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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jusuf Nurkic had a career-high 33 points with 16 rebounds against his former team, CJ McCollum had 39 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets 122-113 on Tuesday night to take hold of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Portland leads Denver by a game for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
PHOENIX (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has plans for Thursday night, Sept. 7. Goodell said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings that he expects to be at the season kickoff in Foxborough when the Patriots play host to an undetermined opponent. Smiling broadly when asked about it, Goodell said “I plan to be at the kickoff game.” After the “Deflategate” saga, Goodell did not attend New England’s playoff games, instead going to Atlanta for the divisional round and then the NFC title game. Of course, he did hand the Lombardi Trophy to Patriots owner Robert Kraft in February after the Super Bowl.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Luke Maye can’t go to class without getting a standing ovation nor walk across campus without getting stopped by people requesting to take a photo with him. All because of one shot — one that lifted the Tar Heels past Kentucky to reach the Final Four while turning the sophomore from rotation reserve to sudden star.
PHOENIX (AP) — NFL players may be wearing different helmets based on their position in the not-too-distant future. The chairman of the league’s head, neck and spine engineering subcommittee outlined the research that’s leading in that direction in an informal gathering with reporters at the NFL owners meetings on Tuesday. Dr. Jeff Crandall, director of the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia, said the NFL is working to develop reliable sensors to monitor the minute details of the impact of concussion-causing hits.
PHOENIX (AP) — Everything is status quo with Tony Romo, which means the Dallas Cowboys quarterback remains in limbo. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings that nothing has changed regarding Romo, who sat out most of 2016 while Dak Prescott was winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and leading the team to a 13-3 record and NFC East crown. Dallas had planned to release Romo earlier this month, then opted not to as it sought a trade for the 36-year-old QB.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Jon Rahm can be an imposing figure without a golf club in his hand. Even when his audience is Jack Nicklaus. Nine months ago, Rahm was dressed in a coat-and-tie to receive the Jack Nicklaus Award as the top college golfer. He stood tall, showing respect, and held his eye contact as Nicklaus talked to him about how to prepare for the U.S. Open at Oakmont.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Frank Martin believes he’s the same straight-forward, open book he has always been, though perceptions of him have changed with the Gamecocks’ run to the Final Four. “How the stories have changed that I’m a yeller and a screamer to that I’m a passionate man,” Martin said Tuesday, “I find that very comical.” It has been at times a difficult, at times an amusing and at times a frustrating ride during Martin’s five seasons with the Gamecocks, who are two wins away from a national title after not winning an NCAA Tournament game in 44 years before this March.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.
