Boxing: Tyson comeback fight at 54 ends with draw against Jones

LOS ANGELES -- Mike Tyson's return to boxing at age 54 ended in a draw with 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr. on Saturday in an eight-round exhibition battle of former heavyweight champions.

Fifteen years after retiring with a 2005 loss to journeyman Kevin McBride, Tyson made his comeback at Staples Center in Los Angeles without spectators in a pay-per-view matchup that mixed curiosity and nostalgia.

California State Athletic Commission officials required two-minute rounds instead of the usual three-minute rounds, mandated larger than normal 12-ounce gloves, said neither fighter could seek a knockout and declared there could be no official winner in safety moves for the over-50 fighters.

"Sometimes that two minutes felt like three minutes," Tyson said. "I'm glad I got this under my belt and I'm looking forward to doing it again."

An "unofficial" panel of former World Boxing Council champions at ringside scored the bout a draw, an outcome that Tyson applauded despite appearing to dominate.

"I'm good with that," Tyson said, admitting he thought he had won the fight. "Yeah, but I'm good with a draw. The crowd was happy with that."

Jones, who looked tired and grabbed Tyson much of the fight, was unhappy at a draw.

"I ain't never happy with a draw. I don't do draw," Jones said, admitting that Tyson hurt him throughout the bout, particularly with body blows.

"If he hits you with his head, punches, body shots, it don't matter, everything hurts. Body shots definitely took a toll. Body shots are what makes you exhausted."

Tyson, who entered 50-6 with 44 knockouts, lost 100 pounds and began training again, his desire to get back in shape becoming a hunger to strap on the gloves once more.

Jones, who entered 66-9 with 47 knockouts, had not fought since a February 2018 cruiserweight victory. He hoped a solid effort against Tyson might set up a fight with 45-year-old Brazilian mixed martial arts star Anderson Silva.

- 'It's going to hurt' -

Tyson came out aggressive and fast, swinging and connecting often to the body of Jones, who was able to hit and evade at times, then hugging Tyson often when all else failed.

"You came back. I hit you with good shots and you took it," Tyson told Jones. "We have to do this again."

A hard left to the head stung Jones in round two and he spent much of the third and fourth rounds holding and moving into clenches with Tyson.

"It's something in there taking punches from Mike," Jones said. "Once I go in there, I'm game. I'll go to the end. I know when he hits me it's going to hurt."

Tyson landed an inside right and a hard left to the head of Jones in the fifth round, then connected to the body with a solid right and left in the sixth, Jones evading a right uppercut and tying up Tyson before he could land major combinations.

Tyson stung the midsection of Jones in round seven but was held before he could press the advantage.

In the eighth and final round, Tyson pounded a pair of left hooks to the body but Jones tied him up and they finished trading inside punches.

"I was very happy to go the eight rounds," Tyson said. "I'm more happy with going the distance.

"I was afraid I might get hurt. Why is nobody worried about my ass? I haven't done this in 15 years.

Tyson ruled the heavyweight division in overwhelming fashion in the late 1980s but struggled through the 1990s, losing his title, being convicted of rape and serving a ban after biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear.

He faded from the scene after a 2002 world title loss to Lennox Lewis and has returned now to help launch his Legends Only League for over-age star athletes.

"This is bigger than fighting for championships," Tyson declared. "I'm helping people now."

Agence France-Presse

NBA: James, Lakers look their best in beating Bucks

LeBron James had 37 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 113-103 on Friday in a matchup of clubs with the NBA's best records.

Anthony Davis scored 25 of his 30 points in the second half for the Lakers, who won their third in a row and 10th in the past 11 contests. Davis also had nine rebounds. Kyle Kuzma added 11 points and eight rebounds.

James hit 12 of 21 shots from the floor but missed six of his seven 3-point attempts. He also had three steals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Bucks, who lost for the second time in three games. 

Donte DiVincenzo scored 17 off the bench while Brook Lopez contributed 13 points before fouling out with 1:11 left. 

Khris Middleton had an off night, scoring 12 points on 5-for-19 shooting. Eric Bledsoe finished with 11 points.

The Lakers held a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter before the Bucks rallied. A turnaround jumper by Antetokounmpo pulled them within 105-99 with 2:33 to go, but a bucket and two foul shots by Davis put the Lakers up by 10 with 1:11 remaining.

After a Middleton jumper gave Milwaukee a 55-50 edge less than two minutes into the third quarter, Los Angeles launched an 18-0 run for a 68-55 advantage, capped by a Danny Green 3-pointer with 7:02 remaining. 

By the end of the third, the Lakers owned an 87-76 lead.

James had 14 points in the third.

The Bucks led by as much as nine in the first half before the Lakers forced a tie at 48 at the break. Davis was limited to 2-of-8 shooting in 10 first-half minutes due to foul trouble.

Overall, Milwaukee committed 20 turnovers to 16 for Los Angeles. The teams shot at nearly an identical rate, with the Lakers converting 41.8 percent to 41.6 percent for the Bucks.

Milwaukee point guard George Hill missed his second straight game due to a groin injury.

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Beyonce kicks off LA memorial for Kobe Bryant and daughter

LOS ANGELES - Beyonce kicked off a star-studded memorial ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday for basketball great Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna who died along with seven others in a helicopter crash last month.

"I'm here because I love Kobe," said the 70-time Grammy-nominated artist as she launched into one of Bryant's favorite songs "XO," dressed in a golden suit -- the color of the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant's team for two decades.

The public memorial -- dubbed "A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" -- was being held at Staples Center, the arena where Bryant wowed fans for 17 years.

The 2/24 date for the memorial carries special significance as it coincides with Bryant's jersey number -- "24" -- and Gianna's "2" jersey number.

Fellow NBA legends Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell were among those attending the memorial along with Bryant family members and fans.

"It's hard in a two-minute, five-minute time to say everything he meant to the world, to the NBA and to basketball fans. He's bigger than life," Johnson said on Sunday. 

"And it will take years to get over his passing and his daughter and the seven other people who lost their lives as well."

'He was my everything' 

Bryant's widow Vanessa, paid a tearful tribute to her late husband and daughter, saying she could not fathom life without them.

"He was my everything," she said, recalling meeting Bryant when she was 17 years old. "He was the most amazing husband."

She spoke of her heartbreak at not being able to watch Gianna grow up and missing important moments of her life.

"I won't be able to tell her how gorgeous she looks on her wedding day," she said through tears. "I'll never get to see my baby girl walk down the aisle, have a father-daughter dance with her daddy."

A visibly shaken Jimmy Kimmel also spoke at the ceremony saying he saw Kobe and Gianna's faces and jersey numbers everywhere in Los Angeles.

Among other celebrities attending the memorial were filmmaker Spike Lee -- who was close friends with Bryant and directed a documentary on his life -- and rapper Snoop Dogg, an avid Lakers fan.

Many of the fans lucky enough to nab one of the much sought-after 20,000 tickets for the memorial wore the gold and purple colors of the Lakers as they headed for the two-and-a-half hour ceremony being held amid tight security.

"Kobe meant everything for this city, for this team and for me," said Karen Sanchez, 41, as she waited with friends to enter the arena. "I watched him play from the beginning."

Marcos Rojas, 23, another ticket holder, said Bryant's January 26 death near Los Angeles had been devastating to fans like him who worshiped the player.

"For me, it was like losing a friend," said Rojas who wore a Lakers jersey with Kobe's number.

"I always watched him playing with my friends," he told AFP. "I always picked Kobe to play in my video games. I couldn't leave home the day of his passing."

Those attending the memorial were given a 24-page program with pictures of Bryant and his family as well as a pin and black T-shirt featuring images of Kobe and his daughter on the back.

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A celebration of life for Kobe and Gigi

Shaquille O'Neal hugs Vanessa Bryant during “The Celebration of Life” for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Monday. Bryant, his 13-year old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020.

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NBA: Leonard, Clippers pummel Grizzlies

Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and eight rebounds to help the Los Angeles Clippers crush the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, 124-97, on Monday night.

Leonard, who rested in the fourth quarter, connected on 10 of 17 shots from the floor in 25 minutes. Montrezl Harrell contributed 22 points, while JaMychal Green and Marcus Morris chipped in 13 points apiece.

Clippers forward Paul George, who missed Saturday's loss to the Sacramento Kings with a strained hamstring, returned but managed just seven points on 3-for-11 shooting in 21 minutes.

Patrick Beverley, who sat out the previous five games with a groin injury, finished with six points in 19 minutes. But the guard's defense set the tone early for the Clippers, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Rookie point guard Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 16 points, but Memphis' four other starters combined to produce only 15 points.

Josh Jackson came off the bench to score 14 points, and Gorgui Dieng added 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for the Grizzlies. No other Memphis player reached double figures in scoring. 

Dillon Brooks, who entered the contest averaging 15.4 points per game, scored just four points and missed six of seven shots -- including all three of his 3-point attempts -- while playing 25 minutes.

The Grizzlies lost their third in a row after winning eight of 10 before the All-Star break.

The Clippers, who led by as many 37 points, jumped on the Grizzlies early and rolled to a 40-14 lead after one quarter. Leonard equaled the Grizzlies by scoring 14 points in the quarter. Eight Memphis turnovers, to just two for Los Angeles, also didn't help the Grizzlies.

The Clippers maintained their advantage in the second quarter, taking a 66-37 lead at the break.

Memphis cut the deficit to 22 in the third quarter but got no closer the rest of the way.

The Clippers outshot the Grizzlies 50 percent to 41.6 percent.

Memphis played without power forward and second-leading scorer Jaren Jackson Jr., who is out at least two weeks with a sprained left knee.

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NBA: Lakers hold off Grizzlies' charge for 4th straight win

LeBron James scored a game-high 32 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 117-105 on Friday night.

Anthony Davis sustained a bruised calf in the first quarter but remained in to contribute 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven of the Lakers' 14 blocked shots.

Avery Bradley added 14 points and three steals as the Lakers won their fourth in a row. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 12 points.

Josh Jackson scored 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting to lead the Grizzlies, who lost for the second time in as many nights.

Rookie Ja Morant had 17 points, and Brandon Clarke and Gorgui Dieng each amassed 14 points and 10 rebounds. Dieng hit all six of his field-goal attempts.

After trailing by 25 early in the third quarter, the Grizzlies got within 88-84 early in the fourth.

However, a 13-3 run put the Lakers up 101-87 after Alex Caruso slammed home a missed free throw by Davis. The Grizzlies got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

The Lakers turned a 6-point advantage after one quarter into a 60-41 lead at the break. Los Angeles closed the first half on a 22-7 surge, outscoring Memphis 32-19 in the second quarter.

In the third, the Lakers increased the margin to 68-43 before the Grizzlies rallied. A 24-7 burst pulled Memphis to within 75-67 after a 3-pointer by Jackson with 3:37 remaining in the quarter.

The Grizzlies outscored the Lakers 36-24 in the third to close the gap to 84-77 heading into the fourth. Los Angeles committed seven turnovers in the third to three for Memphis.

Overall, the Grizzlies had 17 miscues to 15 for the Lakers.

Memphis power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. left the contest due to left knee soreness and did not return for the second half. He finished with seven points and four rebounds in 16 minutes.

The Lakers have won all three meetings with the Grizzlies this season.

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Vanessa Bryant announces 'celebration of life' for Kobe and Gianna

LOS ANGELES, United States - Vanessa Bryant announced plans for a public celebration of life for her late husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna in a touching Instagram post on Friday.

"#2, #24 #20 years as a Laker," the bereaved wife and mother wrote in the post, confirming that a memorial service would be held at Staples Center arena at 10:00 am (1800 GMT) this Monday.

Gianna Bryant wore No. 2 for her school basketball team and Kobe Bryant wore No. 24 in the later stages of his iconic 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26.

The event will fall on a day between two Lakers home games, but the rival Los Angeles Clippers will host the Memphis Grizzlies in an NBA game at the arena in downtown Los Angeles that night.

Lee Zeidman, president of Staples Center, told the Los Angeles Times that getting the court ready for the game won't be a problem.

"Staples Center has hosted over 220 doubleheaders in its 20-year history," Zeidman said. "While this is going to be a very emotional day for the Bryant family, the Los Angeles Lakers, the city of Los Angeles, as well as for the men and women who work at Staples Center, we are very confident we will be ready for 6 p.m. doors opening for the Clippers-Memphis game following the ceremony."

Staples Center, also the home of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and venue for concerts and events such as the recent Grammy Awards, has hosted memorials for recording artists Michael Jackson and Nipsey Hussle.

The Lakers themselves paid emotional tribute to Bryant there in their first game after the club legend's death, when they hosted the Portland Trail Blazers.

Gianna's teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, Alyssa's parents John and Keri Altobelli, Payton's mother Sarah Chester, basketball coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan also died in the crash, which remains under investigation.

A memorial service was scheduled for Monday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim for the Altobelli family. John Altobelli, 56, was a longtime coach of the Orange Coast College baseball team.

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Billie Eilish sweeps Grammy Awards with top 4 prizes

LOS ANGELES - Teen sensation Billie Eilish swept the Grammy Awards on Sunday, winning all four top prizes - album, song, record of the year and best new artist - in a rare feat at the music industry's highest honors.

Eilish, an 18-year-old newcomer with a unique sound, won for her debut studio album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" while her hit single "Bad Guy" was named record of the year and song of the year. In all, she took home five awards.

She is only the second person, and the youngest, to win all four top Grammys on the same night.

Eilish, distinguished by her green hair and baggy clothes, recorded the album with her brother Finneas in the bedroom of their Los Angeles home. Finneas also won the Grammy for non classical producer of the year.

They seemed taken aback by their Grammy haul, which saw them triumph over established stars including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and rapper Post Malone.

"We didn't make this album to win a Grammy. We wrote about depression and suicidal thoughts and environmental change," Finneas said as the pair accepted the awards. "We stand up here confused and grateful."

Asked backstage what she would do next, Eilish said, "Being in this moment is all I'm thinking about... I'm gonna do whatever I feel."

The Grammy Awards show opened with a dedication to basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter accident earlier in the day and whose Los Angeles Lakers team has its home at the city's Staples Center and Grammy venue.

"We are literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built," said Grammy host Alicia Keys. "We never imagined in a million years we'd have to start the show like this."

R&B star Lizzo won three of her eight nominations, while gay black country rapper Lil Nas X took two for his viral "Old Town Road" collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus.

Lil Nas X, 20, wearing a cowboy hat and silver lure suit, and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus dazzled the house with a kitschy performance of their viral collaboration "Old Town Road," with contributions from stars ranging from K-Pop band BTS to young yodeler Mason Ramsey.

"He told the world he was gay and overnight he became an inspiration and a role model for hundreds of young people around the world," comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who is also gay, said as she introduced Lil Nas X.

Grande performed a medley of hits from her break-up album "Thank u, Next," including "7 Rings" and "Imagine" but won none of the five Grammys for which she was nominated.

Slain rapper Nipsey Hussle, 33, who was gunned down in his Los Angeles neighborhood last year, won two Grammys and was honored in a tribute by John Legend, DJ Khaled and rapper Meek Mill.

Blake Shelton and his fiancee Gwen Stefani held hands as they debuted their new romantic duet "Nobody But You," while Camila Cabello sang her recent single "First Man" to her tearful father in the audience. Demi Lovato won a standing ovation in her first performance at a major awards show since a drugs overdose in 2018.

The Grammy winners are chosen by members of the Recording Academy, which is currently embroiled in a dispute over the departure of its new chief executive Deborah Dugan and her allegations of conflicts of interest in the nominations process. The Recording Academy has denied the allegations.

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Grammys set to honor music's best, but scandal overshadows gala

UNITED STATES -- Los Angeles is gearing up for the Grammys, music's marquee night, with Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X leading a pack of young, talented contenders hoping to strike gold on Sunday.

But revelations of infighting at the Recording Academy, which organizes the awards show, and an explosive allegation of rape has cast a dark shadow over the glitzy gala and rattled the institution's efforts to shed its out-of-touch image.

On Tuesday, Deborah Dugan -- the first woman to head the Academy, a move meant to usher in a new era for a body long accused of favoritism and a lack of diversity -- filed an explosive discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

She says she was suspended after raising concerns over sexual harassment, voting irregularities and other misconduct within the Academy, one of music's most influential organizations.

In the complaint, the former CEO -- who was put on leave last week days before her filing, accused of bullying behavior -- also alleged that her predecessor, Neil Portnow, had raped a foreign female musician, an allegation he has rejected as "ludicrous and untrue."

The ongoing tempest is swirling in stark contrast with the Recording Academy's efforts to reinvent itself, and thereby appease critics who long have lambasted the Grammys as too white, too male -- and too generous to music world mainstays.

DIVERSE NOMINEE FIELD

This year's diverse slate of nominees -- which celebrates a mix of established and budding stars -- did appear to be a move in a new direction.

Leading the pack is the effervescent 31-year-old Lizzo -- beloved by fans for her sassy, body-positive persona and unflinching messages of feminist empowerment, sexual freedom and black pride.

She nabbed 8 nominations, including in all the top 4 categories.

The 18-year-old goth-leaning pop iconoclast Billie Eilish and the genre-bending overnight sensation Lil Nas X, 20, both have 6 chances at Grammy gold, while the enigmatic 22-year-old R&B prodigy H.E.R. has 5.

The newbie front-runners will square off against veteran powerhouses including Ariana Grande and Beyonce, as well as alt-leaning acts Lana Del Rey, Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend.

The shift follows years of sharp critique from top-tier artists including Frank Ocean, Drake and Jay-Z, who have all slammed the Grammys as irrelevant, especially citing its failure to recognize black artists.

DIVERSE WINS 'MORE POSSIBLE'

For John Vilanova, a professor at Lehigh University who has extensively researched the intersection of race and gender at the Grammys, this year's field of nominees is evidence of "an environment that feels more possible" for different kinds of artists to have a chance.

"It's quite interesting, to see what will happen when you have artists who are really having their first chance at this," he told AFP.

"Their work is being appraised by the academy for the first time."

In her first public interview since unveiling her scathing allegations that the Academy is a "boys' club" where powerful men line their pockets and promote a misogynistic culture with impunity, Dugan told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday: "I actually wanted to make change from within."

In her complaint, she said that some nominated artists have sat on the voting boards for their prospective categories.

But when asked if the Grammys are "rigged," Dugan sidestepped.

"I was trying at each step to take a deep breath and say, 'OK, I can make a difference, I can fix this, I can work with this team,'" she told the ABC morning news program.

'OLD TOWN ROAD' ALL-STAR SHOW

Though one-time Grammy darling Taylor Swift is up for several awards including Song of the Year, many mainstay artists are not "looming significantly" over the ceremony as they have in years past, Vilanova said.

"They aren't leading the discourse, they're afterthoughts -- and when has Taylor Swift been an afterthought?"

Often remembered as much for its performances as its winners, the Grammys will feature Lizzo, Eilish and Grande, along with a genre-blending rendition of Lil Nas X's mega-hit "Old Town Road" that will feature K-pop sensation BTS, country star Billy Ray Cyrus and the eclectic DJ Diplo, among others.

Artists including John Legend, Meek Mill and DJ Khaled -- all up for Grammys this year -- will perform a tribute to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot dead last year and is up for 3 posthumous awards.

Though the Recording Academy drama has threatened to cloud the gala, Vilanova said that in terms of expanding possibilities for artists, the Grammys appear to be taking baby steps toward structural change.

"I hesitate to call it a sea change -- progress in these areas rarely happens in a straight line," he said.

"It's not that one artist should win -- what we want to ask is, 'Do the Grammys actually represent what the music industry sounds like and looks like?'"

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NBA: Lakers overtake Cavs, pull away for blowout win

Avery Bradley ignited a third-quarter run with a 3-pointer Monday night as the Los Angeles Lakers, after trailing the entire first half, blew past the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers for a 128-99 victory.

LeBron James scored a game-high 31 points while Dwight Howard recorded 21 points and 15 rebounds off the bench, helping the Lakers win their ninth straight while snapping Cleveland's two-game winning streak.

Kevin Love (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Tristan Thompson (17 points, 10 rebounds) had double-doubles for the Cavaliers, who had opened a six-game trip with victories at Detroit and Denver.


Love, Darius Garland and Thompson each had a hoop as Cleveland scored the game's first six points en route to as much as a 10-point lead in the first quarter and a 14-point advantage in the second.

The Lakers rallied within 48-47 by halftime, and they still trailed 56-55 after a Garland layup in the fifth minute of the third quarter.

Bradley's 3-pointer with 7:38 left in the third gave Los Angeles the lead for good and began a 13-0 burst that also included a three-point play by James. JaVale McGee's jumper with 5:10 left in the period capped the run and gave the Lakers a 68-56 lead.

The Lakers were up by 14 at quarter's end and gradually pulled away over the final 12 minutes in the opener of a two-game homestand.

James' 31 points came on 12-of-16 shooting from the floor. He also found time for a game-high eight assists.

Bradley finished with 12 points, and he was followed by Kyle Kuzma with 11 and Danny Green and Alex Caruso with 10 apiece.

The Lakers outshot the Cavaliers 54.5 percent to 44.7 percent.

All five Cavaliers starters scored in double figures, with Collin Sexton (16), Garland (16) and Cedi Osman (15) joining Love and Thompson in the distinction.

The Cavaliers shot just 7-for-25 on 3-point attempts, with Osman accounting for four of the seven successes. The Lakers hit 11 of 30 tries from behind the arc.

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NBA: Davis, James dominate as Lakers win 5th straight

Anthony Davis recorded 24 points, 11 rebounds and a season-best eight blocked shots to help the Los Angeles Lakers register a 106-99 victory over the visiting Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

LeBron James added 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his ninth triple-double of the season as the Lakers won their fifth consecutive game. Los Angeles blocked 20 shots, one shy of the franchise mark set against the Denver Nuggets on April 9, 1982.

Alex Caruso scored 13 points, Dwight Howard added 11 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 10 for the Lakers. 

JaVale McGee swatted away six shots for Los Angeles, which shot 45.7 percent from the field and was 6 of 20 from 3-point range.

Derrick Rose scored 28 points and reserve Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk added 14 points for the Pistons, who lost for the ninth time in the past 11 games. 

Langston Galloway tallied 13 points, Andre Drummond had 12 points, 18 rebounds and four blocked shots, while Sekou Doumbouya and Christian Wood added 11 points apiece.

Detroit shot 37.2 percent from the field and hit 11 of 26 from behind the arc.

Lakers guard Avery Bradley (ankle) departed in the second quarter and didn't return. X-rays were negative but he is expected to miss some time.

Rose's 3-pointer pulled Detroit within 98-97 with 1:52 left. Davis then hit a corner 3-pointer and scored on a layup with 32.5 seconds left -- Drummond was called for goaltending on the latter shot -- as Los Angeles took a six-point lead en route to closing it out.

Detroit trailed by nine at halftime and finally led for the first time all night when Mykhailiuk buried a 3-pointer to make it 76-74 with 1:22 left in the third quarter. Galloway followed with a trey to make it a five-point margin with 59.3 seconds remaining.

Los Angeles scored the final point of the third quarter to trail 79-75 and erupted for the first 15 of the fourth period. Rajon Rondo's layup tied the score and Caruso tallied five points in 27 seconds to give the Lakers an 88-79 advantage with 8:34 to play.

Kuzma capped the burst with a layup with 7:42 left. The Pistons responded with nine straight points, and Mykhailiuk's 3-pointer cut Los Angeles' lead to 90-88 with 5:52 left.

Detroit went ahead 92-91 after two free throws by Rose with 4:51 left before the Lakers scored 15 of the game's final 22 points.

Los Angeles led 56-47 at the break with Davis already having six of his blocks.

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NBA: Lakers jump all over Suns, then hang on for win

LeBron James recorded his eighth triple-double of the season with 31 points, 12 assists and 13 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the visiting Phoenix Suns 117-107 on Wednesday night after blowing much of a 36-point lead.

Anthony Davis scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Lakers won their third consecutive contest and handed the Suns their ninth loss in 11 games. Kyle Kuzma added 19 points and Avery Bradley finished with 18 for Los Angeles.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 32 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 26. Deandre Ayton finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds off the bench.

Phoenix used an 18-4 run to open the fourth quarter to close within 105-97 after a dunk by Ayton with 4:36 remaining. Another slam and a bucket inside by Oubre sliced the lead to seven with 2:13 left.

However, James' layup pushed the lead to 112-103 with 1:19 remaining. The Suns got no closer than seven the rest of the way as James clinched the win with free throws.

The Suns outscored the Lakers 66-43 in the second half.

The Lakers took command from the start before their poor performance in the fourth. They hit their first 11 shots from the floor en route to a 29-point lead in the first period. The Lakers finished the quarter ahead 43-17, their highest output in a quarter this season.

The Lakers outshot the Suns 70.4 percent to 26.1 percent in the quarter. Davis scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while Bradley added 10.

For the game, the Suns outshot the Lakers 48.8 percent to 47.8 percent.

Los Angeles held a 74-41 lead at the break.

With a second-quarter steal, Lakers center Dwight Howard became the sixth NBA player with 13,000 rebounds, 2,000 blocks and 1,000 steals, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Robert Parish, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.

Lakers reserve guard Alex Caruso left the contest with right calf tightness.

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NBA: Davis leads Lakers past banged-up Mavs

Anthony Davis had 23 points and nine rebounds as the host Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 108-95, on Sunday night at Staples Center.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 19 points, converting 5 of 9 shots and 4 of 5 3-pointers, off the bench for the Lakers, while Dwight Howard scored all 15 of his points in the first half. On the eve of his 35th birthday, LeBron James finished with 13 points and 13 assists.

Luka Doncic, who entered the contest as the NBA's third-leading scorer at 29.1 points per game, had 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting to go with seven assists. He was 0 for 6 on 3-pointers. Delon Wright added 14 points off the bench, while Kristaps Porzingis managed 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting.

The Lakers outshot the Mavericks 48.7 percent to 36 percent.

The Mavericks got a scare in the second quarter when Doncic crashed to the floor after being fouled by Howard on a drive to the bucket. He left the game with 2:02 remaining in the quarter but returned for the second half.

Dallas wasn't as fortunate with Tim Hardaway Jr. Hardaway left the contest with 5:26 remaining in the first quarter after sustaining a hamstring injury. Hardaway, who had 25 points in the Mavericks' win at Golden State on Saturday, appeared to have hurt himself after a breakaway dunk. He did not return, finishing with two points on 1-of-5 shooting in seven minutes.

A 3-pointer by Porzingis pulled the Mavericks within 35-31 midway through the second quarter but a 16-7 surge by the Lakers allowed them to take a 51-38 lead after two free throws by James with 2:11 left.

Los Angeles led, 54-43, at the break.

The Lakers increased the margin to as much as 17 in the third quarter before taking an 84-69 advantage heading in the fourth.

The Mavericks got no closer than 11 the rest of the way.

The Lakers are 11-4 at home. Dallas dropped to 12-4 on the road.

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NBA: George, Leonard send Clippers past Suns

Paul George scored 24 points and Kawhi Leonard added 20, guiding the Los Angeles Clippers to a 120-99 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.

Lou Williams, who returned from a two-game absence due to a sore calf, had 20 points and eight assists for the Clippers, who are 14-1 at home and winners of five of their last seven contests. Williams converted 5 of 7 3-pointers and made 7 of 13 shots from the floor.

Los Angeles reserve Montrezl Harrell finished with 15 points, while Ivica Zubac had 12 points.

Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19 points for the Suns, who lost their fourth consecutive contest. Deandre Ayton, who returned from his 25-game suspension for testing positive for a diuretic, finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, seven of those on the offensive end. Frank Kaminsky chipped in 12 points and nine boards.

The Suns played without guard Devin Booker, their leading scorer at 25 points per game. Booker missed his third straight contest with a right forearm contusion.

The Clippers blew the game open in the third quarter. They used a 13-4 burst capped by a 3-pointer by Leonard with 2:16 left in the third to seize an 81-62 advantage. Leonard scored 12 in the quarter as Los Angeles outscored Phoenix, 36-25, to take a 90-69 lead heading into the fourth.

Phoenix got no closer than 15 the rest of the way.

The Clippers held a 54-44 edge at the break. Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, with the Clippers hitting 38.8 percent of their shots to 40 percent for the Suns. Overall, the Clippers outshot the Suns 50.6 percent to 40.2 percent. Los Angeles was 14 of 32 on 3-pointers (43.8 percent) to 10 of 35 (28.6 percent) for Phoenix.

George had three of the Clippers' 14 steals.

Clippers reserve forward JaMychal Green sat out his fifth consecutive game with a tailbone contusion.

Phoenix also was without guard Tyler Johnson, who missed his second contest in a row with an illness.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Davis drops 50 in Lakers’ win over Timberwolves

Anthony Davis scored a season-high 50 points, sparking the Los Angeles Lakers to a 142-125 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

Davis connected on 20 of 29 shots from the floor and converted all 10 of his free throws in 39 minutes. It was his fourth career 50-plus scoring game. Davis also had seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

LeBron James had 32 points and 13 assists for the Lakers, who won their fourth in a row and 14th in 15 games. Alex Caruso added 16 points, while Danny Green finished with 12.

Andrew Wiggins, who missed Friday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a left thumb sprain, and Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 19 points each. Josh Okogie added 18 points, while Robert Covington had 16 for the Timberwolves, who lost their fourth consecutive contest. Eight players scored in double figures for the Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves rallied from several double-digit deficits throughout the contest before fading in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles used a 16-4 burst to seize a 103-84 lead after a 3-pointer by Caruso with 4:14 left in the third, but Minnesota cut the gap with a 19-7 run to pull within 110-103 heading into the fourth. Towns scored 13 points in the third.

The Timberwolves trailed by 11 early in the second quarter before putting together a 24-9 surge for a 55-51 lead after three free throws by Covington at 5:27. However, the Lakers closed the half on an 11-0 run for a 73-65 advantage at the break.

Davis scored 27 points in the first half, while James had 16 before intermission despite being limited by foul trouble.

The Lakers shot 61.2 percent to 50 percent for the Wolves in the first half. Overall, Los Angeles outshot Minnesota 58.5 percent to 51.8 percent. The Lakers committed just 10 turnovers to 15 for the Timberwolves. The Lakers also outrebounded the Timberwolves, 41-33.

Lakers reserve guard Rajon Rondo sat out the contest with a strained hamstring. He is listed as day-to-day.

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NBA: Streaking Lakers down Thunder, as OKC road woes continue

Anthony Davis scored 34 points and LeBron James added a triple-double as the Los Angeles Lakers held to extend their winning streak to five games with a 112-107 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

James finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to give him his fifth triple-double of the season and first in his career against the Thunder. He became the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double against every team.

Davis shot 13 of 24 from the field to break out of a mini slump. He was held under 20 points in each of his previous two games, including a 14-point performance Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 13 points, including a 3-pointer with 55.3 seconds remaining to put the Lakers up 112-107 after the Thunder had scrambled back to within two points after a late 9-0 run.

Rajon Rondo dished out 10 assists for the Lakers, nine of which came in the first half. James reached double digits in assists for the sixth consecutive game and for the 11th time this season. He leads the NBA with an average of 11.1 assists per game.

Dennis Schroder scored 31 points and Danilo Gallinari added 25 for Oklahoma City. The Thunder lost for the fourth time in their past five games, including back-to-back defeats at Los Angeles, as they fell 90-88 to the Clippers on Monday. Oklahoma is 0-6 on the road this season.

Schroder's offensive outburst had the Thunder within 90-87 near the end of the third quarter. The seventh-year guard had already reached his season high in scoring before the start of the final quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 points for Oklahoma City while Nerlens Noel added 15. Chris Paul had 10 assists for the Thunder but was held to just four points on 1-of-7 shooting.

The Lakers, who improved to 8-1 at home, next head out on a four-game trip. The Thunder will get another crack at Los Angeles in a game at Oklahoma City on Friday.

The Lakers' Kyle Kuzma played just nine minutes after he took a finger to the right eye in the second quarter from the Thunder's Darius Bazley, drawing blood. Kuzma watched the second half from the bench.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Even without Davis, Lakers rout Warriors

LeBron James had 23 points, 12 assists and six rebounds in three quarters, and the Los Angeles Lakers coasted to a 120-94 victory over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles center JaVale McGee finished with 18 points, 17 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, three blocks and three steals against his former team. 

Dwight Howard added 15 points and eight boards for the Lakers, who won for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points while starting for Los Angeles in place of Anthony Davis, who was rested since he is dealing with shoulder and rib soreness.

D'Angelo Russell scored 21 points for Golden State, which has lost five in a row. Russell had scored at least 30 points in each of his previous four contests. Rookie Eric Paschall had 15 points for the Warriors.

Los Angeles got off to a sizzling start, using a 12-0 run for a 29-15 lead after a 3-pointer by Alex Caruso with 4:11 left in the first quarter. 

The Lakers led 38-26 at the end of the quarter, having hit 69.6 percent of their shots from the floor, including 5 of 8 3-point attempts. James scored 11 points in the first.

The Warriors managed 50 percent shooting in the quarter but misfired on 5 of 6 3-point tries. Overall on the night, Los Angeles hit 53.9 percent of its field-goal attempts to 40.4 percent for Golden State.

The Lakers dominated the glass, compiling a 51-33 rebounding edge. They also topped 30 assists for the fourth consecutive game, finishing with 31 compared to 29 for the Warriors.

After trailing by double digits for much of the first half, the Warriors launched a brief rally in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to seven before the Lakers seized a 67-55 edge at the break.

In the third, the Lakers blew the game open.

Lakers reserve guard Rajon Rondo, who made his season debut Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns after missing nine games with a strained right calf, didn't play since the club did not want him to appear in back-to-back contests yet.

Los Angeles guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left the game in the second half due to a left ankle injury.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

KSI defeats Paul in bout of YouTube boxers

LOS ANGELES - Olajide "KSI" Olatunji prevailed in a split decision over Logan Paul in a boxing bout between YouTube celebrities on Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

In a slugfest between the two inexperienced fighters, Briton KSI got the decision on the scorecard after six wild rounds.

Two judges scored the fight 57-54, 56-55 in favor over KSI, while one had it 56-55 for Paul.

Each boxer seemed to throw all of their force in the opening three rounds before tiring.

American Paul landed a big uppercut in the fourth round but was deducted two points when he pulled KSI down to the canvas and hit him in the back of the head.

KSI was allowed time to recover, and he did so in a big way by getting the best of the final furious three minutes of the fight.

"I’m a dog. I don’t stop, I keep going,” KSI said, following the win.

"I was scared to fight last time, I was scared to get close to him; this time I just kept going. I’ve done it, I’m victorious.”

Paul paid respect to his opponent.

"I just want to say fair play to JJ, you're one of the toughest people I know," Paul said. "He had my respect before the fight, it was all for show. I wish you the best. You'll see me in the squared circle again, I'll be back!"

The online personalities, who boast 20 million YouTube subscribers each, fought to a draw at Manchester Arena in August 2018 before setting up a rematch.

Prior to Saturday's bout, Paul's brother Jake, also a well-known YouTuber, announced that he has wants to fight KSI.

"I want KSI. I am waiting patiently in the stands tonight to watch Logan beat KSI, and then it's my turn," Jake said. 

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles Editing by Robert Birsel)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Lakers get by Heat for seventh straight victory

Anthony Davis scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and LeBron James added 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, leading host Los Angeles Lakers past the Miami Heat 95-80 on Friday night.

Miami was led by Jimmy Butler, who put up 22 points after scoring 34 in his previous game. Heat backup point guard Goran Dragic added 19 points off the bench. 

But the Heat shot just 35 percent from the floor, including 17.1 percent on 3-pointers (6-for-35). It was Miami's lowest-scoring and poorest-shooting game of the season.

James, who led Miami to two NBA titles before bolting, had produced triple-doubles in his previous three games, becoming the first Lakers player to achieve that feat since Magic Johnson in 1987. 

But James fell short of a triple on Friday, dishing 6 assists and snatching 4 rebounds.

The Lakers have won 7 straight games, the longest active win streak in the Western Conference. The Lakers are 4-0 at home this season and haven't lost anywhere since their season opener.

Miami, which won 124-108 on Thursday night at the Phoenix Suns, played on shorter rest. The Lakers had been off since Tuesday.

Guard Avery Bradley, who missed the Lakers' previous game due to a contusion on his right leg, returned to the starting lineup and scored 9 points in 25 minutes.

The Heat were without starting forward Justise Winslow and backup wing Derrick Jones (hip injury). Winslow has missed four straight games, first with lower-back stiffness and now with a headache.

Los Angeles, which led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, settled for a 28-21 advantage at the end of 12 minutes. 

Davis was brilliant in that quarter, going 5-for-5 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the foul line, totaling 12 points. Miami, meanwhile, missed all four of its 3-pointers and got outrebounded 16-7.

Miami won the second quarter and cut its deficit to 48-46 by halftime. A key for the Heat was they got to the foul line more than the Lakers in the first half, making 13-of-15. Los Angeles went 2-for-2.

The Lakers, though, stretched their lead to 14 points before ending the third quarter with a 78-66 advantage.

James was then the difference in the fourth quarter as the Lakers cruised.

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Leonard shines against former team in Clippers win

Kawhi Leonard delivered 38 points, Montrezl Harrell chipped in 24 and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated San Antonio 103-97 on Thursday to knock the Spurs off their undefeated perch.

Leonard, who did not dress for Wednesday's game at Utah so he could rest, also grabbed 12 rebounds for his first double-double this season.

"I have the heart of a champion and I just tried to stay focused," said Leonard, who played seven seasons with the Spurs from 2011 to 2018.

Leonard has now scored 30 or more points in three of his first five games with the Clippers, who he signed with as a free agent during the offseason.

DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and Derrick White added 20 for the Spurs, who suffered their first loss of the young season dropping to 3-1.

After so much time with the Spurs, Leonard's relationship with the team eventually deteriorated. He was traded in July 2018 to the Toronto Raptors in a deal that sent DeRozan to Texas.

Leonard went on to lead the Raptors to their first NBA title last season in a six-game victory against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. But the title wasn't enough to keep Leonard in Toronto.

The Spurs were eliminated in the first round last year by the Denver Nuggets.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said Leonard didn't develop into one of the best players in the league by accident. He is one of the hardest working players on and off the court in the NBA.

"From where he started from to where he is at now is amazing," said Rivers of Leonard who had 25 points in the second half. "Every young player who has a chance to see the work, should understand you don't get better without the work."

Los Angeles seized control of the contest with a 9-1 run to take a 64-55 lead with 6:55 remaining in the third quarter.

Leonard scored five of his 10 third-quarter points during the rally, including stealing the ball off DeRozan and going in for a dunk.

San Antonio got within five at the end of the third quarter before the Clippers scored 11 of the first 13 points in the fourth quarter. San Antonio clawed their way back to make it 97-93 late in the fourth but the Clippers held on for the win.

- Best rookie start -
Elsewhere, undrafted guard Kendrick Nunn scored a career-high 28 points to power the Miami Heat to a 106-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Nunn has exploded on the scene as an NBA rookie and is now the all-time leader for most points through the first five games for an undrafted player in league history with 112 points.

Connie Hawkins of the Phoenix Suns scored 105 points in his first five games of the 1969-70 season.

"It's surreal a little bit... All I needed was the opportunity," said Nunn, who scored 14 points in the third quarter. 

Nunn has scored at least 24 points three times in Miami's first five games, including a 24 point performance against Memphis in his opening game on October 23.

Also, Jahlil Okafor scored 26 points, Brandon Ingram dropped in 25 and the host New Orleans Pelicans beat the Denver Nuggets 122-107 for their first victory in five games.

gph/rbu

source: news.abs-cbn.com