ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 16 Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Jose De Leon (87) throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. Reds won 6-5. (AP) — See Page 14 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Chelsea hold lackluster Madrid Blues show strength in CL semis 1st leg MADRID, April 28, (AP): With a dominant start and a milestone goal by Christian Pulisic, Chel- sea showed their strength against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifi - nals. Chelsea took control early in fi rst leg to hold the Spanish pow- erhouse to a 1-1 away draw, with Pulisic becoming the fi rst U.S. in- ternational to score in the tourna- ment’s last four. He also surpassed DaMarcus Beasley to become the top American scorer in Champions League history with fi ve goals. A red-hot Karim Benzema equal- ized for a lackluster Madrid squad on a rainy night at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium in the fi rst Champions League match since the controversial Super League folded last week amid wide- spread criticism. SOCCER The largely closed breakaway com- petition would have had Real Madrid as one of its leaders, and Chelsea also were among their founding members before dropping the idea along with the other English clubs. Madrid didn’t offi cially back out of the Super League but had downplayed the possibility of retaliation by UEFA in its Champi- ons League matches. There were no refereeing controversies in Tuesday’s match. The second leg is on May 5 in Lon- don. Chelsea got off to a fast start and had chances to add to their lead after Pulisic opened the scoring with a nice fi nish in the 14th minute off a high Chelsea’s Reece James, (center left), jumps for the ball with Real Madrid’s Nacho during the Champions League semifi nal fi rst leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo pass by Antonio Rudiger inside the di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain. (AP) area. Pulisic calmly got past goalkeep- er Thibaut Courtois before hitting the net past the Madrid defenders trying to Bucks avoid sweep as short-handed Mavs pound Warriors block his shot at the goal line. “It was a great fi nish, great compo- sure,” Chelsea captain César Azpili- cueta said of the 22-year-old Pulisic, who has been thriving after being Nets rally past Raptors, clinch playoff spot marred by injuries early in the season. “He’s an amazing player, he’s a young TAMPA, Fla., April 28, (AP): Kevin him after Antetokounmpo stole the scored 31 points and the Minnesota end their fi ve-game losing streak. player, he’s growing and improving. Durant scored seven of his 17 points ball from him. Timberwolves beat the Houston Rock- Lillard added 23 points and the I’m very pleased with his goal because in the fourth quarter, Jeff Green had Milwaukee built a 62-45 halftime ets 114-107 for their third straight vic- Blazers shot a season-best 57.1% from he’s an important player for the team.” 22 points and the Brooklyn Nets beat lead behind 15 points and eight re- tory. beyond the arc to end their longest skid Pulisic is the second U.S. interna- the Toronto Raptors 116-103 Tuesday bounds from Antetokounmpo while Anthony Edwards had 19 points and of the season. Simons was 9 for 10 on tional to play in a Champions League night and clinched a playoff spot. the Bucks’ defense held the Hornets to nine rebounds, and D’Angelo Rus- 3-pointers. semifi nal after Beasley for PSV Eind- Durant, who was playing his sec- 4-of-18 shooting from beyond the arc. sell added 15 points and seven assists Malcolm Brogdon and Oshae Bris- hoven in a fi rst-leg game against AC ond game after returning from a thigh Mavericks 133, Warriors 103 for the Timberwolves, who have won sett each fi nished with 18 points for the Milan in 2005. injury, added 10 rebounds in 33 min- three in a row for the fi rst time since Pacers, who had a three-game winning Madrid evened the match on Benze- utes for his eighth double-double of In San Francisco, Luka Doncic starting 3-0 in the 2019-20 season. streak end. scored 39 points and the short-handed ma’s volley from inside the area in the Minnesota Timberwolves forward the season. Durant hit a 3-pointer with Minnesota won in Houston for the With the Trail Blazers going 20 of 29th, and there were few signifi cant Anthony Edwards dunks on a fast 1:47 remaining and glared at the To- Dallas Mavericks jumped on Golden fi rst time since Feb. 17, 2012, snapping 35 from 3-point range, Indiana never chances either way during the rest of break during the fi rst quarter against ronto bench after putting his team up State from the start to thump the War- a 14-game losing streak. really had a chance. the game. the Houston Rockets in an NBA 111-101. riors 133-103. Kelly Olynyk had 28 points and Portland broke open the game in the Benzema’s goal came a few min- basketball game in Houston. (AP) Kyrie Irving fi nished with nine points, Stephen Curry scored 27 points with nine rebounds for Houston. Christian second quarter by taking advantage utes after he clipped the post with a six rebounds and four assists while mak- fi ve more 3-pointers, extending his Wood had 24 points and 18 rebounds, of a 13-5 discrepancy in offensive re- long-range shot. The French striker ing just 3 of 13 shots. But the other seven NBA record for 3-pointers in a month Jae’Sean Tate scored 20 points, and bounds and, of course-, the long-range controlled a loose ball with his head NBA Results/Standings Nets who played all fi nished in double to 90 in April after he reached 85 on Kenyon Martin Jr. added 15 points off shooting. before turning and fi ring a volley into fi gures on the night Brooklyn became Sunday night to pass James Harden’s the bench. The second of Lillard’s four 3s 82 set in November 2019. the top of the net for his 13th goal in the fi rst Eastern Conference team to lock broke a 50-all tie and spurred 21-5 Tim Hardaway Jr. added 13 points his last 14 matches. It was Benzema’s up a postseason berth. run that gave the Trail Blazers a 71- WASHINGTON, April 28, (AP): NBA re- and seven rebounds off the bench as BASKETBALL 16th goal in his last 17 home games The Nets won for a third straight 55 lead late in the fi rst half. A fl agrant sults and standings on Tuesday. the Mavericks led by as many as 43 with Madrid. Portland 133 Indiana 112 time and the fourth time in fi ve games foul against CJ McCollum in the fi nal to prevent Toronto from pulling off the and got 60 points from their reserves The Rockets have lost fi ve straight minute allowed the Pacers to claw Chelsea gave little space to Madrid Milwaukee 114 Charlotte 104 a night after losing 113-106 in Sacra- and were the more dangerous team Oklahoma City119 Boston 115 season sweep. The Raptors, who were and 10 of their last 11. They’re 4-37 their way back within 11 and a tech- Brooklyn 116 Toronto 103 led by Kyle Lowry’s 24 points and six mento. since Feb. 4. nical foul on Lillard after the fi rst half early on at the Di Stéfano in Madrid’s Just when the Warriors were deter- training complex. The hosts struggled Minnesota 114 Houston 107 3-pointers, had their fi ve-game home Houston tied the game at 102 with ended got Indiana within 73-63 before Dallas 133 Golden State 103 winning streak end. One of those vic- mined to gain some momentum for the 2:38 remaining. On the following play, the start of the second half. defensively with their setup of three important stretch run, they delivered central defenders. Eastern Conference tories was a 114-103 defeat of the Nets Towns fouled out of the game with But Portland prevented the Pacers Atlantic Division a dud and had their four-game home an offensive foul. He added seven re- “We started the game very, very W L Pct GB in Tampa last week. from making a serious challenge and Newly signed guard Mike James winning streak snapped. bounds and fi ve assists. used its second 3-point barrage to close well — very aggressively, with a lot x-Brooklyn 42 20 .677 - The Warriors went 9 minutes, 40 of quality,” Chelsea coach Thomas Philadelphia 40 21 .656 1-1/2 scored all of his 11 points in the fourth Without Towns, Minnesota closed the third quarter with a 113-78 lead. seconds without scoring spanning the out the game on a 12-5 run. Tuchel said. “We deserved to win the New York 34 28 .548 8 quarter as the Nets rallied from an 83- Thunder 119, Celtics 115 Boston 32 30 .516 10 80 defi cit to start the fi nal period. Blake fi rst and second quarters and were just The game matched the teams at the fi rst half. We had a lot of chances. We 5 for 27 midway through the second In Boston, Lu Dort scored 24 points, should have scored at least one more Toronto 26 36 .419 16 Griffi n scored 17 points off the bench, bottom of the Western Conference Southeast Division quarter.