Sports — International

James out of Kings clash after entering Covid protocols

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James was ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ clash with the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday after entering the NBA’s Covid-19 health and safety protocols, the team said. It was unclear if James had tested positive for the coronavirus or whether he had come into close contact with someone who had. The Lakers superstar, who has been vaccinated, must now return two negative tests before being allowed to […]

Curry propels Warriors to win over Clippers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Stephen Curry came alive late as the Golden State Warriors shook off a sloppy start to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-90 and post their seventh straight NBA victory. With both teams turning the ball over and missing shots it was close at halftime, the Warriors leading 44-42 on the Clippers’ home floor. Golden State extended that lead with an 11-2 scoring burst to open the third quarter, and […]

LeBron James fined for ‘obscene gesture,’ warned for swearing

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was slapped with a $15,000 fine for an “obscene gesture” and warned for swearing during a news conference by the NBA’s disciplinary officials on Friday. “LeBron James has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture on the playing court and warned for using profane language during media availability,” said league spokesman Byron Spruell in a news release. This is the second time […]

Djokovic-led Serbia down Austria in Davis Cup opener

Novak Djokovic sped past Austria’s Dennis Novak as Serbia thumped Austria 3-0 in their Davis Cup opening match at Innsbruck on Friday. Djokovic took an hour to beat Novak 6-3, 6-2 after Dusan Lajovic saw off Gerald Melzer 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 behind closed doors due to a resurgence of the coronavirus in Austria. Nikola Cacic and Filip Krajinovic then beat Oliver Marach and Philipp Oswald 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Djokovic is attempting to end an already […]

Jackson scores 21 as Clippers dominate Pistons

Reggie Jackson scored a team-high 21 points, Terance Mann delivered 16 points and 10 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers routed the hapless Detroit Pistons 107-96 on Friday. Eric Bledsoe busted out of a slump to score 15 points for the Clippers, who have won just three of their last seven games. Bledsoe had been averaging just 5.2 points over the previous five games. Paul George added 12 points, Ivica Zubac finished with 10 points […]

Knicks hold off short-handed Lakers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Evan Fournier scored 26 points and Immanuel Quickley put up 12 of his 14 in the fourth quarter Tuesday as the New York Knicks thwarted the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers’ comeback bid in a 106-100 NBA victory. The Lakers, playing without suspended superstar LeBron James, trailed by 25 in the second quarter. They rallied to tie the score twice in the third period, but never managed to get in […]

NASA launches spacecraft to kick an asteroid off course

by Issam AHMED WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — NASA is preparing to launch a mission to deliberately smash a spacecraft into an asteroid — a test run should humanity ever need to stop a giant space rock from wiping out life on Earth. It may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) is a real proof-of-concept experiment, blasting off at 10:21 pm Pacific Time Tuesday (0621 GMT Wednesday) […]

LeBron suspended one game for bloody Stewart clash

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James has been suspended for one game following his bloody clash with Detroit Pistons player Isaiah Stewart, the NBA said Monday. Los Angeles Lakers star James was ejected for only the second time in his career after wildly lashing out at Stewart during Sunday’s victory over the Pistons. Stewart was left with blood pouring from a facial injury following the flashpoint, and needed to be restrained repeatedly by […]

Chinese tennis star Peng reappears, speaks by video with IOC president

by Nina Larson with Laurie Chen in Beijing GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai said she was safe and well during a video call with the International Olympic Committee chief Sunday, the organisation said, amid international concern about her well-being after her explosive claims of sexual assault. At the beginning of a 30-minute call with IOC President Thomas Bach, “Peng Shuai thanked the IOC for its concern about her well-being,” the organisation […]

Warriors surge late to thwart Cavs’ NBA upset bid

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter Thursday as the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors rallied from a 13-point third-period deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89. After being out-hustled by the shorthanded Cavs for most of the game, Golden State out-scored them 36-8 in the final frame to improve their league-leading record to 13-2. Draymond Green scored just four points but handed out 14 […]

Three athletes positive for Covid inside Beijing Olympic bubble

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — Three athletes attending training events for the Beijing Winter Olympics have tested positive for Covid-19, Chinese officials said Thursday, with the country on high alert against the coronavirus ahead of the Games. Beijing 2022 organisers have left nothing to chance with the games set to start in February, restricting entry to the capital and insisting on daily virus tests for thousands of athletes who will be kept within a “closed-loop” […]

Curry fires Warriors as Nets routed

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Stephen Curry produced a three-point masterclass as the Golden State Warriors thrashed the Brooklyn Nets 117-99 to underscore their championship credentials on Tuesday. Curry led the scoring with 37 points — 27 of them from outside the arc — to give the Warriors an emphatic win on the road over the Nets and former Golden State teammate Kevin Durant. It was a superb all-round effort from the Warriors, who […]