Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015 Make or break for Leicester and Bath

PARIS: Traditional English powerhouses Leicester and Bath face a make-or-break weekend in the European Champions Cup. Eight teams from five groups will make it through to the quarter-finals, meaning the five group winners and best three runners-up will keep their continental season alive following the final round of matches a week from now. But currently, the two second-placed sides sitting outside of that group are the Tigers, back-to-back winners in 2001 and 2002, and the first English side to be crowned European champi- ons in 1998, Bath. Leicester’s situation is particularly drastic as their eight points leaves them five points off the current qualifying stan- dard. Anything less than a bonus-point victory at home to Scarlets on Friday night would virtually ensure they miss out on the last eight, assuming reigning champions Toulon maintain their dominance in Pool 3. Bath are only a couple of points better off but have picked up their form after a difficult start to the competition saw them get ham- mered in Glasgow and then lose at home to record four-time champi- ons Toulouse. They travel to the south-west of France on Sunday knowing that they also need a bonus-point victory at the Ernest- Wallon stadium where Toulouse rarely lose, although they went down 16-14 there to Irish province Connacht last season. It’s also not so long ago since an English side in Harlequins came away from Toulouse with a 31-24 success in December 2011. Toulouse centre Yann David is therefore not taking the Bath chal- lenge lightly. “Of course we’re approaching this match as if it was in the knock-out stages. It’s going to be a very difficult match against a huge team that have been very impressive in their domestic league,” he said. “We would really like to win because that would guarantee our place in the knock-out stages.” Toulouse are one of several sides who could do exactly that with OAKLAND: Golden State Warriors forward David Lee (10) shoots against Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen during the victory. The others are fellow French Top 14 representatives Clermont first half of an NBA game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday. — AP and Racing-Metro, who host hapless Italians Treviso in Pool 5, while Northampton could likewise progress. All of those would guarantee they qualify for the quarter-finals with a bonus point victory, although DeMarre Carroll, in Toulouse’s case any victory would be enough.

Many permutations lead Hawks to 10th straight win Others, such as Toulon, Harlequins, Leinster, Saracens and even Wasps know that a victory could see them qualify but there are so BOSTON: DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Teague each scored 22 points to Wizards 105, Bulls 99 many permutations as to make speculation useless until after help the win their 10th straight game, 105-91 over the had 22 points and Washington beat Chicago, despite Sunday’s final matches have ended. Last season’s finalists Saracens on Wednesday night. Paul Millsap added 18 points and Derrick Rose’s season-high 32 points for the Bulls. scored 10 face a crunch clash with Munster at the Allianz Park in London on 10 rebounds for Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta, 31-8 overall and of his 21 points in the fourth quarter. Bradley Beal added 17, and the Saturday knowing that victory not only would put a potential title- 15-5 on the road. The Hawks have their first double-digit winning Wizards knocked off the Central division leaders for the second time in rival in Munster out of the competition, but is necessary for the club’s streak since winning 11 in a row early in the 1997-98 season. They six days. Washington trailed by as much as 11 in the first half but own progression hopes as their final Pool 1 clash is away to Clermont. also have won 10 straight on the road, the longest streak in club his- outscored Chicago 32-19 in the third quarter to take a seven-point They have good news, though, as England backs Owen Farrell and tory. Teague, Millsap and Carroll were well-rested after getting a lead to the fourth. The Wizards hung on after Chicago pulled within Brad Barritt are back for the crunch clash. “It’s a massive boost having night off Tuesday, when led the Hawks past Philadelphia one, giving the Bulls their fourth loss in five games. The Bulls played Brad back, we haven’t seen him since the autumn. To get a player of with his first career triple-double. On Wednesday, it was Horford and the second half without Joakim Noah after he injured his right ankle. his quality back for a game like this is massive,” McCall said. veteran outside shooter Kyle Korver resting up as their teammates He also defended Farrell, who has come in for some criticism this easily took care of the Celtics. had 17 points and Jared Pelicans 105, Pistons 94 season after a poor showing in the autumn tests. “He’d only had one Sullinger finished with 14 points and nine rebounds for Boston. Anthony Davis had 27 points and 10 rebounds as New Orleans game of rugby going into the All Blacks match and that turned out to handed Detroit only its second loss in 11 games. The Pelicans were not be enough,” added McCall. One entire country that comes into Warriors 104, Heat 89 missing Jrue Holliday (ankle), but easily picked up their second win in this weekend under pressure is Ireland, who won five out of seven made seven 3-pointers and finished with 32 points five games. added 18 points, nine assists and eight European titles from 2006 to 2012. Ulster, champions in 1999, look and Golden State overwhelmed undermanned Miami for its eighth rebounds. had 19 points for the Pistons, and Greg certain to miss out on the knock-out stages as they must secure a straight victory. With a strained left hamstring sidelining Heat star Monroe had 16 points and eight rebounds. bonus point victory away to Toulon on Saturday to retain even the Dwyane Wade, the NBA-leading Warriors (31-5) mowed down Miami faintest hope. —AFP the way they have most opponents recently. Golden State has won Grizzlies 103, Nets 92 by an average of 19.8 points during its current streak. Chris Bosh had Zach Randolph had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Memphis beat 26 points and seven rebounds but couldn’t carry the Heat alone. Luol slumping Brooklyn in the Grizzlies’ first matchup against former National beauty contest Deng added 19 points, and Hassan Whiteside had 10 points and 12 coach Lionel Hollins. Hollins’ new team dropped its seventh straight. for horses kicks off today rebounds for Miami. Wade left with the hamstring injury in the first Marc Gasol and Courtney Lee added 18 points apiece for the Grizzlies, half of the Heat’s win at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. The who began working newly acquired Jeff Green into one of the KUWAIT: The third national beauty contest for domestically-bred team said he is “day to day.” Western Conference’s top teams. Green finished with 10 points in 26 horses will kick off today with the participation of about 232 gen- minutes off the bench in his first game since his arrival from Boston. uine Arabian horses. In a statement, Ahmad Al-Khamis, head of Spurs 98, Hornets 93 Mason Plumlee had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, play- the contest, said the two-day event is held under the auspices of Manu Ginobili had 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting and San ing without the suspended Kevin Garnett and still without the injured His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Antonio beat Charlotte to snap the Hornets’ winning streak at five Deron Williams. Hamad Al-Sabah for the second year in a row. games. scored 18 points and Tim Duncan added 14 Al-Khamis appreciated the Prime Minister’s support for this points and 10 rebounds to help the defending champion Spurs beat Magic 120, Rockets 113 heritage contest in which genuine Arabian horses compete in a the Hornets for the eighth straight time. Ginobili had a key driving Victor Oladipo had 32 points, Nik Vucevic added 25 and 12 competitive environment. The Hunting and Equestrian Club layup and a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter after the Hornets cut rebounds and Orlando rallied to beat Houston. Houston led 85-84 organizes the event, which features Arabian horses of several the Spurs’ lead to one with 4 minutes to play. Kemba Walker had 28 entering the fourth quarter, but was outscored 36-28 in the final 12 ages, from one-year-old category up to 10-year-old category. points on 9-of-24 shooting after averaging 30.2 points during the minutes. Elfrid Payton and Channing Frye each added 15 points for He noted that the organizing committee finished all prepara- Hornets’ winning streak, Hornets center Bismack Biyombo had 12 Orlando. had 26 points and 10 assists for Houston. tions for the launch of the contest supported by the Director points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots filling in for Al Jefferson. Dwight Howard added 23 points and eight rebounds. He’s 3-2 General of the Public Authority for Youth and Sport Sheikh Lance Stephenson returned from a 14-game absence due to a pelvic against his former team. Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Chairman of the sprain and had eight points in 19 minutes. Hunting and Equestrian Club Sheikh Dhari Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Raptors 100, 76ers 84 The event will witness a wide participation, which reflects Clippers 100, Trail Blazers 94 Kyle Lowry had 18 points and 12 assists and DeMar DeRozan high popularity of this kind of sports, he added. The contest aims Jamal Crawford scored 25 points, DeAndre Jordan had 17 points returned from a groin injury to score eight of his 20 points in the to encourage local horse breeders to increase and improve and 18 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied in the fourth fourth quarter in Toronto’s victory over Philadelphia. Amir Johnson species of their horses. He stated that Kuwait hosted the interna- quarter. Crawford scored the go-ahead basket on a 3-pointer with had 10 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, Lou Williams added 19 tional horse beauty contest, under the auspices of HH the Amir 3:55 remaining as the Clippers (26-13) came back from a six-point points and Jonas Valanciunas had 12 to help Toronto improve to 7-0 Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, that reflected deficit. It was Los Angeles’ second win over Portland (30-9) this sea- against Atlantic Division opponents. Michael Carter-Williams scored a Kuwait’s prestige as a leading center for this kind of sports in the son and ended the Trail Blazers’ four-game winning streak. season-high 29 points for Philadelphia. The 76ers lost their second Gulf. — KUNA had 23 points and 10 assists and scored 18 points for the straight and fell to 2-7 on the second night of back-to-backs. Clippers. Philadelphia lost at home to Atlanta on Tuesday night. —AP