SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 SPORTS Houston Rockets retire trail blazing Yao’s jersey LOS ANGELES: The Houston Rockets alongside those of Clyde Drexler (22), Olajuwon, Steve Francis, Dikembe including the deciding free throws in the Harden also grabbed 12 rebounds feted Hall of Famer Yao Ming on Friday, Moses Malone (24), Calvin Murphy (23), Mutombo, Shane Battier, NBA commis- final 36 seconds of overtime. and handed out nine assists for the retiring the ground-breaking Chinese Hakeem Olajuwon (34) and Rudy sioner Adam Silver and Rockets owner Michael Carter-Williams’ layup with Rockets, who got 21 points off the bench star’s jersey in an emotional halftime cer- Tomjanovich. “I remember the first time I Leslie Alexander. 2:19 to play in the extra session had from Eric Gordon. emony during their 121-117 overtime watched (an) NBA game, randomly saw a “Tonight is about thank you,” Battier brought Chicago back within 115-113, The Bulls were led by Carter-Williams’ win over the Chicago Bulls. shot the cameras gave on those retired said on behalf of Yao’s teammates. and he knotted the score when he 23 points, while Taj Gibson added 20 and Yao was the first overall draft selec- jerseys,” Yao said. “After I read stories, I “Thank you for your humility. Thank you grabbed the rebound after his own Wade chipped in 19. tion in 2002 and the first player drafted know that (is) the highest honor a player for your work ethic. Thank you for your missed free throw and drained a jump Brook Lopez pulled down 11 number one who didn’t play collegiately can reach for himself and an accomplish- humor. Thank you for your dominance. shot. Harden then converted one of two rebounds for the Bulls, who were with- in the United States. ment for the team. Today I think I’ll You are a Hall of Famer in every sense of free-throw attempts to push the Rockets out Jimmy Butler because of a right heel The 7-foot-6 (2.29m) Chinese giant always ask myself what is the story the word. Thank you for allowing all of us back in front at 116-115, but Dwyane contusion. averaged 19.2 points and nine rebounds behind it. “I hope people see the jersey to be a part of your journey.” Wade’s turnaround jump shot with 1:28 The Bulls came out firing in the third, for the Rockets and became a global there and remember the story, not only The Rockets were up 60-49 at half- to go saw the Bulls edge ahead. using a 14-4 scoring run to narrow the ambassador for the sport during his about myself, but also my teammates, time, but they had to put in extra time to Harden responded with a contested gap and eventually take a slim lead into eight NBA seasons. my opponents. We created the story make sure the celebratory night didn’t jump shot. He was fouled on the play the fourth. He continued promoting the game together, just like the other jerseys creat- end with a deflating defeat. and made the free throw also, and after Harden’s step-back jumper tied the after he was forced into retirement in ed the story for (us.)” The halftime cere- Chicago came up empty on their next score at 108-108 with 27.3 left in regula- 2011 by repeated foot injuries. On Friday mony began with a video celebrating HARDEN SHINES possession Harden made another brace tion, but he was unable to make another his number 11 was raised to the rafters Yao’s career. It included appearances by James Harden scored 42 points, of free throws to make it 121-117. at the buzzer. —AFP English Football League Tables Chelsea 3, Arsenal 1; Crystal Palace 0, Sunderland 4; Everton 6, Bournemouth 3; Hull City 2, Liverpool 0; Southampton 1, West Ham United 3; Watford 2, Burnley 1; West Bromwich Albion 1, Stoke City 0. P W D L F A Pts Stoke City 24 7 8 9 29 36 29 Chelsea 24 19 2 3 51 17 59 Burnley 24 9 2 13 26 35 29 Tottenham 23 13 8 2 45 16 47 Southampton 24 7 6 11 24 31 27 Arsenal 24 14 5 5 52 28 47 Bournemouth 24 7 5 12 35 47 26 Liverpool 24 13 7 4 52 30 46 Middlesbrough23 4 9 10 19 26 21 Man City 23 14 4 5 47 28 46 Leicester City 23 5 6 12 24 38 21 Man United 23 11 9 3 33 21 42 Everton 24 11 7 6 40 27 40 Swansea City 23 6 3 14 28 52 21 Bromwich 24 10 6 8 32 29 36 Hull City 24 5 5 14 22 47 20 Ham United 24 9 4 11 32 41 31 Crystal Palace 24 5 4 15 32 45 19 Watford 24 8 6 10 29 40 30 Sunderland 24 5 4 15 24 42 19 Rejuvenated Cameroon, Egypt set for Cup final showdown LIBREVILLE: Cameroon and Egypt are both Cameroon, who last won the title in 2002, aiming to cap remarkable revivals by winning have had 24 hours less time to recover and the Africa Cup of Nations when they meet in a ready themselves for the game at the Stade final that few thought possible in Libreville de l’Amitie in Gabon’s capital after second- today evening. half goals by Michael Ngadeu and Christian These are two of the most successful Bassogog gave them a 2-0 win against Ghana nations in the 60-year history of the competi- in Franceville on Thursday. Egypt played their tion, with Egypt unrivalled on seven titles and semi-final in Libreville on Wednesday, Cameroon, four-time winners, just behind although they needed extra time and penal- alongside Ghana. ties to see off Burkina Faso after a 1-1 draw, But at the outset of the tournament in veteran 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Gabon it was the likes of Algeria, Senegal and Hadary proving their hero in the shoot-out. OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) passes between Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) and guard Mike defending champions the Ivory Coast who The evrgreen stopper is targetting a fifth per- Conley (11) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Friday. — AP were considered the favourites, with Egypt no sonal continental title having first won one more than dark horses in their first appear- way back in 1998. ance since 2010. Cameroon, meanwhile, came with what looked like their weakest FORMIDABLE Westbrook’s triple-double ever squad, handicapped by the refusal of The Egyptians had won three consecutive several leading players to accept call-ups Cups of Nations between 2006 and 2010 but from Belgian coach Hugo Broos. missed the last three tournaments amid politi- Yet the Indomitable Lions qualified from cal upheaval in the country before Argentine leads Thunder past Grizzlies their group at the expense of the hosts and Hector Cuper led them to back onto the scene have since knocked out both Senegal and here. Like Broos, Cuper has a young squad, OKLAHOMA: Russell Westbrook tallied his Ghana to make their first final since 2008. although there are four survivors from the 25th triple-double of the season to lead NBA results/standings Then, with a side containing the likes of team that won the title in 2010 in El Hadary, Oklahoma City to a victory over the Memphis Rigobert Song and Samuel Eto’o, they lost 1-0 Ahmed Fathy, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi and the Grizzlies Friday night. Westbrook racked up 38 to the Egyptians in Ghana’s capital Accra. This Hull City wing-back Ahmed Elmohamady. The Denver 121, Milwaukee 117; Houston 121, Chicago 117 (OT); Oklahoma City 114, Memphis 102; Boston 113, LA points, 12 assists and 13 rebounds. That Lakers 107; Indiana 106, Brooklyn 97; Detroit 116, Minnesota 108; Orlando 102, Toronto 94. current Cameroon side has no such big name Pharaohs have not exactly been a joy to included scoring the final 15 points of the stars but Broos has transformed their fortunes watch-they have built their success under game for the Thunder as Oklahoma City ended Eastern Conference Western Conference over the last 12 months and is now looking Cuper around a rock-solid defence that has a three game losing streak. Marc Gasol led the Atlantic Division Northwest Division W L PCT GB for them to make history rather than be con- only conceded one goal so far in Gabon, while Grizzlies with 31 points and eight assists. Mike Utah 31 19 .620 - Boston 32 18 .640 - Oklahoma City 29 22 .569 2.5 tent with their unexpected run. “We want to they have relied heavily on the star quality of Conley added 18 points. go into this final and win it. For these young Mohamed Salah at the other end. Toronto 30 21 .588 2.5 Denver 22 27 .449 8.5 players — 14 of the 23 are playing at their Cuper is eager to shake off his own reputa- NY Knicks 22 29 .431 10.5 Portland 22 29 .431 9.5 CELTICS 113, LAKERS 107 Philadelphia 18 31 .367 13.5 first Cup of Nations-it is possibly a unique tion as a loser having suffered numerous ago- Minnesota 19 31 .380 12 Isaiah Thomas just missed becoming the Brooklyn 9 41 .180 23 Pacific Division opportunity in their careers to win the tro- nising defeats in finals over the course of his Central Division first Celtic ever to score 40 points in three Golden State 43 7 .860 - phy,” he said.