NUGGETS ANNOUNCE PRESEASON SCHEDULE
The Nuggets announced their 2018-19 preseason schedule Monday, and only once will they play at the Pepsi Center — and it won’t be against an NBA opponent.
The Nuggets’ open the preseason Sept. 30 against the Lakers in San Diego before playing them again at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 3. Denver returns to the Staples Center on Oct. 9 to play the Clippers and wraps up the preseason Oct. 12 against the Bulls in Chicago.
Denver’s lone home preseason game is Oct. 5 against the Perth Wildcats of the Australian NBL. Nuggets forward Torrey Craig played three seasons in the NBL (2014-17), earning all-NBL second-team and defensive player of the year honors in 2017 with the Brisbane Bullets. The Nuggets are one of six NBA teams playing NBL opponents this preseason.
The Nuggets’ Oct. 2 game against the Lakers and Oct. 5 contest with Perth will be televised on Altitude. All five games will air on Altitude 950 AM.
Source: Nuggets’ Akoon-Purcell agrees to contract.
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell has agreed to sign a two-way contract with the Nuggets, a league source confirmed to The Denver Post.
The deal rewards one of Denver’s top performers during last month’s summer league. Akoon-Purcell averaged 12.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 steals in four games, impressing with his disruptive defense, aggressive offensive approach and overall athleticism. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound shooting guard played in Denmark after his college career at Illinois State, earning the Basketligaen League MVP award in 2017.
Avs’ MacKinnon ranked No. 5 center in NHL.
Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was ranked No. 5 among active NHL centers in the NHL Network’s annual top 20 countdown show Sunday night. MacKinnon, 22, trailed Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Pittsburgh teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
MacKinnon, who was named a second-team NHL all-star by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association in June — McDavid was the firstteam center — was making his debut in the NHL Network’s top-20 list. McKinnon finished second to McDavid in points per game last season (1.32 to 1.31) and second to New Jersey winger Taylor Hall in Hart Trophy voting as the league’s MVP.
Shaq’s son to play for UCLA.
UCLA has landed forward Shareef O’Neal.
The son of retired NBA great Shaquille O’Neal signed a grant-in-aid to attend UCLA this fall. He will enroll in summer school this month.
The 6-foot-10, 220-pounder from Los Angeles played the last two seasons at Crossroads High in nearby Santa Monica. As a senior last season, O’Neal helped the school win the CIF Division II state title for the first time since 1997.
He had 29 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks in the title game. O’Neal averaged 27 points as a senior while Crossroads finished with a 25-9 record.
Spartans cornerback Scott to miss two months.
EAST LANSING,
Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio said cornerback Josiah Scott is expected to miss about two months after a noncontact injury. Scott started 12 games last season as a freshman.
Dantonio didn’t elaborate on the injury. He also said defensive end Dillon Alexander went down with a noncontact injury. Alexander’s injury was to his foot.
Creek OLB Pell commits to CU.
Cherry Creek outside linebacker Alec Pell announced on Twitter that he has committed to play for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Pell, rated a three-star prospect, had previously committed to Boise State.