ROME: Inter Milan scored four times in a 12-minute spell either side of halftime and added another couple late on to rout Lazio 6-0 in a lopsided contest of Serie A title contenders on Monday.

Lazio were unbeaten at home in Serie A and they matched Inter for most of the first half in front of their own fans at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, four minutes from halftime Hakan Çalhanoglu put Inter ahead from the penalty spot and Federico Dimarco doubled the lead seconds before the break when he volleyed home a cross from Denzel Dumfries.

Lazio started the game without regular defender Alessio Romagnoli and Samuel Gigot replaced center half Matias Gila midway through the first half.

When Gigot was forced off at halftime coach Marco Baroni was forced to reshuffle his back four again but the lack of experienced heads in the center of defense was evident from the restart.

Nicolo Barella made it 3-0 six minutes into the second half with a sumptuous 30-meter volley and Dumfries rose above everyone to head home the fourth two minutes later.

Carlos Augusto showed some nice footwork in the box to make it 5-0 in the 77th minute and Marcus Thuram got his 11th goal of the season in the final minute to heap on the misery for the home side.

The result meant Inter were alone in third place, three points behind leaders Atalanta and one behind Napoli with a game in hand.

Lazio remained fifth.

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball put on dominant display in front of their fans at Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday night to defeat Montenegro’s KK Mornar 104-66, surpassing the century mark for the second time this season and taking their ABA League record to 9-3.

Dubai Basketball made a strong start with center Ahmet Duverioglu and point guard Nate Mason setting the tone early, scoring seven points each in the opening quarter. The home team kept up the pace all night long, scoring 56 points in the first half alone. Going into the last quarter with a 78-57 advantage, the local support grew louder as Mason delivered an off-the-backboard alley-oop that was slammed home by JaCorey Williams.

Williams ended the game as the night’s leading scorer, delivering an outstanding double-double performance with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Mason also recorded his first double-double of the season, racking up 15 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds.

Before the game, fans waited eagerly to see the debut of new signing Wael Arakji, and they got their wish three minutes into the second quarter when he stepped on to the court to thunderous applause. The Lebanese star wasted no time, scoring within 30 seconds with fans shouting: “We want Wael” and “Yalla Wael.”

To the delight of the crowd, in the final quarter Arakji knocked in a long three-pointer. KK Mornar fought valiantly, with standout performances from Chico Mellichamp Carter Jr., who contributed 15 points, five assists, and three rebounds, and Lovro Buljevic, who matched him with 15 points, three assists, and three rebounds.

However, the team’s efforts fell short against Dubai Basketball’s relentless offense and home-court advantage.

Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac was thrilled with the team’s performance. “The fans were again loud and gave us a lot of energy,” he said. “We had a good week of practice with everyone. From the beginning, we set the tone and were aggressive, disciplined, smart and played good basketball, and had an easy win. But Mornar were better than the result showed. The players were very focused and gave everything in the game.”

He also praised Arakji’s debut: “Wael is a very experienced player, and we have known him before. He is very adjustable, and he only joined this week, but he got on well with the teammates, understands the system and ideas and we’re very lucky to have him. He’s going to help us a lot in the future for sure.”

Arakji, who ended the night with seven points, said he was delighted to make his debut.

“Everywhere I go, Lebanese fans are always with me,” he said. “I’ve been here for four days, and I have been working out from 9:30 to 2:30 every day. I haven’t seen this highest level of training before. The level is very high. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

The win solidifies Dubai Basketball Club’s fourth place standing in the ABA League.