Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart shake hands at the final wh

NEW ORLEANS -- The Portland Trail Blazers are not faring well against teams with winning records so far this season.That wont be an issue when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night in the Smoothie King Center.The Blazers are 7-6 overall, but just 1-5 against teams with winning records after a 126-109 defeat against the Rockets (7-5) on Thursday night in Houston.The Pelicans (2-10) have the worst record in the NBA.Its still early, Portland All-Star point guard Damian Lillard told the Oregonian. I think weve got a lot of time to shore up things we havent done well so far. Im not happy with some of the things that have happened, but were in a good spot.Portlands only victory against a team that has a winning record came on opening night against a short-handed Utah Jazz team that was missing injured starters Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors.In their five other games against winning opponents, the Blazers lost to the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers (twice), the Chicago Bulls and the Rockets by an average of 20.8 points.Im just happy that we can say that were learning through a lot of things right now, Lillard said. Were not doing well, but (were) still finding ways to win games.That hasnt been the case for New Orleans, but help is on the way.Starting point guard Jrue Holiday is expected to make his season debut against Portland. Holiday had been away from the team to be with his wife, Lauren, who last month gave birth to the couples first child, daughter Jrue, and recently underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor.Lauren Holiday is a former U.S. womens national team soccer star.Mother and daughter are doing well and stayed at home in North Carolina as Holiday rejoined his teammates and coaches, who were very supportive during his absence.Anything we needed, they were there for us, Holiday said Thursday. It was unbelievable. Im so excited. Going through a hard time, my teammates were always there for me. My teammates and the Pelicans were always there. To come back and fight for them, like they supported me, Im happy to do it.The Pelicans are happy to have their point guard back, and they are looking forward to other happy returns.It will probably take (Holiday) a couple games to get back (to form), All-Star forward Anthony Davis told the teams official website, but as long as hes on the floor.New Orleans hopes to have Davis back on the floor after he sat out an 89-82 loss at Orlando on Wednesday because of a bruised right quad. Davis practiced Thursday and is listed as questionable for the game against the Blazers.Terrence Jones started in Davis place against the Magic and scored a career-high 26 points. He also fell one rebound short of his second consecutive double-double.We tried to make sure we still had that flow as if the best big in the league was still playing with us, Jones told the teams official website. Without him, its very tough to keep that normal flow of offense.Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans returned to practice earlier this week and could return soon from offseason knee surgery. Max Scharping Jersey . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Lonnie Johnson Texans Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/Deandre-hopkins-texans-jersey/ . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Arian Foster Womens Jersey . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. DeAndre Hopkins Texans Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over .Manchester City managed to come away from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid with a clean sheet and Paul Dickov thinks they are in a strong position ahead of the return match in Madrid. Dickov has been impressed with the way City have transformed their performances in Europe after failing to get past the round of 16 in their last four attempts.I thought it was a really good result for City last night, Dickov told Sky Sports News HQ. City have been guilty in previous seasons of being a little bit naive in Europe, maybe going a bit too gung-ho. Against Real Madrid last night it was imperative they kept a clean sheet and going over to the Bernabeu next week I really do fancy City to score with the players theyve got in their team.Real Madrid were unlucky not to score but City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart was in fine form - keeping Pepe out from just six yards from what looked like a certain goalscoring opportunity.Hes been outstanding, he made two world-class saves last night and I have said before I regard Joe as one of the three or four best keepers in the world, Dickov said. Bale and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart shake hands at the final whistle The ex-City forward is confident his old side can progress and has tipped them to come up against future manager Pep Guardiola and Bayern Munich in the final, saying its written in the stars.ddddddddddddIf you look at Citys results in Europe this season, the five away games theyve had I think theyve scored 10 goals so that just shows you the way the way they set up away from home, hitting teams on the counter attack - it really suits how they play, Dickov added.If City can be nice and solid, the likes of Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne, whos been in great form, and obviously Sergio Aguero are a real threat. The one thing I can see City doing is scoring and I really fancy them and I think its written in the stars for a Bayern Munich and Manchester City final.Manuel Pellegrini will be aware his side must keep an eye on their league form as they look to secure their place in the top four this Sunday when they play an in-form Southampton, live on Sky Sports 1. Also See: Hart: City can do it Kompany: Pressure on Real City and Real share stalemate Missed chance for City? ' ' '