HOUSTON -- A person familiar with J.J. Watts condition said the Houston Texans star defensive end has had back surgery and will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday night on condition of anonymity because the team hasnt confirmed the surgery or Watts roster status.Watt, the NFL sacks leader last season with 17 1/2, will miss the start of training camp, but is expected to be ready for the season opener.Watt spent most of the offseason recovering after having surgery to repair a groin injury in January.His performance last season helped the Texans to their first playoff berth since 2012 and gave him his second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award.The surgery was first reported by ESPN.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Charles Oakley Jersey Large . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Custom Anthony Mason Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing rm for a celebration nine seasons in the making. http://www.customknicksjersey.com/ . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Custom John Starks Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Willis Reed Jersey Large . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. DALLAS -- San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich got a win more in line with his expectations on Wednesday night.The Dallas Mavericks are just hoping a close loss signifies better days ahead.Patty Mills scored 15 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and Kawhi Leonard added 21 points, helping the Spurs rally from a 13-point deficit for a 94-87 win over the Mavericks on Wednesday night.San Antonio became just the third team to start the season 11-0 on the road, following last years Warriors (14-0) and the 1969-70 Knicks (12-0).Popovich had criticized his teams lack of humility and lack of respect for the opponent after the Spurs 96-91 home win over Dallas on Nov. 21.This time, his Spurs -- playing without three regulars -- went 13 straight possessions and nearly seven minutes of the third quarter without scoring, but rallied behind Mills and Leonard.We dug down deep, didnt moan or groan or whine, stuck with it and kept pounding away and found a way to win, Popovich said.Wesley Matthews had a season-high 26 points for the Mavericks, and Harrison Barnes added 17.Im proud of this team, Matthews said. Frustration aside. Loss aside. This is two games in a row that could have been ours. This fight that were showing -- this is who we were supposed to be all along.Dallas, trying to win its second game in a row and only its fourth of the season, led from early in the third quarter until an 11-2 Spurs run midway through the fourth quarter. Mills started it with a 3 and Leonard finished it with another that gave the Spurs the lead for gd at 80-79.The Mavericks simply couldnt stop Mills when it mattered. With his team leading 82-81, Mills hit a 3 with 3:04 to play. After Matthews answered with a 3, Mills dialed up another and then hit a long jumper to make it 90-84 with 11 left.We struggled majority of the game, Mills said. But we knew that it was all going to come down to defense. We needed to get stops and that would create our flow a little bit better. I thought we did that down the strretch of the game.ddddddddddddTIP-INSSpurs: Pau Gasol and Manu Ginobili did not make the trip to Dallas, and Tony Parker was held out, all for rest. ... Rkie Nicolas Laprovittola got his first career start and Dewayne Dedmon made his first start as a Spur. ... San Antonio has won seven in a row against Dallas.Mavericks: The Mavericks announced Tuesday that forward Dirk Nowitzki would miss at least two games with a sore right Achilles tendon. Nowitzki has played only five of the teams 17 games this year. ... The team got some gd news when Devin Harris returned after missing the first 16 games due to a right big toe sprain suffered in the teams final preseason game. He played 11 minutes and did not score. Coach Rick Carlisle said Harris minutes would be restricted as he returns to form.PROBLEMS AT THE POINTThe Mavericks three primary point guards (Harris, Deron Williams and J.J. Barea) have combined to play only 19 games this season. Their depth was further compromised when Seth Curry suffered a mild right knee sprain in the fourth quarter. Curry had scored his teams first seven points of the quarter to build a 75-67 lead.But with his injury and both Williams and Harris out due to minutes restrictions, rkie Jonathan Gibson was forced to play the final 4:23. Gibson hit a 3 but had a key turnover with his team down by four, and Mills scored eight points during that stretch.Gibson was put in a very difficult situation, but there was no other choice, coach Rick Carlisle said. It was a tough way to end the game.Carlisle said Curry would make the trip to Charlotte with the team for Thursday nights game.UP NEXTSpurs: Return home for a rematch with the Washington Wizards on Friday night. The Spurs beat the Wizards 112-100 on Saturday.Mavericks: Travel to Charlotte for the second half of a back-to-back Thursday night. Dallas will face the Hornets again on Monday. ' ' '