(SportsNetwork. George Magerkurth Jersey Online .com) - Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt was embarrassed with the previous loss and hopes his team gets the message Friday night versus the Brooklyn Nets at Quicken Loans Arena. The much-improved Atlanta Hawks left the Forest City with a 127-98 beatdown of the Cavaliers on Wednesday and shot a sizzling 64.5 percent from the floor. Shelvin Mack came off the Atlanta bench to score 24 points and sank all six of his 3-pointers. Atlanta buried 16-of-28 3-pointers on the night. That was embarrassing, how we played, Blatt said. I apologize to all the good fans who came out here. Really, just a poor, poor performance. LeBron James and Dion Waiters scored 21 points apiece and Kevin Love posted his 14th double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Cavs shot 45.1 percent and received nine points and six assists from Kyrie Irving. James, who didnt play in the fourth quarter, was asked if he was embarrassed with the loss and he responded, nah, Im embarrassed losing the Finals. James is four points shy of passing Charles Barkley (23,757) for 23rd on the NBAs all-time scoring list. He is averaging 31.0 ppg in his last four games and is second in the NBA with 25.4 ppg. Cleveland has lost three of four games following an eight-game winning streak and will also welcome Memphis and Minnesota to the Q on this five-game homestand. The Cavs are 8-5 at home this season and 9-1 in the last 10 games against teams from the East. The Cavs, who have won six of the past seven at home, are 12-4 against conference foes. Brooklyn has lost two in a row and five of its last seven games, and dropped a 105-89 decision at Toronto on Wednesday. Mason Plumlee scored a career-high 23 points, Joe Johnson had 17 and Mirza Teletovic added 14 for Brooklyn, which shot 43.2 percent and struggled from beyond the arc, making only 9-of-27 shots downtown. Having that time on the court has given my teammates confidence in me, Plumlee said after the first meeting between the Atlantic Division foes since Brooklyns seven-game win in the first round of the playoffs. Its a great opportunity for me. Deron Williams finished with 11 points and seven assists, and is averaging that many assists in the past nine games. Nets veteran big man Kevin Garnett did not play against the division-leading Raptors and is day-to-day. The Nets were coming off a close 95-91 loss to Miami on Tuesday in the first of a back-to-back, and hope the recent rest will pay off Friday. They are 5-7 on the road this season. Brooklyn lost the first of four meetings with Cleveland, 110-88, at Barclays Center on Dec. 8, as Garnett and Williams scored 14 and 13 points, respectively. Waiters led all scorers in that one with 26 points, Love chipped in 19 and 14 rebounds and James added 18 points and seven assists. The Cavs broke a 61-61 tie by closing out the third quarter on a 24-6 run and have won two in a row against the Nets. Cheap Jerseys 2020 . LaQuinton Ross scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half, hitting his first four 3-pointers, to send No. Norm Bass Jersey Online . That was OK with him. He was just happy his team came away with two points. Letestu redirected Jack Johnsons shot from the point with 2:38 left, lifting the Blue Jackets past the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Monday night. https://www.cheapjerseysatwholesale.com/wally-hess-jersey-online/ . The Kelowna, B.C. rink made the announcement on their facebook page on Thursday night.MALMO, SWEDEN – Canada has been searching for its identity at the World Junior Hockey Championship and they may have found it: underdogs. Consensus among Canadian players is that they enter Tuesdays first-place showdown with the Americans as the clear underdogs following a shootout loss to the Czech Republic on Saturday and a white-knuckle, come-from-behind win against Slovakia on Monday. "Its probably one of this first times were the underdogs in this and theyre really good," said defenceman Mathew Dumba, loaned to Team Canada by the Minnesota Wild. "Theyre a great team and weve got to be ready for them." "Oh for sure, I think were definitely the underdogs," agreed forward Bo Horvat. "Theyve been playing well all tournament and won all of their games so far. It should be a good test." "I think, maybe, were a little bit of the underdogs," said Jonathan Drouin, Canadas top-line centre. "They won last year, theyre 3-0 so we have to get off to a good start and play our own game and not watch them play.” The message from Canadian players was remarkably consistent. You almost got the sense they were happy to enter the New Years Eve clash considered the weaker team and Nic Petan, who scored the winner in Mondays 5-3 victory over Slovakia, admitted as much. "Yeah, definitely, it makes us work harder," he said. Canada as an underdog in hockey? A rare occurrence, especially at the World Juniors, but considering the sky-high expectations facing these teenagers, who can really blame them for trying to shift the pressure to the Americans? Only 16-year-old Connor McDavid, Canadas youngest player, balked at the idea that his group was an underdog. "I dont know," the Erie Otters sensation said. "I think a lot of people are viewing us the underdogs. Im not necessarily sure thats how we feel. Were confident in our abilities." The defending champion Americans tried to brand themselves as underdogs entering the event. Head coach Don Lucia noted theyd need big-time goaltending from Jon Gillies every night and would rely on a grind-it-out style to win some close, low-scoring games. Of course, the United States promptly cruised through the first three games of the tournament outscoring the Germans, Czechs and Slovaks 19-4. "Were not a star-studded team," insists Lucia. "I think the bottom line is our guys understand what our identity is and keep with that identity." That blue-collar identity that values hard work as much as skill is the same one Canadian head coach Brent Sutter has sought to install with his group. But the Americans, who have had 12 different players score, seem to have had an easier time adapting to the brand. "Anybody who asks about this team I tell them I dont think we really have any superstars," said forward Adam Erne. "Were a group that works really hard and really wants to win and I think thats what it takes in this tournament: different guys every game." DROUIN FACES ERNE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE CONCUSSION Erne is at the heart of this years rivalry game, because of what happened earlier this month in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Erne, who plays for the Quebec Remparts, leveled Halifaxs Drouin with a hit from behind. Drouin sustained the first concussion of his career on the play. Afterwards, Erne suggested the third overall pick in last Junes NHL draft may have made matters worse by trying to draw a penalty on the play and embellishing what happened. "It happened so long ago. Its not a big deal right now. Im not focused on that. Im focused on the upcoming game," said Erne, who reached out to Drouin after the game via text. "Everybody knows that hes a good player and we were drafted by the same team [Tampa Bay] so were going to have to get along so thats just how its going to have to be. Its in the past. It happened. Itts hockey so lets move on from there. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale. quot; Erne wasnt suspended for the hit and Drouin refused to comment on that decision. But the 18-year-old said winning on Tuesday would be the best revenge. "Yeah, for sure," Drouin said, "I dont think Im going to go for a cheap-shot on Adam. Its not the Q here. We have to win and its going to be a team game." MCDAVID vs. EICHEL IN 2015 NHL DRAFT PREVIEW Erne against Drouin is not the only juicy subplot in the Canada-USA rivalry these days. Tuesdays game will also feature two of hockeys brightest young stars going head-to-head, specifically: McDavid against American Jack Eichel. Both are expected to go very high in the 2015 NHL draft with the Canadian considered the odds-on favourite to go No. 1. "Yeah, you know, its nice to play against him, but I dont really think about playing against him," said Eichel, a Boston University recruit. "Its not a one-on-one battle were going to be playing in. Its a team game where the United States is going to be playing Team Canada. Im not going to be playing Connor." McDavid echoed that sentiment. "Its not really about me and him. Its about Canada versus the Americans. Thats it. I know hes on the team. Hes a big part of their team. Hes a good player and hell be a big part of the game." McDavid has struggled to make his mark on the tournament. He was benched after taking two penalties against the Czech Republic and started the next game against Slovakia as Canadas 13th forward before earning more ice time in the third period. Eichel, meanwhile, has been a solid presence in the American top-six forward group notching a goal and three assists. "I couldnt believe how young he actually is," said Team USA captain Riley Barber. "Hes a big player, strong and doesnt really look his age." "His all-around game is quick, so fast," said line-mate Ryan Hartman. "Ive been lucky enough to be playing with him the last couple games now. He knows where he is out on the ice and where all the players are at." Gillies, Barber and Hartman are the three returning players on the American roster. Drouin, defenceman Griffin Reinhart and goalie Jake Paterson are the veterans on the Canadian side. Paterson will be Zach Fucales backup on Tuesday while Reinhart will make his 2014 tournament debut after missing the first three games with a suspension. RIVALRY IS SOMETHING SPECIAL Last years semifinal showdown remains very much on the minds of the players. "Its a motivation," said Drouin. "We lost 5-1. It was a hard loss for me. This year, I want to battle back and make sure I dont lose again against the Americans." "It was one of the worst feelings Ive had in hockey for sure," admitted Reinhart. "Whether they played in it or not everyone on both teams was watching," said Hartman. "Everyones going to be riled up and ready to go." Indeed, Canada versus the United States is always an emotional encounter. When you add in all the subplots listed above and the fact the game will decide who wins Group A, well, its easy to get pumped up. "Its something special," said Erne with a smile. "I mean, Ive been watching since I can remember so its going to be a real honour to play in it and Im real excited." "Ive played in a few U.S.-Canada games and theyre always intense," said Eichel. "I know our teams looking forward to it and I imagine they are as well." "Its unbelievable," said McDavid, "especially this New Years Eve game. It has been quite a tradition for the past couple years and I usually never missed watching so it will be a lot of fun for sure." "I expect a lot of compete out of them," said Barber, whos tied for the team lead with three goals. "It should be a really, really fun game to watch." ' ' '