Tag: NBA

NBA: Clippers coach Rivers fined $15K for criticizing refs

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers called the officiating in his team’s 101-96 loss to Houston a joke, but the NBA wasn’t laughing as it handed him a $15,000 fine on Friday. Rivers was seething Thursday night as he pointed out to reporters that the Clippers attacked the basket throughout the game, scoring 70 points inside. But somehow the Rockets, who attempted 41 three-pointers, were sent to the free-throw […]

NBA: Harden helps Rockets hold off Clippers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Houston Rockets improved their NBA-best record on Thursday with a 101-96 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Houston. Houston’s Most Valuable Player candidate James Harden scored 24 points with seven assists and five rebounds, and his step-back jump shot to put the Rockets up by four points with 29.4 seconds left helped the Western Conference leaders put away the determined Clippers. Eric Gordon added 23 points off […]

Tom Benson, owner of Saints and Pelicans, dies at 90

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Tom Benson, owner of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, died Thursday at the age of 90, a month after falling ill with the flu, the teams announced. “Tom Benson, 90, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 15 at Ochsner Medical Center with his wife Gayle Marie Benson at his side,” a statement posted on both team websites said. “Mr. Benson was hospitalized with the […]

Wizards comeback casts spell on Celtics

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Washington Wizards fought back from a 20-point deficit to jolt the injury-hit Boston Celtics with a 125-124 victory in double overtime on Wednesday. A Jodie Meeks three-pointer with two seconds remaining tied it for the Wizards at 106-106 to send the game into the first period of overtime after the Celtics appeared to have done enough for the win. Boston rookie Jayson Tatum then blew a chance to […]

NBA: Warriors lose Thompson to fractured right thumb

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors star guard Klay Thompson has suffered a fractured right thumb and will be re-evaluated next week after missing four games, the reigning NBA champions said Wednesday. Thompson suffered the injury, originally diagnosed as a sprain, in Sunday’s 109-103 loss at Minnesota. he will be re-evaluated next Tuesday. The long-range sharpshooter averages 19.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game, shooting 48.9 percent from the court […]

Rockets roll on as Spurs problems deepen

by Rob Woollard Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — James Harden scored 28 points as the Houston Rockets tightened their grip on first place in the Western Conference on Monday with a 109-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Another inspirational display from MVP-candidate Harden included six rebounds and six assists as the Rockets delighted their home fans to improve to 53 and 14 at the top of the standings. The Rockets […]

NBA: Rockets drop Mavs to clinch playoff berth, Warriors and Cavs lose

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Houston Rockets clinched an NBA playoff berth with a 105-82 out of the Mavericks in Dallas on Sunday as reigning champions Golden State and the Cleveland Cavaliers both lost. Even with Most Valuable Player candidate James Harden sitting out with a sore left knee, the Rockets had little trouble from the Mavs. Only a spate of eight second-quarter turnovers by Houston helped Dallas erase a 15-point deficit and […]

DeRozan leads Raptors into playoffs, Rockets streak on

by Rob Woollard Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — DeMar DeRozan exploded for 42 points as the Toronto Raptors clinched their place in the NBA playoffs with a 121-119 overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. DeRozan added six assists and four rebounds in a virtuoso performance that hauled the Raptors back from the brink of what would have been an upset loss to the Pistons. Toronto improved to 47-17 with […]

Cavs star Love reveals battle with panic attacks

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love revealed on Tuesday he has regularly suffered from panic attacks, breaking his silence on the issue in a bid to encourage more players to talk openly about mental health. In an essay on The Players’ Tribune website, Love said he had suffered his first panic attack on November 5, when he was forced to exit early during a defeat to the Atlanta Hawks. That […]

NBA: James, Nance power Cavs past Pistons

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Cleveland superstar LeBron James poured in 31 points and Larry Nance Jr. added 22 in his first start for the Cavaliers on Monday in a 112-90 triumph over the Detroit Pistons. Nance, who arrived in Cleveland in a February 8 trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, started at center in place of Tristan Thompson, who sprained an ankle against Denver on Saturday. He and James combined to score Cleveland’s […]

NBA: Pacers leap past Wizards, Raptors sink Hornets

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Victor Oladipo scored 33 points and Bojan Bogdanovic tallied 20 as the Indiana Pacers moved up the crowded Eastern Conference standings with a 98-95 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. The Pacers won despite nearly blowing a 17 point lead but they held on and the victory allowed them to jump over the Wizards by a half-game in the NBA standings. “We’re going to have to grind it […]

NBA: 76ers turn tables on Cavaliers, Lakers win

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Philadelphia 76ers led wire-to-wire in a 108-97 victory over the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Thursday, perhaps the perfect sales pitch if they want to lure LeBron James to Pennsylvania next season. The 76ers, who had lost 11 straight games to the Cavs, were fueled by 22 points from shooting guard JJ Redick, who connected on seven of his 11 shots from the floor, including four three-pointers. It was […]