Cushing also missed significant playing time with a range

CHICAGO -- If there ever was a time to be sure that the Cleveland Cavaliers epic three-game win streak to finish the NBA Finals and beat the Golden State Warriors for the championship was a thing of a past, this weeks three-game losing streak -- capped by a 111-105 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls on Friday -- hammered that point home.Weve got to get out of the honeymoon stage, a visibly frustrated LeBron James said after he had a personal 30-game winning streak broken for his teams when he totaled 20-plus points and 10-plus assists. Thats yalls headline for tomorrow. I know yall going to use it.James finished with 27 points and 13 assists, but he also had a season-high eight turnovers -- giving him 20 turnovers during the three consecutive losses.While he had a part in the Cavs undoing, it was Chicagos 78 points in the paint that really stood out as the reason for their demise. This came after Cleveland was outscored 68-34 in the paint during the first loss of the skid against the Milwaukee Bucks and 30-18 in the second loss against the Los Angeles Clippers.Youve got to play the game the right way, James continued. Youve got to battle every night like we aint won nothing. Last year is last year, and after ring night, its over with. Now its a new season and everybody is gunning for us every night, and we have to understand that. The honeymoon stage is over, and its time to play some real ball and be physical, especially in the trenches. Giving up 78 points is ridiculous. Weve got to man up. Everybody.Its the first three-game losing streak of Tyronn Lues tenure as head coach, after being elevated to the position at midseason last year.Weve got to do better, Lue said after the Cavs lead for the top seed in the Eastern Conference fell to just half a game over the Toronto Raptors. Concerned, I wouldnt say that. We are a good team, but right now, were not playing like it. Well be better, and thats on me to make it better.Lue pointed to his responsibility to come up with better schemes defensively, while also mentioning his players necessity to play better one-on-one defense.Cavs forward Kevin Love, who finished with 15 points on 5-for-14 shooting with nine rebounds while often matched against Chicagos Taj Gibson (23 points, 10 for 13 shooting, 11 rebounds), joined his coach in shouldering the blame.I think myself, I was bad tonight, Love said. I mean, just getting to those different rotations and being locked in. We needed to be more in tune with what were trying to do and have that next man up mentality.A night that started with a spectacle, as a pack of approximately 50 media members swarmed James with cameras to capture his pregame attire -- a full-fledged Chicago Cubs uniform to settle a World Series bet with Dwyane Wade -- ended with a despondent Cavs locker room.We dont want to drop three in a row, but its happened, Kyrie Irving?said. And now we figure out where we can get better, things that we need to correct and we move forward. Obviously, all of us are competitive players, were winners, and going forward we just got to be better. But theres no need for controversy or any of that or us overthinking it. Its just basketball.Weve got to go out there and just compete at a high level and do it consistently over a 48-minute game. Thats all. And I think right now, were doing it in bits and pieces. Were getting out to a good start in first quarters, were hitting guys [early], and sometimes the game can take a shift. But with that, weve got to keep playing and rely on one another.On Thursday, following the Cavs second loss in a row, James downplayed the significance of the rut they had found themselves in.The best thing about this league is you kind of always get an opportunity right away to be better, he said, pointing to the second night of the back-to-back ahead of them in Chicago. Now, three games in a row, thats something to talk about.Reminded of that quote postgame on Friday night, James simply quipped, Weve got to be better.Lue also was reminded of James quote after the loss to the Clippers, which read like an invitation for the media to question the Cavs should they not get back on track in Chicago.Well, now you got something to talk about, Lue said. And its not going to get any easier. Going to Toronto, going to New York, so if were not ready to play, were not ready to compete and take the challenge one-on-one, it will happen again. Christian Miller Panthers Jersey . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Luke Kuechly Panthers Jersey . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-luke-kuechly-panthers-jersey/ . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. Brian Burns Panthers Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Luke Kuechly Womens Jersey . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. SCOREBOARDMonday, Sept. 12Pittsburgh at Washington, 7:10 p.m. EDT. Pittsburghs Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown will be without running back LeVeon Bell, suspended the first three games for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy. The matchup to watch is Brown vs. All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. This is the first time theyre facing each other since 2014, when Norman was in Carolina and before he became a star and signed a $75 million, five-year deal with the Redskins.LA Rams at San Francisco, 10:20 p.m. EDT. Case Keenum will start at quarterback for Los Angeles and Blaine Gabbert will go for San Francisco. Rams running back Todd Gurley was the 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year. San Francisco RB Carlos Hyde has shown bursts of stardom while battling injuries his first two seasons.---STARSPassing-Drew Brees, Saints, was 28 for 42 for 423 yards and four touchdowns in New Orleans 35-34 loss to Oakland. It was Brees 14th game with at least 400 yards passing, tying Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history.-Alex Smith, Chiefs, finished 34 for 48 for 363 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception, and added a 2-yard rushing TD in overtime in Kansas Citys 33-27 win over San Diego.-Jameis Winston, Buccaneers, was 23 for 33 for 281 yards and four touchdown passes and an interception in Tampa Bays 31-24 victory over Atlanta.-Carson Wentz, Eagles, finished 22 for 37 for 278 yards and two touchdown passes in his first regular-season start in Philadelphias 29-10 win over Cleveland. He is the first Eagles rookie to start at quarterback in a season opener since Davey OBrien in 1939.-Matthew Stafford, Lions, finished 31 for 39 for 340 yards and three touchdowns in Detroits 39-35 win over Indianapolis.-Andy Dalton, Bengals, was 23 for 30 for 366 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Cincinnatis 23-22 win over the New York Jets.-Andrew Luck, Colts, was 31 for 47 for 385 yards and four touchdowns in Indianapolis 39-35 loss to Detroit.-Jimmy Garoppolo, Patriots, went 24 for 33 for 264 yards and a TD in his first NFL start, a 23-21 win at Arizona.---Rushing-Matt Forte, Jets, had 22 carries for 96 yards and five receptions for 59 yards in New Yorks 23-22 loss to Cincinnati.-Spencer Ware, Chiefs, had 11 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, and seven receptions for 129 yards in Kansas Citys 33-27 overtime win over San Diego.-Lamar Miller, Texans, had 28 carries for 106 yards in Houstons 23-14 win over Chicago.-Melvin Gordon, Chargers, had 14 carries for 57 yards and two touchdowns in San Diegos 33-27 overtime loss to Kansas City.---Receiving-A.J. Green, Bengals, had 12 catches for 180 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown, in Cincinnatis 23-22 win over the New York Jets.-Willie Snead and Brandin Cooks, Saints. Snead had nine receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown, while Cooks had six catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including a 98-yard TD which was the longest scoring play in Saints history. However, Oakland rallied for a 35-34 win, and Amari Cooper had six receptions for 137 yards.-Jordan Matthews, Eagles, finished with seven receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphias 29-10 victory over Cleveland.-Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals, made eight catches for 81 yards and two TDs in a 23-21 loss to New England. Fitzgeralds second touchdown reception was the 100th of his career.---Special Teams-Dan Bailey, Cowboys, was 4 for 4 on field goals, including a 56-yarder and 54-yarder in Dallas 20-19 loss to the New York Giants.-Blair Walsh, Vikings, was 4 of 6 on field goals in Minnesotas 25-16 win over Tennessee.---Defense-Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter, Vikings. Kendricks returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown and Hunter returned a fumble 24 yards for a TD in Minnesotas 25-16 win over Tennessee.-Leonard Williams and Steve McLendon, Jets. Williams had 2+ sacks and McLendon added two of New Yorks seven sacks of the Bengals Andy Dalton in New Yorks 23-22 loss.-Whitney Mercilus, Texans, had two sacks and a forced fumble in Houstons 23-14 win over Chicago.-Jerry Hughes, Bills, had two sacks in Buffalos 13-7 loss to Baltimore.---BIG PLAY IN THE BAYOUDrew Brees and Brandin Cooks, Saints, connected for a franchise record 98-yard scoring play against the Raiders.ddddddddddddSeeing the speedy Cooks in single coverage on first down from his 2-yard line, Brees lofted a pinpoint pass down the left sideline that hit Cooks in stride. Cooks easily sped away from cornerback Sean Smith and free safety Reggie Nelson. The play also was Brees longest career completion. The previous longest scoring play in Saints history was a 90-yard pass from Billy Joe Hobert to Eddie Kennison against Atlanta on Oct. 10, 1999. The Saints previous longest play from scrimmage was as 96-yard passing play -- not for a TD -- from Billy Kilmer to Walter Roberts on Nov. 19, 1967, the franchises inaugural season.---JUST FOR KICKSFive teams saw their kickers miss extra points Sunday, with only one being costly. The New York Jets lost 23-22 to Cincinnati, with Nick Folk missing an extra point kick for the first time in his 10-year NFL career. It ended a streak of 312 straight made PATs; he had also set the NFL record for most extra points without a miss with 322 overall, including the playoffs. Other who missed but saw their teams win were Blair Walsh of the Vikings, Randy Bullock of the Giants, Steven Hauschka of the Seahawks, and Matt Prater of the Lions.---WORTH NOTINGFour games have been decided by exactly one point in Week 1, the most on NFL kickoff weekend. ... Houstons Will Fuller became the first player in franchise history to have 100 yards receiving in a debut with 107 yards and a touchdown in Houstons 23-14 win over the Bears. Brock Osweiler threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns in his debut with Houston after the Texans lured him from Denver with a $72 million contract. ... The Cowboys fell to 1-12 without Tony Romo since the first of two broken collarbones last season in Week 2. Because of Romos back injury, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott were the first rookie quarterback-running back combo to start an opener for the Cowboys since Roger Staubach and Calvin Hill in 1969. New York beat Dallas in an opener for the first time in nine tries. ... Tennessee is 2-15 since the start of the 2014 season on its home field, with both wins coming against Jacksonville. The Titans lost to Minnesota 25-16. ... Oakland rookie running back Jalen Richard had a 75-yard rushing touchdown on his first career carry in the Raiders victory. Richard is the fourth player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown of at least 75 yards in his NFL debut. He joined Oran Pape (78 yards, Sept. 28, 1930), Alan Ameche (79 yards, Sept. 25, 1955) and Ottis Anderson (76 yards, Sept. 2, 1979). ... The Bengals beat the Jets for the first time in 10 meetings in New Jersey with a 23-22 win.---INJURIESHouston middle linebacker Brian Cushing and San Diego wide receiver Keenan Allen left their respective games with injuries. Allen left the field on a cart after suffering what looked like a serious right knee injury with less than two minutes left in the first half. Cushings diagnosis was only slightly more optimistic. He also hurt one of his knees but walked off the field under his own power. Cushing also missed significant playing time with a range of injuries in 2012 and 2013, but started every game last season. ... Giants linebacker J.T. Thomas III was also carted off the field, after spraining a knee on a kickoff return on the final play of the first half against Dallas. ... Bucs defensive end Jacquies Smith was carted off the field with a right knee injury against Atlanta. Indianapolis defenders T.J. Green (sprained knee) and Patrick Robinson (medical evaluation) went down in the same series in the first half, and stayed out for the rest of the game against Detroit.---QUOTABLEEveryone knew about our strategy. I didnt really ask for any feedback there. I said, `When we score here, we are going to go for two and win it right here. -- Raiders coach Jack Del Rio on the decision to go for a 2-point conversion in the final minute of Oaklands 35-34 win over New Orleans.---QUOTABLE IIJoe is as tough as a $2 steak. Whats a $2 steak nowadays? -- Ravens coach John Harbaugh on quarterback Joe Flacco.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '