Bucks keep Celtics series alive
curbed hocks and I think the beach has helped strengthen him up.
‘‘He was hanging and touching himself in behind, but we changed his shoeing and have been able to let his hopples out and now he’s got his confidence back and enjoying what he’s doing.’’
Mach’s Back has been driven in his last three races by Ricky May, Dexter Dunn and Blair Orange.
The latter opted for the Nigel McGrath-trained Gore Bay in the race, but Ellis is more than happy to have Nathan Williamson at the reins.
‘‘Nathan has always driven him at the trials and while we were getting him sorted so he knows him well.’’
Thatswhatisaid will be having his last race in New Zealand when he lines up in the $45,000 Group 2 Southern Supremacy for co-owner, trainer and driver Kirk Larsen. The three-year-old son of Well Said has been sold to a Canberra Raiders rugby league club syndicate and will be joining the NSW stable of Brad Hewitt.
Larsen raced him with long time stable client Gordy Smith after purchasing him at the Premier Sale for $25,000.
Thatswhatisaid easily won a maiden in 1.54.9 when resuming from a freshen up a month ago at Winton and he’s gone two good races since, behind Duke Of Wellington and Mighty Conqueror.
The latter came home in 55.6 for a 1.57.7 mile rate over 2400m and Thatswhatisaid did well to come three wide over the last half and finish as close as he did for third alongside Betterthanbrie.
‘‘There’s some smart ones in that race so we’ll have to try and give him an economical passage, but he’s a good staying type and he won’t disgrace himself if it’s a strongly run 2700m,’’ said Larsen. Australian duo Thon Maker and Matthew Dellavedova remain alive in the NBA playoffs after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated Aron Baynes’ Boston Celtics to send their first-round series to a game seven decider.
Bucks’ coach Joe Prunty elevated Maker to the starting lineup and the 216cm tall 21-year-old helped deliver the energy his team needed in Milwaukee on Thursday with a 97-86 win.
‘‘Clearly their speed, length and athleticism impacted us,’’ Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens told reporters.
If the Bucks lost they would have been eliminated.
Instead, they tied the series 3-3 to set up what should be a dramacharged winner-takes-the-series game seven on Sunday (NZT) at Boston’s intimidating TD Garden arena.
The game seven victor will take on Aussie phenom Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers in the second round.
Maker combined with the Bucks’ 211cm All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo to present a long and athletic obstacle for the Celtics.
Antetokounmpo was the most dominant player on the court with 31 points and 14 rebounds.
‘‘We came in with focus and the team agreed we would win the game no matter what,’’ Antetokounmpo said.
Dellavedova had three points and six assists.
Boston was led by Jayson Tatum’s 22 points and Baynes had two points and four rebounds.
Maker had four points and grabbed seven rebounds, some at crucial points in the game, and used his length and speed to harass, alter Celtics’ shots and dive on loose balls.
Maker has thrived in front of his home crowd in Milwaukee.
The Bucks’ three wins were in Milwaukee, but in their three losses in Boston the second-year Sudanese-born, Australian-raised giant has been quiet.
The Bucks jumped out to a 48-39 halftime lead and maintained the margin until halfway through the third quarter when the Celtics went on a 20-6 run and with four minutes left in the period the score was tied 61-61.
The Bucks, however, withstood the charge and went on to comfortably win.