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sports Diamars 22 Februari 2022

Curry sets 3s record, LeBron the winner in NBA All-Star Game

(AP) — Stephen Curry deep on the right side for the Golden State beat the Cava-
got another 3-point re- winning bucket, making him liers three times in the NBA
cord. LeBron James got 5-0 in the format where the Finals from 2015-18.
another All-Star win. leading vote-getters in each
conference draft teams. But the fans were enjoying
Not a bad night in Ohio for his show too much to keep
the two All-Stars from Ak- The All-Star Game’s return going as the game went on,
ron. to Cleveland was expected though the boos returned
to be James’ night. He is the when he was presented the
Curry turned boos to oohs Cavaliers franchise’s greatest MVP award that in 2020 was
and aahs with the greatest player, having led them to renamed in honor of Kobe
long-distance shooting per- their only NBA champion- Bryant, who won a record-
formance in All-Star Game ship in 2016. tying four of them.
history, then James made a
turnaround jumper that gave Instead, he fittingly co- The Kobe Bryant Trophy
Team LeBron a 163-160 vic- starred with Curry, who was was redesigned this year and
tory over Team Durant on born in the same Akron hos- given to Curry in front of a
Sunday night. pital three years later. crowd that included Bryant’s wrapped up with a thunder- the two-time NBA MVPs,
wife, Vanessa. ous roar for James, who re- along with Nikola Jokic, the
Curry made 16 3-pointers Giannis Antetokounmpo had sponded with one of his own. reigning MVP. His team won
and scored 50 points, two off 30 points, increasing what Curry received 11 of the 12 His home fans cheered again for the second straight year
Anthony Davis’ record. He was a 28.8 average that was votes for the award, with when he did his signature against the club captained by
was clearly hunting it, asking already best in All-Star Game James earning the other pregame powder toss and he Kevin Durant, who couldn’t
on the sideline during a siz- history. James finished with through a fan vote. came out aggressively with play because of a sprained left
zling third quarter how many 24 in his old home. Joel Em- nine points to help Team knee ligament.
points it would take. biid led Team Durant with 36 Michael Jordan was the last LeBron win the first quarter
points. player introduced for the 47-45. Chris Paul did play — brief-
On a night both players were halftime ceremony and James ly — despite a right thumb
among the greats of the game Curry finished 16 of 27 be- said his winning shot was Then it became the Curry injury that TNT reported
who were honored during a yond the arc — sometimes inspired by the turnaround show. would keep him out at least
halftime ceremony celebrat- well, well behind it. He fadeaway that Jordan perfect- six weeks. Paul played with
ing the NBA’s 75th anniver- launched a few from the All- ed during his Hall of Fame He made six 3s for 18 points a wrap covering his thumb
sary team, Curry and James Star 2022 logo near midcourt, career. It earned $450,000 in the second quarter, though during his two-minute stint.
showed why they continue to running backward without for the Kent State I Promise Team Durant won the pe-
stand out among today’s best. even waiting to watch one go Scholars Program, the charity riod. He made seven more The Cavaliers’ two All-Stars
in. James’ team was playing for. 3s and scored 21 in the third, did well, with Garland scor-
Curry, who earlier this sea- when the teams played to a ing 13 points and Jarrett Allen
son became the NBA’s career The 3-point arc is slightly It was a thrilling finish to an 45-all tie. blocking Embiid’s shot when
leader in 3-pointers, missed more than 23 feet away. Cur- All-Star Game played again the game was tied at 155. The
his final attempt beyond ry had made shots listed from before a packed house after James defeated Curry when duo played with James, Cur-
the arc that would have al- 37, 33 and 34 feet during one the 2021 game was contested they were captains in 2018, ry and Antetokounmpo dur-
lowed him to surpass Davis. stretch of the third quarter, in a mostly empty State Farm the first year after the NBA ing a pivotal fourth-quarter
But with James’ team need- Arena in Atlanta, moved did away with the tradition- stretch.
ing a basket to reach the tar- Curry had been booed all there because of the corona- al East against West format.
get score of 163 points, they weekend, smiling through virus pandemic after it was Then James beat Antetok- Devin Booker scored 20
couldn’t afford to keep feed- the sounds during pregame originally scheduled for In- ounmpo in the next two points, LaMelo Ball had 18
ing Curry. introductions as Cleveland dianapolis. years. and Dejounte Murray 17 for
fans made clear they hadn’t Team Durant.
So James pulled up from forgiven him for helping The pregame introductions This time, he drafted both of

Niemann keeps his distance and closes out big win at Riviera

(AP) — Joaquin Niemann set or
matched some form of a scor- Staked to a three-shot lead to start the
ing record at Riviera every day final round, Niemann’s margin was
of the Genesis Invitational until down to one when he made a 7-foot
Sunday. All he got was the trophy birdie on the eighth hole and Young
handed to him from Tiger Woods sailed the green and made bogey. And
after beating the best field in golf then he chipped in for eagle on the
this year. par-5 11th, and Niemann was on his
way.
That was more than enough.
On a day when Dustin Johnson and
Niemann overcame a few anxious Bryson DeChambeau said they were
moments and closed with an even-par staying put on the PGA Tour amid
71 to become the first wire-to-wire speculation of a Saudi-funded rival
winner at the Genesis Invitational in league, Niemann spoke of a value
53 years, holding off British Open worth more than just money.
champion Collin Morikawa and PGA
Tour rookie Cameron Young by two About the only thing Niemann
shots. missed was a chance to break the old-
est tournament scoring record on
The week began with all the players the PGA Tour. With two bogeys on
from the top 10 in the world. It ended the back nine, Niemann finished at
with a 23-year-old Chilean playing 19-under 265, one short of the score
his best golf in a 63-63 start and doing Lanny Watkins had in 1985.
just enough in the final round to win.