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  • As the countdown to Canton hits the home stretch, Broncos’ newest Hall of Famer soaks in “Randy Gradishar Day”

    As the countdown to Canton hits the home stretch, Broncos’ newest Hall of Famer soaks in “Randy Gradishar Day”

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    When a governor is serving as your hype man and a mayor is volunteering himself as your aide for the afternoon, you’re having a pretty good day.

    When the day itself is proclaimed in your honor, all the better.

    That was Friday on the west steps of the state capitol for Randy Gradishar.

    The Broncos legend and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee soaked in a sunny May 3 afternoon that Gov. Jared Polis named Randy Gradishar Day after the linebacker who wore No. 53 in the middle of Denver’s defense for one of its most dominant decades.

    “Having this opportunity to come out and have Randy Gradishar Day with the governor and the mayor and just in Colorado people appreciating this, it’s just really humbling for me,” Gradishar said afterward. “Having the opportunity to be recognized this way and knowing that finally the Pro Football Hall of Fame is here is a real blessing.”

    Polis spoke while wearing one of the Broncos’ new uniforms with the No. 24 and “Polis” on the back and said the only reason he didn’t wear his signed Gradishar jersey is because he’d had it framed and hung in his office.

    He read the official proclamation, which included some of Gradishar’s career statistical highlights and nodded to many of Gradishar’s off-the-field pursuits, like decades of work with Colorado youth and military personnel.

    A sizable group of Broncos fans and onlookers gathered in front of the orange-and-blue arc of balloons set up for the event, which also included Broncos cheerleaders, the drum line and, of course, “Miles” the mascot in addition to friends and former teammates of Gradishar’s and team executives.

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    Parker Gabriel

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  • Keeler: Avalanche can’t stop scoring. Alexandar Georgiev can’t stop winning. Mea culpa, Georgie. You got right.

    Keeler: Avalanche can’t stop scoring. Alexandar Georgiev can’t stop winning. Mea culpa, Georgie. You got right.

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    Lazarus of Bethany’s got nuttin’ on Alexandar Georgiev of Bulgaria. Tough times don’t last. Tough goalies do.

    “I think in Game 1, we didn’t give him a lot of chances to make quality saves,” Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson told me before Colorado and Georgie wiped out the Whiteoot in Winnipeg with a 6-3 victory late Tuesday. “I felt like a lot of (shots) were going in from the backside or (to) his right, which is tough.

    “And then that can rattle your confidence a little bit. But he’s stepped up and just playing like how he can.”

    He grounded the Jets for four straight games. He won twice in Manitoba. He rose to the moment. He blocked out the jeers. He stiffed the haters.

    Forgive me, Georgie.

    This is how Lord Stanley comes home.

    Down 3-1 in a best-of-seven series Tuesday, Winnipeg threw everything at the crease that wasn’t nailed down. The Jets blistered Georgiev with 19 shots in the second period alone. They came away with one goal to show for it.

    Game 1: Seven goals against. Games 2-5: Eight goals. Combined.

    Forgive me, Georgie.

    This is starting to look familiar.

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    Sean Keeler

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  • Reeling Rockies suffer epic collapse, lose 7-6 to Marlins in 10 innings

    Reeling Rockies suffer epic collapse, lose 7-6 to Marlins in 10 innings

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    Leave it to the Rockies to ruin a couple of storybook endings.

    In one of the worst meltdowns in recent memory, the Rockies blew a 5-0 lead in the ninth inning and lost 7-6 to the woeful Marlins in 10 innings Tuesday night at loanDepot park.

    In losing again, the Rockies became the first team since 1900 to trail in each of its first 29 games. The Rockies lost to Houston on Sunday, joining the 1910 St. Louis Browns as the only teams to trail in each of their first 28 games.

    “That was a tough one … we shot ourselves in the foot,” manager Bud Black said.

    The Rockies nearly dodged ignominy. Ryan McMahon hit an RBI double to right to score Sean Bouchard to give the Rockies a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth, but the Marlins scored twice in the bottom of the frame off left-hander Jalen Beeks.

    Bryan De La Cruz hit an RBI double off Beeks to score pinch runner Tim Anderson, tying the game at 6-all. Then Dane Myers punched a single to right fielder Hunter Goodman, who made a perfect throw to the plate, but catcher Elias Diaz couldn’t handle the throw, and Anderson scrambled around Diaz and tagged the plate with his hand for the winning run.

    Black told reporters in Miami, ” ‘Goody’ made a good play, but ‘Ellie’ couldn’t handle it.”

    All of that carnage on a night when Jordan Beck was impressive in his major league debut, Ryan Feltner nearly pitched a shutout, and Elehuris Montero blasted a rare home run on the road.

    But the Rockies suffered an epic and ugly ninth-inning collapse in a game featuring the National League’s two worst teams. Colorado, swept by the Astros in Mexico City last weekend, tumbled to 7-22. The Marlins, losers of seven straight games entering Tuesday, improved to 7-24.

    Feltner, who had flashed potential numerous times in his career, gave up only three harmless singles over the first eight innings. But in the ninth, Vidal Brujan led off with a single, Feltner plunked Christian Bethancourt, and Luis Arraez ripped an RBI double to right, scoring Brujan.

    That was it for Feltner, who was clearly unhappy when Black lifted him from the game. In came closer Justin Lawrence, who immediately melted down.

    In quick succession, Miami’s Bryan De La Cruz drew a walk, Dane Myers hit a two-run single, Josh Bell singled to load the bases, and Lawrence, lacking any semblance of command, hit Jesus Sanches to drive in another run.

    The Marlins tied the game, 5-5, on Emmanuel Rivera’s sacrifice fly to right. That was it for Lawrence. Black summoned Beeks to try and stop the avalanche of trouble. He did, at least for two-thirds of an inning, striking out Nick Gordon and getting Christian Bethancourt to fly out.

    Beck, the highly touted outfield prospect, made his big league debut and hit 2 for 4. Starting in left field and hitting eighth, Beck singled in the first off right-hander Sixto Sanchez and added another single in the sixth off right-hander Declan Cronin.

    “Just take the moment in, take a deep breath, look around and be where my feet are,” Beck told reporters about his first day with the Rockies. “A lot of people say write it down, what it feels like, don’t forget it. There are a lot of things that you want to remember from this day and carry on into the future.”

    The first pitch Beck saw in his major league career was a ball, well outside the strike zone. The second pitch was a slider over the inside of the plate, and Beck lined the ball to center field for his first hit.

    The Rockies scored all but one of their runs in the first off Sanchez. Ezequiel Tovar led off with a double and advanced to third on Brenton Doyle’s sacrifice bunt. McMahon singled in Tovar and advanced to second on Diaz’s groundout.

    Charlie Blackmon, who entered the game in a deep funk, slashing .119/.159/.143 over his last 12 games, drove in McMahon with a single to right. Then Brendan Rodgers singled up the middle, setting the table for Montero’s 409-foot, three-run homer.

    Colorado had only three hits after the first inning, but with Feltner on the mound, it didn’t matter until the ninth and 10th innings.

    Still, Feltner said he let his team down.

    “It will take a while for me to think about my performance,” the right-hander told Rockies.TV. “I just think right now that I let the team down. I’ve got to finish off that ninth inning. I’ve never been in that position before, and now I’m hungry to get back there.”

    Wednesday’s pitching matchup

    Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-4, 6.57 ERA) at Marlins TBA

    4:40 p.m. Wednesday, loanDepot park

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    Patrick Saunders

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  • Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves playoff series schedule released

    Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves playoff series schedule released

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    After eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers from the postseason for the second straight year, the Denver Nuggets will have to do the same to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    The Nuggets took down Minnesota in five game in last year’s first round. Now they meet in the second round after the T-Wolves put the finishing touches on a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.

    Game 1 of the best-of-seven series between Denver and Minnesota is set for Saturday at a to-be-determined time.

    The Timberwolves’ sweep of the Suns marked the first time Minnesota has won a playoff series in 20 years. They will now meet the Nuggets in the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.

    Here’s the complete series schedule:

    Series schedule

    (Click here to see schedule on mobile)

    Game Location Date Time TV
    Game 1 Minnesota at Denver Saturday, May 4 TBA TBA
    Game 2 Minnesota at Denver Monday, May 6 TBA TBA
    Game 3 Denver at Minnesota Friday, May 10 TBA TBA
    Game 4 Denver at Minnesota Sunday, May 12 TBA TBA
    *Game 5 Minnesota at Denver Tuesday, May 14 TBA TBA
    *Game 6 Denver at Minnesota Thursday, May 16 TBA TBA
    *Game 7 Minnesota at Denver Sunday, May 19 TBA TBA

    * If necessary

    Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.

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    Matt Schubert

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  • Kyle Tucker homers as the Astros beat the Rockies, 8-2, in Mexico City

    Kyle Tucker homers as the Astros beat the Rockies, 8-2, in Mexico City

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    MEXICO CITY — Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros had a very successful stay in Mexico City.

    Tucker, Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña each hit a solo homer, helping Framber Valdez and the Astros beat the Colorado Rockies 8-2 on Sunday.

    Tucker and Yainer Diaz each drove in two runs as Houston swept the two-game series at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium.

    “The plan was to use the series as a springboard looking forward,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We want this series to be like a new beginning for us. We need to have more urgency.”

    Valdez (1-0) pitched five innings of two-run ball in his first big league start since April 2. The left-hander allowed five hits, struck out six and walked none.

    “He threw the ball well the first couple of innings,” Espada said. “Command was not there, but he settled in the third and he gave us five innings. It was encouraging to see the way he threw the ball.”

    Valdez had been sidelined by elbow inflammation, one of several pitching injuries that had contributed to Houston’s 9-19 start. Justin Verlander is back, but the Astros are awaiting the return of José Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. at some point this season.

    “When the rotation is healthy, we have proved that we can do great things in the postseason,” Espada said.

    Elias Díaz had two hits for Colorado, and Sean Bouchard and Jacob Stallings each drove in a run. Austin Gomber (0-2) was charged with four runs and six hits in seven innings.

    The Rockies have dropped 11 of 14 games.

    “We have not played our best baseball and our record is indicative of that, but the players come with energy to compete. There has not been one sign of them not being happy,” manager Bud Black said. “We will continue to play hard.”

    Houston had lost five in a row before arriving in Mexico City, scoring a total of 10 runs during the slide. But it fared much better at Alfredo Harp Helu, with its elevation of 7,349 feet.

    Yordan Alvarez hit two homers and Tucker also went deep during Saturday’s 12-4 victory.

    Tucker connected in the first inning in the finale of the two-game set. Altuve went deep in the third, and Peña hit his third homer in the fourth.

    It was Houston’s second regular-season visit to Mexico. It swept two games in Monterrey against the Angels in May 2019.

    The Astros also played exhibition games in Mexico against the Padres in 2016 and Marlins in 2004.

    The Rockies also had played in Mexico before. They beat San Diego in Monterrey in their 1999 season opener.

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    Carlos Rodriguez

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  • Grading Broncos’ Day 2 of the NFL draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on second, third rounds

    Grading Broncos’ Day 2 of the NFL draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on second, third rounds

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    The Post’s sports staff weighs in with grades after the Denver Broncos drafted Utah edge rusher Jonah Elliss on Day 2 of the NFL draft.

    Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat writer

    Grade: B+

    A solid grade for Denver on two fronts and with one caveat. The Broncos hit a position of need at No. 76 overall in Utah edge rusher Jonah Elliss. They also stayed patient. After picking at No. 12 instead of trading back Thursday, the only way to move up from No. 76 in a meaningful way would have been to deal a player or dip into 2025 draft capital. Instead, Denver held on to its assets and picked a player with the skillset to help early — if he stays healthy. Some risk there given Elliss’ shoulder and hamstring issues, but a solid bet to make deep into Day 2.

    Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat writer

    Grade: B

    Elliss plays with a high-motor, a trait that helped him collect 12 sacks in his final season at Utah. He will need to improve as a run defender, and his shoulder injury, which forced him to not work out at the scouting combine, is a bit concerning. But Elliss has the potential to be a solid rotational player as a rookie who could develop into a starter on the edge in the future.

    Troy Renck, sports columnist

    Grade: B

    Utah’s Jonah Elliss brings energy and intensity to the edge. He has good hands, but needs to add more counter moves to his arsenal. He likely will need to bulk up to help him support the run. He profiles as a sub package pass rusher as a rookie for a group that hasn’t had a player reach double-digit sacks since 2018. That is too much to ask for as a rookie, but his ceiling suggests it is possible by Year 3 as he grows into a full-time role.

    Sean Keeler, sports columnist

    Grade: B

    Troy Franklin? No? Anyone? Elliss is fine — lean, mean, great bloodlines. If you love your edge-rushers with a no-quit engine, you’re going to love this guy. His first-down, short-yardage mileage is still TBD, but Luther’s kid won’t be awed by the stage. Or by Patrick Mahomes. Promise you that.

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    Matt Schubert, Parker Gabriel, Ryan McFadden, Troy E. Renck, Sean Keeler

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  • Nikola Jokic after Nuggets’ 11th straight win over Lakers: “Don’t get bored with success”

    Nikola Jokic after Nuggets’ 11th straight win over Lakers: “Don’t get bored with success”

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    LOS ANGELES — They showered Darvin Ham with boos as the coach was introduced before opening tip. They bombarded him with more pointed chants before time expired in an otherwise lifeless building.

    “Fire Darvin!”

    But is this Ham’s fault? D’Angelo Russell’s? The bench’s? All of the above? The Nuggets have infiltrated Los Angeles and sowed instability within an American institution. The Lakers’ superstar foundation is crumbling under the overwhelming pressure of Denver’s starting lineup, which is on the verge of securing a second playoff sweep of Los Angeles in as many seasons.

    “To beat a team like that in the first round, who I think if seeded differently, they could make it to the Western Conference Finals or something like that, it’s definitely a challenge,” Peyton Watson said. “But we’re up to it every time, and we love going out there and winning games.”

    With every successive win — every identical win — the unthinkable becomes closer to reality. The Nuggets might just own the Lakers.

    If they finish the job Saturday in Game 4, they’ll accomplish what not even the Steph Curry-Kevin Durant Warriors could, eliminating LeBron James via sweep two years in a row. Golden State needed five games in 2017.

    “They do not have a weakness offensively,” James said. “… Definitely one of the better teams that I’ve played in my career.”

    Maybe Denver will need five games in 2024. But if there’s any reason to believe that now, it’s this: The Nuggets are clearly a danger to themselves in this matchup. They are prone to stretches, even entire halves, of complacency against an opponent that can’t hold a lead against them. The ongoing 11-game win streak features six double-digit comebacks.

    “I think in this job as a coach, you always have to put on the hat of, ‘We have to fight human nature.’ And how do you do that when you’ve beaten a team 10 times in a row?” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said before Game 3, a 112-105 victory. “… Well, we’ve been down 12, we’ve been down 20. We’ve lost the first quarter of both games. We’ve been down at halftime in both games. That’s cool in your home building when you have that crowd behind you, but now it’s just us.”

    Those turned out to be hollow words. Denver spotted Los Angeles an 8-0 lead that grew to 12 before everyone other than Aaron Gordon decided to take Game 3 seriously.

    What followed was a 24-point swing between the second and third quarters. Like clockwork.

    “To be honest, I think every game is tougher and tougher,” Nikola Jokic said. “You can see, they were up 20 in Denver, in Game 2. They were up 12 today in the first half. But yeah, I think it’s really hard to play against the same team over and over again. You kind of get bored with the style of the play or whatever. So you just need to — especially for us, because we won the last three — just trust what we are doing and don’t get bored with success. Because it can (go) wrong really quick.”

    Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets knocks down a mid-range jumper over Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 112-105 win at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

    The Nuggets are so bored of this matchup that they’ve inadvertently become thrill-seekers, dangling a win in front of the Lakers every night only to pull it out of reach at the last second when Anthony Davis tries to snatch it.

    Moments of redemption for the Lakers are short-lived against Denver. Davis’s dominant first half against Jokic in Game 2 was forgotten because he didn’t score in the fourth quarter. Russell’s 23-point bounce-back was superseded by his scoreless Game 3. In the first and third games, he combined to shoot 6 for 27.

    The variations of a Los Angeles second unit have failed to take any advantage of Jokic’s rest minutes. Before Game 3, Taurean Prince was the only Lakers bench player who’d scored a point in the series. Nothing from Spencer Dinwiddie. Nothing from Gabe Vincent.

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    Bennett Durando

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  • Grading Broncos’ Day 1 of the NFL Draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on the first round

    Grading Broncos’ Day 1 of the NFL Draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on the first round

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    The Post’s sports staff weighs in with grades after the Denver Broncos drafted Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.

    Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat writer

    Grade: B-

    The gut reaction to this pick is going to be almost entirely driven by the strength of trust in Sean Payton to pick a quarterback. The fact that Nix was the sixth of the perceived top six selected Thursday will either prove Payton and the Broncos’ evaluation process to be a terrific one or it will end up looking like desperation. That makes Nix, far from a sure bet to turn into an upper-echelon player at the NFL level, a fascinating case study going forward.

    Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat writer

    Grade: B-

    Going into the draft, it felt like Denver couldn’t walk away without a quarterback. But taking Bo Nix at No. 12 seems like a reach. Unless the Broncos thought the Raiders would take him at No. 13, they could’ve tried to obtain more picks and still taken Nix after trading back. Nix fits Sean Payton’s offense, and his experience (61 college starts) gives him a chance to be a Week 1 starter. But Broncos Country will need to put its full trust in Payton that he knows something that others don’t.

    Troy Renck, sports columnist

    Grade: B

    There was no way the Broncos could rationalize leaving the first round without a quarterback. The AFC demands it. In Nix, Sean Payton landed a quarterback with maturity, intelligence, a quick release and a talent for avoiding sacks. Is he Drew Brees? That’s not fair. But could an athletic game manager be capable of keeping the offense on schedule? Yes. The USC game film provides reason to believe. His Auburn career creates pause. But at some point, you have to trust Payton. And all he’s done is stake his legacy to Nix.

    Sean Keeler, sports columnist

    Grade: B+

    Is the kid a reach at 12? Yup. Is Michael Penix Jr. better? Yup. Not every NFL braintrust loves Bo Nix as much as Sean Payton did, but that’s OK. Even if Nix is more Checkdown Charlie than Drew Brees II, this was a statement of intent. On Day 1, the Broncos didn’t come away from the best QB draft in ages empty-handed. You don’t get big victories in this league without making some small ones first.

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    Parker Gabriel, Ryan McFadden, Troy E. Renck, Sean Keeler, Matt Schubert

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  • Rockies can’t solve Padres knuckleballer Matt Waldron, lose 5-2

    Rockies can’t solve Padres knuckleballer Matt Waldron, lose 5-2

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    Every game presents a challenge for the Rockies’ floundering offense. Wednesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Padres presented a unique puzzle the Rockies couldn’t solve.

    San Diego started knuckleball right-hander Matt Waldron, who had no problems making his pitch dance in the mile-high atmosphere at Coors Field. Over six innings, he gave up one run on four hits and struck out five in his first trip to LoDo.

    Waldron said the baseball behaved “weird.”

    “Definitely. I think my knuckleball wasn’t as affected, but I threw (some other pitches) that really just cut and did some weird things,” he said. “So I think it’s definitely a tougher environment, for sure.”

    The one run he surrendered came in the sixth on Ryan McMahon’s one-out, 444-foot solo homer to right-center. It was McMahon’s third homer of the season and the longest homer by a Rockie this season.

    Colorado, which has yet to win back-to-back games this season, fell to 6-19. The drought without back-to-back wins is the longest to begin a season in franchise history. The longest such single-season streak in franchise history was a 35-game stretch in May and June 2022.

    Waldron throws a knuckleball 35% of the time, but there was nothing frivolous about his approach Wednesday night. He went right after the Rockies, mixing his sinker, four-seam fastball, and a cutter.

    “The thing about knuckleballer is that you don’t know where it’s going to break,” said center fielder Brenton Doyle, who managed a single off Waldron in the sixth. “It makes his fastball even a little sneakier because he throws a lot of knuckleball and you want to stay back, but at the same time he has that fastball in his back pocket that he can throw 90-92.

    “I think we started making some good adjustments, so next time when we face him will have a good game plan. I think we’ll have more success against him.”

    The Rockies had some chances, but as has been the case so often this season, they couldn’t deliver a clutch hit. In the fourth inning, Colorado loaded the bases on back-to-back walks by Ezequiel Tovar and McMahon and an infield single by Elias Diaz. But Elehuris Montero swung at Waldron’s first pitch and fouled out to first baseman Jake Cronenworth. Then Doyle grounded out to third.

    This season, with runners in scoring position and two outs, the Rockies have hit .136 (11-for-81) with 24 strikeouts. In the sixth, with two outs and runners in scoring position, Brendan Rodgers grounded out to short.

    Diaz’s two-out solo homer in the eighth off lefty Wandy Peralta provided Colorado’s second run. Diaz also threw out two baserunners — Fernando Tatis Jr. in the seventh and Jackson Merrill in the ninth — attempting to steal second.

    Rockies starter Ty Blach pitched well for four-fifths of his start. But the first inning was his undoing. San Diego scored four runs on three hits and two walks off the lefty, who was making his first big-league start of the season.

    “That’s just how baseball goes sometimes,” Blach said. “I made some really good pitches that they fought off, and I tried to get too fine and two walks ended up hurting me. You can’t do that when you’re pitching to contact like I do. They made me pay for it.”

    Xander Bogaerts led off the game with a solid single to left, and Tatis followed up with a walk. Blach got Cronenworth to pop out to left field, but then he walked Jurickson Profar on a 3-2 count to jam the bases — a killer mistake in Coors Field’s wide-open spaces.

    Ha-Seong Kim blooped a cheap double into shallow right field to score two runs, Merrill hit a sacrifice fly, and Eguy Rosario added an RBI single to give the Padres a 4-0 lead.

    “Ty made a really good pitch to Kim, but he hit that dorker down the right-field line — that’s baseball,” manager Bud Black said. “Two walks and the dorker got Ty.”

    The Rockies have been running uphill all season, having been outscored 35-7 in the first inning.

    San Diego’s lead grew to 5-0 in the sixth. Profar looped a leadoff single to left field off reliever Victor Vodnik and Kim put down a bunt for a base hit. When McMahon threw wildly from third base, Profar advanced to third. Profar scored on Merrill’s groundout to second.

    Thursday’s pitching matchup
    Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (0-1, 1.80 ERA) at Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-4, 5.06)

    1:10 p.m. Thursday, Coors Field

    TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).

    Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM

    Hudson remains winless through his first four starts with Colorado. He’s coming off a loss to Seattle on Saturday at Coors Field when he allowed four runs on seven hits and five walks over four innings. He struck out one. Walks continue to be a problem for Hudson. The right-hander has faced the Padres three times in his career, going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA that includes seven strikeouts and three walks.

    Although Vasquez struggled in his three starts with Triple-A El Paso before being called up last Saturday, he gave the Padres a solid start against Toronto in his 2024 major league debut. He limited the Blue Jays to one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings. With Yu Darvish out with a neck injury, the Padres need Vasquez to give them one of two more solid starts. The rookie has not faced the Rockies.

    Pitching probables
    Friday: Off day

    Saturday: Astros RHP Ronel Blanco (2-0, 1.33) at Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-4, 4.32), 2:05 p.m. in Mexico City

     

     

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    Patrick Saunders

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  • In afterglow of CHSSA vote to add girls flag football, Broncos committed to helping “this season and beyond”

    In afterglow of CHSSA vote to add girls flag football, Broncos committed to helping “this season and beyond”

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    Saylor Swanson says it so casually you can almost miss it.

    “I’ve always pictured myself playing quarterback,” Swanson, an Arvada West High junior, said Wednesday morning at the Broncos’ training facility.

    She has been, really, for the past two years playing flag football in CHSAA’s pilot program.

    She will be this fall, too, but in a slightly different capacity. She’ll be the quarterback for her team’s varsity program after Colorado on Tuesday became the 11th state to make girls flag football a sanctioned high school sport.

    On Wednesday, Broncos owner Carrie Walton Penner, team executives and CHSSA commissioner Mike Krueger talked about the journey to get to this point, but also about what comes next.

    Broadly, it’s a similar set of feelings for Swanson and the players as it is for the people tasked with implementing the sport and growing it around the state. It’ll be similar to the past two years in some ways, bigger in some ways and exciting all the same. And there’s plenty of work and growth ahead.

    “I’m so glad it’s actually taken off,” Saylor said. “I played football when I was a little kid with my brothers and I’ve always wanted to play. I never expected it to be an option. I played co-ed when I was younger and I kind of quit because the boys were getting rough and I was the only girl.

    “I’ve always wanted to play for an all-girls team and high school, playing with my friends, it’s just so awesome.”

    The Broncos made it clear that the organization will be part of the next phase, too. They’ll continue providing funding and the team’s vice president of community impact and Denver Broncos Foundation executive director Allie Engelken also said they’ll provide education on grant opportunities through Nike, USA Football and other resources available to schools.

    “We’re excited to continue to support this sport this season and beyond,” Engelken said. “We do that through not only financial commitment for schools as well as high-impact for youth, but also through a lot of programmatic elements.”

    As it pertains to girls flag football, Engelken said those include, “officials and referee recruitment and training. Coaches clinics and sanctioning. Ensuring coaches feel prepared to coach an emerging sport. That includes a regional NFL Flag tournament. … that will continue in partnership with the NFL.

    “We see our opportunity for support to continue to grow.”

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    Parker Gabriel

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  • Keeler: Broncos landing Zach Wilson at QB? Smart. Settling on Wilson if Bo Nix, Michael Penix are available? Dumb.

    Keeler: Broncos landing Zach Wilson at QB? Smart. Settling on Wilson if Bo Nix, Michael Penix are available? Dumb.

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    Rescuing Zach Wilson is smart. Stopping at Zach Wilson is hubris.

    As a quarterback, Wilson’s merely appetizer material. If the NFL draft is still serving Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. as a main course, and at a reasonable cost, the Broncos would be crazy not to bite.

    A QB room consisting of Wilson, Jarrett Stidham, Ben DiNucci and a seventh-round flier to be named late would be the worst in the division (pending Raiderfoonery ). And arguably the worst in an AFC that’s still loaded with franchise signal-callers.

    In isolation, though, you get it. Landing Wilson from the Jets with a seventh-round pick for a sixth-rounder is a solid, low-cap, low-risk move. It just better not be the only one, at least where the quarterback is concerned.

    After Russell Wilson took the money and ran, the best thing the Broncos could do at QB1 right now is open this competition to the masses. Bring in as many bodies as you can afford until one of them actually sticks.

    And, on paper, this body’s got more upside than most. Maybe. The draftniks at NFL.com three years ago described the 24-year-old Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in the ’21 draft, as a “blend (of) Jake Plummer and Johnny Manziel coming out of (BYU).” Which is both awesome (the Plummer part) and terrifying (the Manziel part) in the same sentence.

    On one hand, the kid did beat Russell Wilson, head-to-head, at Empower Field as a visiting QB with the Jets twice in two trips since September 2022.

    On the other, what the heck does that say?

    If you look at Zach Wilson’s 30 career starts against anyone not named the Broncos, he’s sported a 10-20 record, thrown 23 touchdowns and 22 picks, and completed 17 passes per game at a clip of 56.5%.

    Also, he got benched for Trevor Siemian. 2023 Trevor Siemian.

    Wiser football heads, old coaches and scouts texted me Monday to say they still see a spark in Zach Wilson, that nobody could’ve walked away from the dumpster fire that is the J-E-T-S without some second-degree burns. That maybe Broncos QB Whisperer Sean Payton — Russell Wilson notwithstanding — is the sensei who winds up bringing it out of the guy, the way he brought it out of Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater and Kerry Collins, another top-5 bust in his early days with Carolina.

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    Sean Keeler

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  • Keeler: Avalanche, Jared Bednar have no choice: goalie Justus Annunen, if healthy, needs to start Game 2 vs. Jets

    Keeler: Avalanche, Jared Bednar have no choice: goalie Justus Annunen, if healthy, needs to start Game 2 vs. Jets

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    Avalanche fans deserve Justus.

    Do whatever it takes, Jared Bednar. Nyquil. Mucinex. Voodoo. Anything that gets Avalanche backup goaltender Justus Annunen healthy and ready to start Game 2 of this Avs-Jets series. Anything that gets No. 1 netminder Alexandar Georgiev away from the crease and out of the firing line.

    Love Georgie.

    He’s toast.

    The Winnipeg Jets know it. John Buccigross knows it. The moose wandering around south Manitoba know it. Over his last six appearances, dating back to April 5, Georgiev’s given up 29 goals. Bednar, the Avs’ venerated coach, isn’t just running out of options here. He’s running out of time.

    Winnipeg put seven more past No. 40 in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoff series Sunday, roughly a week after peppering him for a touchdown and extra point at Ball Arena.

    This time, it took two periods for Georgiev to become Fourgiev. It took three for him to become Sevengiev.

    Yes, when the other guys put seven on your tab, it’s a group fail. The hope was that the Burgundy and Blue had a postseason gear they could shift to. That Bednar’s porous, sloppy defense over the last three weeks would flip a switch.

    Guess what? No gear. No switch. They are what they were. They need a guy between the pipes who can bail them out.

    Georgie ain’t it.

    With 5:20 left, down 7-5, the Avs had outshot Winnipeg 36-19, per NaturalStatTrick.com, and produced 10 “high-danger” chances to the Jets’ 8. What does all that mean? In terms of “expected goals,” per the site’s metrics, with a typical netminder, the Avs should’ve been leading 3-1 or 3-2 at the time.

    Nothing about this is typical anymore. What doubles the hurt is that the Avs came out firing right from the jump, getting off 11 shots in the first 10 minutes to Winnipeg’s one. They managed a 1-0 lead for their trouble. It lasted all of 112 seconds.

    More galling is that Colorado had a pivotal road game — since 2018, the Avs have won six of seven series in which they’ve notched a Game 1 victory — rocking at their pace of choice. Up and down, PlayStation style. “NHL 94” with the  “icing” and “fatigue” sliders switched to off.

    Alas, this is reality, not your frat bro’s basement. Although Game 1’s first period was so crazy, both goaltenders played as if they were wearing straitjackets. Six goals, seven giveaways, 22 shots and zero sanity.

    What happens when a team with playoff scars and playoff skill but leaky goaltending (the Avs) meets a team with postseason nerves but one of the best net-minders on the planet (the Jets)? The opening 16 minutes of Colorado-Winnipeg, a ride with more twists than a David Fincher flick.

    Down 1-0, the hosts scored twice in 3:55 to take a 1-goal lead. The Avs scored twice in 18 seconds for a 3-2 cushion. Which lived on for about 48 seconds until Mark Scheifle, camping out in front of Georgiev, slipped behind Josh Manson and slotted past the Colorado goalie to square things at 3-all.

    Annunen, a Game 1 scratch, posted a 2-1 record and 2.42 goals-against average over four games in April. Even at 65-70%, could the kid have been any worse than what transpired Sunday?

    “I don’t know if he’s going to be healthy enough to play or not,” Bednar told reporters Sunday. “He wasn’t healthy enough to play (Game 1). We’ll see what we see (Monday) morning.”

    The more you think about it, the more depressing it becomes. The Avs pounded Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck, your likely Vezina winner, with six goals — on his home ice. It was the first time Bucky’s ever been tagged for more than five in the postseason. And only the third time over his last 130 starts.

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    Sean Keeler

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  • Michael Porter Jr. speaks about difficult week after Jontay Porter NBA ban, Coban Porter sentencing

    Michael Porter Jr. speaks about difficult week after Jontay Porter NBA ban, Coban Porter sentencing

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    Michael Porter Jr. said he received individual texts from Nuggets teammates checking on him after a difficult week in his personal life. His brother Coban, 22, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday for killing a woman in a drunk driving crash last year. And his brother Jontay, 24, was banned for life from the NBA earlier in the week after being investigated in a sports betting scandal.

    “Each one of them texted me separately and just told me they’ve got my back. If I need anything, they’ve got me,” Porter said Saturday night after a 114-103 Game 1 win at Ball Arena. “Yeah, a lot of people were reaching out. Friends, family. So to have these guys understand why I missed practice yesterday and just have my back has been big for me.”

    Porter’s absence from practice Friday was because he appeared in court that morning for Coban’s sentencing hearing. MPJ addressed the family of the victim, Kathy Limon Rothman, in the courtroom, saying, “I understand your family’s pain and hurt.”

    In his return to basketball Saturday, he registered 19 points and eight rebounds against the Lakers.

    “We’re human, so we carry our emotions and the things that go on off the court onto the court,” Porter said. “But I’m mentally tough. I’ve been through a lot through my whole career, so it was just another one of those things that I had to try to play through.”

    Jontay Porter was on a two-way deal with the Raptors’ organization when he allegedly shared information about his health with an individual he knew to be a sports bettor March 20. After another sports bettor subsequently placed an $80,000 parlay bet that Porter would underperform in Toronto’s game that night, Porter played only three minutes, claiming he felt ill. A league investigation also found Porter placed bets on NBA games, including one wager on the Raptors to lose a game.

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    Bennett Durando

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  • DU defenseman Sean Behrens signs three-year entry-level contract with Avalanche

    DU defenseman Sean Behrens signs three-year entry-level contract with Avalanche

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    The Colorado Avalanche and Sean Behrens finally made it official.

    Behrens signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avs, the team announced Friday, allowing the University of Denver defenseman to join the franchise that selected him 61st overall in the 2021 NHL draft. The deal begins in 2024-25, but he will join the Colorado Eagles in the AHL for the remainder of the 2023-24 season on an amateur tryout.

    Behrens took part in the Avs’ development camp in back-to-back years in 2022 and ’23. He comes to the Avs following a junior season at DU that saw him post career numbers in goals (4), assists (27), points (31) and games played (44).

    He is a two-time national champion, helping the Pioneers win their 10th NCAA championship just a week ago and their ninth in 2022 when Denver defeated Minnesota State.

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    The Denver Post

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  • Broncos like young core of cornerbacks, edge rushers, but there’s still room to add at both positions

    Broncos like young core of cornerbacks, edge rushers, but there’s still room to add at both positions

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    After Broncos general manager George Paton fielded nearly a dozen questions about the quarterback position during the team’s pre-draft news conference Thursday afternoon, he was asked about other areas of need.

    Throughout the draft process, many experts have had Denver drafting an edge rusher or cornerback with the 12th pick. And though Paton is confident in the depth at both positions, he didn’t shy away from the possibility of adding to either spot.

    “You are always looking at those types of positions,” Paton said. “If someone falls in your lap, you’re going to take them.”

    It’s hard to find quality edge rushers and cornerbacks, Paton reasoned. Players like Von Miller don’t walk through the doors every day. But at the same time, the talent the Broncos have at both position groups is young with room to grow.

    Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who is entering his third season in the league, had eight sacks in 2023 after recording 1.5 as a rookie. Jonathon Cooper had a team-best 8.5 sacks, while Denver should benefit from having Baron Browning at full strength entering the new year.

    At cornerback, Patrick Surtain II, 24, has established himself as one of the best in the league. Meanwhile, Ja’Quan McMillian played at a high level in the nickel spot during his sophomore campaign.

    But questions remain. How will Drew Sanders fare if Denver switches him from inside linebacker to the edge? Can Damarri Mathis bounce back after getting benched in the middle of last season? Will Riley Moss be able to live up to the team’s expectations after playing three snaps at outside cornerback as a rookie?

    In a division where the Broncos have to face two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year, they might not be able to afford to take that gamble, especially since they have the potential to draft a premier player at either position in the first round.

    “Whether it’s quarterback, edge or cornerback, you know what they are. They are a premium,” Paton said.

    When veteran Fabian Moreau took over as Denver’s starting cornerback, he held his own. But there were moments where he lacked the speed to keep up with certain wide receivers. Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell — who could be available at No. 12 — does, and he can make plays on the ball. He completed the 40-yard at the scouting combine in 4.33 seconds while recording 18 pass breakups in his final season with the Rockets.

    Denver used its last first-round pick to draft Surtain in 2021, and it traded up to take Moss in the third round of last year’s draft. But the possibility of having two lockdown cornerbacks could be intriguing for a defense that finished 22nd in passing yards allowed (233.6 per game) last fall.

    When it comes to edge rushers, NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said in a conference call on Thursday that he thinks Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Florida State’s Jared Verse and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu are the top three players. Depending on how the top of the draft shakes up, either one could fall into Denver’s lap.

    Even though Bonitto and Cooper improved, the Broncos were 29th in pressure percentage (18.2%), 20th in sack percentage (6.8%) and tied for 21st in team sack totals (42), according to Pro Football Reference.

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    Ryan McFadden

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  • As the Stanley Cup Playoffs beckon, Zach Parise is ready for his last dance

    As the Stanley Cup Playoffs beckon, Zach Parise is ready for his last dance

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    When Ross Colton scored his 15th goal of the season last month, he turned and jumped into the arms of Zach Parise.

    It was a great moment for Colton, who grew up in New Jersey with Parise as one of his favorite players. Colton has a photo of that embrace, and he intends to find a frame for it. He might want to grab another photo with one of his teenage idols Thursday night.

    Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammate Zach Parise (9) in the second period at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, March 22, 2024. Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) watches the celebration. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

    Parise, who joined the Avalanche just before the All-Star break after taking the first half of the season off, confirmed Wednesday to the Denver Post that the contest against Edmonton at Ball Arena will be the last regular-season game of a long and distinguished career.

    “Yeah, I’ve decided,” Parise said. “I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. I was content coming back that this would be the last one.”

    It will be regular-season game No. 1,254 for Parise, who has also played for the Devils, his hometown Minnesota Wild and the New York Islanders. He’s eighth all time among American-born players with 433 goals. His goal with 25 seconds left in regulation helped the United States reach overtime in the gold medal game of the 2010 Olympics before Sidney Crosby scored one of the most famous goals in hockey history for Canada.

    Parise had 21 goals for the Islanders last season, but had decided he was ready to hang up his skates this past summer … until he wasn’t. Then he spent the first half of the season working himself back into playing shape before signing Jan. 26 with the Avalanche.

    “It’s been awesome to be a part of,” Parise said. “The experience itself. Playing with these guys and even just practicing with them, it makes you a better player — even at my age. It’s gone even better than I thought it would be.”

    Parise has four goals and nine points in 29 games for the Avs. He’s moved around quite a bit in the lineup with various injuries. The forwards he’s played the most with are Colton and Miles Wood, who also played for a long time with the Devils.

    The pace at which he can play, even as he approaches his 40th birthday, and his versatility was attractive to Colorado as the Avs searched for another depth forward.

    “Knowing how he is, you knew he was going to come here in shape and ready to go. I had no doubt in my mind that he could step in and play,” said Avs defenseman Jack Johnson, who played with Parise at the 2010 Olympics. “He’s just a great guy to have around. He’s a great pro. Does everything right. Has a great attitude every day. Works hard, works on his craft — just a great human being on and off the ice and a great example for the younger guys.”

    Parise didn’t come back to play with the Avs to pad his regular-season resume. He’s here because there’s one big thing missing — a Stanley Cup championship. He got close with the Devils in 2012, losing to the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final.

    The Avs have a lot of players who won the Cup in 2022. Colton won with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021. Jared Bednar said recently that helping Parise get his first is one of the reasons he wants to win again this season.

    Bednar isn’t alone.

    “Everybody wants to win, obviously. I think it would be even more special for him and to help him win,” Colton said. “I think when the time comes, it will be something we can rally around.

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    Corey Masisak

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  • Nuggets to rematch Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James in first-round playoff series

    Nuggets to rematch Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James in first-round playoff series

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    If the Nuggets really want the title of “Lakers’ Daddy,” they’ll have the chance to earn it with an earlier-than-expected rematch.

    Less than a year after their Western Conference Finals sweep, the Nuggets will face the Lakers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs, tipping off Saturday at Ball Arena with Game 1. Denver (57-25) enters the series having won eight consecutive head-to-head matchups against Los Angeles.

    The Lakers (47-35) finished the regular season in eighth place and defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday to earn the matchup. Pelicans star Zion Williamson scored 40 points but mysteriously disappeared to the locker room with an apparent injury after scoring a game-tying floater with 3:19 remaining.

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    Bennett Durando

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  • Nuggets might watch Lakers vs. Pelicans together, but “we don’t have a preferred opponent”

    Nuggets might watch Lakers vs. Pelicans together, but “we don’t have a preferred opponent”

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    MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The tarp is being removed from the pool for the first time this year at the Jokic household.

    “We have good weather,” Nikola Jokic said Sunday afternoon in Memphis, his mind already back in Denver enough to know the local forecast. “So I’m going to go in my swimming pool. … Probably get some treatment. Relax a little bit.”

    The Nuggets have five nights off before they play again, in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs Saturday at Ball Arena. They have two full days before they’ll know their first-round opponent — either the Los Angeles Lakers or New Orleans Pelicans.

    They intend to enjoy the brief moment of stillness while they can. Because they hope to enjoy what happens next even more.

    “I think we all kind of were tired of the regular season,” Michael Porter Jr. said.

    Common side-effect of winning a championship. The first 82 games suddenly don’t feel as important. The playoffs can’t arrive soon enough. Champions become adrenaline junkies, living for the pressure and excitement. After a rollicking win over the Timberwolves last Wednesday, Nuggets players sat in the locker room and fantasized about the crowd noise of a playoff environment, the extra oomph of player introductions. Ball Arena had just given them an early taste of it.

    Maybe that’s why they fell apart two nights later in San Antonio. Second-half blowout. Lottery team. Lethargic crowd. Minds in the future. The Nuggets lost focus, lost a 23-point lead and lost their stranglehold on the No. 1 seed in the West.

    The regular-season finale in Memphis was an opportunity seized to salvage something out of their slip to third place in the standings. Minnesota’s loss to Phoenix handed the No. 2 seed back to Denver (57-25), an extra series with that coveted home-court advantage and a different path through the playoffs. Lemons to lemonade.

    “In the second round, we’ll get another round of home-court, and then the only way we wouldn’t get the Western Conference Finals home-court is if OKC makes it all the way,” Porter said. “Which they very well could. So definitely some benefits to being the second seed.”

    “We’ll see in a couple months how it played out for us,” Reggie Jackson said. “Still a tough loss in San Antonio, just because we completely controlled our own destiny. But we still control our destiny. It’s just about playing our best ball at the right time.”

    First, a few days to breathe. The afternoon game time Sunday allowed the Nuggets to fly home from Memphis immediately after the game and have most of the evening to relax. Monday is also a “black-out day,” with nobody going to the team facility or working.

    “Let everybody stay home, get some rest, be with your families, whatever it is you need to do,” coach Michael Malone said. “And then obviously on Tuesday, maybe have a light player development type of a day. And may get together as a team to watch that game on Tuesday night.”

    That’s the burning question now. Who would the Nuggets rather play in the first round? The seventh-seeded Pelicans, a roster that might end up without an All-NBA selection and a core with minimal playoff experience? Or the eighth-seeded Lakers, a franchise that strikes fear into everybody but a current iteration that has lost eight consecutive games to Denver? It’s a fresh matchup or a grudge match.

    “I think it’s pretty even throughout,” Porter said. “New Orleans presents a lot of challenges. Especially with (Brandon Ingram) being back. But the Lakers are a very good team as well. We may have swept them last year (in the Western Conference), but it was a battle every game. I think they ran every game, and then it came down to the last two or three minutes where we kind of pulled away. So it may have looked like we dominated, but that was a very good matchup last year, so we’re taking everyone serious.”

    Porter, despite Denver’s scoreboard-watching Sunday, wanted to be clear: “We don’t have a preferred opponent.”

    Meanwhile, Malone wasn’t focused on the “who” so much as the “when.”

    “You find out a lot sooner than you did as a 1-seed,” he said. “So that helps.”

    Indeed, the Nuggets will have more time to scout one specific opponent than they did last year as the top seed, which doesn’t find out its adversary until Friday at the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament. The real work starts Wednesday for Denver. Even that rumored gathering for the Lakers-Pelicans game Tuesday night would be more of a social event than a work function.

    “We’ll probably get together and watch it and just try to relax at the same time,” Jackson said. “Try to do a little bit of scouting, but just trying to do a little bit of hanging out. Build some comradery and just relax a little bit.”

    The situation in New Orleans will be intriguing. The Lakers were already there Sunday for Game 82. Their 124-108 rout vaulted them to the No. 8 position and knocked the Pelicans from No. 6 to No. 7 … all for the two teams to play again in the same arena 48 hours later. The Lakers don’t even have to fly home to Los Angeles and back.

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    Bennett Durando

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  • Nuggets playoff scenarios, tiebreakers explained: Nobody controls their own destiny for 1-seed in West

    Nuggets playoff scenarios, tiebreakers explained: Nobody controls their own destiny for 1-seed in West

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    SAN ANTONIO — Devonte’ Graham broke the NBA tiebreaker system on his way to Cancun and left the Western Conference standings in flames behind him.

    Welcome to the most chaotic last-day setup for a No. 1 seed of all time.

    For the first time in NBA history, there is a three-way tie for first place in a conference after 81 games. The top seed in the West would have been undecided entering Sunday’s slate of games even if the Nuggets (56-25) had protected their 23-point lead against the Spurs. It just would have been more simple: Denver would have controlled its own destiny. Winning in Memphis would clinch No. 1.

    But instead, the Nuggets choked one away against the worst team in the West. As a result? Nobody, yes nobody, controls their own destiny for the No. 1 seed going into the final day of the 2023-24 regular season.

    Confused yet? Here are all the relevant games around the West on Sunday, and all scenarios that could play out for the Nuggets.

    Nuggets’ relevant games Sunday (MT)

    • Nuggets at Grizzlies, 1:30 p.m.
    • Mavericks at Thunder, 1:30 p.m.
    • Suns at Timberwolves, 1:30 p.m.
    • Lakers at Pelicans, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
    • Jazz at Warriors, 1:30 p.m.
    • Trail Blazers at Kings, 1:30 p.m.

    NBA 3-way tiebreaker, explained

    If the Nuggets, Timberwolves and Thunder end in a three-way tie, the final standings will look different than if the Timberwolves and Thunder end in a two-way tie — meaning the Nuggets-Grizzlies game could matter even if it doesn’t matter to the Nuggets.

    First tiebreaker: A division winner earns the tiebreaker over a non-division winner. But all three teams are in the Northwest division, so that doesn’t solve anything.

    Second tiebreaker: Best win percentage in all head-to-head games among tied teams. Minnesota finished 2-2 against Denver and 2-2 against Oklahoma City. And Oklahoma City won the season series over Denver, 3-1. That means Oklahoma City is 5-3 overall, Minnesota is 4-4 and Denver is 3-5. So the Thunder would get the No. 1 seed.

    Then the tiebreaker would reset, and the No. 2 seed between Denver and Minnesota would be decided by the two-way tie procedure.

    NBA 2-way tiebreaker, explained

    First tiebreaker: Head-to-head record. Again, Denver and Minnesota split their four games.

    Second tiebreaker: A division winner earns the tiebreaker over a non-division winner. But in this scenario, Oklahoma City has won the division and the conference already. Onward.

    Third tiebreaker: Win percentage within the division. Minnesota is 12-4 against Northwest Division opponents. Denver is 10-6. Advantage Minnesota. The three-way tie would end with Denver in third.

    However, if Oklahoma City and Minnesota end in a two-way tie, the tiebreaker procedure continues. Not only did they split their four games; they also have identical 12-4 division records.

    Fourth tiebreaker: Win percentage within the conference. Minnesota is two games ahead of Oklahoma City in terms of their win-loss records within the West. So Minnesota would earn the higher seed in this two-way tiebreaker, even though Oklahoma City would earn the higher seed in the three-way tiebreaker.

    If you have a migraine trying to comprehend that, here are the scenarios broken down by the plausible results of Sunday’s games.

    NBA Western Conference No. 1 seed scenarios Sunday

    Nuggets are the No. 1 seed if:

    • Denver wins AND Minnesota loses AND Oklahoma City loses

    Thunder are the No. 1 seed if:

    • Oklahoma City wins AND Denver wins
      OR
    • Oklahoma City wins AND Denver loses AND Minnesota loses

    Timberwolves are the No. 1 seed if:

    • Minnesota wins AND Denver loses
      OR
    • Minnesota wins AND Oklahoma City loses

    Nuggets playoff seeding scenarios Sunday

    Nuggets are the No. 1 seed if:

    • Denver wins AND Minnesota loses AND Oklahoma City loses

    Nuggets are the No. 2 seed if:

    • Denver wins AND Minnesota loses AND Oklahoma City wins
      OR
    • Denver wins AND Minnesota wins AND Oklahoma City loses

    Nuggets are the No. 3 seed if:

    • Denver loses
      OR
    • Denver wins AND Minnesota wins AND Oklahoma City wins

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    Bennett Durando

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  • Nuggets blow 23-point lead to Spurs, losing 1-seed footing before finale

    Nuggets blow 23-point lead to Spurs, losing 1-seed footing before finale

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    SAN ANTONIO — To hold serve at the top of the Western Conference standings, the Nuggets had to weather one last Wemby storm.

    They couldn’t.

    In what might have been the last game of Victor Wembanyama’s Rookie of the Year-destined season, the Nuggets kept him flustered for one half before he turned into a flamethrower in the other. Denver couldn’t survive the surge, losing their seeding on a Devonte’ Graham transition floater with 0.9 seconds remaining for a 121-120 defeat Friday night at Frost Bank Center. It was Denver’s only deficit of the second half, right after Nikola Jokic missed an open foul line jumper.

    “We had our chances,” Jokic said. “I missed an open look on the last shot. It’s something that I need to make. I missed, and they had a fast break.”

    The Spurs scored 71 points in the second half.

    “We didn’t defend at all,” coach Michael Malone said. “… The very few times they did miss in the fourth quarter, we gave up eight offensive rebounds for 13 points. So give San Antonio a ton of credit. They stayed with it. We were up by 23 at one point, and just, too many blow-bys, too many 3s, too many leaving our feet on shot fakes. Just a lot of things that I would say did not go our way down the stretch.”

    The Nuggets (56-25) will now finish in third place via a three-way tiebreaker if Denver, Minnesota and Oklahoma City each win their finales Sunday. The Nuggets play in Memphis.

    “It’s disappointing,” Malone said. “Really disappointing.”

    To get to this point, a 23-point lead in the third quarter had to be sliced to six, setting up a frantic fourth in which the clutch Nuggets finally wilted against the worst team in the West. It was 81-60 with 8:16 remaining in the third frame. Then Wembanyama buried a pull-up three. During a 26-9 Spurs run over four minutes and change, he scored 17 of 19 San Antonio points, including a trio of consecutive 3-pointers. The third was enough to finally warrant an aggravated Malone timeout. Reggie Jackson entered and turned it over on an eight-second violation.

    Malone would take one more rage timeout in the quarter. The Nuggets responded to that one better, scoring the last six of the period. Role players were mostly solid in Jokic’s rest minutes, but the starters were lackadaisical on defense and missed open shots. Jamal Murray was Denver’s most consistent source of offense throughout the game, scoring 35 on 5-of-11 shooting beyond the arc. Jokic scored 14 in the first quarter and eight the rest of the game.

    “If you remember last year, we did a kind of similar thing,” Jokic said. “We lost to a couple teams (at the end of the regular season; three consecutive on the road). So it seems like we didn’t learn our lesson. But maybe the year needs to be repeated, the same thing happens and hopefully we’re gonna win a championship again.”

    San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, April 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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    Bennett Durando

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