THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 SPORTS Heat scorch Cavaliers

CLEVELAND: LeBron James scored 43 points - 25 in a bewildering first-quarter shooting display - and Chris Bosh added 21, leading the Miami Heat to a 100-96 win Tuesday over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played their first game without injured All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. James added two crucial blocks and made six free throws in the final two minutes and Bosh added a key rejection to lead the Heat to just their third win in eight games. Miami’s Dwyane Wade sat out resting his knees, but the Heat’s two other megastars put away the Cavs. Jarrett Jack scored 22 and Dion Waiters added 17 and 11 assists for Cleveland, which was also without for- ward Luol Deng (sprained ankle). Irving is expect- ed to miss two weeks with a strained biceps ten- don, an injury that further damages the Cavs’ fad- ing playoff hopes.

HAWKS 118, RAPTORS 113 Jeff Teague equaled his career best with 34 points and Paul Millsap had the first triple-dou- ble of his career as the Hawks extended their longest winning streak of the season to five in a row, beating the Raptors. Millsap had 19 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Hawks, who have bounced back after losing 14 of 15 to strengthen their hold on the final playoff spot in the East. The Hawks overcame an early 13-point NEW YORK: James Dolan (left) Executive Chairman of Madison Square Garden, deficit in a game that went back and forth in the stands with Phil Jackson during the press conference to announce Jackson as final quarter. Millsap missed a chance to win it at President of the New York Knicks. — AFP the end of regulation, but Teague knocked down four free throws in the closing seconds to clinch Jackson seeks to recreate it for Atlanta. KINGS 117, WIZARDS 111 magic with the Knicks Isaiah Thomas had his first career triple dou- ble with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to NEW YORK: Phil Jackson vowed to revive 1990s and then Los Angeles Lakers to help the Kings beat the Wizards. the struggling New York Knicks as he was five titles. His last title came in 2010 with DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay each added officially announced as their new presi- Los Angeles. 24 points for the Kings, who rallied in the fourth dent Tuesday, returning to the team “This would be the pinnacle, a cap- to send the game into overtime and snapped a where he started his glittering career. stone, on the remarkable career that I’ve two-game losing streak. It was a rare loss for the Wizards, who had won The 68-year-old Hall of Famer, who has had,” Jackson said. Jackson replaces Steve 10 of 13 games before falling to the Kings for the CLEVELAND: Miami Heat’s Ray Allen (34) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers’ Dion Waiters (3) dur- won a record 13 NBA titles as a player Mills, who was named president and fourth straight time at Sleep Train Arena. ing the third quarter of an NBA basketball game. — AP and coach, said his aim was to bring a general manager of the Knicks in Bradley Beal had 19 points and Marcin Gortat winning tradition back to New York. September. Mills remains as general David Lee added 20 points and 10 rebounds (undisclosed reasons). Nikola Vucevic scored 15 had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards. to help the Warriors offset the absences of Andre points and Tobias Harris added 14 points and six “I am going to jump in with both feet,” manager. Jackson also said head coach They had won six of their previous seven road Jackson said during a news conference at Mike Woodson would stay. Iguodala (right knee tendinitis), Andrew Bogut rebounds for the overmatched Magic, who lost games. Drew Gooden scored 18 points and John (left ankle inflammation) and Jermaine O’Neal their sixth straight game. — AP Madison Square Garden. “We want to This is Jackson’s first role as a front- Wall had 14 before fouling out in overtime. build a team. “We’re going to make one office decision maker. “There is only one step at a time. I think that’s the most Phil Jackson, and he is synonymous with TRAIL BLAZERS 120, BUCKS 115 important thing. “We’re going to push winning basketball teams,” said Knicks Wesley Matthews had 26 points, including a NBA results/standings this team and, hopefully push into the owner Jim Dolan, who joined Jackson on key 3-pointer in overtime, as the Trail Blazers overcame the tenacious Bucks. playoffs, and see how they really can the podium for Tuesday’s announce- Miami 100, Cleveland 96; Atlanta 118, Toronto 113 (OT); Portland 120, Milwaukee 115 (OT); Robin Lopez added 15 points and 14 compete. ment. “His history of success in the NBA is Sacramento 117, Washington 111 (OT); Golden State 103, Orlando 89. “From there on, we’ll take it a step at a unrivaled, and he is the ideal executive rebounds for the Blazers, who had been in a funk time as we go forward.” Jackson will be to lead our team and develop short- and with losses in five of their last six games. Portland Eastern Conference Western Conference trying to recreate the magic he was part long-term plans that build a successful (44-24) has also struggled with the absence of Atlantic Division Northwest Division of with the Knicks in the 1970s. franchise and result in an NBA champi- injured forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Brandon W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 49 18 .731 - Jackson, who played for the Knicks onship.” The Knicks are in the midst of a Knight had 24 points and Ramon Sessions added Toronto 37 29 .561 - Portland 44 24 .647 5.5 from 1967 to 1978, has been put in disappointing season after reaching the a season-high 23 for Milwaukee, which lost its Brooklyn 34 31 .523 2.5 Minnesota 33 32 .508 15 charge of all basketball decisions. He semi-finals of the Eastern Conference fifth straight. The Bucks (13-55) are just 2-24 NY Knicks 27 40 .403 10.5 Denver 30 37 .448 19 against the Western Conference. Despite the won two titles as a player with the playoffs in 2012-13. Their play has Boston 22 46 .324 16 Utah 22 46 .324 27.5 worst record in the NBA, the Bucks gave the Knicks, helping them win their most improved of late and they have won six Philadelphia 15 52 .224 22.5 Pacific Division Blazers trouble for most of the game. There were Central Division recent NBA crown, in 1973. straight games. LA Clippers 48 21 .696 - 23 lead changes in regulation, and neither team Indiana 50 17 .746 - “We are looking forward to embracing The Knicks are 27-40 — four games Golden State 43 26 .623 5 was able to pull ahead by double digits. Chicago 37 30 .552 13 the past but also looking forward,” said behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth Cleveland 26 42 .382 24.5 Phoenix 38 29 .567 9 Jackson, who has never had a losing sea- and final playoff spot in the Eastern WARRIORS 103, MAGIC 89 Detroit 25 41 .379 24.5 Sacramento 24 44 .353 23.5 son in the NBA as a head coach. “To come Conference, heading into Tuesday’s slate Stephen Curry had 23 points and five assists, Milwaukee 13 55 .191 37.5 LA Lakers 22 44 .333 24.5 back to the place where I started in bas- of games. and Klay Thompson scored 20 points as the Southeast Division Southwest Division ketball is a great feeling.” The Knicks are hoping the hiring of undermanned Warriors overwhelmed the Magic. Miami 46 19 .708 - San Antonio 50 16 .758 - Jackson signed a five-year contract Jackson improves the chances they The backcourt duo sparked an 18-4 run at the Washington 35 32 .522 12 Houston 45 22 .672 5.5 but wouldn’t commit to a timeline on might keep star forward Carmelo start of the second half that put the Warriors Charlotte 33 35 .485 14.5 Dallas 41 27 .603 10 how long it would take to restore the Anthony, who is looking at free agency ahead by 24 points. They became the first pair of Atlanta 31 35 .470 15.5 Memphis 39 27 .591 11 team to winning ways. The contract is after this season. teammates in NBA history to combine for at least Orlando 19 49 .279 28.5 New Orleans 27 39 .409 23 believed to be worth $60 million, the “Carmelo is one of the top scorers in 400 3-pointers in consecutive seasons. New York Daily News reported. the league,” Jackson said. “I have no prob- lem saying Carmelo is in the future plans. ‘ONLY ONE JACKSON’ “He still has another level he can go to.” Jackson won 11 NBA titles as a coach, Anthony said before the hiring was made SYLHET: ’s surpassing the previous record of nine official that he was looking forward to Brendan set by Red Auerbach. Jackson retired working with Jackson. “He has won a lot. I Taylor plays a shot from coaching in May 2011 after leading haven’t won yet. I am hoping and plan- during their ICC the Chicago Bulls to six crowns in the ning this all works,” Anthony said. — AFP Twenty20 World Cup match against Ireland send UAE out Netherlands. —AP

SYLHET: Ireland sent debutants United Stirling (2-12) and paceman Kevin Arab Emirates crashing out of the World O’Brien (2-17) kept it tight, preventing Twenty20 yesterday, winning the Group any UAE batsmen from hitting a big B match in Sylhet by the Duckwoth Lewis innings despite a soild 35-run start in five method. overs. The Irish, who opted to bowl after Once opener Amjad Ali fell for 20, it all winning the toss, restricted their oppo- went wrong for the UAE who were com- nents to 123-6 in 20 overs before reach- peting in the World Twenty20 for the first ing 103-3 in 14.2 overs when two power time. Shaiman Anwar topscored with a failures and then rain stopped play. 28-ball 30 which included two sixes. Ireland were declared the winners by Elsewhere in Group B, the Dutch also 21 runs using the Duckworth Lewis for- have one win from two games and are mula. It was Ireland’s second win on the still in with a chance of progressing. The trot. A second successive defeat for UAE top two teams in both Group A and B will means they are eliminated from the tour- join the eight seeds in the next round, nament. starting from March 21. Ireland lost their opener Paul Stirling, who hit a brilliant 60 in his team’s three- Brief Scores: win over Zimbabwe Monday, for UAE: 123-6 in 20 overs (Shaiman Anwar just eight but quickly rallied. 30; P. Stirling 2-12, K. O’Brien 2-17) Ed Joyce topscored with 43 while Ireland: 103-3 in 14.2 overs (E. Joyce 43, skipper William Porterfield made 33 not W. Porterfield 33 ) Ireland win on out. Ireland’s bowlers, led by spinner Paul Duckworth Lewis method. — AFP Zimbabwe alive in World T20 with last-ball victory

SYLHET: Skipper and Hamilton committed very basic errors on the boundary against the United Arab Emirates in Group B. Masakadza kept Zimbabwe’s hopes alive in the which cost us 10-15 runs,” he said. “It wasn’t good They will now face Ireland on Friday to decide World Twenty20 tournament yesterday with a enough for a professional outfit. “Hopefully, we who goes through to the next round. hard-fought five-wicket win over the can rectify that against the UAE and we’ll be a Yesterday’s win keeps Zimbabwe in the race Netherlands in Sylhet. chance.” Netherlands skipper Peter Borren felt his after they lost their first match to Ireland. They Taylor hit a solid 39-ball 49 while Masakadza team fell 20 runs short. “That said, we’ve got a face the UAE tomorrow. scored 43 off 45 balls to help Zimbabwe pass good varied attack, but we would have Bangladesh won both their games in Group A. their 141-run target with a six off the last ball. been confident with 150,” he said. The The top two teams from the preliminary rounds When Taylor was dismissed after hitting two Netherlands, who won the toss and batted, were will join the eight seeded teams in the Super-10 fours and a six, 15 runs were needed off the last lifted from a precarious 19-3 to 140-5 by a fight- stage starting March 21. 11 balls. When the last over began, seven were ing 58-ball 72 not out from Tom Cooper, includ- still needed. ing nine fours and a six. Cooper added an invalu- Brief scores: Sean Williams hit a lucky boundary and then able 52 for the fifth wicket with brother Ben Netherlands 140-5 in 20 overs (T. Cooper 72 not ran himself out for 26 with the scores tied. But Cooper (20) after spinner Prosper Utseya (2-24) out, P. Utseya 2-24) SYLHET: Ireland’s Ed Joyce (left) and captain William Porterfield run between the hit paceman Ahsan Malik for a huge had dismissed opener Stefan Myburgh for a duck Zimbabwe 146-5 in 20 overs (B. Taylor 49, H. during their ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match against United Arab six to give Zimbabwe victory. Taylor said there off the third ball of the innings. Masakadza 43; P. Seelaar 2-9) Emirates. — AP was still plenty of room for improvement. “We The Netherlands won their opening match Zimbabwe won by five wickets. — AFP