Abstimmungen » ose. That might bode well for Wake Forest later in the s

LOS ANGELES -- Thirteen years have passed since Sparks fans got to see their team play in a WNBA Finals game here in California. And the Sparks are expecting those folks to bring a lot of life Friday night to the Galen Center, the Sparks alternate home, for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals (ESPN2, 9 ET).But they arent counting on that being the deciding factor in this series with Minnesota. After all, the Lynx won both regular-season games in Los Angeles, June 21 and Sept. 6 at Staples Center.We just have to come out with a lot of energy, Sparks center Jantel Lavender said. But thats not about the fans. Its about us, and playing like we played all season to get here.[In Game 2], we were missing a lot of shots, and we missed boxouts. You cant do that against a team thats won championships. But you also cant get too down about mistakes, either. In that split-second of us worrying about a missed shot, and theyre running to a transition layup.In other words, the Sparks know their margin for error might actually be a little less than it is for the Lynx. Not a lot, but as Lavender said, the Lynx have a lot of players with WNBA championship experience, while the Sparks -- whose last Finals appearance was in 2003 -- dont.In the Sparks 78-76 Game 1 victory, Minnesota allowed a few too many easy baskets, sometimes after gambling a bit on defense, and then a buzzer-beating shot by Los Angeles Alana Beard to win it.Game 2, for the most part, was exactly how the Lynx want the rest of this series to go: with them dominating the boards, limiting Nneka Ogwumikes shots and making Candace Parker shoot a lot from the perimeter.That Sylvia Fowles-led defensive formula -- along with key offensive contributions from Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus -- gave the Lynx a series-tying 79-60 victory Tuesday.So weve seen a close game play out in the Sparks favor, and a game that turned into a blowout for the Lynx. Asked how much she thought Minnesota would need to adjust for Game 3, Augustus said not much. Another game like Tuesdays would suit the Lynx just fine.We have some details that we need to clean up, but they are all minor, Augustus said. Its good to say we only have small things to address rather than major things.The Sparks also dont have major issues, but they must figure out how to prevent Minnesotas defense from dictating the game so much. Los Angeles 60 points Tuesday tied for their lowest output this season.The phrase back on our heels came up a lot from the Sparks players after Tuesdays game, and Los Angeles coach Brian Agler said that could be a big factor Friday -- especially for Ogwumike and Parker.Just being aggressive. Just being more on their front foot than their back foot, Agler said when asked what he hoped to see from that duo. Using the skills that they have, their athleticism, their basketball instincts and their intelligence. Theyre elite in those kind of ways.The reality is, against most teams this season, the Sparks were just so talented that they could win even when they didnt necessarily play well. That wont be the case against Minnesota.We have to play better defense. We shot terrible, Parker said, referring to the Sparks 32.9 shooting percentage Tuesday. I think a lot of that was because of our energy and effort. I dont think we were as focused as we were in Game 1. Chris Doleman Vikings Jersey . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Mike Hughes Vikings Jersey . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/Brian-oneill-vikings-jersey/ . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Adrian Peterson Womens Jersey . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Chris Doleman Vikings Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- After nearly squandering a 25-point first-half lead, Wake Forest kicked into another gear midway through the second half before pulling away for an 86-74 win against Coastal Carolina.John Collins scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead four players in double figures for the Deacons (5-1)Brandon Childress came off the bench to score 15 points to go along with four assists, Mitchell Wilbekin added 14 points, and Bryant Crawford finished with 12.Wake Forest, which led 30-5 at one point in the first half, used a 21-0 run to take command.Coastal (2-4) clawed its way back in the second half to cut the deficit to 44-40, but the Deacons responded with a 7-0 scoring run and never led by fewer than 11 points the rest of the way. They made 17 of 19 free throws in the second half and 21 of 24 for the game.The Deacons gave up 51 points in the second half and got sloppy on offense when the Chanticleers made their surge.The ball started sticking in guys hands, Wake Forest coach Danny Manning said. Weve got to be a team that moves the basketball. We have plenty of guys that are capable weapons. But once the ball sticks, we become stagnant, and we become easier to guard.Elijah Wilson scored 20 points to lead Coastal, and Colton Ray-St Cyr added 12 points and 13 rebounds.The Chanticleers got off to a cold start, missing 14 of their first 16 shots and scoring on just two of their first 20 possessions.Weve been on a grueling road trip and we got off to a slow start, Coastal Carolina coach Cliff Ellis said. Id like to attribute it to our legs somewhat. We got good looks, but at the same time, youve got to give some credit to Wake Forest. They can stretch the court, and I think that showed.ddddddddddddTHE BIG PICTURECoastal Carolina: Picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt Conference, the Chanticleers showed plenty of fight against the bigger and more athletic Deacons in erasing a 25-point first-half deficit with a barrage of 3-pointers and a 12-3 advantage in offensive rebounds. That should take them a long way once conference play begins.Wake Forest: The Deacons picked up the win despite some sloppy play early in the second half against an inferior team. The Deacons played well in spurts -- especially in the first half -- and picked it up again in the second half when things got close. That might bode well for Wake Forest later in the season when it finds itself in another close game, especially during ACC play.STAT SHEETWake Forest, which leads the ACC in 3-pointers and averages 9.6 per game, knocked down 11 more against Coastal Carolina while shooting 42.3 percent from behind the arc. Childress and Wilbekin had three 3s apiece, with Wilbekin tying Josh Howard for 15th all-time with 109 3-pointers made. ... Coastal Carolina had a 15-0 advantage in second-chance points and tied Wake Forest with 41 rebounds.UP NEXTCoastal Carolina: After playing their last three games on the road in a span of five days, the Chanticleers return home on Tuesday to play Chattanooga in their first of five straight home games.Wake Forest: The Deacons will play at Northwestern on Monday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It will be the first meeting between the teams. Wake Forest is 11-4 all-time in the challenge, including a 5-2 record on the road. ' ' '