Thunder need George in sync
When Paul George has been rolling this season, so has the Thunder.
The All-Star forward has been off his game against the Trail Blazers, and they have struggled against the Trail Blazers. Yes, George is averaging 26.5 points in theWestern Conference first-round playoff series, but he’s making just 27 percent of his 3-pointers — down from 39 percent during the regular season.
Much has been made of his shoulder issues, which he has been dealing with the last few months. George even missed the regular-season finale against the Bucks after not being able to lift his arm.
But George said Thursday his shoulder is painfree.
“The first game it was just out of rhythm, trying to find shots,” George said. “The second, itwas knowing where shots were going to come from, knowing the space I could get playing at the basket and taking advantage of where I can get to the rim. It’ll be a great mix Game 3.”
TheThunder hope it’s a great mix. They’re down 0-2 as the series shifts to Oklahoma City on Friday.
In Game 1, Georgewent 8-for-24 fromthe field and made 4 of 15 3-pointers. In Game 2, George focused more on drives and shorter jumpers and was a more efficient 11-for-20 fromthe floor.
The Thunder desperately need George’s longrange production. He led the team and ranked fourth in theNBAwith 3.8 makes per game in the regular season. The Thunder have made just 10 of 61 3-pointers in the series. George has made six of 22.
Despite their struggles, George said neither his approach nor the team’s approach will change.
“Wehave to keep shooting,” he said. “We’re going tomake shots. Keepshooting. We miss shots, so what. Keep shooting.”
Embiid sits: All-Star center Joel Embiid sat out Game 3 of the 76ers’ Eastern Conference firstround series against the Nets on Thursday night with a sore left knee.
GregMonroe started his place.
Embiid had 23 points and 10 boards in the 76ers’ win Monday that evened the series at 1-1. He missed five of the 76ers’ last seven regular-season games due to rest and injury. in College basketball: Kansas appealed the NCAA’s two-year suspension of sophomore F Silvio De Sousa that resulted from an FBI probe into corruption in college basketball. The university said De Sousa was suspended for most of the 2018-19 season and all of the 2019-20 season “for alleged violations that he was unaware of and from which he did not benefit.” The NCAA found that De Sousa’s guardian, Fenny Falmagne, received a $2,500 payment from a “university booster and agent” and agreed to an additional $20,000 payment from the same personandanAdidasemployee for securing De Sousa’s commitment to Kansas. The school was cleared of any wrongdoing. The NCAA’s Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement will make a final ruling. ... Texas Tech sophomore G Jarrett Culver declared for the NBA draft. Culver, the Big 12 player of the year and a second-team All-American, averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and led his hometown Red Raiders to their first Final Four and national championship game appearance. He has until May 29 to make a final decision on whether to return to school.
Golf: Shane Lowry shot an opening-round 6under 65 to take a onestroke lead at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C. TreyMullinax, Daniel Berger, Luke List, Ryan Moore and Ryan Palmer were tied for second. ... NellyKorda recorded nine birdies and shot a 9-under 63 to take a onestroke lead after the opening round of the LPGA’s Lotte Championship on Wednesday in Kapolei, Hawaii.
Horse racing: Santa Anita will continue racing through the end of the current meet June 23, despite objections from animal rights activists who urged the CaliforniaHorse Racing Board to shutter the historic track after the deaths of 23 horses since Dec. 26. ... Churchill Downs will invest $8 million for an on-site equine medical center as part of several other measures to improve safety for horses and riders.
NBA: Mavericks G Tim Hardaway Jr. underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his lower left leg. He’s expected to be ready for training camp.
NFL: The Redskins signed DLMatt Ioannidis, 25, to a three-year, $21.75 million extension.
Soccer: MLS invited St. Louis and Sacramento, Calif., to submit bids for franchises as the league unveiled plans to expand. MLS currently has 24 teamsandwilladdclubs in Miami and Nashville, Tenn., next season and Austin, Texas in 2021. St. Louis and Sacramento would be the 28th and 29th teams. .
Tennis: Top-ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-0 and defending champ and No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal of Spain beat Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.
— News services