ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 16

San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (31) blocks a shot by Minnesota Wild cen- ter Marcus Johansson (90) during a shootout in an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif on March 29. San Jose won 3-2 in the shootout. (AP) — See Page 15 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com ‘It is best to not hold the Olympics given the considerable risks’ Some medical experts unconvinced about holding Tokyo Games TOKYO, March 30, (AP): The Tokyo Olympics open in under four months, and the torch relay has begun to criss- cross Japan with 10,000 runners. Organizers say they are mitigating the risks, but some medical experts aren’t convinced. “It is best to not hold the Olympics LA Clippers hit 19 3s, rout given the considerable risks,” Dr Norio Sugaya, an infectious diseases expert at Keiyu Hospital in Yokohama, told The Associated Press. “The risks are high in Japan. Japan is dangerous, not a safe place at all.” Sugaya believes vaccinating 50-70% of the general public should be “a prerequisite” to safely hold the Bucks for 6th win in a row Olympics, a highly unlikely scenario given the slow vaccine rollout in Japan. Fewer than 1% of the population Harden has triple-double as Nets edge Wolves has been vaccinated so far, and all are medical professionals. Most of the general public is not expected to be LOS ANGELES, March vaccinated by the time the Olympics 30, (AP): Marcus Morris open July 23. scored 25 points and three “Tens of thousands of foreigners are going to be entering the country, inclu- other starters had at least ding mass media, in a short period of 20 points, helping the Los time,” Sugaya said, “the challenges are Angeles Clippers beat the going to be enormous.” The Japanese government and local Milwaukee Bucks 129-105 Olympic organizers have said vaccina- on Monday night for their tion is not a prerequisite for the sixth straight victory. Olympics, although the International Kawhi Leonard added 23 points Olympic Committee is encouraging the 15,400 Olympic and Paralympic and nine rebounds, Luke Kennard athletes to be vaccinated when they had a season-high 21 points and enter Japan. Reggie Jackson added 20 points. The number of COVID-19-related The Clippers made 19 3-pointers, deaths in Japan is about 9,000 – far one off their season high. They hit fewer than many countries – but eight in the fourth, when they stretched Sugaya stressed the number is among a 13-point lead to 24 points. Kennard, the highest in Asia. starting in place of injured Paul Hospital systems are stretched, George, made four 3s in a row while especially in hardest hit areas such as the Bucks managed just two points Tokyo. during a stretch midway through the quarter. George was a late scratch because OLYMPICS of right foot soreness. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 32 points, making 10 of 12 Japan never pushed PCR testing, free throws, and Jrue Holiday added meaning few mechanisms are in place 24 points in the opener of a six-game to prevent infection clusters. There trip, their longest of the second half. hasn’t been a national lockdown, but Morris opened the fourth with a the government has periodically issued 3-pointer that extended the Clippers’ a “state of emergency,” urging people lead to 13 points. Milwaukee got to to work from home and restaurants to 105-98 on a basket by Antetokounmpo. close early. But the Bucks were limited to 19 Dr. Toshio Nakagawa, who heads points in the period after being held to the Japan Medical Association, expr- 17 in the second. essed serious concern about what he called “a ” of coronavirus cases. He called for preventive mea- forward Zion Williamson (right), drives to the basket against Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (left), during the first half of an sures. NBA basketball game on March 29, in Boston. (AP) “To prevent a fourth wave, we have After Leonard missed a jumper, the to act forcefully and extremely quick- averaging nearly 17 points and more in five games. Williamson has aver- points in the second half on four ly,” he told reporters earlier this Clippers got the offensive rebound and Kennard converted a 3-pointer to NBA Results/Standings than 14 rebounds since the mid-season aged 34.4 points over that span, attempts. Derrick White added 19 month. break. including 39 and 38 in back-to-back points. Taisuke Nakata and Daisuke Fujii, launch his personal run. Los Angeles pulled away to a Mavericks 127, Thunder 106 games on Friday and Saturday. Pistons 118, Raptors 104 professors of economics at the Unive- 12-point lead in the third, when the rsity of Tokyo, have been carrying out In Oklahoma City, Luka Doncic Heat 98, Knicks 88 In Detroit, Saben Lee scored 14 of Clippers made six 3-pointers, includ- WASHINGTON March 30 (AP): projections for the spread of the coro- NBA results and standings on scored 25 points to help the Dallas In New York, Jimmy Butler scored his 19 points in the first half in his ing four in a row. Jackson had 15 second career start, and the Detroit navirus, adapting a standard epidemio- points, hitting three 3-pointers and Monday. Mavericks roll past the Oklahoma City 27 points and the snapped Washington 132 Indiana 124 Pistons beat the Toronto Raptors 118- logical model but taking into account scoring six straight points in another Thunder 127-106. a six-game losing streak with a 98-88 economic activity as measured by Brooklyn 112 Minnesota 107 Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points win over the New York Knicks. 104 . stretch to send the Clippers into the Miami 98 New York 88 GDP and mobility data. New Orleans 115 Boston 109 and nine rebounds, and Tim Hardaway Bam Adebayo Saddiq Bey, another Detroit rook- fourth leading 96-86. ie, also scored 19 points and According to their projections, daily The Clippers led 57-55 at halftime. Dallas 127 Oklahoma City 106 Jr. added 19 points for the Mavericks. scored 20 points, infection cases in Tokyo will total Memphis 120 110 Dallas shot 53% from the field and Duncan Robinson Hamidou Diallo added 19 of his The Bucks shot 68% in first quarter Detroit 118 Toronto 104 more than 1,000 people by May, peak- Sacramento 132 San Antonio 115 never trailed in snapping a two-game added 20, and own. Fred VanVleet scored 22 for and closed with an 18-3 run that gave the Raptors, who lost for the 12th ing in July, right about the time the them their largest lead of the game, Utah 114 Cleveland 75 losing skid. Tyler Herro fin- LA Clippers 129 Milwaukee 105 time in 13 games. Olympics are on. Daily cases have 38-26. Doncic missed Dallas’ previous two ished with 18 as hovered at about 300 people for Tokyo Golden State 116 Chicago 102 games. He sat out Friday’s loss to Miami improved Lee was a second-round draft pick lately. Nets 112, Timberwolves 107 Eastern Conference before this season, and the rebuilding Atlantic Division Indiana with back soreness and to 23-24 They say that’s an “optimistic” sce- In New York, James Harden had 38 Saturday’s loss to New Orleans with a Julius Randle Pistons have given plenty of opportuni- nario that assumes vaccines will be points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, W L Pct GB non-COVID-19 illness. led New York ties to their young players recently. He Philadelphia 32 14 .696 - went 6 of 7 from the field in the first half gradually rolling out by then. already tying the Nets’ single-season Brooklyn 32 15 .681 -1/2 Pelicans 115, Boston 109 with 22. Derrick The other possible scenario has the record with his 12th triple-double in New York 24 23 .511 8-1/2 Rose scored 16 and eventually came within two points government declaring a state of emer- just 32 games, and Brooklyn held off Boston 23 24 .489 9-1/2 In Boston, Zion Williamson scored Butler of matching his season high. Toronto 18 29 .383 14-1/2 points and Imma- gency as daily cases climb. That could the 112-107. 28 points and the New Orleans nuel Quick-ley Wizards 132, Pacers 124 mean the Olympics will be held in the Kyrie Irving added 27 points in his Southeast Division Pelicans held on after blowing most of added 12, both off the bench, as the In Washington, Russell Westbrook middle of an “emergency.” return after missing the three-game W L Pct GB a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead to beat Knicks had their three-game winning road trip last week for family reasons. Charlotte 23 22 .511 - Boston 115-109 in the Celtics’ first had 35 points, a season-high 21 assists The professors declined to comment Atlanta 23 23 .500 -1/2 streak halted and slipped to 24-23. and 14 rebounds for his NBA-leading directly on the wisdom of holding the He started fast, but Harden did the big- Miami 23 24 .489 1 game in front of their home fans since gest work late, with 13 points in the Washington 17 28 .378 6 before the pandemic. Kings 132, Spurs 115 16th triple-double, helping the Olympics. to a 132-124 win Despite the warnings, the Japanese final period. Orlando 15 31 .326 8-1/2 A masked crowd of 2,198 - offi- In San Antonio, De’Aaron Fox Hall of Famer Jason Kidd had 12 Central Division cially a sellout at the state-mandated scored 24 points, Richaun Holmes had over the Indiana Pacers. government and Tokyo Olympics orga- Westbrook also claimed the fran- nizers remain determined to go ahead triple-doubles for the Nets in both the W L Pct GB limit of 12% of the TD Garden capac- 23 points and 12 rebounds, and the Milwaukee 29 17 .630 - chise career triple-double record in with the Games. Tokyo is officially 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. Indiana 21 24 .467 7-1/2 ity - cheered (and booed) the Celtics, beat the San The Nets won for the 18th time in waved signs and shouted profane Antonio Spurs 132-115 for their fifth just his 38th game with the Wizards, spending $15.4 billion to prepare the Chicago 19 26 .422 9-1/2 this one coming while teammate and 21 games, even as they continue a Cleveland 17 30 .362 12-1/2 taunts at the referees. A video was straight victory. Olympics, but several government aud- NBA leading scorer Bradley Beal sat its say it might be twice that much. All lengthy stretch without Kevin Durant Detroit 13 33 .283 16 played welcoming the fans back; at Buddy Hield added 20 points for Western Conference out with a bruised hip. Darrell Walker but $6.7 billion is public money. because of a strained left hamstring. other times they were lectured on Sacramento, which has won seven of They don’t yet have LaMarcus Ald- Southwest Division social distancing and told not to touch eight. The Kings starters combined to had 15 triple-doubles in 283 games for The chief driver of the Olympics is Washington between 1987-1991. the IOC, which derives almost 75% of ridge, who signed Sunday but needs to W L Pct GB the basketball if it came to them. score 96 points, with each scoring at get back in shape after being inactive Dallas 24 21 .533 - Rui Hachimura scored 26 points and its income from broadcast rights and San Antonio 23 21 .523 -1/2 Brandon Ingram had 25 points and least 14 points and playing 30-plus Chandler Hutchison had 18 in his needs to get the games on television. the last month. Memphis 22 22 .500 1-1/2 nine assists and Josh Hart had 15 minutes. New Orleans 21 25 .457 3-1/2 debut with the Wizards, who won their Organizers say they will hold a Warriors 116, Bulls 102 points and 15 rebounds for the Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray second straight after losing eight of “safe and secure” Olympics by keep- Houston 13 33 .283 11-1/2 Pelicans, who won for the fourth time scored 23 points, but only had two In San Francisco, Stephen Curry Northwest Division nine. ing athletes and officials in a “bubble,” made a triumphant return from a five- administering periodic tests, and then W L Pct GB Grizzlies 120, Rockets 110 game absence with a bruised tailbone Utah 35 11 .761 - getting everyone to leave Japan as to score 32 points with six 3-pointers, Denver 28 18 .609 7 In Houston, Jonas Valanciunas soon as possible. Portland 28 18 .609 7 scored a season-high 30 points, includ- and the snapped Oklahoma City 19 27 .413 16 Last week the IOC said it would cut a four-game losing streak by beating ing eight down the stretch, to help the back on the number of accredited par- Minnesota 11 36 .234 24-1/2 Memphis Grizzlies outlast the Houston the Chicago Bulls 116-102 . Pacific Division ticipants entering Japan, providing cre- Draymond Green contributed 11 Rockets 120-110. dentials only to those who “have essen- W L Pct GB It was a much different game than points, nine assists and five rebounds Phoenix 31 14 .689 - tial and operational responsibilities.” as all five Golden State starters scored LA Clippers 32 16 .667 -1/2 Houston’s last meeting with Memphis, Japanese news agency Kyodo has in double digits to keep the team from LA Lakers 30 17 .638 2 when the Grizzlies routed the Rockets reported, citing unidentified sources, Golden State 23 24 .489 9 133-84, but the outcome was the same. a season-worst fifth straight defeat. Sacramento 22 25 .468 10 that 90,000 people are expected to Nikola Vucevic had 21 points, nine Houston led by as many as 12 points in enter Japan from abroad. About 30,000 rebounds and six assists in his second this one and was up by a point entering of those are Olympic and Paralympic game with Chicago since being traded Mike Conley contributed 18 points the fourth. But, the Rockets couldn’t athletes, coaches, staff and officials. hold on late and lost for the third time from the Magic. But the Bulls lost for the Jazz, who have won 20 straight That leaves 60,000, and Kyodo said their fourth straight and sixth in seven. in four games. the plan is to cut that to about 30,000, at home after dropping their first two Valanciunas, who had 15 rebounds, many of whom would be news media. Jazz 114, Cavaliers 75 home games of the season. made two consecutive baskets to In addition, organizers said all ticket In Salt Lake City, Donovan Mitchell Since the All-Star game, Mitchell extend the Memphis lead to 114-106 holders from abroad would be banned scored 19 points and Rudy Gobert has averaged 29.2 points on 50% with two minutes to go. Danuel House from entering. added 18 points and 17 rebounds to shooting and 46% from 3-point range. Jr. made one of two free throws for Public opinion surveys show most power the Utah Jazz to their sixth The Jazz only needed Mitchell for 25 forward Lamar Stevens (right), and Utah Jazz guard Houston after that . Valanciunas then Japanese want the Tokyo Games can- straight win, a 114-75 victory over minutes in the blowout. Donovan Mitchell (left), battle for a loose ball in the first half during an NBA added another basket to extend the celed or postponed again. Cleveland. Gobert also has been on a hot streak, basketball game on March 29, in Salt Lake City. (AP) lead.

THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Published by: Arab Times Publishing House

Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office: Telephone: 24813566 & 24849144 Advertising: Tel: 55633481 Annual Subscriptions: Airport Road, Shuwaikh Fax: 24818267 Fax: 24911307 Individuals KD 45/- Companies and Offi cial Tel: 24849144 AHMED AL JARALLAH Departments KD 75 Airmail charges extra for Fax: 24839487 P.O. Box 2270, 13023 Safat, Kuwait E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] overseas