miaowang123: when Derby wagering opens, t

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LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant is swiftly regaining his confidence and timing. Brewers Robin Yount Jersey . His conditioning improves daily, and hes already leading the Los Angeles Lakers in scoring again. Yet thanks to Goran ragic and the exciting Phoenix Suns, Kobe still doesnt have a victory. Dragic scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and the Suns beat the Lakers 114-108 Tuesday night, dropping Bryant to 0-2 in his comeback. Bryant scored 20 points while playing 29 mostly sharp minutes in his second game back from nearly eight months out with a torn Achilles tendon. He led a fourth-quarter rally by the Lakers, but they only got within four points with 3 minutes left before Phoenix held on. Bryant gave his performance a "B" grade, but realizes hes got more work to do -- both on his game and his chemistry with the rest of the Lakers. Bryant had just three turnovers against Phoenix after committing eight in his season debut two days ago against Toronto, but contributed just two rebounds and three assists while the Suns comfortably held on. "Its a process," Bryant said. "You just continue to figure out what you can and cant do. Every game, you try to step up and do a little bit more and just go from there." The Suns handled the Lakers with teamwork, shredding Los Angeles lousy defence during a 35-point fourth quarter to earn their first three-game winning streak of the season. Marcus Morris scored 22 points and Eric Bledsoe had 18 points and nine assists for the surprising Suns, who never trailed after the opening minutes. Phoenix held off the Lakers with superb fourth-quarter play from both Morris brothers, who scored nine points apiece down the stretch. Markieff Morris finished with 15 points. "We kept pushing the ball and didnt slow it down too much," Marcus Morris said of the fourth quarter. "We came out with a lot of energy and kind of got them on their toes. They were playing small, so we had a great opportunity to attack the boards. And thats what we did." Pau Gasol scored 19 points while Jodie Meeks, Nick Young and Jordan Hill added 13 apiece for the Lakers, who have lost three of four to fall back below .500. Los Angeles NBA-best bench contributed 43 points while using just four reserves, but Phoenix dominated the boards, outrebounding the Lakers 43-33. Phoenix hadnt beaten the Lakers at Staples Center since November 2010. "I think we have a group of guys who play hard all the time, and theyre not selfish," Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said. "They genuinely like each other to do well. If guys take bad shots, well take them out of the game. But for the most part, they run our offence. Weve got two great point guards in Goran -- who had a great game -- and Eric." Dragic hit two 3-pointers and didnt miss any of his 11 free throws, finishing one point shy of his career high in his latest outstanding performance against the Lakers. Phoenixs small, active lineup led by Dragic and Bledsoe was too much for the slower Lakers in the final minutes. "Its there. Weve just got to execute a little better," Bryant said. "The willingness and competitiveness is there. We just have to make sure we come out in the right areas and execute it." The game was another bump in a long road for Bryant, who had nine points in a rocky season debut on Sunday night. But Kobe felt fresher than expected after his first game since April, and coach Mike DAntoni is still limiting Bryants minutes to keep him healthy for the teams stretch of four road games in five nights starting later this week. Bryant started off his night against Phoenix with his first dunk of the season off a two-footed leap in the first quarter. Bryant still emphasized playmaking over shooting, but played a more polished floor game in the first half with 10 points, just one turnover and two assists, including the pass for Gasols buzzer-beating jumper. NOTES: Shawne Williams got a technical foul in the final seconds of the first half for putting a forearm into Dragic, who crashed to the ground. ... DAntoni changed his lineup, putting Meeks and Williams in the starting five and bumping C Robert Sacre to the bench. ... Phoenix C Alex Len didnt play with a sore left ankle. Brewers Mike Moustakas Jersey . Still, its a start. Josh Baileys goal with 1:40 left capped a furious third-period rally, and the Islanders edged the Penguins 4-3 on Friday night. Brewers Josh Hader Jersey .com) - Jeff Teague finished with a game-high 26 points and eight assists as the Atlanta Hawks held off the Utah Jazz, 98-92, on Friday.LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The only time Victor Espinoza won the Kentucky Derby was aboard War Emblem in 2002. They broke from the No. 5 post, the same position hell start the 140th edition of the race with early 5-2 favourite California Chrome. "Hopefully, thats my lucky number," Espinoza said Wednesday. Eight horses have won from there, most recently Funny Cide in 2003. "I think its a perfect spot," trainer Art Sherman said. "I think we break clean, hell get out of a lot of trouble. Hes got a little gas leaving there." At 77, Sherman could become the oldest trainer to win the Derby, surpassing Charlie Whittinghams record of 76 when Sunday Silence won in 1989. California Chrome comes into the Derby having won his last four starts by a combined 24 1/4 lengths. "Just an amazing horse to ride," Espinoza said. "I let him do his own thing and I think he likes that." Hoppertunity was made the 6-1 second choice in the full field of 20 horses. Hoppertunity, who lost to California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby, drew the No. 11 post for the race Saturday at Churchill Downs. Hes trained by Bob Baffert, a three-time Derby winner with two starters. "Other than California Chrome, whos proven hes a really good horse, theres a lot of horses in there that are pretty close," Baffert said. "Theres a lot of parity in this field." His other horse, Chitu, is a 20-1 long shot that drew the No. 13 post. Wicked Strong, named for the victims of last years Boston Marathon bombings, is the 8-1 third choice and will break from the 20th post on the far outside. He and the No. 10 horse, Wildcat Red, will be last ones loaded into the starting gate, so they wont be in there very long. Some trainers dont like the No. 20 post because their horse is on the far outside and has to quickly make its way over toward the rail to save ground. Calvin Borel will break from the No. 19 post aboard Ride On Curlin. The jockey nicknamed "Bo-rail" for his love of riding along the rail has won three Derbies since 2007, and hell have to hustle his horse over quickly to snag his favourite position. California Chrome, Hoppertunity and Wicked Strong were the only horses listed at single digits by Chhurchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. Brewers Aaron Wilkerson Jersey. Danza is the 10-1 fourth choice and drew the No. 4 post. Hes one of four horses trained by Todd Pletcher. The others are: Intense Holiday, 12-1; Vinceremos, 30-1; and We Miss Artie, 50-1. "We made out well," Pletcher said. "It doesnt matter where you draw, youre just looking for a clean trip." Mike Maker will saddle a trio of horses: General a Rod, 15-1; Harrys Holiday, 50-1; and Vicars In Trouble, a 30-1 shot that drew the dreaded No. 1 post. Rosie Napravnik will be aboard Vicars In Trouble trying to become the first female jockey to win the Derby. She was fifth last year with Mylute, the highest finish by a woman in history. Napravnik watched the draw from the jockeys room at the track. "I was just kind of shocked, being the first one drawn," she said. "Vicars real sharp out of the gate and I think hell be able to get in good position. Theres been plenty of winners out of the one-hole, so Vicars not in trouble yet." Eight horses have won from the first spot in the starting gate, but none since Ferdinand in 1986. Most trainers despise the No. 1 hole because their horse starts next to the rail and could get pinched going into the crowded first turn. The starting gate is loaded two horses at a time, and the first ones to go in will be Vicars In Trouble and No. 11 Hoppertunity, meaning theyll have the longest wait while the rest of the field is loaded. "Hes a pretty cool, calm horse so he should be fine in there," Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said about Hoppertunity. Hoppertunity didnt race as a 2-year-old, setting him up for a chance to break one of the Derbys oldest jinxes: no horse since Apollo in 1882 has won the Derby without racing at 2. The No. 10 post has produced the most Derby winners with nine, most recently in 2005, when Smith won with 50-1 shot Giacomo. Wildcat Red, trained by Jose Garrafalo, landed in that spot this time. The other 50-1 shot in the race is Commanding Curve, who will break from the No. 17 post. The 21st horse on the points list is Pablo Del Monte, an also eligible who would need a defection before 9 a.m. Friday, when Derby wagering opens, to get into the $2.2 million race. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseyscheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '