Latest - Steven Adams made a successful return to Oklahoma City with his new NBA team the New Orleans Pelicans.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Adams had played seven seasons for the OKC Thunder before being traded to the Pelicans this season.
The New Zealander scored 14 points and made 10 rebounds as the Pelicans won 113-80.
Brandon Ingram top-scored for the visitors with 20 points but he was ejected in the third quarter after a flagrant foul.
Even without Ingram the Pelicans dominated the end, outsourcing the Thunder 28-7 in the fourth quarter, to open up what had been a tight game.
Breakers on the move again
The Breakers basketballers will temporarily move to Tasmania today after a fresh Covid-19 outbreak in Victoria.
Breakers coach Dan Shamir. Photo: Photosport
The New Zealand NBL team have been in Melbourne for almost three weeks preparing for the season set to start in two weeks time.
But both the Breakers and South East Melbourne Phoenix will move to Hobart and NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said they will be accommodated and train there under strict Covid protocols.
"This will give us time to assess and work through the next steps required as we prepare for the forthcoming NBL Season.
"We hope the current restrictions and resulting border closures will be eased as quickly as possible but we will need to stay flexible in our approach and we will continue to be guided by the advice of the relevant state health authorities."
The Breakers are scheduled to open their season against Melbourne United in Melbourne on January 15.
Meanwhile, Tall Blacks forward Tom Vodanovich has joined the Sydney Kings in the Australian National Basketball League.
Vodanovich who spent last season with the New Zealand Breakers is a replacement for swingman Xavier Cooks, who will miss a large chunk of the NBL season with an ankle injury.
Vodanovich, who was named the New Zealand NBL Most Valuable Player in 2020, was due to play in Luxembourg, but instead joined the Kings at their temporary Albury training base earlier this week because of Covid-related protocols.
Next Adesanya fight locked in
The fight which could make Israel Adesanya a two-division UFC champion has been confirmed.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
UFC president Dana White revealed to ESPN on Thursday (NZ time) the New Zealand mixed martial arts star, who holds the middleweight world title, would face Polish light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz on March 7.
The bout would take place at UFC 259, with no location yet confirmed for the pay-per-view event.
With 20 wins from 20 professional MMA fights, Adesanya defended his title twice in 2020, scoring a unanimous points decision victory over Cuban Yoel Romero and claiming a second round TKO over Brazilian powerhouse Paulo Costa.
The Nigerian-born New Zealander is aiming to become the UFC's eighth two-weight champion against 38-year-old Blachowicz, who will be defending the light-heavyweight belt for the first time having claimed the vacant title in September.
Stags go top in Super Smash
Central Districts have gone to the top of the table in the domestic men's T20 cricket competition.
Central Stags' George Worker Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Stags romped to a 70-run win over Auckland in New Plymouth on Thursday, handing the Aces their third straight loss.
Josh Clarkson belted a career-best 78 off just 31 balls, while George Worker hit 79 off 46 as the home side posted 226-8, before bowling Auckland out for 156 in the 19th over.
Meanwhile, in the women's competition, Auckland beat Central Districts by eight runs to draw level with front-runners Wellington.
An unbeaten 63 from White Fern Lauren Down helped the Hearts to 158-2 batting first, with the Hinds only managing 150-8 from their 20 overs to remain winless after three matches.
Murray not keen on Covid
Andy Murray has pulled out of the season-opening Delray Beach Open in Florida next week to reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19 ahead of the Australian Open in February.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Murray, who missed most of the 2020 season due to complications with his hip and struggled for form on his return after the Covid-19 hiatus, accepted a wildcard for the January 7-13 ATP 250 tournament last week.
The tournament serves as a warm-up for the Australian Open in Melbourne, which will begin three weeks later than scheduled on February 8 due to Covid-19 health and safety measures.
Murray, a former world number one and three-times Grand Slam champion, underwent hip resurfacing surgery in January last year and has slipped to 122nd in the rankings after playing only seven matches this year.
- Reuters
Cavani cops punishment
Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani has been suspended for three games and fined $190,000 after he admitted a Football Association (FA) charge for using a racial term.
Edinson Cavani. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 33-year-old Uruguayan used the word "negrito" in an Instagram post last month after beating Southampton on November 29, before taking it down and apologising.
Cavani will miss United's league game against Aston Villa, the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City and the FA Cup match against Watford as a result of the suspension.
The FA said Cavani would also have to complete "face-to-face education" as part of his punishment.
United said Cavani chose not to contest the charge out of respect for the FA and the "fight against racism in football".
- Reuters