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Durant scores 31, Suns beat Clippers 112-100 for 3-1 lead

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 31 points, Devin Booker added 30 and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers without Kawhi Leonard 112-100 on Saturday to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.The Clippers, who lost Game 3 by five points, again made a strong run with Leonard watching from the bench. He has missed two straight games with a sprained right knee. They're also without Paul George, who hasn't played since March 21 because of the same injury as Leonard.Russell Westbrook carried the Clippers in the fourth quarter. He had 14 points, including nine in a row when they twice pulled within two points. Westbrook finished with a game-high 37 points. Norman Powell added 14 points and Terance Mann had 13 off the bench.Game 5 is Tuesday in Phoenix.But as the fourth wound down, the Clippers ran out of gas.Chris Paul, the 37-year-old former Clipper, had 12 points in the fourth, hitting big jumpers from all over the court each time the Los Angeles...

Photos: Festivals and clean-ups celebrate annual Earth Day

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

Nature lovers across the Bay Area took part in trash clean-ups and outdoor festivals Saturday to commemorate Earth Day, the 54th annual global celebration of environmental stewardship.At Cupertino’s Earth Day & Arbor Day Festival at Library Field Park, families enjoyed arts and crafts, rock climbing walls and a nature-themed mobile library. Meanwhile in Berkeley, volunteers with buckets and pick-up sticks clambered along the waterfront near the Shorebird Park Nature Center. They celebrated with a festival of their own later in the day with live music and free boat rides by the shoreline.Gaylord Nelson, a former U.S. senator from Wisconsin, organized the first Earth Day in 1970 as a nationwide rally to raise awareness about environmental threats following a devastating oil spill in Santa Barbara. The demonstration helped spur the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency later that year. Today, Earth Day is celebrated by more than 140 countries around the world.Nikhil Sabni...

Brandon Crawford goes deep, Logan Webb deals to lead SF Giants over Mets

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — With one swing Saturday afternoon, Brandon Crawford announced that he’s still here.Crawford, 36, came a few feet short of the Giants’ 99th splash hit into McCovey Cove and instead had to settle for a three-run home run that merely reached the water beyond right field on a bounce, providing a first-inning lead that proved insurmountable in a 7-4 win over the Mets, only San Francisco’s third win in its past 10 games and its first this home stand.With Crawford’s home run, his third this season, the Giants equaled in the first inning their total runs from their first two games of this series, both losses.The three-run shot also served as a loud reminder that while, yes, the veteran shortstop has shown his age early on this season, he still has something in the tank.Since homering as part of a three-hit effort in the second game of the season, Crawford had accumulated only five hits in his next 45 at-bats (.111) and was 0-for-his-last-14 entering S...

Kurtenbach: Do the Warriors have a Roaracle-like home-court advantage at Chase Center? We’ll find out in Game 4

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors created a home-court advantage that was second to none in Oakland.But it seems the one they’re building at their new(ish) building in San Francisco gives it a nice run.I’m not here to blaspheme or speak ill of the vacated, but following Friday’s Game 4, but the fact is that the Warriors now boast a 12-1 playoff record at Chase Center.It’s not Roaracle 2.0, but when you pair the playoff success with the fact that Dubs were miserable on the road this past regular season yet downright unbeatable at home, it’s clear that the team’s lux digs are providing some edge.And whatever powers Chase Center holds need to be summoned Sunday afternoon. The Warriors played with exceptional energy and focus in Game 3, but they were also backed by a sense of desperation.But if there’s one thing we’ve seen from this Warriors team this season, it’s that their best basketball is fleeting.So with the Dubs back in this 2-1 se...

One dead, one injured in separate Oakland shootings

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

(KRON) -- A man is in critical condition after a shooting not far from the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday morning, and a second shooting in the city left another person with fatal injuries just over an hour later, according to the Oakland Police Department. Rolex robbery: $100K in jewelry stolen in downtown Walnut Creek A caller reported the first shooting near the area of Edes Avenue and Hegenberger Road just after 11 a.m., according to police. Officers found a man at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to local hospital and is now in critical condition. Police are investigating this shooting. If you have more information about what took place you are asked to contact the OPD Felony Assault unite at 510-238-3426. The second shooting took place on the 1600 block of 35th Avenue. Police found a gunshot victim at the scene, and began life-saving measures. The victim was taken to a local hospital before they died of their injuries. Police are asking anyone with infor...

Castellanos’ 2 homers power Phillies past Rockies 4-3

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Castellanos leads the National League in doubles, tops all right fielders in assists and his daring leads off third base have created runs and excitement in Philadelphia.But the power-hitting outfielder just wasn’t going deep.So Castellanos finally took care of the 0 in the HR column, with authority — and kept the streaking NL champs inching back to .500.“I just want to do my job, man,” Castellanos said.Castellanos hit his first two home runs of the season and Cristian Pache also went deep for the first time this season to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.Castellanos hit a solo shot off Kyle Freeland (2-2) in the second inning and the go-ahead solo homer again off Freeland for a 4-3 lead in the sixth and helped the Phillies (10-12) win for the fifth time in seven games.Castellanos’ power outage this season was a thorny topic before the game for manager Rob Thomson. Thomson, who led the Phillies to the NL...

Draymond Green won’t change post-suspension, returns Game 4

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Draymond Green is certain this is far from his last suspension, and he had some strong words for the NBA trying to make him an example of suspensions based on past behavior.The Golden State forward is set to return for the Warriors in Sunday’s Game 4 against the Sacramento Kings with his team trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven series after serving a one-game suspension during the defending champions’ 114-97 Game 3 victory Thursday night.“Them (s——) don’t work,” Green said Saturday of any special rules for him. “Here I am, still sitting here, still winning. They created those rules before, they didn’t work, they still don’t work. Maybe they did but Draymond won’t be moved by no Draymond rules. I will continue to play the game how I play the game, operate how I operate, be exactly who I am, because that leads to winning.”In the fourth quarter of the Kings’ 114-106 Game 2 win Monday night, Green stepped on the chest of Sacramento center...

Meneses, Abrams lead Nats over Twins 10-4 in 35-degree chill

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joey Meneses tied a career high with four hits, CJ Abrams hit his first home run since Washington acquired him in a trade last summer and the Nationals beat the Minnesota Twins 10-4 on a cold Saturday.Washington (7-13) won consecutive games for only the second time this season after a pair of games at Colorado on April 7 and 8. The Nationals had 15 hits, reaching double digits for the seventh time.“Basically, it motivates and takes the pressure off the team knowing that we already won the series,” Meneses said through a translator. “You feel a little bit more relaxed and hopefully, tomorrow, we’ll keep playing the same way with the same confidence.”Mason Thompson (2-1) allowed an unearned run and two hits over 2 1/3 innings with four strikeouts in relief of Chad Kuhl, who needed 96 pitches to get 11 outs. Wearing short sleeves, Kuhl gave up one run, three hits and four walks.The gametime temperature of 35 degrees was the coldest for the Nationals since the team mo...

Bucks rule Giannis Antetokounmpo out for Game 3 vs. Heat

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks was ruled out of Game 3 of his team’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Miami Heat on Saturday night because of his ongoing back issue.It’s the second full game that Antetokounmpo has missed in the series. He played only 11 minutes of Game 1, was ruled out for the remainder of that game after being diagnosed with a back contusion and then did not play Wednesday in Milwaukee’s series-tying Game 2 victory.Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Antetokounmpo is making progress.“We’ll continue to monitor him, through the day tomorrow, through the day the next day,” Budenholzer said. “He’s not in a place where he can go, so we’ll just continue to monitor and work with him and hope for the best.”Milwaukee entered Saturday 12-8 this season when Antetokounmpo doesn’t play in a game.Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP and one of three finalists — joining Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Philadelphia’s Joel Embi...

MATCHDAY: Man U vs Brighton in FA Cup, Barca hosts Atletico

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 12:13:55 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:ENGLANDManchester United and Brighton meet in the second FA Cup semifinal at Wembley. The winner plays Manchester City in the June 3 final. United, which has already won the English League Cup this season, is looking to bounce back from its elimination from the Europa League in midweek. Brighton is a surprise package under Roberto De Zerbi, with the team in seventh place in the Premier League and aiming for a first FA Cup final appearance since 1983. There are two games in the Premier League, the highlight being Newcastle hosting Tottenham in a match between teams battling for Champions League qualification. Newcastle is in fourth place, three points above fifth-placed Spurs. West Ham visits Bournemouth with both teams seeking to pull further clear of the relegation zone. SPAINBarcelona midfielders Pedri González and Frenkie de Jong have recovered from injury and are in the squad for its home game against third-placed Atletico ...