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Diabierna 4 September 2020

Rockets edge Thunder to win wild Game 7, move on to Lakers

By BRIAN MAHONEY took Game 3 in overtime by
AP Basketball Writer outscoring Houston 15-3,
LAKE BUENA VISTA, the largest overtime point
Fla. (AP) — James Harden differential in NBA history,
couldn’t get his shot to fall and pulled out Game 4 by
all night, so the scorer turned three points and Game 6 by
stopper. four.
In this wild Game 7 that The Rockets had no chance
took one strange turn after of winning this one in a rout
another in the final seconds, thanks largely to Harden’s
the biggest play came when struggles. He missed 10 of
a guy known almost entirely his 12 shots through three
for his offense turned up the quarters but they were ahead
defense. 85-80 behind a strong perfor-
Harden made up for a mis- mance from Westbrook, who
erable shooting night with missed the first four games
a big blocked shot, Russell of the series with a strained
Westbrook scored 20 points right quadriceps.
against his former team and Covington then hit a couple
the Houston Rockets edged key 3-pointers in the fourth
the Oklahoma City Thunder and Harden made two of his
104-102 on Wednesday night three shots in the period, in-
to win the first-round series. cluding a basket that snapped
“It was one of those nights a 99-all tie.
offensively so I just wanted The Thunder closed the first
to change the game defen- quarter with a 10-2 spurt to
sively and I think I did that,” take a 30-29 lead.
Harden said. Then it was Dort with a
The Rockets pulled out a Oklahoma City Thunder's Luguentz Dort (5) has his 3-point attempt blocked by Houston Rockets' 12-point second quarter,
tense final game of the first James Harden (13) as referee Pat Fraher, left rear, looks on during the second half of an NBA first- hitting three 3-pointers to
round that lasted long past round playoff basketball game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. continue a remarkable turn-
the final basket as replays and Associated Press around from Game 5, when
fouls were sorted out. game that was tight through- free throw and the Thunder had 19 points, 12 assists and his 3-for-16 night included
“I’ve been around a long time out had Houston take the turned it over on the last in- 11 rebounds. going 0 for 9 behind the arc.
and just at the end it was a lead for good at 103-102 bounds pass. “It’s a tough one. It’s tough,” He bounced back with 13
little crazy,” Houston coach when P.J. Tucker scored with Westbrook helped defend Paul said. “We fought hard all points in Game 6.
Mike D’Antoni said. 1:25 remaining. After chang- that, perhaps remembering year. Honestly, a lot of people “It was one of the most im-
In the end, Houston pre- es of possession, the Thun- some of his old coach’s plays. doubted us, but we didn’t pressive things I’ve seen
vailed to set up a second- der got the ball to Lu Dort, “I kind of know a little bit,” doubt ourselves. We didn’t out of a player that young,”
round matchup with the Los who attempted a 3-pointer Westbrook said. give a damn about anybody’s Thunder coach Billy Dono-
Angeles Lakers that begins that Harden blocked with 4.8 Covington had 21 points and predictions going into any se- van said.
Friday despite Harden, the seconds left. 10 rebounds, and Eric Gor- ries.” One of his 3s gave the Thun-
NBA’s leading scorer, going 4 Robert Covington made don also scored 21 points for It was a wild conclusion to der a six-point lead, but
for 15 from the field. a free throw with 1.4 sec- the Rockets. Harden finished a strange series in which the Houston closed strong to
“These are the games, you onds to go and Harden was with 17 points and nine as- Rockets won Games 1 and 2 lead 61-59 at the break.
want to win a championship whistled for fouling Danilo sists. handily and Game 5 by 34, Houston got the final five
or win playoff games, you’ve Gallinari before the ball was Dort scored a career-best the biggest margin in fran- points of the third on a basket
got to do it with your heart,” inbounded, giving the Thun- 30 points for the Thunder. chise postseason history, but by Westbrook and a 3-pointer
D’Antoni added. der one free throw and the Chris Paul, swapped for hadn’t come through in the by Jeff Green, another former
The frantic final seconds of a ball. But Gallinari missed the Westbrook over the summer, close ones. Oklahoma City Oklahoma City player.q

Balancing motherhood and tennis,

Pironkova scores Open upset

NEW YORK (AP) — Ts- “It takes a lot of work but, because of her layoff, but she
vetana Pironkova smacked you know, everything takes was a 2010 Wimbledon semi-
an ace on match point, part work.” finalist, and is playing in the
of the balancing act she made A 32-year-old Bulgarian, U.S. Open for the 12th time.
look easy from start to finish Pironkova gave birth to Al- The win over Muguruza was
Thursday. exander in April 2018. She Pironkova’s 22nd against a
The shot punctuated a 7-5, is playing in her 12th Open top-20 player.
6-3 upset win over No. but her first since 2016, and “It’s not something super
10-seeded Garbiñe Muguru- it’s her first tournament since new,” Pironkova said. “I was
za in the second round of the Wimbledon in 2017. moving well and hitting the
U.S. Open, Pironkova’s first “It’s just great to be play- ball well. Why not win?”
tournament after a three-year ing without that extra pres- Reigning Australian Open
break to give birth to her son, sure I had on myself before,” champion Sofia Kenin ad-
Alexander. Pironkova said. “Before it vanced to the third round
“If you make a good sched- was almost like a life and by beating unseeded Leylah
ule and have the right mo- death situation for me to win Fernandez 6-4, 6-3. Amanda
Sofia Kenin, of the United States, serves to Leylah Fernandez, tivation, you can combine a match. Right now it’s not Anisimova won a matchup of
of Canada, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis the two things, motherhood really like that. It’s enjoy- American teenagers, rallying
championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in New York. and being a professional ten- ment to be on the court.” past wild card Katrina Scott
Associated Press nis player,” Pironkova said. Pironkova has no ranking 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.q