Sports

Klay Thompson poured in two key hoops to ignite a third-quarter surge on Monday to help the Golden State Warriors outlast the Charlotte Hornets 111-101.

Power forward Draymond Green recorded his seventh triple-double of the season with 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists as Golden State (32-2) ran their home winning streak to 35, including 17 this season.

Seeking to avoid getting swept in the two-game season series for the second year in a row, the Hornets (17-17) got to within 66-65 in the fourth minute of the third quarter after an 11-4 run to open the second half.

But Thompson countered immediately with 5- and 8.5 metres, the latter a three-pointer, to trigger an 18-4 burst that put the Warriors in command for good.

Kings 116, Thunder 104

DeMarcus Cousins scored a game-high 33 points to lead Sacramento past Oklahoma City on Monday.

Cousins shot 11-of-27 from the field to go along with 19 rebounds. Marco Belinelli came off the bench to score 21 points.

Serge Ibaka led the Thunder, who played without Kevin Durant, with 25 points and seven rebounds. Forward Anthony Morrow added 20 points while guard Russell Westbrook compiled 17 points and 15 assists.

Heat 103, Pacers 100 (OT)

Chris Bosh scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade added 27 points to lead the Miami to the overtime win.

Indiana lost despite getting 32 points from Paul George. Miami won their third consecutive game.

The Pacers blew an 18-point, third-quarter lead. The Heat took their first lead with 3:11 left in the fourth quarter on a technical free throw by Bosh.

Cavaliers 122, Raptors 100

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving has talked for weeks about knocking the rust off but he looked just fine in Cleveland’s 122-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

Irving scored a season-high 25 points while adding eight assists and six rebounds, and forward LeBron James had 20 points and seven assists while sitting out the fourth quarter on a night when all five Cavs starters scored in double figures.

Sixers 109, Timberwolves 99

Ish Smith had 21 points and 11 assists as Philadelphia earned their third victory in six games since its 1-30 start.

Smith, whose acquisition from New Orleans triggered Philadelphia’s turnaround, notched eight of his points in the final 4:38, when the Sixers salted the game away.

Reserves Richaun Holmes and Carl Landry had 17 and 16 points, respectively, for the Sixers. They combined for 12 in the fourth quarter.

Celtics 103, Nets 94

Jae Crowder scored a career-high 25 points and Boston rode their most productive first quarter of the season to a victory over Brooklyn.

Crowder, who shot eight-for-thirteen, surpassed his career high set December 18 against the Atlanta Hawks.

He scored 14 points during the opening quarter, when the Celtics shot 56 per cent and took a 15-point lead and had 17 when Boston led by 14 at halftime.

Pistons 115, Magic 89

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 21 points and reserve Brandon Jennings supplied 17 points and six assists in his fourth game of the season as Detroit blew out Orlando.

Caldwell-Pope also grabbed six rebounds and reached the 2,000-point mark for his career.

Jennings, who missed the first 31 games while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, scored 12 second-half points for the Pistons.

Spurs 123, Bucks 98

Tim Duncan rediscovered his offensive stroke, scoring 14 points in San Antonio’s victory over Milwaukee.

The 19-year veteran was held scoreless for the first time in his career Saturday night against Houston, but against Milwaukee, Duncan hit seven of twelve shots to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes.

Kawhi Leonard led San Antonio with 24 points while forward LeMarcus Aldridge added 16 with 11 rebounds.

Grizzlies 91, Trail Blazers 78

Zach Randolph came off the bench to match his season high with 26 points, along with a campaign-best 18 rebounds, as Memphis eased past Portland.

Courtney Lee added 16 points for the Grizzlies, who won for the third time in four outings.

Damian Lillard (17 points) and CJ McCollum (16 points) combined for only 10-for-32 shooting for the Trail Blazers.

Rockets 93, Jazz 91

James Harden scored 30 points as Houston snapped a four-game losing streak with a close victory over Utah.

Harden scored 13 points in the third quarter to help the Rockets dig out of a 15-point hole. He then scored the go-ahead bucket in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter as Houston picked up a much-needed win.

AMMAN — Jordan’s U-23 team is set to play Uzbekistan on Wednesday in its third and final friendly concluding its UAE camp as the final countdown starts for the 2nd Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship. 

So far, Jordan beat North Korea in two friendlies 1-0 and 2-1. With players unable to fully regroup in preparation for the championship, head coach Jamal Abu Abed has given all the squad playing time in a bid to finalise the line-up before leaving to Qatar on January 10 Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“The team has improved in every aspect. The camp and matches served the purpose and was aided by the squad’s discipline and commitment,” Abu Abed noted. “We hope to end the camp and third match on a positive note before returning home,” Abu Abed added.

Before the camp the U-23 team played Iraq losing 1-0 in a friendly after playing local friendlies against Wihdat, Jazira, Faisali and Shabab Urdun during the last two months as Abu Abed worked on defensive and offensive tactics and tried to enhance “team cohesiveness”. 

The team will leave to Doha on January 10 and will play in Group D against Australia, the UAE and Vietnam in the 16-team competition set for January 12-30. In the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship (now renamed the AFC U23 Championship), Jordan beat South Korea to take bronze as Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to win the title.

 Jordan qualified to the U-23 Championship after leading Group B qualifiers in Amman. In 2015, the U-23 squad was eliminated from the 1st West Asian Championship and in 2014, the U-23 squad represented Jordan at the Asian Games where they made to the quarter-finals despite a bumpy preparation period amid the busy agenda of the national team and local clubs.

Real Madrid have sacked coach Rafa Benitez after less than half a season in charge and promoted their former France great Zinedine Zidane from the B team to replace him, President Florentino Perez said on Monday.

Perez announced the dismissal of the experienced Benitez, who had a contract until June 2018, following a board meeting and Zidane was present at the president's news conference at the Bernabeu Stadium.

"Firstly I would like to thank the club and the president for giving me the chance to coach this team," Zidane, known as "Zizou" and a hero to Real's fans, told reporters.

"What we need to do now, and what I will try to do, is try to do my best so that this team is a winner at the end of the season," added the 43-year old, one of the club's youngest-ever coaches.

"The important thing is to be with the team tomorrow and start
work," he said.

"I will put all the heart I have into the job for this club and try to make sure things work out well."

Eleventh coach

Real did not immediately specify the length of Zidane's contract.

He is the 11th coach Perez has installed during two terms in charge and it will be the former France captain's first top-flight management job.

He played for Real for five seasons after joining from Juventus in August 2001 and helped them win their ninth European crown with a stunning volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final.

Perez, who has publicly backed Benitez in recent weeks, said it had been a difficult decision to sack him.

He said Zidane had always tackled the biggest challenges in football with "talent and dedication" and noted that the Frenchman knew many of the players well from his role as assistant coach under Benitez's predecessor Carlo Ancelotti.

"You have all our confidence and support so our fans can be excited and entertained in every match," Perez told Zidane, who won the World Cup and European Championship as a player.

He retired from international football after the 2006 World Cup, having been sent off in the final for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi. France lost on penalties.

Disgruntled fans

Benitez, a former Valencia, Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Napoli manager who began his coaching career in Real's youth ranks, replaced Ancelotti after the Italian was sacked in June.

Real have failed to find the level of consistency Perez demands, however, and there have been widespread reports Benitez does not get on with some of Real's key players like Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez.

Disgruntled fans have been whistling Benitez at the Bernabeu in recent months and he also appears to have been blamed for Real's expulsion from the King's Cup last month for fielding an ineligible player.

Sunday's 2-2 draw at Valencia, when Real twice surrendered the lead, left them third in the standings, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and two behind champions Barcelona, who have a game in hand.

Real's biggest failure this season was a stinging 4-0 home loss to archrivals Barca in November, although they did qualify for the Champions League last 16 as group winners.

Their next outing is a La Liga game at home to Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and they have been drawn to play AS Roma in Europe's elite club competition, with the first leg in the Italian capital on February 17.

Jimmy Butler on Sunday went where no other Chicago Bulls player had been before, not even the legendary Michael Jordan.

The shooting guard scored 40 of his 42 points in the second half — including the go-ahead jumper with 30.6 seconds remaining — and the Bulls came back to defeat the Toronto Raptors 115-113 in a game they had trailed by 15.

The 40 points were a Bulls’ club record for a half. Jordan set the record with 39 points in the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 16, 1989.

“I’m just happy we won, to tell the truth,” Butler said. “I don’t want to be compared to [Jordan] because you see what he’s done for this game.

“I had no idea [about the record] until somebody told me after the game. I guess somebody will beat it one of these days coming soon.”

If Butler tried to downplay his feat, Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg was having none of it.

“I’ll say this, it’s the best performance I’ve seen coaching,” Hoiberg said.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey wasn’t as overjoyed.

“We tried everything and couldn’t get him stopped,” Casey said. “It still felt like he had control of the game.”

Not even an elbow in the face late in the first half from Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll could stop him.

“I was mad, but I just came out and was aggressive after that,” Butler said.

Center Pau Gasol added 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls (20-12) with forward Nikola Mirotic scoring 17 points.

“Dominant,” Gasol said of Butler’s performance. “Outstanding. It was an incredible second half that he had. I guess that elbow in the mouth really ticked him off.

“He carried the load offensively, he made a lot of big shots, big plays. Obviously, scoring 40 in the half, it’s something you don’t see every day, so I’m just proud of him.”

Guard DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 24 points but missed his three-point shot for the win at the final buzzer.

Butler also did a good job guarding DeRozan, who scored only seven points in the second half, including two in the fourth quarter.

“[Butler] did it at both ends,” Gasol said. “To me that’s even more impressive that you’re not guarding a non-threat offensively.”

Said DeRozan: “It was amazing, you have to give him credit. He got hot and we tried to contain him. Once you’re scoring and get hot, it doesn’t matter what you do from there.”

Forward Luis Scola and point guard Kyle Lowry each scored 22 points for Toronto (21-14). Lowry added 10 assists.

Guard Cory Joseph added 13 points and forward Carroll had 10 for the Raptors.

With the game tied at 109, Lowry hit a turn-around jumper with 40.9 seconds left to give Toronto the lead.

Butler came back with his three-pointer and the Bulls led 112-111.

“He hit a tough shot,” Lowry said. “He’s not known just to make threes. I thought he was going to drive baseline but he ended up pulling. He’s a good player and he hit a bit shot.”

AMMAN — The Jordan Football Association (JFA) is working to remove the steel fences in stadiums that separate fans from the football field in preparation to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in September, an official said Monday.

JFA Vice President Salah Sabra said the decision is in line with FIFA standards and regulations, as the international football regulatory body does not want such fences that obstruct fans’ view of the matches.

Sixteen national teams are expected to participate in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from September 30 to October 21.

During the championship, 16 teams will play 32 matches in four stadiums in Amman, Irbid and Zarqa. Sabra dismissed as baseless reports published on several websites saying that any fan who attempts to enter the field will face a JD3,000 fine in addition to a three-year prison term.

“We have not taken the decision yet. It was only a suggestion, but nothing has been approved yet,” the official noted, stressing that security personnel will prevent such incidents.

The stadiums will be ready to host the second stage of the Jordan Professional League, and the seats will be “comfortable and numbered” Sabra said. 

In addition, there will be special seats for families, the official added.

Maintenance work on the Amman International Stadium, in Al Hussein Youth City, is going according to plan, Al Hussein Youth City Director Atef Ruweidan told The Jordan Times over the phone.

The stadium should be ready by the end of March, six months before the beginning of the world cup, he said.

“We receive delegations from FIFA who come to check on the progress of work at the stadium,” Ruweidan added.

The Amman International Stadium has a capacity of 13,000, while the other three stadiums — King Abdullah International Stadium in the capital’s Qweismeh area, Prince Hassan Stadium in Irbid and Prince Mohammad Stadium in Zarqa — can each accommodate 12,000 spectators.

MANCHESTER — The January transfer window opened for business on Friday, and rarely has so much been at stake for teams in the lucrative English Premier League.

Lagging behind in the race for Champions League qualification, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool could be the most active of the country’s major powers, as they look for a strong finish to arguably the most unpredictable season in the Premier League’s 24-year history.

Then there’s the scramble to avoid the costliest-ever relegation from England’s top division. Next season ushers in the start of the Premier League’s new three-year TV deal worth a record $8 billion, and no club will want to miss out on a share of that bounty.

So, count on England being the place where most deals are done over the next month, as usual. Last January, English clubs were easily the biggest spenders, splashing out about £130 million (then $213 million) to shatter the record for the season as a whole at £760 million (then $1.25 billion).

Top teams operating strategic transfer plans rarely do major deals in this period. Likely targets can be ruled out of the Champions League and managers can be scared off by inflated prices.

This season could be different.

Chelsea is in 14th place, three points above the relegation zone, in the most woeful title defence that the Premier League has seen. A top new signing by caretaker coach Guus Hiddink could inspire a revival and the striker department needs refreshing.

“The window is wide open,” Hiddink said Wednesday.

Just as it will be at Man United, where Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney are the only two strikers at a club struggling to score goals. A world-class striker could make all the difference for under-pressure United manager Louis van Gaal, who is likely to add to the $375 million he’s already spent in his 18 months in charge. “Our problem is not dominating the games, it’s to score,” Van Gaal said on Thursday, adding that 2015 had been a “good year” for United apart from the last month.

It is Juergen Klopp’s first transfer window since becoming Liverpool manager. Will he return to his old hunting ground of Germany to bolster Liverpool’s squad?

It will also be interesting to see whether Leicester, remarkably in second place after half of the Premier League campaign, splashes out to stay in the title contention. And if the team manages to keep hold of striker Jamie Vardy.

On Wednesday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said it would be a “busy” month for his club, with a midfielder needed to solve an injury crisis.

Here is a look around the continent:

Spain

Barcelona have been unable to register new players until January because of a FIFA-imposed transfer ban, so 2015 signings Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal have spent the last six months training away from the squad.

Turan joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid in July and is expected to reinforce the club’s left flank. Vidal arrived from Sevilla and likely will be the back-up for Dani Alves at right back.

Real Madrid made a mess of trying to sign goalkeeper David de Gea from Manchester United at the end of the last transfer window and embattled club President Florentino Perez may try to make amends.

However, Spanish clubs don’t usually spend big on January acquisitions and there has been no major speculation about any major signings.

Germany

In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are likely to give up some rarely used players rather than bring in major new signings.

Bayern’s situation is made more complicated by the upcoming departure of coach Pep Guardiola, so any new players would probably have to be cleared by incoming coach Carlo Ancelotti, who will try hard to stay out of the limelight and not to seem to be interfering in Guardiola’s job.

Dortmund have already given up attacking midfielder Jonas Hofmann to Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Many top German coaches don’t like signing new players in mid-season, considering them expensive and risky.

France

Defending French champions Paris Saint-Germain have fielded questions about the possible departures of Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, who has played only two matches this season following the arrival of Kevin Trapp from Frankfurt.

PSG coach Laurent Blanc dismissed talk of transfers during PSG’s winter training camp this week in Qatar, noting that none of his players are out of contract in January.

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio hit a season-high 13 three-pointers to beat state rival Houston 121-103 on Saturday, as all four NBA divisional leaders in action recorded victories.

Golden State lost reigning MVP Stephen Curry to a fresh leg injury, but did just enough to beat Denver in overtime, Oklahoma City pulled away in the second half to win comfortably at Charlotte, and Cleveland extended their dominance of Orlando.

San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and Kawhi Leonard added 22 for the Spurs, who pushed their franchise-record home start to a season by notching a 20th straight victory on home court.

They won despite Tim Duncan being held scoreless for the first time in his 19-year career.

Dwight Howard had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets.

Golden State’s Klay Thompson made a driving finger roll basket with 15.6 seconds left in overtime to give the Warriors a 111-108 win against Denver, keeping their undefeated home record intact.

Will Barton, whose two shots late in regulation forced the extra period, missed an off-balance attempt following Thompson’s go-ahead basket. Thompson then made one of two free throws before Barton’s desperation three-pointer at the buzzer hit the rim.

Curry came back following a two-game absence because of a bruised lower left leg, but sustained a contusion on his left shin and didn’t play the entire second half. The reigning MVP finished with five points and four assists in 14-plus minutes.

The Warriors (31-2) had just seven players available for overtime. They blew a 26-point lead before hanging on for their 34th straight regular-season win at Oracle Arena, including a franchise-best start of 16-0 this season.

Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried was in a neck brace and strapped to a stretcher as he was wheeled off the court about 10 minutes after the game ended. Faried, who took an elbow to the back of the neck while jostling for a rebound late in overtime, was taken to hospital for tests.

Oklahoma State’s Kevin Durant had 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Thunder to a 109-90 win at Charlotte.

Russell Westbrook added 16 points for the Thunder, who put four other players in double figures while winning their fourth straight game. Oklahoma City has won 10 in a row against Charlotte dating to the 2010-11 season.

Kemba Walker had 32 points for the Hornets.

Cleveland extended its succession of wins over Orlando to 13 by beating the Magic 104-79.

LeBron James scored 29 points for the Cavaliers, who led by 31 points in the third quarter and looked capable of surpassing the 40-point margin they beat the Magic by last month.

James was 11 of 18 from the field with five rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes. Kyrie Irving, playing his fifth game since returning from a broken left kneecap, scored 13 points.

Orlando’s starters were held to 20 points. Aaron Gordon scored a team-high 11.

Indiana’s Paul George scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to steer the Pacers to a 94-82 win over Detroit.

At the final buzzer, Marcus Morris shoved George twice, sparking a minor scuffle.

George Hill had 18 points for Indiana, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Pistons with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Utah’s Rodney Hood scored a career-high 32 points and the Jazz fought off a stingy Memphis to win 92-87 in overtime.

The Jazz won consecutive games for the sixth time this season, but have yet to win three straight.

Hood knocked down a pair of free throws to put Utah ahead 89-87 with 29.1 seconds left in overtime. He scored 10 points in the first quarter and then carried the Jazz offence late with 17 in the fourth period and overtime combined.

Marc Gasol scored 20 for Memphis but missed a wide-open jumper that would have won the game in regulation.

New Orleans ended a run of six straight losses at Dallas by beating the Mavericks 105-98, led by Anthony Davis’ 31 points and 14 rebounds.

Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Nets over Boston 100-97.

Milwaukee beat Minnesota 95-85 in a game where the main action was the ejection of an enraged O.J. Mayo by coaches and security staff after committing two technical fouls in the first quarter.

Sacramento coach George Karl moved into a tie for fifth on the NBA wins list with 1,155 after a 142-119 win against Phoenix, which has lost eight straight.

The Los Angeles Clippers brought up a sixth successive win by routing hapless Philadelphia 130-99, with DeAndre Jordan leading six players in double figures.

DALLAS — The Golden State Warriors flopped without Stephen Curry, getting blown out for just their second loss of the season behind 23 points for Dallas’ J.J. Barea in a 114-91 victory for the Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Curry missed his first game of the season with a lower left leg bruise that might keep the NBA’s leading scorer and reigning MVP out again Thursday at Houston. But the Warriors (29-2) still have the best 31-game start in NBA history, a game better than four teams.

Klay Thompson couldn’t make up for Curry’s absence, going 4 of 15 for 10 points. Ian Clark led the Warriors with 21 points.

Zaza Pachulia had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Dirk Nowitzki added 18 and eight rebounds for the Mavericks. They won their fourth straight game without injured point guard Deron Williams.

Lakers 112, Celtics 104

Kobe Bryant had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles in likely his final game in Boston.

Bryant played 33 minutes and had his first double-double of what he says is his final season. The crowd chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” in the final minute.

Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points, and Lou Williams had 19 to help Los Angeles stop a four-game slide.

Isaiah Thomas had 24 points, and Evan Turner added 20 for Boston.

Spurs 112, Suns 79

LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds and San Antonio routed Phoenix for their 19th straight home win to start the season.

The Spurs also extended their franchise-record home winning streak to 28 straight games dating to last season by holding the Suns to several season lows. Phoenix, who have lost six straight, had season lows for total points, first-half points (33) and points in the opening quarter (12).

Kawhi Leonard had 19 points, Manu Ginobili added 13 and Tony Parker had 12 points and seven assists for San Antonio. Tim Duncan missed his third straight game due to right knee soreness.

76ers 110, Kings 105

Ish Smith scored five of his 18 points over the final three-and-a-half minutes and Jamari Grant made three late free throws to in Philadelphia’s victory over Sacramento.

The 76ers have won two of their past three games since acquiring Smith in a trade with New Orleans, improving their NBA-worst record to 3-31. Nerlens Noel had a season-high 20 points and added nine rebounds, and Grant finished with 16 points, a career-best 11 rebounds and five blocked shots.

DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento but fouled out with 1:47 left.

Bulls 102, Pacers 100, OT

Jimmy Butler tipped in a basket with 1.2 seconds left in overtime and Chicago beat Indiana despite playing without Derrick Rose.

On the final play, Butler tipped in Pau Gasol’s lob from atop the key. Butler then defended Paul George on a lob to preserve the win.

Butler scored 28 points, and Aaron Brooks had 29 points for Chicago. Rose was scratched an hour before the game with right hamstring tendinitis.

George Hill led Indiana with 20 points.

Raptors 94, Wizards 91

DeMar DeRozan had 34 points, six rebounds and five assists in Toronto’s victory over Washington.

DeRozan went 15 for 15 at the free-throw line as Toronto won their fifth straight regular-season game against the Wizards, who swept the Raptors in the first round of the play-offs last season.

Terrence Ross added 14 points for the Raptors (20-13).

Otto Porter led the Wizards with 20 points and nine rebounds. John Wall had 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Clippers 122, Hornets 117

J.J. Redick scored 26 points, Austin Rivers added a season-best 22 and Los Angeles beat Charlotte.

Chris Paul had 19 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, and DeAndre Jordan finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Kemba Walker scored 29 points for the Hornets. They played without Al Jefferson because of a knee injury that will sideline the centre for at least six weeks. Frank Kaminsky had 20 points.

Trail Blazers 110, Nuggets 103

C.J. McCollum scored 29 points, Allen Crabbe had 20 and Portland beat Denver for their third consecutive victory.

McCollum, starting at point guard for a fourth consecutive game with Damian Lillard sidelined with a left foot injury, hit 12 of 19 shots, Crabbe was 8 of 14, going 4 for 7 from three-point range.

Will Barton, traded by Portland to Denver last season, led the Nuggets with 31 points.

Magic 100, Nets 93

Nik Vucevic had 20 points and nine rebounds in Orlando’s comeback victory over New York.

Evan Fournier added 17 points and five assists for Orlando, who have won seven of nine.

Brooklyn led by as many as 13, but fell part down the stretch, going 3 for 20 from the three-point line.

Brook Lopez led the Nets with 24 point and 15 rebounds. Bojan Bogdanovic added 20 points.

Timberwolves 94, Jazz 80

Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Minnesota outlasted Utah.

Ricky Rubio tied a career high with 17 assists, and Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points on 6-for-17 shooting for the Timberwolves. Trey Burke scored all 23 of his points in the second half for Utah.

AMMAN — Jordan’s U-23 football team beat North Korea 2-1 on Thursday in its second friendly in its UAE camp running until January 7. After a friendly against Syria was cancelled the team will played North Korea again, after defeating it 1-0 in its first friendly on Tuesday.

The team will next take on Uzbekistan on January 6 before concluding its training camp. It will then leave to Qatar on January 10 for the 2nd AFC U-23 Championship serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.  

AMMAN — The season’s prime basketball competition — the Premier Basketball League — tips off Saturday with eight teams competing. Reigning champs Orthodoxi won their record 23rd title last season. They started off the season by winning the Jordan Cup this week, beating closest rivals Riyadi in the final minutes of the match.

Other competing teams include Riyadi, Nashama, Awdeh, Ghazzet Hashem, Jalil, Hurrieh and Kufr Youba. Last season, Applied Science University (ASU) beat Ittihad Schools for the Jordan Cup title after they ousted Riyadi and Orthodoxi in the semis. ASU and Ittihad have pulled out of competitions over differences with the Jordan Basketball Federation and players have been dispersed over the rest of clubs.