22 seconds later, but Beagle skated behind the net for a nifty wrapar

Tim Duncan spent nearly two decades as the quiet storm in the middle of the San Antonio Spurs franchise, putting the team on his broad shoulders and carrying it to heights unseen in modern American sports.With Duncan as the focal point, the Spurs won five championships, made the playoffs in all 19 of his seasons and cemented themselves as one of the most successful sports franchises in history. And now, the tireless and reluctant superstar is finally calling it a career.The 40-year-old Duncan announced his retirement on Monday, marking the end of an era for the Spurs and the NBA.The greatest power forward ever, the Los Angeles Clippers Jamal Crawford said Monday, as the tributes to Duncans career began coming.Few would dare argue.Duncan was the No. 1 overall pick in 1997 and teamed with coach Gregg Popovich, point guard Tony Parker and shooting guard Manu Ginobili to turn the Spurs from a solid franchise that could never quite get over the hump into one of the leagues superpowers.The constant staple of their franchise, Clevelands LeBron James said earlier this year.The unassuming Duncan won two MVP awards and was one of just four players to be named NBA Finals MVP at least three times. Nicknamed The Big Fundamental for his clinical approach that favored bank shots over dunks, he was a 15-time All-Star, a member of the All-NBA first team 10 times and is one of only three players -- joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parrish -- to win at least 1,000 games in his career. He is fifth on the NBAs career list in blocks, sixth in rebounds and 14th in scoring.Even tho I knew it was coming, Im still moved by the news, Ginobili tweeted. What a HUGE honor to have played with him for 14 seasons! (hash)ThankYouTD.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Duncan one of the most dominant players in NBA history and lauded him for an understated selflessness (that) made him the ultimate teammate.For two decades Tim represented the Spurs, the city of San Antonio and the league with passion and class, Silver said. All of us in the NBA family thank him for his profound impact on the game.Duncan was never one for big endorsement deals or look-at-me press conferences, which is why he was often overshadowed in the public eye by more outsized personalities like James and Kobe Bryant, who also retired this year after 20 seasons, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. But he leaves this game as one of the leagues true giants, perhaps the best power forward to ever play and one who left as indelible a mark on his franchise as any player to come before him.For us as players, we just enjoy and appreciate each other, Bryant said earlier this season. Its not a matter of whos better or whos greater. You just accept the careers that youve had. I appreciate his career, and vice versa.The announcement comes two months after the Spurs were upset by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, a six-game exit that immediately had people wondering yet again if it was Duncans last hurrah.Turns out, it was. And like everything else Duncan did in his career -- aside from win -- he retired quietly, with a statement from the team. There will be no victory lap for Duncan, no farewell tour like the one Bryant had this season. Popovich will discuss Duncans decision on Tuesday.The last time Duncan spoke to reporters was on May 12, when the Spurs had just been eliminated by the Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. After being ineffective for most of the series, Duncan scored 19 points and teamed with fellow 40-year-old Andre Miller to trim a 26-point lead to nine in the fourth quarter before Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant closed out the series.There were hints in that game of Duncans plans, even though he later exercised a contract option to clear the way for his return. He had always said that he would walk away when he felt he could no longer have a significant impact on the game, and for most of the series the younger Thunder big men had their way with him and the Spurs on the glass.With the Spurs getting blown out and the fourth quarter set to begin, Popovich and his veteran star had a brief conversation on the bench. Duncan then played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter without coming out for a rest, perhaps soaking up every second he could in the last game he would ever play. And when the game was over, Duncan waved to the visiting crowd and pointed a finger toward the roof as he headed to the locker room, a rare signal from one of the leagues most stoic superstars.Timmys never been a very outspoken or emoting sort of individual on the court, Popovich said earlier this year. Everybody does it differently.And Duncan was truly one of a kind.In 1997, after an injury to star David Robinson, the Spurs plunged in the standings and ended up with a chance at the No. 1 overall pick. They won the lottery, and it was a no-brainer to choose Duncan, the polished, two-way big man who had spent four years at Wake Forest.The Spurs won 36 more games in Duncans rookie year than they had the previous season and were NBA champions in his sophomore campaign. They also won titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014, the last one a dominant run to redemption over James and the Miami Heat after losing to them in seven games the previous season.For at least the last five seasons of his career, Duncan would face retirement questions. But he never really changed. You could see a few gray hairs near his temples as the years wore on, but his face, his body, his game all bore a striking resemblance to the 21-year-old who averaged 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds in his first year in the league.Heres how long he was with the Spurs: He had 140 different teammates there.He was a 38-year-old All-Star in 2014-15 and even as his minutes were reduced to save the wear and tear on his body for the playoffs, he remained a force on the defensive end and on the glass. He used an exhaustive workout regimen of boxing, swimming and diet to help him keep pace with the younger, faster, stronger players that kept coming at him year after year.The Spurs won a franchise-record 67 regular-season games this past season. Despite Duncans individual statistics dipping to career lows, coaches and teammates said the impact his leadership, intelligence and defensive presence had continued to be elite.And now he steps away.Cheap Yeezy Powerphase Ireland . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Buy Adidas Basketball Shoes Online . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.cheapnmdsneakersireland.com/adidas-basketball-shoes.html .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Adidas Basketball Shoes Discount . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Adidas Nmd Cheap Ireland .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition.CHICAGO -- Jay Beagle usually plays on one of Washingtons last two lines. He does whatever is asked of him, and his teammates love him.So this was one sweet night for the Capitals.Beagle had two goals, Marcus Johansson scored at 2:20 of overtime, and Washington snapped Chicagos seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory over the Blackhawks on Friday.Beagle is a total pro, coach Barry Trotz said. He doesnt look for any accolades. He just comes and works every day. From our standpoint, I know our room is really happy when he gets on the board.Braden Holtby had 32 saves, leading the Capitals to their sixth win in seven games in the opener of a three-game trip.Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov made a nice pass to Johansson for a one-timer that beat Corey Crawford on the glove side. Johanssons seventh goal of the season helped the Capitals rebound from a 3-0 loss to San Jose on Tuesday with another game looming on Saturday against Carolina.Thats probably what pleases me the most, Trotz said, is that you know were not extending anything on a negative way.Marian Hossa had a goal and an assist for Chicago, which extended its point streak to 10 games. Defenseman Brian Campbell also scored, and Crawford finished with 24 stops.The Blackhawks played without center Artem Anisimov, who was scratched after he left Wednesday nights 2-1 overtime win at St. Louis with an upper-body injury. Anisimov, who has eight goals and nine assists in 14 games, could return as soon as Sunday against Montreal.Chicago was trailing 2-1 when it pulled Crawford for an extra attacker with 2:13 to go. It broke through for the tying score when Artemi Panarins shot went off the stick of Washington defenseman Brooks Orpik and trickled through to Hossa on the side of the crease for his seventh goal in eight games with 22.3 seconds left.It was a huge point, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. Theyve got a good hockey team. They check well. They didnt give up much in the middle of the ice. Certainly had a great loook at the end with Hossa scoring.ddddddddddddashington jumped in front in the first after Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov was sent off for holding Hossa. Defenseman Matt Niskanen made a great diving play to knock the puck out of the Washington zone, starting a 2-on-1 with T.J. Oshie and Beagle.Oshie made a nice saucer pass to Beagle, who knocked it in for his first career short-handed goal. It was his first point since he scored his first goal of the season in a victory at Winnipeg on Nov. 1.Obviously Osh makes an unreal play on that PK and I just tap it into a wide-open net, said Beagle, who has 34 goals in 324 career games. That was all him and Nisky.Campbell responded with a tying power-play goal just 22 seconds later, but Beagle skated behind the net for a nifty wraparound and a 2-1 Washington lead at 14:44.Hes been big for us every single year and every year he gets better and better, Holtby said.It turned into a goaltender battle from there, with Crawford and Holtby taking turns frustrating would-be scorers.Holtby stopped a big drive by Brent Seabrook late in the first and made a right blocker stop on Panarin early in the third.Justin Williams got open for a nice look late in the second, but Crawford used a blocker to knock it over the net. He also made a glove save on John Carlson with 12:18 left in the third.Game notesCrawford went to the locker room for an equipment issue with 7:02 left in the second, but he quickly returned to the ice. ... Vinnie Hinostroza replaced Anisimov in the lineup. C Tyler Motte (lower body) and D Michal Rozsival also were inactive. ... The Capitals scratched RW Brett Connolly and D Nate Schmidt. ... The Blackhawks and Capitals also play on Jan. 13 in Washington.UP NEXTCapitals: Visit Carolina on Saturday night.Blackhawks: Host Montreal on Sunday night.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '