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SPORTS Wednesday 17 May 2017

Celtics seeking validation against Cavaliers in East finals

confidence has been in- “We know it’s going to be cident, and they powered
tensified by a postseason tough, but at this point, through when Washington
filled with adversity. They anything can happen, and evened the second-round
rallied around Thomas fol- we really believe it,” Thom- series at 2 by effectively
lowing his sister’s sudden as said. “They didn’t give us containing Thomas’ usual
death in the first round, a chance in this series. They scoring punch.
coming back from an 0-2 didn’t give us a chance Boston’s mettle has been
deficit against the Chicago when we were down 0-2 in tested. Thomas had to visit
Bulls. Then Kelly Olynyk and Chicago. We got the No. 1 the dentist after injuring at
the bench came up huge seed, and they didn’t give least three teeth in Game
in Game 7 against the pes- us a chance. They don’t 1 against Washington, and
ky Wizards. ever give us a chance, and the Celtics are only ad-
But the Celtics have yet we just keep going. We vancing after their defend-
to beat the Cavs this sea- don’t care about what oth- ers contained John Wall in
son with Cleveland at full ers say.” Game 7.
strength. Boston’s lone vic- Thomas is averaging 25.4 Even more effort will be
tory in the series came on points per game in the post- needed to compete
March 1, with Kevin Love season, and his teammates against James and the
still out after minor left knee have picked him up when Cavs. It starts with Jae
surgery. Cleveland won the he’s needed it, too. They of- Crowder, who is expected
other games by a com- fered support as he played to be the primary defender
bined 35 points, including a in the first round despite his on James, along with re-
114-91 romp on April 5. sister’s death in a car ac- serve Jaylen Brown. q

Boston Celtics guards Isaiah Thomas (4) and Marcus Smart (36)
celebrate with center Kelly Olynyk (41) after Olynyk sank a
basket during the fourth quarter of Game 7 of a second-round
NBA basketball playoff series against the Washington Wizards, Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort)
Monday, May 15, 2017, in Boston.
Associated Press FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE CASINO FROM ALL
KYLE HIGHTOWER well-rested Cleveland Cav- HIGH RISE AND LOW RISE HOTELS AND TIMESHARES.
AP Sports Writer aliers. CALL 525-7777 FOR MORE INFORMATION
BOSTON (AP) — Ever since This is Boston’s first trip to
the Boston Celtics broke the conference finals since LIVE POKER
up their Big Three in 2013, 2012, the last year of an
they’ve sat idly this time of era fueled by Paul Pierce, GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS
year while LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Ray Al-
Stephen Curry and Kawhi len. The top-seeded Celt-
Leonard have battled for ics are seeking an 18th 1-2.....2-5......5-5 1-3.....2-5......5-5
NBA championships. NBA championship, and
With Isaiah Thomas lead- first since beating the Los $100 HIGH HAND BONUSES EVERY HOUR
ing the charge, the Celt- Angeles Lakers in the 2008 OVER $20,000 PER WEEK GIVEN OUT IN HIGH HAND BONUSES
ics have rejoined the fray. NBA Finals.
Now it’s time to see if they The defending champion CRAPS
belong. Cavaliers won three of the
Boston beat the Wash- four meetings between ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS
ington Wizards 115-105 the teams in the regular
in Game 7 of the Eastern season, including a domi-
Conference semifinals nant victory in early April SPORTSBOOK
Monday night. That earned with the Cavs back at full
the Celtics their toughest strength after some early LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS
test yet, maybe the hard- season injuries. THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS
est in basketball: a series These Celtics aren’t short
against James and the on belief, though, and their