MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016 SPORTS Bayern boss issues ‘hands off’ warning to City

BERLIN: Bayern Munich chairman Karl- applies to Manchester City,” Rummenigge “For months we have been working on a surprise after it was announced Friday Rummenigge tersely. City have also been Heinz Rummenigge has issued a thinly- told German daily Bild. The Bayern boss new team and who knows how things that Bayern has locked in left-back David linked to Bayern’s top-scorer Robert veiled ‘hands off’ warning to Manchester commented after City’s director of sport will come together.” Alaba on a contract until 2021, which Lewandowski, who has a contract in City after ’s future employ- Txiki Begiristain had hinted that the big- Any interest in Bayern’s stars from came in the wake of reported interest Munich until 2019. Barely a week current- ers have been linked to a string of spending English giants are interest in City’s direction is particularly awkward for from City. “It shows Bayern Munich are ly passes by without a top German player Bayern’s stars. some of Bayern’s stars. “I can’t promise Guardiola after it was announced in the ones at the wheel. That was our goal. reportedly set to follow Guardiola to City “I have been wondering somewhat anything. Our goal is as always to put January that the current Munich coach And in the case of David Alaba, it shows with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay about statements made by our col- together a strong squad. Just like Bayern will take over from Manuel Pellegrini at that Bayern Munich decides what is Gundogan the latest candidate after his leagues from Manchester City, because Munich are doing,” the 51-year-old City the giants next season. going on and not just any English club agent met with Begiristain in Amsterdam contracts are contracts and that also boss, and a friend of Guardiola, told Sky. Rummenigge’s reaction comes as no who can make fancy offers,” added a fortnight ago. —AFP Spurs smother Warriors 87-79 in clash of titans SAN ANTONIO: LaMarcus Aldridge had was 7 of 10. Ray McCallum added 14 for 26 points and 13 rebounds, and the San Memphis, including seven in the fourth Antonio Spurs beat the Golden State quarter. Lance Stephenson had 12 points Warriors 87-79 on Saturday night to and JaMychal Green finished with 11 as remain perfect at the AT&T Center this Memphis snapped a four-game losing season and extend their home domi- streak. Chris Paul had 25 points and six nance over the defending champions to assists for the Clippers, while DeAndre 33 straight regular-season games. Kawhi Jordan added 16 points and seven Leonard added 18 points and 14 rebounds. Paul Pierce contributed 12 rebounds for San Antonio, which has points and Austin Rivers finished with 10. won 44 straight at home in the regular The Clippers have lost three of four. season, tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history. The Spurs held HAWKS 109, ROCKETS 97 Warriors superstar Stephen Curry to 14 Al Horford scored 22 points and points while limiting him to 1-for-12 streaking Atlanta continued to feast on shooting on 3-pointers. San Antonio (59- Western Conference teams by beating 10) moved within three games of Golden Michael Beasley and Houston. The Hawks State (62-7) for the league’s top seed have won five straight and eight of nine. with two games remaining between the They’ve also won six straight against two teams. San Antonio was able to win Western Conference teams. Beasley led a showdown between the league’s top Houston with a season-high 30 points, two teams with Tim Duncan coming off including 12 of the team’s 14 fourth- the bench for only the third time in his quarter points. James Harden had 25 and career. Dwight Howard had eight points and 17 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 HEAT 122, CAVALIERS 101 points off Atlanta’s bench, his second Dwyane Wade scored 24 points to sur- straight game with at least 20 points. He pass 20,000 for his career, Josh made five of seven 3-pointers. Richardson added 19 and Miami never trailed in beating Cleveland. Goran BULLS 92, UTAH 85 Dragic had 18 points and 11 assists for Derrick Rose scored 22 points to lead VILA-REAL: Villarreal’s midfielder Samuel Castillejo (L) vies with Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi during the Spanish league foot- Miami, Joe Johnson also scored 18 and short-handed Chicago past Utah, snap- ball match Villarreal CF vs FC Barcelona at El Madrigal stadium in Vila-real yesterday. — AFP Hassan Whiteside finished with 16 points ping the Jazz’s four-game winning and 13 rebounds. Miami outrebounded streak. Taj Gibson had 15 points and 10 Cleveland 42-26 and led by as many as rebounds, and Nikola Mirotic added 15 Barcelona extend advantage 33 at one point. LeBron James had 26 points for Chicago. Rose was 10 for 15 points for Cleveland and sat out the final from the field as the Bulls won their sec- 15 minutes, the outcome already long ond straight. Chicago (35-33) remained been decided when his night ended. in eighth place in the Eastern despite blowing two-goal lead Richard Jefferson scored 20 and Kyrie Conference. The Bulls were playing with- MADRID: Barcelona extended their lead at the top Villarreal’s start as they hit the woodwork inside the against Madrid just after the international break. Irving had 14 for the Cavaliers, who have out Pau Gasol (right knee swelling) and of to nine points despite blowing a two- first minute when a Manu Trigueros effort was But that proved to be the turning point as Mathieu lost 11 consecutive games in Miami. E’Twaun Moore (left hamstring). Derrick goal advantage to draw 2-2 at Villarreal yesterday. turned towards his own goal by Arda Turan. was constantly caught out. Favors led the Jazz with 24 points. Ivan Rakitic and a controversial Neymar penalty Claudio Bravo then blocked Bakambu’s effort from Bakambu halved the deficit with a simple finish THUNDER 115, PACERS 111 Gordon Hayward, Utah’s leading scorer had Barca on course for a 13th consecutive La Liga a narrow angle as Barca struggled to contain after Bravo had parried Denis Suarez’s initial effort. Russell Westbrook had his second with 20.1 points per game, had nine win before half-time. Villarreal’s pace on the break. Mathieu then gifted Bakambu the ball straight triple-double in two nights, Kevin Durant points on 4-for-13 shooting after missing Yet, Villarreal were more than worthy of a point Yet the visitors still struck first with some for- from kick-off, but the Congolese forward tried to had 33 points and 13 rebounds, and two games with plantar fasciitis of the and got their reward after the break through Cedric tune as Lionel Messi’s free-kick ricocheted off Luis tee up Roberto Soldado instead of going for goal Oklahoma City overcame Paul George’s right foot. Bakambu and Jeremy Mathieu’s own goal. Suarez and fell perfectly into the path of Rakitic to himself and Javier Mascherano intercepted. 45 points to beat Indiana. Westbrook fin- Real Madrid can move to within 10 points of rifle home. The hosts were then furious when Soldado then missed a huge chance to level as ished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 14 WIZARDS 99, KNICKS 89 Barca ahead of the meeting between the two sides Gerard Pique was pardoned a second yellow card he haded wide when unmarked from point-blank assists, his 14th triple-double of the sea- John Wall had 24 points and 10 assists, in two weeks when they host Sevilla later yester- for clearly stopping a Villarreal attack by handling range. Asenjo also made a crucial contribution to son. Durant nearly had one, too, finishing and Washington rallied from an 18-point, day. However, Sevilla also have the chance to close the ball on the ground after just 23 minutes. Villarreal’s comeback with a stunning save to stop with eight assists to lead Oklahoma City second-quarter deficit to beat New York the gap on Villarreal to just three points in the fight Villarreal boss Marcelino was expelled from the Neymar making it 3-1. to its fourth straight win. George added for its fourth straight victory. Marcin for the fourth Champions League place. “It is a posi- touchline for taking his protests too far. Moments later, Villarreal were level when the seven rebounds and four assists but Gortat added 15 points and 11 rebounds, tive result for us,” said Barca boss . And worse was to come for the hosts when ref- hapless Mathieu turned a corner into his own net. missed a 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds left while Markieff Morris added 17 points as “The best teams in the league have lost here, eree Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez pointed to the Barca regained their composure in the final quarter we’ve drawn. We were close to winning, but also spot despite clearly playing the ball to ensure their unbeaten run in all competitions that could have tied it. Indiana erased a all five Washington starters scored in could have lost. “It is a positive round of fixtures for as Neymar tried to round the goalkeeper. Neymar stretches to 39. 10-point halftime deficit and regained double figures. It was the largest come- us. One less (to go) and one point closer to our put Barca’s recent troubles from the spot behind Asenjo, who only returned from an 11-month the lead early in the fourth quarter, but back win of the season for the Wizards, objectives.” him to dink home the penalty for his 27th goal of injury layoff against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, couldn’t hold it. After Indiana took its last who began Saturday 10th in the Eastern The sides held a minute’s silence before kick-off the season. got down well to his left to turn behind Rakitic’s lead at 98-97 with 8:28 to go, the Conference, but just 1 1/2 games out of in memory of 13 people killed in a bus crash carry- Pique was replaced by Mathieu early in the sec- header. And the Croatian failed to make a good Thunder answered with a 9-0 run. the eighth and final playoff spot. Wall, ing foreign exchange students in earlier yes- ond period as Luis Enrique looked to ensure his connection when Asenjo’s unconvincing punch who was seeking his third straight triple- terday. However, the sombre mood didn’t affect best defender was not suspended for the game landed at his feet seven minutes from time. —AFP NUGGETS 101, HORNETS 93 double, fell short with two rebounds, but D.J. Augustin scored 24 points on 8- committed just one turnover after total- of-11 shooting, and Denver snapped a ing 17 in his last two games. Kristaps three-game road losing streak with a vic- Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony led the Juve stretch unbeaten run tory over Charlotte. Darrell Arthur and Knicks with 20 points apiece. Anthony, Gary Harris added 13 points apiece for who averaged 35 in the teams’ first two the Nuggets, while Nikola Jokic had 11 meetings, scored just 12 after the first on record day for Buffon points and 14 rebounds before fouling quarter. out midway through the fourth quarter. Nicolas Batum had 24 points, nine assists PISTONS 115, NETS 103 MILAN: Champions Juventus took their Serie A Torino had lost lost 12 of their last 14 games series of refereeing decisions that left Torino and eight rebounds for the Hornets, who Anthony Tolliver scored all 17 of his unbeaten run to 20 games with a 4-1 derby win with Juve, save for a 0-0 draw and a 2-1 win in coach Giampietro Ventura fuming. lost at home for only the third time in the points in the second half and Aron at Torino that saw goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon April 2015. Juve suffered an early blow when The hosts were unlucky with a wrong offside last 15 games. Jeremy Lin had 16 points Baynes scored 17 of his 21 in the fourth set a new clean sheet record of 973 minutes. Dybala collapsed while taking a free kick and decision that saw Maxi Lopez’s goal chalked off and Kemba Walker added 15 for quarter to lift Detroit over Brooklyn. The Juventus made the short trip to the Stadio was replaced by Morata, although that would be for what would have been the leveller. Charlotte. It was a costly loss for the Pistons trailed by six in the third and Olimpico looking to make amends for their a blessing in disguise. Juve defender Alex Sandro was then lucky to Hornets, who had beaten Miami on were in danger of what would have been spectacular Champions League collapse at Pogba got the visitors off the mark just after escape conceding a penalty with a borderline Thursday night to pull into a tie with the a terrible home loss, but they were even- Bayern Munich on Wednesday. the half hour with a free kick which he curled challenge on Bruno Peres. And Massimiliano Allegri’s men responded to around the wall and into the near top corner and Ventura lashed out: “It’s unbelievable to have Heat for the fourth-best record in the tually able to take advantage of Brook their last 16 defeat in style, Paul Pogba firing the when Khedira waltzed through the middle to lost in these circumstances. Fair enough they Eastern Conference. Lopez’s absence. The Brooklyn big man visitors ahead on 33 minutes before Sami poke the ball home the visitors were 2-0 up on went 2-0 up, but after that I don’t know what missed the game with a virus. Tolliver Khedira took their half-time lead to 2-0. 42 minutes. happened. “Alex Sandro should have been sent GRIZZLIES 113, CLIPPERS 102 helped turn the game around after not Juventus were pegged back three minutes Torino were handed a lifeline by Belotti’s off, and in the second half we levelled 2-2 only to Zach Randolph recorded his first playing at all in the first half. He made after the restart when Andrea Belotti reduced spot-kick, which left Buffon rooted to the spot see the goal chalked off. “How can the referee career triple-double with 28 points, 11 four 3-pointers and matched his season the arrears from the spot to end Buffon’s new but with a new Serie A record in his possession. get that wrong? I have great respect for rebounds and 10 assists, Tony Allen high in scoring. Baynes, another Detroit unbeaten record at 973 minutes, the keeper sur- Buffon said he was “happy” to be the new Juventus, who are a great side but today I can’t added 22 points and Memphis beat the backup, set a career high thanks to his passing Sebastiano Rossi’s record of 929 minutes record-holder, but was quick to share the plau- accept that. They should show us some respect Clippers. Randolph, returning from a sev- big fourth quarter. Thaddeus Young for AC Milan in 1994. dits. “It also goes to my team-mates, who do all as well.” The setbacks hit Torino hard and 15 min- en-game absence due to a sore knee, scored 24 points for the Nets. Brooklyn But the champions restored their two-goal the defensive work well before the ball even utes later Morata chipped the onrushing Padelli was 10 of 19 from the floor, while Allen has lost eight of 10. — AP advantage just after the hour when Alvaro gets near the goal,” he said. from Pogba’s perfect delivery, before completing Morata, who had replaced Paulo Dybala after Torino’s hopes, however, were ended by a his brace on 77 minutes. — AFP the Argentine crumpled to the pitch in pain, hit NBA results/standings a brace before Khedira was sent off at the death for dissent. Juve’s 22nd win stretches their lead San Antonio 87, Golden State 79; Atlanta 109, Houston 97; Miami 122, Cleveland 101; Detroit 115, Brooklyn 103; Indiana 111, Oklahoma City 115; Washington 99, New York 89; Chicago 92, Utah 85; over second-placed Napoli to six points ahead of Memphis 113, LA Clippers 102; Charlotte 93, Denver 101. their home game later Sunday with Genoa. Allegri admitted after the game: “It was a Eastern Conference Western Conference great win because it’s helped to put what hap- Atlantic Division Northwest Division pened in Munich behind us. “It wasn’t an easy W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 48 22 .686 — game for us but the lads did well to keep Torino’s Toronto 47 21 .691 — Portland 36 34 .514 12 chances down and, although I had to replace Boston 39 30 .565 8.5 Utah 33 36 .478 14.5 Dybala, it worked out well for us with Morata in New York 28 42 .400 20 Denver 29 41 .414 19 the end.” Roma, who drew 1-1 with Inter on Saturday, remain third with a five-point lead on Brooklyn 19 50 .275 28.5 Minnesota 22 47 .319 25.5 Philadelphia 9 60 .130 38.5 both Fiorentina, held to a scoreless stalemate at Pacific Division Central Division Frosinone, and Inter. Golden State 62 7 .899 — Cleveland 49 20 .710 — LA Clippers 43 25 .632 18.5 Indiana 36 33 .522 13 EARLY BLOW Sacramento 26 42 .382 35.5 Juve were devastated by their reverse in Chicago 35 33 .515 13.5 Phoenix 19 50 .275 43 Munich, where Thomas Mueller scored a 91st Detroit 36 34 .514 13.5 minute leveller for the Germans to take the Milwaukee 30 39 .435 19 LA Lakers 14 55 .203 48 Southwest Division decider into extra-time, before Bayern sealed a Southeast Division 6-4 aggregate win. San Antonio 59 10 .855 — Atlanta 41 29 .586 — Allegri was without defender Giorgio Miami 40 29 .580 0.5 Memphis 40 30 .571 19.5 Chiellini, handing a start to Daniele Rugani, as Houston 35 35 .500 24.5 Charlotte 39 30 .565 1.5 well as midfielder Claudio Marchisio through TURIN: Juventus’ midfielder Paul Pogba from France (R) fights for the ball with Torino’s defend- Washington 34 35 .493 6.5 Dallas 34 35 .493 25 injury, but welcomed back Dybala after he also er Bruno Peres from Brazil (C) during the Italian Serie A football match Torino Vs Juventus yes- Orlando 29 39 .426 11 New Orleans 25 43 .368 33.5 sat out at the Allianz Arena. terday at the “Olympic Stadium” in Turin. — AFP