TUESDAY 21 JANUARY 2020 SPORTSPORT 07 TENNIS FOOTBALL I think I have been pretty clear that I have committed Australian Open Premier League: myself to Cricket South Africa until the T20 World Cup matches at Chelsea vs Arsenal; (in Australia in October and November): South African Melbourne Park S. United vs Man City ACTION captain Faf du Plessis denies rumours of his retirement TODAY’S In this January 17, 2020 file photo, Domantas Sabonis (left) of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against the Minnesota Chiefs, 49ers advance to Timberwolves during their NBA game. Super Bowl showdown AFP — LOS ANGELES Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (left) and strong safety Tyrann Mathieu celebrate Patrick Mahomes ended the with the Lamar Hunt Trophy after beating the Kansas City Chiefs’ 50-year Tennessee Titans. wait for a return to the Super Bowl as the San Francisco 49ers routed the Green Bay Packers to advance to next month’s NFL showpiece. Mahomes helped the Chiefs overturn a 10-point deficit to complete a convincing 35-24 win over the Tennessee Titans to take the American Football Conference Championship at Arrowhead Stadium. Sabonis’ triple-double The reigning NFL MVP threw for three touchdowns and danced into the end zone leads Indiana Pacers for a superb individual score as the Chiefs successfully neu- tralised the threat posed by past Denver Nuggets Titans running back Derrick Henry. AP — DENVER performance from the Nuggets’ It is the first time the Chiefs Nikola Jokic to win their fifth have advanced to the Super Despite playing from behind for straight. Bowl since their victory over the process. It was like last week, Football Conference Champi- quarterbacks in NFL history, most of their game against the Jerami Grant and Will Minnesota Vikings in 1970. we just stuck with the game onship with a 37-20 rout of the finished with 326 passing yards Denver Nuggets, Domantas Barton added 16 points apiece “I’m lucky to be a part of this plan and knew it was going to Green Bay Packers that was from 31-of-39 attempts but also Sabonis never felt the Indiana for the Nuggets, who were team with all these guys - it work out,” he said. more one-sided than the had two interceptions and was Pacers were out of it. again without injured starters makes my job a lot easier,” said The Titans had reached the scoreline suggested. sacked three times. Sabonis had 22 points, 15 Paul Millsap, Gary Harris and Mahomes, who finished with brink of the Super Bowl after a Niners running back Niners counterpart Jimmy rebounds and 10 assists for his Jamal Murray. 294 passing yards and 23 giant-killing playoff run which Raheem Mostert rushed for four Garoppolo meanwhile was first career triple-double, Doug Denver had the lead for completions. included wins over the New touchdowns and a whopping barely called upon as the San McDermott scored 18 of his 24 most of the game but was out- The win came one year after England Patriots and the top- 220 yards as the run-oriented Francisco run game took over, points in the fourth quarter and scored 41-26 in the fourth the Chiefs suffered an agonising seeded Baltimore Ravens. San Francisco offense punched making just eight passes the Pacers rallied late to beat quarter. home overtime loss to the New But despite starting strongly hole after hole through a porous throughout the entire game for the Nuggets 115-107 on Sunday The Nuggets missed 10 of England Patriots at the same the Titans ran out of ideas once Packers defense. 77 yards. night. 32 free throws and were 3 of stage of the play-offs. the Chiefs defense contained The game was effectively Rodgers later acknowl- “I just felt like we were 23 from 3-point range while the “It’s amazing, to be here to powerhouse rusher Henry, who over by half-time with Mostert edged that Sunday’s defeat had always right there, down 5-6 Pacers connected on 13 of 29 do it at Arrowhead, these people helped Tennessee forge early crossing for three of his four stung as he faces up to the real- points all game,” Sabonis said. from beyond the arc, including deserve it. We’re not done yet,” leads of 10-0 and 17-7 before touchdowns -- a record in an isation that at 36, he may have “I felt like this was the game six 3-pointers by McDermott. Mahomes added. “We’re going the Chiefs rallied. NFC championship game -- in only a limited number of oppor- we needed to get to start the Successive 3-pointers by to get it.” Henry had few complaints the opening two quarters as San tunities to reach the Super Bowl road trip right and just believed Aaron Holiday and McDermott Mahomes said the Chiefs -- after being restricted to a rela- Francisco opened up a 27-0 again. in my team-mates that we followed by McDermott’s layup who had fought back from 24-0 tively paltry 69 yards and one lead by halftime. “It’s a little raw right now could make that next step. And evened the score at 91 with 6:59 down to rout the Houston touchdown after 19 carries. “I just woke up like it was for sure,” the Packers quar- in the fourth quarter everybody left. The sides alternated scores Texans in the divisional round “They just had a great game any other game,” Mostert said terback said. stepped up and made big-time in the closing minutes, with the last week -- had kept their cool plan, man,” Henry said after the of his stellar display. “It definitely hurts than plays.” Pacers taking their first lead, after falling behind early on defeat. “It was just one of those earlier in your career just In one sequence with just 98-97, with 4:13 remaining on against the Titans. “They were coming off the games where once we all got because you realise how dif- under three minutes remaining, a 3-pointer from the corner by “We just stayed with the ball, those guys were being in the groove we were like ficult it is to get to this spot. Sabonis helped protect the McDermott. physical. They played a great ‘Hey, let’s keep it riding, keep “With all the changes this Pacers’ late lead by fighting Consecutive baskets by Kansas City Chiefs’ game today on defence and you it rolling’ and that’s what we off season, to get to this point, through traffic in the low post Sabonis put Indiana in front 50-year wait for a return know their offense, we know did.” with a new coach and a new to grab three offensive 104-99 with 1:30 left and to the Super Bowl ends the type of offense that is: But it was another disap- offensive system, you felt like rebounds before finishing with McDermott answered two free as the San Francisco explosive, can score at any pointing outing for Packers it was something special. It felt quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a tip-in. throws by Jokic with another 49ers rout the Green moment. like it was meant to be almost. Malcom Brogdon and T.J. 3-pointer as the Pacers pulled “We just came up short. All who once again fell short in his So it’s kind of disappointing. I Warren added 22 points each out to a six-point advantage Bay Packers to advance the credit to them and good luck pursuit of a second career Super don’t have the same number of for the Pacers, who snapped a with 1:08 remaining. The to next month’s NFL to them.” Bowl title. years ahead of me as I do 10-game skid at Pepsi Center. Nuggets could not close the showpiece. In Santa Clara, meanwhile, Rodgers, regarded by many behind me. So yeah, it’s They overcame a 30-point gap. the 49ers clinched the National as one of the greatest disappointing.” Impey eyes hat-trick of Tour Down Under titles AFP — ADELAIDE season-opening World Tour along with fellow Australian event. “It’s harder because you Dennis. Daryl Impey is chasing a third have a target on your back, but “It’s going to be a hard race straight victory in Australia’s when your form is good enough, this year, and it probably is Tour Down Under from today, it’s still down to who has the best It’s harder because going to be the hardest edition but the South African faces an legs in January,” said Impey you have a target on of the race,” said Porte. uphill battle against past before the race. “Daryl’s done a fantastic winners Richie Porte and Rohan His chances for triple your back, but when race in the past two years, and Dennis. success hinge on a climb into the your form is good you can never rule him out,” he Forecast temperatures for small town of Paracombe for the enough, it’s still down added. this week’s race are mild and third stage finale, along with the Dennis is the world indi- significantly lower than previous demanding double ascent of to who has the best vidual time trial champion and years, a relief to organisers, who Willunga that closes out the race legs in January: Daryl 2015 race winner. He recently said they were working to in stage six. signed a two-year deal with ensure the route was safe after “Paracombe (stage three) is Impey Britain’s Team Ineos, formerly bushfires scorched the Adelaide tough, and it will test me, as well Team Sky.