They were motivated and they came out and played like a desperate team

CLEVELAND -- Upon arriving at Quicken Loans Arena, the Cavaliers received commemorative watches, the latest gifts to celebrate their NBA championship.The Los Angeles Clippers then handed them a second straight loss.J.J. Redick scored 23 points, Blake Griffin matched a career high with 11 assists and the Clippers bounced back from a brutal loss with a 113-94 victory on Thursday night over the Cavs, who have lost two straight for the first time since winning their title.Afterward, there was no panic inside Clevelands locker room, but rather a measured response to the first real adversity this season. The Cavs also lost in Milwaukee on Tuesday, but LeBron James isnt worried -- yet.Two pretty poor games for sure, said James, who scored 16 but had five turnovers. Youre hoping theyre not back-to-back, but it happens. Now, three games in a row? Thats something to talk about. We need to figure it out. Its different from football where you have to wait a whole week to redeem yourself.We get right back at it tomorrow night so well be all right.Chris Paul shook off some early foul trouble and scored 16 and DeAndre Jordan had 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who came in hungry after blowing an 18-point lead and falling in double overtime at Brooklyn on Tuesday.Its who we are, I really believe that, said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. We actually played to our potential. We had some adversity, which is great. Chris got in foul trouble and we extend the lead. It was a team win.Los Angeles took control with a 13-2 run to open the third quarter.Kyrie Irving scored 28 and Kevin Love 16 for the Cavs, who were outplayed for the second game in a row. During Tuesdays loss, coach Tyronn Lue pulled his starters in the second half and J.R. Smith wandered off the floor during play and gave up an easy basket.This wasnt much better as Lue pulled James, Irving, Smith, Love and Tristan Thompson with seven minutes left as it became very clear there would be no comeback for the Cavs, who are in their first true slump since winning the title in June.They were motivated and they came out and played like a desperate team, Lue said.Cleveland failed to make 10 3-pointers for the first time this season, ending its league record to start a season at 16 games.The Clippers outscored the Cavs 27-15 in the third, when James and Co. showed frustration and briefly lost their focus.Irving and Thompson argued on the floor during a timeout, and James was later called for a technical when he pushed the Clippers Alan Anderson to the floor while being fouled on a layup.The Clippers, who opened the season 14-2, took advantage of Clevelands sloppiness at the start of the third quarter and scored eight quick points before Pauls 3-pointer gave them a 71-52 lead.We played the right way, Paul said. It was important for us to see what it felt like to win a game, when youre running them off like we were and you lose three in a row, you need to get that feeling back just to get your locker room back right.MR. CUBJames isnt happy about having to wear a Cubs uniform -- minus the cleats -- to Fridays game in Chicago after he lost a bet on the World Series to Dwyane Wade.James wagered on the Cleveland Indians, who were beaten in seven games.I fill my bet, he said. Dont make fun of me guys.TIP-INSClippers: Los Angeles had a season-high 33 assists. .. Rivers was fined $15,000 by the NBA for his outburst in Tuesdays loss. He was assessed two technicals and ejected by referee Ken Mauer. Not shocked at all, Rivers said of the penalty given for verbally abusing a game official and failing to leaving the court in a timely manner after his ejection. Rivers added, It was low, so Im good with it. ... Redick has made a 3-pointer in 76 straight games, the longest active streak in the league.Cavaliers: James moved past Bob Cousy (6,955) for 16th place on the career assists list. ... G/F Mike Dunleavy was a late scratch because of a concussion. Dunleavy was hit in the head during Tuesdays loss at Milwaukee, but didnt begin showing symptoms until Thursday, according to a team spokesman. ... F/C Channing Frye returned after missing three games following his fathers death.UP NEXTClippers: At New Orleans on Friday to conclude a six-game road trip.Cavaliers: At Chicago on Friday to begin a three-game trip. James will face Wade, his former Miami teammate, for the first time since he signed with the Bulls. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. 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PHOENIX -- Washington manager Dusty Baker said he always admired the way Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice went about his business, and he wants the Nationals to apply that style as they enter the final two months of the season.The best mentality to have is thinking about crossing the finish line before anyone else does and carrying it toward the playoffs, Baker said after the Nationals 14-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first game of a three-game series at Chase Field on Monday.But its crossing the finish line first. Its like stacking dollars, stacking pennies. More victories, more victories, more victories. Our goal is to win getaway days, win series and try to sweep some teams along the way. And look at the finish line.I watched Jerry Rice for years, and I never saw Jerry Rice look back. When he got open, he didnt look back. He looked straight to the finish line. To the goal line. They said Jerry Rice was too slow, but I never saw him get caught.The Nationals (62-44) increased their lead in the National League East to five games over the Miami Marlins and 7 1/2 over the defending NL champion New York Mets when Stephen Strasburg earned his major-league-leading 15th win Monday.Washington right-hander Tanner Roark will start the second game of the series against Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray, who was selected by the Nationals in the 12th round of the 2010 draft before being traded to Detroit and then Arizona prior to the 2015 season.Roark (10-6, 2.966 ERA) is one of three 10-game winners on the Nationals, and Arizona will see a third when former D-backs right-hander Max Scherzer starts the final game of the series Wednesday.ddddddddddddRay (5-10, 4.70 ERA) set career highs in strikeouts in each of his past two outings, getting 10 at Cincinnati on July 23 and 11 at Milwaukee on Thursday.He has that kind of fastball, Arizona manager Chip Hale said. He can throw 10 fastballs in a row and probably not get hit. Its the ability to maybe spin the ball in there that has made the difference with him.Ray will be facing the Nationals for the first time in his career. Roark, meanwhile, will be looking to extend his dominance against the Diamondbacks. In five games (two starts) covering 18 1/3 innings vs. Arizona, Roark has yet to allow an earned run.Washington collected a season-high 19 hits Monday when the D-backs gave up 14 runs for the second game in a row.Arizona (43-63) has lost 15 of 20 games and is 17-36 at home. Washington has 31 road victories, tied with St. Louis for the most in the majors.The Nationals broke a two-game losing streak Monday after losing the final two games of a series at NL West-leading San Francisco, and Baker sees good things ahead.The Giants, they had a 20-game run, said Baker, who saw the Giants go 15-5 in June. In my heart, I know there is a 20-gamer in there for us. ' ' '