inated from the playoffs, Scioscia said. You are al

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- For a team thats been on the wrong end of lopsided losses too often this season, the New York Knicks have become pretty good at pulling out the close ones.Its not exactly the plan new coach Jeff Hornacek laid out at the start, but its one hes willing to live with for now.Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points, including two free throws with 14.8 seconds remaining, and New York held on to beat the Sacramento Kings 103-100 Friday night.It just builds confidence and trust, said Brandon Jennings, who scored 13 points in place of injured Derrick Rose. I know its still kind of early, but for us this is big to win these close games . especially in the clutch.Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and 10 rebounds for New York. Kyle OQuinn had eight points and 11 rebounds to help the Knicks beat the Kings for the second time in six days.The Knicks have dropped four games by 19 points or more, including a 126-94 home loss to defending NBA champion Cleveland on Wednesday. Conversely, New York is 6-0 in games decided by four points or fewer.Its really been our defensive stops late that have allowed us to win these games, Hornacek said. Theyre veteran guys that get after it and they have a confidence going. They dont get panicked, they just take their time and make the plays.New York went cold from the field down the stretch but made six free throws over the final 2:09 to hang on.The Kings missed multiple shots in the waning moments, including an uncontested driving layup by DeMarcus Cousins with 22 seconds left that would have given Sacramento the lead.Rudy Gay missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds remaining, and Cousins also missed a desperation heave from beyond midcourt that hit the rim at the buzzer.We competed the whole night but we had small mistakes and we have to correct those or continue to lose close games, Cousins said. I hate to say it, but its a learning curve.Anthony had 23 points and five rebounds in the first half, then came up big from the stripe to help seal the Knicks fifth win in six games. He shot 9 of 22 from the floor and made his first 12 free throw attempts before missing two with 2.6 seconds left.Cousins finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Gay added 13 points for the Kings.Things got chippy during a timeout with 2:23 remaining. Darren Collison of the Kings and Courtney Lee of the Knicks appeared to get into a heated exchange before players from both teams stepped between the two. Collison and Lee received technical fouls.TIP-INSKnicks: Anthony scored 15 points in the first quarter. He also was called for a technical foul while driving for a layup attempt in the fourth. ... Jennings was 5 of 10 and had five rebounds with seven assists. He also shot an air ball on a free throw in the fourth quarter.Kings: Collison scored six straight points in the fourth quarter and made a layup that briefly put Sacramento up 94-92. ... Cousins was whistled for a technical foul midway through the third quarter, his eighth of the season.A REST FOR BARNESMatt Barnes did not play for the first time this season, although Kings coach Dave Joerger said it had nothing to do with the ongoing investigation stemming from an altercation in a bar that Barnes and Cousins were allegedly involved in while the team was in New York last weekend. Joerger called it a scheduled rest for Barnes, adding that he plans to do it more frequently for the remainder of the season.UP NEXTKnicks: Continue their five-game road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. New York has won four straight against the Lakers.Kings: Play at Utah on Saturday.Jaylen Brown Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Jayson Tatum Celtics Jersey .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. http://www.celticssale.com/kids-robert-williams-celtics-jersey/ . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. John Havlicek Celtics Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Bob Cousy Celtics Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer.HOUSTON -- Defensively speaking, the Los Angeles Angels showed up to play Sunday.The same could not be said of the offense.Starter Daniel Wright gave up two home runs, and the Angels bats fell flat in a 4-1 loss to the Houston Astros that ended a four-game winning streak.Defensively, we played a very good game; that was good to see, manager Mike Scioscia said. Offensively, we just couldnt get any momentum.The Angels could not figure out Astros starter Joe Musgrove, who lifted Houston in more ways than one.With his team in desperate need of a win to remain in playoff contention, Musgrove pitched seven strong innings to help snap a three-game slide.He had a tremendous game today at a time (when) we needed it, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.Evan Gattis, Tony Kemp and Tyler White each homered for Houston, which remained three games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot.Wright (0-5) lasted six innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits.I left the changeup up to Kemp that he hit out, and then the fastball up to Gattis to lead off both those innings, Wright said. I just have to get better at going out there from the first pitch of each inning and be ready to go.The Angels kept the game close by turning four double plays.The defense definitely came to play today, because they got me out of some jams, Wright said.Rafael Ortega drove in Los Angeles run in the fourth, his single up the middle scoring C.J. Cron, who finished with two doubles.Playoffs aspirations aside, Musgrove had another pressing reason to make his start count for Houston.Today was a tough day, said Musgrove, referring to the news of Miami pitcher Jose Fernandezs death in a boating accident early Sunday at age 24. There are a few guys in here that are handling it a little worse than the rest of us from having personal relationships wiith Jose.ddddddddddddThe energy was a little bit down, so I was hoping to go out there and pitch a strong seven.That he did.Musgrove (4-4) allowed one run on seven hits while striking out four.Closer Ken Giles rebounded from a blown save in Fridays 10-6 loss to Los Angeles. He walked one and struck out two in the ninth for his 14th save.I just wanted to go out there and put up a zero, Giles said. I needed to do that for the team and show them that I can bounce back.Carlos Correa singled home Jose Altuve in the Houston first.An inning later, Gattis homered off Wright, connecting for the 31st time this season.Kemp and White later added solo shots.MAYBE NEXT YEARFor Scioscia, its never too early to start thinking about next season.Ive been in this game a long time, and I just know that your quest for a championship doesnt stop if youre eliminated from the playoffs, Scioscia said. You are always working toward that championship, and for us it begins today.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: Before the game, Hinch said he was worried about Giles flexibility and ability to throw, a day after he injured his right wrist when he was hit by a line drive during batting practice. X-rays were negative.I think hes got a chance to be a little bit stiff, Hinch said after the game. Given that its a contusion, hell be all right.UP NEXTAngels: Jered Weaver (12-12, 5.20 ERA) will attempt to close out September on a winning note when Los Angeles hosts Oakland and LHP Sean Manaea (6-9, 4.03) on Monday. Weaver is 2-1 in four starts this month.Astros: Collin McHugh (12-10, 4.61) faces fellow RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12, 4.04) to open a three-game series against Seattle. McHugh is 4-0 against the Mariners this season. ' ' '