NEWS » but this year hasnt been ruled out.

LOS ANGELES -- Defense will probably dictate when the Detroit Pistons tangle with the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at Staples Center.Both clubs rank among the NBAs best in defending. The Clippers lead the league in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 90.7 points per game, while producing 102.7 per outing.The Pistons are second to Los Angeles in scoring defense at 93 points per game, while averaging 100.5 points per game.Clippers point guard Chris Paul tops the NBA in steals at 3.5 per game.As a team, Los Angeles is the leader in steals with an average of 10 per game.Detroit has one of the games top defenders in the middle with center Andre Drummond, who is averaging 14.7 boards. And, the Pistons are the fifth-best rebounding club in the NBA at 47.3 per game. The Clippers are rank 11th at 45.2. Both teams are averaging 10.2 boards on the offensive end.But it isnt all about defense with the Pistons (4-2), who earned a 103-86 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in a game Drummond had 19 points and 20 rebounds. Tobias Harris has been a sparkplug offensively, leading the Pistons at 18.8 points per game.Hes a very mature guy and hes very professional in his approach, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said, according to Pistons.com. Hes a guy whos always looking to get better. He looks at his game realistically. He figures out where he needs to improve and he works on it. Hes not an excuse guy. Its not outside forces and everything else.Van Gundy also praised Pistons forward Marcus Morris, who is scoring at a 17.5 points per game clip.Marcus is the same way (as Harris), Van Gundy said. Its one of the reasons those guys play well. Theyre willing to look at their performances realistically and make improvements rather than blaming everything and everyone else.The Clippers (5-1) return home after a successful two-game stretch on the road, where they have compiled a 3-0 mark this season. They are tied with Oklahoma City atop of the Western Conference, their lone loss being to the Thunder last week.Los Angeles recorded wins over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and rolled past the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday behind the performance of Blake Griffin, who scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half en route to a 116-92 romp.Its nice to have those easy looks go down, said Griffin, who shot 13-for-19 from the floor, according to the Los Angeles Times. It just kind of builds your confidence.Griffin, though, couldnt resist crediting the Clippers defensive performance for being the difference against the Spurs. After all, defense is the top priority of Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who preaches it practically every time he opens his mouth.It starts with defense, Griffin said, according to Clippers.com. I know we always say that, but it really does.Said Rivers, Thats two nights in a row that weve had great pace, and our defense has been as good as Ive seen it. Our hands are everywhere right now, and thats a good sign.Ruben Loftus-Cheek England Jersey . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Danny Rose Jersey . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Dele-Alli-England-Jersey/ . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. Raheem Sterling Jersey . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Nick Pope England Jersey . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player.ATLANTA -- Interim Braves manager Brian Snitker had to sweat out the ninth inning more than he wanted to.Even so, he was pleased to see Mauricio Cabrera, the seventh Atlanta pitcher, earn his first career save.It was too eventful for me there at the end, Snitker said, but we won the game.Pinch-hitter Brandon Snyder had two RBI in a four-run sixth inning and the Braves rallied for an 8-5 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.Miami, which began the day a half-game ahead of two teams in the NL wild-card race, has allowed 25 runs and scored just 13 runs off 37 hits in losing its last three games. The Marlins dropped to 2-7 against Atlanta this year.The Braves improved to just 12-32 at Turner Field. They have the NLs worst overall record, the majors worst home record and the least productive offense in the big leagues, but they took a 6-3 lead in the sixth.Jeff Francoeurs double chased Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen, and Mike Dunn gave up Erick Aybars RBI infield single, Snyders two-run go-ahead triple and Chase dArnauds RBI single.Chen (4-3) allowed eight hits, four runs, two walks and struck out two in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander has a 7.27 ERA over his last five starts.Tyler Flowers RBI double in the seventh pushed the lead to 7-3. Ichiro Suzukis pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eighth made it 7-4, and dArnauds RBI double in the eighth put Atlanta up 8-4.After Arodys Vizcaino issued a pair of two-out walks in the ninth, Flowers was ejected by home plate umpire Larry Vanover for arguing balls and strikes and was replaced by A.J. Pierzynski.Adeiny Hechavarrias RBI single chased Vizcaino -- the Atlanta closer pitching in a non-save situation -- and Cabrera retired pinch-hitter Cole Gillespie on a flyout for his first career save.What I saw it wasnt a very good zone all night, Flowers said. Finally the situation gets tight there at the end and I thought it was a blatant strike. So it comes a point where you have to do something. Its better me than a pitcher getting ejected.Dario Alvarez (2-1) earned the win after walking one, striking out one and throwing a wild pitch in two-thirds of the sixth.The Marlins went ahead 3-0 in the second on Justin Bours 15th homer, a three-run shot off Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz.Hes been swinging the bat good, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. Thats the issue for us. Weve been able to put up a lot of hits. We just havent been able to put up a lot of runs. Hes a guyy that can do that.ddddddddddddFollowing a 1-hour, 8-minute rain delay in the third, the Braves cut the lead to 3-2 on Freddie Freemans RBI triple and Nick Markakis RBI single.Tyrell Jenkins, the second Atlanta pitcher, walked the bases loaded but struck out J.T. Realmuto to keep the Marlins scoreless in the fifth.Foltynewicz, in his first start since May 30 after going on the disabled list with right elbow soreness, gave up two hits, two walks, three runs -- two earned -- and struck out two in three innings.RODNEY ON THE WAYMattingly will wait until Friday to announce how he will use newly acquired closer Fernando Rodney.Making a push to stay near the top of the NL wild-card race, the Marlins traded a minor league pitcher to get Rodney from San Diego.Current Marlins closer A.J. Ramos has converted straight 33 saves opportunities since last season, but Mattingly wouldnt say for sure who will have the role.Rodney, whose 253 career saves are fifth-most among active pitchers, is expected to join the team Friday.PAIRING TOP PROSPECTSBraves 2B Ozzie Albies has been demoted to Double-A Mississippi from Triple-A Gwinnett, where he will play alongside SS Dansby Swanson.General manager John Coppolella gave no timetable for their arrival in Atlanta, but this year hasnt been ruled out. The team also might wait until it moves into a new suburban ballpark next year.Swanson is Atlantas top prospect and was baseballs No. 1 overall draft pick last year. Albies ranks among the 25 top overall prospects. Both began their professional career as shortstops. Albies made the switch to second base this year at Gwinnett.Albies batted .248 in 56 games at Triple-A after hitting .369 in 22 games at Double-A to open the season.TRADE AND SIGNAtlanta dealt RHP Bud Norris, its No. 2 starter, to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two prospects. The Braves also signed veteran utility man Omar Infante to a minor league contract. Infante, 34, will be assigned to Class A Danville next week.UP NEXTMarlins: LHP Justin Nicolino (2-4, 5.17) will be called up from Triple-A New Orleans to start Friday night. He was demoted after allowing five runs over 4 2/3 innings June 15 against San Diego.Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (3-7) has a 2.46 ERA, seventh-best in the NL. He is 5-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 13 career starts against the Marlins. ' ' '