Chaotic finish: Stephen Curry, Warriors escape Suns in final seconds
Stephen Curry barely beats the clock with a clutch triple in a wild Warriors-Suns endgame also marked by a late Devin Booker flurry and a lengthy foul review.....»»
Mamba zone: Doncic’s 73, Booker’s 62 continue historic NBA scoring week
Stars align anew in the NBA as Luka Doncic and Devin Booker explode for 73 and 62 points, respectively, just five days after Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns erupt for 70 and 62.....»»
NBA: Suns outplay Mavs, increase win-streak to 7
DALLAS — Devin Booker has seen some chippy games between his Phoenix Suns and Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks. Even with new faces, the taunts and trash talk are plentiful. Booker scored 22 of his 46 points in a decisive third quarter and the Suns matched their longest winning streak of the season at seven with.....»»
Booker mipabuto og 52 puntos
Booker mipabuto og 52 puntos.....»»
Book it: Suns’ Devin Booker pounds Pelicans anew with 52
Suns hotshot Devin Booker unleashes 52 points against the Pelicans, just a season after he also torched them with 58.....»»
LeBron James, Lakers relish in-season tourney matchup vs Suns
Superstars collide in the NBA in-season tournament as LeBron James leads the Los Angeles Lakers against Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns in the Western quarterfinals.....»»
Misubang ang Suns sa tres ni Booker
Misubang ang Suns sa tres ni Booker.....»»
Wembanyama drops career-high 38 points as Spurs eclipse Suns
No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama erupted for 38 points as to power the San Antonio Spurs over the returning Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns, 132-121......»»
Ex-UK leader Johnson to join right-wing broadcaster GB News
Britain's former prime minister Boris Johnson announced Friday that he was joining the right-wing broadcaster GB News, the latest Conservative politician to take a presenting role on the contentious channel. The scandal-tarred Johnson, who was ousted from power last year by Tory MPs and quit as a lawmaker in June, will start his new "presenter, program maker and commentator" post in early 2024, GB News said. The channel was launched in mid-2021, billing itself as a right-wing, pro-Brexit competitor to mainstream broadcasters such as the BBC and Sky News, and has stoked controversy ever since. It has drawn comparisons to the US network Fox News for its unabashedly populist agenda, blurring the distinction between fact-based reporting and opinion while hiring high-profile right-wingers. In its latest setback, the channel sacked two of its presenters this month after an on-air sexism row that generated nearly 8,500 complaints to media watchdog Ofcom. Ofcom has opened several probes into GB News over alleged breaches of the broadcasting code of neutrality for TV news outlets after it hired several prominent members of the ruling Conservatives as presenters. Johnson, 59, said he was "excited" to be joining "an insurgent channel with a loyal and growing following", saying he would be offering his "frank opinions on world affairs". "I will be talking about the immense opportunities for Global Britain -- as well as the challenges -- and why our best days are yet to come," he said. GB News's editorial director Michael Booker called Johnson "the most influential prime minister of our generation". "As well as his political skills, he's an incredibly talented journalist and author," he said. Johnson, a former Daily Telegraph columnist who currently writes a weekly column for The Daily Mail, first worked as a journalist for The Times, where he was sacked for making up a quote. He moved on to become Brussels correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, where he made his name writing exaggerated claims about the European Union, including purported plans to standardize the sizes of condoms and bananas. He then entered politics, becoming an MP in 2001 and later serving two terms as London mayor before realizing his life-long dream of being prime minister in 2019. The post Ex-UK leader Johnson to join right-wing broadcaster GB News appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Celebrated Syrian author Khaled Khalifa dead at 59
Syrian writer and veteran government critic Khaled Khalifa has died of cardiac arrest at the age of 59 at his home in Damascus, a close friend told AFP. Khalifa, who hailed from Maryamin in northwestern Aleppo province, was celebrated for his novels, television screenplays, and newspaper columns, and honored with several of the Arab world's top literary awards. He "died in his home alone in Damascus" on Saturday, said journalist Yaroub Aleesa, who had spent time with the author during his final days. "We called him repeatedly and he didn't respond. When we went to his home, we found him dead on the sofa." Doctors at the Abbassiyyin Hospital in Damascus said the cause of death was a heart attack. Khalifa gained fame as a writer of several popular Syrian TV series in the early 1990s. He was known as a staunch opponent of the ruling Baath party and his columns criticizing the authorities. But despite his well-known stance, he chose to remain in the country after the 2011 civil war broke out with the repression of protests against the government. "I am staying because this is my country," he said in a 2019 interview. "I was born here, I live here and I want to die here!" His 2006 novel "In Praise of Hatred" was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arab Fiction -- often dubbed the Arab Booker Prize -- and was translated into six languages. The novel recounts the story of a young Syrian woman from Aleppo who escapes her sequestered life by joining a jihadist organization. In 2013, his novel "No Knives in the Kitchens of this City" won the Naguib Mahfouz Literature Prize, Egypt's top accolade for writers. It focuses on the lives of Syrians under the rule of the Baath party headed by President Bashar al-Assad. The writer's death sparked a wave of condolences on social media from fellow writers and members of Syria's exiled opposition. "Goodbye, you kind man," wrote Syrian writer and academic Salam Kawakibi. Khalifa was expected to be buried later on Sunday in Damascus, though details of the funeral had yet to be disclosed. The post Celebrated Syrian author Khaled Khalifa dead at 59 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rosé Curse?: BLACKPINK’s Rosé reacts to Andrea Brillantes- Ricci Rivero split
Andrea Brillantes remains a lucky fan girl when it comes to the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. On 8 August, coinciding with the mega group’s seventh anniversary, BLACKPINK member Rosé went on Instagram live to talk and celebrate with her fans (commonly known as BLINKs). Among the many BLINKs who tuned in to watch Rosé’s Instagram live was Andrea Brillantes, who also went to the girl group’s sold-out concert at the Philippine Arena last March 2023 with her then-boyfriend Ricci Rivero and was singled out by BLACKPINK from among the crowd. The Kadenang Ginto actress had held up a “promposal” sign,” which Rosé and Lisa noticed in the middle of the show. During the livestream, the singer asked BLINKs their most memorable moments as fans of the group. Brillantes immediately whipped up an answer: “My fave memory was when you noticed me for my promposal.” Rosé caught Brillantes’ comment and reacted to it: “When I noticed you for your proposal. Oh, was that you? I think it was somewhere in Southeast Asia, where was it? I don’t know (where it was), but I do remember (the proposal). I do. We have never done that before,” Rosé said. Brillantes responded by updating the K-pop star on her relationship status: “We broke up now.” Rosé looked shocked upon reading the reply. She covered her mouth and said, “Oh no, I’ll pretend I didn’t see that.” Brillantes quickly assured the BLACKPINK star that she was happy and doing well now, to which Rosé replied: “I’m happy that you’re happy.” In April last year, Brillantes and Rivero officially became a couple. However, the relationship was short-lived following cheating allegations against the basketball player. This is not the first time Brillantes has proven her “lucky girl syndrome” when it comes to interacting with foreign artists. Last July, she got to talk to Sabrina Carpenter during the latter’s Manila concert. There is also a running joke on social media about the “Rosé Curse” — that celebrities who take a photo with Rosé allegedly invariably end up splitting with their respective partners. The “Rosé Curse” began in September 2021 when model Gigi Hadid had a photo with Rosé — only to announce her break-up with singer Zayn Malik a few weeks later. Since then, other celebrity couples have supposedly also fallen victim to the curse, such as Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn, Florence Pugh and Zach Braff, Bella Poarch and her non-showbiz husband, and Kendall Jenner and basketball player Devin Booker. The post Rosé Curse?: BLACKPINK’s Rosé reacts to Andrea Brillantes- Ricci Rivero split appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rosé Curse?: BLACKPINK’s Rosé reacts to Andrea Brillantes-Ricci Rivero split
Andrea Brillantes remains a lucky fan girl when it comes to the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. On 8 August, coinciding with the mega group's seventh anniversary, BLACKPINK member Rosé went on Instagram live to talk and celebrate with her fans (commonly known as BLINKs). Among the many BLINKs who tuned in to watch Rosé's Instagram live was Andrea Brillantes, who also went to the girl group's sold-out concert at the Philippine Arena last March 2023 with her then-boyfriend Ricci Rivero and was singled out by BLACKPINK from among the crowd. The Kadenang Ginto actress had held up a "promposal" sign", which Rosé and Lisa noticed in the middle of the show. During the livestream, the singer asked BLINKs their most memorable moments as fans of the group. Brillantes immediately whipped up an answer: "My fave memory was when you noticed me for my promposal." Rosé caught Brillantes' comment and reacted to it: "When I noticed you for your proposal. Oh, was that you? I think it was somewhere in Southeast Asia, where was it? I don't know [where it was], but I do remember [the proposal]. I do. We have never done that before," Rosé said. Brillantes responded quickly to the K-pop star, updating her on her relationship status: "We broke up now." Rosé looked shocked upon reading the reply. She covered her mouth and said, "Oh no, I'll pretend I didn't see that." Brillantes quickly assured the BLACKPINK star that she was doing well now and happy, to which Rosé replied: "I'm happy that you're happy." In April last year, Brillantes and Rivero officially became a couple. However, the relationship was short-lived following cheating allegations about the basketball player. This is not the first time Brillantes has proven her "lucky girl syndrome" when it comes to interacting with foreign artists. Last July, Sabrina Carpenter talked to Brillantes mid-stage during her Manila concert. But there is also a running joke on social media about the "Rosé curse" — that celebrities who take a photo with Rosé allegedly invariably end up splitting with their respective partners. The "Rosé curse" began in September 2021 when model Gigi Hadid had a photo with Rosé – only to announce her break-up with singer Zayn Malik a few weeks later. Since then, other celebrity couples have supposedly also fallen victim to the "Rosé curse," such as Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn, Florence Pugh and Zach Braff, Bella Poarch and her non-showbiz husband, and Kendall Jenner and basketball player Devin Booker. The post Rosé Curse?: BLACKPINK’s Rosé reacts to Andrea Brillantes-Ricci Rivero split appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kai’s last chance
Up to now, Kai Sotto’s stint in the FIBA Basketball World Cup remains unclear. Sure, he has been in the country for over two weeks and has been attending some Gilas Pilipinas events, but the fact that he has yet to actually train with his teammates is making Chot Reyes anxious. Sotto is tipped to play a crucial role in the Gilas squad. His 7-foot-3 frame, athleticism and feathery shooting touch from the perimeter will be needed when the Filipinos battle the best players in the world in the prestigious basketball spectacle from 25 August to 10 September. But it will be impossible for Reyes to involve Sotto in his game plan if he has yet to actually see him banging bodies with his fellow big men like World Cup veterans June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, as well as rising star AJ Edu. It is no secret that Sotto’s dream is to make it to the National Basketball Association. He was still a gangly kid when he started joining the Junior NBA program before moving to Ateneo de Manila University and eventually donning the national colors in various age-group events — the biggest and most prestigious was the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Greece. A lot of offers came his way, including a chance to play for prestigious European clubs like Alba Berlin, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Baskonia, but Sotto, then 17, decided to bring his talent to the United States — not to enter play at the collegiate level — but to make a daring leap straight into the NBA. After training at The Skill Factory, he joined Team Ignite, a developmental team in the NBA G League that aims to prepare athletes for the NBA. At Team Ignite, Sotto showed some promise as he played for former Los Angeles Lakers coach Brian Shaw together with future NBA players Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Daishen Nix, and Isiah Todd. But when Team Ignite was about to start its season and enter the G League bubble in Orlando, Sotto shockingly flew home and joined Gilas in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. Ignite eventually dropped Sotto, prompting him to look for other ways to realize his dream of becoming the first full-blooded Filipino to make it to the NBA. He found one in Australia. He played for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League and had some measure of success. In fact, he was able to gauge his prowess when the 36ers played against Chris Paul, Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns in an NBA preseason match. After a couple of seasons in Australia, he moved to Japan to play for the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the B League. He had some impressive games, but it wasn’t enough to earn the attention of NBA coaches, scouts, and talent evaluators. Still, he joined the NBA Summer League. Playing against veteran free agents, journeymen, and incoming rookies looking to earn spots on the opening-day rosters of NBA teams, Sotto rode the Orlando Magic bench in their first three games before making his debut against the Portland Trail Blazers, recording six points, four rebounds and three blocks in their 71-88 loss. Sotto tried to play in his fifth game, but he was slowed down by a back injury. His return to Manila was surrounded by controversy as he failed to join the Gilas squad that was set to go to China for the final leg of its preparations for the World Cup. He opted to stay home to “rest and recover” from his back injury. Until when? It’s something that only Sotto and his American handlers know. But Sotto should realize that the doors of the NBA are slowly closing on him. He already made a bad decision by snubbing the invitations of top European clubs as well as prestigious American collegiate programs like Kentucky, Georgia Tech and Auburn that could have helped him develop his game and gain confidence while playing against kids his age. Instead of staying patient and working on his game away from the prying eyes of NBA scouts, he rushed the process by signing up with Team Ignite before committing another massive blunder of flying back to Manila just before the G League season tipped off. Now he has only one chance — the FIBA Basketball World Cup. A lot of Filipinos ranging from Johnny Abarrientos to Aguilar, Kiefer Ravena and Ray Parks all tried — and failed — to make it to the NBA. On the contrary, Sotto is being presented with a rare opportunity to display his talent and carry the torch in a world-class event. Sadly, despite repeatedly saying that he is ready, his body language suggests that he is reluctant to step up to serve as the hero of this basketball-crazy nation. The clock is ticking for Sotto. The doors of the NBA are slowly closing right before his very eyes. He has to lace his sneakers, grab that Gilas jersey, and play his heart out for the country in the FIBA Basketball World Cup before he becomes another “what if” in the history of Philippine basketball. The post Kai’s last chance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
British writer Martin Amis dies aged 73
Renowned and influential British writer Martin Amis has died aged 73 at his home in Lake Worth, Florida, the Booker Prizes said Saturday. Amis was "one of the most acclaimed and discussed writers of the past 50 years and the author of 14 novels," said the website of Booker Prizes, the leading literary awards for fiction in the United Kingdom. His wife, Isabel Fonseca, told media that the author of searing and insightful works such as "Money: A Suicide Note," "London Fields" and "Time's Arrow" died on Friday after a bout with esophageal cancer. His death was announced on the same day as the Cannes Festival showing of a film based on his 2014 book "The Zone of Interest". Set in Auschwitz, the novel tells the story of a Nazi officer who fell in love with the wife of the extermination camp commander. Amis, the son of renowned comic novelist Kingsley Amis, equaled and even surpassed his father in fame with novels filled with savage humor. "The novel is an incredibly intimate portrait of a writer," the younger Amis once told the BBC, reflecting on his career. "Although I don't write an autobiography, I am everywhere in my books." In 2008, the Times of London named him one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. Born in 1949 in Wales, Amis rose to literary celebrity amid the hip 1980s British fiction boom that included fellow novelists Salman Rushdie, Julian Barnes, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Ian McEwan. Amis graduated from Oxford University in 1971 with a degree in English and worked as an editor before publishing his first novel, "The Rachel Papers," in 1973. It was with "Money," published in 1984 with a comic take on consumerism, that Amis burst more broadly onto the literary scene. In addition to his novels, Amis published two collections of stories and eight works of nonfiction. His book on the September 11, 2001 attacks, titled "The Second Plane," includes articles, short stories, and essays. In recent decades, Amis became a public intellectual, frequently appearing on television, sometimes alongside his long-time friend Christopher Hitchens, a British-American writer and renowned atheist who died in 2011. He was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1991 and long-listed in 2003, the website noted. The 1990s marked the peak of his literary career, even though he was accused of misogyny and, later, Islamophobia -- accusations he firmly rejected. Publisher Vintage Books said it was "devastated" by the death of Amis. "He leaves a towering legacy and an indelible mark on the British cultural landscape, and will be missed enormously," Vintage said on its Twitter account. The post British writer Martin Amis dies aged 73 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tatum comes through as Celtics hold off 76ers to level series
Jayson Tatum scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Boston Celtics held off the Philadelphia 76ers 95-86 on Thursday to force a decisive game seven in their NBA playoff series. The star Boston forward was enduring a dismal shooting night, making just one of 13 attempts from the floor through the first three quarters before erupting with four three-pointers in the final period as the Celtics thwarted Philadelphia's rally bid and leveled their Eastern Conference semifinal three games apiece. They'll host game seven on Sunday, trying to deny the Sixers a first trip to the conference finals since 2001. James Harden epitomized the 76ers' offensive struggles. He scored 13 points on four-of-13 shooting while newly minted NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scored 26 points with 10 rebounds. Tatum, who averaged 30.1 points per game in the regular season, said he never lost confidence even as he struggled. "It's a long game," Tatum told broadcaster ESPN. "Thankfully I've got some great teammates that held it down." Marcus Smart led the Celtics with 22 points. Jaylen Brown added 17 and Malcolm Brogdon scored 16 off the bench. Even amid Tatum's troubles, the Celtics raced to a 15-3 lead, Smart and Brogdon carrying the early load before the Sixers began to find their feet. Philadelphia cut the deficit to three points before the Celtics pulled away again, pushing their advantage to 16 points twice in the second period. But the Sixers clawed back, taking advantage of 17 Celtics turnovers and finally taking the lead on two free throws from Harden that put them up 64-62 with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Philadelphia led 73-71 going into the final frame and was up by two when Tatum made his first three-pointer of the game to put Boston ahead. Tatum then drilled a step-back three-pointer over Tyrese Maxey. Another pair from beyond the arc pushed the Celtics' lead to 11 points with 37.6 seconds remaining. "All that mattered was we won this game," said Tatum, who also had seven rebounds, six assists, a steal, and two blocked shots. "It's game seven, it doesn't get any better than that." Later Thursday, the banged-up Phoenix Suns tried to fend off elimination when they hosted Western Conference top seeds Denver in game six of their series. Phoenix was again without veteran point guard Chris Paul, who missed games three four, and five after suffering a groin injury in game two. Center Deandre Ayton was ruled out with a rib injury that has reportedly affected his breathing while All-Star guard Devin Booker went into the contest nursing an ankle injury. The Nuggets, who routed the Suns on Tuesday to take a 3-2 lead in the series behind a 29-point triple-double from Nikola Jokic, listed ailing Jamal Murray as questionable. The post Tatum comes through as Celtics hold off 76ers to level series appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nuggets, Suns advance to NBA semis
Top-seeded DenNuggets squeezed home 112-109 against the Minnesota Timberwolves to complete a 4-1 series win while the fourth seeds Phoenix Suns wrapped up their series with the Los Angeles Clippers by the same margin with a 136-130 victory in Arizona. The Nuggets, who will face Phoenix in the conference semi-finals, were made to work hard for their win by a Timberwolves team who jumped out to an early 15-point lead in the first quarter before gradually being reeled in. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets scorers with 35 points while reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic bagged his second triple-double of the series with 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists. Minnesota's Anthony Edwards missed a three-point attempt on the buzzer that would have forced overtime as the Timberwolves' season came to an end. Edwards finished with 29 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 26. In Phoenix, Devin Booker erupted for 47 points while Kevin Durant poured in 31 points to spark the Suns to victory over the short-handed Clippers. The Clippers, missing the injured Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, fought bravely to lead by 10 early in the second half. But when Booker took over with 25 of 50 Phoenix points in a lopsided third quarter, the Clippers were left chasing the game. Los Angeles somehow managed to close to within two points with just under two minutes remaining before Durant settled Phoenix with a layup and two free throws to make the game safe. "Those guys don't stop fighting," Booker said of the Clippers afterwards. "That's been the story of the whole series. Even though they were down men, we knew they were going to bring it." The post Nuggets, Suns advance to NBA semis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sixers sweep Nets to advance, Suns on brink as Heat burn Bucks
The Philadelphia 76ers shrugged off the absence of Joel Embiid to complete a 4-0 sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA playoffs on Saturday as the Phoenix Suns edged closer to a second-round berth by beating the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers advanced to an Eastern Conference semi-final showdown against either Boston or Atlanta with a dominant second-half display to seal a 96-88 victory in Brooklyn. Elsewhere in the East, the Miami Heat thrashed the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 121-99 to edge ahead of the top seeds 2-1 in their best-of-seven series. In Brooklyn, the Sixers trailed by 11 points early in the third quarter but transformed the contest with an 18-4 run to take the lead before closing out victory with a fourth-quarter rally. The Sixers' win was all the more impressive given the absence of star center Embiid, who suffered a right knee sprain in Thursday's 102-97 victory in game three. Embiid led the NBA with 33.1 points a game and is a finalist for the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Paul Reed stepped in to fill the void and finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Tobias Harris led the scoring for Philadelphia with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while De'Anthony Melton came off the bench to produce 15 points and lead the fourth-quarter surge. Harris said the Sixers were determined to use Embiid's absence as a motivator. "He's the MVP. And when we heard he wasn't playing, I think it was an opportunity for everybody else to really step up and understand that we've got to get a win without the big fellow," Harris told the TNT television network. "The whole group came together today. It's a great win for us and a great way to sweep the series." Asked what his message to the injured Embiid would be, Harris replied: "Hurry up and get your ass back out here." The 4-0 series victory was Philadelphia's first playoff sweep since 1991. Spencer Dinwiddie led Brooklyn's scoring with 20 points while Nic Claxton had 19 points with 12 rebounds. "Getting swept is trash," a dejected Claxton said. "It's not a good feeling." Suns on the brink In Los Angeles, Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to help Phoenix beat the Clippers 112-100 for a 3-1 series lead. Devin Booker plundered 30 points and veteran Chris Paul added 19 in a late burst of scoring as Phoenix bagged their second straight win in Los Angeles. "I'm in a good place and I'm enjoying playing ball," Durant said. "I've been out a few months this season, and I'm just happy I'm out here where the ball is." It means the Suns need just one more win to book their place in the Western Conference semi-finals, with game five set for Phoenix on Tuesday. The Clippers' hopes of squaring the series had been dealt a blow by the absence of Kawhi Leonard, who joined Paul George on the injured list. Russell Westbrook produced one of his best performances for the Clippers with a 37-point display. In Miami, the Heat took full advantage of the absence of Milwaukee's two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, leading by double digits much of the night. Jimmy Butler scored 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting before departing late in the third quarter after taking a hard fall. After visiting the locker room he returned to the bench but with the game in hand did not go back on the floor. Duncan Robinson scored 20 points and fellow reserve Kyle Lowry added 15 as the Heat bench delivered 59 points. "We just came out here and played with some intensity," Lowry said. The Heat will try to level the series on Monday, but Lowry said he knows they'll face a tough task. "Every game is a different game," he said. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said the team would continue to "monitor" Antetokounmpo, who suffered a back contusion in game one, missed game two and was a late scratch on Saturday. In the late game the Memphis Grizzlies welcomed star guard Ja Morant back after a hand injury as they visited the Los Angeles Lakers with their series knotted 1-1. The post Sixers sweep Nets to advance, Suns on brink as Heat burn Bucks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NBA: Suns outshine Clippers, take 3-1 series lead
LOS ANGELES – Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to help the Phoenix Suns take a 3-1 series lead over the L.A. Clippers with a 112-100 victory. Devin Booker plundered 30 points and veteran Chris Paul added 19 in a late burst of scoring as the Suns bagged their second straight win in […] The post NBA: Suns outshine Clippers, take 3-1 series lead appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Sixers advance after Nets sweep, Suns on brink as Clippers downed
The Philadelphia 76ers shrugged off the absence of Joel Embiid to complete a 4-0 sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA playoffs on Saturday as the Phoenix Suns edged closer to a second-round berth with a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers advanced to an Eastern Conference semi-final showdown against either Boston or Atlanta with a dominant second-half display to seal a 96-88 victory in Brooklyn. The Sixers trailed by 11 points early in the third quarter but transformed the contest with an 18-4 run to take the lead before closing out victory with a fourth-quarter rally. The Sixers' win was all the more impressive given the absence of star center Embiid, who suffered a right knee sprain in Thursday's 102-97 victory in game three. Embiid led the NBA with 33.1 points a game and is a finalist for the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. With Embiid out, Paul Reed stepped in to fill the void and finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Tobias Harris led the scoring for Philadelphia with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while De'Anthony Melton came off the bench to produce 15 points and lead the fourth-quarter rally. Harris said the Sixers had been determined to use Embiid's absence as a motivator. "He's the MVP. And when we heard he wasn't playing, I think it was an opportunity for everybody else to really step up and understand that we've got to get a win without the big fella," Harris told the TNT television network after the win. "For us to come out here and get this victory, it feels great for the whole group. "The whole group came together today. It's a great win for us and a great way to sweep the series." Asked what his message to the injured Embiid would be, Harris replied: "Hurry up and get your ass back out here." The 4-0 series victory was Philadelphia's first playoff sweep since 1991. Spencer Dinwiddie led Brooklyn's scoring with 20 points while Nic Claxton had 19 points with 12 rebounds. In Los Angeles, Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to help Phoenix take a 3-1 series lead over the Clippers with a 112-100 victory. Devin Booker plundered 30 points and veteran Chris Paul added 19 in a late burst of scoring as Phoenix bagged their second straight win in Los Angeles in the best-of-seven series. It means the Suns need just one more win to book their place in the Western Conference semi-finals, with game five set for Phoenix on Tuesday. The Clippers' hopes of squaring the series had been dealt a blow by the absence of Kawhi Leonard, who joined Paul George on the injured list. In their absence, Russell Westbrook produced one of his best performances for the Clippers with a 37-point display but ultimately it was not enough as the greater depth of the Suns' line-up proved too much. "I'm in a good place and I'm enjoying playing ball," Durant said after the win. "I've been out a few months this season, and I'm just happy I'm out here where the ball is." In later playoff games on Saturday, the Milwaukee Bucks travel to Miami looking for a win on the road over the Heat with the best-of-seven series finely balanced at 1-1. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out game two after suffering a back injury in game one, was listed as questionable for Milwaukee. In the late game, the Memphis Grizzlies travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers with their series knotted at one game apiece. The post Sixers advance after Nets sweep, Suns on brink as Clippers downed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Booker pours in 58, Suns down Pelicans
Devin Booker scored 58 points to propel the Phoenix Suns to a come-from-behind 118-114 victory over New Orleans on Saturday, his second 50-point performance of the NBA season......»»