TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 , 2017 SPORTS

Sorry, Pop: The Spurs are historically good at 3-pointers

NEW YORK: There was a coaching clinic Warriors (41.6) shot it better than San CONFUSING HAWKS once and later losing six straight. done better so far than the Rockets’ Mike in Berlin back in 2014, when San Antonio has to this point. Kyle Korver has now been traded to D’Antoni and the Grizzlies’ David Fizdale. Antonio coach Gregg Popovich paced “I hate it,” Popovich said that day in the Cavaliers and Paul Millsap will likely THE WEEK AHEAD Minnesota at Dallas, Sunday. The Mavs along the sideline for a while and talked Berlin. “It’s not real basketball.” Ah, but it be next to leave Atlanta. So if (or when) A look at some of the games to moved up the start, so this game should about his various philosophies and keys can be part of smart basketball, as the the Millsap deal happens, the entire watch this week: Oklahoma City at end about the same time the Cowboys- to basketball success. Spurs keep showing. Houston has starting lineup from the Hawks team Chicago, Monday. Jimmy Butler’s last Packers playoff game kicks off. It didn’t take him long to mention his missed more 3s this season than the that won 60 games just two seasons six games for the Bulls - 34.2 points, 8.7 disdain for the 3-point shot, which is no Spurs have taken - by a lot, too. Entering ago will be gone. And amid all this rebounds, 5.7 assists, 72 for 83 from the STAT LINE OF THE WEEK secret. So imagine this irony: His Spurs, Sunday, only Chicago was averaging change and rumor, the Hawks keep win- foul line. Boston at Toronto, today. Jimmy Butler, Chicago. As if the 52 this season, are shooting the 3 as well as fewer 3-point attempts per game than ning. Atlanta plays at Brooklyn tonight. Celtics have scored 100 or more in 11 points, 12 rebounds and 21-for-22 show just about any team in league history. San Antonio. Should the Hawks win there, it would be straight games, one away from match- at the foul line wasn’t enough last Overlooked, perhaps, in their 30-7 But the Spurs take good ones. seven straight victories for Atlanta - the ing their longest such streak under Monday against Charlotte, gander at start this season is this. The Spurs are They’re making 45 percent of their longest streak by any team in the Brad Stevens. these: He had 17 points in a fourth- connecting on 41.3 percent of their 3s - corner 3s, 40 percent of ones taken Eastern Conference so far this season. Indiana vs. Denver in London, quarter span of 3 minutes, 53 seconds, on pace to be the third-best success rate from above the break. And the Spurs It also would make the Hawks the Thursday. The NBA hits London for the and his 21 made free throws were more since the shot was added to the NBA are on pace to be the first team in first team this season to have both a seventh time. A 3 p.m. weekday start for than the Hawks, Pistons, Pacers, game nearly four decades ago. Only the NBA history to shoot better than .400 seven-game winning streak and a sev- fans in Indiana, 1 p.m. for those in Grizzlies, Heat and Magic all totaled in 1996-97 Charlotte Hornets (42.8 per- from 3-point range and .800 from the en-game losing streak. The Clippers Denver. Memphis at Houston, Friday. their first two games against the cent) and last season’s Golden State foul line. came close, winning seven in a row Hard to find two coaches who have Hornets this season. — AP

England lose injured Robshaw for Six Nations

LONDON: England flanker who already had injury doubts over for- will miss the Six Nations after undergoing wards , and shoulder surgery that will keep him out of James Haskell. action for three months, his club will miss the early rounds Harlequins announced yesterday. of the Six Nations after undergoing knee The former England skipper, 30, injured surgery and Hartley will be short of match his left shoulder during Harlequins’ 24-17 fitness after his six-week suspension. English Premiership defeat at Worcester on Flanker Haskell lasted only 35 seconds in New Year’s Day and was due to go under his comeback from a toe injury in Wasps’ the knife on Monday. 22-16 win over Leicester on Sunday after It will keep him out of England’s entire suffering a concussion as he tackled Six Nations title defence, which begins Freddie Burns. against France at Twickenham on February Wasps rugby director Dai Young said 4 and concludes against Ireland in Dublin Haskell was “totally fine”, but the 31-year- on March 18. “Chris Robshaw will undergo old must nonetheless undergo the usual surgery on his left shoulder today to repair concussion protocols before he can return an injury sustained in the match against to action. Worcester Warriors on New Year’s Day,” His Quins team-mate Marler has been Quins said in short statement on their web- nursing a calf injury, while Mako Vunipola is site. “He is expected to be out of competi- yet to return to action after a knee prob- tive action for around 12 weeks. lem. Saracens lock (fractured Harlequins will provide relevant updates on cheekbone) and Wasps lock Joe his progress as appropriate.” Launchbury (calf) are also currently on the Although he lost the captaincy to Dylan sidelines, although they are expected to Hartley following Eddie Jones’s appoint- return to action soon. Northampton hooker ment as head coach, Robshaw-capped 55 Hartley will be available for England’s Six times-played a key role as England regis- Nations opener against France, but he will tered a perfect run of 13 wins in 2016. have only just completed his ban for strik- His absence is the latest blow for Jones, ing Leinster’s Sean O’Brien. — AFP Clermont keep perfect record in Toulon rout

PARIS: Clermont made it eight wins in 10 minutes left after Jules Plisson, playing TORONTO: Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) scores as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends and guard Kyle Lowry (7) eight home games with a bonus-point 30-6 instead of injured South African star Morne and forward Patrick Patterson (54) look on during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Sunday.—AP rout of three-time European champions Steyn, had kicked four penalties and a drop Toulon on Sunday which preserved their goal for a perfect five-from-five haul. lead. Toulouse fly-half Samuel Marques had Having suffered a surprise 26-20 loss to popped over a penalty either side of the LeBron James, Cavaliers Toulouse last weekend, Clermont interval to keep the visitors, who had bounced back with a dominant four-try stunned leaders Clermont 26-20 last week- performance, reclaiming the top spot end, in touch. they had briefly relinquished to La But the match turned after 63 minutes Rochelle on Saturday. “This is a great start when Stade lock was yel- hold off Suns 120-116 to January with a lot hinging on it for our low-carded for repeated infringements. season,” said Clermont centre Remi Toulouse pounced to cut the deficit to Lamerat who scored his team’s fourth try. 15-11 thanks to Huget’s opening try on 70 CLEVELAND: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and nine rebounds for the Lakers, winners of three of Brogdon added a career-high 22 but it wasn’t “Not only is it good to have beaten Toulon minutes which came just moments after Kevin Love combined for 80 points and the their last four games. Los Angeles forward Luol enough for Milwaukee to overcome Bradley Beal but it’s even better to have taken the they had been unfortunate not to have Cleveland Cavaliers blew a 20-point third-quar- Deng had 11 points. and John Wall, who combined for 42 to lead offensive bonus point which was not an been awarded a penalty try. ter lead but hung on to beat the Phoenix Suns Washington to victory. Beal scored 27 while Wall objective. Now, we will be able to take Sebastien Bezy converted for 15-13 120-116 on Sunday. James had 12 of his 28 76ERS 105, NETS 95 added 16 for the Wizards, who also got 20 from this form into the European Cup.” before Huget grabbed his second, crucial points in the fourth quarter, including two three- Rookie Joel Embiid scored 20 points in 24 Markieff Moriss and 17 from Kelly Oubre, Jr. Clermont were 8-3 ahead at the interval try almost from the restart after full-back pointers 25 seconds apart to stretch a two-point minutes as Philadelphia rallied from an 11-point Washington shot 48.8 percent from the floor and with scoring the first half’s Maxime Medard had caught Stade on the Cleveland edge to a 115-109 lead with 2:47 left. halftime deficit and matched its win total from knocked down 10 of 32 3-pointers. only try. They stepped on the gas after the back foot with a smart breakaway. Irving scored 27 points and Love added 25 last season with a victory over Brooklyn. Dario break with a penalty try followed by a score Bezy missed the conversion but points for Cleveland, which beat Phoenix for the Saric also scored 18 and came within three of his CLIPPERS 98, HEAT 86 by Wesley Fofana, who intercepted a care- Toulouse clung on for a victory which fourth straight time. The Cavaliers won 15 of career high as the Sixers won for the third time J.J. Redick scored 25 points, and Los Angeles less pass by Toulon’s Australian full-back moved them up to fourth place in the table their last 18 games and have their best 36-game in four games and improved to 6-8 in their last coasted over shorthanded Miami at Staples James O’Connor, and a late try from while Stade are fifth from bottom. “It’s a start since going 30-6 to start the 2008-09 sea- 14 games. Robert Covington overcame getting Center. Chris Paul added 19 points, 18 assists Lamerat. Clermont ended the weekend great win for us,” said Toulouse coach Ugo son. Cleveland is 8-2 against the Western poked in the eye twice and added 15 while Ersan and six rebounds for the Clippers, who won their with a one-point lead over La Rochelle and Mola. “In recent games, things didn’t go our Conference. Ilyasova contributed 14 as Philadelphia won fourth in a row. The number of assists allowed are five ahead of Montpellier in third. way. But tonight, it all worked out in our despite shooting 39.4 percent. Paul to top 8,000 career assists. Paul now has Toulon stay fifth, 10 points off the pace. favour.” Stade boss WARRIORS 117, KINGS 106 8,012. Marreese Speights delivered 19 points off Toulon’s misery was compounded when believes Huget’s deciding try should have Losers after putting up a 24-point lead in WIZARDS 107, BUCKS 101 the bench for Los Angeles. Brandon Bass con- veteran French winger Vincent Clerc, start- been ruled out for a forward pass. their previous contest, Golden State overcame a Jabari Parker scored 28 points and Malcom tributed 12 points. —Reuters ing for only the second time this season “It’s tough but we have nothing to lethargic first half thanks to 17 second-half after undergoing an Achilles tendon opera- reproach the players for. On the contrary, points from Stephen Curry and beat Sacramento tion, was replaced late on with what looked they showed great spirit against a very at the Golden 1 Center. Curry finished with 30 like a serious left leg injury. good Toulouse side.” On Saturday, La and Kevin Durant added 28 as Golden State “Toulon were European champions Rochelle had snatched top spot with a avoided back-to-back losses. The Warriors have three times but we have to admit now that bruising 22-8 win over an indisciplined played 124 straight contests without losing con- this period is over,” said Toulon coach Mike Castres who gave up 20 penalties and saw secutively, the longest streak in NBA history. Ford. “We have to go back to work and skipper Rodrigo Capo Ortega and Rory improve certain things.” French internation- Kockott yellow-carded while replacement ROCKETS 129, RAPTORS 122 al winger grabbed two late prop Yohan Montes was red-carded for James Harden scored 40 points and added 11 tries to seal Toulouse’s 18-15 comeback win appearing to aim a head butt at assists and 10 rebounds for his 10th triple-dou- at Stade Francais, condemning the Paris Mohammed Boughanmi after being on the ble of the season and Houston came back to side to a first home defeat of the season. pitch for just five minutes. defeat Toronto to extend 9ts winning streak to All Blacks World Cup-winning flanker eight games. Harden has had at least a double- VITO ON SCORESHEET Victor Vito scored his first try for La double in 17 straight games. Montrezl Harrell Stade were in control at 15-6 with just Rochelle. — AFP scored 28 points and Eric Gordon added 19 — both off the bench-and Trevor Ariza had 17 points for Houston.

GRIZZLIES 88, JAZZ 79 Point guard Mike Conley scored 19 points with nine assists and Memphis held off Utah at FedExForum. Power forward Zach Randolph gave Memphis a double-double off the bench with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Marc Gasol (17 points) hit three free throws to hike the lead to 85-77 and Utah never drew closer than six points.

PISTONS 125, TRAIL BLAZERS 124 (DOUBLE OT) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s three-pointer with 9.4 seconds left in double overtime lifted Detroit over Portland Trail at Moda Center. Reggie Jackson scored 31 points, Andre Drummond contributed 28 points and 14 rebounds, and Caldwell-Pope added 26 points for the Pistons. Detroit, which edged the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, won consecutive games for the first time in more than a month.

LAKERS 111, MAGIC 85 CLERMONT-FERRAND: Clermont’s French scrum-half (R) prepares to Julius Randle scored 19 points and D’Angelo feed the ball into a scrum during the French union rugby match between ASM Russell and Brandon Ingram contributed 17 Clermont and RC Toulon at the Michelin stadium in Clermont-Ferrand, central France, apiece as Los Angeles beat Orlando at Staples LOS ANGELES: Orlando Magic guard D.J. Augustin, right, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center on Sunday. — AFP Center. Timofey Mozgov collected 15 points and Tarik Black defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, in Los Angeles. —AP