Cavaliers get ‘statement’ win over Celtics in showdown of NBA’s best

Cavaliers get ‘statement’ win over Celtics in showdown of NBA’s best
Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics dive for a loose ball during their NBA game on Dec. 01, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Getty Images via AFP)
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Updated 02 December 2024
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Cavaliers get ‘statement’ win over Celtics in showdown of NBA’s best

Cavaliers get ‘statement’ win over Celtics in showdown of NBA’s best
  • Donovan Mitchell scored 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavs rallied from 14 points down in the second half to defeat the reigning NBA champions

NEW YORK: Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers avenged a heartbreaking loss with a 115-111 victory over Boston on Sunday in a matchup of the NBA’s top teams.
Mitchell scored 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavs rallied from 14 points down in the second half to defeat the reigning NBA champions.
The Cavaliers started the season 15-0 but suffered their first loss at Boston last month by 120-117 and dropped their two prior games, both losses to Atlanta, before staging a fightback home triumph.
“For us, we’ve got to go out there and make a statement,” Mitchell said. “They beat us in the NBA Cup. No excuse. We’ve got to go out there and try to build. We had two losses that really hurt. We weren’t playing like ourselves. We needed this win.”
The Cavs improved to 18-3 to stay atop the Eastern Conference while the Celtics fell to 16-4 as Cleveland snapped their seven-game win streak.
“You’ve got to trust your work and what we’ve been working on since training camp. That’s the biggest thing,” Mitchell said. “That’s what you saw tonight and that’s what it’s going to continue to be.”
The Celtics were without starting guards Jaylen Brown due to illness and Derrick White with a sprained right foot.
“Just because they’ve got two guys down, they’ve got a lot of guys who are capable,” Mitchell said. “You’ve got to respect them. They’re champions for a reason.”
Cleveland led 51-49 at half-time but the Celtics dominated the third quarter for an 84-72 lead entering the fourth, Jayson Tatum scoring 17 of his 33 points in the third period to lead Boston.
Mitchell responded for Cleveland, including a floater that gave the Cavs a 103-101 lead with 67 seconds remaining and concluded his run of 11 consecutive Cavaliers points.
“The biggest thing is you’ve just got to pick your spots, find your moments throughout the game,” said Mitchell. “They kind of went on a run and in the fourth quarter I started to make my imprint.
Tatum missed a layup and Mobley followed with a dunk for a 105-101 Cavs lead. Porzingis responded with two free throws with 26 seconds to play but Mitchell sank two free throws of his own for a 107-103 Cavs lead.
Boston’s Payton Pritchard sank a 3-pointer to lift the Celtics within one point but Darius Garland, who had 22 points, hit two free throws to give Cleveland a 109-106 edge and the Celtics kept fouling Pritchard, who had 24 points, to keep him from taking more 3-point shots.
The teams traded free throws late until Pritchard deliberately missed one trying to get a rebound, but he committed a lane violation and Mitchell added two final free throws to seal the victory.
“At the end of the day, we executed on both ends of the floor,” said Mitchell. “I scored offensively but we were getting stops and finding ways to get rebounds, loose balls, different things. That’s what ultimately ended up getting us the W.”
In a battle between the Western Conference leaders, Fred VanVleet scored 38 points to lead the Houston Rockets over visiting Oklahoma City 119-116.
Houston improved to 15-6 but the Thunder, led by 32 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, fell to 15-5, still atop the best.
Dillon Brooks made a steal and sank a jumper to give Houston a 115-113 edge with 33 seconds remaining and VanVleet added two free throws.
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams sank a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds to play but VanVleet’s two final free throws sealed victory.
Orlando’s win streak stretched to six games as Franz Wagner scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and passed off eight assists to power the Magic (15-7) over host Brooklyn 100-92.
Also in New York, Mikal Bridges scored 31 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 19 rebounds to spark the New York Knicks over New Orleans 118-85.
Toronto’s R.J. Barrett scored 37 points and the host Toronto Raptors beat Miami 119-116.
Jaren Jackson led Memphis with 25 points and eight rebounds to spark the host Grizzlies (14-7) over Indiana 136-121.


Cummins, Hazlewood return to Australia squad for Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Cummins, Hazlewood return to Australia squad for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
Updated 13 January 2025
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Cummins, Hazlewood return to Australia squad for Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Cummins, Hazlewood return to Australia squad for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
  • Pat Cummins opted out of Sri Lanka series starting this month for the birth of his second child 
  • Opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was dropped from squad after his poor recent form against Pakistan

MELBOURNE: Pat Cummins returns for Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan next month after skipping their Sri Lanka Test tour, with injured paceman Josh Hazlewood also in the squad announced Monday.

Australian captain Cummins opted out of the Sri Lanka series starting later this month for the birth of his second child. He is also reportedly carrying a knee injury.

Hazlewood was included in the two-time tournament winners’ preliminary 15-man line-up after calf and side strains restricted him to just two Tests against India over the summer.

While they return, opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was dumped, paying the price for his poor recent form after opening for Australia during their most-recent one-day series against Pakistan.

“This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series,” said chief selector George Bailey.

“It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan.”

The eight-nation Champions Trophy, between February 19 and March 9, will be played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (capt), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa


Five-star Barcelona smash Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah

Five-star Barcelona smash Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah
Updated 13 January 2025
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Five-star Barcelona smash Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah

Five-star Barcelona smash Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah
  • Kylian Mbappe put Madrid ahead but dominant Barcelona hit five in response

JEDDAH: Barcelona hammered rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a wild Spanish Super Cup Clasico final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to win the first trophy of the Hansi Flick era.
The electric Kylian Mbappe sent Madrid ahead but a dominant Barcelona hit five in response before their goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off in the second half.
Madrid were hoping to avenge their 4-0 defeat by Barcelona in October’s La Liga Clasico but instead were left battered and bruised by their arch-rivals in Jeddah.
After Mbappe’s opener, Lamine Yamal levelled and Robert Lewandowski sent Barcelona ahead from the penalty spot, with Raphinha bagging a brace and Alejandro Balde also on target.
Rodrygo Goes pulled one back for Madrid with a free-kick but they could not capitalize further on their numerical advantage in a humiliating defeat for the European champions.
Both Flick and his opposite number Carlo Ancelotti opted to maintain the same line-ups they started with in the semifinals.
Yamal issued Madrid an early warning with a curling effort from the right which forced Thibaut Courtois into a fine save.
The Belgian goalkeeper also produced a strong stop to keep a Raphinha header at bay after the Brazilian evaded Lucas Vazquez with ease.
Despite Barcelona’s opening salvo it was Real Madrid who took the lead in the fifth minute with Mbappe’s brilliant goal on the counter-attack.
The French forward, frustrated numerous times by the offside flag in the league defeat by the Catalans, broke loose on the halfway line after Vinicius won the ball back and, after bursting into the area, clipped past Szczesny.
It took a stunning individual goal from 17-year-old Yamal to level the scoreline, with the Spanish winger cutting in from the right before stroking home a low finish inside the near post in a similar style to former Barca great Lionel Messi, whom he is often compared to.
Inigo Martinez hobbled off injured and Flick sent on Ronald Araujo in his place, amidst heavy transfer speculation the Uruguayan defender wants to leave the club.
Barcelona kept pushing and moved ahead through Lewandowski’s penalty after Eduardo Camavinga arrived late and carelessly clattered Gavi.
Raphinha soon added Barcelona’s third with a header from Jules Kounde’s cross from deep and they grabbed their fourth before half-time on the break.
Yamal and Raphinha combined and the latter slipped in Balde, who slotted past Courtois.
Barcelona continued in the same vein after the break and Raphinha netted the fifth with a neat dribble and finish after Marc Casado played him in.
The Catalans were reduced to 10 men when Mbappe sped in at the other end, rounding goalkeeper Szczesny, who brought him down outside the area and after a VAR review was dismissed.
Rodrygo, who earlier hit the post, rifled home the free-kick past Szczesny’s replacement Inaki Pena.
Mbappe brilliantly teed up Jude Bellingham but the England international was denied by a superb Kounde challenge in stoppage time.
The French forward also came close to scoring again himself on a fine individual display but Pena tipped away his effort.
Barcelona brought on midfielder Dani Olmo for his first appearance since he was registered to play for the club on a temporary basis, a controversial issue which overshadowed the semifinals earlier in the week.
However their five-star display offered a host of other talking points as Barca won a record-extending 15th Spanish Super Cup.


Atletico Madrid wins record 14th game in a row to lead Spanish league at halfway stage

Atletico Madrid wins record 14th game in a row to lead Spanish league at halfway stage
Updated 12 January 2025
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Atletico Madrid wins record 14th game in a row to lead Spanish league at halfway stage

Atletico Madrid wins record 14th game in a row to lead Spanish league at halfway stage
  • Atletico has won all of its matches across all competitions since October

MADRID: Atletico Madrid set a club all-time record of 14 straight victories with a 1-0 win over Osasuna on Sunday and went top of the Spanish league at the halfway stage.
Julián Álvarez scored in the 55th minute at the Metropolitano stadium to give Atletico the milestone victory and a one-point lead over second-place Real Madrid. Diego Simeone’s team has a six-point gap to third-place Barcelona.
Madrid and Barcelona play each other in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, later Sunday. A 4-0 defeat to Barcelona will be on Madrid’s mind ahead of the second clasico of the season.
Atletico has won all of its matches across all competitions since October. Its last setback was a 1-0 loss at Real Betis in the Spanish league on Oct. 27. Eight of the victories have come in the league.
“It’s an important streak to show the growth of this club,” Simeone said. “We have been working really hard.”
It was the seventh consecutive league game without a win for Osasuna, which is in 11th place.
Also Sunday, 15th-place Getafe won 2-1 at 14th-place Las Palmas.


Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s heroics seal last-ball victory for Sharjah Warriorz

Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s heroics seal last-ball victory for Sharjah Warriorz
Updated 12 January 2025
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Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s heroics seal last-ball victory for Sharjah Warriorz

Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s heroics seal last-ball victory for Sharjah Warriorz
  • Gulf Giants beaten by 3 wickets in thriller 

DUBAI: In a thrilling encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s match-winning knock of 83 not out guided the Sharjah Warriorz to a nail-biting three-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants in the DP World ILT20.

The game, which went down to the final delivery, saw Kohler-Cadmore showcase his class and composure as he finished with six fours and four sixes in his 56-ball knock.

Kohler-Cadmore, who scooped the player of the match award, said: “It is great to get off with a win. I would have been devastated had we not got over the line. The pitch played well once you got your eye in; it was easier to hit.”

Chasing 175, the Warriorz faced early setbacks, losing Johnson Charles and Jason Roy in the first two overs to Daniel Worrall and Mark Adair, respectively.

Despite the shaky start, Kohler-Cadmore and the UAE’s Rohan Mustafa steadied the innings with a 105-run partnership. Mustafa contributed a crucial 45 runs off 33 balls before falling to Blessing Muzarabani in the 13th over, leaving the Warriorz on 119-3.

As wickets fell at the other end, Kohler-Cadmore held firm, pacing his innings with precision. After the quick dismissals of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Karim Janat, and Harmeet Singh, the Warriorz required 24 runs off the final two overs.

Adil Rashid’s six in the 19th over helped reduce the equation to 10 off the last six balls. In a dramatic final over, Kohler-Cadmore’s calm ensured the Warriorz crossed the line, securing victory on the last ball.

Earlier in the evening, Sharjah Warriorz’s captain Tim Southee elected to bowl first, a decision vindicated by his impressive figures of three for 30. Southee’s early strikes removed Adam Lyth and James Vince, leaving the Gulf Giants at 41-2 in the powerplay.

Rehan Ahmed and Jordan Cox then shared in a 57-run stand, with Ahmed scoring 46 off 27 balls and Cox contributing 36 from 23.

Shimron Hetmyer added firepower, hammering 36 off 23 balls, while Mark Adair’s 20 runs and Saghir Khan’s quick 11 off four deliveries lifted the Giants to a competitive 174-7.

Reflecting on the game, Gulf Giants’ captain Vince praised Kohler-Cadmore’s performance.

He said: “I’m pretty happy with that score. There was some quality bowling from them upfront. Rehan and Cox built a good partnership, and Hettie did what he does.

“We thought they would come out strong, and the half chance of Cadmore proved costly. Having someone staying till the end was crucial. He is a quality player, a clean striker of the ball. It was a quality knock.”


Dan Lawrence, Sam Curran lead Desert Vipers to victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Dan Lawrence, Sam Curran lead Desert Vipers to victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Updated 12 January 2025
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Dan Lawrence, Sam Curran lead Desert Vipers to victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Dan Lawrence, Sam Curran lead Desert Vipers to victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
  • Emphatic 7-wicket win at the Zayed Cricket Stadium 

ABU DHABI: The Desert Vipers began their DP World ILT20 season three campaign with an emphatic seven-wicket victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Star performances from Dan Lawrence and Sam Curran, who struck commanding half-centuries, powered the Vipers to their target of 167 with eight balls to spare.

Lawrence was the star of the show, smashing 70 runs off 39 balls, including four sixes and five boundaries. He was supported by Curran, who remained unbeaten on 50 from 37 deliveries, anchoring the chase with minimal risks and only two fours and a six.

Speaking after the game, player of the match Lawrence had kind words for his experience in the DP World ILT20 so far.

He said: “The situation was quite nice to come into, knowing I had to give myself time. From the hotel to how the coaches treat you, this is probably the most professional set-up.”

The Vipers began their chase strongly, putting on 46 runs in the powerplay.

Fakhar Zaman contributed a quick-fire 23 before being dismissed by Andre Russell, while Alex Hales fell cheaply to Sunil Narine.

At 56-2, Lawrence and Curran joined forces, forging a match-winning 95-run partnership in just 59 balls. Despite Lawrence’s dismissal in the 18th over, the Vipers comfortably reached their target, finishing at 168-3 in 18.4 overs.

Earlier, the Knight Riders’ innings got off to a shaky start after they lost Kyle Mayers and Joe Clarke inside five overs, leaving them 19-2.

However, Phil Salt held the innings together with an unbeaten 71 off 49 balls, supported by Alishan Sharafu’s 46 and a late blitz from Andre Russell, who hammered 30 runs off 14 deliveries. The team finished on 166-5 after 20 overs.

Narine, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ captain, admitted that the early overs proved decisive, adding: “We did well to get back in the game. We had a tough powerplay and we obviously wanted more runs. The key was the difference in the first six overs.”

Desert Vipers will be pleased with the win as they aim to contend for the DP World ILT20 title this season.