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SPORTS Tuesday 24 december 2019
Raptors use biggest rally in franchise history to beat Mavs

By The Associated Press Gary Harris added 19 points,
TORONTO (AP) — Kyle Low- Nikola Jokic had 18 points,
ry had 32 points and 10 as- Malik Beasley had 16 points
sists, Chris Boucher scored and Will Barton III had 14
a career-high 21 points and points and a career-high-
the Toronto Raptors over- tying 13 rebounds for the
turned a 30-point deficit to Nuggets, who pulled away
beat the Dallas Mavericks to a 23-point lead early in
110-107 on Sunday, the the fourth.
biggest comeback in fran- James missed his first game
chise history and the NBA's of the season because of a
largest in a decade. thoracic muscle strain. That
Lowry had one fewer point left the Lakers without his
in the fourth quarter (20) 25.8 point average.
than the Mavericks man- With James looking on in
aged as a team (21). street clothes, Anthony
It was the first 30-point Davis did his best to make
comeback in the NBA since up for it with 32 points and
Sacramento beat Chicago 11 rebounds. He scored 11
on Dec. 21, 2009, accord- points playing all 12 min-
ing to the Elias Sports Bu- utes of the first quarter.
reau. Kyle Kuzma was the only
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson other Laker in double fig-
scored 18 points and Fred ures with 16 points, hav-
VanVleet had 10 as the ing returned after missing Toronto Raptors guard Patrick McCaw (22) goes up to shoot as Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps
short-handed Raptors won five games with a sprained Porzingis (6) defends during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22,
their fifth straight and im- left ankle. Western Confer- 2019.
proved to 13-3 at home, ence-leading Los Angeles Associated Press
ending the Mavericks' lost its third in a row.
seven-game road winning THUNDER 118, CLIPPERS 112 Kawhi Leonard sat out be- Milwaukee, which has won team, and Boston beat
streak. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — cause of left knee soreness. three in a row. Brook Lopez Charlotte.
Kristaps Porzingis had 19 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Dennis Schroder scored 28 and George Hill each had Tatum eclipsed his previous
points and 12 rebounds matched his career high points and Steven Adams 17 points. high of 34 points against
and Jalen Brunson scored with 32 points and Oklaho- added 20 points and 17 re- Brogdon was drafted by Brooklyn on Jan. 14. Jaylen
21 points as Dallas dropped ma City rallied to beat the bounds to help the Thunder Milwaukee and spent his Brown added 16 points and
to 2-2 without guard Luka Clippers. win their fourth straight. first three seasons with the nine rebounds, and rookie
Doncic, who sat for the Oklahoma City came back Lou Williams scored 22 Bucks before he was ac- Grant Williams added 12
fourth straight game be- from 18 points down in the points for Los Angeles, and quired by Indiana in a sign- points off the bench for
cause of a sprained right second quarter. It's the Montrezl Harrell had 18. and-trade deal over the the Celtics. Boston has won
ankle. third time in seven days the BUCKS 117, PACERS 89 summer. He finished with 10 three straight and seven of
NUGGETS 128, LAKERS 104 Thunder overcame a defi- MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis points on 5-of-19 shooting nine.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul cit that big to win. Antetokounmpo had 18 and 10 assists. Devonte' Graham had 23
Millsap scored 21 points Paul George scored 18 points, 19 rebounds and CELTICS 119, HORNETS 93 points and 10 assists, Bis-
and Denver dominated points in his first game back nine assists, and the Bucks BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Ta- mack Biyombo scored 18
the second half in defeat- in Oklahoma City since be- spoiled Malcolm Brogdon's tum had a career-high 39 and Miles Bridges 15 to
ing LeBron James-less Los ing traded from the Thun- return to Milwaukee. points and 12 rebounds, lead the Hornets. Charlotte
Angeles for its sixth straight der to the Clippers. Wesley Matthews scored Kemba Walker scored 23 has dropped three straight
win. Los Angeles scoring leader 19 points for NBA-leading points against his former and four of five.q

Celtics' Kanter thanks Trudeau

for chance to play in Canada

Boston Celtics center Enes mas game in Toronto. at center with Vincent Poiri-
Kanter says he will be able Kanter, an outspoken critic er and Robert Williams nurs-
to play in his team's Christ- of Turkish President Recep ing injuries.
mas Day game in Toronto Tayyip Erdoğan's govern- Kanter, 27, is averaging 7.8
against the Raptors after ment for its treatment of points and 7.3 rebounds for
discussions with the Cana- residents, has not traveled the Celtics this season.
dian government. outside the United States "I want to thank Prime Minis-
In a column published for years. Kanter has said ter Justin Trudeau's govern-
Monday by The Globe and his passport was revoked ment, U.S. and Canadian
Mail, the native of Turkey by the Turkish government law enforcement, U.S. Sen- Boston Celtics' Enes Kanter (11) shoots against Charlotte Hor-
thanked Prime Minister Jus- in 2017. ator Ed Markey, the Celt- nets' Bismack Biyombo (8) during the first half of an NBA basket-
tin Trudeau's government The Globe's headline reads, ics, the NBA and my man- ball game in Boston, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019.
as well as other officials "Thank you, Canada, for agers for working diligently Associated Press
from Canada and the U.S. letting me play basketball to make my Christmas
for getting him the green — despite Turkey's threats game against the Raptors in the Globe. "And, on ic outside the U.S. when I
light to cross the border to against me." The Celtics al- possible and ensuring my Christmas night, I will play take the court against the
play in the NBA's first Christ- ready were short-handed safety there," Kanter writes in my first game as a Celt- Raptors."q