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With the wind and against it.
With Nick Foles engineering several long drives http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dalton-schultz-jersey , Jake Elliott converting three field goals, and the defense getting stingy in the tightest spot, Philadelphia moved into the NFC championship game with a 15-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday.
Foles directed brilliant marches of 74 and 80 yards in the second half – one
into the whipping wind, the other with it – and Elliott atoned for missing an
extra point by converting from 53 yards at the end of the second quarter, 37 and
21 in the second half. Then the Eagles (14-3) held when Atlanta (11-7) got to
the 9-yard lin
e with a first down, and to the 2 on fourth down.
When Matt Ryan’s final pass sailed over Julio Jones’ head in the end zone , Philly could celebrate its first playoff victory since the 2008 season.
Next Sunday, the Eagles will host either Minnesota or New Orleans for the conference crown. The Eagles last made the Super Bowl in the 2004 season, losing to New England.
”I mean, we just kept believing in each other http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-barkevious-mingo-jersey ,” said Foles, who became the starter when Carson Wentz, a leading MVP contender, injured his knee in December. ”That was it. Our team never wavered, defense did an amazing job, special teams – that’s just been the story this year is that we just all stuck together…”
The Falcons, of course, memorably blew a 28-3 second-half lead to the Patriots in last year’s Super Bowl. They will not get the opportunity to atone for it, though Ryan got them close at the end.
Despite being underdogs as the No. 1 seed, the Eagles showed plenty of moxie.
”Just keep on disrespecting and we’re going to keep proving people wrong Lamar Jackson Jersey Elite ,” receiver Alshon Jeffery said.
A masterful 74-yard, 12-play drive on which Foles threw for 70 yards led to Elliott’s 37-yard kick into the wind that made it 12-10. The Eagles then put together their best drive, an 80-yarder covering 14 plays, yet again faltered close to the end zone. Elliott added a 21-yarder with 6:02 remaining after coach Doug Pederson briefly considered going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 3.
”It was tricky out there, really gusty,” Elliott said.
Then, as the fans in the Linc held their breath, the Eagles held deep in their territory.
”Man, just stay calm,” said defensive tackle Fletcher Cox Jason Sanders Color Rush Jersey , who was a force all day. ”We always talk about that. We’ve been in those situations during the regular season, so we kind of know how to handle those situations, not try to make a play but let the play come to us.”
And the road to the Super Bowl remains through Philly.
WINDY DECISIONS
Falcons coach Dan Quinn could have opted to take the wind in the fourth quarter after deferring on the opening coin toss. Instead, he took the ball to start the second half, but it was the Eagles who got the only points of the third period.
And in the end, Atlanta had to deal with the currents on that final drive, which did include a 20-yard completion to Jones on fourth-and-6.
”It was a tough game for us tonight,” Quinn said, ”and as we go through, we will go back and assess everything we have done.”
ERROR-FILLED HALF
Mistakes hurt the Eagles in the opening half. Jay Ajayi’s fumble and a misplayed punt that bounced off Bryan Braman led to all 10 Atlanta points.
Things began nicely for Philadelphia when safety Brian Poole was tagged with pass interference on a deep pass by Foles that was held up by the wind. But Ajayi fumbled on the next play with Keanu Neal recovering.
Atlanta efficiently mixed runs and passes to drive to Matt Bryant’s 33-yard field goal for an early lead.
Philadelphia got the run game going with Ajayi in the opening period. Then Cheap Saquon Barkley Jersey , with the wind in the next quarter, the Eagles kept the Falcons so off-balance Atlanta took two timeouts in three plays.
Receiver Nelson Agholor’s 21-yard run got the ball to the 3, and Foles botched a handoff to Corey Clement. But the quarterback quickly dived on the loose ball and was ruled to have scored. Replay showed otherwise.
Pederson showed no hesitation going for it, and Blount surged in from the 1. Elliott’s missed extra point left it 6-3.
Soon after came Matt Bosher’s punt that took a wicked bounce and hit Braman while he was blocking. From the Philly 18, the Falcons benefited from two penalties before Ryan scrambled from pressure and found Devonta Freeman for a 6-yard TD and a 10-3 lead.
With 46 seconds left in the half, the hosts got lucky. Foles’ errant pass ricocheted off Neal’s hands to Torrey Smith for 20 yards. Jeffery made a long stretch to haul in another throw with 1 second remaining, and Elliott’s 53-yard field goal just made it over the crossbar.
”It was great for momentum,” Foles said. ”Jake did an awesome job of kicking that for us.”
QB NUMBERS
Foles finished a very efficient outing by going 23 of 30 for 246 yards.
Ryan was 22 of 36 for 210 yards on a difficult day to throw. Jones had nine receptions for 101 yards.
UP NEXT
Philadelphia will host either Minnesota or New Orleans next Sunday night for the NFC title.
Atlanta’s season ends after a wild-card berth and a win at Los Angeles before Saturday’s defeat.
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The Clippers and coach Doc Rivers have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him around to oversee the post-Lob City era.
The team announced the extension Wednesday while not disclosing terms of the deal. Rivers was set to enter the final year of his five-year contract next season.
The 56-year-old coach has a 259-151 record in five years with the Clippers. They missed the playoffs this season for the first time in his tenure. Because of injuries, Rivers used a league-high 37 different starting lineups before the team finished with a 42-40 mark after trading Blake Griffin to Detroit in January.
Rivers was stripped of his duties as president of basketball operations a year ago. His undivided attention led to one of his best coaching jobs this season that began with nine new players on the roster after the offseason departures of Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford.
Despite the injuries that led to 11 players missing a total of 265 games Authentic Baker Mayfield Jersey , the Clippers kept their playoff hopes alive until the final week of the regular season.
Rivers said he’s proud of the team’s past success but ”there is more work to be done.”
With Paul and Griffin already gone, DeAndre Jordan, the last of the Big Three, could depart via free agency this summer if he and the team don’t agree on an extension.
Rivers will preside over the team’s remaking. The Clippers have two lottery picks in the June draft.
”Doc is one of the top coaches in the NBA, coming off one of his finest seasons since joining the Clippers,” owner Steve Ballmer said. ”We trust Doc to lead a competitive, tough, hard-working team while upholding a culture of accountability expected to resonate throughout the organization.”
Rivers is the winningest coach in franchise history with 259 victories and a winning percentage of .632. He is second to only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich among active coaches with 846 career wins.
During his 19-year coaching career, he led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship.
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KANSAS CITY Hayden Hurst Color Rush Jersey , Mo. — It wasn’t Friday the 13th, but it was a nightmare nonetheless for Danny Duffy.
On May 13, the Kansas City Royals 29-year-old left-hander took the mound at Progressive Field in Cleveland. After 87 pitches in 3 1/3 innings, Duffy was finished.
“What do I remember from the last one?” Duffy said. “I try to forget it. It was probably the worst start I’ve had in a long timfe.”
To say it was bad would be an understatement. Duffy gave up nine runs, eight
hits and five walks and hit a batter. He yielded a three-run homer to Jose
Ramirez in the second inning.
Manager Ned Yost mercifully replaced him in the third when Yan Gomes belted Duffy’s final pitch over the center-field fence with two runners on base.
Duffy gets a chance for a reprieve on Tuesday when he faces the Indians in the second game of the three-game series.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there,” he said. “It’s another challenge and I’m up for it. I’m going to do everything I can to execute every pitch and stay within my strengths.”
Duffy has not fared well against the Indians in his career. He is 2-8 with a 5.06 ERA, surrendering 39 earned runs in 69 1/3 inning in 17 career outings, 13 of them starts.
This season, he is 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 17 starts, allowing 95 hits, walking 46 and hitting two batters in 94 2/3 innings.
Opponents are batting .259 against Duffy. That breaks down to .264 by right-handed batters and .233 by left-handed batters. Lefties have hit .188 against Duffy since 2016.
Duffy has pitched better recently. He began the year 1-6 with a 6.88 ERA in his first 10 starts, giving up 39 earned runs in 51 innings. He is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in his past seven starts http://www.titansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-harold-landry-jersey , allowing 13 earned runs across 43 2/3 innings.
In his last start, Duffy picked up a 5-4 decision over the Milwaukee Brewers on the road. He permitted one run, five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings. He stranded two runners in the first and third inning. Jesus Aguilar’s home run in the sixth was the only run Duffy allowed.
Duffy will be looking for his first Kauffman Stadium victory this season. He is 0-3 with a 6.32 ERA in six home starts. His last home victory was Aug. 22, 2017.
The Indians, who won the series opener 9-3 with Francisco Lindor driving in a career-high seven runs, will counter with rookie right-hander Shane Bieber, who is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in his first four career starts.
“I just want to go out there and continue what I’ve been doing so far,” Bieber said. “That’s just throwing three or four pitches for strikes and getting ahead, and trying to put guys away when I can.
“Really, it’s just a matter of trusting (catchers) Yan (Gomes) or Berto (Roberto Perez). They always know exactly what they’re doing, in case I don’t. They make up for my lack of experience.”
Bieber has plus breaking pitches.
“Right now, I’m relying on the slider and curveball Jason McCourty Color Rush Jersey ,” he said. “I’ll use the fastball if they’re sitting on those two. I feel comfortable throwing those three especially. My change-up is a work in progress. All my pitches are a work in progress, obviously, but that one especially.
“Keeping them off balance with all three or four pitches is the best thing. If I can do that, things will be a little bit easier. That’s the goal for every starting pitcher.”
Alex Ovechkin finally got to hoist the Stanley Cup. And then he raised the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Final.Fellow Russian linemate Evgeny Kuznetsov and goaltender Braden Holtby certainly did some heavy lifting of their own.
In helping deliver a championship Washington had wanted for more than 40 years, Kuznetsov was arguably the Capitals‘ most instrumental player. The 26-year-old, fifth-year pro finished with a playoff-leading 32 points, including his 20th assist in Thursday night’s series-clinching 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5.
”He was unbelievable,” Ovechkin said of Kuznetsov. ”He makes the magic over there.”
Holtby, overshadowed coming into the Final, bested three-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. He not only allowed the Golden Knights just eight goals over the last four games, but won in Vegas twice.
Holtby is now 45-37 in 82 career playoff appearances – all with the Capitals – while compiling a 2.04 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and six shutouts. That is the second-highest save percentage and fifth-best GAA in NHL postseason history among goaltenders with at least 50 outings.
Washington coach Barry Trotz said it took losing the No. 1 role to Philipp Grubauer late in the regular season and the start of the postseason for Holtby to rediscover the foundation of his game he developed in Saskatchewan.
”Just like all great goaltenders Authentic Josh Allen Jersey , you go through some dry spells in your game where you lose your way a little bit and your foundation,” Trotz said. ”We had a conversation and he was very respectful. He understood that he wasn’t going to start in the playoffs. And he said, `If I get a chance to go back in, I’m gonna be really good for you.’ And he was.”
His unbelievable stick save on Alex Tuch to lock up a win in Game 2 will ring forever in Caps history.
”I think any big play is going to be a turning point,” Holtby said humbly. ”It was a big play in the game, but the credit really goes to our guys because we didn’t get complacent. We knew we could do something special and we did.”
With Ovechkin, Kuznetsov and Holtby leading the charge, Washington wasn’t about to blow another 3-1 lead, an unwelcome feature of its postseason past. Prior to this season, the Capitals had lost five series when leading 3-1, the most in the NHL.
After losing Game 1, the Capitals won four straight to win the Cup http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marshall-newhouse-jersey , outscoring the Golden Knights 16-8 along the way. For the series, Kuznetsov scored one goal and assisted on seven others, including Jakub Vrana’s goal that opened the scoring for the Capitals in Game 5.
”Kuz is a great player, he’s a really, really talented player,” Vrana said. ”He can be the difference every game. He’s just unbelievable.”
While Trotz acknowledged Ovechkin’s play and how much he’s meant to the franchise, he said Kuznetsov single-handedly took over games for the Capitals and proved to be just as valuable during their championship run.
So much so, he wasn’t sure who was going to be named MVP of the Final.
”That was a toss-up for me, I thought they were neck and neck if you ask me who gets the Conn Smythe, I thought that’s gonna be a tough choice,” Trotz said. ”You probably have to split that in half for me.”
Trotz said Kuznetsov is just scratching the surface, and the rest of the league is starting to find just how good he is.
Kuznetsov Denard Span Seattle Mariners Jersey , who finished the regular season with 27 goals and 56 assists, scored 12 goals and had 20 assists in the postseason. He was instrumental in Washington’s 6-2 demolition of the Golden Knights in Game 4, when he registered four assists to tie a single-game Stanley Cup Final record.
”Since Day 1 of training camp, we really play for each other, we work for each other and we really try to help the young guys, older guys – it doesn’t matter,” Kuznetsov said. ”We just play for your partner and we compete every day.”
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More Stanley Cup coverage: .
In games where the St. Louis Cardinals hit homers and pitch well Cecil Cooper Milwaukee Brewers Jersey , they generally walk off the field with a win.
But on nights where they can’t connect with the long ball, they don’t consistently make up for it with situational hitting or defense. Friday night’s 5-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves was another example of that trend rearing its ugly head.
After failing to cash in leadoff walks in the bottom of the first against Braves starter Julio Teheran, St. Louis simply couldn’t crack the code. It eventually caught up with the Cardinals as they were held to one run for their second straight game.
For St. Louis (42-38) to even the series Saturday night at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals will have to do a better job of converting runners in scoring position into runs while not giving up extra outs defensively. The Cardinals’ three errors Friday night marked their 17th multi-error game in 80 games.
St. Louis is on a pace to commit more than 130 miscues this year, continuing a three-season trend of below-average defense. Permitting good teams like Atlanta (46-34) four or five outs in an inning is a recipe for disaster.
The Braves started a 10-game road trip with a positive result. Third baseman Johan Camargo was the offensive star, going 3-for-5 with two runs and a two-run double off Jordan Hicks in the eighth that broke open a 1-0 game.
“Baseball is all about its ups and downs,” Camargo said. “For me, it’s all about maintaining the focus and just staying the path.”
Atlanta essentially heeded Camargo’s credo, bouncing back from consecutive series losses against last-place teams Baltimore and Cincinnati. It will turn to left-hander Max Fried (0-2, 4.09 ERA) on Saturday to secure a series win.
Fried is replacing veteran right-hander Brandon McCarthy Jerome
Baker Color Rush Jersey , who was put on t
he 10-day disabled list
Thursday with a knee injury. A former first-round pick of San Diego, Fried will
make his first start since going five innings and giving up one earned run on
May 28 in a no-decision against the New York Mets.
It will be the second career appearance against the Cardinals for Fried, who last year tossed a scoreless inning in relief against them.
Right-hander Luke Weaver (4-6, 4.59) will look for his second straight win for St. Louis. Weaver shrugged off a rough first inning Sunday in Milwaukee to grab an 8-2 win, fanning a season-high nine over 5 2/3 innings while yielding two runs off five hits and two walks.
Weaver needed 32 pitches to make it through a two-run first inning, but started finding the range with his off-speed pitches. That made his fastball play bigger, and he rolled through the middle innings while the Cardinals bombed Jhoulys Chacin out of the box with five runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
“The first inning, it was like, ‘Here we go again.’ It means a lot for him to right the ship,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny told mlb.com.
Weaver http://www.dolphinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-josh-sitton-jersey , who snapped a seven-start winless streak in Milwaukee, will make his first career appearance against the Braves.
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is closer than ever to playing for the Stanley Cup, and he’s determined to make the most of the opportunity.”I’ve never been in this position before,” he said Tuesday, looking ahead to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The winner Wednesday night earns a berth in the Stanley Cup Final opposite the Vegas Golden Knights, who will try for hockey’s biggest prize in their inaugural season.
Ovechkin and the Caps are hoping to shed a label as playoff underachievers, a franchise that dazzles during the regular season only to disappoint at the most important time of the year.
”I’m excited. We’re all excited. … We all want to be in this position and move forward,” said Ovechkin, who is playing in the conference final for the first time during his prolific 13-year career.
”(Wednesday night) is probably biggest game in my life, this team http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-frank-ragnow-jersey , organization probably. … We still haven’t reached our goal. Tomorrow is going to be a huge step forward.”
Not if the Lightning have their way.
Tampa Bay is playing Game 7 in the conference final for the third time in four years. It beat the New York Rangers on the road to advance to the 2015 Cup Final, but fell short the following year against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
”Experience is always a good thing, but it’s nothing I’m going to sit and lean on,” said Tampa Bay defenseman Anton Stralman, who is 7-1 in Game 7s during his career. ”It’s about doing your job at the highest level you possibly can.”
Washington forced Wednesday’s winner-take-all matchup with a dominating 3-0 victory in Game 6.
In a series where home ice has not been a clear advantage, the Lightning are hoping it provides an edge in Game 7.
Washington won Games 1 and 2 in Tampa, then dropped the next two at home. The Capitals are 7-2 on the road this postseason.
”When you get this deep into a series, everyone knows each other by heart. Now it really comes down to a little bit of will. You have to will yourself for this moment,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said.
”I do like the fact there will be 19,000 people helping us http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-will-hernandez-jersey , to will us to victory. I want the guys to enjoy the game. It will be a phenomenal experience. … You just have to remember, don’t let the game get bigger than it really is. Go out there, execute, leave everything out there and we’ll see what happens.”
This will be Washington’s 11th Game 7 since the start of the 2008 playoffs, most among all NHL teams in that span. None of them, however, have been for a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
Capitals coach Barry Trotz said after Monday night’s win in Washington that there’s no other team he has coached that he would rather lead into a seventh game.
”We just keep taking whatever challenge is thrown at us and build off it. This group doesn’t waver. It has a spirit about it, a strong spirit,” he said.
”This team has done a lot of special things this year, it’s grown http://www.49ersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-cassius-marsh-jersey , it continues to do that,” Trotz added. ”What an opportunity going into Tampa. … We’ll see if we can earn the right to keep playing.”
And while that undoubtedly would be a major breakthrough for Ovechkin, Trotz reiterated the Capitals all have a lot invested.
”The opportunity is not only for Alex, but for everybody,” he said. ”Everybody that gets a chance to be in a Game 7, which will allow you to go to the finals. It’s exciting, it’s fun.”
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Not in college. Not in high school. Not in peewee football. Not even in the backyard against family and friends.
Bortles put together one decent drive all day http://www.jaguarsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dj-chark-jersey , doing as much with his legs as his arm, and the defensive-minded Jacksonville Jaguars eked out an ugly and sometimes unwatchable 10-3 victory against the Buffalo Bills in an AFC wild-card game Sunday.
Bortles became the second starting quarterback in the past 25 years to win a playoff game with more rushing yards (88) than passing (87). Atlanta’s Michael Vick also did it against the St. Louis Rams in the 2004 playoffs.
”That’s usually not ideal for a quarterback,” Bortles said.
It was enough to help the third-seeded Jaguars (11-6) get to the next round against No. 2 seed Pittsburgh.
The sixth-seeded Bills (9-8) will head home after ending the longest, current playoff drought in North American professional sports.
”We had bigger goals,” Buffalo linebacker Preston Brown said. ”Once we got in the dance, we didn’t want to be one and done. We didn’t want to treat this like a bowl game, go down to Florida and everybody relaxes. We wanted to move on.
”This really stings to lose in this way when you hold them to 10 points. We just didn’t find a way to hold them to zero points to win the game.”
Bortles was a big reason Jacksonville won its first playoff game since January 2008. He was big reason it was so close, too.
This was far from a passing clinic. It was more like a painful exercise in overcoming poor passing.
Bortles made up for it with his scrambling ability. He had several long runs http://www.eaglesauthorizedshops.com/authentic-markus-wheaton-jersey , with the highlight coming in the fourth quarter when he fumbled a shotgun snap, picked it up and outran two defenders for an 18-yard gain.
The play prompted a Bills assistant to slam his clipboard to the ground, which left Bortles smiling as he flipped the ball to an official.
”We weren’t sharp. We
made some bad plays and did some stupid stuff,” Bortles
said. ”But we found a way to win, and that’s all that matters.”
He completed 12 of 23 passes for 87 yards, with a touchdown. His TD pass to backup tight end Ben Koyack late in the third quarter was his best throw of the game. It also was a gutsy call on fourth-and-goal from the 1.
Bortles did the rest on the ground, picking up first downs and helping Jacksonville win its first playoff game at home since the 1999 season.
”He found a way,” cornerback Aaron Colvin said. ”You’ve got to find a way. Whatever it takes Paul Worrilow Color Rush Jersey , we’ve got to get to these goals we talked about. All this work we put in in the offseason is for moments like this. For him to find a way and do it with his legs, I have the utmost respect for him.”
The Bills had plenty of chances down the stretch, but a huge penalty against tight end Charles Clay, a dropped pass by Zay Jones and then a tackle that knocked quarterback Tyrod Taylor out of the game ended any threat of a comeback.
Taylor’s helmet slammed hard against the ground after getting thrown down by Dante Fowler Jr. He had to be helped off the field, forcing backup Nathan Peterman into the game with 1:27 remaining.
All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey tipped and then intercepted Peterman’s third pass, and the Jaguars ran out the clock.
”I don’t care what people call it, we got a playoff win,” Ramsey said. ”We’re going to come to work for another week while other teams are sitting home.”
YARDAGE NUMBERS
The Bills finished with 263 yards Bradley Zimmer Cleveland Indians Jersey , 119 of those coming from hobbled running back LeSean McCoy (ankle). The Jags had a measly 230 yards, the team’s third-fewest total of the season. Leonard Fournette ran 21 times for 57 yards.
HUGE SWING
Trailing 10-3 with about six minutes to play, the Bills looked as if they picked up a first down on an 11-yard pass from Tyrod Taylor to Clay. Jacksonville players standing on the sideline pointed to Clay’s feet, and coach Doug Marrone threw the challenge flag. Officials overturned the completion, saying Clay was out of bounds and setting up a third-and-10 play from the Jacksonville 48-yard line. Linebacker Myles Jack sacked Taylor on the next play, forcing a punt.
INJURIES
Bills: Safety Micah Hyde left the game in the third quarter and was being evaluated for a concussion. Cornerback Tre’Davious White went to the locker room in the fourth to be treated for cramps. Safety Colt Anderson injured his right shoulder in the fourth trying to make a diving interception.
Jaguars: Linebacker Paul Posluszny (hip) left, tried to return and then headed to the locker room. He did not return. Receiver/punt returner Jaydon Mickens (hamstring) also left the game.
UP NEXT
The Jaguars will play at second-seeded Pittsburgh next Sunday, a rematch from Week 5. Ben Roethlisberger threw five interceptions Danny Shelton Color Rush Jersey , and Jacksonville won 30-9. The Steelers have won 10 of 11 since, the lone loss coming against New England.
”I’m sure they’re thinking that game was a fluke,” Ramsey said.
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LeBron James knows the odds are stacked against the Cavaliers. He’s lost sleep over it.
The Cavs are down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals to the Boston Celtics, who can take complete command of the series with a win in Game 3 on Saturday night. Although James has twice overcome 2-0 deficits to win postseason series, that doesn’t make the challenge any easier.
”I mean, I lose sleep,” the three-time champion said following the team’s morning shootaround. ”At the end of the day, when you lose any game in the postseason Gleyber Torres New York Yankees Jersey , it’s never comfort. Playoffs is never comfort. There’s nothing about the playoffs that’s comfortable until you either win it all or you lose and go into the summer.
”So for me it’s always day to day grind to figure out ways that you can be better.”
Only 19 of 300 teams (6 percent) have overcome a 2-0 deficit to win, but two of them were Cleveland squads led by James. He brought the Cavs back in 2007 against Detroit and more famously in the 2016 NBA Finals when Cleveland became the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit and beat Golden State for the title.
James also lost four series when falling behind 2-0.
Game 3 essentially comes down to a must-win situation for the Cavs. No team has overcome a 3-0 deficit (131-0).
James is trying to reach the NBA Finals for the eighth straight time, a feat accomplished only by Celtics greats Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Frank Ramsey and Tommy Heinsohn.
Of course, with James potentially becoming a free agent this summer, Game 3 carries even more weight for the Cavs.
.The longtime broadcaster was not included in the network’s lineup for the NFL title game telecast from Minneapolis on Feb. 4 Baker Mayfield Jersey Browns , leading to speculation that Costas’ comments about head injuries in football might have affected the decision.
Dan Patrick and Liam McHugh will host the broadcast.
An NBC Sports spokesperson said: ”Dan and Liam have served as hosts for our NFL pregame/studio shows on Sunday nights and Thursday nights, respectively, throughout the season and will continue on Super Bowl Sunday.”
Costas said: ”Dan and Liam have done the job hosting NBC’s NFL coverage all season. It wouldn’t be right for me to parachute in and do the Super Bowl.”
When he stepped down as host of the Olympics last February, Costas was expected to keep his Super Bowl duties because Mike Tirico, his Olympic replacement, would be in South Korea.
Costas hosted NBC’s Super Bowl pregame coverage in 1986, 1989, 1993, 2009 http://www.jetsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-nathan-shepherd-jersey , 2012 and 2015.
During an appearance at the University of Maryland in November, he said of football: ”the reality is that this game destroys people’s brains.”
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Nikola Jokic only had a basic outline of his offseason plans: Rest, work out in Denver, return home to Serbia and rest some more.
It’s not more elaborate since the Nuggets big man figured he’d be working for a while longer.
The Nuggets won six more games than a year ago and yet finished in the same position – a spot out of the playoffs. This season even came down to a winner-take-all scenario in Minnesota, where the Nuggets came up short in overtime to miss out on the playoffs for a fifth straight season.
”I’m not mad. I’m not sad, because I think w
e played good,” Jokic said
Thursday. ”We’re not making the playoffs because we were not focused the whole
season, every game.”
Still, the Nuggets won six straight down the stretch to climb into contention for a spot Youth Saquon Barkley Jersey , before losing to the Timberwolves in a spirited game.
”If we play with that sense of urgency that we did at the end, then we wouldn’t have even been in this position,” Will Barton said. ”It’s all a part of growing.”
Veteran Richard Jefferson had a succinct message to the team.
”Embrace the pain,” Jefferson said. ”The pain is what makes it good.”
Soon after, he slung a plastic garbage bag crammed with all his gear over his shoulder and playfully sang ”On the Road Again” as he sauntered down the hallway.
This is a team that’s steadily on the rise under third-year coach Michael Malone, going from 33 wins in 2015-16, to 40 last season and now 46.
”I’ll continue to think about, going into next year, how I can get better next season. What do I have to do as a head coach and a leader to help this team move from being a ninth seed and out of the playoffs with 46 wins to being a playoff team?” Malone said. ”Next year is a year we have to make that jump.”
Denver had its share of health issues this season http://www.redskinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-derrius-guice-jersey , with Paul Millsap missing 44 games after suffering a left wrist injury that required surgery. Jokic was sidelined six games with a sprained left ankle, and Gary Harris missed 11 contests due to a strained right knee, before returning with two remaining.
”Through it all, I’m still optimistic and feel comfortable with where we’re at,” said Millsap, who signed a $90 million, three-year deal last summer. ”Still wish we were still playing. But I’m still happy about our guys and where we’re at.”
Things to know following a season in which the Nuggets went 31-10 at the Pepsi Center and 15-26 on the road:
BARTON’S RETURN
Barton did a little bit of everything for the Nuggets, from coming in off the bench to starting, from playing two-guard to small forward. A free agent this summer Martin Fehervary Capitals Jersey , Barton hopes to be back next season.
”We’re building something real special here,” Barton said .
MURRAY & MALONE
Jamal Murray’s dad pushes him. John Calipari, his coach at Kentucky, pushes him. So Malone can, too.
”I don’t think he realizes how hard he can get on me, how hard he can push me and demand stuff from me,” said Murray , who turned in quite a second season as he transitioned to point guard.
No joke, Murray said he wants his 3-point shooting percentage (37.8 this season) to match his free throw percentage (90.5).
THE JOKER
Jokic was one of the most dominating big men in the league http://www.chargersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-uchenna-nwosu-jersey , averaging 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He also had 10 triple-doubles.
No wonder Malone is all for signing him to a long-term deal.
”As soon as possible, sign that kid up,” Malone said.
PAINFUL EXPERIENCE
Although Millsap came back in late February, his wrist wasn’t close to 100 percent. He said doctors told him it will be sore for up to a year.
”I still went out there and gave it all I could,” said Millsap , whose team went 24-20 in his absence.
THIS & THAT
Forward Kenneth Faried didn’t get into a game after nearly 10 minutes on Feb. 1. … The 37-year-old Jefferson on his future: ”It’s not whether or not I’m here. It’s whether or not I’ll be playing basketball.” … Guard Devin Harris averaged 8.2 points after being acquired in February. … Forward Torrey Craig donned a cap Thursday that had one word on it – ”Salty.” Mood of the team? ”It’s tough on all the guys,” Craig said of missing the postseason.
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The Latest from NHL free agency (all times Eastern):
9 p.m.
A person with direct knowledge of the trade tells The Associated Press the Buffalo Sabres acquired two draft picks http://www.broncosauthorizedshops.com/authentic-josey-jewell-jersey , including a 2019 first-rounder, and three players in dealing center Ryan O’Reilly to the St. Louis Blues.
Buffalo also acquired veteran centers Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund, and center Tage Thompson, the Blues first-round pick in the 2016 draft.
Buffalo also acquired a second-round selection in 2021.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced.
– AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow
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8:50 p.m.
A person with direct knowledge has told The Associated Press that the Buffalo Sabres have traded center Ryan O’Reilly to the St. Louis Blues.
The person spoke to the AP on Sunday on the condition of anonymity because the trade has not been announced. It was not immediately clear what other players were involved in the trade.
TSN.com first reported O’Reilly had been traded.
The move was completed before the Sabres were due to pay O’Reilly a $7.5 million contract bonus by the end of the day.
O’Reilly completed his third season in Buffalo since being acquired in a trade with Colorado, after which the Sabres signed him to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract. He’s a dependable, two-way forward, who set the NHL record by winning 1,273 faceoffs last year.
– AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow
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5:55 p.m.
The Boston Bruins have added seven players on the first day of NHL free agency Josey Jewell Color Rush Jersey , including defenseman John Moore.
Moore is a 10-year veteran who spent the last three
seasons with the New
Jersey Devils. He got a five-year deal with an annual cap hit of $2.75
million.
General manager Don Sweeney also added goaltender Jaroslav Halak to back up Tuukka Rask. Forwards Joakim Nordstrom and Chris Wagner each got two-year deals. Defenseman Cody Goloubef and forward Mark McNeill got one-year, two-way contracts, and defenseman Axel Andersson was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Bruins were in the running for forward John Tavares, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sweeney says he was pleased to have been considered by the former New York Islanders captain, but wishes he had left the division.
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5:30 p.m.
After losing John Tavares to Toronto, the New York Islanders have agreed to a four-year, $12 million deal with former Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov.
The 31-year-old Komarov had seven goals and 12 assists in 74 games last season. For his career, he has 52 goals and 70 assists in 327 games over five seasons Ed Dickson Color Rush Jersey , all with Toronto.
Komarov will fill the agitator/penalty-killing role for the Islanders previously held by free-agent Nikolay Kulemin.
New York also re-signed defenseman Thomas Hickey to a four-year, $10 million deal.
Hickey is coming off a season in which he had a career-high 25 points in 69 games, finishing with five goals -one shy of his career high- and matching his best with 20 assists. He has 22 goals and 89 assists in 409 regular-season games, all with the Islanders.
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4:25 p.m.
The Vegas Golden Knights have signed center Paul Stastny to a $19.5 million, three-year deal as part of a significant day in the free agent market.
The 32-year-old Stastny had 53 points last season plus 15 more in 19 playoff games with the Winnipeg Jets, who lost to Vegas in the Western Conference final.
The Golden Knights also signed defenseman Nick Holden to a $4.4 million, two-year contract and brought back tough-guy forward Ryan Reaves on a $5.55 million, two-year deal.
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4:05 p.m.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Riley Nash to an $8.25 million, three-year deal to replenish some of the depth they lost when Matt Calvert signed with Colorado.
The 29-year-old Nash had a career-high 41 points last season with Boston. He’ll count $2.75 million against the salary cap in Columbus.
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3:40 p.m.
The Arizona Coyotes have beefed up their scoring punch Baker Mayfield Browns Jersey , signing forward Michael Grabner to a three-year contract averaging $3.35 million per season.
The 30-year-old Grabner had 27 goals and nine assists in 80 games with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils last season. The Austrian forward has scored 20 or more goals four times in nine seasons, including 27 each of the past two.
Grabner has 158 goals and 91 assists with five teams since being selected with the 14th overall pick of the 2006 draft by Vancouver.
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3:25 p.m.
The Colorado Avalanche have added two free agents from the Columbus Blue Jackets, signing defenseman Ian Cole and forward Matt Calvert to three-year deals.
Cole gets $12.75 million and Calvert gets $8.4 million. The moves are general manager Joe Sakic’s latest attempts to try to improve on last year’s playoff appearance. The Avs traded for goaltender Philipp Grubauer at the NHL draft.
The 28-year-old Calvert had nine goals and 15 assists for the Blue Jackets in the regular season. The 29-year-old Cole had 20 points for Columbus and Pittsburgh, and he won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins.
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3:10 p.m.
The New York Rangers have agreed to terms on an $8 million, two-year deal with restricted free agent forward Vladislav Namestnikov. The team announced the contract a few hours into the start of unrestricted free agency.
New York acquired Namestnikov from the Lightning at the trade deadline when it sent J.T. Miller and Ryan McDonagh to Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old forward had 44 points in 81 games with th
Since their last encounter with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Washington Nationals did not do much offensively.
In fact, they did not score.
After going scoreless for two games with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Nationals hope to get their offense going Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
The Nationals rallied late to beat the Phillies on Sunday night but then mustered five hits and struck out 23 times in Tampa Bay. After the low output, Washington heads into Philadelphia with nine losses in 12 games and hopes to be refreshed following a day off on Wednesday.
“We’re in a little bit of a funk right now http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-tracy-walker-jersey ,” Washington manager Dave Martinez told reporters following Tuesday’s 1-0 loss. “This day off couldn’t come soon enough. We’ve had a rough go with our schedule here the last few days, so a little break will do the boys right.”
It is not about to get easier for the Nationals, though.
They will face Phillies ace Aaron Nola for the second time in four games on Thursday night. Right-hander Tanner Roark will be on the mound for Washington, making his second consecutive start against Philadelphia.
Nola (9-2, 2.58 ERA), well on his way to his first All-Star appearance, pitched six strong innings against the Nationals last Saturday. The righty gave up two runs on four hits and three walks and struck out five in a 5-3 Phillies win.
Nola, 26, has pitched at least six innings in 13 of his 16 starts this season and has allowed two earned runs or less in 12 of those games. His 1.016 WHIP ranked fifth in the National League as of Wednesday.
Nola has faced the Nationals 11 times in his career — the most of any opponent for the fourth-year major leaguer. He is 2-4 with a 4.35 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 60 innings in those starts.
Roark (3-8 Daniel Kilgore Color Rush Jersey , 4.27) also has plenty of experience against the Phillies. He is 6-8 with a 4.34 ERA in 19 career games against the Nationals’ divisional rival. But Roark’s last outing against Philadelphia did not go well.
The 31-year-old had seven strikeouts, but he gave up six runs on seven hits and four walks last Friday in a 12-2 defeat. Before the loss to the Phillies, Roark gave up four runs on eight hits in four innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 17.
“The last two starts, I’ve left the bullpen out to dry, and I’m not happy about it,” Roark told MLB.com after his last start. “Just overall a bad start again. But I’ve got to stay optimistic. I found something in there. So, you’ve got to take a positive out of a negative all the time.”
The Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.
At 42-36, Philadelphia enters the series a game ahead of Washington for second place in the National League East. The Phillies are 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves for the top spot in the division.
The Phillies took two of three against the Nationals last weekend. The teams have split six head-to-head meetings in 2018 — all of which were at Nationals Park.
.It was Foster’s first competitive action since 20 minutes in relief with Western Michigan University in the 2005-06 season.
Forsberg was expected to start, but he was scratched after the team said he
got hurt during warmups. Delia, who was just recalled from the minors Wednesday,
then stopped 25
of 27 shots in his NHL debut before he was helped off the ice in
the third period due to a lower-body injury.
Enter Foster, a 36-year-old accountant. After a short warmup, the game resumed and Foster got a big cheer from the crowd of 21,839 when he denied Tyler Myers for his first save about a minute after he came in.
Backed by chants of ”Foster! Foster!” and more loud ovations down the stretch Jerome Baker Color Rush Jersey , he finished with seven stops against the playoff-bound Jets, winners of six in a row.
BASEBALL
NEW YORK (AP) – The average major league salary on opening day dropped slightly following an offseason of slashed contracts for many free agents and the decisions to start three highly paid players in the minor leagues, according to study by The Associated Press.
The $4.41 million average Thursday fell 0.9 percent from last year’s starting figure of $4.45 million, according to the AP’s calculations. It was only the second drop since the end of the 1994-95 strike, after a 2.7 decrease in 2004.
Two late-signing free agent pitchers were optioned to farm teams just ahead of Thursday’s openers to get more preparation time: Philadelphia’s Jake Arrieta and Baltimore’s Alex Cobb. If they had remained in the majors, the average would have been down just $1,380. And if Arizona outfielder Yasmany Tomas had also remained in the big leagues Bradley Chubb Color Rush Jersey , the average would have been up 0.2 percent to $4.46 million.
Boston had a $224 million payroll and topped the major leagues for the first time since at least the 1980s. San Francisco was next at $207 million, followed by the Chicago Cubs ($182 million), Washington ($181 million), the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers ($179 million), the Los Angeles Angels ($170 million) and the New York Yankees in seventh at $167 million. The Yankees have their lowest payroll since 2003 and their lowest ranking since 1992.
PRO BASKETBALL
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid will need surgery on an orbital fracture of his left eye and he has a concussion.
There was no timetable Thursday on how long Embiid would be sidelined. The 76ers are set to play Friday in Atlanta and Sunday in Charlotte.
Embiid posted a photo on Instagram of him on the court and grabbing his face with the caption, ”I guess I gotta trust `The Process’ that I’ve been preaching… Unfortunate freak accident but I’ll be more than fine.”
Markelle Fultz was driving toward the basket Wednesday against the Knicks when he appeared to accidentally head-butt Embiid. The 7-footer immediately went to the floor. He remained on the floor for several minutes before he was assisted by Philadelphia’s trainer. Embiid sat up once before lying back down on the court. Eventually, he was helped off the court.
Fultz was not injured on the play. He posted a hands-clasped prayer emoji on Embiid’s photo.
EL SEGUNDO Chris Iannetta Colorado Rockies Jersey , Calif. (AP) – Los Angeles Lakers guard Isaiah Thomas will need four months to recover from arthroscopic surgery on his right hip.
The Lakers announced Thomas’ prognosis after the surgery Thursday.
Thomas will be a free agent by the time he recovers from the procedure, but he has expressed interest in staying with the Lakers.
The two-time All-Star guard averaged 15.6 points and 5.0 assists in 17 games with Los Angeles, which acquired him from Cleveland in February.
OLYMPICS
TOKYO (AP) – The man who organized the most popular Winter Olympics 24 years ago in the Norwegian ski resort of Lillehammer says it’s too soon to return in 2026.
But watch for Lillehammer in 2030.
Gerhard Heiberg tells The Associated Press he’s ”a little sad” that Norway can’t join the chase for 2026.
He adds ”I think 2026 would have been best for us” but acknowledges organizers and politicians had too little time to work out details.
Bidders have until Saturday to let the International Olympic Committee know of their interest. In October, the IOC will trim the field to serious contenders and pick the host next year.
At least four serious bids are likely to be on the table: Calgary, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; Sapporo, Japan; Sion http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marquis-haynes-jersey , Switzerland. Interest might also come for Austria, Italy and Turkey.
Brad Marchand scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and Tuukka Rask made 31 saves as the Boston Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Thursday night to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.Torey Krug and Jake DeBrusk also had goals for the Bruins, who can win the Eastern Conference quarterfinal when they host Game 5 on Saturday at Boston’s TD Garden. David Pastrnak added two assists.
Tomas Plekanec scored the lone goal for the Leafs, who got 18 saves from Frederik Andersen.
Patrice Bergeron, part of a top line that combined for 20 points in the Bruins’ two home victories to open the series, was a surprise late scratch with an upper-body injury. Riley Nash took his spot between Marchand and Pastrnak.
CAPITALS 4, BLUE JACKETS 1
COLUMBUS http://www.jetsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-clive-walford-jersey , Ohio (AP) – Evgeny Kuznetsov had a goal and two assists, and Braden Holtby stopped 23 shots as the Washington Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets to even their playoff series at two games apiece.
Tom Wilson and Alexander Ovechkin each had a goal and an assist, and T.J. Oshie also scored for the workmanlike Capitals, who won this time in regulation after the first three games of the best-of-7 series were decided in overtime. Game 5 is Saturday afternoon in Washington.
Boone Jenner scored for Columbus, and Sergei Bobrovsky had 29 saves.
.BOSTON — It is hard to imagine things going any better for the Boston Bruins in the first game of their 2018 playoff season Thursday night.
The opposite is true of Toronto http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-deadrin-senat-jersey , and things got worse for the Maple Leafs on Friday.
Much worse.
And much better for Boston.
Nazem Kadri, who took a run and then left his feet to hit a defenseless Tommy Wingels, on his knees against the boards, was suspended for three games by the NHL. He will be unavailable for Games 2 of the series Saturday night and then 3 and 4 in Toronto.
The Leafs, anticipating the suspension, which many felt would be one or perhaps two games Jihad Ward Color Rush Jersey , practiced in Boston without Kadri on Friday — Leo Komarov moving up to the top line. That is a significant drop in talent level from Kadri, a strong two-way center.
The word came down early Friday night that the Leafs would be missing a 32-goal scorer and key two-way player.
Even though the infraction appeared obvious, Kadri, who matched his career high with his second straight 32-goal season this year, defended the hit, which drew a major penalty and game misconduct http://www.dolphinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-minkah-fitzpatrick-jersey , Thursday night.
“I certainly wasn’t trying to hit him while he was down like that,” he said.
“I was already committed to the hit. If he’s still standing up, there isn’t
anything wrong on that, but he fell.
“He was turning up the wall, so I was committed to the hit. He ended up falling. It happened pretty quick, and I think he was reaching for the puck. I don’t think I stuck my leg out or my arm out http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marshall-newhouse-jersey , or whatever the case is, but it’s in the hands of the NHL at this point.”
The NHL Player Safety folks didn’t see it the same way.
“It is important to note that Kadri is in control of this hit at all times and while Wingels falling might not have been anticipated, Kadri has enough time to recognize Wingels is on his knees and in a defenseless position before committing to the hit,” player safety said in its video. “Instead of avoiding or minimizing this hit, Kadri drives his hip into Wingels’ upper body with enough force to cause Wingels to collide dangerously to the boards and cause himself to lift off the ice upon impact.
“…This is a forceful and illegal hit.”
Wingels wasn’t on the ice for practice Friday as he was being further evaluated. He is questionable for Saturday and it appeared Riley Nash (severely cut ear) would miss at least one more game.
After the game, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jeremy-kerley-jersey , “I thought it was the appropriate call. I thought it was a five-minute major. Where it goes from there, out of my hands.”
The Bruins scored three power-play goals in Game 1 and their power play is clicking at a 36 percent clip (27 of 75) since March 1.
The home team also got a goal from Brad Marchand and is 14-1 when Marchand scores a goal in a playoff game. He has 18 goals and 45 points in 73 career playoff games.
Marchand also provided some levity in the opener when he licked — yes, licked — the face of Toronto’s Komarov after the two had tussled most of the night. It was a repeat of something Marchand had done during a regular-season game.
“I was trying to get into his head,” Marchand said Thursday. “He kept coming after me after whistles and stuff like that every time he was going to the bench. I just thought that if he wanted to keep touching me and that we were going to get a little closer, then he might want to.”
Getting little help from his teammate, Fredrick Andersen suffered only his second loss in 12 career decisions against the Bruins.
“We all know in this room that wasn’t our best game http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-sam-hubbard-jersey , so we’re excited to get back tomorrow,” Andersen said Friday.
That may well be more difficult with Kadri gone.
.Belgium scored the decisive goal on a counterattack just after a corner had been taken by Neymar. Romelu Lukaku surged forward with the ball and Kevin De Bruyne put it in the net to give Belgium a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute.
Fernandinho’s trailing arm inadvertently helped Belgium captain Vincent Kompany’s header land in his own net in the 13th minute.
Renato Augusto reduced the deficit in the 76th with a header.
But it was too late for Brazil.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (AP) – Antoine Griezmann’s fluke goal helped France earn a place in the World Cup semifinals.
Griezmann scored with a shot that bounced off the hands of the opposing goalkeeper and into the net, giving France a 2-0 victory over Uruguay.
The 1998 champions will next face Belgium on Tuesday in St. Petersburg.
Griezmann’s shot in the 61st minute went right into the hands of Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. But the ball popped off his palms and looped over his head and into the net.
Raphael Varane gave France the lead with a header in the 40th minute.
NBA
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Tony Parker is done in San Antonio.
Parker agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets, ending a 17-year run with the Spurs. And he’s not the only veteran on the move http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-sylvester-williams-jersey , with Oklahoma City and Carmelo Anthony having mutually agreed they will part ways and Dwight Howard set to sign with the Washington Wizards once he clears waivers.
All of those deals were confirmed to The Associated Press by people involved in the negotiations. Each of the people spoke on condition of anonymity because none of the moves were finalized – but the Parker move was confirmed by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who thanked his now-former point guard in a statement released by the team.
Anthony has likely played his last game for the Oklahoma City Thunder – with the sides having mutually decided that he will not be on the team next season. It remains unclear how that departure will actually happen, as in whether it will be through a buyout, the Thunder waiving him or a trade.
Howard started the day on Charlotte’s roster, then was traded to Brooklyn – a deal agreed to days ago http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-lamar-jackson-jersey , but one that couldn’t be completed until the league’s offseason moratorium on player movement ended. The Nets will buy him out, which will pave the way for Howard to eventually sign with the Wizards.
BASEBALL
DETROIT (AP) – Jordan Zimmermann denied Bartolo Colon’s bid at baseball history, striking out 11 batters in eight innings as the Detroit Tigers beat the Texas Rangers 3-1.
Colon was trying to become the winningest Latin-American pitcher in major league history. He remains tied with Dennis Martinez with 245 career victories.
He pitched well, allowing three runs – including homers by James McCann and JaCoby Jones – in an eight-inning complete game, but Zimmermann was better. The Tigers’ right-hander allowed one run and four hits and struck out 10 or more for the first time since his no-hitter for Washington against Florida on Sept. 28 http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-isaiah-oliver-jersey , 2014.
AUTO RACING
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Justin Haley started last and crossed the finish line first.
It would have been a stellar run in
just his second Xfinity Series race – if
only he could have kept two tires above the double-yellow line at Daytona
International Speedway.
Kyle Larson was declared the winner of the Firecracker 250 when Haley’s late pass in overtime was ruled illegal.
A full-time driver in the Trucks Series, Haley used an aggressive and impressive move to complete a stunning pass that looked as if it would lead him to victory lane. But Haley inadvertently crossed the yellow line around the inside of the famed track, and NASCAR ruled it improper. up 18th.
Larson edged Elliott Sadler at the line, giving the Cup Series regular three wins in four starts this year in the second-tier series.
GOLF
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-kenny-young-jersey , W.Va. (AP) – Kelly Kraft shot a 7-under 63 in the second round of A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier to take a one-stroke lead over first-round leader Webb Simpson and Anirban Lahiri.
Kraft posted his career-best round at the Old White TPC in West Virginia. He was at 13-under 127.
Lahiri overcame poor play off the tee to shoot a career-low 61. Simpson made five birdies after a lousy start and shot 3-under 67. Both were at 12 under.
Jason Kokrak shot 64 and was at 11 under. Whee Kim of South Korea and Harold Varner III were at 10 under. Kim shot 68 and Varner shot 64.
ONEIDA, Wis. (AP) – Sei Young Kim birdied her first four holes to shoot a 7-under 65 and surge to the lead after the second round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
Kim was at 16-under 128 – tied for the tour’s lowest of the season – and four shots ahead of Yu Liu.
Jump-started by an eagle on the par-5 third, Liu made a big move with the day’s best round with a 63 to get to 12 under and grab sole possession of second place.
Defending champion Katherine Kirk, who led after shooting 10-under 62 in the first round, couldn’t get her putting going Terrell Edmunds Color Rush Jersey , though, and settled for 71. She is one of five players who are five shots off the pace at 133.
Sung Hyun Park, who won her second career major at last week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and could have moved to No. 1 in the world rankings with a win, missed the cut by five shots at 1-over 1.
Consider the following:
– The Pittsburgh Penguins finished with the second-worst road record among
the 16 playoff teams. Then the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions ripped
off three wins in Philadelph
ia to kickstart their pursuit of a three-peat and
backed it up with another victory in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference
semifinal series in Washington.
– The Capitals dropped Games 1 and 2 at home in overtime against Columbus in the opening round only to beat the Blue Jackets three times in Columbus on their way to advancing to the NHL’s final eight for the fourth consecutive year.
– Winnipeg posted an NHL-high 32 wins on home ice. One of their seven regulation home losses, however, was a wild 6-5 setback at the hands of Nashville in February. The Predators‘ triumph helped them win the Presidents Trophy and guarantee home ice through the playoffs. The Jets, of course, won the series opener in Nashville to steal that advantage.
Home teams are just 26-26 so far in the playoffs heading into Tuesday, when Pittsburgh hosts Washington (7:30 p.m. Eastern http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-alex-mcgough-jersey , NBCSN) and Winnipeg welcomes the Predators (8 p.m., CNBC). Both series are tied after the visitors claimed their respective openers on the road.
Asked why the games have become a coin flip regardless of venue, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan – whose team was outplayed at PPG Paints Arena by Philadelphia in Game 2 and Game 5 in the opening round – admits he can’t really come up with a reason.
”I don’t know if I have answer for you that makes sense,” Sullivan said Monday. ”Sometimes when teams go on the road, they have tendency to simplify their game … I know our team historically has been very good at home and I believe we will continue to do that.”
If Pittsburgh wants to become the first franchise in 35 years to win three straight titles, it doesn’t really have much of a choice. Though Sullivan is right in that the Penguins are pretty good at PPG Paints Arena P.J. Hall Color Rush Jersey , they’ve only been so-so when facing the Capitals. Washington won Game 3 and Game 6 in Pittsburgh during the 2017 postseason and wrapped up its third straight Metropolitan Division title with a 3-1 win there on April 1.
”You’ve got to create your own momentum, but it gives you good memories,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. ”If you have to go back into the memory bank, at least we have one. Those are things that you can bank on maybe for some positive feeling going forward.”
Predators forward Nick Bonino couldn’t offer up any specifics about Nashville’s victory in Winnipeg even though it happened all of two months ago, saying only ”I’m sure we played a solid road game.”
The road does offer the visiting team a sense of routine. There aren’t as many friends or family around. No kids waking up in the middle of the night. No traffic to deal with in most places. Just wake up, suit up and go play.
”You go out to dinner http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-lorenzo-carter-jersey , there’s not really any distractions,” Bonino said. ”You’re there for hockey.”
And the hockey in both series has been spectacular. Nashville avoided heading to Canada in an 0-2 hole with a thrilling double-overtime escape in Game 2. Washington responded after blowing a two-goal, third-period lead in Game 1 by winning a predictably chippy Game 2.
That chippiness included a questionable hit by Washington’s Tom Wilson to Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumolin’s head in the second period that sent Dumolin into the concussion protocol. Dumolin skated with his teammates on Monday and his status – much like the status of star center Evgeni Malkin (lower body) and Carl Hagelin (upper body) – won’t be determined until Tuesday.
Wilson was not penalized for the hit and received a pass from the league when it opted not to schedule a disciplinary hearing to review the play. While Dumolin said he didn’t see Wilson coming because he was bracing for a hit by Alex Ovechkin, Wilson claimed Dumolin turned his head just before impact leaving Wilson with no time to react.
”He stops and turns and I’m kind of right there as (Ovechkin) is coming in pretty aggressively,” Wilson said. ”It’s a collision.”
Pittsburgh star Kris Letang wasn’t surprised Wilson’s hit wasn’t deemed illegal. Why?
”Because we don’t know anymore (what’s legal and illegal),” he said.
And we don’t know what a given night is going to bring anymore either. Home teams get to sleep in their beds. They get the luxury of the last line change before faceoffs http://www.49ersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-mike-mcglinchey-jersey , allowing them to get the matchups they want. And so far it has made zero difference in the result.
”It doesn’t have to be pretty always on the road,” Predators defenseman Matt Irwin said. ”I think we embrace that.”
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno in Washington, D.C., and AP Sports Writer Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.
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