Sports — International

Grizzlies’ Morant scoops NBA Rookie of Year award

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was a runaway winner for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award announced Thursday, receiving 99 out of a possible 100 first-place votes. Morant became the club’s second player to scoop the award, following in the footsteps of Spain’s Pau Gasol, who won it in 2002. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, the top overall pick in last year’s NBA draft, claimed the only other […]

Butler free-throws seal win as Heat take 2-0 lead on Bucks

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Jimmy Butler, fouled on a potential game-winner at the buzzer, calmly made two free throws to seal the Miami Heat’s 116-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday to stretch their lead over the top seeds in their NBA playoff series. The Heat took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series in the NBA’s coronavirus quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida. Goran Dragic scored 23 points — his sixth […]

Blazers star Lillard out with knee injury

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Portland Trail Blazers leading scorer Damian Lillard has been ruled out of game five of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a sprained knee. The decision deals a huge blow to Portland’s playoff chances as they are down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. Lillard was injured in Monday’s game four against the Lakers. His was examined by team doctors on Tuesday. Lillard led Portland to a […]

Sprint king Bolt tests positive for coronavirus: report

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Usain Bolt was in quarantine on Monday as Jamaican media reported the sprint legend had tested positive for the coronavirus, just days after he celebrated his 34th birthday with a lavish party. The retired 100m and 200m world-record holder didn’t confirm his test result, but he urged anyone who had been in contact with him to go into quarantine. “I did a test on Saturday to leave (Jamaica) because […]

LeBron’s Lakers steamroll Blazers, Heat close out Pacers

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — LeBron James finished with 30 points and 10 assists to help the Los Angeles Lakers roll over the Portland Trail Blazers 135-115 in game four of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Monday. Anthony Davis tallied 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists before leaving the contest in the third quarter with back spasms as the top-seeded Lakers seized a 3-1 lead in the series. “I am proud of […]

Doncic nails epic game winner, Celtics, Raptors advance

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Luka Doncic wasn’t about to let a sprained ankle slow him down, nailing a game-winning three pointer at the buzzer to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 135-133 overtime playoff win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. The 21-year old Slovenian phenom, who was playing with a tender ankle and missing his offensive sidekick Kristaps Porzingis, finished with 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists to level the first […]

Lakers, Bucks stumble out of gate in NBA playoff openers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A pair of eighth-seeded teams delivered stunning upsets in their playoff openers on Tuesday as the Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic surprised the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. Damian Lillard scored 34 points as the Trail Blazers toppled the West’s number one seeded Lakers 100-93 and Nikola Vucevic tallied 35 points as the Magic defeated the East’s top seeded Bucks 122-110 at Walt Disney World Resort […]

Murray scores 36 as Nuggets beat Jazz in series opener

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Jamal Murray scored 36 points, including 10 in overtime, as the Denver Nuggets overcame a 57-point performance from Donovan Mitchell to defeat the Utah Jazz 135-125 in a playoff game on Monday. Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, who were taken to overtime by the Jazz for the second-straight contest. Jokic had a chance to ice the victory in regulation, but his hook shot […]

Portland’s Lillard named MVP of NBA restart

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, who averaged a league-leading 37.6 points in eight seeding games, has been named the top player of the NBA’s restart in a quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida. Lillard recorded 30 points and 16 assists against Boston on August 2, matching his career high for assists and logging his first of three seeding games with at least 30 points and 10 assists. On August 6 […]

Bucks star Antetokounmpo suspended after head-butting opponent

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo was suspended for one game after head-butting Washington Wizards center Moritz Wagner during a game, the league said Wednesday. The Milwaukee Bucks star was ejected from the contest after the incident in the second quarter of the Bucks 126-113 victory Tuesday over the Wizards. Antetokounmpo was contrite after the game, admitting he let his emotions get the better of him after he […]

Lillard scores 61 as Blazers stride towards playoffs

ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — Damian Lillard exploded for 61 points on Tuesday as the Portland Trail Blazers roared towards a place in the NBA playoffs with a thrilling 134-131 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Lillard — who had scored 51 points in a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday — once again led from the front for Portland, who are now within touching distance of a postseason berth. The Blazers talisman nailed a […]

Joy of six for Suns as Booker extends unbeaten streak

ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — Devin Booker produced another 30-point scoring display as the Phoenix Suns made it six wins in a row since the NBA’s restart with a blowout victory over Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. Booker scored 35 points with five rebounds and four assists in a 128-101 win that maintained Phoenix’s improbable charge towards a place in the Western Conference play-in. It was the fourth time in six games that Booker has […]