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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Los Angeles Clippers will be looking to extend the best start in franchise history when they travel for the second game of a back-to-back in Minnesota on Saturday night.The Timberwolves are just hoping to build some momentum in this young season.Los Angeles survived a 110-108 victory in Oklahoma City on Friday night, pushing their record to an NBA-best 8-1. In the process, the Clippers posted a win against the only team to beat them this season.This is one of those games that you can lose your trust in, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said after the contest. (Andre) Roberson was making threes, (Damontis) Sabonis was making threes and were telling our guys to stay and clog the paint. And they are looking at me, like, Why? We did it and it worked out for us. This is one of those games that you could have lost trust easily in what we were doing and we didnt.At the end of the day, we won the game, so I think it actually probably gives me more equity to try more stuff.The Clippers are building plenty of equity this season. Los Angeles has won five games in a row, including road games at Oklahoma City and San Antonio.Minnesota enters the season with high hopes with new coach Tom Thibodeau after more than a decade of losing. But the young squad is still looking to find its rhythm, particularly on the defensive end.Timberwolves opponents are shooting .469 from the field this year, the second-highest mark in the NBA. Minnesota has allowed 104.0 points per game. Establishing a defensive presence was a big part of Thibodeaus arrival.The Timberwolves (2-5) allowed 107 points on the road to Orlando in their last game, but managed a 123-107 victory to snap a three-game losing streak.There is a small difference between winning and losing, Thibodeau said after Wednesday nights game. You take a hard look at the mental mistakes. The biggest thing is eliminating all of the ways you beat yourself first.A possible return from point guard Ricky Rubio could help fix the defensive inefficiencies. Rubio has missed the last five games with a sprained right elbow, but he returned to practice Friday. If he feels good after the workout, Rubio could return this weekend as Minnesota plays a home back-to-back.As long as he feels pretty good tomorrow, Thibodeau said Friday. Just the way he can push the ball, his decision-making, team defense, hes all over the place.Defense hasnt been an issue for Los Angeles. Returning nearly the same squad as last season, the Clippers allow a league-low 90.4 points per game.The Clippers had won three games in a row by more than 20 points before Fridays two-point victory. The game came down to the end, only assured when Russell Westbrooks 3-pointer missed the mark in the final seconds.Yeah, a big-time trust game for us, Chris Paul said after the game. Nike Just Do It Skor .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Nike Air Max Thea Rabatt . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. http://www.reaairmaxsverige.com/air-max-200-rabatt.html . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Nike Air Max 2020 Sverige . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Nike Air Max 90 Sverige . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Abby Wambach says she abused alcohol and prescription drugs for years until her arrest for driving under the influence in April.I was stubborn and I was in denial, soccers most prolific international goal scorer told The Associated Press in a phone interview. I didnt want to face the truth.In Forward, her memoir set for release on Tuesday, the retired U.S. national team star recounts her career, from the lows of losing her high school championship to the highs of winning the Womens World Cup last year. She also chronicles her high-profile marriage to fellow soccer player Sarah Huffman and the struggles they faced.And she tells of her bouts with vodka and pills, which included Vicodin, Ambien and Adderall.Chapters in the book are words that she has been labeled: tomboy, captain, lesbian, and yes, addict.That night getting arrested was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Because if I dont get so publicly shamed and publicly humiliated, I dont think I wake up, she said as she prepared for a book tour. I think I was asleep for a lot of years. Asleep to the pleas from my family and friends, and even myself, to get help. So that night I was humiliated enough to wake up.With 184 goals, Wambach is the leading career scorer -- male or female -- in international soccer. She retired in December after 15 years with the U.S. womens national team.She says she has been sober since the night she was pulled over in Portland, Oregon, after dinner with friends. It was her rock bottom: Her mugshot was everywhere the next morning.This was not what she imagined her legacy to be.Wambach said that night was a culmination of events as her life spiraled out of control. Her marriage was on the rocks, she was wrestling with her retirement and her direction, and she had just taken a new job with ESPN.She issued a statement on Facebook after she was released from jail the next morning, taking full responsibility for her actions and apologizing to her friends, family and fans. In the aftermath, MINI USA withdrew her from its advertising.She pleaded guilty, agreeing to enter a diversion program for first-time offenders that included treatment.In the book, she never pins down a moment that alcohol and drugs started to become a problem. Like so many who have shared her experience, it developed over time. Those closest to her tried to reach out, including Huffman, fellow national team player Sydney Leroux and friend Kara Mirarchi.Not only was I hiding this secreet from the world for so long, so were the people that I loved -- they loved me so fiercely they wanted to protect me as much as possible, almost from myself.dddddddddddd Sarah was definitely one of my saving graces because she was one of the first people in my life who made me aware of the problems that I was having, Wambach said. And this was years ago. This isnt something that just snuck up on me when I retired from soccer. This is something Ive been dealing with for years now.Wambach capped her illustrious career with the sports most prestigious championship when the United States defeated Japan 5-2 in Canada last summer for the Womens World Cup. It was the third World Cup title for the U.S. women and first since 1999.The FIFA World Player of the Year in 2012, Wambach appeared in four World Cups with the national team. She also has a pair of Olympic gold medals from the 2004 Games in Athens and the 2012 Games in London. She did not compete in the Beijing Games because of a broken leg.Wambach announced her retirement last October and played her last match with the team in December, a 1-0 victory tour loss to China in New Orleans. She said she looks back at pictures from that game and her eyes seem hollow.Wambach became more active tackling social and political issues in the later years of her career, and has been outspoken about gender equity in particular. She led a group of players in protesting FIFAs decision to play the 2015 World Cup on artificial turf, which is considered by many to be inferior to grass.In retirement, she has campaigned for Hillary Clinton for president. She also has a weekly podcast and other work for ESPN. But most importantly, shes working on becoming a whole human being now that shes not numbing herself.Wambach and Huffman, whose kiss following the World Cup victory became one of the most memorable photos of the tournament, could not work out their differences and are divorcing.In her interview with the AP, Wambach was far less guarded than shed been in past conversations. After earlier this year proclaiming I dont get nervous, her emotions were more on the surface as she sincerely admitted her foibles.Its really hard to talk about things when youre ashamed, she said. And Im not ashamed about what happened to me anymore because it led me to where Im at right now. Im proud of where Im at. ' ' '