Sports — International

US gymnastics icon Simone Biles marries NFL’s Jonathan Owens

US gymnastics star Simone Biles and NFL Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens announced their marriage on Saturday with photos of their special day posted on social media. It’s a happy ending for Biles, the 2016 Rio Olympic all-around champion and a five-time world all-around champion, and Owens, who signed for the Texans in 2019. The couple announced their engagement in February of last year and among the pictures posted was one with them in front […]

Grizzlies hold off Lakers to level series 1-1

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) — The Memphis Grizzlies shook off the absence of star guard Ja Morant to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 103-93 on Wednesday and knot their NBA Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece. Xavier Tillman scored 22 points and pulled down 18 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies, who led by as many as 20 points in a bruising battle that saw Lakers center Anthony Davis suffer a small cut […]

Kings’ Brown unanimous NBA coach of the year

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) — Sacramento’s Mike Brown was named the NBA Coach of the Year on Wednesday, becoming the first unanimous winner of the award after guiding the Kings back to the playoffs. Brown also won the award in 2009 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, guiding a team that won 66 games as LeBron James was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. He was sacked by the Cavs one year later, eventually landing briefly […]

Booker brilliance as Suns sink Clippers, Celtics dominant

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Devin Booker led a second-half rally as the Phoenix Suns came from behind to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 123-109 and level their Western Conference playoff series 1-1 on Tuesday. Booker scored 18 points in the third quarter before finishing with a 38-point haul to complete a battling comeback by Phoenix, who had trailed by 13 in the second quarter against the Kawhi Leonard-inspired Clippers. The Clippers stunned Phoenix […]

Celtics dominate Hawks to lead series 2-0

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Jayson Tatum bagged 29 points as the Boston Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks 119-106 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference NBA playoff series on Tuesday. The second-seeded Celtics, 112-99 victors over Atlanta in game one, overcame a slow start to dominate the seventh-seeded Hawks for a comfortable victory at Boston’s TD Garden. “Playoffs are all about adjustments, trying to move on from game-to-game, seeing what […]

Kings guard Fox named NBA Clutch Player of the Year

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox was named winner of the inaugural NBA Clutch Player of the Year award on Tuesday The 25-year-old American received 91 of 100 possible first-place votes from a media panel after being among the nominees by league head coaches. “It’s definitely going to get added to the memorabilia room,” Fox said. Fox averaged 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals a game and […]

Maxey stars as Sixers take 2-0 lead over Nets

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 96-84 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series on Monday. With Brooklyn double-teaming Sixers star Joel Embiid throughout, it was left to Maxey to do the damage for Philadelphia with a shooting clinic that leaves Doc Rivers’ team two wins away from a series victory. Maxey’s 33-point haul from 13-of-23 […]

Grizzlies’ Jackson named NBA Defensive Player of the Year

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., the NBA’s leading shot blocker for a second consecutive season, was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday. The 23-year-old American, in his fifth NBA season all spent with the Grizzlies, won the award for the first time with 56 of 100 first-place votes and 391 total points from a global media panel. Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks was […]

Major NBA injury fear for Giannis, Morant as Lakers, Heat win

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Memphis star guard Ja Morant suffered injuries on Sunday in NBA playoff series openers that threatened to disrupt two title contenders. The Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of Morant’s absence late in the fourth quarter for a late surge that produced a 128-112 victory at Memphis while the top-seeded Bucks, who lost their Greek star in the first quarter, lost 130-117 to the eighth-seeded […]

Kings edge Warriors in NBA playoff thriller as Sixers, Celtics roll

Washington, United States | AFP | Sunday 4/16/2023 De’Aaron Fox scored 38 points and Malik Monk added 32 off the bench in leading the Sacramento Kings to a 126-123 victory over Golden State for their first NBA playoff triumph in 17 years. The Kings, who had not reached the post-season since 2006, seized a 1-0 lead over the defending champions in a Western Conference best-of-seven first round series that continues in Sacramento on Monday. In […]

Sixers, Celtics cruise in NBA playoffs, Knicks edge Cavs

Washington, United States | AFP | Sunday 4/16/2023 Joel Embiid and James Harden sparked a Philadelphia 76ers romp while the Boston Celtics cruised to victory behind Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in NBA playoff openers on Saturday. NBA scoring champion Embiid scored 26 points while NBA assists champion Harden added 23 points and 13 assists in the Sixers’ 121-101 rout of visiting Brooklyn. The host Sixers, who led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage, sank […]

Butler, Strus lead Heat past Bulls and into playoffs

Miami, United States | AFP | Saturday 4/15/2023 Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat caught fire down the stretch to beat the Chicago Bulls 102-91 and reach the NBA playoffs on Friday, as the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder to book their postseason berth. Miami, smarting from a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, clinched the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final seed to set up a meeting with the top seeded Milwaukee […]