Hilfe » handed Twins were playing their third straight

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Bobcats coach Steve Clifford would prefer the man they call "Big Al" to set up shop close to the basket. Jefferson, the franchises highest-paid free agent acquisition ever, dug in deep in the low post Friday night and the Bobcats took advantage of the 6-foot-10, 289-pound centres strength and moves Friday night. Jefferson posted season highs with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and the Bobcats handed the Milwaukee Bucks their 11th straight loss with a 92-76 victory. "We have to get him the ball deeper (in the paint) consistently if were going to beat the best teams," Clifford said. Jefferson understands that. "It helps the team and the offence when I do catch the ball a lot deeper because it makes it hard to double team and it helps with the spacing for other guys to get open," said Jefferson, who was 11 of 18 from the field. "Coach has been showing me a lot of film of it. The film dont lie." Jefferson took over in the fourth quarter in the paint, scoring 13 points with three "and-one" opportunities. He scored Charlottes first 11 points of the quarter and put the game out of reach. Its been an adjustment for the Bobcats learning how to play with a low post presence like Jefferson. And it didnt help their chemistry that Jefferson missed most of the preseason and nine regular-season games with an ankle injury. Jefferson said the ankle still isnt 100 per cent, but its getting better. "Its pain that I can tolerate," Jefferson said. "As long as Im not limping when I run. I still cant jump like I want to, but its getting better and I have to play through it." The dismal Bucks proved to be a perfect cure for the Bobcats home woes. Charlotte had lost six of its past seven at home. Gerald Henderson had another efficient game with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting and Bismack Biyombo had a season-high 14 rebounds. The Bobcats outrebounded the Bucks 54-37 and outscored them 44-26 in the paint. Brandon Knight scored 17 points for the Bucks (2-13), who have lost seven straight games on the road. O.J. Mayo came in averaging 15.3 points for Milwaukee but was held to 5 points on 2-of-11 shooting. Charlotte built a 51-41 halftime lead after outscoring the Bucks 26-6 in the paint and shooting 58 per cent from the field. Charlotte got some solid production early from its bench, which shot 10 of 12 from the field in the first half and scored 28 points. "Our bench play was probably as good as weve had all year," Clifford said. Milwaukee got as close as six in the third quarter before the Bobcats went on an 11-1 tear to open a comfortable lead with Jefferson burying three short jump shots to push the lead back to a comfortable margin. Biyombo had sat out two of Charlottes last four games because of ineffectiveness, but made a difference in the lane. "He brought an intensity to the game," Clifford said. "If he can learn how to do that every night then he puts himself in a different place. I say that to him about twice a week and he hates it when I say it, but thats what I believe. ... Play to his talents. He has to defend and rebound and thats what he can do well." As if the Bucks didnt have enough problems, Caron Butler was a late scratch due to swelling in his knee and Ersan Ilyasova was limited in the second half because of a hamstring injury. "With no Caron and no Ersan, we were forced to go smaller," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "The big lineup didnt have much of an effect." Drew said dealing with an 11-game losing streak isnt easy, but the Bucks need to keep playing through it and dont give up. "Weve just got to be professional, weve got to be men and weve got to stand up," Drew said. "This is the NBA, and this is life in the NBA. Theres no time to feel sorry for ourselves. The only way we get out of this hole is if we make up our minds to go out there and get out of this hole." NOTES: With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Ben Gordon saw his first extensive playing time for Charlotte (8-9). ... Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera attended the game and sat a few seats down from Clifford. ... Bucks Larry Sanders, who is out with a thumb injury, was given a technical foul on the bench for arguing a call. Cheap NMD Shoes Wholesale . Sections of the British media reported Friday that Brooklyn Beckham, the son of United great David, was invited to a training session at the club on Thursday. NMD Cheap Authentic .com) - Longtime Senators star Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa on Thursday to officially announce his retirement. http://www.cheapnmd.net/. -- Andrew Wiggins is from Canada, Wayne Selden from Massachusetts and Joel Embiid from the African nation of Cameroon. Cheap NMD Shoes For Sale . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Cheap NMD . -- Jacksonvilles offensive makeover is just getting starting. CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians specialized in walk-off wins last season. It took 34 games, but they finally got their first walk-off this season on Wednesday night when Mike Aviles two-out single in the ninth inning lifted the Indians to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Clevelands players mobbed Aviles after he crossed first base. "Its definitely fun, especially with a noon game (Wednesday)," Aviles said. "Its always good not to play extra innings and get that big win at the end." "That was nice," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "We needed that." The Indians had 11 walk-off victories last season as they won 92 games and made the playoffs as a wild-card team. "Were playing at home and when you hit last you always feel like you have a chance," Francona said. The short-handed Twins were playing their third straight game without first baseman Joe Mauer and had only 11 available position players. Eduardo Escobar, normally a shortstop, played the entire game in left field, which cost Minnesota in the ninth. Asdrubal Cabrera led off the inning with a double against Casey Fien (3-1). Escobar misjudged the ball and turned the wrong way as it landed on the warning track. "He just didnt get to it, Im sure he shied away from the wall," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Hes not been out there a lot and it was going toward the wall over his head and he got to the warning track and felt that he was a little too close probably." After Lonnie Chisenhalls sacrifice bunt, Yan Gomes grounded out. Aviles hit a hard ground ball on a 1-1 pitch into centre field. John Axford (1-3), who had allowed game-winning home runs in his previous two outings, survived a shaky ninth. He retired the first two hitters, but Danny Santana doubled down the right-field line. After Brian Dozier walked on a 3-2 pitch, third baseman Carlos Santana, who had to contend with a fan who wanted the ball, leaned into the stands to catch Sam Fulds foul popup. "I was yelling from the mound, but I dont think he heard me," Axford said of the fan. "I was yelling, dont touch it.dddddddddddd " Axford had a bad week going into the game. Chicagos Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Sunday while Escobar hit a solo homer in the 10th inning Monday, giving Minnesota a 1-0 win. Axford was unavailable Tuesday after pitching the three previous games. "I felt good," he said. "Physically, I feel great. It worked out perfect. I got a day off and was able to rest up." Danny Salazar, who hit 100 mph on the Progressive Field radar gun several times, took a 3-1 lead into the seventh, but Minnesota tied the game on pinch-hitter Santanas RBI single and Doziers sacrifice fly. Salazar retired the first hitter, but Josmil Pinto singled and took third when Escobar doubled to left-centre. Bryan Shaw relieved to face Santana, who batted for Pedro Florimon. Shaw had to hit the deck to avoid Santanas liner up the middle that scored Pinto and put runners at first and third. Doziers fly ball scored Escobar. Salazar allowed three runs and struck out seven in 6 1-3 innings. Ricky Nolasco gave up three runs with nine strikeouts in six innings. Michael Brantley had a two-run double in the third and Gomes hit a leadoff homer in the fifth. Dozier had an RBI double in the third. Mauer, who has lower back spasms, played catch and took swings off a batting tee before the game. Gomes home run atoned for his ninth error of the season that helped Minnesota score in the third. Florimon drew a two-out walk, stole second and took third when Gomes throw skipped into centre field. Dozier followed with his double. NOTES: Indians OF Michael Bourn (tight left hamstring) missed his fourth straight game, but said he could return for the final game of the series Thursday. ... The Twins selected the contract of RHP Matt Guerrier from Triple-A Rochester and optioned LHP Logan Darnell to the same club. ... OF Aaron Hicks (concussion) is taking live batting practice in Minneapolis and could come off the 7-day disabled list this weekend. ... Twins RHP Kevin Correia (1-3) faces RHP Justin Masterson (1-1) on Thursday. ' ' '