Boston Celtics to Play 76Ers in London
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Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017 43 Boston Celtics to play 76ers in London NEW YORK: The Boston Celtics will meet the The 76ers boast some of the NBA’s top hungry team and will be sure to give the whole Celtics organization to compete in Philadelphia 76ers at the O2 Arena in young talent, including 2016 NBA Draft top fans an exciting game against Boston in front of our loyal fans in London,” Thomas London in January for a regular NBA game, pick Ben Simmons of Australia, who missed January.” said. “I can’t wait to connect with them at league officials announced yesterday. all of last season with a foot injury, and 2017 The Celtics feature two-time NBA All-Star the NBA London Game 2018 and hopefully The game, to be played January 11, will top draft selection Markelle Fultz as well as point guard Isaiah Thomas, who led Boston make new fans in the process.” be the Celtics’ second trip to London, hav- 2016-17 campaign All-Rookie selections Joel with a career-high 28.9 points a game last Counting pre-season contests, it will be ing played Minnesota there in a 2007 pre- Embiid of Cameroon and Dario Saric of season, plus newly acquired All-Star Gordon the NBA’s 16th game in London. “Our events season contest, and the first for the 76ers, Croatia. Hayward from Utah and four-time NBA All- have become an annual opportunity for bas- whose prior British experience was a 2013 “I look forward to coming back to London Star Al Horford, the team’s top rebounder, ketball fans across Europe to come together pre-season game at Manchester against with the Sixers after visiting for the first time from the Dominican Republic. and share their passion for the NBA,” league Oklahoma City. this summer,” Embiid said. “We are a young, “It’s very exciting for our team and the commissioner Adam Silver said. — AFP Matsuyama grabs share of lead at PGA Championship CHARLOTTE: Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama birdied the par-5 15th hole to grab a share of the lead early in yesterday’s opening round of the 99th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. World number three Matsuyama, coming off a World Golf Championships victory Sunday at Akron that included a final-round 61, was on two-under par alongside England’s Paul Casey and Chris Wood and American Jim Herman. Matsuyama opened on the back nine and struck quick- ly, sinking a 53-foot birdie putt on the par-5 10th and mak- ing a 12-footer for birdie at the par-4 11th. He stumbled with a bogey at 12, finding the right rough with his first two shots, but bounced back at 15 despite missing a five-foot eagle putt. Casey birdied the par-4 11th and 12th while Wood opened birdie-birdie then took bogey at the par-3 13th before responding with a birdie at 14. Herman opened with a birdie at the first and added another at the fifth hole. — AFP CHARLOTTE: Jordan Spieth of the United States putts on the 13th green during the first round of the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina. — AFP GOLF Spieth launches his career Grand Slam bid as PGA opens CHARLOTTE: Jordan Spieth began his week at Akron after a final-round 61, pressure trying to break the age mark, charge at golf history with a par yester- also went birdie-birdie at 10 and 11 but saying he has many years to try and day morning at the PGA Championship, stumbled back with a bogey at the par-4 complete the career Slam, his larger pri- launching his bid to become the 12th hole. Alongside Spieth in the fea- ority. “There won’t be added expecta- youngest player to complete a career ture group were the year’s two other tions or pressure,” Spieth said. “It’s not a Grand Slam. With a victory, Spieth major winners, Spain’s Sergio Garcia burning desire to have to be the would become only the sixth man to from the Masters, who made a 10-foot youngest to do something, and that sweep the four current major titles in a birdie putt at the 10th, and American would be the only reason there would career after Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka from the US Open, who be added expectations.” Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene lipped out from five feet for birdie and Spieth also could become the first to Sarazen. settled for par. finish the career Slam with a victory at World number two Spieth, who won Spieth, who also won the 2015 the PGA. “He’s a special guy,” four-time last month’s British Open for his third Masters and US Open, would become major winner Ernie Els said. “He has won major title, opened on the longest hole the youngest golfer to complete a some events really showing some grit. of par-71 Quail Hollow’s 7,600-yard lay- career Grand Slam by winning the You can’t really describe it, but it’s there. out, the 592-yard par-5 10th, by finding Wanamaker Trophy here, being 190 The guy finds a way of getting it done. the fairway with a 290-yard tee shot. days younger than Woods was when he He’s really playing his game and grind- The 24-year-old American left his sec- won the 2000 British Open. “He has that ing it out. That’s a great way to win golf ond shot in the heart of the fairway, intangible of when he doesn’t have his tournaments.” then dropped his approach 23 feet best stuff... to still find a way to win,” Spieth is ready for the challenge of a beyond the hole and two-putted for par. said five-time major champion Phil course that has absorbed an inch of rain Scotland’s Russell Knox and Mickelson. “It’s just that indescribable this week, giving long hitters an extra England’s Chris Wood opened birdie- trait that he has to find a way to get it edge with balls plopping into fairways CHARLOTTE: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays his shot birdie on the back nine to seize the early done, find the will to win. He’s extremely and holding on greens that might other- from the 18th tee during the first round of the 2017 PGA lead in the first round of the year’s last tough to beat because he just finds a wise be lightning-fast. “This is going to Championship at Quail Hollow Club yesterday in major tournament. Japan’s Hideki way to gut it out.” be one of the most challenging tracts I Charlotte, North Carolina. — AFP Matsuyama, coming off a victory last Spieth dismisses the idea of extra think we’ve played,” Spieth said.—AFP.