NBAAmare Stoudemire had 22 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday to help the Phoenix Suns win their 10th consecutive game, 114-84 over the Bobcats.
Boris Diaw added 17 points for the Suns, Leandro Barbosa had 15, and Shawn Marion and Raja Bell had 14 each. Steve Nash had 11 points and 10 assists.
Sean May scored a career-high 26 points for the Bobcats, who suffered their third straight loss, all by 20 or more points. Raymond Felton added 14 points, and Emeka Okafor and Matt Carroll had 12 each.
PHOTO: AP
Lakers 106, Spurs 99
At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant had 34 points and eight rebounds, Lamar Odom just missed a triple-double, and the Lakers won for the fifth time in six games.
Odom had 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, and Luke Walton added 17 points for the Lakers (14-6), who snapped San Antonio's four-game winning streak and handed the Spurs just their third loss in 11 road games this season.
Bryant showed no ill effects of a sprained right ankle that caused him to sit out the Lakers' 106-95 victory over Atlanta on Friday night.
Manu Ginobili had 23 points for the Spurs.
SuperSonics 117, Warriors 115
At Seattle, Luke Ridnour scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and Seattle overcame a 16-point halftime deficit.
Rashard Lewis scored 25 points to help the Sonics win their third straight without leading scorer Ray Allen. Damien Wilkins, starting for Allen, scored a season-high 22 and led Seattle with nine rebounds. Reserve Earl Watson scored 20 points.
Baron Davis led the Warriors with 28 points.
Trail Blazers 93, Raptors 83
At Toronto, Jarrett Jack had 22 points, a career-high nine rebounds and eight assists for Portland.
Martell Webster added 22 points and eight rebounds for Portland, which won for the second time in nine games despite the absence of suspended forward Zach Randolph.
Toronto was playing without All-Star Chris Bosh (bruised left knee). Andrea Bargnani, the No. 1 pick in the draft, replaced Bosh and had eight points and three rebounds in his first start. Morris Peterson had 23 points for the Raptors.
Kings 117, Hawks 92
At Sacramento, California, Brad Miller scored a season-high 19 points and the Kings snapped a five-game losing steak.
Corliss Williamson scored a season-high 18 points and Mike Bibby had 16 points for the Kings. Salim Stoudamire had a season-high 26 points for Atlanta.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely