For most of this NBA season, the title has been plausibly within the reach of nine or 10 teams.
San Antonio Spurs imitators such as the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors have raced to the top of their conferences, leading MVP candidates like James Harden and Marc Gasol have put the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies in the conversation, and a slew of other challengers would not be crazy for thinking that, if things break just right, they might find themselves champions at season’s end.
It is starting to look, though, like it is going to be much, much harder for those things to break right.
For the better part of the first half of this year, the Cleveland Cavaliers just did not seem right. LeBron James just did not seem right.
For a team with as much talent as Cleveland, it was jarring to see James listlessly leading a team bogged down in the middle of the Eastern Conference’s pack for so long.
Cleveland were an OK 18-12 when James left for a two-week, eight-game injury hiatus at the end of December and beginning of January.
They went 1-7 without him in those games. Since his return, on January 13, they are 16-4.
Cleveland’s thorough demolishing of the Warriors in a 110-99 victory at home on Thursday night might have been the single most impressive result of the year – and signalled that James’s Cleveland are still the NBA title favourites.
James did it all, scoring 42 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and adding five assists, three steals and a block for good measure.
He has been tearing through the league for weeks, and Thursday’s game underscored that whatever was dragging James down at the beginning of the year should not be considered a long-term concern.
If he truly is beginning to slow down at 30, 12 NBA seasons and 891 regular-season games into his career, there is nothing in his latest surge that shows it.
Against Golden State, James was at his all-conquering best.
He scored largely at will – inside, outside, attacking the basket and shooting over helpless defenders.
Draymond Green could not prevent him from backing down into the post early on and lifting a nifty hook for two points.
At one point in the second quarter James blew past Andre Iguodala for an easy lay-up.
In the second half he knocked down a casual step-back jumper over a lunging Harrison Barnes.
These are good defenders, on the NBA’s best defensive team, and James had his way with them.
He involved his teammates and defended with ferocity. He was active in every aspect of the game.
Astute acquisitions in Timofey Mozgov, JR Smith and Iman Shumpert addressed Cleveland’s depth issues, while Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving aremore comfortable in their roles around James, and that has given the Cavaliers a sharper edge as well.
But most of the reason Cleveland have looked like the best team in the NBA for a month is that James has again looked like the best player in the league.
Up until his absence, Cleveland were outscoring opponents by 4.7 points per 100 possessions with James on the floor. Since January 13 they are scoring an astounding 17.5 more points per 100 possessions than opponents under a resurgent James.
With that James leading Cleveland – the James that cannot be stopped, the one who can shift games even against the NBA’s best on his own, the James who makes whichever team employing him the overwhelming title favourites before the season – the NBA’s wide-open, feel-good mood is set for a big downer.
jraymond@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @NatSportlUAE
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Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
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Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30:
- UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
- Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
- Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
