Page 15 - aruba-today-20230418

SPORTS Tuesday 18 april 2023
A15

Injuries to NBA stars Giannis, Ja dim start of postseason

By TERESA M. WALKER win that clinched the No. 2
AP Sports Writer seed for the Grizzlies.
Bucks coach Mike Buden- Then he drove to the basket
holzer expressed cautious against the 6-foot-10 Davis
optimism regarding the with 5:48 left, with Memphis
status of Giannis Antetok- trailing the Lakers 105-101.
ounmpo after the two-time His right hand appeared to
MVP left Milwaukee’s East- bend the wrong direction
ern Conference playoff as he hit the court. Morant
opener with a bruised low- writhed in pain, then ran
er back. toward the Grizzlies’ bench
Antetokounmpo isn’t the letting out a yell near mid-
only prominent player al- court before sprinting to
ready dealing with a health the locker room.
issue after the first weekend Memphis coach Taylor Jen-
of the playoffs. Injuries to kins said X-rays were nega-
some of the NBA’s top stars tive and the Grizzlies will do
have dimmed the start of further testing taking this in-
the postseason, with title jury one day at a time.
hopes possibly fading just “I’m not the medical ex-
as quickly depending on pert,” Jenkins said.
how bad they’re hurt. Morant said he’s doubtful
Budenholzer said Mon- for Game 2 on Wednesday
day that Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo lays on the ground after an injury during the first half night with Memphis down
underwent an MRI after in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff game Sunday, April 16, 2023, in Milwaukee. 0-1 following a 128-112 loss.
the game that revealed Associated Press “Tough man, especially
“everything’s clean.” The Injuries over the span of a Morant were hurt on drives parently while diving for with everything I’ve been
Bucks lost 130-117 to the couple hours Sunday also to the basket where each a loose ball. The Heat dis- through pretty much this
Miami Heat on Sunday and sidelined two-time All-Star landed awkwardly. closed the severity of his in- season,” said Morant, who
trail the best-of-7 series 1-0 Ja Morant of the Memphis Antetokounmpo came jury at halftime. was suspended by the NBA
heading into Game 2 on Grizzlies and the Miami down hard on his back- Miami coach Erik Spoels- for eight games in March
Wednesday night. Heat’s Tyler Herro, keep- side after being fouled tra said Herro, seen with a after livestreaming himself
“I would say he’s still sore, ing them from finishing their by Miami’s Kevin Love. cast on his hand after the holding a gun at a Denver-
but I think progress,” Buden- playoff openers. The Bucks’ forward got up game, won’t play Game area strip club.
holzer said. “He’s getting Anthony Davis scared Los slowly with 4:13 left in the 2 on Wednesday night The guard who set the Griz-
some treatment. I think Angeles Lakers fans by first quarter. He picked up and the Heat will figure out zlies’ single season scor-
we’ll just continue to moni- grabbing at his right shoul- his second foul about 2 1/2 what to do next. ing record averaging 26.2
tor him for the next day or der and saying he couldn’t minutes later but played “I got the same diagnosis points a game wants to
two. We’re probably fortu- move his arm. Luckily for the about 11 minutes for the that you all heard,” Spoel- play.
nate that (we have) two Lakers, Davis rebounded Eastern Conference’s No. stra said. Memphis already is without
days between games. I from a stinger and returned 1 seed. Morant came into Sun- center Steven Adams be-
think (we’re) still mostly pos- for the start of the third The Bucks went on to lose day’s first-round Western cause of an injured knee
itive, mostly optimistic, but quarter of their 128-112 vic- 130-117 to Miami. Herro Conference series with his and reserve big man Bran-
we’ll see how he feels over tory over the Grizzlies. broke his right hand late right hand already ban- don Clarke tore an Achilles
the next day or two.” Both Antetokounmpo and in the second quarter, ap- daged after being hurt in a tendon in March.q

AP source: Twins, Pablo López add

$73.5M for 4 years

By DAVE CAMPBELL López’s first season with the The first one also came at
AP Sports Writer Twins has started splendidly López’s expense, when
The Minnesota Twins and after he arrived in a trade 2022 National League Cy
starting pitcher Pablo with Miami that sent 2022 Young Award winner San-
López agreed Monday on American League batting dy Alcantara pitched a
a contract that adds $73.5 champion and fan favorite three-hit shutout April 4 to
million over four seasons, Luis Arraez to the Marlins. beat the Twins 3-0.
according to a person with The right-hander has a 1.73 López is making $5.45 mil-
direct knowledge of the ERA through four starts with lion this season, his second
deal. 33 strikeouts in 26 innings year of arbitration eligibil- Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (49) throws in the
The person confirmed the and only 15 hits allowed. ity. The new deal will give first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees,
agreement to The Associ- López was the hard-luck the Twins some additional Sunday, April 16, 2023, in New York.
ated Press on condition of loser Sunday in New York, long-term stability around a Associated Press
anonymity because the when Yankees ace Ger- rotation that has emerged major leagues. uncertain status for next
contract was still pend- rit Cole pitched a two-hit in 2023 as a clear strength Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda season only underscored
ing completion of a physi- shutout to beat the Twins of the team. The Twins en- and Tyler Mahle are all in the team’s interest in com-
cal exam and had not yet 2-0. That was the second tered their day off Monday the final year of their con- mitting to López, who post-
been announced by the complete game in the with a 2.58 starting pitcher tracts, eligible to become ed a 3.94 ERA over 94 starts
club. major leagues this year. ERA that was the best in the free agents in the fall. Their with the Marlins.q