Ugo Humbert dominates Alexander Bublik to claim glory at 32nd Dubai Tennis Championships

LOS ANGELES: LeBron James joined NBA icon Michael Jordan as the only players to score 40 points in a game at the age of 40, pouring in 42 on Thursday as the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Golden State Warriors 120-112.

James, who turned 40 on Dec. 30, delivered another age-defying performance that featured a three-pointer from the halfcourt logo in the first half and a dagger three that pushed the Lakers’ lead to 115-106 with 1:08 remaining.

James’s sixth three-pointer of the night helped thwart a late surge that saw the Warriors slice a 26-point deficit to five points — 109-104 — with 3:40 remaining.

Warriors star Stephen Curry shook off a slow start to key the comeback, scoring 19 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter.

But James and the Lakers wouldn’t be denied. James added 17 rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one blocked shot as the Lakers won their fourth straight game and their 10th in their last 12.

“What do I think? That I’m old,” James said of joining the exclusive 40-at-40 club. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep.”

More seriously, James added: “The biggest thing is that we got the win. But anytime I’ve been named or (put) in the category with any of the greats it’s always humbling.”

It was all under the admiring eye of Luka Doncic, the 25-year-old Slovenian star acquired by the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday in exchange for big man Anthony Davis in a deal that rocked the NBA.

Doncic, nursing a calf injury, could make his Lakers debut as early as Saturday but Lakers coach JJ Redick indicated it would now more likely to be in Monday’s game against Utah.

The Warriors are also eagerly awaiting reinforcements in the shape of Jimmy Butler, whose acquisition at the trade deadline ended Butler’s acrimonious breakup with the Miami Heat.

With the deal finalized, Butler joined the Warriors in Los Angeles, where he said he was “just so happy to be playing basketball again” after being suspended three times this season by the Heat for conduct detrimental to the team in the midst of his trade demand.

As the sight of Doncic on the sidelines whetted Lakers’ fans appetites for his debut, Minnesota star Anthony Edwards was busy breaking a Doncic record.

Edwards scored 41 points to propel the Timberwolves to a 127-114 home victory over the Houston Rockets.

One day after his 49-point outburst led the T’Wolves to victory over Chicago, Edwards set the franchise record for most 40-point games with 14, surpassing Karl-Anthony Towns.

The 23-year-old made five three-pointers and became the youngest NBA player to reach 1,000 career treys, surpassing the mark set by Doncic — who did it when he was 24 years, 286 days old.

Meanwhile the new-look Mavericks, fueled by a scorching start from Klay Thompson, beat the NBA champion Celtics 127-120 in Boston in an NBA Finals rematch.

Davis’ Dallas debut was delayed again as he continues to recover from an abdominal strain.

But Thompson, acquired in the offseason, provided plenty of firepower, scoring 23 of his team-high 25 points in the first half to put the Mavericks on the road to victory in their first return to Boston since they fell in game five of last season’s championship series.

Kyrie Irving added 19 points for the Mavericks, who led by as many as 27 points.

Jaylen Brown led Boston’s scoring with 25 points and Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis added 17 apiece before Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters in the fourth quarter.

In other games, NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic produced his 24th triple-double of the season, piling up 28 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter of the Denver Nuggets’ 112-90 rout of the Orlando Magic.

Pascal Siakam scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Indiana Pacers, who erased a 22-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 119-112.

RIYADH: Playing under the lights is unique for most golfers, but Cleeks GC’s Adrian Meronk looked quite comfortable Thursday night at LIV Golf Riyadh presented by Ma’aden.

So did Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team.
 
Meronk shot a bogey-free 10-under 62 to grab the first-round lead in LIV Golf’s first nighttime round at Riyadh Golf Club.

Meanwhile, Legion XIII, fueled by newest member Tom McKibbin, set a first-round scoring record by shooting 24-under as a team, with all four scores counting in the first round thanks to a format change starting this season.

It was just a year ago that Meronk made his LIV Golf debut after signing just before the season opener. The adjustment period resulted in a slow start, but he finished the year in the top 24 Lock Zone. Now he’s looking to make a bigger splash.
 
“Last year was a very stressful beginning of the year for me, definitely, and this year I know what to expect,” Meronk said. “I feel like home, and I love it. I love being on LIV.”

Meronk made a coaching change in the offseason, which also resulted in a couple of swing changes. Those obviously kicked in nicely on Thursday, as he hit all 18 greens in regulation, including a 5-iron second shot from 250 yards at the par-5 sixth that settled 20 feet away for a two-putt birdie. He said his round felt “quite flawless.”

“I’m excited for the future because I really like how my golf game is shaping up,” Meronk said. “It feels much more comfortable, and I can control the ball much easier.”

Legion XIII also made its debut a year ago as LIV Golf’s first expansion team. Unlike Meronk, there was no adjustment period needed.

With Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton a lethal 1-2 punch, Legion XIII won their first event in Mayakoba, and added three more regular-season wins. Inconsistency on the back end of the roster was the team’s only weakness —  and that seems to have been answered with the addition of McKibbin and the continued development of LIV Golf’s youngest player, 20-year-old Caleb Surratt.

On Thursday, McKibbin and Surratt (66) each shot bogey-free rounds, as did Hatton (66). Rahm suffered the team’s only bogey in shooting 67. A year ago, his score wouldn’t have counted.

“I did not expect 5 under to be the worst score of the team,” Rahm said. “But here we are. The young guys have started the year strong.”

Like Meronk a year ago, McKibbin must adjust to life on LIV Golf. But he’s embracing all that his new environment has to offer. He even stopped to watch a mid-round light show — and then proceeded to make an eagle and three birdies in his final nine holes.

“A pretty awesome first day,” he said.