Sports — International

Giannis joins Jordan, Shaq, LeBron in NBA Finals history

MILWAUKEE, United States (AFP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo joined an elite list of stars with back-to-back 40-point NBA Finals performances, but the Greek star forward stressed Sunday that “I’m no Michael Jordan.” Antetokounmpo became only the sixth player in NBA Finals history with 40 points in consecutive games, hitting 41 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in a 120-100 Bucks victory over Phoenix. Milwaukee pulled within 2-1 in the best-of-seven championship series while the 26-year-old Greek forward, […]

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Giannis scores 41 as Bucks trim Suns’ lead in NBA Finals

MILWAUKEE, United States (AFP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 41 points and grabbed 13 rebounds on Sunday to lead Milwaukee over Phoenix 120-100, reviving the Bucks’ chances to win their first NBA title in 50 years. The 26-year-old Greek forward joined Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 and LeBron James in 2016 as the only NBA Finals players with back-to-back 40-point, 10-rebound performances. Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo, who had 42 points and 12 rebounds in a […]

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Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam postponed over coronavirus

  BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — The Southeast Asian Games, which were due to take place in Vietnam this year, have been postponed because of the pandemic and will most likely be held in 2022, a member of the organising council said Thursday. The regional Olympics were scheduled to be held in Hanoi and 11 other locations from November 21 to December 2. But Vietnam is struggling to contain a new coronavirus outbreak, and many Southeast […]

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Booker looking at quick turn from NBA Finals to Olympics

PHOENIX, United States (AFP) — Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker won’t be done with basketball after the NBA Finals, with plans to join the US Olympic team after the championship showdown against Milwaukee. The 24-year-old guard, a two-time NBA All-Star, will be joined by Bucks’ rivals Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton on the 12-man US roster that is set to play its first game in Tokyo on July 25. If the NBA Finals reach the […]

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Japan to impose virus emergency in Tokyo during Olympics: reports

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The Japanese government plans to impose a virus state of emergency in Tokyo during the Olympics, reports said Wednesday, meaning spectators could be barred from venues. The emergency measures — less strict than a blanket lockdown — will be in force until August 22, several Japanese media outlets reported, following a rise in cases less than three weeks before the Games begin. “The government decided to declare the fourth state of […]

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Paul powers Suns over Bucks in NBA Finals opener

PHOENIX, United States (AFP) — Chris Paul, making his long-sought NBA Finals debut, scored 32 points to lead the Phoenix Suns over Milwaukee 118-105 in Tuesday’s opening game of the championship series. The 36-year-old backcourt maestro, in his 16th season, delivered clutch scoring and added nine assists while Devin Booker added 27 points and 22-year-old Bahamas big man Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 19 rebounds in dominating the Bucks. “I just kept trying to […]

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Antetokounmpo will start for Bucks in NBA Finals opener

PHEONIX, United States (AFP) — Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo will start for the Milwaukee Bucks against Phoenix in their NBA Finals opener Tuesday, the Bucks announced barely 30 minutes before tip off. The 26-year-old Greek forward suffered a hyperextended left knee last week in a playoff loss to Atlanta and missed Milwaukee’s past two games, both wins to reach the team’s first NBA Finals since 1974. “We have a lot of confidence […]

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NBA issues Beverley one-game ban for knocking down Paul

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley was suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Saturday for knocking down Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul in a playoff loss. Beverley was banned for unsportsmanlike shoving Paul from behind onto the court during a stoppage in play with 5:49 remaining in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s 130-103 Suns’ victory over the host Clippers. Paul’s Suns advanced to the NBA Finals […]

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NBA star Doncic leads Slovenia into Tokyo Olympics

PARIS, France (AFP) — NBA star Luka Doncic delivered a triple-double to lead Slovenia over Lithuania 96-85 on Sunday and into their first Olympic basketball tournament. Slovenia punched their ticket to Tokyo with the victory in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania. Doncic, 22, scored 15 of his 31 points in the second quarter and added 11 rebounds and 13 assists to lead Slovenia. Lithuania, led by NBA stalwarts Domantas Sabonis and Jonas […]

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Japan PM warns of closed-door Olympics as virus cases rise

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s prime minister warned that the Tokyo Olympics could be held behind closed doors, as virus cases rise in the city just three weeks before the Games begin. Organizers decided last month to set a limit of 10,000 fans or half of each venue’s capacity for events at the pandemic-postponed Games. But Yoshihide Suga repeated cautions that spectators could be locked out of competitions if the situation worsens, with the government […]

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Giannis-less Bucks roll over Hawks to take 3-2 series lead

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Milwaukee Bucks showed they are more than a one-man show, using a balanced attack on Thursday to beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-112 in game five of the Eastern Conference finals. Brook Lopez had 33 points, Jrue Holiday had 25 points and 13 assists and Khris Middleton finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who grabbed a 3-2 series lead and are one win away reaching […]

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Breastfeeding athletes can bring children to Tokyo: organizers

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Breastfeeding athletes will be allowed to bring children to the Tokyo Olympics “when necessary”, organizers have announced, after criticism from mothers over tough rules on bringing family to the Games. The clarification was welcomed by some athletes as a relief, but US football star Alex Morgan slammed organizers for keeping her in the dark about the criteria. Athletes’ families are banned from attending the pandemic-postponed Games, under anti-virus rules that organizers […]

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