me to the same place weve seen Martin Truex Jr. We need to see it in the next six weeks.Last but not least is the driver who won the first race of the year, the biggest race of the year, but de

WASHINGTON -- Otto Porter didnt think much of Otto Porter chants in the final minutes of the Washington Wizards 118-93 rout of the Boston Celtics. But they sure were familiar.Back in the same building he called home when he starred at Georgetown, Porter scored a career-high 34 points and had 14 rebounds Wednesday night. Porter shot 14 of 19 and 3 of 5 from 3-point territory, sparking the Wizards to a 26-point lead after a quarter -- an advantage that never dipped below 15 the rest of the way.Right now Im trying to play at a high level every night, Porter said. Im trying to do what it is I can do to help this team win.Porter scored 20-plus for the second consecutive game and delivered the win he believed the Wizards (2-5) desperately needed. On a night Bradley Beal left with right hamstring tightness and John Wall was ejected for the second game in a row, Porter was the offensive and defensive catalyst with four assists, three steals and three blocks.He gives you a lot of winning basketball plays, coach Scott Brooks said. You can look at his field goal percentage, you can look at all the things that he does in his midrange game, his 3-point shots developed, his offensive rebounds.Porter earned plenty of credit from the Celtics (3-4) for his energy all over the court.He outworked us, getting off his rebounds, put-backs, said Isaiah Thomas, who led Boston with 23 points. Youve got to tip your hat to him, but they were running isolation plays for him and we just couldnt guard him.SLOW STARTThe Celtics started the game 4 of 22, including 0 of 8 from 3-point range, as the Wizards 26-point lead was the largest by any NBA team after the first quarter this season. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Bostons eight points were its fewest in the first quarter since scoring seven against the Milwaukee Bucks in 1974.I didnt think there was a lack of purpose or focus, coach Brad Stevens said. I thought we looked a little shook by them on offense.WALL EJECTEDWall, who scored 19 points, was thrown out with 5:24 left when he was assessed a Flagrant-2 on video review for fouling Bostons Marcus Smart. It was his fifth career ejection but second in as many games, and Wall was also fined $25,000 on Wednesday for inappropriate actions toward an official when he was tossed from the Wizards loss to Houston on Monday.We have to keep our composure, Brooks said.HORFORD PROGRESSStevens said C Al Horford made some more progress in the leagues concussion protocol Tuesday after the team left Boston. Horford has missed four consecutive games.The process restarts itself if you have symptoms when you start the different levels of exercise, so hes had to restart a few times already, Stevens said.TIP-INSWizards: Beat the Celtics for the first time since Dec. 27, 2014, snapping a four-game skid. ... Brooks said Beal will have an MRI on his hamstring Thursday and that Wall wouldnt play either Friday against Cleveland or Saturday at Chicago. ... The team held a pregame moment of silence for Greg Ballard, a member of the 1978 NBA champion Bullets who died Wednesday at age 61.Celtics: C Kelly Olynyk played 25 minutes and scored two points in his season debut after undergoing right shoulder surgery in May. ... F Jae Crowder missed his third consecutive game with a sprained left ankle.UP NEXTCeltics: Host the New York Knicks on Friday in the first half of a back-to-back.Wizards: Host LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Friday fresh off the defending champions trip to the White House. Jordan Oesterle Gear . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Jordin Tootoo Gear . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. http://www.chicagoblackhawksgear.com/nathan-noel-gear/ . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Adam Boqvist Gear . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Glenn Hall Gear . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. These are the dog days of summer, the part of the season most challenging for drivers. With the freshness of the new season gone, the Coke 600 and Brickyard 400 in our rearview mirror, we grind away at the schedule for another six weekends until NASCAR takes on a new meaning in Chicago.I am in no way suggesting the next month-and-a-half have no purpose.In fact, for a dozen drivers their seasons depend on something spectacular happening in this final handful of races. But even for them, its a grind.For those who have punched the ticket to the big dance -- the Chase -- most would just as soon the music begin now. These are the hottest months of the year and the hottest track temps. Track conditions confirm it. Nothing comes easy in these final regular-season events, but each of them are valuable.Pocono, Watkins Glen, Michigan, Bristol, Darlington and Richmond. None of these tracks have a presence in the Chase. None of them share any similarity to the 10 tracks in the Chase.So lets just take the next six weeks off.Just kidding!But I promise you, there are a few wearing full-faced helmets who would embrace that, because thats the effect this time of the season has on some drivers.How about those who have plenty to fight for? Well start with Chase Elliott. This young man was nearly perfect in the previous Pocono event a few weeks back, and he has had a season deserving of a playoff spot. Another weekend at the tricky triangle like he had a short time ago would go a long way in solidifying one of those 16 spots.Kyle Larson is equally deserving. My concern for Kyle is that he might try too hard. I do believe he feels some need to redeem himself after Dover, where he finished second with what appeared to be a superior car.I dont think he has a darn thing to correct or redeem. But I also must tell you drivers are extremely hard on themselves -- I suppose like most competitors are -- and while the feeling in the moments after the race is that you will have plenty of shots for that fiirst win, the reality is the longer you go without it, the more the pressure builds.ddddddddddddLarson is a lock for the Chase if he manages the next six events as well as he did last weekend at the Brickyard.Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman have done a remarkable job managing the first 20 races of the season. Richard Childress Racing also appears to be gaining some momentum, which suggests Childress could have two of his three drivers in the playoffs. This team has a lot to race for.Jamie McMurray has been stealth-like and has the experience, wisdom and knowledge to calculate his way into the playoffs. Of all the drivers Ive mentioned, he is most qualified to control his own destiny.All three Roush Fenway Racing drivers sit between 18th and 22nd, so Im saying theres a chance. But for the chance to become reality, the organization needs to find another gear. Progress has been made, thats for certain. But having no cars make the championship battle would make any measure of progress a hollow feeling.Kasey Kahne?is, well, in the same place he seems to be year after year, on the edge of in or out.While this has not been a typical Hendrick Motorsports-type season, Kahne has been doing this long enough and well enough at times for the expectations to be Chase or bust. He is capable of elevating his game to the same place weve seen Martin Truex Jr. We need to see it in the next six weeks.Last but not least is the driver who won the first race of the year, the biggest race of the year, but desperately needs a swing in momentum.Denny Hamlin has had a solid year until you compare his numbers to his teammates. This is without question the best Joe Gibbs Racing has ever been.Hamlin, who I believe is a championship-caliber driver, needs to capitalize on the moment. The moment is now. The place is Pocono.Hamlin wins, and that, folks, is this weeks bottom line! Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '