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SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento Kings took just enough encouragement from a win on the final day of a long road trip to provide comfort that their season may begin to turn around now that they get to hang out at home for a while.Their first visitor is a New Orleans Pelicans team dealing with a campaign that seems to be spinning out of control already.The Pelicans, fresh off their seventh consecutive loss to start the season, roll into Golden 1 Center on Tuesday night. They bring with them a six-game winning streak against the host Kings, but thats about the only positive thing on their end.Sacramento hasnt had many high moments in the seasons first two weeks, but a win in the finale of a five-game road trip was one of them. The Kings 96-91 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday prevented a winless trek on their five-game roadie, the teams first of the year.Much needed, Kings center DeMarcus Cousins called it. It was a confidence boost and a momentum boost.Now they begin a stretch in which seven of their next eight are at home, with coach Dave Joerger hoping his teams defense against the Raptors is an indicator of things to come. The Kings held Toronto to 36 percent shooting and turned around the game by holding the Raptors to only 16 third-quarter points while surrendering a season-low 91.That effort came after Sacramento allowed an average of 108.3 points in the first four games of the trip, including a season-high 117 in a loss at Milwaukee on Saturday. Sacramento, which finished last in the NBA allowing 109.1 points per game a season ago, was 15th (102.9) through their first six games this season.We did what were hoping to make our identity throughout the course of the year, Joerger said. Thats getting after people defensively.Offensively, Kings center DeMarcus Cousins still provides the biggest production. His 25.5-point scoring average ranked ninth in the NBA through Sunday, and he also was averaging 9.1 rebounds, good for 19th. He clobbered the Pelicans in both categories a season ago, averaging 29.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in four games against them.The Kings didnt win any of them, however. New Orleans hasnt lost to Sacramento since Nov. 25, 2014.Continuing that success would be a welcome development for head coach Alvin Gentry, whose teams season-opening seven-game skid is one longer than a season ago. The Pelicans overcame a 21-point deficit at Golden State on Monday before losing 116-106. That loss followed two straight overtime defeats.As Gentry tries to hold his team together, its season appears to be crumbling. The Pelicans already were without guards Jrue Holiday (personal reasons), Tyreke Evans (right knee) and Quincy Poindexter (left knee), when they lost guard Lance Stephenson to a groin injury last week.New Orleans released Stephenson on Monday and signed guard Archie Goodwin to replace him.I dont know what to say. It just sucks, center Anthony Davis said of New Orleans early struggles. Weve got to keep fighting. Just keep fighting and find a way to win.Center Anthony Davis hasnt been the problem. He finished Mondays game against the Warriors averaging 30.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Davis has tallied 30 percent of New Orleans points and 28 percent of their boards.The Kings chances depend on stopping him. Davis, now in his third year out of Kentucky -- the same college Cousins attended -- averaged a team-high 27.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in three games against Sacramento a season ago.Sacramento will welcome back point guard Darren Collison after his eight-game suspension for a domestic violence incident. Custom Larry Bird Jersey . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. Robert Parish Jersey Large . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. http://www.customcelticsjersey.com/custom-dennis-johnson-jersey-large-137e.html . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Celtics Jerseys China . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Custom Celtics Jersey China . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans maintained control of the AFC South and gained a quarterback controversy with a win over Jacksonville on Sunday.The Jaguars lost their coach.Tom Savage threw for 260 yards after Brock Osweiler was benched in the second quarter, and Lamar Miller scored Houstons only touchdown with less than three minutes remaining as the Texans rallied for the 21-20 victory . The defeat cost Gus Bradley his job in Jacksonville.Houston coach Bill OBrien wouldnt say who would start next week.Were always going to make decisions in the best interest of the team, OBrien said. Well regroup here tonight. Weve got a short week and well make decisions on anybody, any starter that we have. We make decisions on that every week.The Jaguars fired Bradley after Jacksonvilles ninth straight loss. He went 14-48 since taking over in 2013.It is unfortunately evident that we must make a change, Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement . I thought it would be best to do it immediately after todays result so Gus can step away, relax and regroup with his family during the Christmas and holiday season.The win was Houstons 10th straight in the division and left the Texans (8-6) tied with Tennessee for the AFC South lead. But Houston controls its playoff future with a 5-0 mark in the division.Osweiler threw interceptions on consecutive drives in the second quarter to help Jacksonville build a 13-0 lead. OBrien had insisted all season he hadnt thought about benching Osweiler, but hed seen enough after that and brought in Savage . The move was met with a huge ovation from the home crowd that had been booing Osweiler for most of the day.Houston trailed by nine entering the fourth quarter and Nick Novak made his fourth field goal before Miller bulled in for the go-ahead touchdown. The Jaguars were flagged for pass interference twice on that drive to set up the score.The Jaguars (2-12) got the ball back twice, but they failed on a fourth-down conversion the first time and Blake Bortles was intercepted the second time.Bortles addressed his level of frustration.I think its about as high as it can get, he said. I dont know, really, for anybody in this locker room how much more frustrated you can be. We had all the opportunities in the world, chances in the fourth quarter to score, and we just dont do it.Osweiler has struggled in his first season in Houston after signing a $72 million contract to join the Texans from Denver. He has 16 interceptions and 14 touchdown passes.dddddddddddd Osweiler was 6 for 11 for 48 yards before he was pulled.We dont make decisions on how much a guy gets paid, OBrien said. We make decisions on whats the best way to win a game. That was the decision we made today and I thought today, it worked out OK.It was the first regular-season appearance since Dec. 14, 2014 for Savage, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury.The Texans cut the lead to five with a field goal in the third quarter. The Jaguars quickly padded it when Marqise Lee returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-8.Another field goal for Houston cut the lead to 20-11 late in the third quarter.Earlier, a high pass by Osweiler was deflected by Will Fuller, intercepted by Jalen Ramsey and returned 35 yards. Jacksonvilles offense couldnt move Jason Myers made a 50-yard field goal for a 6-0 lead in the second quarter.Osweiler was picked off again on the next drive and Jacksonville cashed in when Bortles ran for a 1-yard touchdown to push the lead to 13-0.Youre disappointed because you feel like you let them down, but then at the same time youre happy because this football team found a way to win, Osweiler said.The Texans first points came late in the first half when Jacksonville was called for holding in the end zone on a punt, giving Houston a safety to make it 13-2.Houstons Nick Novak added a field goal for a 13-5 halftime score.NO. 1 FANHouston star defensive end J.J. Watt was on the sideline Sunday for the first time since having season-ending back surgery in September. Last years NFL Defensive Player of the Year cheered and clapped throughout the game after getting a round of applause when he was shown on the Jumbotron just before it started.CLOWNEYS CONTRIBUTIONHoustons defense was led by Jadeveon Clowney , who had a sack, three tackles for losses and two quarterback hits. The top overall pick in the 2014 draft has a career-high five sacks this season.I heard him say in an interview after practice one of the days this week: `Im a good football player, OBrien said. And you know what? Hes (darn) right about that.UP NEXTJaguars: Host Tennessee on Saturday.Texans: Host Cincinnati on Saturday night.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL. ' ' '