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Nuggets On Brink Of NBA Finals With 119-108 Win Over Lakers In Game 3

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(LOS ANGELES) LAKERS– While mired in foul trouble, Nikola Jokic was far from his usual dominant form, and Jamal Murray cooled off after a blistering first half. The Denver Nuggets’ early lead vanished completely in the fourth quarter of Game 3, and the Lakers’ home audience erupted.

The Nuggets overcame every setback and took control with the champions’ calm, deliberate elegance.

With one more win, they can compete for their first rings.

Murray scored 37 points, Jokic added 24 points and eight assists, and the Nuggets defeated the Lakers 119-108 on Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half for the top-seeded Nuggets, who have never been this close to the NBA Finals in their 47-year history. Denver is making its fifth consecutive playoff appearance, and the championship game is now just one win away.

“I learn a lot about this team every time we play,” Caldwell-Pope said. “We have that dog mentality where, whether up or down, we’re going to fight and play our game at a high level.” We will keep doing that for the rest of the games.”

Denver lost a 14-point lead in Game 3 but used a decisive 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to halt the Lakers’ nine-game home winning streak dating back to March 26, including seven straight wins since the regular season concluded.

“This group is capable of doing great things, and they believe,” said Denver coach Michael Malone. “Belief is a very powerful thing.”

In the history of the NBA, no club has returned from a 3-0 series disadvantage. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night in Los Angeles.

“They’re going to do everything in their power to come back and fight on their home floor,” Murray said. “We know it’s coming, and all we have to do is stay focused and believe we can do it.”

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The seventh-seeded Lakers, hadn’t lost three straight games since early February.

The seventh-seeded Lakers, who hadn’t lost three straight games since early February, were led by Anthony Davis, who had 28 points and 18 rebounds. Los Angeles’ protracted, frantic push since the trade deadline has finally peaked against the Nuggets, who have won five straight playoff games.

“They’ve been at the top of the food chain for a reason, and have a plethora of guys that can hurt you, as was on full display tonight,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “However, circumstances are what they are. It will be difficult, but not impossible.”

Los Angeles’ LeBron James finished with 23 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds, making three 3-pointers after going 0 for 13 in the series. Austin Reaves contributed 23 points and seven rebounds, but Rui Hachimura was the only other Lakers player to reach double figures, with 13 points.

“Our backs have probably been against the wall for the last two months, maybe more, since the trade deadline,” Reaves said. “I’m swinging and throwing punches to get to this opportunity… We can either come out and go home on Monday, or we can fight for another day. And I know what that answer will be given the set of guys we have.”

Jokic’s four-game stretch of triple-doubles ended in a relatively quiet game for the two-time MVP, who picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter. On the other hand, Murray scored 17 points in a thrilling first quarter after a 23-point fourth quarter the night before, and he had 30 points by the halftime of Game 3.

Bruce Brown scored 15 points for the Nuggets and nailed a clutch 3-pointer down the stretch before Jokic iced it with a 3-pointer with 3:17 remaining.

Lakers supporters turned out in numbers for the 17-time champion team’s first conference finals games at home since 2010. Los Angeles attempted frantically to get back into the series, with James playing 43 minutes after spraining his left ankle in Game 2 and already having a sore right foot.

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Lakers supporters turned out in numbers for the 17-time champion team’s first conference finals games at home since 2010.

But the Nuggets’ travel to the coast didn’t dampen Murray’s spirits: after torching the Lakers in Game 2, the Canadian guard scored his first five shots in Game 3 and poured in 17 points in the first quarter – despite Jokic going scoreless for the second quarter in a row.

Murray’s fourth 3-pointer of the night made him 11 of 13 from the field for 26 points midway through the second quarter, putting him on pace to score more than half of Denver’s points. Reaves and Davis kept the Lakers in the game, with Reaves scoring 15 points, dishing out three assists, and grabbing three rebounds in the second quarter alone.

Early in the fourth, Hachimura’s 3-pointer gave the Lakers their first lead since the opening minutes, but the Nuggets rallied again, led by Brown’s 3-pointer with 7:02 remaining, after which he teased the Lakers’ bench with Los Angeles’ famous “Freeze” 3-point celebration.

D’Angelo Russell struggled again for the Lakers, scoring three points on one of eight attempts in 20 minutes. Russell was the most important addition to the Lakers’ trade deadline turnaround, but he has only 21 points in this three-game series.

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Aaron Gordon scored seven points in 32 minutes for the Nuggets… Michael Porter Jr. finished with 14 points and ten rebounds, including a 3-pointer in the final 90 seconds.

Backup C for the Lakers, Mo Bamba, missed his tenth straight game due to a painful left ankle. The squad is hoping that Bamba can participate at some time during this series. Jack Nicholson, Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, Andy Garcia, Dyan Cannon, Ken Jeong, Joel McHale, LA Kings captain Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty, and Khalil Mack, Derwin James, and Sebastian Joseph-Day from the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense were among those in attendance.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Another Byron Win Has Hendrick On A Roll Heading Toward NASCAR Team’s 40th Anniversary Party

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AUSTIN, Texas – Hendrick Motorsports has much to be excited about as it approaches its 40th anniversary celebration in two weeks.

William Bryon dominated on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, earning his second NASCAR win. Alex Bowman finished in the top four for the third time in 2024 at COTA, while Kyle Larson won the Xfinity Series in a thrilling finale on Saturday.

That’s quite a leap ahead of the team’s planned festivities for race weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where Hendrick Motorsports won its first race with Geoff Bodine in 1984 while racing under the moniker All-Star Racing.

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Another Byron Win Has Hendrick On A Roll Heading Toward NASCAR Team’s 40th Anniversary Party

So far, the race has resulted in its party.

Byron is the only two-time winner in the season’s first six races. The first occurred in the Daytona 500, where Bowman and Hendrick finished 1-2 in NASCAR’s marquee event.

Byron’s victory at COTA was his 12th career win and first from the pole position.

“I mean, just seeing him qualify, he was so fluid. The same thing happened throughout the race. “Just seemed to put the car in all the right places,” Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon explained. “A lot of thanks to William for accomplishing such an excellent job. Takes the entire team, pit crew, and everyone. They’ve had a great start to the season. I can’t wait to see where they take it next.

The series will head to Richmond’s short track next week before returning to Martinsville on April 7.

“We’re going to shoot for the stars,” declared Byron’s crew chief, Rudy Fogle.

Hendrick hopes to have a strong showing at Martinsville, where team vehicles will be painted in unique red schemes, owner Rick Hendrick will drive the pace car, and Bodine and Gordon will serve as grand marshals.

In the last four years, a Hendrick driver has won a race in Martinsville. The team has won the most Cup Series races at any track on the circuit, with 28 total.

“Obviously Martinsville is big for the 40th anniversary,” he remarked.

hendrick

Another Byron Win Has Hendrick On A Roll Heading Toward NASCAR Team’s 40th Anniversary Party

Bowman triumphed there in 2021 and generated huge results during a crucial season. He has not won since 2022, has had two seasons of injuries, and will miss the playoffs in 2023.

“I don’t want to say, ‘Yeah, we’re back here 100%,’ but these last few weeks have been a step in the right direction,” Mr. Bowman said.

“I’m personally working as hard as I’ve ever worked,” he said. This year, I’m all in on every aspect, whether it’s extra shifts in the (simulator), correlating the tires, spending more time with the team, or training in the gym.”

Larson’s Xfinity victory was a surprise despite starting from the pole position. He had to start from the back because his squad needed to replace a broken brake rotor, but he fought his way through and took the victory in overtime.

hendrick

Another Byron Win Has Hendrick On A Roll Heading Toward NASCAR Team’s 40th Anniversary Party

Larson was the first NASCAR driver to win the pole and the race while leading only one lap. His victory was Hendrick Motorsports’ first in the Xfinity Series since the team returned in 2022.

The only blight on Hendrick’s successful weekend was Larson’s 17th-place result in Sunday’s race, which took him out of the Cup Series lead. Larson now ranks fifth, slightly ahead of Bryon.

All four Hendrick drivers are in the top 11, but Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs are the new season championship leaders.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Ohtani To Speak To Media For 1st Time Since Illegal Gambling, Theft Allegations Against Interpreter

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Los Angeles — Shohei Ohtani wants to talk to the media on Monday for the first time since allegations of illicit gambling and theft against the Los Angeles Dodgers player and his interpreter surfaced during the team’s trip to South Korea.

The Dodgers sacked their translator, Ippei Mizuhara, last week after the team opened the season with two games against the San Diego Padres in Seoul.

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Ohtani To Speak To Media For 1st Time Since Illegal Gambling, Theft Allegations Against Interpreter

Manager Dave Roberts encouraged Ohtani to address the issue openly. He stated that the two-way superstar made the decision.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Roberts explained. “I’m glad he’s going to speak up, share what he knows, and express his thoughts on the matter. I believe it will give us all a little more clarity.”

Mizuhara was let off the team after the Los Angeles Times and ESPN reported on his apparent ties to an illegal bookmaker and claimed from Ohtani’s attorneys that the Japanese star had been the victim of a “massive theft.”

Major League Baseball has launched an investigation into the matter. The Internal Revenue Service has stated that Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, an accused unlicensed bookmaker in Orange County, California, are under criminal investigation.

Will Ireton, the team’s performance operations manager, has taken over the translating duties from Ohtani. He had previously done the same for then-Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda, who is Japanese.

Ohtani made a quick cameo in the Dodgers’ clubhouse before Sunday’s Freeway Series opening against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels. The teams will play three exhibition games before the Dodgers meet St. Louis in their home opener on Thursday.

The crowd of 42,607 cheered Ohtani passionately each time he came to the plate in his first game as a Dodger in his hometown stadium. He went 0 for 2 as the designated hitter, walking once and striking out once before exiting.

He is also expected to play Monday in Los Angeles and Tuesday in Anaheim, where he was a two-time AL MVP before signing a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December.

Roberts stated that Ohtani has yet to address his teammates as a group.

ohtani

Ohtani To Speak To Media For 1st Time Since Illegal Gambling, Theft Allegations Against Interpreter

“I think that he’s had one-off conversations with players,” Mr. Roberts added.

The manager claimed he checked in with Ohtani to see how he was doing.

“He’s kind of business as usual,” Roberts explained.

Ohtani has a double locker in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, between the shower room and fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is scheduled to make his second start of the season against St. Louis on Saturday.

On Sunday, additional security was deployed in the overcrowded clubhouse. In addition to the players and a slew of journalists, eight temporary lockers were built up at one end for minor leaguers brought in from Arizona for the Freeway Series.

Overhead televisions were tuned to men’s NCAA Tournament events, baseball, and horse racing, with former Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca providing TV handicapping suggestions for the day’s races.

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Ohtani To Speak To Media For 1st Time Since Illegal Gambling, Theft Allegations Against Interpreter

The MLB gambling policy is displayed in every clubhouse. Betting on baseball, legal or illegal, carries a one-year ban from the sport. The commissioner can impose penalties for illicit betting on other sports. Sports gambling is outlawed in California despite the fact that it is permitted in 38 other states and the District of Columbia.

“The mood in the room is get ready for baseball because I don’t hear a lot of conversations and speculation,” Roberts told reporters. “That’s why I think tomorrow is going to be good for everyone.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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British Runner Jasmin Paris Becomes First Woman To Finish Barkley Marathons, Just 99 Seconds Before Time Limit Expired

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A British runner, Jasmin Paris, became the first woman to complete the famed Barkley Marathons on Friday.

According to Keith Dunn, who attends the race and publishes updates on X (previously known as Twitter), Paris completed the difficult course in 59 hours, 58 minutes, and 21 seconds, barely 99 seconds, before the 60-hour time restriction expired.

The 40-year-old veterinarian was photographed collapsing over the finish line as she finished the event.

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British Runner Jasmin Paris Becomes First Woman To Finish Barkley Marathons, Just 99 Seconds Before Time Limit Expired

Paris was one of five finishers in the 2024 Barkley Marathons, with Ukrainian Ihor Very first, Americans John Kelly and Jared Campbell second and third, and Greig Hamilton of New Zealand fourth.

Verys, who finished at 58:44:59, said that Dunn added a sixth loop.

Campbell, who finished the Barkley Marathons for the fourth time in 59:30:32, claimed the new part was “brutal.” “You are a bad man.”

Paris made waves in 2019 when she won the 2019 Spine event. She became the first woman to win the 268-mile event and shaved 12 hours off the previous record.

The Barkley Marathons are notable for their arduous, near-impossible nature. Many consider it the world’s toughest and most punishing foot race.

berkley

British Runner Jasmin Paris Becomes First Woman To Finish Barkley Marathons, Just 99 Seconds Before Time Limit Expired

Every year, the renowned ultramarathon that racer Gary Cantrell created takes place at Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park. James Earl Ray’s 1977 jailbreak during which he assassinated Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. served as inspiration for the path.

Ray barely walked eight miles just over two days after escaping Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary before being apprehended, prompting Cantrell to speculate that he could travel 100 miles in the same amount of time.

The course is lengthy and indistinct, the inclines steep, and the terrain harsh, but only if you can manage the confusing admission system and earn a seat at the starting line.

The race consists of five circuits of about 20 miles each, for a total distance of 100 to 130 miles in brushy mountains with an elevation gain of roughly 63,000 feet. Athletes complete the race over three sleepless days and nights, with no aid stations, phones, or GPS to assist with navigation. Getting lost, as well as falling and being injured in the brush, is normal.

berkley

British Runner Jasmin Paris Becomes First Woman To Finish Barkley Marathons, Just 99 Seconds Before Time Limit Expired

The ultramarathon is marked with distinct unmanned checkpoints containing a paperback book. Athletes must rip out a page according to their bib number and have all the book pages in hand at the end of each loop to demonstrate that they reached each checkpoint.

Many need help to finish the races because of their difficulty, with no finishers between 2017 and 2023. It has a 99% dropout rate.

SOURCE – (CNN)

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