Sports — International

Lakers’ James, Davis ruled out of Monday clash with Nets

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis will sit out Monday’s NBA game against the Nets in Brooklyn, the Lakers announced on Sunday. On the first night of back-to-back games, James will be held out with a sore left ankle, the Lakers said on their injury report. Davis, recently returned from a 20-game absence with a stress injury in his right foot, will be sidelined as the team […]

Djokovic defies controversy to surge into Australian Open final

Melbourne, Australia | AFP | Friday 1/27/2023 by Martin PARRY Novak Djokovic put aside the controversy surrounding his father to surge into a 10th Australian Open final Friday and close in on a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam crown. Only Stefanos Tsitsipas stands in his way after the Serb romped past unseeded American Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Another title on Sunday will move Djokovic alongside Rafael Nadal with 22 […]

‘I’m my own psychologist’: Sabalenka tames her inner tiger

by Daniel HICKS Agence France-Presse Melbourne, Australia (AFP) — A year ago, Aryna Sabalenka’s serve was in pieces and she was having to scrape through fraught battles in Australia as her fragile emotions were laid painfully bare. Now she stands on the brink of a major breakthrough after finally reaching a Grand Slam final at the fourth attempt. The 24-year-old Belarusian will face Elena Rybakina on Saturday in the final of the Australian Open knowing […]

James masterpiece in vain as Clippers sink Lakers

MIAMI, United States (AFP) – LeBron James took another stride towards the NBA’s all-time scoring record with a dazzling 46-point performance but could not stop the Los Angeles Lakers falling to a 133-115 blowout against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The 38-year-old basketball icon rolled back the years with the latest in a string of virtuoso performances, draining a career-best nine three-pointers in what was ultimately a futile effort against a Clippers side led by […]

Korda says could barely hold racquet in painful Australian Open exit

Melbourne, Australia | AFP | Tuesday 1/24/2023  Sebastian Korda said he could barely hold the racquet before retiring in the Australian Open quarter-finals Tuesday, but despite the disappointment is confident of “really big things” ahead. The 22-year-old American hurt himself in the second set against Russia’s Karen Khachanov and called it quits when trailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-0. He said he first felt the injury while playing the Adelaide International this month, where he made […]

Banchero, Isaac shine as Magic end Boston win streak

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Number one draft pick Paolo Banchero scored 23 points as the Orlando Magic ended the injury-depleted Boston Celtics’ nine-game winning streak with an upset 113-98 victory on Monday. Orlando, languishing three places off the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 17-29 record prior to Monday’s game, took full advantage of Boston’s injury crisis to complete a deserved win at the Amway Center in Florida. The league-leading Celtics were missing […]

Lakers trade for Japan star Rui Hachimura

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Japanese international Rui Hachimura in a deal that sends guard Kendrick Nunn and multiple draft picks to the Washington Wizards, the Lakers said Monday. The 6ft 8in (2.0m) Hachimura has made 30 appearances for the Wizards this season, averaging 13 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. In his four seasons in the NBA, the 24-year-old has averaged 13.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 […]

Ronaldo punched but scores twice in Saudi reunion with Messi

by Talek HARRIS Agence France-Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Cristiano Ronaldo recovered from a punch in the face to score twice against Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday in a lively reunion with his great rival Lionel Messi that demonstrated the financial firepower of the resource-rich Gulf. Ronaldo, 37, was decked by PSG ‘keeper Keylor Navas’s flailing fist but he drilled the resulting penalty and then added another in a 5-4 exhibition defeat, his first appearance […]

Antetokounmpo leads East in latest NBA All-Star voting

  NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has overtaken Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant at the top Eastern Conference vote-getter in the third fan voting returns for the NBA All-Star Game. The results announced by the NBA on Thursday put Antetokounmpo on track to captain a team in the February 19 mid-season exhibition in Salt Lake City. Fan voting, which continues through Saturday, counts for 50% of the starter voting. A media […]

Adams game-winner gives Memphis 11th straight win

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Steven Adams grabbed the first game-winning basket of his career as the Memphis Grizzlies rolled to a franchise record-equaling 11th straight victory on Wednesday with a 115-114 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. New Zealand international Adams was on hand to tip-in at the basket after an attempted layup by Ja Morant with just under 17 seconds remaining of a thrilling battle at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. Memphis small forward […]

Jokic triple sparks Denver over Portland, Spurs stun Nets

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Nikola Jokic bagged his 13th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets overcame a 44-point display from Damian Lillard to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 122-113 on Tuesday. Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic finished with 36 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as Denver extended their winning streak to seven games to move one game clear of Memphis at the top of the Western Conference. It was […]

Tatum half century as Celtics pound Hornets, Curry saves Warriors

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Jayson Tatum produced an electrifying 51-point display as the Boston Celtics marked the NBA’s Martin Luther King Day holiday schedule with a 130-118 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Two days after scoring 33 points against Charlotte on Saturday, Tatum once again took center stage with a commanding performance as the Eastern Conference leaders claimed a seventh straight victory. Tatum brought up his half century in the closing […]