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BOSTON: #0 of the Celtics attempts a shot against the Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on Sunday in Boston, Massachusetts. — AFP Celtics humble Cavaliers in NBA opener

‘Our guys played with good aggression’

NEW YORK: scored 23 points and Al rebounds and 9.0 assists in the first two rounds of the snowballed from there.” Talented 20-something players rebounds. had a game-high 11 Horford added 20 to power the over playoffs but the superstar playmaker, seeking an eighth Tatum, Rozier and Brown have filled the void left by rebounds off the Cavs’ bench. Boston seized a 63-35 Cleveland 108-83 Sunday, humbling LeBron James and consecutive NBA Finals berth, was shut down by an injured stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, com- lead early in the second half but the Cavs halved their his Cavaliers teammates in their NBA playoff series aggressive, hustling Celtics squad. bining with Horford — who has been eliminated by deficit, Jeff Green’s jumper at the third-quarter buzzer opener. The Celtics seized the lead in the best-of-seven “We just have to make it hard for him,” Celtics coach James four times in the playoffs-to become a formida- pulling Cleveland within 78-64 entering the fourth. Eastern Conference finals, with the winner to face Brad Stevens said of James. “Our guys played with ble force that out-hustled the more experienced Boston answered with a 7-0 run to start the fourth. either season wins leader or defending cham- good aggression. They will have to do that again Cavaliers and dominated defensively. A Morris dunk, 3-pointer and Tatum pion Golden State in the NBA Finals. tomorrow.” James finished with 15 points on 5-of-16 layup stretched the Celtics’ lead to 85-64 as part of an The Celtics, who host game two tomorrow, jumped shooting with seven rebounds and nine assists. He CELTICS DOMINATE EARLY 18-4 run that would put Boston ahead 96-68 and end ahead 36-18 after the first quarter and never looked blocked two shots but also made seven turnovers. “They are just embracing this opportunity,” Horford Cleveland’s hopes. Boston surged ahead 61-35 at half- back, the Cavaliers coming no closer than 14 points in “They showed two bodies (guarding James) all said. “We have a great opportunity in front of us and time, paced by Brown’s 18 points and seven rebounds the second half. “We were great,” Horford said. “We night,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. “When he we’re enjoying it game by game. I try to lead them the and Horford’s 14 points and five assists. James shot only came out with a lot of energy. We fed off the crowd and thought he had driving lanes, they made him kick it out best way I can, lead by example.” Morris, who boasted 3-for-8 in the first half and the Cavaliers missed their we kept it going throughout the game. We’re just out to other shooters.” The Celtics forced James to work he was the best defender to guard James, started and first 14 3- attempts of the game. here playing hard and doing the best we can.” harder defensively and rotated several players on the contained the Cleveland superstar, who has more The Celtics opened an early 29-9 lead and a 25-2 had 18 points and 11 rebounds for four-time NBA Most Valuable Player to contain him career playoff appearances than the entire Celtics ros- run helped carry Boston to a 36-18 edge after the first Boston and Jayson Tatum added 16 while Brown had offensively. “We lost,” Lue said. “We didn’t play well. ter combined. “He’s a tough player,” Horford said. “He quarter. Brown scored 13 points in the first quarter eight rebounds and contributed eight We know we have to play better. They attacked us ear- knows how to defend. He has a great feel for that.” while Horford added 11 and the Celtics owned a 14-6 points and seven assists. James averaged 34 points, 9.4 ly on. We had some great shots we couldn’t make and it led Cleveland with 17 points and eight rebounding edge. — AFP

Thomas Tuchel Saturday night, refused to discuss his future after collect- named new Neymar wins French ing his award. “We talk about these things every time the transfer window comes around. I don’t want to talk about anything at the moment,” he said. “Everyone knows why coach of PSG player of the year, I came here, what my objectives are. Right now, my objective is the World Cup, not talking about transfers. “I PARIS: Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as the new rejects transfer talk spend my whole life, every transfer window, talking about coach of Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal, the it. It’s a bit annoying.” Neymar beat two of his PSG teammates to the prize, French champions confirmed yesterday. The 44-year-old PARIS: Neymar was named as France’s player of the year German has agreed to succeed Unai Emery, who will voted for by his fellow players-Edinson Cavani, Ligue 1’s at an awards ceremony in Paris on Sunday, and later leading scorer this season with 28 goals, and Kylian leave after the final game of the French season this week- Thomas Tuchel brushed away questions over his future. The Paris Saint- end. “It is with much joy, pride and ambition that I am Mbappe were also nominees, along with Marseille Germain superstar took the prize despite missing the last winger Florian Thauvin. Neymar was signed from joining this big club, Paris Saint-Germain,” said Tuchel in three months of the season due to injury. an English-language statement released by PSG. meant there was no chance of Emery’s two-year contract Barcelona for a world-record 222 million euros ($264 The world’s most expensive player scored 19 goals in million) last August, and helped PSG on their way to a “I can’t wait to start working with all these great play- being renewed at the end of this campaign. Tuchel was a just 20 league games for PSG before suffering a foot ers who are all amongst the best in the world. “Paris free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund a year ago, clean sweep of the domestic trophies. injury in February that required surgery in his native However, his injury appeared to cost Unai Emery’s Saint-Germain has enormous potential and it is by far the despite leading the team to victory in last season’s Brazil. He has not played since, and only returned to most exciting proposition in football.” German Cup. “Thomas is one of the best and most com- team dear in their Champions League last-16 tie against France from his homeland at the start of this month, Real Madrid-he was unable to play in the second leg, and It was an open secret that Tuchel had been lined up as petitive European coaches to have emerged over the last fuelling speculation that he could seek to leave the club the next coach of the ambitious club from the French cap- few seasons,” declared PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. PSG lost 5-2 on aggregate. He is hoping to be back to after just one season. full fitness in time to lead Brazil at the World Cup in ital. They had been on the look-out for a replacement for “He abides by very strong principles of playing spectacu- “I am very touched and very happy with our season. Emery ever since being beaten 5-2 on aggregate by Real lar and clinical football that has always been the founda- Russia, which starts in a month’s time. It is an honour. Without my teammates, I would never Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi insisted on Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in early tion of German football, especially on the international have received this award,” said the 26-year-old, who col- March. scene. “His competitive spirit, his preference for attacking Saturday that there was no chance Neymar would be lected the prize from his illustrious compatriot Ronaldo. leaving. “I am 2000 percent sure he will stay,” Al-Khelaifi That disappointment in Europe, following a humiliating football and his strong character are in line with what we Neymar, who joined in PSG’s Ligue 1 title celebrations on loss against Barcelona at the same stage a year ago, have always wanted for Paris Saint-Germain.” —AFP said, rejecting talk of a transfer to Real Madrid.— AFP