LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers are set to play NBA pre-season games in China next October, facing the Brooklyn Nets in Shanghai and Shenzhen, the league announced Monday. The 13th edition of NBA China Games will mark the 27th and 28th league contests in the nation since 2004, with the Lakers and Nets meeting October 10 at Shanghai and October 12 at Shenzhen. It will mark the second […]
Sports — International
Raptors cool off red-hot Pacers in Lowry’s return
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Norman Powell scored 23 points and Kyle Lowry returned from injury to tally 12 as the Toronto Raptors snapped the Indiana Pacer’s six-game NBA win streak with a 121-105 victory on Sunday. Pascal Siakam finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Serge Ibaka scored 18 as the Raptors won — despite missing Kawhi Leonard, who sat out to get some rest. The four-time all-star Lowry also dished out […]
Timberwolves dominate depleted Lakers
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton bemoaned a lack of passion from his players Sunday after they took a 108-86 beating from the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis. The Lakers have now lost five of six games since superstar LeBron James suffered a groin injury in December 25 victory over two-time defending NBA champions Golden State. The three-time NBA champion is due to be reevaluated on Friday, and the Lakers […]
Spurs extend Alderweireld contract
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Tottenham Hotspur have triggered an extension clause in veteran Belgian international Toby Alderweireld’s contract which ties him to the Premier League high-flyers until the summer of 2020. The 29-year-old central defender — capped 88 times and an integral part of Belgium’s best ever performance at the World Cup last year where they finished third — has a £25-million ($31.7m) release clause should a suitor come in for him. “The club […]
DeRozan tallies triple-double, Leonard hears boos in return
SAN ANTONIO, United States (AFP) — DeMar DeRozan delivered his first career triple double as the San Antonio Spurs routed the Toronto Raptors 125-107 on Thursday to spoil the return of Kawhi Leonard to the Alamo City. DeRozan finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists as he dominated the battle against Leonard, who was making his first trip back since being traded to Toronto in the off-season. “I just wanted to go out […]
Despite offensive struggles Raptors close out 2018 with win against defensively-minded Bulls
By Jeremiah Balingit Toronto Bureau TORONTO, Canada (Eagle News) — The Toronto Raptors ended 2018 with a win, fending off the defensively minded Chicago Bulls 95-89 on Sunday. Kawhi Leonard finished the game with 27 points and one rebound shy of a double-double, while Pascal Siakam added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors. Lauri Markkanen led the way for the Bulls with a double-double himself, with 18 points to go along with 10 […]
Djokovic battles through to Qatar semi-finals
DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — World number one Novak Djokovic won another gruelling battle in Doha on Thursday to continue his unbeaten start to the year and progress to the Qatar Open semi-finals. The Serb came from a set down, just like in his previous match, to beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match lasting almost two hours. Djokovic will play Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in Friday’s semi-final, who beat three-time Grand Slam […]
LeBron, Antetokounmpo top early NBA All-Star vote totals
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James and Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo led the first fan balloting updates announced Thursday for next month’s NBA All-Star Game. Los Angeles Lakers star playmaker James received the most votes with 1,083,363 to pace the Western Conference frontcourt while Milwaukee Bucks forward Antetokounmpo led the Eastern Conference with 991,561 votes in the first fan ballot returns. Voting continues through January 21 with fan […]
George ignores boo boys as Thunder sink Lakers
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Paul George shrugged off a chorus of boos to score 37 points and lead Oklahoma City Thunder to a 107-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on Wednesday. George angered Lakers fans last year after ignoring the franchise in favor of a deal with Oklahoma City, a snub which came after long-running speculation he would move to Los Angeles. On Wednesday, the Lakers fans unloaded […]
Serena sweeps Hopman Cup singles ahead of Slam record bid
PERTH, Australia (AFP) — Serena Williams completed a clean sweep of her singles matches at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth Thursday as she prepares for her bid to make Grand Slam history at the Australian Open. The winner of 23 Slam singles titles, Williams was made to work a little harder than expected by young Brit Katie Boulter in the United States’ final group tie, but prevailed in straight sets to make it […]
Medvedev shows Murray there’s still work to be done
by Andrew DENT Agence France-Presse BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — Russia’s Daniil Medvedev showed Andy Murray just how much work he still has to do, when he beat the former world number one in straight sets in the Brisbane International on Wednesday. Murray is making a comeback to the sport after a disastrous 2018, during which he played just six tournaments and was out of the game for 11 months with a hip injury. He had […]
Leonard’s 45 points fuel Raptors over Jazz, Bucks win
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kawhi Leonard poured in a career-high 45 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 122-116 NBA victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. With the win the Raptors improved to 28-11, keeping the pressure on the Milwaukee Bucks who boosted their league-leading record in terms of winning percentage to 26-10 with a 121-98 victory over Detroit. The Raptors were again without injured Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry — […]