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TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 SPORTS Newcastle boss sorry for rant Marussia play down Nasri out for 8 weeks LONDON: India’s growing importance to the English Premier League was empha- MANCHESTER: Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri will be out for eight weeks sised when leading club Liverpool announced yesterday their first marketing deal F1 entry list concern with a left knee injury, robbing the team of one of its most consistent performers for a with an Indian company. The Reds have signed a three-year agreement with smart LONDON: Marussia plan to attend the first pre-season Formula One test mobile firm XOLO which will allow supporters in India to enjoy tailored content on crucial period of the season. in Spain this month and have no concerns about their championship Nasri wrote on his Twitter page on Monday that he partially ruptured ligaments in their phones, buy merchandise and have the chance to meet leading Liverpool play- entry being listed as provisional, sporting director Graeme Lowdon said ers. Although India is best-known in sporting terms for its mass enthusiasm for his knee when he was fouled by Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in the sec- yesterday. ond half of City’s 2-0 win in the Premier League on Sunday. He added that there was cricket, the globally popular football Premier League has started to make inroads in The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued an recent years into the lucrative Indian market. also excess swelling on the knee. “Thank you everyone for your kind words and over- entry list on Friday with asterisks against Lotus and back-markers whelming support,” Nasri wrote, “i suppose its kind of good news that i will be out Liverpool, currently fourth in the table, have also set up an ‘International Marussia denoting that they were subject to confirmation. around 8 weeks.” Nasri’s prognosis allays fears that the France international could miss Academy’ in the western Indian town of Pune. “Through this No further information was given, and the FIA declined to provide partnership we will deliver exclusive LFC content and details, although the usual reason would be because entry fees have yet the World Cup in Brazil. exciting opportunities for fans to visit our home, Anfield,” to be paid. Lowdon, whose team finished 10th of 11 last season and The City games he is likely to miss include both legs of said Liverpool chief commercial officer Billy Hogan yes- have the smallest budget of all, indicated the matter would be resolved the last-16 match with Barcelona in the Champions terday. “We have millions of fans in India and we are com- shortly. “We’re just finalising administrative details with the FIA and we League as well as the League Cup final at Wembley mitted to bringing the Club closer to them. have absolutely no concerns at all that the entry won’t be confirmed,” he Stadium on March 2, provided that City comes through its Teaming up with XOLO and launching our very first semifinal against West Ham. City is ahead 6-0 after the International Academy in Pune represent the start of our told Reuters. The basic entry fee for 2014, as laid out in the sporting reg- ulations, is $508,000 which was supposed to have been paid by first leg. The Manchester derby, currently scheduled for journey in India to make fans feel like their club is right March 1, would have to be moved should one or either of on their doorstep.” Liverpool’s aim is for the acade- November last year. Teams must also pay $5,080 per point scored in the my to be a “world class purpose-built residential 2013 constructors’ championship - none in Marussia’s case but an addi- the teams reach the League Cup final. complex”, featuring full-size pitches, practice tional $1.6 million for fourth-placed Lotus who scored 315 points. Nasri has been one of City’s best players this season, find- areas, classrooms, changing rooms, a gym, can- The rules say applications at other times will be considered if a place ing his top form under new manager Manuel Pellegrini after teen, lecture theatre, residential and medical is available and on payment of a late entry fee to be fixed by the govern- struggling at times under previous coach Roberto Mancini facilities. —AFP ing body. The season starts in Australia on March 16. —Reuters last year. — AP Kings rout Cavaliers SACRAMENTO: Isaiah Thomas scored 26 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to their third straight victory, a 124-80 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. The Kings scored 16 straight points in the third quarter and led by 28 points heading into the fourth. The three-game winning streak is Sacramento’s first since December 2012. The 45- point margin was the largest this season for the Kings. CJ Miles had 14 points and Luol Deng added 12 for the Cavaliers, who had won two straight. Cleveland went just over five minutes with- out a basket in the third quarter, when it shot 4 of 20 and was outscored 30-11. The Cavaliers were outscored 65-30 in the second half. Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers’ leading scorer, missed 11 of 14 shots, 3 of 4 free throws, and finished with seven points. HONOLULU: Jimmy Walker poses with the trophy after winning the Sony Open in GRIZZLIES 108, HAWKS 101 Hawaii at Waialae Country Club. — AFP Mike Conley had 21 points and 13 assists, and Zach Randolph added 18 points and 12 Walker sizzles in Hawaii rebounds to lead Memphis over Atlanta. Paul Millsap scored 21 points to lead the HONOLULU: American Jimmy Walker green to the right off the tee to slip back Hawks, who had won two straight. It was only Isaiah Thomas birdied four of the last six holes to storm into a three-way tie for the lead with Harris the Hawks’ third loss to the Grizzlies in the past clear of a crowded leaderboard and win his English and Walker. 15 games. second PGA Tour title by one shot at the English edged a stroke in front when he Memphis pulled away in the fourth quarter NBA results/standings Sony Open in Hawaii on Sunday. sank a seven-footer to birdie the par-four behind Conley, who tied a career best with 31 The 34-year-old, who had trailed by two fifth, then briefly doubled his advantage by points in a victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sacramento 124, Cleveland 80; Memphis 108, Atlanta 101; San Antonio 104, Minnesota 86. strokes overnight, produced ice-cool com- rolling in a 10-foot birdie putt at the sev- Friday. Conley had eight points in the final quar- posure and superb play over the closing enth. A bogey at the par-four eighth, where ter, including two free throws that gave the Eastern Conference Western Conference stretch as he fired a flawless seven-under- he missed the green with his approach, Grizzlies a 102-92 lead with 2:46 left. Atlantic Division Northwest Division par 63 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. dropped English back into a share of the Mike Miller also had eight points in the fourth W L PCT GB Portland 28 9 .757 - Six players held at least a share of the lead lead with Brian Stuard, and soon after they quarter for the Grizzlies, including two 3-point- Toronto 18 17 .514 - Oklahoma City 28 9 .757 - during a wildly fluctuating final round but were joined at the top by Jeff Overton, ers. He finished with 15 points. the long-hitting Walker made his timely Kelly and Walker. Brooklyn 15 22 .405 4 Denver 19 17 .528 8.5 charge with birdies at the 13th, 15th, 16th English again edged ahead, with a two- SPURS 104, TIMBERWOLVES 86 NY Knicks 14 22 .389 4.5 Minnesota 18 19 .486 10 and 17th to post a 17-under total of 263. putt birdie at the par-five ninth, before Kawhi Leonard scored 13 of his 17 points in Boston 13 25 .342 6.5 Utah 12 26 .316 16.5 Overnight leader Chris Kirk recovered being caught at 13 under by Overton, Kelly, the second half as San Antonio held off Philadelphia 12 25 .324 7 Pacific Division from a slow start to close with a five-birdie Walker and Stuard. Minnesota for its fourth straight win. Tim Central Division LA Clippers 26 13 .667 - 66 and secure outright second place, finish- That back-and-forth pattern continued Duncan had 15 points and Tony Parker added 14 Indiana 29 7 .806 - ing a stroke in front of fellow American on the back nine, English getting to 14 Golden State 25 14 .641 1 points and 10 assists for Western Conference- Chicago 17 18 .486 11.5 Jerry Kelly (65), the 2002 champion at under with a seven-footer for birdie at the Phoenix 21 15 .583 3.5 leading San Antonio. Matt Bonner also scored 14 Detroit 16 22 .421 14 Waialae. Kirk, playing in the final group, had 10th before Kelly, and then Walker, made it points - including 4-for-5 shooting on 3-pointers LA Lakers 14 23 .378 11 a chance to force a playoff with an eagle at a three-way tie at the top. Cleveland 13 24 .351 16.5 - and Marco Belinelli had 13 points and Patty Sacramento 13 22 .371 11 the par-five last but his chip from in front of A perfect drive and accurate approach Mills added 10. Milwaukee 7 29 .194 22 Southwest Division the green ran eight feet past the cup and to nine feet at the 14th set up another Nikola Pekovic scored 22 points to lead Southeast Division Walker was able to celebrate his second birdie for English as he regained a one- Minnesota.