LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals on Tuesday with 23 points in a 122-120 blowout against the Brooklyn Nets. After an ill-tempered Game Four where Embiid was at the centre of a mass brawl, the Sixers ruthlessly dispatched Brooklyn to claim a 4-1 series victory at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers, who will now face the Toronto Raptors in the next […]
Tag: NBA
Leonard leads Raptors romp over Magic
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points as the Toronto Raptors powered into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals with a 115-96 demolition of the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Raptors sealed a 4-1 victory in the best-of-seven series to set up a meeting with either the Philadelphia 76ers or Brooklyn Nets in the next round, with the Sixers leading their series 3-1. Leonard once again proved to be the talisman […]
Bucks sweep Pistons to snap long playoff win drought
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Milwaukee Bucks wiped away 18 years of frustration on Monday by beating the Detroit Pistons 127-104 to complete a four-game sweep of their first round Eastern Conference playoff series. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 41 points as the Bucks reached the second round of the postseason for the first time since 2000-01 season when they made it all the way to the NBA semi-finals. The top-seeded Milwaukee cruised through the […]
NBA Hawks coach Pierce joins USA national team staff
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Lloyd Pierce, coach of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, was named Monday as an assistant coach on the United States national team, a replacement for departing Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan. Pierce will work on the staff of US coach Gregg Popovich, who guides the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, directing NBA players in this year’s Basketball World Cup in China and next year’s Tokyo Olympics if they qualify. Other assistants include […]
Reserves help Celtics sweep Pacers out of NBA playoffs
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Gordon Hayward scored a team-high 20 points as the Boston Celtics defeated Indiana 110-106 on Sunday to complete a first-round NBA playoff sweep of the host Pacers. The Celtics captured their first best-of-seven series sweep since 2011 and advanced to a second-round matchup with either the Milwaukee Bucks or Detroit Pistons. “Any time you 4-0 a team, you feel great,” Hayward said. “We’re going to heal up a little […]
NBA fines Spurs guard DeRozan $25,000 for ball toss
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for recklessly throwing the basketball toward a referee and into the stands during a playoff loss. DeRozan was whistled for a technical foul and ejected for the incident, which came with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter of San Antonio’s 117-103 home loss to Denver on Saturday. DeRozan, who flipped the ball in frustration after […]
NBA: Magic lose close game and home-court advantage
By Melissa Potes EBC Florida Bureau ORLANDO, Florida (Eagle News) – Playing to the second largest crowd in its franchise history, the Orlando Magic played well but still lost 98-93 to the Toronto Raptors in the third game of a best-in-seven series. A slow start, turnovers and a strong dose of forward Pascal Siakam contributed to the loss. Siakam shot 65 percent from the floor with 30 points and 11 rebounds, allowing Toronto to reclaim […]
NBA Playoffs: Simmons 31-point performance silences Barclays Center as 76ers rout Nets
By: Tennie Sumague EBC New York Bureau BROOKLYN (Eagle News) – Despite being surrounded by light drama and the absence of Joel Embiid with a left sore knee, Philadelphia 76ers point guard, Ben Simmons orchestrated a phenomenal performance at Barclays Center with the help Tobias Harris and JJ Reddick’s explosive offense. The trio combined for a total of 86 points, clobbering the Brooklyn Nets 131-115 on Thursday. Postseason NBA basketball returned to New York’s most […]
Leonard shines as Raptors dominate Magic
TORONTO, United States (AFP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 37 points and Pascal Siakam delivered a double-double as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 111-82 to level their Eastern Conference playoff series on Tuesday. The Raptors, who were jolted by shock defeat in game one on Saturday, came roaring back to dominate the Magic throughout on their way to a convincing victory in the best-of-seven series. After opening up a 51-39 lead at half-time, the […]
Cousins out indefinitely after muscle tear: Warriors
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins faces an indefinite injury layoff after suffering a torn quadriceps muscle in the NBA champions’ defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers, it was confirmed Tuesday. Cousins exited Monday’s game-two loss in the first quarter clutching his left quad. An MRI scan on Tuesday confirmed a torn muscle. “The injury will sideline Cousins indefinitely and he will begin rehabilitation immediately,” a Warriors statement said. […]
Blazers end losing streak with defeat of Thunder
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Portland Trail Blazers snapped their 10-game postseason losing streak on Sunday, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-99 to claim their first playoff win in three years. The Blazers have endured a miserable record in the playoffs in recent years, suffering back-to-back first-round sweeps in 2017 and 2018 against Golden State and New Orleans. On Sunday however, Portland’s three-year wait for a postseason win came to an end, as […]
Irving, Morris fire Celtics over Pacers
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kyrie Irving scored 20 points as the Boston Celtics shrugged off the injury absence of Marcus Smart to defeat the Indiana Pacers 84-74 in their opening playoff game on Sunday. Irving was among five players to make double figures as Boston drew first blood in the best-of-seven series opener at the TD Garden. Boston had gone into the game reeling from the news that Smart is set to miss […]





