The Jets continued whittling down their number of unsigned draft picks on Friday.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the Jets have signed third-round choice Nathan Shepherd to a four-year deal. Shepherd is the fourth of six 2018
picks to agree to a deal
Prince Amukamara Jersey , leaving first-round quarterback Sam Darnold and fourth-round tight end Chris Herndon as the unsigned members of the group.
Shepherd took an unusual path to the NFL. He grew up in Canada and opened his college career as a linebacker at Simon Fraser University, but dropped out to go
to work because he couldn’t afford tuition. He returned to school at Fort Hays
State in 2015 and moved to defensive line after moving up to 315 pounds.
All of that makes Shepherd older than the typical rookie at 25, but he impressed scouts during games and at the Senior Bowl before landing with the
Jets last month.
Stephen Curry is back doing everything with fire, flair and without fear after impatiently spending almost a month and a half on the
sidelines.
Curry played his most minutes since missing nearly six weeks with a knee injury, finishing with 28 points and helping the Golden State Warriors advance
to the Western Conference finals for a fourth straight year by dismantling
Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans 113-104 in Game 5 on Tuesday
night.
”I think Coach did a great job though of just giving him a little bit here and there and tonight really just letting him go,” Kevin Durant said. ”You see
when you let the dog off the leash what happens.”
Durant scored 24 points and Klay Thompson added 23 for the Warriors, who with a 15th straight home playoff win tied Chicago for an NBA record. The Bulls did
so from April 27, 1990 to May 21, 1991.
Davis had 34 points and 19 rebounds for a Pelicans team that overcame the loss of DeMarcus Cousins to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon three months
ago to make this strong run. The Pelicans shaved the lead to seven points with
two minutes left on a basket by Davis before Draymond Green’s turnaround
fadeaway moments later.
Curry has his swagger.
”I feel confident in what I’m able to do out there,” Curry said. ”Timing could still get a little bit better with the ball and things like that when you
start to get so excited
Nevin Lawson Jersey , still when I’m out there missing six weeks is still appreciative of being out there playing. I’ll continue to get better, continue
to get my timing right, continue to get back to the normal rotation, the normal
minutes I’m out there playing and hopefully won’t look back.”
The Warriors advance to play the top-seeded Houston Rockets in what has long been an anticipated Western Conference finals matchup – with a Finals feel,
perhaps. The series starts Monday night in Houston. The teams didn’t meet during
the 2017 postseason, but the Warriors won a five-game series in the first round
of the 2016 playoffs. Houston eliminated Utah in its Game 5 earlier Tuesday.
”We want to win another championship,” Green said, ”and it don’t matter who’s in the way of that.”
Curry, who returned for Game 2 after nearly six weeks out with a knee injury, knocked down an open 3-pointer midway through the third and raised his hands to
get the crowd going
Pernell McPhee Jersey , then made another less than two minutes later. He converted three free throws at the 6:25 mark following a hard foul by Jrue
Holiday.
In the second quarter, Holiday shoved Curry hard into the basket, enraging the two-time MVP who let the officials know how upset he was by the push and no
call.
Holiday contributed 27 points and 11 assists, but even with better shooting, New Orleans couldn’t stay with deep, score-at-will Golden State.
”No matter what the score is, no matter the time, whatever it is, we play desperate,” Holiday said.
The defending champions are serious about a repeat title and took one step closer to that goal.
So far this postseason
Daeshon Hall Jersey , with Durant and Green leading the way, the Warriors have admirably defended the slower San Antonio Spurs and now the imposing,
push-the-pace Pelicans.
Green had another superb all-around night on both ends with 19 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
The Warriors came out of halftime with a 10-0 run over the opening 1:54, forcing two Pelicans timeouts and taking control for the rest of the game.
Thompson hit back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the first to put Golden State up 17-10, the second right in front of his own bench as teammates erupted
in celebration. He began 6 for 9 and had 14 points by the 4:10 mark of the
first.
Durant became irate when Nikola Mirotic made a late, hard bump on a 3-point try with 5:23 left in the first – a play that was reviewed and Mirotic received
just a common foul.
As Durant took free throws, Green tried to listen in on the Pelicans’ huddle before official Josh Tiven pulled him away.
”I don’t have a reaction
William Jackson Jersey , that’s Draymond,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said. ”Should that surprise me?”
CURRY’S SERIES
Curry went 10 for 16 in 37 minutes playing his fourth game back from a sprained left knee he hurt March 23. His minutes have increased each game he
plays, up to 31 in Game 4 and 37 on Tuesday. He added eight assists and seven
rebounds in Game 5.
He was 32 for 67 with 15 3s in the series.
”It feels like he’s back now,” coach Steve Kerr said.
On a side note, he went 0 for 5 on his signature tunnel shots before the game.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Rajon Rondo dealt with a sore groin that limited his time in the second half. … New Orleans made 6 of 9 3s in the first and finished 10 for 24
from long range. … New Orleans got back in it with an 11-0 run in the
second.
Warriors: Green is the first Warrior to ever average a triple-double in a playoff series. … Durant scored 20 or more points in a 17th straight postseason
game. His first five points moved him past two players – Chris Mullin (685) and
Harrison Barnes (687) – into 10th place all-time for the Warriors in postseason
scoring. … Curry (366) passed Paul Arizin (364) for second place on the
franchise postseason list for made free throws. … Durant received the Al Attles
Community Impact Award in a pregame ceremony. The Warriors Community Foundation
will donate $15,000 to the charity Durant chose, Oakland Elizabeth House, which
provides residences to women and children who have been homeless or faced
violence or addiction.
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