! You dont need stats to know there are far more diving incidents and

CHARLOTTE, N. Kyle Lowry Jersey .C. -- Kevin Durant insists he cant do it alone. The Oklahoma City forward said hes going to need help picking up the slack, with running mate Russell Westbrook out until after the All-Star break following knee surgery Friday. "I need Reggie Jackson. I need Serge Ibaka. I need Kendrick Perkins. Im not afraid to say that," Durant said. "I need to lean on those guys, just like we need to lean on each other. That is what team is about. So through adversity we just have to lean on each other." But at least on this night, the Thunder leaned heavily on Durant, especially down the stretch. Durant scored 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 12 rebounds as the Thunder held on to defeat the Charlotte Bobcats 89-85 Friday night. The team announced before the game that Westbrook will miss at least 27 games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Los Angeles. Durant did get some help. Ibaka had 12 points and nine rebounds and Thabo Sefolosha had 12 points and a pair of free throws with 3.5 seconds left to seal the victory for the Thunder, who have won seven straight road games and 11 of 12 overall. But Jackson, who started in place of Westbrook, was only 4 of 19 from the floor and Perkins failed to score despite playing more than 25 minutes. "Obviously, it was an emotional day with Russell, but I thought we did a good job of handling that," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "Now weve got to work and improve the rest of the season." As for Jackson, Brooks said he has confidence that "hell get better. Hell challenge himself to shoot better and he will." Kemba Walker led the Bobcats with 18 points and seven assists. Al Jefferson added 16 points and 11 rebounds. This one came right down to the wire. After tailing most of the game, Charlotte had a chance to steal the win with 3.9 seconds left but Josh McRoberts missed a wide-open 3-pointer from the left wing. Sefolosha was fouled and clinched it with two foul shots on the other end. Bobcats coach Steve Clifford wasnt satisfied with his team taking one of the leagues best teams to the wire. "This may surprise you, but I didnt like at all the way we played," Clifford said. "I didnt like our defence. Our attention to detail was not good at all. The things we talked about this morning that we had to do, we did a poor job with. We gave them baskets. Our effort on the glass was not anywhere it needs to be." The Thunder led 76-74 with 5 minutes remaining when Durant knocked down a pair of 3s to give Oklahoma City the momentum. He added a step-back jumper and a driving layup to push the advantage to 86-78. But Anthony Tolliver hit a 3-pointer and Walker converted a breakaway layup to cut the lead to three with 49 seconds left. Durant left the door open when he missed a pull-up jumper with 25 seconds left, and the Bobcats grabbed the rebound. Instead of going for a 3-pointer to tie, Walker drove the lane and scored on a layup that cut the deficit to one. Jackson was fouled on the inbounds pass and hit one of two free throws with 10.7 seconds to go, setting up a chance for McRoberts. "I think Ibaka ran down there to cover Kemba and I got a wide-open look at it," McRoberts said. "Ill take that shot every time. Were frustrated we lost. There are no moral victories." The surprising news on Westbrook came just two days after he had a triple-double against the New York Knicks. General manager Sam Presti said in a news release that Westbrook has been playing pain-free, but "recently had experienced increased swelling" in his right knee. Westbrooks knee problems began in April when he tore his meniscus in the second game of the Western Conference playoffs. He had a second arthroscopic surgery before training camp. Oklahoma City is 21-3 with Westbrook in the starting lineup and 3-2 without him. "He was playing great basketball, probably some of the best basketball in the entire league," Brooks said. "Were looking forward to him coming back and getting back to the level that he has played at -- and he will." NOTES: The Bobcats embark on a five-game road trip beginning Saturday night in Atlanta. ... Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and wide receivers Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn Jr. attended the game. ... The Thunder are 11-1 in their last 12 games against the Bobcats. Tracy Mcgrady Jersey .com) - The top spot in the AFC South will be on the line when Houston native Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts shoot for their fourth straight win when they take on the Texans at NRG Stadium. Jodie Meeks Raptors Jersey . The 29-year-old German, the 2011 overall World Cup champion, says she has decided "to end my career now. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/Authentic-Norman-Powell-Jersey/ .Y. - Islanders forward Anders Lee has been fined $2,286 by the NHL for elbowing St.Chelsea gained one point; West Brom lost two points but the biggest loser in all was the sport. Referee Andre Marriners decision to award Chelsea a 94th-minute penalty on Saturday was one of the most controversial decisions the Premier League has seen in some time. On the line was Jose Mourinhos unbeaten home league record as manager at Stamford Bridge, dating back to 2004. It appeared the streak was coming to an end until Ramires fell under a challenge by defender Steven Reid. Check out the play and judge for yourself. Was it a dive? No. Was it a foul? Absolutely not. Reid simply ran towards the ball and watched the Brazilian fall underneath him. Mistakes happen, referees are only human, but what about those who do not think it was a mistake? Mourinho, speaking after the game, said: "I am sure it was a penalty, I have watched it from different angles, no doubt that is a penalty." It would be easy to believe this is a comment from a man, who likes the limelight, sticking up for his team. However, if that was the case would he really go over the top in selling it as a no doubt penalty? I truly believe Mourinho, much like Marriner, believes it was a penalty and if that is the case the sport is heading down a very dangerous path. The penalty box extends 16.5 metres (54 ft) to each side of the goal and 16.5 metres (54 ft) in front of it. Those measurements have been in place since 1901. They are not going to change anytime soon, but they certainly should. If someone had never watched the sport, before today, and you had to explain to them what happened, the first question from them would surely be why is the blue team allowed a free one on one shot with no defenders in front of them when a player, nowhere near the goal, was brushed aside by a defender. Foul or no foul the punishment is far too harsh for the crime committed. Or, in this case, not committed. The awarding of a penalty is a massive moment in a football match. A referee has to be absolutely convinced a foul has taken place before pointing to the spot. This is where he needs help from the sports governing bodies and the players. The decision is so monumental he needs time to be able to make that judgment. He should also be allowed to discuss the moment with his assistants, but in a game that allows players to barrage officials with abuse that would be impossible. With the game played at a rapid pace and more and more rules put in place to help attackers and hinder defenders, the regular awarding of penalties throughout the sport globally (not just the Premier League) is a problem. And it is getting worse. Here is a look at stats (via Opta) of the amount of penalties taken each season in the Premier League. Season Penalties Taken Goals (pen) Success (per cent) 2013-14 25 19 76.0 2012-13 85 68 80.0 2011-12 100 72 72.0 2010-11 105 81 77.1 2009-10 111 86 77.5 2008-09 85 67 78. Jodie Meeks Jersey. 8 2007-08 88 68 77.3 2006-07 112 87 77.7 2005-06 76 57 75.0 2004-05 84 66 78.6 2003-04 89 69 77.5 2002-03 92 75 81.5 2001-02 73 48 65.8 2000-01 68 54 79.4 1999-00 85 65 76.5 1998-99 73 51 69.9 1997-98 72 57 79.2 1996-97 80 61 76.3 1995-96 68 53 77.9 1994-95* 97 67 69.1 1993-94* 99 81 81.8 1992-93* 92 61 66.3 *The first three seasons featured 22 PL teams and, subsequently, 462 matches played as opposed to 380 per season that take place in a 20-team league. Let us separate the Premier League into three different sections, with seven full seasons in each. Penalties awarded in the first seven seasons (92-93 to 98-99) - 581. An average of 83 per season. Penalties awarded in the next seven seasons (99-00-05-06) - 567. An average of 81 per season. Penalties awarded in last seven seasons (05-06-12-13) - 686. An average of 98 per season. The average amount of penalties awarded in the first 14 seasons of the Premier League was 82 with no season reaching the century mark in penalties awarded, even when 82 more games were being played. In the last seven seasons there has been four seasons where penalties awarded has reached 100 or more and the average is up by 16 per season! You dont need stats to know there are far more diving incidents and penalty appeals in the game than there once was. Managers say the right thing about ending diving in the game but ultimately it hasnt stopped players trying to gain an advantage over their fellow professionals. That was not the case with Ramires on Saturday but what happened is a direct consequence to the ongoing pressure placed on referees. Asking referees to make a judgment call on an accusation of intent (diving) simply gives them too much to think about. Put that next to comments by Mourinho setting the standard that the Ramires incident is a penalty and you can understand why more and more players try to win penalties. Its an epidemic created by the modern game and it is here to stay. Get ready for the next controversial penalty decision because it is coming much quicker than it used to. ' ' '