The Houston Rockets are not renewing the contract of associate head coach Jeff Bzdelik, one of the architects of the team's defensive turnaround this past season.

"Jeff's contract was up. It will not be renewed," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told the Houston Chronicle. "We're looking for any way to improve. That goes for players, coaches, front office, everything."

Bzdelik, 66, was convinced to come out of retirement in November after the Rockets' season got off to a rocky start.

Bzdelik started in the NBA 30 years ago as a scout, eventually working for Pat Riley with the New York Knicks and becoming head coach of the Denver Nuggets from 2002 to '04. He was a college head coach with Air Force, Colorado and Wake Forest.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Golden State Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala injured his left calf in Saturday night's 110-99 Game 3 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, and he will have an MRI on Sunday.

"He was sore," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after Iguodala played just 17 minutes, 33 seconds in Game 3. "Lower leg, just had some soreness. He's going to get an MRI tomorrow. We didn't want to risk anything and put him back in the game. So, when we took him out mid-third, trainer said that'll be it for him. We'll know more tomorrow."

Iguodala initially left the game in the first quarter to be checked out, but he returned to action, before being taken out for good in the third quarter. Kerr was able to give Warriors backup swingman Alfonzo McKinnie some of Iguodala's minutes, and McKinnie responded by finishing the game with a plus-24 plus/minus.

For his part, Iguodala didn't seem overly concerned about the injury as he left Moda Center late Saturday night. He was walking a little stiffly but was laughing and joking with friends on his way out of the building.

Iguodala, who is averaging 30.2 minutes a game in the postseason, has been one of the Warriors' most consistent players in the playoffs, averaging 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists a game. His recent performance is even more impressive, given the defensive matchups he has been given throughout the postseason -- and the fact he was averaging just 23.2 minutes in the regular season, as Kerr tried to manage his minutes so he would be fresh for the playoffs.

With the Warriors up 3-0 in the Western Conference finals, if they are able to close out the Blazers in Game 4 on Monday night, Iguodala would have nine days of rest prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals on May 30. It's a break that also would help Kevin Durant (calf) and DeMarcus Cousins (quad) continue to rehab as they try to make their way back to the floor.

Kerr brushed off the idea of the potential break, preferring to keep the focus on trying to eliminate the Blazers.

"We won't talk about anything other than Game 4," Kerr said. "What's after that doesn't matter, maybe game 5, maybe game 6. So, we just focus on the next game ahead of us. We've got some guy's banged up, but we've done a really good job. I'm really proud of this group for playing through a number of injuries we've had.

"It's a remarkable group to continue to press and play at this level without so many key guys, so I'm very proud of them."

PORTLAND -- Damian Lillard grabbed the ball during a timeout in the third quarter of Saturday's Game 3 and shot a short set shot. He grabbed it again after making the shot and hit a layup before walking to the Portland Trail Blazers' bench.

Lillard just wanted to see the ball go through the net, which has been a rare occurrence for the Trail Blazers' star in the Western Conference finals.

Portland is in jeopardy of being swept by the Golden State Warriors in part because Lillard has struggled to get in any sort of rhythm while facing a constant barrage of double-teams and blitzes on pick-and-rolls.

"I think what they want me to do is make the correct play, and for me, I try to do that for as long as possible," Lillard said after scoring 19 points on 5-of-18 shooting in the 110-99 loss Saturday. "You know, as long as I can do it, and we can stay in the game or have a lead like we have the last two games, when I'm just making the right plays, and guys are doing what they're supposed to do on the weak side.

"But I think in Golden State's minds, they know at some point, if we're going to beat them, I'm going to have to be rolling."

Lillard is averaging 20.3 points in the series, but he's shooting only 32.6 percent from the floor and has almost as many turnovers (14) as made field goals (15).

"I'm tired of hearing people say that Dame hasn't stepped up," said Blazers center Meyers Leonard, who scored 16 points in his first start of the playoffs. "No. Wrong. He's our leader. He's a damn good player. He's a first-team All-NBA player this year, and other guys have to be willing to screen. They have to be willing to execute, make plays and help them out and loosen up the defense. So that way, when [Lillard and CJ McCollum] do get some looks, they can knock them down. It's as simple as that."

Lillard suffered a separated rib in Game 2, when Golden State center Kevon Looney fell on him while fighting for a loose ball, a league source said. However, the source downplayed the impact of the rib on Lillard's performance, saying that he frequently plays through injuries.

The Warriors' defense has given Lillard trouble, forcing him to be one-dimensional as a scorer. He's only 5-of-20 on shots inside the 3-point line in the series.

Lillard excelled attacking off the dribble in the first two rounds of the playoffs, in which he averaged 7.4 points per game off of drives, shooting 51 percent on those possessions, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He has averaged only 2.0 points per game on drives in the West finals, shooting 22 percent on those plays.

In Game 3, Lillard missed all five of his attempts inside the restricted area, with Draymond Green or Looney challenging each shot.

"I mean, I tried to get aggressive," Lillard said. "I tried to force the action. Both guys staying with me, and then Draymond is lurking behind them. You know, you go up against a wall of defense, sometimes it's three defenders. It's tough because you're not always going to get a quality look, and then when you do get a quality look and don't make it, that just kind of makes it worse."

As the Blazers' offense sputtered in the second half, Lillard tried to take over. But he was only 3-of-12 from the floor in the half, and he scored nine of the Blazers' 33 points as the Warriors roared back from a 13-point halftime deficit.

"Our offense fell apart," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "We missed some shots. Took some tough shots. Didn't move the ball as well. They were scoring, so we were taking it out of the net. Didn't get any transition. So I said at the beginning of the series, to beat Golden State, you've got to be able to score. Scoring 33 in the second half is not going to do it."

Green, Golden State's defensive anchor, said the Warriors want to wear Lillard down over the course of a game.

"That's been our plan, and we've done a pretty good job," Green said. "Like Klay [Thompson] said, we've got one more game to win, and we know Damian can get hot and change an entire series. We just have to stay locked in because we know he's more than capable."

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green racked up his seventh career postseason triple-double during a 110-99 Game 3 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals on Saturday night. Green scored 20 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, dished out 12 assists, made four steals and blocked a shot in one of the most complete all-around games of his career.

"I don't even know what to say about Draymond," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. "He was like a wrecking ball out there. He was just destroying everything in his path. The pace that he was generating was incredible, and it just seemed like he never got tired. ... It's one of the best games I've ever seen Draymond play."

Green set the tone for a Warriors team that fell into an 18-point hole in the first half and was down 14 with 8:08 left in the third quarter. His ability to push the tempo and get the rest of his teammates to feed off his energy propelled the Warriors to a victory that leaves them just one win shy of earning their fifth straight NBA Finals appearance, something that hasn't been done since the 1960s Boston Celtics.

"I mean, his stat line's ridiculous," Warriors swingman Klay Thompson said. "Four steals, doing it on both ends, plus-16. But it's nothing new. I've seen him do it for seven years. ... He makes us go, especially when we push that pace. I'm proud of Dray, and he's not satisfied."

Green, who has long been considered the emotional engine of the Warriors during their dynastic run over the past five years, made an interesting acknowledgement on Saturday night regarding just how important it has been for him to keep that emotional fire in check over the past few weeks.

"My teammates always tell me, 'We follow your body language,'" Green said.

After picking up four technical fouls early in the postseason, Green said he was able to refocus on staying away from having bad confrontations with officials. Seven technical fouls in the postseason earn an automatic one-game suspension, something Green knows he can't afford, especially as the Warriors try to continue winning without injured stars Kevin Durant (calf) and DeMarcus Cousins (quad).

"I think it definitely helps the energy of the guys," Green said of keeping his negative interactions with the officials in check. "I still like to pick and choose my spots. Sometimes I may take a tech, but that's more mindful than just getting a tech. Sometimes I know like, 'All right, I need an energy burst, maybe I'll take one.'

"But sometimes I'm not mindful and I'll get a tech, and that will just kill the energy of our team. I've been really focused and locked in on that, and I realized I got to a point where I was doing more crying than playing. I'm sure it was disgusting to watch because I felt disgusting playing that way, and I just wanted to lock back in on the game."

Green credited his mom, Mary Babers-Green, and his fiancée, Hazel Renee, with being able to help him direct his energy elsewhere on the floor instead of getting in combative arguments with the officials.

"I understand that officials aren't perfect, and I still have conversations with them now when they miss a call, but it's completely different conversations. You know, my mom has been really big [in helping me]. My fiancée has been really big [with] just talking to me about that and just telling me to stay locked in on the game. I also have some little ones at the house that's enjoying watching me play. I don't necessarily want them to see that. So just try to be more mindful of it."

It's a change Kerr has been happy to see.

"He's playing with force," Kerr said. "He's playing with discipline, he's playing under control. He's not letting anything bother him -- officiating, bad shots, turnovers -- he's just moving on to the next play. So from that standpoint, it's as good as he's ever been."

Green's impact on every aspect of the game has been felt by every player on the floor. Saturday's first half marked the fourth time this postseason that Green had at least 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a single half, the most by any player, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

"Watching him on defense, I mean, it's incredible," Blazers big man Meyers Leonard said. "His reads, his communication, his weakside defense, blocking shots, steals -- it's pretty impressive. Not only that, but he's a playmaker on the other end, as well. He knows who to get the ball and when to get them the ball ... He's a winner. I mean, point blank, he gets it done. He brings it every single night."

Now Green and the Warriors hope they can keep their momentum going and close out the Blazers on Monday night. To do so, Warriors star Stephen Curry and the rest of his teammates are banking on Green continuing his high level of play.

"It's like he's got eight eyeballs," Curry said. "He sees everything and kind of knows what to say at the right time ... He's just observant of everything and has just a high basketball IQ. That's just, obviously, his experience, but the fact that he's so versatile that he can do a lot of different stuff and knows how to help a team win."

ESPN's Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- On the road in the playoffs, the Golden State Warriors are (expletive) giants.

Of everything this team has accomplished over the past five seasons, a number that personifies its dominance is the streak the Warriors extended Saturday night when they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 110-99 to take a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference finals.

The Warriors now have 22 consecutive series with at least one road victory. That's already an NBA record, and it might stand for a long time. The Warriors already are flirting with the Chicago Bulls' six championships in eight years and even the Boston Celtics' eight straight titles in the 1960s for greatest-team-of-all-time status.

"It's so hard to win a championship in this league," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. "The competition is so fierce, and it's a two-month journey once the playoffs start. You know, they have been to the Finals four times, so that tells you all you need to know about their toughness and their competitive desire."

The Warriors ended LeBron James' personal streak of 33 consecutive road series with a win in the NBA Finals last season. That stat will never be remembered like his eight consecutive Finals appearances, but it is the underlying reason they happened, the guts of how he dominated.

Golden State must win on the road to three-peat, as they won't have home-court advantage in the next round. If the Warriors run their streak to 23, the guts of their four championships in five seasons will be victories such as:

• Game 4 in Memphis in 2015, during the Warriors' first title run, when they were down 2-1 and Kerr made a then-wild decision to have Andrew Bogut guard Tony Allen, a move that changed the series.

• Game 4 in the Finals that year in Cleveland, as Kerr stunned all by putting Andre Iguodala in the starting lineup and changing that series.

• Game 6 in Oklahoma City in 2016, when Klay Thompson made 11 3-pointers to keep the Warriors alive.

• Game 7 last season in Houston, as Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant rained in 3-pointers in the third quarter to destroy an 11-point deficit.

• Even Game 6 last week in Houston, as Curry scored 33 points in the second half after zero in the first half to crush the Rockets' hopes after Durant's calf injury.

This number is a cornerstone of the Warriors' case for what it represents: soul-crushing execution under pressure, relentless depth and disciplined defense that travels.

That combo is what broke the Blazers in Game 3. The spirit of '77 might still be alive in the Rose City, but the spirit of this memorable Blazers team was snuffed out with Golden State warrioring on the road in one of the toughest places to play in the league.

"I don't think we've been that great in Game 3s over the years," Kerr said, knowing that all but one of their Game 3s have been on the road over the past five years. "That's all we talked about the last two days was we have an amazing opportunity to seize control here. That's what I think this was about -- respecting our opponent, knowing the magical run they have been on, how tough they are to beat in this building, and understanding that this is the game."

Kerr is right: The Warriors were just 10-8 in Game 3s over the past five years heading into Saturday. If you're going to beat them, getting them on your home floor for Game 3 is the time to do it. The Blazers knew this innately, came out with energy and built a huge lead.

But the Warriors applied their honed weapons that have worked on the road over and over and over, vaporizing what was an 18-point first-half lead.

They were smothering defensively, holding the Blazers to just 33 second-half points, the lowest for any half in a playoff game during the streak. If you want to see a clinic, watch the game back and keep an eye on Thompson's defense; he never takes a possession off. If you beat him, it's going to be because you're better than him in that moment, not because he let down. He has beaten down the Portland star guards, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, who combined to shoot 12-of-38 on Saturday.

Golden State had great teamwork on offense. Even though they didn't shoot the 3-pointer well -- they made just 8-of-26 of them -- the Warriors had 27 assists on their 41 baskets and just 13 turnovers. Go back over the annals of their road wins and you will repeatedly see these sorts of ratios. Draymond Green, who is handling the ball more with Durant out and everyone bumped up in line, had 12 assists in yet another brilliant all-around game.

Then there are the role players. Over the years, it has been Bogut, David Lee, Shaun Livingston, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Matt Barnes and the like who have delivered when badly needed on the road, where role players often struggle.

On Saturday, it was Jordan Bell -- a player the Warriors were so frustrated with a couple of months ago that they suspended him for breaking team rules to try a last-ditch effort to get through to him -- who was a role player hero.

When it's all over and the Warriors have been broken up, retired or just have a down year, all of these games will be a blur. This particular Western Conference finals will probably not even be distinguishable among all these other big series.

But the streak will endure. Or, at least, it should. Even if it ends in the next few weeks and the Warriors don't win the title, it's just that damn impressive. No one team has ever ruined the nights of so many home fans every spring across the country, an outcome this team just loves.

"You don't win without that competitiveness," Curry said. "And that killer instinct."

PHOENIX -- Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke is on track to make his next scheduled start Tuesday at San Diego after throwing a bullpen session before Saturday's game, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.

Greinke felt pain in his side and was diagnosed with abdominal tightness during the eighth inning of his start Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He motioned for a trainer and left the game.

An MRI on Friday revealed no damage.

Greinke, who would start on five days' rest if he takes the mound next week as expected, is 6-1 with a 2.78 ERA in 10 starts this season. Opponents are batting .210 against him.

Also for Arizona, outfielder David Peralta, the team's leading hitter among everyday players, was scratched from the original lineup Saturday. He aggravated tightness in his upper back and shoulder on a dive for a ball during Friday night's game.

Peralta, the Diamondbacks' leader in hits and co-leader in runs scored and RBI, was first injured Wednesday but started Friday's game.

"We feel like he'll be day-to-day and he'll be available for [Sunday]," Lovullo said, adding that Peralta might be OK to come off the bench if needed Saturday night. "I'm willing to sacrifice today rather than seven possible days if something were wrong and he were to do more damage in there."

Blake Swihart was in the lineup as the Diamondbacks' left fielder in place of Peralta against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.

PHOENIX -- San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto threw a bullpen session Saturday, and the team was encouraged enough for manager Bruce Bochy to say the club hopes Cueto can return toward the end of this season.

Cueto, who had major elbow surgery last August, was 18-5 in 2016 and selected to the All-Star Game, but he has since gone 11-10 in the past two years combined.

"I think he surprised a lot of us with where he's at," Bochy said before Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It's all fastballs, but he's gotten himself in great shape, too. I think it's the best shape I've seen Johnny in, to be honest.

"From what you saw today, you've got to believe he's going to be pitching before the season's over. I'm not going to be surprised if he pitches in September."

Cueto threw off flat ground Saturday, and the hope is that next week he will throw breaking balls and changeups.

If Cueto comes back in September, it will be as a starting pitcher, Bochy said. Cueto, 33, has been a starter since breaking into the majors in 2008 with the Cincinnati Reds.

"I'm happy to be here and it's good to be around the guys and spend some time with the team," Cueto said in Spanish. "God willing, yes, I want to pitch in September. Right now, I feel really good."

Cueto said he has lost 20 pounds, down from 245 to 225 pounds, and would like to pitch at 230.

"I feel like a kid of 20, 25 years old," Cueto said with a laugh.

Following a second straight loss to the last-place Marlins in Miami, New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway addressed increasing speculation that his job is in jeopardy.

The Mets fell a season-worst four games under .500 after being held to one hit in Saturday's 2-0 loss.

The Marlins, with the worst record in the majors, beat the Mets for the second straight day after entering the series with a seven-game losing streak.

"I'm coming in tomorrow to manage the New York Mets and I'm going to be enthusiastic about it and I'm going to continue to lead this team to something special," Callaway said.

"As a leader, you can't ever worry about yourself. I'm here. One of the things I told them when I got hired was selfless service is very important to me, and my goal every day is to improve that room, be consistent, and make sure our players continue to improve."

Callaway is in his second year with the Mets, who made lots of changes in the offseason, including a blockbuster trade for All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz.

Last week, Callaway had a long meeting with Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. They spoke about how to avoid the free fall the Mets endured last year right around this time, before finishing the season fourth in the National League East at 77-85.

"I do believe we have talent in there," Callaway said Saturday. "We haven't played like that. There's no doubt that hasn't been the case, but I believe those things for a reason, and I believe everyone comes to the park every day for something greater than what's been happening. We have to start making it happen, somehow, some way."

Mets veteran third baseman Todd Frazier defended his manager.

"It's not a question for me -- I think he's doing a great job," Frazier said. "He can't go up there and hit. He makes the lineup, he puts the guys in at the right time, and we're not producing."

A crowd of 13,474 saw the Marlins record their first one-hit shutout since four pitchers combined to throw one on May 7, 2017, against the Mets in New York.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

SEATTLE -- The Minnesota Twins' offense has been rolling all season. They had their best game yet Saturday night against the Seattle Mariners.

C.J. Cron and Jonathan Schoop each hit two home runs and Byron Buxton had a grand slam as the Twins cruised to an 18-4 victory. Miguel Sano also homered for the Twins, who extended their season-high home run streak to 13 games and moved into a tie with Seattle for the major league home run lead with 87.

"It's fun to put on that kind of offensive performance," Cron said. "One through nine, we all swung it really well so it was fun to watch."

Minnesota's 18 runs were a season high. The Twins have won the first three games of the four-game series, outscoring the Mariners 36-11. Minnesota became the first team in major league history to have five games with at least five home runs before the start of June.

"There's no weak spots in our lineup," Cron said. "As a pitcher, that can't be a comfortable thing. They have to be on their game for every batter."

Wade LeBlanc (2-1), making his first start in more than a month after returning from the injured list, gave up seven runs and seven hits -- including a career-worst four home runs.

"Those guys over there, there's not much you can say," LeBlanc said. "I want to say that's the best hitting team I've ever faced in my life. That's how they looked tonight."

LeBlanc left his last outing on April 12 with a strained right oblique. Before Saturday's game, Mariners manager Scott Servais said he hoped LeBlanc would have a "competitive outing" against the Twins, with a pitch limit around 75 pitches. LeBlanc didn't meet either goal, getting knocked out in the third inning after throwing just 49 pitches.

Minnesota's offense started the rout in the second inning when Cron hit his first homer, the 100th of his career. Later in the inning, Buxton's grand slam -- the Twins' first of the year -- opened the floodgates.

Buxton and Schoop both tied career highs with five RBI. Buxton added a run-scoring single to his grand slam, and Schoop had two-run and three-run homers.

Starter Jose Berrios was looking to rebound after his roughest outing of the season in which he gave up five runs and 12 hits, both season highs, in a loss to the Angels on Monday. Berrios cruised through the first four innings in this one, but wasn't able to pick up the win. He was pulled in the fifth after giving up four runs and six hits in the inning, and throwing 105 pitches overall.

"Some very long breaks for him, multiple very long breaks in only four innings," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "That can definitely be challenging. If it wasn't for purely pitch count reasons, we'd probably let him go out there and finish the inning."

Tyler Duffey (1-0) came on and went 1 1/3 innings to earn the victory.

IN RELIEF

Mariners backup catcher Tom Murphy pitched the ninth inning, retiring all three batters he faced with two strikeouts. He was the sixth Seattle pitcher, and the only one not to give up a run or a hit or walk a batter.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mariners: INF Dylan Moore started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday. Moore has been on the injured list since May 10 with a wrist contusion. ... RHP Sam Tuivailala, recovering from a right Achilles rupture, is also with Tacoma for rehab after being transferred from Single-A Modesto. ... Servais said RHP Gerson Bautista, who strained his right pectoral muscle in spring training, will also start a rehab assignment at Tacoma soon.

ROSTER MOVE

Seattle optioned RHP Matt Festa to Triple-A Tacoma to make room on the roster for LeBlanc.

FIRST TIME

Luis Arraez made his major league debut for the Twins, entering in the fifth inning as a defensive replacement at shortstop. He doubled in the eighth inning.

UP NEXT

Twins: Kyle Gibson (3-1, 4.19 ERA) makes his ninth start in the final game of the four-game series with Seattle.

Mariners: Yusei Kikuchi (2-1, 3.64) has gone at least six innings and given up three runs or fewer in all three of his starts in May.

WASHINGTON -- The Chicago Cubs protested Saturday night's 5-2 loss to the Nationals, with manager Joe Maddon arguing that Washington reliever Sean Doolittle used an illegal delivery in the ninth inning.

The double toe-tap Doolittle appeared to use as he delivered the ball to home plate has been deemed illegal in the past, but umpires on Saturday did not force the left-hander to alter his delivery, much to the dismay of Maddon.

"I said, 'If you guys don't clean it up, I'm going to protest the game,'" Maddon said after the game. "It's their rule, not mine. I didn't ask for it in the first place."

Maddon came out to argue after Doolittle's first pitch of the ninth inning -- a strike to pinch hitter Albert Almora Jr. Though the umpires huddled with each other, and then with Doolittle, they sided with the lefty while deeming his delivery OK.

"[Maddon] thought he was tapping his foot, which in itself is not illegal, and this all kind of stems from his pitcher being called on something that was a little bit different than what Doolittle was doing," crew chief Sam Holbrook said. "So in our judgment, Doolittle did nothing illegal at all."

Holbrook was referring to Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr., who was told in the second game of the season that he couldn't do his version of the double toe-tap. Recently, Mariners pitcher Cory Gearrin was also forced to change his delivery after warming up mid-inning.

"It's real simple," a somewhat exasperated Maddon said. "That's exactly what Carl was told he can't do. I was told that's an illegal pitch and he can't do it."

Edwards added: "I figured once it happened to myself, it would get around."

Maddon officially protested with one out in the ninth inning. If the Cubs win the protest, the teams would pick up the game from that point, as Doolittle retired the next two batters to earn the save.

Afterward, Doolittle was having none of what Maddon was trying to sell.

"In that moment, he's not doing anything other than rattle me," Doolittle told reporters, according to an mlb.com report. "It was kinda tired. Sometimes he has to remind people how smart he is."