Saturday, May 8, 2021
NBA MVP race: Nikola Jokic, paborito pa rin para sa MVP trophy ngayong season
Hindi pa rin natitibag sa pangunguna si Nikola Jokic ng Denver Nuggets sa Kia MVP race ng NBA ngayong season.
Ngunit tila nais na munang pagpahingahin ni coach Michael Malone ang manlalaro sa mga natitirang laban ng Nuggets sa regular season upang paghandaan ang NBA playoffs, bagay na tinututulan ni Jokic.
“Nikola and I have been together for six years,” ani Malone matapos ang 117-112 na panalo kontra Charlotte Hornets.
“We have a tremendous relationship: coach-player, friend, whatever you want to call it. So, we’ve been having an ongoing discussion about potentially reducing minutes, potentially sitting out games,” dagdag nito base sa ulat sa NBA website.
Ayon pa kay Malone, bagama't nauunawaan nito ang kagustuhan ni Jokic na maglaro sa lahat ng kanilang laban, kailangan din umano nilang ikonsidera ang magiging kampanya ng koponan sa postseason.
“We have already sustained enough injuries. We don’t need the MVP, the clear-cut MVP, to have any injuries going into the postseason,” saad ni Malone.
Umabot sa 12 laro ang hindi nasalihan ni Monte Morris dahil sa hamstring injury habang patuloy na may iniinda sina Will Barton (right hamstring) at P.J. Dozier (right adductor).
Hindi na rin nagamit ng Nuggets ang serbisyo ni Jamal Murray nang tuluyang magpaalam sa season dahil sa torn ACL.
Samantala, nakumpleto ni Jokic ang lahat ng laro ng kaniyang koponan kabilang na ang panalo nila kontra Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-103, kung saan tumipa ito ng 31 puntos at 14 rebounds sa 32 minutong paglalaro.
“I wanted to play every game as long as I’m healthy. Everybody’s talking to me. So, I’m going to think about it. My goal and my hope is to play every game,” pahayag ni Jokic.
Dahil sa kaniyang 30-point double-double performance kontra Hornets, napanatili nito ang paghawak sa unang puwesto sa MVP ladder.
“I can just say that I think this season is probably the best season I’ve had in my life. The team, we’re playing good the whole season. We had ups and downs, but mainly we are going in the right direction. If it happens, [it] happens,” sabi ng basketbolista.
Narito ang Top 10 sa 2020-2021 Kia Race to the MVP ladder ngayong linggo.
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
5. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
6. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
7. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns
8. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
9. Julius Randle, New York Knicks
10. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
NBA: Nikola Vucevic's triple-double propels Bulls past Celtics
Nikola Vucevic scored 18 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished 10 assists to record his fourth career triple-double, and the host Chicago Bulls cruised to a 121-99 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday night.
Vucevic became the first Chicago player to log a triple-double since Jimmy Butler accomplished the feat on April 6, 2017, at Philadelphia.
Chicago's Coby White finished with 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including a 7-of-12 success from beyond the 3-point arc. Zach LaVine also scored 25 for the Bulls (28-39), who won for the second time in as many nights after dropping their previous four games in a row.
Kemba Walker scored a season-high 33 points to lead Boston (35-32). Evan Fournier contributed 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, but Jayson Tatum made only 3 of 15 shots from the field and finished with nine points.
The Bulls put the game away with a 12-0 run to grab a 112-92 advantage with 3:02 remaining. LaVine buried a 3-pointer to cap the run, which followed a push by the Celtics to cut the deficit to eight points with 5:19 to go.
The Celtics opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to pull within 94-82. Daniel Theis broke the Bulls' scoring drought with a basket with 8:31 remaining.
Chicago led by as many as 21 points late in the third quarter. A driving layup by Thaddeus Young put the Bulls on top 91-70 with 49.6 seconds left, but Boston responded with a free throw by Tristan Thompson and a 3-pointer by Walker to pull within 17.
After Walker was called for a technical foul, Lauri Markkanen closed the fourth quarter with three free throws to make it 94-74.
The Bulls held a 60-46 lead heading into halftime.
Chicago closed the second quarter on a 21-12 run to take control. White drained a trio of 3-pointers during the scoring outburst, with Vucevic assisting on two of the baskets and Young assisting on another.
Vucevic also made a 3-pointer during the run. Patrick Williams capped the first-half scoring for the Bulls when he made a 3-pointer off an assist from Vucevic with 31 seconds to go.
The Celtics led 28-25 after a layup by Luke Kornet with 1:29 left in the first quarter, but the Bulls scored the next five points on a 3-pointer by Javonte Green and a jump shot by Tomas Satoransky to take a 30-28 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulls played in front of fans on their home court for the first time since March 10, 2020.
NBA: Sixers survive battle with shorthanded Pelicans
Joel Embiid had 37 points and 13 rebounds and the host Philadelphia 76ers held on for a 109-107 victory over the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
It was Embiid's 16th game this season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. Embiid was 11 of 20 from the field and 12 of 12 from the free throw line.
Tobias Harris scored 17 points, Seth Curry added 16 and George Hill had 11 for the Sixers (46-21), who won their seventh in a row. Ben Simmons had 10 assists.
Jaxson Hayes led the Pelicans with 19 points, and Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe added 18 apiece. Seven players reached double figures for New Orleans (30-37).
The Pelicans turned the ball over in the final few seconds down by two.
The Pelicans' lineup was depleted with the absence of Zion Williamson (left ring finger), Brandon Ingram (left low ankle sprain), Josh Hart (right thumb), Steven Adams (toe) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (left ankle).
The Pelicans stayed close and trailed only 48-46 after Jaxson Hayes led an 11-0 run with 5:01 left in the second quarter.
Curry hit his third straight 3-pointer to help the Sixers extend their lead to 55-47 with 3:31 left in the second.
Embiid scored 23 points as the Sixers led 70-54 at halftime. Hayes led the Pelicans with 19.
Embiid continued his stellar play with 10 early points in the third for an 80-69 Sixers advantage.
The Pelicans' scrappy defense helped them get within 84-80 after Ball hit a trey with 4:15 remaining in the third.
The Pelicans outscored the Sixers 37-18 and pulled ahead 91-88 at the end of the third.
Harris dropped in a 3-pointer from the wing, but the Sixers still trailed 101-100 with 7:17 left in the game. On their next possession, Harris drove to the basket and scored as the Sixers went back ahead by one.
Ball scored in the lane with 1:47 left for a 107-104 Pelicans lead.
Embiid made two free throws and Harris connected on a trey from the corner for a 109-107 Sixers advantage with 1:10 to go.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/08/21/nba-sixers-survive-battle-with-shorthanded-pelicans
NBA: Heat climb East standings with win over Timberwolves
Tyler Herro scored 27 points to spark the host Miami Heat during a 121-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Herro, who missed the previous six games due to an injury to his right foot, sparked the Heat (36-31) with 14 first-half points on 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range. Herro finished with a season-high six made 3-pointers on eight attempts.
Jimmy Butler also returned after missing the Heat's previous game due to flu-like symptoms unrelated to COVID-19.
Butler finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals as Miami climbed up to sixth place in the Eastern Conference and one game ahead of the Boston Celtics.
The Heat's next two games are at Boston on Sunday and Tuesday.
Miami also moved to within half a game behind fifth-place Atlanta.
Minnesota (20-47) lost its third in a row despite Karl-Anthony Towns' 27 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Heat shot 53.5 percent in the first half and 50.6 percent overall, and their bench outscored the Timberwolves' reserves 57-19.
Goran Dragic added to Miami's depth once again off the bench, scoring 15 of his 23 points in the first half. Dragic was clutch late as well, making back-to-back 3-pointers in the final two minutes to help Miami pull away.
Minnesota keyed on Bam Adebayo for most of the night defensively, but he still managed to score 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Kendrick Nunn also had 12 points.
Timberwolves rookie Anthony Edwards totaled 25 points, and Ricky Rubio finished with 16 points and nine assists. Jarred Vanderbilt had 11 rebounds and five steals to go with eight points.
D'Angelo Russell was ejected with 4:35 left in the third quarter after drawing two technical fouls in a row.
Russell finished with 17 points, four assists, and three rebounds in 26 minutes. Rubio, Towns and Minnesota coach Chris Finch also picked up technical fouls.
The Heat played without Victor Oladipo (right knee) for the 15th consecutive game.
Minnesota guard Malik Beasley remained out with a grade 3 left hamstring strain, along with Jarrett Culver (right ankle surgery) and Jaden McDaniels (personal reasons).
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/08/21/nba-heat-climb-east-standings-with-win-over-timberwolves
Nothing can stop Olympics from going ahead: IOC's Coates
International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates was adamant Saturday that nothing could stop the Tokyo Olympics from going ahead, despite ongoing risks from COVID-19.
Asked by AFP if there was any scenario in which the Games, which are due to start in July, could be cancelled or postponed at this late stage, he replied: "No, there's not."
More details to follow.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/08/21/japan-olympics-will-push-through
NBA: Hornets aim for bounce-back game against Magic
The Charlotte Hornets will meet another team outside the playoff mix when the Orlando Magic pay a visit Friday night.
The Hornets hope they put together a better performance than the last time they played a team on the outside looking in.
"We've just got to keep pushing, no excuses," Hornets coach James Borrego said.
The eighth-place Hornets (32-34) are coming off a puzzling performance in their 120-99 home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. They have more work to do to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Charlotte committed 15 turnovers, and even 16-for-35 shooting on 3-pointers wasn't enough to overcome them.
The Magic (21-45) have been eliminated from playoff contention. Orlando is 3-8 across its past 11 games with six games remaining.
The Magic had a practice day Thursday that coach Steve Clifford said he hopes was a good chance to work out some kinks.
"There are some of the things at this level, whether guys have been together or not, that we should be able to do better than we are without a ton of practice time," Clifford said.
The Hornets are playing on back-to-back nights, but with the result of the Chicago game it puts additional emphasis on taking care of business against Orlando.
"I don't want to run these guys into the ground," Borrego said.
The Hornets' situation is further complicated by the status of forward Miles Bridges, who is out of action because of the NBA's health and safety protocols.
With that development, Charlotte moved center Bismack Biyombo into the starting lineup, though that shift likely was based on matchups and Borrego could go with another set-up for the Orlando game. Biyombo provide two points and six rebounds in 18 minutes.
It also was a dismal outing for rookie sensation LaMelo Ball, who shot 1 for 10 from the field for four points, though he supplied nine assists.
And Charlotte didn't have guard Devonte' Graham again because of knee discomfort.
The good news for the Hornets is that Malik Monk poured in 20 points, which might be a sign that he's returning to form. He made 6 of 11 attempts from 3-point range. Also on the plus side, P.J. Washington returned after missing a game because of personal reasons.
Rebounding on the defensive end was among the problem areas for the Hornets, who often have a significant size disadvantage.
"We've got to clean that up," Borrego said.
Orlando is also coming off a lopsided loss with Wednesday night's 132-96 pounding from the Boston Celtics.
Clifford said the transition defense wasn't up to his standards. The Magic's offense had some glitches as well.
"We're just inconsistent with the times the ball hits the paint," Clifford said.
Orlando will be without forward Wendell Carter Jr., who wasn't slated to be on the trip to Charlotte as he deals with an injured left eye, Clifford said. Carter averages 11.5 points per game.
According to reports out of Orlando, the Magic are set to add Admiral Schofield to the roster. Schofield recently played for Charlotte's G League team in the Orlando bubble.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/08/21/nba-hornets-aim-for-bounce-back-game-against-magic
NBA: Luka Doncic, Mavericks meet reeling Cavaliers
The Dallas Mavericks, who have won five of their past six games, face the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night in their continuing quest for a favorable playoff seeding.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are playing out the season and will be trying to end an eight-game losing streak.
This will be the first meeting of the season between the teams, who will meet again Sunday in Cleveland.
The Mavericks (38-28) defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets 113-109 Thursday night for their eighth win in their past 10 games. They've only lost three times since April 18, and all three came against the Sacramento Kings.
Luka Doncic had 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists on Thursday for the Mavericks, who are trying to avoid the play-in tournament. They are in fifth place in the Western Conference with six games to play -- none against opponents who currently have records over .500.
The Mavericks played Thursday night without Kristaps Porzingis (sore right knee) and Maxi Kleber (sore right Achilles).
It was the fourth consecutive game Porzingis has missed since leaving the Mavericks' April 29 win over the Pistons in the third quarter. He hasn't played a full game since April 21.
Dallas is 14-12 in the 26 games Porzingis has missed.
Kleber has missed 18 games this season.
"Maxi's just had an unlucky year," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "He turned his ankle three or four times this season. A couple of times it's happened and the whistle had already blown. He kind of steps on somebody's foot. This Achilles thing is something that he's been dealing with for a while. It's just been a lot. He's gone through COVID, probably a bit more of a severe case of COVID when that happened in January, so we're going to take a little time here."
Carlisle said before Thursday's game that Porzingis was doubtful for the game on Friday. "Just my opinion on kind of what I've gathered in the past 24 hours," Carlisle said. "But he is making progress."
Carlisle said that he does expect Porzingis "to play regular-season games at some point. I don't know exactly when."
The Cavaliers (21-45) were a tired team when they lost 141-105 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
They had lost the night before in overtime to the Phoenix Suns.
"I thought we tried," Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the loss to Portland. "I thought our guys were exhausted. Through the first 24 (minutes) we competed and we gave what we had, but I thought in the second half they had more juice than we did and took advantage of it. I thought our guys gave what they had (Wednesday). We just didn't have enough in the tank."
Isaac Okoro, known for his defensive play, gave a possible glimpse of his future with his performance against Phoenix. He scored a career-best 32 points in 47 minutes.
"It was just me being more aggressive tonight," Okoro said. "Just looking to attack the paint, get into the lane and to the free-throw line and then finding my teammates. I feel like I'm an all-around player. Try to do everything to help my team win."
"We're going to do more to get him involved and help him explore the offensive side of the ball more," Bickerstaff said. "And he took it to heart. He did exactly what we asked him to do."
Against Portland the next night, however, Okoro scored seven points on 2-for-9 shooting.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/08/21/nba-luka-doncic-mavericks-meet-reeling-cavaliers
Japan extends COVID emergency in Tokyo, PM Suga says Olympics still going ahead
TOKYO - Japan extended on Friday a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May to stem a surge in coronavirus cases, but Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated that it is still possible to host Tokyo Olympics this summer.
The government had hoped a "short and powerful" state of emergency would contain a fourth wave of infection, but new cases in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are still at high levels, Suga said.
Extending the state of emergency to May 31 from May 11 will leave a margin of less than two months before the July 23 start of the Games, which were postponed last year because of the pandemic.
Responding to a question at a news conference about continued public unease about the Games, Suga reiterated his stance that Japan can host "a safe and secure Olympics" while following appropriate COVID-19 containment measures.
As of Friday, more than 230,000 people had signed a Japanese online petition calling for the Olympics to be cancelled.
"We are putting all our efforts into stemming the spread of infections," Suga said, after acknowledging that he was "aware" of concerns about the Games.
Suga said Olympics organisers were considering a series of measures that would protect the health and lives of the Japanese public.
Japan has not suffered as badly from pandemic as other countries but its vaccination campaign has been slow. So far only around 2% of the population of about 126 million has received at least one vaccine dose, according to Reuters data.
Suga promised to fast-track the government's inoculation efforts and said it aimed to administer 1 million shots a day. He did not give a timetable for this, but said he hoped to have all elderly people wanting to get shots inoculated by the end of July.
Overall, Japan has recorded 618,197 coronavirus cases and 10,585 deaths, government figures show.
Osaka prefecture reported 1,005 new cases on Friday while Tokyo had 907. At one nursing home in Osaka, 61 residents were infected with the coronavirus and 14 died while waiting to be hospitalised, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Under the extended state of emergency, bars, restaurants, karaoke parlours and other places serving alcohol will remain closed, although large commercial facilities can re-open under shorter hours. Hard-hit Tokyo and Osaka will continue to keep these larger facilities closed.
EXTENDED MEASURES
The government also placed Aichi prefecture, home to Toyota Motor Corp, and Fukuoka prefecture in the southwest under a state of emergency - joining Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo and Kyoto, where current measures began on April 25.
The northern island of Hokkaido and two other prefectures were added to regions under a "quasi state of emergency," now totalling eight of the 47 prefectures.
Think tanks forecast more pain for the economy ahead.
Nomura Research Institute estimated in a report the government's latest measures would lead to a total economic loss of about 1.76 trillion yen ($16.13 billion), while Dai-ichi Life Research Institute estimated the extended and expanded states of emergency could slash 45,000 jobs.
Dai-ichi Life said household consumption in the six prefectures covered by the state of emergency accounts for about 38% of the total.
Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto repeated on Friday that a decision on domestic spectators at the Games will be made by June. Foreign spectators have been banned.
Upcoming test events for the Olympics, including an athletics event at the weekend, will not be affected by the extension of the state of emergency. The diving World Cup, which featured more than 200 athletes from 50 countries, was held in Tokyo this past week under the current state of emergency.
But Fukuoka prefecture cancelled the Olympic torch relay scheduled for May 11 and 12 and is instead planning an alternative event in which torchbearers will pass the flame to each other, a prefectural official said.
(Reporting by Elaine Lies, Ritsuko Ando, Sakura Murakami, Daniel Leussink and Chang-Ran Kim Editing by Christopher Cushing, Kim Coghill, Chizu Nomiyama and Frances Kerry)
Boxing: Casimero says one mistake by Rigondeaux might end Cuban's career
Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News
After resting in his home province, WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero flew to Manila to kick off his preparations for his title match against Cuban fighter Guillermo Rigondeaux.
But he won't be staying here for long as he plans to move his training camp in the US very soon.
"Hinihintay na kami sa US ni Sir Sean (Gibbons). Gusto niya focus kami sa training. Nagbabatay talaga sa amin iyon at pagdating sa ensayo patayan talaga 'yan," Casimero told ABS-CBN News.
The three-weight world champion is most likely to be staying in Las Vegas again where he trained while waiting for Japanese unified world titleholder Naoya Inoue.
But the Inoue fight did not materialize, and he faced Duke Micah instead in September last year. He made short work of the Ghanaian, knocking Micah out in three rounds.
Now he has to battle Rigondeaux for the WBA regular bantamweight crown.
Casimero believes he has the edge over the 40-year-old counter punching specialist because of their disparity in age.
"Aang alam ko sa edad niya parang nababawasan na rin ang lakas at stamina niya. Pero tiyak kong paghahandaan niya ng mabuti ang laban lalo't pinatulog kong huling anim na nakalaban ko," said the 31-year-old Ormoc native.
He said a single mistake by Rigondeaux in the ring might force the Cuban to retirement.
"Napaisip din niyan, alam natin pag napatulog ko 'yan babye na din 'yan," said Casimero.
The two are set to clash on August 14.
enchong_boystown12 with Arena AGL-1400 EMBL Swimming Glass (Mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6015 DGRN Rimic Nux-F
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