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Thursday 16 November 2017

Masked man: Irving returns as Celtics win 13th straight

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Ir- RAPTORS 129, ROCKETS 113 DeRozan and Serge Ibaka
ving returned to the lineup HOUSTON (AP) — DeMar had back-to-back dunks
and scored 25 points while DeRozan scored 27 points after Harden’s big play to
wearing a mask, and the and Toronto built a big lead make it 120-107 with about
Boston Celtics beat the in the first half and held on three minutes left and send
Brooklyn Nets 109-102 on for a win over Houston. many of the home fans to-
Tuesday night for their 13th James Harden had 38 ward the exits.
straight victory. points and made 19 of 19 SPURS 97, MAVERICKS 91
The Celtics remained un- foul shots for the Rockets, DALLAS (AP) — LaMarcus
beaten since an 0-2 start who ended a six-game Aldridge scored a season-
heading into their show- winning streak. high 32 points in his home-
down Thursday in Boston Houston scored six straight town and San Antonio
against the NBA champion points, including three free beat Dallas.
Golden State Warriors. throws from Harden, to Gregg Popovich became
Marcus Morris added 21 make it 108-103 with about the fastest NBA coach to
points and 10 rebounds, 7 1/2 minutes left. 500 road wins.
and Jayson Tatum scored Delon Wright made a free He got there in 835 away
19 points for the Celtics. throw for the Raptors soon games, 41 fewer than Pat
Irving missed one game after that, and OG Anuno- Riley.
with a minor facial frac- by connected for Toronto’s Aldridge, a product of Dal-
ture after he was hit by first field goal in more than las’ Seagoville High School,
teammate Aron Baynes three minutes on a 3-point- scored eight points during
on Friday. He fiddled with er with 6:25 remaining. After a decisive stretch of the
the mask frequently, but Wright’s layup, Kyle Lowry fourth quarter. Patty Mills
it didn’t seem to affect his stole the ball from Harden, added a season-high 19
play much. He made a and DeRozan finished on points for the Spurs.
jumper with 3:40 left after Boston Celtics’ Kyrie Irving (11) looks to pass the ball as Brooklyn the other end with a dunk Rookie Dennis Smith Jr. led
the Nets had closed within Nets’ DeMarre Carroll, left, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson defend to make it 116-103. Dallas with a career-high
four points and drove for during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Harden got Houston go- 27 points, and J.J. Barea
Nov. 14, 2017, in New York. The Celtics won 109-102.
another basket about 35 Associated Press ing again with a four-point and Harrison Barnes had
seconds later. play. The free throw was 16 each. The Mavericks
Boston then finally put it before Irving hit two free and Rondae Hollis-Jeffer- his 19th, setting a franchise are 2-13 for the second
away with Jaylen Brown’s throws to make it 106-96. son had 16 points and nine record for most foul shots straight season and fifth
alley-oop feed to Tatum Joe Harris scored 19 points rebounds for the Nets. without a miss in a game. time overall.q

Dimitrov reaches semifinals

at ATP Finals, beats Goffin

no idea why. But it’s fine. “He came to the net from Friday. Goffin, who is 1-1,
... I mean, when you’re so the beginning, from the first will play Thiem that same
zoomed into the match, I point,” Goffin said. “It was day.
don’t even pay attention not easy for me to lose my Goffin beat Nadal in his
to all that.” serve from the start. opening match, calling it
Dimitrov ended up win- It was tough for my confi- the best win of his career.
ning 34 of the 47 points he dence after that when it He still has a chance to
served and won 32 of the was 0-4.” reach the semifinals, and
57 points served by Goffin. The win gives Dimitrov a still has the Davis Cup final
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria celebrates after winning his singles In the first set, Dimitrov 2-0 record and ensures he at the end of the month
tennis match against David Goffin of Belgium at the ATP World lost only two points on his will play on the weekend when Belgium will take on
Finals at the O2 Arena in London, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. serve and twice broke Gof- in his debut at the season- France in Lille.
Associated Press fin without even going to ending tournament. Roger “This event is really impor-
deuce. Goffin finally man- Federer has also already tant. It’s one of the biggest
By CHRIS LEHOURITES A linesman informed the aged to hold serve in the qualified for the semifinals. events of the year. I’m go-
AP Sports Writer chair umpire of the infrac- second set, but Dimitrov In Wednesday’s late ing to focus on the next
LONDON (AP) — The tion during the fifth game still was able to break the match, Pablo Carreno Bus- match.
coaching seemed to have of the final set, and Dimi- Belgian’s serve two more ta will face Dominic Thiem. If there is another one, I will
helped, whether Grigor trov reacted by saying he times. Carreno Busta will be play- be focused on the next
Dimitrov heard it or not. didn’t hear anything. “I was just following my ing his first match at this one.
The sixth-seeded Bulgar- He probably didn’t need game. Just simple as that,” year’s tournament after Then we will see,” Goffin
ian made his way into the any extra advice anyway, Dimitrov said. “I was using stepping in to replace the said. “The Davis Cup, I’m
semifinals at the ATP Finals not after the way he was every opportunity. I took injured Rafael Nadal. not thinking about the Da-
on Wednesday by beating playing, and the way Gof- care of all of the balls that Dimitrov, who won three vis Cup for the moment.
David Goffin 6-0, 6-2, but fin was, too. I had to.” tournaments this year and I know it’s just after this
he was given a violation for “Yeah, that was very weird, And he gave Goffin few reached the semifinals at event. We will see. I’m just
coaching during the sec- to be honest,” Dimitrov said chances to make a come- the Australian Open, will focused on this event first,
ond set. of the violation. “I have back. next face Carreno Busta on then we see after.”q