Chronicle

NBA stars are well energized

Basketball. NBA. Regular season. "Washington" -- "Minnesota" -- 111:103, "Orlando" -- "Charlotte" -- 107:102 (OT), "Detroit" -- "Milwaukee" -- 86:92, "Houston" -- “New Jersey” – 114:88, “Utah” – “Memphis” – 117:99, “Indiana” – “Philadelphia” – 100:89, “New York” – “San Antonio” " -- 112:107 (OT), "Oklahoma" -- "New Orleans" -- 98:100, "Phoenix" -- "Clippers" -- 140:100, "Lakers" -- "Atlanta" -- 96:83.

The regular season resumed after a four-day break due to the All-Star weekend. The best scorer (46 points) of the match between the rookies and the second-year players, Kevin Durant from Oklahoma, retained the courage he caught in Phoenix. The second pick of the 2007 NBA draft set a personal scoring record in the league, scoring 47 points for New Orleans. True, the hosts still left the site defeated.

Another very notable participant in the last basketball show, Dwight Howard, also distinguished himself, taking second place in the dunk competition. “Superman” brought Orlando 45 points (a career high), made 19 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Dwight also achieved his 18th consecutive double-double, which is a repeat of the club record held by Shaquille O'Neal. The hero of the New York-San Antonio match was the hosts' playmaker Nate Robinson, who made the most beautiful slam dunk at the All-Star Game. He brought his team 32 points.

Spaniard Pau Gasol (Lakers) also recharged his energy in Phoenix. Acting as a center, he managed to make ten assists. Plus another 12 points and 13 rebounds in the game with Atlanta - there is the third triple-double of his career.

Kovalev has problems in Montreal

Hockey. NHL. Regular season. “Carolina” – “Boston” – 1:5, “Florida” – “New Jersey” – 4:0, “Calgary” – “Vancouver” – 3:4 (OT), “San Jose - Edmonton - 4:2, Toronto - Buffalo - 1:4, Tampa Bay - Chicago - 3:5, Colorado - Ottawa » -- 3:2 (OT).

The first pick of the 2008 draft, Tampa center Steven Stamkos, scored a hat-trick, scoring all his goals in a row after his team was losing 0:1, but the young player’s extra efforts were in vain. The hosts, on the whole, played this match extremely passively. For example, the statistics of shots on target at the opponent's goal in the first period are eloquent - 3:19. Exactly half of the goals in this match were scored as a result of a numerical majority. All-Star Game MVP Alexei Kovalev has been removed from Montreal's roster for at least the next two games. The quality of his play does not suit the coaches and management of the club. It is possible that the Russian could be exchanged to another team.

Euroleague ULEB takes on a new format

At a meeting of shareholders of the ULEB Euroleague basketball held in Rome (Italy), which includes leading clubs and national leagues, a decision was made to change the format of the tournament from the 2009/10 season. Long-term licenses “A” for participation are given to the strongest teams, including CSKA, annual quotas “B” are provided to ten clubs according to the country rating. True, there is one nuance that is not very good for Russia. If the holder of license “A” becomes the national champion (and for sure in our case it will be CSKA), then his place is not automatically transferred to the playoff finalist. And the future silver medalist is in 16th place in the “B” quota waiting list. That is, it is not yet a fact that Russia is guaranteed two places in the main tournament, especially since a qualifying round is being introduced with the participation of eight clubs. Much for us will depend on the results of the national championships of 11 countries. If their winners (in three cases also silver medalists) turn out to be holders of license “A”, then the Russian finalist will move higher on the waiting list.

Dementieva won her 500th victory

Olympic champion Elena Dementieva won her 500th match in WTA tournaments at a tennis tournament in Dubai with a prize fund of $2 million. The Russian's opponent was Sabilla Bummer from Austria, who was defeated in two sets in an hour and a half - 7:5, 6:2. Dementieva is now counted among the tennis players who managed to cross the winning line of 500 matches. Of the active players, only the Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, who has 528 won fights, and the American Venus Williams - 517, have more wins.

Another Russian woman, Vera Zvonareva, reached the quarterfinals of the tournament in Dubai, defeating Marion Bartoli from France. After an unfinished first set with a score of 2:5, Bartoli refused to continue the fight and withdrew from the competition. A day earlier, in the Russian derby, Zvonareva-Dushevina was the first to prevail over her namesake - 6:0, 6:3.

Another Russian confrontation between Elena Vesnina and Svetlana Kuznetsova ended with a sensational victory for Vesnina. The author of the main surprise at these competitions was Dinara Safina. In the first round she lost to the Frenchwoman Virginia Razzano - 2:6, 4:6. After the “duel,” Safina admitted that her opponent played one of the best matches in her career, and she herself “didn’t give herself a chance to play.” Meanwhile, it was Safina who was considered one of the main contenders for victory in Dubai.

Beckham will remain at Milan

English midfielder of the American Los Angeles Galaxy David Beckham, who plays on loan for the Italian Milan, will remain in this club. As SkySport24 reports, representatives of Beckham and both teams managed to agree on the amount of compensation that Milan will pay for the transfer of rights to the Englishman. Specific numbers are not disclosed. However, there is information that Beckham, who was injured in the Milan derby, is preparing to take part in the 1/16 finals of the UEFA Cup against Werder Bremen.

Let us remember that 33-year-old Beckham, who scored two goals in seven games for Milan, did not hide the fact that he wants to stay in Italy. Playing for a European club would give him a better chance of competing at the 2010 World Cup with England.

Prepared by Olga ERMOLINA, Ilya TRISVIATSKY