NBA: Jayson Tatum-led Celtics hang on to edge Sixers

Jayson Tatum had 26 points and a career-high 16 rebounds as the Boston Celtics outlasted the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 88-87 in a matchup of Eastern Conference contenders on Wednesday night.

Dennis Schroder added 13 points off the bench for Boston, which won its second straight game and has won five out of seven overall.

Al Horford totaled 10 points and eight rebounds, Robert Williams III added 10 points and Jaylen Brown finished with nine points on 3-of-11 shooting for the Celtics.

Brown played despite being questionable as the team continues to manage his return from a hamstring injury.

Seth Curry led the 76ers with 17 points. Shake Milton contributed 16 points off the bench while Boston-area native Georges Niang added 12 points for Philadelphia, which was defeated for the ninth time in 12 games.

76ers star Joel Embiid was held to 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting, but grabbed a game-high 18 boards and dished out six assists.

Boston led 44-40 at halftime and neither side was able to pull away in a back-and-forth closing half. The biggest separation came when Embiid knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:10 left in the third to put Philadelphia up 59-54.

The Celtics led 64-63 entering the fourth quarter. Embiid made one of two free throws with 2:14 to play to tie the game at 82. Boston scored six of the next eight points to go up 88-84 after Schroder's five-footer with 37.1 seconds to play.

Danny Green nailed a trey with 29.6 seconds on the clock to bring the 76ers within a point. Schroder missed a jumper on the other end with seven seconds left to give the ball back to Philadelphia.

After a timeout with 6.1 seconds to play, Niang's desperation corner 3 at the buzzer was blocked by Williams to seal the Boston victory.

Brown's 3-pointer at 6:35 of the first quarter capped a game-opening 16-4 run for the Celtics. Tobias Harris' ensuing dunk sparked a 16-5 push for the 76ers to pull within 21-20 after one period.

-reuters-

NBA: Thunder pulls away for win over Trail Blazers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 21 points and nine rebounds and Dennis Schroder also scored 21 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder posted a stunning 108-96 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.

Chris Paul added 20 points and Nerlens Noel had 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Thunder won for the fifth time in the past seven games. Danilo Gallinari had 12 points for Oklahoma City.

Damian Lillard scored 26 points but was a woeful 8 of 24 from the field, including 2 of 12 from 3-point range. CJ McCollum added 20 points and Hassan Whiteside recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shot for Portland, which has lost three of its last four games.

The Trail Blazers were just 7 of 24 from the field in the fourth quarter while being outscored 26-18.

Overall, Portland shot just 36 percent from the field and was 9 of 33 from behind the arc.

The Thunder shot 41.2 percent from the field, including 11 of 32 from 3-point range.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored five straight on a 3-pointer and a driving hoop to give Oklahoma City a 100-89 lead with 3:13 remaining.

McCollum drove for a layup with 2:31 left but Steven Adams made two free throws and Gilgeous-Alexander hit three of four as the Thunder increased the lead to 105-91 with 1:28 left. Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts then cleared his bench.

Oklahoma City led by 11 points early in the third quarter before Portland used an 11-2 burst to move within 62-60.

A short time later, Lillard made all three free throws after being fouled while shooting from behind the arc to give the Trail Blazers a 66-65 edge with 5:24 remaining. Lillard scored 16 points in the quarter.

The Thunder received a three-point play from Noel with 19.3 seconds remaining to take an 82-78 lead into the final stanza.

Paul scored 16 first-half points as the Thunder led, 55-47, at the break.

Schroder tallied 11 points during a 16-2 burst that saw Oklahoma City take a 49-31 advantage with 4:43 left.

The Trail Blazers responded with their own 16-2 surge to move within four points before the Thunder scored the final four points of the half.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Thunder earns No. 6 seed in West with win over Bucks

Dennis Schroder scored 32 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder earn the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference with a 127-116 win at the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

The Bucks, who had already sealed the top seed in the Eastern Conference coming into the game, sat three starters -- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez -- to rest them for the playoffs.

While the Bucks had little to play for in the regular-season finale, the Thunder had plenty at stake coming into the game, with their playoff spot to be decided between the sixth, seventh and eighth seeds.

The Thunder took care of that, taking control of the game with 39 points in the second quarter and then maintaining that lead the rest of the way. That quarter included a 16-0 run that featured four 3-pointers.

Playing without Paul George, who hit a game-winning shot the night before against Houston, the Thunder leaned heavily on the 3-pointer with Schroder in the starting lineup in George's place and the Bucks spending much of the game in a zone defense.

Oklahoma City hit a franchise-high 23 3-pointers.

Schroder hit a career-high eight 3-pointers, going 8 of 15 from long distance.

While the Thunder did create much of their offense on the perimeter, they also relied heavily on ball movement. They set a franchise record with 39 assists.

Russell Westbrook finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 17 assists for his fifth triple-double in six games. He tied Magic Johnson for second all-time in career triple-doubles with his 138th.

Jerami Grant had a career-high 28 points for Oklahoma City.

George missed the game with right shoulder soreness after aggravating an earlier injury in Tuesday's win. George has also battled a sore left shoulder over the last two months.

Tim Frazier, making just his second start with the Bucks, had a career-high 29 points, making 4 of 6 from behind the arc. Bonzie Colson and Khris Middleton scored 21 each for Milwaukee.

Milwaukee will start the playoffs against either Detroit or Orlando.

The Thunder will open the playoffs against Portland, Houston or Denver.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: George lights up Heat for 43 on 10 treys as Thunder roll

Paul George scored a game-high 43 points, Russell Westbrook posted his 18th triple-double, and the Oklahoma City Thunder continued their offensive surge in a 118-102 rout of host Miami Heat on Friday.

George (26 points) and reserve guard Dennis Schroder (24) combined for 50 in the first two quarters as the Heat allowed their second-most points in a half, narrowly outscoring the sharp-shooting duo by just three.

George connected on a career-high 10 3-pointers, and Schroder scored 28 in 29 minutes off the bench for the Thunder, who won their seventh consecutive overall and sixth straight against Miami.

Westbrook notched 14 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds in his fifth triple-double in a row, and Steven Adams had 13 points.

Miami's Kelly Olynyk tallied 21 points and Josh Richardson had 18. Hassan Whiteside had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Heat, who lost their second straight overall and have dropped four of the last six.

Oklahoma City averaged a franchise-record 120.6 points per game in January and the offensive juggernaut was on full display from the opening tip in the first meeting between the two teams.

In a fast-paced first quarter, the Thunder raced out on a 12-2 run less than five minutes into the game behind the versatile scoring of George and Adams as the club led 18-11.

The Thunder led 31-24 behind 16 points from George as the six-time All-Star made 6 of 8 field goals, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.

Schroder came off the bench to replace Westbrook in the second quarter and immediately became as big of a nuisance to the Heat as George. The backup scored seven points as the Thunder built a 17-point lead by scoring 12 unanswered points early in the quarter.

Schroder followed up George's 16-point first quarter with 24 of his own in the second -- his career high for any single period -- as Oklahoma City shot 58.3 percent from the floor, led by as many as 23 and held a 72-53 halftime edge.

Miami cut the deficit to 15 early in the second half after a layup by Whiteside, but Patrick Patterson's 3-pointer gave the Thunder a 94-74 lead after three, and they cruised in the final quarter with reserves on the floor.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Schroder's big second half leads Thunder past Spurs

Dennis Schroder scored all 19 of his points in the second half as the Oklahoma City Thunder picked up a come-from-behind 122-112 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at home Saturday.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Thunder. It was just San Antonio's second loss in its last eight games.

After trailing by nine at halftime, the Thunder took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Spurs 35-20.

Schroder scored the final seven Thunder points of the quarter to help Oklahoma City lead going into the fourth. Schroder kept up his strong play, most noticeably with his steal with just more than five minutes remaining.

Schroder jumped into a passing lane, grabbed the ball and raced upcourt, passing the ball between his legs to Russell Westbrook for a layup that put the Thunder up by 12.

The bucket was two of 18 fast-break points for Oklahoma City after halftime.

Schroder also added six assists and four steals with no turnovers.

Westbrook led the Thunder with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul George finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Westbrook was 8 of 15 from the field in the second half after going just 1 for 9 with four points before the break.

But it was Oklahoma City's bench that played the biggest role in helping the Thunder break out of their slump.

Schroder was one of three Thunder reserves with at least 13 points, and they combined for 47 of the team's 48 off the bench. Abdel Nader had 15 points and Patrick Patterson 13.

The Thunder scored 21 points off 14 San Antonio turnovers while only turning the ball over seven times.

Marco Belinelli had a season-high 24 points off the bench to lead San Antonio. DeMar DeRozan added 18, while LaMarcus Aldridge, coming off a 56-point performance in Thursday's 154-147 double-overtime win over the Thunder in San Antonio, scored 17 points.

Two nights after going 16 of 19 from behind the 3-point line, San Antonio struggled from behind the arc in the return game of the home-and-home. 

The Spurs were just 10 of 31 from behind the arc.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Westbrook carries George-less Thunder past Suns

Russell Westbrook recorded 40 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-102 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Dennis Schroder scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Thunder prevailed without star forward Paul George (quadriceps). It marked the first game George has missed this season.

Abdel Nader scored a career-best 18 points off the bench for Oklahoma City, which halted a two-game slide. Steven Adams registered 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Jerami Grant had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Devin Booker contributed 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Suns, who had won five of their previous seven games.

T.J. Warren scored 19 points, Deandre Ayton had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Mikal Bridges scored 13 points as Phoenix fell in the opener of a seven-game homestand.

Oklahoma City made 15 of 19 field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter to finish at 53.7 percent. The Thunder were 7 of 20 from 3-point range.

The Suns shot 43.3 percent from the field and hit 9 of 29 from behind the arc.

The Thunder dominated the fourth quarter by a 37-18 margin to turn a three-point deficit into a 16-point win.

Schroder opened the final stanza with consecutive baskets to give Oklahoma City an 85-84 lead. He added two 3-pointers and two free throws over the ensuing three-plus minutes to boost the Thunder's margin to nine.

Westbrook drained a 3-pointer to give Oklahoma City a 102-88 lead with 6:09 left. Westbrook later converted back-to-back baskets, and Schroder followed with a layup to push the margin to 112-95 with 3:45 remaining before the Thunder cruised to the finish.

Westbrook was hunting for shots in the opening quarter as he connected on 7 of 8 while scoring 15 points. The Thunder shot 64 percent from the field and led 36-29 after 12 minutes.

Oklahoma City led by eight two minutes into the second quarter before Phoenix went on a 16-4 run. Bridges capped the burst with a jumper to give the Suns a 51-47 edge with 5:22 left.

The Thunder took a 58-57 advantage into the break.

Warren knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Suns an 82-77 lead with 2:03 left in the third quarter before Phoenix took an 84-81 edge into the final stanza.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Thunder's Schroder, Felton handed 1-game suspensions

The scuffle between the Chicago Bulls and the Thunder on Monday led to larger repercussions for Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

The NBA announced one-game suspensions for Thunder guards Dennis Schroder and Raymond Felton in response to them leaving the bench area during the third-quarter fight that spilled into the stands.

League executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe also announced a $25,000 fine for Bulls center Robin Lopez and a $20,000 fine for Thunder forward Jerami Grant, both for escalating the altercation. 

Bulls guard Kris Dunn was fined $15,000 for instigating the incident by shoving Thunder guard Russell Westbrook.

Schroder and Felton both were set to miss Oklahoma City's Wednesday night road game against the Sacramento Kings. The punishment will cost Schroder $182,353 and Felton $29,194.

Dunn, Lopez, Grant and Westbrook received technical fouls in the immediate aftermath of the melee. Lopez was ejected after a subsequent incident in which he was given a second technical foul.

Schroder, 25, is averaging 16.6 points, 4.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game this season. Felton, 34, has averages of 4.8 points, 1.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Thunder hand Warriors 4th loss in row

Dennis Schroder scored 10 of his game-high 32 points in a second-quarter run that gave the Oklahoma City Thunder the lead for good Wednesday night in a 123-95 blowout of the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif.

Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double, Steven Adams and Jerami Grant had double-doubles, and Paul George poured in 25 points as the Thunder used balance to overcome a two-man show by Golden State's Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.

The only downside for Oklahoma City was an ugly injury sustained by Hamidou Diallo. The rookie landed awkwardly on his left leg midway through the fourth quarter and was taken off on a stretcher.

Durant had a 27-point, 14-rebound double-double, and Thompson also scored 27, but it wasn't enough to prevent Golden State from losing a fourth straight for the first time under head coach Steve Kerr.


The Warriors once again played without injured Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Golden State led 31-29 in the second quarter before Schroder scored 10 straight Oklahoma City points to ignite a 23-6 spurt that opened a 52-37 lead with 3:53 left in the half.

The Warriors rallied within three in the third quarter and were down just 89-85 with 10:27 remaining in the game before Oklahoma City put another run together, this one 14 straight points to blow the game open.

Schroder had five points, including his fifth 3-pointer of the game, in the fourth-quarter burst.

Westbrook, who returned from a six-game absence in Monday's loss at Sacramento, complemented Schroder's scoring with 11 points, 11 rebounds and a game-high 13 assists, his first triple-double of the season.

Adams had 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Grant put up 14 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Thunder win for an 11th time in their past 13 games after an 0-4 start.

Durant shot 11-for-22 but just 1-for-5 on 3-pointers, and Thompson was 10-for-22 for Golden State, which beat Oklahoma City 108-100 at home on opening night.

Damion Lee was the only other Warrior to score in double figures with 13 points.

The Thunder outscored Golden State 39-21 on 3-pointers, with the Warriors making just 7 of 29 attempts.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Without Westbrook, Thunder dump Cavs for 6th win in row

Dennis Schroder scored a season-high 28 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder picked up their sixth consecutive win, a 95-86 decision over the host Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Oklahoma City was playing without point guard Russell Westbrook, who turned his left ankle Monday in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Missing their playmaker, the Thunder struggled to put away the struggling Cavaliers until an 11-2 run in the final 4:35.

Alex Abrines, who struggled from the field, took a feed from Paul George and hit a corner 3-pointer to break an 84-84 tie and give Oklahoma City some momentum with 4 1/2 minutes left.

George finished with 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting, and Jerami Grant scored 12 points. The Thunder were just better than 25 percent from behind the 3-point arc (7 of 27).

With Westbrook sidelined, Oklahoma City managed just 10 assists.

The Thunder hadn't had fewer than 18 assists in any game this season, and it was the fewest since Dec. 29, 2016, when they managed just nine in a loss to Memphis.

The last time Oklahoma City had 10 or fewer assists in a win was Oct. 30, 2013, at Utah.

Rookie point guard Collin Sexton scored 15 points to lead Cleveland, which dropped its fourth game in a row.

Playing without forward Kevin Love for the seventh consecutive game, the Cavaliers were also without George Hill.

The starting point guard was a late scratch because of shoulder soreness, two days after scoring 22 points in a defeat at Orlando. Then the Cavs lost forward Cedi Osman after less than six minutes due to lower back spasms.

Oklahoma City led 48-40 at halftime after George's 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Thunder then doubled their lead with eight consecutive points to start the third quarter before Cleveland started chipping away.

The Cavaliers hit four of five shots during a 2:40 span early in the fourth quarter -- including a pair of 3-pointers from Kyle Korver. The 13-0 run gave Cleveland its first lead since a couple of very brief one-point leads in the second quarter.

However, Oklahoma City started its late push with Abrines' 3-pointer, and the Thunder settled down and once again took control of the game.

The contest was the first of a back-to-back for the Thunder, who will host Houston on Thursday. Westbrook made the trip to Cleveland and isn't expected to be out long term.

Cleveland plays Saturday at Chicago.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Balanced Hawks cruise past Knicks

The Atlanta Hawks were one of the most unselfish teams in the NBA last season, ranking second in the league in assists and in a 112-101 win over the New York Knicks on Thursday, the Hawks once again shared the ball and the scoring.

Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-1) with 23 points, Al Horford had 21, Kyle Korver contributed 15 and Dennis Schroder came off the bench to record 13 points.

Paul Millsap chipped in with 11 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals, while Tiago Splitter added 10 points.

"I think the ball moved better," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Our offense fed off our defense, and we could get out and run. "Guys were seeing team mates, making good decisions and good reads."

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks (1-1) with 25 points.

Robin Lopez, a free agent acquisition over the summer, added 18 points, and rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis scored 10 and grabbed eight rebounds. Kyle O'Quinn contributed 10 points and 10 boards.


 Anthony is a combined 14-for-43 (32.6 percent) from the field in the Knicks' first two games.

"We have to get to a point where we are concerned with winning percentages and not shooting percentages," Knicks coach Derek Fisher said. "Being good takes time."

The Knicks never got closer than the 11-point final differential in the fourth quarter.

Teague scored 14 consecutive points to increase Atlanta's lead to 79-57 with 5:42 remaining in the third. He scored on two driving layups and a floater and was 8-for-9 from the foul line in the sequence.

"When Jeff is aggressive and attacking, it can collapse the defense and create opportunities," Budenholzer said.

The Hawks shot a sizzling 62 percent (8-for-13) from beyond the arc to grab a 61-45 halftime lead. Horford and Korver led the way with 12 points apiece.

New York were ahead 33-32 with 7:20 left in the second, thanks mostly to their second unit, but the Hawks used an 18-6 run to move ahead 50-39 with three minutes to go before the half. Korver deposited seven points in the run.

"Their execution in those first-half stretches was good," Fisher said. "They were able to disrupt our timing and force us to play behind the rest of the night."

(Compiled by Peter Rutherford)

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