Sports

Westbrook shrugs off critics after playoff exit

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Russell Westbrook hit back at critics on Thursday as the Oklahoma City Thunder licked their wounds after another playoff failure. Westbrook and the Thunder bowed out of the postseason on Tuesday, beaten in five games by the Portland Trail Blazers to exit in the first round for a third straight season. Oklahoma City’s latest postseason disappointment left some observers questioning Westbrook’s credentials despite another dazzling season which saw him […]

Harden leads Rockets past Jazz to book NBA semi-final bert

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — James Harden scored 26 points as the Houston Rockets booked their place in the NBA playoff Western Conference semi-finals on Wednesday with a 100-93 victory over the Utah Jazz. Harden, the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player, led the scoring as the Rockets overcame an improved Utah defensive effort to clinch a 4-1 series victory at Houston’s Toyota Center. The win means Houston face a potential blockbuster meeting with the […]

Sixers demolish Nets to win series; face Raptors next

  By Tennie Sumague EBC New York Bureau PHILADELPHIA (Eagle News) — Game 1 seemed to be a distant memory for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Jared Dudley soap opera hoopla came to a closing end. The Sixers schooled the Nets on their home court, demolishing their Atlantic Division rivals 122-100 to win their first-round series 4-1 Tuesday night. The Sixers opened the first quarter on a 26-3 run, built a 39-point lead and continued […]

Sixers crush Nets to advance

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals on Tuesday with 23 points in a 122-120 blowout against the Brooklyn Nets. After an ill-tempered Game Four where Embiid was at the centre of a mass brawl, the Sixers ruthlessly dispatched Brooklyn to claim a 4-1 series victory at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers, who will now face the Toronto Raptors in the next […]

Leonard leads Raptors romp over Magic

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points as the Toronto Raptors powered into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals with a 115-96 demolition of the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Raptors sealed a 4-1 victory in the best-of-seven series to set up a meeting with either the Philadelphia 76ers or Brooklyn Nets in the next round, with the Sixers leading their series 3-1. Leonard once again proved to be the talisman […]

Bucks sweep Pistons to snap long playoff win drought

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Milwaukee Bucks wiped away 18 years of frustration on Monday by beating the Detroit Pistons 127-104 to complete a four-game sweep of their first round Eastern Conference playoff series. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 41 points as the Bucks reached the second round of the postseason for the first time since 2000-01 season when they made it all the way to the NBA semi-finals. The top-seeded Milwaukee cruised through the […]

Mbappe’s title, but PSG need to breathe new life into Qatari project

by Andy SCOTT PARIS, France (AFP) — After being the star of France’s 2018 World Cup triumph, Kylian Mbappe has been the standout player for Paris Saint-Germain in a Ligue 1 title-winning campaign that has been slightly marred by the manner in which they limped over the line. PSG finally wrapped up the title on Sunday after second-placed Lille failed to beat Toulouse, having not won any of their previous three games when the opportunity […]

NHL Playoffs: Sharks, Tomas Hertl’s game winning goal in double OT even series with Golden Knights

Henry Nery EBC Las Vegas Bureau LAS VEGAS (Eagle News) – Game 6 between the defending Western Conference champions Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks did not disappoint fans as the game went to double overtime.  However, the outcome of the game went in favor of the Sharks, as Center, Tomas Hertl’s short-handed goal silenced T-Mobile Arena, a 2-1 final that sends the series back to San Jose, tied at three games a […]

NBA Hawks coach Pierce joins USA national team staff

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Lloyd Pierce, coach of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, was named Monday as an assistant coach on the United States national team, a replacement for departing Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan. Pierce will work on the staff of US coach Gregg Popovich, who guides the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, directing NBA players in this year’s Basketball World Cup in China and next year’s Tokyo Olympics if they qualify. Other assistants include […]

Reserves help Celtics sweep Pacers out of NBA playoffs

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Gordon Hayward scored a team-high 20 points as the Boston Celtics defeated Indiana 110-106 on Sunday to complete a first-round NBA playoff sweep of the host Pacers. The Celtics captured their first best-of-seven series sweep since 2011 and advanced to a second-round matchup with either the Milwaukee Bucks or Detroit Pistons. “Any time you 4-0 a team, you feel great,” Hayward said. “We’re going to heal up a little […]

NBA fines Spurs guard DeRozan $25,000 for ball toss

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for recklessly throwing the basketball toward a referee and into the stands during a playoff loss. DeRozan was whistled for a technical foul and ejected for the incident, which came with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter of San Antonio’s 117-103 home loss to Denver on Saturday. DeRozan, who flipped the ball in frustration after […]

NBA: Magic lose close game and home-court advantage

By Melissa Potes EBC Florida Bureau  ORLANDO, Florida (Eagle News) – Playing to the second largest crowd in its franchise history, the Orlando Magic played well but still lost 98-93 to the Toronto Raptors in the third game of a best-in-seven series. A slow start, turnovers and a strong dose of forward Pascal Siakam contributed to the loss. Siakam shot 65 percent from the floor with 30 points and 11 rebounds, allowing Toronto to reclaim […]