THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016 SPORTS India to be site of league elite training center

NEW YORK: An elite NBA Academy train- will train at the academy, with selections male and female prospects in India with well as development of education, lead- Academy India will give them a platform ing center for India’s top male and female to be made by next February. world-class coaching and training, as well ership and character skills off the court. to prepare for the opportunity to develop players will open next April near Delhi, “The NBA remains committed to grow- as academic support and an emphasis on “NBA Academy India will help us iden- into a professional-level prospect.” the league announced Tuesday. ing the game in India, and the launch of life skills.” tify and develop elite homegrown Existing NBA grassroots programs The academy will be the fifth of its NBA Academy India marks our most sig- Each center will feature under-18 and prospects and shape the next generation engaged more than 12 million youth kind in the world, following three in China nificant investment in devel- under-16 teams, with travel sides selected of national players,”said NBA India worldwide this past season. ACG-NBA and another in Australia. The NBA will opment in the market,” said Brooks Meek, for international events. Prospects will Managing Director Yannick Colaco. Jump, India’s first national basketball tal- conduct a national scouting program NBA Vice President of International have NBA-level coaching, facilities and “Youth basketball players in India have ent search program, debuted last year starting later this month to identify the Basketball Operations. competition and a global network to had relatable figures to look up to in Sim and offered a chance to attend tryouts for inaugural pool of 24 elite prospects who “This academy will provide the top maximize achievement possibilities as Bhullar and Satnam Singh, and now NBA the NBA Development League. — AFP

Ex-English players allege sex abuse

LONDON: Former Tottenham Hotspur has been ruined until the age of 43, but striker Paul Stewart and two other ex- how many others are there? players have come forward to allege sex- “I’m talking about hundreds of chil- ual abuse at the hands of youth coaches dren who Barry Bennell cherry-picked for when they were children. Stewart, various football teams and who now, as capped three times by England, said he adults, might still be living with that was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a awful fear.” man who threatened to kill his family if Walters, who became Crewe’s he told anyone. The 52-year-old, who youngest debutant in 1988, said he had also played for Liverpool and Manchester also been abused by Bennell. City, joins former Crewe Alexandra play- “All these years, I’ve had this secret ers Andy Woodward and Steve Walters in inside me,” he told The Guardian. “But I speaking out about abuse they suffered. have to let it all out now. It’s the only “The mental scars led me into other way. I want closure and I know, for a fact, problems with drink and drugs,” Stewart this is going to help me move on.” Based told yesterday’s Daily Mirror. “I know now in northwest England and currently in it was a grooming process. The level of England’s fourth tier, Crewe have a well- abuse got worse and worse. established reputation for developing “I wanted people to know how diffi- young players. Crewe chairman John NEW YORK: guard Derrick Rose (25) goes to the basket past guard C.J. McCollum (3), guard Damian cult it was to come forward. It stirred up Bowler, who was in position at the time a lot of my past which I thought I had Lillard (0) and forward Maurice Harkless (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, at Madison Square Garden in New York. of Bennell’s offences, told the BBC the The Knicks won 107-103. — AP buried.” Stewart, a married father of club were “distressed” by the accusations three, said other players were also and would review the situation. abused by the man, who was not named. He added he was “very sorry for the Stewart was encouraged to speak out distress caused” to Woodward and after Woodward told The Guardian he Porzingis, Rose help Walters. Woodward has been praised for had suffered years of abuse at the hands of convicted paedophile Barry Bennell, a speaking out by Britain’s National Society former youth coach at Crewe. for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Bennell was jailed for nine years in (NSPCC). “It is time for the government Knicks edge Blazers 1998 after pleading guilty to sexual and sports organisations to work togeth- offences against young boys. He was er to close gaps in child protection and imprisoned for two years in May 2015 for make sure that the thousands of sports NEW YORK: Kristaps Porzingis had 31 points a historic sexual offence against a boy clubs across the country have robust and nine rebounds, Derrick Rose scored six of NBA results/standings and has also spent time in jail in the safeguarding policies in place,” said an his 18 points down the stretch, and the New York Knicks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 107- United States. Cheshire Police, responsi- NSPCC spokesman. NY Knicks 107, Portland 103; New Orleans 112, Atlanta 94; Denver 110, Chicago 107. 103 on Tuesday night. Rose made the go-ahead ble for policing the Crewe area, said six England’s Football Association has set up a helpline for former players to report basket with a little more than 3 minutes remain- Eastern Conference Western Conference people had come forward saying they ing and hit the jumper that clinched it with 6.8 Atlantic Division abuse. In a joint statement, the FA, the Northwest Division wanted to speak to police in the light of seconds left. Carmelo Anthony finished with 17 W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 8 7 .533 - Woodward’s interview. Premier League and the Football League points despite a scoreless fourth quarter for the Toronto 8 6 .571 - Portland 8 8 .500 0.5 described Woodward’s story as “heart- Knicks, who won their fifth straight at home. Boston 8 6 .571 - Utah 7 8 .467 1 ‘IMMENSE COURAGE’ breaking” and praised his “immense Brandon Jennings had 11 assists off the bench. NY Knicks 7 7 .500 1 Denver 6 8 .429 1.5 Brooklyn 4 9 .308 3.5 Woodward told The Guardian: “My life courage”. — AFP scored 22 points for the Trail Minnesota 4 9 .308 3 Philadelphia 4 10 .286 4 Pacific Division Blazers but fell to 4-1 at Madison Square Central Division LA Clippers 13 2 .867 - Garden. CJ McCollum added 16 points. Cleveland 10 2 .833 - Golden State 12 2 .857 0.5 Chicago 9 6 .600 2.5 LA Lakers 8 7 .533 5 NUGGETS 110, BULLS 107 Indiana 7 8 .467 4.5 Rookie Jamal Murray scored a season-high Milwaukee 6 7 .462 4.5 Sacramento 5 9 .357 7.5 Phoenix 4 11 .267 9 24 points, hit two free throws with Detroit 6 9 .400 5.5 Southeast Division Southwest Division 9.5 seconds left and the Nuggets beat the Bulls. San Antonio 11 3 .786 - It was Denver’s 10th straight home win over the Atlanta 9 5 .643 - Charlotte 8 5 .615 0.5 Houston 9 5 .643 2 Bulls and its 16th in the last 17 meetings at Orlando 6 8 .429 3 Memphis 9 5 .643 2 Pepsi Center. Butler had 35 points and eight Miami 4 9 .308 4.5 New Orleans 5 10 .333 6.5 rebounds for Chicago, which last won in Denver Washington 4 9 .308 4.5 Dallas 2 11 .154 8.5 on Feb. 8, 2006. Dwyane Wade had 22 points after sitting out Sunday’s game against the Lakers. The Nuggets used a 22-0 run at the start quarter after bruising his right knee and missing seconds to play, and the of the second quarter to take a 41-31 lead. the second and third periods. Davis, a three- blew a 14-point lead in the final minutes before Murray had 15 of his 17 first half points in the time All-Star and the NBA’s leading scorer, fin- rallying for a 111-109 victory over the period and Wilson Chandler scored 12 of his 16 ished with 13 points. New Orleans led by 20 at on Tuesday night. in the second quarter. The game was tied when the end of the first quarter and never let up. Young finished with 17 points and Jordan Barton was fouled on a drive to the basket, and Dennis Schroder and Kyle Korver each scored 14 Clarkson had 18 for the Lakers, who survived a he hit two free throws left to give Denver a 109- for the Hawks, who have lost three in a row. monster performance by Russell Westbrook in 107 lead. Isaiah Cannon shot an airball on a 3- Atlanta was tied for the Eastern Conference lead the final minutes. After Westbrook scored 17 point attempt and the Nuggets got the ball. last week but now begins a five-game road trip points in a five-minute span to trim the Lakers’ playing its worst basketball of the young sea- big lead to one point, Steven Adams scored on PELICANS 112, HAWKS 94 son. The Pelicans have won five of seven and are a go-ahead putback of Westbrook’s miss with Tim Frazier had 21 points and 14 assists, 3-0 since Jrue Holiday returned after missing 13.9 seconds to play. The Lakers then passed added 17 points and the the first 12 games to be with his sick wife. the ball around the perimeter before Young Pelicans won their third straight game with a coolly drained his fourth 3-pointer of the night. victory over the Hawks. Pelicans forward LAKERS 111, THUNDER 109 Westbrook missed a long shot shortly before Paul Stewart returned to begin the fourth Nick Young hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5 the buzzer. —AP

Cowboys try to match best start by beating Redskins

WASHINGTON: Dak Prescott will try to match said Washington’s Kirk Cousins, who has seven the best NFL season start in Dallas Cowboys his- touchdowns passes in his last three games. tory today when the star-helmeted squad hosts Redskins’ defenders will be tested by the league’s arch-rival Washington in a US Thanksgiving holi- top rookies in Prescott, who has thrown for 17 day showdown. touchdowns and run for four more, and Ezekiel The Cowboys, with an NFL-best 9-1 record, Elliott, who leads NFL rushers with 1,102 yards. are not the only division pace-setters in action as NFC North co-leaders Detroit and Minnesota LIONS WIN WITH LATE HEROICS meet while AFC North co-leaders Pittsburgh visit At Detroit, the host Lions and Vikings are both Indianapolis. 6-4. A fourth-quarter fightback has been needed Rookie quarterback Prescott, who has relegat- in every Detroit triumph. ed veteran Tony Romo to a reserve role, guided “Every one of their games they’ve played Dallas to nine consecutive triumphs since losing have been seven points or less,” Vikings coach on September 11, but this is the first time he will Mike Zimmer said. “I think they’ve done a great play such a major game on only three days of job at the end of ballgames, including the one rest. “I’m excited about it,” Prescott said. “I’ve nev- we played. The biggest thing is once you start er done this before, to respond real quick and winning, you develop confidence and that’s what play another game. But I love ball and I love they’ve done at the end of ballgames.” these games. I’m excited for it and looking for- Detroit won 22-16 at Minnesota earlier this ward to it.” The only 10-1 start in Cowboys history month, Matt Prater forcing over-time with a 58- came in 2007 but it will take completing a season yard and Matthew Stafford throwing a sweep of the Redskins to equal it. 28-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate for the “We’re taking it one game at a time and focus- victory. The Lions have won three Thanksgiving ing on what’s happening at that moment,” said Day games in a row after dropping nine consecu- Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, who has five tive games on the holiday. touchdown catches. “We’re not looking too far “I expect it to be an awesome atmosphere ahead.” The Cowboys have a 29-18 with one and both teams playing at a high level,” Stafford PITTSBURG: File photo shows Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving (95) leaps over Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Xavier Grimble drawn record in their traditional Thanksgiving said. “From a game-planning standpoint, at least (85) during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Nov 13, 2016. Today Dallas Cowboys squad hosts arch-rival Washington in home game, including a 6-1 record on the holi- you’re familiar. They are fresh in your mind from a US Thanksgiving holiday showdown. —AP day against Washington. The Redskins, 6-3 with just a couple of weeks ago. It doesn’t diminish one draw, are off to their best start since 1986 the challenge. They’re a really good defense.” trail AFC South leader Houston by one game. pass the tests to return to the field in order to “We’ve got a guy that comes to work every and since losing to Dallas 27-23 at home on With both clubs two games off the pace for a face the Steelers. Only one player this season has single day and prepares like a starter ever since September 18, they have six wins and a draw COLTS OUT OF LUCK? wildcard berth, they know the easiest playoff done that in less than five days. he’s been in this building,” Colts coach Chuck from eight games. “We’re feeling good, but at the At Indianapolis, the host Colts and Pittsburgh path is by winning a division crown. Scott Tolzien, a backup in Green Bay the past Pagano said. “He understands and knows this same time it’s a short week and we’re playing enter 5-5. That has the Steelers level with Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is in the NFL three seasons, would start in Luck’s place. He has offense and if that’s the case, he’ll go out and one of the best teams in the NFL on Thursday,” Baltimore atop the AFC North while the Colts concussion protocol and has only four days to thrown only one NFL pass since 2013. play winning football.” —AFP