LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Norm Powell scored a career-high 37 points as the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors spoiled the return of Stephen Curry with a 121-113 win over Golden State on Thursday that clinched them a playoff spot for the seventh straight season. After missing four months with a broken hand, Curry was back in the Warriors’ lineup as they faced Toronto for the first time since the NBA finals. “We knew […]
Sports
Leonard scores 25 as Clippers topple Rockets
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Reigning playoff MVP Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 25 points as the Los Angeles Clippers won their sixth straight game with a 120-105 rout of the Houston Rockets on Thursday. Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell finished with double-doubles for the Clippers in a battle between the two Western Conference powerhouses. They have played each other four times this season with both teams winning twice. But the Clippers would have […]
PHL basketball prodigy Kai Sotto thanks Filipinos supporting him in NBA’s “Basketball Without Borders” stint
(Eagle News) — Philippine teen basketball phenomenon, 17-year old Kai Sotto, has been invited to participate in the NBA’s “Basketball Without Borders” in the United States. Sotto said he is inspired by his family who sacrificed a lot to help him reach his goal, and by all Filipinos who believe in him. “It starts off with my family. My dad sacrificed everything. He actually coached two teams in the Philippines. But he sacrificed that […]
Curry still plans on playing for USA in Tokyo Olympics
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry, returning to the NBA after four months with a broken left hand, said Thursday he still wants to play at the Tokyo Olympics. Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Curry, cleared to play Wednesday by doctors, has missed 58 games since falling on his hand and breaking it on October 30 against Phoenix. Curry, who helped the US squad to unbeaten world championship […]
Crowder sparks Miami as Giannis, Bucks downed
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Jae Crowder scored 18 points off the bench as the Miami Heat locked down Giannis Antetokounmpo to hand the Milwaukee Bucks a 105-89 defeat on Monday. Crowder led the scoring for the Heat as NBA MVP Antetokounmpo was held to 13 points at Miami’s American Airlines Arena. The defeat was only Milwaukee’s ninth loss of the season and helped Miami improve to 39-22 in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The […]
Global sport heavily disrupted by coronavirus
by Guy JACKSON PARIS, France (AFP) — The coronavirus is disrupting sport around the world with the MotoGP races in Qatar and Thailand postponed, a host of football matches put off to a later date and increasing concerns surrounding the Tokyo Olympics later this year. The virus has already cast a long shadow over the start of the MotoGP season with this Sunday’s curtain-raising Qatar Grand Prix called off, followed by the March 22 race […]
James powers Lakers past Pelicans, Antetokounmpo dominant for Bucks
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo stepped up their MVP campaigns with dominant performances on Sunday over a couple of teams battling for playoff spots. Reigning league MVP Antetokounmpo poured in 41 points and grabbed 20 rebounds as Milwaukee notched another one-sided NBA victory, a 93-85 triumph over the Hornets in Charlotte. James had a triple-double of 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated […]
Trail Blazers McCollum takes break from autographs amid virus fears
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — National Basketball Association star CJ McCollum says he’s taking a break from signing autographs for fans due to fears surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. The 28-year-old Portland Trail Blazers guard made the announcement in a tweet on Saturday. “The Corona Virus has officially hit Oregon… I am officially taking a break from signing autographs until further notice,” the six-foot-three (1.9 meters) 190 pound (86kg) American said. He also posted tips […]
Grizzlies ‘got a great one’ in Morant: James
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies’ NBA rookie of the year candidate, has an admirer in Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. James got a close-up look at Morant on Saturday as the Grizzlies — fighting to hang on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference — beat the Lakers 105-88 in Memphis. “The kid is super special,” James said after Morant fueled the Grizzlies with […]
Harris shines as shorthanded Sixers defeat Knicks
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Tobias Harris finished with 34 points to lift the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers over the visiting New York Knicks 115-106 on Thursday. Al Horford had 15 points and nine assists and Shake Milton scored 19 points as the Sixers improved to a league-best 28-2 at home. “Just taking the opportunities that were presented,” said Harris, who added seven rebounds and seven assists. “We had a good pop to our offense […]
NBA fines Timberwolves $25K for resting guard Russell
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves were fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for violating the league’s policy on resting players for benching guard D’Angelo Russell at Denver on Sunday. The 24-year-old guard, who came to the T-Wolves from Golden State in a trade deal for Andrew Wiggins on February 6, was considered a healthy player under the NBA’s player resting policy. Russell, in his fifth NBA campaign after being selected […]
James won’t face struggling Warriors due to groin injury
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James will skip Thursday’s game against the last-place Golden State Warriors because of a groin injury, the Los Angeles Lakers announced on Wednesday. A spokesman for the team made the announcement in a news release on their Twitter social media page. There were no details on the extent of the injury. “LeBron James (sore groin) is out for tomorrow’s game at Golden State. Anthony Davis (sore left elbow) […]





