Sports — International

James working ‘around the clock’ to return for Lakers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James said Thursday he is working “around the clock” to regain full fitness but rejected reports that he had set a target date to return before the end of the NBA regular season. Multiple US media outlets reported on Thursday that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was eyeing a possible return in the final three games of the season. James, who has not played since suffering a foot […]

Warriors win after Mavs blunder, Morant impresses on return

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Golden State Warriors boosted their hopes of an automatic playoff berth with a crucial road victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday as Ja Morant made a smooth return from suspension for the Memphis Grizzlies. Steph Curry finished with 20 points as the Warriors clinched only their ninth away win of the season to edge past the Mavericks 127-125 at Dallas’s American Airlines Center. A see-saw battle saw […]

Blow for British as Raducanu, Murray crash out in Miami

by Simon EVANS Agence France-Presse MIAMI GARDENS, United States (AFP) — Canada’s Bianca Andreescu won a first-round battle of former US Open champions, defeating Britain’s Emma Raducanu 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 on Wednesday to advance to the second round of the Miami Open. There was further bad news for Britain with two-time Miami winner Andy Murray crashing out in the first round after a 6-4 7-5 loss to Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic. Andreescu and Raducanu, both born […]

Japan down USA to win World Baseball Classic for third time

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Japan defeated the United States 3-2 on Tuesday to win the World Baseball Classic for a record third time. Home runs from Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto helped put Japan ahead before superstar Shohei Ohtani closed out the win from the mound in the ninth inning. It is Japan’s third victory in the baseball showpiece following wins in 2006 and 2009. The star-studded United States, defending champions after winning the […]

Morant vows ‘smarter’ approach after returning to practice

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Ja Morant said Tuesday he is learning to be a more responsible and smarter version of himself as he returned to practice with Memphis Grizzlies teammates for the first time since his suspension. The Grizzlies superstar has not played since posting video of himself in a Colorado strip club brandishing a firearm on March 4. The 23-year-old was subsequently hit with an eight-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the […]

DeRozan, Bulls leave Sixers waiting after overtime thriller

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points as the Chicago Bulls snapped Philadelphia’s eight-game winning streak with a thrilling 109-105 victory in double overtime on Monday. The red-hot Sixers had been looking to clinch their playoff ticket with victory in front of an expectant home crowd at the Wells Fargo Center. But despite a 37-point performance from Joel Embiid — the MVP front-runner’s 10th straight 30-point game –- Philadelphia were left […]

Japan beat Mexico 6-5 to reach World Baseball Classic final

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Japan came from behind twice to defeat Mexico 6-5 on Monday and set up a World Baseball Classic final showdown with the United States. Munetaka Murakami drove in a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning as Japan came back from a 5-4 deficit to reach Tuesday’s final in Miami against the USA. Japan are chasing a record third World Baseball Classic crown after winning the tournament in […]

Alcaraz ‘100%’ No. 1 – Medvedev

INDIAN WELLS, United States (AFP) — Daniil Medvedev, routed in straight sets by Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells final, says the 19-year-old Spaniard has “100%” earned his return to number one in the world, despite the absence of Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz’s first Indian Wells triumph — his third Masters 1000 title — will move him back to the summit he held at the end of last year after his US Open triumph made him […]

Australian surfs for 40 hours to smash world record

by Steven TRASK Agence France Presse Sydney, Australia (AFP) — Australian Blake Johnston on Friday shredded the world record for the longest surfing session, dodging swarms of jellyfish to ride hundreds of waves across 40 punishing hours. The 40-year-old former surfing pro broke down in tears after smashing South African Josh Enslin’s previous record of 30 hours and 11 minutes. Johnston surfed back to shore in the evening to rapturous applause from the hundreds of […]

Jordan in talks to sell majority stake in NBA Hornets: report

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Retired NBA legend Michael Jordan is in talks to sell his majority stake in the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, but no deal is imminent, ESPN reported on Thursday. The deal would see Jordan sell the largest stake in the club to Hornets minority shareholder Gabe Plotkin and Atlanta Hawks minority owner Rick Schnall, with Jordan expected to keep a minority stake in the Hornets, unnamed sources told ESPN. Forbes magazine […]

Argentina ‘madness’ as 1.5-mn vie for 63,000 match tickets

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — More than 1.5 million Argentina fans applied for 63,000 tickets for the team’s first appearance, in a friendly against Panama, since lifting the football World Cup in Qatar. Tickets for the match in Buenos Aires on Thursday next week, sold out in two hours, according to the Deportick website, as local media said the virtual ticket line drew 1.5 million people. The Monumental Stadium has a capacity of 83,000, but […]

Embiid gives 76ers sixth straight win with victory in Cleveland

by Simon EVANS Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Joel Embiid starred again with 38 points as the Philadelphia 76ers picked up a sixth straight win with a 118-109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. The 76ers, third in the East just a place ahead of the Cavs, were in a close contest until the end when Tyrese Maxey sunk a three-pointer and Philadelphia put away five free throws in the final […]