NW Sports from the AP

AP-NW–1st SportsMinute,348
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from
The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Russell Westbrook had 32 points and eight
assists, Kevin Durant scored 25 points and the Western
Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder won their fourth in a row
with a 109-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers last night.
James Harden added 21 points off the bench for the Thunder, who
built a 65-47 lead by halftime and led by as many as 20 points.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and eight rebounds as Portland fell
to 3-4 under Kaleb Canales, the team’s interim coach.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Australian point guard Patrick Mills has
signed with the San Antonio Spurs after last playing in China
during the NBA lockout. The Spurs said the ex-Portland Trail
Blazers backup would be in uniform last night at Phoenix. Mills had
been in talks with the Spurs since last week but first needed to
resolve work visa issues. He averaged 5.1 points and around 11
minutes a game in two seasons in Portland. The Spurs are second in
the West and trying to upgrade their roster for a playoff push.

NEW YORK (AP) – Freshman guard Andre Hollins scored 20 points,
including five in overtime, and short-handed Minnesota beat
Washington 68-67 last night to advance to the NIT title game. With
the shot clock winding down and the Golden Gophers clinging to a
one-point lead in the final minute, Hollins banked in an
off-balance shot to put Minnesota up 68-65. The top-seeded Huskies,
who trailed by 15 late in the first half, sent the game to OT when
C.J. Wilcox stole the ball and drove for the tying layup.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Portland Timbers will host Aston Villa
of the English Premier League in a friendly at Jeld-Wen Field, July
24. Birmingham-based Aston Villa has won 19 domestic championships
since it was founded in 1874, including seven first-division
titles, seven FA Cup titles and three European trophies. The
Timbers, founded in 1975 as part of the North American Soccer
League, are in their second MLS season. They have hosted several
friendlies against English teams in recent years.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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