NBA Raptors rip Warriors
SPIKERS’ TURF Air Force seeks Open diadem
LOS ANGELES AFP) – Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka combined for 43 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors at home for the first time in 14 years with a 113-93 victory on Wednesday.
Lowry finished with 23 points and 12 assists and Ibaka tallied 20 points and 12 rebounds as Toronto won despite not having Kawhi Leonard in the lineup.
Toronto won despite not having Leonard for a second consecutive night with a sore right hip. The Raptors also lost seven-foot centre Jonas Valanciunas to a dislocated left thumb in the first half.
''We didn't make shots early in the game and it affected our energy,'' said Stephen Curry, who had 10 points. ''They got into us early and played aggressive and that set the tone.” Elsewhere, Kyrie Irving drained a clutch three pointer with 16 seconds left as the short-handed Boston Celtics used a variety of interchangeable parts to beat the Washington Wizards 130-125 in overtime.
Also, Anthony Davis scored 44 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans held on to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-114.
Meantime, Jeremy Lamb sank the game winning shot with less than a second left to lift the Charlotte Hornets to a thrilling 108-107 victory over the struggling Detroit Pistons, who failed to hold onto a 10-point lead late in the contest.
Game Today
(Blue Eagle gym, Katipunan) 3 p.m. – PLDT vs Air Force
Air Force seeks to ride on the momentum of its Game 1 win as it guns for the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference crown today at the Blue Eagle gym in Katipunan, Quezon City.
The Agilas breathed life into their championship bid after surviving the tough PLDT Home Power Hitters, 2523, 22-25, 26-24, 28-26, forging a sudden death in the finals.
PLDT, which finished No. 2 in the eliminations, enjoyed a twice-to-beat edge in the finals after top seed Sta Elena-National University pulled out of the competition to represent the country in the ongoing ASEAN University Games in Myanmar.
Tawi-Tawi standout Ranran Abdilla waxed hot for the Agilas by firing 28 points built on 26 kills and two aces even as Edwin Tolentino also steered the squad with 19 points including 17 attacks.
Though PLDT edged Air Force in the offensive lane by posting more spikes, 64-60, the Agilas held their composure in the crunch to outplay the Home Power Hitters’ dynamic duo in Mark Gil Alfafara and John Vic De Guzman.