BASKETBALL
Lakers sign Yi Jianlian
Yi Jianlian, who is fresh off an appearance with the Chinese national team at the Rio Olympics, has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA team announced on Monday. Yi, of China’s Guangdong Province, averaged 20.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in five games at the Summer Olympics, which ended on Sunday. Yi, 28, joins a team that has been at or near the bottom of the NBA the past several seasons. The Lakers declined to release details of the contract. Yi was the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round draft in 2007. He has not played in the NBA since 2012 and has spent the past four seasons playing in the Chinese Basketball Association.
CRICKET
S Africa, NZ draw over rain
The first Test between South Africa and New Zealand yesterday ended in a damp draw without a ball bowled over the final three-and-a-half days due to a sodden outfield at Kingsmead. Only 100 overs were possible in the match, with New Zealand frozen on 15-2 in their first innings for 11 sessions after the players left the field prior to lunch on the second day, never to return. The tourists were replying to South Africa’s first innings total of 263 all out on a difficult batting surface in what was the first winter Test to be played in Durban. The debacle will now place the spotlight on Cricket South Africa’s decision to play the game at Kingsmead, with no play possible for three days, despite no rain.
CRICKET
Trinidad launches probe
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board has launched an investigation after only 22 overs could be played over five days in the fourth and final Test between the West Indies and India at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, due to a soggy outfield. The lack of action meant India won the four-Test series 2-0, but surrendered the top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings to Pakistan, less than a week after taking over the No. 1 position from Australia. Rain halted play on the first day of the Test after the West Indies had reached 62-2, and no further play was possible over the next four days, despite periods of sunshine. The abandonment and lack of modern equipment at the ground has been panned by critics and former cricketers. The ground might also face action from the ICC if Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle submits an adverse report against the venue.
SOCCER
Leganes debut with victory
Victor Diaz on Monday scored the only goal as CD Leganes defeated RC Celta de Vigo 1-0 in the club’s first-ever game in the Spanish top flight. Diaz steered in from a corner on 75 minutes to hand Leganes victory on their La Liga debut, having won promotion to the top tier by finishing runners-up in Spain’s second division last season. Meanwhile, UD Las Palmas stunned Valencia 4-2 at the Mestalla, with Croatian striker Marko Livaja netting a brace in the final game of the opening round of matches in Spain. Santi Mina headed Valencia into a sixth-minute lead, but Livaja equalized before Jonathan Viera converted a penalty and Kevin-Prince Boateng stretched the visitors’ advantage on his Las Palmas debut. Mina struck again to make it 3-2 after just 34 minutes, but Livaja rounded out a famous victory late on.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
RSS