Photo Gallery: Royals Spring Training From Monday, Feb. 23

The Nuggets are thwarting themselves in first halves. At the best of times, it’s a mere inconvenience, like Saturday in Los Angeles. Before they blew the doors open in a 25-point rout of the Lakers, they trailed by six at halftime. At the worst of times, it’s an overwhelming self-inflicted crutch, like Monday back in Denver.

TAMPA — One violent outburst from a Colorado Avalanche player with his stick wasn’t enough. It was that kind of night on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The Avalanche hoped to cap off a perfect four-game road trip. It had to settle for a successful one, albeit with an embarrassing finale, instead. Tampa Bay outclassed Colorado in every phase Monday night en route to a 8-2 washout at Amalie Arena. “I thought we had a great road trip.

LAHAINA, Hawaii — The mid-term exam isn’t complete. But in the first phase of the Colorado men’s basketball team testing itself against college basketball’s elite, the Buffaloes struggled. And the test is about to get even more difficult. The Buffs opened play in the Maui Invitational on Monday and were handed a harsh reality check by Michigan State, which got to the rim at will and out-toughed CU inside while handing the Buffs their first loss of the season, 72-56, at the Lahaina Civic Center. CU will have to regroup in a hurry, as it continues play in the tournament on Tuesday against second-ranked, two-time defending champion UConn, which was upset in overtime by Memphis in Monday’s opening game. Last week, Boyle described the three-game Maui trip as a “mid-term” exam for his club.

Bird flu virus detected in raw milk in California CNNBird flu detected in raw milk sold at California store The Washington PostVoluntary recall issued for a single lot of RAW FARM milk following Bird Flu detection KFSN-TVAvian flu found in raw milk from dairy in Fresno County. Voluntary recall issued Fresno Bee

By MEAD GRUVER and AMY BETH HANSON A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. The ruling by U. S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to compete in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by nine current players against the conference challenging league policies for allowing transgender players to participate.

Dangerous ultra-processed foods are linked to more than 30 health conditions. Here’s how to identify and avoid them FortuneThey’re up to 70% of the American diet. But the US has no policy on ultraprocessed foods CNN InternationalThe food linked to over 30 different health issues - including cancer and diabetes Surrey LiveUPF: How can industry improve consumer perceptions?