sports
SportsAFP NewsAustralia's darling Barty: a sportswoman of many talents
Multi-talented Ashleigh Barty has been a professional cricketer, won a golf tournament and now taken her place among the giants of Australian tennis after winning her home Grand Slam on Saturday.
NewsAFP News'Where is Peng Shuai?' shirts handed to Australian Open fans
Activists handed out 1,000 "Where is Peng Shuai?" T-shirts to spectators ahead of the Australian Open women's final Saturday to highlight concern for the Chinese tennis star.
SportsAFP NewsPolarising 'chess player' Medvedev harbours a dark side
For someone most often said to play tennis as if it were chess, Daniil Medvedev has had a white-knuckle ride into Sunday's Australian Open final.
SportsAFP NewsNadal goes for historic 21st Slam, Medvedev can be spoiler again
Rafael Nadal is chasing a record 21st Grand Slam crown in Sunday's Australian Open final but Daniil Medvedev is once again ready to act as the spoiler.
SportsAFP NewsMannerisms make the man: obsessive Nadal on cusp of history
Finicky to the point of distraction, Rafael Nadal cuts an instantly recognisable figure on court with idiosyncrasies that are regarded as charming by his fans but often irritating by opponents.
SportsAFP NewsMedvedev cops $12,000 fine for umpire rant at Australian Open
Daniil Medvedev was fined a total of US$12,000 Saturday following his extraordinary outburst at the chair umpire during his semi-final win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open.
SportsAssociated PressAntetokounmpo has big game, Bucks beat Knicks 123-108
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 38 points and 13 rebounds and made numerous big plays in the fourth quarter to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the New York Knicks 123-108 on Friday night. “The ball was coming off his hands really good tonight from a lot of different places,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. Antetokounmpo also had five assists a night after getting named an All-Star starter for a sixth consecutive season, tying the franchise record for selections.
SportsAssociated Press21 or 2/2? Nadal, Medvedev chase history at Australian Open
Since Wimbledon ended last July, there's been so much discussion in tennis about the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles. The focus has been almost entirely on Novak Djokovic's bid; almost none of it on Rafael Nadal. With the first Grand Slam title of 2022 to be determined Sunday, it's Nadal who is just one win away.
SportsAssociated PressPaul, Booker help NBA-best Suns roll to 9th straight win
Chris Paul was on the receiving end of a rough shove in the final seconds from Minnesota's Taurean Prince and players from both teams froze for a split-second, wondering how the 11-time All-Star would react. The Suns were about to win — again. Devin Booker scored 29 points, Paul had a triple-double with 21 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds and the NBA-leading Suns won their ninth straight game, beating the Timberwolves 134-124 on Friday night.
SportsAFP NewsUS ski star Shiffrin aiming for more Olympic gold
Mikaela Shiffrin will head to Beijing with a proven Olympic track record and on the back of World Cup form after a tumultuous year that has kept her in the spotlight as one of the world's best alpine skiers.
SportsAssociated PressMurray, Spurs spoil DeRozan's return, beat Bulls 131-122
Dejounte Murray had 29 points and 12 assists, and the Spurs beat the Chicago Bulls 131-122 in DeMar DeRozan’s return to San Antonio on Friday night. DeRozan, who spent the previous three seasons with the Spurs, scored 32 points in his first game in San Antonio for the Bulls.
SportsThe Associated PressButler scores 26 points, Heat hold off late Clippers rally
MIAMI (AP) Jimmy Butler scored 26 points and the Miami Heat withstood another furious comeback from the Los Angeles Clippers during a 121-114 victory Friday night. Bam Adebayo had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who have won 10 of 12. Gabe Vincent finished with 23 points.
SportsAssociated PressAll-Star Morant has triple-double, Grizzlies beat Jazz
Ja Morant had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Utah Jazz 119-109 on Friday night. It was the highest-scoring triple-double in franchise history and the fourth overall for Morant, Memphis’ third-year point guard who was named an All-Star starter on Thursday. “I think the win was more important, but I guess the triple-double was needed to get the win,” Morant said.
SportsThe Associated PressSimons, Portland hand Houston another home loss, 125-110
HOUSTON (AP) Anfernee Simons scored 27 points, CJ McCollum had 26 and the Portland Trail Blazers handed Houston its franchise-record 10th straight home loss, beating the Rockets 125-110 on Friday night. Jusuf Nurkic had 25 points and 13 rebounds for Portland, which had dropped two in a row. Coach Chauncey Billups said the Blazers are at their best when they share the ball like they did Friday.
SportsThe Associated PressJokic has triple-double, Nuggets beat Pelicans 116-105
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Nikola Jokic scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half to go with 13 rebounds and 10 assists as the Denver Nuggets held off the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 116-105 on Friday night. ''He can take over a game when he wants,'' said Nuggets guard Bryn Forbes, who scored 14 points. Jokic had just seven points during a closely contested first half, after which the Nuggets led 50-48.
SportsAssociated PressBridges, Hornets hold off short-handed Lakers, 117-114
Russell Westbrook had a choice to make at the end of regulation — drive to the basket and try to send the game into overtime or pull the trigger on a 3-pointer and go for the victory. Westbrook went for the win, but his shot with 0.7 seconds left didn't fall resulting in yet another loss for the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Miles Bridges had 26 points, the seldom-used Ish Smith provided a huge boost off the bench with 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting as the Charlotte Hornets held off the short-handed Lakers 117-114 on Friday night.
SportsAssociated PressCollins, Young help streaking Hawks beat Celtics 108-92
John Collins and Trae Young each scored 21 points, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Boston Celtics 108-92 on Friday night for their sixth straight victory. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 19 points for Atlanta, and Danilo Gallinari had 14 on 5-for-5 shooting from the field. The Hawks shot 46.1%, compared to 34.9% for the Celtics.
NewsAFP NewsTaiwan will not send delegation to Beijing Olympics ceremonies
Taiwan will not send an official delegation to the opening or closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics due to China's strict pandemic controls and flight disruptions, the self-ruled island's governing body for sport said.
SportsAssociated PressWagner outplays Cunningham, lifts Magic past Pistons
Franz Wagner scored 24 points and outplayed fellow rookie Cade Cunningham, Terrence Ross added 21 points and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 119-103 in a matchup of the NBA’s worst teams on Friday night. Wagner, second only to Cunningham in scoring among rookies, made 7 of 12 shots, hit all eight of his free throws and scored 13 points in the first quarter. Orlando won at home for the second time in three games and the fourth time this season.
SportsAFP NewsAvalanche star MacKinnon diagnosed with facial fracture
Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon has been diagnosed with a facial fracture and a concussion after being bloodied by a hard hit in Wednesday's NHL game, the team announced on Friday.
SportsThe Associated PressAuburn AD says Bruce Pearl is Tigers coach "for life"
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has agreed to a contract extension to remain on the Plains. Athletic director Allen Greene announced in a video on social media along with Pearl on Friday night that ''we locked him up,'' beneath the words ''for life.'' The 61-year-old Pearl led the top-ranked Tigers to their first Final Four in 2019. ''We locked him up,'' Greene said in the video.
SportsAFP NewsJapan's 'Ice Prince' Hanyu reigns over Olympic skating
All eyes will be on Yuzuru Hanyu when he attempts to complete a hat-trick of Olympic figure skating golds in Beijing, but don't expect that to bother him -- Japan's "Ice Prince" revels in the spotlight.
NewsAFP NewsNo slogans: Beijing curbs its enthusiasm for Winter Olympics
When Beijing won the bid for the 2008 Summer Olympics, crowds poured onto the streets of the Chinese capital bursting with national pride. Two decades later, locals are noticeably lukewarm about the Winter Games.
SportsHoops Hype76ers fan banned indefinitely from games for taunting Carmelo Anthony
Dave McMenamin: A 76ers spokesperson told ESPN that an investigation conducted in the last 24 hours since the Sixers-Lakers game resulted in the fan who targeted Carmelo Anthony being banned indefinitely from all future 76ers games, as well as all ...
SportsYahoo SportsBruce Pearl, No. 1 Auburn reach new 8-year contract extension
Bruce Pearl led Auburn to its first ever No. 1 ranking on Monday.
