SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014 SPORTS Stenson, Cabrera-Bello go three clear in Dubai DUBAI: World number four Henrik Stenson and Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen (69). is on track to successfully defend his title at It was a bit of a battle for Stenson early in the DP World Tour Championship, but he will the day, when he three-putted for par from have to shake off the red-hot Rafael Cabrera- 20 feet on the par-5 second, and then need- Bello after yesterday’s third round. The ed to make and up-and-down for par on the Spanish world number 104 shot a seven- third before a chip-in for his first birdie of the under par 65 - the low round of the day for a day on the fourth. second successive day - and finished on 14- After another missed birdie chance on under par 202 after 54 holes, the same as the par-5 seventh hole, where he failed to make a four-footer putt, the 38-year-old shifted gears and made three birdies coming in for his 68. Stenson, who is yet to win a tournament this year despite a solid season, said: “It’s a great championship, this one, and of course it would mean a lot to me to defend, and to get a win this season. “It’s still been a good one, but still at the end of the year when we assess it, we will always look at the trophies and there has not been any yet. “We’ll try and make it happen, but there are a lot of strong players out there and Rafa seems to be on fire. We’ll see if we can hold him off tomorrow. “I struck it nicely today. I would say I was back to hitting it really good and had quite a few chances, but wasn’t as hot on the greens as I was yesterday. Left a couple shots out there but all in all, I’ll take that round. I am still in the race.” Cabrera-Bello, who needed just 21 putts to go through his round, fin- PHILADELPHIA: 76ers center Henry Sims (right) stands near after knocking the ball away from Phoenix Suns center Miles Plumlee (22) as he ished with four birdies in his last five holes. drives to the basket in the first half on an NBA basketball game. — AP And the Spaniard said his strong short game saved what could have been an ugly round. “It’s been a little crazy round, because I haven’t felt I’ve played perfect at all. I had to Suns scorch 76ers, work really, really hard, especially at the beginning. “I just managed to hang in there,” said Cabrera-Bello, winner of the 2012 Desert Classic. “I end up shooting three?under on the front nine and I could Wizards roll have easily shot two or three over, which DUBAI: Henrik Stenson plays during The was very good. And short game and putting DP World Tour Championship, held at has been unbelievable, probably the best PHILADELPHIA: Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points SPURS 121, TIMBERWOLVES 92 rolled past the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. — AP day of my life for short game.” McIlroy also and Markieff Morris had 18 to lead the Phoenix Tony Parker scored 28 points in 25 minutes The Mavericks won their sixth straight did not have the best start when he could Suns past the winless Philadelphia 76ers 122-96 and San Antonio cruised past short-handed game overall and fourth in a row against the Stenson, who shot a bogey-free round of 68. not make a birdie in the first four holes, but on Friday night. Minnesota. Parker made 12 of 18 shots, including Lakers, who were swept by Dallas in the regu- It was the Swede’s 12th consecutive he appeared to be motoring along as he The Sixers have lost their first 12 games and all three of his 3-pointers, and Danny Green lar season for the first time in 2013-14. round in the 60s on the Earth course of shot to the top of the leaderboard with four are just six losses shy of matching the 2009-10 scored 18 points for the Spurs, who got an easy Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons Jumeirah Golf Estates. The leading duo are birdies in the next six holes. New Jersey Nets for worst start in NBA history. night with a game against the Brooklyn Nets at were a combined 23 of 33 from the field as the now three clear of Englishman Justin Rose, But he then hit two wayward shots off Philadelphia is also three away from matching home on Saturday. Mavericks had season highs in points, shoot- who leads the chasing pack at 205 following the tee on the 13th and 14th and was penal- the 1972-73 team for worst start (0-15) in fran- Anthony Bennett scored a career-high 20 ing percentage (62 percent) and assists (37). a round of 68. World number one Rory ized with back-to-back double bogeys. chise history and could challenge that squad for points for the Timberwolves, who had just 10 Parsons had 21 points and Ellis scored 20. McIlroy once again endured a difficult day. “I definitely felt like I played better than the worst 82-game season (9-73) in NBA history. healthy players after announcing earlier in the Kobe Bryant missed his first eight shots and The 2012 champion, who is already assured yesterday, even though the score is the The Sixers actually led 27-26 at the end of the day that Kevin Martin will be out indefinitely was 6 of 22 for 17 points. Jeremy Lin had 18 to of becoming the European number one for same,” said McIlroy. “The 12th and 13th, obvi- first quarter until the Suns rolled toward the rout. with a fractured right wrist. The Wolves were also lead the Lakers, who came in with their first the season by winning the Race to Dubai, ously, ruined that scorecard a little bit. If I The Suns shot 69 percent in the first half and eas- missing starters Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic and two-game winning streak. made rare back-to-back double bogeys en had not had those two holes, I would be ily shook off the early challenge to win their third Thaddeus Young and backup big man Ronny route to a two-under par 70. McIlroy will right up there in the lead. straight game. Michael Carter-Williams led the Turiaf. WARRIORS 101, JAZZ 88 start the final round four shots behind “It makes life a little more difficult for Sixers with 18 points. The Spurs shot 54.8 percent, including 61.9 Andre Iguodala scored 17 points, Harrison Stenson and Cabrera-Bello, tied for fourth on myself tomorrow, but hopefully I can get off percent (13 of 21) from 3-pointers, and out- Barnes had 14 points and 11 rebounds and the 10-under par with Frenchman Victor to a fast start and try to put pressure on the WIZARDS 91, CAVALIERS 78 rebounded the smaller Wolves 53-46. Golden State Warriors used a blistering start to Dubuisson (67), England’s Tyrell Hatton (68) guys ahead of me.” — AFP John Wall took over in the third quarter and beat the Utah Jazz 101-88 for its fourth straight finished 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds GRIZZLIES 117, CELTICS 100 win. After a four-day layoff, the Warriors as Washington knocked LeBron James and Marc Gasol matched his career high with 32 showed no signs of rust. They led 28-13 at the Ciganda, Granada Cleveland back below .500 with the Cavaliers’ points and Zach Randolph added 16 points and end of the first quarter, 54-32 at the half and third straight loss. Resuming a rivalry that 16 rebounds to lead Memphis. 85-57 entering the fourth. peaked last decade when the Wizards and James’ Jon Leuer had a season-high 19 points, and Golden State (9-2) is off to its best start in tied in Naples Cavaliers met three consecutive years in the play- Mike Conley finished with 15 points and eight 41 years. Enes Kanter scored 18 points, and offs - it was so intense that both Jay-Z and Soulja assists for the Grizzlies, who shot 53 percent Gordon Hayward had 12 points and five NAPLES: Michelle Wie suddenly is in a posi- two shots out of the lead. Boy got involved - the Wizards grabbed a majori- from the field. Gasol led the way, going 13 for rebounds for a young Jazz team that’s strug- tion to consider a million ways how a great “All I want is an opportunity, a chance,” Wie ty of the 50-50 rebounds and capitalized on the 22. Kelly Olynyk led Boston with 18 points. gling against top competition. Utah (5-8) year can get even better. On a tough day that said. “I’m really proud of myself for giving defensive woes that have hurt Cleveland. Jared Sullinger had 13 points, Jeff Green hasn’t beaten a team that currently has a win- only rewarded the best shots, Wie holed out myself that today. I just want to go out there James scored 22 points on 8-for-21 shooting, added 12, while Avery Bradley and Marcus ning record. for eagle with a pitching wedge on her way to tomorrow and put myself in a great position but Cleveland committed 19 turnovers, shot 36 a 5-under 67 that moved her up high enough for Sunday.