By the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Paul George scored 37 points in his Clippers home debut, Lou Williams added 25, and Los Angeles led all the way in routing the Atlanta Hawks 150-101 on Saturday night.

The anticipated first game with George and Kawhi Leonard in the lineup together didn’t happen when Leonard sat out with a left knee contusion.

But the Clippers didn’t need both of their new superstars on a night when George tied his career high with six 3-pointers and made all 11 of his free throws in the team’s biggest blowout of the young season.

George was clearly having fun in the fourth when he stole the ball, dribbled down and tossed it off the glass, setting up Montrezl Harrell for a two-handed dunk that ignited the crowd and pushed the Clippers’ lead to 36 points.

George sat down for good with 9:58 remaining in the game, having done all his damage playing 20 minutes.

Two nights after scoring 33 in his debut at New Orleans, George had it going from the start. He scored 15 of the Clippers’ first 22 points in a six-minute span. They led by 17 and shot 59 percent in the opening quarter.

George is the first player in franchise history to score 30-plus points in his first two games with the team.

The Hawks scored 11 straight points to close within four early in the second quarter, the closest they would come the rest of the game. The Clippers answered with an 18-6 run, fueled by George’s nine points, to go back up by 17 again.
George had 25 points at halftime when the Clippers led 74-62, shooting 52% and making all 16 of their free throws.

Leonard also sat out on Thursday when George made his Clippers debut in a loss to the Pelicans.

George missed the season’s first 11 games while completing rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.

“I would love them to play every game and be out there,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said before the game. “We knew early on this would be a tough go.”

Trae Young had 20 points for the Hawks, who dropped their second in a row. They trailed by 52 points in the fourth.
The Clippers dominated in nearly every category, with their bench outscoring the Hawks’ reserves 81-35. Los Angeles made 17 3-pointers and hit 33 of 35 free throws.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By Agence France-Presse

Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley will miss at least the next one or two weeks of the NBA season with a hairline fracture in his right leg, the team announced Friday.

The injury took place when he collided with San Antonio’s Dejounte Murray on November 3 and missed a game before returning to the lineup. He underwent an MRI exam Thursday that detected the break after initial x-rays had not.

“An MRI last night revealed a hairline fracture in a non-weight bearing bone of Avery Bradley’s right leg (on the fibular head),” a Lakers statement said. “Bradley will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks and further medical updates will be provided at that time.”

The 28-year-old guard has started 10 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 9.6 points and 3.2 rebounds over 27.4 minutes a contest.

The Western Conference-leading Lakers, 9-2 entering a Friday home game against Sacramento, also host Atlanta and Oklahoma City before visiting Oklahoma City next Friday.

In the following week, the Lakers visit Memphis, San Antonio and New Orleans before playing host to Washington on November 29, the latest point at which Bradley’s leg would be re-evaluated.

Bradley, a 2016 NBA All-Defensive Team player, spent his first seven seasons with Boston before splitting the 2017-18 campaign between Detroit and the Los Angeles Clippers and last season between the Clippers and Memphis before signing with the Lakers in July.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LONDON — Former Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych announced his retirement from tennis on Saturday after a 17-year professional career.

The 34-year-old Berdych confirmed the decision at the ATP Finals, saying his body no longer allows him to compete at the highest level after struggling with a back injury for much of the last 18 months.

The former No. 4 said he made the decision shortly after losing in the first round of the U.S. Open in August. He hasn’t played since and is currently ranked 103rd.

“I said, ‘OK that’s it. That’s enough.’ In terms of just my body doesn’t allow me to do so, and it’s very unpredictable,” Berdych said. “There is no real point to continue.”

The Czech said the highlight of his career was reaching the 2010 Wimbledon final, beating Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic along the way before losing to Rafael Nadal.

“Even the final that I lost, it was a very, very special moment,” he said.

He also reached the semifinals at least once at each of the other three Grand Slams and earned 13 career titles — including the 2005 Paris Masters — with a career-high ranking of No. 4.

Berdych said he doesn’t have any immediate plans for what to do in retirement, but will focus on resting up and spending time with his family.

“The plan is actually not to have any plans,” he said. “The last 15, 20 years was so hectic and so demanding that I just need to just breathe out easily after all those years.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

LONDON — After dominating the tennis world for so long, Roger Federer thinks the sport’s Big Three could face their toughest challenge yet from a new generation in 2020.

Federer’s 2019 season ended with a semifinal loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday at the ATP Finals, having seen Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal eliminated in the group stage of the tournament this week.

Tsitsipas, a 21-year-old Greek who is playing at the ATP Finals for the first time, is among a handful of up-and-coming talents looking to finally end the unprecedented era of dominance by that trio. Other youngsters at the season-ending tournament include defending champion Alexander Zverev at 22 and U.S. Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev at 23.

However, it’s not the first time that the 38-year-old Federer has faced talk about a talented crop of youngsters, even though none of them have so far been able to break the Big Three’s iron grip on the sport.

”It’s the same question every year at the end of the year,” Federer said about the new generation. “But does it feel like this year might be the best year yet? Possibly. … But then I look at the list of who finished World No. 1, who has been World No. 1 all these years, and it’s just crazy that it’s always one of us. But we are not getting any younger. So chances increase not because we are getting worse but because they are getting better.”

Nadal clinched his fifth year-end No. 1 title this week, putting him level with both Federer and Djokovic. Since 2004, the only other person to finish the year atop the rankings was Andy Murray in 2016.

In addition, the Big Three have won the last 12 Grand Slam titles between them. And until one of the youngsters ends that streak, any talk of a generation shift is premature.

”Definitely it’s that next step they need,” Federer said. ”The only issue is that it seems like me, Novak, and Rafa are healthy, healthier than maybe in previous years, as well.”

Zverev, for his part, is convinced that the new guard is ready to compete for majors.

“I think next year will bring a new Grand Slam champion. We’ll see who that will be, because I think the young guys are playing incredible tennis,” Zverev said after losing to Dominic Thiem in the second semifinal at the O2 Arena.

“You know, it can be Daniil, it can be Stefanos, it can be Dominic. I’m in the mix, as well, I hope. We’ll see what next year brings. But I think for the young guys, it’s going to be an exciting year.”

The third-ranked Federer ends the year with four ATP titles, but failed to add to his record haul of 20 Grand Slams when he lost an epic Wimbledon final to Djokovic, despite holding two match points in the fifth set.

He also fell short of a record-extending seventh ATP Finals title after converting just one of 12 break points against Tsitsipas, losing 6-3, 6-4.

As long as he stays healthy, though, Federer is confident he’s still good enough to compete for more majors next season.

“I’ve got to keep on playing at the level like I have this year, and then I will create some chances,” he said. “Then when the matches come, it’s not maybe as easy as it was maybe 10, 15 years ago where you’re just going to play very good, day in, day out. … (Opportunities) were there today … They were there in other moments as well this season, maybe Indian Wells or Wimbledon or whatever. That can change an entire season around, the confidence around, the flow of things. But I’m happy how I played this season, and I’m extremely excited for next season.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK — Devonte’ Graham made his ninth 3-pointer of the game with 2.8 seconds remaining, finishing with 29 points to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 103-102 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday night.

P.J. Washington scored 19 points, Terry Rozier had 16 and Marvin Williams added 13 off the bench for the Hornets, who won on a late 3-pointer for the second straight night.

RJ Barrett scored 22 points and Mitchell Robinson had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.

Charlotte was down by 15 in the third quarter before taking the lead to start the final period on Graham’s 3 for a 78-76 advantage. The Knicks recovered to take an 88-80 lead midway through the quarter before the Hornets charged back.

Julius Randle drove to the basket a missed a shot with the Knicks leading 102-100. As the Hornets advanced the ball down the court, coach James Borrego raced down to midcourt to call a timeout.

Washington found Graham near center court before he dashed to the left side of the arc and fired off a 28-foot attempt over New York’s Frank Ntilikina for the game-winner.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS— Giannis Antetokounmpo rarely makes three 3-pointers in a game.

Even on his way to the MVP award last season, the Milwaukee Bucks’ 6-foot-11 superstar reached that mark only six times.

He did it Saturday night in a 102-83 rout of the Indiana Pacers, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.

“I think he’s getting more and more comfortable with the 3-ball,” Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said. “The ball’s in his hands a lot, so he’s shooting them off the dribble. He continues to attack at a high rate, so we just want him to keep growing, keep letting it fly.”

A shaky long-range shooter who was only 25.6% on 3s in the 2018-19 campaign, Antetokounmpo is 16 of 50 — 32% — from behind the arc in the Bucks’ 9-3 start.

With length and speed that make him almost unstoppable going to the basket, Antetokounmpo hopes to force defenders to respect the threat of a 3.

“I haven’t seen it yet,” he said. “Eventually it might change, or it might not. Pretty much wide-open every shot I take from the top of the key or the wing.”

His 3 from the top of the key at the first-quarter buzzer Saturday gave Milwaukee a 26-22 lead and set the tone on a night the Pacers endured their worst shooting performance of the season.

Brook Lopez, who had 15 points and eight boards, blocked five shots to help limit Indiana to a season-low 32% from the field.

Malcolm Brogdon, after joining Indiana in a July sign-and-trade deal with Milwaukee, missed his first chance at facing his former team. The early All-Star candidate developed a sore back during Friday’s 111-102 loss at Houston.
The good news for Indiana was the return of Myles Turner. Playing his first game since Oct. 30, Turner had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

“I really don’t know how to answer that,” Turner said when asked if any pain lingers from his right ankle sprain. “I’m still battling a little bit, but I felt good enough to play. That’s all that matters.”

The Bucks shot 45%. They went ahead by 15 points in the second quarter. Indiana then cut its 49-36 halftime deficit to 71-63 entering the fourth quarter.

The Bucks restored their lead by opening the final period on a 10-2 run, including a pair of spot-up 3-pointers from Sterling Brown in the left corner. Brown finished with 10 points and six rebounds, complementing Donte DiVinzenco (14 points) and Eric Bledsoe (10 points, five assists).

The only drama thereafter was that Antetokounmpo’s run of consecutive 30-point, 10-rebound games ended at six. It was the NBA’s longest such streak since Shaquille O’Neal’s 11 in 2001.

Budenholzer credited Indiana for playing hard “no matter who’s out there for them.”

Backup point guard T.J. McConnell (sore right groin) was a late scratch, joining Brogdon, All-Star Victor Oladipo and sixth man Jeremy Lamb on Indiana’s crowded inactive list.

“We’re just having some bad breaks,” coach Nate McMillan said.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

CHICAGO — Spencer Dinwiddie isn’t trying to be Kyrie Irving. Still, he gave the Brooklyn Nets the spark they needed Saturday night.

Dinwiddie scored 24 points and the Nets beat the Chicago Bulls 117-111 without Irving.

Irving entered Saturday sixth in the NBA with 28.5 points per game but sat with a right shoulder injury. Brooklyn was just fine without the All-Star guard as Dinwiddie stepped into the starting lineup.

“I’m not Kyrie, you know what I mean?” Dinwiddie said. “I just tried to gauge what needed to be done to win the game.”

Zach LaVine scored 36 points, but Chicago shot 35.2% from the field, 23.1% from 3-point range and committed 20 turnovers.

Joe Harris had 22 points and eight assists for Brooklyn, which snapped a three-game skid. The short-handed Nets are also without Caris LeVert, who’s recovering from right thumb surgery.

“Fifteen guys bonded together, and I don’t think it was pretty,” Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Your best player’s out — let’s be honest — and everybody steps it up a level. It’s really a real boost to our morale.”

The lead changed hands five times in the fourth, and Brooklyn pulled ahead for good on Dinwiddie’s dunk with 8:01 remaining. Dinwiddie scored 20 points in the fourth alone.

“He took over,” Atkinson said.

Chicago briefly got within three points with just under 3 minutes left, and Lauri Markkanen hit a fading 3-pointer to make it 113-111 with 8.8 seconds remaining. But Harris made two free throws and the Bulls never got the ball with a chance to tie it.

Wendell Carter Jr. added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls, who trailed by double digits early before using a 23-5 run in the second quarter to take the lead.

Chicago led from then until the fourth quarter but allowed 43 points in the final period.

“They just wanted it more than us,” LaVine said. “They made more plays to close out the third quarter and start the fourth.”

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO — CJ McCollum scored 32 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the San Antonio Spurs 121-116 on Saturday night to spoil Tim Duncan’s first shot at coaching following Gregg Popovich’s ejection.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 30 points and 13 rebounds but the Spurs lost their fifth straight and fell to 5-8.

Damian Lillard added 22 points and Hassan Whiteside had 21 points for Portland (5-8), which snapped a four-game skid in San Antonio.

Before the game, Popovich said coaching could only go so far and it was up to each player to take responsibility for his own mistakes and performance during this losing streak. Popovich put that responsibility squarely on the the Spurs when he was ejected early in the third quarter.

Popovich was ejected after walking onto the court to berate official Jason Goldenberg over a non-call. Popovich calmly walked off the court following his first ejection of the season.

The Spurs responded with Duncan and fellow assistants Becky Hammon and Will Hardy coaching by committee, but it was Duncan calling the plays and screaming out instruction.

San Antonio rallied to take a 111-104 lead with 4 minutes remaining but couldn’t hold on. Portland took a 114-111 lead on Rodney Hood’s three-point play on a left-handed hook and foul on DeMar DeRozan.

After trailing by 23 points in the opening minute of the second quarter, the Spurs went on a 34-15 run capped by Aldridge’s sixth 3-pointer. Aldridge had 10 3-pointers last season.

The Spurs stormed to a 96-90 lead late in the third quarter behind a series of energy plays that drew thunderous cheers from the previously restrained crowd.

Rudy Gay sparked the rally by blocking Lillard’s shot, which keyed a fast break that Aldridge completed with a dunk follow of DeRozan’s missed layup. Patty Mills then stole the inbounds pass from Whiteside and tossed in a layup ahead of two bewildered Blazers who didn’t see the steal. Mills’ layup put the Spurs up 92-88 with 3 minutes remaining in the third.

Bryn Forbes added 17 points and DeRozan and Gay added 16 apiece.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

DALLAS — Luka Doncic had 26 points and 15 rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors 110-102 on Saturday night

Doncic scored nine points in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks added to a one-point lead. He made all seven free throws in the quarter and finished with a career-best 15 free throws in 19 attempts.

Delon Wright finished with 15 points, and banked in a fadeaway with 5 seconds left in the third quarter to send Dallas into the fourth quarter with a 78-77 edge. Wright added six points in the fourth quarter.

Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and matched his career best with 15 rebounds for Dallas. Seth Curry scored 15 points, and Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber had 10 apiece.

For Toronto, Norman Powell scored a season-high 26 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. Fred VanVleet added 25 points, Pascal Siakam had 15 on 10-for-24 shooting, and Matt Thomas scored 10.

The Mavericks used a 15-0 run in the first quarter to transform a 10-3 deficit into an 18-10 lead. Kleber scored the first five points, and Finney-Smith ended the run with a layup 3½ minutes later.

Dallas led 32-22 after the first quarter, with Doncic scoring 14 points. VanVleet had 10 for Toronto, which shot 30% (6 for 20) from the floor.

The Raptors roared back in the second quarter, shooting 61% (14 for 23) and outscoring the Mavericks 38-21 for a 60-53 halftime lead. Powell scored eight points in a 13-4 run that took Toronto from four points down five points ahead at 49-44.

Porzingis stepped up in the third quarter, scoring nine points, beginning with a 3-pointer that stopped a 10-2 run and gave Dallas a 63-62 advantage.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — James Harden scored 49 points on a whopping 41 shots from the field and the undermanned Houston Rockets won their seventh straight gamer, 125-105 over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

With Russell Westbrook resting, the Rockets needed Harden to shoulder an even bigger scoring load than usual. The 41 attempts are the most in his career, and the most in the NBA this season, surpassing the 37 Golden State’s D’Angelo Russell took in an overtime loss Nov. 8 in the same building in Minnesota.

Harden made 16 of the 41 shots, going 8 for 22 from 3-point range. He was 9 of 11 on free throws.

Ben McLemore scored 20 points. Undrafted rookie Chris Clemons scored a career-high 19 off the bench for the Rockets, who broke open the game with a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter. Austin Rivers also scored 19 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who also were short-handed. Andrew Wiggins missed his second consecutive game for personal reasons.

Jake Layman made his first start of the season for Minnesota and scored a season-high 21 points. Robert Covington had 17 points.

Harden scored 18 of his 30 first-half points in the first quarter. It was his highest-scoring first quarter of the season.

Harden took 17 of his team’s first 25 shots. He and the Rockets led by two at halftime despite trailing by as many as 11.

Source: Manila Bulletin