Author: Agence France-Presse - AFP

Cade Cunningham’s 40-point performance propelled the Detroit Pistons to a 119-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, despite Anthony Edwards scoring a career-high 53 points. Edwards, who had voiced frustration after averaging just 16.3 points over the last three games in the face of a strong double-team defense, found plenty of ways to score. He connected on 16 of his 31 shots from the field, including 10 of 15 from 3-point range, and made 11 of his 12 free-throw attempts. But he had little scoring support and the Timberwolves trailed virtually all the way against a Pistons team powered…

Cade Cunningham’s 40-point performance propelled the Detroit Pistons to a 119-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, despite Anthony Edwards scoring a career-high 53 points. Edwards, who had voiced frustration after averaging just 16.3 points over the last three games in the face of a strong double-team defense, found plenty of ways to score. He connected on 16 of his 31 shots from the field, including 10 of 15 from 3-point range, and made 11 of his 12 free-throw attempts. But he had little scoring support and the Timberwolves trailed virtually all the way against a Pistons team powered…

Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi skipped Saturday a White House ceremony where he was awarded the United States’ highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden. The World Cup and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, now plays in the United States for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami. Messi is the first Argentine to receive the honor and the first male football player. But while other recipients of the award, including U2 singer and activist Bono, former basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, attended the ceremony at the White House, Messi was…

Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi skipped Saturday a White House ceremony where he was awarded the United States’ highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden. The World Cup and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, now plays in the United States for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami. Messi is the first Argentine to receive the honor and the first male football player. But while other recipients of the award, including U2 singer and activist Bono, former basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, attended the ceremony at the White House, Messi was…

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka delivered commanding performances Thursday, advancing to the Brisbane International quarterfinals and signaling strong form ahead of the Australian Open. Djokovic defeated veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes, extending his perfect record to 20-0 against the Frenchman. The 37-year-old Serb controlled the match, which featured moments of flair from both players. In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Sabalenka overcame Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 as she pursues a third consecutive Australian Open title. Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka gestures during her round of 16 match against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva at the Brisbane International tennis…

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka delivered commanding performances Thursday, advancing to the Brisbane International quarterfinals and signaling strong form ahead of the Australian Open. Djokovic defeated veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes, extending his perfect record to 20-0 against the Frenchman. The 37-year-old Serb controlled the match, which featured moments of flair from both players. In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Sabalenka overcame Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 as she pursues a third consecutive Australian Open title. Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka gestures during her round of 16 match against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva at the Brisbane International tennis…

Iga Swiatek stormed to a commanding victory in her season opener at the United Cup on Monday, while Stefanos Tsitsipas faltered as Kazakhstan stunned Greece to secure a spot in the knockout round of the mixed-team tournament. The five-time Grand Slam champion returned to action for the first time since it was revealed in late November that she had served a one-month doping ban. Showing no signs of nerves, the Polish star dominated in Sydney, delivering a resounding 6-1, 6-0 win over Norway’s Malene Helgo. “I’m pleased with everything, honestly. I’m happy, for sure, with the performance,” said the world…

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek said Friday she is ready to move on from a doping controversy, insisting there is no reason for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to appeal her case. The 23-year-old Pole tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample in August while ranked No. 1. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined the violation was unintentional, resulting in a one-month suspension that caused her to miss three Asian tournaments and lose her top ranking. The news broke in late November, and Swiatek is set to return to competition at the United…

Two sailors died in separate incidents during the perilous Sydney to Hobart yacht race, officials confirmed Friday, as several yachts were forced to retire amid powerful winds and rough seas. Roy Quaden, 55, from Flying Fish Arctos, was struck on the head by a boom while racing down the New South Wales coast, according to race organizers. Nick Smith, 65, aboard Bowline, was hit by the mainsheet and thrown across the boat, said David Jacobs, vice commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. “Unfortunately, he hit his head on the winch, and that’s what killed him,” Jacobs said, revising…

LeBron James and Steph Curry delivered a Christmas Day thriller as the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the Golden State Warriors, 115-113, on Wednesday. Curry drilled a clutch 31-foot 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left to tie the game, but Austin Reaves answered with a game-winning layup with just 1.1 seconds remaining. The two iconic players, both future Hall of Famers, exchanged 3-pointers in a dramatic finish, with James scoring 31 points and adding 10 assists, all while playing without teammate Anthony Davis, who left the game in the first quarter due to an ankle injury. Reaves capped off his triple-double…