chenyan94: LHP Matthew Boyd
LHP Matthew Boyd
He scored 36 points to help Oklahoma City defeat Utah 116-108 in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series Sunday night.
”That’s his new name?” seemingly perplexed teammate Carmelo Anthony asked with a smile.
George lived up to it. He set an Oklahoma City playoff record with eight 3-pointers, blowing past the previous mark of five. He made eight of 11 shots from long range, and 13 of 20 shots overall.
It was his first playoff game with the Thunder since being acquired in a trade with the Indiana in the offseason. He had averaged more than 27 points per game in the playoffs for the Pacers the past two years.
”I’m going to bring it to that level every night,” George said. ”Obviously, I was hot tonight, but that’s the level I’m going to bring every night.”
Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Anthony added 15 points for the Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday.
Westbrook, who seemingly was Oklahoma City’s only scoring option for much of last season, appreciated the help.
”When he’s aggressive, man, it changes the game for us,” Westbrook said. ”You saw that tonight. He had it going. Our job is to make sure we find him, make it easy for him. As long as he stays aggressive [url=www.sanjosesharksteamshop.com/authentic-evander-kane-jersey]Authentic Evander Kane Jersey[/url] , we’ll be a better team.”
Many of George’s makes were contested. His success made it difficult for the Jazz to cover other players.
”He made a couple and we changed up what we were doing, and he went to something else,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. ”He went to pick-and-roll and he made a couple more, and then we tried to take him and he passed the ball.”
Utah doesn’t expect George to keep making those tough shots.
”If those shots start to affect you, then the whole game plan goes away,” said rookie Donovan Mitchell, who led the Jazz with 27 points and 10 rebounds. ”So we just kept sticking with it, and hopefully, he doesn’t go 8 for 11 the rest of the series. But we played great defense, and we are proud of that.”
Mitchell left the game in the second half with left foot soreness. He returned, but played sporadically.
”I feel fine,” he said. ”Think I just stubbed my toe. Nothing major.”
Rudy Gobert scored 14 points, and Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder each added 13 for the Jazz.
The Thunder recovered from a 16-4 deficit to tie it at 25 at the end of the first quarter. Oklahoma City led 54-48 at halftime behind 20 points from George and 14 from Westbrook.
George hit his seventh 3-pointer to push Oklahoma City’s lead to 79-66. He hit a deep 2-pointer to close the quarter and give the Thunder an 81-72 lead.
Alex Abrines hit two 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to give Oklahoma City a 92-80 lead and force Utah to call timeout. The Thunder held off a surge in the final minute.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Mitchell made his first four shots, but just one of six the rest of the first half. … Made just eight of 22 shots in the second quarter. … Dante Exum and Alec Burks each scored 10 points.
Thunder: G Corey Brewer, who was questionable with a right knee sprain, started. … Anthony scored his 1 [url=www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/tremaine-edmunds-jersey]http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/tremaine-edmunds-jersey[/url] ,700th playoff point. … Oklahoma City made its first 17 free throws and didn’t miss one until the final minute.
QUOTABLE
Mitchell on why he was taken out of the game in the fourth quarter: ”I was just limping, so the trainers saw me limping and they thought I needed to come out, but I was just being a baby, so I’m good.”
STAT LINES
George’s outburst is significant because in Oklahoma City’s five-game playoff series with Houston last season, no Thunder player other than Westbrook scored more than 20 points in a game. Westbrook averaged 37.4 points in the series, but no other Thunder player averaged more than 11.6.
UP NEXT
Game 2 will be Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
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Trevor Bauer is piling up the strikeouts. And, the Cleveland Indians are piling up the wins.
Bauer (7-5) struck out 11 over 6 1/3 innings to beat Detroit for the fourth time this season, leading Cleveland past the Tigers 4-1 on Saturday night for their sixth straight win overall.
The right-hander recorded his seventh double-figure strikeout game of the season, including five of his last six starts. Bauer has struck out 140 this season and is tied for the AL lead with Boston’s Chris Sale.
”I definitely take pride in it,” Bauer said. ”It’s what I enjoy doing most, punching guys out.”
Bauer’s consecutive games with double-digit strikeouts was interrupted Monday by a rain delay after he struck out eight in seven innings against the Chicago White Sox. He threw 100 pitches and didn’t return after the delay.
”I wish it hadn’t rained last game,” he said. ”It would have been six in a row, but I’ll start a new streak this time.”
Bauer allowed a run in the second inning on a wild pitch and was pulled after Dixon Machado’s one-out single in the seventh. He’s 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA in four starts against the Tigers.
”He’s got quality pitches across the board,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. ”That’s part of what’s making him so good.”
Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff homer in the fifth, and Jose Ramirez – who reached base in his 30th consecutive game – and Edwin Encarnacion had RBI singles in a three-run first.
Cody Allen struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 17 opportunities.
Francisco Liriano (3-3), making his first start in a month [url=www.cowboyscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-leighton-vander-esch-jersey]Leighton Vander Esch Jersey[/url] , allowed three runs – two earned – in four innings. The left-hander, who strained his right hamstring against the White Sox on May 26, threw 40 pitches in the first.
”He was rushing and after the first inning we told him you got to slow down,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. ”Just make your pitches and don’t overthrow the ball. We had a chance to get out of there and we cost him some extra pitches in the first.”
Detroit lost its fourth straight and committed three errors. Catcher James McCann dropped a throw from center field that allowed a run to score in the first.
Bauer struck out the game’s first two hitters, but a walk, single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. McCann struck out, ending the 28-pitch inning. Bauer allowed five hits, walked two, hit two batters and threw 112 pitches.
Cleveland’s first consisted of four hits, two walks, two wild pitches and McCann’s error. Ramirez singled in the first to score Lindor. Encarnacion followed with another single for a 2-0 lead.
Following a wild pitch, Brandon Guyer singled to center. Encarnacion would have been out by 10 feet, but scored on a slide when McCann couldn’t hang on to Leyonis Martin’s throw.
Liriano made his first start since straining his right hamstring against the Chicago White Sox on May 26.
Oliver Perez retired the final two batters in the seventh and Neil Ramirez worked a scoreless eighth.
CAUTIOUS APPROACH
The Indians aren’t going to rush left-hander Andrew Miller to come back from his sore right knee, an injury that has had him on the disabled list since May 26. He won’t throw off a mound for 10 days and there’s no timetable for his return.
”We saw the load he carried a couple years ago,” Francona said. ”For us to get where we want to go, and have the best chance to do that [url=www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/jason-witten-jersey]Jason Witten Cowboys Jersey[/url] , he’s going to carry a big load. So we feel like being patient is the best chance to get there.”
BUT WHO’S COUNTING?
The first inning lasted 36 minutes and included five hits, three walks, a hit batter, two wild pitches, an error, nine baserunners and a combined 68 pitches.
QUICK CHANGE
Detroit started the week with a five-game winning streak, but lost twice in Cincinnati and has dropped the first two games of this series.
”You look at Cincinnati, they’re hot,” Gardenhire said. ”We come in here and this team is hot. It’s all part of the schedule. Right now, we are scuffling offensively and it all kind of molds together.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: RHP Johnny Barbato (rotator cuff tendinitis) is on the 10-day disabled list. He allowed five runs in one-third of an inning Friday.
Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (bruised elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday. He was struck on the elbow by a line drive hit by Minnesota’s Joe Mauer on June 16.
UP NEXT
Tigers: LHP Matthew Boyd (4-5, 3.63 ERA) is 1-2 with a 1.78 ERA in six career appearances – five starts – against Cleveland.
Indians: RHP Adam Plutko (3-1, 5.40) will make his fifth career start for Cleveland.
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