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EAST RUTHERFORD Womens Travis Kelce Jersey , N.J. (AP) The agent for New York Giants star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had a long conversation with the team’s assistant general manager during practice on Thursday.

Zeke Sandhu of Elite Athlete Management and Kevin Abrams of the Giants talked for almost two hours on the patio overlooking the team’s practice fields as Beckham and teammates held a morning workout.

Neither man was available to the media.

Giants co-owner John Mara said last week the team was going to start negotiations on a new contract for the 25-year-old Beckham. He will make $8.5 million this season in the fifth and final season of his rookie deal. The three-time Pro Bowler has said he wants to be among the NFL’s highest-paid receivers.

When asked by The Associated Press if the team had anything to say about Sandhu and Abrams talking, Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon replied: ”No.”

A telephone call to Sandhu went to his voicemail, which was full. An email from The AP to Elite Athlete Management was not immediately answered.

Beckham missed most of last season after breaking an ankle in early October. He has shown no side effects in training camp and his quickness and speed seem to be the same.

”He’s doing what we expected him to do,” said coach Pat Shurmur, who said Beckham was engaged and energetic. ”Again, most of the scripted periods, we give him the plays that are necessary for him to learn. He’s right on track.”

Shurmur said he does not comment on contract talks.

Beckham has not spoken to the media since the team reported to training camp on July 25. He seemingly sticks to football in conversations with other players.

”Yeah, most of the time it’s about technique or what I was thinking on some route or what he was thinking or whatever is coming up in the script, and what we’re excited for,” fellow receiver Sterling Shepard said about his discussions with Beckham on Thursday. ”We’re always just picking each other’s brain. I’m always picking his brain, for sure. Trying to see what he’s thinking or what he thought about whatever just happened, or whatever I just did.”

Beckham has made the Giants’ offense go since being drafted in the first round in 2014. In 47 NFL games, the former LSU player has 313 catches for 4 Youth Derek Grant Jersey ,424 yards and 38 touchdowns.

NOTES: The Giants have switched their practices to the morning on Thursday and Friday because Beyonce and Jay-Z are performing evening shows at MetLife Stadium, which is close to the team’s headquarters. … Part of referee Jerome Boger’s officiating crew is at practice this week to discuss changes in the rules and new points of emphasis. The biggest change will be the emphasis on penalizing players who lower their heads before making contact. It could lead to an ejection. The other officials present were down judge Mike Carr, side judge Jonah Monroe and umpire Bill Schuster. … Running back Saquon Barkley, the No. 2 overall draft pick, had a reduced role Thursday to give him a break.

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Nikola Mirotic watched his third 3-pointer of the first half swish through the hoop, turned to acknowledge the raucous, roaring crowd and raised his first triumphantly as he trotted back up court.

Portland had a hard enough time dealing with Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis and the New Orleans backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo in Games 1 and 2. Pile on the finest playoff performance of Mirotic’s four NBA seasons, and the rout was on in Game 3.

Mirotic scored a career playoff-best 30 points to go with eight rebounds, three steals and a block, and the Pelicans pushed Portland to the brink of elimination with a 119-102 victory on Thursday night.

”I never thought I’d score 30 or something like that,” Mirotic said. ”I’m just trying to play simple. If I have a shot, take a shot, so I need to give credit to my teammates. … It’s just about the team. It’s about winning.”

To illustrate how hard New Orleans has been to defend in the series http://www.officialblues.com/authentic-adidas-dmitrij-jaskin-jersey , Portland coach Terry Stotts made a point of noting that Mirotic was the third different Pelicans player to score 30 in a game. Davis had 35 in Game 1 and Holiday 33 in Game 2.

”New Orleans played extremely well,” Stotts said. ”We arguably had one of our worst games of the year, so it was a bad combination.”

Davis had 28 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks for New Orleans, which can advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008 with one more victory. Game 4 is Saturday.

The 6-foot-10 Mirotic, acquired in a midseason trade after DeMarcus Cousins‘ season-ending Achilles tear, made 12 of 15 shots, scoring on everything from quick-release 3-pointers to cutting dunks and fast-break layups.

”I knew I was capable to have games like this, but I never want to force any shots and always want to play simple, play for my teammates the same way they play for me,” Mirotic said. ”I just want to show them they were right to bring me here.”

Damian Lillard scored 20 for Portland, but missed nine of an unusually low 14 shots. He averaged about 19 shots per game this season Rick Nash Jersey , but said the Pelicans were defending him relentlessly.

”They’re making me give the ball up,” Lillard said. ”This is a different coverage than I’ve seen at any point in my career. … It’s two or three layers of defense. It’s tough to play against, man.”

CJ McCollum scored 22 and Al-Farouq Aminu added 21, but Portland trailed by double digits for most of the first half and all of the second.

The Blazers had no answer for a Pelicans offense orchestrated once again to prolific effect by Rondo, who had 16 points and 11 assists – giving him 37 assists in the series. Holiday added 16 points for New Orleans, which shot 53 percent (46 of 87).

TIP-INS

Trail Blazers: Starting F Evan Turner was scratched because of his toe injury sustained during Game 2 on Tuesday night. Maurice Harkless started in his place, scoring five points in 26 minutes. … The Blazers committed 24 turnovers, leading to 29 Pelicans points. … Finished 9 of 31 from 3-point range.

Pelicans: Cousins was on the bench, attending his first game in New Orleans since his injury on Jan. 26. When he was shown cheering on his teammates on the main scoreboard, fans erupted into chants of ”Boogie! Boogie!” … The Pelicans shot 11 of 27 from 3-point range and 16 of 19 on free throws. … Scored 62 points in the paint and 32 on fast breaks.

SETTING THE TONE

The Pelicans wore alternate red uniforms and every fan was given a matching T-shirt, turning the entire packed seating area into a sea of red.

The volume was high early with the crowd revved up for the first playoff game in New Orleans since 2015.

The Blazers did nothing to silence the place, shooting about 35 percent and committing six turnovers in the opening quarter.

New Orleans raced to an 18-point lead in the period, aided by Mirotic hitting five of his first seven shots for 14 early points.

Mirotic scored 21 by halftime Bryan Little Jersey , which already represented a playoff career high.

Davis joined the fray with his typical array of alley-oop dunks, one of which he caught with his back to the basket and threw down with a two-handed reverse jam.

Rondo ran New Orleans’ offense with a tempo that gave Portland fits, and even when he was forced to settle for a deep 3 late in the shot clock, it went down, pushing the Pelicans’ lead to 20 in the first half.

Portland never got closer than 13 after that and trailed by as many as 33 in the fourth quarter.

FRESH LOOK

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said he’s not sure Mirotic’s decision to shave his beard had anything to do with his recent surge in production, but said the Pelicans are choosing to believe it does. He then added, ”Tell Niko, no 5 o’clock shadows, OK?”

UP NEXT

The series remains in New Orleans for Game 4 on Saturday night, when the Pelicans have an opportunity to complete the first playoff series sweep in franchise history.

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