Tag: basketball

Dennis Schroder says he is signing with NBA’s Celtics

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — German point guard Dennis Schroder said Tuesday he is signing a one-year contract with the Boston Celtics, ending a one-year spell with the Los Angeles Lakers. “I’m proud to announce that for the 2021-22 season I’ll be playing with the Boston Celtics!” Schroder wrote on Instagram. “This is one of the best franchises in NBA history and a honour to put on the green and white and do what […]

All-conquering US win seventh straight women’s Olympic basketball title

SAITAMA, Japan (AFP) — A rampant United States swept past Japan to their seventh straight women’s basketball crown Sunday, with Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi collecting their fifth Olympic gold medals to cap remarkable careers. Brittney Griner scored a game-high 30 points with five rebounds and two assists as the hosts were overpowered 90-75 by a team that stretched their Olympic win streak to 55 games dating back to their last defeat in the 1992 […]

‘Bonded for life’ – Durant revels in his third Olympic gold

SAITAMA, Japan (AFP) — Kevin Durant said he is “bonded for life” with his US team-mates after they beat France to win basketball gold Saturday, ensuring the Brooklyn Nets star joined all-time great Carmelo Anthony with a third Olympic title. The 32-year-old has been the backbone of the team for a decade, scoring more Olympic points than any player in US men’s basketball history, and he was again the standout against France. He drilled 29 […]

Ex-NBA player Jeremy Lin tests positive for Covid

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Jeremy Lin has tested positive for Covid-19 and is receiving treatment in Shanghai, the former NBA guard and first Asian-American to win an NBA title said in a social media post Saturday. Lin announced in June he was rejoining the Chinese Basketball Association’s Beijing Ducks after a failed NBA comeback. He tested positive for coronavirus on his third day in quarantine after flying to Shanghai from San Francisco, the 32-year-old posted […]

Durant-led USA storm back to beat Australia in Olympic basketball semis

SAITAMA, Japan (AFP) — Kevin Durant scored 23 points and Devin Booker added 20 to power three-time defending champions United States past Australia 97-78 Thursday and into an Olympic men’s basketball final against either France or Slovenia. The Americans were 24-18 behind after the first quarter and 45-42 adrift at halfway, but stormed back during a dominant third term to stay on track for a fourth consecutive gold medal. It was revenge for Gregg Popovich’s […]

Australia ready to take down USA in Olympic basketball semis, says Mills

by Martin PARRY SAITAMA, Japan (AFP) — NBA stalwart Patty Mills says Australia have bottled up all their previous Olympic failures and plan to let them loose against the United States in their crunch basketball semi-final on Thursday. The world’s third-ranked team, known as the “Boomers”, have been trying to finish on the Olympic podium since the Melbourne Games in 1956 but have yet to make it despite contesting the bronze medal match four times. […]

Curry to stay with Warriors as Carmelo joins LeBron: reports

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry has reportedly agreed to a historic contract extension with Golden State while forward Carmelo Anthony will join pal LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry will sign a four-year deal worth $215 million with the Warriors, his agent told ESPN. He will be the first player in NBA history to sign two contracts worth more than $200 million. Anthony confirmed reports he will […]

US power past Spain to make Olympic basketball semis

SAITAMA, Japan (AFP) — The United States kept their basketball gold medal dreams on track Tuesday by grinding past world champions Spain 95-81 and into the semi-finals, while Slovenia crushed Germany to make the last four on their Olympic debut. Sharp-shooting Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant poured in 29 points and four assists while Boston’s Jayson Tatum chipped in 13 in a battle between the world’s top two teams, nullifying Ricky Rubio’s 38-point spree for […]

Doncic hits 48 points in Olympic basketball debut to remember

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — NBA star Luka Doncic scored a sensational 48 points as Slovenia routed Argentina 118-100 in their first game of the Tokyo Olympics men’s basketball tournament on Monday. On his Olympic debut, the 22-year-old Dallas Mavericks guard had 31 points in the first half and at one stage was on track to break the Olympic scoring record of 55 points set by Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt in 1988. His final total still tied […]

USA lose first men’s Olympic basketball game since 2004

SAITAMA, Japan (AFP) — A USA team led by 11-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant were beaten 83-76 by France on Sunday, snapping an Olympic winning streak stretching back to the 2004 Athens Games. France, with a team containing NBA players including Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, limited Durant to just 10 points in the first-round game. Durant sat out most of the third quarter with foul trouble and when it mattered, he was unable to […]

Giannis completes NBA dream journey from poverty to champion

MILWAUKEE, United States (AFP) — As the last seconds ticked away before Milwaukee won the NBA Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo thought not about his amazing performance but instead pondered his incredible journey from poverty to champion. “When I came to the league, I didn’t know where my next meal will come from. My mom was selling stuff in the street,” Antetokounmpo recalled. “Now I’m here sitting at the top of the top. I’m extremely blessed. I […]

Milwaukee Bucks win NBA Finals to snap 50-year title drought

MILWAUKEE, United States (AFP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in an astounding all-around performance and the Milwaukee Bucks captured their first NBA title since 1971 by defeating the Phoenix Suns 105-98 on Tuesday. The Bucks won the best-of-seven NBA Finals by four games to two, becoming only the fifth team to claim the crown after dropping the first two games. Antetokounmpo, only the seventh player in finals history with a 50-point game, added 14 […]