Basketball

July 15 - The Milwaukee Bucks rallied from nine points down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Phoenix Suns 109-103 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2 in front their own elated fans at Fiserv Forum. The teams were tied at the half but small forward Khris Middleton pushed the Bucks over the top, tallying 40 points, six rebounds and four assists. Milwaukee had looked in deep trouble after losing the opening two

PHOENIX: Devin Booker scored 31 points and Chris Paul added 23 on Thursday (Jul 8) to spark Phoenix over Milwaukee 118-108 and give the Suns a commanding lead in the NBA Finals. Phoenix's Mikal Bridges scored a playoff career-high 27 points for the Suns, who seized a 2-0 edge in the best-of-seven series, which shifts to Milwaukee for games three and four on Sunday and Wednesday. "It's a 0-0 mindset for us," Booker said. "It's a game-seven mentality for us. Every game is

PARIS: NBA star Luka Doncic delivered a triple-double to lead Slovenia over Lithuania 96-85 on Sunday and into their first Olympic basketball tournament. Slovenia punched their ticket to Tokyo with the victory in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania. Doncic, 22, scored 15 of his 31 points in the second quarter and added 11 rebounds and 13 assists to lead Slovenia. Lithuania, led by NBA stalwarts Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas, twice clawed back from double-digit deficits. But Slovenia took control

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for 65 points as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Utah Jazz to give themselves hope in the NBA play-offs. The Clippers were under pressure, having lost the opening two games of the Western Conference semi-finals series. But they recovered for a 132-106 home win with game four to come on Monday. "I need my two best players to be able to do that," said Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. "They set the table for everyone else."

LOS ANGELES: Chris Paul overcame an injured shoulder and Jae Crowder busted out of a playoff slump Sunday (May 30) as the Phoenix Suns took a 100-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who lost Anthony Davis to another injury. Paul had 18 points and nine assists while Crowder delivered 17 points as half a dozen players finished in double figures for the Suns, who clawed their way level at 2-2 in the Western Conference best-of-seven playoff series against the reigning NBA champions.

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson won the Kia NBA Sixth Man Award, learning of the accomplishment while sitting with teammate Joe Ingles during a TNT interview. The two carved out a spot in league history, too, marking the first one-two finish by teammates in Sixth Man voting. Clarkson is the first player in Jazz franchise history to win the award. Clarkson received 65 first-place votes (407 total points) from 100 sportswriters and broadcasters around the globe. Ingles collected 34 first-place votes and 272

The Memphis Grizzlies claimed the final NBA play-off spot with a thrilling 117-112 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament. Ja Morant scored 35 points for the Grizzlies, including a two-pointer with four seconds remaining, while Stephen Curry managed 39 for the Warriors. It is the first time the Grizzlies have reached the play-offs in four seasons. "I like it when the pressure is on - I got all the confidence in the world in my game," 21-year-old Morant

LOS ANGELES: LeBron James made a successful return from injury as the Los Angeles Lakers kept alive their hopes of an automatic NBA playoff spot with a 122-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday (May 15). James finished with 24 points while Anthony Davis led the scoring with 28 as the Lakers served notice that they have no intention of surrendering their NBA crown without a fight as the postseason approaches. Saturday's victory means that the Lakers can still secure the sixth

The Los Angeles Lakers could receive a jolt of energy this week with the return of the team’s best player. According to The Athletic, LeBron James is targeting Tuesday's home contest against the New York Knicks for his return to the floor. James suffered a right, high-ankle sprain against the Atlanta Hawks on March 20, forcing him to miss 20 games in a row. James returned from the injury six weeks later at the end of April. He played in two games against

Washington Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson's NBA record for the most career triple-doubles in his side's defeat by the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. Westbrook reached double digits in rebounds, points and assists for the 182nd time in his career. The 32-year-old finished the night with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 21 assists. However, Westbrook missed a possible game-winning buzzer-beater as the Wizards lost 125-124. "I'm truly grateful for moments like this," he said of his record-breaking achievement. "Normally, I don't

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 49 points Sunday afternoon and outdueled Kevin Durant as the host Milwaukee Bucks edged the Brooklyn Nets, 117-114. Antetokounmpo, who missed Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls with an ankle injury, delivered the dunk that put the Bucks ahead for good with 7:57 left. The 49 points were the third-most of his career and his most since he scored 50 points against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 25, 2019. Khris Middleton had 26 points and 11 rebounds as

LeBron James returned from injury after 20 games out but could not prevent his Los Angeles Lakers from slipping to a 110-106 defeat by the Sacramento Kings. James had been sidelined since 20 March after spraining his ankle - the longest absence of his 18-year NBA career. The 36-year-old scored 16 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists, but defeat marked the Lakers' fifth loss in their past six games. It was the Kings' first win over the Lakers at Staples Center

An "ultra-rare" signed rookie card for four-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion LeBron James sold for $5.2 million on Monday, breaking the record for the most expensive basketball card ever sold. It also equalled the record for any sports trading card, matching the amount paid in January for a 1952 rookie card for baseball great Mickey Mantle. "At the heart of every collector in 2003 was the hope of pulling the ultra-rare LeBron James Rookie Patch Auto Parallel numbered to 23 copies," PWCC

The Boston Celtics were without Jaylen Brown for their home game Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns. Brown had been listed as doubtful with an injured shoulder before the Celtics ruled him out, along with Robert Williams and Evan Fournier, prior to the game. Brown has season averages of 24.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Romeo Langford was in the starting lineup against the Suns, his second start of the season for Boston. Also starting on Thursday were

Charlotte Hornets rookie guard LaMelo Ball was cleared to resume individual basketball activity after a CT scan confirmed his broken right wrist has healed, the team announced Monday. Ball sustained the injury on March 20 in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was examined by Dr. Michelle Carlson of The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York before receiving the green light on Monday. The team said updates about his status and return to play would be "provided as appropriate." ESPN

Seven-time All-Star NBA LaMarcus Aldridge has retired from basketball abruptly after he suffered an irregular heartbeat during the Brooklyn Nets' loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, April 10.The 35-year-old announced his decision on social media, saying: "My last game, I played while dealing with an irregular heartbeat. Later on that night, my rhythm got even worse which really worried me even more."Detailing the support he received from teammates to get to the hospital for a health check, the 15-year NBA veteran center wrote: "Though I'm better now,

Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets players wore T-shirts calling for "liberty and justice for all" following the fatal shooting of a black man by a police officer on Sunday. The death of Daunte Wright, 20, in Brooklyn Center sparked days of angry protests and an overnight curfew. Tributes were paid at Tuesday's NBA game in nearby Minneapolis, which had been postponed for 24 hours. There was a moments silence before the Nets beat Minnesota 127-97. The Timberwolves also used social media to focus attention on

Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray returned to the court Monday after missing four games with a sore right knee, then in the final minute of the fourth quarter went down with a non-contact injury where he is grabbing his left knee in pain. Murray refused a wheelchair to leave the court but had to be helped back to the locker room because of the knee injury. The Nuggets are waiting on an MRI for a complete picture and diagnosis. Murray is scoring 21.3 points a

The Baylor Bears won their first men's NCAA basketball title with a 86-70 win over the previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game Monday night in Indianapolis. Baylor's win snaps Gonzaga's 35-game win streak, which was the longest active streak in the nation and dated back to last season. "We're really good defensively. I thought we made things tough tonight," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "Gonzaga missed some shots that they probably normally make. But credit our guys for making everything difficult."

Rookie LaMelo Ball has seized the attention of the NBA this season with his highlight reel passes and a surprising ability to score the basketball, including Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan. The six-time NBA champion said when the Hornets selected Ball with the No. 3 overall pick they hoped the crafty 6-foot-6 point guard would eventually rise to the level of becoming an All-Star. Jordan likes the way Ball is trending. "I think Melo has adjusted to the NBA game better than any of us