LOS ANGELES, Dec 28, 2023 (AFP) – Cleveland’s Caris LeVert made the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:03 to play as the Cavaliers rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks 113-110 on Wednesday. Elsewhere, two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant delivered his 18th career triple-double to lead the Phoenix Suns to a much-needed win over the Houston Rockets, and the Philadelphia 76ers downed the Orlando Magic despite the absence of reigning NBA Most Valuable Player […]
Sports — International
Nuggets edge Warriors 120-114, Knicks stun Bucks 129-122 in day of upsets
LOS ANGELES, Dec 25, 2023 (AFP) – Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic put on a show in the Denver Nuggets’ 120-114 victory over Golden State on Monday, as the New York Knicks launched the NBA’s holiday slate with an upset over the Milwaukee Bucks. Murray scored 28 points and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic overcame a poor shooting day by going 18-for-18 at the free-throw line as the reigning champion Nuggets took their winning […]
Dolphins secure playoff spot with win over Cowboys, Lions clinch NFC North
By Simon EVANS MIAMI, Dec 25, 2023 (AFP) – The Miami Dolphins booked their place in the NFL playoffs after a last second field goal from Jason Sanders gave them a thrilling 22-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The Detroit Lions also secured a postseason spot after clinching the NFC North with a victory over the Minnesota Vikings, while the Seattle Seahawks’ late win over the Tennessee Titans kept their season alive. Quarterback […]
Joshua too strong for Wallin as Parker outpoints Wilder
RIYADH, Dec 24, 2023 (AFP) – Former world champions Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker re-established their heavyweight title credentials with victories on the same Riyadh bill on Saturday. British boxer Joshua produced one of his best performances of recent times by stopping Sweden’s Otto Wallin, who was pulled out by his corner after the fifth round of a one-sided bout. Earlier, Parker enjoyed a unanimous points-decision win over fellow former world champion Deontay Wilder, the […]
Pistons slump to record-equalling 26th NBA defeat
NEW YORK, Dec 24, 2023 (AFP) – The Detroit Pistons matched an NBA single-season mark for futility on Saturday, slumping to a 26th straight defeat in a 126-115 loss to the Nets in Brooklyn. As the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a four-game skid behind 40 points from LeBron James and reigning champions Denver and Eastern Conference contenders Boston and Milwaukee posted comfortable victories, the Pistons matched the league’s longest single-season losing streak — set by […]
Embiid extends scoring streak, propels 76ers past Raptors 121-111
LOS ANGELES, Dec 23, 2023 (AFP) – Joel Embiid shook off an ankle injury to score 31 points and grab 10 rebounds Friday, propelling the Philadelphia 76ers to a 121-111 NBA victory over Toronto with his 13th straight game with at least 30 points and 10 boards. Embiid, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, had plenty of support with Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris scoring 33 points apiece for the 76ers. Embiid had an […]
NBA MVP Embiid erupts for 51, 76ers crush Timberwolves 127-113
By Jim SLATER WASHINGTON, Dec 21, 2023 (AFP) – Joel Embiid scored a season-high 51 points and grabbed 12 rebounds Wednesday to accomplish feats unseen for more than a half-century as the Philadelphia 76ers beat NBA-best Minnesota 127-113. The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player sparked the Sixers (19-8) to their seventh victory in eight games and snapped the four-game win streak of the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves, who slipped to 20-6. Embiid became the first NBA […]
Surfing tower will be built, says Paris Games chief
By François BENEYTOU PARIS, Dec 20, 2023 (AFP) – The controversial building of a tower to judge the surfing event at the Paris Olympics will go ahead despite the sport’s federation saying it is not required, chief organiser Tony Estanguet said on Wednesday. A proposal made by the International Surf Association (ISA) to Paris 2024 organisers and the Polynesian government suggested the use of “live images shot from land, water and drones” to judge events […]
Morant’s buzzer-beater lifts Grizzlies past Pelicans 115-113
LOS ANGELES, Dec 20, 2023 (AFP) – Ja Morant made a scintillating return from a 25-game suspension Tuesday, driving for a game-winning layup as time expired to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 115-113 NBA victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The basket capped a 34-point, eight-assist, six-rebound performance from Morant, who was suspended by the league for the first 25 games of the season after a pair of social media posts in which he […]
Warriors hold off Nets, Thunder stun NBA champion Nuggets
LOS ANGELES, Dec 17, 2023 (AFP) – Stephen Curry scored 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter as the Golden State Warriors held on for a much-needed 124-120 NBA victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. Curry made seven of seven attempts in the final period and Klay Thompson made a pair of key three-pointers in the last four minutes as the Warriors — who had led by as many as 18 points […]
NBA Pacers legend George McGinnis, ABA champion and Hall of Famer, dies at 73
WASHINGTON, Dec 14, 2023 (AFP) – George McGinnis, who sparked his hometown Indiana Pacers to two titles and was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, died on Thursday, the NBA club announced. He was 73. McGinnis died of complications from a cardiac arrest suffered last week at his home. In 1969, McGinnis led Indianapolis Washington to an unbeaten 31-0 run to the state high school crown in the famed Hoosier Hysteria tournament involving every […]
Antetokounmpo scores 64, Bucks edge Pacers in heated clash
LOS ANGELES, Dec 14, 2023 (AFP) – Giannis Antetokounmpo erupted for a career-high 64 points as the Milwaukee Bucks avenged last week’s in-season tournament exit to the Indiana Pacers with an ill-tempered 140-126 victory on Wednesday. Former NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo was in scintillating form, shooting 20-of-28 from the field with 14 rebounds, three assists and four steals as the clash between the two highest-scoring teams in the NBA lived up to its billing. […]
