James Harden heats up late as Rockets win fourth straight game

James Harden had 19 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter as the Houston Rockets won their fourth straight game on Monday in New Orleans.

Superstar Houston Rockets guard James Harden was named Western Conference Player of the Week earlier Monday, and he followed that up with 39 points and nine assists just a few hours later in New Orleans as the Rockets defeated the Pelicans, 122-116 (box score).

It’s the fourth straight win for the Rockets, who are now a season-best four games over .500 at 7-3. With the loss, the Pelicans fall to 2-8.

Harden started cold with just 2 points in the first quarter and hit only 3-of-11 (27.3%) on three-pointers, down from 43.1% over his last three games. But the former NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) got going by attacking the rim, with 10 makes in 14 attempts inside the arc.

Of Harden’s 39 points, 28 came in the second half and 19 in the fourth quarter. In one sequence, he scored 15 consecutive Houston points.

Russell Westbrook had 26 points (11-of-21 shooting) and was especially strong on mid-range shots, while starting center Clint Capela grabbed 20 rebounds for a second consecutive game.

Capela also recorded 20+ rebounds in consecutive games last season. Prior to that, the last Rockets player to do so was Charles Barkley — way back in November 1996.

Eric Gordon posted by far his most efficient game of the season off the Houston bench, scoring 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 4-of-7 (57.1%) from three-point range. The Rockets especially needed Gordon’s contributions after starting small forward Danuel House Jr. left the game early with a back contusion.

The Pelicans were led by 24 points from veteran guard J.J. Redick, who hit 7-of-15 (46.7%) from three-point range.

After Monday’s win, the Rockets flew back to Houston, where they will host the Los Angeles Clippers (6-3) on Wednesday. With Kawhi Leonard and potentially Paul George leading the visitors, the Rockets could certainly use House’s athleticism and defensive versatility. In postgame remarks, head coach Mike D’Antoni said House “should be okay,” but did not commit to his immediate availability.

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Russell Wilson was a part of a stunning double fumble play, and NFL fans roasted the Seahawks

The San Francisco 49ers managed to turn the takeaway into a touchdown.

Germain Ifedi figured himself a competent ball-carrier for all of three seconds.

During the fourth quarterback of Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10, the Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle seemed to see a Russell Wilson fumble in progress. Ifedi grabbed the ball out of the air while Wilson was getting sacked. Ifedi then attempted to advance the ball, but instead managed a second fumble on the play. This time, the Seahawks lost the fumble, and 49ers defensive Deforest Buckner recovered the ball for a scoop-and-score. While a few 49ers seemed to have their hands on Ifedi, linebacker Fred Warner managed to punch out the ball.

It was the Seahawks’ third lost fumble and fifth total fumble to that point in the game. Running back Rashaad Penny fumbled on the San Francisco 47-yard line and receiver D.K. Metcalf fumbled on the 49ers’ 2-yard line.

So when yet another Seahawk committed a fumble at a crucial moment, fans and NFL media members laid into the Seattle for the error.

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Twitter reacts to the tragic passing of Michigan State legend Charles Rogers

It has been an unbelievably difficult couple of days for the family that is Michigan State athletics. First, news broke that Cassius Winston lost his brother Zachary on Saturday. This morning, we lost another member of the Spartan family as MSU …

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It has been an unbelievably difficult couple of days for the family that is Michigan State athletics. First, news broke that Cassius Winston lost his brother Zachary on Saturday. This morning, we lost another member of the Spartan family as MSU legend Charles Rogers passed away at the age of 38. Rogers’ friends, fans, alumni, teammates, and more all took to Twitter to remember the former wide receiver for MSU and the Detroit Lions.

RIP Chuck.

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UFC on ESPN+ 21 reactions: Winning and losing fighters on social media

UFC on ESPN+ 21 winners and losers react on social media outlets such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor, the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums, and – perhaps most importantly – social-media platforms.

Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.

Following Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 21 in Moscow, several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.

Check out some of those reactions.

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The defeated

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Всем Здравствуйте друзья,подписчики👋🏼Вот и прогремел ЮФС-МОСКВА! Все всё видели,как прошёл бой и результат вам известен…Большое всем Спасибо🙏🏽кто приезжал и поддержал и поддерживает🙏🏽Кто прилетел поддержать с Родины🙏🏽Многие спрашивают кто был в углу у меня?!! В углу у меня были мои братья,они мне братья по спорту,духу и в жизни,всегда рядом со мной и в моём сердце❤️🙏🏽. С ними прошёл огонь,воду и медные трубы как говорится…Все тягости и трудности знают лишь они близко,через что мне прошлось пройти с 2014 года, знаю каждого из них как родного @alexkrylat Алексей Генадьевич 🇷🇺 Курильский тигр @olenichevmma Олег Сергеевич Уральский тигр🇷🇺и Сергей Владимирович Украинский тигр🇺🇦 Каждый из них является моим учеником,которого я готовил к боям…Их тренировал Тайскому Боксу. Вместе с ними,становился Чемпионом Мира на их глазах…Конечно всё это благодаря моему Тренеру Ивану Владимировичу Спасибо. Сейчас речь идёт о тех кто у меня был в углу🙏🏽БРАТЬЯ СПАСИБО ВАМ🙏🏽Что всё бросили,все свои важные дела и приехали ко мне на бой и были рядом со мной🙏🏽когда я вам сказал надо быть у меня в углу. Всем добра и мира друзья🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽Чистого мирного неба над головой🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

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Ассаламуалейкум,Приветствую всех. Вчера к сожалению был такой бой,который не хочется особо комментировать.Но своё слово сказать надо.Вчера на арене я почувствовал такую поддержку,что не описать словами,как я благодарен вам.Людям,которые рядом,которые всегда поддержат.Я привык радовать всех вас своими победами,но вчерашний вечер был не таким,каким я хотел себя показать в бою,на что был способен..Но и в таком положении не считаю себя проигравшим.Для меня главное признание сердец,а не то,что пишут на бумаге.Спасибо всем за поддержку.Обещаю,что вернусь сильнее! Иногда надо сделать один шаг назад,чтобы сделать два шага вперед.Всем БаркАллагь ✊🏻

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Всем Салам алейкум , второе поражение подряд , снова вышел на замену , поломал нос в первом раунде, дышать было сложно . Готов был лучше чем в прошлый раз , но это не все на что я способен ! К следующему бою пройду полный лагерь и надеюсь на иной исход событий ! Всем спасибо за слова поддержки) У меня все хорошо и совсем скоро намерен возобновить тренировочный процесс . На все воля Всевышнего ! #спорт#мма#бои#юфс#sport#mma#ufc#питер

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The victorious

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This Saturday went by well, had the trip of a life time. And got to spend it with people who been with me from the beginning. We Went to a country I never thought I would have ever been. And beat one of there own in his backyard. So many emotions going into this fight. So many doubts, so many people thinking maybe this guy had to much experience for me. I mean he had over 32 fights to my 10 and had fought some big names in the ufc. But once again we proved them wrong. I had somethings I needed to prove to myself. I had some demons I needed to face and overcome. Well I face them head on and i proved what I needed to prove. So I’m putting everyone on notice I AM HERE TO STAY!!! And you all will feel me.. 💯💯💪🏽 thank you to my coaches @rothweileradam @carlsongracieteam and my manager @elguero13_714 for believing in me and having my back wherever I go. I am a product of the things you guys teach me. And every fight we will only get better. #Ateam #CarlsonGracieTeam #ThePredator #TopMountApparel #CameFromNothing #itsonlythebeginning

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❗11.Listopad 2019, 101 Lat Niepodlegosci❗ ❗ 🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱 ❗ At First, I am really happy to announce to you all that this was a wonderful weekend of great success. I won in the first round, after 2.50min, by Submission Triangle Choke at @ufc Fight Night 163 in Moscow, Russia. Thanks to my opponent @abubakar_nurmagomedov for the fight and i wish you all the best for your Future in the UFC. #RESPECT In Addition, all my Teammates from @ufd_gym did very well in Zagreb, Crotia. We stay and fall together! #WeMakeChampions I would like to thank my Team, my Coaches and especialy my family and friends. Very special thanks ,for these, which having made the long journey to Russia to Support me. Thank you very much. Thanks to my polish friends and fans who Support me and wish whole 🇵🇱 a nice holiday #niepodległość #polska Thank you also, to all friends and Fans in Germany and all around the World. Have a great Start into the Week Much Love See you soon Sagat #UFCMOSCOW #ufcfightnight163 #winner

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For the culture… the fight culture #respect 👊🏾🇬🇧

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Ещё один бой позади. Хочу поблагодарить каждого, кто вчера болел и переживал за меня, и в зале и у экранов телевизоров. Я чувствовал вашу поддержку. Я всегда стремлюсь провести бой ярко, и ваша поддержка придавала мне сил сделать этот поединок зрелищнее. Драться у себя дома – это напряжение и дополнительная ответственность перед болельщиками. Пройдя все это, я понял, что оно того стоило, я получил огромный заряд адреналина, впервые выступив у себя в стране. Ещё раз спасибо вам всем, что вы рядом ✊🏽

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Спасибо, Рамзан Ахматович, за поддержку и высокую оценку моих навыков✊🏻 ___ @za_kadyrova_95eng Ассаламу алайкум! Наш БРАТ Забит Магомедшарипов одержал очередную победу в главном бою международного турнира UFC Fight 163, прошедшем на арене ЦСКА. Эта победа стала для него шестой в UFC. Забит показал красивый бой, продемонстрировал свои способности одинаково эффектно наносить удары ногами и руками. Американский боец Келвин Каттар «Бостонский Фиришер» не смог противостоять натиску Забита, который является одним из лучших российских бойцов в своей весовой категории. Мне всегда нравится наблюдать за поединками Забита. У него своеобразный и приятный стиль ведения боя. Важно то, что он при любой победе сохраняет чувство такта, скромность, порядочность. Желаю Забиту новых побед, здоровья и удачи! #Спорт #Кадыров #Забит #Магомедшарипов #UFC

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The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Kemba Walker downplays neck injury after win over Mavs

Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker feels fine now but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll suit up for the team’s next game.

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Characterizing a neck injury that kept him out of the final two minutes and 42 seconds of Monday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks as “a stinger” when speaking to reporters postgame (per NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg), Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker appeared unconcerned about the long-term effects of what Celtics head coach Brad Stevens would describe as whiplash.

Walker sustained the (apparently minor) injury after getting cut off by a defending Luka Doncic. He scored 10 of his team-high 29 in the final quarter, knocking down a flurry of threes after entering the second half with just five points.

The Celtics would win, 116-106.

Though Walker feels fine, there’s still a possibility that he misses the team’s next game — which will take place on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards — if he feels stiffness, discomfort or pain in his neck on Tuesday.

That said, the team will already be playing without one of their best players in Gordon Hayward for multiple weeks as he recovers from hand surgery, so keeping their top-end talent as healthy as possible in the meantime will be key to them remaining on a roll.

Bill Callahan says he wouldn’t make Adrian Peterson or Derrius Guice inactive

The interim coach made a point about his RB room.

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Crisis avoided.

Earlier this year, then-Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden caused some apparent controversy by making veteran running back Adrian Peterson inactive while Derrius Guice got the nod at running back.

A head coach stashing one running back because of his similarities with another for the sake of additional versatility at other positions — especially on special teams — isn’t all that outlandish. But it made a big wave anyway because of Peterson’s status and his strong season the year prior.

Now with Guice finally healthy, interim coach Bill Callahan has to deal with the same hurdle.

He’s apparently leaped over it with ease:

With how this season has unfolded, why rock the boat?

Projection-wise, Peterson figures to be the workhorse still while Guice gets his legs back under him. Even when Guice is full-go it doesn’t seem like the interim coach wants to take any big risks.

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Danuel House Jr. exits early for Rockets with bruised lower back

After taking a hard fall in Monday’s first half, Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. did not return after halftime due to a back contusion.

Houston Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. left Monday’s game early against the New Orleans Pelicans with a lower back contusion after falling on it during the first half.

On a drive to the basket, House left his feet and was undercut by a Pelicans defender in a failed attempt to draw a charge.

The 26-year-old shot the ensuing free throws and stayed in the game for several minutes after, but his back apparently stiffened during the halftime break — when the team announced he would not return.

The Rockets play the Los Angeles Clippers with Kawhi Leonard and potentially Paul George in their next game Wednesday back in Houston, so they could definitely use House’s athleticism, length, and defensive versatility, if possible. In postgame remarks, head coach Mike D’Antoni did not commit to House’s potential availability.

Entering Monday’s game, House was scoring 12.9 points per game on 48.7% shooting and a blistering 47.2% clip from three-point range. The native Houstonian has also averaged 5.3 rebounds in his 31.2 minutes, and his net defensive rating of 103.7 is the best of any player in Houston’s current rotation.

Head coach Mike D’Antoni announced before Saturday’s game in Chicago that he was sticking with House as his starter at small forward, even after the return of Eric Gordon from an injury absence. When House did not start the second half, D’Antoni went with Ben McLemore rather than Gordon for a starting lineup replacement, which would seem to indicate a desire to keep Gordon in a bench role.

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DeForest Buckner scores weirdest touchdown of season

The 49ers got a defensive touchdown in the strangest way possible.

The 49ers needed a spark from their defense, and they got one when K’Waun Williams flew off the edge to wrap up Russell Wilson. Before Wilson could go down, his offensive lineman Germain Efedi took the ball away from the quarterback, then had it stripped by linebacker Fred Warner. DeForest Buckner scooped it up and scored an enormous touchdown for San Francisco.

The 49ers wound up converting the two-point conversion to make it a 21-18 game.

Seahawks vs. 49ers: Seattle takes lead late in 3rd quarter

After scoring 21 unanswered points Monday night, the Seattle Seahawks have taken the lead over the San Francisco 49ers Week 10.

The Seattle Seahawks were trailing the San Francisco 49ers through nearly three quarters Monday night until quarterback Russell Wilson found tight end Jacob Hollister for the go-ahead score.

After the extra point, the Seahawks lead the 49ers 14-10 with 4:37 left to play in the third quarter.

 

Recently activated from the practice squad, Hollister now has three touchdowns on the year after logging his first two in last week’s win over Tampa Bay.

Running back Chris Carson was the next man up to score for the Seahawks, on a one-yard touchdown run to increase Seattle’s lead to 21-10.

All three of the Seahawks’ un-answered scores have come on the heels of 49ers’ turnovers.

As of this post, Seattle is beating San Francisco 21-10 at the start of the fourth quarter.

If the Seahawks are able to hold onto the lead, they would hand the 49ers their first loss of the 2019 regular season and Seattle would advance to 8-2 on the year.

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49ers vs. Seahawks: 3 things that stood out in the 3rd quarter

The 49ers will have some work to do in the fourth quarter after Jimmy Garoppolo turned the ball over twice in the third quarter.

The 49ers will have some work to do in the fourth quarter after Jimmy Garoppolo turned the ball over twice in the third quarter. Seattle was able to capitalize on both turnovers, and turned both into touchdowns and a 21-10 lead.

Here’s what stood out in the third quarter.

Another forced fumble for the defense

After ending Seattle’s final drive of the first half with a fumble, the 49ers did it once again on Seattle’s opening drive of the second half. The Seahawks were moving the ball well against the San Francisco defense for the first time, but K’waun Williams punched the ball out of Rashaad Penny’s hands and DeForest Buckner picked it up. Seattle has started to move the ball against the 49ers defense, but the turnovers have now slowed Seattle twice.

49ers can’t take advantage of the takeaway

The offense had a huge chance to take control of the game following the fumble recovery, but couldn’t take advantage. They got into a decent spot with a fourth-and-2 in plus territory, but Jimmy Garoppolo overthrew Deebo Samuel for a turnover on downs. The offense hasn’t done much all night, and put a lot of pressure on the defense.

Off of Bourne’s hands, into Diggs’ and Seattle leads

Turnovers have played a huge role in the game, and Jimmy Garoppolo’s second interception of the contest led to Seattle taking the lead. On first-and-10, Garoppolo threw a pass that was high, intended for Kendrick Bourne, that Bourne could have caught, but it tipped off his fingers into the hands of Quandre Diggs who returned the ball to the 49ers 16-yard-line. The play proved costly as Seattle took the turnover and turned it into points with a touchdown to take their first lead.