NEW ORLEANS - Pelicans coach Monty Williams says All-Star forward Anthony Davis has a mild groin strain and could play again as soon as Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.Davis, who was hurt in the third quarter of Wednesday nights 93-85 loss to Denver, had an MRI Thursday morning. The scan revealed a grade 1 adductor strain, an injury that causes soreness from being over-stretched but which does not necessarily limit muscle function.Hes walking around, doing some stuff — nothing to break a sweat — but hes walking around normally, so well see how he feels on Friday, Williams said. If he feels up to it, were going to play him his normal minutes.Davis, who has not spoken with media since his injury, has been playing about 36 minutes per game this season. He is third in the NBA in points per game (24.3), eighth in rebounds per game (10.4) and first in blocks per game (2.9).Against Denver, he crashed to the floor late in the third quarter after a midair collision with Kenneth Faried under the basket. He remained down several minutes and then limped to the locker room with the help of team medical staff.He returned for about 8 minutes in the fourth quarter, but Williams pulled him out for most of the final minute.The only way he was going to get back on the floor is if the doctors said he wasnt going to aggravate it more, Williams said. But as I saw him getting up and down the floor, after a few minutes of playing, I didnt see the normal burst that we know A.D. brings every night.Williams said he will want to see that usual burst in pre-game warm-ups before putting Davis back in the lineup.Theres no need of putting him on the floor if he drags his leg, Williams said. I dont think that helps him at all and certainly prolongs the healing process.The Pelicans on Thursday were only 2 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with nearly half of the regular season left. They are also in the midst of what could be a pivotal stretch in which they play six of their next seven games at home, where they are 15-6.If Davis is held out against the Clippers, that would give him a minimum of four full days of rest before New Orleans following game on Monday night against Eastern Conference leader Atlanta.Generally, Williams errs on the side of giving hobbled players more rest.Ive been around for a little bit and I know when a guy really wants to play, but I also know theres a chance that if he plays and hurts himself it can hurt us going forward, Williams said. You always try to protect your guys. ... Its a tough decision. And those are the decisions I have to make to do whats best for him and our team. 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City, fielding a depleted team having already qualified, was twice pegged back by the plucky Czech champions but substitute Negredo tapped home in the 78th minute and Dzekos header made sure of victory in the 89th. The result kept City three points behind Bayern Munich ahead of their meeting in Germany in two weeks. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Nike Jerseys .com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Chicago scored in a variety of ways to produce the Cubs best offensive nights of the young season. Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer before drawing a career-high four walks and Nate Schierholtz drove in three runs, rallying Chicago over the Cincinnati Reds 9-4 Wednesday night. Starlin Castro went 3 for 4 with two doubles for the Cubs, who matched their season-high in runs on the way to their second win in their last three games following a four-game losing streak. "We had good at-bats all night," Rizzo said. "Schierholtz had a huge at-bat in the ninth." Brayan Pena hit a solo homer for the Reds, who have lost four of five. Edwin Jackson (2-2) beat Cincinnati for the second time this year, allowing four runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. Brian Schlitter, Wesley Wright, Neil Ramirez and Hector Rondon combined for two-hit relief. "Its a good feeling," Jackson said about turning the game over to the bullpen. "We have confidence in those guys. Were confident that theyre going to come in and pick up the slack." With the score tied 3-3 in the fifth, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Nick Christiani (0-1). Mike Olt hit into an RBI forceout, and Schierholtz followed with a sacrifice fly. Manager Rick Renteria wasnt surprised to see his Cubs string together productive at-bats. "Weve been having a tough time trying to tack on runs and score runs," he said. "Today was an example of what we can do. "It was a good day all around," the first-year manager added. "(Jackson) kept us in the game and the relief pitching did a nice job." Schierholtz added a two-run single off Sean Marshall against a drawn-in infield in a four-run ninth. "It was good to see Nate get a hit there," Renteria said. Chicago needed just three batters to take a 2-0 lead in the first on Emilio Bonifacios leadoff single and the left-handed hitting Rizzos 426-foot, opposite-field homer to left-centre off of left-hander Tony Cingrani. "Its really early,&" Rizzo said.dddddddddddd "Im just trying not to do too much, especially against left-handers. Im not trying to get three hits in one at-bat." Todd Frazier tied the score with a two-out, two-run double in the half. Pena, signed by the Reds as a free agent in November, gave the Reds a 3-2 lead when he homered leading off the second -- his first home run since Aug. 11. His previous NL homer was for Atlanta against the Marlins on April 13, 2007. Castros single tied the score in the third. Cincinnati starter Tony Cingrani gave up three runs and six hits in four innings. "Im just a little fatigued," said Cingrani, whose velocity noticeably dropped in his last inning. "I was labouring. I dont know what it is about the first inning. Ive just got to pitch." Cingrani denied that he was having back problems, which forced him to spend time on the disabled list last season. "My back is fine," he said. "Ill make some minor adjustments and see how it goes." Manager Bryan Price believes his left-hander is simply in a slump. "Cingrani wasnt real sharp," he said. "His velocity started to back down that last inning. I didnt think we should send him back out there and expect different results. Other than his first starts against St. Louis, hes been finding his way. We just want to make sure hes strong. He hasnt been sharp lately." Brandon Phillips had an RBI single in the fifth, his eighth hit in his last 46 at bats (.174). NOTES: Reds manager Bryan Price confirmed that LHP Aroldis Chapman will start and pitch one inning for Class A Dayton on Thursday in the first game of his minor league injury rehabilitation assignment. Price expects Chapman to make four appearances over seven to 10 days in the minors. Chapman had a plate inserted above his left eye to heal fractures from a line drive on March 19. ... The Cubs are scheduled to open a five-game homestand on Friday against St. Louis. The Reds are scheduled to open a four-game home series Thursday against Milwaukee, the team with the big leagues best record. ' ' '