Kritik und Lob » a second-inning run, Arenado led off the fourth by sendin

vSAN ANTONIO -- Tony Parker, along with all of San Antonio, really, spent a restless night worrying about a gimpy right hamstring that hampered him in Game 3 of the NBA Finals and threatened the momentum the Spurs seized with a drubbing of the Miami Heat. A day later, Parker said he got some good news. Just how good the news is likely wont be known until Game 4 begins on Thursday night. Parker had an MRI on Wednesday that revealed a Grade 1 strain of his hamstring, the mildest level of strain. Hes listed as day to day. "I was just hoping it was not a tear," Parker said. "The good news is its not a tear or a defect. So thats the good news. Now I just have to see how I feel tomorrow." Parker was injured early in the second half of Game 3, which the Spurs won 113-77 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. He was limited to six points and eight assists in 27 minutes and left the game early in the fourth quarter with the outcome already decided. Parker did not participate in the portion of practice on Wednesday that was open to the media, instead watching his teammates go through a light workout while spending much of the time in conversation with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "Well see how it goes tomorrow. Well talk with Pop," Parker said. "I know Pop is always going to prefer to take low risk." When asked about Parkers outlook, Popovich said, "a lot of it will be what he feels, I think." Parkers injury somewhat muted the celebration in San Antonio following the Spurs decisive bounce-back victory that put them two wins shy of the franchises fifth championship. While the Spurs role players have been playing incredibly well in these finals, they know they will need Parkers leadership, guts and unparalleled mastery of the pick-and-roll to bury LeBron James and the Heat. Danny Green, Gary Neal and Kawhi Leonard have been revelations so far in this series, scoring the same number of points (130) through the first three games that the Heats vaunted trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have managed. Neal filled in brilliantly for a slowed-down Parker on Tuesday night, scoring 24 points and hitting six 3-pointers to pick up the slack. The Spurs have two more games at home -- on Thursday and then Game 5 on Sunday -- to try to close out the Heat and avoid having to head back to Miami. "A lot of the Miami defence is focusing on me and my teammates are taking advantage of it," Parker said. "Theyre playing great and hopefully they can keep it going." Still, it feels like a long way to go, because Parker is the engine that keeps this precision machine humming. He entered his fourth NBA Finals at the height of his powers, asserting himself as the best point guard in the game by carrying the Spurs into the showdown with Miami. After scoring 21 points and dishing out six assists in San Antonios Game 1 win, Parker was averaging 22.9 points and 7.1 assists this playoffs, the best numbers of his career for a post-season that included more than one series. He scored 13 points on 5-for-14 shooting in their Game 2 loss and was just 2 for 5 on Tuesday night. As important as his scoring and distributing have been for the Spurs, the confidence he instills with his steady hand on the throttle may be even bigger. The Spurs arent big on swagger, but they play with a different demeanour when hes on the court slicing and dicing opposing defences. "He does a lot for us," Neal said. "If hes not scoring, hes drawing the defence and being a facilitator. He has a great basketball I.Q. He brings a certain amount of confidence and toughness to our team. We definitely need Tony on the floor." If Parker has to miss Game 4, it no doubt would inject some life into a Heat team that was dazed and staggered in Game 3. A club that won 66 games in the regular season, including 27 straight at one point, and entered the playoffs as the prohibitive favourite to repeat as champions found itself down by 37 points at one point in the loss. Without Parker on the floor Thursday night, things would be different. "He is the head of their snake," Heat guard Mario Chalmers said. "I feel like that. The whole team feels like that." Heat coach Erik Spoelstra brushed aside a question about Parkers availability, clearly more disappointed and concerned about his own teams performance in Game 3 than anything happening with the Spurs. "If we bring the level of effort and focus that we did last night it doesnt matter who plays," Spoelstra said. "Were hoping he plays. We want both teams to be healthy. We dont want any excuses and they dont want any excuses either." Custom Dallas Stars Jerseys . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Dallas Stars Shirts . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. https://www.cheapstarsonline.com/ . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Dallas Stars Store . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Dallas Stars Gear . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. BALTIMORE -- Adam Jones and the Baltimore Orioles found yet another way to win, this time in extra innings on a grounder to the pitcher.Jones scored the decisive run in the 10th inning on a low throw to the plate by right-hander Jordan Lyles, and the Orioles beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Monday night for their fifth straight victory.On Sunday, Baltimore defeated Cleveland in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out homer after the Indians allowed a runner to reach on a strikeout.For an encore, the Orioles again capitalized on a miscue by the opposition.Jones reached on a one-out single off the third-base bag and took third on a single by Jonathan Schoop. Manny Machado followed with a comebacker to Lyles, who fumbled the ball before throwing home. Catcher Nick Hundley caught the ball near the ground and lost the handle while attempting to tag the sliding Jones.It doesnt matter how you score, Jones said. As long as you win the game, thats all that matters.Lyles (2-3) was charged with an error.I made a good pitch to Machado to get a ground ball, Lyles said. I caught it and looked what to do next and it fell out of my glove. It was just a dumb play. ... Thats a tough way to lose a game.Getting two RBI from Jones, the Orioles climbed a season-high 18 games over .500 (58-40) and improved to a major league best 37-14 at home.Its good to get a win any way you get it this time of year, manager Buck Showalter said.Chaz Roe (1-0) worked the 10th for the victory.Nolan Arenado homered for the Rockies, whose four-game winning streak ended.Colorado outfielder David Dahl went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts in his major league debut. Picked 10th overall in the 2012 draft, the 22-year-old was summoned from Triple-A Albuquerque early Monday and traveled across the country from California to Camden Yards.I was very anxious, very excited and it was a great atmosphere, Dahl said.His first hit in the big leagues was a single up the middle in the seventh inning. He advanced on a wild pitch and sscored on a single by Mark Reynolds to give the Rockies a 2-1 lead.ddddddddddddOne of the most surprising aspects of the game occurred in the field, where Arenado made two errors at third base. The three-time Gold Glove Award winner botched a grounder in the first inning and threw wildly to first base in the second, a mistake that led to an unearned run.Arenado came into the game with just one error in 96 games this season.Seeking his 100th career victory, Colorado lefty Jorge De La Rosa got locked in a duel with Yovani Gallardo and failed to get a decision. Coming off a miserable outing in which he gave up a career-high nine runs to Tampa Bay, De La Rosa allowed two runs, one earned, and four hits in 6 1/3 innings.He entered the seventh with a 2-1 lead but was lifted after hitting a batter and giving up a double. Jones greeted Adam Ottavino with a run-scoring groundout.Gallardo gave up two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.After Jones singled in a second-inning run, Arenado led off the fourth by sending a 1-0 pitch into the left-field seats. It was his 26th homer of the season and second in two games.MOVING ON UPJones lifted his RBI total with Baltimore to 702, passing Rafael Palmeiro to move into sole possession of seventh place on the teams career list. Brady Anderson is sixth with 744.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: Matt Wieters returned to action after missing six straight games with a foot injury. ... OF Hyun Soo Kim (hamstring) homered in a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie and could be activated as soon as Tuesday.UP NEXTRockies: Chad Bettis (8-6, 5.31 ERA) makes his 21st start of the season Tuesday night in the second game of the series. The Rockies are 7-1 in his last eight starts.Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (14-2, 3.18) seeks his major league-leading 15th victory. Hes allowed one run over seven innings in each of his last four starts. ' ' '