Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Friday 13 april 2018

Timberwolves beat

Nuggets in OT

to reach playoffs

By The Associated Press 18 points, and the Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jim- were finally on their way to
my Butler scored 31 points, a celebration more than a
Karl-Anthony Towns had decade in the making.
26 points and 14 rebounds THUNDER 137, GRIZZLIES 123
and the Minnesota Timber- OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) —
wolves ended the NBA's Russell Westbrook clinched
longest-running playoff a triple-double average for
drought, beating the Den- the second straight sea-
ver Nuggets 112-106 in son, Paul George scored 40
overtime Wednesday night points and Oklahoma beat
in the first final-day play-in Memphis.
game in the league in 21 Westbrook entered the
years. night needing 16 rebounds
When the final horn blew, to clinch the triple-double
the capacity and white- average. He pulled down Minnesota Timberwolves' Jimmy Butler (23) blocks a shot by Denver Nuggets' Will Barton during
towel-waving crowd at Tar- his 16th rebound with just the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Minneapolis.
get Center stood to soak over nine minutes left in the Associated Press
in Minnesota's first post- third quarter and received
season appearance since a standing ovation. He fin- stunning 80-44 lead at the points. added 19 points for the
2004. Butler flashed a smile ished with just six points, but break. Embiid said he will HEAT 116, RAPTORS 109, OT Pelicans
of relief as he hugged his had a career-high 20 re- likely miss at least Game 1 MIAMI (AP) — Wayne Elling- LaMarcus Aldridge, Tony
teammates and confetti bounds and 19 assists. of the playoffs this week- ton scored a career-high Parker and Dejounte Mur-
fluttered above the floor. Steven Adams scored 24 end because of the injury. 32 points and set Miami's ray each scored 11 points
The fans chanted "MVP! points and Corey Brewer KNICKS 110, CAVALIERS 98 single-season record for for San Antonio.
MVP!" as Butler conducted added 17 for the Thun- CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron 3-pointers, helping the Heat MAGIC 101, WIZARDS 92
a postgame interview. der, who matched a fran- James played in his 82nd wrap up the No. 6 seed in ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Rod-
Jokic, locked in a classic chise record with 20 made game, scored 10 points the Eastern Conference. ney Purvis scored 16 points
big-man battle with Towns, 3-pointers. Dillon Brooks and then got some rest for Ellington finished with eight for Orlando and Mario
finished with 35 points and scored a career-high 36 the playoffs in Cleveland's 3-pointers, giving him 227 Hezonja finished with 15
10 rebounds, but he missed points for Memphis. loss to New York in coach for the season. He topped points, eight rebounds and
six of his last eight shots af- 76ERS 130, BUCKS 95 Jeff Hornacek's likely last the mark set by Damon six assists.
ter the third quarter as Den- PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel game with the Knicks. Jones, who made 225 in Jodie Meeks came off the
ver's late push fell a few Embiid and JJ Redick James had never played 2004-05. Kelly Olynyk, Dwy- bench to score 18 points
points short. watched from the bench, every game in his 15- ane Wade, Justise Winslow, for Washington. They lost
The Timberwolves are mov- Ben Simmons had a score- year NBA career. But he James Johnson and Tyler five of their last six games
ing on to play the NBA-best less first half and Philadel- capped a remarkable sea- Johnson each scored 11 to take the eighth and final
Houston Rockets in the first phia still won its 16th con- son in which he seemed to points for the Heat. Eastern Conference play-
round. secutive game to take the break a record every night Kyle Lowry scored 28 points off spot.
Will Barton, who had 24 No. 3 Eastern Conference by adding another ac- for Toronto, which already CELTICS 110, NETS 97
points, made a 3-pointer seed. complishment to his long had the top seed in the BOSTON (AP) — Aron
to beat the shot clock for Fultz had his first career tri- list of achievements. Cavs East wrapped up. Baynes led a short-hand-
Denver's first lead, 104-103, ple-double with 13 points, coach Tyronn Lue said he PELICANS 122, SPURS 98 ed Boston lineup with a
since midway through the 10 assists and 10 rebounds. tried to talk James out of NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An- career-best 26 points and
first quarter. After Taj Gibson Justin Anderson led the Six- playing, but he gave in and thony Davis had 22 points, 14 rebounds, carrying the
hounded Jokic to force an ers with 25 points, and Dario allowed the 33-year-old to 15 rebounds, four blocks Celtics past Brooklyn.
air-balled 3-point try, Jeff Saric had 24. extend his record of scoring and three steals, and New Jonathan Gibson scored
Teague swished a floater Embiid wore a black mask in double digits to 873 con- Orleans assured itself no 18 points, Guerschon Ya-
with 1:19 left in overtime during warmups to protect secutive games before tak- worse than the sixth seed in busele had 16 and Shane
to put the Wolves back in his broken bone around ing him out. James finished the Western Conference. Larkin added 12 points, 10
front for good. his left eye, then changed with 10 points and five re- Rajon Rondo had 19 points assists and seven rebounds
Andrew Wiggins sank two into gold sneakers and a bounds in 10:33. and 14 assists, Nikola Mirot- for the Celtics. Nik Staus-
foul shots with 15 seconds peach-colored jacket to Knicks rookie Luke Kornet ic had 21 points and 15 re- kas scored 18 points for the
remaining to finish with watch the Sixers romp to a scored a season-high 23 bounds, and Jrue Holiday Nets.q