and were going to make sure that its a good game." Glenn will attemp

BOSTON -- With both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sitting out for the first time since the franchise set up shop in Oklahoma City, the Thunder needed about a half to figure things out. And then the Western Conference leaders put the lottery-bound Boston Celtics away. "We take pride in playing hard no matter whos on the floor," coach Scott Brooks said after his team went on a 17-2 third-quarter run to beat Boston 101-83 on Friday night. "Obviously, were a better team with Kevin and Russell. But it doesnt make us not a team." Durant, the NBA scoring leader, missed his first game of the season, joining fellow All-Star Westbrook on the bench. That was only a minor setback, with Serge Ibaka scoring nine of his 21 points and adding five rebounds in the pivotal third quarter to lead Oklahoma City to its sixth straight victory. Jeremy Lamb came off the bench to score 19 points, and Reggie Jackson had 14 points and eight assists. "Everybodys just got to do their job a little bit better and a little bit harder," said Thunder centre Kendrick Perkins, a former Celtic, who had nine rebounds. "Its our first time playing without both of them, so it was good." Durant was the franchises first pick in 2007, its final year as the Seattle SuperSonics, and Westbrook was their first-round pick after the team moved to Oklahoma City for the following season. Together, they led the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals and were poised for another deep run last year before Westbrook was injured in the first round series against Houston. Oklahoma City has managed to stay atop the West with Westbrook out since Christmas to recover from right knee surgery. And Durant has been the reason, going on a scoring tear with at least 30 points in nine consecutive games before sitting out Friday night. But Durant watched this one from the bench in warmups, then was icing his right shoulder in the locker room after the game, joking around with Westbrook. "Theyre a good team without him -- as you can see," Celtics guard Phil Pressey said. Brooks said he did not know if his star would return on Saturday night against Philadelphia. "Well see how he wakes up," the coach said. Jeff Green scored 16 points and Gerald Wallace scored 12 of his 13 points in the first half, before the Thunder pulled away with a 17-2 run in the third quarter. Rajon Rondo had eight assists and five points in his fifth game since returning from reconstructive knee surgery. The Celtics have lost 13 of 15 games. "Theyre down Kevin Durant, and I think their team is thinking OK, this is an opportunity for a lot of guys that dont play as much when hes playing minutes," Celtics centre Kris Humphries said. "Something happened. You guys all saw the game. It wasnt great. Thanks for staying for the whole game." The Thunder allowed the Celtics to open a five-point lead early in the second quarter but then scored 18 of the next 22 points to take a nine-point lead. It was a two-point game after Boston scored the first basket of the second half, but Oklahoma City opened a 60-53 lead and then scored 17 of the next 19 points. In all, Oklahoma City outscored the Celtics 27-13 in the third. Notes: Rondo became the sixth player in Celtics history to reach the 4,000-assist plateau. Bill Russell is next, with 4,100. ... The Thunder have the best record in Western Conference and are 6-0 on the road against Eastern Conference teams. They will try to remain perfect Saturday at Philadelphia... Celtics F Jared Sullinger dislocated his right index finger in the first half but returned to the game. Arizona Diamondbacks Gear . Jannero Pargo scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help the Charlotte Bobcats erase a 21-point deficit and rally for an 83-76 preseason victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. Arizona Diamondbacks Shirts .C. - Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek says guard Goran Dragic will return to the starting lineup against the Charlotte Hornets after missing the last two games with a strained back. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ . Signs of a turnaround have emerged in this series at Minnesota. Brian Roberts had three doubles and a triple for the first four-extra-base-hit game of his 14-year career, and the Yankees used their bullpen to preserve a 6-5 win over the Twins on Friday. Diamondbacks Jerseys 2020 . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Wholesale Diamondbacks Jerseys . The roster changes have been constant and continuous since late last year, but even with their 46-man roster set for the start of the season, the banged-up Bombers will be kicking off Week 1 with a handful of fresh faces and back-ups in the starting lineup.SURREY, B.C. - B.C. Lions club president Dennis Skulsky ensured a "guaranteed win" against the Roughriders, one of the best teams in the CFL. If the Lions (5-3) lose to the Riders (5-2), B.C. fans will get a free ticket to a future game. The gesture, the first in the Lions 61-year history, is a throwback to a time when team owners guaranteed wins to help boost crowds. In this case, a loss could be an expensive setback, because the Lions anticipate their largest crowd of the season as they open the upper deck at B.C. Place Stadium, due in large part to rabid Rider fans. You can watch live coverage on TSN and TSN GO tonight at 7pm et/4pm pt. Andrew Harris has a guarantee of his own on a team full of them. "I feel great, I feel great — thats a guarantee," said the B.C. running back, who will return from a one-game injury absence when the Lions host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday. But Harris, who sat out last weekends win in Toronto due to a sore ankle, his teammates and coaches welcomed Skulskys move as they held their last full practice Friday prior to Sundays contest — despite the added pressure that the guarantee might put on them. Regardless of whether Skulskys move was just a marketing ploy, Harris has gained added motivation from it. "For me, personally, I attack every week and I guarantee myself a win," said Harris, who leads the league in yards from scrimmage with 781. "Anything less than that is disappointing. So for the president to come out and say that, it definitely puts a little bit more fire into the blood — and (the Roughriders) are even more fired up as well." Harris also hopes Skulskys promise will lead to a better effort at home, where the usually dominant Lions are a modest 2-2. "For us, we havent been that great at home," said Harris. "We need to be better. So whatever kind of tactic it was on his part, its working, and were ready." Saskatchewan fans have also provided a guarantee of sorts by renting a billboard in a high-traffic area near B.C. Place that, bearing a female fan and Roughriders logo, claims "Green is the new orange" in to the clubs respective colours. "Its just kind of disrespectful," said Harris. "I didnt see the billboard personally, but I think having a B.C. Lion billboard in Riderville would be upsetting to them, too." Either way, he added, the billboard, along with Skulskkys guarantee, shows the importance that both teams and their fans are placing in the game.dddddddddddd With a win, both the Lions and the Riders, who had a bye last weekend, have a chance to gain a share of first place in the West Division. So was Skulskys ploy really necessary to help the Lions cause? Does it have the chance to harm more than help a Lions team who are looking to extend their win streak to four games? Coach Mike Benevides said he and general manager Wally Buono discussed the guarantee with Skulsky beforehand. But Benevides, who was impressed with Skulskys passion as he issued the guarantee during a radio interview, dismissed the idea that the club president has put more pressure on the coaches and players. "Pressure? When youre in pro sports, our job is to win the game," said Benevies. "So there is no extra pressure." Lions quarterback Kevin Glenn said Skulskys gesture was a sign of the confidence that he has in players. "The same way that Saskatchewan has confidence in their team and they posted their (billboard) in somebody elses town," said Glenn. "It goes both ways. Both teams have to come out. Saskatchewan is a very good team, and we know were in for a battle. I think both sides know its going to be a good game, and were going to make sure that its a good game." Glenn will attempt to live up to that promise as he starts amidst seemingly added pressure from the presence of Travis Lulay, who continues to progress from off-season shoulder surgery. Lulay, who will suit up for his third game of the season, is expected to slot in occasionally, as he did in Toronto, depending on how things go for Glenn as Benevides gradually increases the usual No. 1 quarterbacks playing time. Meanwhile, returner Tim Brown, chosen as the CFL special teams player of the week after racking up 249 return yards in Toronto, will draw back into the B.C. lineup after his status was uncertain earlier this week. "These (Roughriders) are a huge challenge on special teams," he said. "You have to have the best guys on the field, and (Brown) is gonna give us a chance (to win)." Benevides has juggled his roster after saying on Monday that Brown had only a "50-50" chance of playing because of the nuances of the leagues Canadian and import player ratio. The coach said that, contrary to his earlier comment, Browns place in the lineup is "100 per cent guaranteed." ' ' '