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Luka Doncic and Mavericks spoil Victor Wembanyama’s debut, beat the Spurs 126-119

Dallas Mavericks' Slovenian point guard Luca Doncic drives past San Antonio Spurs' French forward-center Victor Wembanyama (2nd L) for two during the NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. (AFP)
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Updated 26 October 2023
AP
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Luka Doncic and Mavericks spoil Victor Wembanyama’s debut, beat the Spurs 126-119

  • Dallas forced two turnovers in the final minute to preserve the victory
  • Kristaps Porzingis made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:29 left and scored 30 points in a strong Celtics debut
  • Jayson Tatum had 34 points and 11 rebounds and Boston defeated New York
Updated 26 October 2023
AP

SAN ANTONIO: Luka Doncic had 33 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and the Dallas Mavericks spoiled the NBA debut of No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama, beating the San Antonio Spurs 126-119 on Wednesday night.

Dallas forced two turnovers in the final minute to preserve the victory. Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving added 22 points and Grant Williams added 17 points in the season opener for both teams.

Devin Vassell had 23 points to lead San Antonio. Keldon Johnson added 17 and Wembanyama had 15 points.

Wembanyama scored nine points in the final seven minutes after struggling with foul trouble in the fourth quarter. The rookie was 6 for 9 from the field and had five rebounds and two assists and a block in 23 minutes.

PACERS 143 WIZARDS 120

Bruce Brown scored 24 points and made a career-high six 3-pointers in his Pacers debut, leading Indiana to a record-breaking victory over Washington.

It was the highest scoring total for a season opener in team history, surpassing the 140 they had against Brooklyn in 2017. Indiana fell two points short of setting the franchise scoring mark for points in a home game.

All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton had 20 points and 11 assists as eight Pacers had double-digit scoring totals.

For Washington, it was an ugly start to the post-Bradley Beal era. While The Wizards led 39-34 after one quarter, they fell apart offensively over the final three and got overstretched defensively.

Kyle Kuzma scored 25 points and Jordan Poole added 18 as Washington was 9 of 24 on 3s.

MAGIC 116 ROCKETS 86

Cole Anthony had 20 points and eight rebounds, and Orlando beat Houston in the season opener for both teams.

Anthony went 8 for 12 from the field and played 24 minutes in a reserve role. Franz Wagner scored 17 points for Orlando, and Paolo Banchero finished with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks each scored 14 points in their first game with Houston. Center Alperen Senguin added 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

HORNETS 116 HAWKS 110

P.J. Washington scored 25 points, rookie Brandon Miller provided a huge spark with eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and Charlotte held on to defeat Atlanta.

Terry Rozier added 24 points for the Hornets and LaMelo Ball shook off a rough first half and finished with 15 points and 10 assists. Mark Williams chipped in with 13 points and 15 rebounds for Charlotte.

Trae Young had 23 points to lead the Hawks, but shot 1 for 9 from 3-point range. Jalen Johnson had a career-high 21 points.

CELTICS 108 KNICKS 104

Kristaps Porzingis made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:29 left and scored 30 points in a strong Celtics debut, Jayson Tatum had 34 points and 11 rebounds and Boston defeated New York.

Porzingis finished with eight rebounds and four blocked shots against his original NBA team, showing why his new one is considered one of the NBA Finals favorites after acquiring the 7-foot-3 center and Jrue Holiday during the offseason.

Holiday scored nine points. Derrick White had 12 for the Celtics, and Jaylen Brown had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.

RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley each scored 24 points for the Knicks, who started slowly but opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run to take their first lead of the game. They couldn’t hold on against one of the NBA’s best teams.

RAPTORS 97 TIMBERWOLVES 94

Dennis Schroder scored 22 points in his Toronto debut, O.G. Anunoby had 20 and the Raptors gave new coach Darko Rajakovic a victory in his first game by beating Minnesota.

Scottie Barnes had 17 points, Pascal Siakam added 15 and Jakob Poeltl grabbed 11 rebounds for the Raptors.

Anthony Edwards had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert added 15 points and 13 rebounds, but Minnesota lost its 19th straight north of the border.

Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mike Conley scored 11 for the Timberwolves. Towns shot 8 for 25, going 2 of 10 from 3-point range.

HEAT 103 PISTONS 102

Bam Adebayo scored 22 points, Jimmy Butler finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds and Miami held off Detroit in the season opener for both clubs.

Tyler Herro scored 16 points, Duncan Robinson added 15 and Kevin Love had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat — who led by 19 with 9:07 left, wasted almost all of it and went scoreless in the final 2:57.

Cade Cunningham had 30 points and nine assists for the Pistons. Jalen Duren had 17 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks for Detroit, Isaiah Stewart had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Killian Hayes scored 10.

inbounded the ball to Cunningham with 2.5 seconds left, but his well-defended 30-footer missed as time expired.

Miami improved to 20-16 all-time in openers, 10-6 under coach Erik Spoelstra. Detroit fell to 38-40 in openers, and dropped the first game of the Monty Williams coaching era with the Pistons.

CAVALIERS 114 NETS 113

Donovan Mitchell scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland beat Brooklyn for their first road win in a season opener since 2000.

Cleveland had six players score in double figures. Max Strus, who started in place of injured center Jarrett Allen, had 27 points and 12 rebounds. Isaac Okoro scored 18 points, and Darius Garland finished with 15.

Cam Thomas scored 36 for Brooklyn, setting a league record for most points for a reserve in a season opener. Mikal Bridges scored 11 of his 20 in the fourth quarter. Cam Johnson had 12 points, and Ben Simmons finished with four points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

THUNDER 124 BULLS 104

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and Oklahoma City beat Chicago in the season opener.

Fourth in the NBA in scoring last season, Gilgeous-Alexander keyed a 12-0 run late in the third quarter that broke open a one-point game. Josh Giddey and Rookie of the Year runner-up Jalen Williams each scored 16 for Oklahoma City.

Chet Holmgren had 11 points in his long-awaited NBA debut. Isaiah Joe led a strong effort by the bench with 14 points, and Oklahoma City’s reserves outscored Chicago’s 42-34.

DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 20 points. Zach LaVine scored all of his 16 points in the second half. Coby White scored 15, and Nikola Vucevic added 11 points and nine rebounds for Chicago.

PELICANS 111 GRIZZLIES 104

CJ McCollum scored 24 points, Zion Williamson added 23 points and seven rebounds as New Orleans defeated Memphis.

McCollum was 8 of 16 from the field including 6 of 11 from outside the arc. Williamson scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter to avoid any comeback by Memphis. Brandon Ingram finished with 19 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 31 points, while Marcus Smart had 17 points. Xavier Tillman matched Smart’s 17 points and added 12 rebounds.

The game was the first of the 25-game suspension for Grizzles guard Ja Morant, the team’s leading scorer last season. He is scheduled to finish the suspension in December. His absence, along with several injuries across the Memphis frontline left the Grizzlies at a disadvantage.

KINGS 130 JAZZ 114

Harrison Barnes scored 33 points and Domantas Sabonis added 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead Sacramento over Utah.

De’Aaron Fox chipped in 18 points for the Kings, and Malik Monk dished out a team-high seven assists off the bench.

Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 24 points and six assists. Lauri Markkanen tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds and John Collins finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds in his Utah debut.

The Jazz had won six straight season openers before falling at home Wednesday night. Utah has now dropped four of its last five regular season games against Sacramento.

CLIPPERS 123 TRAIL BLAZERS 111

Paul George scored 27 points and Kawhi Leonard added 23 to lead five players in double figures as Los Angeles beat Portland in their season opener.

The Clippers had Leonard and George together for just 38 games last season, when both were derailed by injuries and the team lost in the first round of the playoffs. But they’re healthy and in the lineup at the same time now, raising expectations for the Clippers as they pursue the franchise’s first NBA championship.

Ivica Zubac had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook added 11 points and 13 assists — making him the first Clippers player with at least 10 assists in a season opener since Chris Paul in October 2015.

Malcolm Brogdon scored 20 points off the bench to lead the Blazers. Anfernee Simons added 18 points and Deandre Ayton had 12 rebounds while in foul trouble most of the game. The Blazers had six players in double figures.

Topics: dallas mavericks Luka Doncic Victor Wembanyama San Antonio Spurs National Basketball Association (NBA)

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Kovac sets sights on Champions League spot as Dortmund welcome Wolfsburg

Updated 7 sec ago
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Kovac sets sights on Champions League spot as Dortmund welcome Wolfsburg

Updated 7 sec ago
Dortmund, who were 11th earlier this year, have turned their season around after Kovac took charge in February and now sit sixth
“We’re within striking distance again,” Kovac said

BERLIN: Resurgent Borussia Dortmund will seek the help of their crowd as the 12th man when they host mid-table Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga with a Champions League spot within reach after a difficult campaign, manager Niko Kovac said on Friday.
Dortmund, who were 11th earlier this year, have turned their season around after Kovac took charge in February and now sit sixth, three points behind Freiburg who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot.
“We’re within striking distance again,” Kovac said ahead of Saturday’s match at the 81,365-capacity Westfalenstadion.
“The game is very important. We’re focusing on our opponents, because we’re dependent on the other teams and we have to do our homework ... It’s about showing the same energy as in the last few games.
“If we play our game like we have in recent weeks, I’m convinced that we can unleash a force with the crowd that Wolfsburg will find difficult to counter.”
Dortmund have taken 13 points from their last five games to climb the table and have three games left to salvage their campaign.
If not the Champions League, they can still qualify for the Europa League, with RB Leipzig in fifth — a point above Dortmund.
Kovac also managed Wolfsburg between 2022 and 2024 and the Croatian is wary of the Lower Saxony side, even though Dortmund have a superb record against them at home.
Dortmund have not lost in their last 11 Bundesliga home games against Wolfsburg, winning nine. Wolfsburg have scored just one goal at Westfalenstadion since the 2016-17 season.
“They’re dangerous from set pieces and in transition. We have to be careful there,” Kovac said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone (at Wolfsburg) again but we also know the importance of the game. Friendships will be put aside for 90 minutes.”

PSG’s injured Dembele to miss Strasbourg trip, eyeing return for Arsenal

Updated 41 min 12 sec ago
Reuters
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PSG’s injured Dembele to miss Strasbourg trip, eyeing return for Arsenal

  • Dembele is PSG’s top scorer this season with 33 goals in all competitions
  • “Tomorrow he won’t play, that’s for sure,” Luis Enrique told reporters
Updated 41 min 12 sec ago
Reuters

PARIS: Paris St. Germain forward Ousmane Dembele will miss their Ligue 1 trip to Strasbourg with a hamstring strain, manager Luis Enrique said on Friday as the French side look to have him back for next week’s Champions League semifinal second leg against Arsenal.
Dembele is PSG’s top scorer this season with 33 goals in all competitions and also netted the winner in their 1-0 first leg victory at Arsenal, but the 27-year-old came off in the 70th minute, going straight down the tunnel with an apparent injury.
PSG confirmed he had a hamstring strain and that his “condition is progressing well,” with further assessments to be conducted in the coming days.
“Tomorrow he won’t play, that’s for sure,” Luis Enrique told reporters, while also declining to confirm if he will rotate his squad with the Ligue 1 title already in the bag.
“We’re going to do what we’ve been doing up to now, with the same idea. Nothing has changed.
“The most important thing is that every minute spent wearing the PSG jersey is useful for matches in other competitions.”
PSG lost their chance to go an entire league season unbeaten when they suffered a 3-1 defeat by Nice last weekend.
Luis Enrique’s side can still finish the season unbeaten on the road but the Spaniard has no interest in that record as they prepare to face Arsenal on Wednesday and Reims in the French Cup final later this month.
“It’s a match we’re preparing for in the Champions League, in the Coupe de France, not for the unbeaten record,” he said.
“It would be great to win the match in Strasbourg, but the motivation is to prepare for the Champions League match, not to break an unbeaten record.”
PSG have fallen in the Champions League knockout stages in recent years and have the opportunity to return to the final for only the second time as they chase a treble.
“We want to achieve this objective of playing this final, but there is still the semifinal second leg,” said Luis Enrique, who previously won the treble coaching Barcelona.
“There is not much time to rest, you have to manage all of this. We, the coaches, go for the best. I’ve been a top-level coach for several years and it’s part of the job.”

Topics: PSG Ousmane Dembele Ligue 1 UEFA Champions League

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Malaysia triumph in Quadrangular series final with gritty 18-run win over Saudi Arabia

Updated 47 min 53 sec ago
Richard Lockwood
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Malaysia triumph in Quadrangular series final with gritty 18-run win over Saudi Arabia

  • Malaysia successfully defended a total of 135 for 7, bowling Saudi Arabia out for 117 in 19.2 overs
Updated 47 min 53 sec ago
Richard Lockwood

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia faced Malaysia in the final of the Malaysia Quadrangular at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, and it was a surprise when the hosts chose to bat first, given that both previous encounters between the two strongest teams in the tournament had been convincingly won by the side chasing.

But the decision proved inspired, as Malaysia successfully defended a total of 135 for 7, bowling Saudi Arabia out for 117 in 19.2 overs to secure an 18-run victory.

Honors had been even in the earlier meetings between the sides. In the first match, Malaysia defeated Saudi Arabia by five wickets, thanks largely to an unbeaten 93 from Virandeep Singh. But Saudi Arabia hit back in the second encounter, chasing down their target with a seven-wicket win driven by a brilliant opening stand of 100 in 9.1 overs from Faisal Khan and Abdul Waheed.

In the final, Saudi Arabia’s opening bowlers quickly put their side in control with a superb burst using the new ball. Ishtiaq Ahmad brought his experience, while his partner Imtiaz Khan, playing just his third T20I, struck with the final ball of his first over to bowl Aslam Khan and claim his maiden international wicket.

Malaysia were 13 for 1 after two overs when Ishtiaq removed Syed Aziz, caught by Faisal Khan. Imtiaz then took the key wicket of Virandeep Singh, who was caught behind for just one off five balls, leaving Malaysia struggling at 21 for 3 in the fourth over.

Amir Khan and Ahmed Aqeel led a steady recovery, guiding the hosts to 62 for 3 at the halfway stage. The fourth wicket fell at 97 in the 15th over when Amir was dismissed by Zain Ul Abidin for 38, ending a 76-run partnership spanning 11.1 overs. Zain struck again, bowling Sharvin Muniady for a dangerous 20 off nine balls.

Imtiaz returned to bowl the 19th over and took his third wicket by dismissing Vijay Unni, finishing with figures of 3 for 26. Ishtiaq delivered an excellent final over, removing Ahmed Aqeel for a vital 44 off 42 balls and returning 2 for 18 from his four overs, as Malaysia closed on 135 for 7.

Despite the strong bowling performance, the match was finely poised. Aqeel and Amir’s stand had given Malaysia something to defend, and early wickets would be key.

Perhaps it was the modest target of 136 that led to a cautious start from the Saudi openers, though Abdul Waheed did strike a six to end the second over. Faisal Khan managed only two singles from seven deliveries before being bowled by Syed Aziz.

Waheed launched into a flurry of boundaries while his partner Waji Ul Hassan remained scoreless. Waji was the third wicket to fall, lbw to Virandeep Singh, and Saudi Arabia found themselves in deep trouble when Waheed was also trapped lbw for 44 off 26 balls, leaving the score at 50 for 4.

Saudi Arabia slumped further to 71 for 7 in the 13th over, with Pavandeep Singh and Vijay Unni taking two wickets apiece. However, Zain Ul Abidin and Nawazish Akhtar revived hopes with an eighth-wicket stand of 43 in 5.3 overs.

With 23 runs needed from the final two overs, Ishtiaq Ahmed joined Zain at the crease.

But Virandeep Singh bowled a brilliant 19th over, conceding just three runs, leaving 20 required from the final six balls.

Ishtiaq was run out from the first ball of Rizwan Haider’s over as he ensured Zain retained the strike. But Zain was caught by Virandeep next ball for 32 off 30, and Saudi Arabia were bowled out for 117 in 19.2 overs.

The hosts claimed the Malaysia Quadrangular title by 18 runs in a tournament marked by eye-catching batting displays but ultimately decided by quality bowling. Rizwan Haider finished with 2 for 11 as Saudi Arabia lost their final three wickets for just three runs.

Ahmed Aqeel was named Player of the Match for anchoring Malaysia’s innings from a perilous 21 for 3, scoring 44 off 42 with two fours and a six. In the end, the hosts edged Saudi Arabia, who had pushed them hard across all three contests.

Both sides proved far too strong for Singapore and Thailand, with the former finishing third after beating Thailand by 30 runs in the play-off.

Topics: Cricket Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia cricket Cricket Saudi Malaysia Malaysia cricket

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Mahrez calls on Al-Ahli to embrace opportunity in Asian Champions League final

Updated 02 May 2025
Reuters
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Mahrez calls on Al-Ahli to embrace opportunity in Asian Champions League final

  • “When you play in this type of competition you are ready to win, especially when you play at home,” said Mahrez
  • “We have a good opportunity to bring the first Champions League to Al-Ahli”
Updated 02 May 2025
Reuters

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez has called on his teammates to avoid complacency as the Saudi Pro League side look to win the Asian Champions League Elite title for the first time on Saturday with victory over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.
The Jeddah-based club, who have the advantage of playing the final in front of their own fans at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, will be making a third attempt to lift the trophy after final defeats in 1986 and 2012.
But while a squad boasting high-profile signings such as Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Ivan Toney and Franck Kessie will go into the decider as favorites, the Algeria winger emphasized the need to embrace the opportunity provided by the occasion.


“When you play in this type of competition you are ready to win, especially when you play at home,” said Mahrez.
“We have a good opportunity to bring the first Champions League to Al-Ahli and we will give everything.
“Of course the opponent is not an opponent that we play every week, it’s from Japan and it’s a different team. We have seen them play and we know what approach we can have.
“The most important is to give everything and to enjoy it because maybe some people think finals are every season, but some people might only play one final in their career. So we have to give everything to win the trophy for Al-Ahli.”
Mahrez, 34, is no stranger to success, having been part of the Manchester City side that won the treble of UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 2023 as well as four other English league titles, including with Leicester City in 2016.
He was also a key part of Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations success in 2019 but is looking to claim his first silverware since switching to Al-Ahli from City last year.
“This is a trophy in another continent, in Asia,” said Mahrez, who has scored nine times in the competition so far.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in teams that have won a lot of trophies with big players. When you play, any trophy, any cup you play for is always exciting.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I really want to win a trophy with this team, this club and I’ll give everything tomorrow.”

Topics: Riyad Mahrez Al-Ahli Asian Champions League

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Max Verstappen delighted at birth of his first child with partner Kelly Piquet

Updated 02 May 2025
AP
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Max Verstappen delighted at birth of his first child with partner Kelly Piquet

  • Verstappen had skipped Thursday activities at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix to be with his partner
Updated 02 May 2025
AP

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Four-time defending Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen and partner Kelly Piquet have announced the arrival of their first child.

“Welcome to the world, sweet Lily,” Verstappen and Piquet wrote Friday on Instagram. “Our hearts are fuller than ever — you are our greatest gift. We love you so much.”

Verstappen had skipped Thursday activities at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix to be with his partner.

The announcement gave no further details about the birth.

Verstappen and Piquet, the daughter of three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet, went public with their relationship in 2021. She has a daughter, Penelope, with driver Daniil Kvyat that Verstappen is very close with but this was the first child for Verstappen.

Verstappen, who has 64 career victories, has won the last four F1 titles. He’s won just once this season as McLaren has shown an early edge over Red Bull headed into Sunday’s race, the sixth of the season. He is third in the series standings.

Verstappen won the first two Miami Grand Prix races, while Lando Norris of McLaren scored the first F1 victory of his career at this race last year.

Topics: Motorsport Formula 1 Formula One F1 Max Verstappen

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