Nuggets take Game 7 win

Nikola Jokic made the tiebreaking basket with 27 seconds left and Denver advanced to the second round of the playoffs by the slimmest of margins, beating Utah, 8078, on Sept. 1 in Game 7 when Mike Conley’s 3-pointer spun out at the buzzer.

The Nuggets became the 12th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a series, but only after they blew a 19-point lead in this game.

After Jokic’s basket, the Jazz got the ball to Donovan Mitchell following a timeout. The Nuggets stole it from him and raced down for a fast break, but Torrey Craig missed the layup. Utah rebounded and pushed the ball up the floor to Conley, whose jumper looked good all the way until it fell out. CELTICS TAKES 2-0 LEAD » Jayson Tatum scored 34 points, Marcus Smart made five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and the Boston Celtics beat the Toronto Raptors 102-99 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, putting the reigning NBA champions in serious trouble.

Smart scored 19 points, Kemba Walker had 17 and Jaylen Brown scored 16 for the Celtics, who now hold a 2-0 series lead. The Celtics are 3-0 against Toronto in the NBA’s restart bubble at Walt Disney World, and 5-1 against the Raptors

this season.

NFL

DECKER SIGNS BIG DEAL » Taylor Decker has agreed to a six-year, $85 million deal with the Detroit Lions that includes $37.5 million guaranteed, agent Jonathan Feinsod confirmed Sept. 1.

Decker joined the Lions as a first-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2016. He became the first Detroit rookie offensive tackle to start all 16 games since 2001. In four seasons, he’s played in 55 games for the Lions.

After impressing as a rookie, he missed the start of the 2017 season following shoulder surgery and played only eight games that year. He’s missed only one game over the past two seasons.

Decker’s deal adds to the investment the Lions have made in their offensive line this offseason. They also acquired Halapoulivaati Vaitai in March.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Lions announced they had released wide receiver Geremy Davis

College Football

RATTLER TO START FOR OU IN SEASON-OPENER » Spencer Rattler is the next man up in the Oklahoma quarterback factory.

Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley named Rattler the starter over Tanner Mordecai on Sept. 1 heading into the fifthranked Sooners’ opener against Missouri State.