HOUSTON (AP) — Astros All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña made his season debut Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels after missing Houston's opening day loss due to an injury.
He had two hits, a stolen base and scored a run in the Astros' 6-2 loss to the Angels.
Peña broke his right index finger while playing for the Dominican Republic in an exhibition game leading up to the World Baseball Classic. He was healthy enough to be included on the Astros’ opening day roster and spent Thursday facing live pitching with the Astros Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land, Texas.
“He feels good. He’s excited to be back in the lineup. We’re all excited to have him back in the lineup,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before the game.
Peña finished last season batting .304 with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs in 125 games with 20 stolen bases. He was selected to his first All-Star Game and finished 10th in American League MVP voting.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña (3) steals second base ahead of a throw to Los Angeles Angels second baseman Oswald Peraza during the first inning of a baseball game in Houston, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña (3) celebrates after a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Houston, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) throws to first to out Los Angeles Angels' Zach Neto during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 33 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists, Cam Johnson and Jamal Murray combined for four 3-pointers in the final 2:20, and the Denver Nuggets rallied from 13 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Utah Jazz 135-129 on Friday night.
Murray finished with 31 points two nights after scoring a season-high 53. Jokic had his fourth straight triple-double and 31st of the season to help Denver avoid a costly loss in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
The Nuggets are in fourth place, a game ahead of Minnesota and a half-game behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kyle Filipowski led Utah with 25 points but was scoreless in the fourth quarter when Denver rallied from a 120-107 deficit. Jokic started the comeback with a layup, Tim Hardaway Jr., who finished with 21 points, hit a 3-pointer and two free throws that made it 124-121.
After Ace Bailey made a baseline jumper, Jokic hit a turnaround and Johnson tied it with a 3-pointer. The teams traded threes before Johnson, who had 12 points, put the Nuggets ahead for good with another from deep with 46 seconds left.
After a turnover, Murray sealed with another from behind the arc with 17 seconds left.
Utah, which has lost 26 of its last 29, played without several key players, including Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen,
Denver opened an early 12-point lead but the Jazz rallied in the second quarter to tie it at 62 at halftime.
Utah scored 43 points in the third quarter — 15 off eight Nuggets turnovers — and led by as many as 14 late in the period. The Nuggets rallied to cut it to single digits, capped by Jokic’s 39-footer that bounced on the rim twice before dropping in after the horn.
Jazz: At Phoenix on Saturday night.
Nuggets: Host Golden State on Sunday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless, front, pulls in a loose ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, is fouled by Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey, right, as center Kyle Filipowski defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Utah Jazz center Kyle Filipowski, front, pulls in a rebound in front of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (15) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) has his shot blocked by Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) as Jazz center Kyle Filipowski (22) watches in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Utah Jazz center Kyle Filipowski, left, collects a loose ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
