turnovers, leading to 16 points for Milwaukee.Bucks: Milwaukee committed 23 turnovers, which led

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Eddie Lacy and Aaron Rodgers powered the Green Bay Packers to another big first half in a home victory.But the Atlanta Falcons furious late rally provided the Packers potential playoff foes some hope.Maybe Lambeau Field wont be that impenetrable after all in the post-season.Lacy ran for a touchdown and caught one of Rodgers three TD passes, and Green Bay built a 24-point halftime lead before holding on for a 43-37 victory Monday night.The Packers (10-3) earned their fifth consecutive victory to stay a game up on Detroit in the NFC North. They remained tied with Arizona for the NFCs best record.Theres been some ups and downs on both sides of the ball all season, Rodgers said. But were really getting this home-field advantage thing going, with the crowd noise, with the footing, with the way were playing being really balanced on offence.Rodgers acknowledged there may have been a slight relaxation at halftime up 24.What matters most in the end to Green Bay is that it held on for a victory, even though this win didnt go quite according to the script the Packers had written earlier this year against NFC foes.Defensively, a tale of two halves. You have to give Atlantas offence a lot of credit, coach Mike McCarthy said. We have plenty to clean up.The Falcons dropped to 5-8, but remained in a first-place tie with New Orleans in the woeful NFC South.Julio Jones had a career-best 259 yards receiving for the Falcons before leaving with a hip injury. Jones had a 22-yard touchdown catch in a 20-point fourth quarter that helped Atlanta cut into Green Bays big lead.Matt Ryans 2-yard touchdown pass to Harry Douglas with 2:15 left got Atlanta within six.But the Packers recovered the ensuing onside kick, and backup running back James Starks effectively ended Atlantas upset hopes with a 41-yard run to the Falcons 6 with 1:37 left.The Falcons had won three of four coming into the game. They havent lost hope that they can still make the playoffs.Yeah, absolutely. We scored 37 points tonight. If you cant believe in that, then you dont need to be in this locker room, we need to cut some people, receiver Roddy White said.Coach Mike Smith said it was difficult to lose Jones late. But the Falcons did damage even with their No. 1 receiver hobbling on the sideline.Ryan threw for 375 yards and four scores, including a 1-yard touchdown catch by White with 6:20 left that trimmed Green Bays lead to 40-30. Jones didnt come out for Atlantas failed 2-point conversion attempt.Difficult. Theres probably never a good time for an injury, but thats part of the game, Ryan said.Mason Crosby kicked a 53-yard field goal with 4:37 left, helping the Packers withstand Atlantas final punch.Rodgers finished 24 of 36 for 327 yards. Lacy had 73 yards on 13 carries, and 33 yards on five catches.The tough running back wiggled from side to side to celebrate his 1-yard touchdown reception with 4:20 left in the second quarter. The score was set up by safety Morgan Burnetts interception.Later, Rodgers sidestepped his way out of a late blitz by Falcons defensive end Kroy Biermann and found Jordy Nelson in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds left in the half. Rodgers and Nelson connected on a 60-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.Nelson finished with eight catches for 146 yards.Jones was even better, catching 11 of the 17 passes thrown in his direction. His 79-yard catch-and-run to the Packers 3 on the first play of the third quarter set up a 5-yard touchdown catch by Eric Weems on fourth down.It was a sign of things to come in the second half before Green Bay was able to hang on at the end.We cant play one half or three quarters or anything like that, linebacker Julius Peppers said. Weve got to finish games.NOTES: Lacy was pulled in the fourth quarter with a hip injury. He said he thought he would be OK, though he was sidelined as a precaution. Asked when the injury occurred, Lacy joked, Whenever I ran into the two big dudes. ... Starks finished with 75 yards on 10 carries. ... McCarthy tied Vince Lombardi with 98 career victories, second on the franchise list behind Curly Lambeau (209). ... S Dwight Lowery had a team-high 13 tackles and a forced fumble for Atlanta.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL(The previous version of this story incorrectly identified Falcons receiver Eric Weems last name as Weeks.) Deshaun Watson Jersey . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent. Custom Houston Texans Jerseys .ca MLB Power Rankings, the third consecutive week that the As have held top spot and the third straight week that they have been one ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/Arian-foster-texans-jersey/ . - Hitting was supposed to be the Pittsburgh Pirates weakness coming into the season yet they lead the major leagues in home runs through the first 16 games of the season. Justin Reid Jersey . As TSN reported Thursday, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is under intense pressure from the federal government to focus drug testing on athletes who compete in international events representing Canada. Since funding for the tests has been frozen and the cost of testing can eclipse $1,000 per test, university athletes in a number of sports are being tested less often. DeAndre Hopkins Jersey . The 21-year-old Canadian earned a spot in his third career ATP final on Saturday thanks to his first Top 10 victory of the new tennis season, a 6-4, 6-4 win over world no. 10 Nicolas Almagro of Spain.MILWAUKEE - Minnesota Timberwolves centre Nikola Pekovic has been limited by ankle problems in his four-year NBA career, prompting the coaching staff to cap his minutes this season in an effort to keep him healthy.Pekovic responded with a highly effective effort Wednesday night, finishing in 15 points and 13 rebounds in a little more than 19 minutes in Minnesotas 110-91 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.I work in the summer, but it is not the same if you dont have games, Pekovic said. I know my body is little slow to start. I need a little time to catch up. Thats the point of the pre-season. I hadnt played a game in so long. I hope this progress will continue.Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said Pekovic has improved as the preseason has progressed.He gives you an ability to score down low. I thought tonight he also showed pretty good rebounding, he said.Shabazz Muhammad had 19 points and Chase Budinger 15 for the Timberwolves, who started the game on a 12-1 run and never trailed.The Timberwolves (4-2) opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run to build a 16-point lead. Milwaukee cut it to nine twice early in the fourth, but Minnesota went up by as many as 23 .Rookie Jabari Parker led Milwaukee with 18 points, including 12 in the second quarter.It was better that we had this game today than in the regular season, Parker said. It was not what we wanted but we will look at what we can improve on. Today was a downfall but were going to be all right.Nate Wolters added 14 for the Bucks, who finished the preseason 3-4.As a whole I thought we did a lot of good things but we still have a long ways to go, Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd said of his teams overall performance.Wednesdays game was the second matchup in less than a week between Minnesota and Milwaukee. The Bucks beat the Timberwolves 105-98 on Friday night in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.TIP-INSTimberwolves: Five players ssat out, including Andrew Wiggins, the No.dddddddddddd 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Coach Flip Saunders said Wiggins hit his head on the court and bruised his backside in Sundays game against Oklahoma City. Were trying to be cautious, Saunders said. ... Corey Brewer, Kevin Martin, Ronny Turiaf and Mo Williams also did not play.Bucks: Point guard Brandon Knight returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games with a right groin injury. He had one point. ... Ersan Ilyasova, who missed two games with a strained right knee, also saw action, tallying 11 points and five rebounds. ... Zaza Pachulia didnt play due to a sore left hamstring. Larry Sanders remained sidelined after undergoing an unspecified outpatient medical procedure.BY THE NUMBERSTimberwolves: Minnesota committed 16 turnovers, leading to 16 points for Milwaukee.Bucks: Milwaukee committed 23 turnovers, which led to 25 Timberwolves points. We had more turnovers than assists, Kidd said. Youre not going to beat anybody when you have that. Weve got to take away the silly turnovers. We have to make sure we secure the ball.LONG-RANGE PLANSSaunders made his players shoot 100 three-point shots each from various spots on the court at a recent practice. The players had to make a certain percentage in order to earn the right to shoot threes in game action. My main thing is that just because you are open, sometimes there is a reason, Saunders said. We want our guys to understand whats a good shot and what isnt a good shot.TECHNICALLY SPEAKINGMilwaukees Giannia Antetokounmpo and Minnesotas Muhammad tangled on consecutive Timberwolves possessions. Double technical fouls were assessed after the second brief skirmish.UP NEXTMilwaukee travels to Charlotte to open the regular season Oct. 29.Minnesota closes out the preseason against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night in St. Louis. ' ' '