by Andrew MCKIRDY TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Naoya Inoue’s nickname is “Monster” and with good reason — he is regarded as one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters and has won all his 21 bouts, 18 by knockout. The reigning WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion made his Las Vegas debut last year with a typically devastating knockout win and fights back home in Japan for the first time in two years on Tuesday. Thailand’s Aran […]
Sports — International
Durant explodes for 51 against Pistons, Giannis, Middleton fuel Bucks’ win
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant used all the weapons in his arsenal on Sunday, exploding for an NBA season-high 51 points and dishing out nine assists as the Brooklyn Nets clobbered the lowly Detroit Pistons, 116-104. The 11-time all-star and the league’s current leading scorer recorded his seventh 50-point game of his career and the fifth highest scoring performance in Nets franchise history. Deron Williams holds the record with 57 points against […]
Grizzlies maul Lakers, Jazz outpace 76ers
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Jaren Jackson scored 25 points and Desmond Bane added 23 as the Memphis Grizzlies withstood LeBron James’s 100th career triple-double in a 108-95 NBA victory on Thursday. Lakers superstar James scored 20 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out 11 assists and Anthony Davis added 22 points for Los Angeles, but it wasn’t enough as the Lakers coughed up 22 turnovers to fall to a Grizzlies team still […]
Donaire hopes to continue resurgence with win over fellow Filipino
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Nonito Donaire looked impressive with a sensational early knockout in a WBC bantamweight title fight earlier this year and now he wants to continue his resurgence by ruling the 118-pound division again. A natural right-hander with the ability to also box as a southpaw, the four-division champion Donaire defends his title on Saturday against undefeated top contender and fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo at the Dignity Health Sports Park in […]
Rockets shoot down Nets, Bulls and NBA champion Bucks fall
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Houston Rockets pushed their NBA winning streak to seven games on Wednesday with a 114-104 victory over the short-handed Brooklyn Nets as the top three Eastern Conference teams suffered setbacks. Eric Gordon scored 21 points before he was ejected in the fourth quarter and Garrison Matthews added 19 for the Rockets, who have their first seven-game winning streak since they won eight in a row in November of […]
Durant, Harden spark Nets fightback over Mavs
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — James Harden and Kevin Durant led a late fightback as the Brooklyn Nets overturned a 17-point third-quarter deficit to edge past the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. Harden and Durant combined for 47 points in a 102-99 road victory for Brooklyn, who lead the Eastern Conference with 17 wins against seven losses. Brooklyn’s victory was sealed by a devastating burst of scoring in the fourth quarter, with the Nets overwhelming […]
Embiid guides 76ers to win over Hornets
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Joel Embiid scored 43 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers slipped past the Charlotte Hornets 127-124 in overtime on Monday. Embiid shot 15-of-20 from the field, sank 12-of-14 free throws and scored six points in the extra session in front of a crowd of 14,400 at the Spectrum Center in North Carolina. Tobias Harris added 21 points and Shake Milton had 16 points in the win. […]
Jazz survive late rally to beat Cavaliers, Hornets outgun Hawks
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Donovan Mitchell scored a team high 35 points, and Rudy Gobert had six points and 20 rebounds as the Utah Jazz held on to edge the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-108 on Sunday. The Jazz failed to hold onto a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter and the Cavaliers had a chance to win, but Darius Garland’s jump shot missed with just three seconds remaining on the clock. Jarrett Allen tried […]
Grizzlies destroy Thunder by record-setting 73 points
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Memphis Grizzlies clobbered the hapless Oklahoma City Thunder 152-79 on Thursday, as nine players reached double figures to give them the largest margin of victory in National Basketball Association history. “Man, it feels great,” said reserve De’Anthony Melton. “It feels great to be in the history books, especially in front of our home crowd. “We did it one through 15. Everybody contributed.” The Grizzlies won by 73 points […]
Lakers’ James clears NBA Covid protocols with negative tests
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has cleared the NBA’s Covid-19 safety protocols with two negative tests, the league said Thursday. “Following two negative PCR tests conducted more than 24 hours apart, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has cleared the NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols,” the NBA said in a statement. “James was originally placed in the Protocols on Tuesday, November 30 after a series of tests delivered […]
NBA Blazers lose Lillard with abdominal injury
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Six-time NBA All-Star guard Damian Lillard will be sidelined at least 10 days with a lower abdominal injury, Portland Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said Wednesday. An MRI exam showed the extent of the injury, which will require Lillard to undergo recovery therapy for 10 days before being re-evaluated. In starting 20 games for Portland this season, Lillard is averaging 21.5 points, 7.8 assists and 4.0 […]
James out of Kings clash after entering Covid protocols
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James was ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ clash with the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday after entering the NBA’s Covid-19 health and safety protocols, the team said. It was unclear if James had tested positive for the coronavirus or whether he had come into close contact with someone who had. The Lakers superstar, who has been vaccinated, must now return two negative tests before being allowed to […]
