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A32 sports
Diasabra 4 December 2021

Blazers executive Neil Olshey dismissed after probe

that privileged investigation, of business operations.
we will not release or discuss
it. We are confident that these Portland parted ways with
changes will help build a longtime coach Terry Stotts
more positive and respectful at the end of last season and
working environment,” the hired Chauncey Billups as
Blazers said in a statement. his replacement. The move
came amid questions about
Olshey had been general how the Blazers selected Bil-
manager of the Blazers since lups over more experienced
2012. He was promoted to candidates and concerns
president of basketball opera- about sexual assault allega-
tions in 2015. tions lodged against him
nearly a quarter-century ago.
Olshey came to the Blaz-
ers after nine years with the Billups never faced charges
Clippers, which included related to those allegations
stints as director of player de- that came out in 1997 and
velopment, assistant coach, settled out of court with the
director of player personnel accuser three years later.
and assistant GM.
Billups, a five-time NBA All-
The move comes amid sig- Star over a 17-year playing
nificant turnover within the career, had never been a head
Blazers. coach before coming to the
(AP) - The Portland Trail Cronin, director of player cerns. The probe stemmed Blazers. He served as an as-
Blazers fired Neil Olshey, personnel, to interim GM. from allegations of miscon- Trail Blazers president and sistant with the Clippers last
the team’s president of duct involving Olshey. CEO Chris McGowan season.
basketball operations and The team said in a statement stepped down last month af-
general manager, on Fri- that Olshey was dismissed for The dismissal is effective im- ter nine years in the position. Portland is 11-12 so far un-
day after an investigation violating its code of conduct. mediately. Chief Commercial Officer der Billups. The Blazers are
into workplace conduct. The Blazers hired an outside and Executive Vice President coming off a 114-83 loss to
firm last month to investigate “Out of respect for those Dewayne Hankins took over the San Antonio Spurs on
The Blazers promoted Joe workplace environment con- who candidly participated in as the team’s new president Thursday night.

Grizzlies throttle Thunder by NBA-record 73-point margin

(AP) — The game was long who we are,” Thunder coach This was worse. Historically of the four quarters. couldn’t get a grip on the
decided and the Memphis Mark Daigneault said. “I worse. game. Any part of the game.”
starters were relegated to think we’ve definitely shown “Franchise records are obvi-
cheerleaders on the bench that from a competitive The Grizzlies set a franchise ously great. Obviously proud The Thunder lost their
when John Konchar got standpoint. This isn’t indica- record for shooting, mak- of our guys that they don’t eighth straight as they contin-
a steal and headed to the tive of who our team is.” ing 62.5% of their shots. think about that,” Memphis ued to play without a number
basket. De’Anthony Melton scored coach Taylor Jenkins said. of players, including leading
Memphis used 12 players and 19 points, Santi Aldama “We’re just motivated by scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexan-
His right-handed dunk gave nine of them reached double scored 18 and John Konchar what are our standards every der, who entered concussion
the Grizzlies a 145-67 lead figures in scoring, with Jaren scored 17 for the Grizzlies, single night. Tonight was on protocol earlier Thursday.
over the Oklahoma City Jackson Jr.’s 27 points lead- and none of those three play- pretty full display both offen- Gilgeous-Alexander scored
Thunder with 3:02 left and ing the way for the Grizzlies. ers even started. sively and defensively.” 39 points against the Rockets
a new franchise record for Memphis was without its on Wednesday night but suf-
points in a game. best player, injured guard Ja “Man, it feels great. It feels It was the third straight game fered a blow to the head late
Morant. great to be in the history the Grizzlies have led from in the game.
That 78-point advantage was books, especially in front of start to finish.
Memphis’ biggest lead on It was 72-36 at halftime and our home crowd,” Melton Point guard Josh Giddey,
Thursday night, but by the the Grizzlies just kept adding said. “And we did it one “Obviously, it was a combi- who averages 10.4 points and
time it was over the Grizzlies to the lead. through 15. Everybody con- nation of things,” Daigneault 5.5 assists, sat out with a non-
were still 73 points ahead. tributed, everybody played said. “They played with great COVID-19 illness, and the
Their 152-79 win over the “I think there was some slip- hard and we all got to get in force and pace. They made remaining players couldn’t
Thunder shattered the NBA page defensively and I think the game. So, it’s always a some shots. We didn’t shoot fill the void in Oklahoma
record for the largest margin before you know it, teams blessing. it well early and just really City’s offense.
of victory. are in a rhythm and the game
is out of hand,” Oklahoma “We knew with (Morant)
“At that moment, I didn’t City’s Mike Muscala said. going down what we had to
know it was a franchise re- “We didn’t fight, obviously. do,” Melton said. “We had to
cord,” Konchar said. “I just You’d rather go out fighting. step up.”
kind of saw the lane, and I You would rather go out put-
dunked it. But it’s awesome.” ting your best foot forward No Memphis starter played
and playing together.” more than 21 minutes. Lu
The 73-point margin easily Dort led the Thunder with
topped the previous mark, The Thunder flirted with be- 15 points, and Oklahoma
which was Cleveland’s ing on the wrong end of the City shot only 33%.
68-point win over Miami. record last season, trailing
The Cavaliers topped the Indiana by 67 points on May It was 12-8 after five min-
Heat 148-80 on Dec. 17, 1 before rallying — such as it utes. From there, there was
1991. was — to lose by merely 57 no stopping Memphis. The
points, 152-95. Grizzlies outscored the
“Tonight is not necessarily Thunder by 15 points in each