HOUSTON: In the past, the Houston Rockets would sometimes fall victim to so-called trap games, losing against subpar teams.
This season these Rockets have largely avoided such losses, and they did so again on Sunday night with a 104-97 win over the short-handed Dallas Mavericks.
“That’s the difference between 50 wins and 60-plus and average teams and great teams,” James Harden said. “We’re not where we want to be, but that’s the goal.”
Harden scored 27 points, Chris Paul added 25 and the Rockets easily handled Mavericks for their eighth straight win and 12th in the last 13.
“There’s different ways on different nights and you’ve just got to find ways to win,” Harden said. “Tonight was one of those games.”
The Rockets led for most of the game, but the Mavericks kept it close until a couple of runs in the third quarter allowed Houston to pull away.
They were up by 12 to start the fourth quarter and led 93-77 after four straight points by Nene early in the quarter. Yogi Ferrell had the next seven points, highlighted by a 3-pointer he made before crashing to the ground as he was fouled, to cut the lead to 93-84 with about eight minutes remaining.
Houston scored the next five points, with a basket from Paul just before the shot clock expired followed by a 3 from Harden that spurred Dallas coach Rick Carlisle to call a timeout with about six minutes left.
But the Mavericks, who were playing their first game this season without Dirk Nowitzki, didn’t threaten again and most of the Rockets’ starters were soon on the bench with the game in hand.
“It’s a lot to ask (them) to come in here and win the game,” Carlisle said of his injury-plagued team. “But to basically compete the whole way and hang around and make them play ... was good. I thought our guys got better tonight.”
Paul had nine assists and eight rebounds and Harden had five assists and six rebounds.
Ferrell scored 20 points for the Mavs, who have lost eight of 10. Dwight Powell had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Rockets were up by two early in the third quarter when they used an 8-2 run to make it 68-60 with about 8½ minutes left in the quarter.
Powell scored four points in a row later in the third to get Dallas within 5. Harden made two free throws after that before both teams went cold, with nobody scoring for the next 2½ minutes.
Maximilian Kleber ended the drought with an alley-oop to cut the lead to 76-71 with about three minutes left.
Houston got back on track after that, using an 8-2 spurt to make it 84-73 with less than a minute left in the quarter. Eric Gordon got things going in that stretch with a 3-pointer, and Paul scored the last five points.
Ferrell added a basket for Dallas after that, but Gordon capped the third quarter with another 3 to leave Houston up 87-75 entering the fourth.
Houston led 57-55 at halftime.
Houston Rockets beat Dallas Mavericks 104-97 for 8th straight win
Houston Rockets beat Dallas Mavericks 104-97 for 8th straight win
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem nominates Malcolm Wilson for deputy role
- Federation members will vote in June on whether to endorse the former British Rally champion and founder of M-Sport
- Malcolm Wilson: There has never been a more exciting time to be in motor sport, and I know first-hand the benefits the sport brings to families and communities across the world
DUBAI: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, has nominated Malcolm Wilson, a leading figure in British motor sport, for the position of deputy president for sport.
The FIA, the global governing body for motor sport and advocacy group for motoring organizations, said on Wednesday that members will vote on the nomination during the federation’s Extraordinary General Assemblies and Conference in Macau in June.
Wilson is the managing director of M-Sport, which has operated Ford’s World Rally program since 1997. Previously he was a highly successful rally driver, who won the British Rally in 1994. He is an honorary member of the British Racing Drivers Club, and in 2009 he was awarded an OBE for services to motor sport in the Queen’s Birthday Honors list.
Under his leadership, M-Sport won the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers in 2006 and 2007 and 2017, and back-to-back driver and co-driver championships in 2017 and 2018. It also served as a technical partner with Bentley Motors, leading the design and development of the Continental GT3 race car, and in electric motor sport with Jaguar in the Ipace eTrophy event.
The deputy president for sport, one of the most senior elected roles within the FIA, serves on the World Motor Sport Council and has a wide range of responsibilities, including development of global motor sport policies in collaboration with FIA commissions and national sporting authorities, and the promotion of safety, sustainability and innovation in the sport.
Ben Sulayem said: “I am delighted to nominate Malcolm Wilson OBE for the role of FIA deputy president for sport. Malcolm has had a distinguished career in global motor sport.
“For over 40 years he has competed at the highest level, both as a driver and technical partner to teams. This experience will be invaluable to the FIA and our member clubs as we continue to grow grassroots and professional motor sport, driving innovation in the sport to benefit fans, drivers and teams.”
Wilson said: “Having started my career in motor sport in the 1970s as a driver and then technical partner to teams, it is a great honor to be nominated for the role of FIA deputy president for sport.
“The FIA has played a central role in my career and I very much look forward to supporting the president and all the FIA family in its important mission. There has never been a more exciting time to be in motor sport, and I know first-hand the benefits the sport brings to families and communities across the world.
“I look forward to working with the president for the duration of his current term of office, bringing our sport to new audiences and ensuring we deliver the very best championships for all our competitors.”
Jeddah gears up for the AFC Champions League Elite finals
- The finals feature seven matches taking place in a new format
- Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli topped their groups with 22 points each
JEDDAH: Football fans throughout Asia are turning their eyes to Jeddah, as the coastal city known as the Bride of the Red Sea gears up to host the AFC Champions League Elite finals from April 25 to May 3,2025.
The finals feature seven highly anticipated matches taking place in a new format with all matches played in King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City.
Saudi clubs secured their places in the final rounds after impressive performances in the group stage. Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli topped their groups with 22 points each, undefeated, while Al-Nassr finished third with 17 points after just one loss.
Four-time Asian champions Al-Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia will face Gwangju FC from South Korea.
Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan will face Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, with both sides aiming to win the title for the first time.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, will be at home to take on Thailand’s Buriram United while Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale will meet 2011 champions Al-Sadd SC of Qatar.
The winners of the Al Hilal-Gwangju tie will meet the winners of the Al Ahli-Buriram clash while the victors of Marinos-Al-Nassr will square off against the Frontale-Al Sadd winner in the semi-finals.
The first quarterfinal is scheduled for April 25, with the second and third last-eight ties on April 26, and the final one to be played on April 27.
The semifinals will be contested on April 29 and 30 with the final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on May 3, with ultimate glory on the line and a record prize worth $12 million.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr, is one of the tournament’s most prominent players and is out to add the AFC Champions League title to his impressive record.
Despite being 40 years old, Ronaldo as scored seven goals to date, proving his value to his team in its bid for the title.
As the matches draw closer, Jeddah is preparing to welcome thousands of fans from across the Kingdom and beyond.
Quarterfinals
Al-Hilal vs. Gwangju FC
Al-Ahli vs. Buriram United
Yokohama F. Marinos vs. Al-Nassr
Kawasaki Frontale vs. Al-Sadd
Semifinals
Al-Hilal or Gwangju FC vs. Al-Ahli or Buriram United
Yokohama F. Marinos or Al-Nassr vs. Kawasaki Frontale or Al-Sadd
Champions League spot would be ‘Premier League trophy’ for Man City: Nunes
- The Portugal international scored a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday
- Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea are the other sides in the mix for a top-five finish
LONDON: Matheus Nunes says Champions League qualification would be Manchester City’s “Premier League trophy” after a poor campaign by their stellar standards.
The Portugal international scored a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday to lift Pep Guardiola’s men to third in the table, four points ahead of seventh-placed Villa.
With Liverpool on the brink of the Premier League title and Arsenal sitting comfortably in second place, five clubs are battling for the three remaining places in Europe’s top club competition next season.
Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea are the other sides in the mix for a top-five finish.
City, who were hunting a fifth straight league title at the start of the season, suffered a costly collapse in form from late October.
But they can still end their season on a high, with Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal against Forest at Wembley coming hot on the heels of their vital win against Unai Emery’s Villa.
“This is our Premier League trophy now, to qualify for the Champions League,” Nunes said after scoring his first league goal for City in his second season at the club.
“I think it’s massively important for us, in terms of everything, the club, in terms of the players, the mentality.”
The 26-year-old admitted though that Champions League qualification for the 15th season running and FA Cup glory would not equal a good campaign.
“The club’s standards are much higher than this,” he said. “We know that there is not the standards we want this club to be at.
“But this is our reality now and we have to accept it. And we just have to go for it like it’s the Champions League, the Premier League trophy.”
Al-Qadsiah confident ahead of SPL showdown with Al-Khaleej in Dammam
- Al-Qadsiah arrive in Dammam off the back of a 2-1 win over Al-Nassr
- Teams have met five times before in the Pro League, with Qadsiah winning twice, Al-Khaleej once, and two matches drawn
RIYADH: Al-Qadsiah travel with confidence for their Saudi Pro League showdown with Al-Khaleej, today, 9pm, at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
Al-Qadsiah arrive in Dammam, for matchday 29 of the SPL, off the back of a 2-1 win over Al-Nassr, returning to winning ways after two draws against Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq, and two losses to Al-Fayha and Damac.
Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej continue to drop points, suffering three defeats, against Al-Hilal, Al-Fateh, and Al-Wehda, in their last four matches, while accounting for Al-Raed.
The two teams have met five times before in the Pro League, with Qadsiah winning twice, Al-Khaleej once, and two matches ending in draws. Their most recent game, in matchday 12 of this season, ended in a 1-0 win for Qadsiah.
Qadsiah currently sit in fifth place with 55 points, tied with fourth-place Al-Ahli, and trail league leaders Al-Ittihad by 13 points. Al-Khaleej lie tenth with 33 points.
Esports World Cup 2025 features $70m prize pool, 25 tournaments and global club showdown in Riyadh
- A $27 million share of the prize pool is allocated to the EWC Club Championship
- Team Falcons won the 2024 title with 5,665 points and three tournament wins
Riyadh: The Esports World Cup Foundation has finalized the full lineup of games, tournament schedule and club championship rules for the Esports World Cup 2025, the world’s largest electronic sports event, scheduled to return to Riyadh from July 7 through Aug. 24.
It will feature 200 clubs, 2,000 players, 25 tournaments across 24 titles, and a record-breaking prize pool of more than $70 million — the largest in e-sports history.
Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation, the event includes established and newly added games such as Valorant, Crossfire, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and chess. Competitions will be held at four dedicated arenas, with select titles offering last chance qualifiers during the opening EWC Festival. Finals will be held on weekends to maximize viewership and reduce schedule conflicts.
A $27 million share of the prize pool is allocated to the EWC Club Championship, which awards points for top-eight finishes and tournament wins. To win the title, a club must place in the top eight in at least two tournaments and win at least one. Joint ventures between organizations are ineligible, with all teams required to compete under a single name.
Game-specific tournaments will distribute more than $38 million in prizes, while MVPs will be awarded from a $450,000 pool. The club champion will be crowned during the closing ceremony on Aug. 24.
Team Falcons won the 2024 title with 5,665 points and three tournament wins, ahead of Team Liquid and Team BDS. Other top performers included Gaimin Gladiators, T1, Virtus.pro, Team Vitality, Gen.G, LOUD, and Twisted Minds. Tickets for EWC 2025 are now available.
