SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 Spurs’ Popovich ties NBA’s mark Warriors overpower Clippers 133-120

SAN ANTONIO: Gregg Popovich tied the NBA record Angeles Clippers for their fifth straight victory. Blake struggled to make shots down the stretch. Clint for the most career wins with a single franchise, earn- Griffin had 31 points, making 11 of 13 free throws, for Capela had 22 points and nine rebounds. Howard, ing his 1,127th in the ’ 102-86 victory the Clippers. They have lost nine in a row to their Bay who spent the last three seasons in Houston, received over the on Thursday night. Area opponents, the franchise’s longest active skid a mostly warm welcome by the Toyota crowd, Popovich matched Jerry Sloan of Utah for the league against a single team. The rematch wasn’t the debacle with some light, scattered boos. mark as San Antonio had 15 steals and forced 23 that occurred last weekend when the Clippers lost by turnovers, both season highs, in winning its 12th 46 points at Golden State. But they still never led and WIZARDS 116, LAKERS 108 straight at home over Philadelphia and 11th straight trailed by 21. The Clippers got beat in every category John Wall scored 33 points and had 11 assists, overall against the 76ers. Kawhi Leonard scored 19 despite Griffin’s hard-charging effort. The Warriors were Bradley Beal added 23 points and Marcin Gortat tied points and Dewayne Dedmon had 13 points and 10 dominant in the paint, on second-chance points and his season high with 21 to lead the Washington rebounds for his second double-double for the Spurs. fastbreak points. Golden State has won 11 of its last 12. Wizards to their sixth straight win. It marks The frontcourts for both teams were depleted, with Washington’s first six-game winning streak since Dec 8- San Antonio missing LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol, HAWKS 113, ROCKETS 108 19, 2014. The Wizards have also won 16 straight at and Philadelphia without Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel Dwight Howard scored 24 points and grabbed 23 home - the second-longest run in franchise history. and Robert Covington. Aldridge and Embiid were both rebounds in his first game back in Houston since sign- Jordan Clarkson led Los Angeles with 20 points. late scratches with minor knee ailments. The 76ers’ ing with Atlanta in the offseason, leading the Hawks Washington had a 14-point lead, 86-72 with 2:37 to frontcourt got 25 points and 10 rebounds from Ersan past the Rockets. Tim Hardaway Jr had 33 points for play in the third quarter, but the Lakers, who have lost Ilyasova, and Dario Saric added 14 points. Atlanta, including a driving dunk with less than a nine of 11, tied it at 91 with 9:10 to play. Wall, who minute remaining that gave Atlanta a three-point scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including the WARRIORS 133, CLIPPERS 120 lead. The Hawks trailed by as many as 20 points and Wizards’ final eight, sealed the win with a with Stephen Curry scored 29 points despite making just entered the fourth quarter down 13 before Howard 1:18 to play. He converted a jumper with 1:06 left, three 3-pointers, Kevin Durant added 26 points and 10 led a late comeback. James Harden had 41 points, another with 38 seconds remaining and added four assists, and the defeated the Los eight assists and eight rebounds, but the Rockets late free throws. —AP

Basketball to permit NFL players Association religious headgear vows to stand by

NEW YORK: The international group Muslim members that governs basketball is close to elimi- nating a longstanding ban on religious HOUSTON: The NFL Players Association vowed on headgear in competition, clearing the Thursday to stand by their Muslim members a day way for athletes to wear hijabs and after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dodged a yarmulkes in international competi- question on the matter when asked about US tions. FIBA told its playing rules com- President Donald Trump’s temporary travel ban. mittee at a recent meeting to create a “Our Muslim brothers that are in our league, we have proposal that outlines how headgear their backs. We’re going to do whatever we can. And can be worn safely during games. The goal is to approve the changes at a I’ll go stand with them,” NFLPA president and meeting in May, the organization Cincinnati Bengals tackle said at the union’s Super announced earlier this week. Bowl news conference. The move comes following a two- “If people want to come and harass their family or year study and not long after a letter whatever I’ll be there with them.” Winston said it published on social media and sent to seemed to him “that we’re starting to turn away from FIBA president Horacio Muratore. It our values as a country.” “These guys that are players called for the end of the rule, and was in the National Football League, their families are our signed by a dozen WNBA players families. And I take that seriously. They’re our broth- including Breanna Stewart, tennis ers and we will stand with them.” greats Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova and US Olympic fencer NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith Ibtihaj Muhammad. “I am a Muslim, and added: “We notified and sent information to all those I think anybody should have the right families who are members of the NFL that if they (to wear headgear),” said Nuggets for- MINNEAPOLIS: East African Muslim girls practice basketball in their need anything from their union, that we’re there.” ward Kenneth Faried, who also signed new uniforms in Minneapolis. International basketball competitions There are about a dozen Muslim players in the NFL, the letter and won a gold medal with could have players wearing religious headgear including hijabs and according to NFLPA assistant executive director the US in the 2014 Basketball World yarmulkes soon. —AP George Atallah. Trump issued an executive order last Cup. “Jewish - hey, if you’re Gothic, week temporarily banning citizens from Iran, Iraq, whatever your religion is, Muslim, Other sports have already relaxed women and girls,” Stewart said. “There Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from enter- Christian, Catholic, it doesn’t matter. such regulations. The International is no legitimate safety concern, so why ing the United States and placed an indefinite ban You should be able to support your reli- Football Association Board, soccer’s have it? Sports should be accessible to gion and wear whatever it is part of governing body, in 2012 approved everyone and we have the opportunity on Syrian refugees. your religion.” headscarves for women Muslim players, as a basketball community to lead the Goodell declined to clarify the NFL’s position on The rule banning religious headgear reversing a ban that had been enforced way in that effort so we should.” Athlete the ban at his state of the league address on was enacted 20 years ago and wasn’t since 2007. FIFA, soccer’s governing Ally - an organization dedicated to end Wednesday. Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu of the meant as a ban against any religion, body, said the following year that men homophobia and transphobia in sports Atlanta Falcons is the only Muslim playing in and stood without complaint until could wear head covers during matches, and educate athletic communities to Sunday’s Super Bowl, which also features the New recently. Some groups have interpreted provided they were the same color as stand up against anti-LGBT discrimina- England Patriots. “That’s a very tough situation,” the provisions of the rules on uniforms the jersey, had a “professional appear- tion - joined with Shirzanan, a media the 27-year-old Sanu, who spent time growing up as a ban against the participation of ance” and did not “pose any danger.” and advocacy organization for Muslim in Sierra Leone, said of the immigration ban at the players of certain faiths. According to “I am against discrimination in all female athletes, to send the letter to Super Bowl Opening Night event. “I just pray that FIBA, headgear was banned for safety forms and the headgear ban serves to FIBA on Jan 25, urging leaders to reasons in case it fell off and someone discriminate based on religion and “immediately lift the ban on religious us as a country and a world can just be united as would slip on it or become entangled. unfairly impacts the participation of headgear.” —AP one.” —Reuters