Seattle still loves NBA
SEATTLE — Kevin Durant got off the bus inside the loading dock of KeyArena about two hours before tipoff and made a quick glance toward the court, visible through the tunnel. He was back where his NBA career began more than a decade ago. “When I woke up from my pregame nap, I was nervous,” Durant said. “I never felt that way coming into a game, especially a preseason game, but knowing this whole thing was set up for that moment, I guess it was a crazy feeling to come out and feel that much love.” Durant was back in Seattle on Friday night along with the rest of the Golden State Warriors for a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings. It was the first NBA game in the city since the SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City after the 2007-08 season. It was an opportunity for the Seattle basketball community to gather once more before KeyArena becomes a construction site later this fall as part of a $700 million renovation that is expected to land the city an expansion NHL team, and it has raised hopes of the NBA and the Sonics returning in the future. The Warriors beat the Kings 122-96. Klay Thompson scored 30 points. Durant had 26. None of that truly mattered. “It was a very special atmosphere. Very different from anything I’ve ever experienced,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. For three hours, Seattle said hello to the NBA once more while saying goodbye to a building in which the Sonics hung their only championship banner and the Seattle Storm won three WNBA titles.
› AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said a university review into possible rules violations found nothing to substantiate claims made in testimony at a college basketball corruption trial in New York federal court. Del Conte issued a statement Friday after testimony during the week by Brian Bowen Sr., who testified that his son, Brian Jr., was offered thousands of dollars to play at major programs. Brian Sr. said an aspiring agent, Christian Dawkins, told him he could pocket $50,000 if his son played at the University of Arizona, $150,000 at Oklahoma State or $100,000 at Creighton. Bowen said there was some interest from Oregon but didn’t recall a cash offer. He also testified Dawkins suggested Texas assistant Mike Morrell, now the head coach at UNC Asheville, could “help me with housing.” Asked if he specifically talked with anyone at Texas about “such an offer,” Bowen replied no. Dawkins, former amateur coach Merl Code and former Adidas executive James Gatto have pleaded not guilty to charges they committed fraud by secretly funneling money from Adidas to families of prospects to get them to attend colleges sponsored by the athletic clothing company. Earlier this year, Texas junior guard Eric Davis Jr. turned pro after being held out several games late in the season after reports raised allegations he had taken money from an agent representative.
SOCCER
› ATLANTA — Sixteen-year-old George Bello scored the first goal of his professional soccer career, and Atlanta United FC stayed in front in the Supporters’ Shield race with a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday. Bello opened the scoring in the 17th minute, settling Leandro Gonzalez Pirez’s pass along the left wing and finishing with a low, hard left-footed shot. At 16 years, 257 days, Bello became the sixth-youngest player in Major League Soccer history to score a goal. Julian Gressel made it 2-0 for Atlanta United (20-6-6) in the 52nd minute, when Hector Villalba slipped a pass behind the defender and Gressel slotted it into the far corner. Juan Agudelo scored in the 92nd minute for the Revolution (8-12-11), who were all but eliminated from playoff contention. New England is eight points behind the sixth-place Montreal Impact with three games to go. Atlanta’s Miguel Almiron left in the 30th minute with an apparent leg injury. The Supporters’ Shield is awarded to the MLS team with the best regular-season record per the league’s points system.