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Sports Friday, June 8, 2018 ’s heroics power Warriors to brink of NBA crown

‘We have another opportunity today to extend the series’

CLEVELAND: Defending champion Golden definitely an assassin and that was one of those State, powered by 43 points from Kevin Durant, assassin plays right there,” James said. moved to the brink of a third NBA title in four sea- “It was like deja vu seeing that shot again,” sons Wednesday by defeating the Cav- Cavaliers forward said. It was another aliers 110-102. The Warriors seized a dagger in the title hopes of James, who had 33 commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven NBA points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists while Kevin Finals and by winning game four Friday would Love added 20 points and 13 rebounds for the complete the first championship series sweep Cavaliers. since Cleveland was blanked by San Antonio in “It was a big shot,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn 2007. “I don’t want to downplay anything but I Lue said. “He was four or five feet behind the don’t want to act like this is the end of the road,” (3-) line and he raised up and made a big Durant said. “We did some things that we need to shot for them. So, you know, kind of like he did correct if we want to win the next game. I’ve just last year.” got stay locked in.” No team has ever recovered The Cavaliers had been 8-1 at home in the from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series, playoffs with eight wins in a row since losing their but the Cavaliers made the top comeback in NBA first-round opener to Indiana. “We feel like we’ve Finals history in 2016 from 3-1 down to swipe a been right there,” Love said. “We just have to title from Golden State. come out Friday and not give in.” “It’s definitely a tough loss,” said Cavaliers star But the Warriors improved to 10-2 against the CLEVELAND: Kevin Durant #35 of the defends LeBron James #23 of the LeBron James. “We had our chances. But we have Cavaliers since Durant joined Golden State before in Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. —AFP another opportunity today to extend the series last season. “His overall game was ridiculous-the but we’ve got to come out and play 48 minutes.” passing, the rebounding, the scoring,” Kerr said. Durant added 12 rebounds and seven assists to “It wasn’t just the number of points. It seemed like “Kevin was the story in the first half just keep- “As usual he hit a big one,” Kerr said. “He al- his top playoff scoring total, but it was not until his every time we needed a bucket he got it for us.” ing us in the game,” Kerr said. “And then he was ways finds a way to make big plays even on his 3-pointer with 49 seconds remaining to give the James landed badly going for a early the story in the second half as well, closing it out.” toughest nights.” Curry had 11 points while Warriors a 106-100 lead that Cleveland’s fate was in the second quarter and limped on his right JaVale McGee scored six points and Durant McGee, , and sealed. “That was amazing what he did out there,” ankle, but the four-time NBA Most Valuable added five in a 15-3 Golden State run early in the Jordan Ball all had 10. Warriors coach said. “Some of those Player kept the Cavaliers in contention to the end. third quarter that produced the Warriors’ first Warriors forward , the 2015 shots, I don’t think anybody in the world but him “I twisted it pretty good,” James said. “But I’ll be lead and saw it grow to a team-best 69-64. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, returned to could have made those shots. He was incredible.” in the lineup today.” Durant scored nine points in The Cavaliers battled into the final seconds but Golden State’s lineup after being sidelined by a Durant’s last basket was eerily like a 3-pointer a 15-8 run to close the second quarter that pulled , who missed 13 of his first 14 shots, left leg bone bruise. He suffered a bruised right he made late in game three last year against the Golden State within 58-52 at half-time after trail- conncted on a layup and 3-pointer back-to-back leg in the second quarter but returned in the Cavs that clinched a Golden State victory. “He’s ing by as many as 13 points. to give Golden State the lead for good. fourth quarter. —AFP

ing also played for Lord’s-based county side Middlesex, added: Lord’s inspires “This is the best place on earth. Literally. “Mate, what a place. Lord’s is the best place on earth. What about lunch (here)?” Australia’s World But Australia, who won the 1999 World Cup final at Lord’s, may need to improve their ODI form if they are to reach next year’s Kohli named showpiece match and be crowned champions for a record-extend- Cup ‘dream’ ing sixth time. England, who beat Australia 4-1 in an ODI series ‘Down Under’ Indian cricketer earlier this year, are currently top of the 50-over rankings, with LONDON: Australia captain Tim Paine believes training at Lord’s Langer’s side fifth. As well as Smith and Warner, Australia will also has fuelled the team’s “dream” of appearing in next year’s World Cup be without injured first-choice fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cum- of the year final at the ‘home of cricket’. mings and Josh Hazlewood for the upcoming series. The reigning world champions have been at Lord’s this week They will look to the likes of Travis Head and D’Arcy Short to fill NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli won India’s cricketer of the year ahead of a one-day international series against England.The five- the run-gap, while pacemen Kane Richardson, Andrew Tye, Jhye award for the fifth time yesterday for outstanding perform- match contest, which gets underway across London at The Oval on Richardson and Billy Stanlake stake their claims. “How do you re- ances over the past two seasons. Kohli became India’s cap- June 13, will mark the first time Australia have been in international place David Warner’s and Steve Smith’s runs and experience?,” tain in 2015 and led his team back to number one place in action since March’s ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. asked Langer. the Test rankings the following year. The fall-out from one of the most humiliating episodes in Aus- “But the reality is that’s where we’re at. If we’re going to come The 29-year-old, who was also named International tralian cricket history led to year-long bans for former captain Steve and win the World Cup here next year we’ll need unbelievable depth Cricket Council player of the year in January, amassed Smith and his deputy David Warner, as well as a nine-month sus- in Australian cricket.” Paine added: “We can win this series. It’s an 1,332 runs in 13 Tests in 2016-2017. He also averaged 84.22 pension for batsman Cameron Bancroft, who applied sandpaper to opportunity for other guys to come in and fill the void. for his 1,516 runs in 27 one-day internationals. In six Tests the ball during the third Test in Cape Town in a flagrant breach of “Not having our bowlers here is an opportunity for in 2017-18, the star batsman has scored 896 runs at an av- cricket’s rulebook. guys who are probably a bit better than people around the world erage of 89.6. Darren Lehmann subsequently resigned as team coach, with realise.” Meanwhile Paine, who took over as captain in South Kohli will receive the prestigious Polly Umrigar award, Justin Langer succeeding his fellow former Australia batsman.It Africa, said Australia were prepared for taunts from English crowds named after a former India captain, and a $45,000 prize was at Lord’s where the now 33-year-old Paine made his Test following the ball-tampering scandal. “We expect that when we at a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) function debut in a ‘neutral’ match against Pakistan in 2010. come to England all the time,” he said ahead of Thursday’s tour- in Bangalore on June 12. He previously won the award in “I haven’t been here for about eight or nine years but one of the opener against a Sussex side coached by former Australia fast 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The prize is not granted in first things we (the squad) did was a slow lap together and let it all bowler Jason Gillespie. every calendar year, due to scheduling issues, and is de- sink in, the history and tradition,” Paine told reporters at Lord’s on “We cop a little bit of ribbing and this time we come with a bit termined on previous seasons’ performances. Known as Wednesday. “We also talked about the World Cup final here in 12 more of a reason for them to do it,” Paine added. “We’re looking “King Kohli” in his home country, the player was recently months’ time as a dream for our guys to work to,” the wicket-keeper forward to it, to be honest.” But the Tasmanian stressed: “We won’t ranked the highest paid cricketer in the world, at 83rd in explained. be overly nice. We’ve still got to have that hard edge. We’re here the Forbes’ list of big earning athletes. —AFP Langer, who knows the ground better than most Australians, hav- to win.” —AFP