Curry outduels Tatum in Warriors win, Nuggets end Thunder’s unbeaten start to season

Curry outduels Tatum in Warriors win, Nuggets end Thunder’s unbeaten start to season
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, takes a shot against the Boston Celtics during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday in Boston. (AP)
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Updated 07 November 2024
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Curry outduels Tatum in Warriors win, Nuggets end Thunder’s unbeaten start to season

Curry outduels Tatum in Warriors win, Nuggets end Thunder’s unbeaten start to season
  • The Warriors improved to 7-1 after a thrilling 118-112 victory over the NBA champions on the road at the TD Garden
  • Curry outduels Tatum in Warriors win, Nuggets end Thunder’s unbeaten start to season

LOS ANGELES: Stephen Curry outdueled Olympic team-mate Jayson Tatum in a battling Golden State Warriors win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s unbeaten start to the season ended against Denver.

The Warriors improved to 7-1 after a thrilling 118-112 victory over the NBA champions on the road at the TD Garden.

The heavyweight showdown had been billed as a chance for Tatum to make a point after being benched by Golden State’s Team USA coach Steve Kerr in multiple games during August’s gold medal-winning Paris Olympics campaign.

But while Tatum impressed after coming alive in the second half to finish with a 32-point haul, it was Curry and the Warriors who came away with the victory.

“We always say ‘Have each other’s backs’ and guys are stepping up and committing to it,” said Curry, who had 27 points and nine assists with seven rebounds and four steals.

“We’re capable of beating anybody. It’s hard... but this is a different year and we’re trying to take baby steps and develop an identity,” added Curry.

Curry was given offensive support from Andrew Wiggins, who scored 16 points, while Buddy Hield added 16 from the bench, along with Kyle Anderson (11 points) and Jonathan Kuminga (10).

Tatum scored 24 points in the second half to help Boston turn a 14-point third-quarter deficit into a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.

But Boston’s rally faltered down the stretch as the Warriors and Curry fought back to claim a win that leaves Golden State as one of three teams at the top of the Western Conference.

Warriors coach Kerr was given a hostile reception by Celtics fans over his handling of Tatum at the Olympics, booed loudly during pre-game introductions.

Kerr shrugged off the controversy in pre-game remarks, acknowledging that he “didn’t enjoy” benching Tatum in Paris.

“Those are not fun decisions,” Kerr said. “But our guys were all amazing, they committed to each other, they committed to winning a gold medal... that’s the real story.

“But we live in a time where we have to talk about stuff that actually doesn’t really matter,” he added.

In other games on Tuesday, Russell Westbrook rolled back the years with a vintage performance to help the Denver Nuggets end Oklahoma City’s unbeaten start to the season with a 124-122 win.

A depleted Nuggets lineup missing starters Jamal Murray (concussion) and Aaron Gordon (calf) had looked in trouble as the Thunder stormed into a 16-point lead midway through the third quarter.

But Denver surged back thanks to a 29-point performance from the 35-year-old Westbrook while Nikola Jokic added a triple double comprising 23 points, 19 rebounds and 16 assists.

“To beat a team like OKC takes everybody, but for a 17-year vet to have that kind of a game was tremendous and I’m really happy for Russ,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of Westbrook.

Oklahoma City’s first defeat of the campaign saw the Thunder bumped down into second place in the West on 7-1. The Phoenix Suns, also 7-1, moved into top spot after their 115-112 win over the Miami Heat.

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 131-122 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on the road in Louisiana.

The Cavaliers improved their franchise-record start to the season to 9-0 and are the only undefeated team left in the league following Oklahoma City’s loss.

Donovan Mitchell led the way once more with 29 points including three three-pointers on a night when six Cavs players finished in double figures.

In Memphis, LeBron James scored 39 points but could not stop the Los Angeles Lakers from falling to a 131-114 blowout defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies improved to 5-4 while the Lakers are now 4-4.


Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca
Updated 58 min 8 sec ago
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Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca
  • The comprehensive victory brings the Catalans to 37 points at the top of the league table
  • Mallorca stay sixth in La Liga, still two points behind Bilbao in the final Champions League spot

PALMA: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal inspired Barcelona to a first win in four La Liga outings as they beat Mallorca 5-1 on Tuesday.
The comprehensive victory brings the Catalans to 37 points at the top of the league table, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, but with two extra matches played.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish and European champions will have the chance to cut that lead back to one point on Wednesday when they travel to Athletic Bilbao.
Mallorca stay sixth in La Liga, still two points behind Bilbao in the final Champions League spot.
Ferran Torres gave Barcelona the lead, before Vedat Muriqi equalized to ensure the sides were level at the end of an even first half.
Raphinha and Yamal then lit up the second half as the away side ran riot with the Brazilian scoring a double, followed by strikes from Frenkie de Jong and Pau Victor.
“We knew how important it was to win again. In the last three games something has been missing. Today we were good, it wasn’t our best game but winning was the most important thing,” Barcelona captain Raphinha told Movistar.
Barcelona were boosted by the return of teenage starlet Yamal, who started the match after recovering from an ankle problem.
Hansi Flick’s side dropped points in the two league outings Yamal missed, and were also defeated last time out at home to Las Palmas when he was only fit enough to start on the bench.
The hosts gifted Barca the lead in the 12th minute when panicked defending resulted in Torres being presented with a golden opportunity when there seemed to be no danger.
As a trio of Majorcan defenders shepherded the ball back to their goalkeeper, full-back Johan Mojica suddenly decided to try to lash it away, only to smash the ball straight into Antonio Raillo and it fell perfectly to the feet of the Barcelona forward, who duly stroked home the opener.
The Catalans’ high defensive line caught Mallorca out on several occasions as they tried to spring their attackers with passes over the top.
Mallorca were, however, starting to build pressure on Barcelona, though the visitors remained dangerous on the counter with their fleet-footed attacking quartet of Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha and Torres.
A second goal in the match did not seem far away, for either side, and it came for the hosts in the 43rd minute.
Inigo Martinez was deeper than the rest of the Barcelona line and Pablo Maffeo timed his run onto Sergi Darder’s pass to perfection, before rolling the ball across to Muriqi to tap into an open net.


Another defensive lapse nearly restored the visitors’ lead on the stroke of half-time, but goalkeeper Leo Roman bailed out Raillo for his poor back-header by denying Raphinha one-on-one.
The Mallorca ‘keeper thwarted the Brazilian again early in the second period, punching away a fizzing free-kick from close range.
But it was eventually third time lucky for Raphinha in his duel with Roman as he flashed a 56th-minute penalty just beyond the Spaniard’s reach.
The sheer pace of the returning Yamal had earned the spot-kick as he raced onto Olmo’s through-ball, before being brought down by Mojica inside the box.
Barcelona struggled creatively in Yamal’s absence, and the 17-year-old displayed his brilliance again moments later when an inspired backheel created a chance out of nothing, until Pedri’s snapshot was blocked.
Raphinha made the game safe for Barcelona with 14 minutes remaining when he knocked home a magnificent outside-of-the-foot cross courtesy of Yamal.
“I’m living my best moment but I don’t want to stop there. I want to do much more for this crest. It’s a club that I love enormously. Everything I can give on the pitch, I’ll give it,” said Raphinha.
Euro 2024 winner Yamal repeated the trick five minutes later, this time finding the forward run of Victor, whose pass across goal was cut out, but only as far as the onrushing De Jong who finished unerringly.
De Jong then turned provider in the final 10 minutes as he squared for 23-year-old substitute Victor to score.
Yamal could have capped off a superb second-half showing, but his dinked finish near the end was well saved by the defiant Roman.


Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group

Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group
Updated 37 min 37 sec ago
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Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group

Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group
  • Al-Hilal register comfortable 3-0 victory over Al-Gharafa of Qatar 
  • Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes

Al-Hilal defeated Al-Gharafa of Qatar 3-0 on Tuesday to return to the top of their AFC Champions League Elite group with two games of the group stage remaining.

The four-time champions, who are already guaranteed a place in the round of 16 as the top eight from each of the two groups of 12 progress, found it easy as they strolled past the visitors.

The win moves them onto 16 points from six games, above Al-Ahli on goal difference and three points above Al-Nassr in third, although both their Saudi Pro League rivals have also booked their spots in the next round ahead of schedule.

Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes. Yasser Al-Shahrani had possession of the ball on the right side of the area and pulled it back to the Brazilian who shot first time into the roof of the net for his third goal of the tournament.

The Saudi Arabians were in control for much of the match but it took the Blues until the 82nd minute to add to the scoreline and seal the win, the goal coming courtesy of in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Salem Al-Dawsari drove at the defence and fed the Serbian striker just outside the area. Mitrovic had time to turn and drive a low shot toward the target but Sergio Rico in the Al-Gharafa goal should have done better.

However, few in Riyadh cared, and just three minutes later it was 3-0. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who had scored twice on Saturday to give Al-Hilal a vital 2-1 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League, netted again, this time with a simple but well-taken goal. Malcom swung over a corner from the right and the former Lazio midfielder climbed well just outside the six-yard box to head home powerfully.

That concluded the last of the Asian action until 2025 and the Saudi Arabian clubs are looking very healthy indeed at the end of the year.


Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career

Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career
Updated 03 December 2024
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Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career

Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career
MUNICH: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was sent off for the first time in his 866-match career on Tuesday, seeing a straight red for a last-man foul on Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong.
The 38-year-old rushed out of the box in typical fashion 18 minutes in to the German Cup last 16 clash, taking out an advancing Frimpong.
Neuer was shown straight red, bringing Israel ‘keeper Daniel Peretz on for his Bayern debut, and was seen apologizing to coach Vincent Kompany after leaving the field.
Bayern’s captain has received a yellow card 23 times during his career. All have come at club level, with the 2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper never cautioned during his 124-game international career.
The match, between the 20-time winners and current holders Leverkusen was particularly tense, with referee Harm Osmers handing out three yellow cards in addition to Neuer’s red in the opening 22 minutes.
Despite playing for Israel at international level, Tuesday’s match was Peretz’s first game for Bayern, having joined the club in the summer of 2023.

Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event

Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event
Updated 03 December 2024
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Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event

Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event
  • SKF President Ahmed Al-Towayan expressed delight at Prince Sultan’s visit
  • “Our participation in this event is part of activating the ‘Qadir’ initiative launched by the federation earlier this year,” he said

RIYADH: The Saudi Kickboxing Federation participated on Tuesday in the International Day of Persons with Disabilities event, organized by the Disabled Children’s Association in collaboration with the King Salman Center for Disability Research.
Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud, chairman of the board of trustees of the center, visited the federation’s booth and met several athletes and coaches, a media statement said.
SKF President Ahmed Al-Towayan expressed his delight at Prince Sultan’s visit and his support for activities and events related to persons with disabilities.
“Our participation in this event is part of activating the ‘Qadir’ initiative launched by the federation earlier this year,” Al-Towayan said.
The initiative aimed to provide sports activities for persons with disabilities, develop their skills in kickboxing, and empower Paralympic athletes to practice these sports, he added.
“Qadir initiative aims to offer sporting opportunities to anyone facing difficulties in participating in sports, whether due to a disability or limited financial resources,” Al-Towayan said.


Riyadh to host World Anti-Doping Agency meetings

Riyadh to host World Anti-Doping Agency meetings
Updated 03 December 2024
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Riyadh to host World Anti-Doping Agency meetings

Riyadh to host World Anti-Doping Agency meetings
  • Event will discuss international strategies to combat doping
  • Prominent sporting figures, experts set to attend

RIYADH: Riyadh will host World Anti-Doping Agency meetings on Dec. 4-5 to support integrity in sport.
The agency’s foundation board and executive committee will meet in the Saudi capital to discuss updates on policies and international strategies to combat doping, a media statement said on Tuesday.
The two-day event will be attended by prominent sports figures and international experts.
Saudi Arabia has previously hosted several anti-doping events, including conferences and workshops aimed at fostering international cooperation as well as promoting the Kingdom as a global sports hub.
WADA’s foundation board consists of 42 members, 21 of whom are ministers representing national governments, while another 21 are members of the International Olympic Committee and presidents of international federations representing the Olympic Movement.
The agency was established in 1999 as a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the integrity of sports by combating doping.
It collaborates with international sports organizations, government bodies and national authorities to ensure a doping-free sports environment.