BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021
MLB moves
All-Star Game
George has 36 to lead Clippers to Denver
to 133-116 rout of Trail Blazers
By Pat Graham
AP Sports Writer
By Beth Harris
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES — Paul
George scored 36 points and
the Los Angeles Clippers rode
a franchise-best 47-point fi rst
quarter to a 133-116 victory
over the Portland Trail Blaz-
ers on Tuesday night.
Kawhi Leonard added
29 points, 12 rebounds and
seven assists as the Clippers
followed an 18-point rout
of the defending champion
Lakers two days ago with an-
other impressive performance
at both ends.
George shot 11 of 18, made
six 3-pointers and hit all eight
of his free throws. He fi nished
three points off his season
high of 39. Reggie Jackson
added 23 points off the bench.
Norman Powell scored 32
points and CJ McCollum
added 24 points for the Blaz-
ers, who had their four-game
road winning streak snapped.
The Clippers harassed
Damian Lillard into 2-of-14
shooting for 11 points, well
under his team-leading 29.6
average. A frustrated Lillard
earned a technical foul in the
third. He had just four points
in the second half.
“Just trying to keep the ball
out of his hands and really
trying to make everything
tough on him,” Jackson said.
“It was a great game plan.”
The Clippers scored 47
points in the fi rst quarter, the
most in that quarter in fran-
chise history, while shooting
64%. George’s 22 points were
Tribune News Service
Kawhi really did that and set
the tone early on.”
Trailing 62-36, the Blazers
worked hard at getting back
in the game. They outscored
the Clippers 30-11 to close
within seven at halftime.
Powell scored nine, punctu-
ated by a one-handed slam.
McCollum added eight, and
Robert Covington closed out
the half with a 3-pointer that
beat the shot clock.
The Clippers extended
their lead to 14 points early
in the third. Portland ran off
12 in a row, getting 3-point-
ers from Powell and Coving-
ton, to close to 84-82. That’s
the closest the Blazers came
the rest of the way.
Los Angeles closed with an
18-7 spurt to lead 101-89 go-
ing into the fourth. Leonard
and Jackson scored eight
apiece and Rajon Rondo
added a basket.
Portland’s Norman Powell, shown in a game on April 3,
scored 32 points on Tuesday, April 6 in the Trail Blazers’
133-116 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles.
the most by a Clipper in the
fi rst since Blake Griffi n had
the same on March 10, 2014,
against Phoenix.
Portland coach Terry Stotts
called his team’s defensive
effort in the fi rst “embarrass-
ing.”
“The fi rst quarter was re-
ally bad defensively,” Powell
said. “They didn’t feel us. They
got in a rhythm and were able
to hit shots. We have to put to-
gether a full 48-minute effort
on the defensive end.”
TIP-INS
• Trail Blazers: Jusuf
Nurkic (right knee infl am-
mation) sat out less than two
George keyed a 24-6 run
weeks after returning from a
over the end of the fi rst
right calf strain. He missed
and start of the second that
extended the Clippers’ lead to nearly two months with a
26 points, their largest of the right wrist fracture. The
game. He scored seven points. 47 points were their most
allowed in any quarter this
Leonard, Nicolas Batum
season.
and Jackson hit consecutive
• Clippers: Their 47 points
3-pointers and new addition
were the fourth-most in a
DeMarcus Cousins capped
single quarter in franchise
the spurt by scoring on his
history and the most scored
offensive rebound.
in a single quarter since they
“We talked about attack-
ing the paint,” Clippers coach had 47 in the second on Jan.
5, 2020, against New York.
Tyronn Lue said. “PG and
DENVER — Atlanta, you’re out. Denver, you’re up.
Major League Baseball swiftly moved the All-Star
Game to hitter-friendly Coors Field on Tuesday after
pulling the Midsummer Classic from Atlanta over objec-
tions to extensive changes to Georgia’s voting laws.
Coors Field last hosted the All-Star Game in 1998.
The game will be held July 13.
“We appreciate their fl exibility and enthusiasm to
deliver a fi rst-class event for our game and the region,”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
“We look forward to celebrating our sport’s best players
and entertaining fans around the world.”
MLB decided to move the game from Truist Park in
Atlanta in response to Georgia voting changes signed
into law by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp on March 25.
Critics, including the CEOs of Atlanta-based Delta Air
Lines and Coca-Cola, have condemned the changes as
being too restrictive.
The Georgia laws include new limits on voting by
mail and greater legislative control over how elections
are run, amid a push in Republican-led states to reduce
voting options after former president Donald Trump
made baseless claims of widespread fraud in last year’s
election.
Democratic state offi cials in Colorado have touted
their state’s mail-in voting system, which began in 2013,
for its ease and accessibility. In the November election,
there were more than 350 ballot drop boxes around the
state along with a ballot tracking system that allowed
voters to trace their votes as they were accepted and
counted.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold praised the
MLB decision, crediting it to the state’s “national gold
standard for elections.”
“We’ve got the most accessible and secure elections in
the country, and are grateful that MLB is giving us the
opportunity to showcase how elections can be!” Griswold
said in a statement.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said at a news conference
that the state had expressed interest in hosting a game
down the road, but when given the last-minute oppor-
tunity, Denver was able to make plans quickly. They
already had a blueprint for handling hotels, event space
and security.
“This is fundamentally about baseball and it’s about
the fans. And I couldn’t be more excited that we’re gonna
be able to highlight Denver as the venue,” Polis said.
Predicting the NFL Draft: Part 1
In about fi ve weeks, the National
Football League’s attention will be
focused on Cleveland, where futures
of young prospects and organizations
will forever be changed in the 2021
NFL Draft.
In my fi rst mock draft, I omit
mock trades as a lot has happened,
and I try to focus on the needs of the
specifi c team. Did I pick someone
you would like to see in your favorite
team’s uniform? Well, take a look and
see!
for quarterback Tua Tagoviaola
in Devonta Smith. The reigning
Heisman Trophy winner, Smith
COREY
is a speedy receiver with incred-
KIRK
ible athleticism and great ability to
gain yards after the catch. The only
alarming thing is his build, as he is
that San Francisco intends to pick a only 175 pounds. Nonetheless, he
quarterback, and Fields makes the
is an incredible upgrade to Miami’s
most sense. He has a strong arm, can offense.
hit receivers in tight windows, and is
a fantastic runner. Fields will either 7. Detroit Lions (5-11): Patrick
Surtain II, cornerback, Alabama
move into the leading role immedi-
Physically capable with great
ately or a year from now, as the 49ers
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15):
speed, Surtain is ready to follow in
expressed no interest in trading
Trevor Lawrence, quarterback,
his dad’s footsteps and make his
Jimmy Garoppolo.
Clemson
mark in the NFL. What concerns me
4. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): Trey
Trevor Lawrence has been one of
the most is he is best outside, so he
Lance, quarterback, North
the most exciting college quarter-
isn’t as capable of taking on better
Dakota State
backs in recent memory. From the
receivers who line up in the slot.
national title game his freshman year
In such a quarterback-heavy draft,
8. Carolina Panthers (5-11): Mac
the Falcons choose a bit of a project,
till now, he has shown an elite arm
Jones, quarterback, Alabama
one that carries risk. Matt Ryan,
and the ability to fi nd receivers in
I don’t see Carolina sticking with
tight spots. He couldn’t be more pre- their franchise quarterback, just
Teddy Bridgewater long term, mak-
pared to step into a franchise-leading turned 35, and he hasn’t returned
ing Jones the sensible choice here.
position. The Jaguars showed this
to his 2017 form. Drafting Lance
past season how many gaping needs gives him a chance to blossom under Jones is a smart pocket passer who
they have, but what showed the most Ryan’s tutelage before taking on elite can fi t well in a West Coast offense.
was the inconsistency of their signal NFL defenses. Lance didn’t have a
He doesn’t have an elite arm, and
caller, and that Minshew mania just strong pro day, but he’s one of the best doesn’t pose a running threat. I can
mobile quarterbacks in the draft.
see him coming into the starting role
didn’t have enough steam.
within two seasons.
2. New York Jets (2-14): Zach
5. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1):
Wilson, quarterback, BYU
Penei Sewell, offensive line,
9. Denver Broncos (5-11): Micah
Oregon
Parsons, linebacker, Penn State
I see new head coach Robert
After taking Joe Burrow last year,
While drafting a quarterback
Saleh wanting to start with a new
the Bengals have made it very clear makes sense, another gaping need for
quarterback. Though Justin Fields
is a sensible choice here, I see Wilson that they need to protect their quar- the Broncos is at linebacker. Parsons
terback, and Sewell is the consensus is not only a physical player, but he
as capable of making a bigger im-
best offensive lineman in the draft.
comes with great speed and does
mediate impact. He has one of the
Sewell’s technique can come off as
a great job in pass coverage. If he
stronger arms in the draft, and can
sloppy, and needs some work, but he tones down the aggressiveness, plays
be a running threat.
should be a fantastic addition to the with more patience he can have an
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-
Bengals.
integral part in Denver’s defense for
10) (Acquired in a trade
years to come.
with Miami): Justin Fields,
6. Miami Dolphins (10-6)
quarterback, Ohio State
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-10):
(Acquired in trade with PHI):
Jaelen Phillips, edge rusher,
In a surprising trade on March 26, Devonta Smith, wide receiver,
Miami
Alabama
the 49ers made a deal with Miami
to get this pick. This solidifi es for me
The Dolphins gain a new weapon
Although the Cowboys would love
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Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks to pass against Notre
Dame during the ACC Championship game on Dec. 19, 2020.
to get Surtain, adding Phillips as an
edge rusher is a good option. He is
incredibly athletic, has shown great
vision and can shed blocks easily.
drafting Slater. What makes Slater
appealing is his speed, which helps
make up for his relatively short
wingspan.
11. New York Giants (6-10):
Kyle Pitts, tight end, Florida
Pitts pairing with Evan Engram
would be very interesting. Pitts
is incredibly athletic and has soft
hands, and he’s willing to block.
14. Minnesota Vikings (7-9):
Allijah Vera-Tucker, offensive
line, USC
After a strong year from running
back Dalvin Cook, upgrading the
offensive line is a priority for the Vi-
kings, and Vera-Tucker couldn’t be
a better fi t. He has great technique
and speed.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-
11-1): Jamarr Chase, wide
receiver, LSU
Now that they have invested in
Jalen Hurts, the Eagles need to fi nd
better offensive weapons for their
young quarterback. Chase is an
absolute playmaker. His decision
to opt out of the 2020 season raises
some concern about him being
ready, but I think he can make an
immediate impact.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (7-
9): Rashawn Slater, offensive
line, Northwestern
Like the Bengals, the Chargers
found their franchise quarterback
in Justin Herbert, and this year
they opt to protect him better by
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15. New England Patriots
(7-9): Jaylen Waddle, wide
receiver, Alabama
Although Cam Newton is not the
long-term solution at quarterback,
taking the best available signal
caller in Kyle Frask might be a
reach. I can see the Patriots either
making a trade here to gain draft
capital, or taking Waddle with this
pick. An explosive receiver, Waddle
is a consummate deep threat. He’s a
bit undersized at 5-foot-10 and 182
pounds, but with Julian Edelman,
another small receiver, to mentor
him, I think Waddle will make the
transition to the NFL.
Jay & Kristin Wilson, Owners
2036 Main Street, Baker City
tDDC