BASKETBALL
Griffin jumps car for dunk
Blake Griffin soared over an automobile and into a new stratosphere on Saturday with an awe-inspiring performance to win the NBA’s slam dunk contest. The Los Angeles Clippers rookie, who has created a frenzy this season with highlight reel dunks, caught a pass out of the sunroof from teammate Baron Davis and threw down a two-handed dunk while a choir sang I Believe I Can Fly at midcourt. Griffin entered the competition as the favorite to win, but it was Washington Wizards high-flyer JaVale McGee who created the biggest buzz in the opening round. The 2.13m used two baskets and then dunked with three basketballs during separate displays that earned him perfect scores from the judges. However, Blake prevailed in the final with a slam that saw him insert his forearm into the net and hang from the rim by his elbow before bringing the car onto the court. Earlier, Miami Heat sharpshooter James Jones crashed a Boston party by defeating Celtics team mates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to win the three-point contest.
BOXING
Sturm defends title
Felix Sturm successfully defended his WBA middleweight title by knocking out American challenger Ronald Hearns in the Porsche Arena on Saturday night. The referee stepped in to stop the fight at 2 minutes 30 seconds of the seventh round when Hearns — son of Thomas “Hitman” Hearns — was unable to stay on his feet after taking a couple of heavy blows in the corner. Sturm, a German of Bosnian parentage, weighed in at 72.4kg and was defending his title for the ninth time. Hearns, 72.2kg and also 32 years old, found no way past his defense.
BOXING
Donaire takes WBO, WBC
Nonito Donaire won the WBO and WBC bantamweight championships on Saturday night, stopping Fernando Montiel with a left hook at 2 minutes and 25 seconds in the second round. Donaire, a Filipino-American who made his bantamweight debut in December, controlled most of the fight against the Mexican champion. He landed a left hook that briefly stunned Montiel in the first round and came out swinging in the second round, landing a few combinations before knocking Montiel to the canvas with another left hook.
Montiel surprisingly made it back to his feet only to have the referee stop the fight moments later.
ATHLETICS
Farah tops European record
British distance runner Mo Farah turned in a record-breaking performance as he warmed up for the defense of his European Indoor 3,000m crown in style on Saturday. The Somalia-born 27-year-old won the 5,000m in 13 minutes 10.60 seconds at the British Grand Prix Indoor meeting in Birmingham, to finish ahead of American training partner Galen Rupp, who clocked 13:11.44. Farah’s time shaved 0.53secs off the European record of 13:11.13 set by France’s Bouabdellah Tahri last year.
GOLF
Baddeley bests Couples
Australia’s Aaron Baddeley fired a four-under par 67 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead at the PGA Northern Trust Open over veteran Fred Couples and US compatriot Kevin Na. Baddeley’s five birdies included three straight from the eighth hole. He gave one shot back with a bogey at the par-five 11th, but held steady the rest of the way in the changeable weather at Riviera Country Club for a 54-hole total of 10-under 203.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care