Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points and made a game-saving block at the buzzer to help the Denver Nuggets hold on for a 98-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Thursday’s NBA action.
With time winding down, Anthony blocked Derek Fisher’s shot as Denver won its fourth straight.
The slumping Lakers gave Kobe Bryant the night off to rest a swollen right knee and an aching right index finger.
PHOTO: AFP
Despite a late-season form wobble, Los Angeles remains in control for the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Lakers needs just one more win in their last four or just one more loss by Denver to wrap it up.
BULLS 109, CAVALIERS 108
PHOTO: AFP
In Chicago, the hosts survived some shaky free-throw shooting down the stretch to beat a Cleveland team minus LeBron James.
Derrick Rose scored 24 points and Kirk Hinrich had 23 as the Bulls moved into a tie with eighth-place Toronto in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors hold the tiebreaker, but with Chris Bosh injured, Chicago’s chances are looking good.
The Bulls prevailed even though Rose and Luol Deng each missed two free throws in the final 15 seconds.
Cleveland’s Mo Williams scored a season-high 35 points on a night when James was rested.
KINGS 116, CLIPPERS 94
In Sacramento, California, Sacramento snapped an eight-game losing streak while extending Los Angeles skid to seven.
Tyreke Evans had 28 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Kings, who saw their 16-point halftime trimmed to eight after three quarters.
Sacramento had a 16-2 to run to start the fourth in pushing their lead to 100-78. It was the first time in nine games that the Kings topped 100 points.
Chris Kaman scored 23 points for the Clippers.
■NETS DEAL
AP, EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY
Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov will probably to have to wait a little longer before becoming the new owner of the New Jersey Nets.
The NBA announced on Thursday that its board of governors probably won’t vote next week on whether to approve Prokhorov’s deal to buy the Nets because the state of New York has not taken over all the land seized under eminent domain at the site of the team’s Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“The board will vote on Mr Prokhorov’s purchase of the Nets once a firm date is set for the State of New York to take full possession of the arena site, which the team expects to occur in the near future,” said Joel Litvin, the NBA’s president of league and basketball operations.
Litvin said the site possession is the only factor affecting the timing of the vote.
“The documentation of the Nets’ purchase and the background investigation of Mr. Prokhorov have been complete for some time,” Litvin said.
Prokhorov agreed in December to buy 80 percent of the Nets and 45 percent of the new arena from Bruce Ratner’s Forest City Ratner Cos.
The Nets have endured a dreadful season, posting an 11-67 mark with four games left in the regular season, clinching at least a tie for the worst record in the league this season. For months, the team threatened to break the NBA mark for fewest wins (nine) in a season, set by the 1972 to 1973 Philadelphia 76ers.
The Nets have a chance to improve greatly in the offseason, having at least US$23 million in salary cap room to spend on a free agent group that might include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Rudy Gay.
New York officials had a ceremonial groundbreaking last month on a much-delayed 9 hectare, US$4.9 billion development project, which includes the new arena and 16 residential and office buildings.
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