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WARRIORS-TRAIL BLAZERS
Curry returns with 40 points in 132-125 OT win over Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Stephen Curry returned from a sprained right knee to score 40 points, including 17 in overtime, and the Golden State Warriors rallied to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals with a 132-125 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Playing for the first time since he was injured in Game 4 of the first-round series against Houston, Curry was rusty for three quarters and sensational down the stretch after the Warriors trailed by as much as 16 points.
His winning return came hours after a person with knowledge of the award told The Associated Press that Curry would repeat as NBA MVP, with the announcement coming as early as Tuesday.
The Warriors can win the series Wednesday night at home in Game 5.
WARRIORS-LIVINGSTON EJECTED
Warriors’ Livingston ejected in the 2nd Q against Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Golden State’s Shaun Livingston was ejected in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Warriors’ playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Livingston argued a no-call under the basket before he was tossed by referee Scott Foster for getting two technical fouls with 1:36 left before halftime.
The 12-year veteran guard was averaging 10.3 points and 6.7 assists in the playoffs. He had started six of the eight playoff games while Stephen Curry nursed a sprained right knee sustained in the first round against the Houston Rockets.
The Warriors led the Trail Blazers 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinals. Curry returned from the injury and had 11 points in 13:18 in the first half.
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
San Antonio’s RC Buford named NBA Executive of the Year
San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford has been named the NBA’s executive of the year.
The NBA announced the award Monday. It’s the second time Buford has received the honor. He previously won it in the 2013-14 season.
Buford led the field with 77 total points in voting by fellow NBA executives. Portland’s Neil Olshey finished in second place and Golden State’s Bob Myers was third.
Buford helped the Spurs land LaMarcus Aldridge last summer, bringing the most coveted free agent on the market to San Antonio. He also added veteran forward David West and re-signed Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to big-money contracts to keep the Spurs rolling.
San Antonio finished with a franchise-best 67 wins, second in the Western Conference to the defending champion Warriors.
BBA-RAYS-MARINERS
Marte’s 3-run HR, 4 hits lead Mariners over Rays
SEATTLE (AP) — Ketel Marte hit a tiebreaking three-run homer off Steve Geltz and had a career-high four hits to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
Felix Hernandez (3-2) allowed just two runs on four hits over seven innings to pick up the win. Steve Cishek earned his 10th save of the season.
Dana Eveland (0-1) was saddled with the loss.
Marte went 4 for 5 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored. With the game tied at 2 in the sixth inning, Marte hammered the first offering from reliever Geltz over the right field wall to give the Mariners a 5-2 cushion.
SEAHAWKS MOVES
Seahawks sign 5 tryout players from rookie minicamp
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks have signed five tryout players from their rookie minicamp, but the group did not include former Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams.
The Seahawks released defensive tackles A.J. Francis and Lars Koht, safety Robert Smith and waived/injured safety Mohammed Seisay and wide receiver Jeff Fuller to clear space on the 90-man roster.
Highlighting Seattle’s signings was former North Texas cornerback Jamal Marshall and Texas Tech linebacker Pete Robertson. The Seahawks also signed fullback Taniela Tupou, tight end Ronnie Shields and wide receiver Tyler Slavin. Shields and Slavin signed futures contracts after the end of the 2015 season but were released following the NFL draft.
Adams was one of three quarterbacks in the minicamp, but Seattle chose to go with former TCU QB Trevone Boykin and Jake Heaps as the backups to Russell Wilson for now.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
