Clippers overcome Jokic’s 41 points to beat Nuggets 109-104

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday in Denver. (AP)
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Updated 27 October 2024
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Clippers overcome Jokic’s 41 points to beat Nuggets 109-104

  • LeBron James had a triple-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists
  • Jayson Tatum scored six of his 37 points in the final 65 seconds and Boston held on for a victory over Detroit

DENVER: James Harden had 23 points and 16 assists, Norman Powell scored 26 of his 37 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame Nikola Jokic’s 41 points to beat the Denver Nuggets 109-104 on Saturday.

Jokic made a career-high seven 3-pointers but missed a free throw with 20 seconds left that would have tied the game. Harden made four from the line in the final 30.5 seconds.

The Clippers trailed 103-100 when Powell hit a 3-pointer. Jamal Murray, who had 22 points, missed a layup and Harden then made two free throws.

After Jokic split a pair from the line, Harden made two more foul shots to make it 107-104 and Jokic missed an off-balance 3-pointer.

CELTICS 124 PISTONS 118

In Detroit, Jayson Tatum scored six of his 37 points in the final 65 seconds and Boston held on for a victory over Detroit.

The Celtics led by as many as 23 points in the first half, but trailed for much of the third quarter. Jrue Holiday tied the game with back-to-back 3-pointers, and Tatum put the Celtics up 116-114 by hitting a pair of free throws with 1:05 left.

The Pistons missed two shots on the ensuing possession and Tatum’s jumper made it 118-114 with 29 seconds left.

Malik Beasley’s 3-pointer pulled Detroit within one, but Derrick White hit two free throws and Boston clinched the game from the line.

Jaylen Brown had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Boston. Jaden Ivey had 26 points for Detroit while Cade Cunningham finished with 21 points and 10 assists.

CAVALIERS 135 WIZARDS 116

In Washington, Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, Jarrett Allen added 23 while going 10 for 10 from the floor and Cleveland eased to a victory over Washington.

Darius Garland also had 23 points, and Evan Mobley scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Cleveland remained perfect three games into their new season.

The Cavaliers shot 54 percent(47 of 87) from the floor to complete their ninth consecutive victory over Washington. A night earlier, they defeated Detroit for a 10th straight time.

Bilal Coulibaly scored a career-high 23 points for Washington, who have lost their first two games by a combined 39 points at home after posting a franchise-worst 15-67 record last season.

HEAT 114 HORNETS 106

In Charlotte, N. C., Jimmy Butler scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Tyler Herro added five 3-pointers and 22 points and Miami spoiled Charlottes’ home opener with a victory.

Terry Rozier had 19 points and Bam Adebayo finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for Miami (1-1). Butler added eight assists and eight rebounds.

LaMelo Ball had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Hornets on an emotional night when they honored their late longtime public address announcer Pat Doughty, and showed livestream feeds on the arena scoreboard of a star-studded benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Helene taking place less than a mile away at Bank of America Stadium. One of the performers at the concert was musician Eric Church, a Hornets minority owner.

The Hornets (1-2) looked out of sync with 20 turnovers, and twice were whistled for 5-second calls after failing to get the ball in on side inbound plays.

THUNDER 114 BULLS 95

In Chicago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points, Chet Holmgren added 21 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, and Oklahoma City pounded Chicago in the Bulls’ home opener.

Jalen Williams added 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Zach LaVine had 22 points and nine rebounds for Chicago. Nikola Vucevic added 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Josh Giddey finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in his first game against the Thunder since an offseason trade to Chicago for Alex Caruso. Oklahoma City granted his request to be dealt after his role in the playoffs was reduced.

Caruso, a popular player during his three seasons with the Bulls, got a standing ovation and waved to the crowd during an early timeout. He checked into the game late in the first quarter and finished with three points in 22 minutes.

GRIZZLIES 124 MAGIC 111

IN Memphis, Tennessee, Santi Aldama scored 22 points, reserve center Jay Huff added a career-high 18 and Memphis built a 26-point halftime team in a victory over Orlando in their home opener.

Ja Morant added 16 points and 10 assists in his first regular-season home appearance since Jan. 3. Aldama was 9 of 12 from the field, while Huff made seven of his nine shots.

Franz Wagner scored 23 points for the Magic and Jalen Suggs added 21, both players grabbing seven rebounds apiece. Paolo Banchero finished with 16 points, but was 4 of 12 from the field, part of the Magic shooting 43 percent for the game.

Memphis held a comfortable lead through much of the game despite withstanding 21 straight points by Orlando in the third quarter.

TIMBERWOLVES 112 RAPTORS 101

In Minneapolis, Julius Randle had 24 points nine rebounds and five assists and Minnesota beat Toronto.

Anthony Edwards also scored 24 for Minnesota, while Rudy Gobert added 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

Toronto’s Gradey Dick led all scorers with 25 points, while Scottie Barnes had 20 points and Ochai Agbaji added 19 for the Raptors.

SPURS 109 ROCKETS 106

In San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points, Jeremy Sochan added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and San Antonio held on to beat Houston in their home opener.

Wembanyama added seven rebounds and three blocks while shooting 10 for 17 from the field.

Chris Paul added three points and nine assists, including a drive and feed to Sochan for an open layup that put San Antonio up 104-99 with 1:35 remaining.

After trailing by 22 points in the first half, Houston was within one possession for much of the final minutes. The Rockets went on a 21-8 run in the opening six minutes of the final quarter, turning an 18-point deficit into a 95-90 lead for San Antonio.

Jalen Green had 27 points for Houston. Fred VanVleet added 18 and Dillon Brooks had 16.

SUNS 114 MAVERICKS 102

In Phoenix, Kevin Durant scored 31 points, Jusuf Nurkic added 18 points and 14 rebounds and Phoenix beat Dallas.

The Suns never trailed after the first quarter, though the Mavericks kept the deficit in the single digits for much of the night. Luka Doncic scored 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Kyrie Irving added 22 points.

The Suns led 91-80 heading into the fourth quarter and extended the lead to 105-90 six minutes later. Devin Booker added 21 points while rookie Ryan Dunn scored 13 in his first career start. Tyus Jones added seven assists.

The Suns led by as many as 13 in the first half but settled for a 63-55 lead at the break.

LAKERS 131 KINGS 127

In Los Angeles, LeBron James had a triple-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and Anthony Davis added 31 points and nine rebounds to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Sacramento.

The Lakers are undefeated at 3-0 under new coach JJ Redick, and Davis has scored at least 31 points in each game this season.

Los Angeles were up by as many as 15 points in the first half but the Kings cut the lead to 64-60 by halftime and had built a 7-point lead in the third quarter. James helped the Lakers come roaring back with 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Davis had a big 3-pointer with 37 seconds left in the game to give the Lakers a 128-123 lead after the Kings had cut it to two.

Domantas Sabonis also had a triple-double in the loss. He scored 29 points on 10 of 14 shots and added 12 rebounds and 10 assists.


Valtteri Bottas nears a return to Mercedes as F1 reserve after Mick Schumacher leaves

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Valtteri Bottas nears a return to Mercedes as F1 reserve after Mick Schumacher leaves

“We’re talking and it’s going well. Still a bit of work to do but we’re talking,” Bottas said ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix
Bottas won 10 Formula 1 races over five seasons at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate from 2017-21 but hasn’t scored a point this season with Sauber

LUSAIL, Qatar: Valtteri Bottas says he is nearing an agreement to return to Mercedes as its reserve driver for next year after Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, announced he was leaving.
“We’re talking and it’s going well. Still a bit of work to do but we’re talking,” Bottas said ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Bottas won 10 Formula 1 races over five seasons at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate from 2017-21 but hasn’t scored a point this season with Sauber.
Bottas added he still needs to “finalize some things” on a possible return but feels he could be a mentor to 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will partner George Russell at Mercedes next year. Antonelli is stepping up from Formula 2 to replace Hamilton when the British driver heads to Ferrari for 2025.
“If I end up there, I think I would have a lot to give for a rookie driver who has not raced in Formula 1 yet,” Bottas said. “That would be, for sure, one part of my role, to give my input and try to share my knowledge as much as I can.”
Bottas is without a seat for 2025 after Sauber replaced him and Zhou Guanyu with a new lineup of the experienced Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto, ahead of rebranding as the Audi works team in 2026.
The new Cadillac team backed by General Motors is also on Bottas’ radar before it joins the series in 2026 as the 11th team on the grid.
“It’s interesting to me, and I think it’s great for F1. It’s a great brand and GM is a big backer behind, so for sure, it’s an interesting project,” Bottas said. He indicated he would seek to speak with Cadillac about possible opportunities.
Schumacher is moving on from his Mercedes reserve driver role after two years as he seeks a full-time racing role elsewhere.
It’s “tough” to watch F1 cars race without being able to take part, he said in a Mercedes statement.
“I want to get back to focusing 100 percent on racing. I want to be fully committed to the sporting side of motorsport. Ultimately, it is racing that you want to do as a driver, it is racing that gives you that feeling you love,” he added.
Schumacher raced in F1 with Haas in 2021 and 2022 and has been competing this year with Alpine in the world endurance championship alongside his Mercedes duties.

‘Europe’s best’ Liverpool aim to pile pain on Man City

Updated 28 November 2024
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‘Europe’s best’ Liverpool aim to pile pain on Man City

  • Jude Bellingham said Real Madrid were beaten by “the best-performing team in Europe

LIVERPOOL: Jude Bellingham said Real Madrid were beaten by “the best-performing team in Europe” as Liverpool’s dismantling of the Spanish giants set a new bar in Arne Slot’s stunning start at Anfield.
Beleaguered Manchester City are next to run the gauntlet against the rampant Reds on Sunday as Liverpool sense the opportunity to land a knockout blow to Pep Guardiola’s men in the Premier League title race.
Slot has won 17 and drawn one of his 19 matches in all competitions since replacing a legendary figure in Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool enjoy a commanding eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League and have one foot in the last 16 of the Champions League as the only side in the competition with a perfect record from five games.
Overcoming the might of Madrid was the sweetest one so far as Slott did what Klopp could not do during his glorious reign in leaving the kings of the Champions League with a bloodied nose.
Liverpool had not won in the previous eight meetings between the clubs, including defeats in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals.
“You know how special it is to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times, are the reigning champions and were a pain in the ass for Liverpool many times as well,” said Slot.
“We are happy where we are but we are not getting carried away by only winning in a group-stage game. This club wants more than only winning group-stage games.”
Slot described the visits of Madrid and City within the space of five days as an “incredible week.”
Halfway through they remain unscathed and are big favorites to take a huge step toward just a second league title in 35 years on Sunday.
Even at their strongest under Guardiola, City have not won in front of an Anfield crowd since 2003.
This version of the English champions is winless in six games and suffering from an existential crisis of confidence.
City blew a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord on Tuesday on the back of Guardiola’s first ever five-game losing streak as a coach.

Liverpool have often been the victim of City’s relentless consistency in the Guardiola era.
Twice Klopp’s sides finished second by the finest of margins despite amassing 97 points in 2018/19 and 92 three years later.
Now they have the chance to open up an 11-point lead that even Guardiola has conceded would be too much for his side to bridge.
“Man City is Man City. They have a bad time now but they have great players,” said Liverpool’s top goalscorer Mohamed Salah.
“We have a game against them so hopefully, we win it and go 11 points clear.”
In stark contrast to Manchester United’s struggles after the departure of Alex Ferguson, Liverpool have thrived despite the loss of a much-loved and charismatic leader in Klopp.
The German explained that part of his reasoning for stepping down when he did was that he was leaving the club in a good place.
Liverpool were on course for a quadruple deep into last season before faltering in the final months of the campaign as injuries and fatigue took hold.
But Klopp had helped rebuild a team in his final year that Slot is now bearing the fruits of.
Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored the goals against Madrid, neither of which were part of Klopp’s major glories in winning the Champions League and Premier League in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Slot also credited the club’s academy for adding depth to his squad after Caoimhin Kelleher and Conor Bradley shone against Madrid to mitigate the loss of Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold to injury.
“We know that players that come in are really important to finish the games and if you want to win trophies, you need them,” said Mac Allister.
“Of course, you don’t want to be on the bench but we know that every guy here, when he comes in, does his best for the team.”
All three sides that have ever enjoyed an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League after 12 games went on to win the title.
On current form, Liverpool are an unstoppable force that an under-par City look incapable of handling.


Snyman leads International Series Qatar after first-round seven-under-par 65

Updated 28 November 2024
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Snyman leads International Series Qatar after first-round seven-under-par 65

  • Advice from South African great David Frost helps Snyman flourish

DOHA: South African Ian Snyman says spending two days in the company of one of his country’s finest golfers, David Frost, played a big part in his fine run of form recently — a run that includes taking the lead on the opening day of the $2.5 million International Series Qatar on Wednesday.

Snyman carded a confident seven-under-par 65 at Doha Golf Club to lead the way from compatriot Louis Oosthuizen, Spaniard David Puig and Zach Bauchou from the United States, who carded 66s.

Two other Spaniards, Luis Masaveu and Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, fired 67s, as did Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand and Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura, in the penultimate event of the season for the Asian Tour and The International Series.

After today’s opening salvo, consisting of an eagle, seven birdies, and one double, Snyman is on course to make his 12th successive cut on the Asian Tour, as well as put himself in position to claim his first title on the circuit.

“My coach, Paul McKenzie, and I have been working on a few things and I also got some advice from David Frost. He is a former Asian Tour winner having won in Hong Kong,” Snyman said of Frost — winner of the Hong Kong Open in 1994 and 29 titles around the world.

“About five months ago we spent two days with David. We were trying to find some consistency, that was my main concern. Looks like we are getting there. Just need to get some low ones like we did today, which is exciting.

“The big thing we worked on with David was the takeaway. I always take the club back outside and get laid off at the top. He kind of helped me feel a way to get it straighter.

“Another big thing was not to be so rigid. I would be very stickman-like golf, my left arm would be very stiff and strong but he kind of got me to relax a bit more, you can actually bend that left arm.”

He was cruising at eight under with two to play but made double on the par- three 17th.

He duffed his chip and three putted but bounced back on the par-five 18th hitting his third to two feet.

Puig is making his first appearance on the Asian Tour since April — in that time he has played in the LIV Golf League, three majors and the Olympics, where he played alongside Jon Rahm.

“Pretty solid, especially after a month off tournaments. Super, super proud of how I fought,” said Puig, winner of the season-opening Malaysian Open and runner-up in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where American John Catlin beat him in a play-off.

“Didn’t hit it that good but somehow managed to post a pretty good score. Hit a lot of greens in regulation, which is something I have been working on.”

His compatriot Masaveu, 21, was even happier because the day marked his debut as a professional in a Tour event.

“First tournament as a professional, so very happy,” said the Spaniard, who birdied the last three holes and has his dad, Rafa, caddying for him.

“To be honest, I didn’t really think about this being my first event as a pro. The good thing is my coach Gonzalo (Fernandez-Castano) is also playing. We did a good plan. I just tried to stay focused on my emotions.”

Masaveu finished third in this year’s US Amateur, having been beaten by compatriot and eventual winner Jose Luis Ballester 3&2 in the semis, and could be one to watch this week.

The International Series Rankings, which will reward the champion with a place in next year’s LIV Golf League, will go down to the wire at next week’s $5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

Thailand’s Ratchanon Chantananuwat, the amateur star currently in his freshman year at Stanford University, returned a 71 in his first appearance on the Asian Tour since April.

International Series Qatar takes place at Doha Golf Club from Nov. 27-30. For tickets and further information, visit www.internationalseries.com.


Pakistan wins the toss and elects to bat in third and final ODI against Zimbabwe

Updated 28 November 2024
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Pakistan wins the toss and elects to bat in third and final ODI against Zimbabwe

  • Pakistan recovered from a first-match loss with a 10-wicket win in the second ODI
  • ODI series will be followed by three Twenty20 matches at Bulawayo from Sunday

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in the third and final one-day international against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

Pakistan bounced back from a shocking loss in the rain-affected first match with a 10-wicket win in the second game after a maiden ODI century from Saim Ayub.

The tourists retained the same winning combination with Faisal Akram, Abrar Ahmed, and Salman Ali Agha the three spin options.

Ahmed and Salman sliced through the Zimbabwe batting lineup in the second match by sharing seven wickets between them with leg-spinner Abrar getting 4-33 in his debut ODI.

Zimbabwe brought in wicketkeeper-batter Clive Madande and fast bowling all-rounder Faraz Akram for their first game of the series in place of Brandon Mavuta and Trevor Gwandu.

The ODI series will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series starting at Bulawayo from Sunday.


LIV Golf’s Herbert in charge at Australian Open, Smith two back

Updated 28 November 2024
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LIV Golf’s Herbert in charge at Australian Open, Smith two back

  • Smith, who finished second at last week’s Australian PGA Championship, is yet to win an Australian Open and has made no secret of his desire to do so
  • In the women’s tournament, Australia’s Su Oh shared a one shot lead with South Korean teenager Yang Hyo-jin ahead of major winner Hannah Green

MELBOURNE: Lucas Herbert drained an eagle at the last in a flawless eight-under-par 63 Thursday to lead the Australian Open in Melbourne and upstage LIV Golf teammate Cameron Smith who trails by two.

In the women’s tournament, Australia’s Su Oh shared a one shot lead with South Korean teenager Yang Hyo-jin ahead of major winner Hannah Green.

Starting on the 10th, Australia’s Herbert sunk six birdies to no bogeys before his sensational eagle propelled him into the outright lead at the second event of the DP World Tour’s 2025 season.

He ended one clear of Rintaro Nakaro — Japan’s amateur champion in 2023 — and American Ryggs Johnson, with 2022 British Open champion Smith a shot further back in a four-way tie.

The mixed Australian Open involves men and women teeing off in alternating groups on the same courses.

Kingston Heath in Melbourne’s famous sandbelt region is the main venue across all four days with Victoria Golf Club also hosting play on the opening two days.

“I felt like there was a lot of shots left out there,” said Herbert, a three-time winner on the European circuit, after negotiating soggy fairways and soft greens.

“I feel like that with every round of golf, to be fair, but didn’t really think I holed that many. Just hit it quite nicely.”

Nakaro was the early pacesetter with eight birdies, but his round was spoilt by a bogey at the last.

“I’m surprised but very happy,” said the 21-year-old, who plans to turn professional next year.

Smith, who finished second at last week’s Australian PGA Championship, is yet to win an Australian Open and has made no secret of his desire to do so.

He was one-over after three, but then reeled off six straight birdies to remain in the hunt.

“I mean the greens are soft and there wasn’t much wind out there this morning, so a lot of those par-fives played really quite short whereas typically you get one hole into the wind or something like that,” he said.

“So yeah, I was just able to take advantage of that.”

At stake for the men is a place at next year’s British Open at Royal Portrush with the top three earning a spot.

Chilean defending champion Joaquin Niemann, Smith and Englishman Jordan Smith are already exempt.

Niemann, also on the LIV Tour, had a day to forget with 73 while Smith carded 70.

Australia’s Su shot nine birdies in her 66 to lead the women’s field alongside Yang, just 17.

But they have Green, a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour this year, breathing down their neck.

“I’ve worked really hard the last few months and felt like I was hitting the ball a lot better and just happy and proud,” said Su.

South African defending champion Ashleigh Buhai struggled to 73 to be seven adrift.