Strycova, Siniakova put Czechs on top
Los Angeles, Nov. 11: Kevin Durant scored 28 points and unheralded Quinn Cook delivered 27 as the defending champion Golden State Warriors rallied without injured star Stephen Curry to beat the Brooklyn Nets 116- 100.
Quinn’s total was a seasonhigh as he dressed in place of Curry, who missed the game after suffering a groin injury on Thursday in a loss to Milwaukee.
“I was trying the pick and roll, making great reads and trying to set great screens,” Durant said.
Curry “doesn’t feel entitled or like he has to play. When his number is called he is able to go out there and produce.”
The Warriors were also without Draymond Green, but nine time allstar Durant carried the club on his back as they snapped Brooklyn’s three- game winning streak.
Durant had 13 points in the first quarter, scored the final six of the second as the Warriors stretched their lead to 20 in the third.
Cook made 18 starts a year ago while Curry was injured. He nailed his first seven shots Saturday and matched Durant with 19 points in the first half.
Cook described Durant is a special talent. “I want to be like him some day — a Hall of Famer.” ●
LeBron 25 points and Fed Cup Kenin earned ● and Tyson Chandler grabbed 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers clawed their way to a .500 record with a 101- 86 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The Lakers are now 6- 6 on the season, the first time they have as many wins as losses.
“We didn’t cave in on our principles,” James said. “We had a hell of a game plan and we executed for 48 minutes.”
Brandon Ingram finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who have won four of their last five games.
James hit his first six of nine shots and finished 10- for- 18 from the floor. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 21 points but he didn’t get much help from the rest of the Sacramento starters.
HARRELL STARS IN
BUCKS VICTORY
In Milwaukee, Montrezl Harrell provided the spark, coming off the bench to score 26 points as the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Milwaukee Bucks 128- 126 in overtime.
Coach Doc Rivers, who had a pep talk with Harrell at halftime about his lack of defensive play, knew he could trust Harrell in the second half.
“He turned it around,” Rivers said.
“His energy was infectious.”
Lou Williams hit a clutch driving layup with less than a second to go in overtime, but it was Harrell who set the table by diving for loose balls, barging his way through defenders and even wagging a finger after blocking a Bucks’ shot.
“I come in here every night just looking to give my team the extra boost and that extra push to will us to win the game,” said Harrell, who shot five of 15 from the field late in the game.
Harrell also finished with nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 27 points and 18 rebounds in the loss as the Bucks dropped to 9- 3 on the season.
“Offensively, I felt kind of weird going down in the fourth quarter and overtime because we’ve been blowing teams out this year,” said Antetokounmpo.
Patrick Beverley had 21 points for Los Angeles, and Tobias Harris finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
In Toronto, Pascal Siakam scored a quickfire 23 points as the Toronto Raptors maintained their grip on the Eastern Conference standings with a 128- 112 demolition of the New York Knicks.
The hosts are a win away from their sixth title in the last eight editions and their 11th overall, including five as the former Czechoslovakia
Quinn Cook’s total was a season- high as he dressed in place of Stephen Curry, who missed the game after suffering a groin injury on Thursday in a loss to Milwaukee
two breaks each, with the more aggressive US teenager taking the set in a tie- break.
But, propelled by the sold- out O2 Arena with 14,500 fans, the four- time Fed Cup winner regained composure in the second to sweep aside the Russianborn Kenin, who is still in search of her maiden WTA singles title.
Strycova took a 5- 2 lead in the third and despite giving up two breaks, she took the set 6- 4.
“For me it was a lot of emotions,” Strycova said on court after the win.
“I fought every ball and I’m so happy that I could win today in front of such a crowd. It means a lot to me. Every point is very important and I’m very happy I could do it today.”
Kenin admitted she was “a little bit overwhelmed” by her debut.
“I was pretty nervous but I was able to handle it,” she said. “In the second set I got a lot of break opportunities but she just played too good so credit to her.” Siniakova cruised through the first set of her encounter with Riske, forging ahead through a pair of breaks after indulging in groundstrokes and long rallies.
Riske went 3- 1 up in the second set, but Siniakova levelled and took the set to a tie- break which she dominated to seal victory.
The US are missing Sloane Stephens, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Madison Keys, while the Czechs are without Karolina Pliskova.
Two- time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has ended up on the bench with a bad cold, although she is hoping to play on Sunday.