Sports

Tokyo airport to be ‘scattered’ with robots for 2020 Olympics

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Visitors to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics can expect to arrive at an airport “scattered” with robots to help them, an official said Tuesday as he unveiled seven new machines to perform tasks from helping with luggage to language assistance. Among the seven robots on show was a fluffy cat mascot that can carry out simultaneous interpretation in four different languages. Visitors speak into a furry microphone, and translations appear instantly on […]

NBA: Leonard to return for Spurs

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kawhi Leonard will make his season debut when the San Antonio Spurs take on the Dallas Mavericks later Tuesday, coach Gregg Popovich confirmed. Leonard has not played for the Spurs since game one of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors, when he suffered a sprained ankle. The 26-year-old has since been sidelined with quadriceps tendinopathy. Leonard is likely to be eased back into the fray, with […]

NBA: Bulls trample depleted Celtics

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — The Chicago Bulls took full advantage of Kyrie Irving’s absence to romp to a 108-85 blowout against the Boston Celtics on Monday. Nikola Mirotic scored 24 points while Bobby Portis added 23 as the Bulls (6-20) stunned the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics. Boston’s preparations had been jolted after star point guard Irving was ruled out with a thigh injury just before the game in Chicago. With forward Marcus Morris also missing with a […]

NBA: Irving out of Celtics-Bulls clash

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving will miss Monday’s game against the Chicago Bulls with a thigh injury, the team confirmed. Irving is suffering from a left quadricep contusion, the Celtics said, adding that forward Marcus Morris, who is battling a sore left knee, is also out. Center Al Horford is rated as questionable to start as he nurses a right knee contusion suffered in Sunday’s 91-81 win over Detroit. Irving has missed […]

Knicks hold off Hawks; earn 12th home game win

By Norman Castro EBC Sports International New York Bureau NEW YORK (Eagle News) — After a devastating loss against the last place Chicago Bulls on the road, the Knicks bounced back from an up and down stint to defeat a young Atlanta Hawks team 111-107 Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. Kristaps Porzingis led the way with 30 points, eight rebounds and three block shots. Doug McDermott posted 23 points off the bench and Jarrett […]

Australia to face Germany on Davis Cup hard court

BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — Australia will play Germany in the opening round of the Davis Cup World Group on hard court in Brisbane in February, organizers said Monday. The tie is expected to pit two of the world’s leading young players against each other — Australia’s Nick Kyrgios and Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the current world number four. Kyrgios led Australia to the Davis Cup semi-finals this year, while Zverev had his best year on tour, winning 55 […]

WBO champion Horn is ‘dirty’ fighter, taunts Corcoran

BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — English challenger Gary Corcoran has claimed Australian World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Jeff Horn is a “dirty” fighter ahead of their title bout in Brisbane on Wednesday. In an extraordinary media conference Monday, Corcoran’s camp provided a laptop presentation to indicate that Horn led with his head and left his head in the clinches. It is Horn’s first title defence since he upset Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, the winner of […]

NBA: Celtics breeze past slumping Pistons

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics avenged a November loss to Detroit on Sunday, handing the slumping Pistons a sixth straight NBA defeat 91-81. Al Horford scored 18 points, handed out six assists and pulled down nine rebounds for the Celtics. Kyrie Irving, able to play without the protective mask he had worn since suffering a facial fracture on November 10, added 16 points and Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown […]

PHL Arena to be the venue of 2023 FIBA World Cup, as PHL-Japan-Indonesia awarded hosting rights

  (Eagle News) — The Philippine Arena will be the site of the 2023 FIBA World Cup after the three-nation consortium of the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia was chosen to host the prestigious international basketball competition. The International Basketball Federation or FIBA on Saturday, December 9, awarded the hosting rights for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 to Philippines/Japan/Indonesia. “This marks the first time in the competition’s history that it is to be staged in […]

NBA: Pacers halt Cavs win streak, Durant rises again

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Victor Oladipo tallied 33 points as the Indiana Pacers snapped the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA-leading 13-game win streak with a 106-102 victory on Friday. The Pacers drained 15 three point shots to end the run by the Cavaliers, who were trying to set a franchise record with 14 straight wins. “It was a good streak. We came in here and got beat, so it’s time to start a new one,” said coach Tyronn […]

Pacquiao says he is in talks to fight McGregor

(Agence France Presse) — Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao said on Friday he has opened talks to fight mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor in April when he takes a break from his legislative duties. “If we can negotiate it, I have no problem. It is OK with both of us,” Pacquiao said when asked about reports he was seeking a match with McGregor who lost a megabucks boxing match in August against the unbeaten […]

NBA: Rockets down Jazz for eighth straight win

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Houston Rockets, fueled by 29 points from James Harden, posted their eighth straight NBA victory on Thursday, 112-101 over the Utah Jazz. Ryan Anderson scored 23 points and Chris Paul added 18 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds for Houston, the Western Conference leaders who have now won 14 of their last 15 games. The Jazz coughed up eight turnovers in the first half, leading to 13 points […]