Nikola Jokic only had a basic outline of his offseason plans: Rest
Youth Jessie Bates III Jersey , work out in Denver, return home to Serbia and rest some more.
It’s not more elaborate since the Nuggets big man figured he’d be working for a while longer.
The Nuggets won six more games than a year ago and yet finished in the same position – a spot out of the playoffs. This season even came down to a
winner-take-all scenario in Minnesota, where the Nuggets came up short in
overtime to miss out on the playoffs for a fifth straight season.
”I’m not mad. I’m not sad, because I think we played good,” Jokic said Thursday. ”We’re not making the playoffs because we were not focused the whole
season, every game.”
Still, the Nuggets won six straight down the stretch to climb into contention for a spot, before losing to the Timberwolves in a spirited game.
”If we play with that sense of urgency that we did at the end, then we wouldn’t have even been in this position,” Will Barton said. ”It’s all a part of
growing.”
Veteran Richard Jefferson had a succinct message to the team.
”Embrace the pain,” Jefferson said. ”The pain is what makes it good.”
Soon after, he slung a plastic garbage bag crammed with all his gear over his shoulder and playfully sang ”On the Road Again” as he sauntered down the
hallway.
This is a team that’s steadily on the rise under third-year coach Michael Malone, going from 33 wins in 2015-16, to 40 last season and now 46.
”I’ll continue to think about
Authentic Preston Brown Jersey , going into next year, how I can get better next season. What do I have to do as a head coach and a leader to help this team
move from being a ninth seed and out of the playoffs with 46 wins to being a
playoff team?” Malone said. ”Next year is a year we have to make that jump.”
Denver had its share of health issues this season, with Paul Millsap missing 44 games after suffering a left wrist injury that required surgery. Jokic was
sidelined six games with a sprained left ankle, and Gary Harris missed 11
contests due to a strained right knee, before returning with two remaining.
”Through it all, I’m still optimistic and feel comfortable with where we’re at,” said Millsap, who signed a $90 million, three-year deal last summer. ”Still
wish we were still playing. But I’m still happy about our guys and where we’re
at.”
Things to know following a season in which the Nuggets went 31-10 at the Pepsi Center and 15-26 on the road:
BARTON’S RETURN
Barton did a little bit of everything for the Nuggets, from coming in off the bench to starting, from playing two-guard to small forward. A free agent this
summer, Barton hopes to be back next season.
”We’re building something real special here,” Barton said .
MURRAY & MALONE
Jamal Murray’s dad pushes him. John Calipari, his coach at Kentucky
Eddie Robinson Jersey , pushes him. So Malone can, too.
”I don’t think he realizes how hard he can get on me, how hard he can push me and demand stuff from me,” said Murray , who turned in quite a second season as
he transitioned to point guard.
No joke, Murray said he wants his 3-point shooting percentage (37.8 this season) to match his free throw percentage (90.5).
THE JOKER
Jokic was one of the most dominating big men in the league, averaging 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He also had 10 triple-doubles.
No wonder Malone is all for signing him to a long-term deal.
”As soon as possible, sign that kid up,” Malone said.
PAINFUL EXPERIENCE
Although Millsap came back in late February, his wrist wasn’t close to 100 percent. He said doctors told him it will be sore for up to a year.
”I still went out there and gave it all I could,” said Millsap , whose team went 24-20 in his absence.
THIS & THAT
Forward Kenneth Faried didn’t get into a game after nearly 10 minutes on Feb. 1. … The 37-year-old Jefferson on his future: ”It’s not whether or not I’m here.
It’s whether or not I’ll be playing basketball.” … Guard Devin Harris averaged
8.2 points after being acquired in February. … Forward Torrey Craig donned a cap
Thursday that had one word on it – ”Salty.” Mood of the team? ”It’s tough on all
the guys,” Craig said of missing the postseason.
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The Houston Astros relied on their powerful offense to win 12 straight games.
On Tuesday night that offense went cold
Authentic Will Middlebrooks Jersey , and their streak ended with a 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Astros went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position to come up one victory shy of setting the franchise record for longest winning streak in
franchise history. After averaging more than seven runs in their last 12 games,
Houston managed just five singles to end a stretch of 34 straight games with at
least one extra-base hit.
C.J. Cron homered early and Wilson Ramos hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning to lift the Rays to the victory.
Blake Snell (9-4) allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings, but had to pitch around a career-high seven walks for his fifth straight win. Sergio
Romo pitched for the third straight game, taking over with one out in the ninth
and allowing one hit for his third save a night after blowing the save in
Houston’s 5-4 win.
”We didn’t hit enough and we were shut down by a pretty good pitcher,” manager A.J. Hinch said. ”We kept putting up pretty decent at-bats, but that big
hit just eluded us again. We kept fighting until the end but just didn’t have
enough offense.”
Matt Duffy doubled to start the eighth and advanced to third on a groundout by Jake Bauers. The Rays took a 2-1 lead when the single by Ramos sailed just
over the head of a leaping Yuli Gurriel and into left field to allow Duffy to
score.
Cron snapped a career-long 0 for 23 slump with a solo homer with one out in the second inning to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead. It was the first hit since June
12 for Cron, who struck out 18 times during his hitless streak.
The Rays have struggled to win close games this season and had lost seven of their last eight games decided by one run before Tuesday’s win.
”Things kind of went our way,” manager Kevin Cash said. ”It’s amazing how those pop up in all those games but it’s nice to pull one out where there wasn’t
any mistakes. The walks are the only thing that you’d like to have back but
you’ll take the performance.”
Justin Verlander yielded six hits and one run while fanning 10 in 6 2/3 innings.
”It was a pretty good day for me, but it was a pretty good day for the other guy, too,” Verlander said. ”Classic pitchers’ duel. I wish we could’ve come out
on top, but … it happens.”
Hector Rondon (1-2) took the loss by allowing two hits and one run in one inning.
The Astros had plenty of opportunities to score, but came up short again and again. They loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, but Carlos Gomez
caught a fly ball hit by Evan Gattis and his throw home was in time to leave
George Springer out at home to end the inning.
Springer was on second base with one out in the third inning when Bregman singled to send him home and tie it at 1-1. Bregman tried to stretch the hit
into a double
Authentic Zack Cozart Jersey , but Gomez made a perfect throw from right field to leave him out at second.
Snell struck out the side in the fourth, capped by a three-pitch strikeout of Marwin Gonzalez that led to his ejection. Gonzalez argued with home plate umpire
Pat Hoberg before throwing his bat and helmet and being tossed. He kept barking
at Hoberg after the ejection and continued yelling at him until third base coach
Gary Pettis pulled him away and pushed him toward the dugout.
Snell walked Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa with no outs in the sixth. But Gurriel grounded into a double play and Snell retired Tony Kemp after
intentionally walking Gattis to leave Houston empty-handed.
Adeiny Hechavarria doubled with two outs in the seventh inning to chase Verlander. Hector Rondon took over and retired Kevin Kiermaier to end the
inning. Kiermaier went 0 for 5 in his return after sitting out since April 15
after tearing a ligament in his right thumb which required surgery.
The Astros had a runner on first base with two outs in the seventh when Springer hit a long fly ball to right-center that Kiermaier nabbed as he leapt
on the warning track before crashing into the wall of the bullpen.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Joe Smith (right elbow inflammation) felt good after playing catch on Tuesday but likely won’t return from the disabled list until Houston’s
next homestand, which begins on July 5.
TOP OF THE HEAP
Houston second baseman Jose Altuve led all players in fan voting for the All-Star game with 1,572,101 votes in the second update on voting released on
Tuesday. The 2017 AL MVP leads the majors in hits (102) and average (.342) and
was the first player to reach 100 hits this season.
”I think it’s well-deserved for someone who represents our game in exceptional fashion,” Hinch said. ”The voters are getting it right. He’s every
bit what’s right about baseball. I’m happy he’s getting the recognition he
deserves … he’s as perfect of a player as there is.”
UP NEXT
Tampa Bay’s Nathan Eovaldi (8-4, 2.58 ERA) opposes Houston’s Charlie Morton (8-1, 2.94) in the series finale on Wednesday night. Eovaldi, who grew up in
suburban Houston, is 1-0 with a 2.52 ERA in four career starts against the
Astros. Morton struck out nine in six innings of a win over Kansas City in his
last start.
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