Kritik und Anregungen » lead in the AL

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After struggling in the first few weeks of the season to find their patented offensive rhythm, the San Antonio Spurs are once again making it miserable for opposing teams.Pau Gasol had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead a balanced offense for the Spurs in a 110-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and Kawhi Leonard added 20 for the Spurs, who won their fourth straight and improved to 6-0 on the road this season. Tony Parker had 14 points and seven rebounds.We didnt have that level of awareness and we werent moving the ball as much as we should have been early in the season, Gasol said. Were at our best when were moving the ball, creating an energy and flow that carries over to the defensive end. Thats been the staple of this team for so long.Sharing the basketball and frequently finding the open man for a good look, the Spurs had a season-high 29 assists and shot 49 percent. San Antonio has recorded 20 or more assists during its winning streak.Perhaps its no coincidence the winning streak has taken place after Parker returned from a sore right knee that caused the veteran point guard to miss three straight games. He was directing the offense against the Kings and frequently finding an open teammate.The key for us is moving the ball and making sure everyone is involved offensively, Parker said. The last four games were really been finding our rhythm. We have a lot of weapons.An offseason free-agent signing, Gasol is definitely one of those options. The crafty veteran center scored nine points in the opening quarter and had 16 by halftime, helping the Spurs take a 57-46 lead at the break.Its not something I try to do, I just take the shots when they come to me, said Gasol, who shot 10 for 17. Teammates found me early tonight and I was able to be effective.DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points, 17 rebounds and six assists for the Kings, who dropped their third straight game. Matt Barnes had 15 points and Ben McLemore, Willie Cauley-Stein and Rudy Gay each added 11.Were making it hard on ourselves right now, Cousins said. We gotta come out with better energy and a better effort. Its on us if we want to turn this around. Its nobodys fault but ours.Guarded much of the game by Leonard, Gay shot just 3 for 11 after entering the game averaging 22.3 points.The Spurs took the lead for good in the second quarter and led by as many as 18 points before going to the reserves late in the fourth quarter.The Kings eventually cut the lead to four points on Cousins two free throws with 8.7 seconds remaining. However, Davis Bertans made a free throw and the Kings missed two shots to end the game.TIP INSSpurs: Danny Green was back in the starting lineup despite a groin injury Monday against Miami. He made three 3-pointers and had nine points... Reserve center Dewayne Dedmon sprained his left knee and will also miss Fridays game.Kings: Cousins picked up two fouls in the games first four minutes. ... Lawson came in shooting 4 for 25 the previous five games. He was 1 for 2 for three points against the Spurs. ... The Kings had 17 turnovers that resulted in 16 Spurs points.POPOVICH STILL ANGERED BY ELECTIONSpurs coach Gregg Popovich has been an outspoken critic of President-elect Donald Trump. He has spoken openly about his feelings on the election and held nothing back again in a pregame interview.Somebody asked me and I told the truth of what I felt. I still feel the same way, Popovich said. Its still a disorienting situation when you thought you lived in a certain kind of country with certain values and find out those values arent important to half the country.I thought with all the divisiveness in the election, all the groups that President-elect Trump disparaged the best way to start was not to worry about Obamacare or talk about Wall Street or anything else. But that didnt happen. That was my hope.UP NEXTSpurs: At the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.Kings: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Air Jordan Discount . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Air Jordan Outlet . 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. https://www.jordanchina.us/ . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Cheap Air Jordan Free Shipping . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Clearance Air Jordan Store . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. CLEVELAND -- Max Kepler is powering his way into Rookie of the Year consideration.The German-born outfielder had three two-run homers and six RBI, leading Minnesota to a 12-5 win over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.Kepler became the fifth Twin ever and first since Justin Morneau in 2007 to homer three times in a game.Its a good feeling, he said. I was ecstatic. Ive had two before in the minors and once up here. I was real excited.Kepler homered off All-Star Danny Salazar in the first and third innings and hit another off Cody Anderson in the sixth. His was the 12th three-homer game in the majors this season.Kepler singled in the ninth off Zach McAllister to raise his average to .256. He began the season at Rochester but leads AL rookies in homers (14) and RBI (44). He has homered 13 times and driven in 37 runs since June 19.Salazar (11-4) lost for the first time since May 22 and will undergo an MRI on his right elbow Tuesday. He allowed three homers and was charged with six runs in two innings, the shortest outing of his career.Joe Mauer had four hits and homered in the eighth off Andrew Miller, who was making his first appearance with Cleveland after being acquired Sunday from the Yankees.Jose Berrios (2-1) retired 15 straight after a three-run first inning. The rookie right-hander, recalled from Triple-A Rochester before the game, allowed four hits in six innings.Miller received a standing ovation from the crowd of 15,018 when he ran in from the bullpen. He retired Kepler on a groundout, the only other batter he faced.Kepler had two chances for a fourth home run, but said that wasnt on his mind when he batted in the eighth and ninth.I wasnt trying for home runs, he said. I never do.You dont see three home runs all the time, Twins manager Paul Molitor said.dddddddddddd Its fun to watch. He does a really nice job. Those balls basically are line drives that went really far.Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Indians, whose lead in the AL Central over idle Detroit was cut to four games. Minnesota is 6-4 this season against Cleveland.Eddie Rosario led off the second with a home run. Jorge Polanco had a three-run triple in the third and tripled again in the fifth.Salazar didnt pitch in the All-Star Game because the Indians wanted to rest his arm. He has allowed 10 runs in six innings over his last two outings.While manager Terry Francona doesnt think Salazar looks hurt, the pitcher wants to get it checked out.Its been there for a while but its getting worse, Salazar said. I want to find out whats going on so I know whats in there.START THEM UPThe Twins took the opener of the four-game series with 19 hits, matching a season high.We play a game thats unpredictable in a lot of ways, Molitor said. You come in here and face a team thats hot. You get a guy like Salazar out there facing a kid that just got called up. Circumstances dont look particularly bright, but you go play.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: OF Byron Buxton (right knee) is considered day-to-day after an MRI revealed no damage beyond an existing bone bruise.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson went six innings and allowed two runs in his last start, a July 28 no-decision against Baltimore.Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco is scheduled to make his 100th career start. He is 5-2 with a 1.61 ERA in his last eight outings. ' ' '