We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
LeBron, Curry lead West; Durant, Beal top East in NBA All-Star first returns
James of the Los Angeles Lakers, who has led the All-Star voting seven times in his career, is the top pick for the Western Frontcourt with 2,288,676 votes......»»
NBA star Curry makes hole-in-one at celebrity golf event
NBA superstar Stephen Curry made a hole-in-one on Saturday in the second round of a celebrity golf tournament and ran to the green in celebration of the feat. Curry, a four-time NBA champion guard for the Golden State Warriors, is known as an avid golfer, having even played in a 2017 developmental tour event. The two-time NBA scoring champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player made his ace at the par-3 seventh hole at the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe South Course in Stateline, Nevada. Curry's tee shot took one bounce and went into the hole, prompting a cheer from the crowd. Curry began running to the green, taking off his cap and waving a "No. 1" right finger into the air. He raised both arms, threw the glove off his left hand to the fans, and leaped into the air as he reached the green. After that, he smacked the flagstick with his left hand, ran around the entire green, and finally fell back onto the ground under the shade of a tree with a huge smile on his face. "That was 140 yards and not 94 feet," Curry said, comparing the length of the hole to that of an NBA court. "But wow. Wow. I'll be out of breath for the rest of the day -- for a good reason, though." Curry, who began golfing at age 10, had made only one prior ace. "That was my second one ever," Curry said. "I'm locked in right down, but to do it on this hole is unbelievable. Wow. Wow." The ace gave him 43 points in the three-day celebrity competition, stretching his lead over US tennis player Mardy Fish. The post NBA star Curry makes hole-in-one at celebrity golf event appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Timberwolves hold off Nuggets to stay alive, Warriors edge Kings
Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, including a three-point dagger with 11.5 seconds left, as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 114-108 in overtime Sunday to stay alive in the NBA playoffs. Western Conference top seeds Denver, led by 43 points from reigning two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, closed regulation on a 12-0 run to force overtime. But they were out-scored 18-12 in the extra session at the Target Center in Minneapolis as the Timberwolves pulled within 3-1 in the series. Minnesota still face a daunting task -- no NBA team has come back from 3-0 down to win a best-of-seven series. "See you in Denver, we're going back," said Edwards, whose 16 third-quarter points keyed a Timberwolves charge that carried them to a 12-point lead midway through the fourth. Mike Conley added 19 points for Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 points with 11 rebounds and Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Timberwolves withstood another big night from Jokic. The Serbian star matched his playoff scoring high and added 11 rebounds and six assists. The teams swapped the lead four times in overtime, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone said too many defensive lapses in the extra session doomed his team. "You hold them to 16 points in the fourth quarter, then (they have) 18 in five minutes," Malone said. "That's the hardest thing to stomach about this game is that when the game was on the line, we were unwilling and unable to get the necessary stops." 'Sloppy' Curry It was the second Western Conference thriller of the day, after the Golden State Warriors held off a ferocious fourth-quarter fightback from the Sacramento Kings to secure a 126-125 victory that leveled their series at two games apiece. Harrison Barnes almost snatched victory for Sacramento at the buzzer, but his long-range effort bounced off the rim to leave the NBA champions celebrating. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 32 points -- and breathed a sigh of relief after two uncharacteristic blunders in a frenetic finale at the Chase Center. Curry missed a wide-open three-pointer with his team-leading 126-121 with less than a minute remaining. He then erroneously called a timeout when the Warriors had none left, earning a technical foul and allowing Sacramento's Malik Monk to make it a four-point game with a free throw. De'Aaron Fox's three-pointer pulled Sacramento within 126-125 and Curry missed another floater to give the Kings a final chance. "It was kind of sloppy not knowing how many timeouts we had left, and a couple of dagger shots didn't go in -- but we did what we needed to do defensively in those last 10 seconds," a relieved Curry said. Klay Thompson added 26 points and Jordan Poole had 22. Draymond Green, back from suspension, scored 12 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists off the bench to help the Warriors withstand a 38-point performance from Fox. Knicks, Celtics close in In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics moved within a victory of advancing, the Knicks beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 and the Celtics downing Atlanta 129-121 to each take 3-1 series leads. Jalen Brunson drained five three-pointers on the way to 29 points for the Knicks, who again electrified Madison Square Garden. With just one win from three more games the Knicks can advance past the first round for the first time since 2013. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 23 points but Donovan Mitchell scored just 11 -- only two in the second half. The Cavs will try to extend the series when they host game five on Wednesday. The Celtics can wrap up their series at home on Tuesday after bouncing back from a disappointing game-three defeat with a convincing victory in Atlanta. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 31 points apiece for the Celtics, each delivering a dunk in the final minute as the Celtics thwarted the Hawks' final rally bid. Hawks star Trae Young finished with a game-high 35 points and handed out 14 assists. But Boston stepped up their defensive intensity and had an answer for every Atlanta run, never trailing after the first quarter. Brown got off to a slow start, making just one of his first seven shots. Then he got rid of the protective mask he's worn since suffering a facial fracture in February and made 11 of 15. "Maybe it was all in my head," Brown said. "I took it off and started to turn things around a little bit." The post Timberwolves hold off Nuggets to stay alive, Warriors edge Kings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Warriors down Kings to level series; Knicks and Celtics on brink
Stephen Curry scored 32 points as the Golden State Warriors held off a ferocious fourth-quarter fightback from the Sacramento Kings to secure a series-leveling 126-125 victory in the NBA playoffs on Sunday. Harrison Barnes almost snatched victory for Sacramento on the buzzer, but his long-range effort bounced off the rim to leave the NBA champions celebrating a result that leaves them tied at 2-2 in the best-of-seven series after dropping games one and two. In the East, meanwhile, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics moved within a victory of advancing, the Knicks beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 and the Celtics downing Atlanta 129-121 to each take 3-1 series leads. Curry breathed a sigh of relief after two uncharacteristic blunders in a frenetic finale at the Chase Center. The Warriors talisman missed a wide-open three-pointer with his team-leading 126-121 with less than a minute remaining. Curry compounded that rare miss by erroneously calling a time-out when the Warriors had none left, earning a technical foul and allowing Sacramento's Malik Monk to make it a four-point game with a free throw. A superb De’Aaron Fox three-pointer from 28 feet then left Sacramento within one at 126-125, and when Curry missed another floater, the Kings had a chance to win it only to see Barnes's late effort bounce out. "I ain't gonna lie, I thought it was the smartest play in the world," Curry said of his timeout call after a failed challenge had cost the Warriors their last time out. "I looked over at the bench and everybody was shaking their head. "But we did what we needed to do defensively in those last 10 seconds," a relieved Curry said. "We've protected home court, and now we move on." Barnes's late miss was the final act of a thrilling battle between the Western Conference rivals that saw the lead change hands no fewer than 19 times as momentum ebbed and flowed throughout. Golden State looked to have turned the screw decisively in the third quarter, outscoring the Kings 37-23 to start the fourth with a 10-point advantage. Sacramento, however, came surging back with a 7-0 run to start the final quarter and only a handful of points separated the two teams in the waning seconds. Curry led the Warriors' scoring with 32 points while Klay Thompson added 26, including four three-pointers, and Jordan Poole had 22. Andrew Wiggins added 18 points while Draymond Green, returning after suspension, had 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists off the bench. Fox produced a dazzling performance for Sacramento with 38 points while Keegan Murray added 23 and Monk 16. The Kings host game five on Wednesday. In New York, Jalen Brunson drained five three-pointers on the way to 29 points for the Knicks, who again electrified Madison Square Garden. With just one win from three more games the Knicks can advance past the first round for the first time since 2013. New York led by as many as 15 on the way to a nine-point halftime lead. A big third quarter saw the Cavs sneak into a narrow lead before a sustained Knicks rally in the fourth. Brunson was one of four players in double figures with R.J. Barrett providing offensive support with 26 points. Darius Garland led Cleveland 23 points but Donovan Mitchell had a game to forget after finishing with just 11 points -- only two in the second half. The Cavs will try to extend the series when they host game five on Wednesday. The Celtics can wrap up their series at home on Tuesday after bouncing back from a disappointing game-three defeat with a convincing victory in Atlanta. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 31 points apiece for the Celtics, each delivering a dunk in the final minute as the Celtics thwarted the Hawks' final rally bid. Hawks star Trae Young finished with a game-high 35 points and handed out 14 assists. But Boston stepped up their defensive intensity and had an answer for every Atlanta run, never trailing after the first quarter. The post Warriors down Kings to level series; Knicks and Celtics on brink appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo lead early NBA All-Star voting
LeBron James is a cinch for a 20th NBA All-Star selection as he leads voting in the West, while Giannis Antetokounmpo holds the top spot in the East.....»»
NBA star James returns to jersey No. 23 in Russell tribute
LeBron James will switch his jersey number from 6 to 23 for his 21st NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers announced. The move, confirmed Saturday night on social media by the Lakers, is a tribute to the late NBA legend Bill Russell, whose jersey No. 6 was retired last year after his death, James's agent Rich Paul told ESPN. Players who were wearing 6, like James, were allowed to continue wearing the number. James did so for the 2022-23 campaign in honor of Russell, an 11-time NBA champion and five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, but has decided to show his respect this season by picking another number. It's the fourth NBA number change for James, who returns to 23, which he wore to start his career and at stops throughout his two decades in the league. James wore 23 in high school and when he first played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. When he left the Cavs for the Miami Heat in 2010, he changed to 6 as the Heat had retired 23 as a tribute to NBA legend Michael Jordan. In 2014, when James returned to the Cavaliers, he switched back to 23 and kept that number until 2021, when he went back to 6 so new Lakers teammate Anthony Davis could have 23, a number Davis ultimately did not take. James, who was wearing 6 when he set the all-time NBA scoring record last season, announced on Wednesday that he would play in the NBA for a 21st season. The four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP turns 39 in December and has said he would like to play in the NBA alongside his son Bronny James, who is set to be drafted next year. The post NBA star James returns to jersey No. 23 in Russell tribute appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Embiid, Giannis, Doncic, Tatum named to All-NBA First Team
NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid of Philadelphia, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dallas star Luka Doncic and Boston's Jayson Tatum were among those named Wednesday to the All-NBA First Team. The elite squad, among three chosen in voting by a global media panel, also included Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Greek star Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, was the only unanimous first-team selection with 100 votes and 500 points and was joined among forwards by US standout Tatum, who was second with 98 votes and 484 points. Embiid, the star big man from Cameroon, was named to his first All-NBA First Team with 87 first-team votes and 474 total points. Canadian guard Gilgeous-Alexander had 63 first-team votes and 407 points to 60 first-team ballots and 403 points for Slovenian guard Doncic. It marked the first first-team selections for Embiid and Gilgeous-Alexander, the second for Tatum, the fourth for Doncic and the fifth for Antetokounmpo. The All-NBA Second Team included Denver center Nikola Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP from Serbia; guards Stephen Curry of Golden State and Donovan Mitchell of Cleveland and forwards Jimmy Butler of Miami and Jaylen Brown of Boston. The All-NBA Third Team included Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, New York forward Julius Randle, Portland guard Damian Lillard and two Sacramento Kings -- guard De'Aaron Fox and Lithuanian center Domantas Sabonis. Four-time MVP and four-time champion James, who became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in his 20th NBA campaign, was among the 15 honor selections for the 19th time in his career with his third nod to the third team after 13 first-team and three second-team selections. Curry was among the All-NBA squads for the ninth time in his career, four times on the first team and four more on the second. Jokic and Butler were each among the 15 elite players for the fifth time. Jokic has had three first-team spots while Butler has never been on the top unit. Lillard was in the All-NBA group for the seventh time in his career. He made the top squad once and the second team four times. The post Embiid, Giannis, Doncic, Tatum named to All-NBA First Team appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wild win carries 76ers to 3-0 lead over Nets
The Philadelphia 76ers beat Brooklyn 102-97 on Thursday in a rugged clash that featured two ejections and a controversial kick from Joel Embiid and moved the Sixers one win away from a sweep of their NBA first-round playoff series. The 76ers, down by five with 2:15 remaining at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, surged home to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series, the Nets well aware that no NBA team has come back from 3-0 down to win a series. Embiid, Philadelphia's MVP candidate, scored just 14 points but pulled down 10 rebounds and produced a crucial block with eight seconds remaining and Philadelphia up by two. Plenty of pundits will argue he should have been out of the game by then, but Embiid wasn't ejected when he aimed a kick from the floor at Nic Claxton's groin as the Nets player stepped over him in the first quarter. Sixers star James Harden was tossed late in the third quarter after piling his shoulder into Royce O'Neale's body on a drive to the basket. And Brooklyn's Claxton was ejected early in the fourth when he picked up a second technical foul for taunting Embiid. "We stayed together," Embiid said of the key to the hard-fought victory. "We kept playing through everything that was going on." Tyrese Maxey keyed the late surge, scoring 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. His step-back three-pointer with 44.7 seconds left gave the Sixers a 99-96 lead. Spencer Dinwiddie cut the deficit by one with a free throw and looked headed for a game-tying layup when Embiid soared up to reject the shot and the Sixers held on. Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 26 points and Dinwiddie added 20, but Brooklyn are in danger of being swept for the second straight season. Embiid, who went to the locker room briefly in the first quarter and could be seen limping later in the game said that despite their commanding lead the Sixers need to be better in Saturday's game four. "Tonight was probably our worst night," he said. "I wasn't good at all, so I'm going to be better." In other games Thursday, the defending champion Golden State Warriors tried to claw out of a 2-0 hole when they hosted the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors were without star Draymond Green, who was suspended one game after stamping on Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis in game two. The Los Angeles Clippers were without injured Kawhi Leonard as they hosted the Phoenix Suns in game three of their Western Conference series. The teams split the first two games in Phoenix. The post Wild win carries 76ers to 3-0 lead over Nets appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kerr backs ‘ultimate competitor’ Green after playoff ban
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr defended Draymond Green as the "ultimate competitor" on Wednesday following the veteran's one-game ban for stomping on Sacramento Kings player Domantas Sabonis. Green was suspended after an explosive incident in the NBA champions' game two defeat to the Kings in Sacramento on Monday. Green was ejected from Monday's clash with Sacramento after stomping on Sabonis after the players tangled following a rebound. It means the Warriors will be without the four-time All-Star for Thursday's crucial game three as Golden State aim to haul themselves back into the best-of-seven series that the Kings currently lead 2-0. Green's suspension was the latest controversy to embroil the 33-year-old, who was famously suspended during the 2016 NBA Finals for a low blow against LeBron James. The Warriors, however, circled the wagons in defense of Green on Wednesday, with Kerr saying the latest flashpoint reflected the veteran's competitive nature. "He's the ultimate competitor, the ultimate warrior, winner, champion however you want to call it," Kerr said of Green. "Everybody knows he's going to occasionally tip over the edge and his emotions get the best of him. That's part of it. "But there's no stopping Draymond. You're not going to be able to put your arm around him and calm him down and say 'OK, let's move forward from here.' It doesn't work that way. And that’s OK. "We accept Draymond for who he is and what he stands for -- his competitiveness, his fire. Because frankly we feed on that and it helps us win." Crossing the line NBA disciplinary chiefs said Green's checkered history had been a factor in the decision to issue a one-game suspension. Kerr said the flipside of Green's temperament, however, were the four championships he had helped deliver to the franchise. "Draymond is incredibly competitive, and passionate and fiery, and he's helped us win four championships," Kerr said. "I've said it many times. We don't have a single championship here without Draymond Green and that's the truth. "So he's crossed the line over the years and that's part of it. But we will go to bat for Draymond and go to battle with him every day of the week." Warriors general manager Bob Myers meanwhile said Green had made mistakes in the past but echoed Kerr's stance that he had been integral to the team's success. "He's a force, he's unique and he's a leader," Myers said. "But he will tell you that he's made mistakes. You can't hide from them, they're out there for everybody to see. "He's got a good heart. But that doesn't mean he's mistake free. I'm not, nobody is..." "But if you want to talk about what he's done for this organization – that's not in dispute. Without him we probably don't have any of the championships." The NBA's executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars meanwhile told ESPN on Wednesday that Green's record of past transgressions in conjunction with Monday's incident had led to the suspension. "Here's what it came down to: excessive and over-the-top actions, conduct detrimental and a repeat offender," Dumars told ESPN. "That's what separates this where you end up with a suspension." The post Kerr backs ‘ultimate competitor’ Green after playoff ban appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kings edge Warriors in NBA playoff thriller as Sixers, Celtics roll
De'Aaron Fox scored 38 points and Malik Monk added 32 off the bench in leading the Sacramento Kings to a 126-123 victory over Golden State for their first NBA playoff triumph in 17 years. The Kings, who had not reached the post-season since 2006, seized a 1-0 lead over the defending champions in a Western Conference best-of-seven first-round series that continues in Sacramento on Monday. In Eastern Conference playoff series openers on Saturday, the New York Knicks edged host Cleveland 101-97, Boston routed Atlanta 112-99 and Philadelphia beat Brooklyn 121-101. Fox made 13-of-27 shots in his playoff debut, 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and 8-of-12 free throws then after the victory pushed the button to send the Kings' laser light -- symbolic of a Kings victory -- from the outside of the arena. Monk sank 8-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-4 from 3-point range plus all 14 of his free throws. He made two late free throws to create the final margin and Stephen Curry missed a final 3-point shot for the Warriors to force overtime. Reserve Trey Lyles added 16 points and NBA rebounds leader Domantas Sabonis had 12 points and 16 rebounds for Sacramento. "Our bench came in and they did a hell of a job tonight, especially Malik and Trey. They ignited us," Fox said. "We knew we had to go out and be physical -- try not to foul because this is probably the best free throw shooting team in the league -- and get it done on the defensive end and we got some key stops." Fox caught fire in the second half and Sacramento used a late 7-0 run for a 119-114 lead that put the hosts ahead to stay. "In the second half, I got into a rhythm, my teammates continued to hit me in my spot and I just did what they want me to do," Fox said. Curry led Golden State with 30 points while Klay Thompson added 21. At Cleveland, Jalen Brunson scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half to lead New York's victory while the Cavaliers were led by 38 points from Donovan Mitchell. A late Brunson miss was rebounded by New York's Julius Randle, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and that set up two clinching Knicks free throws by Quentin Grimes. "They just kept fighting," Brunson said. "We kept our composure. Made plays down the stretch, made a couple of huge stops. We just kept fighting, kept sticking together and stayed poised." The Celtics ripped visiting Atlanta 112-99 behind 29 points and 12 rebounds from Jaylen Brown and 25 points and 11 rebounds from Jayson Tatum. Brown played with a wrapping on cut fingers and a protective mask he has had for two months due to a facial fracture. "Got to come out and be ready to go," he said. "My team depends on me. My city depends on me. I don't make no excuses. I come out and play ball." The post Kings edge Warriors in NBA playoff thriller as Sixers, Celtics roll appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Curry niyari si LeBron
BINATERYA ni Stephen Curry si LeBron James sa opening monologue ng Golden State Warriors star sa ESPYs nitong Miyerkoles. The post Curry niyari si LeBron first appeared on Abante......»»
Heat oust depleted Bucks to reach NBA East finals; Lakers down Rockets, up 2-1
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game Five of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA Playoffs on September 8, 2020 at The Field House in Orlando, Florida. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP) MIAMI (AFP) — The Miami Heat punched their ticket to the NBA Eastern Conference finals Tuesday, beating top-seeded Milwaukee 103-94 as injured Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo watched from the bench. Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic finished with 17 points apiece as six Heat players scored in double figures and Miami completed a 4-1 series victory in a bruising encounter against the league’s top defensive team. Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 23 points. Antetokounmpo — tipped to scoop a second straight NBA Most Valuable Player award this season — aggravated his sprained right ankle in the first half of the Bucks’ game-four overtime victory over the Heat. The Bucks declared him inactive less than an hour before tipoff on Tuesday. The loss of Antetokounmpo, who averaged career highs of 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per game this season, was a huge blow for the Bucks, as they tried to do what no NBA team has done before: come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a seven-game playoff series. It’s the second straight campaign that the Bucks built the best regular-season record only to come up short in the playoffs. In 2019 they fell to the eventual champion Toronto Raptors in six games in the Eastern Conference finals. The fifth-seeded Heat will face either the Boston Celtics or Toronto Raptors for a place in the NBA Finals. The Celtics lead their series against the defending NBA champion Raptors three games to two. Butler, who added 10 rebounds and six assists and was a perfect eight-for-eight from the foul line, said the Heat’s impressive 8-1 record so far in the playoffs means nothing now. “All of that is behind us now,” he said. “We’ll wait and see who we get out of Toronto and Boston and then we’ll lock in on that. “But it’s zero-zero now, we’ve got eight more to get.” The Heat trailed 28-19 after a chaotic first quarter in which they committed six turnovers leading to nine Bucks points. They trailed by as many as 13 in the first period, but settled down in the second, out-scoring the Bucks 33-18 to take a 52-46 lead into halftime. But Milwaukee, with Middleton leading the way, refused to go away. After going scoreless for more than six minutes in the third period the Bucks put together an 8-0 run to pull within five points. Trailing 73-65 going into the final period, the Bucks trimmed the deficit to four multiple times, but the Heat’s depth finally proved too much. “Obviously they missed their MVP,” Butler said. “But we knew we were going to have to get one out of the mud and I think this was the one.” Antetokounmpo said he felt “lost” as he was unable to contribute. “Mentally it was a battle, but at the end of the day you’ve got to trust your teammates and that’s what I decided to do,” he said after the Bucks medical staff persuaded him not to risk further injury by playing. LeBron leads Lakers LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, left, drives the ball against Ben McLemore #16 of the Houston Rockets during the second quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (AFP) In Western Conference action, LeBron James scored 36 points and Anthony Davis added 26 as the Los Angeles Lakers powered to the finish in a 112-102 victory over the Houston Rockets. The Lakers grabbed a 2-1 series lead and James notched an NBA record 162nd career playoff win. “It says that I’ve played with a lot of great teams,” said James, who won two NBA titles with the Miami Heat and one with the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It says that I’ve played with a lot of great teammates and some great coaches.” James Harden scored 33 points with nine rebounds and nine assists and Russell Westbrook added 30 points for Houston in a back and forth battle that saw 16 lead changes. The Lakers’ reserves scored 42 points, with Houston’s only points off the bench the 16 of Jeff Green. Rajon Rondo, who scored 21 off the bench for Los Angeles, hit back-to-back three-pointers and came up with a steal and layup as the Lakers surged ahead with a 17-5 scoring run to start the fourth quarter. After putting up 64 points in the first half Houston scored just 38 in the second and the Lakers posted their second straight win of the series. There was a frightening moment in the fourth quarter, as Robert Covington and Davis collided as Davis rose for a rebound. Davis’s elbow appeared to hit Covington in head and he left the court holding a bloodied towel to his face, while Davis was hurting from Covington’s elbow in his side......»»
James and Lakers advance with 131-122 win over Trail Blazers
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — While the ultimate objective is to win a title, LeBron James said the Los Angeles Lakers achieved a key goal against the Portland Trail Blazers — and it wasn't simply to win the first-round playoff series. It was improvement. “We got better throughout the course of the series,” James said. “We knew we were coming into a series versus a hot Portland team that was playing the best basketball inside the bubble along with Phoenix. So we wanted to just come in and try to work our game, get better and better as the games went on, as the series went on. And I believe we did that.” James had 36 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals, beating the short-handed Blazers 131-122 in Game 5 on Saturday night (Sunday morning in the Philippines). Anthony Davis had a playoff-best 43 points for the top-seeded Lakers in their first playoff appearance since 2013. The Lakers hadn't won a playoff series since 2012. James has never lost a first-round playoff series, going 14-0. The Lakers will play the winner of the series between Houston and Oklahoma City. The Rockets took a 3-2 lead with a 114-80 victory earlier Saturday. CJ McCollum had 36 points for the surprisingly scrappy Trail Blazers, who played without injured All-Star guard Damian Lillard. Carmelo Anthony added 27 points. Down 14 in the third quarter, Portland got to 100-97 on McCollum's layup and tied it on Anfernee Simon's 3-pointer to cap an 8-point run with 9:46 left. James answered with a 3. Gary Trent Jr.'s 3-pointer tied it at 109 with just under seven minutes to go. Again the Lakers held off Portland with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's 3. After Trent's 3-pointer closed it to 114-112 with 4:53 left, Davis had a personal 11-0 run to put Los Angeles up 123-112 and all but seal it. The game was originally set for Wednesday night, but players collectively decided not to play in the three playoff games scheduled for that day to protest racial injustice following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Games on Friday were also postponed. James said he hopes the past few days made a difference. “Obviously, the bubble season will never be forgotten. In sports this is the first time we’ve been able to do something like this, but this moment is so much bigger than us playing basketball,” James said. “Hopefully, years on down the line, when America is in a better place, you can look back to this moment and be like, that was one of the catapults that kind of got it going.” Lillard injured his right knee in Game 4 that prompted him to leave the bubble in Florida and return to Portland to see team doctors. Lillard was named MVP of the seeding games heading into the playoffs, averaging 37.6 points and 9.6 assists in eight games. Trent Jr. took his Lillard's spot in the opening lineup. But because of injuries the eighth-seeded Blazers had just nine players available for the game. “All you can do is hope to hang around and make it a fourth quarter game and win in the end, and we didnt quite win it in the end," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. Portland's lone win in the first-round series came in Game 1. TIP INS Trail Blazers: In addition to Lillard, Portland was without Zach Collins because of left ankle inflammation, Nassir Little with dehydration and Wenyen Gabriel with right quad tendonitis. Lakers: Rajon Rondo practiced on Friday but remained inactive for Game 5 as he recovers from a fractured right thumb and back spasms. ... Dion Waiters was game-time decision with a migraine but was available. MOURNING UNCLE CLIFFY: There was a moment of silence before the game for former Trail Blazer Cliff Robinson. He died Saturday at 53. Robinson played 18 seasons in the NBA, his first eight in Portland, and later made the city his home. Portland players also wore headbands during the game in his honor. “His personality and energy were unmatched, and his contributions on the court were unmistakable, helping the Trail Blazers into the playoffs each of his eight seasons with the team,” the Blazers said in a statement. The moment of silence also recognized former Arizona coach Lute Olson and actor Chadwick Boseman. CIVIC DUTY: The Lakers announced before the game than that Staples Center will serve as a voting center for the upcoming general election. Voters can cast ballots at the arena from Oct. 30 through Nov. 3. The arena will also serve as a drop-off site for ballots......»»
LeBron James group touts sports venues as mega-voting sites
By BILL BARROW Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — If basketball icon LeBron James gets his way, NBA arenas and other sports venues around the country will be mega polling sites for the November general election. James and his voting rights group, formed this spring with other black athletes and entertainers, are joining with other professional basketball leaders and Michigan’s top elections official to push for mega voting sites to accommodate in-person balloting amid the COVID-19 pandemic. More Than A Vote, the James organization dedicated to maximizing Black turnout in November, shared its plans with The Associated Press on Wednesday after the Detroit Pistons became the second NBA franchise to announce plans to use its arena for voting later this year. In Georgia, Fulton County elections officials this week approved the Atlanta Hawks’ proposal to use State Farm Arena as a polling site. Plans call for the arena to serve as a countywide early voting site ahead of Election Day. The idea, which comes after Kentucky used large facilities in its June 23 primary, is to use large spaces that allow for in-person voting while still enforcing social distancing guidelines. It also underscores the attention on the mechanics of voting amid the pandemic, with the intensity already reflected in both President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden warning that state and local officials have the power to “corrupt” the election. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson called her “partnership” with the Pistons an “blueprint for other teams and leagues seeking to advance our common goal of protecting access to the vote for all.” Lloyd Pierce, head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, said the arrangement in his city ensures “high turnout” in a safe environment. Benson, Pierce and David Fizdale, former New York Knicks head coach, will advise NBA franchises and arena management entities around the country on how to replicate the existing deals. The Milwaukee Bucks also confirmed they are willing to use their home arena as a voting site in the most populous city in the key battleground of Wisconsin. The coordinated push is a turnabout, of sorts, in the often-partisan jousting over voting procedures. Some Democrats panned Kentucky elections officials for limiting in-person June primary voting in the state’s two most populous counties to Louisville’s Exposition Center and the University of Kentucky football stadium in Lexington. Voting rights advocates argued in federal court that the plan, part of culling voting sites statewide amid coronavirus concerns, would harm minority voters. A federal judge rejected their claims, and voting proceeded without the melee that some advocates had forecast. Now, Benson, a Democrat, is pushing the arena model not as an example of potential voter suppression, but a way to fight it. “One of our greatest challenges in protecting voters’ access to democracy this November is identifying accessible locations where citizens can safely vote in person,” she said. Amid COVID, that could outweigh potential logistical difficulties of large sites. Lines for such venues can still be long — just as with normal polling locations — as was seen in Lexington at some points on primary day. Voters also could face traffic jams or public transit hiccups given the number of people involved. General elections also have considerably larger turnout than primaries. Nonetheless, there’s a growing bipartisan push for large-venue voting. NFL executive Scott Pioli last week presented the National Association of Secretaries of State a plan for widespread use of professional and college sports facilities. James’ group is officially nonpartisan. But the NBA star has been open about its emphasis on the Black community, where Trump faces intense opposition for his white identity politics. James has not endorsed Biden, but he endorsed Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016. In Milwaukee, meanwhile, the Bucks owners, the Lasry family, are major Democratic Party donors. Bucks executive Alex Lasry helped lead the effort that landed the Democratic National Convention in the city. .....»»
LeBron James out for Lakers game vs Warriors
As the Lakers and Warriors cling to the 9th and 10th positions in the NBA playoff race, the California rivals hope to sustain their resurgent forms after the All-Star break.....»»
NBA: James has triple double as Lakers outgun Warriors in thrilling double-OT game
SAN FRANCISCO — LeBron James made a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds left in the second overtime to cap his triple-double of 36 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists, outdueling Stephen Curry as the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Golden State Warriors 145-144 on Saturday night. Curry hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with.....»»
Masterclass: LeBron, Curry show off in instant 2OT classic
LeBron James unloads a triple-double masterpiece and Steph Curry also unleashes 46 points as the Lakers slip past the Warriors in a double-overtime thriller to remember.....»»
Warriors star Draymond Green reinstated after 12-game suspension
Draymond Green returns to Warriors action following an indefinite suspension for unsportsmanlike acts, this time committing to conform his conduct to NBA standards.....»»
Republicans pick ‘novice’ as 4th speaker nominee
Republicans have named a fourth candidate for speaker of the United States House of Representatives and hope to end two weeks of party division and a leaderless lower chamber. Louisiana’s Mike Johnson won an internal party vote just hours after previous nominee, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, buckled under a backlash led by former President Donald Trump and announced his withdrawal. Johnson — the vice chairman of the conference but a relative novice in politics — lost out to Emmer earlier in the day but quickly threw his hat back in the ring after his leadership colleague bowed out. Only 128 of Johnson’s colleagues voted for him in the final round of balloting, according to US media — with 29 preferring his rival, Florida lawmaker Byron Donalds, and another 44 casting their votes for someone else entirely. Like Johnson, Emmer had baselessly sown doubt over the validity of Biden’s 2020 election win over Trump, but supporters of the former president were angered by the majority whip voting to certify the result. Trump took to his Truth social website to brand Emmer a “globalist RINO” — short for “Republican in name only.” If Johnson were to succeed where his colleagues have failed, he would be the least experienced speaker in more than a century, having never chaired a committee or held a top leadership role. Moving up to the House from state-level politics only in 2017, Johnson could find himself presiding over a government shutdown in three weeks unless he can cut a 2024 budget deal with much more seasoned negotiators in the White House that is acceptable to his party. He would also be expected to lead the deeply fractured conference through upcoming fights over funding for Ukraine and Israel in their conflicts with Russia and Hamas. Tuesday’s disarray marked two weeks since the party’s first nominee to replace Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, withdrew as it became clear he was nowhere near the 217 votes needed to be elected. Hard-line Trump ally Jim Jordan, the next nominee, flopped three times on the House floor as successively larger tallies of Republican opponents joined the Democrats to reject him. The post Republicans pick ‘novice’ as 4th speaker nominee appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CIT-U snaps three-game losing skid with a win over Verallo
CEBU CITY, Philippines— After three disappointing defeats, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats finally earned their first sweet victory in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball during their game against neophytes, the Felipe Verallo Foundation College (FVFC) Blue Dragons, 83-71, on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum. The Wildcats, who became viral for their 74-point loss,75-109, against the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters earlier this month, found their winning ways on Sunday with rookie John Rey Guinita leading them with 26 points. Guinita perfectly balanced his scoring after he tallied 13 points in each halves of the game. Edwin Charles Jao contributed 14 points, while Jim Brent Taala added 12 markers, nine of which came from beyond the arc. The victory improved the Wildcats’ record to one win and three losses, while the Blue Dragons of head coach Titing Manalili fell to a 0-4 (win-loss) record putting them at the bottom of the team standings. Francis Earl Solis scored 14 points for Verallo, while John Gellego added nine points in their losing efforts. CIT-U has a chance to grab a back-to-back win as they take on another newcomer, the Benedicto College Cheetahs, on October 21, while Verallo returns into action on the same date against the formidable USJ-R Jaguars. CEC 65, CIT-U WILDKITTENS 44 Contrastingly, CIT-U’s high school squad bowed down to the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, 65-44, also on Sunday. Caelan Mack once again topscored the Dragons. This time he tallied 17 points, while Xerxes Duran scored 14 points. Jyle Roa added 13 markers and Lybron James Lamo chipped in 10 markers for CEC. Ezekiel Zamora scored 12 points for CIT-U, while teammate Sam Kyle Aballe had eight points in their defeat. CEC improved to a 4-1 card to stay at the No. 3 spot in the high school team standings, while the Wildkittens dropped to the sixth spot with a 1-2 slate. USC 64, DBTC 57 On the other hand, the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors ended their four-game losing skid by beating the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves, 64-57, in the other high school game on Sunday. The win improved USC’s record to 1-4 slate, while DBTC’s losing woes continued as they dropped to a 0-5 card. Kent Dave Chavez unloaded 18 points, while Bhenz Daug contributed 10 points for USC. Jefferson Villareal spoiled his 17-point outing.....»»