ball threat who can outleap defenders, his 1

HOUSTON -- Patrick Beverley was front and center in the waning moments of Houstons 102-99 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday night, defending Thunder guard Russell Westbrook with vigor as the Rockets clutched a one-possession lead.For those aware of the value that Beverley brings to the Rockets (16-7) as a tenacious defender and reliable 3-point shooter, his impact on their turnaround isnt a surprise. However, how well Houston has performed since Beverley returned from preseason knee surgery is noteworthy after the Rockets improved to 10-2 with him.Pat has contributed in so many ways, said coach Mike DAntoni, whose will lead the Rockets against the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night at Toyota Center.Hes just good. Thats a winning spirit and the ripple effect of what he does with his energy just in the locker room before games, after games, on the bus. Whatever it is, its all about winning.I wish we had him all year now. Im ticked off that he was hurt.Despite being unable to find his shot (1 of 8 from the floor) and occasionally struggling to defend without fouling (five personal fouls), Beverley made a positive impact even before harassing Westbrook into errant shots inside the final minute. He finished with two steals, five assists and 12 rebounds, four on the offensive end.He entered Friday second on the team to center Clint Capela in defensive box plus/minus, and his 35.9 percent 3-point shooting is good enough to deliver as at best a tertiary perimeter option. His 4.7 assists per game represent a career high.But Beverley helped the Rockets win for the seventh time in eight games by forcing Westbrook into an air ball in the closing seconds. It was a routine, game-saving play.Pats defense was tremendous, ridiculous, Rockets forward Ryan Anderson said. Hes so valuable to this team just from plays like that. That was huge.For one game at least, the Mavericks (5-17) found the inspiration necessary to parlay their postgame team meeting on Wednesday night into something substantive. Despite missing forward Dirk Nowitzki (right Achilles), guard J.J. Barea (left calf) and center Andrew Bogut (right knee), Dallas exacted a measure of revenge against the Indiana Pacers with a 111-103 home victory on Friday night. The Mavericks dropped their season opener in Indianapolis.Dallas suffered a 31-point walloping against the Kings on Wednesday, prompting an impromptu locker room meeting after the loss. The Mavericks remain in last place in the Western Conference, but their energy and effort, lacking against the Kings, were present and accounted for with Indiana paying a visit.Until the Mavericks, 0-2 against the Rockets this season, are made whole again, their intensity and execution must carry them. That truth was underscored Friday.We just wanted to come out and compete, Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith said. We felt like we left a lot out there on the court the other night. We had a good practice and we tried to come out and give it our all and let the chips fall. Teppo Numminen Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Custom Winnipeg Jets Jerseys .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. http://www.jetsauthentic.com/authentic-laurie-boschman-jets-jersey/ . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. Keith Tkachuk Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Dale Hawerchuk Jersey . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. DALLAS -- Oklahoma already has a record nine Big 12 championships, and last season took the league into the College Football Playoff for the first time.While the smallest Power Five conference could soon be expanding, the Sooners and Bob Stoops -- now the longest-tenured FBS coach -- seem to have everything in place to push for another playoff run out of the 10-team league.Since their last national title in 2000, the Sooners made another BCS Championship Game in 2008 and last season played in the Orange Bowl, losing the CFP semifinal to Clemson after the Big 12 was snubbed for the first four-team playoff in 2014.I dont reflect back much on it, Stoop said of the national title in his second season at Oklahoma. I look forward and try and continue to improve, and be a more powerful team is what Im constantly preaching.Big 12 leaders have to decide whether to add two, four or no teams. Even without expansion, the league is restoring its championship game in 2017, with a likely split into divisions again. For now, the Big 12 remains the only Power Five conference with a round-robin league schedule.Weve been in five different conferences, and weve done it about every way that you can, said TCU coach Gary Patterson, whose Horned Frogs go into their fifth Big 12 season. I dont think theres any tougher way of playing it as when you have to play everybody.THE FAVORITESBaker Mayfield is back for his second season as Oklahomas quarterback, with the option for another year after this in Norman for the former Texas Tech walk-on freshman starter thanks to a Big 12 rule change about in-league transfers. The Sooners also have the running duo of bruising Samaje Perine and explosive Joe Mixon.Oklahoma State, TCU and Baylor all also won at least 10 games last season.Healthy quarterback Mason Rudolph is among a wealth of returners for the Cowboys. Dual-threat quarterback Trevone Boykin is gone, but TCU has 13 starters back from last season, plus six other starters who had season-ending injuries a year ago.Baylor, the nations best offense the last three seasons, still has plenty of talent. But the Bears lack depth in transition after the offseason dismissal of coach Art Briles following allegations that the program didnt properly handle sexual assault allegations against some players.TOP PLAYERSBaker Mayfield, QB, OOklahoma.dddddddddddd A legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate who threw for 3,700 yards and accounted for 43 touchdowns (36 passing, seven rushing) with only seven interceptions.Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas. While starting every game as a true freshman and recording 61 tackles, Jefferson also became a key leader.Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech. The dual-threat quarterback, the national leader with 393 total yards per game, is now a one-sport athlete. He got his first full offseason focusing solely on football after giving up baseball.Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma. Quiet off the field, the junior already has 3,062 yards and 37 TDs in two seasons, just 1,056 yards shy of Billy Sims school record.Seth Russell, QB, Baylor. The top-rated FBS passer when he suffered a season-ending neck injury seven games into last season, Russell is healthy but has no proven backup.Josh Carraway, DE, TCU. Already one of the leagues top pass-rushers (nine sacks), and with help with the return of fellow end James McFarland from injury.James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State. A deep-ball threat who can outleap defenders, his 10 TD catches averaged 49 yards.NEW FACESIowa State coach Matt Campbell. At 36, Campbell is the youngest head coach of a Power Five school after four full seasons as Toledos coach. The Cyclones have one winning record the past 10 seasons.Baylor coach Jim Grobe. The former Wake Forest coach came out of semi-retirement for a one-year deal as acting head coach.TCU quarterback Kenny Hill. After initially thrilling Texas A&M when succeeding Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, Hill gets a fresh start near home.Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. Gilbert brings a philosophy to be fast and physical, have fun and score points after initially balking at the job.ON THE HOT SEAT- Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia. The Mountaineers came into the Big 12 after sharing consecutive Big East titles, and a 10-3 debut season for Holgorsen. They are 26-25 since, 15-21 in league games.- Charlie Strong, Texas. The Longhorns havent had three consecutive losing seasons since 1954-56. If they match that, Strong (11-14 so far) could be three-and-out in Austin.PICKOklahoma repeats as league champion. ' ' '