B2
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Lillard leads Trail Blazers
to 120-106 win over Suns
By BOB BAUM
Associated Press
PHOENIX — Damian
Lillard scored 24 points,
CJ McCollum and Jake
Layman added 20 apiece
and the Portland Trail
Blazers pulled away in
the second half to hand
the short-handed Phoenix
Suns their sixth straight
loss, 120-106 on Thursday
night.
The Trail Blazers beat
Phoenix for the ninth
straight time. Portland has
won four of fi ve and eight
of 11 overall.
Devin Booker scored
27 points for the Suns but
only nine after the fi rst
quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr.
added 18 on 6-of-18 shoot-
ing. Dragan Bender, forced
into the starting center role
due to injuries, had 17.
The Suns were with-
out rookie center Deandre
Ayton (sprained left ankle)
and backup Richaun
Holmes (right foot sprain)
for the third straight game.
T.J. Warren also sat out
with a sore right ankle, and
Suns starting point guard
De’Anthony Melton left
in the third quarter with a
sprained right ankle.
Seth Curry scored 17
and Jusuf Nurkic 16 for
Portland.
What was left of the
Suns stayed with the Blaz-
ers through the fi rst half
and much of the second.
Booker shot 6 of
Friday, January 25, 2019
Union: Dead time in free-agent
market ‘threat to our game’
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
AP Photo/Matt York
Portland Trail Blazers
guard Damian Lillard (0)
drives around Phoenix
Suns forward Mikal Bridg-
es during the second half
of an NBA basketball game
on Thursday in Phoenix.
9, including 2 of 4 on
3-pointers, in his 18-point
fi rst quarter and the Suns
led 31-30 after one. With
McCollum on the bench
with three fouls, Phoenix
stretched the lead to 47-41
on Josh Jackson’s coast-to-
coast drive with 5:52 left in
the half.
Portland,
though,
responded with a 12-1 run
to go up 54-48 on Lillard’s
two free throws with 1:17
remaining. Booker sank
four free throws, his only
points of the second quar-
ter, and the Trail Blazers
led 56-52 at the break.
The Blazers opened the
fi nal quarter with a 12-4
surge and Phoenix never
challenged again.
NEW YORK — The
head of the baseball play-
ers’ association expressed
concern over a second
straight offseason that has
seen Bryce Harper, Manny
Machado and many other
free agents remain with-
out deals less than a month
before spring training.
“All the dead time in the
last two free-agent mar-
kets is a larger threat to
our game than any sup-
posed dead time between
pitches,” Tony Clark said
Thursday in a telephone
interview with The Associ-
ated Press.
Wanting to increase the
pace of games and con-
cerned about a drop in
offense, management has
made proposals to the union
that include a pitch clock
and rules changes. The
AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker, File
In this Tuesday, April 10, 2018, fi le photo, sports agent Scott Bo-
ras attends batting practice before a baseball game between
the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics in Los Angeles.
players’ association says
it will respond, and unlike
last year the union appears
open to discuss the issues.
Against this backdrop,
just 58 of the 164 players
who exercised the right to
become free agents follow-
ing the World Series had
announced deals through
Thursday afternoon. That
is up from 45 of 166 on the
same date last offseason,
but this year’s free-agent
class contains far more
accomplished players.
Those still available
included Harper, Machado,
pitcher Dallas Keuchel and
closer Craig Kimbrel.
“When they’re signing
that late, it’s just how major
league owners choose to
do business and how the
commissioner’s offi ce has
directed them to do so,”
agent Scott Boras said
Thursday.
Major League Base-
ball declined to respond to
Clark and Boras, spokes-
man Pat Courtney said.
Boras, more than most
other agents, is known for
negotiating late into the
offseason. Last year, he
reached a $110 million,
fi ve-year contract between
J.D. Martinez and Boston
that was announced Feb.
26 and a $75 million, three-
year agreement between
right-hander Jake Arrieta
and Philadelphia that was
announced March 12 —
about a month after spring
training began.
Hoops: Umatilla boys rally
past Irrigon in 69-45 win
Continued from Page B1
and thinking, ‘Oh no, this
is close.’ I knew we had to
pick things up.”
Burns
drove
the
Knights’ victory with 15
points for the night. After
a nine-point Umatilla
run in the third quarter
that brought the Vikings
within fi ve points of taking
over, Burns knocked down
another trey to keep Irri-
gon alive, 32-24.
“I expect a lot out of
JaLay,” Royer said. “She’s
a freshman, but she’s
played more basketball
than anyone on the team.
She makes some freshman
mistakes, but she’s learn-
ing to be a leader. She can
do good things on both
ends of the court.”
Umatilla
sophomore
Devin Monreal grabbed an
Irrigon ball to pull within
four points of the lead
with just 0:34 left in the
fi nal quarter. But Irrigon
seniors Ana Zacarias and
Myka Davis combined for
three at the line to keep the
game out of reach in the
fi nal seconds.
Sophomore
Alyssa
Luna posted a double-dou-
ble with 10 points and 11
rebounds for the Knights.
“This feels pretty good,”
Luna said of the win. “We
worked hard even when
they were catching up on
us. The coach told us at
halftime, ‘You guys have
to dig,’ and we did. Uma-
tilla is always a challenge.”
Taylor Durfey posted
14 points for the Vikings
(2-17, 0-5 EOL), and Ford
ended with 12. They’ll
host Riverside on Friday.
Meanwhile, Irrigon (12-8,
3-4 EOL) travels to Burns.
Boys hoops
On paper, Umatilla
might have thought they
were in for an easier win.
On Thursday night’s
Eastern Oregon League
contest, the Umatilla
Vikings were welcomed
by the lower ranked Irri-
gon Knights, but were
forced to rally in the third
quarter to claim the 69-45
win.
The two teams were
tied at 2-2 early on before
Irrigon took an 8-2 lead
with 4:33 left in the fi rst
quarter. Four straight
points from Vikings junior
Andrew Earl and senior
Christian DeLoera brought
them within two points
BOYS HOOPS
Umatilla
Irrigon
69
45
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Jordan Franklin, of Hermiston, wrestles Walla Walla’s Emilio Sardina in the 145-pound weight class during Thursday’s match
at the Dawg House. Franklin won by decision.
Wrestling: Dawgs will host District 8 championships Feb. 1-2
Continued from Page B1
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Umatilla’s Andrew Carl
drives past Irrigon’s Fe-
lipe Guadarrama (3) and
Leonel Carrillo (23) in the
Vikings’ 69-45 win against
the Knights on Thursday in
Irrigon.
from the lead. But Irrigon
senior Danny Telles hit a
3-pointer from half court
to keep the Knights ahead
17-12.
DeLoera posted seven
more points in the second
quarter to help Umatilla
catch up 30-24 at the half.
The Vikings came out of
the locker room renewed
to start their comeback,
outscoring Irrigon 22-3.
“We stepped up and
decided to play some
ball,” said Umatilla coach
Scott Bow. “We let them
get some easy shots in the
fi rst half, but we put them
in some tough positions in
the second.”
Umatilla claimed the
fourth quarter 23-12 to
seal the win. DeLoera led
the way for the Vikings
(16-3, 4-1 EOL) with 25
points, and Earl followed
with 16.
“It was a big win for
us,” Bow said. “They did
a fantastic job of picking
up the energy and intensity
in that third quarter. When
it’s late in the game like
that, you have to start play-
ing smart.”
Senior Leonel Car-
illo had 15 points for the
Vikings (8-12, 2-5 EOL),
and Telles and senior Lino
Covarrubia each chipped
in 13.
“I’d rather him go out and
fi ght than forfeit a match,”
Larson said. “We have
thrown him to the wolves
a few times. He’s a great
kid. He’s happy to be here.
I wish some of our others
guys had his attitude.”
Hermiston Zayne Helfer
started the match with a
fi rst-round pin of John-
Mark Whitaker at 106.
Adrian Delgado (113) fol-
lowed with a 5-2 decision
over Ruben Lozano, and
Lambert pinned Bernardo
Bautista in 3:10 to give the
Bulldogs a 15-0 lead.
“He put up a good fi ght,”
Lambert said of his oppo-
nent. “But I wanted it more.
This was our last night, and
everybody was excited. It’s
fun to win your last dual
your senior year.”
Hunter
Dyer
(126)
pinned Tanner Bollinger
in 57 seconds, and Shipley
needed 4:36 to pin Camrin
Henzel.
“It felt really good to
come out and win my last
(dual) match,” Shipley said.
“I gave it my all.”
Jordan Franklin picked
up a 17-2 technical fall at
138 to give the Bulldogs a
32-0 lead.
The Blue Devils recorded
their fi rst win at 145 as Tan-
ner Siller pinned Brock
Remmer in 2:46. Alejandro
Mata followed with a sec-
ond-round pin of Pakdee at
152 before Trevor Wagner
earned a 16-0 technical fall
over Jesse Easley at 160.
Walls Walla forfeited at
170, 182, 195 and 220, giv-
ing Hermiston a 61-12 lead.
In the battle of the big
men, Wa-Hi’s Jerry Corona
pinned Dustyn Coughlin in
the second round.
Hermiston will host the
District 8 championships
Feb. 1-2. The top four in each
weight class will advance to
the Regional Tournament
Feb. 9 in Yelm. Action will
begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday,
and at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“It’s fun to have it at
home,” Larson said. “Hope-
fully we come out and put
on a show. We have all the
advantages of sleeping in
our own beds and such. It
should be real comfortable
for us.”
SCOREBOARD
LOCAL SLATE
FRIDAY, JAN. 25
Boys Basketball
Stanfi eld at Heppner, 6 p.m.
Enterprise at Weston-McEwen, 6 p.m.
Echo at Horizon Christian, 6:30 p.m.
Pendleton at The Dalles, 6:30 p.m.
Hanford at Hermiston, 7 p.m.
Ione at Dufur, 7:30 p.m.
Helix at Joseph, 7:30 p.m.
Grant Union at Pilot Rock, 7:30 p.m.
Riverside at Umatilla, 7:30 p.m.
Nixyaawii vs. Kittitas (at Hermiston),
8:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Hanford at Hermiston, 5:30 p.m.
Dufur at Ione, 6 p.m.
Helix at Joseph, 6 p.m.
Grant Union at Pilot Rock, 6 p.m.
Riverside at Umatilla, 6 p.m.
The Dalles at Pendleton, 6:30 p.m.
Stanfi eld at Heppner, 7:30 p.m.
Enterprise at Weston-McEwen, 7:30 p.m.
Boys Wrestling
Mac-Hi/Weston-McEwen at Ontario,
1 p.m.
Girls Wrestling
Riverside at Hood River Valley, 12 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 26
Boys Basketball
Baker at Mac-Hi, 3 p.m.
Pilot Rock at Stanfi eld, 4 p.m.
Heppner at Grant Union, 4 p.m.
Echo at Sherman, 5:30 p.m.
Elgin at Helix, 5:30 p.m.
Nixyaawii at Wallowa, 5:30 p.m.
Hermiston at Richland, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Echo at Sherman, 4 p.m.
Elgin at Helix, 4 p.m.
Nixyaawii at Wallowa, 4 p.m.
Baker at Mac-Hi, 4:30 p.m.
Pilot Rock at Stanfi eld, 5:30 p.m.
Heppner at Grant Union, 5:30 p.m.
Hermiston at Richland, 5:45 p.m.
Men’s Basketball
Blue Mountain at Big Bend, 4 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
Blue Mountain at Big Bend, 2 p.m.
Girls Wrestling
Riverside at Hood River Valley, 12 p.m.
NFL
CONFERENCE
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday, Jan. 20
NFC
L.A. Rams 26, New Orleans 23, (OT)
AFC
New England 37, Kansas City 31, (OT)
PRO BOWL
Sunday, Jan. 27, at Orlando, Fla.
AFC vs. NFC, noon (ABC/ESPN)
SUPER BOWL
Sunday, Feb. 3, at Atlanta
New England vs. L.A. Rams,
3:30 p.m. (CBS)
NHL
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Tampa Bay
49 37 10 2 76 199 140
Toronto
49 30 17 2 62 174 140
Montreal
51 28 18 5 61 154 149
Boston
49 27 17 5 59 143 128
Buff alo
48 24 18 6 54 140 144
Florida
48 20 20 8 48 152 170
Detroit
51 19 25 7 45 145 172
Ottawa
50 19 26 5 43 156 187
Metropolitan GP W L OT Pts GF GA
N.Y. Islanders 49 29 15 5 63 147 122
Washington 50 27 17 6 60 171 162
Columbus
48 28 17 3 59 154 146
Pittsburgh
48 26 16 6 58 169 146
Carolina
50 24 20 6 54 140 149
N.Y. Rangers 48 21 20 7 49 139 164
Philadelphia 48 19 23 6 44 139 169
New Jersey
48 18 23 7 43 140 164
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Winnipeg
48 31 15 2 64 167 134
Nashville
52 30 18 4 64 161 135
Minnesota 50 26 21 3 55 142 142
Dallas
49 24 21 4 52 126 128
Colorado
50 22 20 8 52 169 162
St. Louis
49 22 22 5 49 139 149
Chicago
51 18 24 9 45 156 190
Pacifi c
GP W L OT Pts GF GA
Calgary
51 33 13 5 71 190 145
San Jose
52 29 16 7 65 187 167
Vegas
52 29 19 4 62 157 140
Vancouver 51 23 22 6 52 147 161
Anaheim
51 21 21 9 51 120 153
Arizona
50 23 23 4 50 132 142
Edmonton 50 23 24 3 49 144 163
Los Angeles 50 20 26 4 44 114 150
NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for
overtime loss. Top three teams in each
division and two wild cards per confer-
ence advance to playoff s.
Saturday’s Games
Central All-Stars vs Pacifi c All-Stars: Cen-
tral vs. Pacifi c at San Jose, Calif., 5:15 p.m.
Metropolitan All-Stars vs Atlantic All-
Stars: Metropolitan vs. Atlantic at San
Jose, Calif., 6:15 p.m.
All-Star Game Final: TBD vs. TBD at San
Jose, Calif., 7:15 p.m.
NBA
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic
Toronto
Philadelphia
Boston
Brooklyn
New York
Southeast
Charlotte
Miami
Washington
Orlando
Atlanta
Central
Milwaukee
Indiana
Detroit
Chicago
Cleveland
W
36
32
30
26
10
W
23
22
20
20
15
W
34
32
21
11
9
L
14
17
18
23
36
L
24
24
27
28
32
L
12
15
26
37
40
Pct
.720
.653
.625
.531
.217
Pct
.489
.478
.426
.417
.319
Pct
.739
.681
.447
.229
.184
GB
—
3½
5
9½
24
GB
—
½
3
3½
8
GB
—
2½
13½
24
26½
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest
Houston
San Antonio
W
27
27
L
20
22
Pct
.574
.551
GB
—
1
New Orleans
22 27 .449
6
Dallas
21 26 .447
6
Memphis
19 29 .396 8½
Northwest
W
L
Pct GB
Denver
31 15 .674
—
Oklahoma City 30 18 .625
2
Portland
30 20 .600
3
Utah
27 22 .551 5½
Minnesota
24 24 .500
8
Pacifi c
W
L
Pct GB
Golden State
34 14 .708
—
L.A. Clippers
26 22 .542
8
L.A. Lakers
25 24 .510 9½
Sacramento
24 24 .500
10
Phoenix
11 39 .220
24
———
Thursday’s Games
Golden State 126, Washington 118
Oklahoma City 122, New Orleans 116
Portland 120, Phoenix 106
Minnesota 120, L.A. Lakers 105
Friday’s Games
Washington at Orlando, 4 p.m.
Miami at Cleveland, 4:30 p.m.
New York at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Chicago, 5 p.m.
Sacramento at Memphis, 5 p.m.
Toronto at Houston, 5 p.m.
Charlotte at Milwaukee, 5:30 p.m.
Detroit at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Utah, 6 p.m.
Phoenix at Denver, 6 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
San Antonio at New Orleans, 3 p.m.
Indiana at Memphis, 5 p.m.
Golden State at Boston, 5:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Denver, 6 p.m.
Atlanta at Portland, 7 p.m.
Sunday’s Games
Cleveland at Chicago, 12:30 p.m.
Sacramento at L.A. Clippers, 12:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Oklahoma City, 3 p.m.
Orlando at Houston, 4 p.m.
Toronto at Dallas, 4 p.m.
Utah at Minnesota, 4 p.m.
Washington at San Antonio, 4 p.m.
Miami at New York, 4:30 p.m.
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 6:30 p.m.