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SPORTS Thursday 16 May 2019
Curry, Warriors take Game 1 of Western Conference finals

By JANIE McCAULEY An update on Durant’s sta-
AP Sports Writer tus is expected that day
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — once the two-time reigning
Stephen Curry had all kinds NBA Finals MVP is re-exam-
of room for a change and ined.
capitalized, finding his “I think we played a ter-
shooting touch in a hurry to rible game and we still had
get Golden State on a roll. a chance going into the
Portland’s defenders were fourth quarter,” McCollum
too far back in the paint or said, “so we need to tight-
a step behind all night. en some things up and look
“Practice shots,” Trail Blaz- forward to the game on
ers star Damian Lillard Thursday.”
said of Curry’s wide-open Curry came off screens with
chances. authority and matched
So far, the Warriors are his postseason career high
showing they can keep for 3s, also accomplished
winning until Kevin Durant in Game 1 of last year’s fi-
gets healthy. nals against Cleveland. He
Making it look easy again, found his groove far earlier
Curry knocked down nine than in the Game 6 clincher
3-pointers on his way to 36 at Houston on Friday night,
points, leading the two- when he scored all 33 of his
time defending champions points in the second half.
past the Trail Blazers 116-94 Little brother Seth strug-
on Tuesday night in Game Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) shoots between Portland Trail Blazers’ Maurice Harkless gled with three points for
1 of the Western Confer- (4), Enes Kanter (00) and Damian Lillard, right, during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Portland, which shot 36.1%
ence finals. playoffs Western Conference finals Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. overall.
“I know what I’m capable “It’s not one-and-done.
of on the floor. The situation I play.” need him most,” Draymond stick to basketball. We’ve got a series, it’s one
calls for me to be a little Curry shot 12 for 23 in his Green said. “That’s part of what makes loss,” Blazers coach Terry
bit more aggressive and fourth 30-point perfor- Klay Thompson had 26 it special, I’m from here,” Stotts said. “We’ve got to
hopefully that’ll continue,” mance this postseason, points, including a late Lillard said. “I could walk play better, particularly
said Curry, who came in finding far more open one-handed slam. Green home from here if I wanted at the offensive end, but
shooting 37.1% on 3s this looks than he had in the established the energy on to, that tells you how close we’ve got to be better at
postseason. “Obviously it’s last round against Houston. both ends early for the well- it is.” both ends.”
nice to see the ball go in. I The two-time NBA MVP out- rested Warriors, finishing McCollum had 17 and Lillard hit a game-winning
didn’t shoot the ball well for played the Portland duo of with 12 points, 10 rebounds, missed five of his six 3s as 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds
4 1/2 games the last series Lillard and CJ McCollum, five assists, three blocks and the cold-shooting Blazers remaining in overtime Dec.
and got off to a good start who combined to go 11 for two steals. went just 7 for 28 from long 27 in his last regular-season
tonight. I want to maintain 31 against a strong Golden Lillard scored 19 points range. game at Oracle Arena.
that. Every game is differ- State defense. back home in Oakland, just Game 2 is Thursday night, He averaged 28.3 points
ent, you’ve got to re-es- “It’s good to see Steph miles away from where he and the Warriors are un- and 6.5 assists in four reg-
tablish yourself. That’s my have a game like that at grew up. He appreciated likely to have Durant back ular-season games against
perspective no matter how a time that obviously we all the support but wants to from a strained right calf. Golden State this season.q

Magic Johnson, Larry Bird to get

Lifetime Achievement Award

By BRIAN MAHONEY championship game, and set the stage for bas-
AP Basketball Writer when Johnson’s Michigan ketball to become one of
NEW YORK (AP) — Magic State team beat Bird’s In- the world’s most popular
Johnson and Larry Bird, diana State squad. That sports.
whose coast-to-coast ri- is still the highest-rated Both players won three
valry in the 1980s propelled game on television in col- MVP awards, earned spots
the NBA to a new level of lege basketball history. on the league’s list of 50 In this Monday, April 6, 2009 file photo, former NBA players
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, right, and Larry Bird share a laugh at
popularity, will be honored The two would see plenty greatest players and were a news conference before the championship game between
with the Lifetime Achieve- more of each other across two-time Hall of Fame in- Michigan State and North Carolina at the men’s NCAA Final
ment Award. the next decade after ductees, first as individuals Four college basketball tournament in Detroit.
The Hall of Famers and Johnson went to the Los and then with the Dream Associated Press
1992 U.S. Olympic team- Angeles Lakers and Bird Team that captured the Johnson also held both playing days have come
mates will receive the to the Boston Celtics. The gold medal in Barcelona. roles with the Lakers, in the business world as
award on June 24 at the Lakers won five champion- Bird went on to serve as though not with the same CEO of Magic Johnson En-
NBA Awards, the league ships in the 1980s and the both coach and president level of success. He served terprises.
and Turner Sports an- Celtics won three, and the of the Indiana Pacers and a short stint as coach (1993- Bill Russell was the first Life-
nounced Wednesday. interest they drew forged a is the only person in NBA 94) and recently stepped time Achievement winner
The honor comes on the friendship and helped the history to be voted MVP, down as team president in 2017 and Oscar Rob-
40th anniversary of their NBA move past its struggle Coach of the Year and Ex- after two seasons. His larg- ertson was honored last
meeting in the 1979 NCAA for mainstream attention ecutive of the Year. er achievements since his year.q