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sports Diasabra 23 OctOber 2021

Stephen Curry scores 45, Warriors hold off Clippers 115-113

(AP) — Stephen Curry impact the game.”
raised his arms, waved to “Steph Curry was just Steph
acknowledge the ador- Curry, there’s never been “You know Steph, when he
ing fans as shot after shot anybody like him,” coach has a poor shooting night,
dropped through the net Steve Kerr said. “Those last he’s always coming back
and screamed in celebra- two 3s were ridiculous. ... I’m strong,” Kerr said.
tion — no trash about it. still blown away.”
Damion Lee hit a go-ahead
Curry hit a go-ahead 3-point- Chants of “MVP!” began late 3-pointer with 5:55 remain-
er with 56.8 seconds remain- in the first quarter, and by the ing and scored 11 points off
ing to follow up a 30-footer time the buzzer sounded to the bench while Andrew
less than a minute earlier, and finish the initial period, Cur- Wiggins added 17 points and
he relished every bit of his ry already had topped his total six rebounds.
45-point home opener that from two nights earlier with
lifted the Golden State War- 25 points on 9-of-9 shooting Paul George had 29 points,
riors over the Los Angeles and five 3-pointers as Golden 11 rebounds and six assists in
Clippers 115-113 on Thurs- State built a 44-27 lead. the Clippers’ season opener, ing the fans for their sup- returned.
day night. and Eric Bledsoe scored 22 port and patience through
“I don’t know if I’ve had a points. Los Angeles fought the coronavirus pandemic “He responded beautifully,”
Curry bounced back from a perfect start like that before, back from a 19-point deficit and welcoming them back to Kerr said.
sub-par outing in the season but it was just a good flow in the second quarter to take Chase Center.
opener by his high standards. from the jump,” Curry said. a 67-66 lead into halftime This is a new beginning of
while capitalizing on War- He returned with 7:43 left sorts for the Warriors, who
“I never worry about my Curry wound up 16 of 25 riors’ turnovers. in the second, made another lost in the play-in game to
shot. Ever,” he said. from the floor and 8 for 13 jumper and finally missed a Memphis, given they finally
from deep with 10 rebounds. “Steph is going to have those 3-point try at the 4:55 mark. have fans back at the start of
The reigning NBA scoring quarters when he goes off, a season. The sellout crowd
champion even secured a key On Tuesday, the two-time but you’ve got to stay the “This is going to be a great, marked the first regular-
rebound with 36 seconds left MVP shot just 5 for 21 — course and I thought our great season back in Chase season game at full capacity
before calmly converting a making 2 of 8 3s — on the team did that tonight,” Clip- Center,” Curry told the since March 2020.
pair of free throws with less way to 21 points in a road win pers coach Tyronn Lue said. crowd before tipoff, adding,
than 5 seconds left, scoring against the Lakers on Tuesday “Can’t wait to welcome Klay “Two years ago was such a
eight points over the final night in a performance that The 33-year-old Curry, who Thompson back.” bizarre season with all the
1:54. he called “trash.” earlier in the day was named injuries and the brand-new
one of the top 75 NBA play- Draymond Green exited in venue. It did seem strange,”
Fans cheered Curry well af- Curry corrected himself ers of all time, dazzled in the the third and headed to the Kerr said. “Last year the
ter the game ended until he Thursday: “I should have just first home game of his 13th locker room with a right whole world was strange. It
finally disappeared down the said I shot the ball like trash NBA season after taking the wrist injury having missed six does feel like a fresh start.”
tunnel. and still found a way to try to mic before tipoff and thank- of seven free throws but later

As NFL trade deadline looms, Dolphins say Tua is ‘our QB’

(AP) — The story line has Flores said. table that the buzz suggest- ported Wednesday, citing “I think his preparation, the
not changed over the last ing that the Dolphins may be unnamed sources, that the way he practices and the way
couple of months, nor did That’s not in dispute — for looking to acquire embattled Texans and Dolphins “have he performs has been good,”
Miami coach Brian Flores’ now, at least. Houston Texans quarterback intensified their efforts to Flores said. “I thought he
answer on Friday from Deshaun Watson — who has consummate” a deal for Wat- played very well last week.
when he was first asked The NFL trade deadline is been accused of sexual assault son, who has been seeking a He was out for a couple of
about the future of quar- about a week and a half away. and harassment in lawsuits trade since at least January. games, for a few games, and
terback Tua Tagovailoa And the calendar getting clos- filed by 22 women, but not The lawsuits prompted in- he came back and played, I
months ago. er to Nov. 2 combined with charged — would get louder. vestigations from the NFL thought, very well last week.
Miami on a five-game losing and, according to an attorney I think his psyche is in a good
“Tua’s our quarterback,” streak means it was inevi- The Houston Chronicle re- representing the women su- place. He’s a confident kid.
ing Watson, the FBI, among He’s a tough kid.”
others.
Watson, who signed a $156
“We’re happy with the quar- million, four-year extension
terback, our quarterback situ- that is scheduled to begin
ation, and I’ll leave it at that,” next season, averaged 301.4
Flores said. “Which is what yards per game last season
I’ve said multiple times.” with a 112.4 rating and led
the NFL with 4,823 yards
Tagovailoa — who missed passing. He has not played
nearly four full games this this season following the
season with fractured ribs, trade demand and the unre-
a problem he’s still playing solved legal issues.
through — is 7-5 as a starter
in parts of two seasons in Mi- Flores said the ongoing trade
ami, completing 64% of his chatter, on top of a five-game
passes with 14 touchdowns slide, isn’t affecting the Dol-
and seven interceptions. phins at practice or meetings.
Among all quarterbacks since The Dolphins (1-5) host At-
the start of last season, with lanta (2-3) on Sunday.
at least five starts, Tagovailoa
ranks 31st in passer rating “Our focus is on Atlanta,”
(87.0) and 39th in yards per Flores said. “And that’s really
game (181.4). where our focus should be.”