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SPORTS Friday 21 February 2020
Paul, Thunder surprising league heading into stretch run

By CLIFF BRUNT Paul also isn't satisfied with
AP Sports Writer Oklahoma City's 33-22 re-
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — cord going into Friday's
Chris Paul gets annoyed home game against Den-
when the topic of the Thun- ver.
der's "surprising" success "I expected the record to
comes up. be better, you know what
Expectations for Oklahoma I mean?" he said. "I expect
City were low for many to win every night. I'm not
after an offseason during as surprised as y'all are, I
which the Thunder collect- guess. I'm just not."
ed draft picks, traded Rus- He missed being that clutch
sell Westbrook to the Hous- player while deferring to
ton Rockets for Paul and James Harden in Houston.
sent Paul George to the Los Now that he's the man
Angeles Clippers for Shai again, he earned his way
Gilgeous-Alexander and to being named an All-Star
Danilo Gallinari. for the first time since 2016.
Many weren't sure if Okla- "That's why you play these
homa City's new players games," Paul said. "For that
would function well togeth- adrenaline."
er — or if the group would Paul immediately estab-
stay together. lished himself as a leader. Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks during the first half of the NBA All-Star basketball
It also wasn't clear if Paul He had the team fitted for game Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Chicago.
could perform at an elite custom suits, and before a Associated Press
level at age 34, or if he December game against
could stay healthy. But Memphis, the players every time during games, the standpoint of just how at this age you can do this
Paul has embraced what walked into Chesapeake practices. Even if you're off diligent he is and how driv- or you can do that -- look
appeared to be an unde- Energy Arena wearing the court, he talks to us. A en and motivated he is to at my brother Bron (LeBron
sirable situation and was them. The Thunder over- leader in this group." try to get every once out of James)," Paul said after the
named an All-Star for the came a 24-point deficit In some ways, Paul's 15th his own ability, from dieting game. "Every year, they say
10th time. The Thunder that night to win 126-122. season has been one of to training to working out to he's going to slow down,
not only stayed intact but Paul's team-building efforts his best. He is shooting shooting," coach Billy Don- right? And then what? So I
come out of the All-Star have carried over onto the 55% on 2-point shots, the ovan said. think it's more about com-
break sixth in the Western court. highest mark of his career. Paul kept rolling by post- peting with yourself and
Conference and firmly in "He's one of the top point He is shooting 89.8% from ing 23 points and six assists not worry about what ev-
the playoff race. guards to ever play this the free-throw line, which in the All-Star Game. He erybody else is saying."
Asked what skeptics might game," Thunder guard would be his second- wasn't chosen as a starter, For as much as Paul's play
have missed when project- Dennis Schroder said. "He highest percentage for a but Team LeBron coach has stood out, he's happy
ing Oklahoma City to be changed the culture here season. He averages 17.4 Frank Vogel had him in at to see others succeeding.
one of the worst teams in as well -- how we're playing points, 6.7 assists and 5.0 re- the end. "It's about working He loves the fact that the
the league, Paul bluntly together as a team. He's bounds per game. hard, and it's the analytics Thunder don't really have a
said, "That I was here." talking to every one of us "I think it speaks to him from and the statistics that say standout player. q

Nets' Kyrie Irving to have season-

ending shoulder surgery

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Irving said pain in the shoul- 31. He played only one
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Ir- der initially worsened after more game after that.
ving will have arthroscopic a game on Nov. 4. The Nets Atkinson said Irving was
surgery on his right shoulder then went on a five-game even better than he ex-
and miss the rest of the sea- road trip, where Irving con- pected after watching him
son. tinued to play until the pain play in Cleveland and Bos-
The Nets made the an- got so bad he was having ton.
nouncement Thursday be- trouble lifting his shoulder. "I really love the player and
fore playing the Philadel- He got a cortisone shot on feel like we had a really
phia 76ers in their first game Dec. 24 and was able to re- good relationship. We are Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving lies on the court after he was in-
after the All-Star break. turn on Jan. 12, but he ac- in a really good place, but jured during the second half of an NBA basketball game against
Coach Kenny Atkinson knowledged that surgery obviously you want more. the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Washington.
said the point guard was might still be necessary. By More reps, more time with Associated Press
still having trouble with the deciding to have surgery him," Atkinson said. "But
shoulder that sidelined him now, Irving's first season in we'll have time in the off- stars signed with the Nets seventh place in the East-
for 26 games earlier this Brooklyn ends after just 20 season to connect and together in July. Durant has ern Conference and five
season. games. work with him a little bit." been out all season while games ahead of ninth-
"Some days it was OK and Irving averaged 27.4 points, Irving missed the last five recovering from surgery to place Washington. The
other days it bothered him," with a 50-point game games before the break repair his Achilles tendon. Nets have received strong
Atkinson said. "Obviously, it on opening night and a with a sprained right knee. Brooklyn is still in good po- guard play from Spen-
is difficult to perform under 54-point performance He now joins Kevin Durant sition to make the playoffs, cer Dinwiddie and Caris
those circumstances." against Chicago on Jan. on the sideline; the super- coming out of the break in LeVert.q