made a spectacular diving catch to rob pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall of

NEW ORLEANS -- Well, things could be worse.The New Orleans Pelicans enter Monday nights game at the Smoothie King Center against the Boston Celtics with a 1-9 record. Since they crawled out of the starting gate 1-11 last season, they are closing in on a repeat of that perverse history.The 5-4 Celtics certainly seem to have an excellent chance to hand the Pelicans their 10th loss of the season, especially since it is unknown if forward Anthony Davis will be at full strength after taking an awkward fall in a 126-99 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.Davis fell to the floor in pain after making a floater in the lane in the third quarter to draw New Orleans within a point of the Lakers. He got up a minute later, holding his lower right back, and went to the locker room for six minutes.When Davis returned, the Lakers led by 13 points and stretched their advantage to as many as 29 in coasting to the win despite Davis game-high 34 points. No other Pelicans starter scored more than seven points.For an All-Star who is single-handedly carrying the Pelicans -- Davis is averaging 31.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks a game -- his back is too valuable for New Orleans to jeopardize his long-term health, even if his absence for even one game would make coach Alvin Gentrys job more difficult.The Pelicans have not won in five home games this season.Were in a position where we have not done very good at home at all, and in this league, you have to take care of business at home because its so difficult to win on the road, Gentry said. And we have not done that.The Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 105-99 on the road Friday night with an excellent closing spurt from guards Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, who combined to score Bostons final 16 points.Thomas, who scored 23 against Indiana, is playing despite a sprained left middle index finger. X-rays after the game were negative, but Thomas said it has affected his shooting.I tried but I couldnt feel the ball, Thomas said. I didnt shoot it as good and as much as I usually do. Ill try to figure out what I can do to adjust my shot and get comfortable.I feel like (closing) is our role, thats what we are supposed to do, Bradley said.The Celtics have won four consecutive games against the Pelicans. Thomas averaged 27.0 points in Bostons two-game sweep of the Pelicans last season. Davis scored just 16 points in a 111-93 home loss to the Celtics last December and missed the series finale, a 104-97 road loss, because of a knee injury.The one positive note for the Pelicans has been Davis attitude. Despite his teammates shortcomings, Davis has continued to hustle and say all the right things. He is averaging nearly 38 minutes a game, the third-highest average in the NBA. No big man is logging more minutes.My instinct is to go back in and try to help the team in whatever way I could, Davis said. I love the game. I want to play the game. ... Thats what a leader does. Cheap Dodgers Jerseys . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Wholesale Dodgers Jerseys . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. http://www.cheapdodgersjerseys.com/ . 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OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Athletics used a steady stream of big hits from three rookies and one big blast from a veteran slugger to end their latest losing skid.Its not enough to take the sting out of Oaklands worst season in nearly 20 years, not by any stretch.Given all thats gone on over the week with his ballclub, manager Bob Melvin gladly welcomed it.Khris Davis hit a three-run homer and scored three times while rookies Chad Pinder and Bruce Maxwell recorded their first career RBI, and the As beat the Cleveland Indians 9-1 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.Its fun to watch, Melvin said. Guys getting their first RBI, playing full games, not subbing guys out, not hitting for guys. You think back and remember what your first RBI and so forth was like so it adds a little bit more to it.Davis had struck out in six consecutive at-bats before hitting his 33rd home run of the season off starter Danny Salazar, an opposite field shot that gave the As an early lead. Thats the most by an Oakland player since Jack Cust hit 33 in 2008.Danny Valencia added two hits in his first game back in the As lineup after being fined following a clubhouse fight with teammate Billy Butler while rookie Ryon Healy had three hits including two doubles.Weve been focused on a lot of negatives lately, and we dont have a lot of wins, Valencia said. But actually weve had a lot of positive things, especially with the younger guys.One of those younger guys is left-hander Sean Manaea.Manaea (5-8) allowed three hits and one run over seven innings for his second win since June 29. Manaea walked two and fanned eight to become the first As rookie pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts since Dan Straily in 2013.Chris Gimenez homered for the Indians, who went into the day with the best record in the AL.One day after being shut out for the eighth time this season, Oakland bounced back with one of its best offensive games in weeks to end a four-game losing streak to Cleveland.Eight As had at least one hit while six had one RBI or more.Yonder Alonso had a sacrifice fly in the second inning and Pinder added a run-scoring singlle to push the As lead to 5-0.ddddddddddddSalazar (11-5) left after giving up a leadoff double in the fifth. The right-hander allowed six runs to match a career high and walked three with two strikeouts in his second start since coming off the disabled list.I thought he was up with too many fastballs and because of that it didnt really seem like they had to respect his off speed pitches, Indians manager Terry Francona said. The hope is that he gets some repetition including side days and stuff and gets back to the Danny we saw in the first half.Manaea didnt allow a hit until Mike Napolis two-out single in the fourth. Napoli was thrown out at second base trying to extend the hit into a double.Gimenez homered leading off the sixth.DEFENSIVE GEMSValencia made the first of two big defensive plays when he hustled to chase down Napolis single to right then threw him out at second base. In the eighth, As center fielder Jake Smolinski made a spectacular diving catch to rob pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall of extra bases.I didnt think he had a chance at it, Melvin said of Smolinskis catch. When I turned and looked up he was basically full speed then made a complete headlong dive to get it. First out of the inning, thats a big play.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: Former closer Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) will make one more rehab appearance for Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday and could rejoin Oakland shortly thereafter. ... SS Marcus Semien will miss the next two days to be with his wife and newborn child. Melvin expects the team to make a roster move to replace Semien, who could wind up on the paternity list.UP NEXTIndians: RHP Trevor Bauer (9-5) faces Oakland for the second time this season on Wednesday. Bauer left with no decision after allowing two home runs over 5 1/3 innings against the As on July 29.Athletics: Kendall Graveman (9-8) pitches for Oakland and has eight wins in his last 10 decisions but the right-hander is winless in three career starts against the Indians. ' ' '