Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried was able to carry the momentum from his starring role on Team USA this summer into the NBA regular season. Faried had 22 points, 17 rebounds and four assists in Denvers season-opening 89-79 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. Fresh off helping the United States win gold and earning All-Tournament honors at the FIBA World Cup, Faried was at his best for the playoff-hopeful Nuggets. Denver missed the postseason a year ago, finishing with 21 fewer wins than the 2012-13 season while dealing with a number of injuries. Finally healthy, these Nuggets have hopes to contend in a crowded Western Conference. Arron Afflalo chipped in 15 points and Timofey Mozgov tallied 13 and 11 rebounds. All 12 Nuggets that took the floor scored at least two points. Josh Smith netted a game-high 25 points to lead Detroit, which was without forward Greg Monroe, who is serving a suspension for a DUI arrest last February and is out for the first two games of this season. Gregory Polanco Pirates Jersey .Y. - The New York Yankees made it official Saturday, announcing the completion of a seven-year deal with free-agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and a one-year contract for returning starter Hiroki Kuroda. Roberto Clemente Pirates Jersey . Schaub will start for an injured Case Keenum and try to help the Texans end a 12-game skid. Schaubs last action in Houston came when he took over late in a game against Oakland on Nov. 17 as Keenum was struggling. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/...tes-jersey/.The result meant Juventus will spend the winter break three points clear of Roma after the league leader beat Cagliari 3-1 on Thursday.Milan remained seventh ahead of the rest of the weekends fixtures, but was provisionally two points behind third-place Napoli in their duel for the final Champions League spot. Francisco Cervelli Pirates Jersey . -- D.A. Points was disqualified Friday from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for using a training device while waiting to play the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. Erik Gonzalez Jersey . -- Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale searched more than three quarters for five guys who would play well together.Michael van Gerwen has been virtually unbeatable all season and shows no signs of letting up in Wolverhampton at the Grand Slam of Darts. MVG was up against number eight seed Robert Thornton on Wednesday night as he chased a place in Fridays quarter-final and the Scot ensured it was a tough test for the world No 1.Van Gerwen has won 23 titles this season including the World Grand Prix, World Matchplay and the Premier League, and he remained on course for a 24th with a 10-5 win, but only after a stunning maximum kickstarted his bid. Leading 6-4, MVG had left himself the highest finish of them all with Thornton trailing behind on 243, but like Phil Taylor in his pomp, Van Gerwen chose a spectacular way to pile on the pressure. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first six months half price A couple of treble 20s were followed by a bullseye to put a three-leg gap between the pair and all but end Thorntons hopes.ddddddddddddThe Scot won just one more leg as Van Gerwen sealed a last eight meeting with Brendan Dolan.Hit play on the video at the top of the page to see MVGs stunning finish.You can see the conclusion of the second round on Thursday night from 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Live Grand Slam of Darts November 17, 2016, 7:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Also See: Thursday at the darts MVG and Taylor power on ' ' '