LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — John Riel Casimero of the Philippines made a successful first defence of his WBO bantamweight crown on Saturday, knocking out Ghana’s Duke Micah in the third round of their title fight in Connecticut. The 30-year-old from Leyte dominated Micah throughout with a series of punishing body blows, setting a frenetic pace from the opening bell at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. Casimero, who improved to 30-4, with 21 […]
Sports
Lakers hold off Nuggets, take 3-1 series lead
ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for 60 points as the top seeded Los Angeles Lakers seized control of their Western Conference finals series with a 114-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. James finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists and Davis had 34 points as Lakers held on to beat the Nuggets and take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series in the NBA’s quarantine […]
Herro scores 37 as Heat hold off Celtics for 3-1 lead
ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — Rising star Tyler Herro scored a career high 37 points and Jimmy Butler chipped in 24 as the Miami Heat seized command of their Eastern Conference final series with a 112-109 win on Wednesday. The 20-year-old rookie Herro made five of 10 threes as Miami took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series in the NBA’s quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida. “It is a good win for us. I feel […]
Murray to the rescue as Nuggets hold off Lakers
ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — Jamal Murray scored 28 points as the Denver Nuggets held off a ferocious late fightback from the Los Angeles Lakers to roar back into contention in the Western Conference finals series on Tuesday. Murray nailed two crucial late three-pointers in the closing minutes as Denver held on for a 114-106 victory in game three to reduce the Lakers lead in the best-of-seven series to 2-1. But the Nuggets — who […]
Donovan named new NBA Chicago Bulls head coach
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Chicago Bulls named Billy Donovan as the team’s new head coach on Tuesday, replacing Jim Boylen who was fired last month after the franchise’s latest failure to make the playoffs. Donovan, 55, joins the Bulls after parting company with the Oklahoma City Thunder by mutual agreement earlier this month after his team were eliminated from the postseason. “We are very pleased to welcome Billy and his family to […]
Celtics closer than ever after Heat meltdown: Smart
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Boston Celtics star Marcus Smart says the locker-room bust-up following last week’s defeat to the Miami Heat has brought the team closer together as they chase a series-levelling victory on Wednesday. Smart reportedly stormed out of the Celtics dressing room after Boston blew a 17-point lead before slumping to a 106-101 loss to Miami in game two of the NBA Eastern Conference finals last Thursday. Boston fought their way back […]
Davis’s buzzer beater lifts Lakers over Nuggets
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Anthony Davis drained a three-pointer as time expired to seal the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets Sunday for a 2-0 lead in the NBA Western Conference finals. “People talk about (I’ve) never been in this moment before, pressure, am I ready for it,” Davis said. “I want to take those shots.” Davis scored 31 points and pulled down nine rebounds, and LeBron James added 11 […]
Heat burn Celtics again for 2-0 NBA series lead
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — The Miami Heat turned it up in the second half, rallying again for a 106-101 victory over the Boston Celtics and a 2-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals. Trailing by 17 in the second quarter and down 60-47 at halftime, Miami thrashed the Celtics 37-17 in the third quarter and held on for the victory. Bam Adebayo scored 15 of his 21 points in the Heat’s blistering third […]
Osaka’s third Grand Slam, anti-racism stand, hailed in Japan
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Naomi Osaka’s victory in the US Open was hailed Sunday by media and officials in Japan who broadly welcomed her campaigning for victims of racial injustice and against police brutality. Public broadcaster NHK broke into its regular news programme to flash the news of the 22-year-old’s latest Grand Slam triumph, after she beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to add to winning the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open. […]
Lakers win game four, put Rockets on the brink of elimination
ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — Anthony Davis had 29 points and 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Houston Rockets 110-100 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their NBA Western Conference final series on Thursday. The Rockets were no match for the Lakers’ intensity and skill as Los Angeles outscored them 62-24 in the paint and 19-2 in fast break points in the quarantine bubble at the Disney resort in Orlando, Florida. […]
Raptors outlast Celtics to stay alive in NBA playoffs
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Kyle Lowry scored 33 points and Norman Powell added 23 off the bench Wednesday as defending champion Toronto bagged a series-levelling 125-122 double overtime victory over Boston in the NBA playoffs. An emotional thriller that resembled the intensity of a heavyweight boxing matchup saw the Raptors sustain their repeat hopes and pull level 3-3 in the Eastern Conference semi-final with a winner-take-all game seven set for Friday. The winner advances […]
Heat oust depleted Bucks to reach NBA East finals
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — The Miami Heat punched their ticket to the NBA Eastern Conference finals Tuesday, beating top-seeded Milwaukee 103-94 as injured Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo watched from the bench. Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic scored 17 points apiece as six Heat players scored in double figures and Miami completed a 4-1 series victory in a bruising encounter against the league’s top defensive team. Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 23 points. Reigning […]
