ols shimmy moves after hitting the game-winner.HUSTLE PLAYIn th

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Coach Dan Quinn appreciates how the Atlanta Falcons are positioned atop the NFC South, holding a one-game lead over Tampa Bay with two games left in the regular season.Now if the Falcons could just stop getting key players hurt, but Quinn is hardly despondent. Inexperienced players are stepping into big roles and impressing the coaching staff.I know were judged by what happens on Sundays, but honestly I thought the game from yesterday was won during the week, Quinn said Monday. It was the preparation that the guys put in and having that mindset to go for it.When Atlanta (9-5) visits Carolina (5-8) this weekend, linebacker DeVondre Campbell will not play after sustaining a concussion in Sundays blowout win over San Francisco.Quinn isnt sure of the status of tight end Austin Hooper, who left the game late with a knee injury. Campbells status, however, is a bigger concern for a defense that has already lost cornerback Desmond Trufant, safety Kemal Ishmael, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and defensive end Derrick Shebly to season-ending surgeries. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn is likely inactive for a fourth straight week with a sore knee.Its rough and a bummer for those guys, Quinn said. We have a number of guys who are ready if called upon, so well take it through the week as we get ready to play.The Falcons hope that All-Pro receiver Julio Jones, out the last two games with a sprained toe, and cornerback Jalen Collins, sidelined against the 49ers with a knee injury, will be ready to play against Carolina.Despite Jones absence, Quinn was delighted how well Aldrick Robinson filled in with a team-high 111 yards receiving on four catches. The coach also praised C.J. Goodwin, a receiver-turned-cornerback, and Deji Olaltoye, promoted from the practice squad three weeks ago.All the guys have been in the system long enough to know how we play, Quinn said. This is the technique we do.Without Hooper, the Falcons took another hit at tight end. Starter Jacob Tammes season ended in Week 8, which leaves only Levine Toilolo and undrafted rookie free agent Joshua Perkins as the lone players at their position.Without Trufant, the teams best defender, and Collins, a second-round draft pick last year, the Falcons used a four-man rotation at cornerback. Brian Poole, an undrafted rookie free agent who has started seven of his 14 games at nickel, played on every snap. Robert Alford, a full-time starter the last three years, took all but two snaps.Goodwin and Olatoye subbed in for each other all afternoon at the outside spot opposite Alford.Those guys have good length, Quinn said. The times we played them in man-to-man, they really showed up. We thought theyd play well. They were ready to go. Their coaches trust them, their teammates trust them.Improvement on defense has been a season-long quest. The Falcons allowed between 28 and 33 points over the first four weeks, but over the last four games, theyve forced more turnovers and opponents are scoring less.The emergence of second-year end-outside linebacker Vic Beasley, the NFL sacks leader with 14.5, and inside linebacker Deion Jones, one of the leagues most productive rookies, has been timely.Even when (the 49ers) got a few first downs, we made sure that we stopped them, safety Ricardo Allen said. Even though they got a touchdown or two, we kept playing the whole game and got our ball back to our offense and you see what they did.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLUnder Armour Outlet Ireland . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Under Armour Shoes Ireland . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. http://www.underarmouroutletireland.com/ . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. Under Armour Online Ireland . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Cheap Under Armour Ireland . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.LOS ANGELES -- In his ninth NBA season, Marc Gasol is becoming a 3-point shooter.The 7-foot center hit a go-ahead 3 from the left corner with 14 seconds left , and the Memphis Grizzlies hung on to beat the Clippers 111-107 on Wednesday night, snapping Los Angeles seven-game winning streak.Mike Conley scored 30 points , Gasol added a season-high 26 and Memphis equaled a season high with 15 3-pointers, including a career high-tying seven by Conley.They are the best team in the league right now, so for us to get a signature win like this is huge, Conley said.Gasol made four 3-pointers, the same number he hit in helping Memphis rally for a win over Washington last month. Hes made 16 3s this season after hitting just 12 in his first eight seasons.We stay in the moment and its been good so far, Gasol said. We made the right plays and we are lucky the ball went in.J.J. Redick scored a season-high 29 points, Blake Griffin added 25, and DeAndre Jordan had 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who still have the NBAs best record at 10-2. Both of their losses have come at home.I dont like that, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said about the home defeats. We had enough points, we didnt have enough defense.Los Angeles came in outscoring opponents by an average of 16.6 points, fourth-highest in NBA history, but the Grizzlies built a 16-point lead in the first half and were ahead by seven going into the fourth.In the end, it was the Grizzlies defense that preserved the victory.With 23 seconds left, Griffin inbounded to Jamal Crawford, who got blocked by Gasol.After Gasols 3-pointer put Memphis ahead 109-107, Redick had the ball stolen by Conley, who got fouled and made both free throws to close out the win.Jordan blamed himself for not being in the right spot when Gasol shot from the left wing.I made a bad read, saw Mike turn the corner and thought I needed to help, Jordan said. I should have stayed on the corner.Redicks seventh 3-pointer gave the Clippers a 101-100 lead in the fourth, their first since early in the second quarter.But Conley answered with his seventh 3 and Zach Randolph hit a turnaround bank hook, putting the Grizzlies back in front 105-101 and forcing the Clippers to call a timeout.ddddddddddddLos Angeles regrouped and scored six unanswered points for a 107-105 lead. Crawford put back his own miss, Jordan tipped in Pauls miss and Paul hit a pullup jumper while the Grizzlies missed on consecutive possessions.Randolph added 18 points off the bench and Vince Carter had 12.TIP-INSGrizzlies: Conley scored 30 against the Clippers in a 99-88 home loss on Nov. 4. ... G-F Tony Allen missed his fourth straight game with a right groin injury.Clippers: F Wesley Johnson sat out his third game in a row with a left heel contusion.HE SAID ITHes too far gone for me to teach him how to dance, but now every time he makes one he has to dance. -- Conley on Gasols shimmy moves after hitting the game-winner.HUSTLE PLAYIn the third, Paul had the games best hustle play even though the Clippers failed to score. He got blocked by Harrison on a running layup and Conley grabbed the rebound. But Paul stole it back and fed Redick, who missed a 3-pointer. Green rebounded, but Conley lost the ball to Paul again and Griffin missed a layup.AGELESS CARTERAt 39, Vince Carter is the leagues oldest active player. He scored 20 points on Nov. 8 against Denver, becoming the oldest in league history to score 20 or more off the bench.He also had 20 against Utah on Nov. 14. He had 12 points in 26 minutes Wednesday.He was a superstar in this league and now he still wants to play, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. Hes a teacher and a leader. Hes still playing because hes smart.Memphis coach David Fizdale called Carter one of the great guys in the NBA.You should see his house in Orlando; its like a workout factory, he said. He takes it serious. He takes pride in his physique and his diet, so Im not surprised how well he is playing.UP NEXTGrizzlies: Visit Dallas on Friday to close out a four-game trip. The Grizzlies have lost three in a row to the Mavericks.Clippers: Visit Sacramento on Friday and return home Saturday to host the Chicago Bulls in the second game of a back-to-back, their fourth of the season. ' ' '