NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has received a five-year contract extension
Paul Worrilow Color Rush Jersey , a reward for accomplishments that include rapid growth in the value of franchises and attendance records around the league being set annually.
Board of Governors Chairman Larry Tanenbaum of the Toronto Raptors announced the deal, one that keeps Silver under contract through the 2024 NBA Finals. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Silver, 56, led a very smooth series of negotiations with the NBA players union on the way to a new collective bargaining agreement in 2016 – one where salaries around the league soared thanks to a $24.1 billion, nine-year television and media rights deal that he helped strike with Disney and Turner Sports two years earlier.
Franchise values of the 30 NBA clubs have risen fivefold, from an estimated $12 billion when Silver took over to $60 billion now. This was also the fourth consecutive season where the league set an all-time attendance record, with 22.1 million fans attending games in 2017-18.
This season also marked the launch of the first eSports league – the NBA 2K League
Keke Coutee Color Rush Jersey , which Silver has raved about.
”From the NBA’s standpoint, this is our fourth league,” he said earlier this year. ”Of course we have the NBA, the WNBA and the G League, and now this is the fourth league in our family, and that’s exactly as we’re treating it: one more professional league.”
Silver has been with the NBA since 1992, and became deputy commissioner under David Stern in 2005. When Stern retired on Feb. 1
http://www.chiefsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-breeland-speaks-jersey , 2014 after holding the office for 30 years, Silver took over as the fifth commissioner in NBA history.
—
The New Orleans Pelicans addressed have a couple of major, uncertain free-agent concerns and they used their only pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft to address one of them.
The Pelicans bolstered their backcourt, drafting Penn State point guard Tony Carr in the second round. New Orleans used the 51st overall pick to take Carr, 6-foot-5, who averaged 19.6 points (second-most in the Big Ten), 5.0 assists and 4.9 rebounds as a sophomore last season.
While the biggest question facing New Orleans this offseason is the future of free-agent All-Star forward of DeMarcus Cousins
Kenny Young Color Rush Jersey , the organization faces questions about a key agent in point guard Rajon Rondo.
”He can play” both guard positions, Pelicans general manager Dell Demps said of Carr. ”We like his size. We like his ability to score. We like his ability to make plays. He’s pretty crafty and he played in a tough conference and was able to score at an elite level.”
As New Orleans looks to resolve those situations, the Pelicans wanted to upgrade their perimeter game this offseason, particularly with scorers who can create their own shot off the dribble.
Carr shot just 40.8 percent from the floor last season, but that was an improvement from the 37.7 percent he shot while averaging 13.2 points as a freshman. He improved his three-point percentage from 32.0 as a freshman to 43.3 as a sophomore.
The Pelicans hope that upward trend continues with Rondo’s situation unclear.
Starting shooting guard Jrue Holiday can also play the point, but backup point guard Ian Clark is also a free agent. Last year’s No. 2 pick, Frank Jackson
http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-will-hernandez-jersey , is a combo guard who missed all of his rookie season because of a foot injury.
Carr said he has studied Holiday, who was named to the NBA All-Defensive team and averaged 19 points per game last season.
He said like Holiday, ”I can play on both ends of the floor. I can score and I can also facilitate for others.”
Rondo, 32, was signed to a one-year deal last summer and proved to be a valuable veteran presence on a team with little playoff experience.
Demps said the uncertainty of Rondo’s and Clark’s future with the team wasn’t a factor in the Pelicans selecting Carr.
”We really looked at the best player available,” Demps said. ”But I don’t want to get too excited. We’re going to get him in here next week. We’ll see when we get a live look at him. There’s no guarantee he’ll be on the team this year.”

Cousins’ status is complicated by a couple of factors. He’s coming off a torn Achilles that ended his season in January, and the Pelicans played well after acquiring Niko Mirotic in a February trade with Chicago to replace Cousins. That trade cost them their first-round pick.
New Orleans wound up winning 48 games and sweeping Portland in a first-round playoff series before losing to Golden State in five games.
Demps said July 1
Michael Dickson Color Rush Jersey , the first day of free agency, ”is going to be a busy day for us.”
He said the Pelicans have been communicating with the agents for Cousins and Rondo.
”They’re both big parts of what we did,” Demps said.
Demps added that Cousins’ rehabilitation is ”right on schedule,” adding that Cousins is ”committed to getting back and being ready to play.”
—
.
Добавлено спустя 14 минут 27 секунд:Ryan HartmanHOUSTON — Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch occasionally bristles at conventional methodology
Troy Niklas Color Rush Jersey , particularly given the availability of superior data and how its dissemination shapes decisions.
For instance, last Friday in Kansas City, the Astros (50-26) recalled first baseman Tyler White to take the roster spot of left-handed reliever Reymin Guduan, who made one appearance two days earlier before being placed on the paternity list for the birth of his child.
That move left the Astros one arm short in the bullpen and, when Guduan exhausted his time on the paternity list, the organization returned him to Triple-A Fresno instead of recalling him to Houston.
The Astros have completed two series with an extra position player on their bench
Baker Mayfield Browns Jersey , a move that some might consider unorthodox but one Hinch is reticent to harp on, despite being asked about his roster configuration more than once in the past week.
“In the heat in Kansas City, it was nice to have an extra guy when we won by a lot,” Hinch said of a 10-2 victory on June 16. “Maneuvering some pinch-hit opportunities has been key. Obviously, it allowed us to start an all right-handed lineup (Tuesday against Rays left-hander Blake Snell) and give (second baseman Jose) Altuve most of the day off.
“Our starters have gone pretty deep … the last two outings, which has allowed the bullpen to get rested. It feels a little different to have seven relievers
Evan Bouchard Oilers Jersey , but in actuality, that’s too many. I’d have five position players on the bench if I could.”
The Astros, who will open a three-game series with the Royals on Friday at Minute Maid Park, will stand pat with seven relievers for the immediate future.
Right-hander Joe Smith, currently on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation, has begun a throwing program and is poised for a return to the active roster that could reset the bullpen balance.
Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (4-8
http://www.cardinalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-christian-kirk-jersey , 4.15 ERA) will start the opener for Houston. He is 4-1 with a 2.89 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals and picked up the win over Kansas City in his last start, allowing two unearned runs, six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings in a 10-2 victory on June 16.
Keuchel had been 0-3 with a 7.33 ERA in his previous five starts.
The Royals will counter with left-hander Danny Duffy (3-7, 5.55 ERA) on Friday. Duffy surrendered seven runs (six earned), seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts in six innings of his previous start, a 10-2 loss to the Astros on June 16. He is 2-3 with a 5.29 ERA in eight career appearances (five starts) against Houston.
Kansas City (22-52) has dropped nine consecutive games and 15 of 16 overall
Adam Boqvist Blackhawks Jersey , including all three games during a series against the Astros last weekend at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals are batting .188 this month, their worst record in any month under ninth-year manager Ned Yost.
The Royals last won a road series on May 21-23, taking the final two games of a three-game set at St. Louis.
A look at what’s happening around the majors Saturday:
SOX SEEING DEAD RED
A couple of Boston’s top hitters could be in line for a big weekend in Kansas City. Heading into the series opener Friday night, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and Mitch Moreland had gone a combined 15 for 27 (.556) with six home runs in three games against the Royals. The trio will have another opportunity to feast on Kansas City pitching on Saturday night when 22-year-old rookie Brad Keller takes the mound for the Royals. Keller has a 2.09 ERA in 56 innings this season and is making his seventh start.
RAY’S REBOUND
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray looked sharp during his first start since missing two months with an oblique strain, throwing six scoreless innings in a win over Miami. Ray wasn’t nearly as effective in his last start when he allowed six runs in five innings against St. Louis. He is hoping to bounce back when he takes the mound against the San Diego Padres.

CY SEVERINO?
New York Yankees ace Luis Severino made the jump to Cy Young Award contender last season
Antonio Callaway Color Rush Jersey , finishing third in the American League voting after posting a 14-6 record and 2.98 ERA. The 24-year-old right-hander has been even better this season, leading the AL in wins (13) and ERA (1.98). Severino will try to add to his stellar resume and help New York keep pace with Boston when he takes the mound at Toronto.
PRIMED PAXTON
Seattle’s James Paxton has experienced plenty of success this season, like his no-hitter against Toronto on May 8. The left-hander had his best start since the no-hitter in his last outing, striking out 11 while pitching eight innings of two-hit ball in a 1-0 win over Kansas City. Paxton will try to continue his breakout season when the Mariners hosts the Colorado Rockies.
—
.
Добавлено спустя 9 минут 11 секунд:Ryan HartmanGlen Gulutzan took the fall for the Calgary Flames‘ shortcomings this season with his dismissal Tuesday.
With a year remaining on his contract as head coach
http://www.ramsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-john-kelly-jersey , Gulutzan was fired along with assistant Dave Cameron and Paul Jerrard less than two years after they were hired.
A poor home record, a wretched power play and a late-season dive contributed to Calgary finishing out of the playoffs with a 37-35-10 record.
”Accountability lies with all of us,” Flames general manager Brad Treliving said at a hastily-called news conference at Scotiabank Saddledome.
”As a manager I lead that charge. Our hockey staff leads that charge and also our players. When you make a decision (like) I made today, there is lots of blame to go around.”
Gulutzan coached Calgary to the playoffs in his first season, but the Flames were eliminated in four straight games by the Anaheim Ducks in 2017.
The additions of veteran goaltender Mike Smith and defenseman Travis Hamonic were considered to be the pieces of the puzzle that would get the Flames deeper into the playoffs.
Riding a seven-game win streak and sitting second in the Pacific Division in January, the Flames lost six in a row coming out of their bye week and continued to struggle coming down the stretch.
The team held down the Western Conference’s final wild-card spot Feb. 25, but managed just two victories in its final 11 games of the regular season.
Smith’s performance dropped late in the season after missing a month with a lower-body injury.
Top-line center Sean Monahan played through multiple injuries that required surgeries when he was shut down for the season March 21.
”We relied too much on too few,” Treliving said. ”Certainly the lack of depth, or the lack of contributions by many, was a big part of the problem we had.”
A 17-20-4 record at the Saddledome and a power play that ranked 29th in the league at 16 percent were a factor in Calgary missing the playoffs.
Gulutzan
Jeff Locke Color Rush Jersey , 46, was Treliving’s first head-coaching hire.
Treliving extended the contract of Gulutzan’s predecessor, Bob Hartley, in December 2014, but fired him 17 months later and brought Gulutzan on board.
Hartley had a reputation for being hard on players, while Gulutzan was considered more approachable.
”Personality didn’t have a whole lot to do with this decision,” Treliving said. ”I don’t necessarily think our group is a difficult group to coach. There’s challenges with every group.
”By no means is today’s decision letting anyone off the hook. Ultimately you have success when your players perform well. I felt in order to get us to that level, we had to make this decision.”
So the Flames will hire their fourth head coach in nine years after Gulutzan (2016-17) Hartley (2012-16) and Brent Sutter (2009-12). Calgary has finished outside the playoffs seven of the past nine years.
”You can’t churn (coaches),” Treliving said. ”Having said that, you can’t not make a decision for the same reason. Ultimately it’s my responsibility to get it right. I really try to avoid emotional decisions.
”This is not a step back from the season and a need to throw a body on the tarmac.”
Assistant coach Martin Gelinas
Michael Dickson Color Rush Jersey , goaltending coach Jordan Singalet and video coach Jamie Pringle remain with the team.
”There won’t be any other further coaching moves at this stage,” Treliving said.
Gulutzan has a 146-125-23 NHL coaching record that also includes two seasons with the Dallas Stars (2011-2013).
Recently unemployed NHL coaches include Alain Vigneault, Dan Bylsma, Dave Tippett and former Flames coach Darryl Sutter.
”I think having experience in this league is critical,” Treliving said.
—
More NHL hockey: Sacramento Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic acknowledged he didn’t have a very good night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Until the game’s closing seconds.
Bogdanovic knocked down a 16-footer with just over a second remaining, then tipped the ensuing Memphis inbounds pass to help Sacramento escape with a 94-93 victory Friday night.
Bogdanovic saved the Kings from blowing a double-digit lead in the final four minutes and salvaged a night where the rookie guard from Serbia was 4 of 11 from the field, including missing all five of his 3-pointers for eight points.
”It felt good, honestly, especially when you have a bad night like I had in terms of trying to find a rhythm on offense,” Bogdanovic said of the final shot
Kolton Miller Color Rush Jersey , later adding: ”I’ve been working on these shots, so sometimes you make it, sometimes not.”
Bogdanovic’s jumper capped a close game between two teams near the bottom of the Western Conference standings – a game that saw four lead changes in the final minute. Dillon Brooks had given Memphis a 93-92 lead 6 seconds before Bogdanovic’s game-winner, and after a corner 3-pointer from Justin Jackson with 17 seconds left.
”I think the guys defended it well,” Memphis interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, adding that both shots were contested, ”but you’ve got to give them credit, they made good offensive plays.”
Willie Cauley-Stein led the Kings with 18 points, Buddy Hield finished with 14, and De’Aaron Fox and Jackson each scored 13.
MarShon Brooks had 23 points for Memphis
http://www.buccaneersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jordan-whitehead-jersey , while Dillon Brooks added 16.
Memphis, which trailed 87-77 with about 4 minutes left, clicked off 10 straight points to tie the game. The teams exchanged leads the rest of the way until Bogdanovic’s winner.
”Not a real pretty game, but the last two minutes were a lot of fun to be part of,” Kings coach Dave Joerger said. ”Certainly, it was exciting with both teams making shots. . It was shot-for-shot coming down the stretch.”
TIP-INS
Kings: Cauley-Stein hit his first five shots in the game. He has reached double figures in the last six games. . Missed all six of their 3-pointers in the first half and finished 6 of 24 from outside the arc. .The victory was only the second for Sacramento in the last 16 road games against the Grizzlies.
Grizzlies: Brooks entered the game averaging 23.3 points in his three games since signing a 10-day contract with the team. He signed a multiyear deal with Memphis earlier Friday. … Rookie C Ivan Rabb had 12 points and 11 rebounds, recording his second double-double. … Played with eight players sitting out, including Marc Gasol (rest), Tyreke Evans (not with team/personal reasons) among others. … Used their 34th starting lineup of the season.
WELCOME BACK, ZACH
Kings F Zach Randolph missed his eighth straight game
Jordan Whitehead Color Rush Jersey , the last four listed as personal reasons. However, he did come to the Kings bench about 2 minutes into the game, drawing applause from Memphis fans. Randolph played seven years with the Grizzlies before signing with Sacramento in the off season. He spent several timeouts meeting with former teammates Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol, neither of whom played Friday night, while waving and shaking hands with fans.
SECOND-HALF PUSH
The Kings outrebounded Memphis 42-38, including a 22-13 advantage in the second half. Sacramento converted 6 of 18 shots from outside the arc after intermission, and, while not great, it was better than Memphis making 3 of 13.
UP NEXT

Kings: Play their final road game of the season on Monday at San Antonio.
Grizzlies: Host the Detroit Pistons in their home finale on Sunday.
—
.
Добавлено спустя 8 минут 26 секунд:Aaron AltherrTaking on the NFL and football’s Super Bowl champs
Sean Newcomb Atlanta Braves Jersey , President Donald Trump gave the boot to a White House ceremony for the Philadelphia Eagles and instead threw his own brief ”Celebration of America” after it became clear most players weren’t going to show up.
Both sides traded hot accusations about who was to blame.
Trump tried to turn the fracas into a referendum on patriotism and tie it to the dispute over players who have taken a knee during the national anthem to protest racism and police brutality. However, Eagles players never knelt during the ”Star-Spangled Banner,” throughout the 2017 season and their march to the Super Bowl.
The White House accused Eagles team members of pulling a ”political stunt” and abandoning their fans by backing out at the last minute. Indeed, few apparently were going to come, though some expressed disappointment that they’d been disinvited and complained Trump was unfairly painting them as anti-American.
CLEVELAND (AP) – Stephen Curry and LeBron James spoke their minds last year. They have not changed their minds this year.
No matter whose team wins the NBA championship, neither superstar will be at the White House anytime soon.
On the day when the Philadelphia Eagles were supposed to be there to commemorate winning the Super Bowl – a visit that was canceled by President Donald Trump – Curry and James were among those speaking out at the NBA Finals in support of the Eagles.
GYMNASTICS
WASHINGTON (AP) – The former president of USA Gymnastics refused to answer questions from a Senate subcommittee about how he handled allegations of sexual abuse by former team doctor Larry Nassar, and another former executive sat next to him and asserted that her former boss instructed her and others to keep quiet about athletes’ claims.
Rhonda Faehn, the former senior vice president of USA Gymnastics, said she first reported an allegation against Nassar to Steve Penny, her then-boss
Josh Sweat Color Rush Jersey , on June 17, 2015. Nassar was not arrested until more than a year later. He is now serving decades in prison for sexual assault and possession of child pornography, and hundreds of athletes have said they were abused by him, including Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Simone Biles.
The revelations about Nassar’s conduct over two decades and the way it was handled by Penny and others have led Congress to call for drastic reforms of the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics and other sports’ governing bodies.
Faehn said Penny warned her and others not to discuss the allegations against Nassar and that she wrongly assumed he had taken the allegations to law enforcement.
NHL
NEW YORK (AP) – Lou Lamoriello moved quickly to shake up the New York Islanders by firing coach Doug Weight and general manager Garth Snow and naming himself the team’s new GM just two weeks after taking over as president of hockey operations.
Lamoriello made the moves that begin to reshape the organization in his image, two weeks to the day ownership said he’d have ”full authority over all hockey matters.” Lamoriello left the Toronto Maple Leafs to run the Islanders and will begin the search for a new coach immediately.
The end of Snow’s tenure seemed inevitable after owners Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin brought in Lamoriello to oversee the hockey operations department. The Islanders missed the playoffs eight times in Snow’s 12 years as general manager, including the past two seasons.
Weight, who took over for the fired Jack Capuano in January 2017, just finished his first full season as head coach.
HORSE RACING
NEW YORK (AP) – Something Bob Baffert always dreads has come true ahead of the Belmont Stakes: Justify drew the No. 1 post for the colt’s bid to sweep the Triple Crown.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was made the early 4-5 favorite in the 10-horse field for Saturday’s race.
Baffert is not a fan of the inside post for his horses
http://www.broncosauthorizedshops.com/authentic-daesean-hamilton-jersey , no matter what the race.
History, however, may be on Justify’s side. Since 1905, a leading 23 horses have won from the No. 1 post. The last to win from there was Empire Maker in 2003 when he spoiled Funny Cide’s Triple Crown bid.
Justify won the first two legs of the series from the No. 7 post. He ran on sloppy tracks both times and the forecast for Saturday calls for a 60 percent chance of rain.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Pitcher Meghan King settled down after a rough start to complete a record-setting Women’s College World Series, and Florida State beat Washington 8-3 to claim its first national title.
The Seminoles (58-12) won the best-of-three championship series 2-0. They lost their opener before winning six straight to become just the third team to come through the losers’ bracket and take the title.
King broke a World Series record for lowest ERA among pitchers who threw at least 10 innings with a mark of 0.20. She earned four wins and a save in Oklahoma City while allowing just one earned run in 34 1/3 innings.
King was on such a run that Florida State’s ace throughout the season, Kylee Hanson, never had to pitch in the championship series.
Florida State’s Jessie Warren, who hit .520 in the World Series, was named most outstanding player. She went 3 for 4 with a homer on Tuesday.
TENNIS
PARIS (AP) – Novak Djokovic’s neck was bothering him. Then his right leg was.
The way he faltered at the most crucial of moments in the French Open quarterfinals might have hurt him the most against an opponent who never won a Grand Slam match until last week and The Latest on the New Jersey Legislature’s effort to legalize sports betting (all times local):
5:25 p.m.
Monmouth Park Racetrack says it won’t take any sports bets Thursday night.
But the track’s plans beyond that remain unclear.
The Oceanport, New Jersey track near the Jersey shore says it will announce soon when it plans to begin taking bets at its sports wagering lounge.
The New Jersey Legislature approved a sports betting bill Thursday
http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-p.j.-hall-jersey , but Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy won’t say when he’ll act on it.
One state lawmaker notes that language that would have prohibited a casino or track from taking sports bets before the bill is signed was stripped from the bill before it was approved.
—-
5:20 p.m.
Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta is thanking the New Jersey Legislature for a last-minute fix that will allow his Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City to take sports bets – just not on basketball.
Fertitta owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets, and would have been shut out of sports betting under previous versions of the bill.
But the change allows him to offer bets on other sports except for basketball.
Fertitta says he eventually hopes to persuade New Jersey to let the Golden Nuggets take bets on basketball teams other than the Rockets, which is what Nevada regulators allow.
—
5 p.m.
Major League Baseball, the NBA and the PGA Tour want New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to ”fix” the sports betting law on his desk to address concerns about the integrity of betting on their games.
The leagues are seeking payments to help them police betting patterns, and want better information sharing.
They say the law passed Thursday by the state Legislature does not address those concerns.
Lawmakers rejected the integrity fee payments.
It remains unclear when sports betting might begin in New Jersey, or when the Democratic governor might act on the bill.
—-
4:55 p.m.
A major bookmaking company has signed a contract to offer sports betting at tracks in New Jersey and New York.
Moments after the New Jersey Legislature gave final approval to a bill legalizing sports betting, Betfair US announced it will offer sports betting at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, just outside New York City.
It will do likewise at Tioga Downs Racetrack in New York.
Betfair says it will start offering sports betting this summer and will be operational at the tracks before the NFL season begins in September.
Betfair US is a subsidiary of Paddy Power Betfair, one of the largest publicly traded sports betting companies in the world.
—-
4:40 p.m.
A New Jersey lawmaker says a Jersey shore racetrack is technically free to start taking bets immediately, even before a bill legalizing sports betting is signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
Republican state Sen. Declan O’Scanlan says language was dropped from the bill that prohibited any sports betting facility from opening until the bill is signed.
That appears to clear the way for Monmouth Park in Oceanport to begin taking bets right away. The track has loudly wanted to begin taking bets Friday.
But its chief
Breeland Speaks Color Rush Jersey , Dennis Drazin, also has said he does not want to antagonize the governor.
It remains unclear what the track’s plans are and when the governor might act.
3:35 p.m.
The New Jersey Legislature has given final approval to a bill legalizing sports betting.
The state Senate approved the bill Thursday afternoon shortly after the Assembly approved it.
It now goes to the desk of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who hasn’t said when he’ll sign it.
Murphy’s office says the bill will get a careful review, but won’t estimate when the governor will act on it.
Monmouth Park racetrack has been particularly vocal about its desire to start taking bets on Friday.
—-
3:10 p.m.
The New Jersey Assembly has unanimously approved a bill that would legalize sports betting.
The bill approved Thursday now goes to the state Senate, which also is expected to approve it, and then to the desk of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. It’s unclear whether he will sign it into law.
The Assembly amended the bill to allow casinos that own more than 10 percent of a sports team to still offer sports betting, but only on sports other than those in which they own a team. That would let the Golden Nugget back in the game.
Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta owns the Golden Nugget and the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
Under the change, the Golden Nugget could still take bets on sports including football, baseball and hockey, but not basketball.
—
1:50 p.m.
New Jersey lawmakers are rethinking a law that would have banned one Atlantic City casino from offering sports betting.
The state Assembly is expected to amend its proposed sports betting law to allow casinos that own more than 10 percent of a sports team to still offer sports betting
http://www.chiefsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-breeland-speaks-jersey , but only on sports other than those in which they own a team.
That would let the Golden Nugget back in the game.

Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta owns the Golden Nugget and the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
Under the change, the Golden Nugget could still take bets on sports including football, baseball and hockey, but not basketball.
—
12:30 a.m.
New Jersey’s proposed sports betting law is heading down to the wire.
Final legislative approval is expected on Thursday, but it’s anyone’s bet when Gov. Phil Murphy might sign it.
Despite the desire of Atlantic .
Добавлено спустя 8 минут 56 секунд:The ChicagoFor better or for worse
Korey Toomer Color Rush Jersey , Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson is an expert when it comes to knowing what the NHL looks for when punishing someone for a dangerous hit, and he thinks Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman could be in trouble.
Wilson, who served a three-game suspension earlier this postseason, spoke out about the way Stralman slammed him into the glass in the first period of what turned into a 4-2 victory for Tampa Bay over Washington in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final on Tuesday night.
Stralman was sent to the penalty box for boarding on the play.
”It’s a vulnerable position. There’s no doubt there’s contact with my head. If I’m wearing a helmet from five years ago, I think I’m probably unconscious. So we’ll see what they say,” Wilson said, referring to the possibility of the league’s department of player safety reviewing the matter.
On the play
Antonio Senzatela Colorado Rockies Jersey , Wilson was facing the glass not too far from the Capitals’ bench when Stralman hit him from behind. Wilson dropped to the ice and put his right glove to his helmet.
After the game, which allowed the Lightning to cut their series deficit to 2-1, Wilson talked about the ”goose egg on the side of my head” and acknowledged, ”It took me a little bit to collect myself.”
He said the hit included ”everything I’ve heard all year: He sees (jersey) numbers for a good amount of time, and he elevates through the back of my shoulder and head.”
Capitals coach Barry Trotz referred to those as ”red flags,” and added, ”I understand where Tom’s coming from
Pat Valaika Colorado Rockies Jersey , no question.”
”That’s a lot of `don’ts’ for me. From what they’ve been telling me, that’s a lot of `don’ts.’ If I make that hit, 100 percent I’m probably sitting out. So we’ll see. It’s playoffs. It’s an intense time of year,” Wilson said. ”I don’t think he’s a malicious player, at all. But it’s a pretty dangerous hit. I think a lot of people will say that.”
The game was scoreless at the time of that hit, but Tampa Bay would go on to take a 3-0 lead en route to the victory. Wilson thought that Stralman’s play might have set a tone that affected the way play went.
”(When) someone gets run from behind, for the next couple shifts
http://www.texansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jordan-akins-jersey , you might be a little more tentative coming back for pucks,” Wilson said. ”We’ve got to play through it. There’s going to be emotion.”
Senior vice president of player safety George Parros was at Tuesday’s game. During the season, Parros and Wilson met for about an hour to go over video clips of various hits so the player could understand what the league is watching for.
During Washington’s elimination of two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs, Wilson missed three games after breaking Penguins rookie Zach Aston-Reese’s jaw in a violent collision.
Wilson also was forced to sit out two preseason games following a late hit on an opponent, then was suspended for the first four games of the regular season for boarding a player shortly after his return.
—
Emails, recordings and testimony prove that four former employees of the truck stop chain Pilot Flying J conspired to defraud customers in a fuel rebate scam that has already resulted in more than a dozen guilty pleas, a prosecutor said Monday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Hamilton told jurors in his closing argument that conspirators in the scheme identified potential targets
http://www.broncosauthorizedshops.com/authentic-daesean-hamilton-jersey , cheated them out of money and lulled them into a false sense of security.
Benjamin Vernia, an attorney for former sales staffer Heather Jones, said the government had ”fallen far short” of proving its case against his client. Attorneys for former Pilot president Mark Hazelwood, former vice president Scott ”Scooter” Wombold and former sales staffer Karen Mann will present their closing arguments Tuesday. The trial began three months ago but has taken time off for holidays and bad weather.
Pilot Flying J is controlled by the family of Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. The Haslams haven’t been charged with any wrongdoing. The governor has not been involved in the company in recent years.
Prosecutors say the four defendants participated in a scheme to shortchange trucking customers on diesel rebates. Fourteen former members of the Pilot sales team have pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme, and the company paid a $92 million penalty to the federal government and settled a class-action lawsuit for $85 million.

Hamilton spent much of his closing argument outlining how each of the four defendants was involved.
He said former Pilot account representative Dan Peyton informed Hazelwood that a company had been shortchanged by Pilot. Hamilton also said Hazelwood received emails showing Pilot representatives were offering companies one price and actually charging something different.
Hamilton noted that Wombold worked with Brian Mosher, a former sales director who already has pleaded guilty and who testified in this trial. Hamilton said there’s no evidence of Wombold ever telling Mosher defrauding customers was wrong and advising him to stop. Hamilton also cited emails indicating Mann had participated in the fraud as well as testimony that Jones had sent spreadsheets to Mosher to assist in the scheme.
Vernia disputed the notion that Jones willingly participated in any sort of fraud. Vernia said Jones even had asked Mosher at one point if what they were doing was OK, and that Mosher had told her it was.
”Brian Mosher had no compunction about lying to Heather Jones
http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jessie-bates-iii-jersey ,” Vernia said.
.
Добавлено спустя 7 минут 18 секунд:Aaron AltherrThe San Antonio Spurs face a near-must-win situation when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
And nothing would make the Trail Blazers happier than to snatch that victory away from the Spurs and rain a little on the parade San Antonio has enjoyed for the past two decades.
The Spurs (45-34) are in desperation mode although they begin play in the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference with three games to play. San Antonio is tied with New Orleans and Oklahoma City for fifth place in the Western Conference standings
Cheap Lamar Jackson Jersey , a game behind fourth-place Utah. But only one game separates fifth place from ninth place, with the top eight teams earning spots in the postseason.
San Antonio heads home for its next-to-last home game after two straight, last-second losses in Los Angeles, first to the Clippers Tuesday and then to the Lakers, with the latter a 122-112 setback in overtime the following night.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points for the Spurs in the loss to the Lakers, while Dejounte Murray hit for 23 points and took 10 rebounds, and Pau Gasol had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Rudy Gay added 14 points off the bench for San Antonio.
The loss was San Antonio’s seventh straight on the road and kept the Spurs’ magic number to clinch their 21st consecutive playoff berth at two. Two of San Antonio’s last three games are against teams with winning records, including their season finale at New Orleans on Wednesday.
“Man, we’ve got to know that every game is a playoff, a Game 7 for us,” Murray said. “We’ve got to play for 48 minutes, and if the game decides to go to overtime like it did tonight, we’ve got to be ready to play even more.
“We are staying together
Ito Smith Color Rush Jersey ,” Murray added. “One thing I can say, we are staying together. There is a lot going on. When you lose games, it is easy to lose focus.”
For the first time in 18 years, the Spurs will not win 50 games in a season. And Gasol said that San Antonio’s margin for error is shrinking.
“We have been talking about that,” Gasol said. “It just gets slimmer and slimmer. It was the worst outcome, losing two games that we had our chances and even times, especially (against the Clippers), were in control of with big leads. But two losses, and that is reality.”
Portland (48-31) heads to the Alamo City in third place in the Western Conference standings, a game up on Utah but already assured of a spot in the playoffs. The Trail Blazers lost their most recent game at Houston 96-94 on Thursday despite allowing just 12 points in the fourth quarter and 30 points in the second half.
CJ McCollum led the Trail Blazers with 16 points, and Jusuf Nurkic had his 25th double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. Wade Baldwin IV scored 14 points while Caleb Swanigan had a career-high 10 points and Evan Turner had 10 points for Portland.
“I know we put in all the guys who don’t play a lot, everybody’s hungry
http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-anthony-averett-jersey ,” Baldwin said. “Everybody wants to play in this league, everybody wants to show what they can do. I think everybody did a fantastic job of showing that tonight.”
Portland dropped its second consecutive game and fell to 4-5 since a 13-game winning streak launched them up the Western Conference standings
“Those guys at the end just worked their (butts) off,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “Played hard, were aggressive defensively. It was really impressive. Too bad we couldn’t go to overtime or win it, but I was really proud of the way they played.”
Portland’s star guard Damian Lillard has been hampered by an ankle injury but said Friday that he expects to play on Saturday in San Antonio.
The Latest on Thursday night’s NBA draft (all times local):
11 p.m.
The Atlantic Coast Conference, which tied its record with nine NCAA Tournament teams earlier this year, had the most players selected in the first round of the NBA draft: six players.
Duke accounted for half the ACC’s total with Marvin Bagley III, Wendell Carter Jr. and Grayson Allen.
After setting a league record with eight NCAA teams, the Southeastern Conference ranked second again with five first-round picks – but only two from Kentucky. The SEC also tied its own mark with four lottery picks for the second time in four years for the league.
The Big Ten matched its four NCAA teams with four first-round draft picks.
The Big 12 fell far short of matching its seven NCAA berths with only three first-round picks. But the Pac 12, which had Arizona’s Deandre Ayton taken No. 1 overall, matched its three NCAA teams with three draft picks.
And Villanova, the defending national champ, helped the Big East top its two No. 1 seeds. Three Wildcats wound up drafted among the first 30 picks.
—
9:10 p.m.
Michael Porter Jr. insists that he’s the best player in this draft.
Apparently
Josh Tomlin Cleveland Indians Jersey , 13 teams disagreed.
Porter Jr., whose college career at Missouri was all of three games because of back surgery, fell to the very last lottery spot in Thursday night’s draft. The Denver Nuggets decided Porter Jr. was worth the gamble, taking him with the No. 14 selection.
Porter played just 53 minutes in college and cancelled a workout in recent days because of what was described as a hip issue.
The freefall is going to cost Porter some money. The top pick in this year’s draft, Deandre Ayton, is guaranteed to make at least $6.7 million. Porter Jr. is only guaranteed $2.4 million.
—
9 p.m.
Before Deandre Ayton was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the first pick of the draft, he had signed a multimillion deal with Puma.
Ayton, one of three players in this class who made the choice to go with Puma over bigger brands such as Nike and Adidas, says it was an easy and personal decision for him.
He says, ”In the Bahamas, a lot of people cannot afford Nike or Adidas. Puma is the main brand and it’s very affordable, and growing up around that brand, I’m used to that brand.”
Ayton
http://www.jetsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-nathan-shepherd-jersey , who played at Arizona, is from Nassau, Bahamas. The inside of his draft tuxedo not only featured Bahama’s flag but also Nigeria and Jamaica ones. His mom is Jamaican and Bahamian. His dad is Nigerian.
Marvin Bagley III and Zhaire Smith also signed with Puma.
Ayton says he wants to ”start my own thing,” adding, ”I want to be dominant in my own brand, and I want to have my own signature one day to make it global.”
—
7:50 p.m.
Luka Doncic won a championship on Tuesday. For Real Madrid. In Spain.
Two days later, he’s in the NBA.
The Slovenian teenager -considered one of the best prospects to come out of Europe- was picked No. 3 overall by the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night, amid reports that he would quickly be traded to Dallas for the No. 5 pick and a future first-round selection.
This marks the seventh time in the last 13 drafts that at least one player has gone in the top five and will be entering the NBA directly from an international team. Andrea Bargnani went No. 1 overall in 2006; the last top-five to come from an international roster was Dragan Bender, who went No. 4 to Phoenix in 2016.
The international touch on this draft is already pronounced, with No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton being born in the Bahamas.
—
7:40 p.m.
Only eight years after playing basketball for the first time, Deandre Ayton is the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
The Phoenix Suns made the long-expected move official on Thursday night, taking the Arizona center with the top overall pick. He’s the first Arizona player to go No. 1 in the draft; Mike Bibby was No. 2 in 1998 and Derrick Williams was No. 2 in 2011.
It’s history for Ayton, and history for his homeland as well.
Ayton is just the second player born in the Bahamas to go No. 1
Brandon Guyer Cleveland Indians Jersey , joining Mychal Thompson – the top pick in the 1978 draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 7-foot-1 Ayton, who didn’t start playing basketball until he was 12, averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game in his lone college season. He’s the ninth consecutive one-and-done player to be taken No. 1 overall.
—

7:25 p.m.
The players in New York who were headed to the Green Room were individually introduced on stage before the draft officially started. They had their names announced, special accolades and where they are from. Parents also got to walk out with their sons.
Members of the Jr. NBA lined up to clap and cheer, creating a walkway for the draft prospects as they went to sit down at their respective tables.
This is the first time NBA has started the draft with an elaborate introduction.
—
6:40 p.m.
Avery Johnson is back at Barclays Center, home of some turbulent times.
Draft night will be a celebratory one for the Alabama coach, who is seated at the green room table of star Crimson Tide point guard Collin Sexton.
Johnson was the Nets‘ coach when they moved to Brooklyn in 2012 but was fired with a 14-14 record early in that first season shortly after they were blown out at home by Boston in a nationally televised Christmas Day game.
He eventually ended up at Alabama and coached here last season when the Crimson Tide played in the Barclays Center Classic. They finished their championship game los.
Добавлено спустя 6 минут 25 секунд:Ryan HartmanWASHINGTON — With their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2012 safely in hand
http://www.dolphinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-durham-smythe-jersey , the New Jersey Devils have one game left to see if they can improve their position when they visit the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.
The Devils (44-28-9) clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Thursday night at the Prudential Center.
“We did it. We didn’t rely on anyone. It’s a sense of accomplishment,” Devils forward Brian Boyle told nhl.com. “The battling for playoff positioning and trying to clinch, it’s all part of the fun of it. Emotions rise, tensions rise, you work hard and you get rewarded. We did it together.”
The Devils will finish with at least 97 points — 99 if they defeat the Capitals — far above the 70 points by last season’s club that finished at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
With one game remaining
http://www.coltsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-kemoko-turay-jersey , the Devils are in position to clinch the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. They can finish as high as third in the Metropolitan Division or as low as the second wild-card spot.
Against the Leafs, New Jersey fell behind 1-0 in the first period, but Pavel Zacha and Miles Wood scored in the second period. Keith Kincaid finished with 31 saves, including 12 in the third period.
The Devils also earned this spot, going 10-2-1 in their past 13 games.
“It’s a credit to a lot of guys in here for just coming up big when the pressure is on
http://www.redskinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-da_ron-payne-jersey ,” forward Taylor Hall told nhl.com. “That’s what I’m proud of, how we’ve played through the stretch here.”
Washington’s playoff position is set, though their opponent is not. The Metropolitan Division winner will draw the top wild-card team, which may not be decided until Sunday when the Florida Panthers face the Boston Bruins.
The Capitals (48-26-7), the two-time defending Presidents’ Trophy winners
http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-connor-williams-jersey , watched the Nashville Predators secure this season’s trophy with a 4-3 win over the Capitals on Thursday night at Capital One Arena.
“But I like the way we’re playing,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz told The Washington Post after the Capitals lost for just the second time since March 20. “We’re playing with lots of speed, we’re playing with lots of pace, and that was a good test.”
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored twice for Washington and Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 47th goal, meaning he will need a hat trick Saturday night to reach 50 goals for the eighth time.
“Right now
Sean Newcomb Atlanta Braves Jersey , our focus is not on 50, our focus is on the playoffs,” Ovechkin told nhl.com. “And being in shape. We didn’t get hurt. That’s the most important thing.”
Kuznetsov, who added an assist, posted his 82nd point of the season and became the 16th player in franchise history to reach 80 and the first player other than Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom to do it since Alexander Semin in the 2009-10 season.

Kuznetsov’s 27 goals this season are a personal season high.
Phillip Grubauer made 25 saves for Washington. Braden Holtby will likely start against the Devils
http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-justin-bethel-jersey , and the wait will begin for Trotz to reveal his playoff goaltending plans.
In Holtby’s last three starts, he is 2-1-0 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
Los Angeles Angels rookie reliever Jake Jewell has a broken right leg and could miss the rest of the season.
The Angels put Jewell on the 10-day disabled list Thursday, a day after he was injured in a game against Boston. He’s scheduled to have surgery Friday.
Jewell was carted off the field at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. Called up from Triple-A earlier in the day, he appeared to catch his cleat as he covered the plate on a run-scoring wild pitch and fractured his fibula. The 25-year-old was hurt in his third big league game.
The Angels recalled right-handed pitcher Eduardo Paredes from Triple-A Salt Lake and added right-hander Taylor Cole to the major league roster.
The club also optioned infielder Nolan Fontana to Salt Lake and transferred infielder Zack Cozart to the 60-day DL. Cozart is scheduled to have season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder on Friday.
.
Добавлено спустя 7 минут 24 секунды:The ChicagoMinnesota coach Mike Zimmer says he hasn’t made a decision regarding the status of quarterback Sam Bradford
http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-sylvester-williams-jersey , who has practiced the last two weeks in an attempt to be activated from the injured reserve list.
Case Keenum will be the Vikings starting quarterback in Sunday’s NFC Divisional Round playoff game against the New Orleans Saints.
After practice on Friday, Zimmer refuted a report that Bradford might be activated.
A writer for the Boston Globe tweeted Friday the ”Vikings plan to dress” Bradford, who hasn’t been active since Week 5 against the Chicago Bears.
”I don’t know how the Boston Globe would know because I haven’t made any decisions yet
http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-ito-smith-jersey ,” Zimmer said.

Bradford was placed on the IR on Nov. 8 after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to clean his left knee. He became eligible to practice before the Vikings’ Week 17 game, but didn’t until the following Tuesday. Since then, he’s participated in five practices.
”It’s kind of hard to get (Bradford) reps when you’re getting your starter ready
Baker Mayfield Jersey Elite ,” Zimmer said. ”Forty reps in a practice, and he gets five and Bridgewater gets five.”
Bradford started in Week 1 against the Saints and passed for 346 yards, three touchdowns and a career high 143.0 passer rating
Michael Gallup Color Rush Jersey , despite injuring his knee in the game.
Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (foot) was listed as questionable for Sunday. The veteran didn’t practice Thursday but was a limited participant on Friday.
The Arizona Cardinals have released running back Adrian Peterson after a half-season in the desert that included a pair of impressive games and a season-ending injury.
The seven-time All-Pro running back began last season with New Orleans but, after barely playing there, was dealt to the Cardinals.
Peterson rushed for 134 yards in a win over Tampa Bay and 159 in a win over San Francisco. In six games
Josh Hader Milwaukee Brewers Jersey , he gained 448 yards on 129 carries for Arizona before being sidelined with a neck injury.
Peterson’s release was not unexpected, with David Johnson returning from injury and expected to fill the primary running back spot.
Peterson, who turns 33 next week
Roquan Smith Color Rush Jersey , ranks 12th in the NFL in career rushing with 12,276 yards.
—
.