HARDWOOD CLASSIC: NEWPORT SURVIVES AFRIKA 70-62 IN GAME 7

Mr. Silver got his seven games. The fans got a Hardwood Classic.

Newport beat Afrika 70-62 in the decider, closing a series that had gone from a Newport 3-1 lead to a 3-3 tie and spent most of its final night one run away from changing hands again.

Paul George opened with three threes. Klay Thompson answered with three of his own. The shooting exhibition quickly turned into the kind of defensive struggle the series had been threatening all along.

At halftime, Newport led only 37-36.

Luka Doncic finally stopped fighting the missing jumper and became a point guard again, finishing with seven assists and zero turnovers. LeBron James gave Newport a game-high 17 points and made three threes.

Jose Alvarado controlled the temperature: seven points, six assists, two steals, zero turnovers and a game-best plus-13 while denying Stephen Curry clean air.

Newport made 14 threes and committed only seven turnovers. The 100s won the third quarter 18-15 and the fourth 15-11.

Final: Newport 70, Afrika 62. Series: Newport 4-3.

Alvarado was later named Series MVP after finishing the seven games with 55 points, 34 assists, 17 steals and a plus-62.