BASKETTBALL

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The NBA forward, who was reluctant to take time off to treat a foot injury, returned to action on December 15 to help the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 116-110 after missing two games in eight days.

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In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder turned the highly anticipated matchup of two of the league's hottest teams into a rout, beating the Mavs 118-104 to end their seven-game winning streak. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points with eight rebounds and five assists.

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Joel Embiid's tough season took another turn for the worse on Friday as Philadelphia's star centre exited early in the 76ers' 121-107 NBA loss to Indiana after being struck in the face. The Cameroon-born big man, who won Olympic gold with the United States in Paris this year, was fighting for a rebound under the Pacers' basket when he was inadvertently elbowed.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks edged the depleted but determined Orlando Magic 114-109 to reach the NBA Cup semi-finals on Tuesday as Oklahoma City cruised past Dallas.

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A dominating performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo (30) on Saturday led the Milwaukee Bucks into the NBA Cup final, where they will face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26) and the Oklahoma City Thunder for the title. Greek star Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to spark the Bucks over the Atlanta Hawks 110-102 while Canadian guard Gilgeous-Alexander netted a game-high 32 points to lead the Thunder over Houston 111-96 in the semi-finals at Las Vegas.

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Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, has been named Time Magazine's Athlete of the Year, a testament to her transformative impact on women's basketball. The 22-year-old Indiana Fever guard, who entered the WNBA as the No. 1 overall draft pick after a record-breaking collegiate career, has sparked unprecedented interest in the sport.

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The NBA champion Boston Celtics shrugged off the absence of All-Star Jayson Tatum, raining 20 three-pointers in a lopsided 123-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. With Tatum sidelined by a sore right knee, reserve Payton Pritchard stepped up to lead the Celtics scoring with 27 points and 10 assists as they notched a 12th straight victory over the Pistons.

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Philadelphia's Joel Embiid (30) scored 31 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in his return after missing seven games to spark the 76ers in a 108-100 win at Chicago on Sunday.