HOUSTON -- Los Angeles coach Mike DAntoni paid a lot of attention to former Lakers centre Dwight Howard down the stretch. He needed to get the ball out of the hands of Houston Rockets guard James Harden and figured the best way to do that was with the "Hack-a-Howard" defence. The strategy worked perfectly with Howard missing seven late free throws to allow the Lakers to keep it close before Steve Blake hit a wide-open 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining to lift them to a 99-98 victory Thursday night. "I think it went real well because we took Harden out of the game," DAntoni said. Howard spurned the Lakers to sign an $88 million deal with Houston, joining Harden and a team that made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009. A sombre Howard called his free throw shooting "terrible," but wouldnt concede that this loss was more difficult because it was against his former team. "Every loss hurts," said Howard, who had 15 points and 14 rebounds. "Nobody likes to lose. Its very upsetting that we lost the way we did." DAntonis decision to foul Howard was surprising because last season he said that the hack-a-whoever defence was bad for the game. "That doesnt mean youre not going to use it, if its out there," he said. "Im not crazy." Houston led by two points before Blake took the inbounds pass from Jodie Meeks and made the game-winning shot. The Rockets were disappointed they let Blake get free for the winning basket. "Guys just kind of messed up on the play," Howard said. "It happens." The Rockets had a chance to win it, but Patrick Beverleys 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the backboard. "I was in a rhythm and then they started fouling Dwight," said Harden, who scored 35 points. "It kind of slows us down. It slows our pace down and what we like to do. Good coaching." The Rockets took their first lead since the first quarter on a dunk by Chandler Parsons following a steal by Harden that made it 93-91 with about 4 minutes left. Parsons left his arms outstretched as he came down from the dunk to wild applause from the home crowd. Harden had tied it up about a minute earlier on a 3-pointer. The Lakers started fouling Howard every time he touched the ball after that, sending him to the line 12 times, but he made just five. Meeks, who led the Lakers with 18 points, made a 3-pointer with less than 2 minutes remaining to cut the lead to two. The Lakers struggled all last season amid reports that Howard and Kobe Bryant didnt get along, and were swept in the first round of the playoffs. Los Angeles could have offered him a 5-year contract worth $118 million, but he chose to make the move to Houston with a four-year deal. "He made his choice, which is good," DAntoni said of Howard. "Youve got to respect that. Hes fine and theyre going to have a great team. Youre just happy for everybody because we won." The Lakers extended their lead to 14 points on a jump shot by Chris Kaman with about 8 minutes left in the third quarter. Houston finally got its offence going after that, going on a 15-3 run to get within 74-72 with 3 minutes left in the quarter. A highlight in that span came when Howard bobbled a bad pass from Harden before getting a handle on it and spinning around to finish with a dunk. The Rockets got eight points from Jeremy Lin during that run and the Lakers had three turnovers. Wesley Johnson made a 3-pointer to cool off the Rockets, but a 3-pointer by Harden just near the end of the quarter cut the lead to 81-77. Houston shot just under 35 per cent and made just two of 13 3-point attempts in the first half. But the Rockets stayed in the game by making 18 of 27 free throws -- 25 in the second quarter alone -- before halftime. The Lakers didnt share in Houstons long-range shooting woes in the first half, hitting 11 of 14 3-point attempts. The Lakers led by 17 points early in the second quarter before Houston used a 13-5 spurt capped by seven points from Harden to cut the lead to 45-36 about 7 1-2 minutes before halftime. Hardens seven points came in just 35 seconds. He made the second of two free throws before hitting a 3-pointer seconds later. Howard got a rebound on the other end and Harden made a layup. He was fouled on the shot and made the free throw. Harden made five more free throws in the last 1:19 of the first half, but 3-pointers by Steve Nash and Meeks extended the Lakers lead to 64-50 at halftime. NOTES: Former Rockets star Tracy McGrady and current Houston Texans J.J. Watt and Andre Johnson attended the game. ... Meeks made the first four 3-pointers he attempted to tie a career-high for most 3-pointers made without a miss. Jordy Nelson Packers Jersey .com) - It was a perfect, yet ironic, ending to the FCS regular season Saturday. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Packers Jersey .C. Premier Christy Clark today has announced $100,000 in support of Skate Canada International which will bring international competitors and visitors to Kelowna this fall. http://www.officialthepackersonline.com/AUTHENTIC-JULIUS-PEPPERS-PACKERS-JE…. -- The Golden State Warriors have made another move in hopes of finding a reliable backup to point guard Stephen Curry. Brett Hundley Womens Jersey .S. on June 21 in Sacramento, Calif., as part of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. Letroy Guion Jersey . - Percy Harvins debut with the Seattle Seahawks will have to wait at least another week.LOS ANGELES -- A pair of Cy Young Awards, three straight major league ERA titles, a 20-win season -- and now a no-hitter. There isnt much more for Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to accomplish besides winning a World Series ring. Kershaw dominated the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night, striking out a career-high 15 and allowing his only baserunner on a throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez in Los Angeles 8-0 victory. Kershaws gem gave the Dodgers both no-hitters in the majors this season. Josh Beckett tossed one May 25 in Philadelphia. "I am so amazed," Kershaw said. "Beckett told me he was going to teach me how to do that, so I have Josh to thank." Cheered on by his wife in the stands, Kershaw (7-2) retired his first 18 batters before Corey Dickerson led off the seventh with a slow bouncer to Ramirez. His throw on the run went wide past first baseman Adrian Gonzalez for a two-base error -- ending any chance for a perfect game. But that was it for the Rockies against the 26-year-old Kershaw, who shrugged off the miscue and came oh-so-close to pitching the 22nd perfecto in the majors since 1900. "He had command of everything. I told him between innings: Its not fair when you have a devastating slider and a devastating curveball in the same night," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. "And when he does that, nights like this are really possible." One batter after Dickerson reached base, rookie third baseman Miguel Rojas backhanded Troy Tulowitzkis grounder behind the bag and let fly with a strong throw to first that Gonzalez -- a three-time Gold Glove winner -- scooped out of the dirt to keep the no-hitter intact. And with the crowd of 46,069 on its feet and roaring, Kershaw made quick work of the Rockies in the ninth. DJ LeMahieu grounded out to first base on the first pitch and Charlie Culberson hit a lazy fly to right field on the next one. Dickerson then saw four straight strikes and went down swinging. The only pitcher to have more strikeouts in a no-hitter was Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, according to STATS. "Ive seen some great pitching performances, but its tough to be any better than Kershaw," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. After his 107th and final pitch, a beaming Kershaw raised his arms above his head and waited for a huge hug from Ellis. "I started tearing up out there in the ninth inning, just sitting out there catching and watching him throw after he got those first two outs," Ellis said. "It was pretty special." "Its something you never forget," he added. "Its a game Ill watch on replays with my kids forever." Moments later, as he was about to be interviewed on the field, Kershaw was doused by teammates with two large buckets. The left-hander with the big-breaking curve also got a big hug from his wife. Kershaw, who signed a $215 million, seven-year contract in the off-season -- a record for a pitcher -- gave Los Angeles sports fans their second memorable thrill in just a few days. The Kings won the Stanley Cup at home last Friday night, their second NHL championship in three years, and brought the famous trophy to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday for a pregame ceremony. The next night, Kershaw took over. The only other time the Dodgers pitched two no-hitters in one season was 19566, when the team was still in Brooklyn.dddddddddddd Carl Erskine and Sal Maglie turned the trick that year. Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who tossed four no-hitters, pitched the franchises lone perfect game on Sept. 9, 1965, against the Chicago Cubs. "I guess I havent really thought of the ramifications of throwing one of these things, but its definitely special company," Kershaw said. "Its pretty cool." Ramirez was back in the lineup after leaving Tuesday nights game with a bruised ring finger on his throwing hand, the result of a sharp grounder by Dickerson than deflected into short centre field for a double. Ramirez was replaced on defence by rookie Carlos Triunfel to start the eighth. Kershaw missed more than six weeks early this year because of a strained muscle in his upper back, after beating Arizona in the season opener during the Dodgers two-game trip to Australia. It was the 22nd no-hitter in Dodgers history -- more than any other team -- and the first at home since Ramon Martinezs 2-0 gem against the Marlins on July 14, 1995. "His stuff was phenomenal tonight. I think all the guys said that. We tip our hats to him," Dickerson said. The day after Becketts no-hitter, teammate Hyun-Jin Ryu took a perfect game into the eighth inning against Cincinnati before giving up a leadoff double to Todd Frazier. "As far as individual games go, this is really special. To do it at home is more amazing," Kershaw said before looking up and thanking the crowd. Kershaw received a standing ovation when he came to bat in the eighth, and another one minutes later after finishing the job against one of baseballs top lineups. Playing their home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, the Rockies began the day leading the majors in batting average, hits, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. They were first in the NL in runs and homers. "There are some guys in that lineup that give him fits," Ellis acknowledged. "But the way he made those guys look tonight was a testament to how good his stuff was. He was pretty dialed in and pretty locked in -- especially as the game progressed." Rojas also supported Kershaw with his bat, hitting a three-run double while continuing to fill in for injured third baseman Juan Uribe. Gonzalez and Matt Kemp each drove in two runs, helping the Dodgers complete their first three-game sweep at home this season. Jorge De La Rosa (6-6) threw 86 pitches over 3 1-3 innings and was charged with eight runs, six hits and five walks. The left-hander is 0-3 with an 8.19 ERA in his last four starts after going 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA during his previous seven outings. NOTES: Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters. He whiffed 17 batters in one of them, 16 in another and 15 in yet another. Warren Spahn (15) and Don Wilson (15) were the only other pitchers with 15 strikeouts in a no-hitter, STATS said. ... San Francisco LHP Jonathan Sanchez was the previous pitcher to throw a no-hitter with the only baserunner reaching on an error, in July 2009 against San Diego, STATS said. ... The last time the Rockies were held hitless, it was by Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo on Sept. 17, 1996. The only other no-hitter against Colorado was pitched by Al Leiter of the Marlins four months earlier. Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
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