Tag: basketball

Suns win in Durant debut, Tatum powers Celtics

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant shook off pre-game jitters to score 23 points in his Phoenix Suns debut, helping his new team to a 105-91 victory in Charlotte that halted the Hornets’ five-game NBA winning streak. Durant was acquired from Brooklyn in a blockbuster trade three weeks ago but was sidelined until Wednesday with a sprained knee ligament. As Durant announced his arrival in the Western Conference, back in the East the […]

Short-handed Bucks edge Suns to push NBA win streak to 14

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Milwaukee guard Jrue Holiday scored 33 points as the Bucks shook off the absence of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to edge Phoenix 104-101 and push their NBA winning streak to 14 games. The Sunday matinee was minus some star power as Antetokounmpo sat out with a quadriceps contusion suffered early in Friday’s victory over the Miami Heat. “It’s enough where he can’t play today, but I think we’re also confident […]

Brilliant Lillard erupts for 71pts as Blazers thrash Rockets

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Damian Lillard erupted for a career-high 71 points as the Portland Trail Blazers thrashed the Houston Rockets on Sunday. In a breathtaking performance in front of a rapturous Portland crowd, Lillard etched his name into NBA folklore to drive the Blazers to a 131-114 victory. It was the first time in Lillard’s glittering career that he has scored more than 70 points in a game, and the second time […]

Tatum scores record 55 to lead Team Giannis in NBA All-Star win

SALT LAKE CITY, United States (AFP) — Jayson Tatum scored an All-Star record 55 points and Team Giannis Antetokounmpo defeated Team LeBron James 184-175 to win Sunday’s 72nd NBA All-Star Game, the first loss for James in six times as captain. Both namesake captains made early exits with injuries, James after bruising his right hand on the rim making a dunk and Greek star Antetokounmpo with a right wrist sprain suffered three nights earlier. That […]

NBA icon Michael Jordan donating $10 million to Make-A-Wish foundation to mark his 60th birthday

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Thursday 2/16/2023 – 02:10 UTC+1 | 312 words Basketball great Michael Jordan will make a record-breaking $10 million donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation to mark his 60th birthday later this week, a statement said on Wednesday. Jordan’s donation to Make-A-Wish — which aims to fulfill the wishes of children aged between 2-18 battling critical illness – is the largest in the Arizona-based nonprofit’s 43-year history. The six-time NBA […]

Blockbuster Durant to Suns deal tops busy NBA trade deadline

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant’s blockbuster move from Brooklyn to Phoenix turned the Suns into a major title contender and sparked a flurry of NBA trade deadline deals Thursday by roster-boosting rivals. The 34-year-old superstar joined Suns All-Star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker plus Bahamian center Deandre Ayton, the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, to create what might be the NBA’s most powerful lineup. Phoenix sent four first-round NBA Draft […]

Lakers acquiring Russell in three-team deal that sends Westbrook to Jazz: reports

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are poised to trade Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal that will bring Minnesota’s D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, US media reported on Wednesday. ESPN reported that the Lakers will also land Minnesota’s Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt while the Timberwolves will receive Jazz guards Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker as well as draft picks. The Jazz will receive Westbrook along […]

LeBron James: The man who would be King

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James, blessed with unparalleled basketball skills, exceptional longevity and unafraid to use the platform of NBA superstardom, has forged a unique destiny in his quest to be the best player of all time. For twenty years, more than half his life, the player dubbed The Chosen One by Sports Illustrated when he was still in high school has embraced excellence. Now the top scorer in NBA history after […]

LeBron James breaks NBA all-time points-scoring record

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James finally eclipsed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the most prolific scorer in NBA history on Tuesday, breaking a 39-year record that many throughout basketball believed would never be beaten. The Los Angeles Lakers star, playing in his 20th season in the NBA, passed Abdul-Jabbar’s longstanding total of 38,387 points after nailing a 21-foot shot late in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder. James flung his arms aloft in […]

Pelicans down Lakers, James 36 points from NBA record, Curry hurt in Warriors win

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The New Orleans Pelicans snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 131-121 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, even as Lakers superstar LeBron James crept closer to the NBA all-time scoring record. Brandon Ingram shook off a scoreless first quarter to lead the Pelicans with 35 points. CJ McCollum added 23 and Trey Murphy added 21 as New Orleans turned the tide against a Lakers team that […]

James, Davis lead Lakers rally, two ejected as Cavs down Grizzlies

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — LeBron James continued to close in on the NBA’s all-time scoring record as the Los Angeles Lakers pulled out a thrilling 112-111 victory over Indiana on Thursday. James, who entered the game needing 89 points to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer, put up 26 points. He now needs 63 to surpass Abdul-Jabbar — who has held the record since before James was born. The Lakers […]

‘Matter of time’ before scoring record falls says LeBron

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — LeBron James said Tuesday it’s only a “matter of time” before he passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the greatest scorer in NBA history after edging closer to the long-standing NBA record. James’ 28-point triple-double in the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the New York Knicks means the 38-year-old superstar needs just 89 more points to eclipse Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 38,387. At his current rate of scoring, James is on target […]