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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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Juan Soto Traded From Padres To Yankees In 7-Player Deal

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TORONTO, ONTARIO — For months, it had been speculated that the San Diego Padres might trade Juan Soto. Those rumors gained traction over the last week, culminating on Wednesday with the outfielder’s trade to the New York Yankees.

Soto is a generational hitter who dramatically transforms the Bronx Bombers. This is the largest move of the MLB offseason so far, and it should serve as a massive domino effect for subsequent trades across the league.

Here’s a closer look at the agreement and what it entails.

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Juan Soto Traded From Padres To Yankees In 7-Player Deal

The transaction involves the San Diego Padres sending outfielders Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees in exchange for right-handers Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, and Drew Thorpe, as well as catcher Kyle Higashioka.

The Yankees have emerged as the overwhelming favorite to sign Soto over the last few days. Other teams did not appear to be running late in the process, although numerous teams, notably the Toronto Blue Jays, have been mentioned in trade talks for the slugger.

The participant: We could write a book about Soto’s accomplishments and awards. He’s a batting champion, a World Series champion, a three-time all-star, and a four-time Silver Slugger. Simply put, he’s one of the finest hitters in the game, and at 25 years old, he may be approaching his prime.

Juan’s wRC-plus of 154 trails only three hitters since breaking into the majors in 2018: Yordan Alvarez (166), Aaron Judge (166) – his new teammate — and Mike Trout (172).

Juan had an outstanding 2023 season, hitting.275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs and an MLB-high 132 walks. His percentile rankings, typically among the best in the league last season, are equally astounding. All of this is crucial because, by his standards, Soto had a bad year in 2022 when he was moved from Washington to San Diego.

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Juan Soto Traded From Padres To Yankees In 7-Player Deal

The imminent free agency of Soto will be one of the biggest stories surrounding him in 2024. Soto, represented by super-agent Scott Boras, will join the market as one of the best free-agent hitters ever unless he is signed to an extension by the Yankees. His performance will be closely watched since it could strengthen his case for being a monster.

The fit: The Yankees have wished for a left-handed batter of Soto’s caliber for many years. The club should have pursued Bryce Harper during his free agency following the 2018 season, and the purchase of Soto might be viewed as a chance for general manager Brian Cashman to start over

Juan’s swing and batting profile are ideal for Yankee Stadium and its short right-field porch. Juan should easily outperform his career-high 35 home runs from last season. He’ll be teamed in the outfield and batting order with Judge to form arguably baseball’s deadliest offensive combo.

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Juan Soto Traded From Padres To Yankees In 7-Player Deal

The Yankees urgently needed a move like this after a poor offensive season in which they finished 24th in OPS (.701) and 29th in batting average (.227). The squad has long used a lineup prone to strikeouts and was overly right-handed. The additions of Soto and fellow outfielder Alex Verdugo should help to alleviate such concerns.  

The next domino to fall: Shohei Ohtani, the biggest of them all, though it’s safe to presume that the Soto trade has no influence there. Cody Bellinger’s market for outfielders should improve. In addition, the Yankees have recently been linked to Japanese starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto and might continue their offseason retooling by landing the right-hander.

SOURCE – (ESPN)

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Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

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Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has resigned from the inter-governmental group planning the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, describing it as a “pointless talkfest” and a “dysfunctional farce.”

It is the first substantial divide for the organizers, whom the International Olympic Committee chose to host the 2032 Summer Olympics in 2021.

The so-called Leaders’ Forum, which includes officials from all three levels of government and various organizations, is intended to deliver the Olympics while leaving a legacy for Queensland. Its mandate is to collaborate with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Queensland state government to “progress the significant venues, villages, and transportation infrastructure” for the Games.

However, Schrinner claimed that the committee was meant to “place key stakeholders while the state government made all the real decisions behind closed doors.”

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Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

“The truth is that we’ve always wanted to be team players. On Sunday, Schrinner stated, “The state government wanted to play politics.”

He advocated for creating an independent authority, similar to the one that oversaw preparations for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the London Olympics in 2012, to bring planning “back on track.”

“We don’t need overpriced stadiums, we need better transport,” Schrinner said. “This week it became very apparent that the Intergovernmental Leaders’ Forum is a dysfunctional farce.”

According to Schrinner, sports have become “more about overpriced stadiums.”
A $2.7 billion US makeover of the existing Gabba stadium in inner-city Brisbane, which would be dismantled and rebuilt, is intended to be the centerpiece of an Olympics with sites around southeast Queensland. However, Schrinner suggested that alternative options be investigated.

He was particularly critical of the state government’s proposals for Brisbane City Council to contribute $91 million to upgrade another local stadium, the RNA Showgrounds, to host cricket and Australian Rules football while the Gabba is redeveloped.

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Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

A 20,000-person stadium will be built within the showgrounds for the next five years to house the Brisbane Lions AFL teams and the Brisbane Heat cricket club. Schrinner resigned in response to the state government’s request for a financial commitment from the city for a temporary cricket and AFL site.

“The state government’s game playing is jeopardizing the games and they are quickly losing the support of the people of Queensland,” Schrinner said in a statement. “It’s clear that the games have become more about overpriced stadiums rather than the promise of vital transport solutions.”

Queensland Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe expressed surprise at Schrinner’s decision to resign. If he chooses to return, a place will be reserved for him.

Queensland will have council elections in March of next year. Schrinner’s conservative Liberal National Party alliance and the opposition Australian Labor Party had previously backed the Gabba renovation.

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Brisbane Mayor Quits 2032 Olympic Organizing Committee, Condemns Stadium Costs

The Greens’ candidate for mayor of Brisbane, Jonathan Sriranganathan, has stated that if elected, his party would oppose the demolition and rebuilding of the Gabba. He called it a “deplorable waste of money” and a “bad deal for our city.”

SOURCE – (CBC)

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Buffalo Bills Linebacker Von Miller Turns Himself In After He Was Accused Of Assaulting A Pregnant Woman

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Von Miller, a Buffalo Bills linebacker accused of abusing a pregnant lady, handed himself in Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued for him, according to Dallas police.

Miller, 34, surrendered to the Glenn Heights Police Department Thursday afternoon, hours after the warrant was issued, according to Dallas police.

Von was escorted to the DeSoto Police Department jail and quickly posted $5,000 bond before being released, according to Glenn Heights Police Chief Nick Bristow, according to CNN affiliate WFAA.

Dallas police responded to a “major disturbance call” around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the police department. According to police, a preliminary investigation showed that Miller and the victim had a verbal altercation and that Miller reportedly assaulted her.

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Buffalo Bills Linebacker Von Miller Turns Himself In After He Was Accused Of Assaulting A Pregnant Woman

According to authorities, Von fled the scene before officers arrived, and the woman was treated for minor injuries but not hospitalized.

“This morning, we were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller,” the Bills stated in a statement. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point.”

CNN has reached out to Miller for comment.

When reached by CNN, an NFL spokeswoman stated that the league is aware of the situation and has communicated with the Bills, but declined to comment further.

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Buffalo Bills Linebacker Von Miller Turns Himself In After He Was Accused Of Assaulting A Pregnant Woman

Von was born in DeSoto, Texas. He has two Super Bowl rings, one with the Denver Broncos and one with the Los Angeles Rams, and he was awarded the Super Bowl 50 MVP.

Von is the host of the Bleacher Report podcast “The Voncast.” Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is the parent company of both Bleacher Report and CNN. When asked about the arrest warrant, WBD remained silent.

Von is a prominent figure in football, known for his exceptional skills as a linebacker. He played a significant role in the Denver Broncos’ defense for many seasons, contributing to their success.

With his agility and strength, Miller has garnered recognition as one of the top players in the NFL. His impact on the field has earned him numerous accolades, making him a key player to watch during football season.

SOURCE – (CNN)

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