SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 2017 SPORTS Young Bucks battle history against Raptors in playoff : 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 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 device in his chest handling the work of his and . He also spent time damaged heart. Last fall, blood thinners he with the and took as part of his protocol led to bleeding , 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. We have to get better because we haven’t hasn’t been as dominant as Allen at the other Logan Couture. By the end of the second period, somberly as relatives of the victims sobbed later opened fire on the men’s car as they played a great game yet.” Plekanec was put out end. Screened by David Perron, Dubnyk didn’t the Rogers Place fans were chanting “Kass-ee-ann! loudly. A defense attorney hugged him. waited at a stoplight. Prosecutors charged for the final shift of the third period, with goalie track Schwartz’s deep shot from the slot. He Kass-ee-ann!” It was a reversal of Game 1, when the After six days of deliberations, the jury Hernandez with shooting Bradley in the Carey Price pulled for an extra attacker, because made 20 saves. Oilers were outshot 44-19 en route to a 3-2 over- found Hernandez not guilty of first-degree face months after the double slaying to try coach Claude Julien felt it was important to get time loss. —AP murder in the killings of Daniel de Abreu to silence him as a witness. Bradley lost his the puck right away. Plekanec had a 63 percent and Safiro Furtado but convicted him of right eye. Hernandez was acquitted of wit- win rate on faceoffs. The veteran ended up redi- unlawful possession of a gun. The judge ness intimidation in that shooting. recting Radulov’s feed past goal Henrik sentenced him to an additional four to five Defense attorney Ronald Sullivan Jr said Lundqvist to send the Bell Centre crowd of Jackson says that a trade years in prison, separate from his existing the jury was able to see through the 21,288 into a frenzy. The goal was the latest life sentence. Suffolk District Attorney “smoke and mirrors” that made up the tying playoff goal in Canadiens history, beating may be best for Carmelo Daniel Conley said the victims’ families state’s case. He described Hernandez as a Jacques Lemaire’s goal in 1975 with 24 seconds were devastated by the verdicts and by the “very good young man who happened to remaining. Then Radulov, with his third point of the night, jammed the puck under Lundqvist GREENBURGH: Phil Jackson thinks Carmelo back and regret that,” Jackson said. “Obviously defense’s portrayal of the men as “gang hang out with a very bad guy in Alexander Anthony and the Knicks might be better off it hasn’t worked out, this partnership together. bangers” and “drug dealers.” “These were Bradley.” Conley said prosecutors would not from the edge of the crease in OT. For a team that couldn’t buy a goal in a 2-0 going their separate ways. “We have not been Somehow or other it didn’t click here with this two hardworking, humble, Cape Verdean go after Bradley in the killings because they able to win with him on the court at this time team, but he’s done his role and played his immigrants,” Conley said. “It was unneces- believe they already charged the right per- loss in the series opener, finally getting some offense was huge. “I sat here and had to answer and I think the direction with our team is that role quite well.” Jackson said he warned sary, and it was wrong, and it shouldn’t son. “Our theory of the case stands,” Conley he is a player that would be better off some- Anthony after last season the Knicks wouldn’t have been done.” said. “In our minds, (the evidence) points questions I felt we didn’t deserve (after Game 1) and it gave is a little chip on our shoulder,” cap- where else and using his talent somewhere he be able to provide him a winning team, but Conley said prosecutors and the families inescapably to Aaron Hernandez.” Jury fore- can win or chase that championship,” Jackson Anthony opted to stay. The Knicks had trade take solace in the fact Hernandez is serving woman Lindsey Stringer read a statement tain Max Pacioretty said. “Obviously, we didn’t want to go down 2-0 going on the road, but said Friday. talks during the season but couldn’t find any- a life sentence in the killing of Odin Lloyd, a noting the more than 70 witnesses and 380 Jackson stopped short of saying he wanted thing workable, and it was during that time semi-professional football player who was exhibits presented in the case. “We based every shift you have a chance to make a differ- ence in a game and everyone had that same to trade his All-Star forward, but certainly that their relationship suffered, along with the dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. our decision on the evidence presented seems eager to explore a deal that would help team’s record. Prosecutors in the double murder trial and the law,” said Stringer, who took no mindset. “The coach came in here after two and after the Knicks get younger and more athletic. “So in our talks this time we talked about weren’t allowed to mention his conviction questions. “Right now we need players that are really how we’re going to go about doing what we in Lloyd’s case. Conley said one of the vic- Prosecutors had introduced evidence three and just said the right things to everybody. It was such a good feeling to see everyone stop active, can play every single play, defensively have to do,” Jackson said. “We will take into tims’ relatives said, “At least he’s not walking Hernandez got a tattoo that memorialized and offensively,” Jackson said. “That’s really account his consideration. I told him this is not out the door today.” the double slaying. California tattoo artist what they were doing and be completely still and listen to what the coach had to say. important for us.” Jackson spoke to the local a situation where we’re going to dump you or The defense team had pointed the fin- David Nelson testified Hernandez request- media Friday for the first time since do anything like that, but we’re looking to ger at Alexander Bradley, a drug dealer and ed an image of a revolver with the gun bar- Everyone just bought in so well and it showed in our game and our resilience.” Jeff Petry and Paul September. The Knicks finished 31-51 in their improve ourselves however we can.” Jackson close friend of Hernandez, who was with rel facing forward. Hernandez wanted five fourth straight season out of the playoffs. said he we would want back a “significant play- him the night of the shootings. The defense bullets visible in the cylinder of the gun Byron also scored for the Canadiens. They out- shot New York 45-30 in regulation time and 58- He met with Anthony a day earlier, a meet- er” to replace Anthony, who remains the Knicks’ hammered at Bradley’s credibility, citing his and one cylinder empty, Nelson said. ing he said was cordial. The 32-year-old veter- leading scorer, and was vague on whether he immunity deal with prosecutors to testify Authorities said Hernandez fired five shots 38 overall. The Rangers looked to be protecting their an wants to play for a winning team, and thought Anthony could return if there was no against Hernandez, his role as the driver of from a revolver into the car carrying de Jackson explained that it may be time for trade. “That’s a long way down the road, but their car the night of the shootings and his Abreu and Furtado.— AP lead in the third period, when they were outshot 18-9, and gave up most of the scoring chances in Anthony to go looking for one elsewhere there’s very few options at that level,” Jackson OT, including Shea Weber’s shot that clanged off because the Knicks can’t provide it. “We just said. “But there are options.” — AP a goalpost. “It was a good game,” Rangers coach talked about how we could make things the Alain Vigneault said. “Both teams battled hard best possible things for both of us,” Jackson and got some looks. Both teams’ goalies made said, “(find) a place where he could go to be some good saves.” Asked if losing the lead and competitive and to be back in the hunt, and the game may affect his team, Vigneault said: something that would benefit us moving for- “When the puck drops on Sunday, we won’t ward as a young, developing team.” remember that.” Michael Grabner, Mats Zuccarello and Rick Nash scored for the Rangers Rebuilding the team as they fought back from early 1-0 and 2-1 The team’s president of basketball opera- deficits. tions says he believes there’s been progress, but signaled he will start another rebuilding of PENGUINS 4, BLUE JACKETS 1 the team, a year after acquiring a number of Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists, veterans he hoped would join Anthony in Marc-Andre Fleury stayed sharp in his second becoming a playoff squad. Moving Anthony straight playoff start and Pittsburgh pulled away will be difficult, given his age and the $54 mil- to beat Columbus in Game 2. Jake Guentzel lion remaining on the five-year deal Jackson added a goal and an assist to help the defending gave him in 2014. He also granted Anthony a Stanley Cup champions take a 2-0 lead in the no-trade clause in that contract, but said he best-of-seven series. Evgeni Malkin scored his doesn’t regret it. BOSTON: In this still image from video, Aaron Hernandez, center, is hugged by “He’s carried the basic load for this team. I GREENBURGH: New York Knicks president Phil defense attorney Ronald Sullivan Friday, April 14, 2017, in court in Boston, after first goal of the postseason, and Patric Hornqvist pushed in an empty-net goal. Fleury finished thought he stood up well this year in a lot of Jackson answers questions during a news con- being found not guilty of murder in the 2012 shootings of two men in a drive-by tough situations. I can’t regret it. I can’t go ference at the team’s training facility. — AP shooting in Boston. — AP with 39 saves while filling in for the injured Matt Murray, and received plenty of help. Pittsburgh