https://www.scmp.com/rss/322501/feed The NBA Play-offs are an annual best-of-seven elimination tournament held after the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s regular season to determine the league's champions. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Indiana Pacers, fuelled by a near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, outduelled the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 on Wednesday to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Haliburton scored 22 points with nine rebounds and 11 assists to spearhead a tremendous collective effort that included a career-playoff-high 27 points from reserve Bennedict Mathurin. The Pacers bench outscored Oklahoma City’s reserves 49-18 and Indiana wore down NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose 24 points included just... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3314108/nba-finals-tyrese-haliburton-shows-way-indiana-pacers-lead-oklahoma-city-thunder-2-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3314108/nba-finals-tyrese-haliburton-shows-way-indiana-pacers-lead-oklahoma-city-thunder-2-1?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:48:40 +0000 A Celtics team desperate for championship glory face Luka Doncic and a Dallas Mavericks squad eager to play spoiler in an intriguing NBA Finals match-up that tips off on Thursday in Boston. Led by superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the sharpshooting Celtics have had a relatively easy road to the finals. Coming out of the weaker Eastern Conference as the top seed, they breezed past the Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat, dispatched the Cleveland Cavaliers and swept past the Indiana Pacers, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3265582/luka-doncic-dallas-mavericks-stand-way-boston-celtics-18th-title-nba-finals-begin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3265582/luka-doncic-dallas-mavericks-stand-way-boston-celtics-18th-title-nba-finals-begin?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jun 2024 05:27:04 +0000 Former NBA champion Jeremy Lin thanked his fans after a sold out run of screenings for his new documentary, 38 at the Garden. The film – which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival this week – proved so popular with fans that organisers even added extra showings and seating. Directed by Frank Chi, the short examines how Lin sparked a turnaround for the New York Knicks in the 2011-12 season by scoring 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, launching the “Linsanity” movement and bringing him... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3182147/jeremy-lin-thanks-fans-linsanity-documentary-screenings-sell-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3182147/jeremy-lin-thanks-fans-linsanity-documentary-screenings-sell-out?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jun 2022 11:36:49 +0000 The Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 103-90 on Thursday to win the 2022 NBA Finals, capturing a fourth title in eight years and the seventh in franchise history. The Warriors completed a 4-2 triumph in the best-of-seven championship series and became just the second visiting team to lift the trophy on Boston’s home court, after the 1985 Los Angeles Lakers. Golden State star Steph Curry, who led the way for the visitors with 34 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, was named Most... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3182026/golden-state-warriors-win-nba-finals-game-6-demolition-boston?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3182026/golden-state-warriors-win-nba-finals-game-6-demolition-boston?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jun 2022 03:37:53 +0000 Andrew Wiggins scored 26 points as the Golden State Warriors battled past the Boston Celtics 104-94 to move within one win of a seventh NBA championship crown. With Stephen Curry having a rare off-night after his 43-point game four heroics, Wiggins seized control to lead a balanced Golden State offensive effort which leaves the Warriors 3-2 up in the best-of-seven series. Wiggins delivered a huge performance at both ends of the Warriors’ Chase Center court, shooting 12-of-23 while hauling in 13... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3181591/nba-finals-golden-state-warriors-brink-nba-title-wiggins-inspires?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3181591/nba-finals-golden-state-warriors-brink-nba-title-wiggins-inspires?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jun 2022 03:51:39 +0000 Stephen Curry produced a dazzling 43-point display as the Golden State Warriors battled past the Boston Celtics 107-97 to level the NBA Finals series at 2-2 on Friday. With the Warriors needing a victory at Boston’s TD Garden to avoid going down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, Curry delivered one of the best performances of his glittering career to reignite Golden State’s hopes of a seventh championship. Curry had entered Game 4 with concerns swirling over his fitness after suffering a knock to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3181320/nba-finals-golden-state-warriors-beat-boston-celtics-game-4-tie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3181320/nba-finals-golden-state-warriors-beat-boston-celtics-game-4-tie?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jun 2022 03:48:02 +0000 The Boston Celtics have retaken the lead in the 2022 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. At home for the first time in the series, the Celtics pulled away from the Warriors to win Game 3 116-100. Celtics withstood a third-quarter surge from Golden State, but refused to buckle and regained to lead the series 2-1 with four games remaining. Jaylen Brown scored 27 points, with Jayson Tatum adding 26 to propel the Celtics to a convincing victory. Marcus Smart, who led by as many as 18 in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3180978/nba-finals-boston-celtics-hold-golden-state-warriors-surge-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3180978/nba-finals-boston-celtics-hold-golden-state-warriors-surge-win?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jun 2022 03:58:51 +0000 Stephen Curry scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors roared back into NBA Finals contention with a series-levelling 107-88 game two victory over the Boston Celtics. Curry spearheaded a deadly display of Golden State shooting while a superb Warriors defensive effort shut down Boston’s key offensive weapons. The Warriors, who squandered a 12-point fourth quarter lead in game one, were in no mood to allow lightning to strike twice on Monday (HKT) as they cut loose to build a double-digit... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3180534/nba-finals-steph-curry-stars-golden-state-warriors-down-boston?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3180534/nba-finals-steph-curry-stars-golden-state-warriors-down-boston?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jun 2022 02:53:23 +0000 A resurgent Golden State Warriors are bidding to reclaim their throne at basketball’s summit against a Boston Celtics team chasing history when the NBA Finals tip-off later this week. After a gruelling regular season and a roller coaster playoff campaign, Golden State and Boston will open their best-of-seven finals showdown on Thursday (Friday 9am, HKT) in what has all the makings of a classic between two evenly matched teams. Two years ago, the once-mighty Warriors – the dominant NBA franchise... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3179967/nba-finals-golden-state-warriors-boston-celtics-clash-has-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3179967/nba-finals-golden-state-warriors-boston-celtics-clash-has-all?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jun 2022 06:30:29 +0000 Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered an NBA title for the Milwaukee Bucks with 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a 105-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the Finals on Tuesday night. Antetokounmpo scored 33 in the second half, including his 50th point on a game-sealing free throw with 9.8 seconds remaining. He was 17 of 19 from the foul line to give the Bucks their first championship since 1971. The 26-year-old Greek star received the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award after... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3141918/giannis-antetokounmpo-drops-50-points-milwaukee-bucks-win-nba?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3141918/giannis-antetokounmpo-drops-50-points-milwaukee-bucks-win-nba?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jul 2021 04:48:52 +0000 The Atlanta Hawks’ remarkable run through the NBA play-offs came to an end with a 118-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in game six of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night. The Hawks trailed by as many as 22 points before finding a second wind with Cam Reddish leading the comeback charge after recently returning from injury, but couldn’t quite pull off the comeback. They trimmed their deficit with six points with three and a half minutes remaining. But another comeback for the ages was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3139747/nba-play-offs-antetokounmpo-less-milwaukee-bucks-win-two-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3139747/nba-play-offs-antetokounmpo-less-milwaukee-bucks-win-two-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jul 2021 04:07:40 +0000 In 1964 the NFL champions Cleveland Browns did not need a parade to celebrate their big win. After all, they had been on a pretty good run. Over the previous 18 years they won eight titles, four in the NFL and four in the now-defunct All American Football Conference, while playing in 12 championship games. Their peerless running back Jim Brown was the best player in football and all of 28 years old. But a little more than one year later, Brown called the team from London where he was filming The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1980895/lebron-james-rises-above-hatred-become-clevelands-new-hero?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1980895/lebron-james-rises-above-hatred-become-clevelands-new-hero?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jun 2016 12:02:34 +0000 LeBron James reportedly joined an NBA All-Star line-up of talent on Thursday that will not play for the United States at the Rio Olympics, while Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant will try to bring the Americans a third consecutive gold medal. A flurry of reports ahead of next week’s announcement of the final US roster for Brazil was topped when Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will not play in August. “I could use... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1980596/lebrexit-weary-lebron-james-counts-himself-out-rio-olympic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1980596/lebrexit-weary-lebron-james-counts-himself-out-rio-olympic?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:47:04 +0000 LeBron James and Kyrie Irving became the first teammates to each top 40 points in the same NBA Finals game, and the Cleveland Cavaliers staved off elimination by beating the Golden State Warriors 112-97 on Tuesday morning (Hong Kong time). James had 41 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. Irving had 41 points on 17 for 24 shooting and added six assists for the Cavaliers. Game six of the series is on Friday morning (Hong Kong time) in Cleveland. Klay Thompson scored 37 points and Stephen Curry... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1974997/kyrie-irving-and-lebron-james-dominate-cavaliers-force-game-six?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1974997/kyrie-irving-and-lebron-james-dominate-cavaliers-force-game-six?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jun 2016 03:58:04 +0000 LeBron James said game four was another “do-or-die” scenario for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He can only hope he was wrong. The NBA finals have all but slipped away from James and the Cavaliers, an offensive disaster of a fourth quarter their undoing in what became a 108-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors in game four on Saturday morning (Hong Kong time). [LeBron’s] a freight train out there ... no matter what you do, he’s going to have a huge stat line and he’s going to impact the game 1,000... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1972409/lebron-james-came-cleveland-win-title-cavaliers-are-ropes-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1972409/lebron-james-came-cleveland-win-title-cavaliers-are-ropes-after?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jun 2016 06:03:19 +0000 Crawling on the floor after a loose ball, LeBron James gathered himself and got to his feet. The Cavaliers stood with him. James had 32 points and 11 rebounds, Kyrie Irving added 30 points and Cleveland, pushed for 48 minutes by a delirious, championship-starved crowd, hammered the Golden State Warriors 120-90 in game three on Wednesday night to pull it back to 2-1 in the NBA Finals. On their home floor, where they have been dominant all postseason, the Cavs yanked their season from the brink of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1970427/home-james-cavaliers-star-dominates-cleveland-thrash-visiting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1970427/home-james-cavaliers-star-dominates-cleveland-thrash-visiting?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jun 2016 05:14:13 +0000 Stephen Curry’s only basket in the first 30 minutes came off a broken play. He found himself in foul trouble again. His jumper was nowhere to be found until it was essentially too late. So much for that NBA Finals sweep. So much for this looking like an easy repeat title for the Golden State Warriors, too. The MVP’s struggles were of the epic variety, the best regular-season team in NBA history found a way to fall to 0-4 in game threes during this postseason, and suddenly it’s a series again.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1970379/splash-down-stephen-curry-and-klay-thompson-fail-fire-cleveland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1970379/splash-down-stephen-curry-and-klay-thompson-fail-fire-cleveland?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jun 2016 04:44:37 +0000 Draymond Green emphatically flexed his bulging biceps with big plays on both ends of the floor, and these determined Golden State Warriors might be far too strong for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The repeat championship Golden State has spoken of since the very start more than eight months ago is suddenly two wins from becoming reality. That’s the only way the Warriors’ record-setting season will feel right. Right now, they sure seem unstoppable. Green had 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1966803/warriors-closing-nba-championship-repeat-after-whipping-cavaliers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1966803/warriors-closing-nba-championship-repeat-after-whipping-cavaliers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jun 2016 03:22:51 +0000 Stephen Curry’s “Strength In Numbers” supporting cast made all the timely shots and all the difference for the defending champions in game one of the NBA Finals. Steph just had one of those nights, just wasn’t going in. He had some turnovers. It happens Steve Kerr, Golden State coach Draymond Green had 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, Shaun Livingston scored a personal postseason best of 20 and Golden State’s bench came up big as the Warriors beat LeBron James and the Cleveland... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1963505/golden-state-warriors-roll-opening-win-over-cleveland-cavaliers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1963505/golden-state-warriors-roll-opening-win-over-cleveland-cavaliers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jun 2016 03:44:37 +0000 The Golden State Warriors’ historic season goes on, with just one left team to beat. It’ll be fun. You know they’re rolling right now, they got a lot of guys going, but looking forward to the challenge Draymond Green It’s the same one they faced in last year’s NBA Finals. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, looking far more formidable than the team Golden State defeated last year, are the opponents again for Stephen Curry and the Warriors beginning on Thursday night. The Warriors barely... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1960168/nba-finals-rematch-set-currys-golden-state-warriors-and-james?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1960168/nba-finals-rematch-set-currys-golden-state-warriors-and-james?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 May 2016 04:24:42 +0000 Stephen Curry dribbled every which way and drained yet another 3-pointer in the waning moments, pulled his jersey up into his mouth and yelled to the rafters in triumph once more. A special, record-setting season saved for the defending champs, with a memorable comeback added to the long list of accomplishments. Now, the MVP and his teammates are playing for another NBA title – just as they planned all along. Bring on LeBron James once more. Curry and Klay Thompson carried the 73-win Warriors... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1960046/stephen-curry-and-his-record-setting-golden-state-warriors-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1960046/stephen-curry-and-his-record-setting-golden-state-warriors-head?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 May 2016 03:45:10 +0000 Klay Thompson made a play-off-record 11 3-pointers and scored 41 points, and the defending champions Golden State Warriors forced a seventh game in the western conference finals with a 108-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. I just so proud of everybody, man. We were down almost the whole game and we never gave up Klay Thompson Stephen Curry bounced back from a slow start to finish with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. The Warriors, who set the league’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1958422/staying-alive-klay-thompsons-sharp-shooting-saves-golden-states?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1958422/staying-alive-klay-thompsons-sharp-shooting-saves-golden-states?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 May 2016 04:16:16 +0000 LeBron James scored 33 points, Kevin Love had 20 points and 12 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to their second straight NBA Finals by beating the Toronto Raptors 113-87 in game six of the eastern conference finals on Friday night. It’s the third finals appearance in team history for the Cavaliers. Cleveland lost to Golden State in six games last year and got swept by San Antonio in 2007. For James, it’s his sixth straight trip to the finals, including four with Miami. He broke the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1957237/lebron-james-scores-33-points-cleveland-cavaliers-reach-second?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1957237/lebron-james-scores-33-points-cleveland-cavaliers-reach-second?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 May 2016 03:50:06 +0000 Stephen Curry scored 31 points, raising his arms in the early moments to awaken Golden State’s raucous crowd, and the defending champion Warriors staved off elimination with a 120-111 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in game five of the Western Conference finals. The MVP made a snazzy layup late and dished out six assists, while Klay Thompson added 27 points as Golden State sent the best the best-of-seven series back to Oklahoma City for game six on Saturday night. Golden... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1956283/hanging-there-golden-state-warriors-force-game-six-western?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1956283/hanging-there-golden-state-warriors-force-game-six-western?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 May 2016 03:38:37 +0000 LeBron James scored 23 points then grabbed a seat, Kevin Love scored 25, and the Cleveland Cavaliers unleashed tenacious defence on Toronto to regain control of the Eastern Conference finals with a 116-78 rout of the Raptors in game five. Back on their home court following two straight losses in Canada, the Cavs opened a 34-point lead in the first half and never slowed while taking a 3-2 series lead. They can clinch their second straight conference title and trip to the NBA Finals with a win in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1955011/cavs-hammer-raptors-close-nba-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1955011/cavs-hammer-raptors-close-nba-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 May 2016 03:34:50 +0000 Suddenly, these Golden State Warriors who have been compared all season to the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s are on the brink of elimination. Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Warriors 118-94 to take a 3-1 lead in the western conference finals. Golden State, who won a league record 73 games in the regular season, lost consecutive games for the first time this season. The Warriors must win game five on Friday morning (Hong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1953794/champions-facing-exit-warriors-lose-again-thunder-take-control-nba?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1953794/champions-facing-exit-warriors-lose-again-thunder-take-control-nba?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 May 2016 03:49:23 +0000 A series that once looked lopsided is now even. Kyle Lowry scored 35 points, including a driving layup in the final minute, and DeMar DeRozan had 32 as the Toronto Raptors evened the Eastern Conference Finals by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-99 in game four. DeMarre Carroll scored 11 points and Bismack Biyombo had 14 rebounds as Toronto improved to 8-2 at home this postseason and got back on level terms after big losses in Games 1 and 2. “We’ve been counted out, and we like that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1952620/all-square-kyle-lowry-and-demar-derozan-lead-raptors-105-99-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1952620/all-square-kyle-lowry-and-demar-derozan-lead-raptors-105-99-win?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 May 2016 03:16:23 +0000 Kevin Durant scored 33 points and Russell Westbrook added 30 as the Oklahoma City Thunder routed defending NBA champion Golden State 133-105 on Sunday to seize the lead in their play-off series. They didn’t have the best record in the NBA for nothing. We’ve got to come back with the same mindset and play with the same intensity Russell Westbrook The Thunder grabbed a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven western conference finals and seized momentum with a lopsided blowout, making Tuesday’s fourth game... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1951417/thrashing-thunder-oklahoma-city-destroy-golden-state-warriors-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1951417/thrashing-thunder-oklahoma-city-destroy-golden-state-warriors-game?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 May 2016 02:51:53 +0000 DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points and Bismack Biyombo grabbed 26 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors ripped the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-84 in the NBA playoffs. Cleveland’s 10-game playoff win streak was snapped but the Cavaliers still lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals 2-1 with game four Monday at Toronto. The series survivor will face either defending champion Golden State or Oklahoma City in next month’s NBA Finals. A Toronto team that was humbled twice at Cleveland to start the series... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1950311/raptors-snap-cavaliers-win-streak-get-back-playoff-hunt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1950311/raptors-snap-cavaliers-win-streak-get-back-playoff-hunt?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 May 2016 03:43:25 +0000 Overshadowed as Golden State shot down history during the regular season, the Cavaliers are making this postseason their own. Perfectly. LeBron James recorded a triple-double and Cleveland improved to 10-0 in the playoffs with a 108-89 victory over the Toronto Raptors in game two of the Eastern Conference finals. James had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Cavs became the fourth team to start the postseason with 10 straight wins, joining the Los Angeles Lakers (1989, 2001) and San... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1948399/perfect-10-lebron-lands-triple-double-cavs-down-raptors-stay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1948399/perfect-10-lebron-lands-triple-double-cavs-down-raptors-stay?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 May 2016 03:38:01 +0000 Once Stephen Curry finally gathered himself and got up following a scary first-quarter dive into the stands, everybody inside Oracle Area could take a breath, sit back and watch the MVP put on a spectacular shooting show. Curry scored 15 straight points in less than two minutes during one dazzling third-quarter stretch, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 to even the Western Conference finals at one game apiece. “Business as usual. This is what he does,” coach... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1947226/curry-stars-warriors-thrash-thunder-level-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1947226/curry-stars-warriors-thrash-thunder-level-series?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 May 2016 03:46:43 +0000 The Cleveland Cavaliers maintained their 100 per cent post-season record on Tuesday with a crushing 115-84 defeat of the weary Toronto Raptors to take a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Kyrie Irving scored 27 points while LeBron James added 24 as the Cavaliers dominated almost from start to finish to the delight of their home fans at the Quicken Loans Arena. The 31-point rout was Cleveland’s biggest victory in a play-off game. The coach is doing a great job of giving us a game plan and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1946680/cleveland-cavaliers-rough-weary-toronto-raptors-nba-eastern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1946680/cleveland-cavaliers-rough-weary-toronto-raptors-nba-eastern?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 May 2016 04:38:02 +0000 As the score became more and more lopsided in Toronto, LeBron James started to change. And as the final seconds ticked toward all zeroes on the clock, James took one last look at the scoreboard at the bottom of the TV screen and decided it was time to get serious again. I’ve always said anytime you get an opportunity to get some rest throughout the course of our season, it’s always beneficial for anybody LeBron James “Uh, 114-86,” James said, relaying the Raptors’ huge lead over the Miami Heat... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1945558/wait-over-lebron-james-and-his-cavaliers-toronto-raptors-advance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1945558/wait-over-lebron-james-and-his-cavaliers-toronto-raptors-advance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 May 2016 01:56:20 +0000 Kevin Durant scored 37 points, Russell Westbrook added 28, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-99 on Thursday night to win the western conference semi-final series 4-2. Steven Adams had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Andre Roberson added 14 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City lost 124-92 in game one, but first-year coach Billy Donovan led the Thunder to victory in four of the next five. Oklahoma City will face defending NBA champion Golden State in the western... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1944486/oklahoma-city-thunder-roll-after-beating-san-antonio-spurs-advance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1944486/oklahoma-city-thunder-roll-after-beating-san-antonio-spurs-advance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 May 2016 03:27:20 +0000 Klay Thompson’s sweet shooting touch carried the Warriors while Stephen Curry was down, and together again in the starting lineup the Splash Brothers led Golden State back to the western conference finals. Thompson scored 33 points with six 3-pointers, Curry added 29 and sealed it with a 3 with 24.9 seconds left, and Golden State advanced to the west finals for the second straight season with a 125-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in game five on Wednesday night. Curry finished with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1944045/golden-state-warriors-march-after-conquering-portland-trail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1944045/golden-state-warriors-march-after-conquering-portland-trail?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 May 2016 05:45:18 +0000 DeMar DeRozan led the scoring charts with 34 points while Kyle Lowry dragged his Toronto Raptors team over the line in a thrilling finale to game five as Toronto took a 3-2 series lead over the Miami Heat with a 99-91 win on Thursday morning (Hong Kong time). DeRozan matched a play-off high with his haul, while Lowry shot 25 and the Raptors took up the driving seat in their Eastern Conference semi-final series. Toronto Raptors beat Miami Heat in overtime to tie play-off series after tense and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943967/toronto-raptors-pounce-play-advantage-narrow-game-five-win-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943967/toronto-raptors-pounce-play-advantage-narrow-game-five-win-over?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 May 2016 03:01:00 +0000 As we quickly progress through the second round of the 2016 NBA play-offs with the conference finals fast approaching, we take a look at the five strangest statistics from the postseason thus far. TORONTO TROUBLES The Toronto Raptors All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have been the farthest thing from themselves throughout the team’s first 11 play-off games, and their struggles don’t seem to be getting any better. Regular season statistics combined – Points: 44.7, assists: 10.4,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943572/five-strangest-stats-2016-nba-play-offs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943572/five-strangest-stats-2016-nba-play-offs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 May 2016 05:49:22 +0000 Russell Westbrook had 35 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-91 on Tuesday night and take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semi-finals. Kevin Durant added 23 points as the Thunder won for the second time in San Antonio in the series. Oklahoma City can close out the series on Thursday in game six at home. Westbrook sealed the victory with a three-point play with 6.3 seconds remaining, scoring after... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943514/oklahoma-city-grab-lead-russell-westbrook-leads-thunder-past-san?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943514/oklahoma-city-grab-lead-russell-westbrook-leads-thunder-past-san?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 May 2016 03:58:53 +0000 Golden State superstar Stephen Curry was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second straight year on Tuesday, becoming the first unanimous winner in the award’s 61-year history after a record-breaking contribution to the Warriors’ historic season. Curry, who returned from injury on Monday to score 40 points in Golden State’s overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers, won in a landslide, sweeping all 131 first-place votes to earn 1,310 points. To be the first unanimous MVP award... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943508/beating-michael-jordan-stephen-curry-named-mvp-again-and-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943508/beating-michael-jordan-stephen-curry-named-mvp-again-and-its?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 May 2016 03:45:45 +0000 Despite not starting game four, Stephen Curry decided it after scoring an NBA-record 17 of his 40 points in overtime to put the Golden State Warriors in a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers following their 132-125 victory. Curry returned from a sprained right knee to score 40 points as the Warriors rallied to take a big lead in the Western Conference semi-finals. Playing for the first time since he was injured in game four of the first-round series against Houston, Curry... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943054/remarkable-stephen-curry-surge-drives-golden-state-warriors-hard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1943054/remarkable-stephen-curry-surge-drives-golden-state-warriors-hard?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 May 2016 05:55:03 +0000 Dwyane Wade scored 30 points, Goran Dragic had a huge three-point play late in overtime and the Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 94-87 on Monday night to tie their Eastern Conference semi-final series at 2-2. Dragic and Joe Johnson each scored 15 for the Heat, who rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Game five is in Toronto on Wednesday night. Terrence Ross and Cory Joseph each scored 14 for Toronto, which shot 39 per cent. Bismack Biyombo and DeMarre Carroll added 13... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942999/dwayne-wade-gets-30-miami-heat-rally-beat-toronto-raptors-94-87?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942999/dwayne-wade-gets-30-miami-heat-rally-beat-toronto-raptors-94-87?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 May 2016 03:15:15 +0000 Kevin Durant matched his career play-off high with 41 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-97 on Sunday night to tie the Western Conference semi-final series 2-2. Durant scored 29 points on 10-for-13 shooting in the second half. Russell Westbrook finished with 14 points and 15 assists, Dion Waiters added 17 points, and Steven Adams had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Oklahoma City. The Thunder shot 50.6 per cent overall and 57 per cent in the second half to avoid... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942568/nba-kevin-durant-scores-41-points-oklahoma-city-thunder-beat-san?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942568/nba-kevin-durant-scores-41-points-oklahoma-city-thunder-beat-san?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 May 2016 02:52:24 +0000 The Trail Blazers learned their lesson. After Portland let the previous game slip away, Damian Lillard had a play-off-best 40 points and the Trail Blazers beat Golden State 120-108 on Saturday night to cut the Warriors’ advantage in the Western Conference semi-final to 2-1. Now they’re feeling like they can do it. We know otherwise. You can expect game four to be a battle Draymond Green “I think we played a lot smarter down the stretch than we did the last game, and we challenged them,” Lillard... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942235/damian-lillard-shoots-40-portland-trail-blazers-cut-golden-state?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942235/damian-lillard-shoots-40-portland-trail-blazers-cut-golden-state?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 May 2016 05:13:53 +0000 This time, the San Antonio Spurs made the hustle play they needed to beat the Thunder. Kawhi Leonard’s critical offensive rebound of LaMarcus Aldridge’s miss led to two free throws by Tony Parker with 18 seconds left that put the Spurs ahead by four, and San Antonio hung on to beat Oklahoma City 100-96 on Friday night and take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semi-final series. Leonard had 31 points and 11 rebounds, but his final rebound was the most important mark on the stat sheet. In his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942121/leonard-has-31-spurs-beat-thunder-take-2-1-lead-nba-playoff-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942121/leonard-has-31-spurs-beat-thunder-take-2-1-lead-nba-playoff-series?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 May 2016 04:45:00 +0000 LeBron James and Kyrie Irving had their usual stellar performances. Kevin Love came up big, too. But when Channing Frye turned in the best playoff game of his career, the Atlanta Hawks didn’t have a chance. Frye scored 27 points and the Cavaliers kept up their 3-point barrage, dominating down the stretch for a 121-108 victory that gave Cleveland a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. “We’re a team that’s destined for greatness,” James said. Certainly, the Cavaliers will be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942079/frye-leads-another-3-point-barrage-cavs-streak-away-hawks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1942079/frye-leads-another-3-point-barrage-cavs-streak-away-hawks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 May 2016 02:24:28 +0000 How to best define the Heat’s 96-92 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night at Air Canada Centre that left this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series tied 1-1? We’ll leave that up to the Miami Heat’s official Twitter account, with this missive that was passed along at half-time: “UPDATE: Goran Dragic received 3 stitches on the inside of his lip & 5 on the outside. Dragic’s bottom teeth went through lip during contact.” That kind of night, ultimately as painful at the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1941620/toronto-raptors-beat-miami-heat-overtime-tie-play-series-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1941620/toronto-raptors-beat-miami-heat-overtime-tie-play-series-after?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 May 2016 03:55:59 +0000 J.R. Smith made seven 3-pointers and the Cleveland Cavaliers drained an NBA-record 25 3s in a 123-98 runaway win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night in game two of their second-round series. If you take away their 3s, we’re right in this Atlanta Hawks on Twitter The Cavs made 18 3-pointers in the first half and added seven more after half-time to embarrass the Hawks, who have lost 10 straight postseason games to Cleveland. Cleveland’s 25 3s are the most in any game – regular or... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1941440/three-all-cleveland-cavaliers-make-record-25-3-pointers-game-two?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1941440/three-all-cleveland-cavaliers-make-record-25-3-pointers-game-two?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 May 2016 03:35:45 +0000 The defending champions mounted a remarkable comeback without MVP Stephen Curry. Next game, they might have him back and really get rolling. Klay Thompson scored 27 points and gave Golden State their first lead of the game on a 3-pointer with 5:33 left, and the Warriors rallied to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 110-99 on for a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series. “It started with how focused we were in that fourth,” Thompson said. “We’ve been down and out before. ... We were... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1941105/warriors-take-2-0-lead-over-portland-after-stirring-comeback-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1941105/warriors-take-2-0-lead-over-portland-after-stirring-comeback-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 May 2016 06:45:27 +0000 Goran Dragic scored 26 points, Dwyane Wade had seven of his 24 in overtime after Kyle Lowry’s halfcourt shot tied it at the buzzer, and the Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 102-96 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Joe Johnson scored 16 points and Josh Richardson had 11. Hassan Whiteside had 17 rebounds for the Heat. Game 2 is Friday morning (Hong Kong time) in Toronto. Lowry’s improbable 3-pointer from his own side of the halfcourt line capped Toronto’s six-point... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1941030/dwyane-wade-and-heat-beat-raptors-ot-after-lowry-tied-it-buzzer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1941030/dwyane-wade-and-heat-beat-raptors-ot-after-lowry-tied-it-buzzer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 May 2016 03:32:01 +0000 LeBron James scored 25 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks 104-93 to take a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final play-off series on Monday. We’re going to get better as the season goes on but it’s a great start to the series LeBron James James also contributed nine assists and seven rebounds as last year’s NBA Finals runners-up got off to a smooth start in the best-of-seven series at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena. Kyrie Irving added 21 points with eight assists... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1940609/lebron-james-stars-cleveland-cavaliers-take-semi-final-play-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1940609/lebron-james-stars-cleveland-cavaliers-take-semi-final-play-series?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 May 2016 03:08:01 +0000