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MINNEAPOLIS -- The agent for Brandon Rush says he has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports says Rush came to agreement with the Timberwolves on Wednesday. He gives them some much-needed shooting off the bench.Rush averaged 4.2 points in 72 games for the Golden State Warriors last season. He has overcome some serious knee issues to resume his career and has shot 40 percent from 3-point range in eight seasons.The Timberwolves badly needed to add a shooter to a team that was near the bottom of the league in 3-point field goals and attempts last season.Rush is the second signing of a quiet summer for the Timberwolves. They added center Cole Aldrich on Monday.Custom Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Pittsburgh Penguins Gear . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Pittsburgh Penguins Shirts .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Pittsburgh Penguins Store . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay.WASHINGTON -- When Dusty Baker first played in the minor leagues at age 18, he had only seen curveballs and never a slider.When I went to swing at it, it would like move right at the right time and I thought it was like an anti-bat repellant-type pitch, Baker said.Almost 40 years later, thats what the Washington Nationals manager sees in new closer Mark Melancons cutter. Melancon has continued to use that Mariano Rivera-inspired cutter, his curveball and fastball to near perfection since the Nationals acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline.In his first five appearances for Washington, Melancon retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced, striking out seven and walking none. He has come precisely as advertised and looks to be the consistent solution to the Nationals closer problem.Hes not doing anything different than he was before we got him, Baker said. He doesnt give up a lot of hits. He gives up very few walks.Melancon is Mr. Steady and Dependable, having converted 30 of 33 save opportunities for the Pirates this season and now 2 of 2 for the Nationals. Thats a stark contrast to usurped Washington closer and 2015 trade deadline pickup Jonathan Papelbon, who allowed eight runs on seven hits in his final three outings before the trade and has three blown saves and a 4.37 ERA.In 50 games, Melancon has a 1.35 ERA, and hes spotless so far with the Nationals. He credits the seamless transition to catchers Wilson Ramos and Pedro Severino being on the same page with him.Im just attacking guys and trying to get ahead, Melancon said Wednesday. Its been smooth and great attitudes back there and willingness to learn on both ends of that. I think when you have those things, things usually click pretty well.Melancon knows a thing or two about adjusting to new catchers and new teams. The trade from Pittsburgh to Washington for left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn was the fourth of his career.He was traded from the New York Yankees to Houston at the 2010 deadline, from the Astros to the Red Sox in the winter of 2011 and from Boston to Pittsburghh in the winter of 2012.dddddddddddd As a pending free agent, the 31-year-old righty wasnt shocked he got traded.Pirates general manager Neal Huntington knew he was giving up a stable back-of-the-bullpen piece, saying, While we anticipate he will be very productive for the Nationals over the next two months, the reality is hes staring free agency in the face. Melancon is making $9.65 million and will almost certainly get a substantial raise this offseason.With Papelbons contract up after the season, the Nationals could be among the top suitors for Melancon. But for now, theyre in first place in the NL East and trail only the Chicago Cubs for the best record in baseball, so the 2016 World Series is their focus.Melancons stability is a big piece of the road there for a team with a history of playoff failures, but hes still in the process of tinkering and trying to improve his arsenal. He has a strong rapport with Washington pitching coach Mike Maddux stemming from a 2014 trip to Japan that featured a series of exhibition games, and the two are working on adding a change-up and discussing mental aspects of closing.Hes extremely knowledgeable and fun to listen to, Melancon said. Everybody has a different twist on things, but he brings things to light that you never even knew were out there. Its really cool to learn from him. His experience is as good as anybodys.Melancon, who led the majors with 51 saves last season, has plenty of experience himself and is arguably at his peak as a professional pitcher. Baker has seen plenty of closers in his decades in baseball and comes away impressed.He mixes it up: fastball, cutter, curveball, Baker said. Before he had a super curveball, which was his main pitch, but now you cant sit on any one of those pitches. And hes pretty smart about what hes doing.Melancon learned the smarts from Rivera during his time with the Yankees. Melancon has carried on the tradition of the dominant cutter that Rivera made nearly unhittable. ' ' '