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SPORTS Friday 1 February 2019
Celtics overcome Kyrie Irving's absence to rout Hornets

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Northwest Division-leading
Brown had 24 points and Nuggets win their fourth
10 rebounds, Jayson Tatum straight. Kenrich Williams
scored 20 points and the hit five of nine 3-point shots
Boston Celtics rolled over and scored a career-high
the Charlotte Hornets 126- 21 for the scrappy Pelicans.
94 on Wednesday night de- For the second night in a
spite Kyrie Irving's absence. row, they played without
Terry Rozier had 17 points four usual starters and a top
and tied a career high with reserve. Their only available
10 assists in place of Irving, starter, Jrue Holiday, had 22
the star guard who missed points.
his second straight game TIMBERWOLVES 99, GRIZ-
with a left hip strain. ZLIES 97, OT
Marcus Morris scored 15 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-
points, Al Horford had 14 Anthony Towns hit a buzzer-
and Gordon Hayward 12 to beating desperation shot in
help Celtics win for the sev- overtime to lift Minnesota
enth time in eight games. past Memphis.
Kemba Walker had 21 Memphis led twice dur-
points for Charlotte. ing overtime, but Towns Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, left, dives as Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward,
NUGGETS 105, PELICANS 99 helped Minnesota closed it right, grabs a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Wednesday,
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Niko- out. On the final possession, Jan. 30, 2019. The Celtics defeated the Hornets 126-94.
la Jokic had 20 points, 13 Andrew Wiggins ran the Associated Press
rebound and 10 assists for clock down to six seconds
his eighth triple-double of before shooting a pull-up 3. points after halftime. Jer- Mike Conley had 26 points have been his final appear-
the season and Denver The rebound fell to the right ryd Bayless had 19 points and eight assists for Mem- ance at Madison Square
beat undermanned New side, where Towns grabbed and a career-high 12 as- phis. Garden, Luka Doncic
Orleans, it, dribbled once and float- sists for the Timberwolves MAVERICKS 114, KNICKS 90 warmed up after an airball
Malik Beasley scored 22 ed up a shot as he faded on a frigid night with an an- NEW YORK (AP) — Dirk on his first shot in the arena
points, and Monte Mor- toward the corner. nounced crowd of 13,615 Nowitzki scored a season- to score 16 points, and Dal-
ris added 20 to help the Towns scored all 16 of his in Minnesota. high 14 points in what might las routed New York.q

Knicks deal Porzingis to Dallas,

say he requested a trade

By BRIAN MAHONEY ing his left ACL. The Knicks him a contract extension
AP Basketball Writer said recently he would un- before this season, and
NEW YORK (AP) — Kristaps dergo testing during the now by trading him and
Porzingis won't be rejoining middle of February that Hardaway seem instead
the Knicks once his knee is could have determined if to be gearing up to pursue
healed. he would be able to return players in free agency.
Instead, he's on his way this season. Hardaway has two more
to Dallas after a surprising If it does, it will be in Dal- years and about $37 million
trade the Knicks say the las, where he can form left on his contract, and
All-Star forward requested an intriguing international moving that was necessary In this Jan. 25, 2018, file photo, New York Knicks forward Kri-
staps Porzingis, of Latvia, reacts after fouling out during the sec-
Thursday. frontcourt with rookie Luka if the Knicks were going ond half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Denver
The Knicks dealt Porzingis to Doncic. Both played pro- to find a way to open the Nuggets on Thursday, in Denver.
the Mavericks in a seven- fessionally in Spain before most cap space possible. Associated Press
player swap that also net- coming to the NBA as top- New York (10-40) has the
ted New York two future five picks. worst record in the NBA just before tearing his ACL point guard they passed on
first-round draft picks and The Knicks acquired Dennis and is headed toward after a dunk against Mil- with the No. 8 pick in 2017
possibly enough room to Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, landing a high pick in the waukee on Feb. 6. when they instead took
afford two top free agents Wesley Matthews in the draft. Then the Knicks will He had been frustrated Frank Ntilikina. The Mav-
this summer. deal, while also sending be set up to be big spend- with the franchise before, ericks took Smith one pick
"As is standard for this time guards Tim Hardaway Jr., ers — perhaps for two top skipping his exit meeting later, and he posted the
of year, we were exploring Trey Burke and Courtney players — in a free agent after his second season second triple-double of his
various options on poten- Lee to Dallas. Neither team market that could include before returning to Europe career Wednesday when
tial trades," Knicks general said when the Knicks would Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leon- for the summer. But Knicks Dallas won at Madison
manager Scott Perry said in get the two first-round ard, Kyrie Irving and more. coach David Fizdale had Square Garden.
a statement. "Considering picks. But they won't have Porz- said Porzingis was frequent- Jordan is a former U.S.
the uncertainty regarding The 7-foot-3 Porzingis was ingis, who they once be- ly around the team even Olympian and top defen-
Kristaps' free agent status the No. 4 pick in the 2015 lieved was the kind of tal- while he couldn't play, sive center, but if it's unclear
and his request today to be draft and averaged 17.8 ent who could help attract taking part in meetings if the Knicks will hold onto
traded, we made a trade points and 7.1 rebounds in those players. The Latvian and some activities on the him. They are focused on
that we are confident im- New York, where he was has 3-point range on of- court. playing their young players,
proves the franchise." expected to be the Knicks' fense and shot-blocking The most valuable player so could look to move Jor-
Porzingis has been sidelined franchise player for years. skills on defense, and had in the deal from the Knicks' dan. The trade deadline is
for nearly a year after tear- But they declined to give made his first All-Star team standpoint is likely Smith, the next Thursday.q