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John Ryan Murphy had a busy day at the plate.

Murphy drove in a career-high three runs to help the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

”There wasn’t a lot of runs tonight so it was nice to contribute to the ones that we did have B.J. Hill Color Rush Jersey ,” Murphy said.

Zack Godley (9-5) pitched five innings and allowed two runs and six hits for the Diamondbacks, who are 14-4 in their last 18 games.

”This team is awesome,” Godley said. ”From the top to the bottom, it’s a great team.”

Arizona’s David Peralta had three hits and drove in a run, Jake Lamb had two hits and knocked in one, and Paul Goldschmidt doubled to give him 17 extra-base hits in his last 19 games.

Yoshihisa Hirano got Justin Bour to fly out with the bases loaded to end the eighth to keep the lead at 5-3.

”He’s their main guy and it’s at the point of the game where everybody is holding their breath and you’re hoping you can execute and we did Breeland Speaks Color Rush Jersey ,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.

Brad Boxberger pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 22 chances.

”I don’t think it was our cleanest ballgame, but the pitchers stepped up at the right time and we were able to overcome some mistakes and win a tough ball game,” Lovullo said.

Starlin Castro hit his fourth home run of the season for the Marlins, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Manager Don Mattingly served his one-game suspension for the June 19 game in which Dan Straily was ejected for intentionally throwing a pitch at Buster Posey.

”We had some opportunities and we had the right guys up,” said Tim Wallach, who served as the Marlins’ manager. ”We keep battling. That’s what we say every day. These guys keep playing http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-rasheem-green-jersey , trying to win a ballgame and giving us opportunities against some tough guys.”

Miami’s Elieser Hernandez (0-5) struck out a career-high eight batters over four innings and allowed two runs and four hits.

”I had more strikeouts today but it wasn’t my best outing,” Hernandez said.

Ben Meyer pitched four innings in relief, allowing three runs, two earned.

Lamb and Peralta hit back-to-back doubles off Hernandez in the third for a 2-0 lead.

Bryan Holaday’s groundout cut the deficit to 2-1.

Murphy doubled to left field for a 4-1 advantage in the fifth.

Castro’s solo shot to left brought Miami within 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth.

Godley exited after one batter in the sixth and earned his ninth victory of the season setting a new career high. He is 4-0 with a 3.09 ERA over his last four starts.

Murphy’s sacrifice fly in the seventh pushed the lead to 5-2.

The Marlins once again cut into the lead pulling within 5-3 on a throwing error by second baseman Ketel Marte in the bottom of the seventh.

LAMB HEATING UP

Lamb extending his hitting streak to six games, which includes three multihit games. He is hitting .360 (9 for 25) with one home run and three RBIs during that span.

STRAILY DROPS APPEAL

Straily dropped his appeal for his five-game suspension and began serving it Tuesday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: OF Steven Sousa (pectoral) will begin a rehab assignment as a designated hitter with Single-A Visalia on Tuesday. … OF A.J. Pollock (thumb) took part in hitting activities. ”I heard that it went well and he felt OK,” Lovullo said.

Marlins: C J.T. Realmuto (right wrist) missed his second consecutive game after being hit by a foul ball in Sunday’s game.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (2-0 Adam Ottavino Colorado Rockies Jersey , 4.88 ERA) is expected to be re-instated from the 10-day disabled list and make his first start since April 29 due to a strained right oblique. ”Knowing he’s coming back is going to be a big boost for us,” Lovullo said. ”Any time you bring back an All-Star or somebody of his caliber, it’s a very good sign.”

Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-4, 6.70) is coming off a start in Colorado on June 22 in which he allowed seven runs on a season-high nine hits in four innings.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown is doubtful for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers with a strained right hamstring, coach Brad Stevens said, while adding that he could return later in the series.

Stevens said Brown still had some soreness on Sunday http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-leighton-vander-esch-jersey , a day after the Celtics eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks and a day before the second-round opener. Brown had said he was going to have an MRI, and Stevens said tests were negative.

”It looks like it could be something that allows him to play as the series goes on,” Stevens said.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Brown averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. He left Saturday night’s clincher against the Bucks in the first quarter; the team announced that he was available to return, but Stevens decided to play it safe.

Brown said afterward he was told it was a Grade 1 injury – the least severe kind. He was put on anti-inflammatory medication.

”Whatever it takes, I wouldn’t miss this series for the world http://www.49ersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-fred-warner-jersey ,” Brown said Saturday night.

The Celtics are already without stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, as well as Daniel Theis.

”We don’t think about what’s happened throughout the season,” center Aron Baynes said. ”We have that `next man up’ mentality. We’ll miss Jaylen; he’s definitely hard to make up for. It’s just all being able to collectively do it.”

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Deandre Ayton might be going back to Arizona after all. The same can be true for Marvin Bagley III. Or maybe Luka Doncic gets to reunite with his past coach.

The Phoenix Suns have a trio of fine candidates for the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

In various ways Authentic Josh Allen Jersey , the team already has an element of familiarity with each one of them.

Ayton played his college ball at Arizona. Bagley, the Duke freshman star this past season, is an Arizona native. And Doncic, the Slovenian teen who has been tabbed a can’t-miss NBA prospect, won a title with new Suns coach Igor Kokoskov last summer – when they helped give the tiny nation its biggest sports win, a gold medal at the European Championships.

These are good days for the Suns, who have gone through three dreadful seasons and eight consecutive playoff-less campaigns. But they have a new coach in Kokoskov Authentic Evan Bouchard Jersey , a promising young core and after winning the draft lottery on Tuesday night, a chance to pick No. 1 overall at the draft in New York next month.

”It’s not a race,” said Josh Jackson, who just completed his rookie season with Phoenix and is part of that young group that the Suns believe will get them back into the playoff mix before long. ”We’re going to progress at our pace. Any progression is good progression, in my opinion. So wherever we are, hopefully we keep taking steps forward.”

This draft could be a big step forward.

Start with Ayton, who averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds in his one college season at Arizona. He came to the U.S. from the Bahamas Hayden Hurst Color Rush Jersey , hoping for great things but never expecting this would be the cards he was dealt.

”It’s God’s plan,” Ayton said.

Bagley was the Atlantic Coast Conference player and rookie of the year, leading the league in scoring (21.0 per game) and rebounding (11.1 per game). Unlike Ayton, he’s expected to work at the draft combine that commences in earnest in Chicago on Thursday, and he will be on the Suns’ radar.

He said he would obviously welcome the chance to go back to Arizona, where he was born and raised.

”It would mean a lot if it were to happen that way,” Bagley said.

Doncic will get plenty of support from Kokoskov http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-arden-key-jersey , and others who know his game well – like Miami guard Goran Dragic – insist that he has the ability and intellect to make a quick impact in the NBA.

”It’s been a good month for us, a good week in particular,” Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said. ”We targeted a three-year rebuilding window and I know it’s been a little bit controversial in some ways. … If you’re serious about winning a championship someday in the NBA, it’s really hard to build through the middle, so to speak.”

So three years ago, when they couldn’t convince LaMarcus Aldridge to come to Phoenix, the Suns decided it was time to push the reset button.

The results: They got budding stars in Devin Booker and Jackson D.J. Fluker Color Rush Jersey , wound up creating some cap space to spend on veterans this summer, and will not only have the No. 1 pick but also two others in the top 31 selections in this draft.

”The future’s bright,” McDonough said. ”And our hope and our goal is to be a lot better next year.”

McDonough left the lottery holding a placard with a big red ”1” on it, and Jackson left with the one bearing the Suns logo that NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum displayed when announcing that Phoenix won the right to pick first.

The Suns aren’t holding all the cards.

They’re just holding the most important ones.

”We have a small target grouping in mind, but we’re not going to rule anything out at this point,” McDonough said. ”I think we’ll have a great choice, no matter who we select.”

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Amir Johnson is going back to the Philadelphia 76ers for at least one more season.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday that Johnson has agreed to a one-year contract with Philadelphia that could become official as soon as Friday Sam Darnold Jersey Jets , when the NBA’s offseason moratorium on player movement ends.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of that moratorium.

The 6-foot-9 Johnson was primarily a reserve for the 76ers last season, when he averaged 4.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Philadelphia is the fourth club for the 31-year-old, who will be entering his 14th NBA season this fall.

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AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed.

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So much of the chatter before Boston’s first-round matchup with Milwaukee focused on who wouldn’t be on the court for the Celtics.

Injuries forced Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart to join Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis as spectators by the end of the regular season. It seemingly left the East’s second seed vulnerable against a Bucks team boasting one of the league’s most versatile scorers in All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It took seven games http://www.redskinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-troy-apke-jersey , but the Celtics got just enough from the healthy players left on their roster to hold off Milwaukee with a 112-96 victory on Saturday night .

Now they’ll turn their attention to Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and another youth-led team in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Philadelphia.

”It’s something we’ve had to go through all season,” said rookie Jayson Tatum, who had 20 points on Saturday, becoming just the second rookie in Celtics’ history to score 20 in a Game 7. ”Some way, somehow, we figure it out. And I think that’s what’s unique about our team.”

Tatum is just one of the young faces that remain on Boston’s bench that have grown up fast over the past three weeks. Because of it, the Celtics that have squeezed out their best basketball despite the multiple subtractions to their roster.

Terry Rozier put up career numbers after stepping into a starting role. Smart injected new life into the team over the last three games following his return to action from thumb surgery. Then there was rookie Semi Ojeleye Daniel Castro Colorado Rockies Jersey , who made things difficult late in the series for Antetokounmpo.

And they still had at least a veteran to lean on.

Al Horford provided not only his voice, but probably his best stretch of games in a Celtics uniform over the last seven games. He matched his playoff career high with 26 points on 13 of 17 shooting in Game 7 and averaged a team-high 18.1 points and 8.7 rebounds for the series.

”It’s what I think I’ve been doing all year,” Horford said. ”It’s what we’ve been doing as a group. We didn’t treat this any differently. … I felt like our guys, their poise was great. Milwaukee fought hard. They kept giving us shots, our guys stayed with it and eventually we wore them (out).”

But Boston will enter the series with the 76ers facing yet another challenge.

Jaylen Brown, who had two 30-point games in the series, left near the end of the second quarter on Saturday and sat out the entire second half with a right hamstring injury.

He said afterward that trainers believe he has a Grade 1 sprain. He was put on anti-inflammatory medication and will get an MRI on Sunday. With rest and treatment he’s optimistic that he’ll be ready to go for Game 1 against the 76ers on Monday night.

”Whatever it takes, I wouldn’t miss this series for the world Marquez Valdes-Scantling Color Rush Jersey ,” Brown said.

FAMILIAR CHANT

Late in the fourth quarter with the Celtics leading the Bucks by 19 points, ”We want Philly!” chants began to echo throughout TD Garden.

It wasn’t quite ”Beat L.A.!” But it certainly had echoes of the 1982 rendition that Boston fans bellowed in the closing minutes of Boston’s Game 7 loss to Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference Finals that year.

Now it’s the 76ers that stand in the way of Boston getting back to the conference finals for the second straight year.

”We’ve played them quite a bit. It’s been awhile since we played them,” Tatum said. ”But they’re a big, physical team.”

GAME 7 DOMINANCE

Boston improved to 20-4 all-time in Game 7s at home. The Celtics are 23-8 in Game 7 overall.

BACK IN THE SEMIS

With the win, the Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2011-2012 postseasons.

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CHICAGO — The Cincinnati Reds have given the Chicago Cubs fits all season. But just when Reds appeared on the verge of winning their sixth straight game against the reigning National League Central champions, the Cubs turned to a familiar ally.

The comeback.

The Cubs twice rallied from five runs down on Saturday to pull out an 8-7 victory. They will head into Sunday’s matinee at Wrigley Field with a chance to capture the series. Having staff ace Jon Lester on the mound certainly won’t hurt.

Lester will take his 11-2 record and 2.25 ERA into the start a day after the Cubs produced four eighth-inning runs for their dramatic win.The Cubs’ last eight wins all have come after they fell behind early.

“I love the fight,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters after the team’s 50th win of the season. “Both sides wanted to win (and) we got it in the end.

“We’ve been in this situation all week.”

Added Cubs second baseman Javier Baez, who homered in the seventh inning before the Cubs mounted their latest comeback: “We never quit.”

The rally stunned the Reds http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-rasheem-green-jersey , who appeared in line for their sixth win in their last seven games and their 15th in the past 19. Instead, Lester will take the mound in search of his eighth straight victory.

Lester was named NL Pitcher of the Month in June and is tied for the league lead in victories. Lester, who has won seven straight starts dating to May 23, will look to keep rolling against the Reds, against whom he is 6-1 in 14 starts.

In Lester’s last start — an 11-10 victory over the Minnesota Twins — he added an extra bonus — a solo home run. But Lester, who has struggled traditionally from the plate, won’t get too wrapped up in the excitement.

“If I get hits, I get hits Ed Dickson Color Rush Jersey ,” Lester told reporters after his last outing on July 1. “The home run is awesome, it’s cool, especially at home. But at the end of the day, I know I’m a pitcher and I’m not a hitter.”

The Cubs, who are playing without third baseman Kris Bryant — whom Maddon said will begin a minor league assignment soon — may be without right fielder Jason Heyward. He left Saturday’s loss in the third inning after fouling a ball off his groin.

The Reds enter Sunday’s series finale looking for their sixth straight series. But after Cincinnati touched up Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood for seven runs only to see Jared Hughes surrender a three-run lead, the Reds will attempt to regain their winning ways after Saturday’s shocker.

Cincinnati’s bullpen had, until Saturday, been able to protect late leads Chris Herndon Color Rush Jersey , which made Saturday’s loss so unfathomable. It marked only the third time this season the Reds lost after leading heading into the eighth inning.

“We’ve come back on a few clubs like that,” Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman told reporters, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Today, (the Cubs) did it to us.”

Luis Castillo (5-8, 5.53) will start Sunday for the Reds and will attempt to bounce back from a disappointing June. He finished the month 1-3 and allowed at least three earned runs in each of his five outings. Castillo is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in three career starts against the Cubs.

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The Chicago Bears have released oft-injured linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps.

The first major free agent signing by general manager Ryan Pace Danny Shelton Color Rush Jersey , McPhee had trouble staying healthy in three seasons with the Bears. He had 90 tackles and 14 sacks in 36 games for Chicago after playing his first four years with the Baltimore Ravens.

McPhee missed the first six games in 2016 following surgery on his left knee and had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in July. He also sat out three games late last season because of a shoulder ailment and finished the season on injured reserve.

A broken arm limited Demps, who signed with Chicago in March, to three games.

The Bears announced the moves on Monday.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning are on the brink of a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Coach Jon Cooper and his players say it won’t be easy to close the deal against the Washington Capitals.

”We haven’t won anything yet,” Cooper said Saturday night after Cedric Paquette scored in the opening minute and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots to help the Lightning hold off the Caps 3-2 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final.

Ondrej Palat and Ryan Callahan also scored as the home team won for the first time in the best-of-seven matchup, with Tampa Bay taking a 3-2 series lead and moving within one victory of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in four seasons.

”Let’s be honest,” Cooper added. ”You’ve got to get four Rafael Devers Boston Red Sox Jersey , not three.”

The Capitals, in the conference final for the first time in the Alex Ovechkin era, have lost three straight after winning twice on the road to begin the series.

Ovechkin scored with 1:36 remaining, trimming what once was a three-goal lead to one, however Vasilevskiy made three more saves to finish the victory.

Game 6 is Monday night in Washington, where Tampa Bay has already won to improve to 5-1 on the road this postseason.

”We have a lot of unfinished business. This isn’t even close to being over Miguel Andujar New York Yankees Jersey ,” Callahan said. ”This last game’s definitely the hardest against a very, very good Washington team. ”To go in their building and try to close it out is going to be tough.”

The Capitals were encouraged by the way they finished the game and are confident they can force the series back to Tampa for Game 7.

”This group has got its backs against the wall, and this group has responded all year,” coach Barry Trotz said. ”I don’t expect anything different.”

The Capitals won the first two games on the road, scoring 10 goals on Vezina Trophy finalist Vasilevskiy and sending the Lightning – won had the best record in the East during the regular season – into desperation mode.

Tampa Bay responded by winning Game 3 in Washington, evening the series despite being outshot and outplayed for sizeable stretches of a 4-2 victory in Game 4 and returning home J'Mon Moore Color Rush Jersey , where Cooper was confident the Lightning would be better than they were in the first two games.

Turns out Cooper was right.

Washington’s Dmitry Orlov turned the puck over in the neutral zone on the opening shift of the night and Callahan made the Caps pay for the mistake, feeding Paquette for a 1-0 lead just 19 seconds into the game.

Palat’s second goal of the series made it 2-0. Tampa Bay extended the advantage to three goals when Callahan scored 33 seconds into the second period.

Outshot 13-4 and limited to one scoring opportunity in the opening period, the Caps began to put some pressure on Vasilevskiy in the second.

Evgeny Kuznetsov scored a goal in his fourth straight game, giving him a franchise single-year, playoff-best 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) and trimming Washington’s deficit to 3-1 at 4:21 of the period.

The Capitals kept pressing in the third period http://www.chiefsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dorian-o_daniel-jersey , but didn’t breakthrough against until Ovechkin scored his 11th goal this postseason.

”It’s not frustrating,” Ovechkin said. ”Of course, when you lose a game you feel bad. We just had a bad start. We didn’t handle the puck in the neutral zone. They got a lucky bounce and put in the first goal. That gave them momentum.”

”It’s disappointing, but I thought our second two periods were great,” Capitals winger T.J. Oshie said. ”We showed a lot of character. Character doesn’t always win you games, but I think it’s going to be important to have that feeling going into Game 6 at home.”

Notes: The road team won each of the first four games of a series for the sixth time in the last 10 years and 26th time in Stanley Cup playoffs history. Under that scenario http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jaire-alexander-jersey , the road team has won Game 5 only three times. … Paquette’s goal was his first in the playoffs since Game 3 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, ending a 34-game drought for the 24-year-old center. … At 19 seconds of the opening period, Palat’s goal was not the fastest to start a game in Lightning history. Adam Hall scored for Tampa Bay 13 seconds into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final against Boston in 2011. … Capitals winger Andre Burakovsky was a game-time scratch.

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LeBron James is friends with Draymond Green Cheap Derrius Guice Jersey , has worked out with Kevin Durant, speaks with great reverence for Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr.

They all do like each other.

And, to those watching the NBA Finals, that might be easy to forget at times.

Turns out, when the same franchises meet for the fourth consecutive year to decide the NBA championship, familiarity indeed does breed contempt. Tensions have been high at times in the first two games of this series, emotions have started to boil over on a couple of occasions, and that trend will likely be continuing until someone hoists the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

”Even with turnover from players, you have a continuity of management, continuity of culture in organizations,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. ”There’s the institutional memory there of the wins and the losses. And so, I think it is very meaningful and when you have the same teams that are meeting for the fourth time, it’s part of a larger storyline. It’s not just a one-off game or a one-off series.”

Translated: Everyone should have seen this coming.

There was the dustup at the end of Game 1 when Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson was angered by the Warriors’ Shaun Livingston trying a jumper with the outcome already decided. There was Klay Thompson angered by the recklessness of J.R. Smith crashing into his leg early in the series opener. There was Kendrick Perkins jawing at Stephen Curry after the third quarter of Game 2.

The Warriors and the Cavaliers are certainly not lacking for intensity in these finals.

”Much ado about nothing,” Curry said Sunday night, likely not the most completely honest statement of his career since it couldn’t have been just a coincidence that he made all five of his 3-pointers in the next 8:33 to turn the game into a blowout.

Game 3 is in Cleveland on Wednesday night Cheap Nick Chubb Jersey , with the Warriors up 2-0. Emotions will simmer until then.

”It’s just basketball,” Tristan Thompson said. ”It’s just a competitive sport. Of course we’re going to get irritated with each other, just because we’re both competitors and we both want it all. But it never goes off the court. Maybe for some guys it does, but not for me.”

Rivalries are what make the sport great.

There was the Celtics-Lakers hatred of eras gone past. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons otherwise known as the Bad Boys. Pat Riley, back in the day, used to forbid his Knicks and Heat teams from helping up opponents when they knocked them over and discouraged fraternizing with the enemy – ever, including the offseason.

Times have changed. Guys vacation together now. It’s a new era.

”We’re not holding hands and singing songs as friends,” Curry said. ”We’re enjoying the competitive environment. I think that’s the consistent thing between our two teams. Obviously we see each other twice a year during the regular season and then you wait until June. … It’s just about winning a championship. You don’t want to let anything distract us from that on the floor.”

Sometimes, the ribbing goes off the court.

James raised eyebrows when he showed up with a suit jacket and matching shorts for Game 1, then arrived at Game 2 with a similar look. Never missing a chance to get under someone’s collar, Green showed up at Game 2 also in the jacket-shorts mode.

”Fun,” Green said.

There’s basketball beefs, and then there’s real-world beefs. Someone tried to get Green to draw a parallel between the Warriors-Cavs animus and the recent musical rivalry between Pusha T and Drake.

He didn’t bite.

”This is nothing like that, nothing at all like that,” Green said.

Everything is fun for the Warriors right now P.J. Hall Youth Jersey , since they’ve won the first two games. Understandably, not much seems like fun to the Cavaliers. But no matter how this series ends, whenever it ends, there will be hugs and handshakes.

Until then, it’s just all part of the game.

That’s why things, while often heated, never seem to get overheated.

”They’re a championship team, we’re a championship team, and we both have experience,” the Warriors’ Kevon Looney said. ”So it’s going to get a little chippy out there.”

The commissioner is fine with that, provided things stay within reason.

”The game ends, they take their proverbial cold shower and then they put it behind them,” Silver said. ”Until the next game.”

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Quincy Enunwa was coming off a breakout season and looking to establish himself last summer as a big-time playmaker for the New York Jets.

In one scary moment, that came to an abrupt halt.

The wide receiver was running a route when he dropped a pass during 7-on-7 drills. He took a step and fell to the turf face-first despite not having been touched.

He didn’t move for a few moments. His neck wouldn’t let him.

Fear set in, if only briefly Byron Jones Jersey , that Enunwa’s football career could be in jeopardy.

”At the beginning,” he recalled after a recent training camp practice, ”definitely.”

Enunwa had a bulging disk in his neck, the culmination of problems he had been dealing with for most of the last several months. He had surgery a few weeks later and was reassured he would be able to play again. But first there would be several months of grueling rehab.

”I knew physically, there was no way that I would not be back on the field,” Enunwa said. ”I knew I would hit every timetable and do everything I needed to do. I have confidence in myself as a physical guy, so I knew I was going to do the work and get back as soon as possible.”

Enunwa’s comeback appears nearly complete.

After sitting out offseason workouts and participating on a limited basis in minicamp, the former Nebraska star has been practicing every day during training camp.

”It feels really good, yeah,” he said. ”I mean, there are really no issues. I’m having fun, flying around. I can’t complain.”

Enunwa is still wearing a red, no-contact pinnie during padded practices, but hopes to shed that soon.

”I’d say it’s protocol,” he said. ”I’m just going on their kind of timeline Cheap DJ Moore Jersey , doing what I need to do, but I’m having fun, though.”

Coach Todd Bowles wouldn’t declare Enunwa as being at ”full speed” just yet.

”He’s doing everything, but it’s just precautionary,” Bowles said. ”We’ll find a time and place and see if we get it right.”

Enunwa was a sixth-round draft pick of the Jets in 2014 and saw limited action in his first two seasons. In 2016, he emerged as a vital part of the offense by working in a hybrid wide receiver/tight end/H-back role and setting career highs with 58 catches for 857 yards and four touchdowns.

Even more was expected going into last season – until the injury short-circuited those plans.

The doctors took a cautious approach with Enunwa’s rehab, not wanting to rush him back. But as the Jets trudged through a 5-11 season, Enunwa wished he could help.

”Physically, I was able to, but they told me not to,” he said. ”So, it was kind of just sitting around and doing bike stuff, so those were the times when I was really anxious to get back out there to run and catch passes.”

He has been doing exactly that during the first four practices of camp, including catching a touchdown toss from rookie Sam Darnold in team drills Monday.

Enunwa says his days of being an H-back are over – ”I was drafted as a receiver and I want to play receiver – and he helps give the Jets an intriguing group that also includes Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse and Terrelle Pryor.

”It’s great to have Q back out there Andy Dalton Jersey ,” quarterback Josh McCown said. ”Just his energy and his work ethic is great to have on the field.”

At 6-foot-2 and a well-chiseled 225 pounds, the 26-year-old Enunwa is a physical specimen. With his mix of size, strength and speed, he reminds McCown of a former star teammate.

”I had the opportunity to play with Anquan Boldin and Quincy kind of has that after-catch, that tough mentality,” McCown said. ”Every day he’s on the field with us and is back I think is a good day for us.”

This is a big year for Enunwa, and not just because of his comeback. He signed his second-round restricted free agent tender in April, and could potentially be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

”That next contract is what everybody wants to get to,” Enunwa said. ”So I’m definitely looking forward to just playing my best right now. I’m not thinking too much about the contract because I have my own personal goals, and I know that those personal goals will help the team’s goals and will eventually help my contract goals.

”So, for me, it’s just going out there and performing and showing what I can do.”

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After spending most of his first four seasons in Minnesota as a part-time back Will Hernandez Jersey , Jerick McKinnon wanted to find a spot in free agency where he could show off his ability as a featured runner.

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan saw enough from his film over those years to decide he was the player they wanted to be their starting running back, giving him a four-year deal that will guarantee him nearly $12 million in 2018.

”It was big for me,” McKinnon said Thursday. ”It was what I was hoping to have and looking for instead of staying in Minnesota and being in that third-down back role. I was looking for that opportunity. I’m glad this organization, this team, coach Shanahan felt strong enough about me and brought me in. I believe it’s the perfect fit.”

The 49ers said they heavily targeted McKinnon and center Weston Richburg as players they wanted to acquire early in free agency. Richburg agreed to a five-year deal on Wednesday and both players were introduced at a news conference Thursday.

McKinnon spent four years in Minnesota mostly as a backup after being drafted in the third round in 2014 after playing mostly quarterback in college at Georgia Southern. He has rushed for 1,918 yards with average of 4.0 yards per carry, has 142 catches for 984 yards, and has scored 12 touchdowns.

McKinnon had his most productive season last year when he ran for a career-high 570 yards Jessie Bates III Youth Jersey ,, while setting personal bests with 51 catches for 421 yards.

The addition of McKinnon replaces Carlos Hyde, who is leaving as a free agent for Cleveland. McKinnon has more speed and is a better receiving threat than Hyde and should fit well into Shanahan’s offense.

”He’s good enough to make it as a runner alone in this league. He’s good enough to make it in the pass game as just a third down threat alone, but when you can do both of those, it gives you a lot of freedom as a coach,” Shanahan said. ”Based off of what downs you put him in and that when you do put him in, the defense doesn’t know exactly what type of plays you’re trying to run because he can do it all.”

Richburg spent the past four seasons with the New York Giants but played only four games last year because of a concussion. He began his career as a left guard before moving to center in 2015. He played there the past three seasons and is considered one of the top pass-blocking players at the position and has the athleticism to thrive in Shanahan’s zone-running scheme.

The Niners are hoping Richburg has a similar impact in San Francisco as Alex Mack had in Atlanta when he joined the Falcons when Shanahan was offensive coordinator there.

”I’ve been around some real good ones in my career,” Shanahan said. ”He’s put it all on tape and he looks right there with all those guys and that’s why I value him a ton off the tape. Didn’t know a ton about him until I turned on the tape and it was as good as I’ve seen.”

With Richburg in place Josh Jackson Packers Jersey , the Niners traded last year’s starting center Daniel Kilgore to Miami in a deal that included a swap of seventh-round picks. The 49ers had signed Kilgore to a three-year extension last month but felt Richburg was the better option at center so worked to find a new spot for Kilgore.

It’s been a busy offseason already for San Francisco. The Niners signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a five-year deal last month before he even hit free agency, signed cornerback Richard Sherman after he was cut by Seattle, re-signed defensive lineman Cassius Marsh and offensive lineman Garry Gilliam and gave an extension to receiver Marquise Goodwin.

The team also signed defensive lineman Jeremiah Attaochu to a one-year deal Thursday to help bolster the pass rush and still could make a few more moves to upgrade a team that won its final five games last season after Garoppolo took over as starter to finish 6-10.

”We feel like we’ve improved our team greatly and that excites us,” general manager John Lynch said.

—

Cindy Crawford is heading back to the Super Bowl: The model has recreated her iconic 1992 Super Bowl ad for Pepsi, now featuring her 18-year-old son.

Crawford recently filmed the commercial, which will debut at Super Bowl 52 on Feb. 4. It includes her son, Presley Walker Gerber, as well as footage from Michael Jackson’s memorable Pepsi commercial.

The 51-year-old said she didn’t hesitate to recreate the ad 26 years later Cheap Josh Jackson Jersey , especially since she was able to work with her son.

”Just as a mother, we drove to work together that day and we shared the same trailer. And when he was doing his thing, I was just a proud mom watching from the sidelines, trying not to annoy him,” she said in a phone interview Wednesday.

The new Super Bowl ad, dubbed ”This Is The Pepsi,” is part of the company’s ”Pepsi Generation” campaign honoring the brand’s 120-year history in pop culture.

The original features Crawford in a tank top and jean shorts – made from her own jeans she brought to the set that day – driving a Lamborghini and stopping at a gas station to buy a can of soda. She said she felt the 1992 spot ”became such a classic for so many reasons.”

”It was one of those moments in my career that when I walked down the street, people were like P.J. Hall Raiders Jersey , `Pepsi!’ Or I’d be at a bar and people would send me over a Pepsi,” she said, laughing. ”And it’s funny because during Halloween a lot of women will dress up as me in that commercial. It’s like an easy Halloween costume.”

Crawford plans to attend the Super Bowl in Minneapolis, where her father lives.

”I think probably that will be the highlight for me is just getting to see my dad,” she said. ”I took him to a Super Bowl before I had kids … and it’s not like he ever wanted to go to an awards show or something like that, but if I can take him to the Super Bowl, that’s a pretty cool thing for me to be able to do with my dad.”

Crawford’s modeling talents have not only extended to her son – her 16-year-old daughter graces the February cover of Vogue Paris.

”She’s more ready for it. She’s just so much more sophisticated and worldly than I was at that age,” she said of Kaia Jordan Gerber.

”I do know the business … (and) I feel like who better to help guide my kids?” she added.

”It kind of happened for both of them and they listen to my advice when it comes to this. The one thing they can’t say is Lamar Jackson Ravens Jersey , `Mom, you don’t get it.”’

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— Von Miller said he’s unaffected by the new NFL rule prohibiting defenders from landing on top of quarterbacks Tremaine Edmunds Bills Jersey , requiring them instead to shift his weight to the side to avoid a flag.

“None of the rule changes affect my game. I don’t really tackle quarterbacks with all my weight anyway. With all 185 pounds? No, I wouldn’t treat a quarterback like that,” said Miller, who’s actually 250.

“I like going for the ball. If you’ve seen me play over the years, I’m not really (going to) lower the head or try to injure a quarterback,” Miller said. “The most I’ll do is fake handshake.”

That move cost Miller a personal foul at key moment last year and led to a loss at Buffalo.

Miller said he has no issue with the league’s new helmet rule that’s causing so much consternation at training camps this summer as teams wonder what all will constitute a foul.

Broncos coach Vance Joseph said the new rules designed to protect players will affect the offense more than the defense because defenders have been taught for years to see what they’re hitting whereas, say, running backs naturally duck their heads and linemen bang helmets all the time.

Defenders Da'Ron Payne Jersey , though, will get flagged for crushing quarterbacks if they don’t break their fall by turning to the side to avoid landing on top of the passer.

An example of the hit that’s now prohibited is the one Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr put on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 6 last year that broke Rodgers’ collarbone.

The rule now requires defenders to “strive to wrap up the passer with the defensive player’s arms and not land on the passer with all or most of his body weight.”

Line judge Julian Mapp was among the officials who visited the Broncos this weekend to discuss the rule changes. Asked how difficult it would be to determine whether a pass rusher has put more than half his body weight on a quarterback, Mapp said, “I’m a line judge but talking to some of our referees, what we’re looking at is that — I’m not a University of Florida fan or anything — but we’re looking for what we call a ‘Gator Roll.’ We want you to take your weight off of the quarterback.

“Also, to guys, when they tackle their quarterback and you see their hands in the air like this,” he said Vita Vea Youth Jersey , spreading his arms out like an airplane, “that does not take them off. A lot of the time they think, ‘Well my hands weren’t on them.’ But it’s the body weight. So, basically they’re looking for some type of roll, some type of (move where) you’re trying to keep all of your body weight off of the quarterback.”

Miller said the changes won’t affect him at all.

“I’ve been good when it comes to all of those rules,” Miller said. “I respect the game. I know we need to keep our quarterbacks healthy. Those guys make football what it is, so we’ve got to take care of those guys.

“They’ve put in rules to take care of all the players, as well. So Cheap Mike McGlinchey Jersey , I’m good with all the rule changes.”

The Detroit Tigers will look for their third consecutive victory as they open an eight-game road trip Friday night against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

Detroit (33-37) is coming off back-to-back wins against the Minnesota Twins as it remains within striking distance of the Cleveland Indians for first place in the American League Central division. The Tigers have scored four-plus runs in four of their last seven contests.

The team’s success at the plate has come despite the loss of star slugger Miguel Cabrera, who will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his biceps tendon. The 35-year-old performed well against Chicago with a .297 lifetime average to go along with 34 home runs and 108 RBIs in 175 games.

Minus Cabrera, the Tigers are forced to rely upon less proven players such as JaCoby Jones, who belted a two-run home run on Thursday afternoon that helped his team secure a series victory. Jones is hitting only .222 this season with five home runs and 18 RBIs.

“He’s a really good baseball player,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said to the Detroit Free Press. “He brings a lot to the table. Yeah, he could get sent down sometime if he went 0-for-the-next-150, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

“I love the kid. … But ultimately, he’s going to have to dig his way out of it Authentic A.J. Green Jersey , and (Thursday) was a start. He hit a home run, that’s confidence — and now, hopefully, he’ll build from there.”

Chicago (24-43) also has gained confidence recently despite a difficult start to the season. The White Sox have won or split each of their past four series, including a 2-2 series tie against the Indians this week.

The White Sox will turn to right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (2-4, 3.26 ERA), who will make his 14th start of the season. The 24-year-old has posted back-to-back quality starts and earned a victory in his most recent appearance Sunday as he limited the Boston Red Sox to two runs (one earned) in 6 1/3 innings.

In three career starts against the Tigers, Lopez is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA. He has not allowed a home run in 21 innings Josh Allen Bills Jersey , but control has proved to be an issue as he has walked 10 and struck out nine during those three starts.

Lopez is enthused by the recent success of him and his teammates.

“When you as a team can do the little things and can work as a team with all the parts integrated, you will have good results,” Lopez said to the Chicago Tribune. “And that’s what we’ve been doing the last couple of weeks.”

The Tigers are determined to disrupt the recent comfort level of the White Sox.

Detroit right-hander Mike Fiers (5-3, 4.01 ERA) will make his 13th start. He has not lost since May 19 against the Seattle Mariners, and he is coming off an impressive outing in which he limited Cleveland to one run on five hits in seven innings.

Fiers, 32, is 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA in five career starts against the White Sox. He has walked eight and struck out 28 in 31 1/3 innings.

Chicago is 12-21 at home this season. Detroit is 10-20 on the road.

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The Boston Bruins look to continue their recent surge Sunday when they travel to Philadelphia for a matinee game against the Flyers.

Boston moved back atop the Atlantic Division on Saturday with a 5-1 victory over the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.

Jake DeBrusk had two goals and an assist Harold Landry Titans Jersey , and linemates Ryan Donato (one goal, one assist) and David Krejci (three assists) helped the trio combine for eight points.

“I liked it. I think most people liked it,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of adding winger Donato to the Krejci-centered line. “I thought they had good chemistry; they were feeding off each other.

“Krejci, obviously, I think him and Jake have had real good chemistry. It’s one consistent, for the most part, that Krech has had, so it was a pretty good line in terms of puck possession Logan Woodside Jersey , making plays. They can each complement each other. So we’ll see how it goes.”

The Bruins (49-17-11) lead the Tampa Bay Lightning by one point with a game in hand. Boston is 5-0-3 in its last eight games.

Tuukka Rask (10-0-1 in his last 11 starts) stopped 30 of 31 shots.

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead at 4:59 of the first period, but Boston tied it midway through the period and led 2-1 before the first 20 minutes were over.

“Yeah, we’re playing good,” Rask said. “It was a good start. We kept it going, it looked like guys were making plays and playing with confidence, it’s fun to watch, like people say.”

Boston’s road trip continues Tuesday with a showdown against the Lightning and concludes Thursday when they visit the Panthers.

The news wasn’t all good for the Bruins. Center Riley Nash left after getting hit in the head with a shot in the second period and defenseman Brandon Carlo left in the third period with an undisclosed injury.

“Didn’t look good when you go off on a stretcher, obviously Isaiah Oliver Jersey ,” Cassidy said of Carlo. “So we’ll keep our fingers crossed on that one. Same with Nash. I know he was getting stitches in his ear … Not what you want right now, but we’ll see how they are.”

The Flyers (39-25-14) have injury issues of their own as they chase the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division while comfortably in wild-card position.

Goaltender Michal Neuvirth — just back after missing 18 games with a lower-body injury — left Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche with a lower-body injury. Petr Mrazek, who had been slumping, replaced Neuvirth 8:07 into the second period and made 17 saves.

Ivan Provorov had a goal and an assist and Claude Giroux scored as Flyers ended a mini-losing streak at two games.

“Just a gutsy effort,” Flyers coach Dave Hakstol NHL.com. “I think we’ve gotten a lot of those efforts throughout the year.

“I thought everybody that was in the lineup just went out and did their part. There was a couple of great performances probably to go with it, but everybody in the lineup for sure did their part.”

With Neuvirth day-to-day, the Flyers recalled Alex Lyon, who will back up Mrazek on Sunday. Goalie Brian Elliott Denzel Ward Jersey , out since core muscle surgery in February, practiced Saturday and could return before the end of the regular season.

“I’ve never had a surgery before so it’s a new process for me and it’s a tough time of year because there’s a possibility of coming back at the end and you’re shooting for it,” Elliott told the Courier Post.

After Sunday, the Flyers close against the bottom three teams in the division. They travel to Brooklyn to face the New York Islanders before hosting the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers.

Mark Brown/Getty ImagesThe 35-year-old Frank Gore has been in the NFL since the 2005 season and knows talent when he sees it, which is good news for fellow Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake."I was like, 'Man, I kinda see why they traded Jay Ajayi,'" Gore said of Drake M.J. Stewart Buccaneers Jersey , per Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post. "He's very talented. Jay Ajayi was a great back, too, but Kenyan is a very talented guy. He's smart. He can do everything on the field. I think that me and him can really help this team be successful this year."The Dolphins traded Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2017 campaign, and he proceeded to win the Super Bowl with his new team.While Ajayi ultimately won the Lombardi Trophy, his absence cleared the way for Drake to tally 444 rushing yards and 150 receiving yards during the final five weeks of the 2017 season. Gore first thought that about the Ajayi trade while watching film of Drake exploit the Denver Broncos defense for 120 yards and a score on the ground.Drake is just 24 years old, and Gore figures to serve as a veteran mentor for the Alabama product moving forward after he joined the Dolphins this offseason.However, he isn't in Miami just to be a coach on the field, as Lieser noted head coach Adam Gase has installed him as a co-starter alongside the younger Drake. Gore even went as far as to suggest the 2018 campaign will not be his last."If I feel good and the Dolphins want me back Anthony Miller Bears Jersey , I'll come back. It's all on how I feel, but I just take it one year at a time, one day at a time."Gore may have been impressed with Drake and understood the Ajayi trade because of it, but he was formidable in his own right last season with 961 rushing yards as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. He has nine seasons of more than 1,000 rushing yards in his career, including 2016, and has shown few signs of slowing as the 2018 campaign approaches.The combination of Gore and Drake will be tasked with bolstering a Miami rushing attack that was a mere 29th in the league in yards per game last season and will need to improve if the team is going to compete in the AFC East..

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The Latest on NBA free agency (all times EDT):

7:45 p.m.

Nik Stauskas is officially a member of the Portland Trail Blazers Jason Witten Jersey , after signing his one-year, $1.6 million contract.

The team announced the move Thursday.

Stauskas agreed to the contract quickly after the start of free agency. Even though the NBA’s offseason moratorium does not end until 12:01 p.m. EDT Friday, signings like the deal for Stauskas and the one former NBA MVP Derrick Rose completed with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday are permitted under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Short-term minimum-salary signings can be completed before the moratorium is lifted.

Portland will be Stauskas’ fourth team in his five NBA seasons. He’s a career 35 percent 3-point shooter.

”Nik is a versatile and talented perimeter player that will seamlessly fit into our style of play,” Portland general manager Neil Olshey said.

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2:45 p.m.

Nemanja Bjelica is moving from Minnesota to Philadelphia.

A person familiar with the negotiations says Bjelica has agreed to a one-year contract with the 76ers worth nearly $4.5 million. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal has not been announced.

Bjelica gives Philadelphia more shooting depth, needed in an offseason where the 76ers lost Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli.

Bjelica shot 42 percent from 3-point range last season Quenton Nelson Colts Jersey , his best clip in his three NBA years. The 30-year-old Serbian had a long career in Europe before coming to the NBA with Minnesota in 2015.

He was originally drafted by Washington in 2010.

– Reporting by AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Las Vegas.

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An uncluttered mind has helped Sean Manaea sharpen his pitching arsenal.

The Oakland A’s left-hander has delivered three consecutive quality starts following a rough patch in May. Manaea allowed four or more earned runs in five of his six May starts but has held opponents to a combined eight runs in his last four outings.

Manaea will start for the A’s on Wednesday in the third contest of a four-game series in Detroit.

“I was trying to be too perfect and it was causing me to overthink things,” he said. “Now, I’m trying to keep things simple.”

With his mind no longer racing, his control has been nearly impeccable. He’s walked one batter in his last three starts while collecting 17 strikeouts.

He’s gone more often with his four-seam fastball, throwing it 58 percent of the time this month compared to 50 percent in May.

“It’s having fastball command and having confidence in my other pitches and just pitching off the fastball Minkah Fitzpatrick Dolphins Jersey ,” he said. “If you have confidence in yourself and really trust your stuff, things are going to be good.”

Manaea (7-6, 3.40 ERA) held the Chicago White Sox to one run on five hits in seven innings during his last start. He lost his only career start against Detroit while giving up three runs in six innings.

He’ll be opposed by right-hander Mike Fiers (5-4, 4.29 ERA), who has not reached the six-inning mark in six of his last seven outings. He gave up four runs in five innings at Cleveland on Friday.

Home runs have been an issue for Fiers Cheap Brian O'Neill Jersey , who has allowed 16 this season and at least one in 10 of his last 11 starts. The A’s have homered in 27 consecutive road games, a major league record.

Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire would like see Fiers and many of his other starters get deeper into games.

“With Zimm (Jordan Zimmermann) it’s different because he’s coming off an injury and you want to keep him healthy,” Gardenhire said. “A lot of the other guys, it’s kind of a feel. I’m not afraid to have a guy throw 100 pitches and seven innings at all. But if they start misfiring, what good does that do if you have fresh arms out there? The problem is we’ve had too many five-inning starts.”

Detroit has lost seven straight Shaquem Griffin Youth Jersey , including two crushing defeats in the first two games of the series. Oakland rallied from a late three-run deficit Monday, then dug itself out of a 6-0 hole in Tuesday’s 9-7 victory.

Jed Lowrie, who hit the game-winning homer in the ninth in the opener, put the A’s in front in the final inning on an RBI single.

An error by Tigers first baseman John Hicks led to a three-run inning which started the A’s comeback.

“You make mistakes every once in a while but I don’t think we’re finding ways to lose,” Gardenhire said. “The other team’s playing good. Sure Christian Kirk Youth Jersey , we made mistakes but we jumped on them early. We scored runs and that’s a good team over there that doesn’t quit. They’re grinders over there. They got into our bullpen again and there you have it. It’s the same story.”

By winning eight of its last 10, Oakland is now four games over .500 for the first time since 2014

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It wasn’t even clear until an hour before the game if Utah rookie Donovan Mitchell was going to play in Game 2 against Oklahoma City.

The Thunder probably wish he hadn’t.

Mitchell Roquan Smith Jersey , who played with a bruised left foot, scored 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to help the Jazz defeat Oklahoma City 102-95 and tie their Western Conference playoff series at one win apiece.

”I think if he was feeling something, he didn’t show it and he played through it,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.

Derrick Favors had career playoff bests of 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Jazz, and Ricky Rubio had 22 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in the first playoff win of his seven-year career.

Mitchell did his damage attacking the basket. He missed all seven of his 3-pointers, but made 10 of 18 from inside the arc and eight of nine free throws. Mitchell said center Rudy Gobert told him to quit settling for jumpers.

”He let me know I went 0 of 7 from 3 and I’m letting guys off the hook,” Mitchell said. ”We’ve got to keep applying pressure and getting to the rim.”

Russell Westbrook had 19 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds for the Thunder. Paul George, who scored 36 points in Game 1, finished with 18 on 6-for-21 shooting. Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points Nick Chubb Browns Jersey , but made just six of 18 shots.

”We just have to be aggressive,” Westbrook said. ”We miss and make shots. Shots are going to fall. Those guys (George and Anthony) are unbelievable scorers, and we have trusted those guys all season long, and we will continue to do that.”

Gobert added 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Jazz, who outrebounded Oklahoma City 56-46 to seize home-court advantage from the Thunder. Game 3 will be Saturday in Utah.

Oklahoma City had two chances in the final minute to trim Utah’s lead with the Jazz leading 99-95, but Anthony missed 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions.

”I thought we had some good shots,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. ”I think the entire game, we could have executed better.”

Utah led 53-46 at halftime behind 12 points from Rubio and 10 points and eight rebounds from Favors. Oklahoma City made just nine of 25 shots inside the 3-point line in the first half. George led the Thunder with 11 points at the break.

Thunder center Steven Adams picked up his fourth foul with 6:46 left in the third quarter and the Thunder down 65-58, yet Oklahoma City responded with a run. George’s 3-pointer put the Thunder up 69-67. Oklahoma City closed the quarter on a 21-9 run to take a 79-74 lead. The Thunder held the Jazz to 7 for 23 shooting in the third quarter before Mitchell took over in the fourth.

”Miscommunication down on the defensive end at times led to (Utah’s) offensive rebounds,” Anthony said. ”Things that we can correct, things that we need to correct Jessie Bates III Jersey , things that we will correct on the next game. We threw the first punch. They punched us back tonight, and now, we’ve got to go on the road and get a win at their place, and that’s the mindset.”

TIP-INS

Thunder: George played through a bruised right hip. He was limited in practice Tuesday. … Japanese artist and Thunder fan Nanae Yamano attended the game. She is known for her illustrations of Thunder players. … Adams fouled out with 2:48 to play. He finished with nine points and seven rebounds. … F Jerami Grant scored 13 points.

Jazz: Utah opened the game with a 9-0 lead. … Favors had nine points and seven rebounds in the first quarter. … Jonas Jerebko scored 10 points in 12:46 as a reserve.

STAT OF THE NIGHT

Westbrook, George and Anthony combined to miss all 14 field goals in the fourth quarter and score just two points.

”I don’t know,” Anthony said. ”We missed. We all missed. I don’t really have an answer to what happened or an excuse to why we didn’t make shots. We just didn’t make shots in that fourth quarter.”

CONDOLENCES FOR POPOVICH

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich’s wife, Erin, died Wednesday. Snyder coached the Spurs’ G-League team, the Austin Toros, from 2007-2010.

”We know what coach Pop has meant to us, and we just want to offer our condolences for his loss Frank Ragnow Youth Jersey ,” Snyder said.

UP NEXT

Game 3 is Saturday at Utah.

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William Karlsson and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights proved they can handle some adversity just as well as they can thrive as front-runners like they did most of their inaugural season.

The Golden Knights bounced back after allowing a late tying goal in regulation when Karlsson scored 8:17 into overtime to lead Vegas to a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Monday night and a 2-1 series lead.

”I think it’s good for the morale,” Karlsson said. ”We showed great attitude. Again, they came back. It was tough, too, but we gave someone a chance to be an overtime hero.”

Karlsson was that hero – just as he has been so much this season. He scored 43 goals in the regular season and has added three more this series, but none was bigger than the wrist shot in transition that beat Martin Jones high to the stick side, sending the Golden Knights into a wild celebration around the player knows as Wild Bill.

It was an impressive bounce back from their first loss of the playoffs in double overtime at home in Game 2 and wouldn’t have been possible without Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 39 saves to hold off an early push by the Sharks and then robbed Logan Couture with a glove save in overtime.

”I was looking at the guy with puck. I just tried to follow the pass and get out there a bit and I had a little time to react on it,” Fleury said. ”It was a good feeling.”

The Sharks rallied to tie the game and force a second straight overtime with two goals in the third period. Evander Kane scored just seconds after the end of a power play midway through the third to set the stage for Hertl.

Hertl drove to the net with a strong power move. With the Sharks swarming in front of Fleury, Hertl whacked at a loose puck and knocked it in for the equalizer with 1:57 to go, sending the towel-waving crowd into a frenzy.

”I believe our game’s there and I think everyone in here would tell you that Sam Hubbard Jersey ,” captain Joe Pavelski said. ”We got caught on the wrong end of it tonight. We had a big one the other night.”

Colin Miller, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith scored in a span of less than five minutes in the second period to put the Golden Knights in control, but they couldn’t hold onto the lead.

Timo Meier opened the scoring with a power-play goal for the Sharks, but undisciplined play in the second period helped erase that lead and put San Jose in a hole.

Brenden Dillon held David Perron to give Vegas a power play less than a minute after Meier’s one-timer off a perfect cross-ice pass from Chris Tierney gave the Sharks the lead.

San Jose had an 11-1 edge in shots on goal in the period at that point as the Sharks were controlling the play. But that quickly turned as James Neal held the puck below the goal line and fed Miller with a pass that Marc-Edouard Vlasic nearly broke up for a tap-in that tied the game.

About three minutes later, Hertl was called for roughing Neal well behind the play, giving the Golden Knights another chance with the man advantage.

They converted again when Marchessault one-timed a cross-ice pass from Alex Tuch past Jones to give Vegas the lead.

Smith then capped the three goals in 4:46 when Marchessault fed Karlsson, who was left alone at the side of the net. He deftly sent a blind, backhand pass through the crease to Smith, who tapped it in for the 3-1 lead.

”He’s got eyes in the back of his head sometimes,” Smith said. ”He’s a great player and he makes great plays.”

The Sharks came out energized by a raucous crowd and the presence of celebrity door opener and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in their first home game of the series.

San Jose got 16 shots on goal in the first period, but were unable to get anything past Fleury Quenton Nelson Colts Jersey , who rebounded well from his first loss of the postseason.

”To come out of that first period 0-0, we need to find a way to get the lead,” coach Peter DeBoer said. ”We’re chasing the game the whole series here. Even when we have a quick start like tonight, Fleury is shutting the door and finding the way to let them hang around until they can get something going, which is what happened.”

NOTES: Sharks F Joonas Donskoi (lower body) sat out. Chris Tierney took his place on the top line with Barclay Goodrow slotting in on the third line. … F Tomas Tatar returned after missing the past four games as a healthy scratch. He took the place of Ryan Carpenter.

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Before the NBA Finals began Derrius Guice Redskins Jersey , Stephen Curry could only chuckle at how long it took for someone to inquire about how badly he wants to add a finals MVP to his decorated resume.

Maybe a minute passed.

Curry has earned two NBA MVPs, set the single-season 3-point record, captured a pair of championships and is on the cusp of a third. He doesn’t need the finals MVP, another title will do just fine.

It might come down to Curry and teammate Kevin Durant for series MVP with the Warriors up 3-0 on LeBron James and the Cavaliers going into Game 4 on Friday night with a chance to clinch at Cleveland.

”It took to the second question of my first media availability, so I’m pretty sure that narrative’s going to take life, as it has since 2015,” Curry said. ”But it doesn’t make or break my career or whatever you want to say looking back. If we win this championship and I don’t win finals MVP, I’m going to be smiling just as wide and just as big.”

Sure, if he could edge out KD, then Curry would join the big names of James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone and Tim Duncan as players with a pair of NBA MVPs and a finals MVP.

Not that Curry is thinking about any of that: He would gladly settle for a second straight victory parade.

”It’s part of my motivation to try to get back to this stage because I want more championships Shaquem Griffin Jersey ,” he said. ”But I’ve never really highlighted the individual type (honors) – even before my regular-season MVPs, I’ve never even really attacked it as if that was the goal, per se.”

Still, the undersized point guard out of Davidson has defied the critics. Curry knows how much he has meant for the franchise during this special four-year stretch.

And this might have been the toughest one yet for Curry, even counting all those losing seasons early in his career, plagued by multiple injuries and so much missed time. He was even out for the entire first round of the playoffs.

Curry’s typically steady shot has been inconsistent, too.

As he always does regardless of whether they’re going in, Curry has kept firing 3-pointers.

He reached a mindboggling 0 for 9 Wednesday before finally making one from deep against the Cavs – just three days after knocking down a finals-record nine from beyond the arc.

That frustrating Game 3 performance epitomized Curry’s topsy-turvy season.

”I’m going to play aggressively, confidently, with that right energy and motivation to help my team win,” Curry said. ”And usually when I’m in that mindset, good things happen, whether that means it’s a finals MVP or not, who cares, but I’m going to be playing like it, for sure.”

As Curry walked off the court with only 11 points on 3-for-16 shooting in the 110-102 win that put Golden State one victory from a repeat title Tremaine Edmunds Jersey , Andre Iguodala draped his right arm around No. 30’s neck and whispered something in his left ear.

”He was telling me what he’s going to order at our team dinner tonight, and I agree with his choices,” Curry cracked.

He certainly isn’t taking himself too seriously on the big stage, appreciating how hard it is to get here with hopes of doing so for the long haul.

Even on a night his shot wasn’t falling and he got outshined by Durant, Curry connected when it mattered and the game was on the line. That’s just what he does as the Warriors’ dependable star.

The defining moment of Curry’s postseason might have come in Game 2 of the finals, when he scored 33 points and returned to being leading man for Golden State with the home crowd at Oracle Arena cheering his every move.

”Thank goodness I never had to play against him,” said B.J. Armstrong, who spent 11 seasons in the NBA, mostly with Chicago. ”He’s a very special player. Every time I see him, I played in Charlotte for like a year and a half, so I remember him when he was very little, to see him now I chuckle every time I see him. I just remember when he was little and his dad would be dragging him around. He’s phenomenal. I’m in awe of his ability to shoot the ball and what he’s been able to do, his leadership, the example he’s setting for all the young kids and what he’s been able to do in the game. It’s just incredible. I have such respect for him, especially because I know his parents, and he’s a point guard Cheap Austin Corbett Jersey , so I just marvel at what he’s been able to do.”

Curry showed his unselfishness when he traveled to the Hamptons two summers ago to recruit Durant, willing to cede the spotlight as Golden State’s singular star.

After back-to-back MVP awards that made Curry the face of the Warriors and one of the league’s most dynamic and thrilling players, he has taken a backseat to let KD get comfortable.

Golden State has been complete again since Curry returned for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Pelicans following nearly six weeks out with a sprained left knee.

Just having Curry back on the court provides a huge emotional lift, even if he’s not at his most dominant. There’s that noticeable joy coach Steve Kerr so loves with his star-studded bunch.

”I think Steph really sets the tone more than anybody in that regard,” Kerr said, ”for what our culture is about.”

—

Two days later, there is still no clarity on what J.R. Smith knew when he grabbed that offensive rebound in the final seconds of regulation of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Not even in Smith’s own mind.

”I can’t say I was sure of anything at that point,” Smith said.

All he and the Cleveland Cavaliers are sure of now is this: They’re down 1-0 to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, with Game 2 on Sunday night and Smith knowing that he’s going to be booed, made fun of, mocked and probably worse by the crowd at Oracle Arena.

Smith became one of the big Game 1 stories for all the wrong reasons . He grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw in the final seconds of regulation with the game tied, then ran toward midcourt as if he was running out the clock and thinking Cleveland had a one-point lead. The Cavaliers wound up losing in overtime.

”He probably took that loss as hard as anybody on the team,” Cavs star LeBron James said Saturday. ”But one thing about J.R., he has an uncanny ability to bounce back. I think people have seen that throughout our postseason runs, where he hasn’t played well or played to his ability that he thinks he should have played, and then the next game he comes on and shoots the ball extremely well.”

That bounce-back tendency for Smith will be tested now like perhaps never before. This wasn’t just a gaffe. This was a huge gaffe James Washington Jersey , in the final seconds of the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals with the game on the line. And in the immediate aftermath, it appeared Smith said to James on the court that he thought the Cavs were leading – something he denied afterward.

”I might have said that,” Smith said. ”Not sure, but I might have.”

To say Smith was the reason Cleveland lost Thursday night isn’t right, or fair. There’s no guarantee that Cleveland would have scored to win the game in those final seconds if Smith had done anything differently.

Still, he was blamed.

”I’m glad it happened to me as opposed to anybody else on my team,” Smith said. ”To be in that situation is tough and it’s not a situation everybody can handle, so I’m glad it happened to me.”

Smith spent Friday in his hotel room for the most part, watching the Memorial (”Tiger played really well,” Smith said), talking with Kyle Korver and visiting with his kids over FaceTime.

He knows he’s a punch line. He’s been there before.

”That’s pretty much who I’ve been my whole life,” said Smith, who bonded with a therapy dog earlier this season during a rough stretch. ”I’ve always been the one guy who’s the butt of the jokes, or that one guy who does something crazy and everybody’s got to look at or whatever the case may be. And then I come back and be myself and play the next day. I don’t really dwell on things too much. It’s been like that my whole life. That’s what it looks like it’s going to continue to be.”

The Cavs have made clear that they’re not quitting on Smith.

They need him.

”He’s going to start. And no, I haven’t lost confidence,” coach Tyronn Lue said. ”J.R. can shake off anything Cheap Marcus Davenport Jersey , and when everybody tends to count J.R. out, that’s when he comes through. So he’s definitely going to start again. He’s a big part of what we do. That last play is over, it’s behind us and now we’ve got to move on.”

A bounce-back game would be more than welcomed by Cleveland. When Smith is good, the Cavs are really good.

Cleveland is 10-1 this season, including playoffs, when Smith scores more than 15 points. The Cavaliers are 19-5 when he makes more than half his shot attempts. They’re 20-9 when he makes at least three 3-pointers. Those are some of the many reasons why Lue still has confidence in him, and Smith clearly appreciates that.

”I’ve been playing like dogcrap all year and he’s stuck with me,” Smith said. ”So he’s one of the people who gives me the most confidence.”

And he’s due, too.

Smith has missed more than half his shots in eight straight games – his longest such cold streak since November. The Warriors expect that Smith and the rest of the Cavaliers will be more than ready for Game 2. And Smith said his teammates still believing in him is helping.

”Everybody says it’s not just the one play or the reason why we lost,” Smith said. ”Take it however you want it. My teammates have been great. Very supportive.”

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Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesTre Boston is on the move after reaching a deal to play with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.Per ESPN's Adam Schefter Jessie Bates III Jersey , Boston agreed to a one-year contract with the Cardinals.Boston's reported deal with Arizona comes one month after he initially met with the team. He didn't come away from that visit impressed, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio the Cardinals' offer was "very, very disrespectful."Last season was the most productive of Boston's four-year NFL career. The 25-year-old tied for fifth among all defensive players with five interceptions as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers and started a career-high 15 games.Boston spent the first three years of his career with the Carolina Panthers. He was a fourth-round draft pick out of North Carolina in 2014.After being released by the Panthers last May, Boston signed with the Chargers following a fortuitous encounter at a gas station, via ESPN's Eric D. Williams:"I crossed two lanes to get to the gas station. I pump my gas. After I pump my gas, I put my wallet in my car. After I put my wallet in my car, there's a guy with three kids and he asked me for a little bit of change Marcus Davenport Saints Jersey , or if I had a dollar or two. I gave him a $20."So he tells me thank you so much, and that God put me in his life for a reason. And in my mind I'm saying you're here for a reason, too. So in my mind I'm saying should I ask him, 'L.A. or Buffalo.' And before I could ask him, my man told me, 'Thank you so much. There aren't too many people like you in this world, God's children. My name's Mike Daniels Will Hernandez Jersey , but people call me L.A.'"The move paid off as Boston turned into an invaluable piece of the Chargers' secondary. He was able to parlay that success into a new contract with the Cardinals.Boston wasn't consistently part of the Panthers' starting lineup until 2016. He's recorded 15 passes defensed and seven interceptions in the last two seasons.The Cardinals will likely use Boston as a backup to Antoine Bethea at free safety. His consistency over the past two seasons makes him an exceptional free-agent signing, especially at this stage of the offseason.
BALTIMORE — Miami left-hander Wei-Yin Chen will face his former team for the first time when the Marlins take on the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Saturday.

Miami is in position to win a three-game series for the first time this season after beating Baltimore 2-0 in the opener Friday.

The Orioles, who have lost eight consecutive games, lag near the bottom of nearly every offensive category. First baseman Chris Davis underscores most of those troubles, and he was held out of the lineup for the third straight game Friday.

Davis is batting .150 with four homers.

“He’s tried a lot of things, but I think doing it this way, you’re trying not to say Carlton Davis Youth Jersey , ‘OK, if it doesn’t click right away then let’s go to something else.’ He’s got a lot of people talking to him and rightfully so — teammates and I’m sure college coaches,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said about Davis.

“Everybody’s trying to help him because they like him and they hate seeing anybody struggle. This is kind of blinders with, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do and let’s throw out everything else and here’s where we’ve got to get to. Here’s where we are, here’s why this problem is happening, because X is happening and let’s eliminate X.’

“Will it look completely different? I’m not sure. What I hope looks completely different are the results. Unfortunately, the games don’t stop. We need a good Chris Davis. We do. He knows that. And that’s what’s frustrating for him.”

Chen (1-3 Saquon Barkley Giants Jersey , 6.13 ERA) has lost his past three decisions and struggled to get deep into games. In his last start, he allowed four runs and six hits with five strikeouts and four walks in 4 1/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants.

“I didn’t really do my job well,” Chen said after the game.

Alex Cobb (2-8, 7.23) will take the mound for Baltimore. He is still looking to get on track.

Cobb’s last outing was his worst of the season. He allowed a career-high-tying nine runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

However, he is 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA in four career starts against the Marlins, who have batted .139 during that stretch.

The Orioles are just 2-9 in Cobb’s 11 starts.

“I know you look at teams and how they react in tough situations,” Cobbsaid Darius Leonard Youth Jersey , and I don’t know what’s better, if everyone’s just miserable because you’re losing or people are able to come to work every day and be a good teammate and try to get out of that funk each and every day and help each other to get out of that funk.”

Baltimore is also dealing with several key injuries. Richard Bleier, who has been one of the team’s most consistent pitchers out of the bullpen, is on the disabled list with a lat injury that he sustained against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. He could be out for the season.

However, starter Andrew Cashner could be back in action Tuesday or Wednesday if he does not have any setbacks with his injured back while throwing a bullpen session Sunday.

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The better J.A. Happ pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays Saquon Barkley Game Jersey , the better the chance he finishes the season with another team.

Happ pitched a season-high 8 1/3 innings to win his fifth straight decision, Kendrys Morales hit a two-run home run and the Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 Wednesday for Toronto’s seventh win in eight home games.

Happ (9-3) allowed four runs and six hits, walked none and struck out eight. The veteran left-hander is the first big league pitcher to record four starts this season with at least eight strikeouts and no walks.

”He’s got good life on his fastball,” Atlanta’s Nick Markakis said. ”He’s always been a thorn in the side.”

With Toronto well behind in both the AL East and the wild card standings, Happ could be a candidate for a midseason trade to a contender.

”I know he’s in demand and I can see why,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said. ”If we were on the other end of it, I’d want him, too.”

Happ is in the final season of a three-year Minkah Fitzpatrick Dolphins Jersey , $36 million contract.

”I signed to play here and try to help this team get to the playoffs,” Happ said. ”I know there may be rumors out there, but I like it here and my focus is here.”

Happ improved 4-0 with a 2.72 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves.

”We knew going in it was going to be a tough ride,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.

Happ had retired 18 of 19 before Freddie Freeman and Markakis hit back-to-back singles with one out in the ninth.

Ryan Tepera came on and gave up an RBI single to Kurt Suzuki, struck out Charlie Culberson, then allowed an RBI single to Ender Inciarte, putting the tying run at second. Tepera finished it by getting Johan Camargo to fly out, earning his fifth save in eight opportunities

Morales Rashaan Evans Youth Jersey , who turned 35 Wednesday, went 2 for 3 and scored twice. He homered in the first, walked and scored in the fourth, singled in the fifth, and flied out in the eighth.

Suzuki and Peter Bourjos hit solo home runs for the Braves, who lost for the second time in eight games. Atlanta began the day with an NL-best record of 43-29.

Braves right-hander Anibal Sanchez (3-1) allowed four runs and five hits in five innings.

”It wasn’t bad, wasn’t great,” Snitker said. ”He kept us in the game Da'Ron Payne Redskins Jersey , gave us a chance.”

Sanchez is 0-2 with a 9.19 ERA in his past three starts against the Blue Jays.

After Morales hit a two-out drive off Sanchez, his sixth homer of the season, Suzuki connected in the second, his eighth, and Bourjos tied it in the third with his first homer of the season.

Toronto broke the deadlock in the fourth when Randal Grichuk hit an RBI double and Aledmys Diaz followed with a sacrifice fly.

Blue Jays infielder Yangervis Solarte made it 5-2 with a two-out RBI single off A.J. Minter in the seventh.

WALK THIS WAY

Blue Jays C Russell Martin has walked at least once in eight straight games, matching a career-long stretch. Martin, who walked twice Wednesday, also walked in eight straight in 2013.

BIRTHDAY BLASTS

Morales has four home runs and eight RBIs in eight career games on his birthday.

THRIVING WITH FIVE

Toronto is 28-1 when scoring five or more runs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: Markakis started at designated hitter Cheap Derrius Guice Jersey , the first time this season he hasn’t played one of the corner outfield spots.

Blue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (shoulder) will be activated off the disabled list to start at the Angels on Saturday, Gibbons said. Stroman is 0-5 with a 7.71 ERA in seven starts. … 3B Josh Donaldson (left calf) left the team Wednesday and will continue working out at Toronto’s spring training facility in Florida. Donaldson will not begin a rehab assignment until he is able to run the bases at full speed.

UP NEXT

Braves: Atlanta is off Thursday before opening a three-game home series against Baltimore on Friday. LHP Sean Newcomb (8-2, 2.70 ERA) starts for the Braves. Newcomb has won eight of his past nine decisions. The Orioles have not named a starter.

Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-5, 4.35) starts the opener of a four-game series against the Angels. Sanchez is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three June starts. LHP Tyler Skaggs (6-4, 2.81) starts for Los Angeles.

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Matt Martin is going back to the New York Islanders.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have dealt the feisty forward to the Islanders, who drafted him in 2008. The Leafs get minor-league goalie Eamon McAdam in the deal.

Also on Tuesday, the Islanders agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with goalie Robin Lehner. Lehner had a 3.01 goals-against average with a .908 save percentage in 53 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season.

The Sabres declined to give Lehner a $4 million qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and relinquished his rights. He will try to improve the Islanders goaltending which allowed a league-high 293 goals last season.

Martin signed a four-year Nick Chubb Browns Jersey , $10 million deal with the Leafs prior to the 2016 season. After playing every game in his first season with the Leafs, Martin suited up for just 50 games this past season and did not dress for Toronto’s seven-game playoff series against the Boston Bruins.

In 132 games for the Leafs, the 29-year-old Martin had eight goals, 13 assists and 173 penalty minutes.

The 23-year-old McAdam split the 2017-18 season between Bridgeport of the AHL and Worcester of the ECHL. A third-round pick of the Islanders in 2013, McAdam has not played in the NHL.

The move comes two days after the Leafs beat out the Islanders for marquee free agent John Tavares, who had been with New York since starting his NHL career in 2009.

It marks the first trade between new Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and the man who preceded him in that role – Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello.

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The Latest on the NFL playoffs on divisional weekend (all times EST):

4:10 p.m.

The Steelers aren’t going down easily.

Le’Veon Bell took Ben Roethlisberger’s lateral and ran 8 yards for a TD as Pittsburgh cut Jacksonville’s lead to 42-35 with 2:18 left.

Big Ben scrambled from the pocket and ran for 1 yard before swinging the ball to Bell Darius Leonard Colts Jersey , who beat one Jaguars defender for the game’s 11th TD.

Pittsburgh then tried an onside kick that was recovered by the Jaguars.

– Tom Withers reporting from Pittsburgh.

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3:55 p.m.

The Jaguars answered back.

Blake Bortles threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to fullback Tommy Bohanon with 4:19 left to give Jacksonville a 42-28 lead over the Steelers.

After Pittsburgh closed within seven for the second time in the half, Bortles drove the Jags 75 yards for the crucial score. Bohanon got behind Pittsburgh’s linebackers and Bortles completed the scoring toss with ease.

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3:45 p.m.

Here come the Steelers again.

Antonio Brown caught a 43-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 9:05 left to bring Pittsburgh within 35-28 of Jacksonville.

It was Brown’s second TD and it revived the Steelers, who fell behind by 14 moments earlier.

The Steelers have come back after trailing 21-0 and 28-7.

– Tom Withers reporting from Pittsburgh.

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3:40 p.m.

The Jaguars are 10 minutes away from a spot in the AFC championship game.

Leonard Fournette’s 3-yard touchdown run with 10:34 remaining gave Jacksonville a 35-21 lead over the Steelers.

After Jacksonville’s defense stopped Pittsburgh on fourth down, Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles completed a 45-yard pass to Keelan Cole to set up Fournette’s third TD. The rookie running back was sidelined for part of the first half with an ankle injury.

Jacksonville was trying to hang on after seeing a 28-7 lead trimmed to seven.

– Tom Withers reporting from Pittsburgh.

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3:20 p.m.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are trying to hold on against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The upstart Jaguars hold a 28-21 lead going into the fourth quarter at chilly Heinz Field. Jacksonville led by 21 points in the second quarter after a 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Telvin Smith but Pittsburgh has responded behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger has thrown for 258 yards and three scores through three quarters. Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell has 116 yards and a score for the Steelers.

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3 p.m.

Ben Roethlisberger is heating up and the Pittsburgh Steelers are back in it against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Roethlisberger hit a diving Le’Veon Bell for a 19-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to pull the Steelers within 28-21 of the Jaguars in their divisional round showdown.

The touchdown was Roethlisberger’s third of the game. He’s also thrown an interception that led to a Jacksonville score and had a fumble returned for a touchdown.

The Steelers trailed by 21 points late in the first half. The biggest playoff comeback in franchise history came 15 years ago when they rallied from 17 down to beat Cleveland in the wild-card round.

Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette returned in the second half after leaving in the second quarter with an ankle injury.

– Will Graves reporting from Pittsburgh

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2:35 p.m.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 30 minutes from a trip to New England for the AFC championship game.

Leonard Fournette ran for a pair of touchdowns and the upstart Jaguars have a 28-14 lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers at halftime of their divisional round showdown before leaving with an ankle injury.

T.J. Yeldon also has a touchdown run for the Jaguars and linebacker Telvin Smith scooped up Ben Roethlisberger’s fumble and returned it for a score.

Roethlisberger has touchdown passes to Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant but has also committed two turnovers.

The Jaguars are looking for their third trip to the AFC title game in franchise history.

– Will Graves reporting from Pittsburgh.

—

2:15 p.m.

Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette has gone to the locker room with an ankle injury.

Fournette appeared to tweak his ankle on a spin move after catching a 10-yard pass from Blake Bortles in the second quarter. Fournette Mike McGlinchey Jersey , who earlier scored on a 1-yard dive, was checked on the sideline before he limped to the locker room for treatment and evaluation.

The Jaguars said Fournette’s return is questionable.

Jacksonville led 21-7 when Fournette got hurt.

– Tom Withers reporting from Pittsburgh.

—

2 p.m.

The Steelers are down on the scoreboard and a starting right tackle.

Marcus Gilbert is being evaluated for a concussion after he was injured when Pittsburgh was stuffed on a fourth down running play late in the first quarter by Jacksonville’s swarming defense. Gilbert walked to the sideline without assistance, but the team said his return is questionable.

He was replaced on Pittsburgh’s next possession by Chris Hubbard.

The Jaguars took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter on T.J. Yeldon’s 4-yard run.

Also, Steelers linebacker Vince Williams is being evaluated for a concussion.

– Tom Withers reporting from Pittsburgh.

—

2 p.m.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are taking it to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

< Stephen Curry’s return from a knee injury will wait at least one more game.

Curry sat out the opener of Golden State’s Western Conference semifinal matchup against New Orleans as he continues to fully recover from a sprained left knee.

Coach Steve Kerr made the announcement during his pregame news conference Saturday night. Kerr called it ”very likely” the two-time MVP would play in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series Tuesday night at Oracle Arena.

”Just made the decision based on giving him the extra few days and the fact he only scrimmaged yesterday Breeland Speaks Chiefs Jersey ,” Kerr said. ”You’ve been out five weeks and we’re playing in the playoffs, I don’t think one scrimmage is enough, even though he feels great, he wants to play and pleaded his case. But we’re going to sit him tonight and very likely he’ll play Game 2.”

As usual Frank Ragnow Youth Jersey , Curry insisted he ”feels great and he’s ready to go,” said Kerr, who is encouraged Curry feels so good.

Curry returned to full practice with contact Thursday and only scrimmaged 5 on 5 for the first time Friday, and Kerr prefers that Curry get additional on-court time at full speed Sunday before inserting him back into the rotation – which could be off the bench initially or on a minutes restriction Carlton Davis Buccaneers Jersey , or both.

Kerr, general manager Bob Myers and athletic trainer Chelsea Lane met with Curry and made a decision to keep him out.

”We have to protect him from himself and his own competitive desire,” Kerr said.

Curry was injured March 23 on the same night he returned from a six-game absence with a hurt right ankle.

”We practiced the whole week with the understanding that Steph was probably going to play,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. ”And he will play. It’s not like he’s going to miss the entire series. We practiced both ways. What we’ll do is Plan B Quenton Nelson Colts Jersey , I guess, Plan A, whatever you want to call it.”

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Maybe the losing and laughing will finally stop. The Browns aren’t fooling around.

With three stunning trades on the eve of free agency Carlton Davis Buccaneers Jersey , Cleveland landed a proven starting quarterback, a game-breaking, three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and a shut-down cornerback.

After 16 straight losses on the field, victory.

Two months after a winless season mercifully ended, new general manager John Dorsey addressed major roster needs Friday by acquiring mobile quarterback Tyrod Taylor in a deal with Buffalo, wide receiver Jarvis Landry from Miami and cornerback Damarious Randall from Green Bay, a person with direct knowledge of the overhaul told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Teams are not permitted to announce any trades until next week.

In exchange, the Browns shipped quarterback DeShone Kizer and swapped late-round picks with the Packers, gave the Dolphins a fourth-round pick this season and a seventh rounder in 2019 and sent the Bills the No. 65 overall pick in this year’s draft.

All in a day’s work for Dorsey, who brought in major talent without giving up any of the team’s five picks in the first two rounds this year.

And the makeover came as the team awaits word from Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas on his future. Thomas, who played more than 10,000 straight snaps before tearing his left triceps last season, is mulling retirement.

The Browns gave him more to think about.

Not long after Dorsey’s trifecta, Thomas tweeted: ”(at)Browns are en fuego!! Here’s to John Dorsey tonight!!

The acquisition of Taylor would seem to change Cleveland’s plans to pursue a veteran quarterback in free agency Terrell Edmunds Game Jersey , which begins Monday when teams are permitted to contact agents. It was assumed the Browns would target Cincinnati’s AJ McCarron, whom they tried to land in a trade last season before the deal was squelched when the teams failed to properly file paperwork to the league.

McCarron wants to start and it’s unlikely he would want to compete with Taylor, who led the Bills to their first postseason appearance since 1999. The dynamic Taylor, who finished with a 23-21 record in three seasons with Buffalo, can affect the game as a passer or runner and he’s the type of quarterback Browns coach Hue Jackson has sought since coming to Cleveland.

However, even with Taylor around, the Browns are still expected to select a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft and Dorsey and his staff are in the process of deciding if that’s Southern Cal’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Wyoming’s Josh Allen or Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy winner who scares some Cleveland fans because of his Johnny Manziel-like showmanship.

Cleveland’s next starting quarterback will be the team’s 29th since 1999.

But unlike Kizer, who led the NFL with 22 interceptions, went 0-15 and went through numerous growing pains as a rookie starter, Taylor will have offensive weapons around him.

Landry is as good as they get.

The 25-year-old, who caught a league-best 112 passes last season Josh Allen Jersey , immediately upgrades a Cleveland offense that finished last in scoring and didn’t have any player who threatened a defense until wide receiver Josh Gordon made his late return from an indefinite NFL suspension. With Gordon on the outside, Landry in the slot and Taylor behind center, the Browns have the makings of a potent attack.

Landry signed a $16 million, one-year franchise tag Thursday with Miami, clearing the path for his trade. The Dolphins began shopping him when the parties were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract, which he’s likely to get from the Browns.

A big contract could help calm the sometimes volatile Landry, whose 400 receptions are the most by any player in his first four seasons.

”Y’all better understand (stuff) about to get SERIOUS… ON MY MAMA,” Landry posted on Twitter shortly after news that he was Cleveland bound broke.

The additions of Taylor and Landry certainly must have thrilled new Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who was fired in Pittsburgh following the Steelers‘ divisional-round playoff loss. Haley spent the past six seasons working with Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. All Cleveland needs is a breakaway running back and the Browns could get one with the No. 4 overall pick if Penn State’s Saquon Barkley is still around.

Dorsey also took care of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams by acquiring Randall, a former first-round pick who was inactive for the Packers’ final two games last season with a knee injury.

Randall started 30 games in three years for the Packers, who drafted him with the No. 30 overall pick in 2015. He had some injuries issues – and a visible spat with the team – in 2017, but finished the year as Green Bay’s best cover cornerback. He was benched in the second half of a Sept. 28 game against Chicago by coach Mike McCarthy, who sent him to the locker room.

Cleveland’s secondary was a mess last season after the club decided to waive veteran cornerback Joe Haden.

Dorsey’s remodeling of the Browns is far from finished. Before the trades Joe Mixon Jersey , Cleveland was $113 million under the salary cap and the team figures to remain busy next week.

But after an historic losing season, the wins don’t feel as far away.

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Daniel Jacobs smiled in his corner after an action-packed third round, looking pleased to be in a tough fight.

It wasn’t clear he would win it until he knocked Maciej Sulecki down with the kind of punch he wants to throw at the middleweight division’s biggest names.

The 12th-round knockdown helped Jacobs win a unanimous decision Saturday night, strengthening his hopes of getting another title shot.

Jacobs pulled out a competitive fight, winning by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 and handing the Polish fighter his first loss.

”Going into the late rounds, the championship rounds, I mean ultimately what I was thinking was just to give these fans a great show,” Jacobs said.

The Associated Press scored it 116-111 for Jacobs.

Jacobs (34-2-0) became the mandatory challenger for the WBA 160-pound title, giving the popular Brooklyn fighter and cancer survivor hopes of a chance to avenge his unanimous decision loss to Gennady Golovkin from last year. Golovkin is fighting next week and afterward may want to turn his attention back to Canelo Alvarez after their planned May 5 rematch was scrapped when Alvarez was suspended for six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission for failing two drug tests.

So Jacobs also mentioned a fight with Jermall Charlo, who became the WBC’s interim middleweight champ with a second-round knockout of Hugo Centeno Jr. in this same ring last week.

”My plan is to fight any of the champions with the belts, any of the top guys at middleweight,” Jacobs said. ”If Brooklyn wants Charlo, then Charlo it will be.”

Jacobs had a much tougher time with Sulecki (26-1) Cheap DJ Chark Jersey , who seemed to gain confidence as the fight went on and was getting the better of some of the action in the late rounds until Jacobs caught him with a quick right to the head early in the 12th, sending Sulecki to the canvas as Brooklyn fans roared for the hometown fighter.

There had been chants of ”Brook-lyn, Brook-lyn” earlier in the bout from the local fans that made up the announced crowd of 7,892 at Barclays Center. But the vocal section of Polish fans grew louder in the later rounds as their fighter rallied.

They had traded hard shots across the final seconds of the third, Jacobs smiling in his corner afterward as if pleased the action was picking up. Disappointed that Luis Arias went defensive and he had to settle for a decision in his last bout, Jacobs seemed to enjoy being in a real fight Saturday.

He won it by finding a way to be just a bit quicker than Sulecki in their exchanges. But promoter Eddie Hearn has been calling Jacobs the best middleweight in the world, and at times Saturday he was barely the best middleweight in the ring.

But Hearn things Jacobs’ performance will rise with his next opponent.

”Now he must have a marquee fight next because he will rise and box even better against the better fighters,” Hearn said.

Earlier, Jarrell Miller remained unbeaten and made his case for a potential shot at heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua by winning a unanimous decision against Johann Duhaupas.

The 304-pound ”Big Baby” won 119-109 on two judges’ cards and 117-111 on the other. Also a Brooklyn native, he improved to 21-0-1 in just his fourth fight that didn’t end in a stoppage.

He sure tried, though, pounding away with power shots throughout the fight that had swelling all around Duhaupas’ eyes in the final rounds.

”He was a tough, durable fighter,” Miller said. ”I thought I could get him out of there earlier but he ate all my punches Dante Pettis 49ers Jersey , even the ones I threw with bad intentions.”

Hearn discussed the possibility of having Joshua, holder of three heavyweight title belts, face Miller next, rather than a unification bout against Deontay Wilder, in what would be his first fight outside of his native Britain.

”I’m ready for Anthony Joshua,” Miller said. ”Let’s bring him to Brooklyn and show him how we do it.”

The pressure was on Miller to fight and entertain well to look worthy of the matchup, and he was up to the task. He came to the ring in a ”Black Panther” mask and promptly began pounding Duhaupas (37-5) with an array of punches, trapping his nearly 60-pounds-lighter opponent against the ropes and crouching low to go to the body or get good leverage to fire uppercuts.

The brash big man said he wants the Joshua fight but made it clear he will have other options.

”I’m not going to sit here and sit on my knees and beg,” he said.

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