HOUSTON -- It marked another blistering start in a young season full of them for the Rockets, a burst from the starting gate that both propelled Houston to victory and put its opponent in a hole that proved impossible to escape from. Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Colombia Jersey .The Rockets attempted to blitz another foe when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.Even on the second night of a back-to-back the Rockets (17-7) found the energy to muster a 36-point first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, a surge strong enough to carry them through lulls in the second and third periods en route to a 109-87 home victory.Houston has made a habit of fast starts and paces the NBA in first-quarter scoring at 31.5 points per game, nearly a full point ahead of the Cavaliers who rank second averaging 30.8 points in the first quarter this season.We played well in the first quarter, said Rockets reserve guard Eric Gordon, who tallied six points in six minutes off the bench in the opening period. I think teams are trying to figure us out. We score a lot in the first quarter.With James (Harden) being the point guard, its always going to be trouble for the other team.Harden played the entire first quarter against Dallas and posted 13 points (on 3-of-4 shooting) and seven assists to lead the Rockets on their opening kick. In nine home games this season Harden is averaging 11.4 points (on 67.4 percent shooting) and 3.7 assists in the first period.Setting such a blistering early pace has enabled the Rockets to weather all variations of opposing storms, and that consistent first-quarter production is behind their fast start out of the gate.Yeah, were starting to find (balance). Were getting better but were still not where we want to be, Harden said. Especially in the first quarter. We want to get off to a really good start.The Nets (6-16) dropped to 1-9 on the road with their 130-101 loss in San Antonio on Saturday night. They continue to trudge on without guard Jeremy Lin, who has been sidelined for 17 games with a left hamstring strain. The Nets have missed 50 games due to injury this season.Lin was off to a solid start in Brooklyn, averaging 15.0 points and 6.2 assists over five games before being sidelined. He returned to practice late last week but the Nets have not set a date for his return, choosing instead to follow a cautious path.I wanted to come back as early as I can obviously but were taking a healthier approach in terms of making sure that this wont bother me again, Lin said. Sometimes that takes a little bit longer.I really appreciate this staff and what theyve done to try to help me in terms of everything.While showcasing patience, Brooklyn also needs the reinforcements. The Nets have dropped 11 of 13 and are struggling mightily to pair their hastened style of play with any semblance of defensive functionality. Brooklyn leads the NBA in pace at 101.6 possessions per 48 minutes and ranks 29th in defensive rating at 112.1 points allowed per 100 possessions. Carlos Valderrama Colombia Jersey . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Jeison Murillo Colombia Jersey . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. http://www.soccercolombiamart.com/world-cup-juan-camilo-zuniga-football-jersey/ .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Lane Kiffin has a chance to help Alabama get to 15 wins this season. And then hes going to take the reins of a program that has won 15 games in the last four years.Florida Atlantic and Kiffin have agreed in principle on a deal that will make him the schools next head coach. Alabama coach Nick Saban -- Kiffins soon-to-be-former boss -- lauded the Owls move, and said Kiffin will remain with the undefeated and top-ranked Crimson Tide as their offensive coordinator through the College Football Playoff.FAU has selected someone thats going to do a great job for them, Saban said in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at a news conference to promote the upcoming Peach Bowl.Saban was the first person to publicly announce the move; FAU and Kiffin remained mostly silent Monday, even after the news broke. A person with direct knowledge of the talks between Kiffin and the Owls told The Associated Press that he agreed to a five-year contract, speaking condition of anonymity because neither side had discussed terms.FAU called a Tuesday morning news conference to announce the hire.Im ready to start next season already, FAU offensive lineman Matt Murphy tweeted after word of Kiffins hiring.A message left for Kiffin was not immediately returned.Getting close, FAU athletic director Patrick Chun tweeted from the airport in Tuscaloosa on Monday, with a picture that included an Owls visor -- Kiffins preferred headgear.Soon afterward, a private flight from Tuscaloosa to Boca Raton took off, destined for a runway just a few feet from the Owls practice fields.Kiffin has been the offensive coordinator at Alabama for the last three seasons, helping the Crimson Tide win last seasons national championship and get back to the CFP field with a 13-0 record so far this year. FAU will be his third collegiate head coaching job, and the first since Southern California fired him five games into the 2013 season.Lanes done a phenomenal job for us for the last three years, Saban said. We appreciate the impact that hes made on this program. We think this is a wonderful opportunity for him to be a head coach again.Saban said in recent days that he wanted to help Kiffin get another opportunity to be a head coach. It wasnt clear if Kiffin would have been bback at Alabama next season otherwise. Teofilo Gutierrez Jersey. Theyve made a great hire, Saban said of FAU.So begins the next chapter for Kiffin, who has been an annual fixture on lists of potential candidates for high-profile coaching jobs. Earlier this fall, he interviewed for the Houston job and was also believed to be a candidate at places such as Oregon and South Florida.Kiffin interviewed with Houston twice, the schools board of regents chairman told KILT-AM radio in Houston.Sure, hes been a head coach and hes been an OK head coach, Houston board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta told KILT-AM in an interview last week, when he called in to discuss how he personally interviewed Kiffin for the Cougars opening. But I can tell you this -- it was not a safe hire.FAU, which hasnt been to a bowl game since 2008, came to a different conclusion.FAU and Kiffin had their dialogue intensify late last week, although the pairing seemed somewhat unexpected. Kiffin made $1.4 million this season at Alabama; FAU was paying Charlie Partridge a bit over $500,000 annually when he was fired after his third consecutive 3-9 season.FAU President John Kelly has wanted to continue raising the schools profile, including on the athletic fronts. And hiring Kiffin is the sort of splashy move that will certainly get the Owls plenty of attention.Owl Nation is Soaring High! Kelly tweeted on Monday. Unbridled Ambition.Kiffin lasted 20 games as coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2007 and 2008, going 5-15.He returned to college ball and was 7-6 in 2009 in his lone season at Tennessee. And he went 28-15 in parts of four seasons at USC.Kiffin becomes the third marquee coaching hire in the state of Florida in recent weeks. FIU hired former Miami and North Carolina coach Butch Davis in November, and former Louisville and Texas coach Charlie Strong was hired Sunday at South Florida.Theyll all face in-state recruiting battles against Miami coach Mark Richt, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, Florida coach Jim McElwain and Central Florida coach Scott Frost.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
The Wall