LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2024 (AFP) – Jayson Tatum produced a dazzling 31-point display as the Boston Celtics dominated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 to clinch a record-breaking 18th NBA championship crown on Monday. Humbled by Dallas in a 38-point game four drubbing on Friday, Boston slammed the door on any chance of a Mavericks fightback to seal a 4-1 series victory at an electric TD Garden. Tatum spearheaded a superb performance at both ends of […]
Tag: Basket
Muhammad Ali’s ‘Thrilla in Manila’ shorts up for auction
The shorts worn by Muhammad Ali in his legendary “Thrilla in Manila” boxing match are up for grabs at Sotheby’s in New York, part of a growing sports memorabilia market eyed by auction houses. Bids — including the latest for $3.8 million — have been rolling in since late March for the Everlast-brand shorts, which are white with black stripes and are signed by Ali. The auction is open until April 12. The sale comes […]
Calf injury sidelines Lakers’ James
LOS ANGELES, Nov 12, 2023 (AFP) – LeBron James was ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers home game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday with a calf contusion, the first missed game of the season for the NBA superstar. James, 38, came up limping in the first quarter of the Lakers’ victory over Phoenix on Friday after Suns star Kevin Durant inadvertently caught him with a knee to the shin. Clearly hurting, James […]
LeBron James’ son stable after suffering cardiac arrest in practice
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Bronny James, the eldest son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is in a stable condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a practice with his college basketball team, the James family said on Tuesday. Bronny James, 18, collapsed on court while training with his University of Southern California team-mates on Monday in Los Angeles. “Yesterday while practicing Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest,” a spokesperson for the James family […]
Wembanyama chosen by Spurs with No.1 pick in NBA Draft
NEW YORK, June 23, 2023 (AFP) – France’s Victor Wembanyama was chosen with the top pick in the NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, sparking wild celebrations as the Texas club reveled in landing the gifted teenager seen as a once-in-a-generation talent. The 7ft 4in (2.24m) 19-year-old hugged family members as the Spurs confirmed a decision which had been a mere formality ever since San Antonio were handed the No.1 selection […]
French teen star Wembanyama arrives in New York for NBA Draft
NEW YORK, June 19, 2023 (AFP) – Victor Wembanyama signed autographs for well-wishers after getting off a flight from France on Monday ahead of his expected selection with the top pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft. The 7-foot-4 (2.24m) teen prodigy is expected to be selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the top pick in the annual allocation of talent, to be conducted in New York. Supporters, some clad in Spurs jerseys, greeted the 19-year-old […]
Heat surge past Nuggets 111-108, level NBA Finals at 1-1
By Nicolas PRATVIEL Agence France-Presse DENVER, June 5, 2023 (AFP) — The Miami Heat handed the Denver Nuggets their first home defeat of the playoffs Sunday, surging in the fourth quarter for a 111-108 victory that leveled the NBA Finals at one game apiece. Gabe Vincent scored 23 points and Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo scored 21 points apiece for Miami, who withstood a 41-point performance from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic to get the split […]
Butler: Miami’s man for ‘moments of truth’
MIAMI, May 31, 2023 (AFP) — Desperate. Urgent. Incredible. Unique. World class. Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has used an array of adjectives to describe Jimmy Butler over the course of his team’s remarkable postseason campaign. On Monday, Spoelstra was once again plundering his vocabulary after Butler led Miami’s scoring in a do-or-die game seven blowout of the Boston Celtics to seal a place in the NBA Finals. It was the latest in a […]
Quiet man Jokic ready for crowning glory in NBA Finals
DENVER, May 31, 2023 (AFP) — Nikola Jokic can cap an improbable journey to the pinnacle of his sport by leading the Denver Nuggets to a first ever championship when the NBA Finals get under way on Thursday. Nine years ago, the softly spoken Serbian center barely caused a murmur of attention when the Nuggets chose him with the 41st overall pick in the draft. That selection was so low-key that it was not even […]
Heat rout Celtics to book NBA Finals showdown with Denver
BOSTON, May 30, 2023 (AFP) — The Miami Heat advanced to the NBA Finals on Monday by routing Boston 103-84 and denying the Celtics a historic comeback from down 3-0 in the series. Jimmy Butler had 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Caleb Martin added 26 points and 10 rebounds to spark Miami, which will visit Denver on Thursday to begin the best-of-seven championship final. Taking full advantage of an injury to Boston […]
Heat and Celtics promise more drama in game seven decider
MIAMI, May 29, 2023 (AFP) – After an astonishing game-six finish that left the Boston Celtics dumbstruck and the Miami Heat reeling, the two teams must now pick themselves up to do battle again in Monday’s NBA playoff series decider. And neither expects anything less than another epic battle in Boston. Facing elimination, the Celtics won 104-103 in Miami on Saturday thanks to a heart-stopping buzzer-beater tip-in from Derrick White and pulled level at 3-3 […]
Celtics pummel Heat to keep NBA title hopes alive
LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2023 (AFP) — Boston poured in 16 three-pointers in a dominant 110-97 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday that kept the Celtics alive in the NBA championship chase. For the second straight game, the Celtics fended off elimination, cutting the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals to 3-2 with the wire-to-wire triumph. Miami will get another chance to close it out when they host game six on Saturday. The […]





