ATLANTA — Kevin Durant scored 22 points and both Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason had 19 points as the Houston Rockets beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-114. The Hawks nearly pulled off a comeback by cutting Houston’s 20-point lead down to five in the closing moments, but Durant knocked down two free throws with 18.9 seconds

Loud cheers, thumping bass lines, flashing court lights, and the crisp pop of plastic paddles filled Kai Tak Arena on Sunday as Asia’s largest professional pickleball tournament reached a festive climax. Moving beyond the quiet formality of traditional court sports, finals day at the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026, which drew a crowd of more than 2,000 spectators, felt more like a block party than a high-stakes championship, bringing fans within arm’s reach of the world’s elite players. The...

PHILADELPHIA — Jaylen Brown says there’s “no beef” between himself and former Boston teammate Jayson Tatum even as their squabbles have dragged into the season. Now in Philadelphia after an offseason trade, Brown didn’t quite seem ready to call a truce with Tatum. “There’s no beef,” Brown said after the Sixers beat Milwaukee on Saturday

PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James was out for the Philadelphia 76ers because of lower back pain management for Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. James sat out the first of back-to-back games for the Sixers this weekend. They play Detroit on Sunday night. The 41-year-old James averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds over his first two

PHILADELPHIA  — Joel Embiid had a triple-double with LeBron James out, Jaylen Brown scored 27 points on his 30th birthday and the Philadelphia 76ers remained undefeated with a 127-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. James was officially ruled out with lower back pain management in the first of back-to-back games for the

Former NBA player Malik Beasley is negotiating a plea agreement with the Department of Justice after initially pleading not guilty to charges that he altered his play in certain games in 2024 to enrich sports bettors and ease his own debts, his attorney said Saturday. In July, Beasley entered a not guilty plea in New

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Brandon Miller scored 34 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the winless Miami Heat 115-110 on Saturday, bouncing back from one of the worst losses in franchise history a night earlier. Charlotte’s 128-81 loss to Atlanta on Friday in its home opener was the fifth-largest in franchise history. Miller missed 12

MANILA, Philippines -- University of the Philippines regained the solo lead in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball team standings after blasting the University of the East, 101-70, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym Sunday. Veejay Pre posted 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists to lead the Fighting Maroons, who broke their tie with the NU Bulldogs and improved to 7-2 while keeping the cellar-dwelling Red Warriors winless at 0-9. Gani Stevens added 13 points and five rebounds for UP, which dominated through the first three frames before completely taking the fight out of UE in the final canto with a 26-11 output. The Maroons led by as many as 34 points , 101-67, following a Kio Franco basket in the last 46 seconds.

Alexandra Eala will team up with Filipina-American star Desirae Krawczyk of the USA in the Pan Pacific Open doubles tournament as they go up against fellow Asians to kick off their campaigns.

UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament UP def. UE, 101-70 Gani Stevens Player of the game #UAAPSeason89

The University of the Philippines (UP) routed the University of the East (UE), 101-70, on Sunday in the UAAP Season 89 men"s basketball tournament to claim its fifth consecutive victory.

In the end there was no Sunday shoot-out at the Link Hong Kong Open, just John Catlin cruising to a five-shot victory on a historic day for golf in the city. The American’s six-under-par 64 took him to 20 under overall, and the only blip on an otherwise perfect day was a bogey at the par-3 5th. Not that it mattered. Catlin had no need to outgun his rivals, with Hongkonger Matthew Cheung and Finland’s Kalle Samooja at 15 under the closest the field got to depriving him of the places at next...

HAENAM, South Korea — Yuri Yoshida won the LPGA South Korea tournament holding off Haeran Ryu and Hye-Jin Choi in a close finish at Pine Beach Golf Links on Sunday. It was Yoshida's first LPGA Tour victory and came in dramatic finale as both overnight leader Haeran Ryu and Yoshida bogeyed the final hole leaving the Japanese player ahead by one stoke and a four-round total of 17-under 271. Yoshida was four shots off the pace going into Sunday’s final round but lit up the front nine with an eagle at the par-5 second, followed by three consecutive birdies to be 5-under 31 at the turn. Bogey’s at the 15th and 18th was offset by a crucial birdie at the 17th which gave the 26-year-old the buffer she needed. Ryu led the tournament by four strokes going into the final round, but couldn’t find the same rhythm on Sunday as she shot a 73 to finish at 16-under 272. The South Korean player made 15 consecutive pars before dropping a crucial shot at the par-4 16th which handed back Yoshida’s one-shot advantage. Both player's made birdies at the 17th, but a costly miss for Ryu at the 18th allowed Yoshida to clinch it, despite the Japanese golfer also making bogey. Hye-Jin Choi, who was in a tie for second coming in the final round, stayed in contention throughout Sunday and mixed four birdies with a lone bogey to finish at 16-under 272, and a shot behind Yoshida in a tie for second with Ryu. Choi is still looking for her first victory in 125 career LPGA Tour starts as a member. She has held or shared a 54-hole lead five times in her LPGA career without converting it into a win. Last week in Shanghai, Choi was runner-up by one stroke to China’s Ruoning Yin after the South Korean golfer led after each of the first three rounds. Defending champion Sei Young Kim, who ended a five-year victory drought in 2025 with a win last year in South Korea, shot 70 Sunday and finished at 2-under 286 and a tie for 55th. In its late-season Asian swing, the LPGA Tour moves to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week for the Maybank Championship, the third of four events.

World No. 1 Elena Rybakina will play for her fourth title of the season Sunday at the Ningbo Open in China, opposing Canada's Leylah Fernandez.

PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 43 points, Miles Bridges added 16 and the Phoenix Suns won their home opener for the fifth straight season by beating the short-handed Golden State Warriors 131-122 on Saturday night. The Warriors — who were playing for the third time in four days — fell to 0-3 for the first time in 19 years while resting several key players, including Stephen Curry (right knee), Brandin Podziemski (low back), Draymond Green (low back) and Al Horford (low back). Booker scored 17 points in the third quarter and Jordan Goodwin hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Suns a 102-92 lead entering the fourth. The Warriors hung around for a few more minutes, but the Suns eventually pulled away and Luke Kennard hit a 3 to extend the lead to 117-102 with six minutes left. Kennard finished with 11 points, hitting 3 of 5 from 3-point range, which is exactly what the team expected when they signed him in the offseason. Dillon Brooks had 15 points and five assists. The Suns were coming off an embarrassing 124-83 road loss in the season opener to the Trail Blazers. They struggled in the opening quarter of Saturday's game, too, making just 1 of 12 shots from 3-point range. But the shots finally started to fall and it was Booker who led the way. The five-time All-Star made 17 of 25 from the field and added seven assists and seven rebounds. Golden State was led by rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who scored a season-high 26 points and made six 3-pointers. De'Anthony Melton added 25 points on 8 of 13 shooting. Booker scored 19 points in the first half, leading the Suns to a 57-54 halftime lead. Lendeborg had 13 for the Warriors.

The quarterfinals cast for the 2026 PBA Governors" Cup is complete, with eight teams advancing to the next round.

Alexandra Eala returns to WTA action this week as she competes in the Pan Pacific Open.

With four games remaining in the elimination round and drifting on a six-game losing streak, University of Perpetual Help seeks to move higher in the Group B standings and make the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball tournament. The Altas, however, need to win games, starting with its 5 p.m. duel with the Arellano University Chiefs on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Perpetual Help currently sits at fourth place in the five-team Group B with a 2-7 win-loss record, ahead of winless San Sebastian (0-10). The Chiefs are at the number two spot with a 5-4 card. The other two teams in the group are pace-setter Letran (7-2) and third ranked Emilio Aguinaldo College (2-6). The Altas aim to finish the elims at least in third place to get an outright quarterfinals berth. The fourth and fifth placed teams will clash in a one-game playoff for a seat in the quarterfinal round. But more than the thought of advancing to the next round, the Altas need to get their acts together and play as a solid unit. Coach Olsen Racena needs Mark Gojo Cruz, LA Casillo, Ray Allen Maglupay, JM Tulabot, Jim Corpuz, Gelo Gelsano, Ariea Borja and Shawn Orgo to play well on both sides of the court to avenge Perpetual Help’s 88-65 first round loss to Arellano University on Monday. The Junior Altas, on the other hand, are in a better position in the juniors division. The Junior Altas enters their game against the Arellano University Braves with a 7-2 record in Group B. However, the team coached by Joph Cleopas is coming from an 82-86 setback against Group A leader Jose Rizal University. Still, Perpetual Help is heavily favored to win against Arellano which the Junior Altas defeated in the first round, 104-97. Expected to lead the charge for the Junior Altas are Louie Rosales, Sizco Roquid, Brian Orca Jr., Lord Dulanas, Sam Villaruel, Arkin Cristobal, Kakai Zamoras and Kurt Patalinghug.

Max Verstappen advised Kimi Antonelli to enjoy the ride and get ready to celebrate as the Italian stands on the brink of becoming Formula 1’s youngest-ever champion. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver qualified on pole position for Sunday’s US Grand Prix and could clinch the title with five rounds ‌to spare, according to the current calendar that includes races in the Middle East, at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas if he wins and other results go his way. Red Bull’s Verstappen, a four-time...

MANILA, Philippines — YOUNG swimming standout Jamesray Mishael Ajido will be the flag-bearer for a small Philippine contingent in the parade of athletes during the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on October 31 in Dakar. Ajido, 16, and eight other Filipino athletes aged no older that 17 are competing in six of the 25 sports in Dakar 2026, the first time that an Olympic competition is being staged on African soil. “The YOG are as tough as the Summer Olympics,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who will fly to the Dakar this week ahead of the Opening Ceremony at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio that will feature the culture and music of the host country under the theme “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates.” An advanced party for Team Philippines headed by chef de mission Rocky Samson—secretary-general of the Philippine Taekwondo Association—took an arduous 29-hour flight over the weekend to Senegal that will be hosting for 14 days close to 3,000 athletes from 203 nations. Ajido and Riannah Chantelle Coleman are the country’s representatives in swimming and they will plunge into the swimming competitions that start on November 1, the same day wushu’s Angel Polo (Women's Taijiquan combined) also starts her campaign. Artistic gymnastics start running on November 7 with Tchelzy Maayo and Hillarion Palles III campaigning, followed the next day by cycling with Maritanya Krog seeing action in women's road and individual time trial. Athletics action also starts on November 8 with Team Philippines pinning its hopes on Pi Durden Wangkay (Men’s 200m) and Naomi Marjorie Caesar (Women’s 800m). The country’s ninth athlete, Jade Justine Justiniane, also takes his turn beginning November 8 in windsurfing of sailing. The Philippines has so far two medals in the YOG—Luis Gabriel Moreno won a gold medal in mixed international team event of archery with China’s Li Jiaman in Nanjing and Christian Tio silver in boys’ twin-tip racing of kiteboarding. TMT

Jamal Murray had 42 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and the host Denver Nuggets rallied from a 23-point deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 in overtime on Saturday night.

DENVER — Nikola Jokic scored eight of his 35 points in overtime and finished with 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and the short-handed Denver Nuggets rallied from down 23 to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135 on Saturday night. Jokic had his 199th career triple-double in the regular season, second to Russell Westbrook, who retired with 209. Jamal Murray scored 42 points and rookie Trevon Brazille had seven of his 17 points in overtime in his home debut for Denver, which took an early lead in overtime. His corner 3-pointer with 1:25 left in overtime gave the Nuggets a 133-129 lead. Denver played without Cam Johnson (ankle) and Alpha Diallo (sprained wrist) and continued to be without Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones. Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 26 points, Dejounte Murray had 22 points and Derik Queen and Zion Williamson scored 17 each. The Pelicans have dropped their first three games under first-year coach Jamahl Mosley. The Pelicans got some welcome news when center Yves Messi’s knee injury suffered Friday night in Utah is a contusion and not something more severe. New Orleans shot 65.9% in the first half and led by 23. Denver rallied to cut it to 16, and Jokic and Murray combined to score 22 of the Nuggets' 32 points in the third quarter but the Pelicans extended the lead to 19 heading into the fourth. Denver erased the deficit on 3-pointers from Murray and Jokic, a reverse dunk from Aaron Gordon, and then had a chance to go ahead with 17 seconds left but Murray made two of three free throws to tie it.

Devin Booker had 43 points, seven assists and seven rebounds and the host Phoenix Suns beat Golden State 131-122 on Saturday to send the Warriors to their worst start in almost two decades.

Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and Jarrett Allen had 21 points and eight rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers built a 22-point lead before holding on for a 125-121 victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.

MANILA, Philippines -- IN the process of becoming the PBA’s all-time winningest coach, Tim Cone said he has learned to respect the game of basketball. And he did that again last Friday when Barangay Ginebra beat Blackwater, 101-96, to close the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup elimination, securing the third seed in Group B heading into the playoffs.  The Gin Kings ended tied with the Phoenix Super LPG, but gained the better seeding as they owned a superior point differential. The higher seeding though pushed Cone and his Gin Kings to an early playoff showdown with sister team San Miguel Beer.  Cone knows that very well, but he still went against the notion of “choosing” your playoff opponent by giving up a win. “You fight your way into the playoffs and your reward is you have to play San Miguel. I think once you get into that thing where you start choosing, it’s just like bad karma or whatever,” said Cone, the 26-time PBA  champion coach. “I’ve always felt that through the years, you play the game the way you’re supposed to play, you play it hard and you play it to win, and then you let the cards fall where they may and you take care of business of what’s in front of you,” he added. But a look at the Gin Kings’ other playoff scenario had they lost to the Bossing, their situation won’t be easy as well since they will have to face the red-hot NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinal round. Cone recognized NLEX as a legitimate title contender under new coach Jimmy Alapag. “I don’t think there was much of a choice between NLEX and San Miguel in the first place. NLEX has been playing great, great basketball all conference long,” he said. “They beat us in a practice game, so it wasn’t really a team that we weren't excited to play either. And obviously, we are not excited to play San Miguel. But we’ll take on all comers.” Perhaps battling the Beermen in a best-of-five series remains the better alternative compared to playing in a twice-to-win situation against NLEX. “That kind of equals it all out,” Cone said. “It should really be a really good battle to see who comes in. I think the match-ups are kind of very interesting.” Ginebra begins its best-of-five series versus San Miguel on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. RICHARD DY

Kevin Durant led seven double-figure scorers with 22 points as the visiting Houston Rockets beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-114 on Saturday to improve to 3-0.

PLDT found out the hard way that the competition it once knew how to beat has changed. Two straight losses to open the PVL All-Filipino Conference forced the High Speed Hitters to confront a new reality: Rivals have grown stronger, and last season’s success was just that—last season. Savi Davison delivered the response Saturday, scoring

SCHEDULE: 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals The road to the PBA Governors’ Cup championship could be long and winding for the league’s perennial contenders. For teams still chasing their first title, the path appears considerably clearer. The Governors’ Cup playoffs open Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo, with NLEX and Phoenix beginning their best-of-five quarterfinal

NAGOYA—Matching the Philippines’ medal haul from the previous Asian Para Games was always going to be difficult, especially with chess—the country’s biggest source of gold medals three years ago—removed from the competition calendar. But the Filipino athletes still delivered a performance worth celebrating, collecting two golds, two silvers and three bronzes to finish 17th overall

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 89  basketball tournament – second round There’s a triple-overtime heartbreak at home that lives in Jared Bahay’s mind. A more pleasant memory will now replace that. Ateneo turned back Far Eastern University, 75-72, on Saturday, with Bahay and rookie Kieffer Alas spearheading the big victory in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball