Nuggets News and Notes: Special on Mason Plumlee trade

Nuggets best Blazers in Nurkic-Plumlee swap SI’s Ben Golliver grades how Denver and Portland fare in the deal CSN Northwest’s Jason Quick : Portland trading Plumlee hit the team hard. Denver got a good one – 2/13/17 Chauncey Billups on Plumlee trade and state of the Nuggets: “If you’re going to be a real good team, you got to have a couple super stars, right now Nuggets don’t have one” – 2/13/17 The Nuggets celebrated the Nikola Jokic Show at Madison Square Garden — The Joker scored 40 points on 17-for-23 shooting — by making their second trade of the season.

Spurs top Pacers for NBA-record 20th straight winning season

Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points and the San Antonio Spurs clinched their NBA-record 20th consecutive winning season with a 110-106 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 10 of his 19 points during the final 6 1/2 minutes as the Spurs improved to 42-13 in the season following Tim Duncan’s retirement.

Griffin dominates and Clippers beat Jazz 88-72

Blake Griffin had 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled over the Utah Jazz 88-72 on Monday night. The Clippers controlled the game for all but a short stretch of the first quarter while the Jazz had a horrific shooting night.

Week 15 NBA MVP race: James Harden holds steady at the top

Week 15 NBA MVP race: James Harden holds steady at the top USA TODAY Sports’ top five candidates for the 2016-17 NBA MVP award Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2kCrAlZ Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden reacts during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. USA TODAY Sports’ top five candidates for the 2016-17 NBA MVP award .

AP source: Nuggets trade Nurkic to Trail Blazers for Plumlee

The Nuggets won … The Nuggets dealt the bruising big man known as the “Bosnian Beast” to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday for center Mason Plumlee, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been announced.

Wolves roll short-handed Bulls to help Thibs to season sweep

Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the severely short-handed Chicago Bulls 117-89 on Sunday. Ricky Rubio had 17 points, 11 assists and six rebounds and Minnesota shot 54 per cent to help coach Tom Thibodeau sweep the season series against his former team.

NBA Capsules

Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and the New York Knicks salvaged the finale of a tumultuous five-game homestand by beating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on Sunday. With Latrell Sprewell and a number of other former Knicks in attendance two days after Charles Oakley was banned, the current team pulled out a defensive performance from its past, limiting the Spurs to 36 per cent shooting.

Knicks beat Spurs 94-90 to salvage finale of homestand

Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and the New York Knicks salvaged the finale of a tumultuous five-game homestand by beating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on Sunday. With Latrell Sprewell and a number of other former Knicks in attendance two days after Charles Oakley was banned, the current team pulled out a defensive performance from its past, limiting the Spurs to 36 per cent shooting.

Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan warns Wigan his team will meet fire with fire

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan says he has the players to handle Wigan if the Super League champions’ emotional build-up gets the better of them in Sunday’s World Club Challenge. Speaking to Fairfax at Heathrow Airport upon the Sharks ‘ arrival on Sunday, Flanagan was responding to the news Wigan coach Shaun Wane had called in teammates from the 1987 side that beat Manly to address his men this week.

Atlanta Hawks Weekly Wrap: Looking For Identity

The Atlanta Hawks went 1-2 this week, capping everything off on Friday night with a horrific loss to the Sacramento Kings . Nothing terribly important changed in the standings this week, as the Hawks stayed in fifth place in the East, but the team showed a concerning inability to hold a lead.

Bucks Outlast Pacers 116-110

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 20 points with 10 assists and eight rebounds as the Bucks topped the Indiana Pacers on the road 116-110. Mirza Teletovic scored 19 in 17 minutes off the bench.

Re: Frustrated Lowry says ‘something gotta change’

We don’t normally throw up post-game quotes just as they are, but Kyle Lowry’s comments following Sunday’s frustrating loss to the Detroit Pistons were interesting – and biting – enough to warrant sharing. We’ll post the video when it’s up on YouTube in a bit, but here’s the transcription of Lowry’s post-game chat.

Without Embiid, 76ers snap Miami’s 13-game winning streak

Philadelphia 76ers’ Nerlens Noel, left, dunks the ball against Miami Heat’s Willie Reed during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia 76ers’ Nerlens Noel, left, dunks the ball against Miami Heat’s Willie Reed during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in Philadelphia.

LeBron, Irving power Cavaliers past Nuggets, 125-109

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets’ Juancho Hernangomez , from Spain, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in Cleveland. Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets’ Juancho Hernangomez , from Spain, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in Cleveland.

Giannis Antetokoumpo leads Bucks past Pacers, 116-100

Milwaukee Bucks’ Rashad Vaughn, right, is defended by Indiana Pacers’ Monta Ellis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in Indianapolis. Milwaukee Bucks’ Rashad Vaughn, right, is defended by Indiana Pacers’ Monta Ellis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in Indianapolis.

Warriors at Thunder: Watch Golden State online

Kevin Durant will make his long awaited return home on Saturday night, when the Golden State Warriors take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. There hasn’t been a game on the regular season schedule in the NBA that has been circle more times this year than the Golden State Warriors’ first trip to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.