NBA: Pistons top Celtics in duel of red-hot teams
LOS ANGELES: The suddenly surging Detroit Pistons toppled reigning champions Boston 117-97 Wednesday to push their NBA winning streak to eight games and halt the Celtics’ win streak at six.
NBA Sport News
India’s inevitable win over Pakistan reveals a rivalry running on empty
DUBAI: Living within a stone’s throw of the Dubai International Stadium, I was able to watch and experience how the atmosphere started to build before this eagerly awaited clash between India and Pakistan in the ICC Champions trophy.
Cavaliers hold off Grizzlies for seventh straight NBA win
LOS ANGELES, United States: Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 129-123 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in a testy cross-conference NBA clash on Sunday. Ty Jerome scored 26 points off the bench, Evan Mobley added 25 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Jarrett Allen scored 13 points with 10 rebounds for Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland. Their seventh straight win improved their league-best record to 47-10. The Grizzlies, second in the Western Conference and coming off a come-from-behind victory in Orlando on Friday, were led by Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 22 points. Ja Morant added 21 points and 10 assists for Memphis, who trailed 62-56 at half time but briefly seized a one-point lead early in the third quarter. Cleveland were back on top and both coaches had already received technical fouls when a scuffle erupted midway through the third quarter, where Mitchell and Desmond Bane got into a scuffle chasing a loose ball and ended up wrestling on the court. Players from each team got involved with both Mitchell and Bane receiving technical fouls along with Morant and Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said he was only sorry that multiple players got involved. “Stay out of the way and let the two guys tussle, everybody else stay out of it,” he said. The Grizzlies kept clawing until the end, slicing an 11-point deficit with 5:54 to play to three with 42.4 seconds on the clock, but the Cavs closed it out at the free-throw line. Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City also had to battle, finally beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-123 in a game that featured 18 lead changes. League scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points with eight rebounds, eight
Virat Kohli hits ton in Dubai as India push Pakistan to brink of Champions Trophy exit
DUBAI: Star batsman Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 100 to lead India to a six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday and push the title holders to the brink of elimination from the Champions Trophy. Chasing 242 for victory, Kohli hit a boundary to seal the match with 45 balls to spare and register his 51st ODI ton after an innings which also saw him pass 14,000 runs in one-day international cricket. Kohli, 36, removed his helmet and raised his bat to the Dubai International Stadium crowd after taking India closer to the semifinals with two wins in two outings in Group A. Pakistan have lost both their matches and will need Bangladesh to beat New Zealand on Monday to have any chance of staying in contention for a last-four spot. The top two teams from the two groups will make the semifinals. “My job was clear — to control the middle overs, not take risks against the spinners and take on the pacers,” said Kohli. “I was happy with the template, it’s how I play in ODIs. I have a decent understanding of my game. “It’s about keeping the outside noise away, take care of my energy levels and thoughts.
Nottm Forest felled by Isak as Newcastle bolster top four bid
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle blew Nottingham Forest away with four goals in 11 minutes as Alexander Isak’s double inspired a vital 4-3 win in the race to finish in the Premier League’s top four. Eddie Howe’s side recovered from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s early opener to run riot with a first half goal spree at St. James’ Park on Sunday. Lewis Miley bagged Newcastle’s equalizer, sparking an astonishing spell of dominance as Jacob Murphy put the hosts ahead. Isak netted twice in less than two minutes to reach 50 Premier League goals and leave Forest in tatters. The Sweden striker has 19 league goals this season, taking him level with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in second place behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in this season’s scoring chart. Nikola Milenkovic and Ryan Yates scored for Forest in the second half, but it was too late for an incredible escape act. After three defeats in their previous four league games, fifth-placed Newcastle are back in the hunt to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish. The Magpies are behind fourth-placed Manchester City on goal difference, with third-placed Forest just three points above them. “I’m trying to control my thoughts and stay positive.
Pakistan win toss, bat against India in key Champions Trophy clash
DUBAI: Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to bat in a blockbuster Champions Trophy clash against India on Sunday as his side looks to stay alive in the tournament. A full house was expected for the eagerly awaited Group A match at the 25,000-capacity Dubai International Stadium, India’s home for the 50-over tournament after they refused to tour Pakistan due to political tensions. Defending champions Pakistan lost the tournament opener to New Zealand and another defeat will virtually end their chances of making the semifinals. Imam-ul-Haq comes into the Pakistan side for Fakhar Zaman, who was injured in the opening match and is out of the tournament. India had a hard-fought win in their first match against Bangladesh and come into the key clash unchanged. India captain Rohit Sharma said it “doesn’t really matter, they (Pakistan) won the toss, so we’ll bowl first.” The top two teams from the two groups will make the semifinals. Teams India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav. Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed. Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS), Richard Illingworth (ENG) TV Umpire: Michael Gough (ENG) Match Referee: David Boon (AUS)
Doncic dominates as Lakers rout Nuggets, Suns gore Bulls
LOS ANGELES, United States: Luka Doncic delivered a dominant 32-point performance as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped the Denver Nuggets’ nine-game winning streak on Saturday with an impressive 123-100 victory on the road in Colorado. Doncic, playing only his fourth game for the Lakers since his blockbuster trade from Dallas, was in scintillating form as the Lakers conjured a statement wire-to-wire win over their Western Conference rivals. The Slovenian superstar was the standout performer on a night when the Lakers saw four players finish with 20 points or more for the first time this season. Doncic finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while LeBron James backed him with 25 points. Austin Reaves added 23 points and Rui Hachimura 21. “I’m starting to feel a little bit more like myself — that’s why I was smiling the whole game,” Doncic told ESPN afterward. “There’s still a lot of room for improvement and this is only my fourth game.
Arsenal lose to West Ham to dent Premier League title challenge and have another player sent off
LONDON: Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge was dented by an unexpected 1-0 home loss to West Ham on Saturday that featured a fifth red card of the season for Mikel Arteta’s team. Second-place Arsenal squandered a chance to trim the gap to Liverpool to five points as Jarrod Bowen’s first-half header secured a win for West Ham, which arrived at Emirates Stadium with just one victory in their last eight games. There was worse to come for Arsenal, with left back Myles Lewis-Skelly handed a red card following a video review for his foul as the last man.