Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Thursday 30 March 2017
Curry scores 32 as Warriors hang on for win over Rockets

The Associated Press games.
HOUSTON (AP) — Stephen WIZARDS 118, LAKERS 108
Curry scored 32 points, Klay LOS ANGELES (AP) — John
Thompson had 25 and the Wall scored 34 points and
Golden State Warriors built Washington rallied in the
a big lead early and held fourth quarter to beat Los
on for a 113-106 win over Angeles, clinching the
the Houston Rockets on Southeast Division title for
Tuesday night. its first division crown in 38
The Warriors scored 37 years.Wall shot 14 of 25 and
points in the first quarter Bradley Beal was held to
and never trailed on the 16 points on 7-of-16 shoot-
way to their eighth straight ing, but the Wizards ended
victory and 60th this sea- the longest division-title
son. drought in NBA history with
Golden State led by eight their fourth straight victory.
after a pair of free throws “I didn’t know that,” coach
by Curry with just over three Scott Brooks said before the
minutes left. Patrick Bever- game. “Now we’re fighting
ley countered with a tip- for playoff positioning.”
in layup for Houston, then When the franchise last
was fouled when he was claimed a division title in
knocked to the ground 1978-79, it was known as
on a screen by Draymond the Bullets of the Atlantic
Green seconds later. Division and played in sub-
James Harden missed a urban Landover, Maryland.
layup on the next posses- The team had won its lone
sion before Green added NBA championship the
a shot on the other end to previous season and went
put the Warriors up 107-99. on to lose the 1979 Finals to
Another layup miss by the Seattle SuperSonics. Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) dishes the ball between Houston Rockets’ Clint Capela,
Harden followed, and D’Angelo Russell led Los Trevor Ariza (1) and James Harden (13) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston,
Tuesday, March 28, 2017.
Curry made a 3-pointer Angeles with 28 points and Associated Press
with 1:46 left to send fans Jordan Clarkson added 22
streaming to the exits. points. en-game losing streak and season-high six-game los- games.
HEAT 97, PISTONS 96 TRAIL BLAZERS 122, NUG- boosting its playoff hopes. ing streak by taking its only Snell finished 10 of 14 from
AUBURN HILLS, Michigan GETS 113 The Suns lost their ninth in a lead of the quarter. Ru- the field and had four
(AP) — Hassan Whiteside PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — row in a matchup of teams bio had 21 points and 10 3-pointers.
tipped in a shot with his left Jusuf Nurkic had a career- with the two longest active assists, and Karl-Anthony Charlotte (33-41) entered
hand as time expired to lift high 33 points with 16 re- losing streaks in the NBA. Towns had 37 points and 12 in 11th place in the Eastern
Miami over Detroit. bounds against his former Playing again without All- rebounds. Conference but only two
Whiteside, playing with a team, CJ McCollum had 39 Star forward Paul Millsap Rubio was fouled by Jeff games behind the Miami
thick bandage on his right points and Portland beat and two other key play- Teague, though it ap- Heat and in dire need of a
hand to protect 13 stitches Denver to take hold of the ers, the Hawks raced to peared Rubio ran into his win with only nine games
he got a week ago, tipped eighth seed in the Western an 18-point lead in the own teammate on the remaining.
in Goran Dragic’s miss after Conference. first quarter. But Atlanta play. Indiana fans booed 76ERS 106, NETS 101
a wild final play over the Portland leads Denver by a sleepwalked through the the officials as they left the NEW YORK (AP) — Dario
game’s final 11.3 seconds. game for the final playoff next two periods and went court. Saric scored 23 points, Rob-
James Johnson took the spot in the Western Con- nearly 4 1/2 minutes in the Indiana’s Monta Ellis got off ert Covington had 21 points
initial shot for Miami, Dragic ference. The Blazers also fourth without scoring. a last-second 3-point shot, and 13 rebounds and un-
muscled the rebound off clinched the season-series The Suns, without Devin but he was off the mark. dermanned Philadelphia
the rim and Whiteside el- tiebreaker with the Nug- Booker, took advantage of Paul George scored 37 beat Brooklyn.
evated over Andre Drum- gets, giving them an upper the Hawks’ shooting woes, points to lead the Pacers, Rookie guard Timothe Lu-
mond for the winning tip. hand with eight games to finally taking their first lead whose playoff chances wawu-Cabarrot had 17
The win was huge for Mi- play. on Alan Williams’ lay-in took another hit. Teague points and nine boards for
ami (36-38), which moved Jameer Nelson led Denver with 10:37 remaining and had 20 points and 10 assists. the 76ers, who dressed only
one game ahead of No. 9 with 23 points. stretching the margin to 78- BUCKS 118, HORNETS 108 nine players.
Chicago and 2 1/2 games The Blazers got Nurkic in- 71. CHARLOTTE, North Carolina Philadelphia was without
ahead of No. 10 Detroit for volved early against his But Schroder swished back- (AP) — Tony Snell scored center Jahlil Okafor, who
the final playoff spot in the former team. On Portland’s to-back shots beyond the a season-high 26 points, missed his third straight
Eastern Conference. first possession, Nurkic arc, and the Hawks pulled Giannis Antetokounmpo game due to right knee
Dragic scored 28 points scored on a post-up play away from there. He fin- had 20 points and eight soreness, and veteran
and Whiteside finished against Nikola Jokic, who ished with 27 points. rebounds and Milwaukee guard Gerald Henderson,
with 17 points and nine re- took Nurkic’s starting spot TIMBERWOLVES 115, PAC- handed Charlotte’s playoff who did not play because
bounds for the Heat. in Denver. ERS 114 hopes a potentially devas- of soreness in his left hip.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope HAWKS 95, SUNS 91 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ricky tating blow. Brook Lopez led the Nets
had 25 points and Tobias ATLANTA (AP) — Den- Rubio made three free Malcolm Brogdon had 14 with 26 points, nine re-
Harris and Ish Smith each nis Schroder hit consecu- throws with 3.4 seconds left points and 10 assists for his bounds and six assists. Jer-
scored 19 for the Pistons tive 3-pointers to spark a to give Minnesota a victory second double-double of emy Lin and Rondae Hollis-
(34-41). Detroit lost its fifth 17-1 run for a victory that over Indiana. the season, and the Bucks Jefferson each chipped in
straight and eighth in nine snapped Atlanta’s a sev- Minnesota snapped a won for the 12th time in 15 11 points.q