.fr/france-a...solde.html . -- Desperate to stop Tom Bradys latest comeback bid, the Miami Dolphins sought help from a reserve safety making his NFL debut after being signed Tuesday off the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. Air Jordan 1 France .com) - Houston Texans interim head coach Wade Phillips confirmed Monday that starting quarterback Case Keenum sustained a sprained right thumb during Sundays 25-3 loss in Indianapolis. Yeezy 350 France .J. -- Tom Coughlin doesnt have many options at halfback for the winless New York Giants.TORONTO – Marcus Stroman grinned at the recounting of that aha moment in his last start. It was the fifth inning and his Blue Jays were leading Texas 2-0. Stroman had struck out Rougned Odor and induced a groundout from Robinson Chirinos. Hed gone to a full count with on-base machine Shin-Soo Choo. The 3-2 pitch was a sinking fastball. The opposing reactions told the story. Stroman turned, struck a pose with a glare and retreated to the dugout. Choo looked flummoxed at the plate, staring back at the umpire with confusion. This reporter, from an angled vantage point, wondered if Choo disagreed with the call. He didnt. The pitch had cut the heart of the plate. He was confused. "Just something Ive been working on," said Stroman of the sinker. It must be nice. When Stroman throws fastballs, theyre predominantly four-seamers. He can "spin" the ball with the best of them, as baseball people say in reference to his devastating array of curveballs and sliders. Stromans changeup continues to develop. By the time hes through, Stroman could be a five-pitch guy. More importantly, in the immediate, is Stromans barreling onto the scene not just as a piece of the starting rotation but as a frontline guy. The sample size is small but take a look at four of Stromans last five starts, excusing the hiccup he had on a Wednesday afternoon in Anaheim earlier this month. On June 23 at home against the Yankees: Eight innings, one earned run on three hits, a walk and seven strikeouts. This start was made more impressive by the fact the Yankees were the first team to see Stroman for a second time and the first had been less than a week earlier when he struggled in the Bronx. On June 28 at home against the White Sox: Six and two-thirds innings, two earned runs on two hits, two walks and six strikeouts. Stroman wasnt physically on the mound when a run against crossed. He left the game with a 2-0 lead, two on and two outs in the seventh. Dustin McGowan promptly entered and gave up a three-run home run to Dayan Viciedo, saddling Stroman with a no-decision in a game the Jays would eventually lose 4-3. On July 4 on the road in Oakland: Seven innings of scoreless ball on three hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. The offence didnt score any runs that day and the Jays eventually lost, 1-0. July 19 at home against the Rangers: Seven innings of scoreless ball, four hits allowed and five strikeouts. Do the math and in those four starts, with Stroman still physically in the game, hes allowed one run in 28 2/3 innings. Stroman, whose self confidence has been repeatedly discussed, is willing to admit to some surprise at how well things have gone since he returned to the big leagues and entered the rotation.dddddddddddd "Yeah, absolutely," said Stroman. "Its definitely been a ride. Its been extremely fun. Its definitely gone a lot better, because its my first year and I feel really settled in and I feel like I belong." Dont mistake the confidence for arrogance. The 23-year-old knows he has plenty to learn and hes willing to listen. Two veteran teammates in particular have taken Stroman under their wings. One is a pitcher, Mark Buehrle. The other is a hitter, Jose Bautista. Having a guy with 15 straight seasons of 10 or more wins and another with two-time 50-plus home run credentials in your corner doesnt hurt. "Anything from mentality, anything from preparation to, hey, what would you throw in this count, to this hitter or what are you trying to do in this certain situation with guys on base? Just picking their minds like that and theyre more than happy to help out," said Stroman. "Bautista being awesome this year; hell come up to me out of nowhere, even during a game, and say, hey, when Im hitting this is what Im looking for, this is what I see, and this is how Im adjusting in-game and this is how you should attack hitters." Bautista sidled up to Stroman after his commanding performance against the Rangers. The superstar offered some praise. He also suggested areas in which Stroman could improve. Dont leave the kid satisfied. Bautista repeatedly reminds Stroman to be quick with his pace. Fielders appreciate a pitcher who gets the ball back from the catcher and immediately toes the rubber. Stroman has gone from potential trade bait to an irreplaceable member of the staff. Hes making general manager Alex Anthopoulos look good for being hesitant to part with the Duke alumnus. "To be honest, obviously its just rumours and you dont know whats true, whats not," said Stroman. "It wasnt unsettling at all. I was just focused on getting here and dominating and pitching like I know I could. Trades are something thats a part of the game and its not something that can rattle you if you over-think it." Dont worry about Stroman wilting under the brighter lights of important September baseball. If the Blue Jays hang in the division and wild card races, hell be looking forward to getting the ball every fifth day. "Zero intimidation factor. Im pretty confident," said Stroman. "Thats where I want to be. The bigger the moment, I feel like the bigger I get up for the games and the better I play." ' ' '