HOCKEY
Virus sidelines Islanders
The NHL on Saturday postponed the New York Islanders’ next two games due to a COVID-19 outbreak that hit the team. The Islanders said they potentially had eight unavailable players for yesterday’s road game against the New York Rangers. The NHL postponed the two games in consultation with the NHL Players Association and the Islanders’ medical personnel. The contest against the Rangers and a road game against the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow would be rescheduled for later in the season, the NHL said. The Islanders are slated to host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. The decision came after forward Casey Cizikas entered COVID-19 protocols on Saturday, which left the team with seven players in the protocol. Forward Josh Bailey was removed from protocol on Friday and was considered a game-time decision if yesterday’s contest had been played.
TENNIS
Serbia fall in shock defeat
Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic on Saturday lost a dramatic deciding tie-break in their doubles rubber as Serbia suffered a shock defeat by Germany in the Davis Cup Finals, while Daniil Medvedev helped the Russian Tennis Federation to an opening win. World No. 1 Djokovic had drawn Serbia level in their second group-stage tie by beating Jan-Lennard Struff after Filip Krajinovic’s loss to Dominik Koepfer. Germany would qualify for the quarter-finals from Group F if they beat Austria yesterday, which would leave Serbia waiting to see if they progress as one of the two best runners-up. The Russians, among the title favorites, made a perfect start to their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Ecuador. Italy became the first team to reach the last eight, backing up their win over the US by seeing off Colombia to wrap up the top spot in Group E.
ALPINE SKIING
Mayer wins at Lake Louise
Austrian double Olympic gold medalist Matthias Mayer on Saturday won the opening downhill race of the men’s World Cup season ahead of compatriot Vincent Kriechmayr and Switzerland’s Beat Feuz. It was a dominating start to the speed season by the Austrians, who placed three skiers in the first five and six in the top 16 at the iconic resort in the Canadian Rockies, signaling another fierce battle for coveted Olympic spots. Competing a day after the first downhill race of the week was called off because of too much snow, Mayer posted a time of 1 minute, 47.74 seconds to secure his 11th World Cup win. The 31-year-old Mayer has finished on the podium in each of his past six World Cup downhill appearances, a run that began with his triumph in Bormio in December last year.
BASKETBALL
Suns extend win streak to 16
Devin Booker on Saturday scored 30 points and the Phoenix Suns led wire-to-wire to easily beat the Brooklyn Nets 113-107 and extend their NBA winning streak to 16 games. The Suns have the second-longest winning streak in franchise history as they survived a late comeback by Brooklyn. They are trying to equal the 2006-2007 team, which holds the record of 17 straight wins. Booker did most of his damage in the first and third quarters, shooting nine of 18 from the floor overall and nailing four three-pointers in 32 minutes of playing time.
Shaquille O’Neal is staying with TNT Sports on a new contract worth more than US$15 million per year, Front Office Sports reported on Friday. The news means the cast of Inside the NBA is staying together even as TNT is set to license out the show to ESPN starting next season. TNT was the odd network out in the NBA’s recent TV rights negotiations, as NBC and Amazon joined previous rightsholder ESPN in inking deals for basketball games. That left TNT without a need for pregame and postgame NBA shows. In a trade with ESPN, TNT is licensing Inside the NBA to the
Juventus on Sunday stopped Inter from replacing SSC Napoli at the top of Serie A by beating their fierce rivals 1-0 and moving into the UEFA Champions League positions. Francisco Conceicao made sure that Napoli would stay two points ahead of reigning champions Inter by classily tucking home the winning goal 16 minutes before the end of an entertaining contest in Turin. Portugal attacker Conceicao netted his fourth goal of the season in all competitions after brilliant work from Randal Kolo Muani to give Juve a third straight league win. Juve are in fourth place on 46 points, ahead on goal-difference from SS
Eugenie Bouchard already has her own signature pickleball paddle. She is No. 17 in the pickleball rankings and constantly appears on the main court at events because she is always a big draw. However, just to be absolutely clear, she is not retired from tennis. The 2014 Wimbledon finalist still practices on the tennis court, still competes at tennis events and still has a Women’s Tennis Association ranking (No. 1,288). The Canadian standout just has a new sport that has caught her attention. Bouchard is one of several familiar tennis names — like Jack Sock and Donald Young — crossing over to
Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum on Sunday combined for 27 points as Shaquille O’Neal’s “Team Shaq” cruised to victory in the new-look NBA All-Star game in San Francisco. Curry, playing on his home court at Golden State’s Chase Center, reeled off a string of trademark three-pointers to help his star-studded lineup coast to a 41-25 victory over Charles Barkley’s “Team Chuck.” Boston Celtics star Tatum finished with 15 points after delivering a dominant performance in a starting lineup that also included Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard and James Harden. Team Shaq’s preparations for the game had been dealt a blow shortly before tip-off when