NEW ORLEANS -- Tyreke Evans sore right knee -- and long-term contract -- gave him every reason to sit out the final two games of a losing season with the Pelicans. Ashley Williams Wales Jersey . Yet even as coaches and trainers encouraged him to rest, Evans was having none of it. Instead, he played some of his most relentless, productive and crowd-pleasing basketball of the season. He capped it off with 25 points and 10 assists on Wednesday night, and New Orleans closed out a difficult, injury riddled season with a 105-100 victory over the playoff-bound Houston Rockets. "I just want to have fun, man," Evans said. "It was my last game this year. ... I was hurt. I could have easily sat out, taken the back seat, but coach talked to us about finishing strong and thats what I wanted to do." Two nights earlier, Evans scored a career-high 41 points in a stunning victory over Oklahoma City. Against Houston, he enlivened the crowd with end-to-end drives, high razzle-dazzle dribbles and an array of midair contortions in order to get off shots in traffic near the basket. "He drove me crazy with some of his uh-oh plays, but these last two games, I hope he gets player of the week," coach Monty Williams said. "We needed these two games to go into the summer. He stepped up big-time and carried the team." The Rockets, who had already locked up the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, rested James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin. Still, the game was competitive as a number of role players sought to make the most of extended action. Troy Daniels, a rookie guard out of VCU whod scored only 20 points in 31 minutes all season, hit 6 3s and finished with a career-high 22 points. "I was ready to get out there," Daniels said. "It shows the coach has a lot of faith in me. Obviously I have a lot of work to do and a lot of progress to make, but it was a good start for me to get my confidence up." Evans gave New Orleans the lead for good with a driving layup with 2:35 left, then sealed it with a powerful move in which he wedged his way between Jordan Hamilton and Josh Powell for a running, right-handed hook from the lane. "It wasnt just about, We aint making the playoffs; lets pack it up," said guard Anthony Morrow, nodding at Evans. "When a guy who signs a long-term deal still plays the last two games of the season the way he did, it says a lot about him." Austin Rivers added 18 points and Morrow 15 for the Pelicans, who shot 52.4 per cent. Neither team led by more than single digits. New Orleans had the largest lead at 90-81, but Houston responded with a late 11-4 run that included 3s by Hamilton and Daniels, then took a brief 100-99 lead when Hamilton stole the ball and converted a fast-break lay-in with 2:51 left. Regular Houston starters Terrence Jones, who had 17 points and eight rebounds, and Patrick Beverly, who had 14 points, also played as if it mattered. Hamilton hit four 3s on his way to 14 points and Donatas Motiejunas had 11 points and 10 rebounds. "We werent going to change in the standings, so we played a bunch of guys that we hadnt played before," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "Its time to get some guys comfortable." Dwight Howard was among a minority of players who looked like as if he was merely going through the motions. He was 1 of 5 shooting, including a missed 3 after which he allowed a smirk, and grabbed four rebounds while turning the ball over three times. But Howard had more important things to think about with the fourth-seeded Rockets, who won 54 games this season, starting a playoff series against Portland on Sunday. Notes: After missing the past two games with a left ankle injury, Pelicans guard Brian Roberts played 4 minutes, long enough to make three free throws. That got him to 125 made foul shots this season, qualifying him for the official NBA lead in free throw shooting percentage at 93.9 per cent. "To have that, thats something thats special and something Ill never forget," Roberts said. ... Pelicans rookie C Jeff Withey tied a career high with five blocks. ... The loss was Houstons first against the Pelicans in four meetings this season. Aaron Ramsey Wales Jersey .J. -- Having Ondrej Pavelec earn his 100th NHL win and seeing Mark Scheifele and Evander Kane break goal droughts were nice highlights for the Winnipeg Jets. Joe Allen Jersey .The South African had three birdies on the front nine and another four after the turn at Leopard Creek Country Club to move to 16-under 128 overall.Grace, who won all four of his European Tour titles in 2012, dropped his only shot of the competition on the par-3 fifth. http://www.soccerwalesstore.com/joe-allen-wales-UEFA-EURO-jersey/ .ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign.Manchester City Womens captain Steph Houghton is aiming for a treble winning campaign after claiming a league and cup double this week. City secured a second piece of silverware for the club in seven days with the FA Womens Super League title last month that saw them beat defending champions Chelsea 2-0, and Sundays 1-0 victory over Birmingham City in the final of the FA WSL Continental Tyres CupIn tandem with the mens team, City are looking to challenge on a European stage as they prepare to play their first Champions League game on Thursday, October 6 against 2009 finalists Zvezda Perm at the Academy Stadium. The squad are in good spirits and we are very confident, said England international Houghton, who became England captain in January 2014. We have been playing really well for the last 18 months.We know we just have to continue giving those same performances coming into the Champions League.We know its going to be tough, but this is the competition we want to be in and hopefully we can hold our own against the best. City claimed the Super League title for the first time in their history The Blues have lost just one game all season, in the Womens FA Cup, but Houghton is not underestimating the challenge ahead.I think with the WSL we have improved that league, the 28-year-old added. The standard of the league is always improving but the Champions League isـa different level. Wales Soccer Jerseys. We know we cant give them too many chances, but we have to go and take our own. We have to go and perform, technically we have to be very good on the day.We know its going to be tough but it is an exciting challenge for us and hopefully we can do ok. Lucy Bronze scored the only goal as Manchester City beat Birmingham City 1-0 in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup final The second leg of Round 32 will see City face a gruelling trip to Russia. However, the City defender remains confident the squads success at home can set them up for the away trip.Its going to be a tough away trip but hopefully we can do the business at home, admitted Houghton, who featured in the 2015 World Cup.Thats what makes this competition so special that you know you have to do the job when you are at home and keep a clean sheet and prevent away goals.When we go over there we still have to performance as best as we can, but hopefully an advantage here will help us.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Dingley: FA in right direction RFU target womens rugby growth Tailor praises Ramsey influence ANZ moves can help England ' ' '