THURSDAY 23 MAY 2019 SPORT 21 For me, it is about playing well. Once I play well, I know German star Alexander FOOTBALL CRICKET that I can be on a court with Zverev says as he heads to Bundesliga play-offs: Women’s International anybody. And this is the most French Open. VfB Stuttgart vs FC Union T20: South Africa vs important for me. ACTION Pakistan Women Berlin TODAY’S Raptors down Bucks to level Phelps honoured Eastern Conference finals for honesty on AFP points. VanVleet, who missed 16 mental health, LOS ANGELES of 20 shot attempts in the first three games of the series, con- The Toronto Raptors closed nected on five of six from the helping others ranks around hurting star Kawhi field, draining all three of his Leonard, turning in a total team three-point attempts. effort in a 120-102 victory over “I think the first two games AP endeavor has been fulfilling the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday they really brought the intensity BALTIMORE is an understatement. to level the NBA Eastern to us. They came out and were “Through this, if I can save Conference finals. more physical were more While swimming to Olympic one life, two lives, five lives, Kyle Lowry led the Raptors active,” Powell said. glory, Michael Phelps a thousand, a million, to me with 25 points and Toronto’s “We wanted to change that (pictured) found comfort in that’s so much more bench out-scored Milwaukee’s narrative and protect home the pool and quite a bit of important than winning a gold 48-23 as the Raptors followed court. We wanted to come out angst out of it. medal,” he said. up their double-overtime with a lot of juice, be more His bout with depression The 33-year-old Phelps triumph in game three with a aggressive, be more physical and reached its nadir in 2014 after believes his bout with second straight home win. take the game to them. I think a second DUI arrest. That’s depression is a story that They knotted the best-of- we really did that.” Toronto when the most decorated many can share, including seven series at 2-2 with game extended their lead to as many Olympian of all time checked CEOs and other retired ath- five in Milwaukee today. as 16 points in the third period himself into a rehabilitative letes. After accomplishing The winner of the series will and led by 13 going into the final center in a desperate effort to every goal he set for himself, take on two-time defending frame. make sense of it all. what was left to do? champions Golden State, who Khris Middleton led the “When I was in my room “Probably my first real completed a Western Con- Bucks with 30 points, six and not wanting to talk to depression spell was after ference finals sweep of Portland rebounds and seven assists. anybody for a number of days 2004, then the next big one to reach their fifth straight NBA Milwaukee’s Most Valuable and not wanting to be alive, I was after 2008,” he said. Finals. Player finalist Antetokounmpo wanted to see what other “When you set out to be an Leonard, who downplayed added 25 points and 10 roads I could take to see if Olympian, your whole life is suggestions he was injured after rebounds, and Nikola Mirotic there was help,” Phelps put on hold. All the eggs are the gritty game-three victory, scored 11. But the Bucks lost their recalled. in one basket. I would say looked hobbled at times -- second straight game, something The treatment he received 2004, 2008, 2012, partly after wincing noticeably after dunking they did just once during the - and continues to receive - ‘16 (all Olympic years) I’ve on Bucks star Giannis Antetok- regular season. charted his post-Olympic dealt with pretty severe ounmpo in the third quarter. Two home wins gave the course. depression spells. I was kind Leonard grabbed a pass from Raptors some breathing room as “I know it’s something of lost at that point.” Spanish big man Marc Gasol and they head back to Milwaukee, that changed my life and The Baltimore native is in drove for the basket, Antetok- but Lowry said they’d done saved my life and allowed me a far better frame of mind ounmpo’s move to stop him nothing more than hold serve. to be able to be where I am now. coming too late. “They did what they did at today, enjoying the platform “To have my wife (Nicole Leonard landed hard and home and we did what we’re of talking about something Johnson), who’s always by my held his left leg -- although he supposed to do at home,” he said. that’s so important,” Phelps side, two amazing little boys would play on. “Our back’s against the wall said. at home and a third one on Kyle Lowry (foreground) of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball “I think he’s fine,” Toronto still,” Lowry added. Because he is willing to the way, I’m extremely against Eric Bledsoe of the Milwaukee Bucks in game four of the coach Nick Nurse said. “We’re going into a hostile share his story of depression thankful of the support I’ve NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday “He’s logged a lot of minutes. environment. They’re going to and raise awareness of mental had to get me through these in Toronto, Canada. He’s certainly tired, like a lot of be ready to go.” health issues, Phelps was times,” Phelps said. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, given the fifth annual Morton The Ruderman Award is The winner of the series guys in this series are. “He looks plan.” Lowry scored 18 points in said there was no feeling of panic E. Ruderman Award in given to individuals who are will take on two-time OK to me. I think there’s a lot of the first half as the Raptors came among the Bucks. Inclusion on Tuesday night in passionate about providing defending champions guys out there that aren’t 100 back from an early seven-point “The feeling is not any dif- Boston. opportunities for others. Golden State, who percent -- on both sides of the deficit to lead 32-31 after one ferent,” he said. “We’ve still got After participating in four Phelps certainly fits that ball.” quarter -- pushing the lead to to get better, stick with our game Olympic Games and collecting description. completed a Western But Lowry said Raptors 65-55 at halftime. plan. (We’ve) just got to play with 28 medals, including 23 gold, “Michael Phelps is a Conference finals “understood” that Leonard Norman Powell added 18 more energy, execute better, but Phelps has dedicated his time unique leader who has used sweep of Portland to wasn’t going to be 100 percent points off the bench. Serge Ibaka our feeling is the same. and energy to promoting the his fame and status as the reach their fifth straight and knew going into the contest and Gasol scored 17 apiece, Ibaka “They did their job, they pro- importance of water safety greatest swimmer of all time NBA Finals. that “everybody has to step up also pulling down 13 rebounds. tected home, we’ve got to do our and advocating for the de- to challenge our society to and stay focused on the game Fred VanVleet chipped in 13 job now.” stigmatization of mental remove stigma surrounding health problems through the mental health,” said Jay Michael Phelps Foundation. Ruderman, president of the “When I first really Ruderman Family NHL: Blues return to Stanley Cup final opened up about the struggles Foundation. that I had in ‘15, obviously I “For me, this award dreamed of being able to get means everything because St. Louis Blues’ players celebrate a goal against the AFP were swept by the Bruins in the more publicity to this and to this is where my passion is San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. WASHINGTON 1970 championship series. really share my journey and and the next chapter of my life The Blues are the only haveve other people share their is really heading,”heading, Phelps said.said The St Louis Blues are back in remaining team from the journeysurneys withwith me as well,”well,” “We’re“We’re kindkind ofo the NHL Stanley Cup final for the league’s first expansion in Phelpselps said. scratchingscratching thethe surfacsurfacee first time since 1970 after beating 1967-68 not to have won the “Honestly,“Honestly, I never ofof what can be done,done the San Jose Sharks 5-1 on Stanley Cup. thoughtought it wouldwould bebe as andand I’m lookinglooking Tuesday. They have played more big as tthis,his, bbutut it’s beenbeen foforwardrward to ccon-on- The victory on home ice gave games than any other NHL club a truerue dreamdream to bebe tinuingtinuing thisthis journeyjourney the Blues a 4-2 triumph in the without lifting the trophy. ablele to watchwatch the andand accomplishingaccomplishing best-of-seven Western Con- “This is unbelievable,” growthowth that mental somesome of the goalsgoals ference finals, their third straight forward Pat Maroon said. healthalth hashas tataken,ken, aalmostlmost thatthat I havehave - de-stig-de-stig- win in the series sending them “This city’s been waiting for beingng at centre stage.”stage.” matisingmatising mental healthhealth into a Stanley Cup showdown this for so many years now.... To say tthishis andand just getting thethe with the Boston Bruins starting Four more wins.