"It was OK, when we were waiting for the match, some fun," Kvitov

NEW YORK -- Torontos DeMar DeRozan will be joining an elite group of basketball players in New Orleans two weeks from now after being named a reserve for the NBA All-Star game on Wednesday. Jerry West Lakers Jersey . DeRozan, who missed the Raptors last two games with a sprained ankle, leads the team in scoring with 21.8 points per game. This will be his third appearance at the NBA All-Star weekend -- he participated in the Slam Dunk competition in 2010 and 2011, and also suited up for the 2011 Rookie Challenge -- but this years event will mark his first time in the actual game. The Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets each had two players picked as reserves, while the Indiana Pacers had to settle for just Roy Hibbert despite the leagues best record. LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard made it from the Trail Blazers, who have been among the Western Conference leaders all season. Dwight Howard, who was passed late in fan voting for a starting spot, was chosen Thursday along with Houston teammate James Harden. Old reliables Chris Paul, Tony Parker and Dirk Nowitzki round out the West reserves for the Feb. 16 game in New Orleans. Nowitzki earned his 12th selection, tying him for sixth all-time with nine players. "I have been a part of All-Star weekend every year since I have been in the league and not being there last year felt strange," Nowitzki said in a statement. "The Dallas fan base has always been great to me and the Mavericks organization and the city deserves to be represented at the All-Star game." The rest of the East reserves are: Miamis Chris Bosh, Washingtons John Wall, Brooklyns Joe Johnson, Chicagos Joakim Noah and Atlantas Paul Millsap. Wall is the first Wizards All-Star since Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison were picked in 2008, the last time the game was in New Orleans. "I am very proud to represent the Wizards franchise and the city of Washington as an All-Star and to share this honour with the fans who have supported me and stuck by me since I arrived here," said Wall, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft. The Pacers hoped Lance Stephenson, who leads the NBA in triple-doubles, would also be selected to join Hibbert and Paul George, who was voted to start. The reserves were chosen by the coaches from each conference, who had to vote for two guards, three frontcourt players and two regardless of position. They were not allowed to vote for their own players. The West ones went for veterans with their choices at guard in Paul, last years All-Star game MVP from the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Spurs Parker. That left first-time hopefuls Goran Dragic of Phoenix and Mike Conley Jr. of Memphis home. The starters were announced last week: Miamis LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, New Yorks Carmelo Anthony and Clevelands Kyrie Irving were voted to start along with George. The fans voted for NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City, the Lakers Kobe Bryant, Golden States Stephen Curry, Minnesotas Kevin Love and the Clippers Blake Griffin. Bryant is injured and not expected to play. Adam Silver, who will become commissioner Saturday, will choose replacements for Bryant and any other injured players. Indianas Frank Vogel and Oklahoma Citys Scott Brooks will coach the game. Brooks would determine who replaces Bryant in the starting lineup. Bosh is an All-Star for the ninth time in 11 seasons, while Lillard, Wall, DeRozan and Millsap were all chosen for their first All-Star game. Millsap was the Eastern Conference player of the week last week. "Paul has been an All-Star player and an All-Star teammate for us," general manager Danny Ferry said. "The Atlanta Hawks are very proud to have Paul representing the city of Atlanta and our team." Hometown hopeful Anthony Davis of the Pelicans, and centres DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers and DeMarcus Cousins of Sacramento were among those who missed out. Orlandos Arron Afflalo and Torontos Kyle Lowry didnt make the cut in the East. Lamar Odom Lakers Jersey . MacArthur scored two goals, and the Senators outlasted Detroit in a testy third period to beat the Red Wings 4-2 on Saturday night. Jared Dudley Lakers Jersey .com) - James Harden put the Houston Rockets on his back and willed them to an overtime victory on Thursday. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/1281j-kentavious-caldwell-pope-jersey-lakers.html .Y. -- Syracuses streak lives on -- barely.NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Defending champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic advanced to the semifinals of the New Haven Open, beating Russias Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 on Thursday. Romanias Simona Halep also advanced, topping Russias Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 7-6 (6). Rain delayed the start of play in both matches by more than an hour and a half, and each included hour-long rain delays during play. It was the third three-set match of the tournament for Kvitova, who leads the WTA Tours top 100 players with 29 this season. She improved to 18-11 in those contests. Pavlyuchenkova started strong, breaking Kvitova in the first game of the match and three times in the first set. But the former Wimbledon champion bounced back as she has throughout the tournament. She broke serve four times in the second set, and twice in the third. "I know Im playing a lot of three set matches, thats why I probably know if I lose the first set, still I can go to the third," Kvitova said. "I dont feel like without energy in the third set, so thats good sign, too." Pavlyuchenkova was able to save one match point in the 10th game, but double-faulted on the second. Halep and Makarova were forced to the grandstand court by the rain. Fewer than 20 fans watched as Halep jumped out early, taking the first 6-1 while breaking Makarovas serve four times. The second rain delay came with the players tied at 1-1 in the second, and when play resumed MMakarova made a run, winning the next two games. Steve Nash Jersey. "I was a little bit nervous after (the rain)," Halep said. "I played really slow after. But I came back from 4-2 again and I did well." The Romanian broke serve in the eighth game, and won the tiebreaker 8-6. She is looking for her fourth tournament title this summer and said she likes where her game is heading into next weeks U.S. Open. "Im a bit tired right now," she said. "But I want to play tomorrow, to try my best. After that I will see what will happen." This is the first quarterfinal in the tournaments history that didnt include either of the top two seeds. Sara Errani and Angelique Kerber both lost earlier in the week in the second round. Kvitova, Wozniacki and Stephens were the only seeded players to make it past round two. Halep will play the winner of Thursday nights marquee quarterfinal match between four-time New Haven champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and rising American star Sloane Stephens. Kvitova will face Russias Elena Vesnina or the Czech Republics Klara Zakopalova. The players got a little excitement before play began Thursday. A fire alarm, caused by smoke from someone cooking in the players lounge, forced the evacuation of the Connecticut Tennis Center for about 15 minutes. "It was OK, when we were waiting for the match, some fun," Kvitova said. "I wasnt cooking, so thats good." ' ' '