MILWAUKEE -- The Charlotte Hornets turned up the pressure on the Milwaukee Bucks from the outset of their season opener.Nicholas Batum disrupted the Bucks on the perimeter. Center Roy Hibbert had his teammates backs in the paint.The defense helped Charlotte build a big early lead, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 23 points and 14 rebounds in his return from a shoulder injury in the 107-96 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday night.Early, they didnt get things easy, Hornets coach Steve Clifford said.They led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter before fending off a late charge from Milwaukee.The Bucks, who looked lackluster for much of the game, drew energy from Greg Monroes hustle in the paint and Jason Terrys floater that cut the lead to 93-85 with 5:08 left.But the Hornets held on down the stretch, getting a straightaway 3 from Marvin Williams for a 12-point lead with 3:21 left.They definitely outplayed us. We just cant let that happen (any) more, Bucks forward Jabari Parker said.Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The 6-foot-11 forward, now serving as Milwaukees primary ball-handler, showed he was worth the four-year $100 million contract extension he signed before training camp.Im not happy, we all wanted to start this season with a win ... so thats all I can think about, Antetokounmpo said.The Hornets pressed early, and tried to force the Bucks to find other ways to start the offense. The Hornets also had an effective wing defender in the 6-foot-8 Batum.Nic set the tone with his ball pressure, trying to disrupt the offense, which not many guys his size could do, Clifford said.Williams finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte, a playoff team a year ago following a 48-win season.TIP INSHornets: C Cody Zeller, who did not play the entire preseason because of a right knee injury, was 5 of 6 from the field for 15 points in 14 minutes. ... C-F Frank Kaminsky missed the game with a strained right foot. Kaminsky was a star in college at Wisconsin, where he helped lead the Badgers to two Final Four appearances.Bucks: Malcolm Brogdon played well in his NBA debut, serving as the point guard when Antetokounmpo and Matthew Dellavedova were off the court. Brogdon, a second-round draft pick, finished with eight points and five assists in 21 minutes.MOVIN ITThe Bucks couldnt keep up with Charlottes crisp ball movement in the first half, when the Hornets had 17 assists on 22 field goals to build a 15-point lead.Kemba Walker finished with eight assists, six coming in the first half.We just stuck to our game plan. We made all the right plays. We didnt turn the ball over too much, Walker said. We got a lot of stops, pushed the tempo, we made shots.MOVING ONCharlotte lost Jeremy Lin, Courtney Lee and Al Jefferson to free agency in the offseason, bringing in Marco Belinelli, Ramon Sessions and Hibbert.The new Hornets are fitting in quite nicely. Kidd-Gilchrist is back after playing just seven games last season.The 7-foot-2 Hibbert had a couple of rim-rocking dunks in the third quarter that helped build the 20-point lead.With Hibbert anchoring the middle defensively, Clifford likes the length and versatility provided by Batum and the 6-7 Kidd-Gilchrist.LONG SHOTSThe Bucks were haunted by familiar problems that carried over from last years 33-win squad.Milwaukee was just 1 of 9 from behind the 3-point arc in the first half. Interior defense was also an issue and the Hornets took advantage of the scrambling Bucks by moving the ball quickly around the court.Milwaukee finished 3 of 16 from behind the arc. Charlotte was 7 of 23 from 3-point range, but their baskets came in clutch situations.The timely 3s hurt. For us they shot 30 percent from the 3-point line. Well take that, but when youre behind, your margin of error, its very slim, coach Jason Kidd said.UP NEXTHornets: At Miami on Friday.Bucks: Host Nets on Saturday.---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP Carlos Martinez Jersey . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Keith Hernandez Jersey . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. http://www.cardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Mike-Matheny-Kids-Jersey/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Brett Cecil Jersey . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Steve Carlton Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Friday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EST:- BOSTON -- Daily fantasy sports rivals DraftKings and FanDuel agree to merge after months of increasing scrutiny. The companies say they can now cut costs while battling regulators across the country to remain legal.- HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- With almost no fanfare, NASCARs most complicated driver is retiring Sunday. Tony Stewart will then be able to finally answer only to himself.- HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Kyle Busch is trying to repeat as NASCARs champion in the title-deciding finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.- CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Luke Kuechly was carted off the field Monday night with a possible concussion, which would be his second in two years. Coach Ron Rivera is to discuss the injury to the Panthers star linebacker.- FRISCO, Texas -- Dez Bryant says he couldnt have played a day after his fathers death without his teammates support. This team chemistry is one reason this is becoming a special season for the Cowboys.- Eleven years after ESPN telecast an NFL game from Mexico City, the network does so again when the Raiders play the Texans on Monday night. This time, ESPN intends to capture the full vibrancy of the city.- In the lone college football game Friday night involving a ranked team, No. 22 Boise State is home against UNLV. (9 p.m.). Boise State is back in thhe discussion for a major bowl after UNLV upset Wyoming last week.dddddddddddd- Stories on three key games Saturday: No. 8 Oklahoma-No. 10 West Virginia; No. 12 Colorado-No. 20 Washington State; and No. 16 LSU-No. 21 Florida.- HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The judge who has presided over Jerry Sanduskys criminal case for five years is removing himself from the former Penn State assistant coachs appeal.- LOS ANGELES -- DAngelo Russell and Los Angeles Lakers go for their seventh victory in nine games when they play Pau Gasol and the first-place San Antonio Spurs, who have won four straight. Game starts 10:30 p.m.- Two notable mens college basketball games: No. 3 Villanova vs. Wake Forest at Charleston, S.C. (1:30 p.m.) and No. 11 Xavier vs. Clemson at Orlando, Fla. (1:30 p.m.).- LONDON -- Andy Murray qualifies for the semifinals of the ATP finals by beating Stan Wawrinka. Murray needs to do better than Novak Djokovic this weekend to finish the season at No. 1.- ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Mackenzie Hughes is in front and one shot ahead of Stewart Cink entering the second round of the RSM Classic at Sea Island.- NAPLES, Fla. -- Shanshan Feng has the lead going into the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship, with the Chinese star trying to win her third straight event. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '