HOUSTON -- In the never-ending search for early-season trends that might serve as an indicator of long-term behavior, the Houston Rockets followed their fifth loss of the season on Wednesday night with a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers one evening later to avoid suffering their first losing skid on the season. John Tavares World Cup Jersey .The Rockets (7-5), with a new coach and reconfigured roster, remain in search of consistency. Yet, their ability to rebound from setbacks offers optimism, particularly this week given the disappointment that resonated after their come-from-ahead loss against Oklahoma City. Houston led by as many as 11 points before falling 105-103.Were still fairly new as a team, said Rockets guard James Harden, who followed a season-worst 13-point performance against the Thunder with his third triple-double of the season against Portland. Were still trying to figure each other out. As long as we can bounce back and continue to get better, continue to grow and learn from our mistakes, well be all right.Through victory and defeat the Rockets, who host the Utah Jazz (7-6) on Saturday at Toyota Center, are working to establish their identity. They fancy themselves as a space-and-pace outfit yet they rank a modest 14th in the NBA in pace at 97.2 possessions per 48 minutes. They are fifth in offensive rating and are coming off back-to-back games where seven and six players reached double figures in scoring.With the return of guard Patrick Beverley, Houston aims to improve defensively. What theyve shown through a dozen games is a willingness to work at everything.Were going to make some mistakes and we still have some improving to do, Rockets coach Mike DAntoni said. As long as they come with that attitude every day and work at it and fix their mistakes, then good things will happen.Injuries continue to undermine the Jazz, who followed a successful five-game swing through the Eastern Conference with consecutive home losses. Utah went 4-1 before returning home and dropping games against the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls, with the absences of guard George Hill (thumb) and forward Derrick Favors (knee) looming large.Weve had a lot of guys adjusting to injury, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. Theres a lot of that going on.I dont want to overreact to one player playing poorly or our team playing poorly. That doesnt get you where you want to go.Without Hill, who has missed six games, the Jazz can appear rudderless. Utah was emboldened by the return of forward Gordon Hayward to open their road trip but Hill provides a veteran touch orchestrating the offense that isnt easily replaced.Second-year guard Dante Exum has started the last four games in place of Hill and over the previous six games is averaging nine points and two assists while shooting just 40.8 percent. Prior to his injury, Hill was averaging 20.4 points and five assists.Incidentally, Utah ranks dead last in the NBA in pace at 90.6 possessions per 48. Hill is questionable for a return against the Rockets, but with or without him Utah must find the rhythm it established on the road only to lose it back in Salt Lake City.Were going to go on this two-game road trip and hopefully get the best of that, Exum said. Alex Pietrangelo World Cup Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Jamie Benn Team Canada Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.hockeyteamcanadajerseystore.com/tyler-seguin-Canada-jersey/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Yoan Moncada thought he was headed straight to the major leagues when he signed a multimillion dollar deal with the Boston Red Sox on March 12 last year as an international free agent from Cuba.Not so fast.Soon I realized that its not that easy, so you have to go through the minors, Moncada said Friday. I just stayed focused and did what I had to do and stayed the course.After playing 187 minor league games, Moncada was selected from Double-A Portland on Friday and made his major league debut, coming off the bench to play third base in the seventh inning of a 16-2 rout of the Oakland As.Moncada, 21, will make his first major league start Saturday at third base against the As, Red Sox manager John Farrell said.Hes an extremely athletic, exciting young player, Farrell said. Has hit better from the left side of the plate. Has moved over to third base and handled the position well.I think a lot has been made of (only) eight or 10 games played at third base at Portland, but hes played a number of games at Cuba at third base before coming to the states. Now granted, this is a quicker pace, quicker level, but he wouldnt be here if we didnt feel he could step in and contribute.In the seventh inning, Moncada made a nice backhand stop of a ground ball and strong throw to gun down As second baseman Chad Pinder. At the plate, he walked in the eighth and scored from first on a double, showing his speed. He struck out in his final plate appearance.In a three-inning look, you see some exciting skills, Farrell said. The fist play he gets is deep at third base and he makes a good, strong throw across the diamond. Scores on a double to right-center field where he ... runs through a stop sign, but you see the straight-away speed is outstanding. It was a glimpse, but he had a chance to show off two of the tools.Moncada hit a combined .294 with six triples, 15 home runs and 662 RBI and 45 stolen bases in 106 games for Class A Salem and Portland this year. Jamie Benn Canada Jersey. Im just looking to not to do too much, just play the same baseball that Ive played in the time thats remaining, Moncada said. Im really just sticking to what Ive done to get me to this point.While Moncada makes his first major league start, Red Sox left-hander Rick Porcello will make his 236th career start and attempt to pick up his 19th win of the season. Porcello (18-3) leads the American League in victories. His previous career high for wins was 15 in 2014 with Detroit. He went 14-9 as a rookie for the Tigers in 2009 but was 9-15 with a 4.92 ERA last season, his first with Boston.Porcellos one of the best pitchers in the league this year, said Dave Dombrowski, Bostons president of baseball operations. Hes gone out there and given it to us on a consistent basis. ... This guy won 14 games as a 20-year-old, so hes always been a good pitcher.Hes become a much better overall pitcher in the sense that hell mix in his four-seamer when he needs to, mixes in the curveball a little bit more than he used to. So hes really got a good knack for pitching out there. Hes very confident at this point and hes really pitched well for us.The As will counter with rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden, who will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville and make his 10th major league start. Hes 1-5 with a 5.73 ERA for the As. After being optioned to Nashville on July 26, Mengden went 5-1 with a 2.01 ERA in six starts for the Sounds.Good to get him back, As manager Bob Melvin said. He really got our attention early on. We felt like when we sent him down he was just a little bit tired, and they cut down on his workload. Hes been pitching great since. It will be nice to have him back. 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