SOCCER
PSG robberies probed
French prosecutors have launched investigations into robberies linked to two Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) players after thieves targeted the home of Angel di Maria and another group broke into the house of Marquinhos’ father while the teammates were playing for the club. PSG said that it would temporarily reinforce security near the houses of all its players. The prosecutor’s offices in Versailles and Nanterre on Monday said that the investigations are being handled by special police units that are already in charge of inquiries into cases involving PSG players Mauro Icardi and Sergio Rico, whose houses were also burgled during matches this year. Nanterre prosecutor’s office secretary general Marion Chalaux said intruders managed to sneak into Di Maria’s home on Sunday without being noticed. Around the same time, another group of intruders broke into the home of PSG captain Marquinhos’ father, the Versailles prosecutor’s office said. The Le Parisien newspaper said that Marquinhos’s father was hit several times in the face and chest.
BASKETBALL
Focused Giannis on a roll
Giannis Antetokounmpo on Monday reeled off his third straight triple-double as the Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak to four games with a 133-122 victory over the Washington Wizards. Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in another Most Valuable Player-caliber performance. A hyper-focused, in the moment approach is helping him play some of his best basketball. He did not even realize that the Bucks had won nine of 10 and was not certain that the Philadelphia 76ers are in first place in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo is not looking too far ahead. He is not even focused on the Bucks’ first game this season against the 76ers tonight. “I’m looking forward to taking my day off tomorrow, enjoy my pepperoni pizza, my smoothie, my chicken wings,” he said. “When the time comes, we’re gonna have a game plan, coach is gonna give us the game plan and I know my team is gonna be ready. I’m gonna try to be ready, too.”
TENNIS
Murray receives wild card
Three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Andy Murray is among five players handed a wild card into the main draw of next week’s Miami Open, tournament officials said on Monday. Murray, who skipped this week’s Dubai Tennis Championships after becoming a father for the fourth time with wife Kim Sears, returns to the Miami Open for the first time since 2016. “It is exciting to see Andy back in Miami,” Miami Open tournament director James Blake said. “As someone who has had to battle back from injury during his career, I understand and respect all the hard work Andy has put in to get back on tour.”
BOXING
Joshua, Fury agree to fights
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are to clash for the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion after signing a two-fight deal, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said on Monday. The locations and dates for the much-anticipated all-British showdowns have yet to be announced. Confirming the agreement, Hearn told ESPN: “The hard part is always getting everybody to put pen to paper, but this was a major effort from all parties to get this over the line.”
‘AWFUL PERFORMANCE’: Golden State were always chasing the game after failing to threaten from long range, making just eight of 33 three-point attempts Aaron Gordon on Monday scored 38 points as the Denver Nuggets shrugged off the absence of Nikola Jokic to halt the Golden State Warriors’ seven-game winning streak with a 114-105 victory over their Western Conference rivals. A dazzling display from Gordon inspired what was ultimately a comfortable win for Denver, who were missing regular starters Jokic and Jamal Murray from their lineup. The absentees were barely felt by Denver, who startled the Warriors early at San Francisco’s Chase Center and led for most of the game. The Warriors threatened to stage a late rally after slashing the Nuggets’ fourth-quarter lead from 15 points
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
Barcelona’s Ferran Torres scored twice on Sunday to help secure a late 4-2 comeback win at Atletico Madrid in a pulsating La Liga clash that took the Catalan side back to the top of the table. Barca have 60 points and a game in hand after last week’s postponement of their home game with CA Osasuna. They are level on points with Real Madrid, who won 2-1 at Villarreal on Saturday. “I am happy and proud of this team,” Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick told a news conference. “They never give up... It’s a great three points and we are happy to
Chris Wood has fired Nottingham Forest into surprise UEFA Champions League contention and now the striker wants to score the goals to help New Zealand make history at the FIFA World Cup. New Zealand are strong favorites to qualify out of the Oceania region over the next week and reach the World Cup for only the third time. At the country’s two previous appearances at the finals, in 1982 and 2010, they have failed to win a match in six attempts. With Wood captaining the side and leading from the front, he told local media yesterday that the current squad can finally deliver
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