Sports — International

Kobe Bryant’s daughter Gianna, 13, among crash dead: LA mayor

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kobe Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was among the five fatalities in the helicopter crash which claimed the life of the NBA icon, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti confirmed on Sunday. “L.A. is grieving with the Bryant family over the loss of Gianna, who perished with her father and friends in today’s tragedy,” Garcetti wrote on Twitter. Gianna was one of Bryant’s four children with wife Vanessa. Bryant and Gianna […]

How Twitter reacted to reports of Kobe Bryant’s death

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — How people on Twitter reacted to reports of the death of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant on Sunday: “Just devastated to hear about #KobeBryant. An extraordinary athlete, and a genuinely kind, wonderful man. Sending love, prayers & compassion to his family. To his entire @NBA family as well.” — Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon “Heart goes out to the Bryant family right now. RIP Kobe Bryant.” — US women’s footballer and […]

NBA legend Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash: reports

LOS ANGELES, United States NBA legend Kobe Bryant died Sunday in a helicopter crash in suburban Los Angeles, US media reports said, in an accident confirmed by police that left five people dead. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials said there were no survivors from the morning crash in foggy conditions on a hillside in Calabasas, west of Los Angeles. The helicopter was described as a Sikorsky S-76, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said. TMZ […]

Lakers bounce back with victory over Knicks

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — LeBron James started hot and Anthony Davis found his groove Wednesday as the Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from an embarrassing loss to the Boston Celtics with a 100-92 win over the Knicks in New York. James scored 19 of his 21 points in the first half and Davis scored 17 of his game-high 28 in the second, continuing to improve in his second game back from a five-game […]

McGregor demolishes Cerrone in 40-second return to UFC octagon

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Conor McGregor made a triumphant return to the UFC octagon on Saturday, pummelling Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone for a technical knockout victory in just 40 seconds. The mixed martial arts superstar from Ireland — returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship for the first time since he was battered into submission by arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 — overpowered his American foe without ever being tested. After charging in with […]

LeBron stretches lead in NBA All-Star Game fan voting

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James stretched his overall lead in NBA All-Star Game fan balloting to 149,564 votes over Dallas guard Luka Doncic in returns revealed Thursday. It appears that James and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo will be captains for next month’s 69th NBA All-Star Game on February 16 at Chicago as they were for last year’s all-star contest, in which Team LeBron beat Team Giannis 178-164. Five-time […]

Derrick Rose fined in felt-tip fiasco

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The National Basketball Association has slapped Detroit Pistons player Derrick Rose with a hefty fine for throwing a pen into the crowd at The Palace arena in Detroit. Rose was hit with a $25,000 fine for his actions with 37 seconds left in Monday’s 117-110 overtime loss to the visiting New Orleans Pelicans. The incident took place after Detroit called a timeout following a New Orleans basket. A dejected […]

Australian Open qualifying delayed due to bushfire smoke

MELBOURNE, Austalia (AFP) — Qualifying for the Australian Open Grand Slam was delayed Wednesday as toxic smoke from widespread bushfires continued to shroud Melbourne, organizers said. The decision to push back the time players take the court followed a qualifier retiring with breathing difficulties on Tuesday and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard needing medical attention. Play will not begin before 1:00 pm (0200 GMT), an hour later than scheduled, with practice sessions also suspended. “Conditions at Melbourne […]

Bucks’ Antetokounmpo bounces back, Houston’s Harden hits milestone

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo rebounded from his season-worst performance to tally 32 points and 17 rebounds as the Milwaukee Buck routed the Portland Trail Blazers 122-101 on Saturday. Milwaukee, who are on pace to win 70 games, won for the eighth time in the last nine games to improve to 35-6 on the season. Khris Middleton added 30 points and Eric Bledsoe scored 29 for the Bucks who are hoping to […]

Jazz stretch NBA win streak to nine by toppling Wizards

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Croatia’s Bojan Bogdanovic scored 31 points as the Utah Jazz won their ninth straight game with a 127-116 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Frenchman Rudy Gobert finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, one of a half-dozen players who finished in double figures for Utah, which improved to 27-12 on the season. The Jazz tightened up their defense in the second half to knock the Wizards off […]

LeBron leaps Doncic, Giannis into NBA All-Star vote lead

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Five-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James leaped over Slovenian guard Luka Doncic and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to lead early fan voting totals for the NBA All-Star Game released Thursday. Los Angeles Lakers star James was more than 53,000 votes behind Dallas star Doncic for the top spot in last week’s first early voting results announcement by the league. But new totals show James with 3,359,871 votes […]

NBA fines ‘reckless’ Portis after flagrant foul on Caldwell-Pope

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York Knicks forward Bobby Portis was fined $25,000 Wednesday for a nasty foul on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope that saw Portis ejected from the Lakers’ win over the Knicks on Tuesday. The fine announced by Kiki VanDeWeghe, executive vice president of basketball operations, was for “recklessly making contact above the shoulders of an airborne shooter.” Caldwell-Pope was driving for a basket in the second quarter, with the Lakers up by […]