OKLAHOMA CITY -- Three games into his comeback from injury, Kobe Bryant remains a work in progress for the Los Angeles Lakers.
David Freese Jersey . While Kevin Durants Oklahoma City Thunder continued their early season roll Friday night. Durant had 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Russell Westbrook added 19 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds and the Thunder routed the Los Angeles Lakers 122-97. Serge Ibaka added 19 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season and Reggie Jackson also scored 19 for Oklahoma City, which has won five straight and 13 of its past 14 games. The Thunder are unbeaten in 11 home games this season and have won four straight at home over the Lakers. "We have a pretty good team," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "Thats been the case for a while now. One of the things that I tell the guys, every season has its own identity. "We started the season knowing that we wanted to ... just continue to build trust in each other and just focus on each other and not worry about anything else, but trying to make your teammates look good. Its early, but weve done a great job with that." Los Angeles has lost all three games since Bryants return from a torn Achilles tendon. Bryant had 13 assists -- just two shy of his career high -- but showed little of his trademark offensive ability, finishing with four points on 2-of-6 shooting. He played 23 minutes and sat out the fourth quarter with the game out of hand. "There is no secret formula that you can sprinkle out there," Los Angeles coach Mike DAntoni said. "Hell get more comfortable, then the guys will get more comfortable around him and then hell do a better job." Nick Young led the Lakers with 17 points. Xavier Henry, playing in his hometown, scored 15 points for Los Angeles while Pau Gasol had 14 points and seven rebounds. Oklahoma City made quick work of the Lakers, setting season highs with 38 points in the first quarter and 66 points in the first half. Oklahoma Citys lead was mostly in double digits from the three-minute mark of the first quarter on. The Thunder finished with a season-high 34 assists and outrebounded the Lakers 59-41. "Theyre a good team and they just beat us," DAntoni said. "Thats number one. Our defence is not keeping it in front of us right now and offensive rebounds, its been a problem for us for a while. We turn the ball over too much. Its a combination of them outrunning us and them getting to the boards." The Lakers played without three injured point guards -- Steve Nash, Jordan Farmar and Steve Blake -- forcing Bryant into the position even as he works his way back from his injury. Los Angeles committed 19 turnovers, including seven by Bryant. Los Angeles jumped to a quick 13-7 lead and briefly looked as if it might stay with the Thunder, but Durant exited a timeout with a dunk and a 16-foot jumper to ignite an 18-3 run that put Oklahoma City in control. A 10-0 run by the Lakers early in the second quarter pulled them within 44-38, but Oklahoma City answered with a 12-0 spurt and the lead remained in double digits the rest of the way. The Thunder led 66-51 at halftime and werent challenged after that. As good as theyve been playing, Durant said the Thunder still have room for improvement. "We just want to play our best brand of basketball at the right time," he said. "But we cant do that unless we focus on today. Today we did a good job of playing together and playing hard on the defensive end. We cant think about April. Weve got to get past these days. "We can be a lot better. There are a lot of things we need to work on -- transition defence, rebounding, passing. On offence weve got to flow a little better. But our chemistry is growing. Thats the most important thing." On the Lakers first two possessions, Bryant was tied up by Oklahoma City rookie Andre Roberson, then had the ball stolen by Westbrook. Bryant didnt take a shot until making a steal that led to a breakaway with 3:50 left in the first quarter, but he eschewed dunking the ball, instead laying it off the backboard. Bryant went 2 of 2 from the field in the first half and was a bit more aggressive after halftime, but missed all four of his shots. It was his second single-digit scoring outing since returning from his injury on Sunday. Westbrooks double-double was his fifth of the season. Durant finished 10 of 13 from the field while Ibaka went 8 of 13. Wesley Johnson added 13 points for Los Angeles. NOTES: After missing three games with back spasms, Lakers C Chris Kaman suited up Friday and entered the game at the start of the fourth quarter. He finished with nine points. ... Thunder G Thabo Sefolosha missed his third straight game with a sprained right knee. The team said he remains day to day. ... Young received a technical foul from official David Guthrie early in the second quarter after complaining following a 3-pointer by Oklahoma Citys Jeremy Lamb. ... Oklahoma City recorded its 99th straight regular-season sellout at Chesapeake Energy Arena. ... Jackson has hit at least one 3-pointer in 10 straight games for Oklahoma City. ... Lakers C Robert Sacre grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
Barry Bonds Jersey . But San Diego had even more trouble against right-hander Tanner Roark, who pitched a three-hitter for the first complete game of his career as the Nationals shut out the Padres 4-0. The 27-year-old set down the first 16 batters before San Diego catcher Rene Rivera, an .
Starling Marte Jersey . The right-hander said he threw about 30 pitches in a routine bullpen session Sunday at Yankee Stadium, his final hurdle before starting Tuesday night at Tampa Bay.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Los Angeles Angels hope the Jason Grilli theyre getting from the Pittsburgh Pirates is the dominant version of last year rather than the struggling one of this year. The Pirates feel the same way about Ernesto Frieri. The Angels and Pirates made a swap the relievers on Friday night, each team optimistic that a change of scenery will be enough to allow their new arms to revert to their old ways. "Obviously were trying to get a bullpen with some chemistry and upgrade it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, "and I think Jason Grilli is a guy who can hopefully come in and fill a role, and if he pitches as well as he did last year he could be really important to us." The 37-year-old Grilli was struggled with his command this season, and was 0-2 with a 4.87 ERA and 11 saves in 22 appearances. But he was pivotal to the Pirates resurgence last year, when he piled up 33 saves and had a 2.70 ERA in helping the club to a 94-68 record. "Its a difficult trade to make from the standpoint that Jason had a good run here, and did a lot for our franchise both on and off the field," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "Hes loved by a lot of guys in the clubhouse and a lot of fans." Grilli is expected to join the Angels in Kansas City onn Saturday.
Felipe Vazquez Jersey. . "Much like Ernie, he struggled with some things here and there this year after a terrific year last year," Scioscia said. "Once he gets settled and we can evaluate exactly where he is and where his role is going to be to make us as deep as we can be, well have a better idea." Frieri had a career-best 37 saves for the Angels last year, but the 28-year-old right-hander is just 0-3 with 6.39 ERA and 11 saves in 34 appearances this season. The final straw may have come the previous night in Los Angeles, when he loaded the bases in the ninth inning against Minnesota. Joe Smith relieved him and gave up a bases-clearing double but bounced back to strike out Kendrys Morales to preserve the 6-4 victory. Frieri has allowed at least one run in four of his last five appearances, and while hes thrown six shutout frames in the eighth inning, he has a 7.92 ERA in the ninth inning or later. "Ernesto is a guy weve pursued for a couple of years but havent been about to get," Huntington said. "Hes going through a rough stretch but hes doing things our scouts like and our (statistical) analysts like. Weve had success bringing guys in and having them benefit from a change of scenery, a change of league. Thats what were hoping for here."
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