NBA: Timberwolves blow out Lakers 109-80 behind Randle, Gobert and tough defense
NBA: Timberwolves blow out Lakers 109-80 behind Randle, Gobert and tough defense/node/2581590/sport
NBA: Timberwolves blow out Lakers 109-80 behind Randle, Gobert and tough defense
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle dribbles against the Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in the third quarter at Target Center. (Imagn Images)
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Updated 03 December 2024
AP
NBA: Timberwolves blow out Lakers 109-80 behind Randle, Gobert and tough defense
Julius Randle scored 18 points and Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves
Updated 03 December 2024
AP
MINNEAPOLIS: Julius Randle scored 18 points and Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Los Angeles Lakers 109-80 on Monday night.
Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 15 for the Wolves (10-10), who limited the Lakers to their lowest point total since a 122-73 loss at Dallas in 2017, according to Sportradar.
Anthony Edwards had only eight points on 3-for-13 shooting for the Wolves, but his Olympic teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis were just as quiet for the Lakers (12-9).
James, who has missed 19 straight 3-pointers, had 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting. Davis had 12 points and 11 rebounds. DâAngelo Russell scored 20 in his return from illness and to the starting lineup.
After beating Utah 105-104 on Sunday, the Lakers traveled another time zone east to face a team they beat 110-103 in the season opener behind 36 points and 16 rebounds from Davis.
Takeaways
Lakers: Rookie coach J.J. Redick assessed his team at the quarter mark of the season âuneven and inconsistent.â The Lakersâ fifth loss in their last seven games didnât even clear that bar.
Timberwolves: With the defense locked in, Minnesotaâs other priorities are reviving its transition game and 3-point shooting. Both boxes were checked. The Timberwolves went 15 for 35 from deep and had 20 fast-break points.
Key moment
Gobert, the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was plenty disruptive against Davis and the Lakers. Gobert stole an inbounds pass from Max Christie for a rare fast-break dunk late in the third.
Key stat
The Wolves held their opponent under 100 points for the second straight game and fourth this season. In 2023-24, when they led the league in scoring defense, they held opponents to double digits 23 times.
Up next
The Lakers play at the Miami Heat on Wednesday, when the Wolves visit the Los Angeles Clippers.
âBigger and biggerâ: Baseball United inaugural season edges closer
All games will be played at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai, starting Nov.14
Updated 27 min 24 sec ago
Arab News
DUBAI: The inaugural season of Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, edged closer with the announcement that tickets are now on sale. The competition will feature Baseball Unitedâs four founding franchises â Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, Arabia Wolves, and Mid East Falcons â playing a total of 21 games in 30 days at Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens in Dubai.
The season will begin with a three-game series between Mumbai and Karachi on Nov. 14, 15 and 16, and conclude with a best-of-three championship series on Dec. 12, 13 and 14 (if necessary). Dubaiâs home team, the Wolves, play their first game on Nov. 18 against the Cobras.
The teams feature top professional players from 25 countries, including Japan, Philippines, Canada, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Germany, and the United States. Players have competed in top leagues such as Major League Baseball and the Nippon Professional Baseball League, and several were part of Baseball Unitedâs previous events in Dubai over the past two years.
âAfter more than three years of building and so much work from so many people, we are finally ready for Season One,â said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder, Baseball United. âEach event weâve hosted here in Dubai has gotten bigger and bigger, as more and more fans continue to fall in love with the ballpark experience. The grandstands at our games are full of families from all over the world, with a mix of new fans and longtime baseball lovers.
âWe are grateful for the support from the community here in Dubai and across the GCC, and hope to host even more people at Baseball United Ballpark.â
Ticket prices range from 49 UAE dirhams ($13) for general admission seating, to 119 dirhams ($32) for reserved diamond club seating behind home plate. The games include a full food and beverage experience, with several local and international food vendors, and numerous bars.
Games will be played every day except Monday, with reduced pricing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Following last monthâs pre-sale, limited tickets remain for the opening weekend series between Mumbai and Karachi.
The league will also take a short break during the National Day holiday, with promotional activities scheduled in partnership with Emirates Dubai 7s. The seasonâs full schedule is available on baseballunited.com.
Baseball United was co-founded by Shaikh and several MLB legends, including Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, and Adrian Beltre. The leagueâs February event averaged nearly four million viewers per game. Season One will be broadcast internationally, with official partners announced later this month.
Tickets for Baseball United Season One are on sale now exclusively on the District by Zomato app
Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson recalls 60s international showcase ahead of NBA Abu Dhabi Games
NBA great âBig Oâ spoke to Arab News, about triple-doubles, overseas tours, and weighed in on Knicks, Bucks and Sixers ahead of the Abu Dhabi Games
Updated 02 October 2025
Mohammad Akkawi
ABU DHABI: Few basketball players have shaped the game the way Oscar Robertson has. The Hall of Famer, known as The Big O, was the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season â a feat not repeated until Russell Westbrook managed it more than 50 years later. He was also the leagueâs inaugural Rookie of the Year in 1961 and later captured an NBA championship with Milwaukee.
Now Robertson is making his Abu Dhabi debut, attending The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 where the New York Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers at Etihad Arena on Oct. 2 and 4.
Robertson told Arab News in an exclusive interview that his first taste of basketball outside the US came not through the NBA but on a goodwill tour in 1964 â one of the earliest efforts to take the game to an international audience.
âIn 1964, we took a trip overseas to Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania, and Egypt. We thought weâd play a couple of games, but we ended up playing 16,â he recalled. âIt was a lot of basketball, but I enjoyed it. For the first time in my life, I went to the pyramids, saw the camps in Poland, and visited Romania â nice place, Count Dracula, Bucharest.â
NBA Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson will be at the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025. (Supplied)
Although not officially part of the NBA calendar, the trip gave Robertson a glimpse of basketballâs global potential and left a lasting impression on his career.
Looking at how far the sport has come, Robertson praised the impact of modern visibility.
âOnce itâs on social media, people can see the players no matter the time difference. That means a lot. And then you see how well international players are doing in the NBA. Itâs wonderful, truly wonderful.â
While his triple-double record defines his legacy today, Robertson said that the stat was not even recognized in his era.
âWhen I was playing, I didnât even know about triple-doubles. No one ever mentioned them. I only heard about it in the mid-70s, when Magic Johnson came into the league and started competing with Larry Bird. Thatâs when people began talking about triple-doubles, and they went back into the archives and discovered mine.
âThey didnât get them all, though,â he added with a grin.
It was a reminder, he said, that âeven the record books donât fully captureâ the scale of his dominance.
Robertson is a keen follower of the global game and said that last summerâs Olympics proved once again that experience matters.
In July last year, Team USA staged its pre-Olympic training camp in Abu Dhabi, playing practice games against Australia and Serbia before heading to Paris. The camp was billed as a redemption tour after the Americansâ fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
This time, LeBron James rallied the biggest names in basketball, assembling what was dubbed the sportâs âAvengersâ squad â with James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis among those committing to restore US dominance.
Reflecting on their gold-medal win against France, Robertson highlighted the difference that the veterans made.
âHad it not been for Curry ⊠even though we had some great players on the court, so did the French, whom the US faced in the final. You donât realize how strong they are until you see them play. But when youâve got LeBron, Curry and those guys with all their experience, it makes the difference.â
With the Knicks and Sixers bringing their historic rivalry to Abu Dhabi this week, Robertson shared his thoughts on the teams headlining this yearâs double-header, as well as his former franchise Milwaukee.
On the Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in 25 years, he praised their promise but warned that balance is crucial in todayâs NBA.
âTheyâll have a really good team and will be one of the favorites, no doubt about that. But the three-point shot only works if youâre making them â if not, it hurts you. You need another plan, to go inside and mix things up. Without an inside game, youâre not going to win.â
Turning to the 76ers, Robertson said all eyes will be on Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, as he looks to bounce back from an injury-hit campaign last season.
âEvery team has injuries, you have to overcome them. Embiid is a big part of Philadelphiaâs basketball team. Is he going to be OK this year? I donât know. Weâll find out if he plays here tomorrow night.â
But he cautioned that even a dominant player like Embiid cannot do it all alone.
âIf heâs healthy, Embiid will be tough to guard. Heâs a big man with the size and strength to make Philadelphia much better. But the other guys have to play well, too. You canât leave it all up to one guy.â
He pointed to Wilt Chamberlainâs historic 1961-1962 season as proof: âWilt averaged 50 points a game, but the Philadelphia Warriors still fell short of a championship.â
Finally, on Milwaukee, where he won the championship in 1971, Robertson noted a period of transition despite Giannis Antetokounmpoâs continued presence.
âThey have some new players. Giannis has been there maybe 12 years or so, but around him itâs almost a brand new team. They let go of Damian Lillard, brought in a new forward and Myles Turner from the Pacers. Theyâve got to prove themselves.â
As Abu Dhabi prepares for two nights of NBA action, Robertsonâs reflections bridge generations. From pioneering overseas tours in the 1960s to redefining the triple-double and analysing todayâs stars, The Big O remains a voice of authority on what truly wins in basketball: teamwork, experience, and an inside game that never goes out of style.
Andre Fletcher commands big payday of $260,000 at historic DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction
Fletcher of MI Emirates, Scott Currie (Dubai Capitals, $250,000) and Liam Dawson (Gulf Giants, $170,000) among the top signings at the auction
UAE pacers were in top demand as Junaid Siddique fetched $170,000 with Sharjah Warriorz, Muhammad Rohid was secured by MI Emirates for $140,000, and Wasim Akram joined Warriorz for $55,000
Updated 02 October 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: The West Indiesâ Andre Fletcher capped a day of drama at the first-ever DP World ILT20 player auction, emerging as the most expensive player with a price tag of a whopping $260,000.
MI Emirates outbid rivals to secure the explosive batter for a fourth consecutive season. Close behind was Englandâs Scott Currie, snapped up by Dubai Capitals for $250,000.
Englandâs Liam Dawson led the pack amongst the pacers acquired for $170,000 by Gulf Giants while Naveen-ul-Haq was secured for $100,000 by MI Emirates.
UAE pacers were the flavor of the auction, with Junaid Siddique going to Sharjah Warriorz for $170,000 (Right-to-Match), making him their most expensive buy. Muhammad Rohid also drew a six-figure deal, going to MI Emirates for $140,000 (RTM).
Some of the standout performers from the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament also converted their success into franchise deals at the auction.
UAE pacer Haider Razzaq, the leading wicket-taker in Sharjah Warriorz Developmentâs title-winning campaign earlier this year, was purchased by Gulf Giants for $50,000.
Player of the Tournament, Sanjay Pahal, an all-rounder who impressed throughout, was retained by Desert Vipers for $10,000. Raees Ahmed, who was amongst the top three run-getters, went back to Sharjah Warriorz at his base price of $10,000.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders eagerly pursued Scotlandâs Brandon McMullen for $110,000, while also picking up Michael Pepper and Unmukt Chand at their base price of $40,000, along with Englandâs George Garton for $10,000.
Their Associate Nation pool was reinforced by Kuwaitâs Adnan Idrees ($10,000), while the UAE core featured Ibrar Ahmad ($22,000, RTM), Ajay Kumar ($10,000) and Abdul Manan Ali ($10,000).
Desert Vipers acquired Pakistan stars Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah at their base price of $80,000 apiece, along with Afghanistan leggie Qais Ahmed ($40,000). They also secured Scotlandâs Tom Bruce for $80,000 and brought in Pakistanâs Hasan Nawaz at $40,000.
Their Associate signings saw UAE keeper Vriitya Aravind ($10,000) join Bilal Tahir ($10,000), while Faisal Khan made history as the first șÚÁÏÉçÇűn player bought at the auction, picked up at his base price of $10,000.
The Dubai Capitals followed their big splash for the young Currie by opting for experience.
Afghanistanâs Mohammad Nabi and Englandâs Tymal Mills were among their headline overseas pick at $80,000, while the UAEâs Farhan Khan and Muhammad Farooq were secured for $10,000 each.
To round out their haul, they added Kuwaitâs Anudeep Chenthamara ($10,000) and șÚÁÏÉçÇűâs Usman Najeeb ($10,000).
Gulf Giants became the first team to complete their squad. They snapped up South Africaâs Tabraiz Shamsi and Netherlandsâ pacer Fred Klaassen for $40,000 each, and Englandâs Sean Dickson at $10,000.
The franchise also strengthened their bowling department through Englandâs Chris Wood and West Indiesâ Ramon Simmonds with both pacers coming in at $40,000 each.
Their Associate Nation haul included Kuwaitâs Meet Bhavsar ($14,000) and șÚÁÏÉçÇűâs Ishtiaq Ahmad ($16,000), with the UAEâs Asif Khan ($26,000) and Zuhaib Zubairâs $10,000 (RTM) adding to their UAE core.
The MI Emirates, alongside their record signing of Fletcher, added Bangladeshâs Shakib Al-Hassan for $40,000 and England all-rounder Jordan Thompson for $48,000.
They further diversified with Associate Nations players including the USâ Nosthush Kenjige, UAEâs Zahoor Khan, Kuwaitâs Mohammad Shafiq and șÚÁÏÉçÇűâs Zain ul-Abidin, all at $10,000.
Sharjah Warriorz roped in South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius at $120,000 and English leg-spinner Nathan Sowter for $100,000. They also locked in pacers Jayden Seales and Taskin Ahmed at $80,000 each.
Warriorz spent big on the UAEâs Wasim Akram, bagging the pacer for $55,000. Kuwaitâs Mohamed Nawfer and Mohammed Aslam were picked up for $14,000 each. Also, the UAEâs Ethan DâSouza, Zimbabweâs Richard Ngarava and USâ Harmeet Singh went to Warriorz for $10,000 each.
The DP World ILT20 season four begins on Tuesday, Dec. 2 and concludes with the final on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
Muhammad Waseem to lead UAE in ICC Menâs T20 World Cup qualifier
UAE to play Qatar and Malaysia in their two group fixtures
Nine teams to compete in the qualifier, with top 3 progressing to the finals in India and Sri Lanka
Updated 02 October 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: The UAE will compete in the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia Pacific Qualifier next month with prolific opener Muhammad Waseem leading the 15-member squad.
Three teams will qualify for the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Nine teams will compete in the tournament, divided into three pools. The UAE are in Group 1 alongside Malaysia and Qatar.
The team will play Qatar on Wednesday, Oct. 8 and Malaysia on Friday, Oct. 10. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the Super Six Stage.
Super Six matches will take place from Oct. 12 to 17, with the top three teams earning ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 qualification.
UAE squad for ICC Menâs T20 World Cup Asia and EAP Qualifier:
Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Jonathan Figy, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Irfan, Rahul Chopra (wicketkeeper), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh and Zahid Ali.
Support staff: Amjad Ezzi (team manager), Lalchand Rajput.
ICC Menâs T20 World Cup Asia and EAP Qualifier â Oman â UAE matches schedule:
Wednesday, Oct. 8: UAE vs. Qatar â Al-Amerat Cricket Stadium.
Friday, Oct. 10: UAE vs. Malaysia â Al-Amerat Cricket Ground Turf 2.
Super Six Stage, Oct. 12-17: Al-Amerat Cricket Stadium and Al-Amerat Cricket Ground Turf 2.
Ramos snatches Champions League holders PSG late win at Barca
It was an even and thoroughly entertaining bout between two of the competitionâs favorites at the Olympic stadium which was eventually settled by Ramosâ late strike, as PSG exploited Barcaâs high defensive line
Updated 02 October 2025
AFP
BARCELONA: Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain stunned Barcelona with a 90th-minute Goncalo Ramos winner to claim a 2-1 away victory in the league stage on Wednesday.
Ferran Torres sent Hansi Flickâs Barcelona ahead with a cool finish but Senny Mayulu fired a depleted PSG level before half-time.
It was an even and thoroughly entertaining bout between two of the competitionâs favorites at the Olympic stadium which was eventually settled by Ramosâ late strike, as PSG exploited Barcaâs high defensive line.
âAfter scoring the (first) goal we got a confidence boost and in the second half we were better,â Luis Enrique told reporters.
âIâm happy... because itâs an important victory and playing against Barcelona is always difficult.â
Luis Enrique, who won the treble coaching Barcelona in 2015, was lacking several key players and his team held on at times but eventually got the better of last seasonâs semifinalists.
âIf you let in a goal in the last minute and you lose at home, youâre going to be disappointed,â Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong told Movistar.
âThereâs a long way to go in the Champions League. It was a good game to test where we are â we have to improve. We know that and we will do it.â
Barcelona and PSG have not been on the best of terms over the past decade, with the Catalans recording one of the sportâs greatest comebacks in 2017 with a 6-1 win over the Parisians.
PSG snatching Neymar and going on to sign all-time Barca great Lionel Messi worsened relations, although Luis Enriqueâs approach and a spate of injuries left the visitors shorn of star names on their return to Catalonia.
Ballon dâOr winner Ousmane Dembele and his usual attacking partners Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all missed out, but PSG midfielders Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz were fit to start.
From kick-off Barca starlet Lamine Yamal was out to prove a point. After finishing as runner-up behind Dembele, the teenager started stating his case for next yearâs award.
Yamal pirouetted away from two defenders and dodged Nuno Mendes, starting an enthralling battle with PSGâs left-back.
The defender shut him down for Portugal in the Nations League in the summer and managed to dispossess the winger in the box a few minutes later to strike back in their individual tussle.
Yamal created the first clear chance with a sensational pass using the outside of his boot to send Torres through.
The Spaniard rounded goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier but Illia Zabarnyi slid in to block his goal-bound effort.
Barcelona took the lead in the 19th minute after Yamal and Pedri combined and Torres slotted home from Marcus Rashfordâs quick first-time pass.
PSG started to grow into the game and forced Wojciech Szczesny into his first save, tipping Achraf Hakimiâs free-kick around the post.
Mendes gave Yamal a taste of his own medicine by blazing away from the youngster downfield, cutting through Barcelona players, only to be felled by a desperate De Jong.
Mendes repeated the trick to set up the equalizer, tearing into Barca territory. Pau Cubarsi misjudged a lunge to try and cut out his pass for 19-year-old striker Mayulu, who beat Szczesny in the 38th minute.
- Marauding Mendes -
Bradley Barcola fired narrowly over and then forced Szczesny into a solid save either side of the interval as the European champions clicked into a higher gear.
PSG were fortunate Mendes was not issued a second yellow for felling Yamal in full flow on the edge of the box as the pendulum swung back the other way.
Dani Olmoâs shot was cleared off the line by Hakimi and PSGâs Kang-in Lee curled against the post as the clock ticked down and Barca started to tire.
Eventually Ramos grabbed three points for PSG as he stayed onside to collect Hakimiâs pass, after the Moroccan got in behind Barcaâs defense, and slot home.
âWeâre happy with what we showed today,â said Luis Enrique, after PSG sealed their second win from two league stage games.
The coach hailed his full-backs Mendes and Hakimi, calling them the finest in their positions in the world.
âNo doubts, the two best,â added Luis Enrique. âNuno and Hakimi played excellently.â
