Sports — International

Celtics beat Sixers to book spot in East finals

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Rookie Jayson Tatum scored the go-ahead layup with 22 seconds remaining in the fourth as the Boston Celtics punched their ticket to the NBA Eastern Conference finals with a 114-112 win over Philadelphia. Tatum made it 111-109 after catching a pass from Marcus Smart under the basket and Terry Rozier helped seal the win by making a pair of clutch free throws with nine seconds left as the Celtics […]

As Rockets loom, Green says ‘doesn’t matter’ who Warriors play

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The mouth-watering match-up is set, but Draymond Green, the emotional lynchpin of the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors, says it will be business as usual against a Houston Rockets team designed to dethrone them. “You know, they have made it known that their team is built to beat us,” Green said of the Rockets after the Warriors dispatched the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday to book their Western […]

Thunder’s George has knee operation

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Wednesday which the NBA team described as “successful.” A statement posted on the team’s website said that the team, George and his representation “collectively determined for the procedure to be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache with Thunder medical personnel present at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California. “George is expected to miss six […]

Curry leads Warriors romp past Pelicans

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Stephen Curry sparked a third-quarter surge as the Golden State Warriors wrapped up a series victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday to advance to the NBA Western Conference finals. Curry finished with 28 points as the reigning NBA champions ran out 113-104 winners to complete a 4-1 series victory and set up a showdown with the top-seeded Houston Rockets. Kevin Durant had 24 points while Klay Thompson […]

Paul dazzles as Rockets seal series win over Jazz

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Chris Paul scored 41 points to lead Houston into the NBA Western Conference finals on Tuesday with a series-clinching 112-102 victory over the Utah Jazz. Paul’s haul included 20 points in the fourth quarter as the top-seeded Rockets completed a 4-1 victory in the best-of-seven series at Houston’s Toyota Center. The Rockets will now face either the Golden State Warriors or New Orleans Pelicans for a place in the […]

LeBron dazzles as Cavaliers seal Raptors sweep

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James produced another commanding display at the Cleveland Cavaliers demolished the Toronto Raptors 128-93 to seal a series sweep and advance to the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Monday. James, the buzzer-beating hero of Cleveland’s epic victory in game three on Saturday, finished with 29 points as Toronto’s bid to avoid the ignominy of a 4-0 series loss ended in abject failure. Toronto had entered the playoffs as […]

Saric, McConnell star as Sixers avoid Celtics sweep

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Dario Saric scored 25 points as the Philadelphia 76ers kept alive their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series with the Boston Celtics on Monday, powering to a 103-92 win to avoid a clean sweep. The Sixers — left staring down the barrel of an early exit after losing the opening three games in the best-of-seven series — subdued the Celtics in the second half to ensure a game five. Croatian […]

Arena Football: Tarpons rout Wild, 50-30, in first win of season

By Jay Rosquites EBC Florida Bureau LAKELAND, FL (Eagle News)  — Winless after the first three games, the Florida Tarpons were looking for their first win of the season against the Austin Wild at home. The Tarpons came out aggressive in the first half as quarterback Chris Wallace hit three different wide receivers in the endzone with two receiving touchdowns belonging to Keith DeVeaux. The Tarpons left the first half with 28-14 lead. In the […]

Ex-Grizzlies coach Fizdale named coach of NBA Knicks

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — David Fizdale, fired as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies last November, was named Monday as the new coach of the NBA’s struggling New York Knicks. The 43-year-old American — who has served assistant coaching stints with Golden State, Atlanta and Miami — took on the challenge of reviving a woeful side that has missed the playoffs for five consecutive campaigns. “I am honored and humbled to join the Knicks,” […]

Warriors, Rockets reach brink of West final

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets both raced to a pair of lopsided wins on Sunday and can book their spots in the Western Conference final with victories on their home courts on Tuesday. Kevin Durant scored 38 points to power the reigning NBA champion Warriors over the New Orleans Pelicans 118-92 and Chris Paul finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds as the Rockets defeated the Utah […]

James floats in buzzer-beating dagger as Cavs stun Raptors

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — LeBron James banked in an off-balance floater at the buzzer, lifting the Cleveland to a 105-103 win over the Toronto Raptors and giving the Cavaliers a stranglehold 3-0 playoff series lead on Saturday. James took an inbound pass and drove the length of the court, cut to the left and sank the running one-handed dagger off the backboard to stun the Raptors’ bench. The 10-footer came just seconds after Toronto […]

Celtics edge 76ers to reach brink of NBA playoff sweep

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Jayson Tatum scored 24 points and Terry Rozier added 18 as the Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 101-98 in overtime Saturday, reaching the brink of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics seized a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven second-round series and could complete a sweep of the 76ers by winning game four Monday at Philadelphia. Jaylen Brown came off the bench to add 16 points for the Celtics while Al […]