Miami, UNITED STATES (AFP) — Jayson Tatum scored 27 points as the Boston Celtics roared back to level the NBA Eastern Conference finals series with a 127-102 thrashing of the Miami Heat in game two on Thursday. Bolstered by the return of Marcus Smart and Al Horford, who both missed Tuesday’s 118-107 game one drubbing, Boston were a team transformed as they squared the best-of-seven series 1-1. Boston made only 11-of-34 from three-point range in […]
Sports — International
NBA fines Mavs again for rowdy bench behavior
The NBA cracked down on the rowdy behavior of the Dallas bench on Wednesday, fining the Mavs’ $50,000 for violating “team bench decorum” rules in their series-clinching victory over the Phoenix Suns. It’s the second such fine levied against the Mavs in two weeks, and doubled the $25,000 penalty meted out on May 6. NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell said the amount of the fine reflected the team’s “prior infractions” during the playoffs. […]
Butler brings heat as Miami sink Boston in series opener
Miami, UNITED STATES (AFP) — Jimmy Butler scored 41 points as the Miami Heat produced a devastating comeback to defeat the Boston Celtics 118-107 in their opening Eastern Conference finals series clash on Tuesday. Butler led a revitalized Miami second-half display as the Heat transformed an eight-point half-time deficit into a double-digit lead against a depleted Celtics side at Miami’s FTX Arena. Trailing 62-54 at the break, Miami outscored the Celtics 39-14 in the […]
PHL bags 30 golds, 34 silver and 45 bronze medals so far, retaining country’s third spot in SEA games
10 gold medal haul on May 16 alone, four in dancesports, two in gymnastics (Eagle News) – Philippine athletes participating at the 31st Southeast Asian Games bagged a total of 30 gold medals so far, retaining the country at third place in the overall medal tally. The games being held in Vietnam proved to be another sports event where Filipinos excelled after the Philippines got not only 30 golds, but 34 silver medals and 45 […]
Schooling loses first SEA Games gold over swim controversy
HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Olympic swimming hero Joseph Schooling had a first gold of this year’s Southeast Asian Games dramatically snatched away when Singapore’s sprint relay team were disqualified. Schooling, Quah Zheng Wen, Jonathan Tan and Mikkel Lee came home well clear of their regional rivals in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the SEA Games in Hanoi on Saturday night and celebrated winning gold. But while conducting a post-race interview the quartet’s elation turned to […]
Asian Games postponed as China battles Covid
by Matthew WALSH Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — The Asian Games due to take place in the Chinese city of Hangzhou in September have been postponed indefinitely because of Covid-19, organizers said on Friday. The Games were scheduled to be held from September 10 to 25 but have now been delayed as China tries to stamp out a large resurgence in infections in several parts of the country. Hangzhou lies less than […]
World champion Yamaguchi powers into Badminton Asia semis
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan surged into the Badminton Asia Championships semi-finals after fighting back to defeat Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong on Friday. Sixth-seeded Pornpawee romped to the first game 21-9 but the title-holder recovered to win the next two 21-15, 21-17 and wrap up the quarter-final in 55 minutes in Manila. Yamaguchi will play India’s P.V. Sindhu in the last four after the fourth seed overcame China’s fifth seed He […]
F1 stars hail ‘very exciting’ prospect of Audi, Porsche
MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Top drivers led by Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen welcomed the “very exciting” news Friday that Porsche and Audi could be lining up on the Formula One grid in 2026. Their Volkswagen parent group told AFP on Thursday that they were in the “final phase” of a study to assess the possibility. Seven-time world champion Hamilton said ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix that he “knew about it a long time […]
Celtics march on, Durant sparks Nets comeback
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Jaylen Brown scored 25 points on Wednesday as the Boston Celtics kept up their push for the number two playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with a 117-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls. With the identity of the six automatic playoff teams in the East already settled, the only issue remaining is to determine the final playoff seedings. Boston sits behind leaders Miami with two games remaining in the […]
Warriors confirm Curry won’t return before NBA playoffs
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, sidelined by a sprained ligament in his left foot, won’t return to action before the playoffs, the NBA team said Friday. In a statement posted on the team Twitter feed, the Warriors said Curry was making “good progress” in his recovery but wouldn’t play again in the regular season, which concludes on April 10. “Stephen will gradually begin individual on-court activities next week, […]
Antetokounmpo, Bucks, deny 76ers in key NBA Eastern Conference clash
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 40 points and rejected a Joel Embiid shot with seconds remaining to propel the NBA champion Bucks to a key 118-116 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Khris Middleton scored 22 points and Jrue Holiday added 18 for the Bucks, who moved a half-game behind the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference as the Sixers dropped two places to fourth […]
Siakam and Raptors upset Celtics
TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Pascal Siakam poured in 40 points as the Toronto Raptors snapped the Boston Celtics’ six-game win streak with a 115-112 overtime victory on Monday. Siakam and the Raptors took advantage of a depleted Celtics line-up to grab a crucial victory that boosts Toronto’s hopes of securing an automatic postseason berth. The win moves Toronto level with the Chicago Bulls on 43 wins and 32 losses in the East, just ahead of […]
