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New York, NY (Sports Network) - New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy and Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin have been named the NFCs top performers for the third week of the 2013 season. cheap china jerseys . Graham earned the offensive award Wednesday after catching nine passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints 31-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The 26-year-old Graham leads all NFL tight ends with 23 receptions for 358 yards and his four receiving touchdowns are the most by any player in the NFC this season. Hardy took home the defensive award after tying a career high with three sacks in the Panthers 38-0 victory over the New York Giants. He also had a team- high eight tackles, five of which were made behind the line of scrimmage for a total of minus-22 yards. He is the first defensive end for the Panthers to be honored since Julius Peppers (Week 8, 2009). Martin won the special teams award after punting six times, averaging 52.5 yards per punt with a net average of 40.7 yards in the Lions 27-20 win at Washington. His average of 52.5 yards per punt was the highest in a game by a Lion with a minimum of six punts since Pat Studstill (53.0) on Sep. 11, 1966. His longest punt of the day was 72 yards, which ranks second in franchise history among rookie punters. Martins performance helped the Lions to their first win in Washington in franchise history. He is the first Lions punter to win the award since 1993 (Jim Arnold, Week 18). Others considered for the offensive award included Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler, Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy, Dallas running back DeMarco Murray, Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford and Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. Defensive consideration went to Detroit rookie defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, Minnesota linebacker Erin Henderson, Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Ware and Chicago safety Major Wright. Arizona cornerback/kick returner Javier Arenas and Carolina kicker Graham Gano were nominated for the special teams award. cheap nfl jerseys . Sopoaga hit the upright with his first shot at goal from 15 metres. He then kicked nine goals in succession -- two conversions and seven penalties -- before being replaced in the 62nd minute, three points short of the Highlanders record for most points in a match. cheap jerseys . So on Friday, they went to work. The two-time Eastern Conference runner-ups announced they had signed three free agents -- backup big man Lavoy Allen, swingman C.OKLAHOMA CITY -- NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant marveled at what Jamal Crawford did to his team. Crawford scored 36 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 125-117 on Sunday afternoon. Durant scored 42 points, but such performances are almost expected from him. Crawford, on the other hand, averages about 19 points. Hes known to be streaky, and in this game, he was on. He made 5 of 8 three-pointers, many of which were launched from well beyond the line. "Jamal Crawford comes across halfcourt shooting," Durant said. "Youve got confidence once you start seeing the ball go in the rim." Matt Barnes scored 24 points, Chris Paul had 18 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, Blake Griffin scored 20 points and DeAndre Jordan added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who snapped a two-game skid and beat the team with the leagues best record. "We were on the plane yesterday flying here and we were just talking about how we hadnt beaten any good teams on the road, any really good teams, and this would be a perfect time to start," Paul said. "Doc (Clippers coach Doc Rivers) was on us, telling us that in the playoffs, youre going to lose a home game at some point and youve got to be able to win on the road. Hopefully this is a win for us that gets us moving." Durant also had 10 assists, and Serge Ibaka added 20 points for the Thunder, who lost their second straight. It was the most points the Thunder have allowed this season, and it came on the heels of a 103-81 home loss to Miami on Thursday. "Weve just got to get over this little slow stretch that were in," Durant said. "Wed better. Weve got to play defence. Thats the thing. We cant just let teams come in here and do whatever they want offensively." Oklahoma City overcame a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter to take a 115-112 lead on a three-pointer by Durant with 2:43 to play, but the Clippers controlled the game from there. A three-pointer by Crawford with 1:30 remaining gave Los Angeles a 119-115 lead. Crawford scored again on a floating jumper in the final minute to push the lead to 121-117. "Jamal made timely shots," Paul said. "Every time they made a run and we just needed a bucket, Jamal was our guy." Oklahoma Citys Russell Westbrook missed a three-pointer on the other end, and Paul made two free throws to extend the Clippers lead to six. Paul sprained his right thumb against Memphis on Friday, and he waasnt sure hed play. cheap jerseys from china. "I think the credit goes to our training staff," he said. "I came here to the arena thinking that I wasnt playing, but they found a way." The Clippers shot 66 per cent in the first half to take a 72-66 lead at the break. Barnes made a three-pointer with 9.8 seconds left in the first half, and a loose ball foul was called on Ibaka away from the shot. Griffin made the free throw to give the Clippers a 72-64 lead. Durant closed the half with a long two-pointer. The Clippers scored 44 points in the second quarter, just short of their season high of 46 in a period. The Clippers had 27 fast-break points at halftime. "We really couldnt get ourselves in front of them, and they were beating us down the floor early, and it gave them some confidence and led them to winning the game," Westbrook said. Griffin hit a three-pointer to push the Clippers lead to 91-79 with 3:26 left in the third quarter. Darren Collisons layup pushed the lead to 95-80 late in the third quarter, but Oklahoma City outscored the Clippers 13-4 in the final two minutes of the period to cut its deficit to 99-93. Derek Fisher hit two 3-pointers to start the rally, and then Durant made a 3 with 1.6 seconds left in the quarter. The Thunder trimmed the Clippers edge to a point on a pair of free throws by Jeremy Lamb, and Fisher tied it at 107 on a 3-pointer with just over six minutes to play. The Clippers kept the offence working from there, holding on for a win that they hope launches their playoff push. "Its very important," Crawford said. "Coming down the stretch, we just want to continue to do our game, every single night, no matter who were playing. It doesnt matter. As long as we keep getting better down the stretch, I think well be in good shape." NOTES: The Clippers made their first five shots. ... Thunder centre Kendrick Perkins missed Sundays game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a strained left groin. He was injured during the third quarter of Oklahoma Citys loss to Miami on Thursday night. Steven Adams, a rookie, got his third career start in Perkins place. ... Rivers and Crawford were issued technical fouls in the first quarter. Paul was given one in the second quarter. ... Clippers guard J.J. Redick sat out with a bulging disc in his lower back. He had missed the previous six games. He has played in just 30 games this season while dealing with wrist, hip and back injuries. He averages 15.7 points and 2.2 assists per game. wholesale jerseys ' ' ' |
