Sports

NBA: Warriors cut down Blazers; Westbrook runs out of gas

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Golden State Warriors clamped down on defense as they cruised to a 110-81 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, taking a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Playing without injured star Kevin Durant, Golden State held Portland to just 12 points in the third quarter Wednesday to post their 11th straight home win over the Trail Blazers in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference semi-final series. Durant […]

NBA: Playoff results – collated

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Results on Wednesday in the NBA playoffs (series best of seven): Eastern Conference at Washington Washington Wizards 109 Atlanta Hawks 101 (Wizards lead series 2-0) Western Conference at Houston Houston Rockets 115 Oklahoma City Thunder 111 (Rockets lead series 2-0) at Oakland Golden State Warriors 110 Portland Trail Blazers 81 (Warriors lead series 2-0) © Agence France-Presse

NBA: Wall, Beal shine as Wizards topple Hawks

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) –Bradley Beal scored 16 of his 31 points in the final quarter as the Washington Wizards seized a 2-0 lead in their first round NBA playoff series with a 109-101 win on Wednesday. John Wall delivered a team high 32 points as he and Beal tallied 20 of the Wizards’ final 21 points in a penalty filled contest. The Wizards fell behind 89-88 with just over six minutes left in regulation. […]

NBA: Playoff results

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Results on Tuesday in the NBA playoffs (series best of seven): Eastern Conference At Boston Chicago Bulls 111 Boston Celtics 97 (Bulls lead series 2-0 At Toronto Toronto Raptors 106 Milwaukee Bucks 100 (Series tied 1-1) Western Conference At Los Angeles Los Angeles Clippers 99 Utah Jazz 91 (Series tied 1-1) © Agence France-Presse

NBA: Bulls beat Celtics again; Raptors rebound

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Chicago Bulls powered past the Boston Celtics 111-97 Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead over the Eastern Conference top seeds in their NBA playoff series, while the Toronto Raptors avoided falling into an 0-2 hole. The Bulls, who clawed their way to the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, are trying to become the first eighth seed to topple the top-ranked team in the opening round […]

NBA: Durant doubt for Blazers clash

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant did not train on Tuesday and is questionable for Golden State’s Western Conference playoff clash with Portland, team officials said. Durant, who suffered a left calf strain while scoring 32 points in the Warriors’ Game 1 win on Sunday, could be seen clutching his leg throughout the victory. Warriors coach Steve Kerr confirmed to reporters the forward was a doubt for Wednesday’s Game 2 with the Trail […]

NBA: Playoff results

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Results on Monday in the NBA playoffs (series best of seven): Eastern Conference At Cleveland Cleveland Cavaliers 117 Indiana Pacers 111 (Cleveland lead series 2-0) Western Conference At San Antonio San Antonio Spurs 96 Memphis Grizzlies 82 (San Antonio lead series 2-0) © Agence France-Presse

NBA: Irving shines as Cavs take grip on Pacers

LOS ANGELES,United States (AFP) — Kyrie Irving scored 37 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a fierce late fightback from the Indiana Pacers to hold on for a 117-111 victory and take a 2-0 series lead in their Eastern Conference playoff duel on Monday. The reigning NBA champions appeared to be cruising to a comfortable win after opening up an 18-point lead at the end of the third quarter in front of their home fans […]

Football: Five great Barcelona European comebacks

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — Barcelona have another Champions League mountain to climb if they are to oust Italian champions Juventus to reach the semi-finals on Wednesday. Barca trail 3-0 from the first leg in Turin last week. However, the Catalans have shown that they are capable of the spectacular feat back home at Camp Nou in European competition through the years. Here, AFP Sports looks at five of Barca’s finest comebacks. 3-0 v Ipswich Town, […]

NBA: LeBron pays tribute to grieving Thomas

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James paid tribute to Isaiah Thomas on Monday, offering his condolences to the grieving Boston Celtics star following the death of his sister in a car crash at the weekend. Thomas fought through tears to score 33 points in Boston’s opening playoff defeat to Chicago on Sunday, just a day after his sister Chyna’s death. Speaking during Cleveland’s shootaround ahead of their Game 2 against Indiana on Monday, […]

NBA: Harden powers Rockets past Westbrook’s Thunder

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — James Harden scored 37 points as the Houston Rockets routed Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-87 in the opening game of their NBA playoff series on Sunday. Harden outclassed fellow MVP candidate Westbrook also delivering nine assists and seven rebounds for the Rockets who take a 1-0 lead into game two on Wednesday. “Tonight was a good game but it is just one win,” Harden said. “We have […]

NBA: Grieving Thomas leads all scorers in loss to Bulls

BOSTON, United States (AFP) — Isaiah Thomas played with a heavy heart Sunday, scoring 33 points in a 106-102 NBA playoff loss to the Chicago Bulls just one day after his younger sister was killed in a car crash. Thomas took to the court on an emotional night at the Boston Garden despite the death of 22-year-old Chyna Thomas, whom he honored by pencilling her name on his green sneakers and adding “R.I.P. Lil Sis.” There […]