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SPORTS Thursday 4 May 2017

Thomas scores 53, Celtics

beat Wizards 129-119 in OT

JIMMY GOLEN scored 55 in 2003, and just
AP Sports Writer one shy of John Havlicek’s
BOSTON (AP) — It was his franchise postseason re-
sister’s birthday. She would cord of 54.
have been 23. “It’s nice to be in Celtics his-
Isaiah Thomas spent four tory with all the great play-
or five hours in the dentist’s ers,” Thomas said.
chair having work done on “But until you win a cham-
the tooth that was knocked pionship, you can’t consid-
out in Game 1, a day after er yourself a great player.
he was in oral surgery for six That’s what it’s all about.”
hours having it repositioned John Wall scored 40 points
in his mouth. His mouth with 13 assists for Washing-
was swollen, and he could ton, which will host Games
barely talk. Still, he never 3 and 4 on Thursday and
considered not playing Sunday.
Tuesday night. “Two teams played their
“The least I can do is go hearts out. Two great play-
out there and play for her,” ers played well,” Wizards
Thomas said after scoring coach Scott Brooks said. “
53 points — the second- Asked if he had ever been
highest total in Celtics play- in a one-on-one scoring
off history — to lead Boston battle like that against an-
to a 129-119 overtime vic- other point guard, Wall
tory over the Washington shook his head: “Nah,” he
Wizards. said. “Nope.
“I knew once game-time Nope. Nope.”
came, my guys would get Thomas attended his sister’s
me going, get me the en- funeral on Saturday and re-
ergy to go out and win a turned to Boston early Sun-
game,” Thomas said, duck- day morning — just hours Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards center
Marcin Gortat, left, during the first quarter of a second-round NBA playoff series basketball game
ing his face into his hands before the Celtics won in Boston, Tuesday, May 2, 2017.
as he mentioned his sister, 123-111 and the diminutive
Chyna, who died in a car point guard lost a tooth.
crash on the eve of the Team doctors jammed it 50. Pretty impressive.” of work and top-seeded game playoff swat total to
playoffs. “There was no back in, but Thomas spent Al Horford scored 15 points Golden State warmed up 19.
way I was sitting out.” large parts of the next two with 12 rebounds for Bos- in a hurry after a week- Kevin Durant added 17
Fiddling with his new mouth days in oral surgery. ton, and Avery Bradley and long layoff between play- points on an uncharacter-
guard throughout the “What else is there to say?” Jae Crowder scored 14 off games, beating Utah in istically cold shooting night
game, Thomas scored 20 Celtics coach Brad Stevens apiece. Marcin Gortat had the opener of the Western at 7 for 17 and had five
points in the fourth quar- asked. 14 points and 10 rebounds Conference semifinals. rebounds and five assists.
ter and nine in overtime to “There was a point today and Markieff Morris scored Draymond Green scored He missed the middle two
help the Celtics take a 2-0 where he was not feeling 16 for the Wizards, but both Golden State’s first six games against Portland
lead in the best-of-seven good at all. He’s had a fouled out in overtime. points of the fourth quar- because of a strained left
Eastern Conference semi- tough day and I thought WARRIORS 106, JAZZ 94 ter and wound up with 17 calf then returned for 20
finals. The 53 points were he was going to really have OAKLAND, California (AP) points, eight rebounds, six minutes in Game 4. Zaza
the most in an NBA playoff to gut this one out. Not only — Stephen Curry scored assists and two more blocks Pachulia scored 10 points
game since Allen Iverson guts it out, he ends up with 22 points in three quarters to bring his remarkable five- in 14 minutes.q

U.S. men’s basketball will start road to gold with D-Leaguers

BRIAN MAHONEY would return for that tour- Tooley said in a statement. reigning Olympic and athlete representative to
AP Basketball Writer nament and the following Under a new competition World Cup champions, will be announced.
The U.S. men’s basket- summer for the Olympics, schedule introduced this lean on players from the Nations will be drawn into
ball team will let minor assuming the U.S. makes year by FIBA, the World NBA D-League, which will four-team groups and play
leaguers take the first steps it to Tokyo. But a team of Cup will serve as the quali- be renamed the NBA Ga- home-and-away games
on the road to gold. lesser-known players will fying tournament for the torade League beginning within their zone.
The Americans an- have to get the Americans 2020 Olympics. next season. USA Basket- The first-round competition
nounced a six-member most of the way there. Teams must navigate a ball men’s national team window dates are Nov. 20-
selection committee Tues- “This will be an excellent new qualifying format to director Sean Ford will chair 28, Feb. 19-27 and June 25-
day that will choose play- opportunity for NBA D- reach the 32-team World the committee, which will July 3, 2018.
ers, mostly from the NBA League players to show- Cup in China, include NBA D-League ex- The second-round dates
Development League, to case their talent and ex- but because some of the ecutives Trajan Langdon, are set for Aug. 30-Sept. 8,
play in games to qualify for perience meaningful and qualifiers will be played Adam Simon and Tony 2018; Nov. 26-Dec. 4, 2018;
the 2019 Basketball World important international during the NBA season, Bollier; Houston Rockets and Feb. 18-26, 2019.
Cup. competition while repre- NBA players will not be executive vice president The Americans would likely
Coach Gregg Popovich senting the United States,” available. of basketball operations stage their home games in
and a team of NBA stars USA Basketball CEO Jim So the Americans, the Gersson Rosas; and one NBA D-League arenas.q