Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Tuesday 10 april 2018
Redick has 18 points, 76ers

beat Mavs for 14th straight win

By The Associated Press 20 points for the Mavericks, PHOENIX (AP) — Klay
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — J.J. who have lost three straight Thompson scored 22 of his
Redick scored 18 points, and six of seven. 34 points in the first quar-
and the surging Philadel- JAZZ 112, LAKERS 97 ter and Golden State beat
phia 76ers matched a fran- LOS ANGELES (AP) — Don- Phoenix for the 15th con-
chise record with their 14th ovan Mitchell scored 28 secutive time.
consecutive victory, 109-97 points and the Utah Jazz Kevin Durant added 17
over the Dallas Mavericks clinched a playoff berth points and nine assists for
on Sunday. Ben Simmons with a 112-97 victory over the Warriors, whose win-
added 16 points, nine as- the Los Angeles Lakers on ning streak against Phoenix
sists and seven rebounds, Sunday. is a franchise record for a
and Robert Covington had Utah is the fourth team in single opponent.
15 points and 10 rebounds. the crowded Western Con- With the loss, and Mem-
Two years after going 10-72, ference to lock up a post- phis' win over Detroit, Phoe-
the Sixers (50-30) clinched season spot, with five clubs nix — at 20-61 — is assured
home-court advantage in still in the running for the the worst record in the NBA
the first round of the play- other four positions before and, consequently, the
offs and secured their first the regular season ends most ping pong balls in the
50-win season since Allen Wednesday. May 15 draft lottery.
Iverson's 2000-01 team, Mitchell also had nine re- Danuel House scored a ca-
which lost in the NBA Finals. bounds and eight assists, reer-high 22 for Phoenix.
The only other time the Six- and Joe Ingles had 22 RAPTORS 112, MAGIC 101
ers won 14 straight in a sin- points on 9-of-12 shooting TORONTO (AP) — C.J.
gle season, Dr. J and Moses along with 10 assists. Jae Miles scored 22 points, OG
Malone delivered Philadel- Crowder added 18. Anunoby had a career- Philadelphia 76ers' JJ Redick, right, shoots the three-point bas-
phia its last NBA title in 1983. Josh Hart had 25 points for high 21 for Toronto. Serge ket as Dallas Mavericks' Dwight Powell, left, defends during the
Harrison Barnes scored 21 Los Angeles. The Clippers Ibaka scored 13 points, second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 8, 2018,
points on 9-of-25 shooting, have lost six of eight. and Jakob Poeltl and De- in Philadelphia.
and Dennis Smith Jr. added WARRIORS 117, SUNS 100 lon Wright each had 12. q Associated Press

Michael Jordan hires Mitch Kupchak as new Hornets GM

By STEVE REED player and an executive, til being fired in 2017.
AP Sports Writer we have confidence that The Lakers won four NBA ti-
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Mitch is the right person to tles and six Western Confer-
Hornets owner Michael lead our basketball opera- ence Championships dur-
Jordan has turned to a fel- tions, build a winning cul- ing that 17-year run, posting
low former North Carolina ture and bring sustained a 747-607 (.552) regular-
Tar Heel with a strong NBA success to our organiza- season record and winning
track record to help turn tion, for our fans and for the 63 percent (111-66) of their
around his struggling fran- city of Charlotte." postseason contests. Dur-
chise. The 63-year-old Kupchak ing that span Kupchak was
Charlotte hired Mitch Kup- replaces Rich Cho, who responsible for the day-to-
chak as president of bas- was fired earlier this sea- day management of the
ketball operations and son. Charlotte has failed to team, including personnel
general manager Sunday, make the playoffs in three decisions, contract nego-
giving him full control of of its last four seasons. tiations, salary cap strategy
day-to-day operations. One of Kupchak's first deci- and scouting collegiate
Jordan called Kupchak a sions will be whether or not April 15, 2016, file photo Los Angeles Lakers general manager and international players.
"proven winner" in a state- to bring back coach Steve Mitch Kupchak speaks to reporters at team headquarters in El Kupchak played at North
ment. Clifford, whose contract Segundo, Calif. Carolina and was the 13th
As a player and execu- expires after the 2019 sea- Associated Press overall pick in the first round
tive, Kupchak has been a son. of the 1976 NBA draft.
part of 10 NBA champion- Kupchak brings more than Carolina?, and I am confi- than Walker. He played nine NBA sea-
ship teams. He won three 30 years of NBA front office dent that we can build the But Jordan thinks Kupchak sons in Washington and
as a player — one with the experience to Charlotte, Hornets into a successful is the man who can turn Los Angeles and averaged
Washington Wizards and including 17 seasons as a team that our great fans things around. 10.2 points and 5.4 re-
two with in Los Angeles Lak- general manager with the can be proud of." Kupchak began working bounds in 510 games.
ers — and seven as a Lak- Lakers. Kupchak inherits a ros- in the Lakers' front office in At North Carolina, Kupchak
ers executive. "I'm excited to join the Hor- ter that includes two-time 1986 under Hall of Famers was named 1975-76 ACC
"In every role and in every nets organization and I All-Star point guard Kem- Jerry West and Bill Sharman, Player of the Year as a se-
stop during his tenure in the want to thank Michael for ba Walker, aging center who was the first person to nior. He is one of 49 UNC
NBA, Mitch Kupchak has this opportunity," said Kup- Dwight Howard and Nic win a championship as a standouts to have his jer-
brought the highest levels chak. "I am well aware of Batum, but not much else player, coach and execu- sey (No. 21) honored and
of success to his teams," the passion for basketball to build around for the fu- tive. Kupchak took over as raised to the rafters of the
Jordan said. "... Having won in Charlotte and through- ture and with few assets general manager in 2000, Dean Smith Center in Cha-
championships as both a out the entire state of North available to trade other serving in that capacity un- pel Hill, North Carolina.q