Sports — International

Ravens crush Miami to take AFC top seed, 49ers grab NFC top spot

WASHINGTON, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – The Baltimore Ravens secured the AFC top seed for the NFL playoffs in emphatic fashion on Sunday, crushing the Miami Dolphins 56-19 with Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdowns. The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, will have the NFC top seed — and the home field advantage throughout the playoffs that comes with the ranking — after they won 27-10 at Washington. Jackson is the frontrunner to win the league’s Most […]

Browns clinch NFL playoff berth with win over Jets

LOS ANGELES, Dec 29, 2023 (AFP) – Resurgent Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco threw for three touchdowns in a 37-20 NFL victory over the New York Jets on Thursday that saw the Browns punch their ticket to the playoffs. The post-season was looking unlikely for the Browns after star quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in November. Flacco, a former Super Bowl MVP with the Baltimore Ravens who was without a team at the […]

Nadal draws qualifier at comeback tournament in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia, Dec 30, 2023 (AFP) – Rafael Nadal was handed a dream start to his comeback tournament after drawing a qualifier Saturday in the opening round of the Brisbane International. The 37-year-old Spaniard has been out of the game for almost 12 months following hip surgery after the 2023 Australian Open in January. It was feared that Nadal, the winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, would never play professionally again. However, he has […]

Celtics rally from 21 down to hand Pistons 28th straight defeat, Wembanyama shines

LOS ANGELES, Dec 29, 2023 (AFP) – The Boston Celtics rallied from a 21-point deficit to hand the Detroit Pistons a record-equalling 28th straight NBA defeat 128-122 in overtime on Thursday. On a night when sensational San Antonio rookie Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points to lead the Spurs to a 118-105 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic was virtually perfect in a Denver Nuggets win, the Pistons […]

Cavaliers rally to stun Mavs, Durant fuels Suns win

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 […]

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 […]