Funkerstation » nt think about it much at all. We have a job to do now

HOUSTON -- Kevin McHale preaches consistency. So far his young Rockets team hasnt heeded his words and is coming off two straight losses to the Grizzlies. McHale knows Houston, despite a 29-17 record, must play better. Coming up on Tuesday night are the Southwest Division-leading San Antonio Spurs. When asked how his team can be more consistent, McHale shared several ideas. "Weve got to be better against a lot of different styles of basketball," he said. "Weve got to know what our strengths and weaknesses are and play to our strengths. Weve got to be way more tied together and diligent about all the little things. We worry too much about all the big things. But weve got to do all the little things and that leads to big things." The Rockets have won both previous meetings with the Spurs this season. McHale doesnt expect that success to factor into Tuesdays game, especially with San Antonio coming off a tough loss to the Heat. "Its going to be a tough game," McHale said. "The first two games dont make any difference. Were a different team. Theyre a different team. Weve got to play really well. That team lost to Miami, theyre going to come in hungry." Dwight Howard is still upset about how Houston played against Memphis, but believes rough spots like this will help the Rockets in the long run. "These are growing pains," Howard said. "Losing those games and trying to learn from experience on how to play is good for our team. We hate to lose and we were all (ticked) off about the last two games, but it was some things that we learned and picked up from playing against a team like Memphis and well get better." The 28-year-old Howard knows that a team as young as the Rockets is going to have many ups and downs throughout the season. But he thinks the lessons they learn now will be the difference when they get to the playoffs. "We cant look at anything in a negative way," he said. "We have to stay positive and understand that everything comes with time. Weve still got to play hard and go out there and be aggressive but also understand that were a great team in progress. It doesnt happen overnight." James Harden, who leads the team in scoring with almost 24 points a game, has struggled offensively in the last two games, averaging just 13. He hasnt had any of those struggles against San Antonio since joining the Rockets before last season and has averaged 30 points a game against the Spurs. He isnt sure why hes played so well against the Spurs. "Im just happy to go out there and do my job," Harden said. "Whether its the Spurs or the Memphis Grizzlies or the Thunder or the Lakers or whoever, every game is important to me and I just try to go out there and do my best." Harden believes the Rockets have had trouble with consistency because of various injuries that have forced them to change their starting lineup almost every night. "Whatever guys are out there were trying to get it going," he said. "Its kind of hard to get a rhythm and kind of get a feel for where guys like to be at because every other game its a different lineup. So we just work with it." Along with Harden getting back on track, the Rockets are also focused on being aggressive inside and looking to score there first. The Rockets lead the NBA in points in the paint, but were outscored 104-62 in that area in the last two games. "We just shot long shot after long shot and never got the ball in the paint," McHale said. "When were getting in the paint, good things happen." David Wright Jersey . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Keon Broxton Jersey .J. -- Travis Zajac of the New Jersey Devils took a lot of grief considering his scored the first of his career-best three goals just 12 seconds into a crucial game against the Florida Panthers. http://www.metssale.com/mets-adeiny-hechavarria-jersey/.The 24-year-old quarterback spent four seasons at Northern Illinois and in 2013 was a finalist for the Heisman, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in U. Brandon Nimmo Jersey . -- Colin Kaepernick insists he just happened to pull on a pair of socks with dollar bill prints all over them Wednesday morning -- before he learned he had struck a new fortune with the San Francisco 49ers. Noah Syndergaard Jersey . -- Oakland Athletics third baseman Scott Sizemore has undergone surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.WASHINGTON -- The Los Angeles Lakers are playing the waiting for Kobe game -- trying to stay respectable without one of the NBAs all-time greats. Los Angeles had its three-game winning streak broken, 116-111 by the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, while Bryant, who signed a two-year contract extension on Monday, watched on television from the locker room. The Lakers star pledged his loyalty to the only team hes ever played for in his first public comments about the extension, saying before the game that Los Angeles willingness to pay him a reported $48.5 million for the next two seasons makes him want to "run through a wall" for the team. He wont play in Brooklyn on Wednesday or at Detroit on Friday as he concludes his rehab from surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon. His teammates nearly pulled out another win against a team with two hot players, John Wall, who had 31 points and Nene, who scored a career-high 30 on 13-for-22 shooting from the field. "We have to learn how to win with this team. Its just put together and we dont have one thing that we go to all the time, but well get it straight," Los Angeles coach Mike DAntoni said. "Theyre playing hard, and theyre together and we should have won tonight." The Lakers are 7-8 but just 1-5 on the road. Wall, who was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday, has scored more than 30 points in three straight games for the first time in his career. The point guard scored 11 points in the final 4:40 to help seal the win. Washington coach Randy Wittman isnt surprised or especially pleased by Walls success in his fourth year. "No, because hes going to play better (Wednesday)," Wittman said. Washington plays at Milwaukee on Wednesday. Wall and Nene became the first pair of Wizards to score 30 or more since Dec. 16, 2009, when Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison combined to score 63 points at Sacramento. Nene had never scored more than 28 points in his 12-year NBA career. "I feel like wine. You get old. You get better," the 31-year-old Brazilian said. It didnt necessarily confound Wittman that Nene had never hit 30.dddddddddddd "Hes not a guy who looks to score every time he touches the ball. There are some players in this league that do that," Wittman said. "I could see where he hasnt, but Im glad he did it tonight." Martell Webster added 20 points with four 3-pointers. Jordan Farmar led the Lakers with 22 and Pau Gasol had 17. The Wizards took a 75-73 lead on Nenes three-point play with 2:37 left in the third quarter and led 82-77 after three. Websters consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter gave Washington an 88-80 lead with 10:22 to play. Webster added another 3-pointer to give the Wizards their largest lead -- 96-87 with 7:38 to play. Thanks to Walls hot play, Washington held on. Gasols three-point play with 24.5 seconds left cut the lead to 113-111, but Wall hit three final free throws. Bryant is back practicing, but his return wont come until at least Dec. 6, when the Lakers play at Sacramento. "We dont think about it much at all. We have a job to do now, the guys who are in the lineup. Everybodys focused on their responsibility and I think weve done pretty good so far," Farmar said. "Were still learning and still trying to figure each other out. Its going to be a work in progress even when he does come back, trying to figure out everybodys role." Washington was without guard Bradley Beal, who will be out for at least two weeks with a stress injury to his right foot. Beal was replaced in the starting lineup by Trevor Ariza, who missed the last five games with a strained right hamstring. NOTES: Los Angeles C Chris Kaman missed his third straight game with a sore back. ... Washington F Chris Singleton was active for the first time all season. He missed the first 13 games with a stress fracture in his left foot. Singleton played a minute and didnt score. . Wizards F Otto Porter, who has yet to play this season due to a right hip injury, participated in his first practice on Monday and is nearing a return, Wittman said. ' ' '