There was a lot for the US Olympic team to like on Monday. And a lot not to like.
Anthony Davis scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Tyrese Haliburton came up with a pair of late 3-pointers that helped stop a freefall by the Americans, and the US beat Australia 98-92 on Monday to improve to 2-0 in its five-game slate of exhibitions leading into the Paris Olympics.
Devin Booker scored 16 for the US, Anthony Edwards scored 14 and three players — LeBron James, Bam Adebayo and Joel Embiid — finished with 10 for the Americans, who are playing host to a pair of exhibitions at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, this week. They’ll play Serbia there on Wednesday.
Jock Landale scored 20 for Australia, which got 17 from Josh Giddey and 14 from Dyson Daniels.
The US led by 24 midway through the third quarter, yet saw that lead cut to six with 5:05 left after Australia went on a 39-21 run. But Haliburton had the next six points on his 3s, pushing the lead back to 92-80.
Australia cut it to four on two separate occasions, but Booker went 4-for-4 from the line in the final 8 seconds to ensure the US would escape.
“Third quarter, we started turning the ball over,” US coach Steve Kerr said. “We gave up a ton of points at the basket. Back cuts, offensive boards and so, the game shifted. It’s a good lesson for us. Better to learn that lesson now than later. And this will be a good tape for us to watch. But I give Australia a ton of credit. They were great. They fought. They were really physical. Took it to us in the last quarter and a half and really made it a game.”
Second unit, again
Just like in the Canada game, the so-called second unit — Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Adebayo, Davis and Booker — changed the game.
That was the group on the floor when the Americans took a game that was tied at 19-19 with 3:15 left in the first and turned it into a 39-23 lead — a 20-4 run in a span of just over 5 minutes.
Kerr used that group as his starting five to open the second half. But it’s become a clear trend already: when the US goes to its bench and can replace All-Stars with other All-Stars, it’s just going to be a massive problem for opponents who don’t have anywhere near that same level of depth.
“The strength of our team is our depth and we have to utilize our depth,” Kerr said.
It’s been something the Americans have used to their advantage in the past. Dwyane Wade led the gold-medalist 2008 US Olympic team in points, even though he was sixth in minutes on that team and came off the bench in all eight games.
Turnovers
Here’s the big trouble sign right now for the US: turnovers.
FIBA games are shorter than NBA games, 40 minutes instead of 48 minutes. That means there are fewer possessions and makes it even more imperative to not give the ball away.
Which the Americans did. A lot.
After committing 15 turnovers in last week’s exhibition win over Canada, the US had 18 giveaways on Monday and Australia used them to fuel the comeback effort — getting 25 points off turnovers in the second half alone.
“Our turnovers, it’s all about focus and execution,” Davis said.
Injury watch
Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive game because of a calf strain, and with only one practice between games it wouldn’t seem likely that he plays Wednesday against Serbia either.
Derrick White, who arrived in Abu Dhabi over the weekend and got into his first practice with the team on Sunday, also didn’t play. White replaced Kawhi Leonard — who deals with knee issues — on the US roster after the Americans determined last week that it wasn’t in Leonard’s best interest to play this summer.
US holds off Australia for 98-92 win in Olympics tuneup in Abu Dhabi
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US holds off Australia for 98-92 win in Olympics tuneup in Abu Dhabi
- The US led by 24 midway through the third quarter, yet saw that lead cut to six with 5:05 left after Australia went on a 39-21 run
Riyadh Season Card boxing event at Wembley Stadium in London is a sellout
- In the headline bout on Sept. 21, former unified world heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua will face International Boxing Federation interim champ Daniel Dubois
- Also on the card: Josh Warrington vs. Anthony Cacace; Hamza Sheeraz vs. Tyler Denny; Josh Kelly vs. Liam Smith; Joshua Buatsi vs. Willy Hutchinson; Mark Chamberlain vs. Josh Padley
LONDON: General admission tickets for the Riyadh Season Card —Wembley Edition boxing event next month have sold out, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority revealed on Friday.
GEA chairperson Turki Alalshikh said that select platinum-level tickets and hospitality packages are still available for the event at Wembley Stadium in London on Sept. 21, which features an all-British card.
In the headline bout of the evening, former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will take on International Boxing Federation interim champion Daniel Dubois for the title.
On the undercard, two-time featherweight champion Josh Warrington will challenge super-featherweight world champion Anthony Cacace for his belt, while Hamza Sheeraz will take on European middleweight champion Tyler Denny in an attempt to claim his European Boxing Union title.
Former Olympian Josh Kelly will face the former World Boxing Organization super-welterweight champion, Liam Smith, and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Joshua Buatsi will battle Willy Hutchinson for the vacant WBO light-heavyweight title.
Completing the card, World Boxing Association intercontinental champion Mark Chamberlain will battle fellow British lightweight Josh Padley, who is undefeated.
Organizers announced in June that former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher would supply the musical entertainment at the event.
Saudi Games torch relay begins 3,500 km journey in Diriyah
- Taekwondo champion Dunya Abu Taleb first athlete to carry sacred flame
- More than 9,000 athletes will take part in Games that open in October
DIRIYAH: The countdown to the start of the third Saudi Games got underway on Thursday night as the torch relay began its journey from Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah.
Athletes and officials came together as the flame — a symbol of unity and ambition — was passed from Diriyah Governor Prince Fahd bin Saad to Ahmed Eid, the first elected president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, and on to taekwondo champion Dunya Abu Taleb.
“It’s an indescribable feeling, honestly, to carry the torch and put my thumbprint on a championship like this,” the Olympian told Arab News.
The relay will take the flame on a 30-day, 3,500 km journey through 17 cities across the Kingdom before arriving in Riyadh for the start of the Games proper.
This year’s competition coincides with the Year of the Camel, an animal that stands as a pillar of nation’s identity and culture and blends well with the torch’s message of friendship, peace and faith in the future.
When asked how it felt to to receive the torch from Prince Fahd, Eid said: “My feelings didn’t start today, they started early in my life when I carried the Saudi Arabian flag for the first time. And the pride I have felt since to have carried it three times in a row.
“Today I felt a deep trust between generations, between ideologies. The ideologies today are different than those around 50 years ago. Today, we see the vision of a nation, the vision of an inspired prince,” he told Arab News.
“Sport is growth and that growth happens in competition. And the competition begins next week.”
The 2024 Saudi Games begin in October 3rd and will feature more than 9,000 athletes competing in 53 sports. The event will also feature seven Paralympic sports, 11 exhibition sports and 15 youth sports.
Eid said he was most looking forward to watching the football competition as the game “is my soul,” but was also keen on combat sports and had watched all of Abu Taleb’s contests.
When asked what advice she would give to aspiring athletes, the taekwondo champion said: “Be ambitious … I hope that no player ever gets discouraged, and starts dreaming today and achieves all their dreams.”
England’s Smith glad of Bell guidance after scoring maiden Test century
MANCHESTER, UK: Jamie Smith paid tribute to Ian Bell’s influence on his career after scoring his first Test century even though the former England batsman is now working with Sri Lanka.
Smith’s 111 on Friday’s third day of the first Test at Old Trafford propelled England into a first-innings lead of 122 runs.
And by stumps Sri Lanka were 204-6 in their second innings, a lead of just 82 runs, with England pressing hard for their fourth successive red-ball win of the season following a 3-0 series rout of the West Indies.
Bell, a five-times Ashes winner during his playing career, is currently employed by Sri Lanka as a batting consultant.
But he worked alongside Smith during their time together in the recent edition of English domestic cricket’s Hundred competition.
The 24-year-old Smith, who on Friday broke a record that had stood since 1930 to become the youngest England wicketkeeper to score a Test century, also benefitted from Bell’s knowledge while representing the second-string England Lions.
“Belly has been a great help for me both in the Lions and with Birmingham Phoenix for the last couple of years,” Smith told reporters.
“The knowledge that he passed on and his willingness to throw balls at me before games when I had an eye on the Test series is something I’m really grateful for.”
The Surrey rising star added: “It’s great when people are willing to be in your corner, I guess, and help you out even though they’re in the opposition side. So I was grateful for his help.
“It felt really good to come away with that milestone today. I felt very relaxed. I felt comfortable to go out there and just play.”
Bell, for his part, was proud of Smith’s display after Smith just missed out on a Test hundred when making 95 against the West Indies at Edgbaston last month.
“He’s going to be a world-class player for England over a long period of time,” said Bell.
The 42-year-old, who scored 22 hundreds in 118 Tests for England, added: “There’s a small part that I suppose I played in his development but I’ve watched a guy who’s worked extremely hard. He’s taken to international cricket with ease.”
There was nothing flamboyant about Smith’s celebrations when he reached his century as he made do with a restrained raising of his bat after going to three figures in just 136 balls, including seven fours and a six.
“I probably didn’t show it, but inwardly I was obviously very happy with that milestone,” said Smith.
Saudi esports leader hails gamers’ powerful ‘inspiration’ as New Global Sport Conference begins in Riyadh
- Prince Faisal speaks to Arab News as Esports World Cup ends
- Kingdom’s gamers can compete with the world’s best, he says
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has taken significant strides toward becoming a global hub for esports and the gaming industry, according to Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, head of the Saudi Esports Federation.
He was speaking exclusively to Arab News ahead of the New Global Sport Conference on Aug. 24 and 25 in Riyadh, and as the inaugural Esports World Cup reaches its climax over the weekend.
Arab News is a media partner of the New Global Sport Conference.
Reflecting on the success of the world cup, Prince Faisal said: “I am incredibly proud of what we’ve done. You’re talking about 1,500 players and thousands of people involved on the ground — the ushers, coordinators, protocol, production teams.
“Getting everyone excited every day for eight weeks is a massive accomplishment, and I’m very proud of the showcase we’ve been able to present to the world.”
For Prince Faisal, one highlight stood above all other memorable moments.
He recounted the emotional reaction of Saudi Arabia’s esports star Mosaad Al-Dossary when his side, Team Falcons, secured the championship.
“It wasn’t just the fact that Falcons won that was the highlight for me; it was Mosaad Al-Dossary’s reaction on stage,” Prince Faisal said.
“To see the emotion break through, the tears, the joy — it was a powerful moment that showed the humanity behind the player.”
Prince Faisal highlighted the broader significance of the team’s success. “They are an inspiration globally, showcasing a willingness to participate across multiple games and succeed.
“They’ve proven that investing in our young men and women is an investment worth making and that it represents the future of this industry.”
Prince Faisal highlighted the excitement and enthusiasm on the ground and online, where viewership numbers have nearly doubled from last year’s Gamers8 event.
“I think the thing I’ve heard most from Saudis is they never thought they would get the opportunity to see these tournaments for themselves,” he said.
“It’s a showcase that Saudi teams can compete on the main stage with the best teams and players in the world.”
As the New Global Sport Conference 2024 approaches, Prince Faisal stressed the importance of bringing together diverse stakeholders, from publishers to players, under a unified vision.
“Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do in this industry,” he said. “The players and fans are central to this vision and the federation must ensure their voices remain at the forefront as they shape the future of esports.”
The conference’s focus is “The Future of Fandom,” which Prince Faisal said emphasized the importance of player and viewer input.
“They’re the ones playing the games, watching the tournaments, and shaping what lives and dies in this industry,” he said.
“Keeping them at the center is the only way to stay ahead of the curve.”
AlUla Desert Blaze returns
- The AlUla Desert Blaze is considered to be “the toughest in the region”
- The prize money remains the same as last year; with SR 176,000 ($46,900) being split among the winners
ALULA: This week, amid the ancient rock formations and AlUla’s iconic landscapes will be a sight to behold: 18 elite international runners—and local athletes from the region—will be running across AlUla for the second annual Desert Blaze, which will take place on Aug. 24.
The 2024 Desert Blaze experience will take runners through AlUla; starting and ending at Hegra—the Kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site—offering runners a unique opportunity to journey through the footsteps of history, while being part of history. And those running the second half of the 42km marathon will go through the Ashar Valley and will journey through Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, a perhaps philosophical reflection on their endurance and dedication to the sport.
The combination of AlUla’s rugged natural beauty and the intense landscape—and smoldering heat—will create a challenging race that will be truly formidable, testing even the most seasoned of athletes.
Arab News spoke to Rami Almoallim, vice president of destination management and marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) ahead of the race for some insights on what to expect this time around.
“This event is not just a race, it’s a unique and transformative experience, providing a new performance milestone for athletes and offering a unique perspective on AlUla’s rich visitor offerings,” Almoallim told us.
Last year’s very first Desert Blaze race was one for the books.
“The inaugural 2023 AlUla Desert Blaze proved to be a milestone event that truly exemplified AlUla’s adventurous spirit, while showcasing the breathtaking diversity of our historic landscapes. Ultimately, it solidified AlUla’s reputation as a premier destination for adventure and extreme challenges,” he added.
The AlUla Desert Blaze is considered to be “the toughest in the region”—for good reason.
“The AlUla Desert Blaze is known as ‘the toughest race in the region’ due to its extreme conditions and challenging terrain,” he said. “The race takes place in one of the hottest climates in the world—at the peak of the summer heat—requiring participants to push their limits as they navigate through tough desert landscapes. It’s not just a physical challenge but a mental one as well, demanding resilience, endurance, and determination.”
This year, the team promises to build on lessons learned from last year, in order to elevate the overall experience.
“Our goal is to take participants on an even more daring journey through time and terrain, pushing them to their limits in what has quickly become known as the toughest race in the region,” Almoallim added. “Desert Blaze has already become a bucket-list challenge for endurance athletes, attracting participants from across the globe. The event is set to become a fixture in the global endurance racing calendar, reflecting our commitment to establishing AlUla as a premier hub for sports tourism,” he said.
There is also a monetary incentive, in addition to the lifelong memories. The prize money remains the same as last year; with SR 176,000 ($46,900) being split among the winners of the 10km, 21km, and 42km races.
And many runners are returning for round two.
“We are thrilled to welcome back several competitors from last year’s races. Notably, Karis Brown, who came in 3rd overall in the Female Desert Blaze marathon, and Manal Rostom, the well-known Egyptian athlete, will be competing again. We also look forward to welcoming back Loui Blake, the popular ultra-endurance athlete and influencer,” he said.
Their return not only highlights the event’s growing—and glowing—reputation, but also highlights the seemingly rewarding experience that AlUla Desert Blaze offers.
Of course, this could not be done without a dedicated staff and team of professionals who will be on standby to support the runners as they run across the space, whether they run the 5km, 10km, 21km, or the full 42km. There will be hydration stations every 2.5km, and medical teams will be at the ready across the route; providing resources to help runners safely navigate and manage the extreme conditions. There will be aid stations along the route which will provide essential supplies; such as water, ice buckets, energy gels and fresh fruits. Runners will have access to comprehensive medical services and amenities, including ambulances with roaming and stationed paramedics, nurses and physiotherapists.
“Preparation for an event of this magnitude requires meticulous planning and coordination. From the perspective of the organizers, no detail is too small, and we leave nothing to chance—from ensuring the safety and comfort of participants to maintaining the integrity of the challenging course through AlUla’s stunning yet rugged terrain,” Almoallim assured us.
Participants will be flying in from across the globe, with a significant number of elite athletes hailing from East Africa, particularly Ethiopia and Kenya. The event will also see strong representation from the region, with both men and women taking part.
The local community in AlUla will, no doubt, be at the forefront at Desert Blaze. Many locals will be participating in the race itself, and a significant number will take part as staff and marshals.
“The presence of local runners adds a unique dynamic to the race, allowing them to represent their home on an international stage,” Almoallim said. “The community’s participation enhances the event’s authenticity and underscores the deep connection between the people of AlUla and their historic landscape. Their involvement is a testament to the community’s enthusiasm for showcasing AlUla’s beauty and hospitality to a global audience.”
The AlUla Desert Blaze event will also significantly add to the morphing repertoire within the growing portfolio of sport-related offerings in the Kingdom. It will, in addition, help position AlUla as being the go-to place for sustainable and responsible tourism.
“By hosting events that showcase the area’s natural and cultural richness, we’re not only promoting sports and adventure, but also fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment and heritage of AlUla. This event stands as a testament to our dedication to preserving AlUla’s unique landscapes while delivering world-class experiences that draw visitors from around the globe,” Almoallim concluded.
