(Sports Network) - Denver hopes a shift in scenery to the Rocky Mountains will result in a change of momentum during its Western Conference quarterfinals set with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook once again led the Thunder with 23 and 21 points, respectively, on Wednesday as Oklahoma City jumped out to a big lead and cruised to a 106-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their series. James Harden scored 14 of his 18 points in a first half controlled by the Thunder, who went up by as many as 26 points early in the second quarter and led by double digits the rest of the way. Serge Ibaka finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Kendrick Perkins totaled seven and 11 to spearhead the Thunders 54-31 edge on the glass. All weve done really is just protect our home court, Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. Now its time to go back, watch the film, find ways that we can improve, find ways that we can get better next game. We know going into their court its not going to be easy, but were looking forward to the challenge. Ty Lawson scored 20 points, while Nene and Raymond Felton both had 16 for the Nuggets, who shot just 39 percent from the field and arrive back in Denver trailing the series, 2-0. Al Harrington added 15 points for Denver, which got just two from J.R. Smith. Both Smith and fellow reserve Chris Andersen were benched by head coach George Karl in the game and unhappy. Smith even intimated there was a strong possibility he would leave the Nuggets next summer as a free agent. I dont want J.R. to be happy about not playing. I want J.R. to be angry, Karl said. I want Bird [Andersen] to be angry. I want them all to be angry. I would be angry. I also want them to be teammates. I think J.R., more than ever, is showing that he wants to be that guy. A critical Perkins tip-in late in Game 1 helped Oklahoma City take a 107-103 victory, though the NBA said Monday that officials should have called offensive goaltending on the play. There was no controversial finish in Wednesdays wire-to-wire drubbing. [The Thunder] were totally in control, they were energized, they were more physical, they were quicker and probably smarter, Karl said. The hole was just too big. Denver should get a boost tonight with the expected return of guard Arron Afflalo to the lineup. Afflalo, the teams best perimeter defender who missed 13 games over the final month of the regular season and the first two games of this set with a left hamstring injury, practiced Friday and is ready to go. Were healthy now, Afflalo said. No more excuses. The Nuggets finished in second place, five games behind Oklahoma City in the Northwest Division during the regular season. Denver has also faced the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise in three playoff series (1977-78, 1987-88, 19934-94), winning two of those. The eighth-seeded Nuggets of the 1993-94 season upset the top-seeded Sonics in the opening round, with the memorable shot of Denver center Dikembe Mutombo holding the ball in jubilation on the floor afterwards. Game 4 in the series will be Monday, also in Denver.
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Artem Anisimov Jersey Black Friday . Utility player Joe Mather was designated for assignment. With the emergence of Jordan Schafer as the Braves centre-fielder and leadoff hitter, manager Fredi Gonzalez said McLouth would play in left while Martin Prado recovered from a calf infection.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. doesnt see any reason to lament his lot in life right now. Despite dealing with a torn left ACL that sidelined him for the Super Bowl and probably cost him $1 million in salary next season, the Denver Broncos most versatile cornerback was thrilled to sign his one-year restricted free-agent tender Tuesday. It will pay him $2,187,000 next season — or more than 1,000 times the $2,000 signing bonus he received four years ago as an undrafted college free agent. "Ill take it," Harris told The Associated Press. "Im definitely happy with it. Im excited to go back out there, get back healthy and lead this team back to the Super Bowl." Had Harris not gotten hurt in the playoffs, the Broncos would have probably had to use the highest tender on him — a one-year deal worth more than $3.1 million that carried a first-round pick as compensation. Instead, they were able to use the second-highest tender available. With the Broncos able to match any offers, no suitors came calling for Harris, whos been rehabbing at the Broncos facilities since shortly after undergoing surgery in February following Denvers loss to Seattle in the Super Bowl. "Teams were not going to give up a second-round pick. We realized that," Harris said. "We know that next year is a big year for me." Harris ligament in his left knee wasnt completely torn when he got hurt against San Diego in the playoffs and he and the Broncos are optimistic hell be ready by the start of training camp in July and will resume his role as a leader on Denvers defence. If that happens, the Broncos are expected to work toward a longer-term deal for Harris after next season when he hits unrestricted free agency. "I definitely think Ill be close to 100 per cent by the start of training camp," Harris said. "You never know with this type of injury, but the ligament wasnt completely torn and righht now Im feeling great.dddddddddddd The treatment is going great and Im improving each week." Harris is coming off a monster year in which he posted 65 tackles, 58 of them solo, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups while allowing the fifth-fewest yards receiving (25 a game) and tying for the eighth-fewest completions allowed (35) in the NFL among players targeted at least 60 times. His emergence and versatility playing both the slot and on the outside helped the Broncos decide to bid farewell to star Champ Bailey this off-season after he played sparingly last year. Then, the signing of fellow University of Kansas alum Aqib Talib led to the departure of free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. "Champ and I always talked and we kind of understood this would probably happen. We werent surprised" by Baileys exit, Harris said. "Losing Champ, I feel I can take over his role on the field and also I can take over his leadership role. If you look at it, I was the starting corner pretty much the whole season last year. "You see my production and you see Talib, me and him have played together before, so were familiar with each other communication-wise, chemistry-wise, and thats a big thing." Harris was a freshman at Kansas in 2007 when Talib was an All-American his junior year before being drafted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that following spring. "Weve always been pretty tight. And friends always joke around saying, What if you and Talib play together now?" Harris said. "Now, its kind of crazy. I was just a freshman. I was young and still learning the game. Now, Im in my fourth season in the NFL and with all Aqibs experience, weve got a pretty solid duo. Its going to be great." ___ AP NFL website:
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