sign in sign up
<<
Home , Stephen Curry

SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 SPORTS

India’s Nehwal to top Cape Horn, storm await Kenya sweep World Cross women’s world rankings battered global race fleet Country Championship gold ALICANTE: Volvo Ocean Race’s six-strong fleet, already bat- CHINA: Kenya strode to gold in both the men’s and women’s races at the World Cross MUMBAI: India’s Saina Nehwal will replace Olympic champion Li Xuerui as tered by the Southern Ocean, sails in to the toughest part of the nine-month marathon offshore challenge over the next Country Championships in China yesterday with 19-year-old Agnes Tirop and Geoffrey the women’s world number one badminton player, ending China’s strangle- Kipsang taking their first titles. Tirop produced an impressive start-to-finish victory over the hold at the top of the rankings. China have long dominated the women’s two days. 8,010-metre course in Guiyang in a time of 26 minutes and one second, leaving behind game and the last non-Chinese to be world number one was Denmark’s Tine It is now heading for Cape Horn in southern Chile, a Baun in December 2010. graveyard for countless sailors since it was first used as a Ethiopian Senbere Teferi in the final 200 after a head-to-head battle between the 19-year- While Li, who won Olympic gold in London, has struggled with a foot trading route in the early 17th century. olds. injury, the other contender for the top ranking, All England The region is the only time in the 38,738-nautical mile Her five-second victory on an old horse racing track in southern China champion Carolina Marin of Spain, lost in the semi-final of race where the boats are likely to see icebergs and to com- against an impressive field, that included twice world cross champion the India Open super-series. World Champion Marin, who plicate matters, a huge storm is building up behind them in Emily Chebet, provided the 300th medal in the discipline for the East the Southern Ocean. beat Nehwal in the All England final this month, lost to African country. Earlier yesterday, the Chinese boat Dongfeng Race Team, third-seeded Thai Ratchanok Intanon 21-19 21-23 22-20 “I am very happy to have won Kenya’s 300th medal,” Tirop told in the semi-finals. Olympic bronze medallist Nehwal, 25, skippered by Frenchman Charles Caudrelier, led the leg from Auckland to ItajaÌ, Brazil, but by less than 10nm from organisers, the IAAF. “I was trying to push the pace from the start. I will play Japan’s Yui Hashimoto in the second semi-final had no fear, I was just trying to run my own race. but will advance to the top irrespective of her result. “I four other crews. “The Ethiopian tried to overtake me and tried to push me to get want to be the best,” Nehwal said before her top ranking Caudrelier admitted that the stress was becoming “wear- was confirmed. “It’s not about the ranking, it’s about being ing” on his eight-man team. “I think it’s unique in the history away, but I was strong and managed to hold on.” Kipsang, a half- consistent. “Li Xuerui is injured. You can’t ignore the fact of the Volvo Ocean Race (launched in 1973) to have a fleet marathon specialist, also had a duel in the men’s race as he that she’s the best player in the world, but she’s been battling like this in these latitudes,” he told Reuters yester- overcame compatriot Bedan Muchiri to win in a time of injured over the last few months. —Reuters day.—Reuters 34:52, eight seconds ahead of his rival.—Reuters

NBA results/standings

Detroit 111, Orlando 97; La Clippers 119, Philadelphia 98; Washington 110, Charlotte 107 (OT); Atlanta 99, Miami 86; Brooklyn 106, Cleveland 98; Boston 96, NY Knicks 92; 94, LA Lakers 83; Houston 120, Minnesota 110; Golden State 107, Memphis 84; New Orleans 102, Sacramento 88; San Antonio 94, Dallas 76; Denver 107, Utah 91; Portland 87, Phoenix 81.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Toronto 43 30 .589 - Boston 32 40 .444 10.5 Brooklyn 31 40 .437 11 Philadelphia 18 55 .247 25 NY Knicks 14 59 .192 29

Central Division Cleveland 47 27 .635 - Chicago 44 29 .603 2.5 Milwaukee 36 36 .500 10 Indiana 31 41 .431 15 Detroit 28 44 .389 18

Southeast Division Atlanta 55 17 .764 - Washington 41 32 .562 14.5 Miami 33 39 .458 22 Charlotte 30 41 .423 24.5 Orlando 22 52 .297 34

Western Conference Northwest Division Portland 46 25 .648 - Oklahoma City 41 31 .569 5.5 Utah 31 41 .431 15.5 Denver 28 45 .384 19 Minnesota 16 56 .222 30.5

Pacific Division Golden State 59 13 .819 - LA Clippers 48 25 .658 11.5 Phoenix 38 35 .521 21.5 Sacramento 26 46 .361 33 LA Lakers 19 52 .268 39.5

Southwest Division Memphis 50 23 .685 - Houston 49 23 .681 0.5 San Antonio 46 26 .639 3.5 Dallas 45 28 .616 5 New Orleans 38 34 .528 11.5 MEMPHIS: Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) recovers a loose ball ahead of forward (40) in the first half of an NBA game.—AP Warriors slay Grizzlies, Hawks soar over Heat

MEMPHIS: Stephen Curry had 38 points and 10 CLIPPERS 119, 76ERS 98 Charlotte (30-41), battling for the final Eastern who never trailed after he gave them a 3-0 lead Phoenix. assists and the Golden State Warriors won their scored 25 points, DeAndre Jordan Conference playoff spot, has lost eight of 10. on a long jumper moments into the game. Aldridge had 12 points in the fourth quarter 60th game, matching a franchise record, 107-84 had 17 points and 20 rebounds, and the Los Gordon Hayward scored 24 points in his return and 10 in the last 3:26 of the game, and grabbed over the on Friday night. Angeles Clippers cruised past Philadelphia. ROCKETS 120, TIMBERWOLVES 110 after sitting out two games with a sprained nine rebounds. Former Sun Robin Lopez added finished with 28 points and J.J. Redick added 19 points for the Clippers, had 33 points and eight assists shoulder. 12 points and 10 rebounds for Portland, which added 10 as the Warriors (60- who won their sixth consecutive game to help as the clinched a playoff spot shot just 36 of 89. Marcus Morris led the Suns 13) won their eighth straight, solidifying their their chances for home-court advantage in the with a victory over the short-handed Minnesota TRAIL BLAZERS 87, SUNS 81 with 19 points and 12 rebounds, and twin broth- hold on the top spot in the Western Conference. first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Timberwolves. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points and er Markieff added 15 and nine, respectively, for Mike Conley and Jeff Green led Memphis with Los Angeles began the day in fifth place - one Harden shot 9 for 19 from the floor, including Portland overcame one of its worst shooting per- the Suns, who are 3 1/2 games behind Oklahoma 16 points each, while Marc Gasol scored 13 game behind Portland, which played at Phoenix 6 for 12 on 3-pointers. Josh Smith added 16 formances of the season, rallying from an eight- City for the final playoff spot in the Western points. Zach Randolph finished with 10 points. later. Rookie Nerlens Noel had career-high 30 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists and Trevor deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Conference. —AP points and 14 rebounds for Philadelphia. Ariza scored 14 points for the Rockets, who shot HAWKS 99, HEAT 86 53 percent, including 20 of 44 on 3s. DeMarre Carroll scored 24 points and the PISTONS 111, MAGIC 97 had 18 points on 8-for-9 clinched the top seed in the Reggie Jackson scored 26 points, and had 11 shooting in 21 minutes in his second game back Blue Jackets down Eastern Conference playoffs with a victory over rebounds and 10 assists to lift from a right knee injury. added 17 the Miami Heat. over Orlando. It was the second triple-double for points for the Rockets, who are in third place in The Hawks wrapped up the No. 1 seed and Jackson since he joined the Pistons in a mid-sea- the Western Conference and clinched a playoff Blackhawks home-court advantage in the conference play- son trade. Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points and spot for the third straight year. offs when Brooklyn beat Cleveland 106-98. Paul had 16 points and nine led the Timberwolves with 31 points. CHICAGO: Cam Atkinson scored twice in also connected for the Blue Jackets. They set Millsap had 21 points and Al Horford had 15 for rebounds as Detroit won its fourth in a row. Columbus’ four-goal first period and added a team record with their seventh consecu- Atlanta, which never trailed despite playing with- Orlando placed five starters in double-figures, CELTICS 96, KNICKS 92 an empty-net goal in the final minute for his tive road victory and have won eight of nine out injured guard . but lost for the ninth time in 10 games. Tobias Isaiah Thomas scored 18 points and Jae second career hat trick to help the Blue overall. Miami, seventh in the East, had won four of Harris scored 21 points, Nik Vucevic had 20 Crowder had 17 points and nine rebounds as Jackets win their fifth straight game, 5-2 Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews six but fell behind early with cold shooting points and 14 rebounds, and Elfrid Payton had 14 Boston held off a late rally by New York. over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday scored for Chicago, which dropped its sec- against the Hawks. had 13 points points and 13 assists. Brandon Bass scored 16 points, Evan Turner night. ond straight. Columbus’ Sergei Bobrovsky after missing one game with a swollen left knee. had 15 and Avery Bradley finished with 10 for Ryan Johansen and Kevin Connauton made 31 saves. Chicago goalie Corey led Miami with 17 points and 10 PELICANS 102, KINGS 88 Boston. Andrea Bargnani tied a season high with Crawford was pulled with 3:14 left in the rebounds. had 25 points and 10 assists, 25 points for the Knicks. first period after allowing four goals on 13 and the broke a four-game The Celtics led by as many as 11 points in the shots. Scott Darling finished, and stopped all NETS 106, CAVALIERS 98 losing streak with a victory over the Sacramento fourth quarter, but Langston Galloway’s 3-point- 13 shots he faced. Joe Johnson and each scored 20 Kings. er with 25 seconds left cut the Knicks’ deficit to points, and Brooklyn snapped Cleveland’s four- had 24 points, nine rebounds 92-88. Thomas then made 1 of 2 free throws WILD 4, FLAMES 2 game winning streak. Bojan Bogdanovic added and six blocks for New Orleans, which has 10 with 23 seconds left, and Early did the same with Thomas Vanek and Mikko Koivu scored 18 points for the Nets, who held LeBron James to games left to make up three on Oklahoma City 13 seconds remaining. early in a three-goal third period and two baskets in the second half and won for the for the final playoff spot in the Western Minnesota pulled away to Calgary. Matt sixth time in eight games as they chase a playoff Conference. Quincy Pondexter added 16 points SPURS 94, MAVERICKS 76 Dumba and Zach Parise also scored for berth. They came in tied for ninth in the East, a and Norris Cole 12 for the Pelicans. Boris Diaw scored 19 points, helping San Minnesota, which pulled within a point of half-game behind Boston for the final spot. DeMarcus Cousins had 39 points and 20 Antonio pull away for victory over Dallas. Danny Chicago for third place in the Central James finished with 24 points and nine assists rebounds for Sacramento, which saw its four- Green had 14 points, Tiago Splitter scored 13 and Division and one point up on Winnipeg for for Cleveland, while led the Cavaliers game winning streak end. added 18 Tony Parker and added 12 each the top wild-card spot. The Wild have won with 26 points, and had 18 points and points and 10. for San Antonio, which avoided another disap- four in row and six of seven. seven rebounds. pointing collapse against the Mavericks in less Devan Dubnyk stopped 23 shots. He WIZARDS 110, HORNETS 107 than a week and won at home against Dallas for made his 33rd consecutive start since join- RAPTORS 94, LAKERS 83 scored seven of his game-high 32 the ninth straight time. and Tyson ing Minnesota and 34th overall, tying Antti The clinched their second points in the second overtime, and the Chandler had 10 points each to lead the Niemi for the most consecutive starts in the straight Atlantic Division title, beating the Los held off the Charlotte Mavericks. NHL since 2010-11. Josh Jooris and Markus Angeles Lakers behind 18 points from Lou Hornets. Granlund scored for Calgary. Williams and 19 from Jonas Valanciunas. Wall’s pull-up jumper with 9.9 seconds left NUGGETS 107, JAZZ 91 James Johnson had 17 points, Amir Johnson made it 110-107, and Charlotte’s Mo Williams and and Jameer Nelson each scored 18 OILERS 4, STARS 0 11 and Terrence Ross 10 as the Raptors snapped Al Jefferson missed 3-pointers in the final sec- points as Denver beat Utah, handing the Jazz Richard Bachman made 29 saves for his a two-game skid and beat the Lakers for the first onds. their fourth straight loss. Right around tip-off, second NHL shutout and Edmonton beat time since Dec. 8, 2013. DeMar DeRozan scored It was Wall’s second game in a row with 30- the Jazz announced Hot Rod Hundley, the former Dallas. Jordan Eberle, Derek Roy, Benoit six points, making just one of his 10 field-goal plus points as the Wizards (41-32) broke its four- NBA player who broadcast Jazz games in New Pouliot and Andrew Miller scored to help attempts and missing a dunk in the fourth quar- game losing streak. Washington’s Drew Gooden Orleans and Utah for 35 years, had died. He was CHICAGO: Teuvo Teravainen No. 86 of the the Oilers win their second straight game. ter, but he had 10 rebounds and seven assists, finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds. 80. Hundley called 3,051 Jazz games from 1974- Chicago Blackhawks tries to knock the Kari Lehtonen made 24 saves for the Stars. both team highs. Jeremy Lin scored 18 points Jefferson scored 31 points and grabbed 10 2009. There was a tribute to Hundley before the puck away from Cody Goloubef No.29 of They had won four in a row. Dallas and Jordan Clarkson had 14 for the Lakers, who rebounds for Charlotte, which has lost eight of game. the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United remained eight points behind Winnipeg for lost for the 11th time in 14 games. 10. Williams, who was questionable with a sore Danilo Gallinari played with a sore right tri- Center. —AFP the final wild-card spot in the Western left knee, added 26 points and 10 assists. ceps and finished with 13 points for the Nuggets, Conference, with just seven games left.—AP