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THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016 SPORTS Cavs vow to be ready while Warriors could lose Bogut CLEVELAND: It could take another historic six means for us and we know that it will Warriors guard Klay Thompson. “We’re still bring Cleveland its first sports champion he’s going to hit some tough shots, but we effort from Kyrie Irving and LeBron James be an incredible level they are going to in a great position. We’ll come back since 1964 and avoid a third loss in a row in have to limit some of those opportunities. to keep Cleveland in the NBA Finals, while play at, and we have to play at an even bet- stronger.” his sixth consecutive NBA Finals trip. “It’s We have to be a little better.” the Golden State Warriors faced the possi- ter level.” Golden State was awaiting final No team has won the NBA Finals after do or die for us,” James said. “At this point, Irving hit 17-of-24 shots in game five, ble loss of center Andrew Bogut. The results of an MRI exam on Bogut, the trailing 3-1 and only two of 33 such teams, it’s whatever it takes.” The Warriors have the first player to shoot 70 percent and defending champion Warriors lead the Australian who suffered a left knee injury the 1951 New York Knicks and 1966 Los made a record 276 3-pointers in this year’s make 40 points in a finals game since Wilt best-of-seven series 3-2 entering game six early in the third quarter Monday, to know Angeles Lakers, even managed to force a playoffs, paced by NBA Most Valuable Chamberlain of the Lakers in 1970.”We’re Thursday at Cleveland, with the Cavaliers his status for the remainder of the series. game seven. “We still have our backs Player Stephen Curry, the NBA scoring going to need another performance like needing a victory to force a seventh game Bogut blocked six shots in game two, against the wall and have to come out leader who hit a record 402 3-pointers this that,” Cleveland’s Richard Jefferson said. “I Sunday in California. the most in a finals game since Pau Gasol swinging. We have to be ready to play season. hope he’s ready for two more performanc- James and Irving each scored 41 points in 2010, and averages 3.2 points and 3.0 again,” Cavaliers forward J.R. Smith said. “We like our chances going forward and es of high-level basketball.” to spark Cleveland past Golden State 112- rebounds in the finals. “Mentally, nothing can change. We have to continuing to just try to be us, the best we Cavs coach Tyronn Lue is ready for it, 97 Monday to avoid elimination, becoming The Aussie’s absence would partly be continue to play with desperation to can, and get one more win,” Curry said. saying his game six plan is the same as the first teammates in NBA Finals history to offset by the return of forward Draymond exhaustion. We have to try to force a game “We’ll be ready, come out with confidence game five-”continue to be aggressive, con- reach 40 points in the same game. “We’ll Green from a one-game suspension for seven. We have to bring the same effort.” and get the job done.” tinue to bring physicality and continue to be very well prepared for game six,” Irving accumulated flagrant fouls, but still require Irving says containing Curry is vital to attack.” Warriors coach Steve Kerr expects said. “That’s the only thing that’s on our Golden State dig deeper into the bench for ‘WHATEVER IT TAKES’ the Cavaliers’ hopes. “We’ve got to be bet- more from his team in game six. “We’ll mind right now. We’re not satisfied. We help. “Our bigs are just going to have to James, who also had game highs of 16 ter in game six in terms of the looks that he bounce back,” Kerr said. “We’ve got to play understand the magnitude of what game step up. Been doing it all year,” said rebounds and seven assists, is trying to was getting,” Irving said. “We understand better and I’m confident we will.”— AFP MOTOR RACING Hamilton hoping for another first in Baku BAKU: Formula One takes a step into the unknown this weekend with its first grand prix in Azerbaijan but triple world champion Lewis Lewis Hamilton Hamilton hopes the race will take him back to familiar territory. A win in Baku would not only complete a hat-trick of victories for the Briton but would also see him overtake Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg at the top of the standings for the first time this year. After winning the last two races in Monaco and Montreal, while cham- pionship leader Rosberg finished off the podi- um, Hamilton slashed the gap between them from 43 points to nine. If Hamilton makes it three in a row by win- ning a race billed as the ‘European Grand Prix’, Rosberg must finish second to avoid falling behind his rival, who has beaten him to the championship for the last two years. “We need to try to keep on a roll if possible,” Hamilton said after winning in Canada on Sunday for the fifth time. “Onwards and upwards, hopefully.” Rosberg, winner of the first four races of the sea- son as well as the last three of 2015, needs to hit back in Baku. He won last season’s ‘new’ race, the Mexican between the two Mercedes drivers, who have stable regulations, and that has made the com- Grand Prix that was returning for the first time clashed on the opening lap twice in the last petition tougher than ever.” Formula One teams since 1992, but Hamilton had just won his third three races, the champions are no longer in a began setting up on Tuesday for a race that, SYDNEY: In this July 26, 2014, file photo, Brumbies’ Henry Speight, center, pushes title and taken his foot off the gas. battle of their own. Ferrari and Red Bull have despite campaigners calling for the sport to take through the Waratahs’ Nick Phipps, left, and Kurtley Beale during their Super Rugby “Canada unfortunately didn’t work out as closed the performance gap and could be a real a stance on human rights issues, has created a semifinal match in Sydney. Former Wallaby Speight won’t be adding a Rio de Janeiro planned. But that’s how things go when you’re threat in Baku with its long straight and tight buzz throughout the paddock. “It looks spectac- Olympics sevens appearance to his rugby resume after the Fijian-born winger was pushing the limits and I’m not going to change turns around the old city, a UNESCO world her- ular when you see what they have built up in ruled out of the Australian team because of a ligament injury to his right knee, the my approach or start backing down,” said the itage site. “The speed of both the Ferrari and Red downtown Baku, going through the old city,” Australian Rugby Union said yesterday. — AP German after making a quick getaway from Bull is pretty much where we are now,” com- said Ferrari’s track operations head Jock Clear. “It Montreal. “I’m in this championship battle to win mented Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff after looks a very exciting circuit. The stuff we’ve done Huddersfield travel to it, not to settle for second best.” Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel made a lightning start on simulators and the photographs we’ve seen, in Canada and finished second. it looks like it’s going to be a great place to race. I Salford haunted by tragedy CLOSING THE GAP “We are seeing the convergence of perform- think both drivers are really up for that kind of While the spotlight remains on the fierce duel ance between teams that naturally comes with street circuit.”— Reuters LEEDS: Huddersfield and the entire rugby to take on Castleford. The Tigers have been league community have been rocked by boosted by the news that Greg Eden will the news Giants academy player Ronan return to the club next season. Costello died on Tuesday in hospital. The Brisbane Bronco-who has also The 17-year-old had been on a life sup- played for Huddersfield and Hull KR in port machine after he was injured in a England-joins on a two-year deal. “Coming Huddersfield Under-19s game against back to the UK was a massive decision for Salford on Saturday. me to make,” Eden said. The match was abandoned after the “There’s no better team for me to return freak accident and the Giants-whose senior home to than Castleford, my hometown side also meet Salford in Super League on club and the team I grew up supporting. Friday-have issued a statement on behalf of I’m really looking forward to the new chal- the Costello family. lenge ahead.” The round kicks off on “We are absolutely devastated to lose Thursday when Wigan Warriors-up to third Ronan so tragically and suddenly,” it read. in the table after last weekend’s win over “Ronan was a loving and caring 17-year- Hull KR-take on Widnes Vikings. old lad who was dedicated to his family But the Warriors will be without Sam and friends. He was a credit to all of his Tomkins, who will be rested after five family and we are so proud of him and his games on the bounce since returning from achievements.