Sports — International

Davis, James lead Lakers over Hawks, fans ejected

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Anthony Davis scored 25 points and LeBron James added 21 as the Los Angeles Lakers overpowered the Atlanta Hawks on Monday to end their road trip with a hard-fought 107-99 victory. James pulled down seven rebounds and weighed in with nine assists as well as a clutch three-pointer that gave the Lakers a 101-97 lead with just over a minute remaining at State Farm Arena. It was the decisive […]

Harris, 76ers hand Lakers first road defeat of NBA season

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Tobias Harris drove in the final dagger as the Philadelphia 76ers thwarted a late Los Angeles Lakers rally to hand the reigning NBA champions their first road defeat of the season — 107-106. In a bruising heavyweight clash, the Eastern Conference leading Sixers made a statement against the league-leading Lakers. Joel Embiid scored 28 points, Ben Simmons notched a triple-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and […]

Harden leads Nets over Heat, LeBron sparks Lakers

by Rob Woollard LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — James Harden believes the best is yet to come after producing a late burst of scoring to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 98-85 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday. Harden — who joined the Nets in a blockbuster trade from Houston earlier this month — produced a dazzling burst of fourth-quarter scoring as Brooklyn finally overpowered an under-strength Miami team. The 2018 NBA Most […]

Leonard scores 34 as Clippers stretch NBA win streak to seven games

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 34 points as the Los Angeles Clippers extended their season-high NBA win streak to seven games with a 108-100 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Leonard shot 14 of 24 from the floor and finished with nine rebounds and eight assists while Ivica Zubac came off the bench to score 10 points and grab 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who beat Oklahoma […]

South Korea ex-Olympic coach jailed 10.5 years for sexual assault

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — A South Korean court Thursday sentenced a former national speed skating coach to over a decade in prison for sexually assaulting double Olympic gold medallist Shim Suk-hee. Shim filed her complaint against her former coach Cho Jae-beom in January 2019, accusing him of having sexually abused her for years. The Suwon District Court on Thursday sentenced Cho to 10 and a half years in jail for the “highly condemnable” act […]

Japan PM ‘determined’ to hold Olympics despite cancellation report

  TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s prime minister said he was “determined” to hold the Tokyo Olympics as organisers on Friday brushed off a report claiming officials think cancellation is inevitable. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s latest insistence that the postponed Games are on track comes after The Times cited an unnamed government source saying Japan has already shifted its focus to hosting in 2032. “I am determined to realise a safe and secure Tokyo Games […]

NBA postpones another game, announces 11 new players test positive

LOS ANGELES. United States (AFP) — Memphis’ NBA game at the Portland Trail Blazers scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed with the Grizzles depleted by coronavirus contact tracing, the league said. The 16th such postponement of the season came on the day the league announced that of 502 players tested for Covid-19 since January 13, 11 new players had returned a confirmed positive test. The league’s coronavirus protocols require anyone who tests positive, or who […]

Irving returns to Nets saying he ‘just needed a pause’ from NBA

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Kyrie Irving returned to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday after missing the NBA club’s past seven games, saying he “just needed a pause” due to personal issues. Irving practiced with the Nets on Tuesday and coach Steve Nash said he expect him to play when Brooklyn visits Cleveland on Wednesday. The 28-year-old American guard spoke generally about family matters and mental health issues in his first comments since the […]

Hawks-Suns game postponed over Covid concerns

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The NBA postponed Wednesday’s clash between the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix after the Suns were unable to raise a game-day roster because of Covid-19. In the latest postponement to hit the league since the season started in December, the NBA said the game at Phoenix Suns Arena had been called off in accordance with health and safety protocols. “Because of ongoing contact tracing within the Suns, the team does […]

Harden joining Brooklyn Nets in blockbuster deal: reports

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — James Harden is joining the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster NBA trade from the Houston Rockets, US media reported Wednesday. ESPN and The Athletic reported that the 2018 NBA MVP will head to the Nets in a trade that will see Harden reunited with former Oklahoma City Thunder team-mate Kevin Durant. The 31-year-old played alongside Durant for three seasons in Oklahoma City between 2009 and 2012. ESPN reported that […]

NBA tightens Covid protocols as game postponements mount

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The NBA and its players union updated Covid-19 health and safety protocols on Tuesday as positive tests and game postponements mounted. The Washington Wizards’ home game against the Utah Jazz scheduled for Wednesday was postponed on Tuesday night, the sixth game to be scrubbed in the three-week old season. Earlier Tuesday the league said Wednesday’s game between the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic would be postponed. Boston’s scheduled Tuesday […]

NBA reviewing Irving party video as star’s absence goes on

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — A video of Brooklyn Nets star guard Kyrie Irving was being reviewed by the NBA for Covid-19 safety violations as the playmaker missed a fourth consecutive game on Tuesday. Irving, whose absence from the team has been declared for personal reasons, has no firm date set to return, according to Nets general manager Sean Marks. “We are aware of a video on social media featuring Kyrie Irving at a […]