their latest offensive upgrade at wide receiver

LOS ANGELES -- Blake Griffin scored 22 of his 37 points in the first quarter and made 14 of 16 shots before fouling out, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 112-105 on Monday night for their eighth straight victory. Darren Collison scored 20 points and Chris Paul added 17 points and 11 assists for the Pacific Division leaders, who were 55.1 per cent from the field and improved to 23-1 when shooting at least 50 per cent. Goran Dragic had 23 points and five assists during a foul-plagued 33 minutes for the Suns, who slipped a half-game behind idle Memphis for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot and are 1 1-2 behind Dallas. Phoenix hasnt made the post-season since 2010 under coach Alvin Gentry, now a Clippers associate head coach. Gerald Green, who had a career-high 41 points for the Suns in last Thursdays 128-122 win over Oklahoma City, finished with 16 points after averaging 23.4 over his previous 13 games. Miles Plumlee, playing his second game after missing the previous two because of a sprained right knee, had 12 points and nine rebounds as all five Suns starters scored in double figures. Dragic came in averaging 20.5 points, third in the league among point guards behind Stephen Curry (23.5) and Kyrie Irving (21.5). But he picked up his third foul 2 minutes into the second quarter and wasnt a factor until the fourth, when the Suns rallied from a 19-point deficit with 8:11 remaining and got it down to 109-105 on Dragics layup with 32.5 seconds to play. But that was as close as they got, as Matt Barnes made three of four free throws to close it out. Barnes finished with 13 points, just six days after scoring a season-high 28 -- including six 3-pointers -- and making 12 of his first 13 shots in the Clippers 104-96 win at Phoenix. Things got testy with 5:28 remaining, as Griffin and P.J. Tucker began wrestling on the floor after they jockeyed for position in the paint on a missed 3-point shot by Barnes and Griffin fell on top of Tucker. The two had to be separated, and the game was delayed while referees Bennie Adams, Jason Phillips and Matt Boland examined the video monitor to sort it all out. Tucker was charged with a loose ball foul and then ejected, while Griffin stayed in the game. But not for long. Griffin picked up his sixth foul on a charge under the basket with 3:23 remaining and the Clippers ahead 105-95. Dragic made a pair of driving layups 28 seconds apart to slice the margin to 105-99 with 2:21 to go. But Paul responded with a 16-foot bank shot and two free throws for an eight-point cushion with 1:21 left. The Suns trailed by as many as 25 after Pauls 17-footer extended the Clippers margin to 77-72 with 7:14 left in the third quarter. Barnes hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Clippers a 90-76 lead heading into the fourth. Griffin sat the final 1:03 of the third after picking up his fourth foul, then reported back in with 7:04 remaining and the Los Angeles leading 103-85. The Clippers, who came in averaging a league-best 107.8 points, led 62-45 at halftime by virtue of Griffins 29 points and 11 each by Collison and newly acquired Danny Granger, who had 14 off the bench. They built a 34-23 lead through one quarter after Griffin went 8 for 9 from the field and made all six of his free throws. Griffin came within one point of the franchise record for any quarter, shared by Randy Smith (Oct. 20, 1973 at Boston) and Baron Davis (Jan. 29, 2010 at Minnesota). NOTES: Clippers G Jamal Crawford was on the inactive list for the fourth time in five games because of a left calf strain. He tried to play through it during Saturdays win over Atlanta, but spent only 9 1-2 minutes on the court and attempted two shots -- both of which missed. "I dont know when hes coming back. I just dont know," coach Doc Rivers said. "I didnt think he looked good the other night, just running. I dont get involved very often with that stuff, but he wasnt running natural, so well just wait until hes back to playing 100 per cent." ... The Clippers have scored at 100 or more points in 16 straight home games since their loss to the Suns. Its their longest such streak since the 1983-84 season, their last one in San Diego. ... Griffin posted his 23rd consecutive game with at least 20 points, extending his career-best streak. Chris Bassitt Jersey .Brady threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman midway through the fourth quarter, and New England beat the San Diego Chargers 23-14 for its eighth win in nine games. Oakland Athletics Gear .com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . Some members of the U.S. Congress arent so sure. They say Russia isnt doing enough to assure that athletes will be protected at the Feb. 7-23 games, happening not far from an Islamic insurgency that Russias huge security apparatus has struggled for two decades to quell. Russia may run greater risks in towns outside the tightly controlled Olympic zone. Suicide bombs last month a few hundred kilometres (miles) away have increased concerns, and an Islamic warlord has urged his followers to attack the Sochi Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putins pet project. Stitched Athletics Jerseys . He was attracted by the punishing defence, the strong running game and a coaching staff he trusted. The 49ers announced Thursday that Manningham had signed a two-year deal to join the team he helped knock out in the NFC championship game two months ago in their latest offensive upgrade at wide receiver. Custom Oakland Athletics Jerseys . The Toronto Argonauts running back hurt his left ankle during the teams practice Friday afternoon at Rogers Centre.MILAN, Italy -- Ciro Immobile netted a hat trick to help Torino beat Livorno 3-1 Saturday and make him Serie As top scorer. Immobile scored his first in the 25th minute, heading in Cesare Bovos free kick, and added the second on the hour mark after Livorno goalkeeper Francesco Bardi had made a number of saves to prevent Torino from doubling the lead. Immobile mishit Omar Ell Kaddouris pass but the balls bounce deceived Bardi.dddddddddddd The 24-year-old forward completed his hat trick seven minutes later with a great shot from distance for his 16th goal of the season. Luca Siligardi volleyed home a consolation for Livorno in the final minute. Torino reignited its European hopes as it ended a run of four consecutive defeats. ' ' '