NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Milwaukee Bucks All-Star forward Khris Middleton will miss the next three to four weeks of the NBA season with a left thigh bruise, news reports said Monday. The 28-year-old US playmaker suffered the injury in Sunday’s 121-119 Milwaukee victory over Oklahoma City but there is no severe damage involved his leg injury, according to reports from ESPN, The Athletic website and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel newspaper. Middleton is averaging 18.5 […]
Sports — International
Nadal loses ATP Finals opener to Zverev as Tsitsipas triumphs
by John WEAVER LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Rafael Nadal refused to make excuses after being outplayed by defending champion Alexander Zverev at the ATP Finals on Monday as Stefanos Tsitsipas got his campaign off to a flying start. The Spanish top seed, who has never won the season-ending event, came into the tournament at London’s O2 Arena under an injury cloud and was well short of his imperious best as he went down 6-2, […]
Senegalese center Dieng wins NBA humanitarian award
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng was named Friday as the first international player to win the Off-season NBA Cares Community Assist Award for humanitarian efforts in his homeland of Senegal. Dieng’s charity foundation partners with Minnesota-based health non-profit Matter to provide long-term sustainable medical assistance to children and families in Senegal. The 29-year-old T-Wolves’ big man, in his seventh NBA season all spent with Minnesota, has donated life-saving medical […]
Nuggets on a roll as Jokic hits second-straight game winner
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Nikola Jokic nailed his second consecutive game-winning basket just before the final buzzer as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-98 in overtime on Sunday. Jokic drained a 15-foot fadeaway jump shot with three seconds left in overtime for the Nuggets, who won their fourth straight game. On Friday, Serbia’s Jokic hit a 20 footer with 1.2 seconds left to lift the Nuggets to a 100-97 win over […]
Ronaldo leaves stadium before final whistle after being substituted
MILAN, Italy (AFP) — Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly left the Allianz Stadium before the final whistle of Juventus’ 1-0 Serie A win over AC Milan on Sunday after being substituted for the second match in a week. Paulo Dybala replaced Ronaldo on 55 minutes with the Argentina striker going on to score the winning goal 22 minutes later to keep Juventus top in Serie A ahead of Inter Milan. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo looked glum […]
NBA Heat ban Waiters for 10 games after ‘scary’ situation
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Miami Heat reserve guard Dion Waiters was suspended for 10 games without pay on Sunday by the NBA club for “conduct detrimental to the team” after an airplane incident. The ban began with the Heat’s loss Friday at the Los Angeles Lakers and will sideline the 27-year-old American until a December 1 game at Brooklyn. Waiters, who signed a four-year deal worth $52 million with the Heat in 2017, also […]
NBA docks Clippers $50K for Rivers’ Leonard injury comments
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The National Basketball Association has slapped the Los Angeles Clippers with a $50,000 fine because of comments coach Doc Rivers made about Kawhi Leonard’s injury status. “The NBA has fined the Clippers $50,000 for statements, including by head coach Doc Rivers, that was inconsistent with Leonard’s health status,” the league’s disciplinary officials said in a statement on Thursday. On Wednesday, the league said it accepted the Clipper’s decision to […]
Williamson positive about a healthy return to Pelicans
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Zion Williamson, who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus two and a half weeks ago, says he is working out and trying to remain positive about his eventual return. The 19-year-old New Orleans Pelican forward and the first overall pick in the NBA entry draft doesn’t want to rush his recovery, which doctors said would take six to eight weeks. “I do feel like I’m getting stronger day […]
Warriors center Looney to miss at least two more weeks
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney will be sidelined at least two more weeks after tests for “nerve-related symptoms” that have seen him miss six NBA games. “Warriors center Kevon Looney, who has missed the last six games due to nerve-related symptoms, recently underwent a battery of tests,” the Warriors said in a statement on Wednesday. “Following the tests, we are hopeful and encouraged that the treatment plan prescribed […]
Clippers’ Leonard to miss marquee clash with Bucks
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will sit out a marquee clash with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday as his team continues to manage his workload in view of a knee injury. On the NBA’s official injury report the reason for Leonard’s absence is “injury/illness, load management (knee)”, and the NBA spoke up to say the move was indeed in line with its guidelines. League spokesman […]
LeBron sparks Lakers in NBA comeback triumph at Chicago
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — LeBron James scored 30 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and passed off 11 assists on Tuesday, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 118-112 comeback NBA victory at Chicago with his third consecutive triple-double. Anthony Davis produced a season-low 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds in a return to his hometown, but James surged in the final minutes as the Lakers unleashed a 29-4 fourth-quarter run. It was only […]
NBA Trail Blazers lose Collins for four months after surgery
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Collins underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to repair his left labrum but will miss the next four months of the NBA season, the team announced. Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said Collins will start rehabilitation and treatment and be re-evaluated around early March. Collins, 21, dislocated his left shoulder at the 2:01 mark of the third quarter in Portland’s 121-119 victory […]