NEW ORLEANS (3-4) at CAROLINA (3-4-1)Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL NetworkOPENING LINE — Saints by 1 1/2RECORD VS. SPREAD — New Orleans 3-4, Carolina 4-4SERIES RECORD — Panthers lead 20-18LAST MEETING — Panthers beat Saints 17-13, Dec. 22, 2013LAST WEEK — Saints beat Packers 44-23; Panthers lost to Seahawks 13-9AP PRO32 RANKING — Saints No. 18, Panthers No. 21.SAINTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (2), RUSH (7), PASS (2).SAINTS Defence — OVERALL (28), RUSH (10), PASS (31).PANTHERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (24), RUSH (27), PASS (17).PANTHERS Defence — OVERALL (21), RUSH (32), PASS (18).STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Saints coach Sean Payton is 28-16 in NFC South games since 2006. Hes 7-7 vs. Carolina. ... Saints 26-0 under Payton when not committing a turnover. ... QB Drew Brees has thrown for three or more TDs in three of last five games vs. Carolina. ... RB Mark Ingram ran for 172 yards last week vs. Packers. ... Saints have converted NFL-best 47.4 per cent of third-down opportunities. ... TE Jimmy Graham has scored in five straight games vs. Panthers. ... WR Brandin Cooks had a rushing and receiving TD last week. ... DE Cameron Jordan has five sacks in last five games vs. Carolina. ... Saints averaging 5.1 yards per carry, second best in NFL. ... Saints have allowed eight sacks. ... QB Cam Newton is 3-1 vs. Saints in last four starts, and won nine of last 11 starts in home games. ... Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle sprain) expected to start. Williams ran for career-high 210 yards vs. Saints on Dec. 30, 2012. ... Panthers have allowed 18 sacks. ... WR Kelvin Benjamin on pace for team rookie record of 76 receptions, 1,142 yards and 10 TDs. ... TE Greg Olsen has TD reception in three straight home games. ... S Roman Harper played eight seasons for Saints. ... LB Luke Kuechly had career-high 24 tackles in last meeting.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFLCheap Adidas Wild Jerseys . Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution. Cheap Wild Jerseys Authentic . -- Another baseball tradition is about to largely disappear: a manager, with a crazed look in his eyes, charging the field and getting into a face-to-face shouting match with an umpire. http://www.cheapwildjerseys.com/ . "Hopefully well get all this out of the way," he said, "and everyone will be healthy the rest of the year." Zimmerman was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday and is expected to miss between four to six weeks. Cheap Wild Jerseys China . By then it was clear: The 76ers were going to win for the first time in two months, and they were going to do it with ease. The 76ers snapped their NBA record-tying, 26-game losing streak, routing the Detroit Pistons 123-98 on Saturday night to avoid establishing the longest skid in U. Cheap Wild Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla.FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. DEMAR DEROZAN (Raptors): Hopefully, hes back sooner rather than later. Hell be missed by his team - obviously. Hes such a competitor. After getting hurt the other night, he kept trying to play on his injured foot. He loves the game and Im so impressed with his progress over the years. DeRozan is a mature and serious young man. There is a reason above and beyond his physical ability why hes a good player; he has worked incredibly hard on his skills, his strength and conditioning and is a student of the game. It would be nice to see him make the All Star game. In the meantime, Raptors really need to buckle down defensively and find scoring and consistency in other areas, could be a challenge. Big one tonight here in New York City vs. the red hot Nets. 2. SHAUN LIVINGSTON (Nets): When you watch the Raptors tonight it is always nice to see a guy who has fought back from a devastating injury to have success. When he was a young player with the Clippers, Livingston had a chance to be a special player in this league and then it all got derailed. He has made a difference with Brooklyn, being a sound defender who sets the tone for his team. In the absence of Deron Williams, his leadership was critical for Coach Jason Kidd turning this team around. Not a flashy player yet his smarts, toughness and consistency are a big part why the Nets are surging right now. 3. SPENCER HAWES (Sixers): Hawes has really developed in the past few years into a steady Post player. His rebounding instincts are solid while his back to the basket game has improved. He is also a capable face up shooter. He passes the ball quite well from both the low and high post and is a good fit in a teams attack.dddddddddddd When I saw him as a young player at the University of Washington and when he was on the Sacramento Kings, I didnt envision him to have this upside. Hes really carved out a nice niche in Philly. 4. JAMAAL CRAWFORD (Clippers): Raptor fans got to see first-hand why Crawford is probably the best sixth-man in the NBA right now. He dropped 37 points on them, but more importantly he had an amazing 11 assists as well. What a luxury for Doc Rivers brining him off the bench. He changes the game completely when he comes in. You better check him from behind the three-point arc and his dribble moves are tantalizing. Hes bounced around a lot and Ive never understood why - hes always been a good player. Clips are lucky to have him. Hell steal a playoff game or two for them. 5. AL JEFFERSON (Bobcats): Sure, they spent above market value to get Jefferson but in a market like Charlotte, which has had a rough go of it lately, you have to acquire talent somehow. Hes been a good player for them. 19 points per game and 10-plus rebounds per games as well, while shooting 48 % has really helped their team. Hes in terrific shape and has been quite engaged in the rebuilding process. He plays with a terrific front court partner in Josh McRoberts, who does all the little things while Jefferson racks up the points and boards. If the Bobcats add perimeter shooting, (theyre awful in those categories -bottom eight in field goal and three-point field goal percentage) it will really open things up for their team in future years. You can never have enough shot makers. ' ' '