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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014 SPORTS

Williamson to lead NZ Stampeders lift Webber survives crash DUBAI: Batsman Kane Williamson has been given the opportunity to flex his CALGARY: did the heavy-lifting but got the glo- BRAZIl: Former Formula One driver Mark Webber had a lucky escape captaincy credentials after being named to lead New Zealand in their one-day ry scoring two as the tamed the international and Twenty20 series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. from a high-speed crash at the World Endurance series race in Brazil. Hamilton Tiger-Cats 20-16 to hoist the 102nd Grey Cup and be crowned The 38-year-old Australian’s Porsche 911 made contact with Matteo The 24-year-old, who has been touted as a likely future New Zealand captain, League champions on Sunday. will take over from Brendon McCullum, who is returning home to rest ahead of Cressoni’s Ferrari on the final corner of the six-hour race in Sao Paulo Mitchell was named the most valuable player, completing 25 passes for and slammed into a track barrier. the Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand in December and January. 334 yards, though his backup Tate finished a pair of drives by scoring on New ball bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult are also sneaks from the one-yard line. Webber, quit Formula One last year, was not seriously returning to New Zealand as part of the team’s player The victory erased the disappointment of a loss to the Toronto hurt, according to a statement on the Endurance Series workload programme, as the series against Argonauts in the Grey Cup final two years ago, but it was more heartbreak website (www.fiawec.com). Pakistan does not end until a week before the for Hamilton, who also lost the final last year and looked to have stolen a A subsequent statement on Webber’s official first Sri Lanka test in Christchurch on Dec. 26. dramatic victory at the death. Facebook page said he was okay and had been taken “Managing players’ workloads will be an Trailing 20-16 with 30 seconds to play diminutive electri- for medical checks. “After his accident in the six hour important part of our summer plans and this is simply fied the crowd when he returned a punt for an apparent only an example of that,” New Zealand selection manager race in Sao Paulo, Mark is awake and alert,” the state- for it to be called back for an illegal block leaving the Hamilton bench ment said. “(He) has been taken to the medical center Bruce Edgar said in a statement. stunned and Banks in tears. “I saw that flag come out real early so I knew,” He stressed the decision had nothing to do with the for further checks.” said Mitchell. “You know you got to stop those things, that almost lost us After a 12-year career in Formula 1, former Red death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, with the Grey Cup.” The Stampeders, the CFL’s top team during the regular sea- McCullum acknowledging he had been affected by the left- son with a mark of 15-3, drew first blood with Tate sliding into the end Bull driver Webber joined the Porsche team in hander’s death during their third test victory over Pakistan zone from one yard to cap a nine play, 55-yard drive to bring Calgary sup- the Endurance series where he finished ninth in Sharjah that salvaged a series draw.—Reuters porters among the 55,000 crowd at BC Place to their feet.—Reuters overall. —Reuters Red Wings down Canucks

DETROIT: Pavel Datsyuk scored twice as the first period, beating Ryan Miller with a the Detroit Red Wings beat the Vancouver slap shot, and Nyquist made it 2-0 midway Canucks 5-3 on Sunday for their fourth through the period with a one-timer on a straight victory. power play. Vey scored on a power play at About a third of the arena, including the 2:37 of the second, and Datsyuk countered Vancouver zone, went dark 29 seconds into late in the period with a power- play goal the game after a minor power failure. The that appeared to hit Canucks forward Nick game was delayed 33 minutes. Bonino’s skate before crossing the line. Niklas Kronwall, Danny DeKeyser and Matthias and DeKeyser swapped goals Gustav Nyquist also scored, Henrik early in the third before Vey added his sec- Zetterberg had two assists and Jimmy ond. Datsyuk had an empty-net goal in the Howard made 30 saves for Detroit. Linden final minute. The Red Wings played the Vey scored twice, and Shawn Matthias third period without forward Justin added a goal for Vancouver. Abdelkader after he left the game with an Kronwall opened the scoring at 3:15 of upper-body injury. —AP NHL results/standings Western Conference Montreal 16 7 2 65 63 34 Pacific Division Detroit 14 5 5 74 61 33 WLOTLGFGAPTS Boston 14 9 1 61 58 29 Vancouver 16 7 1 75 66 33 Toronto 12 8 3 76 69 27 Anaheim 14 6 5 68 66 33 Florida 9 6 6 45 53 24 Calgary 15 8 2 78 64 32 Ottawa 10 9 4 61 63 24 Los Angeles 12 7 5 65 57 29 San Jose 11 10 4 68 70 26 Buffalo 8 14 2 43 76 18 Arizona 9 12 3 57 74 21 Metropolitan Division Edmonton 6 14 4 54 82 16 Pittsburgh 16 5 2 81 55 34 Central Division NY Islanders 17 7 0 77 65 34 Nashville 16 5 2 64 46 34 NY Rangers 11 8 4 68 64 26 St. Louis 16 6 2 66 51 34 Washington 10 9 4 65 65 24 Chicago 15 8 1 74 48 31 New Jersey 9 11 4 58 71 22 Winnipeg 12 9 4 52 56 28 Philadelphia 8 12 3 61 74 19 Minnesota 13 9 1 65 55 27 Carolina 7 13 3 54 68 17 Dallas 9 10 5 70 84 23 Colorado 9 10 5 64 75 23 Columbus 6 15 2 52 83 14 Eastern Conference Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point Atlantic Division in the standings and are not included in the loss Tampa Bay 16 6 2 85 64 34 column (L).

LOS ANGELES: Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry (center) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (left) and Nick Young during the second half of an NBA basketball game. —AP Lakers end losing streak

LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant had 31 points, 12 matched his career worst at 11 games under Miami’s next 15 points to help the Heat maintain assists and 11 rebounds for his 20th career .500. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led Detroit with the lead. triple-double as the Los Angeles Lakers ended a 23 points. four-game losing streak with a 129-122 overtime Van Gundy broke up his usual three-post line- MAGIC 93, SUNS 90 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. up against the smaller Warriors, starting Kyle Tobias Harris scored 21 points as Orlando Seven players scored in double figures for the Singler at small forward and bringing Greg held off a late rally to beat Phoenix and snap a Lakers, including all five starters. Nick Young Monroe off the bench. It didn’t work. Monroe, four-game losing streak. Nikola Vucevic added added 20 points off the bench, Carlos Boozer Andre Drummond and Josh Smith shot a com- 18 points for the Magic, who led by 16 early in scored 18 and Jordan Hill had 16 points and 12 bined 12 for 38. the fourth quarter before the Suns cut it to three rebounds. with 1:02 to play. Kyle Lowry had 29 points, nine assists and six GRIZZLIES 97, KINGS 85 Phoenix coach John Hornacek drew a techni- rebounds for Toronto before fouling out with 2.8 Zach Randolph had 22 points and 12 cal on Orlando’s next possession, the coach seconds left in overtime. Terrence Ross had 20 rebounds, AND Marc Gasol added 18 points and claiming to no avail that Vucevic traveled on a points and Lou Williams added 19 off the bench six rebounds as Memphis held off a late rally to layup. for the Raptors, whose 13-3 record entering the beat short-handed Sacramento for its fifth Consecutive 3-pointers by Goran Dragic and game was the best start in franchise history. straight win. Gerald Green, the second with 2.9 seconds to go, Toronto played without leading scorer DeMar The frontcourt tandem took advantage of a cut the lead to one, Evan Fournier sank two free DeRozan, who tore a tendon in his left groin dur- Kings team playing without center DeMarcus throws with 1.6 seconds to go and Phoenix ing Friday’s 106-102 loss to Dallas and is out Cousins, who missed his second straight game failed to get a shot off at the buzzer. Dragic indefinitely. Greivis Vasquez made his first start because of a virus. The Grizzlies built a 21-point scored 22 points and Markieff Morris had 18 of the season and scored 19 points. lead in the second quarter and pulled away points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the again in the fourth to stretch their NBA-best Suns. SPURS 111, CELTICS 89 record to 15-2. Pavel Datsyuk in action in this file photo. Danny Green scored 18 points and coach Rudy Gay scored 20 points and reserve TRAIL BLAZERS 107, TIMBERWOLVES 93 Gregg Popovich returned from a two-game Reggie Evans finished with 17 points and 20 LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 points and 15 absence to lead San Antonio over Boston for its rebounds as Sacramento (9-8) lost its third game rebounds to pace Portland over Minnesota. New Zealand are team to seventh straight victory. Popovich returned for in a row. Wesley Matthews added 23 points, including six the opener of a four-game trip after missing two 3-pointers for his third straight game with at games following an undisclosed minor medical HEAT 86, KNICKS 79 least five 3-pointers, and the Blazers led by as beat as Ireland impress procedure. Dwyane Wade returned from a seven-game many as 16 points. Leading 80-77 with 10 minutes left, the Spurs absence to score 27 points -13 in the fourth Portland was coming off a 112-99 loss to LONDON: Reigning champions New Cup challenge is their perennial happiness went on a 14-2 run to take a 94-79 lead with 6:11 quarter - as Miami beat New York. Memphis on Friday night that snapped a nine- Zealand remained the team to beat less to cast themselves as underdogs. left on a layup by Cory Joseph. After Jeff Green Chris Bosh added 20 for the Heat, including a game winning streak. Shabazz Muhammad than a year out from the World Cup in Ireland fans must hope captain Paul made a free throw for Boston, cutting the lead to crucial 3-pointer with 1:07 left as Miami held off came off the bench with 28 points for England after yet another successful O’Connell’s words after the Australia match 94-80, Aron Baynes beat the 24-second clock a late New York rally. Carmelo Anthony also Minnesota, which used just nine players. The November campaign in Europe. were for public consumption only and that, with a 3-pointer then made a layup for a 99-80 returned after a two-game absence because of Timberwolves have won just four games this There’s nothing new in the All Blacks privately at least, the squad have rather lead with 4:36 to go. back spasms to score 31 points for the Knicks. season, including a 120-119 win in Los Angeles being the yardstick for the global game and more self-belief. Boris Diaw had 15 points and Tim Duncan Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 12 over the Lakers on Friday. their rivals will take some comfort in know- “We’ve been here before and it didn’t added 14 for the Spurs. The Celtics were led by rebounds Injuries and illness have decimated the ing New Zealand have yet to win the World serve us well,” said O’Connell. “All we are try- Jeff Green with 16 points and Evan Turner with After trailing by 16, the Knicks pulled to 65-63 Timberwolves. The latest was rookie forward Cup on foreign soil. ing to do is improve game by game.” For 12 as they dropped to 1-7 in their last eight on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s layup with 9:22 left. Wade, Andrew Wiggins, who played just under 19 min- So the fact they were pushed close by England, Saturday’s 26-17 victory over World games. Rajon Rondo finished with only two sidelined since Nov. 12 by a hamstring injury, fol- utes after he was a game-time decision with a both England (24-21) and Wales (34-16) this Cup pool rivals Australia was timely follow- points and missed both of his free throws. He lowed with a baseline jumper and scored 12 of flu-like illness. —AP month before emerging victorious won’t ing defeats by New Zealand and South has made just 9 of 30 all season. have done the All Blacks any harm, nor will Africa. That it was achieved on the back of the success of a virtual second-choice side in traditional English scrummage power ought BULLS 102, NETS 84 NBA results/standings preserving their unbeaten record against not to embarrass anyone in the Red Rose Jimmy Butler had 26 points and Pau Gasol Scotland. However, all these matches camp on the receiving end of jibes about a San Antonio 111, Boston 89; Chicago 102, Brooklyn 84; Golden State 104, Detroit 93; Memphis 97, Sacramento 85; had 25 points and 13 rebounds, leading Chicago Miami 86, NY Knicks 79; Orlando 93, Phoenix 90; Portland 107, Minnesota 93; LA Lakers 129, Toronto 122 (OT). demonstrated how no team goes for the full lack of midfield creativity. past Brooklyn. Rookie Bojan Bogdanovic led the 80 minutes quite like New Zealand, who Indeed if England top a group featuring Nets with 13 points and reserve Jarret Jack Eastern Conference Western Conference have enviable depth. Wales and Australia, they have a route to the added 12. Derrick Rose had 14 points and Atlantic Division Northwest Division England found themselves needing two climax of the World Cup where they reserve Nikola Mirotic chipped in 12 points and W L PCT GB Portland 13 4 .765 - scores in the closing stages against the All wouldn’t face another major southern hemi- 12 rebounds for the Bulls, who capped a seven- Toronto 13 4 .765 - Denver 8 8 .500 4.5 Blacks and managed one while Wales con- sphere side until the final. Brooklyn 6 9 .400 6 Utah 5 12 .294 8 game, 14-day road trip with their second Boston 4 10 .286 7.5 ceded 24 points in the final 17 minutes. “The World Cup will look after itself,” said straight win and finished 4-3 overall. Chicago’s Oklahoma City 5 12 .294 8 “We’ve had to earn the right to win some Lancaster. “Australia will have a lot of time NY Knicks 4 14 .222 9.5 Minnesota 4 11 .267 8 United Center had been reserved for the annual Philadelphia 0 16 0 12.5 Pacific Division games,” said New Zealand coach Steve with their new coach (Michael Cheika). They circus show, forcing the Bulls on the road. Central Division Golden State 14 2 .875 - Hansen. “What we’ve found is ways to win took us to the wire and they’ll only get bet- Chicago 11 6 .647 - LA Clippers 11 5 .688 3 ugly.” Ireland, under the shrewd guidance of ter and better.” WARRIORS 104, PISTONS 93 Milwaukee 10 8 .556 1.5 Phoenix 10 8 .556 5 Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt, enjoyed contrasting But for all their back-line class, Cheika Draymond Green scored 20 points and Cleveland 8 7 .533 2 wins over South Africa (29-15) and Australia knows Australia must improve a set-piece Indiana 7 10 .412 4 Sacramento 9 8 .529 5.5 Stephen Curry added 16 points and 10 assists to LA Lakers 4 13 .235 10.5 (26-23) where they demonstrated the ability which ought to be bolstered by the return of help Golden State beat Detroit for its ninth Detroit 3 14 .176 8 not just to vary their tactics from game to currently injured front-row Stephen Moore. Southeast Division Southwest Division straight victory. Washington 10 5 .667 - Memphis 15 2 .882 - game, but during matches as well. South Africa, developing an all-round Marreese Speights added 11 points and 12 game, may have beaten England but a dis- Atlanta 9 6 .600 1 Houston 13 4 .765 2 rebounds for the Warriors (14-2). The Pistons (3- Miami 9 7 .563 1.5 San Antonio 12 4 .750 2.5 GAME BY GAME appointing tour ended with a 12-6 defeat by 14) have lost eight in a row, the longest streak of Orlando 7 12 .368 5 Dallas 13 5 .722 2.5 Perhaps the only thing holding back Wales. South Africa were, however, without Stan Van Gundy’s coaching career, and have Charlotte 4 14 .222 7.5 New Orleans 7 8 .467 7 Ireland from mounting a sustained World 25 players in Cardiff. —AFP