since being called up Aug. 1 from Triple | Forum

The Oklahoma City Thunder hit what everyone thought was a soft spot in their schedule, but it hasnt worked out that way. Discount Custom NCAA Shirts .The Thunder, who were a quarter away from reaching the NBA Finals last season, have lost three straight and seven of their last nine. They will try to get things turned around when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.Oklahoma City is still adjusting to the departure of Kevin Durant, who signed with Golden State in the offseason. The growing pains are apparent but the Thunder still have one of the best guards in Russell Westbrook.It maybe it sounds like a little bit of a broken record, but its kind of where were at, Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told normantranscript.com. And were working towards getting better and improving.The Thunder (8-8) started the season strong but after losing on consecutive nights to the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, they are now tied with Utah for first place. Denver (6-9), despite its injury problems and shuffling lineups to try and find consistency, isnt far off the pace.The Nuggets lost to the Jazz 108-83 on Wednesday night, ending their modest two-game winning streak. It was their third game in four nights.Tonight we didnt answer the bell, which is disappointing, Denver coach Michael Malone told The Denver Post. But well get back at it, look at what we have to clean up and try to come out on Friday night against Oklahoma City with a greater sense of energy and urgency to start the game.The Nuggets were without small forward Danilo Gallinari for the game in Utah because of a right thigh injury, and his status for Fridays game is unknown. Gallinari is Denvers second-leading scorer and has a penchant for getting to the line, but the thigh has been bothering him and finally forced him to sit.It hurts stretching it. It hurts when I tighten the muscle. It started giving me discomfort even when I walk, Gallinari told The Denver Post. Im sure that maybe the worst thing is its a strain. Thats the worst-case scenario. The best-case scenario is just a bruise that is not behaving right. Usually with a bruise you get better by playing because you get the blood flowing. But this is not getting better, its getting worse.Malone started 19-year-old rookie Juancho Hernangomez in place of Gallinari on Wednesday and he scored nine points in 27 minutes. His fellow rookie, Jamal Murray, had another strong game with 23 points in 35 minutes off the bench.Murray is averaging 21.7 points in his last three games, giving Denver a boost off the bench.He is playing with ease, Malone said Tuesday night. Hes shooting into a hula hoop right now. Hes feeling very confident and the guys are finding him.Murray will have his hands full if he faces up against Westbrook. Despite the Thunders struggles, Westbrook is playing at a high level. He is averaging a double-double with an NBA-best 31.8 points a game as well as 10.6 assists. His 9.6 rebounds per game nearly has him averaging nearly a triple-double.The gaudy stats arent helping the Thunder win lately, but he is a force and will set the tone against the Nuggets.Just got to be ready to play, man, he told normantranscript.com. Very plain and simple. Custom NCAA Shirts Outlet .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Custom NCAA Shirts . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.collegecustomjerseyscheap.com/ .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. PITTSBURGH -- The Houston Astros got a glimpse of their future while veteran Doug Fister helped keep them in the pennant race in the present.Fister pitched seven scoreless innings, Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and the Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Monday night.Hernandez connected off fellow rookie Jameson Taillon (3-3) in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie after A.J. Reeds leadoff walk. It was the third home run for Hernandez, who was called up from Triple-A Fresno on Aug. 12 to make his major league debut.Im just trying to be patient at the home plate, Hernandez said. Im trying to make adjustments during games to make sure I swing at pitches I can hit. Im just trying to do the best I can to see the ball well and do some damage.Alex Bregman, another Astros rookie, hit his fourth homer in the ninth inning off Neftali Feliz.Bregmans at-bats, even when he doesnt get hits, are high quality, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I really like the way he swings the bat. That was real power to center field on the home run.Houston won its fourth straight game and Pittsburgh lost its fourth in a row. Both teams are competing for wild-card spots.Fister (12-8) struck out six, walked one and retired 11 of the first 12 batters. He had allowed nine runs and 11 hits over nine innings in his previous two starts.I was just kind of mixing things up, Fister said. (Catcher) Jason Castro had a good game plan and it came down to executing it. We had a couple of tricky fly balls and our guys out there wound up running them down. With our outfielders, theyre very athletic and theyll run down most pitchers mistakes.Ken Giles got his fourth save despite allowing David Freeses RBI single in the ninth. Freese was thrown out at second base when he tried to advance on an overthrow to end the game.You cant be out there at second base, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Youre two runs down. That probably was some emotional baserunning. The only way it woorks is if youre safe. Custom North Carolina Tar Heels Jerseys. Taillon (3-3) made his seventh consecutive quality start since being activated from the disabled list July 19. He pitched eight innings, allowing two runs and four hits with a career-high eight strikeouts.Gregory Polanco had a pair of doubles and scored Pittsburghs lone run.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: INF/OF Yulieksi Gurriel grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth a day after leaving his major league debut with right hamstring tightness. Gurriel signed a $47.5 million, five-year contract in July after defecting from Cuba. He is expected to start Tuesday night. ... 3B Luis Valbuena (strained right hamstring) will be examined by doctors Wednesday to determine whether he needs season-ending surgery. ... OF Preston Tucker (strained right shoulder) is likely to begin a rehab assignment this weekend.Pirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder soreness) pitched three scoreless innings and threw 57 pitches Monday night in his second rehab start with Double-A Altoona, allowing two hits while striking out six and walking three against Harrisburg in the Eastern League.PIRATES NEWSFreese signed a two-year, $11 million contract prior the game that takes him through the 2018 season. Freese will make $6.25 million in 2017 and $4.25 million in 2018. Theres a $6 million club option for 2019 or a $500,000 buyout.Rookie 1B Josh Bell, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, made his second straight start. Hurdle said the 24-year-old switch-hitter will see the majority of playing time in place of slumping 1B John Jaso.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1, 4.18 ERA) will make his fourth career start Tuesday night since being called up Aug. 1 from Triple-A Fresno.Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (9-6, 4.83) is 2-1 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts since being acquired Aug. 1 from the New York Yankees in a trade. ' ' '