MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 SPORTS Kueng wins downhill gold BEAVER CREEK: Sometimes, even a down- Lucky No. 13 turned into No. 1 on race day. hiller needs to be reminded to go fast. “I know everything is possible. I was really Patrick Kueng of Switzerland was told by a charging,” Kueng said. “In the past years, teammate before the race to just fly. He lis- when I took part in medal events, I had no tened and won. good events. I thought, ‘Why not today?’ American Travis Ganong was instructed My season has been pretty disappointing. I to “trust himself” on the hill. So he did and was feeling really confident and knew I earned a breakthrough silver medal, lifting could achieve a smooth and confident run the U.S. spirits after Bode Miller wasn’t able down the slope. “I love this mountain. I’m to race due to injury. lucky to sit here.” Kueng ruled the downhill at the world Ganong was motivated by teammate championships Saturday, winning the race Steven Nyman’s course report. Nyman with a consistent and concise run that was called up to the start house after his blister- just enough to hold off Ganong. Kueng ing run and told Ganong the hill was ripe earned his first world title by completing for the carving. Ganong didn’t hold any- the demanding course in 1 minute, 43.18 thing back and attacked the course. He seconds. Ganong finished 0.24 seconds pumped his ski poles after seeing his time behind Kueng, while Beat Feuz of on the scoreboard. Only, he knocked Switzerland picked up bronze. Nyman off the podium. Sure, Nyman was “I just turned my brain off, put a smile pleased for Ganong, but disappointed he on my face and had some fun,” Ganong said finished in fourth. as he raced in front of a packed venue on “He laid it down,” Nyman said. “I’m hap- home snow and with the sun shining. py with my run.” Ganong also got some This was a banner day for the Swiss and prerace advice from Rahlves, who’s well- the Americans, each placing three racers in versed in the nuances of this course. The NEW ORLEANS: Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (right) goes to the basket against Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol in the first half of an NBA the top 10. A forgetful one for the Austrians other night, Rahlves even showed Ganong basketball game. — AP as the first country of skiing didn’t have the video of his 2003 World Cup win at anyone finish better than 12th (Sochi Beaver Creek, when Rahlves flew down the Olympics downhill gold medalist Matthias course. Rahlves pointed out places where Bulls, Mavs forge ahead Mayer). What’s more, Austria hasn’t had a Ganong could gain speed. Ganong careful- men’s downhiller on the podium at worlds ly listened. since Michael Walchhofer earned a bronze “What Daron always teaches me is to ATLANTA: After Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis in 2005. Coincidentally, that’s the last time look for aerodynamics in specific places so hurt his right shoulder on a hard, awkward fall NBA results/standings the American men had a skier on the you can take the turn deep to get into that on an alley-oop dunk, Pau Gasol and the downhill podium at worlds, when Miller aerodynamic position,” said the 26-year-old Chicago Bulls pulled away for a 107-72 victory and Daron Rahlves finished 1-2. Miller Ganong, who’s from Squaw Valley, over New Orleans on Saturday night. Gasol had Chicago 107, New Orleans 72; Washington 114, Brooklyn 77; Golden State 106, NY Knicks 92; didn’t race Saturday after having surgery to California. “You can’t stay aerodynamic if 20 points and 15 rebounds for Chicago, which Philadelphia 89, Charlotte 81; Dallas 111, Portland 101 (OT); Milwaukee 96, Boston 93; Utah 102, fix a severed right hamstring tendon fol- you get tossed around sometimes. snapped a three-game skid. Derrick Rose added Sacramento 90. lowing a bad crash in the super-G. “I pushed hard today and it worked out.” 20 points for the Bulls, who went on a 40-11 run “The great champion that everybody Nyman had the fastest early run before Eastern Conference Western Conference after Davis went out. Atlantic Division Northwest Division expected to do something unfortunately being knocked out of the lead by Feuz. The dunk that drove Davis from the game W L PCT GB Portland 34 17 .667 - had a bad accident,” U.S. men’s coach Sasha Andrew Weibrecht, racing back in the pack was a two-handed jam of Tyreke Evans’ lob. Toronto 34 17 .667 - Oklahoma City 25 25 .500 8.5 Rearick said of Miller. “But the rest of the at No. 35, had an electric run going before Davis’ body swung like a pendulum as he held guys stepped up. They skied relaxed, free slowing near the finish. He wound up tied Brooklyn 21 29 .420 12.5 Denver 19 32 .373 15 the rim, then the 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward Boston 19 31 .380 14.5 and sent it.” It was actually Feuz who pro- for ninth. fell horizontally as he lost his grip. Davis stayed Utah 18 33 .353 16 vided some inspiration to Kueng, remind- Ganong is loaded with confidence these Philadelphia 12 40 .231 22.5 Minnesota 10 40 .200 23.5 in briefly before taking himself out with 4:16 left NY Knicks 10 41 .196 24 ing him not to play it safe. “I said, ‘Why not days after winning his first World Cup race in the first half and the game tied at 35. Pacific Division try your best today?’” Feuz said. “Maybe I on Dec. 28 in Italy. And now this, his first Central Division Golden State 40 9 .816 - On Friday night in Oklahoma City, Davis Chicago 31 20 .608 - shouldn’t tell him this in the future. But we medal at world championships. “All day LA Clippers 33 18 .647 8 scored 41 points and hit a 3-pointer as time Cleveland 31 21 .596 0.5 share our joy as a team.” long I was super relaxed and just having a Phoenix 29 23 .558 12.5 expired to give the Pelicans a 116-113 victory. Milwaukee 28 23 .549 3 To think, Kueng almost didn’t race. He good time,” Ganong said. “It was unbeliev- Tony Snell scored 19 points and Jimmy Butler 18 Sacramento 17 32 .347 23 had to qualify in a downhill training session able - skiing is the most fun thing you can Detroit 20 31 .392 11 for Chicago. Evans had 15 points for New Indiana 19 32 .373 12 LA Lakers 13 37 .260 27.5 the day before just to make the Swiss do. When it works out well at a venue, on a Orleans. squad. He finished 13th to secure his spot. stage like this, it’s just so special.” — AP Southeast Division Southwest Division Atlanta 42 9 .824 - Memphis 37 13 .740 - MAVERICKS 111, BLAZERS 101 Washington 32 20 .615 10.5 Houston 35 15 .700 2 Dirk Nowitzki capped a late rally with a 3- Charlotte 22 28 .440 19.5 Dallas 35 18 .660 3.5 pointer that forced overtime and finished with Miami 21 29 .420 20.5 San Antonio 32 18 .640 5 25 points, and Chandler Parsons scored 10 of his Orlando 16 37 .302 27 New Orleans 27 24 .529 10.5 20 in the extra period for Dallas. The Trail Blazers lost their seventh straight road game by blowing an 11-point lead in the Thompson had 16 on a night neither shot well. 17 points and 13 rebounds. last 2 minutes of regulation. Nowitzki’s high- Golden State improved to 40-9, tops in the The Jazz had lost five of six and were playing arching swish from the top of the key with 20 Western Conference, while the Knicks fell to 10- their fourth game in five days. DeMarcus Cousins seconds left finished a 7-0 run for a 96-all tie. The 41. Langston Galloway scored 15 points for the led the Kings with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Mavericks scored the first nine points of over- Knicks, who gave Carmelo Anthony a night off time as part of a 22-2 run. Parsons started over- and lost their third straight. BUCKS 96, CELTICS 93 time with two free throws and pumped his fist Brandon Knight scored 26 points and Giannis after a fadeaway jumper that put Dallas ahead WIZARDS 114, NETS 77 Antetokounmpo added 14 points and 11 by 10. Damian Lillard scored 26 points and John Wall scored 17 points, Rasual Butler had rebounds to help Milwaukee beat Boston for its LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 for the Blazers. 15 and Washington beat Brooklyn to break a sixth win in seven games. Jared Sullinger had 17 five-game skid. Playing without starting guard points and Marcus Smart added 13 for Boston. WARRIORS 106, KNICKS 92 Bradley Beal, who sat out with an injured right Draymond Green had 20 points and 13 big toe, Washington led throughout. The 37- 76ERS 89, HORNETS 81 rebounds, and Golden State beat New York to point margin of victory was its largest of the sea- Robert Covington scored 11 of his 22 points give Steve Kerr a win in his first game coaching son. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 19 points. in a pivotal third quarter, leading Philadelphia in the arena he nearly called home.