Nadal looks to kick-start season at Brisbane International Thunder fall as Westbrook ejected
Cavs hold off Celtics Women’s draw is headed by in form Kerber NBA Results/Standings
BRISBANE, Australia, Dec 30, (AFP): Spanish great Rafael Nadal will be hoping the season-opening Brisbane International gives him the chance to kick-start his career following an injury-plagued 2016.
The 30-year-old has won 14 Grand Slam singles titles in a glittering career, the last coming at the French Open in 2014.
But his 2016 campaign was ruined by a wrist injury that forced him out of Roland Garros after the second round and saw him miss Wimbledon.
He then lost to Frenchman Lucas Pouille in the fourth round of the US Open and slipped to number nine in the world rankings at year end.
But the Spaniard says he is fit again and insists he can still challenge for a Grand Slam title.
“My idea is to stay here for a few more years and I feel enough motivation to be here,” Nadal said after beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-4 at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.
“I believe that I can compete for important things in the next three years.”
Nadal will be making his first appearance at the Brisbane International, a major lead-up tournament to the Australian Open, and one that boasts a high-class field.
Nadal CLEVELAND, Dec 30, (AP): Kyrie Irving scored 32 points and made two critical layups before leaving with a leg injury and Kevin Love scored 30, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers hold off a late rally for a 124-118 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
The Cavs led by 20 points in the third and 17 early in the fourth but couldn’t close out the Celtics, who pulled within one point three times in the final two minutes.
Irving, though, came up with his big baskets and the Cavs had to fend off Boston over the final 53 seconds as their star guard grabbed his right hamstring and went to the bench. His injury did not appear to be serious.
LeBron James had 23 points and 11 assists for the Cavs, who won for the 11th time in 13 games. The only two losses during that stretch came at Memphis and Detroit games James sat out.
Isaiah Thomas scored 31 and Avery Bradley had 23 but both players were on the bench when the Celtics kept chipping away in the fourth.
In Memphis, Tenn, Marc Gasol scored 25 points and Memphis took advantage of Russell Westbrook’s ejection, dominating Oklahoma City.
Westbrook, the NBA’s leading scorer at 31.7 points per game, scored 21 before he was tossed midway through the third quarter when he was whistled for two quick technicals. At that point, Memphis already held a double-digit lead that reached 37 points in the fourth quarter.
Zach Randolph added 21 points for the Grizzlies. He and Gasol both grabbed eight rebounds.
Memphis reserve Troy Daniels shot 6 of 8 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter and scored all 22 of his points in the final period.
Enes Kanter had 19 for the Thunder, and Alex Abrines scored 10 as Oklahoma City set a season low for points. Westbrook had five rebounds and no assists.
In Phoenix, Eric Bledsoe scored 22 points and Devin Booker had nine of his 19 in the fourth quarter, helping Phoenix beat Toronto.
The Raptors, in second place in the Eastern Conference, lost consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 20 and 21. Both teams played the second of back-to-back games, with the first being on the road.
The Raptors trailed for most of the second half and cut a 14-point deficit to 90-85 on a layup by DeMar DeRozan with 3:25 to play in the fourth quarter. But the Suns hung on, winning for just the second time in eight games. They have won backto-back home games for the second time this season.
DeRozan and Kyle Lowry scored 24 points apiece for the Raptors.
In Charlotte, N.C, Nicolas Batum had 16 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, providing a spark during a big third quarter that carried Charlotte over Miami.
The Hornets outscored the Heat 31-17 in the quarter to take command, with Batum contributing nine points, five rebounds and four assists in the period.
Kemba Walker led Charlotte with 22 points. The Hornets improved to 19-14, and have won five of their last
Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (left), and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) scramble for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA
basketball game, on Dec 28, in San Antonio. (AP)
game after dropping three in a row.
Ersan Ilyasova scored 16 points and Nerlens Noel and Dario Saric both added 14, but the anemic fourthquarter performance contributed to the 76ers’ fourth straight loss.
Philadelphia, playing without leading scorer and rebounder Joel Embiid, surprisingly led for most of the game before the fourth-quarter collapse. The 76ers shot 4 for 23 in the final 12 minutes.
In Los Angeles, Wesley Matthews scored 20 points to lead Dallas to its 12th consecutive victory over Los Angeles.
The Mavericks outscored the Lakers 31-13 in the third quarter to take command.
Harrison Barnes had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Dwight Powell and Devin Harris each scored 14 points off the bench for Dallas.
Julius Randle scored 18 points and Nick Young had 17 for the Lakers, who had as many turnovers (15) as assists.
The Mavs trailed 65-60 early in the second half when they went on a 21-5 run to close the third quarter and take control.