The Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings were already looking to the future before their season finale even started.

For Houston Cheap Durham Smythe Jersey , that comes this weekend with the start of the playoffs. For Sacramento, it’s once again wait until next season.

Willie Cauley-Stein had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help the Kings finish the regular season with a 96-83 victory over the short-handed Rockets on Wednesday night.

”We have a positive direction that we’re going as a franchise,” Kings coach Dave Joerger said. ”Our guys feel it. Our guys are going out and competing on a regular basis and showing our fans we’re coming. I don’t know how long it will be, but we’re going to go out there and compete and keep getting better.”

With Houston (65-17) already having wrapped up the best record in the NBA Cheap Jeremy Kerley Jersey , coach Mike D’Antoni opted to rest most of his top players, including starters James Harden, Chris Paul, Trevor Ariza and Clint Capela. The top-seeded Rockets will open the playoffs at home this weekend against Minnesota.

”We have to get ready Michael Brantley Jersey ,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. ”They’re a good team and they fought their way into it. Good for them. We have to play our game and be ready.”

The Kings took advantage of Houston’s depleted lineup and ended another disappointing season off by snapping a seven-game skid against the Rockets. Sacramento finished with a 27-55 record in coach Dave Joerger’s second season, its worst mark since going 24-58 in 2010-11.

The Kings never trailed after the first quarter and coasted to the win.

Gerald Green scored 31 points and R.J. Hunter added 19 to lead the Rockets.

TIP-INS

Rockets: Harden won his first career scoring title, averaging 30.4 ppg, second in franchise history to Moses Malone’s 31.1 in 1981-82.

Kings: Sacramento now has the NBA’s longest current playoff drought after Minnesota earned the eighth seed in the West with a win Wednesday. The Kings have missed the playoffs for 12 straight years.

LATE ADDITION

Houston added a new player in Aaron Jackson Cheap Jeremiah Attaochu Jersey , who spent the past seven seasons playing overseas. Jackson arrived just before game time and didn’t even have his name on the back of his No. 55 jersey, which had belonged to the recently released Tim Quarterman. Jackson scored eight points in 34 minutes.

”It was surreal. I was at a hotel with my girlfriend for her birthday, then my agent called and said, `How fast can you get to the airport? You’re playing with the Houston Rockets for the rest of the season Yogi Berra Jersey ,”’ he said. ”I packed my bags as fast as I could. Hopefully I can do whatever it takes to try to help them win a championship.”

SIDELINED

Houston forward Luc Mbah a Moute will likely miss at least the first round of the playoffs after dislocating his right shoulder Tuesday night against the Lakers. D’Antoni said Mbah a Moute will likely miss two to three weeks with the injury. Mbah a Moute missed 15 games in December and January after dislocating his right shoulder.

”It hurts,” D’Antoni said. ”That’s why we have depth. As the door closes for somebody, it opens for somebody else. That’s why we went and got Joe Johnson and we have Ryan (Anderson) coming back in here. You hate to lose Luc. I hate it for him personally. It’s not something that anyone would want. He’ll be back. We just have to hold on until he’s back.”

STEPPING AWAY

Longtime Kings television analyst Jerry Reynolds called his final game for the franchise. Reynolds, a former coach and general manager for the Kings Cheap Vinny Curry Jersey , has decided to step down after 20 years in the booth at age 74. He got a lengthy ovation after a video tribute in the first half.

”I’ll still be involved with the team in a lesser role,” Reynolds said. ”I’m not totally retiring and I’m not dead. As far as I’m concerned, that’s pretty good.”

UP NEXT

Rockets: First round of playoffs vs. Minnesota.

Kings: Season ended.

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Everything was going Clay Buchholz’s way. Then Authentic Cody Latimer Jersey , a swing-and-miss led to an injury that turned what could have been a gem into a routine solid outing.

Buchholz lasted five innings before experiencing tightness in his left side, but the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3-0 win Sunday.

The right-hander retired the first 11 batters he faced before Pirates centerfielder Starling Marte doubled down the right-field line with two out in the fourth inning. Despite throwing just 53 pitches (42 strikes), he was pulled to start the sixth inning after informing manager Torey Lovullo of some pain stemming from swinging at the first pitch of his at bat in the top of the fifth.

”I’ve had oblique, whatever it is, before. It was a lot worse than this one Babe Ruth Jersey ,” Buchholz said. ”I went out (in the bottom of the fifth) and the last two outs, that’s whenever I felt it a little bit more. I was just trying to get through that inning. It’s more precautionary. I’ve gone through things before where I’ve tried to get through it, pitch through it and go another inning, but that’s always led me in the wrong direction.”

Lovullo said Buchholz (2-1), who allowed two hits with five strikeouts in five innings for his first win since June 1 Authentic Logan Paulsen Jersey , would continue to be evaluated throughout Sunday. More information is expected Monday.

”He was attacking the zone with the fastball and driving his fastball on both sides of the plate, and then throwing some quality secondary stuff,” Lovullo said. ”We want to give him a night to let everything calm down and evaluate him.”

David Peralta’s 15th home run, which carried over the wall in right-center field before bouncing into the Allegheny River, and John Ryan Murphy’s ninth powered Arizona to its 12th win in 16 games.

”It’s nice to get a couple runs in the first Authentic Mark Walton Jersey , always,” Murphy said. ”I was leading off the second and was looking for a fastball. Got one in a pretty good spot.”

Brad Boxberger let up a single to Austin Meadows with one out in the ninth before forcing Marte into a double play for his 17th save.

Pirates right-handed starter Trevor Williams (6-5) took the loss after allowing the two-run home run to Peralta with two out in the first inning and a lead-off solo homer to Murphy, which made it 3-0 in the second. Those three runs came on five hits in six innings pitched with six strikeouts.

”Unfortunately, that was the game today,” Williams said. ”From there on Authentic Mike Hughes Jersey , I thought I was making all my pitches and being successful the second time through the lineup.”

Pittsburgh has scored eight combined runs during its current five-game losing streak after winning four of its previous five games.

”We’re going to keep playing,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ”The season’s not going to stop. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. These guys are working hard in here to get better. We haven’t gotten better.”

ROSTER MOVE

Diamondbacks: RHP Braden Shipley was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Sunday morning. RHP Jake Barrett was optioned to Reno following the game Saturday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: 1B Paul Goldschmidt was given the day off after homering and scoring three runs Saturday. INF Daniel Descalso took over at first base and hit fifth.

Pirates: RHP Michael Feliz was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation on Sunday and recalled RHP Clay Holmes from Triple-A Indianapolis. Holmes allowed one walk in two innings of relief.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller (0-0, 0.00) is expected to come off the 60-day disabled list to make his season debut against the Marlins on Monday. After undergoing Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL sustained last season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miller allowed 10 runs on 20 hits with 28 strikeouts and six walks in a combined 19 1/3 innings during his four rehab starts, two with Double-A Jackson and two with Single-A Visalia.

Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (4-6 Authentic Tracy Walker Jersey , 4.03) will look to find some consistency when he starts against the New York Mets on Monday. He is 2-6 since winning his first two starts of the season against the Minnesota Twins on April 2 and the Cincinnati Reds on April 8.
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The rollout of the other day's 3.5 update for Fortnite wasn't particularly smooth. Shortly following patch was launched, the overall game was rendered unplayable for many as a result of a selection of technical issues. Epic offered some free what to make up to the outage, and from now on the studio is giving out a second batch of freebies to any or all players.
As another gift to Fortnite Items players for your technical issues that plagued Fortnite a couple weeks ago, Epic can give another group of free pieces of both Battle Royale and Save the World modes. Battle Royale players is now able to claim a pack of 20 Battle Stars, which can be employed to level inside the Battle Pass and, in return, earn rewards. Save the World players, meanwhile, will get 1600 Seasonal Gold.
You'll get the freebies upon signing in, which means you should snag them while you are able to. Last weekend, Epic offered Battle Royale players a complimentary Back Bling item--a different type of customization slot introduced in Season 3. Save the World players also got a complimentary item yesterday: a Troll Stash Llama.
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As another incentive to log into Fortnite last week, Epic is providing double XP in Battle Royale from now until April 22. Save the World players, for the other hand, will get a free Into the Storm Llama everyday they signing in through Sunday.

Albert Almora Jr. got even. So did the Chicago Cubs.

Almora hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning Cheap Martinas Rankin Jersey , and the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday night to salvage a split of their day-night doubleheader.

Kris Bryant sparked the winning rally with a leadoff triple against Brock Stewart (0-1). After Javier Baez was walked intentionally, Almora hit a liner into right field.

In the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Dodgers in Game 1, Almora popped out to first with the bases loaded with one out in the eighth. The Dodgers intentionally walked Jason Heyward before Yimi Garcia retired Almora.

”It was personal for me,” Almora said. ”I didn’t come through. I was a little aggressive.

”I learned from the first mistake and I didn’t do too much (in the second game), but I really wanted that one pretty bad. It was just a little bit of revenge from the first game.”

Rob Zastryzny (1-0), the fifth Cubs reliever, got Yasmani Grandal to fly out with the bases loaded in the top of the 10th to earn the win.

The rematch of the last two NL Championship Series was set to begin on Monday night Youth Dorian O'Daniel Jersey , but the opener was postponed by a mixture of poor weather and a limited power outage at Wrigley Field. It’s the only scheduled visit for Los Angeles, leading to the day-night doubleheader.

”It was two really interesting games,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. ”Could have lost both, could have won both. It’s nice to walk off.”

Los Angeles began the long day with its 4-3 victory on pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer’s two-run double in the ninth. Joc Pederson led off the game with his ninth homer and Yasiel Puig drove in a run with a bloop double.

The Dodgers jumped in front in the nightcap on Austin Barnes‘ RBI single in the sixth. But the Cubs tied it on Kyle Schwarber’s 13th homer, a drive to right against Erik Goeddel in the seventh.

Los Angeles wasted an impressive return for Rich Hill, who pitched six innings of three-hit ball in his first major league start in a month. Hill was placed on the disabled list on May 20 with a blister on his left middle finger, a recurring problem for the veteran left-hander.

”The fastball command Youth Preston Brown Jersey , the curveball command, it was on point tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said. ”You hope to get something like that, but you never know what you’re going to get making his first start back from injury, but again, he was outstanding.”

Mike Montgomery kept Chicago in the game with six effective innings, yielding one run and five hits. The lefty has a 1.21 ERA in five starts since he was inserted into the rotation after Yu Darvish went on the disabled list on May 26 with right triceps tendinitis.

”I just want him to continue to take start after start like this Jeff Bagwell Jersey ,” Maddon said.

Bryant led off in each half of the doubleheader. The third baseman doubled twice and drove in two runs in Game 1, and went 1 for 5 in the night cap.

It was the third and fourth times this season – and in his career – that the slugger batted at the top of the order.

Bryant’s two-run double in the opener helped Chicago to a 3-1 lead. But Puig doubled in Chris Taylor in the sixth, setting the stage for the ninth-inning rally.

Farmer lined a 2-2 pitch from Justin Wilson (1-2) into the corner in left after pinch-hitter Austin Barnes walked and Justin Turner singled. Farmer is batting just .238 for the season, but is 6 for 16 with two doubles off the bench.

Edward Paredes (2-0), the fifth of six Dodgers relievers, got one out in the eighth to earn the win. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Wilson (1-2) came one pitch away from earning his first save. Maddon used the lefty because closer Brandon Morrow has a sore back that flared up on Monday.

The Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing
three runs and five hits in his second start since coming off the disabled list. Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood allowed two hits and struck out six in five innings Yasiel Puig Jersey , walking five to increase his major league-leading total to 63.

MAKING MOVES

To make room for Hill on the roster, the Dodgers optioned infielder/outfielder Breyvic Valera to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Stewart was added to the roster as the 26th man prior to the second game of the doubleheader. The Cubs recalled right-hander Justin Hancock from Triple-A Iowa as their 26th man.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

The Cubs celebrated Hall of Famer Billy Williams’ 80th birthday during the nightcap. Led by the Wrigley organist, many in the crowd of 40,409 joined in singing ”Happy Birthday” to the six-time All-Star after the second inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (strained lower back) is scheduled make a minor league rehab start on Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. According to Roberts, Kershaw will be limited to four innings and 60 pitches. His next appearance could be with Los Angeles. … INF Chase Utley (left thumb sprain) could be activated off the DL on Wednesday.

Cubs: Maddon gave no timetable for Morrow’s return. … Darvish will throw a simulated game on Wednesday. Maddon said the Cubs will determine the next step in the right-hander’s rehab program based on his response. … INF Javier Baez, hit on the elbow by a pitch on Sunday, returned to the starting lineup at second base in the nightcap. Baez entered the first game in the seventh inning.

UP NEXT

Dodgers RHP Ross Stripling (6-1 Youth Sylvester Williams Jersey , 1.76 ERA) squares off against Cubs LHP Jon Lester (8-2, 2.28 ERA) on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale.

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A look at what’s happening around baseball today:

THIRTEEN AND COUNTING

Edwin Jackson is set to play for his 13th team in the majors Youth Nyheim Hines Jersey , matching the most by any big leaguer. The injury-depleted Athletics are promoting him from Triple-A to start at Detroit. The 34-year-old righty will tie the clubs mark held by former reliever Octavio Dotel. Jackson made his debut in 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and later pitched for Tampa Bay, Detroit, Arizona, the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Omar Vizquel Jersey , Washington, the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta, Miami, San Diego and Baltimore.

Jackson and Dotel Logan Morrison Jersey , who finished up in 2013, were teammates just once in their overlapping careers. They were part of the same three-team trade in July 2011 that sent them to St. Louis, and pitched in the World Series for the champion Cardinals.

AILING

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is likely headed to the disabled after pulling up while running out a double-play grounder Sunday at Tampa Bay. Manager Aaron Boone said Sanchez hurt his right groin/hip abductor and ”it’s probably going to be a DL situation.” He will have an MRI.

Sanchez is hitting only .190 with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs, a season after he made the AL All-Star team while batting .278 with 33 homers and 90 RBIs.

BUCKEYE BROOMS

The AL Central-leading Indians and the NL Central cellar-dwelling Reds each have seven-game winning streaks. Both teams finished up sweeps in Ohio over the weekend and now hit the road – Mike Clevinger (6-2, 3.00 ERA) starts for Cleveland in St. Louis Authentic Geron Christian Jersey , and Tyler Mahle (6-6, 3.89) pitches for Cincinnati in Atlanta.

REST UP

Cubs star Kris Bryant is day to day with a sore left shoulder. The third baseman missed his second straight start Sunday at Cincinnati, but doesn’t expect to be out much longer. Bryant is hitting .280 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 66 games. The Cubs next open a series at Dodger Stadium.

HE’S O-K

Astros ace Justin Verlander leads the majors with a 1.60 ERA and is among the league leaders in strikeouts. He’s fanned at least 10 three times this season – Houston is 0-3 in those games, totaling just two runs. Verlander (9-2) and J.A. Happ (9-3) both try to reach double digits in wins when Toronto visits Minute Maid Park.

GETTING CLOSER

Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish is ready to make a rehab start for Class A South Bend in the Midwest League. He’s been out since May 20 because of triceps tendinitis. He’s expected to throw around 75 pitches, and hopes to be back in the majors after that outing. Darvish is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts since signing a $126 million Andre Dawson Jersey , six-year deal with Chicago as a free agent.

TAKE A BREAK

Mets shortstop Amed Rosario is being held out of the starting lineup as part of a mental break over the next couple of days. The 22-year-old is hitting just .249 and has struggled this month.

”We brought him in and talked to him, sat him down and we’re going to make sure that we take these next couple of days to work on some things in his overall game,” manager Mickey Callaway said. ”This young kid is still trying to develop at the major league level and these couple of days will allow him to get some work done in the cage, some work done in the field tomorrow taking groundballs and things like that. So we thought this would be really good for him.”

The Mets have lost six straight. They’ve also dropped 13 of 14 at Citi Field heading into a home series against Pittsburgh.

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Nikita Kucherov reached a personal milestone and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning move closer to clinching the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Kucherov became the second player in the NHL to reach 100 points this season Cheap Harrison Phillips Jersey , and the Lightning took a two-point lead in the Atlantic Division by beating the Buffalo Sabres 7-5 Friday night.

Kucherov scored in the first period and got his 100th point assisting on Dan Girardi’s goal 1:04 into the second that gave Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead.

”It’s something special,” Kucherov said. ”I’ll definitely remember it the rest of my life.”

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid tops the league with 106 points. According to the NHL, this is the first season since 2009-10 with multiple 100-point players.

The Lightning got two goals from Anthony Cirelli, while Yanni Gourde, Brayden Point and Victor Hedman also scored. Alex Killorn had three assists and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 27 shots.

Tampa Bay can wrap up the division title and the best record in the East with a win in its season finale Saturday night at Carolina Fernando Rodney Jersey , or a loss by second-place Boston in either of its final two games.

”Is there anything else that needs to be said?” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. ”Win a hockey game, win the division.”

The Lightning played their second consecutive game without center Steven Stamkos (lower-body injury), who is expected to be back for the playoffs.

Casey Mittelstadt and Alexander Nylander each got his first NHL goal for the last-place Sabres. The Elias Sports Bureau says it was first time two Buffalo players got their first goals in the same game since May 3, 1995, when Curtis Brown and Wayne Primeau accomplished the feat.


Jason Pominville Cheap Rashaan Evans Jersey , Jordan Nolan and Kyle Okposo also scored for Buffalo, and Chad Johnson had 27 saves.

”We made too many mistakes,” Mittelstadt said.

After Girardi scored, Buffalo got goals from Pominville, Nolan and Okposo Youth Mike Remmers Jersey , during a power play, to go ahead 5-4 after the second period.

The Lightning rallied on third-period goals 47 seconds apart by Cirelli (6:15) and Point (7:02) in taking a 6-5 advantage. Hedman added an empty-netter.

”We didn’t play well in the second and came back in the third, and played the right way,” Kucherov said.

Sabres center Jack Eichel called the blown lead ”frustrating.”

”I thought, maybe Authentic Dontae Johnson Jersey , we got a little passive,” Eichel said.

The teams combined for five goals in the opening 9:40 of the game. Gourde, who put Tampa Bay up 3-2, set team records for goals (25) and points (64) by a rookie.

Cirelli and Kucherov also had first-period goals for the Lightning, while Mittelstadt Cheap Oakland Raiders Hoodie , on the power play, and Nylander scored the Buffalo goals.

NOTES: Gourde’s goal was his first in 14 games. … This was the 22nd time in 81 games that Buffalo (16-1-5) led after two periods.

UP NEXT

Sabres: Close out the regular season Saturday night at Florida.

Lightning: Will look to extend their franchise-record breaking road win total to 26 against the Hurricanes.

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A Turkish court has accepted an indictment charging the father of NBA player Enes Kanter with ”membership in a terror group Cheap Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hoodie ,” the country’s official news agency reported Monday.


The indictment followed an investigation of Mehmet Kanter, and prosecutors planned to seek his conviction and a prison term of five to 10 years at trial, Anadolu Agency said.

It’s unclear when the trial in western Tekirdag province would begin.

Enes Kanter Authentic Terrell Edmunds Jersey , who plays for the New York Knicks, is a follower of a U.S.-based Turkish cleric who the government accuses of masterminding a failed military coup in 2016. Cleric Fethullah Gulen has denied the allegation, but tens of thousands of people suspected of ties to his network have been arrested or fired.

The elder Kanter Vikings Cheap Jerseys , a professor, was purged from public service after the coup attempt and detained for five days last summer.

Anadolu said the indictment alleges he contacted some 120 suspects with alleged links to Gulen, including dozens who were said to have communicated through an encrypted messaging application.

Enes Kanter Cheap Durham Smythe Jersey , a former Oklahoma City Thunder center, has been a vocal critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His Turkish passport was canceled last year.

Prosecutors charged him in December with insulting the president in a series of tweets. They want to try him in absentia and have him sentenced to more than four years in prison, if he is convicted.

”Keep my family Cheap Jalyn Holmes Jersey , innocent people in your prayers,” the basketball player tweeted Monday with the hashtag ”DictatorErdogan.” His Twitter account is withheld in Turkey.

Under a state of emergency declared in the aftermath of the coup, Turkey has arrested more than 50 Cheap Josh Allen Jersey ,000 and sacked some 110,000 people alleged to have infiltrated state institutions for Gulen. The government said the crackdown was needed to fight alleged acts of terror.

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Trae Young went into college basketball feeling like he had something to prove to his doubters.

A year later Cheap Rashaan Evans Jersey , here he goes again.

Young was the most electrifying player in the college game this past season, his stellar numbers in his only season at Oklahoma more than silencing anyone who felt like he wasn’t elite. And now he expects that he’ll need to prove himself once again, starting right when his name gets called in Thursday night’s NBA draft.

”I’ll always have a chip on my shoulder,” Young said, ”until I hang my shoes up.”

That chip served him well at Oklahoma, when he led the nation with averages of 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game. He’ll be snagged in the lottery on Thursday, by a team that apparently will be willing to turn its offense over to a 6-foot-2 guard who tries to emulate Steve Nash and counts Rod Strickland as one of his many mentors.

He thinks he’s the best player in the draft Authentic Logan Woodside Jersey , and very easily could be the first guard to get selected. Young was recruited for years by Oklahoma, his hometown school, and Sooners coach Lon Kruger spent hours and hours with him this past season breaking down film – probably all the while knowing that his star guard was going the one-and-done route.

”I knew how good he was, but I didn’t even realize he was this good,” said Kentucky coach John Calipari, who also recruited Young heavily. ”The biggest thing in this, and it’s a great lesson – Lon Kruger Mike Scott Jersey , who I have unbelievable respect for, basically said `We’re going to play through you, it’s all going through you, you’re going to shoot when you want.’ And he did not lie.”

Kruger’s trust in Young was worthwhile. In college, there was something special from Young just about every night.

Young had four games where he scored at least 40 points; no one in Division I could say that. Young had nine other games where he finished with at least 20 points and 10 assists; again, no other Division I player came close to doing that, either.

Young tied the all-time Division I record with a 22-assist game in December. He was the first player to finish a season simultaneously leading Division I in scoring and assists per game. The accolades kept piling up – highest scoring average for a season by any player from any Big 12 school Yan Gomes Jersey , consensus All-American, freshman of the year, Bob Cousy Award finalist, Naismith Trophy semifinalist.

He had a sensational year by any measure.

”It was crazy,” Young said. ”But it was fun … and it motivated me to get better.”

The realistic watching for Young should start with the No. 3 pick, owned by the Atlanta Hawks.

Atlanta worked Young out about a week ago, and the guard looked noticeably stronger than he was a couple months ago when his college career ended – he says he’s packed on at least 10 pounds of new muscle since then.

The Hawks say their approach will be simple: They’ll take the best player still on the board. Young knows it’s out of his control.

”This is the first time in my life where I haven’t gotten to pick where I’m going Steven Wright Jersey ,” Young said. ”AAU, you get to pick what team you play for. College, same. Having to wait to see where you’re going, it’s definitely something different but I’m not nervous at all.”

And when it’s time to find his seat at Barclays Center for the draft, Young insists that he’s going to savor the moment.

”If you looked back a year ago to now, nobody would think I’d be in this situation,” Young said. ”So just being here now Youth Dante Pettis Jersey , I’m just going to enjoy and relax and embrace it all. That draft night is going to be a great feeling for me.”

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The Brooklyn Nets have been creative in their attempt to start from scratch after selling away the future of the franchise five years ago hunting for a championship that never came.

Two months after capping a third straight losing season Authentic Troy Niklas Jersey , the Nets hope their latest acquisitions might be part of the solution.

Brooklyn continued its rebuild Thursday night, selecting Dzanan Musa with the 29th overall pick and Rodions Kurics at No. 40 in the NBA draft.

Musa was taken with the pick acquired from the Toronto Raptors in a trade last July, which also landed forward DeMarre Carroll.

The Nets have been trying to salvage something of the previous drafts after the last regime sent three unprotected first-round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018 to the Boston Celtics and the right to swap first round picks in the 2017 draft for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry.

The trade netted Brooklyn a disappointing second-round exit that season and sent the organization into a downward spiral with no draft assets to show for it.

So now Vikings Cheap Jerseys , the Nets are looking abroad.


Brooklyn has invested heavily in its international scouting department since New Zealand-born general manager Marks took over in February 2016, and that group led them to Musa and Kurics.

Musa, 19-year-old from Bosnia and Herzegovina, spent the last three seasons with KK Cedevita, leading them to the Croatian League championship. At 6-foot-9 Authentic Kyle Lauletta Jersey , he averaged 13.3 points and shot 46.2 percent from the field in 30 league games.

Brooklyn was impressed with what they had seen at the international level from Musa, who has been playing professionally since the age of 16.

”I think from scouting perspective we’ve enjoyed watching him play. Very dynamic,” general manager Sean Marks said. ”Obviously his offensive skills are pretty special. (A good) size for (his) position. He has been playing at a very, very high level. A very competitive young man.”

Kurocs, a 6-foot-9 prospect Authentic Martavis Bryant Jersey , was tabbed by draft experts in years’ past as a first-round selection but sat mostly on the bench for FC Barcelona in the Spanish ACB League and in Euroleague competition this past season. He averaged 1.4 points in 10 games.

”I am not sure why he was there when we picked, but he is a guy that we had been targeting for some time,” Marks said. ”We’re thrilled to get our hands on Rodions.”

Marks said he expects both players to join the Nets roster for the upcoming season.

Musa has a $1 million buyout clause with KK Cedevita. Rodions’ contract calls for a $4 million fee to free him up from his Spanish club.

”There is a lot of development there with their bodies and so forth. Again, I think both (are) really great development pieces for our coaching staff, performance (and) so forth to get their hands on Authentic Michael Dickson Jersey ,” Marks said. ”I am intrigued to what they can do for both player. Playing in an elite level in Europe for quite some time, I think that transition that we talked about before will hopefully won’t be seamless.”

Brooklyn also drafted at the 45th spot, taking Kentucky shooting guard Hamidou Diallo, and traded his rights to the Charlotte Hornets as part Wednesday’s deal for Dwight Howard, who is expected to be bought out by the Nets.

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John Beilein says he was never offered the Detroit Pistons‘ coaching job.

”I never really had to make the decision Authentic Kareem Martin Jersey ,” the Michigan coach said. ”That would have been a tough one.”

Beilein is now looking ahead to another season of college basketball after briefly emerging as a candidate for the Pistons. Not long after the news broke about Beilein’s talks with Detroit, he said he’d be back at Michigan . The Pistons eventually hired Dwane Casey earlier this month.

On Tuesday, Beilein held a news conference to talk about the offseason. He led Michigan to the national title game this year before falling to Villanova, so the possibility of losing Beilein to the NBA was a jolt to Wolverines fans.

”I was not offered the job by the Pistons,” Beilein said. ”We certainly had some mutual interest. I think they had a great candidate in Dwane Casey.”

Beilein said he was intrigued by the possibility of coaching in the game’s top league.

”I love coaching basketball a lot, and you’re watching the NBA playoffs Authentic Pernell McPhee Jersey , and you’re seeing what guys are doing, and you’re looking, like, they’re running stuff that we run,” Beilein said. ”I don’t know if they watched us or I watched them. You can see, boy Stephen Vogt Jersey , if you have really highly skilled players – (Boston Celtics coach) Brad Stevens kept telling me, `I’m having a blast.’ When you hear those words, and your season’s over – so that was appealing.”

With the Pistons’ search behind him, Beilein can prepare for the 2018-19 season with the Wolverines. Michigan announced Tuesday that the team will go on a tour of Spain from Aug. 17-26 that will include exhibition games.

The Wolverines lost star big man Moe Wagner early to the NBA, but some key players return from what was one of the best defensive teams in the nation. Charles Matthews, Zavier Simpson Youth J'Mon Moore Jersey , Jordan Poole and Isaiah Livers will be joined by what is expected to be a strong group of new recruits.

So Beilein has plenty to look forward to at the college level, and he indicated there might not be any more flirtations with the NBA.

”I think that I ran that race, and you can’t run that race too many times,” he said. ”I don’t know what I would have done, but I was really impressed with everybody in that organization, and I’ll be rooting for them like I always have.”

The other interesting bit of recent news that at least partially involved the Michigan basketball program was Chris Webber’s appearance with Wolverines football coach Jim Harbaugh on WTKA last week. Harbaugh asked Webber to be an honorary captain for the football team next season Dellin Betances Jersey , and Webber sounded amenable to the idea.

A return to Ann Arbor by Webber – even if it’s for football – would be a big deal. He led the Michigan basketball team to the Final Four in 1992 and 1993, but a federal investigation revealed that a booster gave Webber and three other players more than $600,000 while they were student-athletes, and the NCAA forced the school to dissociate from them until 2013.

”There was five or six years where I was limited what I could say about that era. Since the ban’s been off, I’ve reached out to Chris several times,” Beilein said. ”I continue to do that Authentic Oren Burks Jersey , and we’re going to continue to try and build bridges and just really work at making sure there’s a lot of healing going forward. … I want every player that ever played here to feel like he’s a part of that building, including Chris and anyone else.”

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Wilmer Font worked into the sixth inning to get his first major league win Brett Gardner Jersey , Willy Adames homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 4-0 on Saturday.

Font (1-3) allowed three hits, one walk and struck out four over 5 2/3 innings. Four relievers completed a four-hitter.

Adames had an RBI single during a two-run second and added a solo homer in the seventh off Sonny Gray (5-5).

The Rays have won the first two of a three-game series against the Yankees, who have the best record in the majors.

New York (50-24), coming off a three-game sweep over Seattle, is the only team in the big leagues not to have dropped more than two straight games this year. This is the latest the Yankees have gone into a season without losing three in a row since August 1954.

REDS 11, CUBS 2

CINCINNATI (AP) – Anthony DeSclafani hit the first grand slam by a Cincinnati pitcher in 59 years, helping the last-place Reds beat the Chicago Cubs for their sixth consecutive victory.

It was Cincinnati’s third slam in five days and major league-leading seventh of the season Cheap Carlton Davis Jersey , two short of the record set in 2002. The last Reds pitcher to hit a grand slam was Bob Purkey against the Cubs on Aug. 1, 1959. DeSclafani (3-1) also pitched a season-high 6 1/3 innings and allowed three hits, struck out three and walked four.

Tucker Barnhart and Joey Votto also went deep in front of a crowd of 36,818, Cincinnati’s largest since opening day. Votto hit a three-run shot off backup catcher Chris Gimenez in the eighth.

Willson Contreras and Ben Zobrist homered for Chicago, which has lost three straight. Luke Farrell (2-3), a former Red and the son of ex-Red Sox manager and current Reds scout John Farrell Mike Foltynewicz Jersey , was charged with three runs and two hits in his second career start.

MARINERS 7, RED SOX 2

BOSTON (AP) – Mike Leake pitched eight shutout innings, Mitch Haniger drove in three runs and the Seattle Mariners snapped a season-high five-game losing streak with a victory over the Red Sox.

Nelson Cruz had three hits and scored twice a night after hitting two homers and driving in seven runs for Seattle, which went on its skid after beating Boston two straight at home last weekend. Leake (8-4) gave up three singles, struck out five and walked two six days after he allowed five runs and took the loss against the Red Sox at Safeco Field. Edwin Diaz gave up two runs in the ninth.

Eduardo Rodriguez (9-2) gave up five runs, four earned, in four innings Authentic Da'Ron Payne Jersey , snapping his personal six-game win streak. The Red Sox were 13-1 in his starts this season.

RANGERS 9, TWINS 6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Adrian Beltre and Robinson Chirinos homered to help Yovani Gallardo win for the first time since last July as the Texas Rangers beat the Minnesota Twins.

Delino DeShields had two hits and drove in two runs for the Rangers, who have won a season-high seven in a row.

Eddie Rosario homered and drove in four runs, while Logan Morrison also homered and Mitch Garver had three hits for the Twins, who have lost three straight.

Gallardo (1-0) entered with a 15.95 ERA and made his second start for Texas after opening the year with Cincinnati. He fell behind 2-0 just five pitches into the game on Rosario’s homer before turning it around and pitching into the sixth. Gallardo gave up four earned runs on six hits. Keone Kela gave up a two-run double to Rosario, but struck out Morrison with the bases loaded to end the game, earning his 18th save.

Twins starter Jake Odorizzi (3-5) retired the side in order in the first inning Christian Yelich Jersey , but the Rangers knocked him out in a six-run second.

DODGERS 8, METS 3


NEW YORK (AP) – Clayton Kershaw and Jacob deGrom stumbled in an unexpected ace showdown, Matt Kemp hit a pinch grand slam during a five-run eighth and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the slumping Mets.

The Dodgers have won 11 straight against the Mets dating to May 2016, matching their best run in the rivalry. Los Angeles beat New York 11 straight times across 1963 and `64.

Kershaw gave up two runs over three innings in a surprise return from the disabled list. He threw 55 pitches, starting out strong before laboring through his final inning. Left-handed rookie Caleb Ferguson (1-1) replaced him and escaped a couple tight situations over four scoreless innings for his first major league win.

DeGrom (5-3) allowed three earned runs in six innings, including Max Muncy’s 14th home run in the first. He entered the game with a major league-leading 1.51 ERA and hadn’t allowed three earned runs in a game since April 16 against Washington. New York has lost five straight overall and 12 of 13 at home.

ORIOLES 7, BRAVES 5

ATLANTA (AP) – Mark Trumbo hit a first-inning grand slam Authentic Arden Key Jersey , Chris Davis doubled in three runs and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Braves.

Dylan Bundy (6-7) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings while improving to 3-0 in June. One day after allowing four runs and recording only one out, Zach Britton pitched around a one-out walk to Johan Camargo in the ninth to earn his first save.

AL East-leading Atlanta dropped its third consecutive game. Julio Teheran (5-5) allowed a season-high seven runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Trumbo’s homer was his fourth in his last six games. He has seven homers this season after missing April with a right quad strain.

Nick Markakis, who spent his first nine seasons with Baltimore, drove in three runs for Atlanta, including a two-run double off Donnie Hart in the seventh.

CARDINALS 3, BREWERS 2

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Yadier Molina homered twice to back a strong start by Miles Mikolas and lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a victory.

Molina’s two-run homer in the sixth inning off.

– Anthony Davis stole the show and the New Orleans Pelicans stole home-court advantage from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Davis had 35 points Authentic Barkevious Mingo Jersey , 14 rebounds and four blocks, Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo won the backcourt battle, and the Pelicans held on for a 97-95 victory on Saturday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series.

Holiday added 21 points, outplaying both Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and had a big blocked shot in the closing seconds as New Orleans escaped after Portland erased almost all of a 19-point deficit.

”It’s the playoffs,” Holiday said of his final block. ”A lot of excitement and a lot of energy especially in the building. Obviously, that was a really big stop and at that moment it felt good to get a stop. It felt good to know that all the hard work we put in this game Edwin Encarnacion Jersey , we got the win, so we did a really good job at that.”

Rondo finished with 17 assists, eight rebounds and six points.

Portland made a charge that cut it to 93-92 on McCollum’s 3-pointer just inside a minute left. Lillard missed in the lane with 15 seconds remaining with the Blazers still down one, and after Davis made two free throws, Holiday blocked Pat Connaughton’s layup with 6.3 seconds to go.

Blazers coach Terry Stotts and several players said that the play was designed for a 3-pointer, but the Pelicans successfully took those options away.

Perhaps that had something to do with Rondo knowing everything the Blazers were ready to throw at them and relaying that knowledge to his teammates.

”He’s in a different mindset,” Davis said. ”He was up all night watching film. When they were calling plays out there he was telling us what it was in our version before they had a chance to run it. He’s definitely locked in. The way he played tonight with 17 assists Cheap Uchenna Nwosu Jersey , he’s just in a different mode for the playoffs.”

Lillard finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while McCollum had 19 points.

The sixth-seeded Pelicans were the only road team to win on the opening day of the NBA playoffs. Nikola Mirotic had 16 points, 11 rebounds and also blocked four shots to help Davis earn the first victory of his playoff career.

It looked like it would come easily, as the Pelicans extended a nine-point halftime lead to 69-50 on Holiday’s dunk with 4:25 left in the third quarter. It still seemed safe when Davis threw down a thunderous alley-oop slam from Rondo with 6:09 to play, letting out a scream as Portland took an 86-72 lead.

Portland’s rally came up short, but the Blazers vow to do better in Game 2 with regards to going after Davis.

”Getting to the basket Authentic Terrell Edmunds Jersey , he’s around,” McCollum said. ”You know, he blocked my shot in the first quarter, maybe made some contact. But he’s always there, he’s always around roaming. But there’s no excuses. We got to play better.”

Portland’s two stars finished with just three combined free-throw attempts. McCollum says it’s on them to force the issue.

”Maybe we need to be more aggressive getting downhill,” McCollum said. ”You’ve got to figure out how the referees are reffing the game and go from there.”

TIP-INS

Pelicans: New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry is a believer in ”Playoff Rondo,” the idea of Rondo elevating his game in the postseason. ”I think there is a sense of confidence that he has Youth Tre'Quan Smith Jersey , especially this time of the year,” Gentry said. ”He’s a really bright player. One of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around. I’ve obviously had the opportunity to coach Steph (Curry), Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Grant Hill. When you start talking about the extremely smart players, he’s one of those guys. I also think he has a way of giving confidence to the other guys. He makes them believe in themselves.”

Gentry says he relishes having someone who can lead the team in the way Rondo can. ”I know it’s like an old clich锟? but it really is like having an extra assistant coach.”

Trail Blazers: Among the challenges for the Blazers in this first-round series, none ranks higher than defending Davis. Terry Stotts said that he would begin the series with Jusuf Nurkic Bobby Cox Jersey , who did not see much time on Davis in the regular season, on the All-Star big man.

Nurkic played 24 minutes, finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

In a surprise, rookie Zach Collins played 22 minutes off the Blazers bench, up from his regular- season average of 16 minutes per game.

UP NEXT

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Portland.

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On the night of Feb. 27 Cheap Ito Smith Jersey , it became clear just how much fun a postseason meeting between the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators could be.

Putting on what amounted to a track meet on skates, Winnipeg and Nashville swapped goals all night long at Bell MTS Place. The Jets twice took two-goal leads, but the Predators rallied, winning 6-5 when trade deadline acquisition Ryan Hartman scored in the last minute.

The Central Division rivals, who finished with the two highest point totals in the NHL Craig Kimbrel Jersey , will start what figures to be a high-scoring Western Conference semifinal series Friday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

“They’re obviously a really dangerous team offensively, but there were some fun games,” Predators captain Roman Josi said of the Jets. “They’re a great team. They have a lot of firepower up front, they’ve got a great goalie Yovani Gallardo Jersey , great defense. It’s going to be a fun series and I’m really excited for it.”


Nashville had to wait a bit longer than anticipated before it could start preparing for Winnipeg. It had to go six games before eliminating Colorado, doing so emphatically Sunday with a 5-0 decision that included Pekka Rinne’s fourth career playoff shutout and three points for the first time in 81 postseason games for center Nick Bonino.

Winnipeg took care of business against Minnesota, sending the Wild to the golf course in five games. Its 5-0 victory in Game 5 on April 20 included a second consecutive playoff shutout for Connor Hellebuyck, as well as Mark Scheifele’s fourth goal of the series and two assists for Dustin Byfuglien.

In five regular-season meetings, Nashville and Winnipeg combined for 42 goals Youth Robert Golden Jersey , the Predators scoring 22. Nashville won three games, taking two of the three matchups at home.

“It’s a high-event game. There’s lot of action all the time,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “The game doesn’t really slow down when we play. There aren’t blocks of time where teams are just dumping pucks and playing the same game. It’s very intense and very exciting for the full 60.”

Kevin Fiala and Kyle Turris each scored three goals against Winnipeg to lead Nashville.

Nikolaj Ehlers was the Jets’ top goal-scorer against the Predators with three. Nashville center Ryan Johansen tallied nine points in the season series, collecting eight assists, and Kyle Connor and Blake Wheeler led Winnipeg with six points each.

As befits a matchup of the teams with the league’s top point total Jorge Posada Jersey , there simply isn’t much difference across the board.

The Jets were second in the NHL in goals and the Predators were seventh. Nashville was second in the league in fewest goals allowed and Winnipeg was fifth.

Simply put, this has the earmarks of a long series, one that could feel like a Stanley Cup final two rounds early.

“They’re a skilled group, they’re a fast group,” Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm said of the Jets. “We can’t be worried too much about what they’re going to do. We have to be worried about the way we approach games.

“If we can keep playing like we did in that last game in Colorado Cheap Dorian O'Daniel Jersey , I think we have a good chance.”

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Maybe it was poetic LeBron James had a supporting cast on his injured right hand.

He was missing one in the NBA Finals.

For the second time in a career still ascending after 15 years Reggie Jackson Jersey , James was on the wrong side of a sweep as the Golden State Warriors, a team with no apparent weaknesses and as many as four of the league’s 10 best players on its roster, transformed into a dynasty in Cleveland late Friday.

After what may have been his final game with the Cavaliers, James revealed he hurt himself in a fit of frustration following a Game 1 overtime loss.

He displayed a soft cast on his hand during his postgame news conference and then rounded up his children and some of their friends, and along with his wife, and the usual support group of handlers and security personnel, drove home to Akron.

His next stop is unknown.

Another suspenseful summer of ”Where will LeBron go next?” is off and running.

In the next few weeks, James is expected to decline his $35.6 million contract option for next season with the Cavaliers and become an unrestricted free agent like he was in 2010 and 2014. Then the fun starts – well Omar Vizquel Jersey , officially and legally under NBA rules – and teams can begin courting King James to join them.

At the moment the list of suitors is limited, but it could grow before July as teams position themselves to acquire one of the game’s most transcendent forces.

There are obvious potential landing spots, but James, who averaged 34 points, 10 assists and 8.5 rebounds against the Warriors, made it clear that any team coveting him better be prepared to win – everything.

He’s still into hanging banners.

”I still want to be in championship mode,” the 33-year-old said following his eighth straight NBA Finals appearance. ”I think I’ve shown this year why I will still continue to be in championship mode.”

Although James may have dropped to 3-6 in the finals, it hasn’t diminished his pursuit of winning a fourth title or slaying this Golden State goliath Kris Bryant Jersey , a monster of a team he never imagined getting in his way when he made his Ohio homecoming after playing four years in Miami.

So, who has a legitimate shot at getting him?

The Philadelphia 76ers can entice James with young stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, salary-cap space to accommodate him and other pieces, and the luxury to stay in the Eastern Conference to avoid meeting up with the Warriors until the Larry O’Brien Trophy is up for grabs.

The Lakers’ sales pitch will include their current flexibility to sign another maximum contract player – maybe Paul George or Kawhi Leonard – and Hollywood’s celebrity-filled hills. James already owns two homes and a film production company in Los Angeles, where the star could become a supernova.

Don’t rule out the Houston Rockets, who pushed Golden State to a Game 7 in the postseason. In presumed MVP James Harden; Chris Paul, one of James’ closest friends; and bent-on-overthrowing-the-Warriors general manager Daryl Morey, the Rockets have the building blocks to assemble an uber-team.

In the end Authentic Bradley Chubb Jersey , James may decide home is still the sweetest spot.

The Cavaliers, though, have a lot of work to do to convince him he should hang around. The team’s decision to trade All-Star guard Kyrie Irving last summer to Boston sparked a sequence of events that led to a mid-season overhaul, soured James and sent him into the playoffs with a group he carried as far as humanly possible.

Cleveland can offer James more money – a five-year, $209 million contract – than anyone else, but the larger issue is what it can do to improve a roster that’s currently short on title-winning performance. The Cavs have the No. 8 overall pick in this month’s draft as an asset to perhaps package with All-Star forward Kevin Love, who could finally be moved after being the subject of trade rumors for years.

And there’s also the delicate matter of James’ rocky relationship with team owner Dan Gilbert. The two have co-existed purely on business terms since patching things up after Gilbert eviscerated James when he bolted for Miami. It’s unclear if they can move forward together.

On a podcast during the Finals, Gilbert said he views James as much more than a player.

”Legally Authentic Ed Dickson Jersey , he may be working for our organization, but that’s not really the case,” Gilbert said. ”He’s more of your partner, really.”

The comment was a concession of sorts from Gilbert, who understands what James means to his franchise and what he represents to Northeast Ohio – hope.

James came home four years ago promising to win a championship and delivered within two seasons, ending a 52-year title drought in a city he has personally helped to revitalize. The summer of 2016 was unforgettable, with a downtown parade that James has said overwhelmed him with emotion.

It may go down as his crowning achievement, or something he wants to feel again.

If so Authentic Frank Ragnow Jersey , there’s only one place where that can happen.

The last time James left Cleveland it was because he needed a team to help him achieve greatness. He found it with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, and he came back a different man, ready to build his legacy. A father of three, his priorities have changed again, and this time the decision is more complicated.

There’s a tug-of-war going on between James’ brain and heart.

”When I decide what I’m going to do with my future, my family and the folks that have been with me for the last 20 years will have a say-so,” he said. ”Then it ultimately will come down to me.”<.