MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016 SPORTS Bayern boss issues ‘hands off’ warning to City BERLIN: Bayern Munich chairman Karl- applies to Manchester City,” Rummenigge “For months we have been working on a surprise after it was announced Friday Rummenigge tersely. City have also been Heinz Rummenigge has issued a thinly- told German daily Bild. The Bayern boss new team and who knows how things that Bayern has locked in left-back David linked to Bayern’s top-scorer Robert veiled ‘hands off’ warning to Manchester commented after City’s director of sport will come together.” Alaba on a contract until 2021, which Lewandowski, who has a contract in City after Pep Guardiola’s future employ- Txiki Begiristain had hinted that the big- Any interest in Bayern’s stars from came in the wake of reported interest Munich until 2019. Barely a week current- ers have been linked to a string of spending English giants are interest in City’s direction is particularly awkward for from City. “It shows Bayern Munich are ly passes by without a top German player Bayern’s stars. some of Bayern’s stars. “I can’t promise Guardiola after it was announced in the ones at the wheel. That was our goal. reportedly set to follow Guardiola to City “I have been wondering somewhat anything. Our goal is as always to put January that the current Munich coach And in the case of David Alaba, it shows with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay about statements made by our col- together a strong squad. Just like Bayern will take over from Manuel Pellegrini at that Bayern Munich decides what is Gundogan the latest candidate after his leagues from Manchester City, because Munich are doing,” the 51-year-old City the Premier League giants next season. going on and not just any English club agent met with Begiristain in Amsterdam contracts are contracts and that also boss, and a friend of Guardiola, told Sky. Rummenigge’s reaction comes as no who can make fancy offers,” added a fortnight ago. —AFP Spurs smother Warriors 87-79 in clash of titans SAN ANTONIO: LaMarcus Aldridge had was 7 of 10. Ray McCallum added 14 for 26 points and 13 rebounds, and the San Memphis, including seven in the fourth Antonio Spurs beat the Golden State quarter. Lance Stephenson had 12 points Warriors 87-79 on Saturday night to and JaMychal Green finished with 11 as remain perfect at the AT&T Center this Memphis snapped a four-game losing season and extend their home domi- streak. Chris Paul had 25 points and six nance over the defending champions to assists for the Clippers, while DeAndre 33 straight regular-season games. Kawhi Jordan added 16 points and seven Leonard added 18 points and 14 rebounds. Paul Pierce contributed 12 rebounds for San Antonio, which has points and Austin Rivers finished with 10. won 44 straight at home in the regular The Clippers have lost three of four. season, tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history. The Spurs held HAWKS 109, ROCKETS 97 Warriors superstar Stephen Curry to 14 Al Horford scored 22 points and points while limiting him to 1-for-12 streaking Atlanta continued to feast on shooting on 3-pointers. San Antonio (59- Western Conference teams by beating 10) moved within three games of Golden Michael Beasley and Houston. The Hawks State (62-7) for the league’s top seed have won five straight and eight of nine. with two games remaining between the They’ve also won six straight against two teams. San Antonio was able to win Western Conference teams. Beasley led a showdown between the league’s top Houston with a season-high 30 points, two teams with Tim Duncan coming off including 12 of the team’s 14 fourth- the bench for only the third time in his quarter points. James Harden had 25 and career. Dwight Howard had eight points and 17 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 HEAT 122, CAVALIERS 101 points off Atlanta’s bench, his second Dwyane Wade scored 24 points to sur- straight game with at least 20 points. He pass 20,000 for his career, Josh made five of seven 3-pointers. Richardson added 19 and Miami never trailed in beating Cleveland. Goran BULLS 92, UTAH 85 Dragic had 18 points and 11 assists for Derrick Rose scored 22 points to lead VILA-REAL: Villarreal’s midfielder Samuel Castillejo (L) vies with Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi during the Spanish league foot- Miami, Joe Johnson also scored 18 and short-handed Chicago past Utah, snap- ball match Villarreal CF vs FC Barcelona at El Madrigal stadium in Vila-real yesterday. — AFP Hassan Whiteside finished with 16 points ping the Jazz’s four-game winning and 13 rebounds. Miami outrebounded streak. Taj Gibson had 15 points and 10 Cleveland 42-26 and led by as many as rebounds, and Nikola Mirotic added 15 Barcelona extend advantage 33 at one point. LeBron James had 26 points for Chicago. Rose was 10 for 15 points for Cleveland and sat out the final from the field as the Bulls won their sec- 15 minutes, the outcome already long ond straight. Chicago (35-33) remained been decided when his night ended. in eighth place in the Eastern despite blowing two-goal lead Richard Jefferson scored 20 and Kyrie Conference. The Bulls were playing with- MADRID: Barcelona extended their lead at the top Villarreal’s start as they hit the woodwork inside the against Madrid just after the international break. Irving had 14 for the Cavaliers, who have out Pau Gasol (right knee swelling) and of La Liga to nine points despite blowing a two- first minute when a Manu Trigueros effort was But that proved to be the turning point as Mathieu lost 11 consecutive games in Miami. E’Twaun Moore (left hamstring). Derrick goal advantage to draw 2-2 at Villarreal yesterday. turned towards his own goal by Arda Turan. was constantly caught out. Favors led the Jazz with 24 points. Ivan Rakitic and a controversial Neymar penalty Claudio Bravo then blocked Bakambu’s effort from Bakambu halved the deficit with a simple finish THUNDER 115, PACERS 111 Gordon Hayward, Utah’s leading scorer had Barca on course for a 13th consecutive La Liga a narrow angle as Barca struggled to contain after Bravo had parried Denis Suarez’s initial effort. Russell Westbrook had his second with 20.1 points per game, had nine win before half-time. Villarreal’s pace on the break. Mathieu then gifted Bakambu the ball straight triple-double in two nights, Kevin Durant points on 4-for-13 shooting after missing Yet, Villarreal were more than worthy of a point Yet the visitors still struck first with some for- from kick-off, but the Congolese forward tried to had 33 points and 13 rebounds, and two games with plantar fasciitis of the and got their reward after the break through Cedric tune as Lionel Messi’s free-kick ricocheted off Luis tee up Roberto Soldado instead of going for goal Oklahoma City overcame Paul George’s right foot. Bakambu and Jeremy Mathieu’s own goal. Suarez and fell perfectly into the path of Rakitic to himself and Javier Mascherano intercepted. 45 points to beat Indiana. Westbrook fin- Real Madrid can move to within 10 points of rifle home. The hosts were then furious when Soldado then missed a huge chance to level as ished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 14 WIZARDS 99, KNICKS 89 Barca ahead of the meeting between the two sides Gerard Pique was pardoned a second yellow card he haded wide when unmarked from point-blank assists, his 14th triple-double of the sea- John Wall had 24 points and 10 assists, in two weeks when they host Sevilla later yester- for clearly stopping a Villarreal attack by handling range. Asenjo also made a crucial contribution to son. Durant nearly had one, too, finishing and Washington rallied from an 18-point, day. However, Sevilla also have the chance to close the ball on the ground after just 23 minutes. Villarreal’s comeback with a stunning save to stop with eight assists to lead Oklahoma City second-quarter deficit to beat New York the gap on Villarreal to just three points in the fight Villarreal boss Marcelino was expelled from the Neymar making it 3-1. to its fourth straight win. George added for its fourth straight victory. Marcin for the fourth Champions League place. “It is a posi- touchline for taking his protests too far. Moments later, Villarreal were level when the seven rebounds and four assists but Gortat added 15 points and 11 rebounds, tive result for us,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique. And worse was to come for the hosts when ref- hapless Mathieu turned a corner into his own net. missed a 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds left while Markieff Morris added 17 points as “The best teams in the league have lost here, eree Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez pointed to the Barca regained their composure in the final quarter we’ve drawn. We were close to winning, but also spot despite Sergio Asenjo clearly playing the ball to ensure their unbeaten run in all competitions that could have tied it. Indiana erased a all five Washington starters scored in could have lost. “It is a positive round of fixtures for as Neymar tried to round the goalkeeper. Neymar stretches to 39. 10-point halftime deficit and regained double figures. It was the largest come- us. One less (to go) and one point closer to our put Barca’s recent troubles from the spot behind Asenjo, who only returned from an 11-month the lead early in the fourth quarter, but back win of the season for the Wizards, objectives.” him to dink home the penalty for his 27th goal of injury layoff against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, couldn’t hold it.