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SPORTS Saturday 9 November 2019

Walker returns to Charlotte

to help Celtics beat Hornets

By The Associated Press 20 points and 10 rebounds,
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — and the Celtics scored 17
Kemba Walker had an points off 21 Charlotte turn-
emotional return to Char- overs. Miles Bridges had 18
lotte, Jayson Tatum scored points and 10 rebounds for
23 points and the Boston the Hornets.
Celtics beat the Hornets CLIPPERS 107, TRAIL BLAZERS
108-87 on Thursday night. 101
Walker had an off-night LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lou
shooting and finished with Williams made a go-ahead
14 points and six assists, jumper with 58 seconds left,
but the Celtics won their then added a 3-pointer
sixth straight game hand- and finished with 26 points Charlotte Hornets' Terry Rozier (3) tries to get off a shot between Boston Celtics' Daniel Theis (27)
ily. Walker missed his first to lift Los Angeles over Port- and Kemba Walker (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C.,
six shots. Walker received land for coach Doc Rivers' Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019. The Celtics won 108-87.
a rousing minute standing 900th career victory. Associated Press
ovation after the Hornets Kawhi Leonard had 27 Portland's first 12. Leonard San Antonio rolled past in the first half, Goran Drag-
showed a highlight tribute points, 13 rebounds and sealed the win with four Oklahoma City. ic added 25 and Miami
on the videoboard that left six turnovers after missing straight free throws as fans Point guard Dejounte Mur- rolled past Phoenix.
the point guard in tears. a nationally televised loss chanted "MVP! MVP!" The ray had a career-high 10 The Heat improved to 6-2
The three-time All-Star to Milwaukee the previous Clippers rallied from eight assists along with 17 points for the first time since 2012
played eight NBA seasons night as part of load man- points down early in the and eight rebounds. when they had LeBron
in Charlotte and is the fran- agement for his knee. fourth, taking their first lead DeMar DeRozan added 16 James and eventually won
chise's scoring leader. He Damian Lillard and CJ Mc- on Leonard's basket. points and nine assists. the NBA title. Dragic, who
signed with the Celtics this Collum led Portland with 22 Rivers became the 13th Danilo Gallinari scored 27 played six seasons in his 12-
past offseason after Hor- points apiece, but both got coach in NBA history to points for the Thunder. Chris year career with the Suns,
nets owner Michael Jordan blanked in the fourth quar- reach 900 wins. Paul had 19 points and five scored 20 points in the sec-
elected not to pay Walker ter of the Trail Blazers' third SPURS 121, THUNDER 112 assists in 31 minutes. ond half.
a five-year, $221 million su- straight loss. That's when SAN ANTONIO (AP) — La- HEAT 124, SUNS 108 Aron Baynes had 23 points
permax contract. Anfernee Simons scored 16 Marcus Aldridge scored a PHOENIX (AP) — Jimmy But- for Phoenix, and Devin
Gordon Hayward added of his 17 points, including season-high 39 points and ler scored 30 of his 34 points Booker added 22.q
NBA fines Clippers $50,000 for statements about Leonard

By BETH HARRIS is suffering from an ongo-
AP Sports Writer ing injury to the patella ten-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The don in his left knee and has
NBA fined the Los Angeles been placed by the team
Clippers $50,000 on Thurs- at this time on an injury
day for statements made protocol for back-to-back
by coach Doc Rivers and games," the league's state-
others that were "inconsis- ment said.
tent" about Kawhi Leon- Leonard played 60 games
ard's health. during the 2018-19 regular
Leonard sat out a 129-124 season and another 24 in
home loss to the Milwau- the playoffs for Toronto. He
kee Bucks on Wednesday averaged 30.5 points and
night, the second time he's 9.1 rebounds in the post-
missed the nationally tele- season and was MVP of the
vised front end of a back- NBA Finals.
to-back this season. He had Before training camp with
27 points and 13 rebounds the Clippers, the 28-year-
in a nationally televised old forward said he was
107-101 win over Portland feeling "way better" than
on Thursday night. he did at the start of last
"I'm disappointed. He's my season and that no load
coach and I'm on his side," management plan was in
Leonard said of the fine. Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers disagrees about a call during the first half of the team's place yet.
"I'm not a doctor, but we're NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Los Angeles. Rivers indicated he was dis-
going to do what's best for Associated Press appointed by the fine.
me to be healthy so I can triggered the fine. "He feels ing Toronto to its first NBA those by Rivers, that were "I think we said it all," he ex-
play basketball games. I great," Rivers said Wednes- championship. inconsistent with Leonard's plained Thursday. "I'm not
can't read too much into day. "But he feels great be- "I think Kawhi made a state- health status while also getting into it. What we
it." The NBA initially con- cause of what we've been ment that he's never felt detailing his knee injury. At said, we said."
firmed the Clippers were doing, and we're just going better," Rivers said. "It's our the same time, the league Leonard is averaging ca-
compliant with league to continue to do it. There's job to make sure he stays reaffirmed the team was in reer highs in points (29.3),
rules in resting Leonard no concern here." that way." line with NBA rules in sitting rebounds (7.3), assists (5.7),
because of a knee injury. Rivers cited "a lot of min- Less than 24 hours later, Leonard. steals (2.3) and blocks (1.0).
It was what Rivers said be- utes" that Leonard racked the NBA fined the Clippers "The team has reasonably He's averaging 30.5 min-
fore the game that in part up last season while lead- for statements, including determined that Leonard utes per game.q