French rising star Wembanyama shines in breakthrough NBA game
Some say the 7-foot-4 Frenchman is a taller version of Durant.
NBA Sport News
French league sets date for Marseille-Lyon game, postponed after bus attack
PARIS: The Ligue 1 match between Marseille and Lyon, canceled after the visiting team’s bus was attacked, has been rescheduled for December 6 at a venue to be decided, the French League (LFP) announced on Thursday. Lyon coach Fabio Grosso suffered cuts to his face when the bus was pelted with stones near Marseille’s Stade Velodrome on Sunday. Grosso’s face was left bloodied and his assistant Raffaele Longo was also injured after the incidents which led to the game being called off. The LFP said Wednesday, December 6 was “the first available date” for the two teams. It said it would “determine the venue for this match at a later date, pending further information from the public authorities enabling it to be held under optimum safety and security conditions for all its players and the public,” the LFP said in a statement. Lyon’s directors on Tuesday called for punishments and said that they wanted to play the match at a neutral venue because “the safety conditions for playing in Marseille have not been met.” Grosso required 12 stitches to the wounds on his face. The Marseille public prosecutor has opened three investigations. The first two concern the stoning of the bus and a similar incident involving a Lyon supporters’ bus.
Bayern defender De Ligt sidelined with knee injury
BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s understaffed defense has been dealt another setback, with the club confirming on Thursday center-back Matthijs de Ligt will be missing “for the time being” with a knee injury. The club did not specify how long de Ligt would spend on the sidelines, saying he was “out for the time being” and “will be missing from FC Bayern in the next games.” Bayern travel to rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. The Netherlands central defender injured his right knee as Bayern were eliminated 2-1 to third-division Saarbruecken in the German Cup on Wednesday night. De Ligt, who has just returned from an injury to the same knee, grabbed his leg and signalled immediately to the bench 19 minutes into the match, before being subbed out. Midfielder Joshua Kimmich moved to center-back, with Bayern having only one fit central defender in the squad. Bayern’s French center-back Dayot Upamecano has missed the club’s last four matches with a hamstring injury. Manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed after the match de Ligt’s injury was to the “same knee” and “was extremely painful.” Bayern took the lead through Thomas Mueller after just 16 minutes, but their third division opponents equalized in first-half injury time. With the scores locked at 1-1 and the game looking set to go to extra time, Saarbruecken’s Marcel Gaus scored in the sixth minute of injury time to win. The loss means 20-time German Cup winners Bayern have been eliminated in the second round in three of the past four years. Bayern sit second on the Bundesliga, two points ahead of Dortmund, and have not lost a clash between the two sides since 2018.
Rodrygo renews Real Madrid contract until 2028
MADRID: Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes has signed a new contract until 2028, the Spanish club said Thursday. The Brazilian winger has agreed to extend his deal in the same week his compatriot Vinicius Junior also signed on at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2027. “Real Madrid and Rodrygo have agreed the extension of the player’s contract, keeping him at the club until June 30, 2028,” said Madrid in a statement. Rodrygo, 22, has struggled to hit top form this season but is a key player for Madrid, scoring a brace against Osasuna in May to win Los Blancos their first Copa del Rey trophy since 2014. The attacker agreed to join Madrid in 2018 for 45 million euros ($48 million) from Santos in Brazil, arriving in the Spanish capital in the summer of 2019, a year after Vinicius. Rodrygo has scored 39 goals in 179 appearances for Marid across all competitions, winning two La Liga titles and the Champions League in 2022 among other silverware.
Nuggets mauled by Timberwolves, Celtics stay unbeaten
LOS ANGELES: The defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets crashed to their first defeat of the season in an upset 110-89 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, while Boston extended their unbeaten start with a brutal thrashing of Indiana.
NBA coach Gregg Popovich calls for better leadership to end Israel-Gaza war
Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Wembanyama, Spurs stun Phoenix in last-gasp thriller
LOS ANGELES: Victor Wembanyama scored 18 points as the San Antonio Spurs staged a dramatic comeback to snatch a last-gasp 115-114 victory over Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
UAE President posts message of support for Saudi World Cup
DUBAI: The president of the UAE took to social media on Wednesday, offering his support to Saudi Arabia after FIFA announced the Kingdom was the only country bidding to host the 2034 World Cup.