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TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017 SPORTS KUWAIT TIMES NBA POWER RANKINGS BASKETBALL By Ahmad Jabr Curry bounces back to lead KUWAIT: In addition to its usual coverage of the NBA, Kuwait Times introduces a new feature this year: the NBA Power Rankings. It is a weekly list ranking each team based on its perform- Warriors over Knicks 112-105 ance during the week. This week, the Warriors were dethroned from the top spot which they have held for six consecutive weeks. (For any comments or suggestions, e-mail the writer at: NEW YORK: Stephen Curry broke out [email protected]) of a shooting slump with 31 points and moved into the top 10 on the 1- San Antonio Spurs (48 - 13) Last first start with the team. Furthermore, NBA’s career 3-point list as the Golden week: 2 - The Spurs have clinched a place Dallas is 15-9 since Seth Curry became a State Warriors recovered from consec- in the postseason for the 20th straight regular starter. utive losses to beat the New York season, and already seem to be in play- Knicks 112-105 on Sunday. offs mode as they entered yesterday on a 16- Chicago Bulls (31 - 31) Last week: Klay Thompson added 29 points to seven-game winning streak and have 15 - The Bulls win over the Warriors last help the Warriors end their first regu- won nine of their last ten matches. Thursday proved that Jimmy Butler and lar-season losing streak in nearly two company can get the job done when the years. The Splash Brothers had dried 2- Houston Rockets (44 - 19) Last week: stakes are high. This could be the key for up as Golden State dropped two in a 4 - Not only does Houston have an MVP a deep playoffs’ run that might happen row following Kevin Durant’s knee candidate in James Harden, but they also despite a shaky performance throughout injury, but they regained their touch have two players who could compete for the regular season so far. Sunday. Curry hit five 3-pointers, pass- the Sixth Man of the Year Award: Eric ing Chauncey Billups for 10th place, Gordon (who recently broke the league’s 17- Detroit Pistons (30 - 32) Last week: and added eight rebounds and six record for most three-pointers for a 16 - The Pistons have averaged nearly assists. Thompson had a 3-pointer and bench player in a season) and new acqui- 111 points per game in their last five two other baskets during a late surge sition Lou Williams. matches, including a season-high 136 that allowed Golden State to pull points in Saturday’s win over the 76ers - a away after leading by one midway 3- Golden State Warriors (51 - 11) Last positive shift from their offensive woes through the fourth quarter. week: 1 - The Warriors needed Sunday’s earlier this season. Derrick Rose scored 28 points, and win over the Knicks to shake off its previ- Kristaps Porzingis had 24 points and ous two losses to the Bulls and Wizards, 18- Indiana Pacers (32 - 30) Last week: 15 rebounds for the Knicks. as well as the bad news regarding the 17 - The Pacers beat the Hawks Sunday by injury of Kevin Durant who is out indefi- a margin of one point after Glenn Robinson SUNS 109, CELTICS 106 nitely with what has been diagnosed as a III made the game-winning three-pointer, PHOENIX (AP) - Rookie Tyler Ulis ‘Grade 2 MCL sprain and a tibial bone and that four days after losing by one point threw in a 3-pointer at the buzzer bruise in his left knee’. to the Spurs in their ongoing road trip that after a Boston turnover and the ended last night at Charlotte. Phoenix Suns came away with a wild 4- Cleveland Cavaliers (42 - 19) Last victory. The Suns’ Eric Bledsoe tied it at week: 3 - The Cavs made an NBA-record 19- Denver Nuggets (28 - 34) Last week: 106 with a reverse layup with four sec- 25 three-pointers in their 135-130 win 18 - It is hard to think of anyone more onds to play. Isaiah Thomas, who over the Hawks on Friday. It was also the deserving of the Most Improved Player of scored 35 points but missed a free first game a team has had six players the Year Award than Nikola Jokic this sea- throw with 11.9 seconds left, took the make at least three three-pointers (per son. The second-year center recorded his inbounds pass and the Suns’ Elias Sports Bureau). second consecutive triple-double on Marquese Chriss knocked the ball Wednesday, and his fourth since February away. Ulis, listed at 5-foot-10 but 5- Utah Jazz (39 - 24) Last week: 5 - 1st, while he had none before that. probably not that tall, grabbed it and NEW YORK: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors heads for the Utah’s extension talks with starting point tossed it up as the buzzer sounded. guard George Hill hit a stalemate last 20- Portland Trail Blazers (26 - 35) Last net as Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks defends while team- Ulis scored a career-best 20 points. mates Courtney Lee #5,Willy Hernangomez #14 of the Knicks and James week, and they hope resign him in the week: 20 - The Blazers won their last two Bledsoe had 28 to help the Suns win offseason. Hill scored 34 and 15 points in games entering yesterdayat home against Michael McAdoo #20 of the Warriors look on in the first half at Madison three in a row for the first time this Square Garden on Sunday in New York City. — AFP his last two games; victories over the the Thunder and Nets after finishing a season. Nets and Kings respectively. four-game road trip with a 1-4 record. technical foul and a flagrant-one foul. made a career-high eight 3-pointers as Meanwhile, it was reported that their JAZZ 110, KINGS 109, OT Both came in the midst of a 21-4 the Washington Wizards came back 6- Boston Celtics (40 - 23) Last week: 8 - marquee summer acquisition Festus Ezeli Rudy Gobert tipped in George Hill’s third-quarter run that allowed Dallas from 17 down to beat Orlando. Isaiah Thomas has led the Celtics in scor- will undergo surgery on his left knee that missed jumper as time expired in to blow the game open. Westbrook Bradley Beal led Washington with ing for 27th straight games and counting. will involve the use of a cadaver donor. overtime on a play that was initially picked up a technical with 8:15 to go 32 points, and John Wall had 19 points It is the longest mark in a single-season ruled goaltending, lifting the Utah in the third quarter when he bounced and 10 assists as the third-place since Kevin Durant recorded 25 of such 21- Minnesota Timberwolves (25 - 37) Jazz to a thrilling victory over the ball angrily in referee Marat Wizards moved a game ahead of games for the Thunder in 2009-10. Last week: 21 - Karl-Anthony Towns and Sacramento. After Willie Cauley-Stein Kogut’s direction after being called for Toronto in the Eastern Conference Andrew Wiggins continue to shine in the made two free throws to give the an offensive foul. Then he got his fla- standings. Otto Porter scored 11 7- Washington Wizards (37 - 27) Last absence of Zach LaVine. The duo aver- Kings a 109-108 lead with 8.9 seconds grant with 4:27 to go in the quarter points, and more importantly spotted week: 9 - A thin bench was Washington’s aged 57.4 points per game in February, remaining, Hill took an off-balance for shoving Harrison Barnes. Bogdanovic in the corner for his final 3 weakest point this season - up until the the most by any duo in the league that jumper from just outside the key. Barnes made the flagrant free to give the Wizards the lead for good trade deadline. Since then, they added month. (per ESPN Stats and Information). Gobert, positioned underneath the throws and then another to give the with 48.6 seconds left. Terrence Ross Bojan Bogdanovic via trade, signed free hoop, reached up and tipped the ball Mavericks their biggest lead at 81-57. scored 20 points to lead seven players agent Brandon Jennings and got Ian 22- New Orleans Pelicans (25 - 38) Last in as the buzzer sounded. He finished with 17 points. in double figures for the Magic. Mahinmi back from injury, and suddenly week: 25 - The Pelicans’ win over the One official initially called goal- Nowitzki tied his season high for they have a very balanced lineup heading Lakers on Sunday was their first with tending on Gobert. But after a meet- rebounds and is 20 points away from PELICANS 105, LAKERS 97 into the latter part of the regular season. DeMarcus Cousins in the lineup, but a ing near midcourt, the referees went becoming the sixth player to score DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points narrow win over a struggling team to the scorer’s table to review the play 30,000. He’ll likely set the mark at and 15 rebounds as the New Orleans 8- Toronto Raptors (37 - 26) Last week: 7 means that there is still a lot more that and counted the basket. home, where Dallas plays its next Pelicans won for the first time with - The Raptors were already bad at passing needs to improve in order for them to Gobert finished with 16 points and three games.