Sonstiges » se. Prior to Brett Lawrie going do

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Arron Afflalo didnt make a big fuss after his name wasnt among those announced this week as reserve selection for the All-Star game. Whether he was just hiding his disappointment or not, he went out Friday night and reminded the Milwaukee Bucks of why he was worthy of discussion. Afflalo scored 21 points in three quarters of work, Tobias Harris added 18 and the Orlando Magic ran to a 113-102 victory. The Magic snapped a three-game losing streak and extended their home winning streak over Milwaukee to 16 games. "There are certain feelings you get at certain points in your life, whether its a motivating factor or something that you looked forward to that didnt happen," said Afflalo, who came in averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists. "But for me its created a new level of passion and a new level of hunger." Orlando led by as many as 25 points and had six players reach double-figures. Victor Oladipo finished with 15 points and seven assists, and Nik Vucevic had 12 points and six rebounds in his second game back from a concussion. Vucevic, who had had missed 12 straight games, played 25 minutes -- about five minutes more than he did in his return against Toronto earlier in the week. He was productive with his time on the floor, connecting on 5 of 9 field goal attempts. Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said Vucevic did ask to be taken out of the game after playing just over five minutes in the fourth quarter. Vaughn acknowledged he might have pushed him a bit too hard, but expected him to be OK. Vaughn was pleased with his teams effort, particularly how they shared the ball. "Everyone who played tonight had an assist," he said. "For us to score the basketball we need each other. Tonight was definitely an example of us playing together." The only other bad news the Magic got Friday came in the form of another injury. Point guard Jameer Nelson played the entire first quarter, but sat out the remainder of the game with a sore left knee. He is day to day. Caron Butler scored 20 points for Milwaukee, which lost its fifth straight game. The Bucks have lost 14 of their last 15 and eight straight on the road. Milwaukee played without John Henson, who was out with a sprained right wrist. O.J. Mayo missed his third consecutive game with an illness. Henson and Mayos absences were felt as the Magic quickly jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half that grew to as many as 22 points in the opening 24 minutes. The margin hovered above 20 for most of the second half with the Bucks never getting back within single digits. "It was frustrating, but you have to keep playing," Khris Middleton said. "Sometimes you put yourself in a position to win and sometimes you cant." The Magic scored a season-high 67 points in the first half and took a 21-point lead into the break. Afflalo led all scorers with 17 first-half points, with Vucevic adding 12 and Maurice Harkless 10. Orlando dominated in the paint as well, outscoring the Bucks 30-18. The Magic also were active in the open court with a 12-3 edge in fast-break points. Milwaukee came out misfiring and ended the half connecting on just 18 of 41 field goal attempts. That was compounded by 13 turnovers that led to 17 Orlando points. "Its good for us," Oladipo said. "We played well as a team, we did a lot of good things. We kind of took our foot off the gas in the fourth quarter, but other than that we played a pretty good game." Afflalo said regardless of the Magics record, he doesnt plan on slowing down the rest of the season. "Sometimes the NBA season is so long, when youre losing games you kind of get in this autopilot type of mode, but Ive got an extreme fire burning overall, not even about tonight," he said. "I just think my focus is going to be heightened, every little thing that I do." NOTES: The Magic improved to 3-26 when their opponent scores 100 or more points. ... Milwaukee coach Larry Drew said centre Zaza Pachulia, who has missed 27 straight games with a fractured right foot, is "close" but still not ready to return to the court Mike Evans Buccaneers Jersey . -- Floridas smothering defence returned to form just in time for the third-ranked Gators to keep their winning streak going. Warren Sapp Buccaneers Jersey . - Joao Plata scored twice in the final 24 minutes, including the winner in stoppage time, to help Real Salt Lake remain unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over the winless Chicago Fire on Saturday night. http://www.authenticbuccaneerspro.com/O-j-howard-buccaneers-jersey/ . The Cavaliers first-year forward will miss at least three weeks with a strained left knee, the latest setback for the No. Warren Sapp Womens Jersey . The 25-year-old Lu, a regular on the Japan LPGA Tour after giving up her LPGA Tour membership in 2010, shot an 8-under 64 in windy, wet conditions at Kintetsu Kashikojima. Mike Edwards Buccaneers Jersey .35 million. The right-hander had agreed last February to a deal that pays him $3.775 million this year and allows him to earn an additional $225,000 in bonuses based on games finished.PHILADELPHIA - Although general manager Alex Anthopoulos insists he hasnt read any of the rumours, he saw fit to comment on frequent reports out of Chicago that the Blue Jays are hot for Cubs ace right-hander Jeff Samardzija. "I havent read them or seen them, but whatever they are, I guess I can say this; I have not had any conversations with anybody about active trade talks," Anthopoulos told assembled media on Tuesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. "If that ends up shooting down reports like we do every so often ... no, I have not engaged in dialogues, exchange of names, nothing. Its so rare that teams engage in trade conversations so early (in the season.") Read between the lines. There is a difference between speaking to his Cubs counterpart, Jed Hoyer, and having scouts watching Samardzijas starts. The Blue Jays are hardly alone in tracking Samardzija, whos winless in seven starts despite posting a 1.62 ERA. The 29-year-old has one year left of club control before becoming eligible for free agency following the 2015 season. The Cubs are rebuilding and multiple reports suggest previous efforts to get Samardzija signed long-term havent been fruitful. Anthopoulos repeated he will not mortgage the future for short-term gain, citing the Jays relatively uneventful offseason as proof he wont make moves for the sake of saving his job. What about if the right deal comes along? Would he be willing to part with a top prospect or two? "I think you value everything on whats the contractual status, whats the control, how much do you value your own players, wheres the club at, short-term, long-term, all that stuff," said Anthopoulos. "Just like anything there are a lot of players you are reluctant to move and that would be reflected in the price to really push those players. But I just dont know that youre ever in a position where players are untradeable. I think sometimes the value you place on them makes them almost untradeable because no one will pay you the ask. But I dont look at it that way that under no circumstances you hang up the phone." WILL MORROW NEED SURGERY? On Monday via Twitter, Brandon Morrow shared a photo of the splint hell be wearing for the next week or so on his injured pitching hand. Morrow tore a tendon sheath at the base of his right index finger on his second-to-last pitch of the fifth inning on Friday night in Pittsburgh. The injury will require season-ending surgery if an attempt to rehabilitate the finger fails. "From what I was told that wasnt going to be needed," said Anthopoulos of surgery. "If something changes down the road, but from what I was told at the time, surgery was not required." In striking an optimistic tone, Anthopoulos said he expects Morrow to return some time around the All-Star Break in mid-July. "We expect him to come back, we expect him to recover," said Anthopoulos. "He wasnt necessarily rolling but I thought he looked great against the Indians that game. But Brandon has the stuff to get on a streak at any time and even in that last game, I followed it obviously, it didnt seem like his slider was there and command but I think Brandon at any point can get hot and when he comes back hell be a big add for us." In six starts this season, Morrow is 1-2 with a 5.93 ERA. His fielding independent pitching (FIP) statistic, a mmeasurement of ERA based on factors only the pitcher can control, is 4.dddddddddddd.03, suggesting hes been better than his actual ERA. Morrows 1.720 WHIP, which includes 30 hits and 17 walks in 27 1/3 innings pitched, is bloated. Efficiency was an issue prior to Morrows injury. He pitched into the sixth inning only twice. LIND LIKELY FOR THURSDAY Anthopoulos hadnt spoken to manager John Gibbons to confirm Adam Linds return date but the aim is for Thursdays series finale against the Phillies in Toronto. "The plan is to play nine innings of first base tomorrow in a Florida State League game," said Anthopoulos. "Ill talk to Gibby about it but hopefully we would look at potentially activating him on Thursday. I havent talked to Gibby about it but that would be one of the thoughts I have." Lind, 30, went on the disabled list April 16 with tightness in his lower back. FRANCISCOS FUTURE The imminent return of Lind will force the Blue Jays to make a decision on Juan Francisco. "Wed like to keep Juan," said Anthopoulos. "Hes playing well and ideally you want to be able to hang on to him. I know Gibby is fond of him and rightfully so. Hes played well." Entering Tuesdays play, in 14 games played with the Blue Jays, Francisco was hitting .280/.390/.520 with three home runs and seven RBI. His history suggests Franciscos batting average and on-base percentage will come down significantly. But hes a power threat off the bench and can spell starters at first base and third base. The Blue Jays would surely lose Francisco to another team on waivers should the club decide to designate him for assignment. Hes out of options, meaning he cant be sent to the minors and remain on the 40-man roster. Anthopoulos credited one of the clubs Dominican stars - Francisco is from the Dominican Republic - with helping lure Francisco to Toronto after he was released by the Milwaukee Brewers in late March. "Edwin Encarnacion was a big help in signing him," said Anthopoulos. "I think he really encouraged him to sign with us." Encarnacion and Francisco also were teammates, briefly, with the Cincinnati Reds in 2009. LAWRIES POSITION The Blue Jays have an offensive hole at second base. Prior to Brett Lawrie going down with tightness in his right hamstring, hed started at second base in three games in National League parks. The position switch allowed manager John Gibbons to keep Juan Franciscos bat in the lineup by putting him at third base. Would the Blue Jays consider extending the defensive alignment into American League games when Adam Lind is back? A lineup featuring Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Lind, Juan Francisco, Brett Lawrie, Colby Rasmus and Dioner Navarro would be potent. It certainly would be better offensively than what any of the alternatives provide at second base. "There hasnt been any talk of full time like that at all," said Anthopoulos. "No, its strictly for right now. We know he can do it, I know he had a two or a three game stint last year but Bretts athletic enough you could put him anywhere on the field, I really believe that. I do believe that if you gave him enough time at any position and you gave him enough reps he could be a gold glove defender anywhere." ' ' '