MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015 SPORTS Kristoffersen masters tricky course

SLOVENIA: Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen awesome. I went over the limits,” said mastered a tricky course to clinch his sec- Hirscher, who was only 19th after the first ond World Cup slalom of the season in leg. “I had a problem with my boot and it’s Kranjska Gora yesterday. just crazy that I managed to stay in the The Olympic bronze medallist, who won race. It’s the sort of thing that happens to the first slalom of the winter in Levi, avoid- you once every 20 years. I’m glad it’s ed the traps of the Slovenian piste to win in behind me.” a combined time of one minute 41.26 sec- Hirscher leads his only rival for his fourth onds. Italy’s Giuliano Razzoli, the 2010 overall title in succession, Norway’s Kjetil Olympic champion, was runner-up, 0.24 Jansrud, by 164 points before the World seconds adrift, ahead of Sweden’s Mattias Cup finals in Meribel next week. Hargin, a further 0.62 behind, as most of The race for the slalom crystal globe the favourites faltered. remains much more open as current leader World Cup overall leader Marcel Felix Neureuther also suffered a difficult Hirscher partly recovered from a disastrous day in ninth place, 1.55 behind morning run by clocking the fastest time in Kristoffersen. The German will take a 55 the afternoon but could only finish sixth, point lead over his close friend Hirscher to 1.13 off the pace. “My performance was Meribel next week.—Reuters Porte wins Paris-Nice title NICE: Australia’s Richie Porte clawed back an cycling. Meanwhile, director overnight 36-second deficit to claim his sec- Christian Prudhomme yesterday urged other ond Paris-Nice title yesterday. France’s Tony international federations to investigate their Gallopin had seized command of the leader’s sport after the UCI published an independent yellow jersey with a solo success on Saturday report into cycling’s ugly past last week. and was bidding to become the first home Speaking to Reuters before the start of the winner in 18 years. last stage of Paris-Nice, Prudhomme said that But Team Sky rider Porte showed all his cycling has been at the forefront of the fight strength to win yesterday’s 9.6km time-trial against doping after years of scandals. on the col d’Eze and a second ‘Race to the The Frenchman welcomed the publication Sun’ title after a first success in 2013. of the Independent Reform Commission’s “I relish this win even more than two years report (CIRC), saying it showed that cycling, ago,” the Tasmanian-born cyclist said. “In the sport that first implemented the biologi- between times I had a bad season (in 2014).” cal passport in 2008, had the strength to deal In unusually cold and wet weather, Porte fin- with its problems. ished the early season classic stage race 30 “The report was ordered by the INDIANAPOLIS: Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) drives the ball to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game. —AP seconds clear of Michal Kwiatkowski, the International Cycling Union. It exists because Polish world road-race champion, who the management of the UCI wanted it,” opened the race by winning the prologue Prudhomme said. “It shows that there have outside Paris last Sunday. been improvements in a world that is not Pacers and Grizzlies excel Slovenian Simon Spilak took third place perfect. But the fight against doping is a per- overall, also at 30 seconds, with Rui Costa of manent fight.” INDIANAPOLIS: Tyler Zeller scored 18 points, three straight and five of seven. DeMarcus open the fourth quarter to as many as 11 early in Portugal fourth on the same mark. Gallopin, The provisional suspension of France’s three other Celtics added 16 and Boston Cousins had 30 points, 21 in the first half, for the the period. Philadelphia battled back within two who had raised hopes sky high for a rare Lloyd Mondory earlier this week, after the snapped the Indiana Pacers’ seven-game win- Kings before fouling out with 5:34 left. points twice down the stretch before Brooklyn French win after dominating the sixth stage Ag2r-La Mondiale rider failed an EPO test, ning streak with a 93-89 victory Saturday night. Ramon Sessions’ 3-pointer gave Washington held on. on Saturday, had to settle for sixth place over came as a stern reminder that doping is yet to The Celtics have won four straight and moved its first lead of the night, 89-88 with 10:11 left. a minute off the pace. be eradicated. “We’re on the right track but into a tie for ninth place in the Eastern Butler scored five straight to make it 94-88 and JAZZ 88, PISTONS 85 “It’s a huge disappointment for me,” he we must not be complacent.” Prudhomme Conference, a half-game behind Charlotte for Wall’s 3-pointer eventually capped a 16-0 run. Derrick Favors scored 26 points and blocked said. “I am not looking for any excuses. It was hinted that cycling was not the only sport the final playoff spot. Indiana is seventh. George The Kings, playing the second of a back-to-back, four shots, and Utah beat Detroit for its season- just a bad day for me.”Best-known for his with a doping problem. Hill scored a season-high 30 points for Indiana. finished 2-6 on their eight-game road trip. high fifth consecutive victory. The Pistons lost unselfish backing for in 2013 “Cycling cannot be singled out, you can- CJ Miles had 13. their 10th in a row. when the Englishman won the Tour de not just put it in a corner,” he explained. “I NETS 94, 76ERS 87 The Jazz ran their offense through Favors for France, Porte will now switch his focus to the think that we all dream that all the interna- GRIZZLIES 96, BUCKS 83 Thaddeus Young scored 21 points and much of Saturday night. Rudy Gobert had 10 Giro d’Italia in May when he will lead Team tional federations order an independent Courtney Lee scored 17 points, Jeff Green Brooklyn ended a five-game losing streak by points, 19 rebounds and two blocked shots, Sky. If Porte was all smiles under the rain, that report to look into what’s going on in their and Zach Randolph added 15 apiece, and beating Philadelphia. Joe Johnson added 15 while the rookie backcourt of Dante Exum and was far from being the case for Sky teammate patch.” Memphis beat Milwaukee. Beno Udrih, starting points and Jarrett Jack contributed 12 for the Rodney Hood combined for 20 points. , who withdrew from the race The CIRC report showed that doping was in place of the injured Mike Conley, had 14 Nets, who moved within three games of eighth Greg Monroe led the Pistons with 16 points, before the time-trial started. less prevalent but had not been completely points as Memphis ended a two-game losing place in the Eastern Conference. 12 rebounds and two blocks. Anthony Tolliver The winner was lan- eradicated with some riders still abusing cor- streak. Marc Gasol finished with 12 points, seven Brooklyn had allowed 106.6 points per game added 14 points off the bench. The anticipated guishing down in 103rd place ahead of the ticoids and using micro-dosing to avoid rebounds and seven assists. during its poor run. Nerlens Noel scored 17 Gobert-Andre Drummond matchup didn’t stamina-sapping finale. The 34-year-old detection. The report has its shortcomings, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with points for Philadelphia. Isaiah Canaan added 13 materialize after the Pistons center was diag- Englishman has said he will retire from road however, with less than six percent of the 19 points, shooting 7 of 10. Khris Middleton fin- and Hollis Thompson had 12. nosed with a concussion and didn’t play after racing after the Paris-Roubaix classic on April interviewees being current professional rid- ished with 17, while Zaza Pachulia scored 14. The Nets extended their eight-point lead to halftime. —AP 12 and will concentrate instead on track ers.—Reuters Ersan Ilyasova added 12 for Milwaukee, which lost its second straight and ninth in the last 12. Memphis went 8 of 14 from 3-point range, with NBA results/standings Vince Carter and Lee each making two.

WARRIORS 125, KNICKS 94 Boston 93, Indiana 89; Washington 113, Sacramento 97; Brooklyn 94, Philadelphia 87; Memphis 96, Milwaukee 83; Stephen Curry dazzled for 25 points and 11 Utah 88, Detroit 85; Golden State 125 NY Knicks 94. assists playing on his 27th birthday, and Golden State beat New York for its eighth straight home Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division victory. Curry ended the first half with a contest- Northwest Division W L PCT GB Portland 43 20 .683 - ed 3-pointer from the top of the arc as he leaned Toronto 39 26 .600 - Oklahoma City 36 29 .554 8 in and let it go, legs off balance. He finished 6 of Boston 29 36 .446 10 Utah 29 36 .446 15 10 on 3s. Brooklyn 26 38 .406 12.5 Denver 25 41 .379 19.5 Klay Thompson added 27 points with six 3s, Philadelphia 15 51 .227 24.5 Minnesota 14 50 .219 29.5 and the Splash Brothers combined for 29 points NY Knicks 13 52 .200 26 Pacific Division Central Division by halftime to highlight a 47-point second quar- Golden State 52 13 .800 - Cleveland 42 25 .627 - ter that blew open the game. Andrea Bargnani LA Clippers 42 24 .636 10.5 Chicago 40 27 .597 2 had 18 points for the Knicks and Alexey Shved Phoenix 34 33 .507 19 Milwaukee 34 32 .515 7.5 added 14. Indiana 30 35 .462 11 Sacramento 22 43 .338 30 Detroit 23 43 .348 18.5 LA Lakers 17 47 .266 34.5 WIZARDS 113, KINGS 97 Southeast Division Southwest Division John Wall had 31 points and 12 assists, Paul Atlanta 51 14 .785 - Memphis 46 20 .697 - Pierce scored 17 points, and Washington rallied Washington 38 28 .576 13.5 Houston 43 22 .662 2.5 from a 21-point, third-quarter deficit to beat Charlotte 29 35 .453 21.5 Dallas 42 25 .627 4.5 Sacramento. Miami 29 36 .446 22 San Antonio 40 24 .625 5 FRANCE: Paris-Nice 2015 winner Australia’s Richie Porte (right) poses with second- Orlando 21 46 .313 31 New Orleans 36 29 .554 9.5 placed Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski (left) on the podium at the end of the 73rd edi- Reserve Rasual Butler and Bradley Beal scored tion of the Paris-Nice cycling race. —AFP 14 points apiece for the Wizards, who have won Zain main sponsor of GulfRun Karting Endurance Race Company awards first place winners of 12 hour race

Winning teams felicitated during Zain sponsored GulfRun Karting Endurance Race.

KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications ment and the sports sector. The company will awarded first place winning teams, further con- an ideal and safe alternative to street racing measures while driving within Kuwaiti youth company in Kuwait, announced today its main spare no efforts in supporting causes and initia- firming its commitment towards the encourage- which threatens youth’s lives. Motorsport enthu- It is worth mentioning that GulfRun is an sponsorship of the recently held GulfRun Karting tives that spread awareness on certain areas that ment of youth’s abilities and achievements. siasts can showcase their talents within profes- annual motorsport event which was established Endurance Race. The event was held last week- concern the next generation, especially that this The Karting Endurance race is increasingly sional and certified circuits while gaining profes- in 2005 by a group of Kuwaiti youth who are sim- end at SIRBB Circuit with overwhelming partici- exciting race was established by a group of attracting more motorsport enthusiast in Kuwait. sional guidance based on worldwide safety pro- ply passionate about automobile racing. The race pation of motorsport enthusiasts. Kuwaiti youth. Zain took part in the exciting Participants competed by driving specialized cedures. Zain’s sponsorship came in light of the extinguishes itself from any other motorsport Zain’s continuous support to GulfRun is in line event that was held throughout 12 continuous Karts at SIRBB Circuit over a straight period of 12 current passion arousing within youth for car rac- race by promoting a safe and secure environ- with the company’s utmost Corporate Social hours, and witnessed immense participation of hours with tremendous success gathering many ing, and by sponsoring this event; the company ment to race and train, as well as spreading Responsibility towards youth talents develop- motorsport enthusiast in Kuwait. The company enthusiasts of this sport. GulfRun is considered is highlighting its dedication to applying safety awareness to limit street accidents.