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RIO DE JANEIRO -- The storylines will be plentiful Wednesday night when the two teams playing the best basketball so far at the Rio Olympics square off, but no subplot was generating more discussion on the eve of the Group A showdown between the United States and Australia than Kyrie Irving versus Matthew Dellavedova.As recently as late June, Irving and Dellavedova were teammates celebrating their first NBA championship together with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But Dellavedova has since moved on in free agency to the Milwaukee Bucks and, coming off the finest game of his national team career, will now go head to head with Irving in the most anticipated game to date in the mens tournament.The individual matchup generated numerous questions Tuesday before Team USAs afternoon practice at Brazils famed Clube Flamengo, sparked partly because of the Melbourne-born Irvings Aussies roots but mostly because of Dellavedovas reputation for in-your-face defense.Dellys gonna compete, Irving said. Thats all he knows. Im used to that already [from Cavaliers practices], so I dont see it as him being feisty or him being a pest. Hes gonna do what Delly does.Irving then tried to assert that he doesnt think Delly is gonna rank as the all-time peskiest guy Ive ever gone against, but Irving also didnt have a ready response when asked to name a defender he has found peskier.Dellavedova enjoyed a near-perfect outing Monday in Australias 95-80 victory over Serbia, totaling 23 points and 13 assists without one turnover. He and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills combined for 49 points in the win over Serbia, which followed a 21-point trouncing Saturday of highly rated France to set the tone for what has been a mens tourney filled with upsets already -- excluding games featuring the United States.The Americans have romped to a 2-0 start in Group A with wins over China and Venezuela by a combined 101 points. They frankly are in need of a push, having played only one game this summer out of seven so far against what could be considered a legitimate medal contender in Rio: last months 37-point exhibition cruise in Las Vegas past aging Argentina.Hes just a continuance of the Australian that weve played against in my 11 years, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Dellavedova and his relentless style.Theyve always played, first of all, with great spirit and togetherness. As good as they are individually, theyre greater as the sum of those parts.In addition to Dellavedova and Mills, Australia boasts legitimate NBA size in Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut and Detroit Pistons center Aron Baynes as well as former NBA player David Andersen. Utah Jazz swingman Joe Ingles adds to the Aussies shooting threat.But Krzyzewski said he is concerned most about Australias pick-and-roll prowess and the passing ability of Bogut and Dellavedova. Its a much stronger team than the Australian squad Team USA routed by 33 points in the quarterfinals of the London Olympics in 2012, which Bogut missed because of an ankle injury.Im sure Australia sees a lot of things that they can do against us because theyre really good, Krzyzewski said. Australian basketball is terrific. ... They can beat us. We know that, and well prepare accordingly.We know that they feel like they can beat us, and we understand that. I think it will be a really good game.Said Irving: When I saw the France [score], I was like, OK, this will be a great test. We need to be beat up a little bit to prepared for whats ahead.Team USA star Kevin Durant, however, scoffed at the notion that the game will narrow down to a duel between Irving and Dellavedova.Dellys playing well, but hes not getting into no one-on-one matchup [with Irving], Durant said. Kyries a dog. Hes an animal. Thats how he approaches the game?.Irving ultimately conceded that Dellavedovas physicality led to a few rough days on the Cavaliers practice floor but said his fondness for Dellavedova is such that theyll be bonded forever.Its been good for the both of us, Irving said of their three seasons together as teammates.Yet when it comes to game day, Irving said: Just like I should be worried about him, he should be worried about me. It goes both ways?. Angels Jerseys 2019 .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Angels Jerseys China . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. https://www.cheapangels.com/ .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Los Angeles Angels Shirts . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Los Angeles Angels Gear . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The challenges continue for the Vancouver Canucks defense corps.It was learned Monday that top rearguard Alex Edler will need surgery to repair a broken finger and be out for the next month. Edlers injury means that Vancouver will be without him and fellow veteran Chris Tanev for an extended period, starting Tuesday as the Canucks (9-11-2) host the Minnesota Wild (11-7-3) at Rogers Arena.Its tough, Vancouver defenseman Philip Larsen told reporters after practice Monday. Thats our first (defense) pairing. A lot of (defensemen) have to step up and do as good as we can.The absences of Edler and Tanev, who has been sidelined in recent weeks and shows no signs of returning soon, pose more challenges for a Vancouver defense crew that is trending younger this season. Since the start of the campaign, injuries, other health woes and inconsistency have forced coach Willie Desjardins to adjust his pairings and give more playing time to some defensemen than he would like.Edler, 30, who usually records the most minutes per game among defensemen, if not the whole team, was injured on Saturday night while blocking a shot in the first period of a 3-2 shootout victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. With Edler and Tanev now both out, Larsen, a 26-year-old offensive defenseman from Esbjerg, Denmark, who is in his first season with the Canucks, has a chance to play a more active role.But it remains to be seen how much action Larsen will see. He resumed practicing with the team Monday after being sidelined with a virus.Its been a tough couple weeks, said Larsen, a right-side rearguard. Its nice to be back. It was a tough practice and it was kind of nice to get it going.At the outset of the season, Larsen was seen as a positive addition to Vancouvers power play, but it has been terrible most of the season -- and he has rarely been on it. He has lacked consistency after returning to the National Hockey League following two seasons in Europes Kontinental Hockey League. Before getting sick, he struggled to stay in the lineup.It was tough, he said. I got out of the lineup and I wanted to get back in as quick as possible. Then whhen I got sick on top of that, it was pretty frustrating.ddddddddddddWith Edler out for an extended period, rookie Troy Stecher, 22, will almost assuredly play a more prominent role. Stecher, a native of the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, B.C., began the season with Utica of the American Hockey League -- and is on his second call-up -- but has quickly emerged as one of the Canucks top blueliners.A right-handed shot, Stecher has played on both the right and left sides while taking a regular shift and pulling duty on both specialty teams. If Larsen can return soon Stecher may soon see more action on the left side, which is Edlers usual spot. The rookie stood out in Denver after Edlers injury limited the Canucks to five defensemen, leading the Canucks with five shots.Stecher is determined to make a difference in spite of his neophyte status.I think you have to have that mindset, Stecher, an undrafted free agent signing out of the University of North Dakota, told The Vancouver Sun. I think if you go into (the NHL) and kind of dip your toe in the water, thats when youre going to get exposed. You might as well just do a cannonball and throw everything you have into it.The Canucks are hoping to go on a cannonball run of sorts after finishing their worst first quarter of a season since 1997. They won two of three games on their recent road trip and are looking to keep the good times rolling against the Wild.Meanwhile, Wild coach Bruce Boudreau would also like his team to get on a winning streak. The Wild enter Tuesdays contest on the heels of a 4-3 shootout loss in St. Louis. The Wild squandered a 2-1 lead in the third period, rallied to force overtime, but still lost.However, Minnesota, which will play its second contest on a five-game road trip Tuesday, has still fared well lately. The Wild went 2-0-2 in four games last week, earning six of a possible eight points.I think were playing good hockey, Boudreau told reporters. Its just not winning eight in a row. I would like to be able to put something together. ' ' '