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SPORTS Saturday 11 January 2020

Thunder spoil Russell Westbrook's return, routing Rockets

By The Associated Press without injured center Joel
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Embiid, beating Boston.
The Oklahoma City Thun- Embiid will have surgery
der spoiled Russell West- Friday for a torn ligament
brook's return. in a finger in his left hand
Westbrook scored 34 points, and will be evaluated in
but the Thunder beat the one to two weeks. Embiid,
Houston Rockets 113-92 on averaging 23.4 points and
Thursday night. 12.3 rebounds in 31 games
Westbrook was a league this season, tore the radial
MVP and two-time scor- collateral ligament in the
ing champ for the Thunder ring finger Monday night in
before being traded to the a victory over Oklahoma
Rockets last summer for City.
Chris Paul and draft picks. Mike Scott slid into the start-
Westbrook was the last re- ing rotation, along with
maining player from the Al Horford, Tobias Harris,
team that began playing in Richardson and Simmons.
Oklahoma City in 2008 af- Simmons played center at
ter leaving Seattle. times and drew a charge
The fans remember West- on Enes Kanter with 1:45 left
brook as the star who in the first quarter.
stayed after Kevin Durant The Celtics had their own
left for then-rival Golden injury scare when Kemba Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook (0) defends as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul
State in 2016, and they Walker, ejected for the (3) looks to inbound the ball during the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thurs-
showered him with appre- first time in his nine-year day, Jan. 9, 2020, in Oklahoma City.
ciation before the game. NBA career a night ear- Associated Press
There was a tribute video, lier, sprained his left thumb.
then loud cheers as he was Walker ran into Mike Scott Cleveland coach John Andre Drummond had 28 land to 13 points on 6-of-
introduced with enthusi- and instantly clutched Beilein said earlier Thursday points and 23 rebounds for 22 shooting in the second
asm, in the same manner his hand late in the sec- that he'd apologized for Detroit. The Pistons are with- quarter, the fewest points
as a home Thunder player. ond quarter. Walker, who his comments during a film out star forward Blake Grif- the Blazers have scored in
The crowd stood, cheered scored 26 points on 10-for- session the previous day. fin, who had surgery on his a quarter this year.
loudly and even chanted 20 shooting, tried to shake ESPN.com, citing unidenti- left knee. Damian Lillard led Portland
M-V-P as the announcer it off but left for the locker fied sources, reported that TIMBERWOLVES 116, TRAIL with 20 points and eight of
moved on to other players. room shortly before the Beilein suggested during BLAZERS 102 the team's 13 assists. CJ Mc-
Westbrook even ran over to Celtics took a 55-48 lead a Wednesday film session MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An- Collum and Hassan White-
a corner of the court and into halftime. his players were no lon- drew Wiggins scored 23 side each added 15 points.
exhorted the crowd before CAVALIERS 115, PISTONS ger playing "like a bunch points, Gorgui Dieng had Minnesota was without
the tip, just like he did when 112, OT of thugs." Beilein said he 12 points and 10 rebounds star big man Karl-Anthony
he played for the Thunder. DETROIT (AP) — Kevin meant to say "slugs" in ref- and Minnesota beat Port- Towns for the 12th straight
Danilo Gallinari led the Love made a tiebreaking erence to the team's effort land, game with a left knee
Thunder with 23 points and 3-pointer with 37.9 seconds level. The Timberwolves held Port- sprain.q
11 rebounds and Shai Gil- left in overtime and Cleve-
geous-Alexander added land snapped a five-game
20 points. losing streak.
Houston's James Harden On a tumultuous day for the
was held to 17 on 5-for-17 Cleveland organization,
shooting. the Cavaliers rallied from a
76ERS 109, CELTICS 98 13-point third-quarter defi-
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Josh cit and outlasted Detroit at
Richardson scored 29 the end. Tristan Thompson
points, Ben Simmons had had 35 points and 14 re-
19 and Philadelphia won bounds for the Cavaliers.