Basketball

20 years after heading for NBA, Pau Gasol back in Barcelona shirt

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Twenty years after leaving Barcelona for the riches of the NBA, 40-year-old Pau Gasol returned to his Spanish club on Friday, playing in a EuroLeague clash against Bayern Munich.

NBA suspends three, fines two in Lakers-Raptors fracas

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Toronto Raptors guards DeAndre' Bembry and Fred VanVleet and Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker have been suspended one game apiece for their roles in an on-court altercation, the NBA said Thursday.

Suns scorch first-placed Jazz in OT ...Durant delivers perfect-shooting night for Nets in Pelicans plunder

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Devin Booker did the heavy lifting offensively, scoring 35 points as the Phoenix Suns edged the Utah Jazz 117-113 in overtime in a Western Conference showdown between the two best teams in the NBA.

The NBA losses and gains over the last week

A recent nine-game victory run by the Utah Jazz ensured they remained as leaders in the Western Conference and atop the National Basketball Association (NBA) standings while the Philadelphia 76ers have lost ground in the Eastern Conference and have the Brooklyn Nets poised to leapfrog into the...

Morris scores 22 as Clippers thrash Lakers

NBA's Bucks sign Holiday to deal worth reported $135 million

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The NBA's Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Jrue Holiday to a contract extension worth a reported $135 million over four years.

NBA stays and moves

The National Basketball Association (NBA) trade deadline was last week Thursday, March 26 and there were some big trades 'on the table', but the biggest of names managed to maintain their current places — Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), Lonzo Ball (New Orleans Pelicans) and John...

Durant 'sorry' over actor tirade

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant has apologised to fans following the release of a slew of profane social media messages riddled with misogynistic and homophobic language.

First-placed Nets hammer Hornets, 76ers keep pace atop East standings

Los Angeles , United States (AFP) — Jeff Green scored a team-high 21 points as the Brooklyn Nets became the first Eastern Conference team to win 20 home games this season with a 111-89 rout of the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

Nuggets punish sluggish Sixers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Jamal Murray scored 30 points as the Denver Nuggets put on a show for returning fans on Tuesday with a 104-95 defeat of the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers.

Lakers lose again without LeBron, Clippers stop Spurs

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers endured a fourth-straight defeat since losing superstar LeBron James to injury, falling 109-101 to the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks revive their games

THE National Basketball Association (NBA) standings have basically remained the same since the All-Star break a few weeks ago. A number of teams have made impressive strides in recent games but only time will tell if that level of play can be maintained (or if it's just for the moment),...

Bucks hold off charging Celtics, Fournier helps Magic edge Suns

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Milwaukee Bucks pushed their NBA winning streak to eight games on Wednesday, squandering a 25-point third-quarter lead but holding on to edge the Boston Celtics 121-119.

Mitchell, Gobert dominate as Jazz down Bulls

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Rudy Gobert grabbed a sixth-consecutive double-double as the Utah Jazz tightened their grip on the Western Conference standings with a 120-95 road win over the Chicago Bulls on...

Suns set down LeBron-less Lakers, 76ers edge Knicks in OT

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Los Angeles Lakers got a hard look at life without injured superstar LeBron James on Sunday in a 111-94 NBA loss to the Phoenix Suns.