05202019 SPORTS

SPORTS SECTION E

MONDAY, MAY 20, 2019

Silver stardom

PAGE 3

BEACH SOCCER: BAHAMAS ELIMINATED

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ahamian fighters won a pair of silver medals at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and the World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) Unified the Pan-American Open Championships of Amateur MMA. Marcel Amann and Christian Miller claimed historic medals for the Bahamas in the tournament finale at the Kendal Isaacs Gym on Saturday.

In the heavyweight division, Amann lost to Jonathan Muamba of Mexico via knockout, seven seconds into the first round.

Amann advanced to the final with a first round TKO over Victor Diaz of Mexico in the semi-final, 27 seconds into the second round.

In the light heavyweight division, Miller lost to Lashawn Sladden of Trinidad And Tobago via knockout, 2:20 in the second round.

Mexican fighters won five of the 10 contested gold-medal matches to close out the competition.

Several Bahamian fighters also took to the cage during the competition but finished short of the medal round.

DiJonnaise Brown advanced to the second round in the featherweight division where he lost to Walter Plazas of Colombia via TKO, 23 seconds into the second round. In his opening round, Brown defeated Justin Grey of Canada via split decision: 29-28, 29-28, 28-30.

Also on opening day, in the Bantamweight division, Kyazi Smith lost to Ishmael Zamora of Mexico via TKO, one minute into the second round on strikes and in the welterweight division, Cameron Lewis lost to Jose Luis Buitrago Sanchez of Colombia via submission on a rear-naked chokehold 2:07 into the third round.

McNeil Newton (lightweight division) was unable to compete due to a failed medical and the match was awarded to Daniel Liberson of the United States.

Khari Woods (middleweight division) was also unable to compete due to a failed medical and Julio Cesar Diaz Forero of Colombia advanced.

IMMAF President Kerrith Brown said the Bahamas delivered both in the ring and in its role as hosts as local mixed martial arts continues to boost its international profile.

“I would like to thank the hosting federation, President Kent Bazard and the Bahamas federation for its hospitality and support, also the National Sports Authority and Director of Youth, Sports and Culture. All staff, officials, medicals and volunteers who attended the Pan Am in Bahamas all Presidents and Federation for all who attended the 2019 Pan Ams in the Bahamas. “I thank you all for your support in the drive and delivery of IMMAF’s vision is invaluable.

Your loyalty and commitment were greatly appreciated and without your hard work and determination the event would not have run so smoothly,” Brown said.

THE Bahamas men’s national beach soccer team were eliminated in the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships.

The team suffered an 8-4 loss to eventual thirdplace finisher El Salvador in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Saturday.

Lesly St Fleur finished with the brace, while James Thompson and Kyle Williams also scored goals.

El Salvador jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first third before St Fleur got the Bahamas on the scoreboard with his shot to make the score 3-1.

El Salvador would respond with a score to regain a three-goal lead but Thompson netted late to make the score 4-2 headed into the final third.

El Salvador tacked on another goal before St Fleur scored his second of the match to make the score 5-3.

B

SEE PAGE 3

NPSA: WILDCATS, TRUCKERS WIN SEASON OPENERS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MARCEL Amann (above) and Christian Miller claimed historic medals for the Bahamas in the finale of the the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and the World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) Unified the Pan-American Open Championships of Amateur MMA at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium on Saturday. SEE PHOTOS ON PAGE 2 Photo by Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff “May I congratulate coaches and athletes on their outstanding performances. I also thank all of our sponsors. Through all of your efforts we as a team delivered another successful event.

“Congratulations to all for a job well done. Our athletes have shown respect, honour and integrity throughout the championships.

Well done. I look forward to seeing you all at the next event the European Championships, June 2019 in Rome.

“We are looking to a Pan American Championships in the Caribbean to boost engagement and sport development across the region, by offering a local platform in this talent rich continent.

“Athletes from the United States, Canada and both Central and South America have a record of exceptional achievement under the IMMAF- WMMAA banner, and our coaches and talent development scheme has enjoyed a successful launch in Pan American countries,” Brown said.

Amateur MMA competitors from all IMMAF-WMMAA competed in six categories for women and 10 categories for men. Participating countries included the Bahamas, Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, France, the Czech Republic, the United States and Jamaica.

Dr Kent Bazard, of the Bahamas Wushu/Sanda Association, founder

of Empire Mixed Martial Arts and the Bahamas Open Martial Arts Championships fight series, said it marks a significant milestone for MMA in the Bahamas.

“It’s a big deal for the region and bringing this type of large event to the region and specifically to the Bahamas is very important to the sport and the development of local MMA,” Dr Bazard said. “We are looking forward to hosting this first event and looking forward to the event being even larger next year, The event is hosted by Empire Mixed Martial Arts Bahamas, and in addition to medals for the top three finishers, fighters will also be vying for IMMAF World Amateur MMA ranking points.

BOTH the new look Sunshine Auto Wildcats and the Commando Security Truckers picked up where they left off last year, winning the season opening games in the New Providence Softball Association 2019 season.

The Wildcats got a scare right until the end when they prevailed with an 8-7 nipping of the Johnson’s Lady Truckers in Saturday night’s ladies opener in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

And before a moment of silence was offered for the late Ramon ‘Shakey’ Johnson, the Truckers held off the Chances Mighty Mitts 13-10 in another nail-biting affair.

Wildcats 8, Lady Truckers 7 Second sacker Aaliyah Ferguson ripped a one-out run-producing double to

SEE PAGE 3

Ayton named NBA Rookie of the Year Award finalist

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net DEANDRE Ayton was named one of three finalists for the 201819 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

The Phoenix Suns centre will vie against fellow nominees Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. The winner will be one of several winners announced at the 2019 NBA Awards Show presented by Kia, hosted June 24 at the Barker Hanger in Los Angeles, California, and broadcast live on TNT. The other awards set to be announced include the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player (Giannis

Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks, Paul George - Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden Houston Rockets); Kia NBA Sixth Man Award (Montrezl Harrell - LA Clippers, Domantas Sabonis - Indiana Pacers, Lou Williams - LA Clippers); Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year (Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks, Paul George - Oklahoma City Thunder, Rudy Gobert - Utah Jazz); Kia NBA Most Improved Player (De’Aaron Fox - Sacramento Kings, D’Angelo Russell - Brooklyn Nets, Pascal Siakam - Toronto Raptors) and NBA Coach of the Year (Mike Budenholzer - Milwaukee Bucks, Michael Malone - Denver Nuggets, Doc Rivers LA Clippers).

DEANDRE AYTON

The awards show will also feature the announcement of the winners for the NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, the NBA Sportsmanship Award, the season-long NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente, the NBA Hustle Award and the fan-voted House of Highlights Moment of the Year.

In addition, basketball icons Magic Johnson and Larry Bird will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and broadcasting legend Robin Roberts will be honoured with the Sager Strong Award.

Ayton’s debut season in the NBA had several milestones and the Phoenix Suns centre has

established himself as a force in the league for years to come.

The No. 1 overall pick finished his rookie season with averages of 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 blocks on 59 per cent shooting from the field in 71 games. He missed five straight games with a sprained left ankle to conclude the season but still set several franchise records.

He finished with 39 doubledoubles, a Suns rookie record and No.12 among all players. He also set the Suns rookie rebounding record with 729 boards. His field goal percentage was the third-highest in NBA history by a rookie qualified for the league leaderboard and the highest by a

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Monday, May 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Jones shoots perfect from 3 in win over Liberty

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JONQUEL Jones delivered another dominant performance and her hot shooting led the Connecticut Sun to a blowout win in their WNBA preseason finale.

Jones scored a game-high 21 points and shot a perfect 5-5 from three-point range in the Sun’s 98-79 win over the New York Liberty yesterday at Times Union Center in Albany, New York. She shot 8-10 from the field and added three rebounds in just 20 minutes.

The Sun led 43-40 at the half but broke the game open for good in the third quarter.

Connecticut opened the second half with a 10-0 run to pull away. Jones made a pair of threes on the run to help the Sun take a 53-40 lead with midway through the third. The Sun outscored the Liberty 32-19 in the period and held on for the win.

The Sun will open the 2019 WNBA season on Saturday, May 25, against the Washington Mystics.

Jones finished with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocked

JONQUEL JONES shots in just 19 minutes of the Sun’s 100 – 66 win over the Liberty in her preseason debut. In game two, she finished with a double-double

- 10 points, and a gamehigh 14 rebounds in just 20 minutes of the Sun’s 71-67 loss to the Dallas Wings.

Last season, Jones played 20.5 minutes per game as a reserve and started only 16 of the 34 regular-season games.

She was named the 2018 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, earning the honour as the league’s top reserve for the first time in her threeyear career. She averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, a career-high 1.7 assists and 1.24 blocked shots per game last season.

She tied for ninth in the WNBA in blocks and

ranked fifth in field goal percentage (55.0) and second in three-point field goal percentage (46.7).

With 50 three-pointers made, she surpassed her total from the previous two seasons combined (36).

The Sun exercised the 4th year team options on Jones in September.

The 2017 campaign was full of milestones for the Grand Bahama native.

In her second season, she was named to the AllWNBA Second Team after she averaged a double double, set the league’s single season rebounds total, was named an

All-Star and was awarded as the WNBA’s Most Improved Player.

Jones finished the year averaging 15.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game - a dramatic increase from her rookie season when she averaged 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Her record-setting total was 403 rebounds for the season. She also added 20 double doubles.

Jones’ historic season included several individual milestones, including becoming just the second player in league history to record three 20-rebound games in a single season.

Wilson in tie for fourth place at 10th Shanghai Grand Prix

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HIGH jumper Jamal Wilson, tied with two others for fourth place, was the only Bahamian to compete at the 10th Shanghai Grand Prix track and field meet after injuries to fellow competitor Donald Thomas and quartermiler Steven Gardiner kept them both out of action.

The stop over in Shanghai, China, over the weekend was just the second in the series of meets held around by the world held as a part of the IAAF Diamond League Series. It followed the May 3 Doha meet in Qatar, the site for this year’s IAAF World Championships September 27 to October 6.

It also comes before Stockholm Diamond League on May 30 and the remaining 11 in the series, inclusive of Rome on June 6, Oslo on June 13, Rabat on June 16, Eugene on June 30, Lausanne on July 5, Monaco on July 12, London on July 20-21, Birmingham on August 18, Paris on August 24 and the two finales in Zurich on August 29 and Brussels on September 6.

Wilson, in a season’s best performance, finished in a three-way tie for fourth place with American Jeron

Robinson and Australia’s Brandon Starc, all of whom cleared 2.25 metres or 7-feet, 4 1/2-inches.

“Thank you Shanghai until next time,” was what Wilson wrote briefly on his social media page about his experience at the meet.

China’s Yu Wang won the event with a leap of 2.28m (7-5 3/4), the same height as runner-up Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus and Iiya Ivanyuk, an authorised neutral athlete from Russia, who all did their season’s best.

Thomas, the Bahamian champion, was also scheduled to compete, but he withdrew. No reason was given for his absence.

As for Gardiner, he was scheduled to contest the men’s 400m that was swept by the Americans, led by Fred Kerley in his season’s best of 44.81 seconds.

Michael Cherry followed in 45.48 and Nathan Strother did 45.52.

Coming off an injury to his Achilles tendinitis that prevented him from running on the men’s 4 x 400m relay team that had to withdraw from competition at the fourth IAAF World Relays in Japan a week ago, Gardiner opted not to compete in the event.

He wrote this explanation on social media: “Due to having tendinitis in my Achilles area, I was

JAMAL WILSON in action at the 10th Shanghai Grand Prix track and field meet. ordered to sit out of competition in tonight’s 10th annual Diamond League in Shanghai. Thank you to

my supporters, friends and family for keeping me going strong. Also thanks to the world’s greatest doctor for

taking great care of me.

I feel better already. Up next Adidas Boost Boston Games.”

The Boost Boston Games are scheduled for Sunday, June 16, in Boylston Steet, Copley Square.

MMA: BAHAMIANS WIN SILVER MEDALS

WINNERS on the medal podium.

CHRISTIAN MILLER (above) and Marcel Amann claimed historic medals for the Bahamas in the finale of the the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and the World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) Unified the Pan-American Open Championships of Amateur MMA at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium on Saturday.

Photos by Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, May 20, 2019, PAGE 3

MILWAUKEE Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) misses a basket under pressure from Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, left, and centre Marc Gasol, back right, during the second half of Game 3 of their NBA Eastern Conference finals in Toronto last night.

(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Leonard scores 36, Raptors beat the Bucks 118-112 in double OT

BY IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points, including eight in the second overtime, and the Toronto Raptors beat Milwaukee 118-112 last night to cut the Bucks’ lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference finals.

Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Norman Powell scored 19 points before fouling out, and Marc Gasol had 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Raptors will try to draw even when they host Game 4 on Tuesday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 12 points and 23 rebounds before fouling out with 4:24 to go in the second overtime. Antetokounmpo shot 5 for 16. Toronto won despite guards Kyle Lowry

and Powell both fouling out in the fourth quarter. Siakam also missed a pair of free throws with 7.4 seconds left in regulation that could have iced the game for the Raptors. Siakam redeemed himself by blocking a potential tying shot by Brook Lopez with 43 seconds to go in the second overtime, leading to a layup for Leonard that put Toronto up 114-110 with just over 30 seconds to play.

Leonard made 11 of 25 shots and went 12 for 13 at the free throw line. He had nine rebounds and five assists despite appearing to be bothered by some leg pain.

“I’m feeling all right. This is playoff basketball,” Leonard said.

“Everybody’s hurting so I’ve just got to keep fighting.”

George Hill scored 24 points and Malcolm Brogdon had 20 for

the Bucks, who lost for the first time in five road games this postseason. Milwaukee is 10-2 overall in the playoffs.

The Raptors led 103-99 with 1:26 to go in the first overtime but Hill tied it at 103 by making a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left. Toronto used its final timeout to draw up a play for Leonard, who let the clock run down to 3 seconds before driving for a jumper that missed, sending it to a second extra period.

Hill’s tiebreaking basket to begin the second overtime put Milwaukee up 105-103, its first lead since the opening basket of the game.

Gasol answered with a 3 and Leonard finished a fast break with a left-handed dunk, putting Toronto up 108-105 with 3:13 left.

Khris Middleton shot 3 for 16, but one of his baskets tied the score with 2.2 seconds to go in regulation. He finished with nine points.

After suggesting Saturday that he might change his lineup, Raptors coach Nick Nurse stuck with his normal starters, but gave Powell 30 minutes, the most he’s played in any game this postseason.

Toronto fell behind 9-0 early in a blowout loss in Game 2, but turned that around in Game 3.

After Antetokounmpo made a layup for the opening basket of the game, Siakam replied with a hook shot, Gasol followed with a 3 and the Raptors didn’t trail again in regulation.

Powell scored 10 points on five shots in the first, including a pair

of 3-pointers, and Toronto led 30-21 after one. Gasol, who had eight points in Games 1 and 2 combined, also made a two from long range and scored eight in the first.

The Bucks shot 7 for 21 in the opening quarter. Five of their made baskets were 3-pointers.

Leonard scored 11 points in the second and Lowry added eight, but Pat Connaughton made two of Milwaukee’s five 3-pointers as the Bucks closed the gap. The Raptors led 58-51 at halftime.

Siakam scored eight points in the third but the Raptors made six turnovers, leading to nine points for the Bucks. Toronto took a narrow 77-75 lead into the fourth.

UP NEXT Game 4 is Tuesday night in Toronto.

Ayton named Rookie of the Year Award finalist FROM PAGE 1 rookie who is averaging a double-double. Despite his individual success, the Suns finished at 19-63, the worst record in the Western Conference and the worst in franchise history since its first year of existence.

Ayton was selected as a member of the World Team for the 2019 Mountain Dew Ice Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists but his Team World lost 161-144 to Team USA. Ayton set a season high scoring of 33 against the Nuggets on December 29. He set his season high of 18 rebounds on three separate occasions November 2

NPSA

FROM PAGE 1 left field that knocked in shortstop Larikah Russell with the game winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Russell led off the rally with a single to break up the 7-7 tie, moved to second on a passed ball before left fielder Ramona Hanna singled and Ferguson came through with the big blow.

“I think we were a bit timid. I think they were just trying to get the jitters out. Now they are ready to play,” said Wildcats’ skipper Anthony Bullard. “We have some new girls and they have been fitting in. We’ve been practicing for a while, so they are just getting used to it.”

Ferguson finished with a perfect 2-for-2 night with her run batted in and two more runs scored, while Russell was 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Third sacker Daria Cambridge, batting second in the lineup, was

against Toronto, December 19 against Boston and December 23 against Brooklyn. He recorded three blocks nine times and six assists twice. During the offseason Ayton’s first impression on

the NBA landscape produced his first league-wide award when he was named to the 2018 All-NBA Summer League Second Team.

When the Suns selected Ayton with the first overall pick in the

2018 NBA Draft, it represented an historic moment for Ayton, the franchise and The Bahamas.

With Ayton’s selection, The Bahamas joined the United States, Canada, Nigeria and Australia as the only countries with multiple No 1 overall NBA draft picks.

It also represented the first No 1 pick made by the Suns in franchise history and the first No 1 pick from the University of Arizona.

During his lone season at Arizona, Ayton led the NCAA with 24 double-doubles, a PAC-12 freshman record.

He averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while shooting 61.6 per cent from the field, and was “Karl Malone Power Forward” of the year consensus First Team All-American.

2-for-3 with a double and triple, three RBI and scored twice.

Centre fielder Lashandra Bethel was 2-for-4 with a run scored and first sacker Donette Edwards was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Bullard said his only concern was that the score was too close, but now that they have gotten their feet wet, they will be looking forward to going for a repeat as champions.

Ace Thela Johnson was back and while she went 1-for-4 at the plate, she went the distance on the mound for the win on seven hits for the Wildcats.

Diva Burrows, the ace for the Truckers, gave up 15 hits in picking up the loss.

Catcher Natasha Paul paced the Lady Truckers with a 2-for-3 outing with a RBI and two runs scored.

Second sacker Solanna Brown was 3-for-4 with a run scored and shortstop Yavanna McDonald and third sacker Princess Mullings were both 1-for-4 with a RBI. Johnson’s scored one run in the second, three in the third, two in

the fifth and another one in the sixth.

“I was very pleased. We haven’t had that many practices, so we just assembled the team and see what we can do because we have a lot of young players,” said Lady Truckers’ skipper Spurgeon Johnson.

“I think we played above my expectations tonight. Going forward, we look to be a better and stronger team. “Once we get some more practices and pick up one or two outfielders, we will be okay.”

Truckers 13, Mighty Mitts 1 On the strength of a sevenrun fifth inning rout, Commando Security made their claim for the season opening victory in the men’s division.

Highlighted by a three-run home run from Stephen Russell, a RBI triple from left fielder Angelo Watson, a RBI double from designated player Garfield Bethel and a run-producing single from shortstop Austin Maurice, the Truckers roared from a 7-5 deficit to clinch the win.

Bethel finished with a perfect 3-for-3 night with three RBI and scored as many runs. Russell was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored; Watson was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored; Lamar Watkins was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Maurice was 1-for-3 with a RBI and run scored.

Deon Whyte was the winning pitcher and Travis Smith suffered the loss.

The Truckers rolled to three runs in the third, three in the fourth and the seven in the fifth.

The Mighty Mitts drew first blood, scoring a pair in the first, two in the third, three in the fifth and three in the sixth.

First baseman Chris McPhee went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored, left fielder Steffan McKenzie was 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored and catcher Kenneth Curry was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored.

NPSA action is set to continue on Tuesday with another double header in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

DEANDRE AYTON

BEACH SOCCER: BAHAMAS ELIMINATED FROM PAGE 1

After El Salvador scored three unanswered goals, Williams scored the final goal for Team Bahamas for the game’s final margin. The United States and Mexico advanced to the final and solidified their places as the CONCACAF representatives at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, November 19 to December 1 in Paraguay.

The Bahamas finished their run in the tournament with a 2-2 win-loss record.

They got off to an impressive start with a 7-4 opening day win over Antigua and Barbuda. The team scored their second win of the group stage and added an additional three points with a 12-2 win over Bonaire.

They suffered their first loss when they were edged 3-2 by the United States to conclude play in Group C. Team Bahamas was made up by Gavin Christie, Gary Joseph, Lesly St Fleur, Michael Butler, Nesley Jean, Kyle Williams, Daron Beneby, Dwayne Forbes, Jean Francois, James Thompson, Timothy Munnings, Torin Ferguson and Nathan Wells.

Luis Escobar Passos Da Silva was the head coach, assisted by Wilson DaCosta and Larry Minns was the team’s manager.

PAGE 4, Monday, May 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

GOLDEN State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) attempts to shoot against Portland Trail Blazers forward Meyers Leonard, left, during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference finals Saturday.

(AP Photos/Ted S Warren)

Green, Warriors beat Blazers for 3-0 lead in West finals

By ANNE M PETERSON AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — With Kevin Durant out, Draymond Green has taken it upon himself to boost Golden State.

And boy, has he.

Green had 20 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Warriors beat the Portland Trail Blazers 110-99 on Saturday night for a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Green had his seventh career postseason tripledouble and Stephen Curry scored 36 points for Golden State, which moved a win away from a fifth straight trip to the NBA finals with Game 4 set for tonight.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was one of the best games he’s seen Green play.

“I don’t even know what to say about Draymond,” Kerr said. “He was a wrecking ball, destroying everything in his path.”

Durant, the two-time NBA Finals MVP who was averaging more than 34 points during the playoffs, remains out with a sore right calf and his return is uncertain.

“When Kevin is not on the floor, I know I have to be more aggressive. So whether that’s attacking the basket, putting more pressure on the defence, I understand that,” said Green, who has had a triple double in each of the rounds during the playoffs — all on the road.

CJ McCollum had 23 points for the Trail Blazers, who led by 18 during the second quarter. Damian Lillard added 19 points, but Portland was hurt at the line, making just 20 of 33 attempts.

Golden State’s Andre Iguodala left in the third quarter with a sore lower leg. Kerr said he would have an MRI yesterday.

Iguodala played 17 minutes and had nine points.

After trailing 66-53 at the half, the Warriors mounted a third-quarter comeback to lead 82-79 going into the fourth. Jonas Jerebko’s jumper pushed the lead to 90-82 with 7:26 left.

Curry’s 3-pointer made it 98-87 with just under five minutes to go, and Portland struggled to catch up — similar to their fourthquarter fade in Game 2.

Game 3 was the first conference finals game in

Portland since 2000. The Blazers lost that series to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.

No team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to win in the playoffs. Only three series have gone to a seventh game after one team opened with a 3-0 lead.

“We’re going to give it our best effort on Monday.

That’s all that matters,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “We’re going to give it our best effort and whatever happen, happens.”

On Thursday, the Blazers were up 15 at halftime and led by eight with 4½ minutes left before the Warriors rallied — boosted

by Kevon Looney’s dunk with less than a minute left, and a game-sealing steal from Iguodala — for a 114111 Game 2 victory.

Both teams switched up their lineups for Game 3, with Portland’s Meyers Leonard making his first start of the playoffs at centre. Enes Kanter, despite sustaining a separated shoulder in the first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, started in all the previous games.

Leonard provided a spark

Trail Blazers: Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was among the fans at the game. Also there was Sabrina Ionescu, who was on the Oregon team that went to the Final Four this season, and former Blazer Scottie Pippen (1999-2003).

Portland has lost nine straight playoff games to Golden State, dating back to 2016.

WARRIORS guard Stephen Curry, right, is fouled by Trail Blazers forward Zach Collins. ABOVE — Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives around Trail Blazers centRE Enes Kanter, right, during the first half of Game 3 of their NBA Western Conference finals. and finished with a career playoff-high 16 points.

Kerr started Damian Jones, who hadn’t started since December and had made just two previous appearances in the playoffs.

Jones, who played in just 24 games in the regular season because of a torn pectoral muscle, collected three fouls in the game’s opening three minutes and headed to the bench.

Portland was boosted by the home crowd at the start, going up by 10 points in the first quarter. Seth Curry’s jumper made it 60-42 with 2:28 left until halftime.

The Warriors roared back, closing within 76-75 on Alfonzo McKinnie’s basket and pulling ahead on Looney’s layup to cap a 10-0 run. Golden State outscored the Blazers 22-6 to close out the third quarter.

TIP-INS Warriors: Jones was making his first career postseason start. The Warriors have used six different starting lineups in the 2019 playoffs.

Jerebko was handed a flagrant I for a foul on Zach Collins in the second quarter.

The Warriors have won at least one road game in 22 straight playoff series, extending their own record.

TIRED? Lillard, who hasn’t had the commanding performances he had earlier in the playoffs, was asked if exhaustion was taking a toll. Later, reports emerged that he may have injured a rib in Game 2, although the Blazers did not immediately comment.

“Everybody’s tired,” he said.

“It’s the third round of the playoffs after a long season. Our last series, I got a lot of attention. The team was giving me a lot of attention and the same thing in this series. It takes a lot to deal with that and go out and chase guys around on the defensive end.”

UP NEXT Game 4 is set for 9pm tonight in Portland.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, May 20, 2019, PAGE 5

Koepka survives Bethpage Black to win the PGA Championship

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Brooks Koepka took his place in PGA Championship history with a victory, minus the style points.

In a raging wind that turned Bethpage Black into a beast, Koepka lost all but one shot of his record seven-shot lead yesterday.

He lost the brutal Long Island crowd, which began chanting “DJ!” for Dustin Johnson as Koepka was on his way to a fourth straight bogey.

But he delivered the key shots over the closing stretch as Johnson faded with two straight bogeys, closed with a 4-over 74 for a two-shot victory and joined Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners of the PGA Championship since it went to stroke play in 1958.

Koepka said at the start of the week that majors are sometimes the easiest to win. This one should have been. It wasn’t.

His 74 was the highest final round by a PGA champion in 15 years.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to play any more holes,” Koepka said. “That was a stressful round of golf. I’m glad to have this thing back in my hands.”

Koepka appeared to wrap it up with a gap wedge from 156 yards to 2 feet on the 10th hole for a birdie, as Johnson made his first bogey of the round up ahead on the 11th. That restored the lead to six shots, and the coronation was on.

And then it all changed in a New York minute.

Koepka missed three straight fairways and made three straight bogeys, having to make a 6-foot putt on No. 11 to keep it from being worse. The wind was so fickle that it died as he hit 7-iron to the par-3

BROOKS Koepka hits off the 16th tee during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament yesterday at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) 14th that sailed over the green, leading to a fourth straight bogey.

The crowd sensed a collapse, and began chanting, “DJ! DJ! DJ!” as Koepka was playing the hole. Ahead of him, Johnson made birdie on the 15th — the toughest hole at Bethpage Black all week — and the lead was down to one.

That was as close as Johnson got.

His 5-iron pierced through a wind that gusted close to 25 mph, over the green and into a buried lie. He missed the 7-foot par putt, went long of the green on the par-3 17th for another bogey and had to settle for 69. He now has runner-up finishes in

all four of the majors, the wrong kind of career Grand Slam.

Koepka returned to No. 1 in the world with a performance that defines his dominance in golf’s biggest events.

He becomes the first player to hold back-to-back titles in two majors at the same time, having won a

second straight US Open last summer 60 miles down the road at Shinnecock Hills.

He was the first wire-towire winner in the PGA Championship since Hal Sutton at Riviera in 1983.

And what stakes his claim as one of the best in his generation was a third straight year winning a

major. He joins a most elite group — only Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have done that since the Masters began in 1934.

He now has four majors in his last eight, a streak not seen since Woods won seven out of 11 in the 2002 US Open at Bethpage Black.

MAN CITY COMPLETES SWEEP OF ENGLISH TROPHIES WITH FA CUP WIN

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — Manchester City swept aside Watford to complete the first clean sweep of English men’s football trophies.

The fourth piece of silverware of the season was sealed by four different scorers in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus netted twice and David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne also scored as Watford was humiliated 6-0.

Victory for Pep Guardiola’s side came a week after the Premier League trophy was retained to join the League Cup and Community Shield already in City’s possession.

“What a season,” City captain Vincent Kompany said. “What a tremendous club.”

But the unprecedented achievement by football’s costliest squad comes against the backdrop of investigations into City’s compliance into football’s spending rules that could lead to the Abu Dhabiowned team being banned from the Champions League.

More than $1 billion has been spent on transfer fees alone since 2008 when Sheikh Mansour bought a team that was more accustomed to playing in lower leagues than lifting trophies. It wasn’t until 2011 that City ended a 35-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup. Now City is the undisputed power of English football — a status it claimed from neighbour Manchester United.

“It’s one of the best seasons I have experienced as a manager,” said Guardiola, who won titles previously at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

MANCHESTER City players celebrate after winning the English FA Cup Final soccer match between Manchester City and Watford at Wembley stadium in London on Saturday. Manchester City won 6-0.

(AP Photo/Tim Ireland) Watford was contesting its first cup final in 35 years and never had a look in after Roberto Pereyra was denied by goalkeeper Ederson of the chance to snatch a shock lead in the 11th minute.

Not long after, Watford fans were made to endure City players celebrating in front of them.

After Abdoulaye Doucoure gave the ball away, City broke forward and

Sterling headed through for David Silva to strike into the net. City’s other Silva — Bernardo — was the provider of the second in the 38th, chipping to the far post where Gabriel Jesus diverted the ball into an empty net.

Sterling ensured it crossed the line but his Brazilian teammate was credited with the goal.

The onslaught came in the second half with De

Bruyne exerting his influence after coming off the bench.

The Belgian netted in the 61st, receiving the ball from Gabriel Jesus, who had combined with Sterling.

Gabriel Jesus found the net seven minutes later after being released by De Bruyne’s throughball, sliding past Heurelho Gomes after the goalkeeper came off his line. Then the record-equalling final

victory margin came from a double inside six minutes from Sterling, who grew up near Wembley and has a tattoo of the stadium’s arch.

The Football Writers’ Association player of the year tapped in after latching onto Bernardo Silva’s cross in the 81st, and met the rebound after Gomes pushed his initial shot onto the post.

“It just shows what the manager’s building here,”

Sterling said. “At the start of the season he said, ‘Let’s try and get the mentality right and go for the Premier League again,’ and we’ve done that again, exceptionally well.

“It’s a credit to all the boys, being mentally switched on throughout the season which has been long with the World Cup as well.

Everyone’s been focused and on their A game the whole way through.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, May 20, 2019, PAGE 7

BACK ON TOP: NADAL BEATS DJOKOVIC FOR 9TH ITALIAN OPEN TITLE

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ROME (AP) — Rafael Nadal is right back where he wants to be.

After losing in the semifinals of three straight clay-court tournaments, Nadal dominated for stretches against his longtime rival, Novak Djokovic, in a 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 win yesterday for a record-extending ninth Italian Open title.

“You were asking for titles. Finally I have a title,” Nadal told reporters. “Here we are. Important title, important moment.”

It marked the first time in an Open Era-record 54 meetings, and in their 142nd set against each other, that Nadal won a set against Djokovic without conceding a game — otherwise known as a bagel.

In all, Nadal had a careerhigh four bagel sets in this tournament.

“I played a great first set in all aspects. No mistakes. Playing so aggressive, changing directions,” Nadal said. “It’s not usual and probably will not happen again.”

The timing for Nadal’s return to form could not have been more opportune, as he will seek a recordextending 12th title at the French Open starting next weekend.

“Winning a title is important but for me the most important thing is (to) feel myself competitive, feel myself healthy,” Nadal said.

“Then with the feeling that I am improving. I know if I’m able to reach my level you can win, you can lose, but normally I’m going to have my chances — especially on this surface.

“Now is the moment to keep going,” Nadal added.

In the women’s final, Karolina Pliskova captured the biggest clay-court trophy of her career by beating Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4.

Top-ranked Djokovic, meanwhile, appeared exhausted after spending more than 5 ½ hours on court against Juan Martin del Potro and Diego Schwartzman the previous two days.

Djokovic was also coming off the Madrid Open title last week.

“I don’t want to talk about fatigue or things like that,” Djokovic told the crowd during the postmatch ceremony. “Rafa was simply too strong today.”

Speaking to reporters later, Djokovic said, “I was just running out of fuel a little bit today. Just kind of missed that half a step, especially on the backhand side.”

The Foro Italico crowd continually tried to encourage Djokovic with chants of “Vai Nole!” — Go Nole!

— but the top-ranked Serb struggled with his overhead and drop shots.

Midway through the second set, Nadal chased down a lob with an overthe-shoulder shot and

RAFAEL Nadal in action during his final match against Novak Djokovic yesterday. INSET - Karolina Pliskova kisses the trophy after winning the final match against Johanna Konta at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome yesterday.

(AP Photos/Gregorio Borgia) When Nadal pushed Djokovic deep into the corner in the opening game of the third set and Djokovic’s desperation lob sailed long to hand Nadal a break, Djokovic smashed his racket to the clay three times in frustration and received a warning from the chair umpire.

Djokovic won only 29 per cent of the points on his second serve and committed 39 unforced errors to Nadal’s 17. Also, Nadal won 23 of the 31 rallies with nine or more shots.

Djokovic’s ensuing overhead landed in the net to conclude a long point.

Djokovic again netted an overhead in the next game and then kicked the ball in frustration when he missed a drop shot attempt late in the second.

But Djokovic hung around in the second and converted his first set point when a looping forehand from Nadal sailed wide for his first break of the match. As he walked to his chair after winning the second set, Djokovic waved his arms to get the crowd behind him.

However, Djokovic didn’t have much left in the tank.

the rankings and makes her one of the contenders for Roland Garros. “I just hope to take the tennis I was playing here to Paris,” Pliskova said. “For sure there’s going to be a chance for me if I play this way.”

The 2016 US Open runner-up, Pliskova also reached the Australian Open semi-finals and the Miami Open final after opening this season with a title in Brisbane, Australia.

But she lost in the second round of her previous two tournaments on clay in Stuttgart, Germany, and Madrid.

“Nobody really gave me chance for this tournament

PLISKOVA NO. 2 Pliskova’s victory will move her up to No. 2 in

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 69° F/21° C

TAMPA

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Partly sunny with a stray shower

A shower early; mainly clear

Partly sunny

Mostly sunny

Mostly sunny and breezy

Clouds and sun; breezy, pleasant

High: 84°

Low: 74°

High: 85° Low: 75°

High: 85° Low: 74°

High: 85° Low: 74°

High: 84° Low: 74°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

93° F

78° F

95°-80° F

95°-76° F

92°-73° F

88°-73° F

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

6-12 knots

S

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 74° F/23° C

7-14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 74° F/23° C

E

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E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

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uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 72° F/22° C

MIAMI

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 75° F/24° C

3-6 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 67° F/19° C Normal high ....................................... 84° F/29° C Normal low ........................................ 71° F/22° C Last year’s high ................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 77° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.24” Year to date ................................................. 9.89” Normal year to date ..................................... 7.55”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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KEY WEST

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

— even me,” Pliskova said.

“Before the tournament, I was not super confident, not thinking about the final at all. I was just happy with every match which I played.

So it’s little bit like a miracle for me.”

The unseeded Konta appeared nervous at the start, double faulting then landing a backhand into the net to hand Pliskova a break in her opening service game.

In the second set, Pliskova used a swinging forehand volley putaway to break for a 4-3 lead and never looked back.

“It’s always tough playing Karolina,” Konta said.

“There’s rarely really a rhythm to the match. She plays with big shots, quite flat, and big serves.

“It can feel sometimes you’re fighting an uphill battle. That was the case today.”

Pliskova attributed a lot of her success to Conchita Martinez, the four-time Rome champion who she recently named her head coach.

“She loved clay so she knows exactly what I should do,” Pliskova said of Martinez.

“There were small differences: movement, maybe to put more topspin on the balls, use drop shots — which I never use, but I start little bit, and to mix also the serves. ... I know she loved this tournament. I think she prayed so I could win today.”

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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6-12 knots

ANDROS

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

9:38 a.m.

10:04 p.m.

2.5 3.2

3:47 a.m. -0.4 3:42 p.m. -0.4

Tuesday

10:24 a.m.

10:48 p.m.

2.4 3.0

4:33 a.m. -0.2 4:26 p.m. -0.2

Wednesday 11:10 a.m.

11:33 p.m.

2.2 2.8

5:20 a.m. -0.1 5:11 p.m. 0.0

Thursday

11:58 a.m.

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2.1 -----

6:06 a.m.

5:58 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Friday

12:20 a.m.

12:49 p.m.

2.7 2.1

6:54 a.m.

6:48 p.m.

0.3 0.5

Saturday

1:09 a.m.

1:42 p.m.

2.5 2.0

7:44 a.m.

7:42 p.m.

0.4 0.6

Sunday

2:00 a.m.

2:38 p.m.

2.4 2.1

8:34 a.m.

8:40 p.m.

0.5 0.7

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:23 a.m.

7:50 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

9:45 p.m.

7:52 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

May 26

Jun. 3

Jun. 10

Jun. 17

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

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High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

6-12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

H

tiDes For nassau

CAT ISLAND

E

W

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

L

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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6-12 knots

4-8 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots E at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots

WAVES 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 83° F 82° F 80° F 80° F 83° F 82° F 80° F 79° F 80° F 80° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 80° F 80° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F