12-29-2015, 03:15 AM
MIAMI - Dwyane Wade was on the basketball court early Wednesday to take on a couple critics who thought it was a good idea to challenge the Miami Heat guard. Jarrett Jack Swingman Jersey .His kids lost.We played a lot of different games, Wade said. I had to come back from behind in one of them.Their before-school backyard game was on the court adorned in Marquette colours at their home, and itll be the last time Wade plays in friendly surroundings for the next couple weeks. Wade and the struggling Heat start a five-game trip in Portland on Thursday, beginning a stretch that could help turn things around or just add to their tailspin.The only thing I do know, Wade said, is it cant get any worse.Miami (15-20) is clinging to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference and this trip isnt exactly filled with easy games. Portland (27-8) had the NBAs second-best record entering Wednesdays action, and that game is followed by matchups against the Los Angeles Clippers (currently 23-12), the Los Angeles Lakers (11-24), Golden State (an NBA-best 27-5) and Sacramento (14-20).You dont want to come back from this road trip and be 10 games under .500, Wade said.Thats his way of saying what awaits is a challenge.A great challenge, Wade said. These teams are playing very well and we havent played that well. So its time for us to go out there and just play basketball and not have to worry about the pressure of losing games at home. ... Now that goes away. Its not going to be easy at all, but we can just focus on the game and whatever it takes to win.Somewhat strangely, the Heat are better on the road (8-8) than at home (7-12), which is one of the reasons why they are fighting this uphill battle in the standings. They have shot a tiny bit better on the road than in Miami so far this season, average nearly three more assists per game, one fewer turnover and score at roughly the same clip.But even with LeBron James back in Cleveland and this roster looking nothing like the ones that went to the last four NBA Finals, Heat centre Chris Bosh thinks opponents still have Miami circled as an important game.For sure, absolutely, Bosh said. Guys want to get their just due, man.This trip is an annual tradition of sorts, coinciding with the circus annual stop at Miamis home arena. It might not have the same cache as San Antonios annual rodeo trip or the road swings that the Clippers and Lakers make when theyre displaced from Staples Center by awards shows, but its been valuable to Miami in the past.Bosh, Wade and coach Erik Spoelstra all spoke Wednesday of the opportunity that Miami has on this trip to bond, since the team will be together for nearly two full weeks.I want to bond and win, Bosh said. I dont want to just bond.NOTES: The Heat recalled G Shabazz Napier from their NBA Development League affiliate in Sioux Falls. ... Spoelstra said Miami made the decision to waive G Andre Dawkins earlier this week for roster flexibility, though cautioned that no move was imminent to fill the lone open spot on the teams 15-player list. Draymond Green Warriors Jersey . The contest was Canadas lone tuneup heading into the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, which begins Monday. The Canadians face Switzerland in their opening game in Piestany, Slovakia. Canada twice overcame a two-goal deficit to enter the third period tied 4-4. Jason Thompson Warriors Jersey . Purich, from Sherwood Park, Alta., and Tran, from Regina, rose two spots for their best international result. Its their first season skating together. "Our long program wasnt as good as we would have liked," said Purich. CLEVELAND -- The Toronto Blue Jays are determined to have a special season. They opened it by making history. J.P. Arencibia hit a three-run homer in the 16th inning to send the Blue Jays, who rallied to force extras with a three-run ninth, to a 7-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday in the longest opening-day game ever in the major leagues. A game that seemed so routine for several hours wound up extraordinary. "I guess its pretty cool now," said Arencibia, who wasnt thrilled at catching all 16 innings. "Im glad to be on the winning end." Arencibia was 0 for 6 with three strikeouts before he connected off Indians reliever Jairo Asencio. The marathon eclipsed the previous longest openers -- 15 innings between Cleveland and Detroit on April 19, 1960, and 15 innings between Philadelphia and Washington on April 13, 1926. According to STATS LLC, the Indians-Blue Jays opener was the longest of 1,360 opening-day games played since 1901. "If youre going to break records you might as well do it on opening day," said Indians All-Star closer Chris Perez, who was able to show some humour after allowing the Blue Jays to come back from a 4-1 deficit in the ninth. "No position player wants to be out there for 16 innings on opening day. I feel terrible. "Everybody did their job today except me." Luis Perez, Torontos seventh pitcher, worked four scoreless innings for the win and Sergio Santos got two outs to end the 5-hour, 14-minute game. Jose Bautista homered and hit a sacrifice fly for Toronto, which did next to nothing for eight innings against Cleveland starter Justin Masterson before storming back in the ninth. Jack Hannahan hit a three-run homer in the second to give Cleveland a 4-0 lead against Ricky Romero. But the Indians didnt score again, blanked for 14 innings by Torontos pitchers to disappoint a sellout crowd of 43,190 that thinned to just a few thousand die-hards by the end. An opener that began in clear skies and bright sunshine ended just after twilight as the sun disappeared over the Lake Erie horizon. This one had a little of everything: strong pitching, bad pitching, blown chances, emptied benches and bullpens, a soon-to-be 45-year-old infielder playing the outfield and, of course, a spot in baseball annals. "I guess we got in the record books," said Masterson. "Thats something. Who started it? Thats a trivia question." Masterson allowed just two hits and struck out 10 in eight dominant innings. But the Blue Jays, who believe they can hang with Boston, New York and Tampa Bay in the brutal AL East, rallied in the ninth off Perez and gave manager John Farrell reason to think this season could be wild. "If tonight is any kind of insight into this season, strap in," Farrell said. "Were in for a long ride." In the 16th, moments after the teams had rewritten the history books, Asencio walked Brett Lawrie and Omar Vizquel reached on a fielders choice before Arencibia, who hit 23 homers as a rookie last season, drove a pitch onto the pedestrian plaza in left. He was lucky it ever got there. Klay Thompson Swingman Jersey. . After taking a ball, Arencibia thought third-base coach Brian Butterfield had given him the bunt sign and he popped his attempt foul. "For some reason, I thought I got the bunt sign," Arencibia said. "That got me in two strikes. Then I was just trying to hit the ball. I happened to hit it hard and got it out of the park." Arencibia was unaware of his gaffe until he got back into the dugout, where Farrell told him what he had done. "He high-fived me and said, Great job, you missed a sign," Arencibia said, laughing. The Indians squandered a potential game-winning situation in the 12th. They loaded the bases on two walks and a single before Farrell brought 44-year-old shortstop Vizquel off the bench as a fifth infielder. The strategy worked when Asdrubal Cabrera swung at Perezs first pitch and bounced into an inning-ending double play. Toronto trailed 4-1 going into the ninth after being stopped by Masterson. But the Blue Jays rallied for three runs off Perez, who missed most of spring training with a strained side muscle and looked awful. He gave up two singles to start the inning before Bautistas sacrifice fly made it 4-2. Kelly Johnson took second on the play, and after Adam Lind walked, Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run double to tie it at 4. Perez got an out, but walked Eric Thames and was pulled by manager Manny Acta before hanging his head as he walked dejectedly to the dugout amid loud boos. "I dont think I was too pumped up," Perez said. "I was rushing, definitely, especially when stuff started getting sticky." Perezs meltdown cost Masterson a win he deserved. The right-hander won 12 games last season, but pitched better than his record. Acta chose him to open the season, picking him in spring training over Ubaldo Jimenez, who may be the staffs ace but hasnt lived up to expectations since he was acquired in a July trade form Colorado. Masterson set an early tone, striking out the side in the first. He retired the side in order four times, and except for giving up Bautistas homer, was never in serious trouble. Hannahans third career opening-day homer gave the Indians a 4-0 lead. Hours later, Hannahan didnt know the game had reached historic proportions. "It felt really long," he said, "and a little chilly, too." NOTES: Arencibia has a thing for debuts. He hit two homers on opening-day last season and connected for two in his first major league game in 2010. ... The Indians have had six home openers go to into extras since Progressive Field opened in 1994. ... Cleveland has lost four straight openers and eight of 10. ... Cleveland pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts. ... Torontos Colby Rasmus made a diving catch to rob Hannahan of extra bases in the fifth. ... Farrell began his playing career with Cleveland and pitched five seasons for the Indians, often taking the mound in less-than-ideal-conditions in old Cleveland Stadium. "I pitched in the snow before," he said. "Opening day on the Great Lakes is a risky proposition." cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '