Keeler: Nuggets fans’ playoff expectations for Nikola Jokic, coach Michael Malone? “You’ve got to get to a conference final.”

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Keeler: Nuggets fans’ playoff expectations for Nikola Jokic, coach Michael Malone? “You’ve got to get to a conference final.” Andrea Matheson held a sign in Serbian. Husband Blake Matheson held his breath.You worried?A smile.“Oh, we’re Nuggets fans,” Matheson said before Game 1 of Denver’s first-round NBA playoff series against Minnesota.  “We’re always worried.”The Mathesons, locals who hail from New Mexico, came to Ball Arena early Sunday night carrying a white, homemade placard and a blanket of cautious optimism.I mean, sure, the national media are talking about the Nuggets the way Moe used to talk about Larry and Curly. But come on. What do they think we are, a bunch of imbeciles?“It’s kind of a weird feeling,” Blake said. “I guess at some point, I want to tell myself, ‘We’re the team that came back from down 3-1 twice in the (COVID) bubble.’ I’m like, ‘That was us.’“I mean, am I worried? Yes. But feel like this is the best feeling I’ve taken into the playoffs. Like before, it’s always that hopeful optimism. But now, it’s a little more confidence.”Confidence. That part’s new. That and the No. 1 seed in...

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves: Denver up by 11 at halftime

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves: Denver up by 11 at halftime Playoff basketball is here. For the first time in franchise history, the Nuggets are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Timberwolves at Ball Arena in Denver.Halftime analysis — Nuggets 55, Timberwolves 44Sean Keeler, sports columnist: A year ago, three first-half fouls for Aaron Gordon in a playoff game might be cause for mild panic, especially with no Jamal Murray or MPJ to turn to. This year? A healthy MPJ, a (relatively) healthy Murray, and The Bruce Brown Experience (11 points, 2 boards, 1 block, all kinds of hustle plays). Calvin Booth 55, Tim Connelly 44.Matt Schubert, deputy sports editor: MPJ and Jamal Murray are a combined 7 of 21 from the field, and the Nuggets are still up 11 points going into halftime. If I’m Michael Malone, I’m feeling pretty good about that. (Although that late burst from Anthony Edwards is a tad concerning.)Second-quarter updatesLast shot (9:52 p.m.): The Nuggets were d...

Leonard scores 38 to lead Clippers past Durant, Suns 115-110

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Leonard scores 38 to lead Clippers past Durant, Suns 115-110 PHOENIX (AP) — Kawhi Leonard had a great shooting night while Russell Westbrook had a horrible one.Both players nonetheless had a huge impact for the Los Angeles Clippers in their 115-110 win over the Phoenix Suns in the teams' Western Conference playoff series opener on Sunday.Leonard poured in 38 points, including two late 3-pointers, while Westbrook was a menace everywhere except the scoring column. The veteran guard shot just 3 of 19 from the field, but finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals.“My whole career, I pride myself every season on doing everything,” Westbrook said. “Whatever is needed of me to win the game, I'll do it.”That's exactly what happened in the final 30 seconds. Westbrook made a pair of free throws with 17.7 seconds left for a three-point lead, then blocked Devin Booker's layup attempt at the other end and swatted the ball off Booker to give the Clippers the ball with 10.1 seconds remaining.Eric Gordon added 19 point...

Church in Newport Beach vandalized

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Church in Newport Beach vandalized A 27-year-old man from San Dimas has been arrested after vandalizing a church in Newport Beach, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.  The incident occurred Saturday morning at the United Methodist Christ Church by the Sea. Video footage from the church, built in the 1930’s, shows windows boarded up after the 27-year-old allegedly shattered stained glass windows that were given as gift to the church many years ago.  Officials at Christ Church by the Sea estimate that the vandal caused $80,000-$100,000 worth of damage.  Reverend Paul Capetz, pastor of the church, told KTLA that when he was notified of the vandalism by police, he was in a state of shock.  “When I got here and saw the damage with my own eyes, I felt like I had been punched in the gut,” Capetz said. “At first, I saw the damage outside, the windows all boarded up and then I walk into the sanctuary, and I just couldn’t believe my eyes. There was shattered glass everywhere, and I mean eve...

Suspect arrested after police find stolen gun, license plate during San Rafael traffic stop

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Suspect arrested after police find stolen gun, license plate during San Rafael traffic stop (KRON) -- One person was arrested Sunday morning after police discovered the suspect was driving a car with a stolen license plate, the San Rafael Police Department said on Twitter. The arrest was made at a traffic stop near Third Street and A Street. The suspect vehicle, a white four-door sedan, was stopped on a felony warrant issued in the area. Police also found a stolen pistol with a high-capacity magazine (pictured below) in the glove compartment. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s car was broken into during film premiere (San Rafael Police Department)(San Rafael Police Department)The unidentified driver was booked into jail for a series of felony charges, police said. No other information was immediately available.

Tiroteo en gimnasio dentro de un complejo de apartamentos deja herido a un hombre en DC

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Tiroteo en gimnasio dentro de un complejo de apartamentos deja herido a un hombre en DC Un hombre fue herido de bala dentro de un centro gimnasio en un complejo de apartamentos donde viven muchos estudiantes de George Washington University al noroeste de DC el domingo, según las autoridades. El tiroteo ocurrió sobre las 3 p.m. en Columbia Plaza Apartments en la cuadra 2400 de Virginia Avenue NW en el área de Foggy Bottom, a unas cuadras de la universidad. Minutos después, los residentes del complejo recibieron una alerta que les advirtió sobre los disparos y les pidió quedarse en el interior.“Tengo amigos en este edificio, amigos más allá. Están un poco conmocionados. Algunos de ellos estaban cerrando las puertas con seguro en el mismo campus”, dijo el residente Mitchell Lewis. La víctima fue llevada al hospital y estaba consciente y respirando. La policía de DC clausuró la entrada al gimnasio. Aún buscan al hombre que abrió fuego y luego huyó. Se desconoce el motivo de la balacera. Aunque los apartamentos no son parte del campus, muchos reside...

Boys with the same rare genetic disorder get to meet

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Boys with the same rare genetic disorder get to meet DENVER (KDVR) -- Hutt Martin is just 8 months old, and Luke Schmidt is 15. Both boys have an extremely rare genetic condition called TAR, or Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius Syndrome, which among other things can cause a shortening of the upper extremities and a blood clotting disorder.The condition is so rare that their doctor at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children thought it would be meaningful for the families to connect, and for the boys to see other people like them.The families are now developing a relationship."I hope that I'm able to mentor him a little bit," Luke said at one of their meetings."It's nice to be able to pass along those little tips and encouragement," Luke's mother Tonia said. Firefighters prepare for Colorado snowmelt to raise risks along metro area creeks Luke shows Hutt's parents how he can navigate on a computer, so they know what their child could do someday."I kind of move the mouse with my foot and click with my big toe," he said.All of the information...

Emu on the loose: Police chase giant bird in Tennessee town

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Emu on the loose: Police chase giant bird in Tennessee town HARRIMAN, Tenn. (KDVR) -- Police conducted a 20-mile slow-speed chase to catch a 7-foot emu last week that escaped its home.Nexstar station WATE in Tennessee said Roane County resident Harry McKinney and his family have two emus, MeeMoo and MeeMee, that live on their farm.According to McKinney, crews were logging nearby when MeeMoo was “spooked” and jumped over the seven-foot fence. The emu managed to escape and ran through Harriman, WATE reported. Ball Arena crew gear up for Avalanche and Nuggets playoffs starting at home “He then became ‘internet famous’, leading people all over the county on about a 20-mile chase, sometimes at 40mph,” McKinney wrote in a post on Facebook.Steven McDaniel, who shot the video in the player above, told Storyful he was taking his dog for a ride when he “looked outside and saw three cop cars going by at like 3 mph."

Tempers flare at Hialeah Gardens Wawa amid long lines at gas stations, delivery slowdown caused by floods

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Tempers flare at Hialeah Gardens Wawa amid long lines at gas stations, delivery slowdown caused by floods Tensions ran high at a gas station in Hialeah Gardens as people waited in line to fuel up amid a slowdown of gas deliveries across South Florida.Customers at the Wawa along the 7800 block of Northwest 103rd Street expressed their concerns on Sunday about the limited availability.“It’s definitely concerning,” said customer Dina Roumeliotis.Lines stretched around several gas stations. In some cases, the wait times were upwards of 30 minutes.“We’ve been waiting, what, like around 10 minutes,” said customer Paul Kost.Back at the Wawa, police tried to keep everyone safe after an altercation sparked between customers. Most of them, however, chose to pack their patience.“I think everybody should just be calm, ’cause it’s not that there’s no gas,” said Kost.This is the message that officials want everyone to know: there is no fuel shortage.Last week’s wicked weather and historic flooding prevented many fuel pickups at P...

Broken Lizard plays Victor Hugo for laughs with ‘Quasi’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:45:21 GMT

Broken Lizard plays Victor Hugo for laughs with ‘Quasi’ There’s a whole lot of torture – and comedy – going on in the merrily demented medieval doings of Thursday’s “Quasi.”A ridiculously silly send-up of Quasimodo, the doomed disabled hero of Victor Hugo’s immortal “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Quasi,” from the comic collaborative Broken Lizard, sees the hunchback as not only a romantic hero but the inventor of The Rack, France’s Number One torture device.He’s also, it should be pointed out, hired as an assassin by both the King of France and the Pope.  Each monarch asks him to kill their rival.As what exactly is Broken Lizard, Kevin Heffernan – he’s Quasi’s best buddy and also directs – has the answer: “We’re a comedy group who started at Colgate University many years ago and have, obviously, made some movies.  The name comes from – where Jay?”Jay Chandrasekhar, who stars as the mad but merry King, recalled, “I wanted a name that would make people think of Monty Python. So I invented the name ‘Broken Lizard’ so that it would be this ...