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Date Aug. 9th 08:59 AM Icon 552 Date 0

 

Michael Porter Jr. played only three college games but said he is ready for the grind of an NBA season.

His back may not let him make good on that promise [url=www.eaglesauthorizedshops.com]www.eaglesauthorizedshops.com[/url] , but the Denver Nuggets� newest young player said he’s ready to go after being selected 14th overall in the NBA draft Thursday night.

”I have no reason to not believe that,” he said. ”I feel good.”

Porter was limited to 53 total minutes as a freshman for the Missouri Tigers due to the back injury, which required surgery. He averaged 10 points and 17.7 minutes in the 2017-18 season.

He said his back won’t be a problem, nor the hip that had him cancel most of his workouts for NBA teams and contributed to him falling to the last lottery spot in the draft.

”After pro day teams at the top of the draft telling me I was their guy, then I had that episode last week,” Porter said. ”Hip hurt and I think that kind of scared some teams.I was feeling really good, had a good pro day. I was jumping really good again and everything was coming back together. I just had a sore few days but I’m on the right track and I’m getting better every single day.”

Denver decided Porter’s talent was worth the risk.

”We were very surprised, and happily so, that Michael continued to fall down the board,” Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said. ”At some point it becomes a risk-reward ratio. We think he’s an elite talent, a guy with no back issues we wouldn’t have the good fortune of drafting. You have to take a swing at guys like that. You have to get lucky.”

Connelly said the team’s executives and medical staff pored over Porter’s medical records and felt comfortable taking a chance on him.

”We’ve looked at so many medicals,” Connelly said. ”We felt well-informed every step of the way. We feel it’s a well thought-out and well-designed risk that we’re unbelievably happy is going to be in a Nuggets uniform.”

Porter joins a young team with a strong nucleus that has missed the playoffs for five straight seasons. Denver’s offense starts with playmaking center Nikola Jokic [url=www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com]www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com[/url] , who has 16 career triple-doubles, 10 of which came last season for the 46-36 Nuggets.

Denver finished a game out of the postseason each of the last two seasons.

In addition to the 23-year-old Jokic, Denver’s young core consists of point guard Jamal Murray, 21, and shooting guard Gary Harris, 23, which gives the franchise a foundation to build upon.

That foundation now includes the 6-foot-10 Porter, who turns 20 on June 29. He could immediately fill a need at small forward if veteran Wilson Chandler opts out of his contract and Will Barton, an unrestricted free agent, doesn’t re-sign with Denver.

”I know they’ve got a good young point guard in Jamal Murray, Gary Harris at (shooting guard) can score the ball. Jokic, great passer [url=www.seattlemarinersteamshop.com]Mitch Haniger Seattle Mariners Jersey[/url] , and Paul Millsap,” Porter said. ”It’s a good, good young team who is very unselfish and that’s what I like about it. That’s how I like to play. When I watch them that’s the feeling I get from them.”

The Nuggets traded a future second-round pick to move up two spots in the second round to take Jarred Vanderbilt out of Kentucky at No. 41. They also drafted center Thomas Welsh of UCLA with the 58th pick.

—



TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays needed a solid outing by their bullpen Tuesday night and a not-so-good performance by the New York Mets relievers to eke out an 8-6 victory.

The Blue Jays (40-45) will try to complete a sweep of the two-game interleague set Wednesday when they send out right-hander Marcus Stroman (1-5, 6.02 ERA) at the Rogers Centre. The struggling Mets (33-49) will start right-hander Corey Oswalt (0-1, 9.82), who will be making his second career major league start.

The teams split two games at Citi Field on May 15 and 16.

After trailing 5-0 and 6-1 on Tuesday, the Blue Jays rallied to tie on a three-run homer by Yangervis Solarte in a five-run seventh and won it on a two-run homer by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the eighth.

The Blue Jays will need a solid start from Stroman, who will be making his third start since returning from the disabled list after being sidelined with inflammation of the right shoulder. It would help a well-used bullpen if he could pitch deep into the game.

They lost their starter Tuesday, right-hander Marco Estrada, after one-third of an inning. After giving up a two-run homer to Asdrubal Cabrera, Estrada made two pitches to the next batter before leaving with a sore left hip. X-rays were negative, but the extent of the injury was not known.

The Blue Jays needed seven relievers to work through the game. There likely will be a roster move before the game on Wednesday. Seunghwan Oh was the only reliever not to pitch for the Blue Jays.

The victory spoiled the return of former Blue Jays star Jose Bautista [url=www.authenticsbuffalobills.com]Jeremy Kerley Color Rush Jersey[/url] , who was playing in Toronto for the first time since last season. He received a standing ovation and in five plate appearances, he had three walks and a single. He also committed a two-base error in right field, letting a single get past him in the seventh inning.

The Mets, who have lost 11 of their last 13 games, also had an injury Tuesday. Catcher Devin Mesoraco, who hit a two-run homer in the second inning, left the game in the bottom of the seventh after being hit on the helmet by an errant pitch and by a backswing in consecutive innings. Manager Mickey Callaway said that he had passed concussion protocol so far. Kevin Plawecki took over behind the plate.

Stroman, who experienced shoulder problems in spring training, has come on strong after being on the disabled list from May 9-June 22.

He pitched five runless innings on his return June 23, allowing six hits against the Los Angeles Angels. He came back Friday to hold the Detroit Tigers to two runs (one earned) and four hits over seven innings to earn his first win of the season.

“I’m just back to being myself,” Stroman said. “That wasn’t me earlier in the year, so I’m just happy to be back. Body feels good [url=www.authenticsdallascowboys.com]Leighton Vander Esch Color Rush Jersey[/url] , I feel in sync. Everything’s coming out very easily.”

Stroman has never faced the Mets. He will, however, be facing a former teammate in Bautista.

“It will be fun,” Bautista said.

They have faced each other in one game.

Stroman, pitching for the United States, faced Bautista, who was playing for the Dominican Republic, in March, 2017, during the World Baseball Classic. Bautista fouled out and struck out. It was the only time they have faced each other competitively.
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“I think I’ve given him too many secrets over the years, it will be interesting,” Bautista said.

Oswalt [url=www.bearsauthorizedshops.com]www.bearsauthorizedshops.com[/url] , in his first career start Friday, allowed six runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings in an 8-2 loss to the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park.

He was starting on short notice.

Callaway said he was having trouble with his breaking pitches.

“I think that even in the first two innings he didn’t have any of his breaking stuff,” Callaway said after the game. “So, I think they kind of figured out he was struggling with getting that stuff over, so they were just sitting on fastballs and they put a few in play.”

The 24-year-old made 10 starts at Triple-A Las Vegas, going 4-4 with a 5.32 ERA. In four stints with the Mets, he has made two appearances. He made his major league debut April 26 in St. Louis against the Cardinals, allowing two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Mets are 6-9 in Toronto all time.
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