By Tennie Sumague EBC New York Bureau BOSTON (Eagle News) — In the eyes of Boston Celtics fans and to all NBA fans worldwide, Kyrie Irving is the team’s Most Valuable Player, but in Thursday night’s game against the Houston Rockets, that honor belonged to teammates Al Horford and Marcus Smart. Horford scored the game’s winning basket with 3.7 seconds left as Smart’s defense overwhelmed James Harden in the final seconds to help […]
Sports — International
Saints head to playoffs despite loss to Bucs
By Adrian Manguit EBC Florida Bureau TAMPA, FL (Eagle News) – After starting the season with two straight losses, many fans of the New Orleans Saints questioned the direction of their team. The Saints, however, answered doubters by pulling off an 8-game winning streak with a defense that improved from 31st in 2016 to as spot in the top ten in the league this season. In the last game of the regular season, New Orleans […]
Tennis: Halep, Sharapova off to flying 2018 starts
SHENZHEN, China (AFP) — World number one Simona Halep began the year in emphatic style with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Nicole Gibbs as Maria Sharapova also romped through her first-round match at the Shenzhen Open on Monday. Romania’s Halep, who will be seeking her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in two weeks’ time, struck 12 winners to blitz the 110th-ranked American in one hour and nine minutes. “We had a big crowd, which […]
NBA: Curry red-hot in return for Warriors
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry returned with a vengeance on Saturday, draining 10 three-pointers in the Golden State Warriors’ 141-128 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Curry’s 10 from beyond the arc were the most by a player in a single game this season. He scored 38 points in less than 26 minutes on the floor, showing no sign of trouble from the right ankle injury that sidelined […]
NBA: Jazz top Cavs to spoil James’s birthday celebrations
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James wanted a win in Salt Lake City for his 33rd birthday on Saturday, but the Utah Jazz had other ideas. Rookie Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points to help the Jazz beat James’s Cleveland Cavaliers 104-101. Derrick Favors added 19 points and Ricky Rubio chipped in 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Jazz notched their fourth straight home win against Cleveland. James himself has now […]
NBA: Knicks edge Pelicans for rare road win
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Kristaps Porzingis scored seven of his 30 points in the last 90 seconds Saturday as the New York Knicks rallied for a 105-103 NBA victory over the Pelicans in New Orleans. Jarrett Jack’s two free throws with 9.1 seconds remaining sealed the victory, just the Knicks’ third away triumph of the season. After squandering a double-digit third-quarter lead, the Knicks had to erase an eight-point deficit in the final […]
NBA: Bucks edge Thunder on controversial Antetokounmpo basket
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo drove for a controversial dunk in the final second Friday to lift the Milwaukee Bucks to a 97-95 NBA victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Bucks’ Greek guard appeared to step on the baseline — and out of bounds — as he moved past Oklahoma City’s Josh Heustis toward the basket, but no call was made and the Bucks had the win when Russell Westbrook’s desperation […]
NBA: Wizards cruise past reeling Rockets
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Point guard Chris Paul’s return wasn’t enough to boost the Houston Rockets, who endured a fifth straight NBA defeat on Friday, 121-103 to the Washington Wizards. Otto Porter scored 26 points and Bradley Beal added 21 for the Wizards, who seized the early advantage and were never seriously threatened. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Wizards, who led by nine going […]
NBA: Birthday date with Jazz a treat for Cavs star James
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James leads Cleveland against the Utah Jazz on Saturday, seeking to celebrate his 33rd birthday with a victory for a Cavs team that has dropped two straight. James insisted on Friday at the Cavs’ practice in Napa Valley, California, that three defeats in four games hadn’t caused him undue concern. “I haven’t really looked at it in that manner,” James said. “I just want to try to get […]
NBA: Raptors suspend Ibaka after incident with team staff member
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Toronto Raptors suspended Spanish power forward Serge Ibaka for their NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday after he was involved in an altercation with a team staff member. The Raptors said Ibaka violated team rules in the incident, which took place after the Raptors’ 124-107 loss at Oklahoma City on Wednesday. “Both parties have apologized. We’ve discussed this internally as a team, and we won’t be discussing it […]
Golf: Woods optimistic for 2018, but schedule still unclear
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Tiger Woods said Friday he’s taken his game to another level, but his 2018 schedule remains unclear as he plots his comeback from injury. The 14-time major champion posted a lengthy blog on his website, reflecting on 2017 and looking ahead to a 2018 that he hopes will see him playing a full schedule and contending on the US PGA Tour. “Now, I feel I’ve taken it to another level,” Woods […]
Football: Milan’s Cutrone dumps Inter out of Italian Cup
MILAN, Italy (AFP) – Milan teenager Patrick Cutrone scored a sensational extra-time goal to dump Inter Milan out of the Italian Cup on Wednesday and book a semi-final showdown with Lazio. The 19-year-old broke through after 109 minutes under driving rain at the San Siro after the match had ended 0-0 in regular time to set up a two-legged semi-final against the Romans who saw off Fiorentina 1-0 on Tuesday. The victory was a welcome relief […]