From his second season to his third in the NBA, Alec Burks doubled his scoring and assist averages and improved his field goal percentage as well.Its clear that the Utah Jazz expect the improvement from the 23-year-old to keep on coming.Burks agreed to a new four-year, $42 million contract extension on Friday that could be worth $45 million after incentives, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The Jazz later confirmed the signing, but didnt release the terms.We have great regard for Alecs work ethic and dynamic athletic ability as well as his growth potential, Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said in a statement. Alec is a young player with a unique skillset and true passion for basketball who consistently finds the gym and has displayed the characteristics and desire to continue to improve his game.Burks was the 12th overall pick in 2011 out of Colorado. After averaging just over 7.0 points and playing fewer than 18 minutes per game in his first two seasons, Burks made some big strides for the struggling Jazz last season. He averaged 14.0 points and 3.3 rebounds and is off to a nice start this season with 16.5 points on 50 per cent shooting in the Jazzs first two games.Burks progress motivated the Jazz to get a deal done with another piece of a young core that has been assembled to help get the once perennial Western Conference playoff contenders back into the mix after finishing 25-57 last year.I feel very blessed and want to thank the Miller family and Jazz organization for their belief in me and my abilities, and to have made this type of commitment to me, Burks said in a statement. Jazz fans have been very supportive of me since day one, and I am very happy to be able to continue my playing career in Utah, which has become like a second home to my family and me.The two sides had until midnight to strike a deal or Burks would have become a restricted free agent next summer. The Jazz still would have had the right to match any offer he received on the open market, just like they did this summer when small forward Gordon Hayward signed an offer sheet with the Charlotte Hornets.But having gone through the sometimes tricky restricted free agent process already with Hayward, the Jazz decided to do everything they could to avoid a return visit with Burks.Exactly how Burks will fit in over the long term in a crowded Utah backcourt will be interesting to watch. His abilities as a scorer and potential to be an athletic defender are obvious, but the Jazz also have Trey Burke and Dante Exum — their last two first-round draft picks — there looking for big minutes.Exum, the fifth overall pick this season out of Australia, can play both guard spots but is considered to be more of a long-term project. Hes averaging 14.5 minutes per game in the first two games of the season, while the more-seasoned Burks is getting 31.0 minutes per game and is tied with Derrick Favours for the team lead in scoring.Burks is also shooting 57 per cent from 3-point range in the first two games after shooting 35 per cent in his first three seasons.___Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski Yeezy Boost Australia . -- The Oakland Raiders expect to have starting right tackle Tony Pashos back for Sundays game against the Houston Texans. Yeezy 700 V2 Australia . -- Adrian Peterson takes a look around the league and sees big money flying everywhere. http://www.yeezyshoesaustralia.com/yeezy-boost-350-australia.html . The international synchronized skating competition takes place from January 31 - February 1, 2014, and features 39 teams from 10 countries, in senior, junior, and novice. Yeezy Shoes Australia Release . -- Nick Bjugstad snapped out of his scoring slump and spoiled Drew MacIntyres first NHL start. Yeezy Boost For Sale Australia . As the only competitor to try two quads, much less complete them, Kovtun ended the day nearly nine points ahead of Japans Tatsuki Machida, who opened with a clean quad but then stepped out of the triple toe loop that was the second jump in his combination.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Struggling Billy Butler found himself in a strange place, on the bench and out of the Kansas City Royals starting lineup. But Butler was needed late on Friday night and he delivered a pinch two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to send the Royals over the Cleveland Indians 6-4 for their fourth straight win. Carlos Santana homered twice for the Indians, who have lost five of six. Butler connected against John Axford, sending a drive over the Royals bullpen in left field. Butler was hitting just .200 in his previous 20 games with three extra-base hits and two RBIs. "As of late, the production definitely is not there," said Butler, who entered this season with a career .298 average. "Over my career, its there, but this game is about what youve done for me lately. If he (manager Ned Yost) thinks a guy matching up differently is better for the team, thats what hes got to do. Hes got a job to do putting the lineup out there. "Its just my job to prove I belong in there. Ive been in the league a long time. If you give up and get put in a situation like that, you dont compete. Im not going to give up." The Royals won a game of matchup moves. After Salvador Perez singled with one out in the eighth off Carlos Carrasco (3-4), Nick Hagadone entered and got the second out. Butler batted for Raul Ibanez and homered on Axfords second pitch. "It does give you a shot of confidence," Butler said. "Ive got a lot of confidence with a bat in my hand anyway. It definitely helps. Hopefully, I build off that." Axford gave up the winning hit to Nori Aoki in the 14th inning in a 2-1 loss on Thursday. "Its obviously tough after the last two nights," Axford said. "It was just a bad pitch. I let it stay out over the plate. It was supposed to be away and it ended up in the seats." Earlier in the game, the 42-year-old Ibanez drove in a run -- beccoming the oldest Royals player to hit a triple.dddddddddddd Ibanez scored on the play when second baseman Jason Kipnis made a wild relay throw. Kelvin Herrera (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth, and Aaron Crow worked around a leadoff double in the ninth to earn his second save in four chances. Royals closer Greg Holland, who had pitched in the three previous games, was unavailable. Perez, who had three hits, and Mike Moustakas had back-to-back home runs to open the second. It was the second time this season Perez and Moustakas hit consecutive homers, having also done it April 23 at Cleveland. "We like hitting in the hot air," Perez said. Royals rookie Yordano Ventura, tagged for six runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings in his previous start at Boston, left after 6 1/3 innings. He gave up three earned runs and struck out seven. Santana hit a solo homer in the fourth and a two-run shot in the sixth. "The first home run to Santana, Ace threw a pretty good pitch, a sinker down and away," Perez said. "The second one was in the middle in and up." Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin, who was 1-5 in his previous seven starts, was pulled after 5 1/3 innings. "I thought when he made mistakes with his fastball they made him pay," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "But he always competes every time and keeps you in the game." NOTES: RHP Jeremy Guthrie, a first-round pick of the Indians in the 2002 draft, will start Saturday against Cleveland. RHP Zack McAllister will start for the Indians. ... Cleveland RHP Justin Masterson, a 2013 All-Star who is on the disabled list with right knee inflammation, made his second rehab start Friday with Triple-A Columbus. He allowed five runs, four hits and six walks in 6 2/3 innings against Norfolk. . Butlers shot was the 75th pinch-homer in franchise history and the first since Justin Maxwell on Aug. 3, 2013. ' ' '