Established 1961 25 Sports Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Warriors seek more NBA glory as title-hungry rivals lurk

Stare Warriors to open 2018-19 NBA campaign against Oklahoma City

WASHINGTON: Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player nine in all from 1957-1966, is the only NBA squad to Stephen Curry will enjoy watching the Golden State reach five consecutive NBA Finals-a feat the Warriors hoist another championship banner today Warriors can achieve this season. The Houston when they open the 2018-19 NBA campaign against Rockets, who pushed the Warriors to seven games in Oklahoma City. last season’s Western Conference finals, and the But the 3-point sharpshooter doesn’t need to look to Boston Celtics, bringing back injured stars Kyrie the rafters to know the Warriors remain the team to Irving and Gordon Hayward to a team that was one beat as they begin the quest for a third consecutive win from last season’s Eastern Conference crown, NBA title and fourth crown in five seasons. figure to lead a pack of rivals who ache for a chance “I’m still glowing,” Curry said. “The glow won’t wear to play for the championship. down until you get beat.” The Warriors boast three oth- “To be honest, it’s fun,” Curry said of wearing the er All-Stars in two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable target for every NBA rival. “No matter if it’s a Tuesday Player Kevin Durant, defensive stalwart Draymond night at home or a back-to-back in some random East Green and Curry’s backcourt partner Klay Thompson- Coast city, you’re going to be tested and you can’t just plus a fifth in injured center DeMarcus Cousins, signed sleepwalk through stuff. in July but still sidelined after left Achilles tendon sur- “We’ve been exposed at times in terms of when gery in January. we’re not extremely locked in that we can be beat. But Working Cousins into the lineup once he returns when we are focused and in tune with each other, could add some zest to the regular season for Golden understanding what we’re trying to do to be successful, State, which has so far avoided letting repetitive domi- obviously we’re tough.” nation lead to complacency. “That’s the thing I’m most No one knows that better than the Rockets, who proud of with our team,” Curry said. “We’re talented won a league-best 65 games last season behind NBA and all that, but the work that goes into it, the mental Most Valuable Player and scoring champion James approach to turn the page, has been there the last three Harden. Houston led Golden State 3-2 in the West finals years. “You work so hard to earn the right to be proud before Chris Paul suffered an injured hamstring and SAN JOSE: File photo shows Quinn Cook #4 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against the Los of yourself at the end of the summer.” missed the last two games, both won by the Warriors to Angeles Lakers during a pre-season game on October 12, 2018 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. —AFP reach the NBA Finals, where they swept Cleveland for ‘CAN’T JUST SLEEPWALK’ the crown. Golden State will try to become the first team since West to Golden State’s supremacy after adding 10-time out what that answer is.” the 2000-2002 Los Angeles Lakers to win three con- ‘WE’VE GOT AN ANSWER’ All-Star Carmelo Anthony to the lineup. The Celtics have some sorting to do as well in an secutive NBA titles and join the 1950s Minneapolis While four-time NBA MVP LeBron James left “We’re trying to win a championship. The margin East up for grabs with James gone from Cleveland. Lakers and 1960s Boston Celtics as the only clubs to Cleveland for the Los Angeles Lakers, he’s unlikely to for error is very little,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni Toronto added Kawhi Leonard and Philadelphia offers win four titles in five years. lift them from 35 wins to title contenders in a season, said. “With this team, the depth we have, I think we’ve young star talent but Boston figures to be the best in The Celtics dynasty, with eight titles in a row and leaving the Rockets to again offer the best threat in the got an answer for everything. We’ve just got to figure the East. — AFP

Bradley’s 3-run double helps Red Sox even ALCS Papalii gets surprise nod for BOSTON: Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a go-ahead, bases- clearing double with two outs in the third inning, and the All Blacks tour Boston Red Sox evened the American League Championship Series at one game apiece with a 7-5 vic- tory over the visiting Houston Astros on Sunday night. WELLINGTON: The All Blacks named Game 3 is today in Houston. Andrew Benintendi and uncapped flanker yesterday in a Rafael Devers had RBI singles in the opening inning off 32-man squad for a Test against Australia in Gerrit Cole (0-1) before Bradley’s key hit two innings lat- Japan and their tour involving matches against er. “I mean, he’s been doing that for a while,” Boston England, Ireland and Italy. manager Alex Cora said of Bradley. “Got to the point Papalii, who turned 21 last week, the only new- during the season that we had to actually take him out of comer in the squad, gets his chance after Sam the lineup for three, four, five days during the week- BOSTON: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros slides safely into second base in the ninth inning against the Cane fractured a vertebra in the All Blacks’ win actually right before we went to Houston. Boston Red Sox during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on Sunday in over South Africa earlier this month. The young “And he worked on his craft. He found a few things that Boston, Massachusetts. — AFP openside signed for this year and has he really liked about his swing. Seems like now he under- enjoyed a strong domestic season, leading the stands who he is as a hitter. There’s not too many hard-hit competition tackle count with his team top of the ground balls into his shift. He’s staying through it.” by getting the next four outs. Ryan Brasier retired Yuli slapped a single to left. ladder. Mookie Betts scored on Benintendi’s hit and also Gurriel with tying run on base to end a scoreless sev- The Astros tied the game in the second when “He has played outstanding rugby this year scored an insurance run in the seventh on the second enth, and Rick Porcello struck out two in a perfect Springer doubled down the right field line past Pearce’s and deserves his opportunity,” All Blacks coach passed ball of the inning by catcher Martin Maldonado. eighth. dive at first base. Gonzalez made it 4-2 when he hit said. The squad also included the He added an RBI double in the eighth off Hector Rondon. Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel allowed a two-out Price’s full-count fastball off an advertisement above the return of a number of senior players, including Houston’s George Springer extended his postseason double to Springer in the ninth. Springer took third on a Monster seats with two outs in the third. hooker , lock , loose hitting streak to 11 games with two hits, including a two- wild pitch and scored on Jose Altuve’s single off the Gonzalez nearly exited the game in the bottom of the forward and prop . run double. Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for Green Monster, but Kimbrel got the save when third when he crashed into the Green Monster attempt- The All Blacks will face Australia in Yokohama the Astros, who host the next three games after losing Benintendi made a twisting catch in front of the wall on ing to catch Pearce’s fly ball that went for a double. He on October 27, England at Twickenham on for the first time in this year’s postseason. Alex Bregman’s fly ball to left. crashed to the ground, was attended to by a trainer for a November 10, Ireland in Dublin on November 17 Boston left-hander David Price remained winless as a Cole allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits in six few minutes and stayed in the game. and Italy in Rome on November 24. Hansen also starter in the postseason. In his 11th career playoff start, innings. “I thought he was a little over-amped,” Houston Hinch said of Gonzalez, “He got back to the wall. He’s named a 19-man squad to gather ahead of the he allowed four runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. Price manager A.J. Hinch said of Cole. “He was pretty excited. played a couple of balls off this wall almost like a home Test against Japan in Tokyo on November 3, a exited to a nice hand from the crowd after issuing two A lot of energy. Wasn’t making a ton of pitches. And then player. He’s pretty good out there. He banged his back, week after the match against the Wallabies. walks in the fifth, and it was the first time his team won he found it. ... The line’s going to (look) a little bit tougher upper back and neck. We went out there to make sure “Having the extra group come to Japan will any of his postseason starts. on him than he pitched.” there was no issue with his head. And there wasn’t. allow us to send the bulk of our main squad to “It wasn’t the line I dreamed up to have tonight, but The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead two batters into the bot- “The ball, the wall, he’s backpedaling. He’s got to London early to acclimatise,” he said. The squad our offense, our defense, everybody rallied together,” tom of the first when Betts doubled to deep center and make a decision on whether or not to concede the wall for the Japan Test includes seven uncapped play- Price said. “That’s what we’ve done all year. Whenever scored on Benintendi’s single. After Cole made a throw- and try to play it off the wall or try to make a catch. It’s ers and Hansen said it was an opportunity to starters needed to be picked up, they picked us up and ing error on a ground ball by Xander Bogaerts, he not too dissimilar to what he’s got to do at home, at our build depth and knowledge of Japan ahead of vice versa. So that was big.” Matt Barnes followed Price walked Steve Pearce to load the bases. Devers then place. But it’s a well-placed hit.” —Reuters next year’s World Cup. “We’ll also be using the Japanese leg of our Tour to road test a few things ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup, as we will be using the Bolt fumes over same hotels and training facilities while we are there,” he said. Koreas to hold talks New Zealand squad for Australia, England, drug test notice Ireland and Italy Tests: this month on joint FORWARDS SYDNEY: Sprint legend Usain Bolt says he’s Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, , Olympic bid stunned after being handed a drug testing , , Joe Moody, Karl notice despite retiring from athletics and having Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Brodie SEOUL: North and South Korea will discuss the details for no professional contract as he bids to launch a Retallick, , , Vaea their planned joint bid for the 2032 Olympics later this month to football career in Australia. Fifita, Dalton Papalii, (capt), Ardie follow up on an ambitious agreement reached between their The 100m world record-holder quit athlet- Savea, Liam Squire, . leaders in September. ics last year and is yet to be offered a deal by The radical concept, which would require an unprecedented Australia’s Central Coast Mariners, where he BACKS level of cooperation and mutual trust on the long-divided is currently on trial. “So guys I’ve retired from TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Te Toiroa Korean peninsula, was included in a joint statement issued after track and field looking to become a footballer Tahuriorangi, , Damian a September summit between the North’s leader Kim Jong Un but look at this,” Bolt said yesterday via an McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, , Jack and the South’s President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang. Instagram video as he zoomed in on the Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill “The South and North agreed to ... discuss the issue of notice. Usain Bolt Williams, , , Waisake South-North joint hosting of the 2032 Summer Olympics The demand for the out of competition Naholo, . around the end of the month at the joint liaison office,” read a test-to collect urine and blood-appears to joint statement issued after a high-level meeting yesterday. have been issued by Football Federation son who competes in sport” if “the sport has an Additional squad for the Japan Test: No further details were given. Pyongyang boycotted the Australia. “How am I going to get a drug test anti-doping policy”. The eight-time Olympic FORWARDS 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics after it demanded co-hosting today? I’m not even a professional footballer champion, who dominated sprinting after taking , , Tyrel Lomax, rights and negotiations fell apart over how to share the events, yet. Seriously,” said Bolt. double individual gold at the Beijing Olympics Reuben O’Neill, Tim Perry, Angus Ta’avao, Luke but its decision to participate in this year’s Pyeongchang “So I asked the lady, ‘Why am I getting drug in 2008, is now bidding to become a profes- Romano, , Gareth Evans, Dillon Winter Games triggered a dramatic diplomatic turnaround on tested when I haven’t signed for a club yet?’ sional footballer. Hunt, . the peninsula. and she said they told her I’m an elite athlete so He made his case on Friday by scoring two It came after tensions mounted the previous year, with the I have to get tested. Okay then.” Despite his goals for the Mariners in a pre-season friendly. BACKS North carrying out multiple missile launches and its most pow- displeasure, it appears the Australian Sports The superstar, a massive Manchester United , , Brett Cameron, erful nuclear test to date, and Kim trading personal insults and Anti-Doping Authority guidelines mean he is fan, has been handed a chance to train with the Ngani Laumape, , , threats of war with US President Donald Trump. —AFP eligible to be tested. A-League side for an indefinite period in order , Nehe Milner-Skudder. —AFP Their legislation defines an athlete as a “per- to pursue his dream. —AFP