MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014 SPORTS Italy stun Britain Photo of the day Seal Davis Cup last four berth

NAPLES: Italy foiled Great Britain’s 3 to level the tie in a rain-delayed sin- one but unfortunately I wasn’t quite dream of a first Davis Cup semi-final gles after Fognini had got the first point able to play well enough.” appearance in 33 years with a battling on the board for the hosts with a 6-4, 2- He appeared to lack sharpness 3-2 quarter-final win in Naples yester- 6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Ward on Friday. throughout but said fatigue had not day. The Italians, who last appeared in the been an issue: “I thought I did okay. I The British were in control, leading 2- semi-finals in 1998, will now face either guess the third set was the closest one 1 going into yesterday’s closing two Kazakhstan or Switzerland away in the in terms of scoreline. reverse singles. But Italy’s world number September 12-14 semi-final. “I did okay physically. Not the best, 13 Fabio Fognini stunned Andy Murray Murray’s defeat to Fognini was the but I’ve definitely been worse in situa- 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to level the tie at 2-2, with Scot’s first Davis Cup singles loss since tions like that.” Murray started well, Andreas Seppi securing the decisive last 2005. It came three days after he suf- breaking the Italian number one in the point with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over fered a stomach bug and against a play- first game of the first set. James Ward. er who has won all three of his titles on But Fognini responded in positive Murray and Colin Fleming had put clay within the last nine months. After fashion and had Murray on the ropes Britain in command on Saturday with a the rubber Murray said: “He played very throughout most of the encounter on 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win over Simone Bolelli well today, that’s for sure. red clay. and Fognini in the doubles. He’s a very good player especially on The Italian broke back twice in the Murray had beaten Seppi 6-4, 7-5, 6- this surface. “I knew it would be a tough first set and twice again in the second to heap the pressure on Murray. In the sec- ond set alone, Murray had 21 unforced errors and only six winners to 11 for his Italian opponent. The Scot was strug- gling with his serve and with a partisan Neapolitan crowd on his back through- out, never really found his rhythm. Fognini broke Murray once again during a slightly closer third set and as Denis Leontyev perfoms at the Red Bull Plaza Opening at Bear Mountain in Big Bear, CA, USA. the Scot served to stay in the match in —www.redbullcontentpool.com the final game Fognini pounced to earn three match points at 0-40. Murray saved two, but netted a fore- hand to hand Fognini his 12th win in 13 Davis Cup clay-court rubbers. It left Bobcats edge Cavaliers Ward needing to beat Seppi in a con- cluding rubber postponed in the first CLEVELAND: Al Jefferson scored 24 set while the Italian led 5-4. On their points, including seven in overtime, NBA results/standings return Seppi, 127 places above Ward in and the Charlotte Bobcats clinched a the rankings, clinched the first set, playoff spot with a 96-94 win over the going on wrap up victory serving out Orlando 100, Minnesota 92l; Chicago 96, Washington 78l; Charlotte 96, Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. the tie at the first time of asking. Italy Cleveland 94 (OT); Detroit 115, Boston 111; Brooklyn 105, Philadelphia 101; NAPLES: Italy’s Fabio Fognini celebrates after beating Britain’s Andy reach the last four for the first time in 16 Charlotte is in the postseason for Toronto 102, Milwaukee 98. the second time in its 10-year history Murray during a Davis Cup World Group quarterfinal tennis match. Fognini years when they went on to finish run- Eastern Conference Western Conference won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. — AP ners-up to Sweden. — AFP and the first time since 2010. The Atlantic Division Northwest Division Bobcats (39-38) are over .500 for the W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 55 20 .733 - second time this season and hold sev- Toronto 45 32 .584 - Portland 49 28 .636 7 enth place in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn 42 34 .553 2.5 Minnesota 38 38 .500 17.5 Petkovic, Cepelova Kyrie Irving scored a career-high 44 NY Knicks 33 44 .429 12 Denver 33 43 .434 22.5 points for Cleveland. The Cavaliers Boston 23 54 .299 22 Utah 24 52 .316 31.5 (31-47) trail eighth-place Atlanta by Philadelphia 17 60 .221 28 Pacific Division in Charleston final 31/2 games for the final playoff spot Central Division LA Clippers 54 23 .701 - in the East. Indiana 53 24 .688 - Golden State 47 29 .618 6.5 CHARLESTON: Bosnian-born German Andrea Petkovic out- healthy again, she shed tears of joy after Bouchard blasted a Irving was 16 of 31 from the field, Chicago 45 32 .584 8 Phoenix 45 31 .592 8.5 lasted rising Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard in a Family forehand over the baseline to end the match. including five 3-pointers. He added Cleveland 31 47 .397 22.5 Sacramento 27 49 .355 26.5 Circle Cup semi-final on Saturday to earn a spot in a WTA The pair could hardly have been more evenly matched, eight assists and seven rebounds. Detroit 28 49 .364 25 LA Lakers 25 51 .329 28.5 final for the eighth time. with Petkovic winning 102 points and Bouchard 101 as Gerald Henderson’s basket gave Milwaukee 14 63 .182 39 Southwest Division “It’s funny how destiny plays, but reaching a final of a big both players displayed dominating forehands. Bouchard Charlotte a 90-89 lead with 1:08 Southeast Division tournament here in South Carolina where my father went to had the upper hand in the deciding set after breaking in the remaining and the Bobcats made four Miami 52 23 .693 - San Antonio 59 17 .776 - college is an honor, and it’s nice,” Petkovic told The Post and fifth game and then holding serve to go 4-2 up, but free throws down the stretch to seal Washington 40 37 .519 13 Houston 50 25 .667 8.5 Courier after outlasting Bouchard 1-6 6-3 7-5 in a high-stan- Petkovic quickly broke back to level it. Petkovic had a match the win. Charlotte 39 38 .506 14 Dallas 46 31 .597 13.5 dard match on the green clay at Charleston, South Carolina. point in the 10th game on Bouchard’s serve, but was unable Atlanta 33 42 .440 19 Memphis 45 31 .592 14 Petkovic, seeded 14th, will meet Jana Cepelova in the final to convert. Orlando 22 55 .286 31 New Orleans 32 44 .421 27 late yesterday, after the unseeded Slovakian edged Swiss It proved, however, merely a stay for crowd-favorite NETS 105, 76ERS 101 teenager Belinda Bencic 6-4 5-7 7-6(7). It will be the first Bouchard, who reached the Australian Open semis in Kevin Garnett scored 10 points in WTA final for 20-year-old Cepelova, who continued her January. Cepelova and Bencic were also evenly matched, as his first game in more than five weeks 9.1 points, made up the scoring lost 16 points and six assists to help dream run after knocking out Serena Williams in the second both players broke five times in a match that stretched for to help Brooklyn beat Philadelphia. when starting point guard Kyle Lowry Orlando snap a three-game losing round. Petkovic, 26, was once ranked among the top 10 in two hours, 33 minutes. Bencic was up 4-1 in the tiebreak The 37-year-old Garnett missed 19 missed the game with a bruised left streak. Kyle O’Quinn had 14 points the world but multiple injuries interrupted her career. Now but Cepelova came through in the clutch. — Reuters straight games since Feb. 27 because kneecap. and 13 rebounds. of back spasms. The Nets went 14-5 DeRozan made six free throws in Ricky Rubio led Minnesota with 18 over that span. Garnett was back in the final 24 seconds to seal the victo- points and 10 rebounds. Corey Brewer Wisconsin falls short, the starting lineup and was sharp ry. Khris Middleton scored 20 points had 15 for Timberwolves, who were from the start. He scored on an alley- for Milwaukee, which has lost 13 of 14 missing many key players. oop in the first quarter, made his first games. Minnesota played without its three four shots, and had a nasty on leading scorers, Kevin Love, Kevin loses 74-73 to Kentucky Michael Carter-Williams’ layup BULLS 96, WIZARDS 78 Martin and Nikola Pekovic, all out with attempt that knocked the rookie DJ Augustin scored 25 points, injuries. Chase Budinger, starting in ARLINGTON: A record night at the nating at the Final Four. There were from Harrison from well beyond the guard to the ground. Garnett also Joakim Noah had 21 points and 12 place of Martin, left in the first minute foul line had Wisconsin seconds tears and comforting hugs all arc at 25 feet. passed Alex English to move into 14th rebounds, and Chicago turned a pos- with an ankle injury and didn’t return. away from a trip to the national title around the locker room after the But even then, Harrison had to on the NBA’s career scoring list. The sible first-round playoff preview into a game. What the Badgers needed game. earn it. “He was pretty deep out veteran center did not play in the laugher, never trailing in a win over PISTONS 115, CELTICS 111 was perfection. “Our guys certainly had nothing there. He hadn’t really looked to pull fourth quarter. Deron Williams had 19 Washington. Rodney Stuckey came off the Ben Brust and Sam Dekker each to hang their heads about,” coach (up) the entire game,” said guard points and Mason Plumlee 16 for the Augustin made 6 of 11 3-pointers - bench to score 26 points and help scored 15 points, but Traevon Bo Ryan said. “We played hard, we Josh Gasser, Wisconsin’s best defen- Nets. Thaddeus Young led the Sixers but only 2 of 8 2-pointers - and Carlos Detroit rally past Boston. The Pistons Jackson missed a with 16 played smart all season. That’s how sive player. “I saw him to start to rise with 20 points. Boozer added 16 points for the Bulls, trailed by as many as 19 points in seconds left and Wisconsin was left we ended up here.” up and I tried to contest the best I who have won five straight and are third quarter and were down 95-85 at stunned after Aaron Harrison’s 3 Balanced scoring, bench contri- could.” Until then, the game still RAPTORS 102, BUCKS 98 battling the Toronto Raptors for the the start of the fourth before going on from the wing with 5.7 seconds to butions and clutch plays carried seemed to be going their way in DeMar DeRozan scored 15 of his 23 No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. a 15-4 run that gave them their first play gave Kentucky a 74-73. It was them into April, too. Sporting a little spite of the overwhelming edge in points in the fourth quarter and Augustin has averaged 19.8 points lead since early in the game. The the only free throw the Badgers more firepower than the typical athleticism for Kentucky and their Toronto beat Milwaukee to keep pace during the winning streak. John Wall teams traded the lead several times missed all game, finishing a Final Wisconsin team under Ryan, the band of NBA-bound talent. The in the hunt for playoff position. scored 20 points, and Marcin Gortat before Stuckey made a pair of free Wildcats had a 46-24 advantage on Toronto and the , had 19 for the Wizards, who sit in sixth throws with 57 seconds left to break a points in the paint. who beat Washington on Saturday place in the East. If they hold that 111-all tie. Ryan had the final minute set up night, are 45-32 and tied for the third spot, they would face the third-seed- Jerryd Bayless tried for a go-ahead perfectly - a tight game with the seed in the Eastern Conference with ed team. shot in the final seconds but his 3- ball in the hands of Jackson, the jun- five games to play. Milwaukee fell to point try rimmed out. Greg Monroe ior he’s trusted in such situations for an NBA-worst 14-63, guaranteeing the MAGIC 100, TIMBERWOLVES 92 scored 21 points, Brandon Jennings countless games. team’s worst record in its 45-year his- Arron Afflalo scored 18 points and had 20 and Andre Drummond added Jackson did his job in drawing a tory. Greivis Vasquez tied a season- Tobias Harris and Maurice Harkless 19 and 20 rebounds to help Detroit foul while attempting a 3. Missed high with 26 points for Toronto, which added 17 apiece to lead Orlando over end a two-game skid. Bayless scored the first, hit the next two. It was just has won three consecutive games and short-handed Minnesota. 25 points and Jeff Green had 22 as the enough of an opening for Harrison six of seven. Vasquez, who averages Rookie Victor Oladipo contributed Celtics lost their eighth straight. —AP to hit his game-winner. One final chance to atone for the missed foul shot went awry. “I thought it was in. We had other ... opportunities,” Jackson said. “But the last shot was exactly what I wanted. I had him on his heels and got a good look.” The Badgers had effectively answered an earlier Kentucky punch that left them trail- ing by eight early in the second half. Backup forward Duje Dukan had a tip-in to help Wisconsin, and his 3 with 11:51 left had the Badgers back on top 56-55. Back-and-forth the ARLINGTON: Kentucky forward Julius Randle (30) loses the ball as teams went down the stretch in a Wisconsin forward Frank Kaminsky (44), guards Bronson Koenig (24) and tense and chippy game that wasn’t Ben Brust (1) defend during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tourna- decided until the last second. ment college semifinal game. —AP Reserve point guard Bronson Koenig scored 11 in filling in for Four record 95 percent from the Badgers overcame uncharacteristic foul-plagued Jackson in the first line, 19 of 20. Not good enough. defensive shortcomings at times to half. Frank Kaminsky was held to “That’s what you’re going to get get to the Final Four for the first eight points - 10 below his tourna- in the Final Four: a one-possession time since 2000. ment average - but chipped in four battle and unfortunately it just This time, though, Wisconsin (30- offensive rebounds that helped didn’t fall our way,” Brust said. 8) lost out in another test of basket- keep several possessions alive. Jackson missed a jumper at the ball tempos. Board-crashing It might take them a while to for- buzzer and the Badgers fell short in Kentucky (29-10) dominated the get this stinging loss, but the their quest for the school’s first paint and overcame the patient Badgers won’t be down for long. As national title since 1941. Badgers’ eight 3s. Kaminsky trudged through a hall- Instead, the Wildcats ended one The Badgers withstood wave way underneath AT&T Stadium, car- of the most successful seasons in after wave of Kentucky players rying his gear out for one last time, Wisconsin history, starting with a swooping in for dunks and tip-ins, the always entertaining center CLEVELAND: Charlotte Bobcats’ Al Jefferson (left) controls a against Cleveland Cavaliers’ Anderson 16-game winning streak and culmi- only to get done in by a 3-pointer yelled “On Wisconsin!” — AP Varejao (17), from Brazil, in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game. — AP