Doncic scores franchise-record 73 points, tied for 4th in NBA history, as Mavs edge Hawks 148-143
Luka Doncic scored a franchise-record 73 points, tied for the fourth-most in NBA history and surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant, to power the Mavericks to a 148-143 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Mother of a child punished by a court for urinating in public refuses to sign probation terms
The mother of a 10-year-old child who was sentenced by a Mississippi judge to three months of probation and a book report for urinating in public has refused to sign his probation agreement and has asked for the charge against her son to be dismissed.
What's streaming now: Olivia Rodrigo, LaKeith Stanfield, NBA 2K24 and 'The Little Mermaid'
This weekโs new entertainment releases include Olivia Rodrigo's much-anticipated sophomore album, LaKeith Stanfield starring in the eight-part horror fantasy series โThe Changelingโ and Disney's live-action remake of โThe Little Mermaidโ starring Halle Bailey.
Kobe Bryant widow awarded $16M in trial over crash photos
A federal jury has found that Los Angeles County must pay Kobe Bryantโs widow $16 million for emotional distress caused by deputies and firefighters sharing photos of the bodies of the NBA star and his daughter taken at the site of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed them.
Kobe Bryant's widow says crash photos turned grief to horror
Kobe Bryant's widow Vanessa testified she was only beginning to grieve the loss of her husband and their 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash when she was faced with the fresh horror of learning that deputies and firefighters had shared photos of their remains.
Lawyer: Photos of Kobe Bryant's remains shared 'for a laugh'
A lawyer for the widow of Kobe Bryant told jurors that a โculture of callousnessโ led Los Angeles County deputies and firefighters to share photos of the remains of Kobe Bryant and other victims of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed the Lakers star, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven others.
Judge: Kobe Bryant's widow must turn over therapy records
A judge has ruled that Kobe Bryantโs widow must turn over her therapy records to Los Angeles County in her lawsuit claiming she suffered emotional distress after first responders shared photos from the site of the helicopter crash that killed the basketball star and his teenage daughter.
LA County wants Vanessa Bryant to undergo psychiatric exam
Los Angeles County is seeking to compel psychiatric evaluations for Kobe Bryantโs widow and others to determine if they truly suffered emotional distress after first responders took and shared graphic photos from the site of the helicopter crash that killed the basketball star, his teenage daughter and seven others.
Leonard, George each score 31, Clippers tie series with Jazz
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George each scored 31 points โ the second straight game they have both had over 30 points โ and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz 118-104 in Game 4 Monday night to even their Western Conference second-round series at two games apiece.
โItโs an honorโ: The Hall of Fameโs class of 2020 enshrined
Kobe Bryant is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame now, along with contemporaries Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, headliners of a group of nine who got their delayed and long-awaited enshrinement on Saturday night, more than a year after being announced as the Hallโs Class of 2020.
It's time: Duncan, Bryant, Garnett to enter Hall of Fame
Vanessa Bryant got a private tour to see some of the newly remodeled Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, viewing the exhibit that will honor the life and legacy of her late husband before the rest of the world gets their first look.
Documents: Firefighters could be fired for Bryant photos
Court documents say two Los Angeles County firefighters could be fired and a third suspended after first responders took and shared graphic photos from the site of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his teenage daughter and seven others.
Vanessa Bryant calls out deputies who took or shared photos of helicopter crash that killed Kobe
FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2020, file photo, Vanessa Bryant speaks during a celebration of life for her husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna in Los Angeles. The complaint names deputies Joey Cruz, Rafael Mejia, Michael Russell and Raul Versales as defendants. Thatโs in addition to Los Angeles County, its sheriffโs and fire departments. It also says the bartender who saw the photos shared with other customers that he had seen the pictures and described Bryantโs remains. The L.A. County Sheriffโs Department and the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Vanessa Bryant still perseveres after Kobe, Gigi's death
FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2017, file photo, from left, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, wife Vanessa and daughter Natalia Diamante Bryant are seen before an NCAA college women's basketball game between Connecticut and UCLA, in Los Angeles. Vanessa Bryant says she is focused on finding the light in darkness in an emotional story in People magazine. She details how she attempts to push forward after her husband, Kobe Bryant, and daughter Gigi died in a helicopter crash in early 2020. Vanessa Bryant said her devotion to her daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri have been a saving grace. Vanessa Bryant said she wants to honor her husband and daughterโs legacy by creating opportunities for young female athletes.
Rock 'n' roll's big night comes to Cleveland โ in fall
FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2020, file photo, images of Kobe Bryant are displayed as fans enter Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse for an NBA basketball game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Orleans Pelicans in Cleveland. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced Tuesday, March 2, 2021, that the 2021 induction ceremony will take place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on October 30. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)CLEVELAND โ The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that the 2021 induction ceremony will take place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on October 30. President and CEO Greg Harris said the ceremony's move to the fall will likely stick, going forward, news outlets reported. Last yearโs ceremony was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and eventually replaced with an HBO special honoring the inductees.
Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic makes All-Star team
Phoenixโs Chris Paul is an All-Star for the 11th time, and Brooklynโs James Harden is one for the ninth consecutive year. The rest of the reserves include Philadelphiaโs Ben Simmons, Bostonโs Jayson Tatum and Orlandoโs Nikola Vucevic from the Eastern Conference, along with the Los Angeles Lakersโ Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Clippersโ Paul George, Utah teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and Portlandโs Damian Lillard from the Western Conference. Williamson is 20, and only Kobe Bryant, James and Magic Johnson were younger in their All-Star debuts. But this will be his first time in the All-Star Game itself. AdCOACHESUtahโs Quin Snyder will coach Team LeBron, and Philadelphiaโs Doc Rivers will coach Team Durant.
NBA All-Star captains: It's LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)The voters have spoken: They wanted LeBron James of the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers to be an All-Star captain, again. James and Durant were revealed Thursday as the leading fan votegetters in the Western and Eastern Conferences for the All-Star Game, meaning theyโll be captains for the matchup in Atlanta on March 7. James will start for the 17th time, extending his record, and Durant is an All-Star for the 11th time. James โ the leading overall votegetter this year, with more than 5.9 million votes from fans โ and Durant will then pick their teams, with the rosters for Team LeBron and Team Durant to be revealed March 4. The game has been criticized by some of the leagueโs top players, James included, who voiced concerns about having it during a pandemic.
The Gubble opens: G League's bubble season begins
For the G League Ignite, it was a beginning. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)For the G League Ignite, it was a beginning. โCanโt wait for the next game.โThe 18 teams in the G League bubble will all play 15 games in the regular season. Not every NBA club sent its affiliate to the G League bubble, for a variety of reasons. โMy understanding is theyโre all just eager to play.โThe G League did not crown a champion last season.
NTSB report: Pilot felt pressure to fly Kobe Bryant to game
โHere is a case where a pilot who is well regarded apparently got into a very bad situation,โ Sumwalt said. AdThere were 184 aircraft crashes between 2010-2019 involving spatial disorientation, including 20 fatal helicopter crashes, the NTSB said. Vanessa Bryant has sued Island Express Helicopters Inc., which operated the aircraft, and its owner, Island Express Holding Corp. She said Zobayan was not properly trained or supervised and should have aborted the flight. Island Express Helicopters Inc. denied responsibility and said the crash was โan act of Godโ that it could not control. Lawyers for Berge Zobayan and Island Express declined to comment on the NTSB findings.
Lost in fog: Kobe copter crash highlights danger for pilots
(James Anderson/National Transportation Safety Board via AP, File)The federal investigation into the helicopter crash that killed former NBA star Kobe Bryant and eight others has put a renewed spotlight on a long-known danger of flying: Pilots who become disoriented when they can't see their surroundings. Investigators said Tuesday that pilot Ara Zobayan lost his bearings during the Jan. 26, 2020, flight when he flew fast into low clouds. In 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., who was not certified for instruments-only flight, likely crashed into the ocean off Massachusetts after being disoriented by haze that obscured the horizon, the safety board determined. Instrument flying is standard among airline and military pilots and used when conditions don't allow a pilot to fly by sight. Even pilots who don't expect to fly by instruments must receive some training in the skill.
Pilot in Kobe Bryant crash was disoriented in clouds, federal investigators say
The crash led to widespread public mourning for the retired basketball star and several lawsuits, and prompted state and federal legislation. There was no sign of mechanical failure and the pilot was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, investigators said. But NTSB investigator-in-charge Bill English said the system, which was not on the helicopter, would probably not have prevented the crash. Federal lawmakers have sponsored the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act to mandate the warning systems on all helicopters carrying six or more passengers. Island Express Helicopters Inc. denied responsibility and said the crash was โan act of Godโ that it could not control.
Feds to name likely cause of Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
Federal safety officials are expected to vote Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, on what likely caused the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others to crash into a Southern California hillside last year, killing all aboard. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, file)LOS ANGELES โ In the year since the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant crashed into a hillside on a foggy morning, killing all nine aboard, thereโs been plenty of finger-pointing over the cause of the tragedy. AdFederal lawmakers have sponsored the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act to mandate the devices on all helicopters carrying six or more passengers. Zobayanโs brother said Kobe Bryant knew the risks of flying in a helicopter and his survivors arenโt entitled to damages from the pilotโs estate. Vanessa Bryant also sued the Los Angeles County Sheriffโs Department, accusing deputies of sharing unauthorized photos of the crash site.
OโNeal hosting SHAQ Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday
(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)Fans looking for pregame entertainment before the Super Bowl will have another option this year. Shaquille O'Neal will be holding the virtual SHAQ Bowl on Feb. 7. It's one of the few events taking place in Tampa, Florida, since many parties that traditionally take place during Super Bowl week have been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The SHAQ Bowl takes the place of Shaq's Fun House, which had been held the past two years in Atlanta and Miami. The SHAQ Bowl also has its own halftime show with Migos and DJ Diesel performing.
Harris shot in final seconds leads 76ers past Lakers 107-106
Jamesโ push of the 76ers big man got him hit with a flagrant 1 and Embiid cried foul. Harris swished a jumper with 3 seconds left, ending the Lakersโ 13-0 run and sending Philadelphia to a 107-106 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday night. The 76ers lead the East at 13-6 and the Lakers are 14-5 in the West. James hit Anthony Davis for the go-ahead basket with 11.2 seconds to go for a 106-105 lead and cap that run. YOU AGAINGreen and backup center Dwight Howard played key roles in the Lakersโ championship last season.
24 powerful photos by which to remember Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks at the Staples Center on Nov. 17, 2019. Kobe Bryant reacts in the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at a game held April 13, 2016, in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant warms up with daughter Gianna Bryant during the NBA All-Star Game 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Kobe Bryant celebrates after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 29, 2019.
LeBron scores 46, Lakers beat Cavs to stay perfect on road
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers' Dylan Windler (9) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)CLEVELAND โ Back home, LeBron James kept the Lakers perfect on the road. When James was short with a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter, the unidentified Cavs executive celebrated. It was only James' second trip back to Cleveland since he left the Cavs for the second time as a free agent after the 2018 season. โIt's more of a somber-tone-type-of-day.โThe Lakers are spending the night in Cleveland before flying to Philadelphia โ Bryant's hometown โ on Tuesday.
Harden, Durant help Nets break away late, beat Heat 98-85
Harden and Durant each scored 20 points despite three relatively quiet quarters, and the Nets broke away with a big run in the fourth to beat the Miami Heat 98-85 on Monday night. Kyrie Irving added 16 points for the Nets, who completed a sweep of the Heat in two games that couldn't have been more different. โI think our defense held tight the whole game,โ Durant said. Miami took a 45-41 edge into halftime, going just 4 for 19 on 3s but doubling the Nets' makes after they went 2 for 17. Nets: Durant missed his first six 3-point attempts before sinking one in the third quarter.
From Kobe to Maradona, a year of staggering losses in sports
Not long after came a seismic jolt, the helicopter crash of Kobe Bryant in the fog-shrouded California hills that reverberated across sports and across continents. Deep into the year, a bookend to Bryant, Diego Maradona died from a heart attack in Argentina weeks after brain surgery, the waves of grief rippling across soccer. The losses, of course, came against a backdrop of a pandemic, its number of fatalities rolled out daily on TV screens. Niekro won 318 games and pitched until he was 48, his knuckleball dancing and mystifying batters across the decades. Kurt Thomas in 1978 became the first U.S. male gymnast to win a world title but lost an Olympic shot in 1980 because of the boycott.
Sports in 2020: Disruptions aplenty, only constant was loss
FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2020, file photo, the Olympic rings for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 pass by on a barge by tugboats off the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic officials said Thursday, Dec. 24, they have reached a basic agreement with all 68 domestic sponsors to extend their contracts into next year to support the postponed Games. Facing increasingly long odds, some mega-events โ the Olympics, March Madness, the Boston Marathon and Wimbledon โ pushed the starting line into 2021. โฆ Continue to push (against) everything thatโs the opposite of love.โIf only for a moment, the pandemic receded into the background. โIf we can continue to do that, all of us,โ James concluded, โAmerica would be a much better place.โ
Still The King: James wins AP Male Athlete of Year award
The AP award was first given out in 1931. Jamesโ fourth win matched Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods for the most by men. Three women have won the AP award at least four times; Babe Didrikson was a six-time winner, Serena Williams has won five and Chris Evert four. James โ also the APโs male athlete of this past decade โ also won the yearly AP award in 2013, 2016 and 2018. Michael Jordan, a three-time winner, is the only other basketball player to win the AP award more than once.
LeBron becomes No. 2 Xmas scorer, Lakers top Mavs 138-115
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) goes to the basket while defended by Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in Los Angeles. In their second game of the new season, even Luka Doncic didn't stand a chance of keeping up. Anthony Davis scored 28 points and James became the second-leading Christmas scorer in NBA history during the Los Angeles Lakers' 138-115 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Los Angeles outrebounded Dallas 53-27 and closed out its first win of the season with a dominant fourth quarter. The Lakers were aggressive and accurate from the opening tip, taking a 69-57 halftime lead while hitting 61.4% of their shots.
Amid anguish of pandemic, sports offered memorable moments
With the kick, Fuller became the first female to play in a Southeastern Conference football game. Fuller, a senior, became the first woman to play in a Power 5 football game with a kickoff against Missouri on Nov. 28. Her gender-breaking accomplishment was a glimmer of inspiration amid the darkness of a pandemic. The Los Angeles Dodgers kept the trend going at the end of a pandemic-shortened baseball season, earning their first World Series title since 1988. โWe never stopped," World Series MVP Corey Seager said.
Kobe Bryant's widow slams lawsuit from mom seeking support
FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2020, file photo, Vanessa Bryant speaks during a celebration of life for her husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna in Los Angeles. The 48-page lawsuit filed by Sofia Urbieta Laine, 68, claims Kobe Bryant โpromised to take careโ of her for life. Kobe Bryant, 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others died Jan. 26 when their helicopter crashed in the hills of Calabasas. Financial experts estimate Vanessa Bryant inherited control of an estate worth up to $600 million, the Times said. โShe was a grandmother who was supported by me and her son-in-law at my request,โ Vanessa Bryant said.
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2020
The world also said goodbye to U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a lion of the civil rights movement who died in July. Other former political figures who died this year include Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, New York Mayor David Dinkins, Arizona Gov. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2020 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___David Stern, 77. The guitarist who supplied the scratching, seething sound that fueled the highly influential British punk band Gang of Four. He fused African rhythms with funk to become one of the most influential musicians in world dance music.
Fauci's plea 'Wear a mask' tops list of 2020 notable quotes
Made during a May 21, 2020 interview on CNN, Fauci's pleas for people to "wear a mask" to slow the spread of the coronavirus, tops a Yale Law School librarian's list of the most notable quotes of 2020. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP, File)NEW HAVEN, Conn. โ A plea from Dr. Anthony Fauci for people to โwear a maskโ to slow the spread of the coronavirus tops a Yale Law School librarianโs list of the most notable quotes of 2020. โWear a mask.โ โ Dr. Anthony Fauci, CNN interview, May 21. โ Trump, in remarks at a White House Coronavirus Task Force news briefing, April 23. You have my word on that.โ โ White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, at her first press briefing, May 1.
Vogel: Lakers 'have to be even better' to repeat as champs
FILE - Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, rear, and Anthony Davis (3) celebrate after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Oct. 11, 2020, file photo. Anthony Davis is finalizing a five-year contract worth up to $190 million to return to the Los Angeles Lakers. One day after LeBron James agreed to a two-year, $85 million contract extension with the Lakers through 2022-23, Davis committed to the Lakers through the 2024-25 season. A distinct lack of vacation time aside, Los Angeles begins the new season in an apparently stellar position. "The first thing you have to understand about going into a repeat situation is itโs going to be harder than the year before.