Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 1-8-21

Sports
Warriors’ Steph Curry Erupts For Career-High 62 Points In Win Over Trail Blazers
Giants Eliminated From
Playoffs By Apparent
Eagles Tank Job
Against Washington
Golden State Warriors su- perstar guard Stephen Curry isn’t known for trash talk, but he repeatedly popped out his mouthguard after a highlight-worthy play Sunday night, turned toward a Trail Blazers player and jawed.
This might have been the most memorable sight from a Curry performance filled with his signature dazzling dribbling displays, scoop shots and deep 3-pointers. In needing just 36 minutes and 31 shots to score a career-high 62 points in the Warriors’ 137-122 win over Portland last Sunday at Chase Center, Curry served notice to the rest of the league: Question his greatness at your own peril.
Paul Westphal, Basketball Hall Of Famer From L.A., Dies At 70
PAUL WESTPHAL
Paul Westphal, a Hall of Fame basketball player who starred at Aviation High in Re- dondo Beach before leading USC to its winningest season ever, died Saturday due to complications from brain can- cer. He was 70.
Teams around the league honored Westphal with mo- ments of silence before Satur- day night’s games and NBA commissioner Adam Silver called him “one of the great all- around players of his era.”
Sixteen months ago, West- phal’s greatness was also cele- brated. That evening Westphal was enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2019 class, a recognition for a career that spanned from South Bay high school legend to NCAA All- American to NBA All-Star to pro head coach.
the memory of Friday’s 25- point loss to these same Trail Blazers, seizing a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter before hanging on for a decisive win. Along the way, a new-look support- ing cast showed that it’s learn- ing how to maximize Curry’s brilliance.
Over the first five games, as Curry adjusted to a roster that includes just two active teammates — center Kevon Looney and forward Dray- mond Green — with whom he has played significant min- utes, he struggled to find much of a rhythm. This came as no major surprise to head coach Steve Kerr, given that newcomers typically require a couple of months to acclimate to Curry’s frenetic style.
The Giants know better than to count on the Philadel- phia Eagles for help.
Joe Judge’s Giants watched their season end slowly and painfully on Sun- day night when Washington beat the last place Eagles, 20- 14, to win the NFC East and eliminate Big Blue.
Eagles coach Doug Ped- erson screwed the Giants over by coaching to lose and benching quarterback Jalen Hurts, handing Philly (4-11- 1) a higher draft pick in the process.
DOUG PEDERSON Pederson sat a ton of his
starters. He unsuccessfully went for a fourth and goal in the third quarter when a field goal would have tied the game. Pederson should be fired for this decision.
STEPH CURRY
Two nights after Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard suggested that Curry looks mortal when not surrounded by future Hall of Famers, Curry easily topped his previous career-high of 54 set in 2013 against the Knicks. The 62 points are an NBA sea- son-high and the most in the brief history of Chase Center.
With Curry leading the way, the Warriors exorcized
Myles Garrett Shakes Mason Rudolph’s Hand, Offers Compliment
Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph had not spoken face-to-face since the “helmet game” in 2019. They did after Sunday’s game, per- haps burying any lingering bad blood leftover from Week 11 last season when Garrett used Rudolph’s helmet to clock the quarterback over the head with it.
The Browns defensive end sprinted to the Steelers quar- terback after Cleveland’s 24- 22 victory Sunday. Garrett shook Rudolph’s hand and offered a compliment.
“I just told him ‘good game,’” Garrett said. “Hell of
MASON RUDOLPH AND MYLES GARRETT
a game. And we’ll see ya next week.’’
He seemed to appreciate Garrett’s attempt at recon- ciliation, posting a picture on social media of the two ex- changing the handshake. “On- ward and Upward,” he wrote.
Lakers’ Anthony Davis Sells L.A. Mansion
ANTHONY DAVIS
Derrick Henry Surpasses 2,000
Rushing Yards As Titans Secure
Back when Anthony Davis bought his home in the Westlake Village area of Los Angeles, in 2018, it was seen as an excellent sign for the Lakers.
Davis was still with the Pelicans at the time, but with his NBA contract heading into its final full season, this purchase of the palatial home for $7.5 million portended his eventual move from New Or- leans to Southern California, which happened with a trade in the summer of 2019.
In April, when Davis put his house on the market for $8 million (OK, $7.995 mil- lion, technically), that deci- sion drew some raised eyebrows. Davis was, after
all, likely heading into free agency with a player option on his contract. Why was he already selling a house he’d had for all of just 20 months?
It turns out that the sale of his home did not affect Davis’ status as a Laker, as he signed a new five-year contract with the team that could keep him in place through the 2024-25 season and pay him $190 million. And it’s a good thing because Davis wound up taking a hit on the house price.
Not only did he not get the original $8 million asking price, he got less than he paid for the place–$6.6 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.
AFC South Championship
Few running backs have been as dominant as the Ten- nessee Titans' Derrick Henry across the past two seasons. Henry provided more proof Sunday, when he surpassed 2,000 rushing yards for the season in the Ti- tans' 41-38 road victory over the Houston Texans.
On a lengthy drive in the fourth quarter, Henry reached 227 rushing yards -- surpassing the milestone. He finished with 250 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries in the win, which gave Ten- nessee the AFC South title for the first time since 2008.
DERRICK HENRY
"I'm glad we were able to finish with a W at the end," Henry said. "We won as a team and we all do it together. I'm just glad that we were able to accomplish this and win the division and get to the play- offs."
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