shooting.FINDING THE GROOVEOklahoma City scored a season-high 114 points and shot bette

NASHVILLE -- Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne is expected to start Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins in his return from a hip injury that has limited him to only nine games this season. The Predators recalled Rinne from a two-game conditioning assignment Monday and announced that he would start the Penguins game. "Its a blast to be back playing and feeling good," Rinne said. "I think thats the main thing. Absolutely, Im just super excited." Rinne, who hasnt played in an NHL game since Oct. 22, stopped 33 of 35 shots for a .946 save percentage during his two-game stint with the AHLs Milwaukee Admirals. "Its not in the same level -- the AHL and NHL -- theres a little bit of a gap between," Rinne said. "But still, that was the whole purpose of that trip, just to feel comfortable again, get some games and get that game conditioning going again." Rinne, a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist, has been recovering from an E. coli infection in his surgically repaired left hip. In his last five games before the injury, Rinne went 3-1-1 with a 1.60 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. The 31-year-old Rinne is returning as the Predators make a late-season bid for one of the Western Conferences eight playoff spots. The Predators are 12th in the Western Conference standings with 62 points. The Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks are tied for eighth with 66 points. "You cant just throw a guy in there and expect him to be the saviour," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "But just getting him back playing is a great boost because you know the type of player that he is, the type of person he is and what he can mean to our hockey team, not only this year but the next year and the following years." The Predators also placed goaltender Devan Dubnyk on waivers Monday. The 27-year-old Dubnyk has played 32 games for the Edmonton Oilers and two games with the Predators this season. Vente Asics Pas Cher . - Hitting was supposed to be the Pittsburgh Pirates weakness coming into the season yet they lead the major leagues in home runs through the first 16 games of the season. Site Asics Pas Cher . On paper, it looks a little like Andre the Giant taking on a midget wrestler. It has all the makings of a rout with the Americans adding an eighth win in nine outings of this biennial event. The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one. http://www.franceasics.fr/ . Today, their baseball playing sons were reportedly traded for each other. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Cubs dealt minor league outfield Trevor Gretzky to the Angels for catcher Matt Scioscia. Asics Magasin France .B. -- Canadian pairs skaters Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford went from elated to frustrated in the span of a few minutes. Asics France Soldes . -- Miguel Angel Jimenez quickly shifted his focus back to the Ryder Cup after winning his first Champions Tour event.OKLAHOMA CITY - Kevin Durant is taking nothing for granted these days.The reigning MVP missed the first 17 games this season with a broken bone in his right foot, and then played three road games before making his home debut Tuesday night. He got a rousing welcome back from the crowd, and scored 23 points to help the Thunder to a 114-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.Just to play here is a blessing, he said. Ive been saying that for a while, but to be out for so long and finally get a chance to play in front of our home crowd — I felt good getting my name called in the starting lineup.Durant was 7 for 11 from the field and 8 for 8 at the line. He also had nine rebounds and seven assists in 29 minutes.Russell Westbrook scored 28 points for the Thunder, who have won five of six after starting the season with a 3-12 record.Were still trying to work some things out, Durant said. You know, Im sure a lot of people are expecting us to be back to playoff-type of basketball right now, but were just like any other team, just trying to continue to just build and keep getting better.O.J. Mayo had 18 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 17 for the Bucks, who have lost five of six.We let those guys get in the lane, get in our paint, and we fouled a lot tonight, Mayo said.Durant missed his first two shots, but drained his third, a 3-pointer with 8:08 left in the first quarter. He took a break after scoring seven points in the first 4:51.Westbrooks powerful one-handed putback on a missed 3-pointer by Reggie Jackson put the Thunder up 61-52 at halftime. Oklahoma City shot 60 per cent in the second quarter after a sluggish first.Durant gave the fans another thrill early in the fourth quarter. He pulled in a defensive rebound, brought the ball up court and then used a pick by Kendrick Perkins to get free for an easy two-handed slam that gave the Thunder a 93-82 lead.Durant added a jumperr and a no-look bounce pass to Serge Ibaka for a dunk that gave the Thunder a 103-88 lead.dddddddddddd Durant left for good with 3:36 remaining and the Thunder holding a 109-90 lead.Hes getting back into rhythm, Westbrook said. Hes getting back in the swing of things.TIP-INSThunder: Oklahoma City was called for a clear path foul after Durant threw a poor pass that was intercepted, and Anthony Morrow had to foul to prevent an easy hoop in the closing seconds of the first quarter. ... Perkins was issued a technical foul with 8:56 left in the second quarter.Bucks: Milwaukee shot 52 per cent in the first quarter to take a 31-26 lead, but shot 36 per cent the rest of the game. ... G Brandon Knight, the Bucks leading scorer for the season with nearly 18 points per game, finished with nine points on 2-for-10 shooting.FINDING THE GROOVEOklahoma City scored a season-high 114 points and shot better than 50 per cent from the field for just the second time this season. Oklahoma City scored at least 100 points for the fourth time in five games after scoring 100 or more just four times in its first 16.FALLING APARTThe Bucks have allowed at least 107 points in four of their past five games. Their opponent shot at least 50 per cent in all four of those games, all losses.We are a young team, so we are going to make mistakes, and make more mistakes the next game, coach Jason Kidd said. We just have to learn from them and correct them. We have to see them before they happen so that we can help one another.QUOTE OF THE NIGHTI just try to feel the game out. Im not trying to worry about doing so much in so little time, I guess, and the last few games, Im just going out there and playing, and whatever happens happens. — Durant.UP NEXTBucks: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.Thunder: Host Cleveland on Thursday.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP ' ' '