Rhys Hoskins has worn a two-sided flap helmet ever since he broke his jaw by fouling a pitch off his face.

Any chance the Philadelphia Phillies slugger keeps it on all season?

You bet Authentic Kyle Lauletta Jersey , Hoskins says. His numbers have been jaw-dropping in the three weeks since he returned, and he’s superstitious enough not to mess with a good thing.

”I was able to step back, simplify things, and it’s going well,” Hoskins said.

Aaron Nola pitched into the eighth inning to win his 10th game of the season Authentic Mike Remmers Jersey , Hoskins homered again and the Philadelphia Phillies started a pivotal division series by beating the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Thursday night.

Hoskins hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning for his 13th home run of the year and a 4-1 lead that propelled the Phillies within two games of idle Atlanta for first place the NL East. The Phillies took two of three last weekend in Washington, and both teams entered this four-game set within striking distance of the Braves.

”We keep inching closer to the Braves, and it’s a good division,” Nola said. ”I think it’s going to be a battle to the end.”

Nola, who beat the Nationals in his last outing Jose Quintana Jersey , pitched again like an All-Star and hasn’t lost in six turns since May 26. Nola (10-2) struck out eight and walked only two over 114 pitches and 7 2/3 sensational innings. He has won seven straight decisions at home dating to last season.

”I think it’s everything. The fans, the mound,” Nola said. ”It just feels good.”

Nola got Bryce Harper swinging to open the game and fanned Trea Turner with runners on the corners to end the sixth. Washington pinch-hitter Brian Goodwin went down looking to end the seventh, Nola’s seventh strikeout of the game. Harper struck out swinging again in the eighth.

Adam Morgan relieved Nola and retired the last batter in the eighth. Tommy Hunter allowed two runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Turner and an RBI double by Michael A. Taylor, before Seranthony Dominguez got the final two outs for his sixth save.

JUNE SWOON

Pedro Severino had an RBI double in the second for a 1-0 lead and the first run for the Nationals since Sunday. They were outscored 12-0 in a two-game set at Toronto earlier this week.

”We’re going to snap out of this. We really are Cheap Uchenna Nwosu Jersey ,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. ”We had a couple of chances to score some runs. We couldn’t do it.”

The Phillies tied the game in the second when the center fielder Taylor overran Jorge Alfaro’s single up the middle. That allowed Maikel Franco to score, and Scott Kingery made it 2-1 on a sacrifice fly off Nationals starter Tanner Roark (3-9) in the third.

Roark struck out five while allowing only one earned run over six innings for the Nationals, who fell to 4-12 since June 9.

HUNGRY HOSKINS

Franco had two doubles and Hoskins hit one for a Phillies team that followed two straight losses to the New York Yankees with its second straight victory.

Hoskins, who became the fastest Phillie on Wednesday to reach 30 career homers, in 119 games played Youth Derrick Nnadi Jersey , continued his leadership of the lineup since he was reinstated from the disabled list on June 9. The Phillies have won 11 of 17 since he returned and are 41-29 overall in games Hoskins has played.

Hoskins ate a burger this week for the first time since he was hurt in late May. He’s feasted on the opposition all month.

”The thing that stands out the most to be will always be how he manages an at-bat for a young player,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. ”The home runs are impressive. There’s no question about it. The power production is impressive.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (shoulder) could throw a bullpen session over the weekend. He played catch before Thursday’s game. … 3B Ryan Zimmerman (back) could begin a rehab assignment next week.

Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (nerve) threw a bullpen session and will head to Florida for live batting practice. … RHP Pat Neshek (shoulder), who has not pitched yet this season, will make a rehab outing Friday at Double-A Reading.

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Erick Fedde (0-3, 5.32 ERA) makes his second straight start against the Phillies.

Phillies: RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6 Steve Cishek Jersey , 4.06 ERA) goes for his first career win against the Nationals in three career starts.

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Matchups for the Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots:

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When the Eagles (15-3) have the ball

The Patriots must be wary of a balanced offense that tore apart Minnesota Aaron Judge Jersey , which has a better overall defense than does New England. Forget about Nick Foles (9) being a backup quarterback; his postseason performances, particularly in the NFC title game, have been strong.

Foles will try to get TE Zach Ertz (86) involved early; he was unstoppable against the Vikings. Indeed, the Eagles have three tight ends they are comfortable going to, including Brent Celek (87) and Trey Burton (88). That places an onus on safeties Devin McCourty (32), as reliable as any player at that position in the league, and Patrick Chung (23).

Philadelphia’s wideouts supposedly were a weakness heading into the season. Not quite. Alshon Jeffery (17) is a clear No. 1 target with excellent hands and the ability to get open all over the field. That frees up vastly improved Nelson Agholor (13) and veteran Torrey Smith (82). They will challenge the Patriots’ solid cornerbacks, Malcolm Butler (21) and Stephon Gilmore (24).

New England’s defensive backs will need a bolstered pass rush Matt Holliday Jersey , something the Patriots manufacture with a variety of players, from Trey Flowers (98) to Geneo Grissom (96) to Lawrence Guy (93) to rookie Adam Butler (70) to the rejuvenated LB James Harrison (92). Philly is most staunch at center with Jason Kelce (62) and right tackle with Lane Johnson (65), both All-Pros.

One thing the Eagles are sure to try to keep New England’s offense on the sideline is getting Jay Ajayi (36), former Patriot LeGarrette Blount (29) and rookie Corey Clement (30) some open space for runs. New England LB Kyle Van Noy (53) figures to have a busy day unless Philly falls behind.

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When the Patriots (15-3) have the ball

Tom Brady (12) has won five Super Bowls, four times as game MVP. Never mind that he is 40, he’s playing as if he’s in his prime – hey, he might be – and will test Philadelphia’s versatile defense from the outset.

Oddly, while Brady led the NFL with 4 Authentic Michael Dickson Jersey ,577 passing yards, no QB who paced the NFL in that category has won the Super Bowl in that season, going 0-5. Brady couldn’t do it, and the others were Peyton Manning, Rich Gannon, Kurt Warner and Dan Marino.

It’s essential that the Eagles get in Brady’s face throughout. That means DLs Fletcher Cox (91), the best defensive player in this postseason, Brandon Graham (55) Cheap Justin Reid Jersey , rookie Derek Barnett (96) and former Patriot Chris Long (56) must apply pressure. That’s doable but not easy against an offensive line without any stars, but with plenty of skill. LT Nate Solder (77) and C David Andrews (60) are the key guys up front.

Philly must be alert not only for all of Brady’s targets – WRs Brandon Cooks (14), Danny Amendola (80), Chris Hogan (15), RBs James White (28) and Dion Lewis (33) – but for Lewis and White in the running game. Both are shifty and flexible and have Brady’s trust.

The Eagles’ secondary, often criticized for its inconsistency, has gotten very stingy in the playoffs. Of course, CBs Ronald Darby (41) Cheap Logan Woodside Jersey , Jalen Mills (31) and Patrick Robinson (21) haven’t faced this kind of offense.

Perhaps most critical among all matchups is whether All-Pro TE Rob Gronkowski (87) has recovered from a concussion. His confrontations with veteran S Malcolm Jenkins (27) could be telling.

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Special Teams

Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski (3) rebounded from a rough 2016 to have a strong season. He made 37 out of 40 field goals in the regular season, going 4 for 4 on kicks of 50 or more yards. He is one of the league’s most clutch kickers and is third in career postseason points in NFL history.

Lewis is the only player in this game to have returned a kickoff for a touchdown this season. He ranked fourth in the NFL with 24.8 yards per return.

Amendola is also a threat on punt returns. He averaged 8.6 yards per return during the regular season, including a long of 40 yards, and had a big one against Jacksonville in the AFC title game.

Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott (4) set a postseason club record with a 53-yard field goal and has longer range than Gostkowski. But he is less reliable on extra points, having missed four.

P Donnie Jones (8) ranked 17th in net average and Kenjon Barner (38) filled in nicely after Darren Sproles was injured. Barner’s best punt return went for 76 yards.

Coverage units are solid despite losing special-teams captain Chris Maragos.

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Coaching

Philly was in attack mode from the outset against Minnesota, and that’s a good reflection on Doug Pederson and his staff. Pederson knows he can’t back off against New England, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is known for being aggressive.

Not much has to be said about a New England staff that is 5-2 in Super Bowls. A twist, not unprecedented but interesting Authentic Kemoko Turay Jersey , has both coordinators, Matt Patricia on defense and Josh McDaniels on offense, bound for head coaching spots elsewhere. Don’t look for it to have any effect on this game.

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Intangibles

The Eagles have never won a Super Bowl; their previous NFL title was in 1960. They have that extra edge that perennial underdogs – even in home playoff games as the No. 1 seed – would carry. Their confidence is soaring after they tore apart the stingiest scoring defense in the league for the conference championship.

New England probably doesn’t need anything in this category. But the Patriots always seem to find some extr.

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets are rolling into Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with goaltenders who are question marks for different reasons.

For Columbus (45-30-7 Cheap Natrell Jamerson Jersey , first Eastern Conference wild card), Sergei Bobrovsky has been one of the league’s top goaltenders but has not carried that success into the postseason.

Washington’s Philipp Grubauer, who got the nod from coach Barry Trotz for Game 1 over Braden Holtby, has just 79 minutes of playoff experience on his resume.

“I just think (Grubauer) deserves the opportunity,” Trotz told thesportscapital.com of going with Grubauer in Game 1. “Trust me Cheap Ryan Switzer Jersey , it wasn’t an easy decision.”

Grubauer, who stepped in when Holtby was given a “reset” after slumping in February and March, finished with a .923 save percentage and a 2.35 goals-against average. Trotz rotated the pair down the stretch, but Grubauer started 10 of the final 17 games.

“It’s a privilege to start, for sure Cheap Kendall Wright Jersey ,” Grubauer told the Washington Post. “You treat it as Game 1 (of the regular season) or Game 82. It’s not going to change any of my approach.”

Trotz said he will go game-by-game in his goaltending decisions.

“It’s a coach’s decision who plays or not,” Holtby told the Post. “It doesn’t have anything to do with me. So, I just focus on one practice at a time and try to be a positive influence on the team and go from there.”

Grubauer is 0-1-1 in three games with a 2.48 GAA and .915 save percentage against the Blue Jackets. Holtby is 14-4-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .914 save percentage.

Bobrovsky was 37-22-6 in the regular season with 2.42 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

In the playoffs, he is 3-10 with a 3.63 GAA and .887 save percentage.

This is the first playoff meeting between the teams, but in his career versus Washington Youth Denzel Ward Jersey , Bobrovsky is 7-10-4 with a 3.02 GAA and .900 save percentage.

“We have full confidence in his abilities,” Columbus captain Nick Foligno to the team’s website regarding Bobrovsky. “If I had to pick anybody in the league to go to the playoffs with, it would be him. And I think he’s pretty confident about the team in front of him as well.”

Washington took three of four from Columbus this season, but the Blue Jackets won the last meeting 5-1 on Feb. 26. Holtby was in goal for all four games.

The Capitals didn’t win their third straight Presidents’ Trophy but they beat expectations. Despite losing a chunk of its offense, Washington again won the Metropolitan Division and closed the season 8-2-0.

Alex Ovechkin rebounded from last season’s 33-goal effort to lead the NHL with 49. Evgeny Kuznetsov totaled 11 goals and 17 assists in the final 18 games Cheap Weston Richburg Jersey , and defenseman John Carlson led all blue-liners with 68 points.

Columbus led the NHL in scoring over its final 28 games with 101 goals and finished on a 10-2-2 streak.

Artemi Panarin led the Blue Jackets with 27 goals and 82 points. Cam Atkinson has 24 goals, including 11 in the final 11 games.

Top defensive pair Seth Jones and Zach Werenski each scored 16 goals, tying the franchise record for most goals by a defenseman in one season.

Washington has the edge in special teams, with the league’s seventh-ranked power play (22.5 percent success rate) and 15th-rated penalty kill (80.3 percent).

Columbus is 25th on the power pay (17.2 percent) and 26th on the penalty kill (76.2 percent).

“It’s bee yean inconsistent thisr,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella told the team’s website regarding the penalty kill. “I’m not going to hide from that. You get into playoffs Steven Wright Jersey , just try to wipe the slate clean and get about your business here. We can focus in on their tendencies. That’s a big part of the series.

“Hopefully, we’re smart enough that we keep control of ourselves, our emotions, we’re a disciplined team and not sitting in that box a whole bunch in this series.”

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Summer play is a grind for the Miami Heat.

They like it that way.

Miami is one of eight teams doubling up on summer leagues this year Cheap Anthony Averett Jersey , and when the biggest one in NBA history opens on Friday in Las Vegas – all 30 franchises are sending a club to the primary summer league for the first time – the Heat think that getting three games under their belt already will be a big help.

The first summer league hosted by the Sacramento Kings, the California Classic, came to a close Thursday. Golden State beat the Los Angeles Lakers 77-71, and Miami topped Sacramento 86-76.

Play in the Utah Jazz Summer League also wrapped up Thursday, with San Antonio beating Memphis 94-87 and Utah beating Atlanta 92-87 in the finale – the memorable moment there being when Jazz guard Grayson Allen and Hawks guard Trae Young scuffled briefly in the third quarter .

It was much ado about very little; Allen and Young both earned technical fouls.

But it does speak to how seriously the players take the games at this time of year.

The Heat flew cross-country for their summer league training camp in Sacramento, doing so because playing in the second league ensures that the team will appear in at least eight summer games instead of the five that are guaranteed to teams who play only in Las Vegas.

And they saw players get better in the three Sacramento games, perhaps giving them – and the other seven clubs that played in the early leagues – a leg up on competition they’ll see in Vegas.

”I’m not interested in playing guys five minutes one game Brandon Morrow Jersey , five minutes the next game,” Heat summer league coach Eric Glass said. ”I’d rather play a guy 15 minutes in one game and sit him in the next game so we can get a rhythm. And you can get better in the gym by yourself, but playing organized basketball is the best way to improve and these guys get three weeks of that.”

Starting Friday, every summer game left on the NBA schedule happens on two courts at UNLV. Unlike the Sacramento and Utah leagues, there’s a true playoff system in Las Vegas and a champion will be crowned on July 17.

For all eight teams that have played this week, it’s a quick turnaround to get ready for Las Vegas. Most of the eight teams get Friday off, the lone exception being Golden State – which meets the Los Angeles Clippers in the 10th and final game on the Las Vegas opening-day slate.

The main attraction on Day 1 in Las Vegas is the 9:30 p.m. EDT game between Phoenix and Dallas. The Suns have No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton set to make his debut Babe Ruth Jersey , though it’s almost certain that Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic – the No. 3 pick and whose European pro season ended just days before the draft – will not play in his team’s summer opener.

Ayton will likely see a few NBA stars when he gets to Vegas. He’s already been blown away by a WNBA star – Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi.

When he met her, with Taurasi walking over to greet him as he went through a weight-room session, even the NBA’s No. 1 pick was star struck.

”She is the Michael Jordan of the WNBA,” Ayton said.

Doncic still hasn’t gotten the clearance to sign his contract and hasn’t participated in a live practice with Dallas’ summer club yet.

”We’re getting close to getting those things done, but we’re not there yet,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. ”But he will be in Vegas. He is going to continue to ramp up his workload.”

Thursday’s recaps:

WARRIORS 77, LAKERS 71

Marcus Derrickson led the way for Golden State (3-0) with 24 points Ben Gamel Jersey , 11 rebounds and four steals. Omari Johnson scored 15 and Gian Clavell added 10 for the Warriors, who gave Damian Jones and Jordan Bell the day off.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes scored 14 points and handed out eight assists for the Lakers. Moe Wagner scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, Nick King also scored 13 and Jeffrey Carroll added 11 for the Lakers.

HEAT 86, KINGS 76

Derrick Jones Jr. had 19 points for Miami (2-1), which got 14 from Bam Adebayo, 12 – all on 3-pointers – from Duncan Robinson and 10 points and seven assists from Derrick Walton Jr.

Justin Jackson scored 26 for Sacramento (1-2). Harry Giles and Cam Reynolds each had 11 points for the Kings.

SPURS 94, GRIZZLIES 87

Derrick White made five 3-pointers and finished with 26 points Fred Lynn Jersey , seven rebounds and six assists for San Antonio (2-1). Lonnie Walker IV added 14 for the Spurs, who led by as many as 18 in the second half.

Wayne Selden led the Grizzlies (2-1) with 26 points, shooting 6 for 7 from 3-point range.

JAZZ 92, HAWKS 87

The shooting numbers for Young and Allen might have added to their frustration.

Young shot 3 for 16, 1 for 8 from 3-point range – meaning in his three games at Utah, he was 12 for 52 from the floor, 3 for 24 from beyond the arc. Allen’s shooting numbers were even worse: He was 6 for 29 in in two games during the event Authentic Logan Paulsen Jersey , including 2 for 13 on Thursday.

Stanton Kidd, Georges Niang and Tony Bradley all finished with 15 points for Utah (2-1). Allen had eight assists and Bradley grabbed 12 rebounds.

Tyler Dorsey scored 17 and Antonius Cleveland and Jaylen Morris each added 14 for the Hawks (0-3). Young had seven assists and Omari Spellman had 10 rebounds.

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It’s official. LeBron is a Laker.

The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of LeBron James as a free agent Monday night Authentic Jalyn Holmes Jersey , confirming the seismic shift created by the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player’s decision to leave Cleveland for the 16-time champion franchise on the West Coast.

James’ representatives at Klutch Sports Group tweeted a photo of James signing his contract with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. James’ agency already announced last week that the superstar had agreed to a four-year deal worth $153.3 million with Los Angeles.

The Lakers have missed the playoffs in a franchise-record five consecutive seasons, while James has played in the past eight NBA Finals with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning three titles.

The 33-year-old budding entertainment mogul immediately becomes the focus of the Lakers franchise and a possible foundation for the NBA’s next superteam, depending on whether James and the Lakers can persuade more superstars to join him in the next year or two.

Magic Johnson Authentic Josh Sitton Jersey , the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, called James ”the best player in the world” in a news release.

”He loves to compete and is an awesome leader who is about winning and making sure that his teammates are successful,” Johnson said. ”The Lakers players are excited to have a teammate who has been to nine NBA Finals. It’s a huge step closer to returning the Lakers to the playoffs and to the NBA Finals.”

James is coming off one of his greatest NBA seasons, playing in all 82 regular-season games for the Cavaliers while finishing third in the NBA with 27.5 points per game and hitting career highs with 8.6 rebounds and 9.1 assists. He then carried Cleveland to its fourth consecutive NBA Finals Bobby Doerr Jersey , where the Cavs were swept by Golden State.

”This is a historic moment for the Lakers, and we could not feel more grateful and honored,” Pelinka said. ”When LeBron James – a perennial NBA MVP and champion who is playing at the most astonishing levels of his career – chooses to join the Lakers, it serves as the ultimate validation for what we are building here. However Luis Tiant Jersey , we all know that the work is not yet done.”

James’ arrival is indeed validation for Johnson and Pelinka, who took over the Lakers’ front office in February 2017 with a specific plan to rebuild the franchise by persuading established superstars to join as free agents.

The Lakers already have begun assembling a revamped team around James by acquiring Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson in free agency while retaining guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Los Angeles also assembled a reasonably talented young core before James’ arrival with Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball Drew Smyly Jersey , Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart.

But they didn’t even get a meeting with star scorer Paul George before the Southern California native re-signed with Oklahoma City, and their efforts to acquire disgruntled two-way superstar Kawhi Leonard from San Antonio haven’t borne fruit so far.

The Lakers don’t appear to be planning a public event to welcome James to Los Angeles, where he already owns multiple homes and spends summers with his family.

But Blaze Pizza – the growing pizza chain in which James is an investor – announced a three-hour pizza giveaway on Tuesday to welcome James to LA.

LeBron responded with a tweet , his first since June 26: ”Haven’t been to a pizza party in a minute … Culver City?”

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The nerves weren’t quite so bad this time. The jitters Authentic Deadrin Senat Jersey , a touch less.

The stuff? Well, that didn’t change a bit for Milwaukee rookie pitcher Freddy Peralta. The 22-year-old handcuffed the Pittsburgh Pirates over six shutout innings and the Brewers held on for a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night.

Peralta (2-0) struck out seven without issuing a walk in his third career start, looking very much like the kid who tied a franchise record by striking out 13 in his major league debut last month. The Brewers sent him down to the minors after his second start to work on his control and he appeared to be firmly in command against the Pirates.

”It was normal, you know,” Peralta said. ”It’s always Authentic Taron Johnson Jersey , work, you know? I was comfortable today with everything: my pitches, the guys behind me, everything.”

Jesus Aguilar finished 2 for 3 and drove in all three runs off Jameson Taillon (4-6). Aguilar hit a two-run shot to the seats in right-center in the first and doubled down the line in left field in the third.

”It was important, especially for Peralta Youth Da'Shawn Hand Jersey , to just give him a lead right away. That way he feels confident,” Aguilar said.

Corey Knebel worked around a two-out walk in the ninth for his seventh save for the first-place Brewers, who ended a three-game losing streak.

Starling Marte hit his ninth home run of the season in the eighth off Milwaukee reliever Jeremy Jeffress to pull Pittsburgh with one. Jordy Mercer had an RBI double in the seventh but Pittsburgh’s offense mustered little with Peralta on the mound.

The 22-year-old attacked the Pirates high in the strike zone and threw 62 of his 99 pitches for strikes. Only Marte seemed able to generate solid contact. He reached second in the first when Milwaukee right fielder Eric Thames couldn’t handle a drive that bounced off his glove near the wall.

Peralta retired Moran on a lineout and settled in.

”He made pitches,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ”Kept us off balance with the curveball. Attacked. Very aggressive. Good downhill angle from a guy who’s not tall in stature. He pitched a lot taller than he was height-wise, and got after it.”

Taillon Rick Porcello Jersey , coming off a solid outing in a win in Arizona last week, had plenty of swing-and-miss stuff – he recorded seven strikeouts in five innings – but had no answer for Aguilar. Lorenzo Cain led off the game with an infield single and two batters later Aguilar put one in the seats to put Milwaukee up 2-0.

”Jesus is a good hitter,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ”He’s been a good hitter since the day we got him. I think he’s improving. He’s a hitter that understands pitching. He understands what they’re trying to do to him. He’s got experience now against the league a little bit. The league’s kind of adjusted to him and he’s been able to adjust back.”

A nearly identical sequence happened in the third. Cain reached on an infield hit and Aguilar laced the ball to left with Cain easily beating the throw home.

”Both times hanging breaking balls to Aguilar after an infield hit, he did what he should have done with them,” Taillon said.

OH SAY CAN YOU SEE

Pirates reliever Steven Brault moonlights as the front man in a rock band called The Street Gypsies. He found himself in front of a microphone on Tuesday night Authentic Ian Thomas Jersey , only this time the audience wasn’t a night club but PNC Park. The 26-year-old belted out “The Star-Spangled Banner” before first pitch, delivering on a promise he made to his grandmother.

”I think it went pretty well,” Brault said. ”I was a little more nervous than I thought I would be leading into it. I was fine, and then when I started singing, I was like `Oh Authentic Ryan Switzer Jersey , this is pretty cool.”’

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (right rotator cuff inflammation) was scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Tuesday night.

Pirates: OF Austin Meadows was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight game while dealing with a right foot injury suffered when he fouled a ball off it on Sunday. Meadows entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and struck out to end the inning with runners on second and third.

UP NEXT

Brewers: Brent Suter will make his first career start against the Pirates in the series finale on Wednesday. Suter is 5-1 with a 3.24 ERA in his last six starts and 7-4 with a 4.30 ERA overall.

Pirates: Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.76) is unbeaten against Milwaukee, going 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA. The Pirates are 6-0 overall in games Kuhl has started against the Brewers.

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Barry Trotz started dancing as soon as he walked into the locker room mid-celebration.

Within seconds Authentic Will Dissly Jersey , players doused him with beer and champagne, jumped around him and hugged their beloved coach. Trotz couldn’t see but still had plenty of clarity in that moment.

”I could feel the love,” he said.

Veteran Brooks Orpik believes that moment showed the admiration and respect Washington Capitals players have for Trotz, a pending free agent at the peak of his career after winning the Stanley Cup. Trotz’s contract status is the biggest question facing Washington as the offseason begins.

Trotz wants to be back, and general manager Brian MacLellan wants to sign the 55-year-old to an extension. Now it’s a matter of them getting a deal done.

Trotz and MacLellan met Wednesday to begin discussing a new contract. It’s uncommon for an established coach of a contending team to go through a lame-duck season and even rarer for a Cup-winner to not be back the next season.

”We’ve got lots of good things going Don Larsen Jersey ,” Trotz said. ”We’ll work through what we need to do. If that’s what they want, then something will get done. If not, we’ll deal with that.”

MacLellan and the Capitals opted not to extend Trotz last summer following a second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy-winning season that ended with a second-round exit at the hands of the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins. After winning the Cup at Vegas, MacLellan said Trotz would be back if he wants to be.

At the championship rally Tuesday, Trotz dropped hints of wanting to return by saying Jimmie Foxx Jersey , ”We’ll do it again” and noting afterward, ”We’ll get something done.” He reiterated Wednesday he likes the area for his family and enjoys coaching this team.

MacLellan said he’ll meet with ownership over the next week and that he doesn’t believe either side feels pressure to get a deal done given Trotz’s contract expires June 30. Asked how confident he feels about being able to re-sign Trotz, MacLellan said: ”I don’t know. We’ll find out.”

It’s up to owner Ted Leonsis, team President Dick Patrick and MacLellan to come to Trotz with an offer that makes sense for him to return. The New York Islanders currently have an opening, and other teams around the NHL might even fire their coaches to hire Trotz Authentic Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey , whose relaxed attitude during the playoffs contributed to the Capitals’ run.

”Barry was the right coach for this group,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said. ”The things that he preaches turns out to be really important. It works for our group.”

Based on the salaries of other Cup-winning coaches like Toronto’s Mike Babcock, Chicago’s Joel Quenneville and Montreal’s Claude Julien, it’s reasonable to think Trotz could make $4 million-plus annually with the Capitals or another team.

Over the past 40 years, only four Stanley Cup-winning coaches didn’t return to that team the next season. Scotty Bowman left Montreal to become Buffalo’s GM in 1979 Authentic Tanner Lee Jersey , retired after winning with Detroit in 2002 and replaced Bob Johnson in Pittsburgh in 1991 when Johnson became ill. The other instance was when Mike Keenan left the Rangers after winning in 1994 because of a disagreement with GM Neil Smith and New York’s management.

That’s the most similar situation to Trotz, a proud veteran of 19 NHL seasons who went through a lame-duck season with prospective coach-in-waiting Todd Reirden on his staff. If Trotz returns, Reirden would likely be given the chance to catch on elsewhere.

Players widely want to see Trotz back in charge next season, in part because he pushed the right buttons on the way to the franchise’s first title and lived the pain and success with them on the way to the Cup.

”He’s been through adversity like the rest of us,” goaltender Braden Holtby said. ”He’s a huge part -him and the rest of the coaching staff. They gave us a good game plan and we executed it. I think his best quality this year probably was letting us kind of take care of ourselves. Showing us that if we’re going to have success we need to find it in our locker room ourselves and he did that.”

NOTES: Orpik had to have the tip of his left pinkie finger stitched back on after a slash from Vegas’ Erik Haula late in Game 2 of the final. The 37-year-old defenseman also expects to have a hand injury from the first round checked out Friday. … Center Nicklas Backstrom revealed he had two fractures in his right index finger from a Justin Schultz slap shot in Game 5 of the second round that caused him to miss four games. … Center Evgeny Kuznetsov injured his left shoulder in Game 2 of the final on a hit from Brayden McNabb. … Winger Andre Burakovsky broke his right thumb in the first round and returned during the conference final.

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When Markelle Fultz spent two days in Boston last June visiting the Celtics during the pre-draft process Ricky Vaughn Jersey , it felt like home.

He walked the streets downtown and later found himself soaking up the history that clings to the championship banners swaying above the TD Garden court.

”It almost feels like I belong here,” Fultz said at the time.

It turned out to be nothing more than a field trip when the Celtics surprised many and passed on selecting Fultz with the No. 1 overall pick. They instead traded it to the 76ers for the third pick, which they used to grab Jayson Tatum, and a future first-round pick.

Right now it looks like a good move for Boston.

The Celtics have a 1-0 lead over Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Tatum has been a revelation on a team battered by injuries.

Tatum’s role first increased when Gordon Hayward went down with an ankle injury, then again following Kyrie Irving’s knee surgeries late in the season. Tatum has responded to every challenge Jackie Bradley Jr Jersey , averaging 17 points, five rebounds and three assists in his first postseason.

”I enjoy it,” Tatum said. ”I dreamed of having big moments and having a big role. That obviously came a lot sooner than I thought. I’m just trying to prove that I belong here.”

Fultz is not having nearly as much fun.

He has been reduced to a spectator after a down regular season that saw him go through shooting issues and miss 68 games with a shoulder injury. And this after having his shot dissected during the season.

But he insisted that he hasn’t let any of it frustrate him.

”It didn’t bother me really,” he told The Associated Press. ”I was just happy with the team’s success. That’s all I’m about.”

He finally returned for some game action during the final 10 games of the regular season. But it wasn’t until the final night of the season that he provided his best example to date of the potential that the Sixers spent so much capital to draft.

Fultz looked at ease for the first time in months when at 19 he became the youngest NBA player to record a triple-double, registering 13 points Craig Biggio Jersey , 10 assists and 10 rebounds in a win over Milwaukee.

Yet, while Boston is embracing Tatum, Fultz is still looking to make a meaningful postseason impact.

After playing 24 minutes over the first three games of the first round, Fultz was inactive in the final two games of the Miami series and didn’t play in the opener against the Celtics.

He isn’t only playing behind Rookie of the Year candidate Ben Simmons, but Fultz is also watching T.J. McConnell get minutes.

Sixers coach Brett Brown said the decision to sit Fultz hasn’t come without some second-guessing. He left room for the former Washington Huskies guard to make an appearance in this series.

”It’s my decision to go with T.J. Youth Frank Ragnow Jersey ,” Brown said. ”There are times that you for sure think about it. But to say (Fultz is) dead and buried, that’s not true. But I got a decision to make. And I’ve made a decision.

”It doesn’t mean it’s etched in stone. It’s always something you review and think about. And the care for Markelle Fultz and his future is always on my mind.”

Fultz said he’s ready to contribute in whatever way he’s asked.

”Anything for the team, I’m just here,” he said. ”Whenever I get an opportunity I’m just going out there and play my hardest.”

After the Celtics beat the Bucks in Game 7 to advance to the semifinals, Tatum was asked what he learned about himself playing in his first playoff series.

”I love what I do Phil Rizzuto Jersey ,” Tatum said. I love being out there. It’s fun.”

It’s a feeling that, for now at least, Fultz has only gotten in a small dose.

”For me, it’s all an opportunity,” Fultz said. ”When the coaches put me out there Cheap Patrick Omameh Jersey , that’s what I’m going to be ready for. Other than that, I’m on the sidelines cheering my teammates on.”

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Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming a promotional video because of its Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters Nintendo 3DS game on Wednesday. The video reveals the sport's December 1 release date, as well as shows some parts from the game, including Appli Battles along with the Applink feature, as well like a new character named Naoto, the protagonist's childhood friend.
An advance "Digimon Masters Online Tera Universe Cyber Arena" version on the game already launched. Just as while using full packaged version in the game, the advance version is that will work with Appmon chips to obtain specific Appmon.
The game is billed as being a "deck battle RPG." Players can scan special chips to accumulate specific Appmon. Players will use the capacity to DMO Tera "Applink" certain Appmon together to boost certain Appmon. Certain Applinks also trigger particular Digivolutions.
The Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters multimedia project is becoming hobby products plus a television anime. An "Appli Drive" toy device shipped in Japan from the beginning of October for 4,500 yen (about US$43), and individual chips to use with all the device will set you back 240 yen (about US$2.30) each.

Shaquille O’Neal is already known by many names. Superman. The Diesel. The Big Aristotle. But he would like to add another to the list: Movie Star.

In ”Uncle Drew Corey Kluber Jersey ,” which opens Friday, he plays one of the former basketball stars (all of them real pros under heavy old-man makeup) reunited by Kyrie Irving’s titular character (first created for a TV ad) to compete in a street-ball tournament at Harlem’s Rucker Park. Shaq’s character, known as Big Fella, is found running a martial arts dojo.

But post-NBA life has been far more successful for the four-time NBA champion. He’s an analyst on TNT’s ”Inside the NBA,” a popular pitchman and an active entrepreneur and investor. He has dabbled in everything from professional wrestling to law enforcement. He’s even a voice setting on the Waze navigation app. This summer he will tour under the name DJ Diesel.

”Uncle Drew” is just one of the projects that the 46-year-old O’Neal has going. Among his favorites is a TBS show he’s developing with Ken Jeong. Comparing their chemistry to Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, O’Neal says it will be ”`Seinfeld”-epic-ish.”

In an interview Cheap Mason Rudolph Jersey , O’Neal spoke about his big plans in Hollywood, why the NBA has gotten soft and where he hopes LeBron James lands this off-season.

AP: What do you miss about playing in the NBA?

O’Neal: I miss all of it. I miss interacting with the fans. I miss having the unexpected adrenaline rush, the doubts, the fear, overcoming the fear. I miss everything.

AP: Do you play anymore?

O’Neal: No, not at all.

AP: How come?

O’Neal: I ain’t got it. Right now Authentic Oren Burks Jersey , I’m relinquishing all my powers to my son who’s going to UCLA .

AP: That’s a shame. I’d love to see you and Charles Barkley play one-on-one.

O’Neal: Yeah, Charles would lose.

AP: Your post-NBA career has been uncommonly busy. Why?

O’Neal: Seventy percent of all professional athletes have nothing, not even a job, after they’re done. The fact that I couldn’t even call a franchise to get an interview to be a coach frightened me. So nothing was simple. Educate yourself, be nice to people and save your money. If you do that, you should be OK.

AP: You have numerous TV shows and films in development. What are your Hollywood aspirations?

O’Neal: I want to be as big as Rock.

AP: Dwayne Johnson is the biggest movie star on the planet. That’s setting a high bar.

O’Neal: We come from the same place: athletes that transition. That’s my goal. I want similar type movies. I want to get thrillers. I want to get dramas. I want to do comedies. I want to be the next Rock. I want to do a thriller where I’m like a hero and beat up all the bad guys.

AP: It’s been 24 years since your big-screen debut Cheap Marquis Haynes Jersey , ”Blue Chips.” Do you feel like a veteran actor?

O’Neal: Well, I have shot 15 movies. I always tell my friends I shot 15 movies but they say, ”Yeah, but if you play Shaq in nine of the movies, that’s not really acting.” I say, ”You make a good point.” I’m just happy to have the opportunity.

AP: Favorite movie?

O’Neal: Oh Authentic Mark Andrews Jersey , ”Stepbrothers.” All day, every day. I know that movie by heart.

AP: What else do you like?

O’Neal: I just got done watching ”Justice League.” I thought it was pretty good. But they held Superman out too long.

AP: In vogue in today’s NBA are big men who can shoot from the perimeter . Could you have developed a three-point game?

O’Neal: No, I would have played the same way. Because you can’t score 40 points a night shooting jumpers. Nobody has, nobody will. But you can score 40 points a night shooting 60, 70 percent inside the paint. The fact that guys are shooting jumpers, that’s just telling me they don’t like physical contact. Shooting jumpers is easy. Anybody can shoot a jumper. But can you bang a guy four of five times and then still have enough to score two points for your team?

AP: You think the league has gotten soft.

O’Neal: Of course.

AP: The Lakers are rumored to be a likely landing spot for LeBron James. Do you want that to happen?

O’Neal: I just want the Lakers to be like they were back in the day. I want somebody that can beat Golden State. Golden State has turned into madness. The thing that would make me very excited is if LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard came to the Lakers. Then you’d have problems in the West. Then basketball would be fun again.

AP: Have you ever talked to Kyrie Irving about his flat Earth beliefs ?

O’Neal: No Authentic Kemoko Turay Jersey , because I said it too. But I was playing.

AP: You were in make-up for four hours a day for ”Uncle Drew.” How did you pass the time?

O’Neal: Sleep. When I woke up, it still wasn’t done.

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BOSTON — Having been officially eliminated from capturing the top spot in the Eastern Conference R.A. Dickey Jersey , the Boston Celtics have to make sure they don’t suffer any further serious injuries in their final three games of the regular season.

And they also have to find out who will finish in the seventh spot and provide the opposition in the first round of the playoffs.

Three games in four days await Boston: Sunday at home against the Atlanta Hawks, Tuesday at Washington — one of the three potential playoff opponents — and Wednesday night at home against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Celtics, who will be without Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis for the rest of the season and not knowing when Marcus Smart (thumb surgery) will return, rested Al Horford and Jayson Tatum in Friday night’s victory over the Chicago Bulls. Jaylen Brown scored a career-high 32 points and Greg Monroe had his second career triple-double in the victory.

Even though they won Billy Williams Jersey , the Celtics were eliminated from top-spot contention with the Toronto Raptors’ win over the Indiana Pacers, making these final three games meaningless.

“We haven’t discussed at all about making any changes to our team, so that’s not even been a discussion,” Boston coach Brad Stevens said after Friday’s game. “I think at the end of the day, we’ll play at least one Rusney Castillo Jersey , maybe two of the games with our group — with the whole group — and we’ll go from there.

“But we generally know what each guy’s going to bring to the table, what each guy does best, and how it’s going to fit together, and then it’ll be a matter of who we’re playing.”

Jonathan Gibson, signed out of China for the final four games of the season Authentic Sam Darnold Jersey , became an immediate fan favorite by basically getting off a plane and hitting three 3-pointers for nine points in nine minutes. He is not eligible for the postseason.

Boston could also play Miami or Milwaukee in the first round. They are tied for sixth, one game ahead of the the eighth-place Wizards.

The Hawks, losers of 13 of their last 16 and playing out the string, pulled off a surprise victory at Washington Friday night behind 23 points, five assists and four rebounds from Taurean Prince and 22 points from Tyler Dorsey.

All this amid reports that have coach Mike Budenholzer is interested in getting the Milwaukee job.

According to the Racine Journal Times:

“Multiple sources said two current head coaches — Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers and Mike Budenholzer of Atlanta — have more than a passing interest in the Bucks’ job and coaching the NBA’s brightest young star in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“Some NBA officials said Budenholzer Authentic Johnny Townsend Jersey , who guided the Hawks to 60 wins just three seasons ago when he was accorded NBA’s Coach of the Year honors, also doesn’t want to be part of an extensive rebuild in Atlanta.”

The article went on to that Budenholzer, the NBA Coach of the Year after guiding the Atlanta to 60 wins three years ago, doesn’t want to be part of an “extensive rebuild” with the Hawks.

Budenholzer’s position in the Atlanta organization has changed with the arrival of new general manager Travis Schlenk, with Budenholzer losing say on player personnel. That could leave the door open for his departure.

The Celtics have won the first three games against the Hawks this season. Irving had 65 points in two wins at Atlanta while Terry Rozier scored a then-career high 31 in the other victory Danny Salazar Jersey , which came without Irving.
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Snoop Dogg will be celebrating Super Bowl week with two of his favorite things: worship and women Cheap Russell Bodine Jersey , headlining BET’s annual pre-Super Bowl gospel concert and the Playboy party.

The busy week also features performances by Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Cardi B and the Chainsmokers. Super Bowl 52 will take place Sunday at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota, where the Philadelphia Eagles will take on the New England Patriots.

The biggest of the stars, though Jorge Posada Jersey , is Justin Timberlake: Before he headlines the halftime show, he will hold a listening party Thursday at Paisley Park for his new album, ”Man of the Woods,” to be released Friday.

Pink will also play double duty: She will sing the National Anthem before the Big Game, and will perform a concert Friday night at Nomadic Live! at The Armory.

Friday’s events include a Rolling Stone magazine party with Migos Authentic Da'Ron Payne Jersey , 21 Savage and T-Pain; Ellie Goulding and Kygo at Mystic Lake; and Golden Globe-nominated ”Insecure” actress Issa Rae speaking at the NFL’s third ”In the Huddle” Women’s Summit For Young Women.

Rae’s ”Insecure” co-star, Yvonne Orji, will co-host BET’s gospel concert with Pastor John Gray on Thursday, where performers include Faith Evans, Sheila E. Cheap Chris Herndon Jersey , Donnie McClurkin, Erica Campbell and Tye Tribbett. Thursday will also include the EA Sports Bowl with Imagine Dragons, Machine Gun Kelly and Mura Masa at The Armory, while The Chainsmokers will perform at Mystic Lake.

Lopez will headline the DirecTV Super Saturday Night concert – a show Taylor Swift performed at last year. Maxim will hold a party Saturday with Cardi B and Post Malone, while Dave Matthews Band and Florida Georgia Line will also hold concerts that night. It’s the same day Snoop Dogg will DJ Playboy’s Big Game Weekend Party (he will also hold a screening Friday for his new Netflix show Dellin Betances Jersey , ”Coach Snoop.”)

Kelly Clarkson and Sheila E. will perform concerts ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday, while Diddy, DJ Khaled, French Montana, Cardi B Roy Oswalt Jersey , G-Eazy and Busta Rhymes will perform at the first annual Players Ball Extravaganza after the game.
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Patric Hornqvist Authentic Patrick Omameh Jersey , Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel scored in a 4:49 span of the third period to help the Pittsburgh Penguins rally to for a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night in Game 1 of the second-round series.

Down 2-0 and playing without Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin, Pittsburgh turned it around with all three of its top-line forwards chipping in a goal. Crosby scored the tying goal when the puck bounced to him off Alex Ovechkin’s stick, and assisted on Guentzel’s go-ahead goal.

Matt Murray stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced to put the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champions ahead in yet another series with Game 2 on Sunday in Washington. The Penguins have won nine in a row under coach Mike Sullivan dating to 2016 Youth Breeland Speaks Jersey , including the past two meetings against Washington.

Evgeny Kuznetsov scored 17 seconds in and Ovechkin beat Murray 28 seconds into the third period for the Capitals, who lost a game started by Braden Holtby for the first time in these playoffs.

Holtby allowed three goals on 25 shots.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 7, SHARKS 0

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 33 shots for his third shutout of the playoffs Rafael Devers Jersey , and the Vegas beat San Jose in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Cody Eakin, Erik Haula and Jonathan Marchessault scored 1:31 apart early in the first period to get Vegas going. Alex Tuch, Shea Theodore Jackie Robinson Jersey , Colin Miller and James Neal also scored, Reilly Smith and William Karlsson each had three assists, and Marchessault and David Perron added two each.

Fleury Lorenzo Cain Jersey , who improved to 5-0 in the playoffs, got his 13th career shutout in the playoffs – and second straight. He also blanked Los Angeles 1-0 in Game 4 of the first round.

The Golden Knights have now outscored opponents 14-3 in five games in the postseason.

Sharks goalie Martin Jones, who stopped 128 of 132 shots in the first round against the Ducks Authentic Leighton Vander Esch Jersey , was pulled a little more than three minutes into the second period after allowing five goals on 13 shots. Backup goalie Aaron Dell came in and finished with 19 saves.
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As compensation for losing his job as a closer Tyler Clippard Jersey , Kelvin Herrera gets to pitch for a contender.

Herrera joined the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after being traded from the last-place Kansas City Royals for three minor leaguers.

A two-time All-Star, Herrera had 14 saves and a 1.05 ERA this season. Washington already has a closer, Sean Doolittle Glenn Robinson Jersey , so Herrera will be entering the game earlier than usual for now.

”I explained it to him and I think he gets it,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. ”The way I explain it to all these guys is, `When you come in the game think of it as you’re closing that inning, cause that’s a big moment. So we need you either the sixth Youth Oren Burks Jersey , the seventh, the eighth, whatever.”’

That’s just fine with Herrera.

”Whatever inning I may get called upon, I just focus on getting that one hitter out Ender Inciarte Jersey ,” the right-hander said through an interpreter.

With 14 saves and one win, Herrera had a hand in more than two-thirds of Kansas City’s 22 victories this season. But the Royals were going nowhere, which is precisely why they dished off their best reliever for a trio of prospects: 21-year-old outfielder Blake Perkins, 23-year-old infielder Kelvin Gutierrez and 17-year-old pitcher Yohanse Morel.

Herrera won a World Series ring with Kansas City in 2015. Now he’s got a shot at earning one with the Nationals Authentic Michael Gallup Jersey , who started the day 3 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East.

”The one thing I have seen about this team for the past few years is they’re always in the battle and the fight for the playoffs,” Herrera said. ”There is great chemistry here. I’m just ready to join the team and help any way I can.”

There will likely come a time when Herrera is asked to do what he does best, which is to get the final out in a tight game.

”I did tell him that Doolittle is our closer and he’s been very good at it, but you’ll get a chance to close every now and then Authentic Jonathan Allen Jersey ,” Martinez said.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made the deal because he knows you can’t have too many good pitchers working the back end of a ballgame.

”We wanted a guy who had been through the wars before, that’s established and that was pitching extremely well,” Rizzo said. ”Kelvin fit all those criteria.”

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Bojan Bogdanovic scored 30 points Cheap Cassius Marsh Jersey , leading the Indiana Pacers back from a 17-point halftime deficit for a 92-90 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2-1 lead in their first-round series.

Cleveland was 39-0 during the regular season when leading after three quarters and kept that perfect mark intact with a Game 2 win.

The incredible second-half charge came exactly one year after Indiana blew a 26-point halftime lead in a historic playoff collapse against the Cavs.

This time, the Pacers delivered a devastating blow to the three-time defending Eastern Conference champs – on a night LeBron Jones joined Michael Jordan as the only players in playoff history to record 100 double-doubles. James finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Bradley Beal heeded his coach’s plea to ”do his job” by scoring 21 of his 28 points in the first half, his All-Star backcourt running mate John Wall delivered 28 points and 14 assists, and Washington beat Toronto 112-103 to cut its Eastern Conference first-round playoff series deficit to 2-1.

After letting the Raptors grab the first 2-0 series lead in franchise history, the Wizards came home and checked off every box coach Scott Brooks presented. They got Beal more involved after he made only three shots in Game 2; they actually led after the first quarter, 30-29; they played with enough defensive focus to get produce 19 turnovers by Toronto Authentic Josh Jackson Jersey , leading to 28 points for Washington.

Add it all up, and it was a rare recent victory for Washington, which had lost seven of eight games dating to the regular season.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Khris Middleton scored 23 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 19 and Milwaukee used a dominating first half to overwhelm Boston 116-92, narrowing its deficit in the series to 2-1.

Eric Bledsoe and Jabari Parker each added 17 for the energized Bucks, who held the Celtics without a field goal for nearly an 11-minute stretch of the first half.

Backup center Thon Maker scored 14 points and blocked five shots. Pesky guard Matthew Dellavedova Tom Glavine Jersey , a veteran of a championship run with the Cleveland Cavaliers, helped hold young Celtics point guard Terry Rozier to nine points on 2-of-7 shooting.

NHL

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Sean Couturier’s long shot from the point got past Matt Murray with 1:17 left and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 to force a sixth game in the first-round series.

The Flyers cut the Penguins’ series lead to 3-2 going into Game 6 on Sunday in Philadelphia.

After missing Game 4 with a lower-body injury, Couturier extended his team’s season at least two more days by picking up his second goal of the series. Claude Giroux, Valtteri Filppula and Matt Read also scored for the Flyers. Michal Neuvirth stopped 30 shots, including a diving stop on the doorstep to deny Penguins star Sidney Crosby shortly after Couturier’s knuckler put Philadelphia in front.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) – Jacob Trouba Authentic Kalen Ballage Jersey , Bryan Little, Brandon Tanev and Joel Armia scored in the first 11:59 to chase Minnesota goalie Devan Dubynk and Winnipeg beat Wild 5-0 to win a playoff series for the first time in franchise history.

Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for his second shutout of the series, and Mark Scheifele added a goal in the third to help the Jets finish off the Wild in five games. Winnipeg will face the winner of the Nashville-Colorado series in the second round.

Winnipeg’s previous post-season appearance was a sweep by Anaheim in 2015. The franchise moved from Atlanta in 2011. The Thrashers started in 1999-2000, with their only playoff series ending in four straight losses to the New York Rangers in 2007.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Sven Andrighetto scored with 1:28 left to lift the Colorado Avalanche past the Nashville Predators 2-1, sending the first-round series back to Denver for Game 6.

This is the third time the Avalanche had trailed 3-1 in a series since the franchise relocated to Colorado. They lost the first two Authentic Braden Smith Jersey , but will have a chance Sunday to push this series to a seventh game after rallying with two goals in the final 4:11.

Gabriel Landeskog started the rally with his goal into an empty net with Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne caught outside the crease with his own teammate Ryan Ellis in his lap. Then Andrighetto gave the Avs the lead off a rebound of a shot by J.T. Compher.

Andrew Hammond made a career-high 44 saves for his first postseason victory in his first playoff start since April 17, 2015, with Ottawa and just the third of his career.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Bill Peters was not able to lead the Carolina Hurricanes back to the NHL playoffs and after coming up short following his fourth season with the club, he announced he is resigning.

Peters went 137-138-53 in his lone head coaching job in the NHL. He had one season left on the contract extension he signed in 2016.

New team owner Tom Dundon said he has ”a lot of respect for Bill as a person and coach.”

The move leaves the Hurricanes looking for a new general manager and head coach. Hall of Fame player Ron Francis was reassigned to another front-office position during the season.

BASEBALL

PHOENIX (AP) – Tyson Ross lost his bid to pitch the first no-hitter in the history of the San Diego Padres when rookie center fielder Franchy Cordero appeared to misplay a ball with two outs in the eighth inning of a 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Playing their 7,835th game since joining the majors in 1969 Cheap Baker Mayfield Jersey , the Padres again came agonizingly close to their first no-no. They remain the only team in the big leagues that has never thrown a no-hitter.

Ross had a 1-0 lead with two outs in the eighth when .