Announcements » antic Friday after defeating the Wizards, 96-88, for thei

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs were not going to believe Serge Ibaka was really injured until the Oklahoma City Thunder took the court in the opener of the Western Conference finals without their athletic big man. Their skepticism was unwarranted. Ibaka is indeed injured and Oklahoma City needs to find a way to replace his defensive presence against San Antonio. Tim Duncan had 27 points and the Spurs took advantage of Ibakas absence to score more than half their points in the paint, beating the Thunder 122-105 Monday night in the opener of the best-of-seven series. Tony Parker did not appear limited by a hamstring injury, adding 14 points and 12 assists in 36 minutes in San Antonios first victory over Oklahoma City this season. Parker and coach Gregg Popovich both said earlier they werent sure if the Thunder would actually be without Ibaka, who injured his left calf in Oklahoma Citys series clincher against the Los Angeles Clippers. "Contrary to what San Antonio was thinking, hes not coming back," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. Thats bad news for Oklahoma City entering Game 2 on Wednesday. San Antonio had 66 points in the paint and shot 58 per cent from the field. It was the highest shooting percentage allowed by the Thunder in the post-season since relocating from Seattle. The Thunder got their usual offensive output from All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who scored 28 and 25 points, respectively. But Oklahoma Citys remaining starters, Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins, combined to score five points with 13 rebounds and one assist. Collison started in place of Ibaka and was 0 for 3 from the field with three rebounds and one blocked shot. Ibaka was averaging 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.23 blocks in 33.9 minutes in the post-season. "We play team defence, we dont just rely on Serge," Durant said. "He does a great job of blocking shots, but its all because of our team defence. Hes a big part of what we do. Hes a starter, had his best season this year, so of course were going to miss his presence, but we have guys that are going to step up and do it collectively." San Antonio planned to attack Oklahoma Citys interior whether Ibaka was playing or not, and found it much easier to do without the athletic 6-foot-10 forward. "We always want to try to penetrate," Parker said. "We always want our ball movement, thats how we play -- kick and pitch and stuff like that. You know, obviously its a little bit better with (Ibaka) not being in the paint, but were still going to try to penetrate and make stuff happen." The Spurs fed Duncan early and the veteran responded by scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the opening quarter. Parker, who sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in San Antonios series clincher against Portland, drove the paint and dished to Duncan early before looking for his own shot midway through the quarter. "Thats part of our game plan," Duncan said. "He knew that they werent going to let him shoot the ball like he did in the last series. They were going to try to take that away from him, so he knew he was going to have to be an assist man." Parker scored all but two of his points in the first half. Manu Ginobili took over in the second half, scoring all 18 of his points with a series of breakneck drives and 3-for-4 shooting on 3-pointers. "Just got to do a better job of closing the paint off," Westbrook said. "I thought we did a better job in the second half of just putting more pressure on them, making it tough for them to get inside the paint." After starting Collison and bringing in 7-foot post Steven Adams to spell him and Perkins, Oklahoma City continually altered its lineup in an attempt to derail San Antonios attack. At one point the Thunder had Westbrook and fellow point guards Reggie Jackson and Derek Fisher on the court with Durant playing the post defensively. Duncan responded by dropping in a running hook on Durant. "Were going to have to find lineups that work," Brooks said. "I have faith in all of our guys to step in and do the job, no matter who we put on the floor." With the exception of a pair of free throws by Fisher, Westbrook and Durant scored all of Oklahoma Citys points in a 23-22 third quarter. The Thunder rallied to take a 76-75 lead on Westbrooks 17-foot jumper with 5 minutes left in the third quarter for their first lead since the opening basket of the game. "I think we need more from everybody defensively," Brooks said. "We scored 105 points. ... We scored enough points to win a basketball game. We have to do a better job defensively." San Antonio improved to 7-1 at home in the playoffs, winning its past five games by an average of 20.6 points. The Spurs, however, remember what happened in the 2012 conference finals, when the Thunder won four straight to rally from an 0-2 deficit. "Theyre a talented team," Ginobili said. "Theyre going to watch video; theyre going to fix mistakes. Its going to be harder for sure. Its just one down." NOTES: Durant was assessed a technical foul 30 seconds into the fourth quarter after throwing his fists down in frustration after being assessed a foul. . Boris Diaw was poked in his lower right eyelid early in the game, but returned to shortly thereafter once it was determined there was no structural damage. . Play had to be stopped twice to clean up blood on Collison, who was battling Duncan and Splitter defensively. Anthony Rizzo Jersey . - Their offence is underperforming. Kerry Wood Jersey . MLB executive Joe Torre ruled on Tuesday nights game at Wrigley Field that was called after 4 1-2 innings. The Cubs were declared the winners by a 2-0 score. Now, it is instead a suspended game that will resume at 4:05 p. http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-andre-dawson-jersey/. - The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent centre Brian de la Puente. Ryne Sandberg Jersey . - UFC 178, previously announced for Sept. Chicago Cubs Jerseys . Watch the action live on TSN and listen on TSN 1050 Radio beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Raptors maintained their spot atop the Atlantic Friday after defeating the Wizards, 96-88, for their second win in a row.The Toronto Maple Leafs will award Stanley Cup rings next month to players who won championships for the team during the 1960s, a move that leaves the recently beleaguered club open to ribbing but also helps to repair possibly bruised relations with some alumni. In September, the Leafs will hand out $5,000 rings to players such as Bob Pulford, Johnny Bower and Bobby Baun at a ceremony in Toronto. TSN first reported on Aug. 4 that the rings would be distributed to the teams former stars. The gold rings feature a leaf outlined in black, emblazoned with a diamond fixed in the centre and the words "Stanley Cup Champions" around the perimeter. A raised image of the Stanley Cup is on the side. The rings are being made for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment by Tiffany & Co. Bob Pulford, who played for championship teams in Toronto from 1962 to 1964 and in 1967, said he approached Leafs management several years ago about honouring former players. Even though the Hockey Hall of Fame says members of the first team to win a Stanley Cup, the Montreal Hockey Club, were given rings after winning the championship in 1893, the gesture disappeared in subsequent years. During the 1960s, it wasnt common for players to receive a new ring after every Stanley Cup win. In 1959, Montreal Canadiens players had to pay for their own rings after winning the championship and in 1971, Canadiens management decided to give players colour TVs instead of rings. "I got one in 1962, and then after we won in 63 and 64, they took it back, added an engraving on it and re-set it with a bit bigger diamond," Pulford, 78, told TSN. Pulford also has two rings from his work as an executive with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 and 2013. "I have four kids and Id love to be able to give them each a ring one day," he added. The Hall of Famer will receive three new rings at the ceremony - which will give him a total of six Stanley Cup rings. "I dont wear the ones from Chicago because the rings have gotten too big," he said. "I still wear my Leafs ring. Its classy." The ring ceremony also promises to help the Leafs salve any wounds left after the clubs controversial decision last year to take down photos at the Air Canada Centre of former players.dddddddddddd While Maple Leaf Sports president Tim Leiweke ordered the move in an attempt to create a new culture within the organization, saying he didnt want todays players looking at players from 1962 as they walked to and from the ice, critics ripped the team for not paying proper respect to its past players. Bower was among the former Leafs stars who talked Leiweke out of the move, The Toronto Stars Dave Feschuk reported in September. "I think Tim realized that was a mistake," Pulford said. "And to his credit, hes trying to rectify that. A lot of former players are going to be so happy about this ring ceremony. When I found out I almost cried." Shannon Hosford, vice president of marketing and communications, said the Leafs move is about, "treating our alumni right." "We had heard from players over the past few years that (those who won multiple Stanley Cups in the 1960s) really wanted to receive an additional ring," Hosford said. "We are trying to do the right thing heading into our centennial year and tie up loose ends. This is about working to bring our alumni closer into the fold." Hosford added that the team is spending $200,000 to produce about 50 of the rings. Ten players have confirmed their attendance so far at the Leafs fan fest and will receive the rings on Sept. 5. Award-winning journalist Rick Westhead is TSNs Senior Correspondent for TSNs platforms - TSN, TSN Radio, TSN.ca and TSN GO. He has covered a wide variety of sports issues for a slate of leading publications, among them the Toronto Star, Bloomberg News, Canadian Press, Globe and Mail, New York Times, and Saturday Night Magazine. Earlier this year, Westhead was part of a team that won the prestigious Project of the Year at the National Newspaper Awards. He was also honoured with the Toronto Stars Reporter of the Year Award in 2007. Share your comments with Rick Westhead on Twitter at @rwesthead. Stitched College Jerseys Cheap UCLA Jerseys NCAA Louisville Cardinals Jerseys North Carolina Jerseys Stitched Kentucky Wildcats Jerseys Stitched Alabama Crimson Tide Jerseys Cheap Basketball Wisconsin Badgers Jerseys Authentic NCAA Jerseys Store Wholesale Basketball NCAA Jerseys Cheap Duke Gear Stitched Alabama Jerseys Stitched Georgia Jerseys Cheap Clemson Jerseys Authentic Authentic Texas Jerseys Wholesale USC Jerseys Stitched Oklahoma Jerseys Stitched Ohio State Jerseys Cheap Notre Dame Gear UCLA Jerseys From China Cheap Louisville Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap North Carolina Jerseys Authentic Cheap Kentucky Jerseys Authentic Wisconsin Jerseys From China Cheap Michigan Gear Cheap Florida Gear Wholesale Arizona State Jerseys Cheap LSU Gear Cheap Auburn Gear Cheap California Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Miami Jerseys Authentic Cheap Michigan State Gear Cheap Tennessee Jerseys Authentic Texas A&M Jerseys From China Authentic Wake Forest Jerseys West Virginia Jerseys From China ' ' '