Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Friday 30 November 2018

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

By MURRAY EVANS of early offensive sloppiness
Associated Press by the Thunder to twice go
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — up by 11 points, the lat-
Russell Westbrook was ter time at 38-27 after a
more introspective than 3-pointer by Osman with
usual Wednesday night. 7:01 left in the second quar-
The 2017 MVP moved into ter. Oklahoma City used a
a tie for third place on the 20-6 run to get back in the
NBA list for triple-doubles game, which was tied 47-
with 23 points, 19 rebounds all at halftime.
and 15 assists, and the Okla- APPRECIATING WESTBROOK
homa City Thunder com- Drew's job is to scheme
pleted a regular-season ways to stop opposing stars
sweep of the short-handed like Westbrook, but that
Cleveland Cavaliers with a proved nearly impossible
100-83 victory. on a night when the Thun-
Westbrook's triple-double der guard was on top of his
was his third this season — game.
all in the last four games — "He's an elite point guard
and the 107th of his career, and he does it every night,
matching Jason Kidd and so I take my hat off to guys
trailing only Oscar Robert- that do it every night," Drew
son (181) and Magic John- said. "He does it at a high
son (138). Kidd took 1,247 Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) drives to the basket between Cleveland level every night. He's a
games to reach 107, while Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) and guard Collin Sexton (2) during the second half of an complete player. He's as
Westbrook needed only NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. Oklahoma City won 100- complete as they can be
760. 83. Associated Press and he's relentless with his
The 19 rebounds were one attack. He's a phenomenal
off Westbrook's career able to even sit here talk- agreed to trade Kyle Korver the Thunder led 73-62 and guard."
high, set in last season's ing to you guys. I take ev- to Utah after the team had the Cavaliers got no closer Thunder coach Billy Dono-
finale against Memphis. erything in and never take arrived at Chesapeake En- than nine the rest of the van liked how Westbrook
And when the star guard anything for granted." ergy Arena, leaving them way. read the game and made
addressed the media long Jerami Grant added 21 with only nine players in "I just thought they physi- the correct play, time after
after the game ended, he points, one shy of his career uniform. Eight got into the cally wore us down," Cleve- time after time.
spoke more from the heart best, on 8-of-12 shooting game. land coach Larry Drew "Everything that he did
than he often does. for the Thunder, who have Oklahoma City trailed 55- said. "They wore us down tonight flowed out of
"I am extremely blessed won 13 of 16 after an 0-4 51 in the third quarter when and our execution wasn't our offense," Donovan
and humbled to be able start. Westbrook started a 13-0 as good in the second half said. "When the floor was
to go out and play and Jordan Clarkson led Cleve- run with a 3-pointer. He as it was in the first. We kind spaced correctly, it gave
compete in the NBA," land with 25 points, while capped it by assisting on a of looked like we were tired him opportunities on dou-
Westbrook said. "Just to Collin Sexton (21 points, dunk by Grant with 5:36 left in that second half. They ble-teams to make some
be named with Jason Kidd 10 rebounds) and Cedi in the period that complet- took away our ability to reads. ... He did an incred-
and Magic and Oscar and Osman (14 points, 10 re- ed the triple-double and move and to try to make ible job organizing and run-
those guys, I could have bounds) each had a dou- put the Thunder up 64-55. plays." ning the offense."q
never dreamt about being ble-double. The Cavaliers By the end of the quarter, Cleveland took advantage

Stevenson looks for knockout vs Gvozdyk in WBC title fight

Associated Press ence. "But as the fight goes the bout ended in the
QUEBEC CITY (AP) — Ca- into the late rounds, he will champion's favor after a
nadian Adonis Stevenson become tired because I majority draw against Swe-
says he needs "just one will be hitting him hard." den's Badou Jack. It was
punch" to defeat Olek- The 41-year-old Stevenson Stevenson's ninth success-
sandr Gvozdyk, while the said he'll be going for the ful title defense since win-
Ukrainian believes the long knockout, a strategy en- ning the belt against Chad
game will lead to victory. dorsed by trainer Sugar Hill Dawson in 2013.
They'll fight for the WBC Steward, nephew of the Gvozdyk was a bronze
light heavyweight champi- legendary Emanuel Stew- medalist at the 2012 Lon-
onship on Saturday at the ard. don Olympics. He'll have
Videotron Centre. "I love knockouts," Steward Teddy Atlas, boxing ana-
Defending champion Ste- said. "No disrespect to the lyst on ESPN for the last 21
venson (29-1-1, 24 KO) other fighters, but my late years, in his corner.
knows undefeated Gvoz- uncle always said, 'Don't "We have a plan, we un-
dyk (15-0-0, 12 KO) will be leave anything to the judg- derstand what's in front of
a tough opponent. es,' so that is why Adonis us," Atlas said. "We came
WBC light heavyweight boxing champion Adonis Stevenson "He's hungry, he will want will be going for the knock- up with a plan to disarm
speaks at a news conference, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in to go far in the boxing out." the bomb that Stevenson
Quebec City. match," Stevenson said Stevenson's last fight was has."q
Associated Press Thursday at a news confer- May 19 in Toronto, when