Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr can’t figure out how his team is still undefeated.
After a 98-87 victory over the depleted Houston Rockets on Saturday night gave the Warriors their first 5-0 start in 20 years, Kerr laughed about his club’s 26 turnovers.
“We were making plays that would make a sixth-grader blush,” the first-year rookie coach said. “It’s shocking to me that we have so much talent, and if they would just make the easier play, then the game would be simpler and we’d be in great shape.”
When asked how the Warriors were able to overcome an eight-point half-time deficit and outscore the Rockets 50-31 in the second half, Kerr simply said, “We have this guy named Steph Curry. He’s pretty good.”
Curry had 34 points and 10 rebounds in a matchup of undefeated teams, scoring 23 in a pivotal second half that was highlighted by a 22-4 run over the opening 7 minutes of the third quarter.
“At half-time, it felt like a funeral in here,” Curry said. “Guys were down and we couldn’t figure out why we couldn’t establish a rhythm.”
Curry shot 6-for-9 from three-point range and finished with five assists and four steals.
The only unbeaten team in the NBA, the Warriors improved to 5-0 for the first time since the 1994/95 season, when Golden State finished 26-56 under coach Don Nelson.
Houston played without centre Dwight Howard (flu-like symptoms) and power forward Terrence Jones (bruised right leg), which made things much easier for the Warriors inside.
They outscored the Rockets 56-32 in the paint, and Warriors centre Andrew Bogut dominated the glass in Howard’s absence, pulling down 18 rebounds.
James Harden led the Rockets (6-1) with 22 points, and point guard Isaiah Canaan had 21 in place of Patrick Beverley (hamstring).
“We were stagnant. We didn’t move,” Houston coach Kevin McHale said. “We had too many turnovers, and we just ran out of gas.”
Playing without their two starting big men, the Rockets attempted an NBA season-high 42 three-pointers, making just 10, for their worst shooting performance (23.8 per cent) of the young season. They entered the game leading the NBA at 43.1 per cent from beyond the arc but struggled mightily to knock down open shots.
“We missed shots, we had opportunities, and we didn’t attack the paint like we wanted to,” Harden said.
Golden State fell behind early as Klay Thompson played only 10 minutes in the first half after picking up his third foul early in the second quarter. Thompson finished with 11 points in a rough 3-for-16 shooting performance.
Donatas Motiejunas hit a three-pointer at the first-half buzzer to give the Rockets a 56-48 lead.
The Warriors quickly erased the deficit in the third quarter as Houston went 1-of-12 on three-pointers. The Rockets entered the fourth quarter trailing for the first time this season and were unable to mount a comeback.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Pelicans 100 (3-2), Spurs 99 (2-3)
Anthony Davis scored the game-winning basket and finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds to help New Orleans hold off San Antonio.
The Spurs went on a 15-4 run with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan on the bench to take a 99-98 lead. Danny Green capped the run with three free throws with 12 seconds remaining after he was fouled by Eric Gordon on a wild three-point attempt as the shot clock was about to expire.
Davis then drove past Aron Baynes for a layup with 6.6 seconds left. Kawhi Leonard missed a pair of shots in the final seconds, snapping the Spurs’ five-game winning streak over the Pelicans.
Tyreke Evans had 18 points, including buzzer-beating shots in the second and third quarters, and Jrue Holiday had 15 points and 11 assists.
Parker scored 28 points, Manu Ginobili added 17 points, Green had 16 and Duncan had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Bucks 93 (3-4), Grizzlies 92 (6-1)
Brandon Knight converted a three-point play with 1.1 seconds remaining to rally Milwaukee past Memphis, handing the Grizzlies their first loss of the season after six consecutive victories.
Memphis guard Mike Conley was fouled with 8 seconds remaining, but missed the first free throw and made the second to make it 92-90.
On the ensuing possession, Knight scored on a drive and drew a foul from Courtney Lee. Knight then hit the winning free throw.
Lee’s long jumper at the buzzer from beyond the top of the key was off the mark.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to pace the Bucks, and Knight added 14.
Zach Randolph had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Marc Gasol scored 18 for Memphis, who were off to the best start in franchise history.
Clippers 106 (4-2), Trail Blazers 102 (3-3)
JJ Redick scored 30 points, Blake Griffin added 23 and Los Angeles hung on to beat Portland.
Chris Paul added 22 points and 11 assists, Jamal Crawford had 20 points in his first start of the season, and DeAndre Jordan grabbed 14 rebounds.
Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 25 points. LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Robin Lopez scored 17 of his 19 in the first half.
Griffin and Redick combined to score 15 of the Clippers’ first 17 points of the fourth, extending their lead to 96-88. Griffin had six and Redick nine in the run.
Heat 102 (4-2), Timberwolves 92 (2-4)
Dwyane Wade had 25 points and eight assists, Chris Bosh scored 24 and Miami held on in the final minutes to beat Minnesota.
Luol Deng scored 14 points and Norris Cole added 11 for the Heat, who snapped a two-game slide.
Nikola Pekovic finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who lost for the second time in two nights and got confirmation earlier in the day that point guard Ricky Rubio will be out indefinitely because of a sprained left ankle.
Thaddeus Young scored 16, Shabazz Muhammad had 13 and Gorgui Dieng added 12 for Minnesota.
Celtics 106 (3-3), Bulls 101 (5-2)
Fill-in starter Evan Turner scored 19 points to lead short-handed Boston over Chicago.
The teams played without injured All-Star point guards Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose. Rondo and rookie guard Marcus Smart sat out for the Celtics, while Rose was sidelined for the second straight game and fourth in the last five.
Kelly Olynk had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics. Jeff Green scored 14.
Aaron Brooks led the Bulls with 26 points, and Pau Gasol added 19.
Boston won for the second time in their last 10 trips to the United Center. The Bulls lost for the second time in seven games this season.
Wizards 97 (5-2), Pacers 90 (1-6)
John Wall scored 18 points and Nene had 17 to lead Washington over Indiana.
The Wizards held a 54-35 lead at half-time, but had to hold off a late charge by the Pacers. Indiana outscored Washington 30-19 in the third quarter to get close, but couldn’t take the lead.
Paul Pierce had 12 points and Kevin Seraphin came off the bench to score 13.
Indiana centre Roy Hibbert exited with a bruised left knee with less than a minute to play in the first quarter and did not return.
Solomon Hill led the Pacers with a career-high 28 points, including 20 in the second half. Chris Copeland added 14.
Hawks 103 (2-3), Knicks 96 (2-5)
Kyle Korver scored 27 points and Atlanta overcame a strong start by Carmelo Anthony and New York, handing the Knicks their fourth straight loss.
Jeff Teague had 19 points for the Hawks, who recovered after losing back-to-back road games at San Antonio and Charlotte by a combined five points.
Anthony led New York with 20 points, including 14 in the first period. Iman Shumpert had 19.
The Knicks led 63-48 in the third quarter before the Hawks rallied to take the lead with the final basket of the period. After several lead changes in the fourth, the Hawks took a 94-88 advantage with seven straight points, including a three-pointer by Korver and two baskets by Teague.
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
Match info
Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335
Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs
BLACKBERRY
Director: Matt Johnson
Stars: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90+4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
US federal gun reform since Sandy Hook
- April 17, 2013: A bipartisan-drafted bill to expand background checks and ban assault weapons fails in the Senate.
- July 2015: Bill to require background checks for all gun sales is introduced in House of Representatives. It is not brought to a vote.
- June 12, 2016: Orlando shooting. Barack Obama calls on Congress to renew law prohibiting sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines.
- October 1, 2017: Las Vegas shooting. US lawmakers call for banning bump-fire stocks, and some renew call for assault weapons ban.
- February 14, 2018: Seventeen pupils are killed and 17 are wounded during a mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.
- December 18, 2018: Donald Trump announces a ban on bump-fire stocks.
- August 2019: US House passes law expanding background checks. It is not brought to a vote in the Senate.
- April 11, 2022: Joe Biden announces measures to crack down on hard-to-trace 'ghost guns'.
- May 24, 2022: Nineteen children and two teachers are killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
- June 25, 2022: Joe Biden signs into law the first federal gun-control bill in decades.
The Specs
Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS)
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
Bio
Age: 25
Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering
Favourite colour: White
Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai
Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
Investors: Investcorp, Liberty City Ventures, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Primal Capital, Wealthwell Ventures, FHS Capital, VN2 Capital, local family offices
Sri Lanka v England
First Test, at Galle
England won by 211
Second Test, at Kandy
England won by 57 runs
Third Test, at Colombo
From Nov 23-27
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas
Three stars
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
The five pillars of Islam
Lewis Hamilton in 2018
Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th
