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Then the script was suddenly flipped. And the storybook ending the Vegas Golden Knights had desperately hoped for became a story of another kind for the Washington Capitals.

Two goals in the third period gave the Caps their first Stanley Cup title, ending 43 years of futility and sending a surprisingly large contingent of red-clad Washington fans into a frenzy. They stood and cheered as the Caps passed the Stanley Cup around, enjoying a scene that up to now no Las Vegas tourist had ever imagined.

A few minutes earlier, thousands of Knights fans were on their feet cheering for their team. The game was over, but ”Go Knights Go” reverberated through the arena on the Las Vegas Strip.

Both teams had something to celebrate. But only Washington would be drinking out of the Stanley Cup.

”When you get this close to the cup it’s hard,” Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said. ”It doesn’t happen too often. It’s very disappointing.”

An inaugural season like no other ended on a bittersweet note for an expansion team like no other. The first major sports team in this gambling city bucked the odds until the end Cheap Billy Price Jersey , but in the end this was Washington’s championship to win.

It was the Caps who won every playoff series coming from behind. It was the Caps who found a way to win in the third period when things seemed to be going the Knights way.

”We got angry and mean,” Washington coach Barry Trotz said. ”Even when they got an extra timeout when the clock broke our guys were like, we got this. There’s not a chance they will score.”

It was the Knights, though, who bonded with a city and thrilled fans who before October began knew little more about hockey than it was the fastest game on ice.

They played into June, this collection of Golden Misfits Cheap Jeremiah Attaochu Jersey , something no one could have imagined for a team that barely had any players a year ago. The temperature outside was close to 100 degrees for Game 5 but hockey worked in the desert and it worked in a city where you don’t have to go far to place a bet on the team.

And the bet is that this is a franchise that won’t have to wait 43 years to raise a Stanley Cup of its own.

”We came up short but I’m sure in a few days we’ll come up with a lot of positives about the season,” defenseman Deryk Engelland said. ”Right now it’s the worst feeling ever. You never want to lose any game, but especially at this point.”

A season that began somberly in the wake of the massacre of 58 people just down the street from the T-Mobile Arena ended 102 games later with a community continuing to heal and a team that far exceeded expectations on and off the ice.

It was Engelland who stood before the crowd at the first home game and told them, ”We are Vegas strong,” a message that carried over on the ice. The Knights won their division, and were 12-3 in the playoffs coming into the Final Cheap Tyquan Lewis Jersey , confounding the hockey experts at every turn.

When they won the first game of the series it looked like the tale of an expansion team and its city would soar to new levels. But the Caps came back to win four straight, including the 4-3 win that capped off their own improbable run.

”No one gave us a chance from the start,” said forward David Perron. ”I thought when I got picked in the draft that Vegas would be a fun place to be but the team wouldn’t do much. It’s been a great ride.”

While the Capitals were enjoying a lengthy postgame celebration on the ice, the Knights filtered through a somber locker room, talking softly about great times and a painful ending. On the verge of doing something historic, they lost their way and the price to pay for it was another team passing the Cup around on their ice.

”It was a phenomenal year and in a couple days we’ll think about that Erik Gonzalez Jersey ,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. ”Every day was fun for us.”

A magical season, yes. But it also won’t be long before the reality sinks in that teams just don’t get to the Stanley Cup Final every year.

All the Knights had to do was look at the team celebrating on the ice to understand that.

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Curry dazzled in outdueling LeBron James as the two superstars traded big shots and celebratory moves, hitting an NBA Finals-record nine 3-pointers and scoring 33 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 122-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night for 2-0 lead.

”Pretty special night,” Curry said, ”and hopefully some more special things happen and we get two more wins.”

Kevin Durant found his steady stroke to score 26 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists while also handling a load of the defensive assignment against James. Klay Thompson added 20 points playing on a tender left leg to put the defending champions two wins from a repeat title they have talked about since the season began last fall.

James followed up his 51-point performance in Game 1 with 29 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds in a far tamer finals sequel – and a much more lopsided one – minus the utter craziness of a drama-packed opener three days prior.

Game 3 is Wednesday night in Cleveland.

”We want to continue to be uncomfortable,” James said. ”Just because we’re going home doesn’t mean we can relax.”

Kevin Love had 22 points and 10 boards for the cold-shooting Cavs, who will now try to gain some momentum back home.

Curry had the shot of the night with 7:54 to play, making an off-balance swish from several feet behind the 3-point arc over Love as the shot clock wound down Cheap Trent Murphy Jersey , then scooted backward in delight. Curry fell into the first row of fans with a baseline 3 again over Love and four-point play at the 5:44 mark of the fourth.

”He’s a big shot taker, big shot maker,” Draymond Green said. ”Tough shot taker, tough shot maker.”

The long shot over Love stood out to Curry’s Splash Brother, Thompson.

”About seven seconds on the clock he just kept going backward, I don’t know why, but he just threw it up and I didn’t think it had any chance of going in,” Thompson said. ”That was kind of like a dagger shot. It just gave us all the momentum back.”

The two-time MVP made 11 of 26 shots and was 9 for 17 from deep.

James pointed with both hands after his 3 with 11:04 remaining got his team within seven Cheap Donte Jackson Jersey , before Curry answered from deep the next two trips down the floor.

”Those moments when you can come down and answer and keep the momentum on our side, it’s big,” Curry said. ”Keep the crowd into it.”

Curry and James had a tense moment in the third, too.

James became irate at the officials for a no-call on Curry, who ran beneath the Cavs star and didn’t let him land with 3:54 remaining in the quarter as James caught Love’s long pass and went out of bounds. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue was hit with a technical, saying afterward he didn’t say much but was on the court.

JaVale McGee scored 12 points, making all six of his shots in his first career NBA Finals start as Kerr made a lineup switch that proved spot on.

The typically efficient Durant connected on 10 of 14 shots after going just 8 for 22 – 1 of 7 on 3s – in the opener but still scoring 26 points.

Last year’s NBA Finals MVP made his initial five field goals Sunday, driving right at James on offense and doing all he could to fluster him on defense.

James hit a 3 over Durant’s outstretched arm midway through the third Cheap Kemoko Turay Jersey , then Tristan Thompson’s basket the next possession pulled the Cavs within 72-66. But they couldn’t contain Curry and the rest of the Warriors for extended stretches.

The Warriors vowed to make it harder for James to generate good looks after he shot 19 for 32 in the series opener, and James went 12:06 of game time between made baskets.

James went 10 for 20, showing few signs his shot was altered by a bloodshot left eye. He had been taking antibiotics and using drops after being poked in the eye by Green in the first half Thursday.

The Warriors earned a wacky 124-114 overtime win in Game 1 Thursday night – featuring J.R. Smith’s blunder when he grabbed an offensive rebound in the waning moments of regulation and dribbled back toward halfcourt rather than shooting for the victory, and an overturned charge call against James.

Smith received rousing cheers from the home fans during pregame introductions and ”M-V-P!” chants greeted him when he went to the foul line.

Thompson played after bruising his lower left leg when Smith slid into him in the first quarter Thursday. The Warriors All-Star has never missed a postseason game.

Kerr went with 7-foot big man McGee to start in place of Kevon Looney – McGee’s 10th career start in the postseason.

McGee scored the first four points as Golden State made its initial seven shots and 10 of 11.

Another key role player, Shaun Livingston, made his five field-goal tries for 10 points to give Golden State a lift in the first half after making all four of his shots Thursday.

”They’re a dangerous ballclub no matter what,” James said. ”It starts with those four guys, those four All-Stars. Everybody else just does their job and they don’t miss a beat when they put someone in or they take someone out.”

TIP-INS

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HOUSTON — On Sunday Authentic Paul Worrilow Jersey , it was shortstop Carlos Correa who played a pivotal role in keeping Houston’s winning streak alive, belting a game-tying home run in the eighth inning as the Astros subsequently rolled to an 11th consecutive victory by rallying past the Kansas City Royals.

Houston (48-25) relied on a number of contributors to complete a 10-0 road trip through Texas, Oakland and Kansas City, with Correa following Evan Gattis, Max Stassi, Brian McCann and an assortment of others in striking the decisive blow to keep the line moving.

The Astros have benefited from a resurgent offense and exceptional work from their bullpen to set a pace as the hottest team in the majors Manuel Margot Jersey , with their stellar road trip underscoring their might.

“This was incredible just by the way we played and the way we completed games,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “Obviously, winning every game is incredible. We did it in a lot of different ways and so we want to keep the same intent and the same mentality that we’ve been playing with. It’s been pretty remarkable.

“It’s hard to put into words. It’s been somebody different every night. We’ve had good pitching; we’ve had good defense. We’ve rallied late, we’ve blown guys out early, so we’re in a good place right now and we’ve got to continue to do that going home.

“It was a long trip. We played in some hot weather. It’s a pretty resilient group to keep playing well and coming up with enough runs to win.”

Now the Astros return to Minute Maid Park to start a nine-game homestand on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. After improving to 29-11 on the road, the Astros are aiming to elevate their play at home Brian Goodwin Jersey , where they’ve been only slightly better than pedestrian (19-14).

“Hopefully, we can go home and keep grinding and keep playing the way we’ve been playing,” Correa said.

Right-hander Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.40 ERA) gets the starting nod for the Astros. Cole will face the Rays for the first time in his career. He allowed a season-high four runs in his previous start, working six innings and getting six strikeouts in a 13-5 win at Oakland on June 13.

Cole is 4-0 with a 3.89 ERA in his previous six starts, surrendering eight home runs during that stretch.

Right-hander Ryan Stanek (1-1 Cheap Trent Murphy Jersey , 2.55) will start the series opener for the Rays. It will mark the sixth start and 16th appearance of the season for Stanek, who has yet to face the Astros.

After working out of the bullpen three times in his first four appearances this month, Stanek logged consecutive abbreviated starts against the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees on June 12 and 16, respectively.

Stanek’s outing against the Astros will mark the third consecutive bullpen day for the Rays (33-38), who claimed the finale of a four-game set in New York on Sunday behind 4 2/3 innings from right-hander Wilmer Font and four additional relievers.

The Rays welcomed back shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from the 10-day disabled list, with Hechavarria finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored against the Yankees.

Hechavarria Authentic Nathan Shepherd Jersey , who missed nearly a month with a right hamstring strain, is expected to play behind rookie Willy Adames and could be showcased as a trade chip in advance of the nonwaiver trade deadline.

New England (14-3) will host the winner of Sunday’s divisional matchup between Jacksonville and Pittsburgh.

It was Brady’s 10th career postseason game with at least three TD tosses, moving him past Joe Montana for the most in NFL history. James White caught a touchdown pass and ran for another, and Danny Amendola had 11 catches for 112 yards.

The Titans (10-8) took an early 7-0 lead, but New England scored 35 straight points to take control.

Marcus Mariota completed 22 of 37 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns Cheap Arden Key Jersey , but was under duress for most of the second half. He was sacked eight times, a Patriots playoff record. New England also held Derrick Henry to just 28 yards rushing on 12 carries.

New England’s victory came on the heels of a week filled with drama following reports of turmoil involving Brady, coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft. None of that showed on the field Saturday.

EAGLES 15, FALCONS 10

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – With Nick Foles engineering several long drives Cheap Josh Sweat 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 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

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 Authentic Patrick Omameh Jersey , 37 and 21 in the second half. Then, the Eagles (14-3) held when Atlanta (11-7) got to the 9-yard line 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 Cheap J'Mon Moore Jersey , 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.

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Nothing much has gone right for the San Antonio Spurs in the first three games — all definitive losses — to the Golden State Warriors in their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Now Chris Beck Jersey , with the prospect of a second consecutive four-game playoff sweep by Golden State, everything has to go right for the Spurs to even extend the series past Sunday afternoon’s Game 4 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

San Antonio will be behind the eight ball even before the game tips off as the team announced Saturday that coach Gregg Popovich will again be missing from the sidelines as he remains with his family in the aftermath of his wife’s death Wednesday.

Popovich did not coach the Spurs during their 110-97 loss to Golden State in Game 3 on Thursday, handing those duties over to first assistant Ettore Messina.

Messina will also be at the helm Sunday as San Antonio tries to stay alive and push the series to a fifth game Tuesday in Oakland. But even those chances are slim, and it’s all but a given that the Warriors will win the series and move on to the conference semifinals.

The Spurs lost Thursday because they didn’t shoot well, a theme throughout the first three games of the series. San Antonio shot 42.5 percent from the field and made only 7 of 33 from 3-point range. That poor performance from beyond the arc came after a 4-for-28 showing from long distance in Game 2 on Monday.

“Our guys focused in and we came in and we played,” said Spurs All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge Antonio Senzatela Jersey , who led the team in Game 3 with 18 points and 10 rebounds. “It’s been the same thing. We just aren’t making shots that are there.

“They’re (Warriors) doubling and doing their things. We have open shots, but they just aren’t going in. Our guys are competing, following the game plan, and trying to give ourselves a shot, but when don’t make shots, it’s always tough.”

Tony Parker added 16 points off the bench for San Antonio in Game 3 Nicky Delmonico Jersey , bit most of those points came in garbage time, when things were already out of hand.

The teams could not have had a more contrasting series over the first three games, as for everything the Spurs have done wrong, Golden State has done right. It’s been a totally dominating performance so far for the defending NBA champions, even without guard Stephen Curry — who is out rehabbing a knee injury.

Kevin Durant led the Warriors in Game 3 with 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting, nine rebounds and six assists. Klay Thompson added 19 points Authentic Troy Apke Jersey , and Shawn Livingston hit for 16. In all, six players scored in double figures for Golden State.

Thompson said the Warriors’ success in the first three games has been predicated on their willingness to go the extra mile on defense.

“We rely on our defense when we’re not making shots,” Thompson said. “Our defense can be a constant for us and dictate how far you play. If we get open looks, they’re eventually going to fall.”

Durant and Livingston rolled their ankles in the fourth quarter of Game 3, adding some suspense, at least on the injury front Ronald Acuna Jr. Jersey , for Sunday’s game.

“They’re going to be OK,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Durant and Livingston. “Shaun’s was probably a little worse than Kevin’s. Both sprained ankles, but I think they’ll be all right.”

Forsberg passed the puck to himself through his own legs and rookie defenseman Samuel Girard’s legs on his way to his second goal of the third period Chad Pinder Jersey , helping Nashville beat Colorado 5-2 on Thursday night in Game 1 of the first-round Western Conference series.

”That was unbelievable,” Predators forward Austin Watson said. ”I don’t know if you guys panned over to the bench, but all of our jaws dropped. He thinks of doing things out there that wouldn’t even happen in my dreams.”

Pekka Rinne made 25 saves as Nashville put together a strong finish to its playoff opener after winning Presidents’ Trophy for the first time this season. The Predators are hoping to take the next step this year after losing to Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup Final.

Colorado was looking for a big win on a stage the franchise hasn’t seen since 2014, and the young Avalanche outplayed the defending Western Conference champs early.

Austin Watson had a goal and an assist for Nashville, which has won 11 straight over Colorado. Craig Smith and Colton Sissons also scored, and Ryan Johansen and captain Roman Josi each had two assists.

Nikita Zadorov and Blake Comeau scored for Colorado. Jonathan Bernier made 26 stops.

Forsberg Jack Morris Jersey , who had a team-high 64 points in the regular season, gave Nashville its first lead of the game at 3-2 when he redirected a shot by Josi past Bernier 6:08 into the third. Then Forsberg delivered again with a breathtaking move in the middle of Colorado’s zone with 7:50 left.

”It was just one of those that come us up I guess when you skate, and it worked,” Forsberg said.

Nashville coach Peter Laviolette was impressed.

”What I really liked about it, it was a power move,” Laviolette said. ”It was not just a standing-still move Cheap Donte Jackson Jersey , like he really picked up speed and did his best to drive. And I always feel like he’s best when he’s a power forward first and then he brings a skill element into it, and that’s exactly what he did on that goal.”

Game 2 is Saturday afternoon in Nashville.

The series features a team that won 53 games during the regular season and Colorado, which had to win its regular-season finale to squeak into the postseason ahead of St. Louis. The Avalanche came in with only 14 players with playoff experience, and their most seasoned player, Colin Wilson, was on Nashville’s roster a year ago.

”I’m happy with the way we played Wilmer Difo Jersey ,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. ”I felt like we did enough to almost earn a better result but now we’re going to have to go and dig in even harder to make sure we do earn a better result. We’re capable.”

Fans filled the arena more than 30 minutes before the puck dropped, waiting for a pregame video that included a giant curtain that dropped down over the ice for a giant videoboard. Rascal Flatts handled the anthem as the Predators continued their tradition of big stars stepping in for the postseason, and two catfish hit the ice almost as soon as the last note ended.

Colorado scored on its first official shot. Rinne didn’t appear to see Zadorov’s wrister, with the puck going over his glove at 6:36.

The Predators were a bit sloppy early.

The team that led the NHL in penalties took two late in the first, giving Colorado 19 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage. Rinne seemed to settle the Predators down with a big save with 20 seconds left in the period, stopping Tyson Jost’s shot from the slot before sticking his right skate to the post with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog trying to pounce on the puck.

In the second Cheap Carlton Davis Jersey , Rinne got help from Matt Irwin clearing J.T. Compher’s shot, and the Predators tied it on a wrist shot from Watson that squeezed over Bernier’s left shoulder at 3:14. The goal was being announced when Comeau got a stick on Carl Soderberg’s shot from the point to give Colorado a 2-1 lead at 4:51.

”It shows us we’re right with them,” Colorado defenseman Tyson Barrie said.

Rinne came up with his best save with 2:24 left in the second with Mikko Rantanen on a breakaway. The goalie spread out and stuck his right leg out, stopping the puck with his pad.

Sissons capped the scoring with an empty-netter with 1:57 left.

NOTES: Forsberg had his third career multigoal game in the postseason. He is averaging more than a point-per-game for his career against Colorado. … Nashville had been 12-14-5 after giving up the first goal and 8-10-2 when trailing after the first period in the regular season. But the Preds were 11-1-2 when tied after two periods. … Watson and Smith each had their fifth career goals of the playoffs.

UP NEXT

Game 2 is Saturday in Nashville.

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The Houston Rockets have emphasized dunks and 3-pointers in becoming one of the NBA’s most efficient offenses but Paul’s in-between jumpers proved to be the difference when the long-range shots weren’t falling.

”I wasn’t joking about that Cheap M.J. Stewart Jersey ,” Paul said of his layup comment. ”If (Rudy) Gobert’s going to back, that’s what I’m going to shoot.”

Paul had 27 points and 12 rebounds while James Harden scored 24 points to power the Houston Rockets to a 100-87 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night, taking a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.

”It showed a lot of grit for us to come in here and win two games,” Paul said.

Paul, playing the sidekick to Harden for most of his first season in Houston, took center stage, controlling the tempo and getting to his favorite spots as the Rockets led from start to finish.

”Chris is shooting those shots like a layup Authentic Kyle Lauletta Jersey ,” Harden said. ”He was extremely aggressive tonight, which we need from him.”

Donovan Mitchell scored 25 before fouling out and Joe Ingles had 15 for the Jazz.

Mitchell started finding lanes to the basket late and got the Jazz within 85-80 after he fueled a 10-2 run, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But Paul, who matched his scoring high for this playoff run, hit a pull-up jumper and found Trevor Ariza for a 3-pointer to put the Rockets back up by double digits and they never looked back.

Houston, which has been known for their offensive firepower, put forth a disruptive defensive effort.

Clint Capela Authentic Dallas Goedert Jersey , the anchor of the Houston defense, had 12 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks, one of which featured a Dikembe Mutombo-like finger wag in the fourth quarter.

”We missed 22 shots at the rim,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said. ”We had our chances and didn’t convert. Some of them were contested. Some of them were open. You’re not going to get any better shot.”

The Rockets went up by 15 in the second quarter before the Jazz closed to 51-46 on back-to-back three-point plays by Mitchell. Utah trailed 58-48 at the half.

Neither team was accurate from beyond the arc as the Jazz were 7-for-29 and Houston went 10-for-38.

”There’s all different ways to win. We’re not strictly a jump-shooting team,” D’Antoni said. ”Chris has the mid-range, James gets to the hole and you got Clint down there. We’ve got a lot of other stuff we can go to.”

Already without Ricky Rubio Erik Gonzalez Jersey , the Jazz lost back-up point guard Dante Exum in the third quarter, also to a hamstring injury. Exum was a surprising offensive spark for the Jazz with 9 points in the first period, but picked up three fouls guarding Harden.

”Houston is that good. Give them credit. They know how to control a game,” Snyder said. ”In spite of that, I thought we just hung in there and took shots and kept coming and kept coming and eventually couldn’t get over the hill.”

TIP-INS

Rockets: Harden’s 14 first-quarter points were the most for him in the opening period this postseason. … Flying to close out on an Ingles’ 3-pointer in the second quarter, P.J. Tucker raked the Jazz sharpshooter across the face and earned a Flagrant 1. … Capela and Mitchell got double technical fouls fighting for rebound in the fourth quarter and Houston coach Mike D’Antoni got another for his reaction to the play.

Jazz: Rubio missed his fourth straight game due to a left hamstring strain suffered in opening round but is close to returning.

SHOT BLOCKERS

Rudy Gobert is a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year but Capela has been the most significant deterrent to getting to the basket in this series. He altered 20 shots in this game and has 13 blocks in the series while also making his presence known on the offensive end with double-digit scoring in each contest. ”Every single night, he has our back Joey Wendle Jersey ,” said Harden, who got in Capela’s face and yelled his approval at the end of the game. ”He doesn’t get a lot of credit for it and doesn’t ask for a lot.”

Near the end of the game, Capela told D’Antoni he needed a rest. But the Rockets called a time out and then the big center said he could finish. He went out and got a couple more blocks. ”He pole-vaulted over the hurdle. He cleared it by a lot. The guy’s incredible the whole time,” D’Antoni said.

UP NEXT

The series shifts back to Houston for Game 5.

Allen’s goal after being selected by the Jazz with the 21st overall pick on Thursday night is simple. He aims to win over fans Steve Pearce Jersey , coaches, and teammates with passion for the game. The newest Jazz rookie thinks he can accomplish this goal at a rapid pace.

”It’s a lot different watching a guy play night in and night out and giving his all than it is to see the same three clips replayed for the last three years,” Allen said.

The Jazz are willing to let his past stay in the past. When Utah brought him in for a workout earlier in June, Allen left behind a positive impression as an intelligent player who matured and learned from his mistakes.

They like his toughness and his approach to the game.

”We don’t want that competitive fire to go anywhere,” Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said.

The 6-foot-5 guard appears to be a solid fit for what Utah wants on offense and defense.

Allen offers potential as a reliable outside shooter. He played in 142 games and made 97 starts in four seasons with the Blue Devils. During that time, he scored 1 Cheap Derrius Guice Jersey ,996 career points to rank 12th on Duke’s career scoring list. The 22 year-old rookie became one of just five players in Duke history to tally at least 1,900 points, 400 rebounds and 400 assists.

With Allen, the Jazz add a player who can play both guard positions and he gives them another shooter on the wing. Bolstering outside shooting is an offseason priority for Utah.

Allen can also defend multiple positions, which makes him a good fit with one of the NBA’s top defensive teams. He credits playing several new teammates every season, including multiple lottery picks Clint Frazier Jersey , for his versatility. It forced Allen to evolve into a new role each season.

”It was awesome for my game because I had to learn to adjust,” Allen said. ”I had to learn how to find different spots on the court. I had to expand my game.”

His willingness to take on any role is a trait that impressed the Jazz from day one.

”He talked about what he had to sacrifice when he decided to stay,” Lindsey said. ”Look, he’s going to have to sacrifice here as a young player. The fact he had done that three out of four years at Duke, we were impressed with it.”

Allen’s approach to defense stirred up controversy at times during his career at Duke. He drew accusations of dirty play as a defender.

One notable altercation involved Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell. Allen got hit in the face by Mitchell during a game between Duke and Louisville in January 2017. Mitchell didn’t appear to hold any grudges on Thursday. He crashed an ESPN interview with Allen to give the rookie a warm embrace.

”It’s really cool when you get a warm welcome like that from the guy who was the leading scorer on your team last year right away,” Allen said. ”It kind of calms any nerves that you have joining a new team.”

If Allen sticks with Utah Eduardo Escobar Jersey , it will be the first time in three seasons that the Jazz did not trade their original first-round draft selection before the start of the NBA season. Utah traded its original first-round selections in 2016 and 2017.

Two years ago, Utah sent 12th pick Taurean Prince to Atlanta as part of a three-team trade that brought veteran point guard George Hill to the Jazz.

Last season, the Jazz made a pair of draft-day trades. The first one brought Mitchell, the 13th pick, to Utah in exchange for Trey Lyles and 24th pick Tyler Lydon. A second trade brought 28th pick Tony Bradley to the Jazz while sending 30th pick Josh Hart and 42nd pick Thomas Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Utah did trade second-round pick Vincent Edwards to Houston on Thursday. The Jazz selected Edwards, a 6-foot-8 forward from Purdue Cheap Tre'Quan Smith Jersey , with the 52nd pick. Edwards was the first player in school history to tally 1,500 career points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists with the Boilermakers.

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That’s the norm on the playground Pernell McPhee Jersey Redskins , where a team playing pickup ball remains on the court until it is beaten.

And that’s the way Ice Cube insisted it had to be in the BIG3.

Win a championship, come back the next season with the team intact to defend the title.

”To me it goes back to the essence of 3-on-3, king of the court mentality,” Cube said.

The question is whether it’s fair to Trilogy, the undefeated champion from the inaugural season of the entertainer’s 3-on-3 league of former NBA players.

It wouldn’t work in major professional sports. But in the BIG3, back come Kenyon Martin, Al Harrington, Rashad McCants, James White and Dion Glover, who guaranteed themselves a job for this year by winning the title. They have the chance to defend their title against rivals that have bolstered by an influx of former NBA champions Titans Authentic Jerseys , All-Stars or Olympic gold medalists.

”We are at a disadvantage because we have kind of been exposed to what we have and what we’re capable of, going 10-0, so everybody’s done their homework,” said the 33-year-old McCants. ”They know who we are. There’s a scouting report now, so it’s going to be a lot more difficult this year than it was last year.”

All the players in the league – other than those on Trilogy – who weren’t captains or co-captains went back into this year’s draft pool, with no promise of getting picked with the added talent that was available this year: Amare Stoudemire, Ron Artest, Carlos Boozer, Baron Davis and Nate Robinson signed on. It is unclear what players’ salaries are; the league has not publicly disclosed that information.

The only move for Triology coach Rick Mahorn was the addition of Dahntay Jones when rosters were expanded to six players. The 6-foot-4 McCants, last year’s No. 1 overall pick and leading scorer in the championship game Frank Ragnow Jersey Lions , was promoted to a co-captain.

Cube doesn’t know if job security for the winners was a motivating factor for players who came aboard when he founded his league with entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. McCants, who played four years in the NBA, a few more overseas and knows how hard it is to have a career playing basketball, takes pride in the gimmick even while acknowledging that it doesn’t work in his team’s favor.

”It’s a refreshing aspect to the league where you have bragging rights to say, `Hey, you guys got to go back into the combine and go through the draft all over again because you didn’t win, and the winners prevail,”’ he said.

And then in pro sports sometimes they then break up practically the moment the victory celebration is over. Free agency is a benefit for players but at times a detriment to teams.

”We felt like fans are weary of, you get behind a team, they win it Authentic Customized Bills Jerseys , and you don’t know if that same team is going to come back or not,” Cube said. ”You don’t know who’s going to leave, and I just think fans are sick of that. So to me, fans are not really getting into teams as much as they’re getting into players. So that’s the reason why I think there has to be a happy medium between what exists now in sports, which is free agency kind of run rampant, and a balance of what the fans really want.

”So there’s got to be something, so in our league we just eliminate that.”

Cube envisions a 12-team league playing twice a week in NBA arenas next season if the BIG3, trying to capitalize on the popularity of 3-on-3, which debuts in the Olympics in 2020 – is successful. That would make even more teams to beat for whoever wins this season’s title. But he believes not changing up the champ is the best approach.

”Like yo, if you win it Anthony Miller Jersey Bears , you’re the champion, there’s no reason for you to make any changes,” he said. ”And the rest of the league has a measuring stick to draft because everybody goes back to the draft pool pretty much if you don’t win the championship, so you have to reorganize your thinking of your team to figure out how to beat this standard. So it just, to me, works better.”

YAWN!

That seems to be the reaction from everywhere except New England when Pro Picks has asked folks about the prospect of the Patriots being in yet another Super Bowl.

Apparently Minnesota Vikings Jerseys Womens , they have become the team people love to hate: America’s Team they ain’t.

And they care not a bit about their popularity, or about what they’ve already achieved.

”I think it’s a mistake if you take anything we’ve ever done in the past and translate it to what we’re doing now,” left tackle Nate Solder says.

”I think it’s a different story. We’re writing our own story this year, so what we’re doing is preparing to see the Jacksonville team of this year and how we’re going to beat them and be as ready as we can go to play our best football.”

That might elicit more yawns, but it’s indicative of how things work in Foxborough.

But there’s a sneaking suspicion that the Patriots (14-3) are well aware of what All-Pro safety Jalen Ramsey of the Jaguars (12-6) has been saying about Sunday’s AFC championship game, in which host New England is a 9-point choice. Ramsey guaranteed a Jacksonville victory.

”I think what I have learned for a long time is it’s how you play, it’s not what you say,” Tom Brady said during his weekly radio appearance on WEEI in Boston.

”Everyone has different ways of handling things. Players do Anthony Averett Jersey Ravens , coaches do. We do what works for us, other players do what works for them. The game is going to be decided by who plays the best, not who hypes the best or speaks the best.”

This is a meeting of the No. 2 (Jags) and No. 5 (Pats) scoring defenses in the league. It’s also a meeting of Brady against Blake Bortles.

Enough said.

YAWN!

PATRIOTS, 31-16

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Minnesota (minus 3) at Philadelphia

No shortage of attention here after both of these teams went down to the wire to advance.

This one figures to come down to defense: Minnesota allowed the fewest points in the NFL, 252, while Philadelphia was fourth stingiest.

That could mean it will be decided by the pass rush, and each team has some dynamic sack threats. The Eagles’ Fletcher Cox was sensational against Atlanta last weekend, and is complemented by Brandon Graham Authentic Customized Dolphins Jerseys , Derek Barnett and Chris Long. For the Vikings, it’s Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter causing problems.

”We don’t want to steer away from nothing different than what we do,” Graham says, ”and we’re going to go out there and we’re going to wreak havoc. We’re going to go out there and give it everything because it’s the championship, baby.”

Philadelphia last made the Super Bowl for the 2004 season, losing to New England. The Vikings haven’t been in the big game since – get this – 1977, their fourth loss in as many tries.

That’s ancient history, of course. After what’s been dubbed the ”Minneapolis Miracle” that lifted them past New Orleans last Sunday Youth Rasheem Green Jersey , they believe anything is possible.

If they do things right.

”What matters is how we play on Sunday, how we execute today in practice, how we do those things,” coach Mike Zimmer says. ”I feel like I have a pretty smart, level-headed football team. They understand the magnitude of things and they know what’s at stake, so let’s just go out, let’s continue to do what we’ve been doing all year long, let’s play good Steelers Cheap Jerseys , let’s play together as a team, take care of the football. All of the things you talk about all year long, really.”

As they say in politics, this one is too close to call. So going with the hosts.

EAGLES, 21-20

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2017 RECORD:

Last week: Against spread (3-1). Straight up (2-2)

Season Totals: Against spread (122-124-10). Straight up: (165-97)

Best Bet: 10-9 against spread, 11-8 straight up.

Upset special: 10-8 against spread, 9-9 straight up

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