15 Sports Thursday, December 31, 2020 Bucks’ long-range barrage buries Miami Heat; Clippers bounce back set an NBA record

LOS ANGELES: The Milwaukee Bucks set an NBA attempts in a nine-point performance. His brother er and good things will happen.” The Bucks’ previ- the Cavaliers with a tight back, led the Sixers with record for three-pointers in a game, draining 29 Thanasis Antetokounmpo drained one three-pointer ous record for three-pointers in a game was 22, 29 points and 16 rebounds. from beyond the arc in a 144-97 blowout win over for the family on the way to five points off the bench against the Sacramento Kings on November 4, 2018. the Miami Heat on Tuesday. The Heat, who stunned for the Bucks, who simply steamrolled a Heat team The most the Heat had given up before was 24. “It Randle leads Knicks the top-seeded Bucks in the second round of the that was without injured forward Jimmy Butler. looked like they had been thinking about this game Elsewhere, posted a triple-double 2020 Eastern Conference playoffs en route to the “Honestly, (we) just played hard,” Holiday said. “We for 80 days,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, whose of 28 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the NBA Finals, never got a look in, trailing by as many know the Heat way and how they’re going to come team will get a chance to avenge the embarrassing to a 95-86 victory over the as 51 in a game Milwaukee led all the way. out and play no matter who’s playing. defeat when they host the Bucks again. The Los Cleveland Cavaliers. But Russell Westbrook’s triple- drilled the record-breaking 28th “So we just wanted to take that approach.” It Angeles Clippers also rebounded from a big defeat. double of 21 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists - his three-pointer of the game, surpassing the 27 set by was a bounce-back win for the Bucks, who were Two days after a 124-73 loss to the Dallas third in as many appearances in the young season - the Houston Rockets against the on blown out 130-110 by the Knicks in New York on Mavericks the Clippers beat the Minnesota again went for nothing as his Washington Wizards April 7, 2019. had six three-pointers on Sunday. “Last game in New York, we didn’t show Timberwolves 124-101. Lou Williams scored 20 fell 115-107 to the Chicago Bulls. Zach LaVine led the way to 24 points. , who led the what we wanted to show,” Holiday said. They left no points off the bench to lead seven Clippers players the Bulls with 23 points, and Wendell Carter Jr Bucks with 25 points, made four of five from three- doubt in this one, leading by as many as 24 points who scored in double figures. “We knew coming added a double-double of 10 points and 12 point range. Starting guard Donte DiVincenzo’s 17 on the way to a 46-26 first-quarter lead and never tonight we had to do better,” said Clippers center rebounds as Chicago notched their first win of the points included five three-pointers, and Brook let up. “Some nights, the golds are with Serge Ibaka, who scored 16 points. “We had to be season. Denver center Nikola Jokic also had a Lopez had three treys on the way to 14 points. you a little bit, and it was probably one of those aggressive, just play team basketball.” The triple-double in a losing effort, his 26 points, 11 Two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis nights for us,” Bucks coach said. Philadelphia 76ers, coming off a lopsided loss to rebounds and 12 assists not enough in the Nuggets’ Antetokounmpo was the only Bucks starter not to “But I liked our defense, too. I think the energy on Cleveland, beat the Toronto Raptors 100-93. Center 125-115 loss to the Sacramento Kings - who were make a three-pointer, coming up empty on two both ends of the court feeds and builds on each oth- , who sat out Sunday’s 24-point loss to led by the 24 points of De’Aaron Fox. — AFP

Roger Federer out of Australian Open after knee surgery MELBOURNE: Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will miss the Australian Open for the first time in his career as he contin- ues his recovery from two rounds of knee sur- gery, organizers said Monday. The 39-year-old Swiss has been out of action since February but recently resumed training and was on the entry list for year’s opening Grand Slam, which will make a delayed start on February 8. Federer, a huge favorite with the Melbourne crowds, hasn’t Wheel Chair missed the Australian Open since his debut in 2000, winning the trophy six times. “In the end Roger ran out of time to get him- Basketball game self ready for the rigors of a Grand Slam and he’s By Abdellatif Sharaa very disappointed he won’t be coming to Melbourne in 2021,” said tournament chief Craig KUWAIT: The first phase of the return of local Tiley. “We wish him all the best as he prepares sports activities for the handicapped was con- for his comeback later in the year and look for- cluded with the final Wheel Chair Basketball ward to seeing him in Melbourne in 2022.” game in the presence of the Paralympics Federer sat out most of the COVID-disrupted Committee Chairman Mahdi Al-Azmi, Honorary 2020 season after losing to Novak Djokovic in Chairwoman of Kuwait Handicapped Sport Club the Melbourne semis in January, his last competi- Al-Sheikha Sheikha Al-Sabah and Chairman of tive match. He underwent keyhole surgery on his the (KHSC) Shafi Al-Hajiri. Chairman of the right knee in February, before needing a follow- Paralympic Committee Mahdi Al-Azmi said he up operation and calling off his season to recover. will support all clubs and remove all obstacles The Swiss could only watch as Rafael Nadal the clubs face. matched his all-time men’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles with a 13th victory at the French Open. Federer will now concentrate on getting himself ready for the rest of the 2021 sea- son, which includes the Tokyo Olympics and the served previous terms, while new- chance of his first singles gold medal. “He has Three-day Federer and comers Pablo Andujar of Spain and made strong progress in the last couple of New Zealander Marcus Daniell will months with his knee and his fitness,” his agent Nadal re-elected serve their first term. Tony Godsick said in a statement. “I will start dis- shooting Briton Colin Dowdeswell and cussions this coming week for tournaments that to ATP players’ Venezuela’s Daniel Vallverdu were begin in late February and then start to build a Championship elected as representatives of retired schedule for the rest of the year,” Godsick added. council players and coaches respectively. The By Abdellatif Sharaa council’s president and vice-presi- Murray wildcard PARIS: Tennis legends Rafael Nadal dent will be elected at its first meet- Federer’s absence will be felt at the Australian Open, despite a top-quality field led by world KUWAIT: The Late Sheikh Abdallah Sport Club Assistant Secretary Engr and Roger Federer, ranked second ing in 2021. It was presided over until number ones Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty. US Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Championship Mohammad Misfer Al-Ghurba lauded and fifth in the world respectively, last year by world number one Novak superstar Serena Williams, Federer’s contempo- will be launched today, and will con- the role of the Late Sheikh Abdallah have been re-elected to the ATP Djokovic. But the Serb broke away in rary at 39, is also on the entry list as she again tinue for three days with the partici- Al-Mubarak’s family towards the players’ council, whose term runs until August to establish a new players’ attempts to equal Margaret Court’s record of pation of club and National Guard shooting sport in Kuwait over the June 2022. The council, as voted by association which he said would 24-time Grand Slam singles titles. Federer’s with- shooters who will compete in the 10m years. He said there will be the ATP player members, also saw the re- include women and was intended to drawal comes as former world number one Andy Air Pistol and Rifle as well as the Archery official training starting at election of Canadian Felix Auger- bring players together to give them a Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist, was Olympic archery for both men and 3:20 pm, then the Rifle and Pistol will Aliassime, Australian John Millman, louder voice in decision-making. given a wildcard entry. Tiley welcomed the 33- women. The organizing committee start at 5:00 pm. Actual scoring com- South African Kevin Anderson, Briton Federer and Nadal both spoke out year-old back to the tournament, two years after prepared all that the shooters need at petition will be on Friday and Andy Murray and Brazilian Bruno against the proposal when it was his first-round exit prompted fears his career Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Saturday while the closing ceremony Soares. In addition, France’s Gilles announced, calling for “unity, not was at an end. will be held by 3:30 pm. Simon returns to the council having separation”. — AFP Shooting Complex. Kuwait Shooting “Seeing him come back, having undergone major surgery and built himself back up to get onto the tour again, will be a highlight,” Tiley of players’ performance during the tourna- said. The opening Slam of the year, which will be Kuwait Weight ment, adding that such level will contribute to played in front of at least 50 percent of normal winning medals during the international crowds, has been pushed back three weeks to championships. He said that COVID-19 pan- February 8 over difficulties caused by the coron- Lifting Federation demic and suspension of sports activities halt- avirus. All players must undergo a mandatory 14- ed preparations by the national teams for day quarantine on arrival, during which they will organizes refresher tournaments. “We were keen to utilize time constantly be tested for Covid-19 but allowed to and prepare the ladies team for West Asia, train for five hours a day in a bio-secure bubble. Gulf and Arab Championship,” he said, adding The men’s and women’s qualifiers will be held championship that he is proud of the elite group of players in Doha and Dubai respectively from January who are able to put Kuwait’s name in the 10-13, with players arriving in Melbourne from international championship registers. January 15 on special charter flights. Melbourne By Abdellatif Sharaa On his part, KWLF’s secretary Musailem only emerged from a months-long lockdown in Al-Adwani said the refresher championship October following a second wave of Covid-19, KUWAIT: Kuwait Weight Lifting Federation witnessed fierce competition. He said that the complicating planning for the Grand Slam and (KWLF) organized its second refresher federation seeks good preparation for how to allow so many players and support staff championship for the ladies - in preparation upcoming championships and have a team to enter the country safely. — AFP for West Asia Championship to be organized able to compete and get results. by Kuwait next February with the participa- On another note, Al-Adwani said that tion of nine countries. Abrar Al-Fahad won KWLF cancelled all financial fines that were the first place in the 76 kg category; Seham levied on clubs on the occasion of HH the Matches on TV Al-Saif took second; Sundus Al-Faili won the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- 71 kg category. In the 64 kg category, Anfal Sabah’s assumption of power and naming HH (Local Timings) Al-Muzayen won first place, Noura Al- Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad as the Crown Awadhi (second) and Athoob Al-Faraj (third). Prince. KWLF announced in September Hawraa Al-Mousawi won the 81 kg category. 2019 the formation of ladies team for the In the 55 kg, Bashayer Al-Mayas took first first time ever - with 20 players as members. SPANISH LEAGUE place while Shathar Al-Saleh grabbed the In October 2019, the federation organized Athletic de Bilbao v Real Sociedad 16:00 second position. the first local championship, and then partic- beIN Sports HD 3 Weight lifters are pictured during the refresher championship Meanwhile, the Chairman of KWLF Talal ipated in the Arab Championship that was Osasuna v Deportivo Alaves 18:15 for the ladies. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Al-Jassar expressed satisfaction over the level held in Jordan. beIN Sports HD 3