Sports — International

Football: Five great Barcelona European comebacks

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — Barcelona have another Champions League mountain to climb if they are to oust Italian champions Juventus to reach the semi-finals on Wednesday. Barca trail 3-0 from the first leg in Turin last week. However, the Catalans have shown that they are capable of the spectacular feat back home at Camp Nou in European competition through the years. Here, AFP Sports looks at five of Barca’s finest comebacks. 3-0 v Ipswich Town, […]

NBA: LeBron pays tribute to grieving Thomas

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James paid tribute to Isaiah Thomas on Monday, offering his condolences to the grieving Boston Celtics star following the death of his sister in a car crash at the weekend. Thomas fought through tears to score 33 points in Boston’s opening playoff defeat to Chicago on Sunday, just a day after his sister Chyna’s death. Speaking during Cleveland’s shootaround ahead of their Game 2 against Indiana on Monday, […]

NBA: Harden powers Rockets past Westbrook’s Thunder

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — James Harden scored 37 points as the Houston Rockets routed Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-87 in the opening game of their NBA playoff series on Sunday. Harden outclassed fellow MVP candidate Westbrook also delivering nine assists and seven rebounds for the Rockets who take a 1-0 lead into game two on Wednesday. “Tonight was a good game but it is just one win,” Harden said. “We have […]

NBA: Grieving Thomas leads all scorers in loss to Bulls

BOSTON, United States (AFP) — Isaiah Thomas played with a heavy heart Sunday, scoring 33 points in a 106-102 NBA playoff loss to the Chicago Bulls just one day after his younger sister was killed in a car crash. Thomas took to the court on an emotional night at the Boston Garden despite the death of 22-year-old Chyna Thomas, whom he honored by pencilling her name on his green sneakers and adding “R.I.P. Lil Sis.” There […]

NBA: Warriors pull away late in win over Trail Blazers

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Golden State Warriors clamped down in the fourth quarter to pull away to a 121-109 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in game one of their NBA playoff series. Golden State, aiming to get back to the NBA finals for a third straight year and regain the crown they surrendered last season to the Cleveland Cavaliers, had 32 points from Kevin Durant in his first playoff game […]

NBA: LeBron confident as NBA playoffs begin

by Rob Woollard Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James believes the Cleveland Cavaliers are ready to defend their NBA crown as the postseason gets under way this weekend with the Golden State Warriors desperate to reclaim their throne. The Cavaliers stumbled into the playoffs after an erratic finale to the regular season which saw them pipped for the number one ranking in the Eastern Conference by the Boston Celtics. But […]

NBA: Boston Celtics earn Top Seed and Home Court Advantage with Win

By: Tennie Sumague, Eagle News Service US, New York Bureau Assisted coverage by Eric Han, EBC – Eagle News NMW BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS- The Boston Celtics hosted Fan Appreciation Night at their final regular season game at TD Boston Garden against Milwaukee, pulling away with the victory and the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 112-94 win over the Bucks. Boston earned the top seed and home court advantage throughout the playoffs when […]

NBA: Celtics claim top seed in the Eastern Conference

BOSTON, United States (AFP) — Gerald Green scored 18 points as the Boston Celtics clinched their first Eastern Conference title in nine years with a 112-94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on the final night of the NBA regular season. The Celtics finished with a 53-29 record as they claimed the top seed in the East for the first since the 2007-08 season, when they won the last of their NBA best 17th championship. Green […]

NBA: New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers

EBC Sports International, Los Angeles Bureau Written By: Kenneth Cruz Photos By: Jaina Pallsigui It was a Hollywood ending for Meta World Peace in what could be his final game at The Staples Center. World Peace, who has seen limited minutes throughout the course of the season, erupted for 18 points in what was his best performance in many years. With this victory, The Lakers have extended their winning streak to five games, the most […]

NBA: Curry tops NBA jersey sales

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James may have pipped him to last year’s NBA Finals crown, but Stephen Curry remains the king of replica shirt sales, the league confirmed Tuesday. Golden State Warriors star Curry, the reigning MVP, topped a list of the best-selling jerseys from the 2016-2017 season, which concludes on Wednesday. James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a thrilling victory over the Warriors in last year’s NBA Finals, was second […]

NBA: LeBron to miss Cavaliers’ season finale

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James will not play in Cleveland’s final regular season game against the Toronto Raptors, the team confirmed on Tuesday. James, who missed the Cavaliers’ defeat to Miami on Monday after suffering a calf strain, will sit out Wednesday’s clash with the Raptors, general manager David Griffin said. James’ absence comes with Cleveland battling to regain the number one ranking in the Eastern Conference. The reigning NBA Finals champions […]

Football: Blasts hit Dortmund team bus, hurting player

by Christophe Beaudufe and Emmanuel Barranguet Agence France Presse DORTMUND, Germany (AFP) — Three explosions rocked the Borussia Dortmund bus, injuring Spanish international Marc Bartra, as the German team headed for a Champions League game against Monaco on Tuesday. Bartra faces wrist surgery after being hit by flying glass and the quarter-final match was postponed until Wednesday because of the attack. The club said the other Dortmund players were “shocked” but safe. “We are assuming […]