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DENVER - The Bosnian Bear loves chocolate cheesecake with vanilla mousse almost as much as video games and horror films. Matt Milano Jersey .Some might say Jusuf Nurkic (pronounced you-SOOF nur-KITCH) is just a 6-foot-11, 280-pound kid at heart. Others would say hes really still a kid.The Denver Nuggets decided to make the 20-year-old rookie their starting centre by trading Timofey Mozgov to Cleveland last week for two protected first-round draft picks.Thats how much confidence they have in their bruiser from Bosnia-Herzegovina whos only been playing basketball for five years. Hes averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds this season, numbers that may even get him invited to the Rising Stars Challenge for rookies and second-year players during All-Star weekend next month.It certainly hasnt taken him long to pick up the game — or the English language. He understands what hes hearing just fine.Except, of course, when coach Brian Shaw yells at him during practice. Only then does he act like he cant understand.Hes clever, said Shaw, whose team rides a four-game win streak into a game Wednesday against Dallas. Hell try to use that I dont understand card when its convenient for him to use it. He understands all right.Thats the one thing about basketball — the things that you do on the court are universal. So there may be different words for different things in different languages, but a pick and roll is still a pick and roll, a post-up is still a post-up, a shot is a shot. In terms of that, theres no barrier. He has a good understanding, because he has such a high basketball IQ.His story of discovery is actually quite remarkable. Heres the condensed version: An agent saw a newspaper article on Nurkics father, a big, burly policeman. The agent contacted the father to see if he by chance had a son, which he did — a teenager named Jusuf.He looked at me, and I was normal size, and he said, That kid is going to be in the NBA, said Jusuf Nurkic, who was dubbed Bosnian Bear by the team early in the season but also likes Bosnian Beast as a nickname. We all just smiled, because it was crazy.After all, Nurkic didnt know a thing about the game. Even more, he couldnt shoot. But they found him a coach, who taught him how to shoot.And then Nurkic grew. And grew.He turned into a big man with nifty foot work who can effortlessly run the floor, which immediately attracted the Nuggets attention. So much so that they acquired him on draft night, sending their 11th overall pick (Doug McDermott) to Chicago for Nurkic (No. 16) and guard Gary Harris (No. 19).From the start, Nurkics been as advertised — a bashing force inside with some finesse, too.We were lucky, because hes making us look smart. But he deserves all the credit, general manager Tim Connelly said. He doesnt want to just fit in. He wants to make a mark.Certainly receiving quite a few marks, too. He has a mean-looking red scar on the left side of his back courtesy of being scratched by a Toronto player last month. There are scratches all over his wrists and upper arms as well.Scratches everywhere, but I get no fouls, Nurkic said.He is, after all, just a rookie.Nurkic doesnt back down, either, getting under the skin recently of Memphis big man Marc Gasol as the two jawed at each other. Afterward, Gasol praised Nurkics game, saying, hes going to be a real good player.Thats a reason why the Nuggets traded Mozgov to the Cavs, to open up more playing time for Nurkic. And with JaVale McGee still sidelined by a strained lower left leg, the centre spot is all his. That is, as long as he can stay out of foul trouble. Hes averaging three a game.To fight homesickness, Nurkic said he calls family and friends quite a bit, plays lots of NBA 2K15 and goes to movies. Since he doesnt like to cook, he dines out quite often as well. His favourite restaurant is the Cheesecake Factory, where he typically orders the chocolate tuxedo cream cheesecake for dessert.This month, his family is in town and hes playing tour guide when hes not on the court.Its great to have family here, Nurkic said. It feels like home.Everything is just going great, man. Im helping my teammates and club win. Thats a great feeling. Ed Oliver Jersey . Marek Hamsik, who had earlier missed a penalty, headed Napoli in front in the 23rd minute and Pandev added a second goal five minutes from halftime. Alessandro Matri got Juventus back into the game just after the break but Pandev was on hand to score again in the 68th. Devin Singletary Jersey . Cellino was ordered by a judge to pay a 600,000 euro ($800,000) fine for evading import taxes on a yacht he purchased in the United States and brought to Italy, the ANSA news agency reported. http://www.authenticbillsfanaticfootball.com/authentic-dawson-knox-bills-jersey/ . Then he got back at the team that released him five days before the start of last season, hitting a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning of the first game at Fenway Park since Boston won the World Series last October. SONOMA, Calif. -- Marcos Ambrose wants nothing more than to break Hendrick Motorsports four-race winning streak and his best shot comes on the road course at Sonoma Raceway this weekend. A win Sunday could earn the Australian his first berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship and solidify his future at Richard Petty Motorsports. Ambroses current deal with the organization is up at the end of the season. "Im in a renewal year with Richard Petty for 2015," Ambrose said. "Im not really thinking about myself here. I just want the best for RPM. They have decisions to make ... I want to make sure that RPM are on the right path and Im going to do everything I can to make sure I help them do that." Ambrose is in his fourth season driving for the Petty organization, and his two career Sprint Cup victories are with the team. Both of his wins were on the road course at Watkins Glen. Hes still looking for his first victory at Sonoma, where Ambrose is always considered one of the favourites but hasnt managed to grab the checkered flag. Ambrose has five finishes of eighth or better in six career starts at the picturesque 1.99-mile track. "We know that the race here this weekend and in Watkins Glen, the two road races, are our best chance to win a race this year," he said. "That will automatically lock us into the Chase. Clearly theres a lot to race for at these two tracks for us. Weve put a lot of energy and effort into Sonoma." Ambrose is 23rd in the Sprint Cup standings, and there are 11 races remaining to set the Chase field. To be one of the 16 drivers, hell likely need the berth that comes with a regular-season victory. But standing in his way Sunday is the Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut, which has been unstoppable since Jimmie Johnsons win at Charlotte on May 25. Since that race, Johnson has won three times and teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. won once. Back it up to Jefff Gordons win at Kansas and teams powered by Hendrick engines have won the last six races, including Jamie McMurrays All-Star race victory. O. J. Simpson Youth Jersey. The all-time record for consecutive car owner victories is 16 by Carl Kiekhaefer in 1956. The Hendrick organization won six consecutive races in 2007 to set the modern era record and its best bet for a tie could be Gordon, who has nine career wins on road courses. Gordon is proud of his success rate at Sonoma, where hes the all-time leader with five wins. Gordon hasnt finished lower than ninth at Sonoma since his 2006 victory, a span of eight consecutive top-10 finishes. "Weve worked hard as a team to be competitive on road courses and weve had a lot of success at Sonoma. But its not an easy track to conquer," said Gordon, who grew up in nearby Vallejo. Ambrose, considered one of the best road course racers in NASCAR, still likes his chances. "My talents are really good on road racing in these big, heavy stock cars," he said. "It suits my style, suits the way I like to drive a race car. I get a lot of good feedback for the wheel. I think its a natural skill set for me." Since Petty took over sole ownership of the team in 1993, more than a dozen drivers have driven for him and Ambrose ranks among the best with two wins and three poles. His victories match the late Bobby Hamilton and Kasey Kahne. With one more top-10 finish, Ambrose will tie Hamiltons mark of 28. Ambrose doesnt focus on statistics and instead has his eye on making the Chase. "Theres pressure building, theres a chance to lock yourself into the Chase, which would make your season, you get a chance to win a Sprint Cup race, which you dont get to do very often," Ambrose said. "What I do this weekend is not try to think about it, be normal, try to relax leading into this week. The more you think about it, the worse you tend to go." ' ' '