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DENVER -- A two-week losing streak that included a tumultuous player-coach run-in during a game is over and the Denver Nuggets can finally exhale. Ty Lawson scored 18 points, including a key 3-pointer with less than a minute to play, and the Nuggets snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 111-108 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. "Its a wonderful feeling," said Kenneth Faried, one of six Nuggets to score in double figures. "We got the monkey off our back. We cant put it back on." Lawson also had 12 assists for the Nuggets, who played without Andre Miller. His two-game suspension stemming from a verbal clash with coach Brian Shaw during Wednesdays loss to the Philadelphia 76ers was rescinded by the club earlier Friday. But Miller, who lit into Shaw over his lack of playing time in the waning minutes of Wednesdays game in full view of fans and teammates, will remain away from the team until Monday under a newly issued personal leave. With frustration and uncertainty running rampant, Shaw held individual meetings with his players, and then had a group session with the team Thursday. "It was great," guard Randy Foye said. "Coach called us in and just explained how much confidence he had in us, what he expected from us. He reassured us that hes with us 120 per cent. He told us that he needs us to be with him 120 per cent, and to believe in the game plan. Coach was awesome, explaining the things that he needed from us, and I think guys took that and ran with it." Shaw said dealing with the fallout from the losing streak as well as the verbal clash with Miller was just part of the job. "Everything thats gone on in the last 48 hours is part of what you sign up for," Shaw said. "Theres ups and downs. ... But just allowing everybody to voice how they felt about the way things were going, assess themselves, assess us as a coaching staff, I think that just liberated everyone." Faried and Timofey Mozgov added 16 points apiece for Denver and Nate Robinson had 15 points, including nine in the fourth quarter. Zach Randolph had 25 points to lead Memphis and Mike Conley added 23. Mike Miller narrowly missed a tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. "We didnt guard well," Grizzlies coach David Joerger said. "They got the loose balls. They got the offensive rebounds and we didnt convert on fast breaks. We gave up too many easy baskets." Trailing by 10 at the break, the Grizzlies got back in the game by opening the third quarter with a 13-4 run. Tony Allens layup little more than three minutes later put the Grizzlies in front 65-64, their first lead since the opening moments of the game. The Nuggets came back, with help from a three-point play by Evan Fournier and a 3-pointer by Robinson to take a 77-75 lead into the fourth quarter. The Nuggets extended their lead to 87-77 with 9:32 remaining, getting 3-pointers from Randy Foye and Robinson around a breakaway dunk by Faired. The Grizzlies made another push, getting seven consecutive points capped by Conleys 3-pointer to pull to 98-96 with 4:05 left. Robinson answered with a 3-pointer to give the Nuggets a bit of breathing room, but Tayshaun Prince drained a 3-pointer with a minute left, getting the Grizzlies within 107-104. Lawson rebuilt the Nuggets lead to six points with a clutch 3-pointer with 53.1 seconds left. Memphis scored the next four points, and with 4.1 seconds left fouled Robinson, who made one of two free throws with the Grizzlies rebounding and getting the ball with just over 3 seconds remaining. Millers attempt for a tying 3-pointer hit the back of the rim and bounced out. "They played desperate. They needed a win and they played like it," Conley said. "They worked hard for it and they outworked us at the end." NOTES: Lawson has had eight points-assists double doubles this season. ... Mozgov has come off the bench to score in double figures 13 times this season. ... Memphis outscored the Nuggets 27-19 in the third quarter, getting 12 of its points from the free throw line. ... The Grizzlies attempted 38 free throws in all, making 29. Only Houston (44 on Nov. 16) shot more free throws against the Nuggets. ... Randolph reached 25 points and 13 rebounds in a game for the third time this season. Stitched USA Soccer Jerseys . Cabrera-Bello shot a 1-over-par 73 and was caught by Webster, who carded 70 at Doha Golf Club for three-round totals of 12-under 204. They were only one stroke ahead of Adrien Saddier of France, the biggest mover with six birdies in his opening seven holes in a round of 64, South African Thomas Aiken (70) and Denmarks Thorbjorn Olesen (68) on a packed leaderboard. USA Soccer Store .com) - The Milwaukee Bucks will try to get another win on this homestand Thursday night when they welcome the Utah Jazz to the Bradley Center. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/. Keenum will make his first appearance in a regular-season game against the rugged defence of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where the fans just set a Guinness record as the noisiest outdoor stadium in the world. USA Soccer Shirts . Not to be outdone, Atletico Madrid bettered its title rivals by demolishing 10-man Getafe 7-0 with Diego Costa returning from injury to score with a brilliant bicycle kick. "It was an almost perfect night," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. USA Soccer Jerseys 2020 . The NFL announced Friday that the Texans sixth-year veteran offensive lineman will replace Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters in the Jan.DUNEDIN, Florida - Melky Cabrera envisioned the worst-case scenario when he was diagnosed with having a benign tumour in his back. "I thought he was going to pass away, I was going to die, I was going to leave his kids behind and his family," said Cabrera through third base coach Luis Rivera, translating Spanish to English. "I know one day hes going to die but I wasnt ready to do that yet." It was a harsh dose of reality for Cabrera not long after turning 29 last August 11. It was a strange time. Finally, Cabrera had a proper diagnosis for the knee tendinitis and quadriceps inflammation that had sent him to the disabled list earlier in the season. But to that point, Cabrera couldnt understand why hed been rendered relatively immobile on the field. The tumour, which if left untreated would have continued to grow and could have ended up wrapping itself around Cabreras spinal cord causing paralysis, even death, was about the size of a walnut at the time it was surgically removed. The scar on Cabreras back is about five inches long and runs straight down the spinal column. "I was worried because of the way I was playing and the pain I was feeling in my legs and his back," Cabrera said through Rivera. "I didnt know what was wrong with me until I they decided to check. I found out, my family and myself, it was a tumour. They didnt know if it was benign or cancer and we were real worried." Once the stiches came out ten days after the surgery, Cabrera immediately began working out. He started slowly, capped at curls with 15 and 20-pound dumbbells. By December, Cabrera had moved his offseason home to Tampa. Teammate Jose Bautista lives in the area and the two began two-a-day workouts immediately, including cardio and weight training in the mornings and baseball related activities, namely hitting, in the afternoon. Cabrera is plenty motivated to have a bounce back season. Limited to 88 games last year, he posted a .279/.322/.360 slash line. He was coming off a 50-game suspension in 2012 for performance enhancing drug use. Now in the final year of the $16 million, two-year contract, Cabrera is playing for his next deal while trying to shake a shady past. In solid physical shape and moving better than he has in more than a year, Cabrera is reunited with his hitting coach from three seasons ago in Kansas City, Kevin Seitzer. "Im real happy that hes here," said Cabrera through Rivera. "Hes a real good hitting coach. He knows what kind of swing I have and he can work with me better." NAVARRO CATCHES BUEHRLE Asked before Fridays game if he could remember catching a pitcher who works as quickly as Mark Buehrle, Dioner Navarro didnt waste any time responding. "Nobody," he said. Navarro wouldnt offer a prediction of how things would go, which necessitated a follow up when he left the game after six innings. "On the positive side I dont have to do conditioning now," joked Navarro. "It was fun. I think hes still trying to build in as spring training goes along. I dont think hee was throwing as hard as he can.dddddddddddd His mechanics looked fine. The ball was coming out fine. He likes to work fast, thats for sure." Buehrle threw two innings, allowing a run on two hits. He struck out one and walked one. "First thing I told him when we met, I said, Listen, I dont shake off, so I like the sign down and hope youve got a game plan back there, because I dont really go over one, I dont follow one, so I just kind of go off [the catchers signs]," said Buehrle. "Thats big for them to know the hitters and know what I like to throw in certain situations. So far, were just working on some stuff right now and getting his feedback on certain pitches that Im throwing, so its good." Buehrle sat in on a handful of advanced scouting meetings two years ago in Miami, at the request of then-Marlins pitching coach Randy St. Claire, but felt he wasnt benefitting from the information. Hed prefer if Navarro and pitching coach Pete Walker worked out the plan. Hell just throw the pitches, joking that if things go wrong it leaves the blame on the catcher. "We take the blame," said Navarro. "Hey, its been like that for 100 years. When somebody does good, good job. When something goes bad its the catchers fault. Ive got no shame on that. I take the blame. Its okay with me." IZTURIS ACCEPTING OF BACK UP ROLE As long as the regulars stay healthy, Maicer Izturis will find himself back in the role he had with the Angels. Hell play some second base, some shortstop and some third base and be a late-game option off the bench for manager John Gibbons. "Ive been in that situation before in Anaheim with Aybar and Howie Kendrick," said Izturis. "For me, Im coming in ready to help the team win. I just want to make the playoffs and win that thing. I think weve got everything here. We need to just compete." A 10-year veteran, Izturis also is serving as a mentor to Ryan Goins, who ended last season as the Jays second baseman and is expected to have the starting job when camp breaks. "Just be consistent, play good defense," said Izturis of his advice to Goins. "Hes got the same game that I do. Just play defense, move the runner, take some pitches, play for the team. Weve got a lot of players with power and speed. Thats what I try to tell him to help him understand his game." Izturis is fully healed following a season-ending ankle sprain late last August. He began running the bases and taking ground balls in November. LINDS BEARD GETTING ATTENTION Adam Linds goatee is being compared to the beard worn by former professional wrestler Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Shown a photo of Neidhart, Lind laughed and said, "Hes got a better tan." KRATZ DOES COMMERCIALS Check out these three commercials featuring new Blue Jays catcher Erik Kratz, done last year in Philadelphia for Godshalls Quality Meats. Some funny stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGOjaXfwdfg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bltl70SVyuU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oQi1uuq2xI ' ' '