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Friday 8 June 2018
Dynasty's doorstep: Durant, Warriors take 3-0 lead in Finals

By TOM WITHERS well since 2015. just who I am."
AP Sports Writer After Durant scored, Curry Golden State will now have
CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin and Green rushed to his four chances to wrap up
Durant stood calmly near side and the trio walked its title starting with Game
midcourt — and a very fa- back toward Golden 4 on Friday night. The War-
miliar spot — as teammates State's bench where the riors are trying to join a
Stephen Curry and Dray- other Warriors were hug- select list of teams to win
mond Green screamed at ging and high-fiving. three championships in four
him in celebration. As always Durant stayed years.
Another momentous shot cool. Kevin Love added 20 points
for Durant. "I don't want to downplay for the Cavs, who have fall-
And soon, probably anoth- anything, but I don't want en into a hole in which no
er NBA championship. to act like this is the end team has ever emerged.
Durant scored a career of the road," Durant said. Cleveland came back
playoff-high 43 points, "So just get back to work from a 3-1 deficit to stun
draining a long 3-pointer in tomorrow and figure out a the Warriors in the 2016 fi-
the final minute to cap his better game plan." nals, but that was when Du-
magnificent performance, Durant said the similarity rant was in Oklahoma City
and the Warriors beat LeB- with last year's shot — a mo- and James had a different
ron James and the Cleve- ment that helped define his supporting cast.
land Cavaliers 110-102 in first championship — didn't The Warriors won despite
Game 3 of the NBA Finals on occur to him. a 3-of-16 shooting perfor-
Wednesday night to move "No, not at all," he said. "I mance from Curry, who
within a victory of a sweep, just took the shot." did come up big down the
their second straight title There was nothing James stretch as the Cavs were
and third championship in or the Cavs could do but trying to salvage their sea-
four years. think about what might son.
The Warriors are on dynas- have been after losing two Now Cleveland could be
ty's doorstep. games that were within down to one final game
Afterward, the defending Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James has his shot blocked by their reach. with James, who recorded
champs could be heard Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant during the second half of "Tonight will be tough," said his 10th triple-double in the
Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals, Wednesday, June 6, 2018,
loudly celebrating inside in Cleveland. James, who scored 33 and finals. The three-time cham-
their locker room, perhaps Associated Press rolled his right ankle in the pion can opt out of his
a warmup for a bigger par- first half. "Tomorrow I'll re- $35.6 million contract and
ty to come. from Northern California to just a few feet from where play some plays and some test free agency this sum-
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, order some champagne he made one in Game 3 moments and things of that mer, and it may be time
are in a hole that might as from Napa Valley. last year — and effectively nature. When I wake up Fri- for the 33-year-old to find a
well be 6 feet deep. Teams With the Cavs down 103- ended the fourth straight day morning I'll be locked team capable of beating
that have fallen behind 3-0 100, Durant stood defiantly finals matchup between in on the game plan of the Warriors.
in the playoffs are 0-131. and almost motionless after two teams who have got- what needs to be done to These Cavs can't figure it
It might be time for the guys dropping his 33-footer — ten to know each other help our team win. That's out.q

Bryan Colangelo resigns as Philadelphia 76ers president

information. the investigation. As for "Our investigation revealed
The independent review Colangelo, there was no substantial evidence
by a law firm did not evidence he knew of the that Mr. Colangelo was
determine that Colangelo accounts before a May the source of sensitive,
operated or was even 22 inquiry from the sports non-public, club-related
aware of Twitter accounts website The Ringer for a information contained
that anonymously trashed story it reported linking him in certain posts to the
some of his own players to five Twitter accounts that Twitter accounts," the
and fellow executives, took aim at Philadelphia report said. "We believe
and defended him against players Joel Embiid and that Mr. Colangelo was
criticism from fans and Markelle Fultz, former Sixers careless and in some
the sports media.Paul, general manager Sam instances reckless in failing
Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Hinkie, Toronto Raptors to properly safeguard
Garrison LLP said evidence executive Masai Ujiri and sensitive, non-public,
supported the conclusion former Sixers players Jahlil club-related information
that Colangelo's wife, Okafor and Nerlens Noel. in communications with
In this May 11, 2018, file photo, Philadelphia 76ers President of Barbara Bottini, operated Evidence found that individuals outside the
Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo speaks with members
of the media during a news conference at the NBA basketball the four accounts it Bottini established and 76ers organization."
team's practice facility in Camden, N.J. investigated, and she operated four of them As such, the team said it
admitted to doing so — Eric jr, Still Balling, had "become clear Bryan's
By ROB MAADDI the Philadelphia 76ers — though also said she Enoughunkownsources, relationship with our team
AP Sports Writer in the wake of what deleted contents of her and HonestAbe — but and his ability to lead the
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — an investigation found iPhone with a factory it seemed some of 76ers moving forward has
Bryan Colangelo resigned was "careless and in reset of the device prior the information being been compromised" and
Thursday as president of some instances reckless" to surrendering it for posted was coming from that it had accepted his
basketball operations for sharing of sensitive team forensic review, limiting Colangelo himself. resignation.q