Celtics 115, Heat 107

Chauncey Billups knows: The cliche is crapola. The harder part is faking it after you’ve made it. “The biggest thing, and me being in that position and having been there before, the biggest thing is just — don’t get bored, man,” Billups, the Denver hoops icon, former Nuggets point guard and current Trail Blazers coach, told me recently when our convo turned to the reigning NBA champs. “That playoff run is so intense and every game is just incredible.

On Sunday afternoon when Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields put on a throwing clinic, Denver needed a disruptor in the pass rush, and second-year outside linebacker Nik Bonitto stepped up to the challenge. In the fourth quarter, with the Broncos on the brink of overcoming a 21-point deficit, Bonitto burst into the backfield.

Omarion Miller barely got on the field in the first half Saturday. His second half was sensational, however, and on Monday he was named the Pac-12 freshman of the week. In Colorado’s 48-41 loss to USC, Miller had a breakout game with seven catches for 196 yards and a touchdown. Related Articles CU Buffs look to keep momentum going in run game Larrier, Michel lead Air Force to 49-10 romp over San Diego State Colorado Mines football shuts down Chadron State to remain perfect at 5-0 UNC gives up 21 points in the fourth quarter, loses late to nationally ranked Weber State Ex-CU Buffs wideout Brenden Rice enjoys productive, nostalgic return in wild USC win: “I kind of had butterflies” Miller’s first catch of the game – and of his career – didn’t come until 7 minutes, 14 seconds to play in the third quarter, when he caught a short hitch and went 65 yards. His emergence helped CU rally from a 41-14 deficit to have a shot to win in the final minutes. According to the Pac-12, Miller’s 196 yards are the most for any Pac-12 player since 1996 for the same game in which he had his first career catch. Miller also set a CU freshman record for receiving yards in a game and his total was the eighth-best in program history for any player. After the game, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin gave Miller some words of encouragement. “It meant a lot,” Miller said.

Through four games, the lack of a running game was a source of concern for the Colorado Buffaloes. On Saturday, the Buffs finally found a spark on the ground. It was just one game – and it came against a team that ranks 11th in the Pac-12 against the run – but CU’s performance in the run during a 48-41 loss to USC on Saturday at Folsom Field could be the boost it needs. Related Articles Football notes: CU Buffs’ Omarion Miller named Pac-12 freshman of week Larrier, Michel lead Air Force to 49-10 romp over San Diego State Colorado Mines football shuts down Chadron State to remain perfect at 5-0 UNC gives up 21 points in the fourth quarter, loses late to nationally ranked Weber State Ex-CU Buffs wideout Brenden Rice enjoys productive, nostalgic return in wild USC win: “I kind of had butterflies” Led by running back Anthony Hankerson, the Buffs finished with a season-high 193 yards on 45 carries against the Trojans. CU had 223 rushing yards all season – 55.8 per game – going into the USC contest. “Running game showed its face and you see how better the offense flowed with the running game,” head coach Deion Sanders said. It was an important development for an offense that has been prolific through the air all season, but not on the ground.

The Prime Effect is inspiring a number of Colorado basketball alums to flock back to Boulder. All three football home games so far — against Nebraska, Colorado State and USC — have been big recruiting weekends for the CU men’s basketball team. Part of the experience has included a number of former basketball standouts, including multiple appearances by NBA Buffs Spencer Dinwiddie and Derrick White, returning for the games to see coach Deion Sanders’ team. “It means everything,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said.

MIAMI — Jimmy Butler had a new look for Media Day, and the NBA world immediately took notice. The Miami Heat forward arrived for the team’s first official day of work this season with piercings — eye, lip and nose — along with a new hairstyle and his fingernails painted black. It’s become a trend of sorts for Butler, who went through the Media Day gamut last year with dreadlocks in a deviation from his usual look. “I’m very emotional right now.