B4 BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE Friday, August 21,2020

NBA Timberwolves win lottery, rights to top pick

By Tim Reynolds AP BASKETBALL WRITER

The NBA draft lottery was delayed three months. The are cer- tainly feeling like the wait was worthwhile. The Timberwolves won the lottery Thurs- day night, giving them the No. 1 pick. The lottery was conducted virtually because of the pandemic, with NBA officials doing the actual draw in Secau- cus, N.J. Golden State holds the Michael Wyke /Associated Press No. 2 pick, Charlotte got Minnesota won the NBA draft lottery Thursday, the No. 3 pick and Chica- locking up the No.1 pick for the first time since 2015. go will pick fourth. The Hornets and Bulls both about starting next sea- only three games for bucked the odds to move son with one or multiple Memphis and averaged into the upper echelon. bubbles, like the one 19.7 points before giving The Timberwolves where the league is play- up what had been a were 19-45 this season, ing now at Walt Disney lengthy fight with the marking the 14th time in World in Lake Buena NCAA over his eligibili- 15 years that they failed to Vista, Fla., but the obvi- ty. Ball, a 6-foot-7 guard, make the playoffs and ous preference is to have averaged 17 points in 12 finished with a losing re- fans returning to games. games while playing in cord. And a month ago, “Our No. 1 goal is to get Australia’s top pro Glen Taylor — who has fans back in our arenas,” league this past season. owned the franchise Silver said on the tele- Cleveland got the fifth since 1994 — said he “will cast. “My sense is, in pick, followed by Atlan- entertain” offers for the working with the players ta, Detroit, New Yo rk, Timberwolves. association, if we could Washington, Phoenix, It’ll be Minnesota’s push back even a little San Antonio, Sacramen- first time holding the No. longer and increase the to and New Orleans at 1pick since 2015. likelihood of having fans No. 13. Chicago had a 32 per- in arenas, that’s what we Memphis, which had cent chance of moving in- would be targeting.” 200-1 odds of winning the to the top four spots, So not only is it unclear No. 1 pick and was 97.6 Charlotte about a 26 per- which player is going percent certain of finish- cent chance. They leap- when, but it’s also un- ing 14th, ended up in ex- frogged four teams that clear when anyone will actly that spot — a pick had better top-four odds see their NBA debuts. that will now be convey- —Cleveland, Atlanta, Unlike a year ago, ed to Boston as part of a Detroit and New Yo rk. when trade that happened in For now, the delayed was clearly going to be 2015. It means the Celtics draft — originally set for the first selection, there could have three first- late June — is scheduled is no consensus about the round picks on draft for Oct. 16. The NBA has No. 1 pick. night, barring any moves been hoping for a Dec. 1 Top candidates in- by Boston beforehand. start to the 2020-21 sea- clude Georgia’s Anthony The rest of the first- son, though Commis- Edwards, Memphis’ round order, starting sioner Adam Silver said James Wiseman and La- with the No. 15 pick and on the ESPN telecast of Melo Ball — the brother going to No. 30, as of now that draft lottery that of New Orleans guard is: Orlando, Portland, date now “is feeling a lit- Lonzo Ball. Minnesota, Dallas, tle bit early to me.” Edwards, a 6-foot-5 Brooklyn, Miami, Phila- LEGAL NOTICE Without fans at games, guard, averaged 19.1 delphia, Denver, Utah, NOTICE IS HEREBY amajor revenue stream points in 32 games for Milwaukee, Oklahoma GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE is obviously lost for the Georgia in his lone col- City, Boston, New Yo rk, WITH THE TERMS AND league and its teams. lege season. Wiseman, a the , PROVISIONS OF THE There have been talks 7-foot-1 center, played in Toronto and Boston. TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE THAT, ALI’S TOBACCO PLUS HAS FILED FOR A WINE AND BEER RETAILER’S ROCKETS Late third-quarter run seals win OFF-PREMISE PERMIT TO BE ISSUED TO 2109 MAGNOLIA AVE., PORT for team after defense does heavy lifting NECHES, JEFFERSON OPERATOR COUNTY, TX 77651. Continued from page B1 Coastal Demolition Beaumont Texas JAWED HUSSAIN, you they’re probably not OWNER Demolition Operator looking for experienced operator,capable of going to win that game,” operating a track hoe with different attachments. Health Insurance Rockets center P.J. Tucker vacation and sick leave programs. Local work in Beaumont area.40 to said. “That’s pretty accord- 50 hours work weeks, Appy in person at ; ing to plan. We always talk Coastal Demolition 3190 Hollywood St, Beaumont Texas or call 409-833-4415 about trying to hold people to 24 points and under in a DRIVERS quarter. We did that twice Coastal Ready Mix,Inc in the second half. That gives our offense a chance Coastal Ready Mix, Inc. is hiring Class A & B CDL drivers for cement to win it.” mixer trucks.Health, Dental, Vision, Life & 401K available. Oklahoma City has built Apply in person at Coastal Ready Mix, Inc. 6363 North Twin City much of its success on its Hwy, Unit One, Nederland, TX excellence in the final five minutes of games, but the CDL DRIVERS Johnnie On The Spot Thunder made just 33.3 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Nederland, TX percent of their fourth- The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), who See Below to Apply quarter shots. The 39 sec- scored a game-high 31 points, drives against Jeff Now hiring Vacuum Truck Drivers. Full-time position. Good pay & ond-half points were just Green, bottom, and Robert Covington. benefits. Apply in person at 4635 Hodgson Rd., Nederland, TX 77627 or call 409-724-6647 four more than the fewest the Rockets had allowed in ing. Yo u miss five, shoot 10 pushed on the gas on them. any half this season. more. We instill that confi- That was a game-changer At Your Service “It’s a bonus, because dence in everybody on our for us.” when we’re making shots, team.” Harden returned to sink TO ADVERTISE: (409) 838-2888 our swag is way crazier,” That helped lead to bal- apair of free throws before Classifi[email protected] Harden said. “But our anced scoring around setting up Jeff Green for a 3. swag is even better when Harden’s and Gordon’s With Oklahoma City still LANDSCAPING | Mobile Mower Repair Specialized riding mowers & tillers. Why Wait 2-3 we’re not, because we have drives. Danuel House Jr. within nine heading to the weeks? ’’We go to U’’ (409)540-1785. to guard and defend and had career playoff highs final four minutes, Harden get on the same page defen- with 19 points and nine re- put the game away with a sively.” bounds. Even with Russell mid-range jumper and his The Rockets still had to Westbrook out, the six second 3-pointer of the find scoring to make up for players other than Harden night. all the shots they were and Gordon combined to In many ways, however, missing. But as much as make 49.1 percent of their the Rockets got the win be- they seemed lifted when shots. cause they were ready to be Tucker ended the streak of That was most obvious at their best when their clanged 3s with a 3-pointer when the Rockets took shooting was its worst. 13 seconds into the second control of the game while “Second half, I thought half that he quickly fol- Harden sat late in the third (the defense) was incredi- lowed with another, Tuck- quarter, a stretch when ble,” D’Antoni said. “That er said little thought had Westbrook normally runs won us the game. Yo u have been paid to the Rockets’ 2- the offense. After a short to win games playing bad. of-19 3-point shooting in the jumper from Shai Gilge- The first half, we shot the second quarter and that he ous-Alexander, who led ball horribly. But you did not even know about the Thunder with 31 points, know, two games. I just the run of misses. the Rockets outscored told the team all we did was “That’s our team. That’s Oklahoma City, 21-8, while defend home court. Now how we are,” Tucker said. Harden was out. we have to go to Oklahoma “It’s crazy. We can miss “That was (the) game City.I don’t understand; that many in a row, but right there,” Harden said. they kind of laughed.” we’re going to keep firing. “The guys just took it upon Keep shooting, keep shoot- themselves to guard. We jonathan.feigen ing. All Coach talks about: felt Oklahoma City was @chron.com Keep shooting, keep shoot- getting tired. We kind of twitter.com/jonathan_feigen