SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 2017 SPORTS Young Bucks battle history against Raptors in playoff LOS ANGELES: Giannis Antetokounmpo sixth seed in the Eastern Conference coming in there just chasing-chase peo- the amazing 42 triple-doubles of in for the MVP, but unfortunately there’s a could be the key to the Milwaukee Bucks’ despite coping with injuries to Khris ple down and try to get as much from we Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell lot of history being written right now. He’s bid to reverse their recent history against Middleton and Jabari Parker during the can from every game.” Antetokounmpo Westbrook, not to mention the 22 of the not (in the MVP race), but if it were a nor- the Toronto Raptors in the first round of season. Ready to relish the role of under- finished the regular-season with 1,832 Houston Rockets’ James Harden, Bucks mal year, yes.” Antetokounmpo’s nickname the NBA playoffs. The 22-year-old Greek dog, he’s not bothered by the Bucks’ 2-13 points, 700 rebounds, 434 assists, 151 coach Jason Kidd believes of “The Greek Freak” originated with his has emerged as a force this season, record against the Raptors over the past blocks and 131 steals. Antetokounmpo would be squarely in the seven-foot frame, impressive wingspan becoming the first player in NBA history to four seasons-their worst against any That put him 14th in total scoring, 15th Most Valuable Player discussion. and explosive athleticism. But as his sec- finish a campaign in the top 20 in total Eastern Conference rival. in rebounding, 18th in assists, fifth in “A guy who leads the team in every cat- ond trip to the playoffs looms, he boasts a points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. “I haven’t thought anything about blocks and ninth in steals. He added six egory, who can finish in the top 20 in freakish level of skill as well, as Raptors He led the Bucks in all five of those sta- that,” Antetokounmpo said. “All regular- points and more than one assist per game every category, it’s just unheard of,” Kidd coach Dwane Casey knows all too well. tistical categories, emerging as the leader season that’s what it’s been for us, just to his prior career averages, earning an said. “This is a historical season for stats for “He’s totally different than anything else in of a young franchise that grabbed the chasing. We love when we chase. Just All-Star nod along the way. If it weren’t for a lot of players, as we know. He would be our league,” Casey said. —AFP Rod Carew’s new organs came from an NFL player SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO: Baseball Hall of surgery, but never woke from a coma and Famer Rod Carew received a new heart and his brain activity stopped a few weeks later. kidney from the late NFL player Konrad During the final hours Mary Reuland spent Reuland in what is believed to be the first with her oldest child, she kept her right ear such transplant involving pro athletes. on his chest. Her final words to the repre- Carew underwent the procedure last sentative of the organ procurement net- December and met Reuland’s family in work were, “Make sure his heart goes to a March after mutual friends connected really good person because Konrad was a Reuland’s death with news of Carew’s really good person.” transplant on Dec 16. Reuland had died four days earlier after a ruptured brain Health issues aneurysm at age 29. Reuland attended Last April, Konrad Reuland was renew- middle school in Southern California with ing his driver’s license in his parents’ home. Carew’s children, and he met Carew when He asked his mother whether he should he was 11. “The whole thing is just unbe- become an organ donor. She’d signed up to lievable,” Carew told American Heart do it, so he did, too. Carew’s health issues Association News. “I’ve been given a sec- began in September 2015 when he had a ond chance so I’m going to take advantage near-fatal heart attack while playing golf. of it, and I’ve got another family.” He spent a year with a left ventricular assist Reuland played for the New York Jets device in his chest handling the work of his and Baltimore Ravens. He also spent time damaged heart. Last fall, blood thinners he with the San Francisco 49ers and took as part of his protocol led to bleeding Indianapolis Colts, who released him last in his brain, making it more urgent for him August. The only details the Carew family to get a new heart. received before the transplant were that Carew went on the transplant waiting the donor was “male, late 20s, local, excep- list the Friday before Thanksgiving and tionally healthy.” The Reulands were told moved higher a few weeks later. He got the the recipient was a 71-year-old man from call that a match was found on Dec. 14. He Orange County. The two men’s blood type received the heart and kidney two days lat- was the same, but the key factor was both er. Heart disease has touched the Reulands, were immune from Hepatitis B. No one too. Mary lost her father and a 31-year-old ahead of Carew on the transplant list was brother to heart attacks; Ralf’s father has immune. received a stent and battles atrial fibrilla- Reuland’s parents, Ralf and Mary, and tion. Both families want to encourage more their youngest son Austin took turns listen- people to become organ donors. Carew’s ing through a stethoscope to Konrad’s family has long been signed up as organ MONTREAL: Montreal Canadiens’ Steve Ott, left, is checked into the boards by New York Rangers’ Brady Skjei during first-period Game 2 NHL heart beating inside Carew’s chest when donors in memory of his daughter, Stanley Cup first-round playoff hockey game action. — AP they met the former baseball star and his Michelle, who died of leukemia when she wife Rhonda, according to the American was unable to get a match for a bone mar- Heart Association News. “We are so thank- row transplant. The families plan to work ful, so grateful, so there aren’t adequate together, especially on “Heart of 29,” the Radulov lifts Canadians words,” Rhonda Crew told the Reulands. campaign Carew started last year with the Last fall, Reuland was on a treadmill when American Heart Association. The program’s he experienced a severe headache. The name came from Carew’s jersey number. aneurysm, a ballooning in an artery in his Because Konrad Reuland died at 29, the past Rangers in overtime brain, burst a few days later. He underwent name carries added meaning. —AP MONTREAL: The Montreal Canadiens were in blocked 23 shots before they even got to Fleury. OILERS 2, SHARKS 0 serious trouble until Tomas Plekanec gave them Brandon Saad scored for Columbus, and Sergei Connor McDavid and Zack Kassian scored short- NFL star Hernandez, serving new life with a tying goal with 18 seconds left. Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots. handed goals to help the Edmonton Oilers beat the And when Alexander Radulov scored 18:34 into San Jose Sharks, levelling their first-round series at life, acquitted in 2 slayings overtime, it gave a whole new look to their play- BLUES 2, WILD 1 one game apiece. Cam Talbot stopped all 16 shots off series with the New York Rangers. Instead of Jaden Schwartz scored with 2:27 remaining he faced for his first career playoff shutout and BOSTON: Former NFL star Aaron criminal record. Bradley is serving a five- heading to New York trailing by two games, the during a 4-on-4 situation and St. Louis beat Edmonton’s first postseason win since 2006. The Hernandez, already serving a life sentence year prison term in Connecticut for firing Canadiens won 4-3 on Friday night to even the Minnesota to take a 2-0 series lead. Joel Oilers missed the playoffs in each of the last 10 for a 2013 murder, was acquitted Friday in a shots at a Hartford nightclub in 2014. best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal 1- Edmundson had the first goal for the Blues after years. Kassian scored early in the second period 2012 double slaying prosecutors said was 1 with Game 3 set for Sunday night at Madison winning Game 1 in overtime, Jake Allen made 23 and McDavid doubled the lead midway through fueled by his anger over a drink spilled at a Silencing the witness Square Garden. saves, and coach Mike Yeo devised another the third period. It was a dominant performance by nightclub. The former New England Patriots Bradley testified that Hernandez “Every time you win you kind of change the shrewd plan against his former team. Zach Parise the Oilers and particularly by Kassian, a fourth-line tight end choked back tears as the verdicts became enraged after de Abreu bumped momentum,” Plekanec said. “You feel better scored again for the Wild, on a 5-on-3 late in the winger who drove the net effectively and delivered were read in court. A few moments later, he into him while dancing at the Boston night- about yourself and your game. But it’s just one second period, but goalie Devan Dubnyk simply bone-jarring hits on the Sharks’ Brenden Dillon and looked back at his fiancee and nodded club, spilling his drink. He said Hernandez game.