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sports Monday 18 January 2021
U.S. team sure of continuing in America’s Cup after capsize

AUCKLAND, New Zealand ally confident in the team,”
(AP) — United States chal- he said. “Until you’re dead,
lenger American Magic you’re not.
is assessing the extent of “I’ve always been confi-
damage to its race yacht dent in Patriot and the per-
Patriot, which capsized formances she’s shown and
and came close to sinking I think we’ll have to keep it
during racing Sunday in the in perspective: we’re here,
America’s Cup challengers no one was hurt which is
series. a major bonus and we go
Skipper Terry Hutchinson forward from there. It’s the
said American Magic is America’s Cup; we have to
confident of making repairs be prepared to fight for it
and being able to contin- and we will.”
ue in the Prada Cup series, Hutchinson thanked those
which resumes on Friday. who raced to Patriot’s assis-
Patriot, which lost its first tance, including America’s
three races in the challeng- Cup defender Team New
ers series, was leading Ital- Zealand which helped to
ian challenger Luna Rossa save Patriot and tow it back
when it capsized round- to base, providing pizza for
ing the final mark. The U.S. the tired and hungry crew.
team attempted a com- United States’ American Magic, left, sails against Italy’s Luna Rossa on the third day of racing of “I do need to make sure I
plicated maneuver at high the America’s Cup challenger series on Auckland’s Waitemate Harbour, New Zealand, Sunday, say thank you to the local
speed but was caught by Jan. 17, 2021. authorities — the fire de-
a sudden blast of wind and Associated Press partment and the police
soared out of the water upright and pumped out Obviously the boats are on the ground.” — and particularly to Team
before tipping over on its and, after several hours, highly complicated on the While racing doesn’t re- New Zealand, Luna Rossa
port side. All 11 crew were was towed back to its base inside. We’ll have a good sume until Friday, compet- and Team Ineos for the sup-
quickly accounted for and in downtown Auckland, look at her and figure out ing boats are expected to port they gave us on the
none was injured. There where it arrived around where we go from here. be available to be mea- water,” he said.
were fears Patriot, which midnight. “We obviously sustained sured in their race set-up “Team New Zealand in par-
was damaged below the Hutchinson said “there was some damage to the bow by Wednesday afternoon. ticular helped tow us back
waterline, would sink and definitely a lot of concern” of the boat,” he continued. Hutchinson said he is con- to the dock for three and a
a buoy was fixed to the top that Patriot would not be “It’s too early to really com- fident American Magic will half hours.
of the mast to mark its posi- saved. ment on how long it takes be able to continue in the “In these moments, you
tion in case it went down. “When you start attach- or the extent of it. We’ll get regatta in which it repre- get the true sense of what
Rival teams raced to the ing things to the top of the a better look at it when we sents the New York Yacht competitors can do for
assistance of the American mast, you know that’s not get Patriot in the shed and Club. you and how we should
team, along with police a good situation,” he told from there we’re going to “Things that don’t kill you all treat each other. They
and fire officers. The boat reporters on the dock. “But keep our sights set on the are only going to make you showed a great display of
eventually was hoisted we’ll assess the situation. semifinal, get our feet back stronger and I’m exception- sportsmanship.”q
Kemba Walker returns, but Knicks blow out Celtics 105-75

By JIMMY GOLEN with a left knee injury but Walker went to the locker
AP Sports Writer left in the third quarter with room after taking a shot
BOSTON (AP) — Julius Ran- a rib injury. Fellow Celt- to the ribs while getting
dle scored 20 points with ics All-Star Jayson Tatum boxed out by Nerlens Noel
12 rebounds and RJ Barrett missed his second straight in the third quarter. Walker
had 19 and 11 on Sunday game with COVID-19. said he simply got the wind
to help the New York Knicks The Knicks led by as many knocked out of him. He did
snap a five-game losing as 11 in the first quarter and not return, but he already
streak and beat the Boston made it 15 in the second had played 20 minutes,
Celtics 105-75. before scoring the first 10 which was his limit.
Jaylen Brown scored 25 for points in the third quarter Walker scored nine points
Boston, which had the best to open a 58-35 lead. The on 3-of-13 shooting, add-
record in the Eastern Con- Celtics never got closer ing three rebounds, four
ference after winning five than 18 after that. assists and three steals but
in a row but suffered its big- “They’ve played ex- committing five turnovers.
gest blowout and lowest- tremely well short-handed, He was 1 for 8 from 3-point Boston Celtics’ Kemba Walker (8) shoots against New York
scoring output of the sea- and dealing with a lot of range. “It felt really good to Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson (23) during the first half of an NBA
son. “I don’t believe that’s tough stuff with guys be- be out there. Really good. basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Boston.
who this team is,” Celtics ing out,” Knicks coach Tom I almost forgot how it felt,” Associated Press
coach Brad Stevens said. Thibodeau said. “Some- Walker said. “Free, which by Immanuel Quickley’s 17 all draft pick Obi Toppin
“We had a clunker. You try times when you get guys I haven’t been for a very, points and eight assists. added 12 points and five
to have as few of those as back, there’s another ad- very, very long time. It feels “It’s just his craftiness,” rebounds in 17 minutes —
you can. ... We just looked justment you have to go weird not having pain, if Thibodeau said. “He’s got his most extensive action
like we were in mud today.” through. ... Getting Kemba that makes sense.” every shot you can imag- since injuring his left calf in
All-Star Kemba Walker back, there was an adjust- BENCH STRENGTH ine.” the opener. He missed 10
made his season debut af- ment for them.” The Knicks had a 38-25 Reigning NCAA player of consecutive games before
ter missing the first 11 games KEMBA BACK OUT edge in bench scoring, led the year and No. 8 over- returning on Wednesday.q