Sports — International

Blazers spoil Lillard’s return to Portland, Durant’s Suns eclipse Nets

LOS ANGELES, Feb 1, 2024 (AFP) – Damian Lillard’s emotional return to Portland opened with an ovation and ended in defeat as the Trail Blazers held off the Milwaukee Bucks 119-116 on Wednesday. Lillard was playing his first game in Portland since the September trade that sent him to Milwaukee after he spent his first 11 NBA seasons as a Blazer. Greeted by a massive standing ovation and feted with a video tribute, Lillard felt […]

India’s Bopanna becomes oldest world No.1, aged 43

MELBOURNE, Jan 24, 2024 (AFP) – India’s Rohan Bopanna will become the oldest number one in men’s doubles history after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday at the age of 43. Bopanna, who attributes his longevity to yoga, turned professional more than two decades ago and his previous highest ranking was third, which he reached in 2013. Wednesday’s win for Bopanna and Australian partner Matthew Ebden against Argentine pair Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni […]

Japan FA condemns ‘shameful’ racist abuse of goalkeeper

DOHA, Jan 24, 2024 (AFP) – Japan’s football association on Wednesday condemned the “shameful behaviour” of fans who racially abused Zion Suzuki online following the goalkeeper’s performances at the Asian Cup. Pre-tournament favourites Japan were beaten 2-1 by Iraq in the group phase on Friday in Doha with Suzuki responsible for one of the goals. The US-born 21-year-old, whose father is Ghanaian-American and whose mother is Japanese, said he was subsequently racially abused on social […]

Jokic nets season-high 42 to lead NBA Nuggets over Wizards

WASHINGTON, Jan 22, 2024 (AFP) – Nikola Jokic scored a season-high 42 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to power the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets over Washington 113-104 on Sunday. The Serbian superstar center, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, made 15-of-20 shots from the floor and 12-of-14 free throws while adding eight assists, three blocks and a steal against the host Wizards. “It’s never easy. Not 42,” Jokic said. “It’s just a mindset. We […]

Lakers post convincing win over Mavs despite Doncic return

LOS ANGELES, Jan 18, 2024 (AFP) – The Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by a near triple-double from Anthony Davis, spoiled Luka Doncic’s return from injury with a convincing 127-110 NBA victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. Davis scored 28 points with 12 rebounds and nine assists and D’Angelo Russell scored 29 for the Lakers, who withstood a triple-double from Doncic — who had missed three games with a sprained right ankle. Doncic scored 33 […]

Djokovic confronts heckler as he battles through at Australian Open

By John WEAVER MELBOURNE, Jan 17, 2024 (AFP) – Novak Djokovic said an angry altercation with a fan may have helped get him over the line during a testing second-round encounter at the Australian Open against home favourite Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday. The world number one showed his trademark mental strength to face down his inspired opponent, prevailing 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in more than three hours. It followed a gruelling first-round match on […]

Medvedev, Gauff power through at Australian Open ahead of Osaka comeback

By Martin PARRY MELBOURNE, Jan 15, 2024 (AFP) – Two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev and US Open champion Coco Gauff swept into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, but Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova was sent packing. On a baking-hot day at Melbourne Park, men’s seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and 16th seed Ben Shelton also tasted victory, ahead of Naomi Osaka’s Grand Slam comeback on Rod Laver Arena in the evening session. Third seed […]

Pelicans upset Wolves 117-106, Heat scorch Lakers 110-96

LOS ANGELES, Jan 4, 2024 (AFP) – Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum combined for 51 points as the New Orleans Pelicans upset the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves 117-106 in the NBA on Wednesday. Pelicans power forward Williamson led the scoring with 27 points while McCollum added 24 as New Orleans ground out an impressive victory on the road. McCollum’s tally included four three-pointers while Brandon Ingram (19 points) and Herbert Jones (16) also chipped in […]

Ostapenko beats heat to oust defending Brisbane champion Pliskova

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 4, 2024 (AFP) – Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko ended Karolina Pliskova’s title defence when she downed the Czech star 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to book a quarter-final against Victoria Azarenka at the Brisbane International on Thursday. The 26-year-old former French Open champion needed assistance from the trainer during the third set as she struggled with the heat and humidity. But she managed to recover enough to overcome Pliskova in 2hr 13min. “It was very, […]

NBA-best Celtics rout Wemby’s Spurs for sixth win in a row

WASHINGTON, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – Jayson Tatum scored 25 points and Jaylen Brown added 24 to lead the NBA-best Boston Celtics over San Antonio 134-101 on Sunday, stretching their win streak to six games. Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Celtics, who improved to 26-6. Boston also got 17 points from Derrick White, who spent five seasons with San Antonio before joining the Celtics in a 2022 trade. […]

Ravens crush Miami to take AFC top seed, 49ers grab NFC top spot

WASHINGTON, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – The Baltimore Ravens secured the AFC top seed for the NFL playoffs in emphatic fashion on Sunday, crushing the Miami Dolphins 56-19 with Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdowns. The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, will have the NFC top seed — and the home field advantage throughout the playoffs that comes with the ranking — after they won 27-10 at Washington. Jackson is the frontrunner to win the league’s Most […]

Browns clinch NFL playoff berth with win over Jets

LOS ANGELES, Dec 29, 2023 (AFP) – Resurgent Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco threw for three touchdowns in a 37-20 NFL victory over the New York Jets on Thursday that saw the Browns punch their ticket to the playoffs. The post-season was looking unlikely for the Browns after star quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in November. Flacco, a former Super Bowl MVP with the Baltimore Ravens who was without a team at the […]