.S. Nationals, it was the first time she had sat in a race car since S

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Darren Collison could be in the starting lineup for the first time on Friday when the Sacramento Kings visit the Moda Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers.The veteran point guard made his 2016-17 debut Tuesday night, coming off the bench to help Sacramento (4-5) beat New Orleans 102-94.Collison, who missed eight games due to an NBA suspension after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery, had nine points and four assists while playing 28 minutes off the bench.Darren did a great job, first-year Sacramento coach Dave Joerger told reporters. He has worked hard and stayed after it, spending time with coaches, learning and making sure he was up to speed on everything.Its tough playing your first game after everybody already has their legs under them, Collison said. I didnt look like I was losing a lot of breath or was tired or out of shape. I would have loved to play more, but I know what coach (Joerger) was thinking. It just felt good to get on the court.The Kings have won two in a row, thanks in part to a greater focus at the defensive end.It takes awhile to learn to play that hard (defensively) on a nightly basis, Joerger said. We are learning that, and I am impressed.Its not something you can just come out and do, said Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, who ranks ninth in the NBA in scoring (25.8) to go with 8.6 rebounds per game. Its a mindset. It takes a lot of energy and effort and also a lot of focus. You can talk it, but you have to go out and perform in on a nightly basis.Portland (5-4) will be coming off its worst performance of the season -- heck, one of the worst in franchise history -- in a 111-80 drubbing by the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center.The Blazers trailed 36-16 after one quarter, 50-18 midway through the second quarter and 93-45 late in the third quarter.Said Portland coach Terry Stotts: We had trouble scoring all night. (The Clippers) were good on the perimeter. They were good on the ball. They were good rebounding. They were good at the rim. They were good in transition. It was a frustrating night.We got our (butt) whooped, said guard Damian Lillard, who made 1 of 10 shots from the field and had only one assist in 28 minutes. (The Clippers) played fresh. They wanted it more than we did. They did what they had to do. We werent making shots. We didnt execute well. That seemed to spark their energy.It was a rout. They pretty much just came out and handed it to us. We didnt bring it. No excuses.Portland went without starting power forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who strained his left calf in the win over Phoenix. Aminus status is questionable for the game against the Kings.NMD Outlet Italia . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. Adidas NMD Online Italia ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. http://www.adidasnmditalia.it/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Adidas NMD Saldi . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. NMD Scontate Outlet .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start.Alexis DeJoria knew the instant her powerful NHRA Funny Car hammered the Sonoma Raceway wall like a free-swinging baseball bat that she had suffered a severe injury.An excruciating pain shot through DeJorias lower back. It was so agonizing that she thought she had broken her back. She managed to unbuckle her harness and pull herself from her damaged Toyota Camry. DeJoria then slid down the side of the car. As soon as her feet touched the track, she experienced a shooting pain unlike anything she had ever felt.I was very upset because I didnt understand what had happened, she said. I looked at my guys when they pulled up in their tow vehicle on the other side of the wall as I was leaning over and I said, What the hell was that?Theyre looking at me stunned because they could see the pain in my eyes; they knew I was hurt. I knew I was hurt. The longer I kinda leaned over the wall, the more I knew there was something really wrong. I couldnt put any weight on my lower back.Initially, DeJoria was told at the hospital in Napa, California, that she would need surgery because her hip was compressed. However, further examination showed that wasnt the case. It was a fractured pelvic bone of the left iliac wing and it would have to heal on its own. She also had suffered some soft tissue damage when her knees hit the steering wheel in the July 31 accident.For four weeks, the 38-year-old DeJoria underwent physical, laser and electromagnetic therapy. It was the first time in her drag racing career she had been injured, and the road to recovery was a difficult one since she was told to rest and let her husband, Jesse James, wait on her.The first week following the accident, DeJoria was on crutches. She began her therapy the second week and continued it for a month before reentering her race car at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend. Despite missing two races, DeJoria managed to qualify that weekend for the NHRAs six-race playoff system -- the Countdown to the Championship -- for the third consecutive year.It says a lot for our team that we can miss two races and still make the top 10 [in points], said DeJoria, who has returned to her daily workout routine.During DeJorias recovery time, crew chief Tommy DeLago worked diligently to improve his driveers cockpit.ddddddddddddShe is so skinny -- from front to back where the normal mounting points for the lap belts in these cars have been for years werent designed for somebody [as small as her], DeLago said. I think weve made some pretty big strides with the seat, the seat insert and the way the belts are mounted to hold her in the car better.We found ways to make the seat wider inside so we can have more safety foam to be able to decelerate the body more in a side impact. Where the elbows are we were able to pocket the seat out around the chassis and add an inch of foam there on each side. Weve also got a new deal that will keep the legs from moving so much and have more padding for her legs.Normally, an injury such as DeJorias takes six to eight weeks to heal. DeJoria healed in five weeks thanks to the three different therapies used by Dr. David Harris at the Center for Healing and Regenerative Medicine in Austin, Texas. Harris wife, Michelle, oversaw DeJorias physical therapy, which involved the Neurac machine, a device that helps a person regain proper neuromuscular control.Ultimately, DeJoria missed the events at Seattle and Brainerd, Minnesota, but due to the point total she possessed, she maintained 10th in the standings. When she returned at the U.S. Nationals, it was the first time she had sat in a race car since Sonoma in late July. Even though she lost to Kalitta Motorsports teammate Del Worsham in the first elimination round, she still emerged 57 points ahead of Chad Head to claim the 10th and final position in the Countdown to the Championship.The NHRAs title run begins Friday at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina.DeJorias best finish in the Countdown came in 2014 when she placed seventh. This year she optimistically notes she has nowhere to go but up in the standings.I mean, were not going to get any lower than 10th, DeJoria said with a laugh. Its going to be exciting; its going to be a fight. Were very grateful that Im able to be a part of it.Deb Williams is a North Carolina-based writer and former editor. She has covered auto racing for United Press International, USA Today and The Charlotte Observer. ' ' '