t looks like Linsley will be snapping the ball again. The Packers have an open spot on their active roster following the release

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kemba Walker had no nice way to describe the Charlotte Hornets 97-87 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.That was pretty ugly, Walker said, before quickly adding that the Hornets will take the wins any way they can get them.Walker scored 18 points, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 14 and the Hornets got their third win in the last four games Thursday night to remain in first place in the Southeast Division.The Mavericks slowed the tempo of the game, but the Hornets didnt get frustrated and never trailed.At the end of the day, it shows toughness, Walker said. It shows that we can withstand games. They really slowed it down tonight. But we really stayed with the game and won. ... Thats what you have to do on some nights.Walker was just 7 of 19 from the field and Charlotte again struggled from the foul line at home.However, the Hornets got a big boost from their bench, which combined for 46 points on 25 shots, led by Jeremy Lamb, who had 12 points.That was a hard game to play, Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. It wasnt a conventional tempo for a NBA game to be played. It was slower. They really execute and they really changed their defenses. The tempo of a NBA game usually lets you get into a rhythm. But there was no way they would let us get into a rhythm. Bottom line is thats a game that good teams win.Harrison Barnes scored 17 points and Justin Anderson added 15 for the Mavericks (3-15), who have lost 10 of their last 11 games.The Hornets led by two when Walker drained a long 3-pointer to beat the shot clock with 3:51 to give his team the spark it needed. Lamb followed with a driving layup that resulted in a three-point play to push the lead to 86-78.The Mavs would battle back behind Barnes to cut the lead to three, but Lamb hit two free throws and Walker buried a 3-pointer from the right wing with 41 seconds left to put the game out of reach.TIP-INSMavericks: Deron Williams did not play down the stretch in the fourth quarter because he was on a minutes restriction on the second night of a back-to-back. ... Dwight Powell fouled out with 1:18 left.Hornets: Nic Batum, who received a $120 million contract this offseason, has struggled some with turnovers this season. He entered averaging 2.3 per game and had three in the first half. ... The Hornets were 22 of 31 from the foul line and shot 28 percent from 3-point range.GIANTS WRESTLINGFor the most part it was a subdued, lackluster game until the middle of the fourth quarter, when Mavericks center Salah Mejri grabbed the ball after it went out of bounds and cradled it in his arms until Charlottes Roy Hibbert inexplicably attempted to rip it out. In a bizarre sight, the two 7-footers started wrestling for the ball well after the whistle had blown ending the play. They finally tumbled to the floor together, sending long arms and legs flying in every direction. Several players were seen trying to keep themselves from laughing at the spectacle after the play, which resulted in Hibbert getting a technical foul.STRUGGLING FROM 3Dallas Wesley Matthews was upset with himself after the game for making just 1 of 11 3-point shots.If I shoot halfway decent, you give me those looks, and its a different game, Matthews said.ECLECTIC SITUATIONMavericks coach Rick Carlisle said his team is in an eclectic situation right now.Weve got to get these guys healthy, Carlisle said. Weve got to do it the right way. In the meantime, other guys are getting valuable experience. Were playing some guys in some different positions and finding out some different things. We just have to keep up the fight. If we do that, things will come around.DEFENSE WINSThe Hornets improved to 8-0 in games in which theyve limited their opponent to fewer than 100 points.UP NEXTMavericks: Dallas returns home to host the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.Hornets: Charlotte concludes a three-game homestand on Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. NMD CS2 Triple Black . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Yeezy Powerphase Calabasas .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.swiftrunireland.com/adidas-alphabounce-beyond.html . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. NMD R2 Primeknit Ireland . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. NMD CS1 Pk City Sock . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Packers offense has changed a little from the last time center Corey Linsley snapped a football to Aaron Rodgers.More passing. Less running.It is in large part by necessity as the Packers adjust their plans following the spate of injuries that have sapped depth at the running back position.It looks different and we operate a little bit different. But its the same stuff that weve been going through, Linsley said Wednesday. Although ... for us, as O-linemen, its adjusting to passing as much.Linsley, the starting center the previous two years, hasnt played this season because of a hamstring injury. But he could be activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list for Sundays game against the Indianapolis Colts because of a knee injury to Linsleys replacement, JC Tretter.Yeah, if that happens, obviously were going to have to get resituated there. Im not worried about Corey, though. Corey has been a center his entire life, Rodgers said.Still, it will be yet another personnel change to which the Packers will have to adjust because of their lengthy injury report.At running back, Eddie Lacy (ankle) is on injured reserve. James Starks is coming back from a knee injury, but did not practice on Wednesday.Receivers Randall Cobb (hamstring) and Ty Montgomery (illness) were both limited after missing last weeks loss to Atlanta . Cobb and Montgomery can also take snaps in the backfield, a role that Montgomery especially had excelled in this season .Green Bay also has running back Don Jackson, elevated from the practice squad a few weeks ago; and fullback Aaron Ripkowski, who had an impressive 34 yards on six carries against the Falcons.At Atlanta, Rodgers was the leading rusher with 60 yards on six carries.Im deceptively fast. Thats what I like about it, Rodgers joked.But hes usually not making keeper calls. If Rodgers is on the move, it is usually because hes trying to extend plays.Its been a good weapon for us on third down (at) times. But again, its a secondary thing. Extendding plays .dddddddddddd.. where Im hitting guys on late-timing stuff and second-reaction stuff. Those are tough for the defense to stop, Rodgers said.Against Atlanta, the Packers used spread looks at times by necessity. Rodgers was 28 of 38 for 246 yards and four touchdowns in one of his best outings of the year .In the 26-10 win over Chicago the previous week, Rodgers was 39 of 56, setting a franchise mark for completions in a game. He threw for 326 yards and three scores.The offensive line, for the most part, has played well. But it looks the Packers may have to prepare for a change there, too, because of an injury.Linsley has come full-circle after taking over as the center as a rookie in 2014 after Tretter went down with a knee injury. When Linsley got hurt this preseason, Tretter was ready to step in.Now, it looks like Linsley will be snapping the ball again. The Packers have an open spot on their active roster following the release of running back Knile Davis earlier this week.On Wednesday, Rodgers ran Linsley through the cadences and adjustments that have been made on offense.Everything that he can possibly throw at me, he threw at me, Linsley said. Im thankful for that.INJURY REPORTThe cornerback carousel continued on defense. Quinten Rollins returned to practice for the first time since missing three games with a groin injury. He was limited. But Demetri Goodson missed practice with a concussion. Starting cornerback Damarious Randall remains out with a groin injury. ... LB Clay Matthews (hamstring) was limited after missing the Falcons game.TRANSACTIONRB Brandon Burks was signed to the practice squad. The 5-foot-9 rookie initially signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent from Troy in May before being released after training camp.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP ' ' '