NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, a seven-year NBA veteran, was named Wednesday as this year’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner by the Professional Basketball Writers Association. The media panel annually awards the honor, named for a former NBA commissioner, to an NBA player, coach or trainer showing outstanding community service and dedication. Lillard was given the award for his work within supporting and inspiring high school students […]
Sports — International
Durant’s shock injury exit stuns NBA Finals rivals
by Jim SLATER TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — When Golden State star Kevin Durant went down 12 minutes into his long-awaited comeback game Monday in the NBA Finals, players on both sides were stunned. Durant, the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, suffered a right Achilles tendon injury in the Warriors’ 106-105 victory over Toronto, trimming the Raptors’ lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. “It was a real shock when he went down,” […]
JUST IN: Warriors edge Raptors to keep NBA title hopes alive
TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Stephen Curry scored 31 points and Klay Thompson added 26 as the defending champion Golden State Warriors edged Toronto 106-105 Monday to sustain their hopes of winning the NBA Finals. The Warriors pulled within 3-2 in the best-of-seven championship series and forced a sixth game Thursday at Oakland, California, with game seven if needed back in Toronto on Sunday. On a night when Warriors star Kevin Durant returned from a right […]
Harden, Davis among NBA stars set for USA World Cup camp
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — NBA scoring champion James Harden and star center Anthony Davis were among 20 players named Monday by USA Basketball to its national team camp for this year’s Basketball World Cup. The two-time defending champion Americans seek a third consecutive crown and a berth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the global showdown August 31-September 15 in China. Harden averaged 36.1 points a game for the Houston Rockets last season […]
Durant’s return for Warriors in NBA Finals was a short one
TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Golden State star forward Kevin Durant left Monday’s fifth game of the NBA Finals against Toronto with what appeared to be a reaggravation of the same right calf injury that had kept hinm sidelined for a month. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Durant, the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, had been medically cleared to play after missing nine games with the injury. Durant sparked Golden State immediately, scoring […]
Durant will return for Warriors against Raptors in NBA Finals
TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Golden State star forward Kevin Durant will play in Monday’s fifth game of the NBA Finals, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, ending his nine-game layoff with a right calf injury. The 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player has been sidelined for more than a month as the defending NBA champions have been taken to the brink of defeat by the Toronto Raptors, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-1. Durant […]
NBA star Tony Parker announces retirement
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Former San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker confirmed his retirement from basketball on Monday after 18 seasons in the NBA. The 37-year-old French international, who won four NBA titles with the Spurs between 2003 and 2014 announced his decision in a post on Twitter. “It’s with a lot of emotion that I retire from basketball, it was an incredible journey!” Parker wrote. “Even in my wildest dreams, I never […]
Former Red Sox star David Ortiz shot in ambush at Dominican Republic bar
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle and shot him in the back at close range Sunday night in his native Dominican Republic, authorities said. Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte said Ortiz was at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo around 8:50 p.m. when the gunman approached from behind and shot him. Ortiz […]
Durant could return for Warriors in must-win NBA Finals game
by Jim SLATER TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant, sidelined for a month by a right calf injury, practiced with the defending champions Sunday and could return for the must-win fifth game of the NBA Finals. Improving enough for workouts means Durant might play Monday against Toronto, which owns a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and needs only one win to become the first team from outside the United […]
Raptors plan: Stay calm and capture a historic NBA title
by Jim SLATER TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — With an uncanny calm, the Toronto Raptors have advanced within one victory of a historic NBA title, bringing joyful delight to supporters even as they maintain a stoic manner. Winning twice on the road to seize a 3-1 edge over defending champion Golden State in the best-of-seven NBA Finals brought only stone-faced looks from players, taking the cliche of getting neither too high or too low to epic […]
Raptors NBA crown can bring Canada hoops legacy full circle
by Jim SLATER Agence France Presse TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — An NBA crown for the Toronto Raptors would bring basketball’s legacy full circle for Canada, celebrating its deep roots as birthplace of the sport’s inventor and site of the first NBA game. The Raptors, trying to become the first team from outside the United States to capture the throne, beat Golden State 105-92 Friday to seize a 3-1 lead on the defending champion Warriors […]
UPDATED: Raptors defeat Warriors to reach brink of first NBA crown
by Jim Slater Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points and the Toronto Raptors moved to the brink of their first NBA title Friday by beating defending champion Golden State 105-92 in the NBA Finals. Serge Ibaka netted 20 points off the bench and Pascal Siakam added 19 for the Raptors, who grabbed a commanding 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven series, which could end with game five Monday in Toronto. The Raptors are one victory shy of […]