nullifying a 3-pointer by Terrence Ross that appeared to tie the game

WALTHAM, Mass. -- One week after Boston Celtics big man Al Horford suffered a concussion during an off-day practice, coach Brad Stevens said the 10th-year veteran has not progressed in the NBAs concussion protocol and he is uncertain when Horford will return to basketball activities.Horford, who signed a four-year, $113 million contract with the Celtics over the summer, has missed Bostons past three games. The concussion was diagnosed Tuesday, after he experienced nausea while attempting to practice a day after absorbing an inadvertent blow to the head from a teammate.[Horford] has not advanced in the protocol, based on what Ive been told, Stevens said after Mondays practice. I have not gotten anything deeper than that, but he did not do anything with our team today.On Saturday, Horford could be seen running on a treadmill above the Celtics practice court with team trainer Ed Lacerte monitoring the session. Horford then engaged in some light on-court work but quickly departed.Stevens had said that if that session went well, the team would increase Horfords activity. Instead, his status for Wednesdays game against the Washington Wizards is uncertain, with the Celtics set to fly to the nations capital Tuesday afternoon.According to the NBAs 2016-17 concussion protocol, a player cannot return to team activities until:? He is without concussion-related symptoms at rest.? He has been evaluated by a physician.? He has successfully completed the NBA return-to-participation exertion protocol.? A team physician has discussed the return-to-participation process and decision with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, director of the NBA concussion program. The final return-to-participation decision is to be made by the players team physician to maximize the consistency of care for the player.Stevens said that Saturday was Horfords first day attempting to navigate the return-to-participation checklist, about which the league notes:? The return-to-participation protocol involves several steps of increasing exertion, from a stationary bike to jogging to agility work to noncontact team drills.? With each step, a player must be symptom-free to move to the next step. If a player is not symptom-free after a step, he stops until he is symptom-free and begins again at the previous step of the protocol.? There is no time frame to complete the protocol.It would appear that Horford was unable to advance beyond jogging during Saturdays activity. He was not spotted after Bostons practice Monday.The Celtics are 3-3 overall and 1-2 since Horfords injury. Bostons biggest area of concern without Horford has been defense. With Horford on the court this season, the Celtics have an excellent defensive rating of 99.7 in the 88 minutes he has played. That rating spikes to a cringe-worthy 114.9 without him. Boston, which tied for fourth in defensive rating last season, ranks 29th this year at 110.2 overall.Struggling to rebound this season, regardless of whether Horford is on the court, the Celtics have started Tyler Zeller in his place the past three games. Stevens said the team would consider starting lineup changes before Wednesdays game but said that might hinge on who is available.I dont know what were going to do Wednesday, Stevens said. Weve got a couple of days now to think about that. [Monday] was more about, lets assess and watch what we didnt do well and what we did do well, which on [the defensive] end of the floor wasnt much, and then figure that out. And I dont know whos going to be available, so thats the other part of that equation.The Celtics have yet to be at full strength this season. Boston is currently without two starters in Horford and forward Jae Crowder (ankle). Also, top bench option Marcus Smart missed the first three games of the season with an ankle injury, and backup big man Kelly Olynyk has yet to make his season debut after undergoing shoulder surgery in mid-May.Olynyk could be back soon -- though he has remained hesitant to offer a firm timeline other than saying hes real close -- while Crowder said Sunday that he expects to be out a week or two and will not rush back after pushing himself too much late last season and struggling in the playoffs. Asics Gel Kinsei 6 Womens . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Onitsuka Tiger Slip On Mens . 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The controversial finish that gave the Sacramento Kings their first victory in five games caused one other aspect of a rare good night to get lost. Dave Joergers new-look starting lineup delivered the better first quarter that Sacramentos first-year coach was looking for.The Oklahoma City Thunder wouldnt mind a similar development on their side.The Kings new, smaller starting five -- center DeMarcus Cousins, guards Darren Collison and Ty Lawson, and forwards Rudy Gay and Matt Barnes -- put up 25 points in the opening quarter, got out on the run and helped the Kings to a 36-point first quarter against Toronto on Sunday.They are expected to get an encore together Wednesday when the Kings (5-9) host the Thunder (8-7) at Golden 1 Center.Its a different look, but were all pros, Gay said. Everybody is capable of doing a lot of things out there. Im not going to say one starting lineup is better than the other, but it worked. So well see how we do in the future.The new look, with center Kosta Koufos on the bench after starting in the frontcourt with Cousins in 12 of Sacramentos first 13 games, seemed to unclog the middle. Lawson had more room to drive the key and kick out a pass, a strength of his game that had been missing. The faster tempo also freed Collison to get in the open floor, and he contributed three assists in the first three minutes en route to nine in 32.The work of the starters became a bit of an oversight after the ending of the Kings 102-99 victory. Official Mike Callahan ruled the game clock didnt start soon enoughh on Torontos final inbounds pass, nullifying a 3-pointer by Terrence Ross that appeared to tie the game.ddddddddddddhe Kings hope to take that break and their new lineup and run with it. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak.Thats the team right there that I saw in the preseason that I got so excited about coaching, Joerger said. A bunch of guys that care about each other and go and play really hard.The Thunder didnt start well Thursday in a 111-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, getting outscored 23-6 over the final seven minutes of the opening quarter. That loomed large after a late 10-0 run became a footnote when the Lakers Nick George hit a winning 3-pointer with five seconds left.Oklahoma City has lost six of eight since a 6-1 start and has surrendered an average of 31 points in the opening quarter over its past six contests. The Thunder have allowed at least 100 points in eight consecutive games.Guard Russell Westbrook has put a lot of that blame on himself, even though a case could be made that he has been the NBAs best player so far this season. Westbrook scored 17 of his 34 points in the final quarter against the Lakers and added 13 assists and eight rebounds.He told reporters the Thunders early-game struggles have started with him: I have to come out and be ready to play every night.Westbrook is averaging nearly a triple-double, with 31.8 points, 10.6 assists and 9.6 rebounds. ' ' '