WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013 SPORTS

RACING Photo of the day Dynaste aims to fulfill Pipe’s King George dream

LONDON: The Pipe stable has hovered up Grand make up the near five length deficit with Cue Card and go one better but he was pulled out of the race on Nationals, Gold Cups and Champion Hurdles, yet the come Thursday at a track where he landed a Grade 1 Monday after picking up a minor injury in a schooling King George VI Chase has proved frustratingly elusive novice chase on the same card last year. “I only wish session. Paul Nicholls is represented by Silviniaco for the all-conquering yard. Dynaste could well put the race was tomorrow,” Dynaste’s handler told The Conti, who may improve on his third in the Betfair, and that anomaly right on Thursday when the talented Daily Telegraph last Saturday. Cue Card proved a popu- Al Ferof, who advertised his claims with a battling win French import lines up against eight rivals in the tradi- lar winner of the Betfair for his trainer-jockey combina- up at Cheltenham in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase tional Boxing Day showpiece. Martin Pipe, 15 times tion of Colin Tizzard and his son Joe. in November. The eight-year-old has had one outing champion trainer, revolutionized the complex art of An enthusiastic jumper Cue Card dispelled any since, seeing off his only rival French Opera in a Grade training jump horses and on his retirement his racing stamina fears with a comprehensive win in the Betfair Two chase at Ascot. With last year’s winner Long Run, empire passed into the capable hands of his son David. dispelling doubts over his ability to see out a three who wears a visor for the first time to help his concen- The Pipes have come close before in the mid-sea- mile trip raised by his performance in last year’s King tration, failing to impress when a lacklustre fourth son highlight-notably with Challenger Du Luc in 1997 George. There he made mistakes, weakening to finish a behind Cue Card at Haydock trainer Nicky Henderson and Madison du Berlais in 2009. And this season hopes tired horse, beaten over 20 lengths by Long Run. could have a stronger candidate in the blinkered have grown at Pond House on the border of Devon Twelve months on he merits renewed respect and Riverside Theatre. and Somerset that the grey Dynaste can finally crack heads the ante-post betting, although on the flip side On the scoresheet at last year’s Cheltenham Festival the King George riddle. The upwardly mobile seven- his yard has been hit by a virus and has sent out only the mount of Barry Geraghty warmed up with success year-old vies for favouritism in the ante-post betting one winner from 19 runners in December. in a high grade chase at Huntingdon a fortnight ago. after an eye catching seasonal reappearance in Tizzard senior though is upbeat, reporting of his The horse he beat there, Champion Court, Menorah, Haydock’s Betfair Chase last month. stable star: “He’s done all his fast work. He seems in and Mount Benbulben complete the nine-runner field. Challenging for the lead two fences from home very, very good form and, if there was any more rain, I Despite the pre-Christmas storms battering Britain Dynaste, under Tom Scudamore, was eventually held wouldn’t be worried at all. “I’m not concerned about Kempton’s clerk of the course Barney Clifford predicts on the run in by Cue Card, who had the advantage of a his stamina. I think we put that to bed the last time.” the going for the King George will be no worse than previous run. Pipe junior is optimistic that Dynaste can Last year’s runner-up, Captain Chris, was all set to try soft. — AFP Hawks overwhelmed by Heat

MIAMI: LeBron James scored 38 points, Michael high school. He became the career scoring leader Smith added 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Beasley made two free throws with 9.2 seconds in New York state, scoring nearly 3,000 points at Knicks also got a boost from the return of left to put Miami up for good, and the Heat beat Abraham Lincoln High School. David West fin- Raymond Felton, who had missed six games with Dawid Godziek performs a 360 doublebar spin at his backyard in the Atlanta Hawks 121-119 in overtime on ished with 13 points for the Pacers, who pulled a strained left hamstring. They earned their eight Suszec, Poland on October 23rd 2013. —www.redbullcontent- Monday night. The Heat wasted an early 13-0 lead, away in the third period, when Paul Pierce was straight victory over the Magic. Arron Afflalo led pool.com then rallied from seven points down in the final 90 ejected for a flagrant foul in only the second Orlando with 26 points. Glen Davis added 20 and seconds of the fourth quarter. Ray Allen made scoreless game of his career. Indiana followed its Jameer Nelson 17. The Magic have lost three three free throws with 8 seconds left in regulation only losing streak of the season by beating straight and 11 13. to send it to overtime, after getting fouled by Houston and Boston by a combined 60 points, Federer at a Atlanta’s DeMarre Carroll. Allen finished with 19 then blew this one open after a competitive first PISTONS 115, CAVALIERS 92 points, Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen each half. Joe Johnson scored 17 points for the Nets, Josh Smith scored 25 points, Brandon Jennings scored 12 and Chris Bosh finished with 11 for the who lost their third straight. Kevin Garnett, mov- added 21 and Detroit won for the seventh time in Heat, who played without Dwyane Wade and still ing to the center spot after Brook Lopez was lost eight road games. Jennings also had 13 assists for crossroads beat the Hawks for the ninth straight time. Jeff to a broken right foot, had 12. Detroit, which went ahead for good midway Teague scored 26 points, Paul Millsap made seven through the first quarter and built a 21-point lead Serena eyes history 3-pointers on the way to a 25-point night, and Al BOBCATS 111, BUCKS 110, OT late in the first half. The margin reached 28 points Horford finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds Al Jefferson had a season-high 26 points, and in the fourth quarter as the Pistons rolled to their PARIS: , and open the 2014 season in Abu for Atlanta. Kyle Korver scored 15 for the Hawks, Kemba Walker nearly had a triple double as the biggest win of the season. Kyrie Irving scored 21 Dhabi tomorrow with hoping his absence isn’t an indicator of more who had a chance to win it at the end of overtime, Bobcats won for the fourth time in five games. points for Cleveland, which last lost four of five. misery ahead. World number one Nadal provided the comeback story of 2013, win- but never got a good look. Chalmers used Miami’s Jefferson was 12 of 23 from the field as the Cavaliers center Andrew Bynum was scoreless in ning 10 titles, including a record eighth and a second US Open which foul to give with 2.3 seconds left, sending Atlanta took his majors haul to 13. Djokovic defended his crown while back to the huddle where it used its last time out Murray claimed Britain’s first Wimbledon mens’ title in 77 years. to draw a play. But while the start their new campaigns with a leisurely three-day stroll in the Gulf, record 17-time major winner Federer begins his 17th season as a profes- PELICANS 113, KINGS 87 sional in Brisbane and with his career at a crossroads. In 2013, the world number six Tyreke Evans made a memorable return, scor- failed to reach a final for the first time since 2002 and his second-round defeat at Wimbledon ended his run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final ing a season-high 25 points and adding 12 assists appearances. Federer will turn 33 in August but is acutely aware that his great hero, to help New Orleans snap a four-game losing , quit at 31 and at the top of his game, having secured a fifth US Open. streak. The Pelicans pulled away in the fourth quar- His record against the sport’s big three also makes for worrying reading-he is 10- ter, outscoring the Kings 36-23 to salvage their 22 against Nadal having lost all four matches against the great Spaniard this year only victory on a five-game road trip. Evans was a and 9-11 when up against Murray, losing their one clash in 2013. He is still ahead in major factor in the second half, scoring 13 points. his rivalry with Djokovic at 16-15 but lost both their meetings this year while the DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 14 rebounds Serb has taken six of their last eight matches. The Swiss goes into 2014 having sev- for the Kings, who committed 22 turnovers in los- ered his ties with long-time coach , one of a number of players to ing for the sixth time in eight games. Isaiah have tweaked their back-up teams over the winter. “For me, it’s pretty simple: this is Thomas had 21 points and Marcus Thornton had what I used to do as a little boy. It’s something that always is there in your DNA,” said 19. Rudy Gay made 2-of -12 shots and scored 11 Federer, who will be playing a warm-up tournament in Australia for the first time in points. Anthony Davis had 21 points and 11 11 years. After Brisbane, where he is top seed, Federer heads for the Australian rebounds for New Orleans. Jrue Holiday had 17 Open, a title he has captured on four occasions but where he has fallen in the semi- points and 10 assists, and Eric Gordon also had 17 finals on his last three visits. Nadal missed the UAE tournament in 2012 as well as the points. Australian Open as he nursed a knee injury for seven months, but he had a record- setting 2013, losing just seven times in 82 matches. SUNS 117, LAKERS 90 Gerald Green hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 TITLES AND WEDDING BELLS points and Miles Plumlee grabbed a career-high The 27-year-old is now just four majors behind Federer and with five years on his long-standing rival, is widely expected to pass the mark of the Swiss whose last 20 rebounds. Plumlee added 17 points while hav- major was the 2012 Wimbledon title. Djokovic stunned by hiring ing his way inside with an ailing Pao Gasol in the as his new head coach, a decision prompted by his desperate desire to improve a Suns’ third straight win. Marcus Morris added 19 record that reads six Grand Slam titles but also six defeats in finals at majors. points on 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range for As well as defending his Australian Open title, Djokovic also has another big date Phoenix, which held a 62-39 edge on the boards in lined up for early in the new year, marrying longtime girlfriend Jelena Ristic to their eighth win in nine games. Nick Young scored whom he got engaged in September. Murray missed the closing tournaments of 19 points and Jodie Meeks 18 for the under- MIAMI: Atlanta Hawks’ Paul Millsap (4) can’t make a shot as Miami Heat’s Chris Andersen (11) and 2013 to undergo back surgery and once his Abu Dhabi stint is over he will join Nadal manned Lakers, who fell to 12 since Kobe Bryant Michael Beasley (8) defend in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game as the leading attraction in Doha which, along with Brisbane and Chennai, opens was sidelined with a knee injury. Gasol, who sat on Monday, Dec 23, 2013. — AP the competitive season. “I know how hard it is to win the majors,” Murray, who lost out Saturday’s loss to Golden State with an upper his first four Grand Slam finals, told Sky Sports News. respiratory infection, started but had little energy “It may never happen again, I might not win another one but I just want to give as Plumlee scored on alley-oop dunks, post moves NBA results/standings myself the best chance to do that. Hopefully I’ll give myself an opportunity to win and putbacks. another one.” The WTA Tour starts in Brisbane and Auckland and will conclude with a Charlotte 111, Milwaukee 110 (OT); Detroit 115, Cleveland 92; NY Knicks 103, Orlando 98; Indiana 103, new home in Singapore for the season-ending championships. Six of the world’s WARRIORS 89, NUGGETS 81 Brooklyn 86; Miami 121, Atlanta 119 (OT); Dallas 111, Houston 104; Memphis 104, Utah 94; San top 10 will be in Brisbane led by defending champion Serena Williams. The American David Lee had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Antonio 112, Toronto 99; Golden State 89, Denver 81; Phoenix 117, LA Lakers 90; New Orleans 113, will be 33 in 2014 but her rock-solid confidence and iron will are as intimidating as his ninth straight double-double. Stephen Curry, Sacramento 100. ever. Williams ended 2013 with 11 titles while triumphs at the French and US Opens battling foul trouble much of the night, added 14 Eastern Conference Western Conference took her Grand Slam haul to 17, one off the mark shared by Chris Evert and Martina points in the first meeting between the teams Atlantic Division Northwest Division Navratilova and just five away from ’s Open Era record of 22. Williams enjoyed a match record of 78 wins against just four defeats, claimed the season- since the Warriors, as the sixth seed, ousted third- W L PCT GB Portland 23 5 .821 - Toronto 11 15 .423 - Oklahoma City 22 5 .815 0.5 ending WTA Championships title and became the oldest number one player. Victoria seeded Denver 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs Azarenka, comfortably Williams’ biggest rival, also features in Brisbane as does Maria Boston 12 17 .414 0.5 Denver 14 13 .519 8.5 last spring. Klay Thompson scored eight of his 13 Sharapova who was forced to shut down her 2013 campaign at Cincinnati in August points in the fourth quarter, helping Golden State NY Knicks 9 18 .333 2.5 Minnesota 13 15 .464 10 Brooklyn 9 18 .333 2.5 because of a shoulder injury. overcome a fourth-quarter deficit for the fourth Utah 8 23 .258 16.5 Philadelphia 8 20 .286 4 Sharapova has hired Sven Groeneveld, the former coach of Monica Seles, in an time this season and sending the Nuggets to their Pacific Division effort to knock Williams off her perch. However, Sharapova has a 2-14 record against Central Division LA Clippers 20 9 .690 - season-high fourth consecutive loss. Ty Lawson Indiana 23 5 .821 - the American with both those wins coming way back in 2004. World number two Phoenix 17 10 .630 2 had 16 points to lead Denver, which was Detroit 14 16 .467 10 Azarenka has won just three of her 16 meetings against Williams, although she split Golden State 16 13 .552 4 outscored 25-15 in the final period. Andre Miller Chicago 10 16 .385 12 their four clashes in 2013 and for a second successive season took her great rival to and Timofey Mozgov had 14 points apiece. Cleveland 10 17 .370 12.5 LA Lakers 13 15 .464 6.5 three sets in the US Open final. — AFP Milwaukee 6 22 .214 17 Sacramento 8 19 .296 11 MAVERICKS 111, ROCKETS 104 Southeast Division Southwest Division Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points, including 10 in Miami 21 6 .778 - San Antonio 22 6 .786 - the fourth quarter for Dallas. Houston cut the lead Atlanta 15 13 .536 6.5 Houston 18 11 .621 4.5 to six after a 3-pointer by Aaron Brooks with about Charlotte 14 15 .483 8 Dallas 16 12 .571 6 3 1/2 minutes left, but Nowitzki knocked down Washington 12 13 .480 8 New Orleans 12 14 .462 9 consecutive baskets to push the Mavericks lead to Orlando 8 20 .286 13.5 Memphis 12 15 .444 9.5 107-97. Dwight Howard had 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who were playing their Bobcats (14-15) overcame an 18-point first half 22 minutes, missing all 11 shots from the field and second straight game without leading scorer deficit. Walker had 25 points, 10 assists and nine getting seven rebounds. Detroit is 6-10 on its own James Harden, who was out with a sprained left rebounds, and Anthony Tolliver had 12 points on court and was coming off home losses to ankle. Dallas started the final period by using a 9-4 four 3-pointers. Rookie Cody Zeller added a career- Charlotte and Houston, but took control early. run powered by three 3-pointers, including two high 12 points. It’s the third time in the last four Tony Parker had 26 points and eight assists for from Jae Crowder, to push the lead to 95-82. games the Bobcats have come back from at least San Antonio. Manu Ginobili had 18 points and Jeremy Lin, who has been out since Dec. 13 16 points down to win. Brandon Knight had 26 Danny Green was 4 for 6 on 3-pointers in scoring because of back spasms, scored 20 and Chandler points and 14 assists to lead the Bucks (6-22), who 14 points for San Antonio (21-7). Kawhi Leonard Parsons had 21 for Houston. have lost five of their last six games. added 13 points and 10 rebounds after missing Saturday’s game due to a dental procedure. Kyle PACERS 103, NETS 86 KNICKS 103, MAGIC 98 Lowry and Terrence Ross had 23 points each and Lance Stephenson scored a career-high 26 Carmelo Anthony had 19 points before leaving DeMar DeRozan added 13 points for Toronto (11- points in his hometown, Paul George also had 26, the game with a sprained left ankle in the third 15). The Raptors had won two straight and four of and the Indiana Pacers went on to their third quarter. New York led by 25 points before having five entering Monday’s game. They got within straight easy victory. Stephenson, who recorded its lead cut all the way to a point in the fourth three or less on numerous occasions in the sec- his NBA-leading third triple-double of the season quarter. Beno Udrih hit six straight free-throws in ond half, but couldn’t complete the rallies against NEW YORK: File picture shows Rafael Nadal of Spain playing a shot during Sunday in a rout of Boston, did most of his dam- the final 26 seconds to help preserve the win. J R the Spurs. — AP the 2013 US Open men’s singles final at the USTA Billie Jean King National age as a scorer, back where he did plenty of it in Tennis Center in New York. — AFP