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SPORTS Tuesday 15 OcTOber 2019
Celtics, Zion remain

sizzling to start preseason

By TIM REYNOLDS come a fan favorite in Bos- ers in double figures on the
AP Basketball Writer ton — yes, Stevens is aware way to beating San Anto-
Preseason numbers often of the chants where fans nio.
mean almost nothing. Ro- are clamoring for him to Jrue Holiday scored 16 for
tations are unusual, start- play more — the numbers the Pelicans, who over-
ers rarely play much, and are worth noting as well. came a 17-point deficit.
few if any teams are put- "Everyone is flying under Bryn Forbes scored 18 and
ting a premium on winning the radar," Stevens said DeMar DeRozan added
games. Sunday. "Except Tacko." 16 for the Spurs, who held
As such, it's tough to glean When it comes to New Or- out LaMarcus Aldridge and
much from exhibition stats. leans, Williamson isn't flying Rudy Gay. The Pelicans
But what the Boston Celt- under anything. gave J.J. Redick the day
ics and New Orleans rookie Flying over things is more off for rest.
Zion Williamson — the No. like it. CLIPPERS 118, MELBOURNE
1 pick in this year's draft The Pelicans are 4-0 in the UNITED 100
— have been doing so far preseason after winning Kawhi Leonard and Rodney
in the preseason certainly in San Antonio on Sunday, McGruder sat out for the
stands out. with Williamson finishing Los Angeles Clippers, who
The Celtics are 3-0 after with 22 points and 10 re- got 22 points from Montrezl
beating Cleveland on bounds. He's shot 29 for Harrell and 16 points from
Sunday — and have put 36 from the floor in his last Lou Williams.
together a huge run in all three games, and is aver- The Clippers trailed by as
three of those games. The aging 23.3 points and 6.5 many as 11 in the early go-
latest was a 50-17 spurt rebounds on 71% shooting ing and were down to the
against the Cavaliers, a — all in about 27 minutes Australian club 51-47 at New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson (1) dunks as he is de-
game that was close for per game. the half, then won the third fended by San Antonio Spurs' Chimezie Metu (7) and DeMarre
most of the first quarter be- CELTICS 118, CAVALIERS 72 quarter 43-20 — shooting Carroll during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball
fore Boston built what even- Max Strus scored 14 points 16 for 20 in the period — to game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in San Antonio.
tually became a 54-point and Boston finished with six take control. Associated Press
lead. players in double figures. Melo Trimble led Melbourne
Boston's other big runs of Kemba Walker returned United with 22 points. kanen had 15 points and 13 76ers (3-0). Free-agent ac-
note in this preseason were from a one-game absence BUCKS 115, WIZARDS 108 rebounds for Chicago. quisition Al Horford added
a 41-17 stretch last Sunday with knee soreness and Khris Middleton had 22 Coby White, drafted No. 11 points and rookie Ma-
against Charlotte, and scored 12 points in 15 ½ points and nine rebounds 7 overall in this summer's tisse Thybulle scored 10.
opening the game with a minutes, going 3 for 3 from while Sterling Brown and draft, added 18 points for Markelle Fultz, Mo Bamba
29-4 burst at Orlando on 3-point range. The Celtics Ersan Ilyasova scored 18 the Bulls (1-3). and Al-Farouq Amina had
Friday. On top of the 50-17 held the Cavaliers to 33% points apiece for Milwau- OG Anunoby led Toronto 12 points apiece for Orlan-
run against the Cavs, they shooting, 18% on 3-point kee. (1-2) with 15 points. Pas- do (3-2).
added a 26-8 run in the tries, and forced 29 turn- Reigning league MVP Gi- cal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, TIMBERWOLVES 131, MAC-
fourth quarter as well. overs. annis Antetokounmpo (ill- Marc Gasol, Fred VanVleet CABI HAIFA 101
No matter who the Celtics Sindarius Thornwell scored ness) did not play for the (all rest) and Kyle Lowry Treveon Graham had 12
have on the court, defense 12 for Cleveland, which Bucks (4-0). (thumb) did not play for the points while Jarrett Culver
has been the constant. Bos- played without Kevin Love Bradley Beal led Washing- Raptors. and Shabazz Napier scored
ton is holding opponents to (rest) and Tristan Thomp- ton (2-2) with 20 points, 76ERS 126, MAGIC 94 11 apiece for Minnesota.
36.5% shooting through the son (right groin soreness). Thomas Bryant scored 17 Joel Embiid had 15 points Karl-Anthony Towns and
first three exhibitions, 25.7% Cavs starters Collin Sexton, and Rui Hachimura, the and nine rebounds and To- Andrew Wiggins added
from 3-point range. Matthew Dellavedova and No. 9 overall pick in June's bias Harris scored 14 points nine points each in 11 and
"That's a tied-together Cedi Osman combined to draft, added 10 points, 12 for Philadelphia. 12 minutes, respectively, for
group on that end of the shoot 3 for 24 and score rebounds and three steals. Josh Richardson, acquired the Timberwolves (1-2).
court," Celtics coach Brad eight points in 67 minutes. BULLS 105, RAPTORS 91 as part of the trade that James Young, a first-round
Stevens said. PELICANS 123, SPURS 114 Zach LaVine hit four sent Jimmy Butler to Miami pick by the Boston Celtics
And while 7-foot-6 center Williamson's 22 points led 3-pointers and finished with in July, had 13 points, five in 2014, led Maccabi Haifa
Tacko Fall has quickly be- seven New Orleans play- 26 points and Lauri Mark- assists and five steals for the with 20 points.q
Wiesberger wins Italian Open, tops Race to Dubai rankings

By ANDREW DAMPF stroke victory over Matthew of the season after Den- excited what's ahead of us the Rolex Series.
ROME (AP) — Bernd Wies- Fitzpatrick after beginning mark in May and the Scot- in the last few events." It was the seventh career
berger moved atop the the day three strokes be- tish Open — which is also in Wiesberger has 4,198 points win on the European Tour
Race to Dubai rankings by hind the Englishman. the Rolex Series — in July. in the Race to Dubai, for Wiesberger, who missed
winning the Italian Open Fitzpatrick had chances The 34-year-old Austrian ahead of Jon Ram (3,898), the last seven months of
on Sunday for his second to get into a playoff but also finished in a tie for sec- British Open champion last year with a wrist injury.
Rolex Series victory of the missed both an eagle putt ond in the Irish Open. Shane Lowry (3,535) and "I've been really good put-
year. on the 17th hole that lipped "I've played really well in Fitzpatrick (2,865). ting myself in positions and
Wiesberger carded a bo- around the cup and a bird- the right events," said Wi- He joins Rahm, Alex Noren, staying there," Wiesberger
gey-free 6-under 65 at Ol- ie effort on No. 18. esberger, who finished 16 Justin Rose and Danny Wil- said after earning a win-
giata Golf Club for a one- It was Wiesberger's third win under overall. "Just really lett as multiple winners in ner's check of $1.1 million.q