Kevin Durant said his experience in Rio de Janeiro with Team USA provided a needed escape from the backlash he has received since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Golden State Warriors.Durant scored 30 points Sunday in the United States?96-66 victory over Serbia in the gold-medal game. He told The Vertical that playing for his country helped to flip his script and change his role from villain to hero.It was therapy for me after making a big change in my life, Durant told The Vertical. It made my life easier ... I knew [a backlash] was coming.It was definitely different for me, but to come here in an environment where people accepted me and didnt care about anything except being my buddy, thats what I needed.USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo agreed that Durants Olympic appearance was a needed distraction for the All-Star forward, who signed in June with the Warriors on a two-year, $54.3 million deal with a player option after the first year.This was good for him. For his psyche, Colangelo said.Durant didnt dispute Colangelos diagnosis.I cant let anybody steal my joy, Durant said, presumably addressing critics of his free-agency decisions. [Former Thunder assistant and current Team USA assistant] Monty Williams used to tell me that every day; dont let anybody steal my joy.ESPNs Marc Stein contributed to this report. JJ Arcega-Whiteside Womens Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. DeSean Jackson Youth Jersey . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. http://www.theeaglesfootballauthentic.com/eagles-mike-quick-black-jersey/ . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Nick Foles Eagles Jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Brian Westbrook Youth Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . NEW ORLEANS -- The two Louisiana co-defendants in the drug and rape case that brought down one-time NFL star Darren Sharper were set for formal sentencing Thursday in federal court in New Orleans.Erik Nunez, a former restaurant worker, and Brandon Licciardi (lih-CHAR-dee), a former suburban sheriffs deputy, pleaded guilty to state and federal charges earlier this year.The case arose from revelations that Sharper drugged and raped women in four states.Sharper was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty.Like Sharper, Licciardi and Nunez pleaded guilty to state and federal charges in the case. Their plea agreements with state and federal prosecutors call for Licciardi to serve 17 years; with Nunez serving 10 years. Both men face formal sentencing in state court next week.During a 14-year NFL career, Sharper played in two Super Bowls, one with the Packers as a rookie and one with New Orleans Saints when they won in 2010. He retired iin 2011 and was working as a broadcast NFL analyst when allegations that he drugged and raped women began to surface.dddddddddddd.Under a deal that was expected to net him about nine years in prison, Sharper pleaded guilty or no-contest in state and federal courts to charges that he drugged and sexually assaulted women in Arizona, California, Nevada and Louisiana -- all part of a multistate global plea deal announced in early 2015.But U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, saying there were as many as 16 victims in the four states, rejected the sentence as too light. That led to his 18-year federal sentence, followed by a 20-year state sentence that attorneys said was essentially the same given state and federal sentencing practices and credit for time served.Louisiana is the only state in which Sharper had co-defendants. ' ' '