Anthony Davis is eager, not to mention proud, to accept the physical risks that go with playing without pay for Team USA. With the FIBA World Cup approaching this weekend, Davis said playing for his country does more than make him a better player. Its also a way to spend his off-season doing what he loves while showing his appreciation for others whove made greater sacrifices, and taken far greater risks, in the name of patriotism. "I love playing for USA basketball. Some guys look at it as they dont get paid, so you dont have to play or whatever," Davis said on a conference call with reporters on Thursday. "I love playing the game of basketball and any time I get a chance to represent my country, especially for all the servicemen and women who do so much for us, I think its a great opportunity to show your appreciation. "So I love doing things like this and I look forward to future years playing for USA Basketball." His focus, however, is the much more immediate future. Namely, Saturday, when Team USA opens group play against Finland in Bilbao, Spain. The risks of playing in events like the FIBA World Cup became magnified earlier this month when Indiana Pacers star Paul George broke his right leg in a stomach-turning collision under the basket. Davis said he, like many on the court and around the world, were shaken by Georges injury, which he called gruesome. But the 21-year-old Davis said he and fellow US teammates are now committed "to keep moving forward and try to win this (championship) for him." Certainly, the last person who was going to dissuade Davis from playing was his Pelicans coach, Monty Williams, who is an assistant with the US Team under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Williams believes the environment created by USA basketball has only accelerated Davis growth. "Hes understanding that he is a lead dog among a number of alpha dogs," Williams said of his 21-year-old power forward. "Mentally I think hes taken that up a few notches and I think Coach K has been a big part of that, pushing him to be a leader, pushing him to be the guy on the team. "When you think about the names on this team and you look at the impact on the game that he has, you seldom say theres a better player on the floor than Anthony, so thats got to help him from a confidence standpoint," Williams added. Indeed, Davis has been Team USAs leading scorer during its four World Cup tuneup games against Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Slovenia. He has averaged 13.8 points to go with 13.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game. Davis, 6-foot-10, 237 pounds, said his role as a leader on the floor and in the locker room "definitely got bigger" after George was injured and other prominent players decided against playing. And its a role hes embraced. "Getting an opportunity to be one of main guys on team means a lot," Davis said. Dodgers Jerseys 2020 . LOUIS -- The St. Dodgers Jerseys China . -- Valentin Zykov scored in overtime as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar rallied to a 3-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Sunday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/105h-...ey-dodgers.html. -- So much for concern that running back Marshawn Lynch would be absent from the Seattle Seahawks minicamp. Keibert Ruiz Dodgers Jersey . Lexie Lou earned a commanding 4 1/2-length win Sunday in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks. Maury Wills Jersey .Y. -- Nothing seems to phase No.LOS ANGELES -- Xavier Henry had another one of those solid games that Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike DAntoni wishes he could get from his guard on a consistent basis. Henry scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, Pau Gasol had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 100-86 Sunday night. "I havent played as well these last few games, but I know I can still bring defensive intensity," Henry said. "So I just came out and played the same game, but I just was just a little more aggressive." Steve Blake finished with 12 assists, nine points and five rebounds. The 11-year veteran, who has started all 14 games for the Lakers at point guard in place of the injured Steve Nash, has recorded double digits in assists in each of the last five. "Theres nothing better than being out there and setting guys up for shots," Blake said. "Coach gives me the freedom to do that, and the offence lets you as a point guard create for people. So Im just loving it." The Lakers, back at .500 following their third straight victory, began a stretch of four consecutive games against teams with losing records (Washington, Brooklyn and Detroit). Greivis Vasquez led Sacramento with 20 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Reserve guard Isaiah Thomas finished with nine points in 30 minutes and was 4 for 11 from the field, ending his string of double-digit games at 12. "We played everybody they had out there and didnt focus on one person," Henry said. "We just had a simple game plan for each and every possession they had. We just played hard and showed energy, and thats the best thing you can do. When you do that, everything will work itself out." Lakers forward Wesley Johnson turned in perhaps the defensive play of the game less than 4 1/2 minutes in when he when he hustled up court and executed a spectacular chase-down block of Luc Mbah a Moutes fast-break layup. "I dont believe in stopping on any play because you never know whats going to happen," Johnson said, "I just didnt want to quit onn the play.dddddddddddd... I wanted to bring the energy that we needed on the defensive end to set the tone from the very beginning." The Kings played at Staples Center for the second straight day after erasing a 20-point deficit against the Clippers and losing 103-102. They spotted the Lakers a 13-point lead in the second quarter before cutting the deficit to 55-52 with consecutive dunks by Cousins and No.1 draft pick Ben McLemore 42 seconds apart early in the third. But the Lakers maintained the lead the rest of the way, breaking it open with a 13-5 run that put them up 86-69 with 6:57 to play. Vasquez connected on his first six shots, four of them during a 1:37 span, but Los Angeles still led 29-24 after one quarter against a team that came in averaging the fewest first-quarter points in the league (22.6). "The one concern we had coming into the game was their ability to shoot the ball," rookie coach Michael Malone said. "But 14 turnovers, and them outscoring us 22-11 on fast breaks really hurt. And they scored 46 points in the paint." The Kings are 3-4 since Malone inserted McLemore and Jason Thompson into the starting lineup in place of shooting guard Marcus Thornton and forward Patrick Patterson, following the teams 1-5 start without the injured Carl Landry. Landry is expected to be sidelined three to four months because of torn flexor muscle in his left hip, which required surgery on Oct. 15. NOTES: Kings F Travis Outlaw was fined $15,000 by the league for "excessive and unnecessary contact," a day after getting his first career his ejection for his flagrant 2 foul against J.J. Reddick. ... Gasol has a new book out titled "Life - Vida," in which former Los Angeles Times award-winning photographer Lori Shepler chronicled the Laker centres activities on and off the court since the start of the 2010-11 season. ... Sacramento has shot less than 50 per cent from the field in each of its first 13 games. ... Kings coach and director of player development Dee Brown is scheduled to have surgery this week after injuring his knee at practice on Friday. ' ' '