By the Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis had 21 points and seven rebounds during his home debut for the Lakers, and LeBron James had 32 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in Los Angeles’ 95-86 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

Troy Daniels hit four 3-pointers and scored 15 points for the Lakers, who were impressive in unveiling their revamped lineup. Along with the offensive fireworks expected from a team boasting Davis and James, Los Angeles forced 23 turnovers by a talented Utah team and won comfortably behind that gritty defense.

Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points for the Jazz, who played without injured newcomer Bojan Bogdanovic.

Davis had already played in a regular-season game at Staples Center in a Lakers uniform while getting wildly cheered — but that happened three days earlier during the Lakers’ loss in the Clippers’ home opener.

The star center is still looking for his flow, but he blocked five shots and contributed steadily on offense, even scoring his first bucket on an alley-oop from James.

Jeff Green had five points while starting in place of Bogdanovic, Utah’s $73 million free agent acquisition. The Jazz beat Oklahoma City in their opener, but didn’t have enough offense to compete with the new-look Lakers and their solid defensive schemes.

The Lakers never trailed after the opening minutes, and they took firm control with a strong third quarter featuring 12 points from James and three 3-pointers from Daniels, the proficient outside shooter acquired specifically to knock down spot-up 3s.

Danny Green also fills that role, and he scored nine points in his Lakers home debut. The veteran also took the microphone before the game and told cheering fans: “I promise we’ll do better than last year.”

Dwight Howard heard a few boos when he checked in for his first home game back with the Lakers, whom he spurned in free agency in 2013 after one tumultuous season. He had been booed relentlessly for six years since — but in his return as Los Angeles’ backup center, Howard played a strong defensive game and earned cheers by the second half with his obvious effort.

TIP-INS

Jazz: Bogdanovic sat out after rolling his left ankle in Utah’s season opener Wednesday. He returned in the second half of that win over Oklahoma City, scoring nine of his 16 points on a bad ankle. … Joe Ingles started and scored just two points after Royce O’Neale started the opener.

Lakers: G Rajon Rondo missed his second straight game with a sore right calf. He will return soon, and F Kyle Kuzma will be right behind him. Kuzma didn’t participate in training camp while recovering from a left ankle injury incurred during the summer, but he is participating in 4-on-4 drills and other activities.

UP NEXT

Jazz: Host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

Lakers: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — The crowd was fired up after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s jumper capped a rally and tied it in the closing minutes against the Washington Wizards.

The new-look Oklahoma City Thunder, in their first home game since trading away All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George in the offseason, seemed prepared to give their fans some hope.

The Wizards, unfazed, responded with a 14-0 run and beat Oklahoma City 97-85 on Friday night.

“I told the guys that’s why the fans are going to fall in love with our team — because we give a lot of incredible effort,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “I mean, it’s maximum effort every time on the court, and some of the time, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Thomas Bryant had 21 points and 11 rebounds, rookie forward Rui Hachimura scored 19 points and Bradley Beal added 17 for Washington.

Oklahoma City shot just under 40 percent, made just 14 of 22 free throws and had 19 turnovers.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 28 points and Danilo Gallinari added 18 for the Thunder. Point guard Chris Paul, who scored six points in 30 minutes and had four assists and five turnovers, blamed himself for the loss.

“If I would have contributed at all we would have won the game, and that’s something, and you can’t sugar coat it,” he said.

The Wizards led 52-46 at halftime, then scored the first six points of the second half. The Wizards led 78-70 at the end of the third quarter.

The Thunder held the Wizards scoreless for the first 4 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter to tighten the game. Gilgeous-Alexander’s mid-range jumper tied it at 83 with 4:26 to play.

Washington responded quickly. A 3-pointer by Davis Bertans put the Wizards up by five, and a layup by Beal forced a Thunder timeout. The Thunder made just one more basket the rest of the way, and that came with 20.9 seconds remaining.

Brooks said Washington is improving because the team’s young players have the right attitude.

“It’s hard to teach when you have students who aren’t interested in learning,” Brooks said. “I love the group that we have. We want to get better, and that’s a coach’s dream.”

TIP-INS

Wizards: G Jordan McRae sat out with a finger injury. He played 23 minutes in the opener against Dallas. … Ish Smith, who had a short stint with the Thunder, started the game and finished with four points and five assists. … Beal made 4 of 17 shots the first three quarters but 3 of 5 in the fourth.

Thunder: G/F Andre Roberson did not play, and Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said he doesn’t know when the defensive stopper will return to action. Roberson has missed the past 1 1/2 years while recovering from surgery on his left patellar tendon. … Starting shooting guard Terrance Ferguson did not take a shot for more than 1 1/2 games to start the season. He has scored two points in two games, both starts.

STAT LINES

Thunder C Steven Adams is off to a rough start. The 7-foot center from New Zealand has made 4 of 17 field goals and 2 of 8 free throws the first two games.

He’s averaging 12.5 rebounds, but his offensive struggles have hurt a team that has been in two close games to start the season.

QUOTABLE

Adams, talking about a Thunder team that has three new starters since last season: “Just chemistry, mate. Just chemistry, get a bit more flow. It’s just constantly building. This stuff ain’t easy.”

Paul took a different approach.

“It’s the NBA, we are all pros,” he said. “You can’t be taking time and losing games.”

UP NEXT

Wizards at San Antonio on Saturday night.

Thunder: Host Golden State on Sunday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

DENVER — Jamal Murray scored seven of his 27 points in overtime and the Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix 108-107 on Friday night after the Suns’ Ricky Rubio tied it in regulation after he was fouled on a half-court shot.

Rubio dribbled up the court and launched a 3-pointer as Malik Beasley grabbed his arm with 1.8 seconds remaining. The Phoenix newcomer made all three free throws.

Murray hit two free throws with 19.4 seconds remaining in OT to give the Nuggets the lead. Devin Booker took a last-second shot for Phoenix, but it was blocked by Torrey Craig.

Nikola Jokic finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists.

In overtime, Murray took over. His winning free throws came soon after Gary Harris swatted the ball away from Frank Kaminsky down low.

Phoenix’s Rubio, Aron Baynes and Kelly Oubre Jr. fouled out in OT. Oubre had 23 points.

CELTICS 112, RAPTORS 106

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 25 points, hitting a key 3-pointer in the closing minutes, to help Boston hold off Toronto.

Jayson Tatum had 25 points and nine rebounds, and Kemba Walker scored 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter.

Pascal Siakam had 33 points to lead the defending champion Raptors. Kyle Lowry finished with 29 points, including six 3-pointers.

There were 12 ties and 19 lead changes, with neither team holding more than a seven-point lead.

TIMBERWOLVES 121, HORNETS 99

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 37 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in Minnesota’s victory over Charlotte.

Towns was 13 of 18 from the field, hitting four 3-pointers.

Andrew Wiggins added 16 points for Minnesota. Devonte Graham had 24 points on 6-of-9 3-point shooting for Charlotte.

MAVERICKS 123, PELICANS 116

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Luka Doncic highlighted his triple-double by scoring eight of his 25 points in the final five minutes in Dallas’ victory over New Orleans.
Doncic also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and Kristaps Porzingis added 24 points and five blocks.

Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 25 points.

NETS 113, KNICKS 109

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds left and Brooklyn held off New York.

Irving, who scored 50 points in an overtime loss to Minnesota in his Brooklyn debut, scored five straight points down the stretch after New York took a three-point lead. Spencer Dinwiddie added 20 points.

Allonzo Trier scored 22 points for the Knicks.

WIZARDS 97, THUNDER 85

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thomas Bryant had 21 points and 11 rebounds to help Washington beat Oklahoma City.

Rookie forward Rui Hachimura scored 19 points and Bradley Beal added 17. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 28 points for the Thunder.

BULLS 110, GRIZZLIES 102

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 37 points and rookie Coby White had 21 of his 25 points in the second half in Chicago’s comeback victory over Memphis.

LaVine was 13 of 23 from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The World Series finally showed up back in Washington, 86 years later — and, sparked by José Altuve, the Houston Astros finally showed up in this World Series.

Altuve doubled twice and scored both times, Zack Greinke repeatedly worked out of trouble, and the Astros made sure they wouldn’t go quietly despite looking listless while falling into a big hole at home, beating the Nationals 4-1 on Friday night to cut their deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Fall Classic.

“I mean,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said, “we’re pretty good, too.”

Houston can even things up in Game 4 on Saturday night at Nationals Park. Washington will start $140 million lefty Patrick Corbin, while Hinch said he’ll go with rookie José Urquidy.

“We played really aggressive today,” Altuve said. “This is the team that we are.”

Washington’s eight-game winning streak, tied for the longest in a single postseason, ended with a sloppy performance in the first Series game hosted by the nation’s capital since the Senators lost to the New York Giants in 1933.

A sellout crowd of 43,867, dressed mostly in red for the occasion, soaked it all in, standing in unison at key moments, booing ball-strike calls that hurt their team, chanting “Let’s go, Nats!” often and even getting to do their “Baby Shark” sing-and-clap-along when that children’s tune blared as a walk-up song in the sixth.

“It was electric,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “The boys in the dugout, they were fired up.”

But the wild-card Nationals were unable to move one win from a championship, undone by an inability to come through in the clutch: Birthday boy Juan Soto, MVP candidate Anthony Rendon and Co. were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position, leaving 12 runners on base.

“Tonight we were a little bit aggressive outside the strike zone,” Martinez said. “We took balls I thought we should hit, uncharacteristic of what we’ve been doing.”

How big was this win for Houston? No team ever has come back after dropping the first three games of a World Series.

Maybe that’s why several Astros players gathered for a private meeting following their 12-3 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday. Whatever was said apparently worked.
“Get a little mojo back on our side,” Hinch said.

After playing what might have been their worst baseball of 2019, the Astros suddenly played more like the club that led the majors with 107 regular-season wins.

And, not surprisingly, Altuve was in the middle of a lot of it. He doubled in the third and fifth, coming home on singles by Michael Brantley.

“José’s the heart and soul of what we do,” Hinch said. “It was his turn to be a catalyst.”

Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner, only lasted 4 2/3 innings, and allowed seven hits and three walks, but managed to yield just one run. He was followed by five relievers who combined to give up two hits across 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

Josh James earned the win, striking out Ryan Zimmerman with two aboard to end the fifth.

“Huge,” Hinch said.

Roberto Osuna heard boos when he entered in the ninth, then got three outs for a save.

Josh Reddick delivered an RBI single in the second, Robinson Chirinos homered in the sixth and Houston scored four runs in 5 1/3 innings off Aníbal Sánchez. The 35-year-old righty had taken a no-hitter into the eighth inning of his previous start, in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against St. Louis two weeks earlier. He gave up a hit on his 103rd pitch that night; this time, he allowed one on his third, to George Springer.

Sánchez went sprawling off the mound to try to make a play, but couldn’t. All part of a rough night in which he got so upset by a couple of ball calls that he asked plate umpire Gary Cederstrom, “Where was that one?”

Sánchez later barely avoided taking a ball to the face, getting his glove in the way just in time to deflect what ended up as a single. Another Houston hit came when Springer sent a comebacker off reliever Joe Ross’ left foot in the eighth.

In sum: After the Nationals could do no wrong for so long, things went awry Friday.

They made two errors and at least three other misplays on what were ruled hits. They allowed the aggressive Astros to steal four bases, two by Springer.

Washington catcher Kurt Suzuki left in the sixth with a right hip flexor problem.

Soto, serenaded by fans in left field to celebrate his 21st, was charged with an error for a wild throw home that sailed over the head of Suzuki and a leaping Sánchez, backing up the play. Named a Gold Glove finalist Thursday, Soto let another ball trickle past his glove and went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts at the plate. He went down looking to end the game.

“We were putting a lot of pressure on them,” said Astros reliever Will Harris, who retired all five batters he faced, “and we kept it going for nine innings.”

UP NEXT

Astros: After turning to Urquidy at the start, Hinch is prepared to rely heavily on his bullpen.

Nationals: Corbin will be making his seventh appearance of this postseason, a third start to go along with four outings out of the bullpen. He is 1-2 with a 6.91 ERA, including one scoreless inning in relief during Game 1 of the World Series.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

BOSTON — Kemba Walker said he wants to earn the role of being a leader with the Celtics this season.

He didn’t mind following his teammates in Boston’s win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Walker recovered from a second straight poor shooting start to score 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and help the Celtics rally to beat the defending NBA champions 112-106.

Jaylen Brown had 25 points, including a key 3-pointer in the closing minutes. Jayson Tatum finished with 25 points and nine rebounds.

Walker said support from his teammates helped him shake off a 0-for-5 start from the field just two days removed from his 4 for 18 performance in Boston’s season-opening loss to Philadelphia.

“That’s what I needed,” Walker said. “The things that they said to me are the things that I needed to hear. They seen my face, kind of down at times. They just kept encouraging me.”

The Celtics shot only 38%, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. They had 109 attempts in the game.

Pascal Siakam scored 33 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Raptors, who went 18 of 36 from the 3-point line. Kyle Lowry finished with 29 points, including six 3-pointers. But the pair also had nine turnovers between them.

Siakam said teams are playing him differently through two games.

“There’s more help, obviously,” he said. “Last year, I felt like I was always out there on the side just working. Now there’s a little more intention.”

There were 12 ties and 19 lead changes, with neither team holding more than a seven-point lead.

Boston found its shot in the fourth quarter, outscoring Toronto 36-24.

One of the plays that got the Celtics going came with 5:43 to play. Brown corralled a Marc Gasol miss, took two dribbles and threaded a half-court bounce pass between three Raptors defenders to a cutting Gordon Hayward for a layup to give the Celtics a 99-98 lead.

“I have definitely been working on that side of my game, being a playmaker and making plays for others,” Brown said. “Hopefully there will be a lot more passes like that coming soon.”

Later, the Celtics were leading 107-106 when Brown hit a 3-pointer with 2:49 to play.

O.G. Anunoby was called for a charge on Walker with 1:26 left, which was challenged by the Raptors. But after a review, the call was upheld.

Boston got a shot-clock violation on its next trip down the floor, but Lowry turned it over on Toronto’s ensuing possession when his one-handed pass along the baseline sailed out of bounds with 45 seconds remaining.

The Celtics closed out the final 9:07 of regulation on a 30-17 run.

Coming off a 34-point game in Toronto’s season-opening win over New Orleans on Tuesday, Siakam also started slow. He missed his first four shots and was scoreless
in the first period before he got a finger roll to fall just before halftime.

TIP-INS

Raptors: Hollis-Jefferson and McCaw (sore right knee) sat for the second straight game, but Nurse said one or both could be ready to go on Saturday.

Celtics: Daniel Theis left the game in the second quarter with a sprained left ankle, but returned in the third period. . Enes Kanter (left knee contusion) Tacko Fall (concussion protocol) and Romeo Langford (sore right knee) were both inactive.

CHALLENGE

Celtics coach Brad Stevens is 1-0 in using the coach’s challenge this season.

He successfully challenged a foul called on Williams as he contested a 3-point attempt by Gasol from the corner with 0.3 seconds. Replay appeared to show Williams whiff on his contest of Gasol’s attempt. The NBA Replay Center agreed, prompting a jump ball.

“Exhilarating,” Stevens said of winning the challenge.

ROTATING BIG MEN

Stevens said they will likely have a rotating center spot early throughout this season.

Even before Enes Kanter was injured in the opener, he said the expectation was for the center position to often vary by opponent.

“We’ll see how we go, night to night, who is the best option to look at,” Stevens said.

Theis started Friday and played 14 minutes. Robert Williams III logged 14 minutes off the bench.

UP NEXT

Raptors: At the Bulls on Saturday

Celtics: At the Knicks on Saturday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Luka Doncic highlighted his triple-double by scoring eight of his 25 points in the final five minutes, and the Dallas Mavericks topped New Orleans 123-116 in the Pelicans’ home opener Friday night.

Doncic also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Kristaps Porzingis added 24 points and five blocks. Delon Wright scored 18 for Dallas, which has won its first two games this season.

Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 25 points after scoring 22 in a loss at defending NBA champion Toronto to open the season Tuesday night. Derrick Favors and Josh Hart each had 16 points for the Pelicans, while Lonzo Ball added 15.

Jrue Holiday labored through an uncharacteristically rough shooting night, going just 2 of 11 from the field.

The game was tied at 109 after Ingram’s jumper with about five minutes left, but Doncic responded with a jumper while being fouled by Holiday to start a six-point mini-run capped by Jalen Brunson’s turnaround near the baseline that made it 115-109 with 3:22 to go.

New Orleans missed five straight 3-pointers before Ingram finally hit one to make it 115-112. Doncic’s right-handed runner in the lane over a crowd of defenders, followed by his rainbow 3 off the glass with 1:23 left, made it 120-113, and the Pelicans could not recover.

New Orleans led by 16 early and double digits for much of the first half.

The Pelicans went up 53-40 on Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 3 in the second quarter, but Dallas outscored New Orleans 32-11 during the final eight minutes of the half.

Wright and Doncic each scored eight during that surge, which was ignited by Doncic’s step-back 3. Soon after, Porzingis, who had 17 first-half points, added a dunk, a 3 and free throws on successive possessions to make it 55-50.

Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 3 put Dallas ahead 72-64 at halftime.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Brunson finished with 14 points and Maxi Kleber grabbed 10 rebounds. … Dwight Powell, who plays center and forward, sat out his second straight game with a left hamstring strain. … Coach Rick Carlisle lost a replay challenge of an officials’ decision that Wright committed a blocking foul on Hart’s fourth-quarter pull-up that cut the Mavs’ lead to 103-101. … Dallas went 14 of 40 from 3-point range but shot 48.4 percent (45 of 93) overall.

Pelicans: Reserve guard Frank Jackson scored 10 points in just 14:47. … New Orleans finished 15 of 41 from 3-point range, with Ball missing nine of 12 and Hart missing four of five. … Coach Alvin Gentry rotated 11 players into the game and 10 of them played at least 14 minutes. In New Orleans’ opener at Toronto, 12 players got in the game, each playing at least 13 minutes. … Top draft pick Zion Williamson, coming off arthroscopic surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in his right knee, was on the court for introductions in street clothes, using a crutch.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Host Portland on Sunday.

Pelicans: Visit Houston on Saturday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Karl-Anthony Towns took advantage of an obvious mismatch Friday night when Charlotte center Cody Zeller wasn’t there to defend him.

Towns had 37 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves remained unbeaten with a 121-99 win over the Hornets.

Without Zeller, who missed the game due to undisclosed personal reasons, the Hornets were forced to turn to Bismack Biyombo and Willy Hernangomez to defend the two-time All-Star. Towns took full advantage, finishing 13 of 18 from the field while using his big frame create space inside. He also drained four 3-pointers.

Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders said he wants his team working on a balanced inside-outside attack, but admitted “the fact that there was not a defender like Cody Zeller on the court tonight — and obviously our prayers are with him — we went inside a little more.”

Andrew Wiggins added 16 points for Minnesota, which outscored Charlotte 45-25 in the third quarter to break open a two-point game.

Towns said he felt like he needed to take control when the Timberwolves fell behind 12-2 after missing 7 of 8 shots to open the game.

“That’s where I have to do my job and get people buckets and get us going by drawing a lot of attention and making the right pass,” Towns said.

Said Minnesota guard Josh Okogie: “This was a regular night for KAT. I definitely know that he can definitely do more, so I’m definitely excited to see what he
can do this season.”

Saunders said his team’s defense fueled the offense in the decisive third quarter.

“We feel confident that even when we’re missing shots, we were generating good looks and we just needed some to fall, but really our defense fueled our offense,” Saunders said.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Outrebounded the Hornets 52-42. … Shabazz Napier had nine assists.

Hornets: Rookie PJ Washington, who had 27 points on seven 3s in Charlotte’s season opener, had 10 points and 10 rebounds.. … Nic Batum said he will miss at
least three weeks with a broken finger.

IMPRESSIVE START

Hornets backup guard Devonte Graham continued his torrid start to the season, finishing with a team-high 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Graham is shooting 75% (12 of 16) from deep in two games.

“His confidence, he’s impressive,” Saunders said. “I was telling a few our assistants on the bench that they way he is shooting the ball and the way he is rising up, with that rhythm — he’s definitely got a future.”

Graham played nearly 28 minutes, while starting point guard Terry Rozier played just 17.

TURNOVER CENTRAL

Minnesota turned 20 Charlotte turnovers into 21 points. The Hornets, who played eight players with less than three years of NBA experience, have now turned the ball over 39 times in two games.

“We’re gonna get smacked in the mouth a few times, it’s how you respond,” said Hornets coach James Borrego.

HONORING THEIR COACH

Members of the Timberwolves presented their head coach with a game ball and the assistant coaches gave him a large sheet cake to help honor the memory of his father, Flip Saunders, who died on this day four years ago.

“The motto is ‘us,’ and when someone feels something and is having a moment, we want to be helpful in that moment,” Towns said. “We thought it was very important as a team. Me personally, I got our guys understanding how important this game is, four years from the day, we’ve got to win this for him. We’ve got to take care of our leader.”

Cake was one of Flip Saunders’ favorites.

“I know he’s smiling,” Towns said. “His son’s doing really well, a tremendous job.”

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: After two road wins will host the Heat in their home opener Sunday.

Hornets: Open four-game road trip against California teams when they visit the LeBron James and the Lakers on Sunday night.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

KELOWNA, British Columbia — Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu ran away with the men’s short program at Skate Canada on Friday night and Japanese compatriot Rika Kihira topped the women’s field.

The 24-year-old Hanyu scored 109.60 points. American Camden Pulkinen was second at 89.05, followed by Canada’s Nam Nguyen at 84.08.

Kihira scored 81.35 points. Young You of South Korea was second at 78.22, followed by 15-year-old Russian Alexandra Trusova at 74.40. Russia’s Evgenia Medvedeva, the two-time world champion and 2018 Olympic silver medalist, failed to land a double axel cleanly and fell on her final jump to end up sixth.

In pairs, Russia’s Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii scored 76.45 points to take the first-day lead. Canada’s Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro were second at 75.50, and Russia’s Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov were third at 73.57.

In ice dance, Americans Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue topped the short program with 83.21 points. They are coming off a victory last week at Skate America in Las Vegas.

Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier were second at 82.58, followed by Americans Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker at 79.52.

Source: Manila Bulletin

By the Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Zach LaVine may have led Chicago scorers, but it was rookie Coby White who sparked the Bulls’ comeback.

LaVine had 37 points, and White, the seventh pick in last summer’s NBA Draft, scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half as the Bulls rallied to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 110-102 on Friday night.

“I told ya’ll from the jump, I knew how good he was going to be,” LaVine said when asked about White. “He’s going to continue to get better.”

Memphis built a first-half lead to 14 points before holding a 60-47 advantage at the break. At that point, White had a mere four points. The North Carolina product’s 21 second-half points included 8 of 11 from the field and 4 of 6 from outside the arc.

“It was a team win,” the rookie said. “I was just one little piece of it. We got it done as a team. … I was just doing what I can to create some type of spark.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while rookie Brandon Clarke had 14 points, missing only two of nine shots. Grizziles rookie Ja Morant, the No. 2 pick in the draft, and Jonas Valanciunas added 10 points apiece. Valanciunas grabbed 13 rebounds.

The Bulls turned up the defense to start the second half, cutting into the Grizzlies’ lead as Memphis missed its first six shots. White would end up playing the entire fourth quarter as the Grizzlies saw their lead slip away.

“I wasn’t taking him out,” Bulls coach Jim Boylen said of White.

The Bulls caught Memphis with about four minutes left on a 3-pointer from White. After the teams exchanged leads, Chicago pulled ahead for good when LaVine scored on a drive with 1:31 left, part of a 12-1 Bulls closing run.

The loss marked the second time in the first two games in which Memphis squandered a lead it held entering the fourth quarter — perhaps a sign of a young team.

“We kind of got away from what we needed to be doing offensively in the third quarter,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said, later adding: “We have to learn from how the first half is more indicative of what we have to be offensively and defensively. Then we have to get better in the third and fourth quarter.”
TIP-INS

Bulls: Have won five straight in the series — the longest victory stretch over the Grizzlies since Chicago won the first seven games after the franchise started in Vancouver. … Lauri Markkanen made only one of eight shots in the first half, including missing six from outside the arc. He finished 4 of 15 from the field, scoring nine points. … White scored 10 points in the third quarter to start the Bulls’ comeback.

Grizzlies: Play five of their next six games at home. The lone road game is at Los Angeles against the Lakers next Tuesday. … The loss snapped a streak of three straight home-opening wins. … An indication of the new faces on the Grizzlies, swingman Dillon Brooks is the longest-tenured Memphis player entering his third year. … Valanciunas earned the Grizzlies first home technical of the year, debating a no-call in the second quarter. … Morant, who had six turnovers in the season-opening loss to Miami, committed four against the Bulls. He has nine assists to 10 turnovers in his first two games.

MANAGING OTTO

Before the game, Chicago coach Jim Boylen indicated forward Otto Porter Jr. would play less than 24 minutes as the Bulls manage his time. Chicago plays their first back-to-back of the season on Saturday against Toronto. “We’ll manger him appropriately to play (Saturday), and then we will evaluate him after the game if he does play (against Toronto),” Boylen said. Porter played just more than 21 minutes.

LAST WORD

“I’ve got confidence in him. He’s fearless. He’s not scared of anything. He likes the moment. You can see it in his eyes. He wants that.” – Zach LaVine on rookie Coby White.

UP NEXT

Bulls: Hold their home opener Saturday against the defending champion Toronto Raptors.

Grizzlies: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Games (Saturday)

2 p.m. – Creamline vs Motolite

4 p.m. – PetroGazz vs BanKo-Perlas

Creamline, which completed a record sweep of the elims without its two key players in the last three games, tries to move closer to a grand feat with Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado back in the fold as the Cool Smashers face the Motolite side at the start of the PVL Open Conference Final Four Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Center.

Valdez and Morado cut their training camp with the Nationals in Japan to help anchor Creamline’s title retention drive in the season-ending conference, taking on a team whose top hitter continues to be hobbled by a foot injury that however failed to slow down the team’s Final Four drive following a failed semis bid in the Reinforced Conference.

Game One of their best-of-three series kicks off at 2 p.m. with No. 2 PetroGazz and third ranked BanKo-Perlas clashing in their side of the playoff at 4 p.m. The four teams switch game times tomorrow (Sunday) in a grueling back-to-back matches.

Michele Gumabao, who with Jema Galanza, Kyle Negrito, Risa Sato, Celine Domingo, Rosemarie Vargas and Pau Soriano took care of business in the absence of Valdez and Morado, has guaranteed a stronger, fiercer Creamline crew to show in the semis with the duo back in the roster.

“It’s only going to get better from here and we’re ready to welcome them back,” said Gumabao.

But Motolite vowed to give its best shot to stop its powerhouse rival and fuel its own title drive in the league organized by Sports Vision with Myla Pablo raring to go despite being far from top form after sustaining a foot injury that sidelined her from quite a number of games in the elims.

The former National U standout, however, has shown great improvement of late, tallying a pair of 14-point games in the team’s last two outings with the likes of former UP stalwarts Isa Molde and Tots Carlos along with Aie Gannaban, Fenela Emnas, Genn Layug and Jessma Ramos also all going all out to buck overwhelming odds.

“I’ll give it my best shot even if I’m not 100 percent in shape,” said Pablo, a two-time league MVP.

While most give Creamline the edge over Motolite, which it swept in the elims, the PetroGazz-BanKo Perlas duel is expected to go down-to-the-wire although the Angels will be motivated by their desire to go up against the fancied Cool Smashers again and gun for a sweep of the season’s titles.

Jonah Sabete and Jovielyn Prado hope to sustain the fiery form they flaunted in their last three games which they swept to secure the No. 2 seeding with Cherry Nunag, Paneng Mercado, Jeanette Panaga, Cai Baloaloa and setter Relea Saet ready to slug it out with the likes of BanKo veterans Dzi Gervacio and Sue Roces along with the power-hitting Nicole Tiamzon, block artist Kathy Bersola, Elle de Jesus, and Jem Ferrer.

Source: Manila Bulletin