Giannis toning down flex celebrations to save energy
By Peter ThompsonStats Perform14/05/202108:32Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks
The sight of Giannis Antetokounmpo flexing his muscles has become all too familiar for the Milwaukee Bucks’ opponents but the two-time NBA MVP has toned down his celebrations.
Antetokounmpo produced yet another outstanding performance for the Bucks on Thursday in a 142-133 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The Greek forward scored 40 points, with 15 rebounds and six assists as the Bucks closed in on the second-placed Brooklyn Nets (46-24), improving their record to 45-25.
He became the first player to finish with at least 40 points, 15 rebounds and shoot at higher than 75 per cent since the great Charles Barkley back in November 1988.
Antetokounmpo revealed he has had to cut back on tensing his muscles after slam dunks in order to save his energy.
When asked about turning into “superhero” after a dunk, he said: “I just feel so much adrenaline, I’ve got to let it out.
“But what I’ve felt is after I scream or flex, then I’m tired! I flex for two or three seconds, then I’m running down the court thinking damn, I shouldn’t have done that. This year after a dunk I usually just walk back. I’m trying to save as much energy as I can.”
Next up for the Bucks is the visit of the Miami Heat on Saturday but Antetokounmpo is not studying the schedule.
“I don’t know who we play next. After the game I have to ask the guys ‘what do we play next?’ Miami at home, okay great, then I get ready for it.” he added.
“I don’t like to think we have Miami, Chicago and all that. I just take it day by day.”
By Sacha PisaniStats Perform14/05/202123:31LeBron James of the LA Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said “there’s a chance” superstar LeBron James will return to face the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
James returned from a six-week absence due to a right ankle sprain only to re-aggravate the injury after just two appearances for injury-hit NBA champions the Lakers.
There had been hopes that James would make his comeback against the New York Knicks on Tuesday or the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, but the four-time MVP missed both games.
The Lakers – who are seventh in the Western Conference and currently occupy a play-in position ahead of the playoffs – only have two regular-season matchups remaining and James is listed as questionable for the clash with the Pacers.
“We want to see how he feels in response to today’s work, like always,” Vogel told reporters on Friday. “But there’s a chance that he plays if things go well.”
James has been averaging 25.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game for the Lakers this season.
Through 43 games in 2020-21, James boasts a field-goal percentage of 51.3 – his best since 2017-18 and it is the same story regarding his three-point percentage of 36.6, which is his highest since that season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Anytime you’ve had guys that have been out for extended absences and they’re returning to play, it’s always going to be a little bit imperfect,” Vogel said.
“So the more minutes you can get those guys, the better off it’s going to be for us, in terms of the readjustment period. So if we’re able to do that, that would be great.”
The Lakers could also be boosted by the return of fellow star Anthony Davis for the Pacers showdown.
Davis, who did not practice on Friday, sat out the 124-122 win over the lowly Rockets midweek due to groin tightness.
“I feel fine. I feel great,” Davis said. “Went through some things during practice, not everything, but got some work going on, got some work in on the side. So felt great, felt great today.”
Nets trio Durant, Harden and Irving expected to face Bulls
By Sacha PisaniStats Perform15/05/202100:24Brooklyn Nets superstars James Harden (L), Kevin Durant (C) and Kyrie Irving (R)
Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving are set to play together against the Chicago Bulls, according to Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash.
The Nets built a ‘Big Three’ in 2020-21 after Harden arrived from the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster trade in January, but the trio have only played seven games together this season.
Injuries have hampered the star-studded Nets, with former MVP Harden only returning from a hamstring strain on Wednesday following an 18-game absence.
Not since February have Durant, Harden and Irving shared the court together but that is expected to change on Saturday.
“If everything stays the same,” Nash told reporters following Friday’s practice, with Brooklyn (46-24) preparing for the final two regular-season games of the season ahead of the playoffs. “Those three will play tomorrow.”
Durant, Harden and Irving won five of the seven games they played together between January 20 and February 13.
The Nets – looking to lock up the second seed in the Eastern Conference in pursuit of a maiden NBA championship – have outscored their opponents by 39 points in the trio’s 186 minutes together.
“I just expect them to play hard, play together, and experience some moments together on the floor,” said Nash. “It’s been few and far between.
“I don’t necessarily have any expectations other than it gives us an opportunity to jell and play together and feel what it’s like to be out there again.”
Durant is averaging 27.5 points – his highest number since 2015-16 – 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game this season, while he boasts career highs in field-goal percentage (54.2) and three-point percentage (45.9).
Harden is averaging 25.1 points, 10.9 assists and a career-high 8.0 rebounds, while Irving has been averaging 27.2 points, 6.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 2020-21.
Nets team-mate Jeff Green added: “I’m just happy they are on the floor. We’re getting to finally try to create a rhythm with all guys healthy. We’ll see what happens from there.
“We have a long week to prepare for whomever we play. For those guys, it will be good. For us, it will be good to get a look and see where we are at when everybody is healthy.”
Alex Rodriguez’s group reaches deal to buy NBA’s Timberwolves
Stats Perform15/05/202102:59Alex Rodriguez
Former MLB star Alex Rodriguez is poised to join the ownership ranks, though not in the sport that made him famous as he prepares to take over NBA franchise the Minnesota Timberwolves.
MLB great Rodriguez and former Walmart executive Marc Lore have reached an agreement to buy the Timberwolves from long-time owner Glen Taylor pending league approval, the team said on Friday.
Multiple news outlets reported the pair will pay $1.5billion for the Timberwolves, the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, the G League’s Iowa Wolves and the eSports franchise T-Wolves Gaming.
The 80-year-old Taylor bought the Timberwolves in 1994 for $88million.
Rodriguez and Lore entered into a 30-day exclusive negotiating window with Taylor on April 10, but it took a few additional days after that window closed to finalise the deal.
When word that Rodriguez could purchase the team broke last month, the Timberwolves’ top young player, Anthony Edwards, made headlines by saying he had no idea who the 14-time MLB All-Star and World Series champion was.
By now, Edwards – number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft – is well aware of Rodriguez and his background.
Rodriguez – a three-time American League (AL) MVP – hit .295 with 696 home runs across a 22-year career with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees before retiring in 2016.
But the latter stages of his career were dogged by rumours of performance-enhancing drug use, and he was suspended for the entire 2014 season after violating MLB’s drug policy.
He has since served as a television analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports but reportedly had been looking to buy a team in recent years.
Rodriguez, Lore and Rodriguez’s then-fiancee –actress and singer Jennifer Lopez – put in a bid for the New York Mets last year but lost out to Steve Cohen.
Ben Simmons: I don’t care who 76ers play in NBA playoffs
By Sacha PisaniStats Perform15/05/202104:53Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons said he does not care who the Philadelphia 76ers meet in the opening round of the NBA playoffs after clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
The 76ers claimed the best record in the east for the first time since 2000-01 thanks to Friday’s 122-97 rout of the lowly Orlando Magic.
Seth Curry posted 20 points, while Joel Embiid had 13 points and 11 rebounds as the 76ers earned home-court advantage for the playoffs.
The 76ers will begin their quest for a first NBA championship since 1983 on May 22, starting against the eighth seed from the play-in tournament.
But All-Star Simmons, who put up 13 points, nine assists and four rebounds, said: “I don’t care who we play.
“That’s the point of being the number one seed, you feel like you can beat anybody.
“If we were scared, we shouldn’t be in this position.
“We want to get ready for the playoffs. We put ourselves in a good position, but we want to win a championship.”
The last time the 76ers topped the Eastern Conference ahead of the postseason, Philadelphia – led by MVP Allen Iverson – went on to reach the NBA Finals, though they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1.
Philadelphia have not advanced to the NBA Finals since, with the 76ers failing to make it beyond the conference semi-finals in 2003, 2012, 2018 and 2019, while they were swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics last season.
MVP hopeful Embiid insisted: “I’m happy about what we accomplished, but we have a long way to go. Now’s the time to lock in and go get the whole thing.”
“Home-court advantage helps a lot,” Embiid said. “We’ve been dominant at home; we barely lose here. It means a lot to have the number one seed.”
Embiid – who has flourished under head coach Doc Rivers, who replaced Brett Brown at the start of the season – added: “We did it as a group, felt like everybody contributed. Great coaching staff, great front office, the group we’ve had this year has been exceptional.
“As good as we were in the regular season, I think we’re going to be even better in the playoffs.”
76ers secure top seed in east, Mavericks avoid play-in tournament
Stats Perform15/05/202104:56Shake Milton and George Hill of the 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers secured the top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference after a crushing 122-97 victory over the Orlando Magic that saw their key players take an early seat on the bench.
Seth Curry led the 76ers with 20 points in just 23 minutes of court time on Friday, while Joel Embiid had 13 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes and Ben Simmons added 13 points and nine assists in 26 minutes.
Philadelphia (48-23) – Eastern Conference champions for the first time since 2000-01 – will open the playoffs against the number eight seed that emerges from next week’s play-in tournament.
Two teams will emerge from the Eastern Conference side, which will include the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers and the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards clinched their play-in spot with a 120-105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers as Russell Westbrook recorded yet another triple-double following 21 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds.
Westbrook’s triple-double was his 37th in 63 appearances this season, and he had at least 15 assists for the seventh consecutive game. Only John Stockton and Isiah Thomas have had seven such games in a row, with Stockton doing it three times.
Mavericks avoid play-in with win over Raptors
Luka Doncic tallied 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds and Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks (42-29) held off the Toronto Raptors for a 114-110 win that clinched a spot in the Western Conference’s top six.
The Denver Nuggets beat the Detroit Pistons 104-91 to draw even with the Los Angeles Clippers, who fell 122-115 to the lowly Houston Rockets. Denver (47-24) got 20 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists from MVP candidate Nikola Jokic in the win, the Nuggets’ third in a row. The Clippers’ loss gave the idle Phoenix Suns (49-21) the Pacific Division title.
The NBA-leading Utah Jazz won 109-93 at the Oklahoma City Thunder behind 22 points from Bojan Bogdanovic. Utah (51-20) can clinch the top seed in the west with a win against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday or a Suns loss against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday or Sunday.
The Golden State Warriors downed the New Orleans Pelicans 125-122 behind Jordan Poole’s 38 points for their fifth consecutive victory. The Memphis Grizzlies also won their fifth straight game, 107-106 over the Kings, while resting most of their key players. Golden State and Memphis share 38-33 records and will meet on Sunday with the number eight seed on the line as they head into the play-in tournament.
Bulls miss out again
The Wizards’ win ended the idle Chicago Bulls’ hopes of making the play-in tournament, marking the fourth consecutive season the storied franchise will miss the playoffs.
Hometown kid Harris posts career night
The Raptors played without their top seven scorers in Friday’s loss to the Mavericks, but Dallas native Jalen Harris did his part in a losing effort with a career-high 31 points.
Friday’s results
Washington Wizards 120-105 Cleveland Cavaliers Denver Nuggets 104-91 Detroit Pistons Philadelphia 76ers 122-97 Orlando Magic Utah Jazz 109-93 Oklahoma City Thunder Dallas Mavericks 114-110 Toronto Raptors Houston Rockets 122-115 Los Angeles Clippers Memphis Grizzlies 107-106 Sacramento Kings Golden State Warriors 125-122 New Orleans Pelicans
Lakers at Pacers
The Los Angeles Lakers need a win to pull even with the Portland Trail Blazers for the sixth spot in the Western Conference, and the reigning champions are hoping to have LeBron James back in the line-up as they face the Pacers.
Pirlo believes Juve could have done more to retain the Serie A title
By Dom FarrellStats Perform14/05/202117:03Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo during his side’s 3-0 home defeat to Milan
Andrea Pirlo feels he and his Juventus players could have done much more in their meek Serie A title defence.
Juventus host Inter on Saturday in a game that looked set at one time to be a blockbuster Scudetto decider.
However, the Old Lady will welcome Antonio Conte’s freshly crowned champions with their own form having fallen away, to the extent Champions League qualification is now out of Juve’s hands.
“Inter have done better, have been more consistent and hungrier than us,” Pirlo told a pre-match news conference.
“Facing the newly crowned Italian champions gives us more motivation. Let’s not forget that we have a chance to qualify for the Champions League. Inter will try to win the game.
“Congratulations to Inter for the Scudetto, but we could have done more.”
Despite Juve sitting perilously in fifth, a point behind Napoli in the final Champions League qualifying spot with two games remaining, Pirlo explained next Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final against Atalanta would come into his thinking with regards to selection.https://www.youtube.com/embed/tWsfdNEKNhU
“Alex Sandro plays tomorrow because he’s suspended for the Coppa Italia final,” Pirlo said.
“For the others, we will see. We must recover energy.”
Defender Merih Demiral is fit to feature for the first time since March following thigh problems, bolstering a Juve squad who returned to winning ways by beating Sassuolo 3-1 away last time out, on Wednesday evening.
“The performance on Wednesday suggests that we are sorry, we could have had more points by always remaining as focused as we were in Reggio Emilia,” Pirlo added.
“At the end of the year, we will review the whole season, analysing the mistakes to not commit them again.”
United midfielder Fred called up to Brazil squad for first time since 2018
Stats Perform14/05/202116:15Manchester United midfielder Fred
Manchester United midfielder Fred has been called up to the Brazil squad for the first time since 2018 for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Ecuador and Paraguay.
The most recent of Fred’s 11 senior international caps came in a 2-0 friendly win over Saudi Arabia two and a half years ago.
He has featured regularly for club side United once again this season, however, and has been included in Brazil’s 24-man squad for their next set of Qatar 2022 qualifying fixtures.
Fred wrote on Twitter: “A great joy to represent my country again. Always proud to be called up. Let’s go again!”
The 28-year-old was criticised by a number of pundits for his performance in Thursday’s 4-2 Premier League defeat to Liverpool, but United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has regularly stood by the midfielder.
Fred has attempted 3.08 tackles per 90 minutes in the Premier League this term, the sixth highest average among all players to have played at least 20 times.
His 59.04 successful passes per 90 minutes, meanwhile, is behind only Nemanja Matic (76.56) in terms of United players to have played eight or more league games in 2020-21.
The ex-Shakhtar Donetsk player’s passing has also improved during his time at Old Trafford, with Paul Pogba (9.47) the only United regular averaging more passes into the final third than Fred’s 9.41 per game.
Asked at a news conference on Friday about his decision to recall Fred, Brazil head coach Tite said: “He has been included because of his high-level performances at United, the team that is second in the Premier League.”
Fred is joined in the squad by veteran full-back Dani Alves, who last featured for Brazil in October 2019, while Lucas Paqueta, Gabriel Barbosa and Everton Ribeiro are also included.
The Selecao were last in action six months ago when seeing off Uruguay 2-0 to make it four wins from four in their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying group.
The fifth and sixth rounds of fixtures were scheduled to take place in March, but all the games were called off due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
Brazil are gearing up for a busy period as the Copa America – originally due to be held last year – takes place between June 13 and July 10.
Tite will name his squad for the tournament on June 9 and is hoping to continue building momentum over the next couple of games.
“We have a very high expectation,” Tite said. “It is a difficult moment for everyone. These games give us a chance to be in contact with the players.
“We will look at continuing with our performances and results. Right now it is only possible to think about these two games and nothing else.”
Brazil squad: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Dani Alves (Sao Paulo), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Lucas Verissimo (Benfica), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Thiago Silva (Chelsea); Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (Lyon); Everton (Benfica), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Richarlison (Everton), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).
Premier League Sunday preview: European hopefuls hunt points
By Matthew HillLiveScore14/05/202115:50Liverpool will look to keep their top-four fate in their own hands on Sunday
Three teams with European aspirations are in action on another jam-packed Sunday of Premier League fixtures.
Things are getting tense in Merseyside with both Everton and Liverpool in desperate need of three points against relegated opponents, while Tottenham require a result against improving Wolves.
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa (12pm, Sky Sports)
Two sides with their eyes on next season meet in South London as Crystal Palace entertain Aston Villa.
It has been a tough period for the Eagles, who have lost four of their last five top-flight outings with the only respite coming via a 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
That victory secured safety but there is a consensus that change is afoot at Selhurst Park. Along with 73-year-old boss Roy Hodgson rumoured to be stepping aside at the end of the campaign, several first-team players are set to move on.
For Villa, Thursday’s goalless draw with Everton made it one win in eight home league fixtures, meaning the best Dean Smith’s men can now hope for is a top-half finish. Aston Villa star Jack Grealish will hope to feature again after returning from injury
Emiliano Martinez kept an impressive 15th clean sheet of the campaign in that game to equal Brad Friedel’s club record.
But a run of only three wins in 14 games since mid-February has put paid to any hopes of European qualification for the Villans.
Former Villa striker Christian Benteke has three goals in his last five outings and is in line to start for the hosts, who have no fresh injury concerns, while Jack Grealish could be in the starting line-up for the visitors for the first time since returning to fitness.
Tottenham vs Wolves (2.05pm, Sky Sports)
If Tottenham are to sneak into the Europa League qualification spots, they will need a near-perfect finish to the campaign — starting with three points against Wolves.
Ryan Mason won his first two league games in charge as caretaker boss but a costly 3-1 defeat at Leeds last weekend has left Spurs as outsiders for a top-six finish.
The North Londoners have an excellent record hosting sides from the bottom half in their favour — they boast an undefeated run of 19 such matches, with 15 ending in victory.
After claiming seventh in successive seasons, Wolves look destined to finish below 10th following a campaign in which they never really managed to get get going.
Nuno Espirito Santo has had plenty of problems to solve this term — including a long-term injury to talismanic forward Raul Jimenez — but the Portuguese will have been encouraged by his side taking 10 points from their last five games.
Last week’s comeback win at Brighton made it 51 points recovered from losing positions since the start of 2018-19, which is a total only bettered by Manchester United in that period.
Liverpool cannot afford to drop points against relegated West Brom if they are to maintain hopes of sneaking a Champions League spot on the last day.
The Baggies saw their fate sealed by a 3-1 loss at Arsenal and it remains to be seen whether Sam Allardyce will remain in charge for next season’s Championship campaign.
After losing their first four home games under him by an aggregate of 17-0, Big Sam has now overseen a run of only one defeat in seven at The Hawthorns — improvement that has simply arrived too late. West Brom have improved over Sam Allardyce but not enough to beat the drop
On the face of it, a trip to the relegated Baggies should be a breeze for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, although the German has remarkably only won one of his six meetings as a manager with Allardyce.
But Thursday’s 4-2 victory at Manchester United means the visitors should arrive both sharp and focused now that a top-four finish is firmly on the cards.
The Baggies do not have any fresh injury concerns and Liverpool duo Naby Keita and Ozan Kabak (both muscle) are closing in on a return.
Everton vs Sheffield United (7pm, BT Sport)
Nothing but maximum points will do for Carlo Ancelotti and Everton when relegated Sheffield United visit Goodison Park.
The Toffees’ trademark inconsistencies reared their ugly head again in midweek when they were held to a goalless draw at Aston Villa — a result that leaves them needing teams above to drop points again if they are to make the top six. Everton could welcome back James Rodriguez for the visit of Sheffield United
Home form has been the key issue for Everton this season, with only 19 of their 56 points coming on their own patch, but they face a Sheffield United side who are woeful on their travels.
The relegated Blades have picked up only six points from a possible 69 on the road since the Premier League resumed in June 2020, while caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom has not overseen an away league win in any form since New Year’s Day in 2018 when his Barnsley side beat Sunderland.
Back-to-back defeats without scoring against Tottenham and Crystal Palace suggest the visitors are unlikely to cause too many problems — but they have won four of their last six trips to Goodison.
Yerry Mina (muscle) and James Rodriguez (calf) are both in contention to start for the hosts, while the visitors may welcome back Chelsea loanee Ethan Ampadu (groin).
Lewandowski fit to continue record pursuit against Freiburg
By Chris MysonStats Perform14/05/202115:22Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski
Hansi Flick has confirmed Robert Lewandowski is fit to continue his goalscoring record pursuit for Bayern Munich when they play Freiburg on Saturday.
Lewandowski has scored a remarkable 39 Bundesliga goals in 27 matches this season, putting him just one behind the record held by Gerd Muller, who netted 40 times in the league during the 1971-72 campaign.
There were fears Lewandowski – who recently returned from a month out with a knee injury suffered while on international duty with Poland – could miss the clash with Freiburg after he made an early exit from a session at the club’s training camp on Thursday.
But Flick revealed the striker is ready to go after playing a part in Friday’s session and said helping him to the milestone is one of his last remaining targets before he leaves the club.
“Lewy took part in the training and is available,” Bayern coach Flick told reporters, with Freiburg and then Augsburg the final opponents for Bayern this season after Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach last time out.
“The focus is on finishing the season well. We can reach 80 points – that’s our goal.
“Lewy’s 40 goals are next. If we can do both, that would be incredible and we will do everything to achieve it.
“If we can achieve both, it would be an outstanding thing, but to do that we have to deliver top performances twice.
“If the team implements what we set out to do, then Lewy will also benefit from it. You saw against Gladbach that the players are looking for him and support him.
“Lewy has also assisted a goal, so it’s about giving and taking.”
Alexander Nubel, who has been linked with a loan move to Monaco at the end of the season, is poised to start in goal for the first time in the Bundesliga this season as Manuel Neuer is rested.
Flick was also asked whether he believes Thomas Muller will be handed a Germany recall to play in Euro 2020 after producing 11 league goals and 17 assists in a fine season for Bayern.
“I don’t know any more than you do,” he said. “Thomas has been showing top performances for two years.
“It is more fun than a headache [for Germany]. You like to have a player like that in the team, he always gives everything for the team.
“We are glad that he performs so well so often. He always has to play in this team.
“But it is not my place to decide. This is a decision for Jogi [Germany head coach Joachim Low] and the coaching team, they will make the right decision.”
Bayern have only lost one of their last 35 Bundesliga games against Freiburg, though that was – like this upcoming clash – on matchday 33 back in 2015.
Since a 0-0 draw with RB Leipzig in May 2019, Bayern have scored in each of their last 33 Bundesliga away games to equal the top-flight record they set between 2012 and 2014.
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