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This is a trip that could go a long way to define the season for the Carolina Panthers.The Oakland Raiders are hoping theyre recovered enough from their latest voyage to be able to continue their winning ways.The teams meet Sunday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.Were talking about recovering from the trip, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. Its all about whats next for us and right now its the Carolina Panthers. ... Busy turning the page to the Carolina Panthers.The Raiders, who are the leaders in the AFC West, are coming off Monday nights victory against the Houston Texans in Mexico City.The Panthers have packed up for the long haul. Theyre staying on the West Coast after this game to take on the Seattle Seahawks the following week.It shapes up as a crucial time for the reigning NFC champions.Were going there for two reasons and two reasons only, Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said, offering a twist on the one-game-at-a-time mantra. Theyre both important. Each game has (its) own individual meaning.Rivera, though, said the focus is clearly on the Raiders as the Panthers (4-6) embark on this trip. Theyll practice at San Jose State in between the games.The Panthers are somewhat wounded, particularly with linebacker Luke Kuechly ruled out after entering the concussion protocol from the Nov. 17 game against New Orleans.Carolina was fortunate to have extra time to prepare because of that Thursday night game. The injury report grew considerably, especially with defensive end Mario Addison and center Ryan Kalil exiting and also ruled out.Hopefully they can come back and we can make a push, Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert said.The Panthers, whove won three of their past four games, are in a wait-and-see situation regarding the linebacking because Kuechlys normal backup is A.J. Klein, who missed the most recent game because of a concussion.The Raiders (8-2) appear in much better position, if nothing else theyre in a more enviable spot in the standings. But winning the division remains a priority and theres lots of work to be done regarding that mission.It still begins with winning the division, Del Rio said. Its the surest way to get a spot in that playoff tournament.With accolades and attention starting to fall on the Raiders, theyre intent on maintaining the right approach.You set goals and you want to reach certain things, quarterback Derek Carr said. Everybody expects great things and when good things come our way you have to know how to be humble.Anytime you have 10 games and you have eight wins, were thankful for that. If we dont win another one, its not going to mean anything. Our focus right now is on beating Carolina.Del Rio, who was the defensive coordinator for the Panthers in 2002, said the Raiders have developed good tendencies during their four-game winning streak. He said there are challenges the team must encounter in the aftermath of the out-of-country trip and dealing with a shortened week of preparation.The seasons foundation is something hes counting on.As you have success and build on that and have a reference point to go back on, Del Rio said. I think our guys have embraced the idea of competing for the full 60 minutes. Weve found ways to win, but it has been different ways each week.While Carr has become a focal point for Oaklands offense, the team has thrived on balance and versatility. Thats something the Raiders figure can work to their advantage.To know that we can win a football game either way, Carr said. We can run the football or throw the football. Either way, Im all for it as long as we keep on winning.The Panthers have been shoddy in converting scoring chances into touchdowns and quarterback Cam Newtons inconsistency has created concerns. Turnovers and red-zone shortcomings have been glaring at times.We will make plays and hopefully we will make enough to win football games, Rivera said.Rivera has put a positive spin on the trips potential even though it means facing a pair of divisional leaders in consecutive weeks. From an internal standpoint, there are gains to be made for the Panthers.Its an opportunity for those guys to do some bonding, Rivera said. Hopefully, it will be a good opportunity for our guys.This will be only the sixth meeting between the Panthers and Raiders, and the first in Oakland since 2008. The Panthers won the 2012 meeting to forge a 3-2 series lead. Dwight Powell Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Jason Kidd Mavericks Jersey . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. http://www.officialmavericksfanstore.com/kids-jason-kidd-mavericks-jersey/ . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Kostas Antetokounmpo Mavericks Jersey . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Kostas Antetokounmpo Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. The Denver Nuggets found something that works when Kenneth Faried was put into the starting lineup.Unfortunately, the results are mixed.Faried has been a beast since the move, averaging 12 rebounds in four games, but Denver continues to struggle for wins. The Nuggets have lost three of their last four, including two at home while searching for consistency.They get another chance Sunday when the Utah Jazz are in town. The Jazz are coming off a 111-102 loss to Houston on Saturday.The Nuggets, who are 1-4 at home this season, need to start establishing a home dominance if they want to take a serious run at the playoffs. Two of their losses at Pepsi Center came in overtime, including Friday nights 113-111 setback to Toronto.Denver had chances to put that one away but faltered down the stretch in the fourth quarter and again in overtime.Its encouraging to a point but these are games we have to win, Nuggers coach Michael Malone said. Yes, we are undermanned and have some injuries but no excuses. We had enough bodies on the floor to get the job done.The Nuggets (4-8) are thin in the backcourt because of injuries to Gary Harris (foot) and Will Barton (ankle). Harris is a few weeks away and Bartons return is still unknown.Malone has started his two point guards the last two games and brought rookie Jamal Murray first off the bench. He used forward Wilson Chandler at shooting guard in spots Friday.The Jazz (7-7) are dealing with their own injuries. Forward Boris Diaw miissed Saturdays game in Houston, center Derrick Favors is nursing a knee contusion and Gordon Hayward is still dealing with the effects of a broken finger suffered in the preseason.ddddddddddddLike Denver, the Jazz are not using injuries as a crutch.We cant make any excuses because guys go down in the NBA, Hayward told The Salt Lake Tribune. Thats kind of how it works. So we have to be professionals and figure it out in practice, figure it out in the games. Thats just something we have to do.Utahs offense has struggled since scoring 100 points in back-to-back road games against New York and Philadelphia two weeks ago. The Jazz managed just 77 points in a home loss to Chicago on Thursday before falling to the Rockets on Saturday.It was their third straight loss and dropped them to .500 after a 6-2 start. The offense did find some spark in the loss, but it wasnt enough against the James Harden-led Rockets.Hayward struggled from the field Saturday, going 4-for-13. Rodney Hood led Utah with 25 and Trey Lyles had 21The Jazz hope to get well in Denver.I think were doing well at moving the ball and finding open shots, guard Dante Exum told The Salt Lake Tribune. It just comes down to hitting the shots that we get. The group is still getting connected. Were just going to get better every game and continue to work on the shots. Theyll fall. ' ' '