OMDodgers: Kershaw (back) wont be eligible to return until A

LOS ANGELES -- Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder open a three-game road trip on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.Westbrook has been arguably the NBAs top performer this season, but the Thunder have struggled recently. After a 6-1 start, they have dropped five of their last seven contests, including a 115-111 overtime defeat by the Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma City on Sunday.Just wasnt ready tonight, said Westbrook, who posted his fifth triple-double of the season with 31 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds in the loss. Starting with myself. I was (expletive) tonight. I could have did a lot of things better. I have to come out and be ready to play every night. I feel like I let my guys down and we have to be better.Westbrook is averaging 31.6 points and 10.4 assists, both second in the NBA entering Mondays contests. He also is collecting 9.7 boards per outing, which leads the Thunder. Guard Victor Oladipo is second on the team in scoring at 16.9 points.However, Oklahoma Citys defense has been suspect, allowing 103.8 points per game (tied for 14th with Milwaukee) while scoring 105.3. Rebounding, though, has been a strength with the Thunder averaging 46.6 boards (third). The Thunder was 26th in turnovers at 16.3 per game.The Lakers have experienced trouble handling the ball, too, committing 15.5 miscues (24th). Los Angeles also had trouble containing Jimmy Butler on Sunday as he scored a season-high 40 points in 118-110 win over the Lakers on Sunday. The Lakers have lost their last two games.Jimmy Butler had a pretty fantastic game. Hes a pretty fantastic player, Lakers coach Luke Walton said. But if hes going to do that, then we have to shut down the rest of the guys. We let him get his, and the role players all chipped in and did their part as well.You either have to take away the star or take away the role players. You cant let everyone have a night.Defensively, the Lakers are giving up an average of 109.6 points, which ranked them 27th in the league heading into Monday. Lakers opponents are shooting 47.5 percent from the floor, which puts them last in the NBA.Luke came in here and said thats two teams that have shot above 50 percent on our home court, said Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr., according to the Los Angeles Times after the Bulls hit 51.7 of their shots. That came on the heels of the San Antonio Spurs making 56.4 percent of their shots in a 116-107 win over the Lakers on Friday.Our interior defense is something that weve obviously got to get better, said Nance, who scored a career-high 18 points against the Bulls.The Lakers will attempt to return to their winning ways despite an upcoming tough stretch. After the Oklahoma City game, they visit the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday and play them again on Friday at home. They host the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.The Thunder cap their journey at the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday and at the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Kyle Lowry Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Norman Powell Raptors Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/Authentic-Pascal-Siakam-Jersey/ . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Jodie Meeks Jersey . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Marc Gasol Raptors Jersey .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. DENVER -- Los Angeles Dodgers starter Brock Stewart couldnt provide any relief for his ailing team.The surging Rockies made sure of that.Stewart, promoted to give Kenta Maeda an extra day of rest, allowed nine runs in four-plus innings as Los Angeles fell to the Rockies 12-2 Wednesday.Stewart (0-2) is just the latest call-up for a team that has struggled to stay healthy all year. Earlier in the day, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was moved to the 60-day disabled list, and right-hander Louis Coleman (shoulder fatigue) and left-hander Adam Liberatore (elbow inflammation) were also placed on the DL -- giving Los Angeles an NL-record 25 players put there this season.Its not easy, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. These guys come up and are thrown into the fire. And theyre doing the best they can.It wasnt nearly good enough on Wednesday.Carlos Gonzalez homered twice to record his 19th multi-homer game of his career before he left the game in the bottom of the seventh with an ankle injury. Nolan Arenado, Mark Reynolds and DJ LeMahieu also went deep in the win for Colorado, which has won 11 of 13 to move above the .500 mark for the first time since May 18.The Rockies latest streak has them within three games of the second NL wild card, with three teams between them and St. Louis. The Dodgers are two games up on the Cardinals for the top NL wild card.Its been fun, said Gonzalez, who doesnt expect to miss any substantial time with his sprained left ankle. Its fun when you get wins. We are playing good baseball right now.Arenado hit a three-run home run to spark a five-run first inning off Stewart (0-2). Reynolds added a two-run blast put the Rockies ahead 5-2..ddddddddddddLater, LeMahieu and Gonzalez homered as part of a four-run fifth to end Stewarts day.I am frustrated, Stewart said. The bullpen session before the game was great. Everything was working and then everything stayed flat during the game.Tyler Anderson (4-3) allowed two runs in seven innings for Colorado. He struck out six and walked two. His lone blemish came in the first inning when Justin Turner hit a two-run home run.Those guys the last couple of days threw the ball well, Roberts said. Jon Grey yesterday and this kid today threw well, kept us at bay.QUOTABLEI didnt beat myself, Stewart said firmly. They beat me.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: Kershaw (back) wont be eligible to return until Aug. 27 at the earliest. ... LHP Rich Hill (hand) threw around 50 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday. He looked real good and executed all his pitches, Roberts said. ... RHP Bud Norris threw a bullpen session and could make his next start this weekend.Rockies: SS Trevor Story (thumb) will undergo season-ending surgery Thursday in Denver. Story suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in Saturdays win over the Mets.UP NEXTDodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (9-7, 3.23 ERA) has had some early success against the Rockies this season. In two starts against Colorado, the Japanese pitcher has allowed just one run and struck out 17 in 13 innings.Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (10-6, 3.50 ERA) has allowed just one run and four hits in his previous two starts. Less impressive is the fact that he also gave up 12 walks in 12 innings during those starts. ' ' '