ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 16

In this Nov 8, 2019 file photo, President of FC Barcelona Josep Bartomeu pauses dur- ing an interview with The Associated Press at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com ‘Every club has its difficult moments’ Bartomeu provisionally set free after spending night in jail MADRID, March 2, (AP): Former The club itself has not been charged who was hired by Bartomeu. “We taker board since the 58-year-old on Monday, including Bartomeu’s Barcelona president Josep Maria but Bartomeu was not cleared. Court have to wait and see what happens. Bartomeu and his board of directors house. Authorities said they were Bartomeu was provisionally set free officials lifted the case’s secrecy and All we can do is to focus on our job.” resigned in October while facing a investigating “alleged crimes related on Tuesday after appearing before a those accused will have access to the Barcelona are coming off their first no-confidence vote. He had been to property and socio-economic judge following a night in jail while evidence gathered by authorities season without a trophy since 2007- loudly criticized by Messi, whose order.” being investigated for possible irregu- before appearing in court again. 08. The team lost to Paris Saint- request to leave the club last season Barcelona had denied accusations larities during his administration. The arrests came less than a week Germain 4-1 in the first leg of the was denied by the then-president. that it hired - and overpaid - a com- Court officials said Bartomeu and before the club holds presidential Barcelona have a debt of more than pany to make negative comments his former adviser at the Spanish club, elections, and added to the turmoil 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 billion), in about its own players and opponents Jaume Masferrer, used their right not surrounding the team recently. SOCCER large part because of the coronavirus on social media in order to boost the to make any comments in court. “Every club has its difficult pandemic. image of senior club officials. The Bartomeu, Masferrer and two other moments,” said Barcelona coach “What worries me the most is the company was accused of using fake round of 16 of the Champions League club officials were arrested on Ronald Koeman, who took over after club’s institutional instability, not its social media accounts to discredit Everton’s Lucas Digne (top), and Monday after Catalan police raided the club’s crisis erupted following the last week, and on Wednesday will try financial difficulty,” Spanish league opposition figures, a list said to Southampton’s Moussa Djenepo Barcelona’s headquarters in a search team’s 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in to reverse a 2-0 first-leg loss to Sevilla president Javier Tebas said. “When a include Messi, Gerard Piqué and for- challenge for the ball during the and seizure operation related to last the quarterfinals of the Champions in the Copa del Rey semifinals. The new president is elected I’m certain mer coach Pep Guardiola, when they English Premier League soccer year’s “Barçagate.” In that case, the League. “It’s true that a lot has hap- Catalans are five points off the lead in that the club will overcome this situa- expressed views that went against the match between Everton and club was accused of launching a pened, but we remain motivated and the Spanish league. tion.” club. Southampton at Goodison Park in smear campaign against current and will keep fighting to win titles. Barcelona, which could also lose Members of the police’s financial The club released an independent Liverpool, England, March 1. former players who were critical of “It obvious that this is not good for Lionel Messi after his contract ends crimes department conducted the audit report showing there was no Everton won 1-0. (AP) then-president Bartomeu and others. the image of the club,” said Koeman, this season, have been led by a care- operation in five different locations wrongdoing. – See Page 14 Cavs hand Rockets 12th straight loss Nets snap 17-game losing streak in San Antonio

HOUSTON, March 2, (AP): scored World Cup qualifying 39 points and the Cleveland revised in Asia again Cavaliers handed the hap- KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, less their March 2, (AP): Australia’s 12th straight loss with a World Cup qualifying match against Nepal on March 30 has 101-90 victory on Monday been postponed, leaving only night. three games to be played in Asia The Cavaliers have won a sea- this month as organizers con- son-high four straight after losing sider central locations to finish their previous 10 games. the second round by mid-June. Cleveland had a 10-point lead in the The Asian Football fourth quarter before John Wall scored Confederation announced last all of Houston’s points in a 6-2 run month that all but four of the that cut the deficit to 95-89 with 3 region’s remaining second- minutes left. round qualifiers for the 2022 The Cavaliers scored the next four World Cup had been postponed points with the help of a by to May and June. to push the lead back to 10 a minute later. SOCCER With AFC’s latest revision on Tuesday, it’s now down to three. It’s Houston’s longest losing streak Mongolia are set to play since dropping 15 in a row in 2001 and Tajikistan on March 25 in the first time the Rockets have lost five Group F before traveling to straight at home since March 2006. Tokyo to play Japan on March Wall’s performance was the only thing 30. Saudi Arabia is scheduled to that kept the Rockets in this one. He host Palestine in Group D, also had 23 points by halftime finished on March 30. with a season-high 32. The race is now on to finish Houston led by one early in the the round before the June 15 fourth quarter after a 3-pointer by Ben deadline. Most countries have McLemore when the Cavaliers used a played five of their scheduled 13-0 spurt to take a 90-78 lead midway eight group games. through the period. Osman had two The AFC said it has “opened 3-pointers in that stretch and Sexton the invitation” to member asso- added five points. Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell (left), and forward Maxi Kleber (42) goes after a against Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic, (center), ciations to host their respective Bickerstaff was impressed with and forward Chuma Okeke, (back right), during the second half of an NBA basketball game on March 1, in Orlando, Fla. (AP) groups in a centralized format. Sexton’s performance. No second-round qualifying Nets 124, Spurs 113 OT The Spurs closed the fourth quarter Playing just their second game since finished with a game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 to help matches have been played since on a 10-0 run to force overtime, with being sidelined for two weeks by for Utah (27-8), which was outscored the Nuggets come away with the win November 2019, with multiple In San Antonio, while 3-pointers by IV and health and safety protocols due to 74-56 in the paint in losing for just the after blowing a 15-point lead. postponements caused by travel has to sit down, James Harden keeps and a driving layup by COVID-19, the Spurs got off to a slug- eighth time this season, but also the Jamal Murray scored 24. Michael restrictions amid the COVID-19 stepping up. DeMar DeRozan. gish start against the active Nets. second time in three games. Porter Jr added 17 points and 15 pandemic. Harden had 30 points, 15 assists and Spurs point guard Pelicans 129, Jazz 124 New Orleans led by as many as 17 rebounds, and the Nuggets won for the 14 rebounds and the tied the game at 108 to close regula- in the second half and was still up 14 third time in four games. overcame a collapse in the final sec- In New Orleans, Zion Williamson tion after initially losing the ball near when Ball’s 3 made it 122-108 with All-Star Zach LaVine led Chicago Trail Blazers 123, Hornets 111 onds of regulation to beat the Spurs showed no fear of renowned Jazz rim 3:54 left. with 23 points and grabbed nine 124-113 in overtime , snapping a the 3-point line while attempting to protector Rudy Gobert and spearhead- In Portland, Ore, after Portland’s drive to the paint. Murray was able to But Utah steadily chipped away rebounds. Coby White added 20 points Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points 17-game losing streak in San Antonio. ed a relentless – and effective – assault during the next three minutes, pulling and 10 rebounds. Harden had his seventh triple-dou- gather the loose ball behind him, on the Utah basket. against Charlotte, he exchanged jer- quickly turning and rising to hit a to 125-124 on Royce O’Neale’s 3 with The Bulls performed better down seys with Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball, ble in 22 games with Brooklyn since Williamson had 26 points, 10 46.7 seconds left. Mitchell, who scored the stretch in this one after getting being traded from Houston, where he 21-footer with Harden defending as rebounds and five assists, and the New who had 30. time expired. eight of his points in the final minutes dominated late in a loss to Phoenix on Anthony had six of Portland’s fran- plays again Wednesday. Orleans Pelicans held off a late Utah to help give the Jazz a chance, missed Friday. But they dropped their second Despite recent injuries to Durant Brooklyn scored the first eight comeback bid to beat the NBA-leading chise-record 24 3-pointers and the points of overtime to regain command a driving floater with a chance to put straight after winning three in a row. Trail Blazers snapped a four-game los- and , Brooklyn remains Jazz 129-124 . Utah back in the lead. Jokic also put Denver back on top second in the Eastern Conference at and went on to win a regular-season And the defenders he attacked ing streak with a 123-111 victory on game in San Antonio for the first time Gobert, who had 22 points, nine with a three-point play off a dunk with Monday night. 23-13. included the 7-foot-1 Gobert, a two- rebounds and five blocks, was called since Jan 22, 2002. two minutes remaining, and Murray At one point Ball hit a 3-pointer and Irving added 27 points and Bruce time NBA defensive player of the for a loose-ball foul trying to get the then nailed a 3-pointer to make it 112- Brown had 23 for Brooklyn, which DeRozan had 22 points and 11 year. did Anthony’s signature 3-to-the- rebound and Williamson hit two free 108. dome gesture. bounced back after a loss to Dallas on assists, while Murray and Walker each Brandon Ingram scored 26 points throws to put New Orleans up three. Saturday ended its eight-game win had 19 points. All five starters scored and Lonzo Ball added 23 points to go 76ers 130, Indiana 114 Damian Lillard had 21 points and 10 assists and Robert Covington con- streak. in double figures for San Antonio. with eight assists, seven rebounds and Nuggets 118, Bulls 112 In Philadelphia, shook two blocks, giving New Orleans three In Chicago, Nikola Jokic dominated tributed a season-high 21 points and off a defender with a crossover that 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who got starters with 20-plus points. with 39 points and 14 rebounds, and sent the 76ers into a frenzy, and Furkan Pelicans reserve JJ Redick scored the Denver Nuggets beat the Chicago off to a sluggish start but led by as NBA Results/Standings Korkmaz buried 3-pointers that sent many as 19 points in the final quarter. 17 points, highlighted by a pair of Bulls 118-112 . them on their way toward a romp. four-point plays on 3-pointers as he Jokic finished with nine assists, just Lillard also had six 3s. This win belonged to the bench. The Hornets have not won in was fouled. missing his 50th career triple-double. Milton scored 26 points, Korkmaz Portland since March 2008. The WASHINGTON, March 2, (AP): NBA results and standings on Monday. Bojan Bogdanovic hit seven 3s and The three-time All-Star came up huge had 19 and the reserves sparked the Blazers are 25-6 against Charlotte in Dallas 130 Orlando 124 Brooklyn 124 San Antonio OT 113 Philadelphia 76ers to 130-114 win Portland. Philadelphia 130 Indiana 114 Cleveland 101 Houston 90 over the Indiana Pacers . Denver 118 Chicago 112 Portland 123 Charlotte 111 Mavericks 130, Magic 124 New Orleans 129 Utah 124 The Sixers followed one of their In Orlando, Fla, Luka Doncic had worst losses of the season to the strug- 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine Eastern Conference Western Conference gling on Saturday Atlantic Division Southwest Division assists, Kristaps Porzingis played a with a smackdown of the mediocre nearly flawless second half and the W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Pacers. Joel Embiid had 24 points and Philadelphia 23 12 .657 - San Antonio 17 13 .567 - Dallas Mavericks beat the Orlando Brooklyn 23 13 .639 -1/2 Dallas 17 16 .515 1-1/2 13 rebounds on a sore left ankle. Ben Magic 130-124 on Monday night. New York 18 17 .514 5 Memphis 15 15 .500 2 Simmons had 18 points and six scored 17 of his 24 Boston 17 17 .500 5-1/2 New Orleans 15 19 .441 4 rebounds. points in the second half as the Toronto 17 17 .500 5-1/2 Houston 11 22 .333 7-1/2 The All-Stars got their numbers. Mavericks broke open a close game. Southeast Division Northwest Division The reserves got their highlights. Dallas has won four of its last five and W L Pct GB W L Pct GB Milton sank three 3-pointers and nine of 12. Miami 17 17 .500 - Utah 27 8 .771 - Korkmaz hit six 3s in a game in which Charlotte 16 18 .471 1 Portland 19 14 .576 7 Doncic, who made 12 of 22 shots Atlanta 14 20 .412 3 Denver 19 15 .559 7-1/2 they got some time, turning it into a and five 3-pointers. Washington 13 19 .406 3 Oklahoma City 14 20 .412 12-1/2 rout. Nikola Vucevic had 29 points, 15 Orlando 13 22 .371 4-1/2 Minnesota 7 28 .200 20 Korkmaz and Milton blew the game rebounds and eight assists for the Central Division Pacific Division open for the Sixers in the second quar- Magic, who dropped their fourth W L Pct GB W L Pct GB ter and built a 20-point lead. Korkmaz, straight. Milwaukee 21 13 .618 - LA Lakers 24 11 .686 - averaging 7.6 points, and Milton 13.4, The Mavs shot 52.2% from the floor Indiana 15 18 .455 5-1/2 LA Clippers 24 12 .667 -1/2 Chicago 15 18 .455 5-1/2 Phoenix 22 11 .667 1 about crushed those numbers in the and made 17 of 46 3-point attempts. Cleveland 14 21 .400 7-1/2 Golden State 19 16 .543 5 Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton (2) shoots between Houston quarter. Milton was 4 of 6 for nine They improved to 13-4 when leading Detroit 9 25 .265 12 Sacramento 13 21 .382 10-1/2 Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate (left), and center Justin Patton (right), dur- points; Korkmaz sank four 3-pointers at the half and 5-1 when shooting bet- ing the first half of an NBA basketball game, March 1, in Houston. (AP) and scored 13. ter than 50%.

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