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Players milled around the field briefly, many of them joking with one another Youth Kalen Ballage Jersey , before returning to the benches and bullpens.

Votto thought he’d drawn a walk on a 3-1 pitch from Junior Guerra and started toward first base, but plate umpire Roberto Ortiz called it a strike. Votto and Kratz traded words as the Reds first baseman got back in the box Jose Cruz Jr. Jersey , prompting their teammates to take to the field. When play resumed, Votto flied out.

Votto was ejected in Atlanta on Wednesday by plate umpire Carlos Torres for arguing a called third strike Matt Kemp Jersey , his eighth career ejection.

They know they aren’t going to get the right playoff mindset by losing.

”If you have that mentality it kind of carries over to the postseason and you become a complacent basketball player,” forward Jabari Parker said.

Eric Bledsoe had 22 points and 10 assists, and the Bucks moved into a tie for sixth place in the East with a 115-102 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday night.

Khris Middleton also scored 22 points for the Bucks, who joined Miami with a 43-37 record. The Heat were blown out by the Knicks at Madison Square Garden a night earlier but the Bucks avoided the same fate despite playing without All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo because of a sore right ankle.

The No. 6 seed would be looking at facing Philadelphia, which has won 13 straight games Mike Montgomery Jersey , or LeBron James and Cleveland. The team that ends up seventh draws a second-seeded Boston team that has lost All-Star guard Kyrie Irving for the season.

”They got a great a basketball team and a great coach,” Bledsoe said. ”Obviously they’re missing a couple of key players but at the same time they were playing well without those guys in the lineup.”

Parker made his second start of the season in Antetokounmpo’s place and finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. John Henson had 15 points and 12 boards for the Bucks, who hoped to get point guard Malcolm Brogdon back but will have to wait a little longer as they try to become the dangerous team they think they can be.

”We know how good we can be and we’ve shown it,” coach Joe Prunty said. ”We’ve shown it in games and over stretches of games, but similar to what we were talking about earlier Youth Oren Burks Jersey , we have also had lulls or games where we haven’t played as well as we’d like to or need to, and that’s what we’re trying to build on every day.”

Jarrett Jack scored 18 points and Kyle O’Quinn had 15 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and four blocks for the Knicks, who beat Miami 122-98 on Friday but fell short in their hopes of beating another playoff-bound team.

The Knicks were without Tim Hardaway Jr. (sprained left ankle) Cheap John Franklin-Myers Jersey , Enes Kanter (lower back, right wrist) and Emmanuel Mudiay (concussion). Michael Beasley started after leaving Friday’s game with a bruised left knee.

Jack was the starter earlier in the season before falling out of the rotation entirely while the Knicks turned to young guards Trey Burke, Frank Ntilikina and Mudiay.

”The job is 82 games,” Jack said. ”If you’re not in, you cheer for everybody else. But if he calls your number Cheap Natrell Jamerson Jersey , be ready to come in there and be ready to come in there and contribute as best you can.”

The game was close most of the way until the Bucks, trailing by one, took control with a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter. Middleton’s basket gave Milwaukee the lead for good, Tony Snell and Parker made 3-pointers, and Bledsoe made four free throws as the Bucks surged to a 106-95 advantage with 2:17 to play.

Snell left a little more than five minutes into the game when he turned an ankle when he stepped on a teammate’s foot while chasing a Knicks player around a screen. He returned in the second quarter and had 10 points.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Prunty said Brogdon (left quad) was evaluated Saturday and it was determined he wasn’t ready to go. The Bucks hope last season’s Rookie of the Year can play Monday. … Parker had averaged 20 points in his last three games.

Knicks: Coach Jeff Hornacek said he expected that Kanter and Hardaway would play again this season if healthy Lonnie Chisenhall Jersey , refusing to rule them out for the final two games. ”Those guys are all competitors and that’s what we like about them,” Hornacek said. … Knicks starters had no turnovers in the first half and the team had just two total, both by Luke Kornet.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

The Knicks held Latvian heritage night in celebration of Latvia’s 100th anniversary. The New York Latvian Concert Choir sang the national anthem and Latvia President Raimond Vejonis was presented with a personalized jersey by Knicks All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, who is from Latvia.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Host Orlando on Monday.

Knicks: Host Cleveland on Monday.

General manager Jon Robinson Cheap Will Dissly Jersey , hired in January 2016, got his NFL start as a New England scout. Robinson signed cornerback Logan Ryan as a free agent last year. He then hired Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a Patriots linebacker, as Tennessee’s new coach in January after the Titans’ season ended in Foxborough in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Now the Titans are kicking off free agency by agreeing to deals with a pair of Patriots in cornerback Malcolm Butler and running back Dion Lewis.

Agent Derek Simpson told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Butler will sign a five-year deal worth more than $60 million Shelby Miller Jersey , which includes more than $30 million guaranteed, once free agency begins. A person familiar with the deal told the AP that Lewis has agreed on a four-year contract worth a maximum value of $23.4 million .

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because signings can’t become official until the start of the new league year on Wednesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the deal.

The Titans declined to comment because free agency does not begin until Wednesday afternoon. Tennessee had approximately $59 million in salary cap space to spend after releasing running back DeMarco Murray and three other players last week.

The 28-year-old Butler is a Vicksburg, Mississippi, native who went undrafted out of West Alabama but spent the past four seasons with the Patriots. Butler started 48 of his 59 games and has eight career interceptions. He was the hero of New England’s Super Bowl win after the 2014 season J.R. Richard Jersey , intercepting a pass to seal the 28-24 victory over Seattle.

The New Orleans Saints pursued Butler as a restricted free agent last year, but the trade price was too high.

The cornerback was well-respected in the Patriots’ locker room and played last season under a $3.9 million tender offer. After a slow start, he ended up playing 98 percent of New England’s defensive snaps and finished the season with two interceptions.

Butler started the Patriots’ first two playoff games before he was mysteriously benched for the Super Bowl. He played only one snap – on special teams – in New England’s 41-33 loss to Philadelphia. Butler later denied any off-field misconduct, saying he never missed a curfew or did anything to hurt the Patriots’ chances.

His two interceptions were the same number as fellow cornerback Stephon Gilmore Authentic Josh Sitton Jersey , who was signed by the Patriots to a five-year, $65 million deal last spring.

The Titans will add Butler to a secondary already featuring Ryan and Adoree Jackson, who started 16 games after being drafted 18th overall. Ryan wrote on Twitter earlier Tuesday that he was working the phones recruiting free agents to Tennessee.

The Titans ranked 13th in total defense and improved slightly against the pass, giving up 239.3 yards through the air to move from 30th in 2016 to 25th overall.

After releasing Murray Cheap Logan Cooke Jersey , the Titans needed more help for quarterback Marcus Mariota and new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur.

Lewis joins a backfield already featuring Derrick Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama, who had bided his time behind Murray his first two seasons. Lewis is a big receiving threat with 109 catches in his three seasons with New England, even with his first season in 2015 cut short by knee surgery after seven games.

He played just seven games during his return in 2016 Authentic Harrison Phillips Jersey , but he had a career season in 2017, leading New England with 896 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He also had three receiving scores and was the Patriots’ best kickoff returner, posting a 103-yard return for a touchdown against Denver.

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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans and AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower in Boston contributed to this report.

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With cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins in their early 20s and veterans Taj Gibson and Jeff Teague coming off productive debuts in Minnesota Authentic Mike Remmers Jersey , there is a sturdy starting lineup in place around Butler to ideally take the Timberwolves deeper in the next postseason.

Advancement is easier stated than consummated.

The Wolves, even with coach Tom Thibodeau’s preference to give his first-teamers heavy minutes, need to add depth this summer with defense and 3-point shooting atop the skill-set wish list. There is no clear way to acquire more of it, though, after making the logical first moves by drafting versatile wing players Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop last week .

Wiggins will begin playing on his maximum contract in 2018-19, with a $25 million-plus salary that will account for more than 20 percent of the team’s cap and push the Timberwolves close to the luxury tax threshold. That means they won’t be spending aggressively in free agency Cheap Tremaine Edmunds Jersey , with the negotiation period set to start on Sunday. They’ll have to find some candidates on the market willing to sign for less, perhaps for the veteran minimum, to fill out the bench.

”With some players they may not have the deal that they initially wanted,” Thibodeau said, ”but this may be the best opportunity in terms of the playing and the winning and then that sets it up for the following year.”

With Towns and Butler beginning the final year of their deals, salary cap management is going to be a challenge Paul Goldschmidt Jersey , too. Butler has to be convinced, too, that the cast in place will be strong enough for him to chase a championship with in the rugged Western Conference. Thibodeau said he’s comfortable if Butler plays the upcoming season without an extension in place, as several of the league’s stars did in 2017-18.

”Every day we work at it. We know how important he is, and we feel he’s one of the best players in the league,” Thibodeau said. ”I know he loves living here. The winning is important to him Authentic Joel Iyiegbuniwe Jersey , I know.”

Thibodeau said the Wolves have options for extending Butler, staying under the tax level and continuing to enhance the roster, but he predictably declined to be specific. So what about another headliner deal, using Wiggins to clear cap space and bring back some valuable players in return?

”Good players, they’re always going to be talked about as a possibility, but when you look at who Andrew is and what he’s accomplished at a very young age Orlando Cepeda Jersey , we think he’s critical,” Thibodeau said. ”So we’ll always talk to people, but we like Andrew a lot here.”

Nemanja Bjelica (restricted), Jamal Crawford (unrestricted) and Derrick Rose (unrestricted) are set to become free agents, leaving only Gorgui Dieng and Tyus Jones as reserves who regularly played last season and are assured of returning unless they’re traded. Given his history with Butler and Thibodeau, Rose could be one of those veterans the Wolves would court with a team-friendly contract.

Even if there’s more money to be made elsewhere Jorge De La Rosa Jersey , Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden spoke confidently this week of what they’re selling: a vibrant city, a winning track and popular teammates.

”We feel we’re in good position there,” Thibodeau said, ”and we’ll have some good opportunities.”

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Time is running out for the St. Louis Blues to make the playoffs.

Only two games remain in the regular season for St. Louis (43-31-6) Cheap Michael Gallup Jersey , which is on the outside looking in when it comes to the Western Conference playoff race. The Blues have a chance to move past the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild-card berth, but they cannot afford to stumble in the next 48 hours.

In other words, the pressure will be squarely on the Blues’ shoulders Friday night when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.

St. Louis trails Colorado by one point for the second wild-card spot with a game in hand after the Avalanche lost at San Jose 4-2 on Thursday. The clubs meet Saturday in Denver with a victory by the Blues over the Avalanche putting them in the playoffs. There could be other scenarios for St. Louis to reach the postseason pending Friday’s result in Chicago.

The Blackhawks (33-37-10) already have been eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in a decade. But it is safe to assume that a pride-filled Chicago roster — not to mention a raucous crowd — is energized at the possibility of crushing the postseason hopes of its longtime division rival.

“It’d be nice to see them miss the playoffs,” Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane said to the Chicago Sun-Times this week. “So it’d be nice to have a hand in that.”

The animosity was apparent Wednesday night as Chicago stormed back from a two-goal deficit for a 4-3 victory over St. Louis. Defenseman Duncan Keith scored in the final seconds to complete the comeback and weaken the Blues’ playoff chances.

St. Louis goaltender Jake Allen took the blame for the loss. Other Blues players said nerves might have played a role.

“If you’re going to play nervous Tyler Thornburg Jersey , then you better play smart,” St. Louis coach Mike Yeo said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The team vowed to perform better on the back end of its home-and-home series with Chicago.

“It (stinks), but at the end of the day, we have to stay positive illson Contreras Jersey ,” Blues center Brayden Schenn said. “Two-game winning streak here to get into the postseason.”

Allen is expected to get another chance in net Friday for St. Louis. The 27-year-old is 27-24-3 with a 2.74 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 58 games (55 starts) on the season. He is winless in his last four contests.

In 14 career games against Chicago, Allen is 8-5-1 with a 2.53 GAA and .915 save percentage.

The Blackhawks most likely will counter in net with Jean-Francois Berube, who made 31 saves during Wednesday’s victory. Berube is 3-5-1 with a 3.84 GAA and .893 save percentage on the season. He has made three career appearances against the Blues (1-0-1, 3.39 GAA Authentic Chukwuma Okorafor Jersey , .901 save percentage).

The game could mark the final appearance at the United Center for Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The 36-year-old has avoided specifics when asked about his future plans. He won three Stanley Cup championships with Chicago in 2010, 2013 and 2015, and has scored 249 goals in 747 games with the franchise.

Although Sharp’s future is up in the air Mariano Rivera Jersey , coach Joel Quenneville and general manager Stan Bowman definitely will be back. Team president John McDonough announced Thursday that he planned to retain both despite missing the playoffs.

“We might have to reinvent ourselves a little bit,” McDonough said to The Athletic. “We might have to be a little bit creative. We might have to dial it up a little bit more. But I’m confident this is a group that’s going to do it. I’m certainly disappointed where we are right now.”

HOUSTON — Yuli Gurriel delivered the walk-off hit that lifted the Houston Astros to victory on Thursday in their series opener with the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park.

The clutch at-bat came as no surprise considering Gurriel leads the American League in batting with runners in scoring position.

That George Springer and Marwin Gonzalez contributed to the ninth-inning rally was additionally good news for the Astros (58-31). Springer entered the series with a slash line of .100/.222/.157 since his last multi-hit game on June 10 and was 0-for-4 before muscling a game-tying single to center that scored Tony Kemp. Gonzalez Alex Wood Jersey , slashing .098/.193/.157 over his prior 15 games, emerged off the bench and delivered a pinch single that pushed Kemp to third.

“If you’ve been around our team at all the last couple days to weeks, to have George Springer and Marwin Gonzalez be a part of the celebration having contributed the way they did, that’s all they want to do is contribute to something positive Joe DiMaggio Jersey ,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

“Yuli should get as much praise as anybody to end the game, but really proud of George and Marwin to get in on the party.”

Right-hander Lance McCullers (9-3, 3.55 ERA) gets the start for the Astros on Friday. He is 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA over three career starts against the White Sox, including an outing on April 22 when he allowed one run on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts over six innings in a 7-1 win. McCullers twirled seven scoreless innings at Tampa Bay in his previous start and went 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA over five starts last month.

White Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (4-5 Ronald Acuna Jr. Jersey , 3.68) is scheduled to make his 18th start of the season and second against the Astros. He is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA over his last four road starts. The White Sox are providing Lopez with just 3.95 runs of support, the 15th-lowest mark in the AL. In his lone career start against Houston, Lopez allowed one run over five innings but did not factor into the decision while working opposite of McCullers.

With the non-waiver trade deadline looming at the end of this month and the rebuilding White Sox (30-57) out of contention, attention has shifted to the potential veterans who might be shipped elsewhere before the calendar turns. First baseman Jose Abreu and right fielder Avisail Garcia are popular names bandied about the rumor mill while veteran reliever Joakim Soria has been mentioned as a target for contenders seeking bullpen help.

Soria suffered the loss in the series opener Hyun-Jin Ryu Jersey , allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while recording just one out in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss. The Astros, interestingly, have been reported to potentially have interest in Soria. As for the White Sox, they’re ignoring the noise.

“For us Craig Biggio Jersey , it’s not something that’s been a topic of conversation,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “So we’re able to allow them to just continue to try to develop and try to improve and get better.”

”Come on Authentic Mason Cole Jersey ,” the catcher said.

He can thank his dominant starter for the latest addition. He played a pretty big role, too.

Iannetta homered in the seventh, Tyler Anderson pitched eight stellar innings in outdueling Andrew Suarez and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night to sweep a three-game series.

It was the first 1-0 game at Coors Field since June 12, 2010.

Anderson (6-3) scattered two hits and tied a season high with nine strikeouts. The left-hander didn’t allow a baserunner to reach second base.

”Tyler pitched great,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.

For that, Anderson credits a slight tweak in game plans, going with more cutters than changeups.

”It was helpful because I’ve faced those guys a lot,” Anderson said. ”If they want to sit on a changeup Cheap Joel Iyiegbuniwe Jersey , it kind of helps to have something to equalize that.”

And of course, Anderson wanted the ball for the ninth.

”You always want to go out and finish it,” Anderson said. ”At the same time, Wade Davis is an unbelievable pitcher.”

Davis surrendered a two-out single to Andrew McCutchen and walked Buster Posey in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Brandon Crawford hit a deep foul ball before later flying out as Davis earned his 25th save.

Suarez (3-5) pretty much matched Anderson pitch for pitch in going seven innings and scattering five hits.

”A pitcher’s duel is always fun,” Suarez said. ”I enjoyed it, just that last inning I missed that one pitch.”

Suarez elevated a slider on a full count to Iannetta, who took a few steps down the line to make sure his hooking liner remained fair.

It did. The umpiring crew took a look and confirmed Iannetta’s seventh homer of the season.

Kelby Tomlinson and Brandon Belt both singled to account for the only Giants hits off Anderson. Over the three-game series, San Francisco mustered just three runs and hit a combined .152.

”It’s a tough one Ricky Vaughn Jersey , the whole series,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ”We’ve got to rebound here, get the bats going.”

This was another strong outing for Anderson, who allowed four hits and no runs over eight innings in Los Angeles against the Dodgers last Friday.

He found a way to top it.

”He was good both times. He had command of four pitches,” Iannetta said. ”He was using all four quadrants of the zone. That’s really a difference maker. When you can command pitches, it makes it tough for hitters to get in a groove.”

Colorado had something brewing in the third, when DJ LeMahieu lined a one-out double to right. Charlie Blackmon followed with a sharp single off the glove of Joe Panik, who hustled after the baseball as LeMahieu took a wide turn. LeMahieu held at third and Suarez got the next two outs to escape the jam.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Bryan Shaw (strained calf) threw 25 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday. Black said the reliever will throw Friday and Sunday for Triple-A Albuquerque. ”From there Authentic Johnny Townsend Jersey , we’ll make an assessment of where Bryan is,” Black said. ”But Bryan right now feels good, his arm feels great.”

STREAKING ARENADO

Nolan Arenado leads the NL with 22 homers this season. And to think, he thought he might not even hit one out this season.

No, seriously.

”The first month-and-a-half, felt like I wasn’t going to hit any homers this year,” Arenado said. ”Now I have 22. You have to ride the wave.”

THIS & THAT

Tomlinson was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento and started at third base. … Colorado snapped a four-game skid on the Fourth of July. … Of Colorado’s three 1-0 wins on solo homers, Iannetta has the last two Cheap Arden Key Jersey , according to the team. He also accomplished the feat on July 18, 2010, at Cincinnati. … The game lasted just 2 hours, 15 minutes – the shortest at Coors Field this season.

UP NEXT

Giants: Begin a four-game series against St. Louis on Thursday, with Johnny Cueto (3-0, 0.84 ERA) expected to return to the mound. Cueto was placed on the disabled list May 1 – retroactive to April 29 – with inflammation in his right elbow. A few days later he visited Dr. James Andrews, who diagnosed him with a strained elbow.

Rockies: Off Thursday before playing a three-game series in Seattle. RHP German Marquez (6-8, 5.14) will throw for the Rockies on Friday Kenta Maeda Jersey , while the Mariners go with RHP Felix Hernandez (8-6, 5.11).

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There was a chance Iguodala’s status could be upgraded later Monday Youth Antonio Callaway Jersey , the team said.

The 2015 NBA Finals MVP has been starting regularly this postseason, including the first three games of the West finals with the defending champion Warriors leading the Rockets 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. The Warriors won Sunday’s game 126-85, with the 41-point victory margin the largest in franchise history in a postseason game.

Without Iguodala Authentic Cody Latimer Jersey , the Warriors would lose one of their top defenders and playmakers. He banged his knee during the fourth quarter Sunday.

”I think it was like a knee-on-knee type of thing,” coach Steve Kerr said after the game. ”He said he would be all right. But when we’re right, when we’re playing how we are supposed to play Trevor Bauer Jersey , Andre’s right in the middle of it. His defense and being smart, making good decisions. Andre is one of the guys who seems to set the tone for that for us, and I thought he did a great job of that tonight.”

Since 2014-15 Authentic Chris Herndon Jersey , Golden State is 14-4 in postseason games started by Iguodala. Kerr could go with much-improved big man Kevon Looney – he blocked two shots in the first quarter alone Sunday – to keep a couple of key wing players available off the bench in Nick Young and Shaun Livingston.

Also Monday, Kerr said the team plans to speak to the league regarding Draymond Green’s double-technical with Trevor Ariza issued at the 6:49 mark of the fourth quarter when Ariza shoved Green as they traded words.

”I thought it was unfair but we’ll take it up with the league,” Kerr said after Monday’s practice. ”He committed a hard foul but he held Ariza up and didn’t allow him to get hurt Authentic Dontae Johnson Jersey , and then Ariza shoved him. It didn’t seem like a double-technical to me, so we’ll take it up with the league and we’ll see what happens.”

With Green involved and the stakes so high at this stage, it probably won’t be the last time this series turns testy Cheap Harold Landry Jersey , either.

”Two guys are fiery and want to win. Two guys like Trevor and Draymond are just the ultimate competitors,” Kevin Durant said. ”Stuff happens out there. They’ve both got enough money to pay for it.”

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Davis didn’t quite score 50 Abraham Almonte Jersey , but his dominance around and above the rim got the Pelicans back in the series.

Highlighted by dunks of the driving, put-back or alley-oop variety, Davis had 33 points to go with 18 rebounds and four steals, and the Pelicans defeated the Warriors 119-100 on Friday night to trim Golden State’s series lead to 2-1.

”He came out aggressive. He set the tone on both ends of the floor,” Rondo said. ”He attacked the rim strong tonight.”

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry added that he ”felt real good” during a timeout when he heard Davis say, ”We’re not losing this game.”

Davis’ determined play around the basket helped New Orleans outscore the Warriors 54-36 in the paint and outrebound Golden State 54-44.

”Our mindset is to go out there and play, do what we’re supposed to do, follow the game plan and whatever results happen, happen Authentic Jeremiah Attaochu Jersey ,” Davis said. ”We followed the game plan to a tee.”

The Warriors have been known to erase large deficits in a hurry, but each time they tried to do so in Game 3, the Pelicans responded resoundingly. The Warriors never led by more than a single point and trailed by double digits for almost the entire second half, going down by 25 points in the third quarter and 26 in the fourth.

Golden State shot uncharacteristically poorly from outside, missing 22 of 31 3-point attempts and finishing at 38 percent shooting (35 of 92) overall.

”Most of it is attributed to the Pelicans. Their defense was great,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ”They were the aggressors. They brought the necessary force to the game on their home floor and these are the ebbs and flows of the playoffs.”

Jrue Holiday scored 21 for New Orleans and Ian Clark added 18 points against his former club. As in Game 2, Rondo once again had a heated exchange with Warriors forward Draymond Green. This time, Rondo backed it up with 21 assists.

”You can’t get assists without your teammates. They made shots tonight. Guys moved well without the ball,” Rondo said. ”It starts with defense. We were able to get stops Joe DiMaggio Jersey , get out in transition – create mismatches in transition.”

Klay Thompson scored 26 for Golden State, but missed 13 of 22 shots. Stephen Curry, in his second game back after a sprained knee sidelined him more than a month, missed 13 of 19 shots and finished with 19 points. Kevin Durant scored 22 points for the Warriors, but hit only two shots in the second half.

”I was rushing a little bit and just missed shots,” Curry said. ”I’m not going to get in my head about it. … You can’t really dwell on anything.”

The Pelicans, meanwhile, made 14 of 31 3s, with Holiday Authentic Logan Cooke Jersey , Clark, Nikola Mirotic and Solomon Hill each hitting three.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Green, who was soundly booed by Pelicans fans, had 11 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. … Kerr juggled the starting lineup with two new insertions, elevating Curry back to starter and also starting center JaVale McGee. Andre Iguodala and Nick Young, who started games 1 and 2, opened as reserves. … Kerr was assessed a technical foul in the first half.

Pelicans: Mirotic finished with 16 points and E’Twaun Moore scored 13. … New Orleans outrebounded the Warriors 54 to 44 and finished with a 19-12 advantage in second-chance points. … Got 32 points from reserves, led by Clark.

TESTY RELATIONSHIP

Green and Rondo downplayed their after-the-whistle jawing.

”I get nothing out of trying to bait Rondo into anything. That does nothing for me Danny Santana Jersey ,” Green said, insinuating that Rondo initiated their exchanges. ”When have I went up to him and tried to bait him? … I’ve baited a lot of guys, tried to bait a lot of guys, succeeded quite a bit. I ain’t trying to bait nobody.”

Rondo chalked up the testiness to ”just how I am,” and complimented Green’s competitiveness.

”It’s kind of just natural for me to respond, not in a crazy way or anything, but just to let them know we’re not a pushover,” Rondo said. ”He’s a great competitor. I love competing against him.”

CHANGE OF VENUE

New Orleans seemed to benefit from being back at home and looked to be the more comfortable team shooting from the outset.

Hill, who missed all four 3s he took in the first two games Authentic Taron Johnson Jersey , made his first three from deep. At one point in the first half, New Orleans was 10-of-15 from 3, while Golden State was just 5-of-15.

Mirotic’s third 3 put the Pelicans up 60-48 late in the second quarter.

Thompson’s layup and two 3s in quick succession pulled the Warriors to 62-56 at halftime, but the Pelicans opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run and led by double digits the rest of the way.

UP NEXT

Game 4 is Sunday afternoon, when New Orleans can even the series or the Warriors can take a 3-1 lead back home for Game 5.

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They’ve been around since the NBA’s very first season, starting out as the Syracuse Nationals. Their resume includes three championships. The list of franchise greats runs from Dolph Schayes to Wilt Chamberlain, from Julius Erving to Allen Iverson.

They’ve never done anything like this.

As if to put an emphatic stamp on their staggering turnaround from a 10-72 debacle just two seasons ago , the Sixers set a team record with their 15th consecutive victory, holding off the Atlanta Hawks 121-113 on Tuesday night in the penultimate game of the regular season.

Coach Brett Brown marveled at the accomplishment.

”It’s not like we’re a young club,” he said. ”We are an old club Authentic Billy Price Jersey , with a tremendous amount of culture and a tremendous amount of history. Taking that type of momentum into the playoffs, it’s important. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but it certainly lets you feel like you’ve been doing the right things. The team has been fantastic.”

The Sixers can wrap up the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, which could pay big dividends in the postseason.

Finishing No. 3 could possibly lead to a second-round meeting with the Boston Celtics, who have lost four of five and are limping into the playoffs without Kyrie Irving, who is out for the season. If the 76ers slip to fourth behind Cleveland in the East Shane Greene Jersey , they could get top-seeded Toronto in the second round, a potentially much tougher matchup considering the Raptors have won 25 of their last 31 games.

”We have a real opportunity that we don’t want to let slip,” Brown said. ”We can control our own destiny. We’re not a prisoner to other people’s events. That, in and of itself, is rare and not to be taken for granted.”

Of course, the way the Sixers are playing Jose Bautista Jersey , they have no reason to fear anyone. They’re the only team in the East hotter than the Raptors, having won 26 of their last 31 games.

What makes it even more amazing: Philadelphia kept right on winning after losing young All-Star Joel Embiid , who is expected to miss at least the first couple of weeks of the playoffs after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured orbital bone around his left eye.

He leads the team in scoring (22.9 points per game) and rebounding (11.0).

”The strength of this team is so deep,” Robert Covington said. ”We’re doing it without Joel, so imagine once we get the head honcho back. He’s definitely going to be ecstatic. There wasn’t really much of a drop-off. We just played a little bit differently. We’ll be glad once he gets back. We just have to hold it down until he gets back.”

The Sixers showed off their depth against the Hawks – including a couple of guys who began the season in Atlanta. Ersan Ilyasova scored 26 points off the bench. Marco Belinelli added 20. Together, they hit nine 3-pointers.

JJ Redick led the way with 28 points Alen Hanson Jersey , knocking down 6 of 9 beyond the arc . That allowed Philadelphia to extend its winning streak even on a day when rookie star Ben Simmons missed the morning shootaround because of a stomach bug, and looked a bit out of sorts during the game. He did finish with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists before fouling out in the closing seconds.

Simmons can’t wait for the regular-season finale against the Bucks, a possible preview of the opening-round playoff series.

”It’s going to be a packed house against a great team in the East,” he said. ”I think the way we’re playing right now, we have a little momentum.”

That’s a bit of an understatement.

For a few hours Youth Kentavius Street Jersey , at least, the Sixers could savor something this team has never done.

Win 15 games in a row.

”I think it’s very significant,” Redick said, ”if you look at the history of the franchise.”

A franchise with a long, proud history just added another chapter.

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