THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014 SPORTS

Russian skier paralysed Stevens cleared of charges Khan snatches early lead SOCHI: Russian freestyle skier Maria Komissarova says she is paralysed from LONDON: Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens has been cleared of corruption NEW DELHI: India’s Rashid Khan shot a dramatic 11-under-par 61 to take a the waist down after breaking her back in a training crash at the Sochi charges in Bangladesh, he said yesterday. In August, the Englishman was five-shot lead in the first round of the season-opening SAIL-SBI Open at Winter Olympics. charged with failing to report a corrupt approach to participate in match-fixing the Delhi Golf Club yesterday. The 23-year-old, runner-up last year, scored The 23-year-old underwent two operations after suffering a fracture and while playing for the Dhaka Gladiators in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League nine birdies and one eagle for the lowest round of his career-one shot shy dislocation of the spine and has been rehabilitating at a competition. The charge carries a maximum penalty of a five-year of the course record. Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera and Akinori Tani of Japan German clinic. suspension from and had Stevens been found guilty, it would have shot 66s, while Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman and Australia’s Scott Barr fin- “I don’t know where to start, but I don’t want to almost certainly ended the 37-year-old’s professional career. However, Stevens ished with 67s in the US$300,000 Asian Tour shrink into myself because everyone has supported me again insisted on Wednesday he had never been party to any corruption, event. “This is my best round,” said Khan, in so much,” she said on her Instagram page yesterday. telling English county Kent’s website: “I would officially like to thank the tribu- comments supplied by the organisers. “It “Thank you! It’s been 10 days since my spine sur- nal for their verdict today and in particular their determination of non-guilty was really important for me. “I’ve been try- geries. I don’t feel the body below the navel. But I’m findings in charges brought against me by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. ing to shoot double digits and I’ve been close strong and I know that sometime I will definitely “I can assure all of the fans of the Dhaka Gladiators, the people of in the past. I’ve managed it now, I’m really hap- recover feet!” Bangladesh and all cricket followers, that I have always played the game of py.” Perera started strongly with an easy birdie Komissarova sustained the injury while cricket honestly, with integrity and to the best of my ability. “I have loved play- on 10 and finished off his round in style, shoot- training at the Olympic skicross venue at ing cricket in Bangladesh, as well as everywhere else in the world and I hope ing two birdies and an eagle over his last three Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. She had a metal that I will be allowed to continue to play cricket globally.” holes. “Six under in my first event of the Asian implant inserted during a six-hour operation Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford added: “I speak for all at Kent when I say Tour season, I’m happy,” he said. “Rashid is a at a hospital specially built for the Games, that I am delighted for Darren that this verdict was reached. good player and he’s started with such a after which she was flown to Germany for “All Kent supporters will wish him well of course and we all look forward to deep round. Hopefully I can give him a further treatment inMunich.—Reuters his return to Kent colours at the start of the 2014 season.”—AFP fight.”—Reuters Sabres stop Hurricanes BUFFALO: The NHL resumed from its exposed to the elements next season. Olympic break on Tuesday, with lowly “We haven’t made any decisions about Buffalo winning 3-2 at home against how many games next year (will be out- Carolina. doors), but the games this year so far have Christian Ehrhoff scored twice for the been nothing short of spectacular,” Sabres, including the go-ahead goal with Bettman said in an interview with The 44 seconds left. Associated Press during the Olympics. “The Ryan Miller played a key role in stopping Winter Classic had over 100,000 people in the first 20 shots he faced and 36 overall in Michigan, played in the snow, and at two what might be the star goalie’s final game games in Yankee Stadium and the game in in Buffalo before the trade deadline on Los Angeles, fans couldn’t have been more March 5. Miller also assisted on both of engaged. Ehrhoff’s goals, while Drew Stafford also “When you think about the impact of had two assists. these regular season games have had, it Tyler Ennis also scored for Buffalo, which shows you how excited our fans get about had lost its last three games before the 17- the outdoor games.” day break. Eric Staal and Alexander Semin The Detroit Red Wings lost to Toronto in scored for the Hurricanes. a shootout at the Big House on New Year’s Meanwhile, the Sochi Olympics are over Day, giving the Maple Leafs an extra point and the NHL is back after freezing its that could prove to be pivotal when the schedule so that the world’s best hockey regular season ends April 13. The storied players could compete for gold - perhaps franchises are likely competing for one of for the last time. the two wild-card bids in the Eastern Sidney Crosby won another Olympic Conference. championship with Canada. Now, Sid the If the playoffs began today, the Red Kid wants to help the Pittsburgh Penguins Wings would extend their postseason hoist the Stanley Cup again. streak to 23. Detroit made it last year by Crosby and the Penguins host Montreal only one point and the race might be as on Thursday, the third day of league games tight again with Columbus, Ottawa, after the Olympic break, just four days after Washington, Carolina and New Jersey with- helping the Canadians beat Sweden in the in a win or two of moving into a wild-card gold-medal game in Russia. spot. “In some ways, it will help, playing at “When we play teams like Montreal and this speed in one-game elimination with Toronto, those are really like four-point desperation,” Crosby said Sunday after the games,” Red Wings general manager Ken final competition of the Sochi Games. “I Holland said. haven’t really had this transition midseason In the Western Conference, which with Olympic ice, going back to regular appears to be filled with better teams, it size, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.” looks like Dallas, Phoenix, Vancouver, In the East, Boston holds a seven-point Winnipeg and Nashville may be vying for lead over Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division the eighth and final spot in the playoffs. coming out of the Olympic break. The Buffalo Sabres, meanwhile, have an Pittsburgh holds a 16-point lead over the NHL-low 38 points - nine fewer than the Rangers in the Metropolitan. last place team, Edmonton, in the Western DENVER: Nuggets guard Aaron Brooks (center) chases down a loose ball as Portland Trail Blazers forward Dorell Wright (left) and guard Damian It’s much tighter in the West, where St. Conference. Lillard cover in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game. —AP Louis and defending champion Chicago are That gives Buffalo plenty of incentive to tied atop the Central Division, just five shop goaltender Ryan Miller and his expir- points in front of Colorado. The Ducks have ing contract. Miller was primarily used as a the conference’s top mark and a seven- backup for the United States in the Blazers pound Nuggets point lead on San Jose. Olympics. The NHL is going to have its fifth and The Sabres are running out of time to sixth outdoor games of the season on get something in return for the face of DENVER: Damian Lillard made up for the Noah had 20 points and 12 rebounds, helping in the fourth quarter, and the Raptors won for Saturday, when the Chicago Blackhawks their franchise. The NHL’s trade deadline is absence of fellow All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge the Bulls hold on for the road win. the sixth time in seven games. DeRozan play Pittsburgh at Soldier field, and the March 5. Some teams that were hit by by scoring 31 points in the Portland Trail Carlos Boozer had 17 points and 11 dunked on a baseline drive and added two next day in a Vancouver-Ottawa matchup injuries during the Olympics may make Blazers’ 100-95 win over the Denver Nuggets rebounds for Chicago, and Kirk Hinrich scored free throws to give the Raptors a 94-91 lead at BC Place. Despite seemingly having suc- moves to replace the players they lost. on Tuesday night. 14 points, including six free throws in the final with 1:23 remaining. The All-Star hit three cess with the expansion of the concept Others, such as Buffalo, might decide to Lillard scored 12 in the third quarter when it 44 seconds. The Bulls have won six of seven. more free throws in the final 27 seconds to beyond an annual Winter Classic, NHL trade talented or expensive players if it looked as if the Blazers were headed for a Jeff Teague had 26 points but made two put away the game. Commissioner Gary Bettman isn’t ready to appears they have no shot to be a part of blowout win, but he saved his biggest shots for costly turnovers late in the game for the Kyrie Irving, who played 45 minutes and say there will be more than one game the postseason. —Agencies late in the fourth after the Nuggets had Hawks, who have lost nine of 10. Shelvin Mack the entire second half because of Cleveland’s trimmed an 18-point deficit to two. Lillard had 17 points. The Bulls led most of the sec- depleted roster, had 25 points and nine helped Portland overcome a terrific perform- ond half but never pushed the advantage to assists. Cleveland has lost three straight after ance by Denver’s J.J. Hickson, who pulled double figures. With 43.2 seconds remaining, winning six in a row and fell 51/2 games out down a career-high 25 rebounds, including 15 officials reviewed and confirmed a question- of the final playoff spot in the Eastern on the offensive side. Hickson led the Nuggets able foul called on DeMarre Carroll on Conference. The Cavaliers again played with- to a 64-41 advantage on the glass. Hinrich’s 3-point attempt. Hinrich made the out center Anderson Varejao (sore back) and Aldridge missed his fourth straight game three free throws to give Chicago a 104-103 guards Dion Waiters (hyperextended left with a strained left groin. But the Blazers had lead. knee) and C.J. Miles (sprained left ankle). six players score in double figures, including Nicolas Batum’s 16 points. Randy Foye led TIMBERWOLVES 110, SUNS 101 WIZARDS 115, MAGIC 106 Denver with 17 points. Denver again was with- Kevin Love had 33 points, 13 rebounds and John Wall scored 27 points, and the out Ty Lawson, who leads the Nuggets with nine assists, powering Minnesota to the win. Wizards survived their first game after Nene’s averages of 18 points and 8.8 assists. He’s The Timberwolves trailed by eight with 7:57 latest injury. Trevor Ariza added 22 points and missed seven straight games with a broken rib. to play, and then outscored the Suns 24-6. Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 10 rebounds Love, who got his first career triple-double at for the Wizards, who made 10 of 16 3-pointers ROCKETS 129, KINGS 103 Utah on Saturday, was 10 for 22 from the field. James Harden scored a season-high 43 Rookie Shabazz Muhammad had a career- and have won a season-high four in a row to points before resting for all of the fourth quar- high 20 points and Corey Brewer added 18 for move one game above .500. They also ter, and the Rockets routed the Kings. Minnesota. Markieff Morris scored 24 and improved to 2-6 this season without Nene, Harden helped Houston go ahead by 25 Gerald Green had 19 for Phoenix. Goran who sprained the MCL in his left knee Sunday points in the first quarter, 31 in the second and Dragic scored 16 but fouled out with 3:46 to in a 96-83 win at Cleveland. 33 in the third. He shot 11 of 20 from the floor, play, the third time he’s fouled out in his Victor Oladipo scored 26 points for the made 15 of 16 free throws and added eight career and first this season. The Suns’ P.J. Magic, who tied a single-season franchise assists, three steals and two rebounds. Tucker grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds. record by losing their 16th consecutive road Dwight Howard left briefly after banging his game. They remain without leading scorer right knee but returned to finish with 20 points RAPTORS 99, CAVALIERS 93 Arron Afflalo, who missed his second game and 11 rebounds, and Chandler Parsons had 10 DeMar DeRozan scored 16 of his 33 points with a sprained right ankle. —AP points and eight rebounds for the Rockets, who have won 10 of their last 11 games. DeMarcus Cousins had 16 points and six rebounds for the Kings before getting ejected NBA results/standings for vehemently arguing with an official in the third quarter. He picked up his NBA-leading Toronto 99, Cleveland 93; Indiana 118, LA Lakers 98; Washington 115, Orlando 106; Chicago 107, Christian Ehrhoff 14th and 15th technical fouls. Atlanta 103; Portland 100, Denver 95; Minnesota 110, Phoenix 101; Houston 129, Sacramento 103. PACERS 118, LAKERS 98 NHL result/standings Paul George scored 12 of his 20 points in Eastern Conference Western Conference the third quarter, Evan Turner had 13 points in Atlantic Division Northwest Division Buffalo 3, Carolina 2. his Pacers debut, and Indiana improved its W L PCT GB Oklahoma City43 14 .754 - league-leading record to 43-13. Toronto 32 25 .561 - Portland 39 18 .684 4 Western Conference Eastern Conference Kent Bazemore finished with a career-high Atlantic Division Brooklyn 26 28 .481 4.5 Minnesota 28 29 .491 15 Pacific Division 23 points and Jodie Meeks added 15 for the W L OTL GF GA PTS Boston 37 16 4 176 125 78 NY Knicks 21 36 .368 11 Denver 25 31 .446 17.5 Tampa Bay 33 20 5 168 145 71 Lakers (19-38), who have the worst record in Anaheim 41 14 5 196 147 87 Boston 19 39 .328 13.5 Utah 20 36 .357 22.5 Montreal 32 21 6 148 142 70 the West. The loss also ended Los Angeles’ Philadelphia 15 42 .263 17 San Jose 37 16 6 175 142 80 Toronto 32 22 6 178 182 70 three-game winning streak at Bankers Life Pacific Division Central Division Los Angeles 31 22 6 139 128 68 Detroit 26 20 12 151 163 64 Fieldhouse. LA Clippers 39 20 .661 - Phoenix 27 21 10 163 169 64 Ottawa 26 22 11 169 191 63 Indiana 43 13 .768 - The Lakers stayed closer than expected Golden State 35 22 .614 3 Vancouver 27 24 9 146 160 63 Florida 22 29 7 139 183 51 Chicago 30 26 .536 13 Buffalo 16 34 8 113 174 40 through the first 21/2 quarters and trailed just Phoenix 33 23 .589 4.5 Calgary 22 29 7 137 179 51 59-58 early in the third. But George then Detroit 23 34 .404 20.5 Metropolitan Division Sacramento 20 37 .351 18 Edmonton 20 33 7 153 199 47 Pittsburgh 40 15 3 186 138 83 scored 10 points in a decisive 14-5 spurt that Cleveland 22 36 .379 22 Central Division NY Rangers 32 24 3 155 146 67 gave Indiana an 80-68 lead with 2:58 to go in Milwaukee 11 45 .196 32 LA Lakers 19 38 .333 19 St. Louis 39 12 6 196 135 84 Philadelphia 30 23 6 162 167 66 the period. Southeast Division Southwest Division Columbus 29 24 5 170 161 63 Chicago 35 11 14 207 163 84 George had seven rebounds and six assists Miami 40 14 .741 - San Antonio 40 16 .714 - Colorado 37 16 5 174 153 79 Washington 27 23 9 171 175 63 Carolina 26 23 9 146 161 61 despite spending the entire fourth quarter on Washington 29 28 .509 12.5 Houston 39 18 .684 1.5 Minnesota 31 21 7 145 147 69 New Jersey 24 22 13 135 146 61 the bench with most of Indiana’s starters. Dallas 27 21 10 164 164 64 Charlotte 27 30 .47414.5 Dallas 35 23 .603 6 NY Islanders 22 30 8 164 200 52 Atlanta 26 30 .464 15 Winnipeg 28 26 6 168 175 62 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the Memphis 31 24 .564 8.5 BULLS 107, HAWKS 103 Orlando 17 42 .288 25.5 Nashville 25 24 10 146 180 60 standings and are not included in the loss column (L). Mike Dunleavy scored 22 points and Joakim New Orleans 23 33 .411 17