LOS ANGELES: Kawhi Leonard bounced in the game-winning shot at the buzzer as the Toronto Raptors advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a 92-90 win over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers in a heart-stopping game seven on Sunday.
Game seven was a microcosm of the wildly-unpredictable series with each team taking turns making runs or being inept until the biggest twist of all from Leonard finished it off in dramatic style.
“I got a fortuitous bounce,” said Leonard. “I just shot it as hard as I could. I got some loft on it and it made the ball bounce soft and it ended up going in.”
The Raptors advance to the NBA final-four where they will play the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in game one of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday.
With the score tied 90-90 and the game appearing to be headed to overtime, Leonard took matters into his own hands by getting open for a long shot from the right side. His arching moon ball at the buzzer bounced twice on each side of the rim before dropping in to clinch the series for the Raptors.
Leonard finished with a game high 41 points while Pascal Siakam tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors whose players had a combined 21 games of experience in game sevens compared to just nine combined games by the Sixers players.
Toronto has leaned heavily on Leonard all season long and Sunday he delivered with the help of his supporting staff. Serge Ibaka had 17 points, Kyle Lowry chipped in 10 and Marc Gasol grabbed 11 rebounds.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers attack with 21 points and 11 rebounds and Tobias Harris had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Elsewhere, the Portland Trail Blazers rallied on the back of CJ McCollum’s 37 points to stun the Nuggets 100-96 in Denver and book a Western Conference finals date with NBA champions Golden State.
With Portland star Damian Lillard struggling to get shots to fall, Denver exploded out of the gates, seizing a 29-17 first-quarter lead that they stretched to as many as 17 in the second period.
McCollum kept the Blazers in it, his driving basket giving them their first lead of the game, 71-70 with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Nuggets had reduced a seven-point deficit to one when McCollum drained a step-back jumper with 12.4 seconds left to stretch Portland’s lead to 98-95.
Evan Turner, who scored just four points in the first six games of the series, scored 10 of his 14 in the fourth quarter for Portland.
After Nikola Jokic’s last-gasp three-point attempt hit the rim Turner grabbed the rebound and the clock ran down.
Despite the third-quarter departure of Rodney Hood with a hyperextended knee, Portland booked their first trip to the conference finals since 2000.
They’ll open their best-of-seven series against the Warriors on Tuesday with a place in the NBA finals on the line.
Despite his shooting woes, Lillard contributed with 10 rebounds and eight assists to go with his 13 points. He connected on just three of 17 shots from the floor — but that included two three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
“I think for us the biggest thing was just to take it one possession at a time,” McCollum said. “We came out a little tight defensively ... Our biggest thing was just one stop at a time, one possession at a time.”
Portland coach Terry Stotts called the victory “arguably the biggest win we’ve had in the franchise in a long time.
“To be a part of it and the way we did, I’m thrilled for our guys tonight,” he said.
Jokic led Denver with 29 points. Jamal Murray had 14 points on four-of-18 shooting.
But Denver coach Michael Malone said Jokic blamed himself for the Nuggets’ inability to hang on.
“For him to be as emotional and upset as he was speaks to his caring,” Malone said. “He was upset because he thinks he didn’t do enough for us to win tonight.”
Raptors, Trail Blazers clinch game sevens to reach NBA final four
Raptors, Trail Blazers clinch game sevens to reach NBA final four
- The Raptors advance to the NBA final-four where they will play the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks
- The Portland Trail Blazers rallied on the back of CJ McCollum’s 37 points to stun the Nuggets 100-96 in Denver
Former champs Medvedev and Rublev set for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships return
- Lineup for the 2025 edition of the ATP 500 Event includes world No.8 Alex de Minaur, two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas
DUBAI: The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships return on Feb. 16 with the 33rd edition of the ATP 500 tournament featuring some of the biggest names in the sport.
Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 champion, heads to Dubai after a challenging season in which he finished without a title for the first time since 2017. Currently ranked world No.5, the 28-year-old Russian boasts an impressive 20 career titles, including the 2021 US Open. Despite his year ending in defeat at the Nitto ATP Finals, Medvedev will hope to start 2025 on the right foot by reclaiming his crown.
Also playing will be Andrey Rublev, the 2022 champion who is currently the world No.9 after claiming two ATP titles in 2024, picking up trophies at the Madrid Open and Hong Kong Open. With 16 titles to his name, the 27-year-old stands as a strong contender for another successful campaign in Dubai.
“This year’s ATP 500 tournament is shaping up to be another memorable event, and we’re excited to welcome back former champions Medvedev and Rublev,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee.
“This is the 25th year of the WTA week and the 33rd year for the ATP week. Over that time we have always had a fantastic line-up of players who provide the fans with a stellar fortnight of tennis and this year will be no exception.”
Adding to the men’s roster is Alex De Minaur, currently No.8 in the world. The 25-year-old Australian reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in July 2024 and has secured nine ATP singles titles.
Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked No.11, brings additional firepower. The former world No.3’s career highlights include an ATP Finals victory and multiple Grand Slam final appearances, including the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Completing the confirmed lineup is No.19 Karen Khachanov, a 28-year-old renowned for his performances in high-stakes matches. A former world No.8, Khachanov memorably defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2018 Paris Masters final to claim his biggest crown to date and reached the men’s singles final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Tournament Director Salah Tahlak, who is also deputy managing director of Dubai Duty Free, added: “Fans from across the globe will be treated to another fantastic edition of the ATP 500 tournament. With some of the top players already confirmed and more to be announced in the weeks ahead, we’re excited about the competitive level of this year’s event.”
Meanwhile, a star-studded Women’s Tennis Association lineup will see the world’s top 10 female players descend for the 25th Dubai women’s tournament. Defending champion Jasmine Paolini and the world’s top three players — Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, who won a third consecutive French Open in 2024, and Coco Gauff — lead an impressive pack.
The emirate’s long-standing tennis championships will again run as back-to-back competitions, with the WTA week getting under way on Feb. 16, followed immediately by the ATP event on Feb. 24.
‘Delighted’ to return to Abu Dhabi, says Team Cup director
- Graham Glynn spoke to Arab News about the reasons for hosting the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi, the players taking part, and event’s importance for Ryder Cup selection
ABU DHABI: The Team Cup, the UAE’s first major golf tournament of 2025, tees off in Abu Dhabi on Friday, as Continental Europe, led by Francesco Molinari, aim to defend their title against a Great Britain & Ireland team captained by Justin Rose.
Ahead of the match-play event, Arab News spoke with Team Cup Championship Director Graham Glynn, who looked ahead to the competition over the weekend at the Abu Dhabi Golf Resort.
The popularity of golf in the region continues to grow. What makes the Team Cup different to some of the other more established events?
There is no doubt that golf fans within the UAE are spoilt for choice when it comes to high-profile events.
In November, we enjoyed the inaugural DP World Tour Play-Offs, comprised of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship, while the New Year sees the return of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
While the Team Cup (formerly Hero Cup) is less established than those tournaments, what makes the event stand out from others is the match-play format, as opposed to the more traditional stroke-play format.
Match-play golf calls upon collective contributions and, in the Team Cup, every player will be involved in each session, making it the ultimate team test as Continental Europe, led by Francesco Molinari, aim to defend their title against Justin Rose’s Great Britain & Ireland.
While similar to the Ryder Cup, the format is not identical, with players paired up for the first two days, before the final-day singles against each other.
The collaborative element is something fans in the UAE won’t be used to watching in-person, and will undoubtedly make for some exciting and gripping action.
Why was Abu Dhabi Golf Resort selected as the host venue for the tournament?
We are blessed, here in the UAE, to have an array of elite-level golf courses all across the country, and there is certainly no shortage of options.
Abu Dhabi Golf Resort is one of the most impressive courses in the region and offers the perfect layout for match-play golf.
The venue opened over 20 years ago and boasts an illustrious history with tournament golf having played host to high-profile events down the years, including the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, while some of the biggest names in the sport have competed there.
From a logistical perspective, it’s a great venue due to the fact there is an on-site hotel, meaning players have the course and practice facilities on their doorstep, along with the world-renowned Falcon Clubhouse, which offers breathtaking views of the course.
Access for spectators, both in terms of getting to the course, and then moving around once on-site, is also fantastic, which is obviously hugely important for an event which will attract large numbers of fans.
Having hosted the Hero Cup at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort in 2023, we were delighted with its success both from a player and fan perspective, which is why we have chosen to return for the Team Cup.
With the likes of Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Francesco Molinari and the Hojgaard twins (Nicolai and Rasmus) confirmed to be competing, what does that say about the overall quality of the competition?
There will certainly be a strong lineup of talent on show, with plenty of big names who fans will be familiar with, and both teams each have players who have previously competed in the Ryder Cup.
However, what I really enjoy about this tournament is the fact we have those high-profile figures playing alongside some of the DP World Tour’s blossoming talents, with both teams combining youth and experience.
For example, the event’s oldest (Justin Rose) and youngest (Tom McKibbin) players will be part of the same team, with 23 years between them, which is a wonderful story and indicative of what the Team Cup is all about.
Aside from the big names, which players should fans look out for?
Italy’s Matteo Manassero is undoubtedly a player to watch, and he has a very interesting backstory, having become the youngest winner in DP World Tour history, at the age of 17, when he clinched the Castello Masters in 2010, before then stepping away from the game completely.
Following his return in 2019, he has continued to improve. This year, he won the Jonsson Workwear Open and finished 12th on the DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings, also securing a PGA TOUR card for 2025.
Aaron Rai, from England, is one of the lesser-known players in the competition, but don’t be fooled. He is a highly accomplished performer who boasts two DP World Tour victories, including at the Scottish Open in 2020 when he defeated Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff. He won on the PGA TOUR earlier this year and is one to watch.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin is the youngest player involved at 21 and having only turned professional in 2021, he has already claimed a maiden DP World Tour victory at last year’s Porsche European Open.
Regardless of age or experience, the Team Cup is a tournament packed full of quality, and we can all look forward to watching some brilliant golf over the three days.
Can you tell us about the structure and format of the event?
The event will follow the same format as 2023, with the teams competing in match play across one session of fourballs on the Friday, two sessions of foursomes on the Saturday and one session of singles on the Sunday.
Every player will take part in all four of the sessions. Each match will be worth one point, and the team who crosses the 12.5-point mark will be crowned Team Cup winners.
With so much talent on show, across both teams, we are hugely excited about what’s in store and I think it will be a tight and exciting battle.
How important is the event in terms of Ryder Cup selection?
It will certainly play a part, although only Luke Donald, who will lead Team Europe at the Ryder Cup, knows to what extent.
Luke has been heavily involved in proceedings up to now, and he has spoken publicly about how significant the Hero Cup was in 2023, particularly in relation to experiencing the uniqueness of a team environment.
As we know, there were players involved in that event who went on to play key roles in Team Europe’s success in Italy.
Competing in the Ryder Cup is a major milestone for any European player, and naturally those who are involved in the Team Cup will be eager to stake their claim, which should make for some fantastic competitive action.
Djokovic claims he was ‘poisoned’ before 2022 Australian Open deportation
- Novak Djokovic has claimed that he was “poisoned” by lead and mercury in his food while he was briefly held in Melbourne in 2022 before being deported on the eve of the Australian Open
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic has claimed that he was “poisoned” by lead and mercury in his food while he was briefly held in Melbourne in 2022 before being deported on the eve of the Australian Open.
The former world number one had his visa canceled and was eventually kicked out of the country over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid.
He was held in a detention hotel as he fought a fruitless legal battle to remain.
“I had some health issues. And I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed some food that poisoned me,” the 37-year-old Djokovic told GQ magazine in a lengthy interview published Thursday.
“I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia. I never told this to anybody publicly, but discoveries that I had a really high level of heavy metal. I had lead, a very high level of lead and mercury.”
When asked if he believed his food was contaminated, the Serb replied: “That’s the only way.”
Djokovic refused to elaborate on Friday in Melbourne when asked if he had any evidence that his high heavy metal blood levels were linked to the food he was given.
But he did not back down from the poisoning allegations.
“The GQ article came out yesterday ... I’ve done that interview many months ago,” Djokovic said as he was preparing for a tilt at an 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown.
“I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that because I’d like to focus on the tennis and why I am here.
“If you want to see what I’ve said and get more info on that, you can always revert to the article.”
A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Home Affairs said it could not comment on individual cases “for privacy reasons.”
But the government says a lease agreement with the Park Hotel where he was held provides for freshly cooked, individually portioned lunches and dinners for detainees.
All catering staff have undertaken food safety certifications, it says.
And, as of December 31, 2021, the hotel had been providing samples of the food provided to detainees at each meal to the contractor responsible for detention services.
Australia says detainees had access to a variety of food and drink that was nutritious, culturally appropriate and satisfied specific medical or dietary requirements.
They were also offered breakfast items such as bread, cereal, noodles, tea and coffee at any time of the day or night.
Djokovic insisted that he does not hold “any grudge over the Australian people” despite the 2022 controversy. A year later, he returned to Melbourne where he swept to the title.
“A lot of Australian people that I meet in Australia the last few years or elsewhere in the world, have come up to me, apologizing to me for the treatment I received because they were embarrassed by their own government at that point,” he said in the GQ article.
“And I think the government’s changed, and they reinstated my visa, and I was very grateful for that.
“I actually love being there, and I think my results are a testament to my sensation of playing tennis and just being in that country.”
However, he added: “Never met the people that deported me from that country a few years ago. I don’t have a desire to meet with them. If I do one day, that’s fine as well. I’m happy to shake hands and move on.”
Veteran Gael Monfils reaches his 35th ATP final in Auckland aged 38
- Becomes the second oldest player since 1990 to reach a final on the men’s elite tennis tour
- Frenchman Monfils has been breaking records steadily in Auckland to reach his 35th ATP Tour final
AUCKLAND: Gael Monfils became the second oldest player since 1990 to reach a final on the men’s elite tennis tour after beating American Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the semifinals at Auckland on Friday aged 38 years, 131 days.
Ivo Karlovic holds the ATP Tour record, having won through to final in Pune, India in 2019 at the age of 39 years, 311 days. Monfils edges Stan Wawrinka who was aged 38 years and 124 days when he reached the final at Umag, Croatia in 2023.
Karlovic also reached the final at Den Bosch in 2017 aged 38 years, 110 days while Roger Federer (Basel in 2019 aged 38 years and 80 days) and Rafael Nadal (the 2024 Swedish Open at 38 years and 48 days) also are in the top five.
Frenchman Monfils has been breaking records steadily in Auckland to reach his 35th ATP Tour final. When he beat Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the quarterfinals, he became the oldest player in the professional era to reach the last eight in Auckland.
He became the oldest-ever semifinalist in Auckland when he beat Facundo Diaz Acosta 6-3, 6-1 to reach his 73rd ATP Tour semifinal. Only Novak Djokovic has played more.
Monfils will face Zizou Bergs of Belgium in Saturday’s final.
“Everybody knows I’m a warhorse on the court, I don’t give up easy,” Monfils said after his semifinal. “I’m very pleased with the way I got through today, it wasn’t easy.”
The 19-year-old Basavareddy also has been making waves in Auckland. He is the youngest American since Reilly Opelka to reach an ATP Tour level semifinal on hard courts. Opelka did so aged 18 in Atlanta in 2016.
He turned pro in December after a stand-out 2024 season on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Bellingham leads Madrid past Mallorca to set up a Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona
- Bellingham blasted in the third shot in a row by Madrid after Rodrygo initially hit the post
- Madrid tacked on two goals late in stoppage time
JEDDAH: Jude Bellingham scored again to lead Real Madrid into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 3-0 win over Mallorca in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The England midfielder, who led Madrid in scoring last season, started this campaign slowly but has netted seven goals in his last eight Spanish league games.
He notched another goal in 63rd minute of the Super Cup semifinal when he finally broke down a tough Mallorca that until his goal had imposed their defensive style on the star-studded Madrid.
Bellingham blasted in the third shot in a row by Madrid after Rodrygo initially hit the post and goalkeeper Dominik Greif blocked a follow-up by Kylian Mbappé.
Bellingham collected the rebound and slotted his shot from just outside the six-yard box under the on-rushing Greif and past three defenders who were trying to protect the goalmouth.
Madrid tacked on two goals late in stoppage time. Mallorca’s Martin Valjent scored an own goal when he inadvertently turned a pass by Brahim Díaz into his net. Rodrygo then took Madrid’s third.
The match ended with a short scuffle after the final whistle before calm was restored.
Barcelona await Madrid in Sunday’s final.
Madrid lost Aurélien Tchouaméni, a midfielder playing as a central defender, in the 54th after he took a hard knock to the head during a collision with a Mallorca player.
Youth player Raúl Asencio replaced him.
Madrid were competing as last season’s Spanish league champion, while Mallorca were invited as the runner-up in the Copa del Rey.
Former Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who now plays in the Saudi Arabian league, was in attendance.
The minor trophy has become a major cash maker for the federation and competing clubs since the federation struck a deal in 2019 to hold it in the Middle Eastern kingdom.
