Los Angeles, United States (AFP) — The Boston Celtics clawed out a 109-98 victory over Brooklyn on Thursday, pulling away late to boost their NBA-best record and widen the distance over the Nets atop the Eastern Conference. Celtics star Jayson Tatum endured a tough seven-for-22 shooting night on the way to 20 points and 11 rebounds. Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points apiece for the Celtics, who learned shortly before the contest that […]
Sports — International
Lakers’ James maintains lead in NBA All-Star voting
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James remained the top vote-getter in the second round of fan balloting for the NBA All-Star Game released by the league on Thursday. James is on pace to join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only 19-time All-Stars in history when the midseason exhibition is held on February 19 in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the latest returns James had 4,825,229 votes and as the leading […]
Brown leads Celtics over Pelicans, Bucks sink Hawks
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Jaylen Brown scored 41 points as the Boston Celtics underscored their status as the NBA’s form team with a 125-114 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. The Eastern Conference leaders warmed up for Thursday’s crunch clash against Brooklyn with a composed performance to overpower the Pelicans, the third-ranked team in the Western Conference this season. Brown, averaging just under 27 points per game this season, once again delivered […]
Tatum stars as Celtics hold off Bulls, Nuggets and Grizzlies win
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Jayson Tatum scored 32 points to help the Boston Celtics hold off the determined Chicago Bulls on Monday and reach the midway point of their NBA season with the best record in the league. Grant Williams added 20 points, Jaylen Brown scored 19 and Al Horford’s eight included a crucial three-pointer with 25.5 seconds remaining in Boston’s 107-99 home victory. The Celtics pushed their record to 29-12 after their […]
MMA world pays tribute after Victoria Lee dies aged 18
The ONE Championship team is devastated over the tragic passing of Victoria Lee. We send our most heartfelt condolences to her family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/EUIp8jplxN — ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 8, 2023 Singapore, Singapore (AFP) The death of 18-year-old rising MMA star Victoria “The Prodigy” Lee, announced at the weekend, has prompted an outpouring of tributes from people associated with the sport. Asia-based ONE MMA Championship chief Chatri Sityodtong said he […]
Kvitova wins battle of Wimbledon champions at Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia |(AFP) Petra Kvitova won the battle of Wimbledon champions on Monday in Adelaide as she outserved Elena Rybakina — who has now crashed out early in two tournaments leading into next week’s Australian Open. Two-time Wimbledon winner Kvitova beat the current All England Club champion 6-3, 7-5 in round one, exacting a measure of revenge. The 23rd-ranked Russian-born Rybakina won their first head-to-head meeting last year in Ostrava. World number 16 Kvitova never […]
James, Durant lead early NBA All-Star voting
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, closing in on the top spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, leads the fan voting for the league’s All-Star Game in the first returns announced Thursday. Fifteen days after voting opened, James has collected 3,168,694 votes. Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is the top vote-getter in the Eastern Conference with 3,118,545. The players who lead the voting in each conference captain the […]
Giannis scores career-high 55 to ignite Bucks over Wizards
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 55 points to spark the Milwaukee Bucks in a revenge victory over Washington 123-113 on Tuesday while NBA-best Boston was upset at Oklahoma City. Greek star forward Antetokounmpo, who missed a 118-95 loss Sunday to Washington with knee soreness, added 10 rebounds and seven assists in the triumph, scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter to stomp the Wizards. Antetokounmpo, who made 20-of-33 from the floor […]
NFL player critical after suffering cardiac arrest during game
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after suffering a cardiac arrest during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals and is in critical condition in hospital, his team said. “Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game against the Bengals,” the Buffalo Bills said on their Twitter page. “His heartbeat was restored on the field … He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition,” the Bills said. […]
Pele lives on in 738 Peruvian children named for football star
LIMA, Peru (AFP) – The world lost Pele, the “king” of football in 2022, but his name will live on in more than 700 Peruvian children born last year, according to a list published by Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status. As per the list, 738 babies were registered with the names Pele, King Pele, Edson Arantes or Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the full name of the three-time football world champion, by the close […]
Mitchell’s stunning 71 points leads Cavs, Lakers and Sixers win
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell scored a stunning 71 points — matching the eighth-most ever in an NBA game — as the Cavaliers erased a 21-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 145-134 in overtime on Monday. Mitchell’s performance was the highest single-game points total since Lakers great Kobe Bryant scored 81 against Toronto in 2006. Wilt Chamberlain holds the single-game scoring record with 100 for Philadelphia against the New York […]
Jokic triple double leads Denver over Boston in NBA showdown
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Nikola Jokic delivered a triple double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to spark host Denver over Boston 123-111 in a Sunday showdown of NBA conference leaders. Two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic made 10-of-13 shots from the floor, including both 3-point attempts, and went 8-for-8 from the free throw line to produce his ninth triple double of the season. The Nuggets improved to 24-12, stretching their […]