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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 9 March 2019

Westbrook, Thunder top

Lillard, Trail Blazers in OT

der a four-game series who was knocked to the MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis
sweep of the Blazers this floor as Terrance Ferguson Antetokounmpo scored 29
season. made a layup that put the points and Khris Middleton
Damian Lillard had 51 points Thunder up 113-111. Port- added 27 to help the Bucks
for the Blazers, while Ju- land players protested, but bounce back from their first
suf Nurkic added 13 points no call was made. consecutive losses of the
and 17 rebounds before he Words were then ex- season.
was sent off with his second changed between Nurkic Milwaukee, which im-
technical with under a min- and George under Port- proved to an NBA-best 49-
ute to go in regulation. land’s basket. After a re- 16, was coming off back-
The teams had gone into view both received offset- to-back losses to Utah and
the game knotted for third ting technicals, and a foul Phoenix after opening a
in the Western Conference was called on the Thunder. five-game road trip with
— along with the Houston Because Nurkic already three victories.
Rockets — with identical had a technical, he was The Bucks gained con-
39-25 records. ejected and the Thunder trol with a 12-0 spurt early
Westbrook’s 3-pointer in chose Blazers reserve Skal in the fourth quarter. Kyle
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, right, and overtime put the Thunder Labissiere to make the free O’Quinn opened the final
forward Paul George high-five at the end of overtime of an NBA up 118-117 and he made throws. He missed both, but period with a floater from
basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, a pair of free throws to ex- a loose-ball foul was called the lane to bring the Pac-
Ore., Thursday, March 7, 2019. The Thunder won 129-121. tend the lead. After George on the Thunder and Al- ers within 10 at 84-74. Ersan
Associated Press made the second of a pair Farouq Aminu made both Ilyasova hit a 3-pointer to
By The Associated Press un- bounds for the Oklahoma of free throws, Westbrook’s shots to tie it at 113 with 2.9 trigger the run, capped by
defined City Thunder in a chippy layup gave Oklahoma City seconds left. Antetokounmpo’s drive to
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — 129-121 overtime win over a 123-117 lead.Regula- After a turnover by the make it 96-74 with 8:21 left.
Russell Westbrook had 37 the Portland Trail Blazers on tion ended with a wild final Thunder, the game went to Myles Turner had 22 points
points and Paul George Thursday night. minute when George ap- overtime. and Bojan Bogdanovic 17
added 32 points and 14 re- The victory gave the Thun- peared to elbow Nurkic, BUCKS 117, PACERS 98 for the Pacers.q

More horsepower, downforce greet Cup Series at Phoenix

By DAVE SKRETTA and brake points. But it was
AP Sports Writer fun.”
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The increased horsepow-
Joey Logano was fresh er also will be featured at
off the hauler in qualifying road courses and other
trim at ISM Raceway when short tracks, and Daniel
he turned a lap in his No. Hemric said it makes things
22 Ford that would have “so much more demand-
landed him squarely on the ing on the drivers.” That’s a
pole a year ago. welcome change for those
With plenty of room to who would rather have an
spare. opportunity to showcase
The first showcase of NAS- their talent.
CAR’s new rules package Kyle Busch won last year’s
on shorter tracks is taking playoff race at Phoenix,
place this weekend, and and so far his Joe Gibbs
neither Logano nor any- Racing team has been on
body else seems to know the leading curve in fig-
what to expect. But with uring out this year’s rules
750 horsepower and in- package. And while every-
creased downforce, the one is back to square one
early speed that everyone this weekend, after just one
showed Friday came with a Joey Logano (22) does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas practice Busch already
knowing nod. Motor Speedway, Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Las Vegas. likes what he sees.
“I was huffing and puffing Associated Press “The speed, any time you
after a couple of laps,” Lo- for that matter. “This will have good restarts, be- this weekend is further put downforce on cars,
gano said. “I’ve never gone be one of the major track cause after that, it’s going boosting power. you’ll go faster,” he said.
around this track that fast position races of the year,” to be extremely tough to “It was fun having the “I’m not sure what the tire
before. I haven’t been be- said Denny Hamlin, who make up a lot of positions.” horsepower back with a lot difference is, (but) I feel as
hind another car, or ahead began his weekend on a The extra horsepower more downforce,” said Mi- though the speed comes
of another car, and I can’t golf course with a good means wheel spin will be chael McDowell, the driver from the throttle time and
tell what it’s going to be like omen: his second career an issue for the first time this of the No. 34 Ford for Front the grip, and the amount
tomorrow in practice. Just hole-in-one. “How can your season, and that has the Row Motorsports. “You had of speed you’re carry-
kind of unsure what it will weekend go bad from that potential to make restarts to really push yourself to go ing through mid-corner
look like.” point? But you’re going to exciting. The cool weather fast. Just muscle memory, keeps your speeds up all
Same with Sunday’s race, have to qualify well and that arrived with the teams you’re used to lifting points around.”q