When LeBron James and Dwyane Wade get together socially, they are the best of friends.
When they get together on a basketball court, they leave their friendship on the bench - and James came out on top of their latest encounter, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a nailbiting 92-91 victory over Wade and the Miami Heat on Monday.
It was the 21st time the basketball superstars have faced each other during their NBA careers, and James has been on the winning team in 12 of them. This time, he had to get the better of a headache as well as Wade as he made two free throws with four second remaining to clinch it for the Eastern Conference-leading Cavs.
James and Wade each scored 32 points, but only two of Wade's tally came in the second half and he missed a 25-footer at the buzzer.
"It came down to one possession," said James, who was knocked into the crowd when fouled on his final attempt.
"I've got a headache. I just had to relax, I didn't want to rush it. It was difficult, I was able to get up and knock them down."
Wade also missed two free throws with 41 seconds to play and was responsible for a costly turnover six seconds from the end when Miami were leading 91-90.
Shaquille O'Neal stepped up with 19 points for the Cavaliers (35-11), who won their fifth in a row and third without second leading scorer Mo Williams, who has a shoulder injury.
The Heat (23-21) took an early advantage and led by 11 in the third before Cleveland reined them in towards the end of the quarter.
Cleveland's Daniel Gibson made two big three-pointers in the last quarter and had 15 in total while James scored all six of his fourth-quarter points at the free throw line.
Teammates on the 2008 Olympic squad as well as fellow draftees in 2003, James and Wade put on a one-on-one showcase in the first half. Wade opened with 13 points in the first and added 17 in the second but the reigning MVP James topped him with 20 - a stretch including dunks and long jump shots.
Elsewhere in the NBA, the Utah Jazz rookie Wesley Matthews scored 10 of a career-high 21 points in the fourth quarter to steer his team to a 124-115 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Carlos Boozer also scored 21 points and added 20 rebounds for the Jazz, who ran away from the Suns with a 33-point fourth quarter.
"It was almost like bait ... we fell into their trap for the first three quarters," Matthews said after his breakout performance.
"I love this. I have never been the type to back down from anything and I think that's what's got me to where I am." Matthews has been used sporadically of late but came through when the Jazz needed him.
On the other side, Goran Dragic scored a career-high 32 points to help Phoenix forge a 106-102 lead in the final quarter before Utah seized the momentum with a 17-3 run.
Utah (26-18) won their sixth consecutive game at home to move a full game ahead of the Suns (26-20) in the competitive Western Conference.
By contrast Phoenix have lost six of their last eight games and been poor on the road.
The NBA's top scoring team have had trouble defending, keeping just one opponent under 100 points this month.
Despite the struggles, All-Star point guard Steve Nash reached a milestone with his 8,000th assist becoming just the eighth player in league history to reach the mark.
Paul Pierce inspired the Boston Celtics to a 95-89 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 22 points as the Celtics gained revenge for their defeat by the Clippers last month, a game Pierce missed.
Rasual Butler top scored for the Clippers with 17.
The Atlanta Hawks beat the Houston Dynamos 102-95 thanks to a 22-point haul from Josh Smith.
Smith also grabbed 10 rebounds, while Joe Johnson added 20 points and Jamal Crawford 17.
Chauncey Billups scored 27 points as the Denver Nuggets beat the Charlotte Bobcats 104-93 to clinch their seventh win in a row.
Dwight Howard scored 27 points but it was not enough to lead the Orlando Magic to victory as the Memphis Grizzlies beat them 99-94. Zach Randolph had 23 points and 19 rebounds as the Grizzlies, who trailed by two points going into the final quarter, won their 11th successive home game.
The Indiana Pacers were 109-98 winners over the Philadelphia 76ers, with Danny Granger pouring in 26 points. Andre Iguodala scored 22 for the 76ers.
Derrick Rose had 27 points to help the Chicago Bulls to a 98-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs, while New Orleans beat the Portland 98-97 thanks to 24 points from Chris Paul.
* With agencies
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier
Sunday's results:
- UAE beat Malaysia by eight wickets
- Nepal beat Singapore by four wickets
- Oman v Hong Kong, no result
Tuesday fixtures:
- Malaysia v Singapore
- UAE v Oman
- Nepal v Hong Kong
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
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Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
