Sports — International

Mavs icon Nowitzki makes season debut

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Dallas talisman Dirk Nowitzki made his long-awaited first appearance of a record-setting 21st NBA season with the Mavericks on Thursday. The 2007 NBA Most Valuable Player from Germany came off the bench in the first quarter against the Suns in Phoenix. No other NBA player has played so many seasons with the same team. He had been tied at 20 seasons with the same club with former Los Angeles Lakers […]

Harden’s 50-point triple-double propels Rockets over Lakers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — James Harden’s monster 50-point triple-double powered the Houston Rockets to a 126-111 NBA victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. Harden, the reigning NBA Most Valuable player, added 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his second triple-double of the season and his second 50-point game of what has been a frustrating campaign for the Rockets so far. Houston led the league last season with 65 […]

Raptors’ Valanciunas has surgery on dislocated thumb

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas will be out at least four weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated left thumb on Thursday, the National Basketball Association team announced on Twitter. Valanciunas was hurt in the second quarter of Wednesday’s 113-93 win over the two time reigning champion Golden State Warriors. The 26-year-old Lithuanian is averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 18.8 minutes in 30 games this season. He […]

Morocco will not host 2019 Africa Cup of Nations: minister

RABAT, Morocco (AFP) — Morocco will not be a candidate to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after Cameroon was stripped of the tournament, the country’s sports minister Rachid Talbi Alami said on Wednesday, while Egypt expressed an interest in hosting the finals. “Morocco does not intend to run for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and will not do so,” he told AFP. Morocco and South Africa had been seen as the front-line […]

Irving shines as Celtics beat Wizards to win seventh straight

Irving delivered a game-high 38 points, including consecutive three pointers in the final 40 seconds of overtime, to propel Boston past the Wizards for their seventh-straight NBA victory. Irving outduelled Wizard star guard John Wall and scored Boston’s last 12 points but he didn’t get the job done alone. Jayson Tatum scored 12 points and grabbed 12 boards for a double-double and Marcus Morris added 27 points for the Celtics, which played without three top […]

Knee pain sidelines Celtics’ Horford

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Boston Celtics center Al Horford will miss “at least a few games” with a left knee injury, coach Brad Stevens said Wednesday. Stevens, speaking at the Celtics’ shootaround before their Wednesday night NBA clash with the Wizards in Washington, said Boston hopes the time off will allow Horford to fully recover from the painful condition that has seen him miss two of Boston’s last six games. “He’s going to be […]

Rockets blast Blazers, Spurs eclipse Suns

by Rob Woollard Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Toronto Raptors shrugged off the absence of Kawhi Leonard to stretch their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, breezing past the Los Angeles Clippers with a 123-99 victory. Leonard, ruled out just hours before tip-off after complaining of a sore hip, could also miss the Raptors’ game against the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Toronto, however, […]

James wins final duel with Wade as Lakers roll on

by Rob Woollard Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James won the final installment of his long rivalry with Dwyane Wade on Monday, scoring 28 points as the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 108-105 victory over the Miami Heat at the Staples Center. James and Wade, who arrived in the NBA together as part of a star-studded draft in 2003, have formed one of basketball’s most famous rivalries and closest […]

Westbrook, George spark as Thunder mute Jazz

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Paul George led the scoring with 31 points while Russell Westbrook bagged his sixth triple-double of the season on Monday as the Oklahoma City Thunder downed the Utah Jazz 122-113. George made five three-pointers with three rebounds and three assists as the Thunder bounced back from their upset loss against the Chicago Bulls on Friday to improve to 17-8. Former NBA MVP Westbrook’s triple included 12 points, 11 rebounds […]

Warriors named Sports Illustrated’s ‘Sportsperson of the Year’

OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — The all-conquering Golden State Warriors have become only the fourth team in history to be awarded Sports Illustrated’s annual “Sportsperson of the Year” award, the magazine announced on Monday. The Warriors, who won their third NBA crown in four seasons this year, were honored with the award in recognition of their collective feats on court over the past five years. As well as three NBA championships, the Warriors have also […]

Nuggets sign Young, waive Goodwin

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Denver Nuggets signed veteran guard Nick Young on Monday after being granted an exemption following an escalating injury crisis. Young, who played for the Golden State Warriors last season during their championship-winning campaign, had been a free agent since the offseason. The 33-year-old arrives at the Nuggets with the franchise struggling to plug gaps in their roster following injuries to Will Barton, Gary Harris and Paul Millsap. Young […]