play.Thomas scored nine of his 17 points in the final quarter.You could t

Saracens sent out a real statement of intent as they kicked off the defence of their European Champions Cup crown by beating French giants Toulon 31-23 at Stade Mayol. The home side had never lost a home game in this competition but they found themselves 28-9 down early in the second half of the Pool 3 opener. Sean Maitland, Richard Wigglesworth and Chris Wyles all scored tries, with Owen Farrell kicking 13 points on his first appearance of the season for Saracens.But three-time winners Toulon came roaring back through tries from Levan Chilachava and Bryan Habana, plus Leigh Halfpennys boot. However Saracens managed to hold on, with a late Farrell penalty sealing a famous win and laying down a marker to any side with ideas of taking their mantle as European champions.Mark McCalls men made the ideal start with Farrell getting the first points on the board with a fourth-minute penalty after some good work by Jamie George and Wyles. Owen Farrells late penalty sealed the win and robbed Toulon of a bonus point Toulon quickly responded with their own deadly boot levelling the scores as Halfpenny slotted a penalty attempt from 40 metres.But it was the visitors who had made the more fluid start and they registered the games first try in the ninth minute. Strong carries by Maro Itoje and Jackson Wray got them deep into Toulon territory, and the ball was worked wide for Maitland to beat the cover and score in the corner.Farrell could not add the extras but the English side were soon celebrating again thanks to a wonderfully worked score. Billy Vunipola made yards and hooker George broke through a gaping hole and offloaded for Wigglesworth to go under the posts, with Farrell converting for a 15-3 lead after just 15 minutes. Chris Wyles scored Saracens third try Saracens were soon on the front foot once more with Itoje and lock partner George Kruis rampaging upfield. A knock-on ended the surge but Toulon had infringed in desperate defence and Farrell punished the ill-discipline to further extend the away sides lead.Toulon did at least trim the gap through Halfpennys second penalty after Itoje was penalised for a high tackle.But Saracens rammed home their ascendancy with a third try before the break. Mako Vunipolas cute offload allowed Farrell and Marcelo Bosch to make yards, with Wyles finishing the flowing attack on the left and Farrell converting for a 25-6 half-time lead.Toulon were first on the board after the break with a Halfpenny penalty but Farrell replied in kind after Maa Nonu was sin-binned for a tip-tackle on Brad Barritt. Maro Itoje charges towards the Toulon defence The numbers were evened up as Toulon battered away at the Saracens line, with Itoje paying the price and seeing yellow for a string of offences in desperate defence. The second row trotted off and Toulon immediately struck as Chilachava burrowed over from close range and Halfpenny converted.The score sparked the French side into life and a second try soon came their way as Nonu sent Habana over.Halfpenny added the extras to move the hosts within five points, and the lead became increasingly precarious when Saracens lost Schalk Burger to the bin with eight minutes remaining for slowing down ruck ball.But Farrells penalty put the result beyond doubt and denied Toulon a losing bonus point.You can watch Liverpool v Man Utd, plus Englands tour of Bangladesh and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price! Tyler Austin Jersey . -- At the beginning of training camp, Andrew Bogut set a goal to play all 82 regular-season games and regain his place among the NBAs best centres. 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Curtis Davies and Robert Koren secured the victory with goals inside 35 minutes of the fifth-round replay against the second-tier side.SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Isaiah Thomas heard a sound he had never heard before in Sacramento during one of his hot-shooting spurts in the fourth quarter: silence, then a few light boos.It was just the kind of welcome he had hoped for in his return.Thomas keyed the decisive run against his former team, and the Phoenix Suns got contributions from all over to outlast the short-handed Sacramento Kings 115-106 on Friday night for their fifth straight win.Thomas attributed the reaction to a loyal fan base in Sacramento — some of whom wore his old No. 22 Kings jersey — that wants to see wins and took it as a sign of respect.It was nice for me, Thomas said. It probably wasnt too nice for them.In his first game back in Sacramento, Thomas led an 18-7 spurt to start the fourth quarter that put Phoenix up by 15. The former Kings fan favourite finished with 17 points, five assists and three rebounds in just 29 minutes.But he was hardly alone.Marcus Morris had 20 points and nine rebounds, Eric Bledsoe added 18 points and six assists, Markieff Morris scored 17 points and Goran Dragic finished with 16 points and six assists for the surging Suns.Were small a lot of times. We get hurt on the boards some times. But the guys play hard, Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said.Darren Collison scored 19 points, and Rudy Gay added 16 points and five assists for the Kings, who sorely missed DeMarcus Cousins inside. The franchise centre sat out with a stomach illness.Interim coach Tyrone Corbin said the illness is unrelated to the viral meningitis that sidelined Cousins for 10 games previously. Regardless of the issue, Sacramento has struggled without him.The Kings are 2-9 when Cousins hasnt played this season.Reggie Evans tried to make up for Cousins absence, going for 11 points and 16 rebounds, but the lack of Cousins left the middle open on both ends.The Suns shot 48.9 per cent, including 14 for 33 from 3-point range, pushing the pace and creating all kinds of space. Sacrameento shot 44.dddddddddddd per cent and 7 of 29 from beyond the arc.Thats who they are and they are going to shoot a lot of 3s, Corbin said. Unfortunately, they made a fair share of them tonight.The teams traded scores for the first three quarters in what was a sloppy but fast-pace contest most of the way.Thomas received a moderate round of applause — with some giving him a standing ovation — when he checked in during the first quarter, though he didnt do much at the start. Thomas, selected by Sacramento with the 60th and final pick of the 2011 draft, went to Phoenix in a sign-and-trade deal over the summer.As he so often did in Sacramento, the 5-foot-9 guard came up big in the biggest moments.Thomas found Marcus Morris for a 3-pointer and then made two layups between a free throw to open the fourth. He added a couple more dazzling plays and a layup that put Phoenix up 112-97 with 5:09 to play.Thomas scored nine of his 17 points in the final quarter.You could tell, Marcus Morris said, he had an extra hop in his step.TIP-INSSuns: Phoenix improved to 5-0 when it uses the starting lineup of Bledsoe, Dragic, P.J. Tucker, Markieff Morris and Alex Len.Kings: Sacramento started 9-5 this season and is 3-12 since. ... Reserves Ramon Sessions (strained lower back) and Ryan Hollins (personal reason) also sat out.RESPECT FOR MALONEThomas said he was surprised by the Kings firing Michael Malone as coach two weeks ago. Same as everybody elses reaction, like, Why? What else did you guys want? Thomas said. Its none of my business. I know thats the NBA. Nobodys job is guaranteed. It just (stinks) because hes such a great guy and a great coach. They had different plans.STOUDEMIRE SCOUTINGNew York Knicks big man Amare Stoudemire, wearing a black beanie and sunglasses, watched the game from a front-row baseline seat. The Knicks play in Sacramento on Saturday.UP NEXTSuns: At Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.Kings: Host New York Knicks on Saturday. ' ' '