Kritik und Lob » ered one of the toughest in Oly

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks no longer have to worry about being the first team to lose to the Philadelphia 76ers.The Sixers got that monkey off their back on Friday, when they beat the Indiana Pacers 109-105 in overtime. Philadelphia had started the season with seven consecutive losses. The win broke a 44-game losing streak in October and November that began on Nov. 22, 2013.Now the two Eastern Conference foes meet for the second time on Saturday at Philips Arena. Atlanta crushed Philadelphia 105-72 on Oct. 29, despite trailing 8-0. It was the worst loss of the season for the Sixers.But the Sixers (1-7) have played better lately, losing to the Pacers 122-115 in overtime on Wednesday and dropping a one-point decision to Cleveland on Nov. 5.Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia win with 25 points -- 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime -- and seven rebounds and Ersan Ilyasova and Nik Stauskas each added 14 points off the bench.It feels great to finally close a game out, Embiid said. We should be like 5-3. I want to be the best player every time I step on the court.Coach Brett Brown said, We saw the best of Joel Embiid when it mattered the most.The Hawks (6-2) havent played since their 115-107 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Atlanta had eight players score in double figures that game, led by reserve Thabo Sefolosha with a season-high 20 points.Were still building and learning to play with one another, Sefolosha said.Dwight Howard has fit into his role with the club. No longer expected to carry a large percent of the offensive load, Howard has been able to concentrate on his defense and rim protection duties. Howard is averaging 15.9 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots. Howard has six double-doubles in eight games.Howard has helped elevate the Hawks to No. 7in the league in rebounding. Last year they were 24th.The effort by everybody to rebound has been good, but particularly in their effort on the offensive boards there is a real noticeable different, Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said.Atlanta has won the last four meetings between the two teams and has won five straight at home. Philadelphia hasnt won in Atlanta since April 5, 2013.Atlanta forward Tiago Splitter has taken a step toward rejoining the team from the right hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since training camp. Splitter has started to participate in the non-contact portion of practice.Philadelphia forward Jahlil Okafor was supposed to be inactive on Friday, part of the scheduled rest hes receiving while recovering from knee surgery. But he was pressed into action and played two minutes. Okafor is expected to start against Atlanta. Hes played seven games and is averaging 10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds.The Sixers are expected to rest Embiid on Saturday while Okafor plays. The center, who averages 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds, is recovering from a second foot surgery.Philadelphia has struggled with injuries all season. Top draft pick Ben Simmons had foot surgery and may miss the entire season. Jerryd Bayless (sore left wrist ligament) and Nerlens Noel (left knee) are also out.Azzeddine Toufiqui Paris Saint-Germain Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Thiago Silva Jersey . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. http://www.parissaintgermainfcstore.com/customized/ . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Paris Saint-Germain Jerseys . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Edinson Cavani Paris Saint-Germain Jersey . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months.RIO DE JANEIRO -- British cyclist Lizzie Armitstead insisted in a two-page statement Wednesday that she is a clean athlete and that three missed anti-doping tests in a 12-month period amounted to honest oversights.She released the statement one day after U.K. Anti-Doping confirmed the world road race champion had successfully appealed her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Armitstead faced a provisional suspension and two-year ban that could have kept her out of the Rio Olympics.The reigning silver medalist will lead Britains squad in Sundays road race.I love the sport and the values it represents. It hurts me to consider anybody questioning my performances, Armitstead wrote. I hate dopers and what they have done to sport.The 27-year-old Armitstead outlined the circumstances for each missed test, though she only argued the first miss before a World Cup race in Sweden last August should be thrown out. Armitstead said anti-doping officials had not followed proper procedure and CAS ultimately agreed.Armitstead explained that she was at the hotel she stated when anti-doping officials arrived, but that her phone was on silent and hotel staff refused to give the tester her room number.She was tested the following day and the test was negative.Armitstead said she contested the missed test with a written explanation after learning of it, but that the letter was not accepted before she traveled to the U.S. for last years world championships.Put simply, Armitstead said, I was available and willing to provide a sample for UKAD.Armitstead acknowledged fault in the other two missed tests. She called the October 2015 case a filing failure after anti-doping officials found an inconsistency in her overnight accommodations and her time slot during a routine spot check, and that her June 2016 missed test came after a last-minute change of plans following an unspecified family emergency.Last December, Armitstead met with UKAD and British Cycling officials to develop a supporrt plan to avoid another missed test.ddddddddddddBut a British Cycling official who was supposed to help Armitstead update her whereabouts plan had departed the organization without her knowing about it.If that failsafe was in place, Armitstead said, her third missed test could have been avoided.The World Anti-Doping Agency has tried to make it easier for athletes to update their whereabouts in recent years. Along with updating their time slots and whereabouts on a website, by email and text message, they can also have agents or representatives submit information on their behalf.Perhaps the biggest surprise in the case was that Armitstead and British Cycling were able to keep it confidential until its resolution, especially with the Rio Olympics beginning in a matter of days.Armitstead said she the reason it hadnt been discussed publicly was that I had the right to a fair trial at CAS. It is clear sensational headlines have a detrimental effect to any legal case.Now, she hopes to turn her attention fully toward competing in Rio.The road race course is considered one of the toughest in Olympics history, starting with a long, fast stretch away from Copacabana and along Rios coast. The race then heads into the hills with smaller climbs on the Grumari circuit before hard, steep ascents of Canoas and Vista Chinesa.Those back-to-back climbs are likely to be where the road race is won or lost.Armitstead is not a pure climber, but if she can survive the late-race hills, a fast run-in to the finish could give her another opportunity to claim the gold that narrowly eluded her four years ago.Integrity is something I strive for in every part of my life. I will hold my head high in Rio and do my best for Great Britain, Armitstead wrote. I am sorry for causing anyone to lose faith in sport. I am an example of what hard work and dedication can achieve. ' ' '