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SPORTS Saturday 31 december 2016

LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE OCCIDIENTAL HOTEL ON PALM BEACH

NBA Capsules

Irving’s 32 lead Cavs to 124-118 win over Celtics

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kyrie Ir- after missing 13 games with
ving scored 32 points and a sprained toe, and Utah
made two critical layups blitzed Philadelphia in the
before leaving with a leg in- fourth quarter.
jury and Kevin Love scored Gordon Hayward and Rod-
30, helping the Cleveland ney Hood each added 20
Cavaliers hold off a late points for the Jazz (20-13),
rally for a 124-118 victory who outscored Philadel-
over the Boston Celtics on phia 30-9 in the final period.
Thursday night. They shot 58 percent from
The Cavs led by 20 points in 3-point range overall to win
the third and 17 early in the their second consecutive
fourth but couldn’t close game after dropping three
out the Celtics, who pulled in a row.
within one point three times Ersan Ilyasova scored 16
in the final two minutes. points and Nerlens Noel
Irving, though, came up and Dario Saric both
with his big baskets and the added 14, but the ane-
Cavs had to fend off Boston mic fourth-quarter perfor-
over the final 53 seconds as mance contributed to the
their star guard grabbed his
right hamstring and went to 76ers’ fourth straight loss.
the bench. His injury did not Philadelphia, playing with-
appear to be serious. out leading scorer and re-
LeBron James had 23 points bounder Joel Embiid, sur-
and 11 assists for the Cavs, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving, left, drives to the basket against Boston Celtics’ Al Horford, from prisingly led for most of the
the Dominican Republic, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016,
who won for the 11th time in Cleveland. game before the fourth-
in 13 games. The only two Associated Press quarter collapse. The 76ers
losses during that stretch shot 4 for 23 in the final 12
came at Memphis and De- fourth quarter. since Nov. 20 and 21. Both lotte over Miami. minutes.
troit — games James sat Zach Randolph added 21 teams played the second The Hornets outscored the MAVERICKS 101, LAKERS 89
out. points for the Grizzlies. He of back-to-back games, Heat 31-17 in the quarter LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wes-
Isaiah Thomas scored 31 and Gasol both grabbed with the first being on the to take command, with ley Matthews scored 20
and Avery Bradley had 23 eight rebounds. road. Batum contributing nine points to lead Dallas to its
but both players were on Memphis reserve Troy Dan- The Raptors trailed for most points, five rebounds and 12th consecutive victory
the bench when the Celt- iels shot 6 of 8 from 3-point of the second half and cut four assists in the period. over Los Angeles.
ics kept chipping away in range in the fourth quar- a 14-point deficit to 90- Kemba Walker led Char- The Mavericks outscored
the fourth. ter and scored all 22 of his 85 on a layup by DeMar lotte with 22 points. The the Lakers 31-13 in the third
GRIZZLIES 114, THUNDER 80 points in the final period. DeRozan with 3:25 to play Hornets improved to 19-14, quarter to take command.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Enes Kanter had 19 for the in the fourth quarter. But and have won five of their Harrison Barnes had 17
Marc Gasol scored 25 Thunder, and Alex Abrines the Suns hung on, winning last six games. points and nine rebounds,
points and Memphis took scored 10 as Oklahoma for just the second time in Josh Richardson led Miami and Dwight Powell and
advantage of Russell West- City set a season low for eight games. They have with 20 points on 8-for-14 Devin Harris each scored
brook’s ejection, dominat- points. Westbrook had five won back-to-back home shooting. The Heat fell to 14 points off the bench for
ing Oklahoma City. rebounds and no assists. games for the second time 10-23. Dallas.
Westbrook, the NBA’s lead- SUNS 99, RAPTORS 91 this season. The Hornets’ third-quarter Julius Randle scored 18
ing scorer at 31.7 points per PHOENIX (AP) — Eric Bled- DeRozan and Kyle Lowry dominance has become points and Nick Young had
game, scored 21 before he soe scored 22 points and scored 24 points apiece for habit. One night earlier, 17 for the Lakers, who had
was tossed midway through Devin Booker had nine of the Raptors. they outscored the Orlan- as many turnovers (15) as
the third quarter when he his 19 in the fourth quarter, HORNETS 91, HEAT 82 do Magic 35-13 in the peri- assists.
was whistled for two quick helping Phoenix beat To- CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) od to grab a lead they held The Mavs trailed 65-60 early
technicals. At that point, ronto. — Nicolas Batum had 16 onto until the end. in the second half when
Memphis already held The Raptors, in second points, 13 rebounds and JAZZ 100, 76ERS 83 they went on a 21-5 run to
a double-digit lead that place in the Eastern Con- eight assists, providing a SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — close the third quarter and
reached 37 points in the ference, lost consecutive spark during a big third George Hill had 21 points
games for the first time quarter that carried Char- in his return to the lineup take control.q