LOS ANGELES: The Phoenix Suns, fueled by 47 points from Devin Booker, toppled the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers 113-100 on Thursday, handing superstar LeBron James his first first-round playoff exit.
James scored 29 points to lead the Lakers, but they were unable to dig themselves out of a 29-point first-half hole and lost the best-of-seven Western Conference series four games to two.
The last defending NBA champion to be knocked out in the first round was the San Antonio Spurs in 2015.
“That’s the only way we wanted it to be honest,” Booker said of drawing the Lakers in the first round.
“We knew we weren’t going to get to where we wanted to go without going through them, and it happened to be in the first round.
“It was a tough match-up all the way through. Once they got us down 2-1 we had to regroup and get everything right and we came in and we battled,” added Booker, whose team next faces the Denver Nuggets, who eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers Thursday with a 126-115 victory in game six of their series.
James, who won his fourth NBA title when he led the Lakers to victory in the quarantine bubble in Orlando last season, had never before lost in the first round in 14 prior appearances.
But he and the Lakers clearly felt the lack of star Anthony Davis, who was a game-time decision to start after missing the second half of game four and all of game five with a groin strain.
Davis, clearly hindered by the injury, lasted less than six scoreless minutes and the Suns grabbed the game by the throat in the first quarter with Booker scoring 22 points in the opening period.
“He’s a warrior,” Vogel said of Davis. “It was difficult for him to be able to move. We did everything we could from a treatment standpoint to loosen it up and we were hoping that some in-game adrenaline would help.
“But he certainly wasn’t moving well at all to start the game and then went down grabbing at it early in the first.”
With the series in the balance, Davis said, “I obviously didn’t want to just lay down.
“I wanted to do what I can,” he said. “It never felt good, but the competitive nature in me wanted to go out and help the team as best as I could. But my body didn’t agree.”
Davis and James both said that a series of injuries along with absences due to the league’s Covid-19 protocols prevented the champions from fulfilling their potential.
“Obviously (we) fell short of our goal, but we tried to do everything we could to be as good as we could be,” James said.
Meanwhile, Booker made eight of nine shots from the floor in the first quarter, including six of six from three point range.
The Suns led 36-14 after the first period and from there the Lakers never got the deficit below double digits.
“Credit the Suns,” Vogel said. “They came out and made their first seven threes or something. Booker was red-hot to start the game. They put us in the deficit and it was too much to overcome.”
The Suns have won three straight games to reach the second round for the first time since 2010, when they fell to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals in their most recent playoff appearance.
“I’ve been working my whole life for this moment so it wasn’t time to shy away from it,” Booker said. “Plenty of hours of sacrificing a lot of life to this game. So I wanted to put it on full display tonight.”
But he said the Suns would face another demanding test in the Nuggets.
“It’s going to be a battle and we understand that going into it.”Denver eliminated Portland on their home floor, where Serbian center Nikola Jokic scored 36 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists.
Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. scored 22 of his 26 points in the first quarter while Monte Morris added 22 off the bench for the Nuggets and Jokic had 20 points in the third quarter to spark a rally for the victory.
“We made some big stops and scored some clutch baskets at big times,” Jokic said. “It was a team effort.”
The Trail Blazers seized a 14-point lead early in the third quarter but the Nuggets closed the period on a 14-4 run, then started the fourth on an 8-2 spurt to grab the lead and broke open the game in the final minutes.
“Nobody can take the fight out of us,” Jokic said. “We go out there and fight. That’s what we’re doing. We’re never going to quit.”
Damian Lillard led Portland with 28 points and passed off 13 assists while C.J. McCollum added 21 points, Norman Powell had 17 and Carmelo Anthony scored 14 off the bench.
Suns topple NBA champion Lakers in first round of playoffs
https://arab.news/2ayvw
Suns topple NBA champion Lakers in first round of playoffs
- Suns victory handed superstar LeBron James his first first-round playoff exit
- Suns faces in the second round playoff the Denver Nuggets, who eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers
UAE adds 19 medals at Jiu-Jitsu Asian Youth Championship
- Hosts won of five gold, two silver, and 12 bronze medals in the U-18 division at Mubadala Arena
ABU DHABI: Emirati athletes excelled on day two of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Youth Championship, winning five gold medals and raising the UAE’s total medal count to 28.
In Tuesday’s U-18 division jiu-jitsu competition, the host nation’s athletes stood out on the mats, securing an impressive tally of five golds, two silvers, and 12 bronze medals.
Featuring competitions for athletes under 16, 18, and 21 years old, the ongoing Jiu-Jitsu Asian Youth Championship is part of the eighth Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, at Mubadala Arena from May 3-8.
The second day of the youth competitions witnessed action in various disciplines including duo-classic, show, jiu-jitsu, and jiu-jitsu fighting. The UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team’s medals came in the jiu-jitsu discipline, the only category it is participating in.
Salem Alqubaisi (-56 Kg), Alanood Alharbi (-44kg), Abdulla Ahmed Aldarmaki (+85kg), and Zamzam Al-Hammadi (-57 kg) shone with gold medals for the hosts, while Shamsa Alameri (-48kg) and Khuloud Alblooshi (+70kg) bagged silver.
Haira Aldaheri (-40kg), Maitha Almezaini (-48kg), Mouza Alrashdi (-52kg), Saif Alblooshi (-44kg), Ebrahim Almansoori (+85kg), Mansoor Alblooshi (-48kg), Theyab Darmaki (-48kg), Obaid Saeed Alketbi (-52kg), Omar Younis Alraeesi (-52kg), Harib Alhammadi (-62kg), Ali Alteneiji (-77kg), and Majed Alshamsi (-85kg) took bronze.
“Despite their young age, our youth athletes demonstrated exceptional technical proficiency,” said Youssef Al-Batran, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation. “This accomplishment underscores the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s dedication to cultivating talent and creating a generation that proudly represents the UAE on the global stage.”
Khalifa Salem Andeez, the father of the athlete Ahmed Khalifa Andeez, was among the fans cheering for the under-18 athletes who took to the mats on Tuesday.
“I am here to encourage my son, who is participating in the 69 kg competition,” he said. “He performed well and reached the semi-finals. He couldn’t bag a gold medal today, but I am sure he will learn from his experience and perform better and aim for higher achievements.”
Salem Alqubaisi, the -56 kg gold winner, added: “There is no doubt that achieving the gold medal in the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship is a historic achievement for me that will keep me motivated to perform even better in the upcoming championships. I am extremely grateful to everyone who supported me in my journey towards the gold medal.”
Professional Fighters League signs talented UAE MMA duo
- Top Emirati prospects Hadi Al-Hussaini and Youssef Al-Housani will compete in Showcase bouts during the inaugural PFL MENA Season
- Combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30 percent of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class
RIYADH: The Saudi-backed Professional Fighters League has announced the signing of two top MMA prospects from the UAE, flyweight Hadi Omar Al-Hussaini and featherweight Youssef Al-Housani to exclusive, multi-fight contracts.
The duo are expected to compete in Showcase bouts in the inaugural PFL MENA season, before joining next year’s season proper.
“We are thrilled to welcome two of the UAE’s top prospects to PFL MENA,” said Gustavo Firmino, vice president of fighter operations, PFL MENA. “The mission of the PFL is to find the best fighters in every region around the world. Our partnership with SRJ Sports has allowed the PFL to identify and sign exceptional fighters like Al-Hussaini and Al-Housani who we know have the potential to become global stars in the sport.”
Al-Hussaini joins PFL MENA with a 5-0-1 professional record. The former UAE Warriors standout trains at the world-renowned American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California under Javier Mendez, alongside world champions Islam Makhachev, Usman Nurmagomedov and Umar Nurmagomedov.
Youssef Al-Housani, meanwhile, joins PFL MENA with a 4-1 professional record. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt is an elite-level grappler with multiple Abu Dhabi jiu-jitsu pro championships to his name. Outside the cage, Al-Housani is an accomplished actor, appearing in the UAE-based TV show Ramadan.
PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator — purchased by PFL last year — boasts 30 percent of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC.
Top racers lined up for Tabuk Toyota Rally 2024 from King Khalid City
- Series leader Yazeed Al-Rajhi from Saudi Arabia heads field in his Toyota Hilux
TABUK: The Tabuk Toyota Rally 2024, round two of the Saudi Toyota Championship, will start from King Khalid City in Tabuk on Thursday afternoon, with most of the leading racers confirmed for the starting lineups.
The Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation has laid on a challenging three-day desert route for the entrants, which include cars, motorcycles and quads, with approximately 419 kilometers to be timed against the clock.
Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi has an eight-point overall lead in the drivers’ championship, courtesy of his and Timo Gottshalk’s victory during round one in Hail.
Dark Horse OT3 driver Saleh Al-Saif is his nearest rival with Dania Akeel holding third place after making the switch from the Challenger category to driving an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux alongside Al-Rajhi in the Ultimate P section. Al-Saif’s co-driver Nasser Al-Kuwari trails Gottschalk by eight points in the co-drivers’ championship.
With Pal Lonyai and Ahmed Al-Kuwari not competing in Tabuk, the door is open for German driver Annett Quandt to climb the leader board. She currently holds sixth in the overall standings and switches from a Yamaha YXZ to drive a Can-Am Maverick X3 on this occasion. Her closest challengers in the overall drivers’ championship are Hamad Al-Harbi, Abdulaziz Al-Yaeesh and Maha Al-Hameli.
Al-Rajhi has had it all his own way so far in the Ultimate P category, while Al-Yaeesh arrives in Tabuk with a six-point cushion over Faris Al-Moshna in the Ultimate class. Khaled and Ahmed Al-Shammeri currently hold third and fourth places.
Al-Saif leads the absent Lonyai by seven points in Challenger, with Quandt, Al-Harbi and Al-Hameli looking to snatch the initiative from the OT3 driver. Hamza Bakhashab and Abdullah Al-Haydan are also registered in the category this weekend.
In the absence of the SSV category-leading Ahmed Al-Kuwari, Moaaz Hariri — who is a single point behind the Qatari — has the opportunity to pull clear of his nearest rivals. The Shegawi Racing duo of Esraa Al-Dkheil and Abdullah Al-Shegawi should provide stiff competition in their Can-Ams, although Waleed Al-Dakheel and Orjwan Ammar are also on hand for the battle.
Muneef Al-Shammeri heads to the start line with a 10-point lead over Sufian Al-Omer in the Stock category for series-production cross-country vehicles. Majed Al-Thunayyan is third, a further four points adrift in the standings.
MX Ride Dubai’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi wheels out his Husqvarna Rally Bike this weekend in a four-motorcycle team alongside his closest title rival Abdullah Al-Shatti, brother Sultan and fellow Emirati Marwan Al-Rahmani. Al-Balooshi holds a 10-point cushion over his Kuwaiti team-mate with Saudi Arabia rider Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera holding third and Hamdan Al-Ali and the absent Abdullah Abu Aisheh rounding off the top five.
Haitham Al-Tuwaijri (25 points) heads an eight-strong quad field and will defend a five-point cushion over Hani Al-Noumesi in the standings. Recent Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura winner Abdulaziz Al-Shayban is third on 16 points, three ahead of Abdulaziz Al-Atawi.
Thursday will see the ceremonial start at King Khalid Sport City precede the opening Prologue stage in Tabuk that will determine the starting order for the first of two desert selective sections on Friday morning.
Soccer or football, the world’s most popular sport has its own day for fans to celebrate — May 25
- The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution by consensus with a bang of the gavel by its president, Dennis Francis
- On May 25, the resolution “invites” all nations, UN bodies, international organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector to observe World Football Day
UNITED NATIONS: Soccer fans around the world will now have a day to celebrate the world’s most popular sport every year — May 25.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution Tuesday proclaiming May 25 as World Football Day. The sport is called football outside of the US.
The day marks the 100th anniversary of the first international soccer tournament in history with the representation of all regions which took place on May 25, 1924 during the summer Olympic games held in Paris, according to the resolution.
The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution by consensus with a bang of the gavel by its president, Dennis Francis, to applause from diplomats in the assembly chamber. It was co-sponsored by more than 160 countries.
Libya’s UN Ambassador Taher El-Sonni, who introduced the resolution, told the assembly, “Football or soccer as others call it is the number one game played and followed around the globe.”
But he stressed that soccer is more than just a game played by all ages on streets, in villages, schools and courtyards for fun and in competitions.
Because of its “unparalleled position” in the world of sports, El-Sonni said, “football serves as a universal language spoken across the globe, cutting across national, cultural and socio-economic barriers.”
He said the game has become “a pivotal platform” championing gender equality and social inclusion, “a common ground where individuals from varying backgrounds converge, promoting mutual understanding, tolerance, respect and solidarity.”
The resolution acknowledges “the global reach of football and its impact in various spheres, including commerce, peace and diplomacy, and recognizing that football creates a space for cooperation.”
It also recognizes “the fundamental role” of soccer’s international governing body, FIFA, and the important role of regional and national soccer federations, as well as relevant associations, in p romoting the game.
The resolution encourages all countries to support soccer and other sports as a tool to promote peace, development and the empowerment of women and girls. And it also encourages countries to adopt policies and programs to promote football and other sports and physical activities.
On May 25, the resolution “invites” all nations, UN bodies, international organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector to observe World Football Day in line with national priorities “and to disseminate the advantages of football for all, including through educational and public awareness-raising activities.”
Top-seeded Celtics, Thunder win second round playoff series openers
- Boston were in complete control for most of the game, holding a double-digit lead through the second half to close out an emphatic win at the TD Garden
- Oklahoma City, who have an average age of just over 23, are the youngest team to win a second round playoff game
LOS ANGELES: The top-seeded Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder rolled to convincing victories in their opening NBA playoff series on Tuesday.
Eastern Conference top seeds Boston laid down a marker with a 120-95 rout of the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers at the TD Garden.
Oklahoma City, meanwhile, were made to work harder by Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks before finally pulling clear to seal a 117-95 victory in their Western Conference semifinal series opener.
In Boston, Jaylen Brown scored 32 points while Derrick White added 25, including seven three-pointers, in an emphatic win for the Celtics, who are chasing a record 18th NBA championship.
Boston were in complete control for most of the game, holding a double-digit lead through the second half to close out an emphatic win at the TD Garden.
Boston star Jayson Tatum added 18 points but had an off-night shooting-wise, making just 7-of-19 from the field.
Donovan Mitchell led the scoring for Cleveland with 33 points, with Evan Mobley adding 17 and Darius Garland 14.
Brown said the Celtics’ defense had laid the foundation for the win.
“It starts with defense, we wanted to set the tone on defense and we kept them under 100 (points),” Brown told TNT television.
“But we feel like we’ve got an answer for everything so we just play the game the right way, and see what they want to take away and then we play after that.”
Boston got off to a flying start, jumping out to an early 12-2 first quarter lead before a Cleveland rally saw them edge into a 23-21 lead after Mitchell’s running three-pointer.
But Boston responded swiftly, reclaiming the lead immediately and never allowing Cleveland to get their noses in front thereafter.
After taking a 10-point lead into halftime, Boston kept the pressure up in the second half, stretching out to a 26-point lead in the fourth quarter as they romped to a comfortable win. Game 2 in the series takes place in Boston on Thursday.
In Oklahoma City, the Thunder and the Mavericks fought a nip-and-tuck duel before the No.1 seeds pulled away decisively in the fourth quarter.
Trailing by nine points at halftime, Dallas rallied in the third quarter to get within one point at 66-65.
But the youthful Thunder lineup began to find their range, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adding 10 points in the third quarter to help OKC build a 10-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City’s barrage of scoring continued in the fourth with Jalen Williams adding 10 points as the Thunder outscored their visitors 28-16 to seal victory by a 22-point margin.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the OKC scoring, finishing with 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists while Chet Holmgren added 19 points and Williams 18.
Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 20 points while Luka Doncic, struggling with a sore knee, finished with 19 after shooting six-of-19 from the field.
Oklahoma City, who have an average age of just over 23, are the youngest team to win a second round playoff game and were the youngest team to win a postseason series after sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.
“We don’t worry about all the statistics and the stats, and how young we are,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the win. “We just want to win basketball games at a high level and that’s what we focus on.
“We try to get that done every night and tonight we did so.”
Doncic said the Mavericks would need to improve dramatically for game two taking place in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
The Slovenian star brushed off questions about his own shooting performance.
“Who cares? We lost. We’ve just got to move onto the next one. I’ve got to be better, we’ve got to be better,” Doncic said.
“They’re a great defensive team and a great offensive team, so it’s not going to be easy at all. We’re going to have to play very good basketball, focused basketball, for 48 minutes.”
