Lakers sweep 2-game set against Kings with a 103-99 victory

Lakers sweep 2-game set against Kings with a 103-99 victory
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a three-point shot against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of an NBA game at Golden 1 Center on Dec. 21, 2024 in Sacramento, California. (AFP)
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Updated 22 December 2024
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Lakers sweep 2-game set against Kings with a 103-99 victory

Lakers sweep 2-game set against Kings with a 103-99 victory
  • Desmond Bane scored 23 points and Memphis, without star player Ja Morant, beat skidding Atlanta 128-112
  • Darius Garland scored 26 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, sending NBA-leading Cleveland to a 126-99 victory over Philadelphia

SACRAMENTO: LeBron James had 32 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 103-99 to sweep a two-game set on Saturday.

Trailing 101-99 with 12 seconds left, the Kings had a chance to tie after Anthony Davis missed two free throws but squandered the opportunity after they couldn’t secure the rebound. Austin Reaves was fouled and made both free throws to put the game away.

Reaves finished with 16 points, and Davis had 10 points and 15 rebounds as the Lakers completed the sweep after beating the Kings 113-100 on Thursday.

De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 31 points. Domantas Sabonis had 19 points and 19 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan added 12 points for the Kings.

Davis earned his 642nd block and passed Kobe Bryant for the fifth most in franchise history.

MAGIC 121 HEAT 114

In Orlando, Florida, Cole Anthony scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half and Orlando tied their largest comeback in franchise history to beat Miami after trailing by 25 points.

The Magic also trailed by 22 entering the fourth quarter before outscoring the Heat 37-8. Their 25-point comeback ties a mark set on Nov. 8, 1989 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Anthony also had eight rebounds and nine assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 24 points and Goga Bitadze added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic, who lost center Mo Wagner to a knee injury in the first quarter and center Wendell Carter Jr. to an ejection before halftime.

Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier led Miami with 23 points each, and Tyler Herro added 22.

GRIZZLIES 128 HAWKS 112

In Atlanta, Desmond Bane scored 23 points and Memphis, without star player Ja Morant, beat skidding Atlanta.

Scotty Pippen Jr. added 22 points and nine assists. Morant, who injured his back in the Grizzlies’ Dec. 19 win over Golden State, was ruled out with low back soreness before Saturday night’s game.

De’Andre Hunter led Atlanta with 26 points and Jalen Johnson added 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hawks were also without their own star in Trae Young, who was ruled out before the game with a right heel contusion. After winning its first three games in December, Atlanta has now lost four of its last five games.

JAZZ 105 NETS 94

In New York, Lauri Markkanen scored 21 points, Collin Sexton and Svi Mykhailiuk each had 18 points, and Utah beat Brooklyn.

The Jazz, who at 7-20 have one of the worst records in the NBA, have now won consecutive games for the first time this season. They beat the Pistons 126-119 on Thursday.

Both victories have come on the road, where they improved to 5-20.

John Collins finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 16 points for a struggling Utah team that had lost 12 of its previous 15 games.

Cam Johnson had 18 points and Ben Simmons added 15 points and 10 assists for the Nets, who have lost seven of their last nine.

CAVALIERS 126 76ERS 99

In Cleveland, Darius Garland scored 26 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, sending NBA-leading Cleveland to a victory over Philadelphia.

Donovan Mitchell had 19 points and Georges Niang added 13 points off the bench for Cleveland, which is 25-4 for the top record in the league.

The Cavaliers tied their season high with 22 3-pointers — Garland made 6 of 7 — and improved to an NBA-best 16-1 at home.

Tyrese Maxey scored 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter and Paul George had 11 points for Philadelphia. Kelly Oubre Jr. had nine points, but the 76ers were outscored by 34 in his 27 minutes.

CELTICS 123 BULLS 98

In Chicago, Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 43 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out 10 assists for his third career triple-double and Boston beat Chicago.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points and Jaylen Brown added 19 to help the Celtics rebound from a 117-108 loss to the Bulls in Boston on Thursday night.

Tatum, the five-time All-Star, scored 18 points in the third quarter as Boston used a 19-8 run to open a 93-77 lead heading into the fourth.

Nikola Vucevic scored 19 points and 10 assists to lead the Bulls, whose season-high three-game winning streak ended. Zach LaVine, Coby White and Patrick Williams had 14 points each.

BUCKS 112 WIZARDS 101

In Milwaukee, Bobby Portis replaced Giannis Antetokounmpo in the starting lineup and scored a season-high 34 points, leading Milwaukee to a victory over Washington.

Khris Middleton had 18 points, six rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks, while Portis finished with 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Antetokounmpo (back spasms) missed his third game of the season and the Bucks also played again without Damian Lillard (right calf strain) after winning the NBA Cup earlier this week.

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said Lillard could play Monday against Chicago.

Rookie Ryan Rollins started at point guard in Lillard’s absence and contributed 14 points in 31 minutes. Center Brook Lopez also had 14 and Gary Trent Jr. had 15 points and seven rebounds.


Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city

Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city
Updated 9 sec ago
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Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city

Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city
  • After six successful seasons in Diriyah, the all-electric racing series will now compete on a specially adapted layout of Jeddah Corniche Circuit

JEDDAH: Drivers will compete on a revised version of the record-breaking Jeddah Corniche Circuit in a double-header weekend when the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship comes to Saudi Arabia this weekend.

After six successful seasons in Diriyah, the all-electric racing series will now compete on a specially adapted layout of the circuit, the fastest in the world, as the championship moves to Jeddah for the first time on Feb. 14-15. 

The newly modified three kilometer track will have 19 corners, offering a new challenge for drivers and teams as they navigate high-speed turns along the Red Sea coastline.

The Jeddah E-Prix’s circuit layout has been tailored exclusively for Formula E, featuring four new chicanes placed to enhance overtaking and show off the agility of the electric vehicles.

The track diverges from the traditional Formula 1 route just before Turn 4, before rejoining at the Turn 21/22 section. Two additional chicane complexes have been installed between Turns 25 and 26, leading into the final corner and on to the pit straight.

These modifications were completed in just 30 days, with a dedicated 120-member team working around the clock to transform the circuit.

“Delivering a brand-new track layout at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in just 30 days was an immense challenge, but one that our dedicated team of 120 track specialists tackled with incredible skill and determination,” said Angus Miller, senior track and overlay manager at Formula E.

Samer Issa-El-Khoury, managing partner of CBX, the promoter of the Jeddah E-Prix, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the project.

“Thanks to the joint efforts of CBX, the Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation, and Formula E, we have adapted the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to create a track that will deliver thrilling electric racing for fans and drivers alike,” he said.

Formula E will also introduce Pit Boost, an innovative mid-race feature, at Jeddah’s opening race.

This new strategy element grants drivers a 10 percent energy increase (3.85kWh) via a 30-second, 600kW ultra-fast energy boost in the pitlane. The feature is designed to shake up race tactics.

Saudi Arabia is a key destination on the championship’s calendar, and the move to Jeddah aligns with its Vision 2030 strategy to develop world-class sporting events throughout the Kingdom.


Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh
Updated 10 February 2025
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Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh
  • Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus
  • Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition

RIYADH: Padel continues to capture the attention of global sports icons, with Cristiano Ronaldo among the spectators at the Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1, enjoying the top-level action on the court. The Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus, who secured their place in the main draw with an impressive performance in the final qualifying round.

Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition. Last year, Neymar Jr. attended the Riyadh Premier Padel P1, while other football greats including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Leandro Paredes, and Paulo Dybala have also shown their passion for the sport by recently attending tournaments. Beyond football, combat sports icons Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ilia Topuria have also attended Premier Padel tournaments. During the Qatar Grand Prix in 2024, sporting legends including Novak Djokovic, Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, drivers Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, footballers Luis Figo and Marco Materazzi, and basketball’s Tony Parker attended a sporting legends tournament during the event, further highlighting Premier Padel’s appeal.

The Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 is the first tournament of the 2025 season, following an exceptional 2024 campaign that featured 24 tournaments across 16 countries. As part of Premier Padel’s continued global expansion, the event brings world-class padel to Saudi Arabia, with top international players battling for valuable ranking points and the first title of the season.


Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record

Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record
Updated 10 February 2025
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Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record

Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record
  • Breetzke scored 150, the highest score by any batter on his ODI debut, to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s 133 won the match
  • Pakistan, the third team in the tri-series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final

LAHORE: Star cricketer Kane Williamson hit a brilliant century to take New Zealand into the tri-series final with a thumping six-wicket win on Monday, overshadowing South African opener Matthew Breetzke’s record score on debut.
Breetzke scored 150 — the highest score by any batter in his first one-day international — to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s unbeaten 133 proved match winning at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The tri-series is a warm-up event before the eight-nation Champions Trophy starting February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan, the third team in the tri-series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final at the same venue on Friday.

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, center, celebrates with Glenn Phillips after winning the tri-series ODI cricket match against South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

Williamson hit his first ODI century in nearly five years on Monday and was ably supported by opener Devon Conway who missed his century by just three runs.
The pair added a solid 187 runs for the second wicket after Will Young was dismissed for 19, steadily setting New Zealand’s second win in as many games in the tri-series.
“You need partnerships to chase targets and it was an outstanding knock from Conway and that partnership between him and Kane that led us to the win,” said New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner.
Williamson was so assured of finishing the game that the loss of Daryl Mitchell (10) and Tom Latham (nought) did not deter him as he hit the winning boundary to seal the win in 48.4 overs.

South Africa’s Mathew Breetzke, right, celebrates after scoring 150 runs as teammate Wiaan Mulderafter smiles during the tri-series ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

Meanwhile a new record for the highest ODI score on debut was clinched by Breetzke, who smacked 11 fours and five sixes, topping the 148 scored by Desmond Haynes for West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 1978.
South Africa’s skipper Temba Bavuma said the record was among “some positives” in the match.
Breetzke hit New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke for a boundary to reach three figures off 128 balls, becoming the fourth player from his country to hit a century on ODI debut.

South Africa’s Tbraiz Shamsi, center, bowls as England’s umpire Richard Illingworth watches during the tri-series ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

South Africa were forced to give four debuts in this match as their top players were either active in a Twenty20 league back home or recovering from injuries.
New Zealand brought in Conway for Rachin Ravindra who got injured in team’s 78-run win over Pakistan in Lahore on Saturday.


Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 

Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 
Updated 10 February 2025
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Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 

Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 
  • Haris Rauf sustained muscular sprain in lower chest wall during Saturday’s match against New Zealand 
  • PCB says injured pacer will not be available for selection as precaution against South Africa for Feb. 12 clash 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s injured right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf is expected to be “fully recovered” ahead of this month’s ICC Champions Trophy tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said recently, brushing aside concerns he would be ruled out of the tournament. 

Rauf sustained a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall region during Pakistan’s match against New Zealand on Saturday, triggering fears the bowler would be ruled out of the tournament. Along with pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf is an essential part of the South Asian country’s pace attack.

“The injury is not serious and he is expected to be fully recovered for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which commences in Karachi on 19 February,” the PCB said on Sunday. “However, as a precautionary measure and part of his ongoing rehabilitation, he will not be available for selection against South Africa on 12 February.”

Pakistan are already reeling from in-form left-handed batter Saim Ayub’s absence, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury while fielding against South Africa last month. Ayub’s injury has made room for left-arm batter Fakhar Zaman, who scored an impressive 84 runs from 69 balls against New Zealand on Saturday. 

Pakistan are currently playing a tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand in Karachi and Lahore cities respectively. The series, seen as a warm-up ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy tournament, will conclude on Feb. 14. 

Pakistan lost the opening match of the tournament against New Zealand in Lahore by 78 runs. The tourists amassed 330/6 at the end of their 50 overs, which was too much for Pakistan who were bundled out for 252 runs in 47.5 overs. 


New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series

New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series
Updated 10 February 2025
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New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series

New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series
  • New Zealand beat Pakistan last week in tri-nation series clash between both sides 
  • South Africa have entered series without seven of their Champions Trophy players

LAHORE, Pakistan: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won his second successive toss and elected to field against an understrength South Africa lineup Monday in the cricket tri-nation series.
New Zealand had to make one forced change with opening batter Rachin Ravindra replaced by Devon Conway.
Ravindra sustained a blow on the forehead while fielding during New Zealand’s thumping 78-run win in the first match on Saturday against Pakistan and was rested for the second game.
Ravindra was struck on the head when he lost sight of the ball in what seemingly should have been a routine catch of Khushdil Shah at deep mid-wicket.
South Africa has entered the tournament without seven of its Champions Trophy players, who will arrive at Karachi over the weekend.
Matthew Breetzke, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy and Eathan Bosch were awarded ODI debuts on a wicket which Santner says “looks like another 300” pitch.
Glenn Phillips smashed his maiden ODI century as New Zealand rattled 330-6 in the first match.
___
Lineups:
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Ben Sears, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy, Eathan Bosch, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.