Clan-Members » role, we will have to play compact, Wilmots said

ATLANTA -- Thabo Sefolosha loves it when the Atlanta Hawks get so many players contributing on offense.Eight of the Hawks 10 players scored in double figures Wednesday night, led by Sefolosha, whose primary role is a defensive specialist off the bench.Everybody can play on this team, he said. On different nights, a different guy steps up. Its a huge plus to have that.Sefolosha scored 20 points, Dwight Howard added 18 and Atlanta beat the Chicago Bulls 115-107 for its third consecutive victory.Paul Millsap had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks, and Dennis Schroder scored 13. Howard grabbed 10 boards as Atlanta outrebounded Chicago 49-30.Jimmy Butler finished with 39 points and Dwyane Wade had 25 for the Bulls, who have lost four of five.The output was Butlers highest since he scored a career-high 53 points against Philadelphia on Jan. 14 last season.They got what they wanted, and then we decided to start playing -- once again, Butler said. Defense is all about effort, lets get that straight. Weve got to man up and guard, take it personal. Well be fine, but weve got to guard.Atlanta carried over some momentum from Tuesdays rare victory at Cleveland. The defending NBA champion Cavaliers had won 11 straight in the series, including two playoff sweeps.Sefolosha sparked the Hawks when he entered late in the first quarter, scoring 16 of their 21 points in a 3:44 stretch that spanned the first two periods to help Atlanta take a 45-31 lead.Sefolosha loved how Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer changed the defense to keep Butler and Wade in check.In the second half we switched it up a little bit, Sefolosha said. Theyre good players, so were not going to stop them every time, but we got just enough stops and we had good offense at the end to pull through.The Hawks led by 17 early in the second on Millsaps jumper, but Chicago pulled within three early in the third. Kent Bazemore was called for a technical foul after slamming into Butler near the rim on a fast break, and Butler hit three free throws.After Wades jumper put the Bulls up 74-73, Chicago took its biggest lead at five on Doug McDermotts fast-break dunk before Tim Hardaway Jr.s runner put Atlanta up 86-85 late in the third.The Hawks led the rest of the way, pushing the margin to 11 when Hardaway hit a straightaway 3-pointer. McDermotts short jumper made it 103-101 with 4:54 remaining, but the Bulls didnt get any closer.Our depth in the entirety of the roster is something we have a lot of faith and belief in, Budenholzer said. Tonight you kind of saw that.BACK IN TOWNWade will return to Miami on Thursday for the first time with an opposing team. The 12-time All-Star, who helped the Heat win three NBA titles in 13 seasons, had 23 points at the end of the third but went 1 for 4 from the field in the fourth.X-RAYS NEGATIVEBazemore jammed his right pinkie against the backboard on his hard foul. X-rays were negative, but he wore a protective sleeve on the finger. He said he got the technical for slamming his mouthpiece to the floor.STAYING CLOSEBulls G Michael Carter-Williams made the two-game road trip even though hes sidelined four to six weeks with a bruised left knee. Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said Carter-Williams is moving around well, but his timetable hasnt changed.UP NEXTBulls: Visit Miami on Thursday.Hawks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.Baltimore Orioles Gear . -- 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. Fake Orioles Jerseys . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. https://www.cheaporioles.com/ . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Baltimore Orioles Pro Shop . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Orioles Jerseys China . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season.BORDEAUX, France -- Belgium captain Eden Hazard was a noticeable absentee from Tuesdays training session as his team prepared for its quarterfinal match against Wales at the European Championship.Coach Marc Wilmots said that Hazard, who inspired Belgium to its 4-0 victory over Hungary on Sunday, had a muscle problem.Eden felt a slight spasm in the quadriceps at halftime against Hungary, Wilmots said. He is now following an individual program ... and will be back again the day after tomorrow. He will be 100 percent, no problem.Defender Thomas Vermaelen was also absent but he is suspended for Fridays match.After a slow start to the tournament, Belgium is finally living up to its favorites tag. The manner in which it swept aside Hungary in the round of 16 has put the team firmly back to the top of the list of contenders.Belgium reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup two years ago, losing to Argentina, and is keen to go even further in this tournament.I dont want to belong to any category, we simply play each match to win it, Wilmots said. Weve had two quarterfinals in four years, thats already not bad. And now we have just one obsession, to reach the final.But between what you want and what you dream .dddddddddddd... Weve seen in the past few days that there is no easy match. Will France beat Iceland? Im not so sure. You have to be wary of everyone.First up for Belgium is Wales and star forward Gareth Bale, who has scored three goals in the tournament.He has a free role, we will have to play compact, Wilmots said. But its not just one player we have to worry about. Everyone knows his role well and his growth in power.Against Hungary, Belgium missed several chances before scoring a late flurry of goals.Wilmots made it clear that his players need to be more clinical, so they can be at ease quicker.Belgiums forwards have lightning pace, but Wilmots insists his side will not sit back and wait to hit Wales on the counterattack.Im going to watch some Wales matches this afternoon, Wilmots said. But from their past matches, Wales will sit back and wait for us with five defenders. We could also wait and see how they will react but thats not part of our philosophy.We have to be calm and patient. We have to take our game to Wales and try to pierce their defense. ' ' '