Page 26 - Florida Sentinel 6-8-18

Sports
James Harden Wins MVP In Voting By Peers
JAMES HARDEN
NBA players believe super- star James Harden is this season's most valuable player, as the NBPA announced the Houston Rockets guard won its MVP award according to the players' votes.
Harden averaged 30.4 points, 8.8 assists and 5.4 re- bounds while helping lead the Rockets to an NBA-best 65-17 mark this season. The Rockets fell in the Western Conference finals in seven games to the Golden State Warriors.
Harden was also voted Most Valuable Player by his peers during the NBPA's inau- gural awards in 2015. Last year, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook took home the players' MVP award as well as the league's MVP honors.
LeBron James was also named the NBPA's first-ever "NBPA People's Champ" Award for best utilizing his platform to make a positive impact in society.
The NBA will announce the winners of this season's awards at its awards ceremony on June 25.
Kevin Durant Reminds NBA
LeBron James Passes
Michael Jordan
For Most 30-Point
Postseason Games
LeBron James passed Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA playoff history by scoring 33 points in the Cleveland Cava- liers' 110-102 Game 3 Finals loss to the Golden State War- riors on Wednesday.
James set the mark by hitting a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 57 seconds remain- ing in the fourth quarter to draw the Cavs within one point, at 101-100.
Last spring, James passed Jordan for first place in all-time postseason points. Including Wednes- day, James has 6,888 ca- reer playoff points. Jordan is No. 2 with 5,987.
However, Jordan's 33.4 points per game playoff aver- age eclipses James' 28.9 points per game mark in the postseason. James has hit the 30-point mark 110 times out of the 238 career playoff games he has suited up. Jor- dan had 109 30-point games in the 179 career playoff games he competed in.
LeBron James Says Neither Cavs Nor Warriors Will Visit White House
Donald Trump made the unprecedented decision to cancel the Philadelphia Eagles’ scheduled visit to the White House this week, and superstar LeBron James
LEBRON JAMES
says fans should not expect the winner of the NBA Finals to make the trip to the na- tion’s capital, either.
When asked on Tuesday about the Eagles’ trip being cancelled, LeBron felt com- fortable making some pretty powerful remarks on behalf of both his Cleveland Cava- liers and the Golden State Warriors.
LeBron also ripped Trump for not inviting the WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx to the White House.
This is not the first time LeBron has made his feel- ings known about Trump, and he even appeared to in- tentionally toy with a Trump supporter earlier in the postseason. However, it is noteworthy that he chose to speak on behalf of his teammates and opponents. That says a lot about where today’s NBA players stand.
Finals He’s An MVP Too, Carries
Warriors To 3-0 Series Lead
It was a year ago Thursday that Kevin Durant buried a three-pointer from the left wing in the final minute of Game 3 of the NBA Finals in- side Quicken Loans Arena to push the Golden State War- riors within one win of the 2017 NBA title.
A year later, in another NBA Finals Game 3, history repeated, only from a few feet further beyond the arc.
That last dagger from Du- rant pushed him to a playoff career-high 43 points on the night – going 15-for-23 from the field, along with 13 re- bounds and seven assists – to lift the Warriors to a 110-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers and a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
KEVIN DURANT
NBA Finals MVP, has the Warriors on the precipice of a second straight champi- onship and third in four years.
NBA Finals: Game 3
Golden State Warriors 110, Cleveland Cavaliers 102 Series: Golden State leads, 3-0
Next game: Friday, June 8, 9 p.m. ET | TV: ABC
Durant, the reigning
Chris Paul Won't Take Pay
Cut To Stay With Rockets
Spurs Not
Kyrie Irving & DJ Chantel
Taking Trade
Jeffries Spotted Kissing
Calls On Kawhi
& Cuddling In New York
Leonard
There's something about Chantel Jeffries. The gor- geous DJ has been linked with The Weeknd, Justin Combs, and DeSean Jack- son. She was also in the car with Justin Bieber when he was arrested for a DUI four years ago. This past weekend, Jeffries was spotted with an- other affluent celebrity, Kyrie Irving.
The couple was spotted at the launch of new Long Island City rooftop pool Profundo Day Club at the Ravel Hotel, where Jeffries was spinning on Friday. Irving and Jef- fries, who have been linked in the past, were spotted "canoodling" before leaving together for dinner. It is un- certain whether to two are just hanging out together, or if they
If the Houston Rockets want to keep their star-stud- ded backcourt intact, they'll have to shell out the big bucks to keep Chris Paul from leav- ing during free agency.
Paul is highly unlikely to sign with Houston for a dis- count, and it is believed the 33-year old point guard will pursue a max contract, which could total over $200 million over the next five seasons.
CHRIS PAUL
KAWHI LEONARD
Kawhi Leonard remains unavailable in the trade mar- ket, according to a report.
ESPN’s Adrian Woj- narowski reported during ESPN’s NBA Draft special that teams are making calls about Leonard, but so far, the San Antonio Spurs are resistant to even listening to them.
KYRIE IRVING AND CHANTEL JEFFRIES
are taking things seriously. Irving is currently at a ca- reer crossroads with the Boston Celtics. Although he has only been with the Celtics for one season, Irving's in- jury-riddled career may be a concern for the franchise
going forward.
Maybe Jeffries is helping
keep the pressure off Kyrie's mind.
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