Sports — International

Durant could return for Warriors in must-win NBA Finals game

by Jim SLATER TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant, sidelined for a month by a right calf injury, practiced with the defending champions Sunday and could return for the must-win fifth game of the NBA Finals. Improving enough for workouts means Durant might play Monday against Toronto, which owns a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and needs only one win to become the first team from outside the United […]

Raptors plan: Stay calm and capture a historic NBA title

by Jim SLATER TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — With an uncanny calm, the Toronto Raptors have advanced within one victory of a historic NBA title, bringing joyful delight to supporters even as they maintain a stoic manner. Winning twice on the road to seize a 3-1 edge over defending champion Golden State in the best-of-seven NBA Finals brought only stone-faced looks from players, taking the cliche of getting neither too high or too low to epic […]

Raptors NBA crown can bring Canada hoops legacy full circle

  by Jim SLATER Agence France Presse TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — An NBA crown for the Toronto Raptors would bring basketball’s legacy full circle for Canada, celebrating its deep roots as birthplace of the sport’s inventor and site of the first NBA game. The Raptors, trying to become the first team from outside the United States to capture the throne, beat Golden State 105-92 Friday to seize a 3-1 lead on the defending champion Warriors […]

UPDATED: Raptors defeat Warriors to reach brink of first NBA crown

by Jim Slater Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points and the Toronto Raptors moved to the brink of their first NBA title Friday by beating defending champion Golden State 105-92 in the NBA Finals. Serge Ibaka netted 20 points off the bench and Pascal Siakam added 19 for the Raptors, who grabbed a commanding 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven series, which could end with game five Monday in Toronto. The Raptors are one victory shy of […]

Toronto has crazed love affair with Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard

  By Tennie Sumague EBC New York Bureau TORONTO (Eagle News) –  In a country of hockey-obsessed fans, Canada is glued to the NBA finals between the Toronto Raptors and the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors. Record-breaking ratings continue to set on Canadian television outlets, all in support of their team’s quest for their first title in franchise history. The vibe in the country’s most diverse and populated city is impeccably amazing. People in […]

Durant out for game four of NBA Finals but Thompson to return

OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — Golden State star forward Kevin Durant will miss game four of the NBA Finals on Friday with a right calf injury, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Thursday, but guard Klay Thompson is expected to return. Both players were absent in Wednesday’s 123-109 loss to Toronto, which game the Raptors a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven championship series entering game four Friday in Oakland. Two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Durant, […]

Warriors part-owner banned a year, fined $500K for shove

by Jim SLATER OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors investor Mark Stevens was fined $500,000 and banned from NBA games or team activities for a year for shoving and cursing at Toronto guard Kyle Lowry in an NBA Finals game, the league announced Thursday. But the punishment doesn’t go as far as Lowry wants, the Raptors playmaker saying he wants Stevens out of the league for his actions in Toronto’s 123-109 game-three victory […]

Raptors rip injury-hit Warriors to regain NBA Finals lead

by Jim Slater Agence France Presse Upstart Toronto moved halfway to a first-ever title Wednesday with Kawhi Leonard scoring 30 points to lead the Raptors over the injury-hit Golden State Warriors 123-109 in the NBA Finals. Kyle Lowry added 23 points and nine assists while Danny Green and Pascal Siakam each contributed 18 points as the Raptors seized a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which continues Friday in Oakland. “It feels good,” Leonard said. […]

Unity Games held in Spain by INC members

  BARCELONA, Spain — Promoting unity through sportsmanship, the first ever Unity Games in Spain for this this year was recently held by members of the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo), a religious organization with membership in over 150 countries. The Unity Games, which included different sports activities, was held in Barcelona. Participants came from different parts of Spain such as Marbella, Fuengirola, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Sevilla, Las Palmas, Tenerife, Argeniguin, Ibiza, Mallorca, Bilbao, Madrid […]

Low-key superstar Leonard sets mellow tone for Raptors

by Jim SLATER OAKLAND, United StatesYou couldn’t tell from looking at his stone-faced manner or listening to his monotone remarks, but Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard is having fun in the NBA Finals. And his poise under pressure and composure in tense moments has set the tone in lifting the Canadian club into a contender for its first NBA crown against defending champion Golden State. “Until we win the game or it’s all done, then […]

Thompson questionable, Looney out for injury-hit Warriors

by Jim SLATER OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — Golden State guard Klay Thompson is questionable for Wednesday’s third game of the NBA Finals with a left hamstring strain while reserve forward Kevon Looney is out indefinitely, the Warriors announced Monday. The setbacks are the latest bad news for the injury-hit defending NBA champions, who are level with Toronto at 1-1 in the best-of-seven final entering games three and four this week in California. An MRI […]