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Thursday 19 OcTOber 2017
Rockets rally to spoil defending champion Warriors return

By JANIE McCAULEY look. His six 3-pointers set a 5-week-old daughter, Nut-
AP Sports Writer franchise record for any- sa joined her mom and
OAKLAND, California (AP) one in their Warriors debut three older siblings, two
— Kevin Durant’s baseline and also in a season open- brothers and a sister.
jumper swished through er. “I’ve heard some actors,
the net just barely too late, Durant had one spectacu- actresses, when they get
and the Houston Rockets lar sequence in the third some kind of award, say
rallied in the fourth to beat when he blocked Ander- without the family.
Golden State 122-121 Tues- son’s shot on one end then I always think, ‘What exact-
day on the night the War- converted a three-point ly my family is doing?’ I feel
riors received their champi- play moments later on the it now, all the support and
onship rings. other, slapping hands with help.”
The Warriors had one last a lucky boy fan on the Kerr took part in the 2015
chance with 10.6 seconds baseline. ring ceremony, but didn’t
left and Durant came up Houston acquired Paul from coach as he was sidelined
with the ball after Stephen the Clippers to give them a the initial 43 games follow-
Curry had missed. 1-2 backcourt punch to try ing complications from
Durant and the Warriors to gain ground on Golden back surgery.
thought they’d won and State in the Western Con- BEAT-UP DUBS
confetti began to fall when ference. Key backup and 2015 Fi-
the two remaining officials RING CEREMONY nals MVP Andre Iguodala
— the third got hurt in the Coach Steve Kerr planned missed the game with a
fourth quarter — reviewed to pay extra attention as back strain, while Omri
the play and said Durant’s veterans Durant, Zaza Pa- Casspi — who had been
shot was after the buzzer. chulia and David West questionable with a mild
Trevor Ariza’s 3-pointer each received a champi- right ankle sprain — ap-
with 2:09 remaining pulled Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant, right, drives the ball against onship ring for the first time peared in his 500th career
Houston within 119-118 Houston Rockets’ James Harden during the second half of an in their careers. game making his debut
then Patrick McCaw hit a NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. “Basketball accomplish- with the Warriors.
baseline jumper immedi- The Rockets won 122-121. ments to me now are just He then tweaked the ankle
ately after Golden State’s Associated Press what they are,” Durant said again.
timeout. James Harden and Eric Gordon 24 for the debut a year ago when after morning shootaround. Draymond Green exited
made a layup and PJ Tuck- Rockets. Houston opened Golden State came off a “I can kind of separate in the second half with a
er hit two free throws with the fourth with a 9-0 run to record 73-win season and the two now. I feel like it’s strained left knee.
44.1 to make it 122-121. get back in it. runner-up finish to Cleve- more so just cool as hell Iguodala is expected to re-
Nick Young came off the The Warriors found their land in the 2016 Finals. more than anything. It’s like turn for the upcoming road
bench to hit six 3-point- rhythm early but couldn’t “I just remember the last getting a prize possession trip.
ers and score 23 points in close it out after an abbre- game of the season we that you’re just really ex- INJURED OFFICIAL
a brilliant Warriors debut, viated preseason in terms played,” Durant said of the cited about versus getting Official Tre Maddox, ac-
Curry scored 22 points and of practice time given their Game 5 Finals clincher in something that’s going to companied by medical
Durant had 20 after a slow recent trip to China for a June. change your life. ... personnel, left midway
start. Klay Thompson add- pair of games against Min- Young found his stroke right I’ll be more so just really through the fourth quarter
ed 16 points. nesota. away, hitting his first four giddy and happy more so after a collision with David
Chris Paul had four points Still, this opener was a far 3s and five shots overall. than emotional. West and hard hit to the
on 2-for-9 shooting in cry for the forgettable 129- It’s exactly what the War- I won’t be a mess.” chest area.
his Rockets debut, while 100 defeat at home to San riors want him to do: shoot Pachulia had a new one That left two officials the
Harden scored 27 points Antonio in Durant’s Warriors every time he has a good to share his title with — rest of the way.q
Bulls suspend Portis 8

games for injuring Mirotic

CHICAGO (AP) — sides while calling the inci-
The Chicago Bulls suspend- dent “inexcusable.”He also
ed forward Bobby Portis called Portis “a good kid”
for the first eight games of who “made a mistake.”It
the season Wednesday for certainly was not what the
injuring teammate Nikola rebuilding Bulls wanted
Mirotic during a fight at heading into the season
practice. opener at Toronto on Thurs-
Mirotic suffered broken day night.
bones in his face as well as The incident takes two
a concussion on Tuesday more players out of their
and will likely need surgery. rotation, with newcomer
Vice president of basket- Zach LaVine also missing
ball operations John Pax- the start of the season as
son said Mirotic is expected he works his way back from
to miss four to six weeks, and a torn ACL he suffered
that he needs to clear the with Minnesota.A 2015 first-
concussion protocol be- round pick out of Arkansas, At left, in a Jan. 2, 2017, file photo, Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic brings the ball up court
fore the facial injuries can Portis has averaged 6.9 against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago. At
be resolved.Paxson ac- points and five rebounds. right, in an Oct. 4, 2017, file photo, Chicago Bulls’ Bobby Portis (5) handles the ball during a pre-
knowledged fault on both q season NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, in Dallas.