<p>The growing outbreak of the novel coronavirus is slowly grasping all the sporting events around the world. The latest league to get suspended in the NBA. The basketball world was shocked when United States' world-famous basketball league NBA got suspended indefinitely after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert was tested positive for the novel coronavirus.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-italian-sporting-events-including-serie-a-suspended-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak-285360" hreflang="en">All Italian sporting events including Serie A suspended due to coronavirus outbreak</a></p>

<p>This happened just before the start of Oklahoma City Thunder versus Utah Jazz game. Teams were on the court and were ready to tip-off when the officials had a conversation and asked the players to get back in the locker rooms. It later was revealed that one of the Utah Jazz players was tested positive for coronavirus.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">NBA has suspended the season in the wake of a player testing positive for coronavirus. <a href="https://t.co/Dpqp3VA7TK">pic.twitter.com/Dpqp3VA7TK</a></p>
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardBeck/status/1237914340344422400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The league then confirmed the season had been suspended indefinitely while it considered how to deal with the pandemic.</p>

<p>"The NBA is suspending gameplay following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the league said in a statement. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward regarding the coronavirus pandemic."</p>

<p>Reportedly, the two-time defensive player of the year (Rudy Gobert) is doing well and is under the care of health officials in the Oklahoma City.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Was just on the phone with Rudy. He is doing good man. Lets not panick everyone. Love you all❤️</p>
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanFourmizz/status/1237928886501101574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to the ESPN, players of Jazz and Thunder were quarantined in the arena itself, other teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors have been asked to self-quarantine themselves.</p>


The growing outbreak of the novel coronavirus is slowly grasping all the sporting events around the world. The latest league to get suspended in the NBA. The basketball world was shocked when United States' world-famous basketball league NBA got suspended indefinitely after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert was tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The growing outbreak of the novel coronavirus is slowly grasping all the sporting events around the world. The latest league to get suspended in the NBA. The basketball world was shocked when United States' world-famous basketball league NBA got suspended indefinitely after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert was tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Also read: All Italian sporting events including Serie A suspended due to coronavirus outbreak This happened just before the start of Oklahoma City Thunder versus Utah Jazz game. Teams were on the court and were ready to tip-off when the officials had a conversation and asked the players to get back in the locker rooms. It later was revealed that one of the Utah Jazz players was tested positive for coronavirus. NBA has suspended the season in the wake of a player testing positive for coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/Dpqp3VA7TK — Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) March 12, 2020 × The league then confirmed the season had been suspended indefinitely while it considered how to deal with the pandemic. "The NBA is suspending gameplay following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the league said in a statement. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward regarding the coronavirus pandemic." Reportedly, the two-time defensive player of the year (Rudy Gobert) is doing well and is under the care of health officials in the Oklahoma City. Was just on the phone with Rudy. He is doing good man. Lets not panick everyone. Love you all❤️ — Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) March 12, 2020 × According to the ESPN, players of Jazz and Thunder were quarantined in the arena itself, other teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors have been asked to self-quarantine themselves.

NBA: Basketball league gets suspended after player tests positive for coronavirus

European Union leaders on Thursday slammed the United States for imposing a unilateral travel ban for people coming from Europe for 30 days.

Coronavirus Pandemic: Donald Trump cancels trip to Nevada, Colorado

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/basketball-giannis-powers-nba-best-bucks-to-win-lakers-rip-spurs-278710" target="_blank">NBA</a>&nbsp;commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday the league expects to lose "several hundred million dollars" due to a row with China over a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/celebrity-news-oscars-2020-nba-legend-kobe-bryant-to-be-honoured-on-the-awards-night-277345" target="_blank">NBA's</a>&nbsp;Chinese sponsors cut ties in a fierce mainland backlash following Morey's tweet in October, just before two NBA teams played preseason exhibition matches in China.</p>

<p>State broadcaster CCTV also stopped airing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/tonight-is-for-kobe-nba-legend-remembered-at-grammy-awards-hours-aftre-his-death-276826" target="_blank">NBA</a>&nbsp;games for the country's millions of ardent basketball fans and has not resumed.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read</strong>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-fines-orlando-magic-coach-steve-clifford-25k-over-outburst-279415" target="_blank">NBA fines Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford $25K over outburst</a></p>

<p>"The magnitude of the loss will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars," Silver told a press conference on the sidelines of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kobe-bryant-and-daughter-gianna-laid-to-rest-in-private-funeral-280401" target="_blank">All-Star</a>&nbsp;Weekend in Chicago.</p>

<p>"Probably less than $400 million, maybe even less than that," he said. However, "it's substantial", he added. "I don't want to run from that ... But I don't have any sense that there's any&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kobe-bryants-widow-vanessa-bryant-refuses-to-accept-death-of-her-husband-and-daughter-279982" target="_blank">permanent damage</a>&nbsp;to our business there."</p>

<p>The commissioner said he expected CCTV to resume broadcasts of NBA games but did not give a timeframe.</p>


NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday the league expects to lose "several hundred million dollars" due to a row with China over a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday the league expects to lose "several hundred million dollars" due to a row with China over a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters. The NBA's Chinese sponsors cut ties in a fierce mainland backlash following Morey's tweet in October, just before two NBA teams played preseason exhibition matches in China. State broadcaster CCTV also stopped airing NBA games for the country's millions of ardent basketball fans and has not resumed. Also Read: NBA fines Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford $25K over outburst "The magnitude of the loss will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars," Silver told a press conference on the sidelines of the All-Star Weekend in Chicago. "Probably less than $400 million, maybe even less than that," he said. However, "it's substantial", he added. "I don't want to run from that ... But I don't have any sense that there's any permanent damage to our business there." The commissioner said he expected CCTV to resume broadcasts of NBA games but did not give a timeframe.

NBA loses 'hundreds of millions' in China over Hong Kong tweet

<p>The NBA fined Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford $25,000 for "verbally abusing" officials in their 105-103 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday, the league announced on Friday.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vanessa-bryants-celebration-of-life-to-commemorate-kobe-and-gianna-bryant-279350" hreflang="en">Vanessa Bryant's 'celebration of life' to commemorate Kobe and Gianna Bryant</a></p>

<p>Clifford was angry at the end of the game at Madison Square Garden after he tried unsuccessfully to call a timeout with 6.7 seconds remaining and the Knicks leading 105-103.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und">😐 <a href="https://t.co/uT1KjHaxRd">pic.twitter.com/uT1KjHaxRd</a></p>
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1225617520691904514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Vying for the chance to run a play that might have tied -- or even won -- the contest, Clifford had some choice words for the officiating crew as he departed the court in the wake of the two-point defeat.</p>

<p>Later he said the officiating crew should have expected him to call a timeout in that kind of situation.</p>

<p>"When players don't have awareness, you lose. Coaches have poor awareness, that was my fault tonight, you lose," Clifford said after the game. "The officials have got to have awareness, too.</p>

<p>"Knowing the game and knowing the rules and knowing the situation's got to be a part of it, too."</p>


The NBA fined Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford $25,000 for "verbally abusing" officials in their 105-103 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday, the league announced on Friday.

The NBA fined Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford $25,000 for "verbally abusing" officials in their 105-103 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday, the league announced on Friday. Also read: Vanessa Bryant's 'celebration of life' to commemorate Kobe and Gianna Bryant Clifford was angry at the end of the game at Madison Square Garden after he tried unsuccessfully to call a timeout with 6.7 seconds remaining and the Knicks leading 105-103. 😐 pic.twitter.com/uT1KjHaxRd — Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 7, 2020 × Vying for the chance to run a play that might have tied -- or even won -- the contest, Clifford had some choice words for the officiating crew as he departed the court in the wake of the two-point defeat. Later he said the officiating crew should have expected him to call a timeout in that kind of situation. "When players don't have awareness, you lose. Coaches have poor awareness, that was my fault tonight, you lose," Clifford said after the game. "The officials have got to have awareness, too. "Knowing the game and knowing the rules and knowing the situation's got to be a part of it, too."

NBA fines Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford $25K over outburst

<p>Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks over the New Orleans Pelicans 120-108 on Tuesday.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/girl-dad-lebron-james-to-don-giannas-jersey-number-in-the-all-star-game-278464" hreflang="en">'Girl dad' LeBron James to don Gianna's jersey number in the All-Star game</a></p>

<p>Antetokounmpo hit 12-of-17 from the floor and 9-of-13 free throws while adding six assists, a steal and a blocked shot as the Bucks improved their NBA-best record to 43-7 thanks to a 42-24 scoring edge in the third quarter.</p>

<p>"I had a good game but I could get better," Antetokounmpo said. "Closing down the third quarter, we didn't do a good job. We got sloppy."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🦌 34 PTS, 17 REB for Giannis 🦌<a href="https://twitter.com/Giannis_An34?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Giannis_An34</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bucks</a> become the 8th team in <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAHistory?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBAHistory</a> to win 43 of their first 50 games! <a href="https://t.co/FrcFCWtYSd">pic.twitter.com/FrcFCWtYSd</a></p>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1224928651692691456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Greek star still feels the sting of losing to Toronto in last year's Eastern Conference final and failing to lift the Bucks into their first NBA Finals since&nbsp;1974, three years after Milwaukee won its only title.</p>

<p>That's why chasing the NBA one-season best record of 73-9 by Golden State is not the Bucks' major goal.</p>

<p>"It's going to be good if we win 70 games. All that hard work is going to pay off," Antetokounmpo said. "It's going to be even better if we get better every game and play for the championship."</p>

<p>Brandon Ingram led the host Pelicans with 32 points, while 19-year-old rookie star Zion Williamson had 20 points despite 5-of-19 shooting from the floor with seven rebounds and five assists.</p>

<p>"I'm happy he's going to be out there and help his team win," Antetokounmpo said. "It's good playing against him. It's going to be a great duel for a lot of years."</p>

<p>In Los Angeles, the Lakers got 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds from LeBron James and 18 points from Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma as the hosts rolled over the San Antonio Spurs 129-102.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LeBron James (36 PTS) hits 5 3-pointers in the 4th quarter to help secure the <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lakers</a> home win.<br />
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Kyle Kuzma: 18 PTS (7-11 FGM), 12 REB<br />
DeMar DeRozan: 28 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST <a href="https://t.co/fkEuT30UqY">pic.twitter.com/fkEuT30UqY</a></p>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1224924079758725126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Lakers improved the best record in the Western Conference to 38-11, 3 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Clippers.</p>

<p>James sank five 3-pointers in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter to stretch the Lakers' lead from 87-77 to 108-87 and seal San Antonio's fate.</p>

<p>"LeBron came out and hit five straight threes in 3 1/2 minutes, he got the lead for us and closed out the game early," Davis said.</p>

<p>"We just want to come out and make sure we play defense every night."</p>

<p>DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 28 points.</p>

<p>NBA scoring leader James Harden, chasing a third consecutive NBA scoring crown, poured in 40 points, passed off 12 assists and grabbed nine rebounds to power the Houston Rockets over visiting Charlotte 125-110.</p>

<p>Harden could match the third-longest run of scoring titles in NBA history, behind only the record seven seasons in a row of scoring crowns won by Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.</p>

<p>Serbian center Nikola Jokic scored 29 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and passed out nine assists to spark the Denver Nuggets over visiting Portland 127-99. Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 21 points.</p>


Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks over the New Orleans Pelicans 120-108 on Tuesday.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks over the New Orleans Pelicans 120-108 on Tuesday. Also read: 'Girl dad' LeBron James to don Gianna's jersey number in the All-Star game Antetokounmpo hit 12-of-17 from the floor and 9-of-13 free throws while adding six assists, a steal and a blocked shot as the Bucks improved their NBA-best record to 43-7 thanks to a 42-24 scoring edge in the third quarter. "I had a good game but I could get better," Antetokounmpo said. "Closing down the third quarter, we didn't do a good job. We got sloppy." 🦌 34 PTS, 17 REB for Giannis 🦌@Giannis_An34 and the @Bucks become the 8th team in @NBAHistory to win 43 of their first 50 games! pic.twitter.com/FrcFCWtYSd — NBA (@NBA) February 5, 2020 × The Greek star still feels the sting of losing to Toronto in last year's Eastern Conference final and failing to lift the Bucks into their first NBA Finals since 1974, three years after Milwaukee won its only title. That's why chasing the NBA one-season best record of 73-9 by Golden State is not the Bucks' major goal. "It's going to be good if we win 70 games. All that hard work is going to pay off," Antetokounmpo said. "It's going to be even better if we get better every game and play for the championship." Brandon Ingram led the host Pelicans with 32 points, while 19-year-old rookie star Zion Williamson had 20 points despite 5-of-19 shooting from the floor with seven rebounds and five assists. "I'm happy he's going to be out there and help his team win," Antetokounmpo said. "It's good playing against him. It's going to be a great duel for a lot of years." In Los Angeles, the Lakers got 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds from LeBron James and 18 points from Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma as the hosts rolled over the San Antonio Spurs 129-102. LeBron James (36 PTS) hits 5 3-pointers in the 4th quarter to help secure the @Lakers home win. Kyle Kuzma: 18 PTS (7-11 FGM), 12 REB DeMar DeRozan: 28 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST pic.twitter.com/fkEuT30UqY — NBA (@NBA) February 5, 2020 × The Lakers improved the best record in the Western Conference to 38-11, 3 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Clippers. James sank five 3-pointers in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter to stretch the Lakers' lead from 87-77 to 108-87 and seal San Antonio's fate. "LeBron came out and hit five straight threes in 3 1/2 minutes, he got the lead for us and closed out the game early," Davis said. "We just want to come out and make sure we play defense every night." DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 28 points. NBA scoring leader James Harden, chasing a third consecutive NBA scoring crown, poured in 40 points, passed off 12 assists and grabbed nine rebounds to power the Houston Rockets over visiting Charlotte 125-110. Harden could match the third-longest run of scoring titles in NBA history, behind only the record seven seasons in a row of scoring crowns won by Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Serbian center Nikola Jokic scored 29 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and passed out nine assists to spark the Denver Nuggets over visiting Portland 127-99. Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 21 points.

Basketball: Giannis powers NBA-best Bucks to win, Lakers rip Spurs

<p>Kobe Bryant&nbsp;and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash on Sunday morning. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play. Former Lakers legend was expected to coach the team.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kobe-bryants-wife-posts-heart-felt-message-thanks-millions-of-fans-for-support-277477" hreflang="en">Kobe Bryant's wife posts heart-felt message, thanks millions of fans for support</a></p>

<p>Young fan's selfie with Bryant has emerged on social media, many suggest that this could be his last photo before the crash. Fan's mother took to Facebook and posted the picture. The caption read: "Been off FB for a bit, but I had to post. This was yesterday. He told Brady 'we will take a better pic tomorrow'. I just can’t believe it. I saw the crash on a Malibu News station and said 'sure hope that wasn’t Kobe'. Freaky I thought it was him and it was."</p>

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<p>Kobe Bryant's untimed death shook the whole world. He was considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led his team Lakers to 5 NBA titles.&nbsp;The American is the fourth in the list of all-time scoring list in NBA history. He was recently succeeded by his team's LeBron James. Kobe Bryant was well known as 'The Black Mamba', he was an 18-time All-Star player. He was the 'Most Valuable Player' in the year 2008.&nbsp;He scored 33,643 points in his career in NBA.</p>

<h6><img alt="kobe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="52de983d-10c6-4b79-b7bb-cc2f61c25c70" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%286%29_22.jpg" /><br />
<em>Mourners place tributes as they gather in Microsoft Square near the Staples Center to pay respects to&nbsp;Kobe&nbsp;Bryant after a helicopter crash killed the retired basketball star, in Los Angeles, California, US, January 26, 2020.| Reuters</em></h6>

<p>His fans came out on the streets of Los Angeles to offer condolence to the Basketball great, Global icons from all walks of life sent their condolences messages on the social network.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.</p>
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1221552460768202756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi &amp; my brother <a href="https://twitter.com/kobebryant?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kobebryant</a> I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW <a href="https://t.co/pigHywq3c1">pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1</a></p>
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/SHAQ/status/1221549914766954496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight.</p>
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1221545674988310533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My heart truly mourns over the news today. Kobe was a great mentor and friend to me. You and your daughter will live forever in our hearts. There are not enough words to express my deepest sympathies to the Bryants and every family suffering from this tragedy. RIP my friend <a href="https://t.co/VRmgaOaITT">pic.twitter.com/VRmgaOaITT</a></p>
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole/status/1221633567618404352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash on Sunday morning. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play.

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash on Sunday morning. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play. Former Lakers legend was expected to coach the team. Also read: Kobe Bryant's wife posts heart-felt message, thanks millions of fans for support Young fan's selfie with Bryant has emerged on social media, many suggest that this could be his last photo before the crash. Fan's mother took to Facebook and posted the picture. The caption read: "Been off FB for a bit, but I had to post. This was yesterday. He told Brady 'we will take a better pic tomorrow'. I just can’t believe it. I saw the crash on a Malibu News station and said 'sure hope that wasn’t Kobe'. Freaky I thought it was him and it was." × Kobe Bryant's untimed death shook the whole world. He was considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led his team Lakers to 5 NBA titles. The American is the fourth in the list of all-time scoring list in NBA history. He was recently succeeded by his team's LeBron James. Kobe Bryant was well known as 'The Black Mamba', he was an 18-time All-Star player. He was the 'Most Valuable Player' in the year 2008. He scored 33,643 points in his career in NBA. Mourners place tributes as they gather in Microsoft Square near the Staples Center to pay respects to Kobe Bryant after a helicopter crash killed the retired basketball star, in Los Angeles, California, US, January 26, 2020.| Reuters His fans came out on the streets of Los Angeles to offer condolence to the Basketball great, Global icons from all walks of life sent their condolences messages on the social network. Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020 × There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1 — SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020 × My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight. — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 26, 2020 × My heart truly mourns over the news today. Kobe was a great mentor and friend to me. You and your daughter will live forever in our hearts. There are not enough words to express my deepest sympathies to the Bryants and every family suffering from this tragedy. RIP my friend pic.twitter.com/VRmgaOaITT — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 27, 2020 ×

Fan's selfie with Kobe Bryant could be NBA legend's final photo

<p>Former NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his thirteen-year-old daughter, Gianna's untimed death shook the whole world. He and his daughter along with seven other people were killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Sunday morning.&nbsp; The crash took place into a hillside in Calabasas, Califonia. The impact of the crash broke the chopper into pieces, debris created due to the crash stretched from about 500 to 600 feet.</p>

<p>&nbsp;<strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-legend-kobe-bryant-and-his-daughter-gianna-among-9-killed-in-a-chopper-crash-in-california-276748" hreflang="en">NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, among 9 killed in a chopper crash in California</a></p>

<p>Kobe Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant is said to be 'numb' and 'heartbroken' after receiving this tragic news.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also see:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kobe-bryant-an-nba-champion-olympic-gold-medalist-and-a-basketball-giant-276818">Basketball champion Kobe Bryant: His life in pictures</a></p>

<p>She made her first public statement through a heartfelt message in the first Instagram post since the crash.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B77K8XWDY7O/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately. There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon. I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever. Thank you for sharing your joy, your grief and your support with us. We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality. To honor our Team Mamba family, the Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to help support the other families affected by this tragedy. To donate, please go to MambaOnThree.org. To further Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports, please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org. Thank you so much for lifting us up in your prayers, and for loving Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and me. #Mamba #Mambacita #GirlsDad #DaddysGirls #Family ❤️</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vanessabryant/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Vanessa Bryant 🦋</a> (@vanessabryant) on <time datetime="2020-01-30T00:59:19+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jan 29, 2020 at 4:59pm PST</time></p>
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<p>She had made her Instagram page private after the crash but on Wednesday it was public again. She had a new profile picture on&nbsp;it and gained almost 2 million followers. In the new profile photo, Kobe Bryant is seen hugging her young daughter Gianna. The picture was taken on February 14, 2016, before Bryant's final NBA All-Star Game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a recent investigation, it turned out that Kobe's chopper was missing an essential warning system which could have helped to avoid the crash.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kobe married Vanessa in the year 2001, he succeeded by his wife and three daughters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Former NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his thirteen-year-old daughter, Gianna's untimed death shook the whole world. He and his daughter along with seven other people were killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Sunday morning.

Former NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his thirteen-year-old daughter, Gianna's untimed death shook the whole world. He and his daughter along with seven other people were killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Sunday morning. The crash took place into a hillside in Calabasas, Califonia. The impact of the crash broke the chopper into pieces, debris created due to the crash stretched from about 500 to 600 feet. Also read: NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, among 9 killed in a chopper crash in California Kobe Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant is said to be 'numb' and 'heartbroken' after receiving this tragic news. Also see: Basketball champion Kobe Bryant: His life in pictures She made her first public statement through a heartfelt message in the first Instagram post since the crash. View this post on Instagram My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately. There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon. I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever. Thank you for sharing your joy, your grief and your support with us. We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality. To honor our Team Mamba family, the Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to help support the other families affected by this tragedy. To donate, please go to MambaOnThree.org. To further Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports, please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org. Thank you so much for lifting us up in your prayers, and for loving Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and me. #Mamba #Mambacita #GirlsDad #DaddysGirls #Family ❤️ A post shared by Vanessa Bryant 🦋 (@vanessabryant) on Jan 29, 2020 at 4:59pm PST × She had made her Instagram page private after the crash but on Wednesday it was public again. She had a new profile picture on it and gained almost 2 million followers. In the new profile photo, Kobe Bryant is seen hugging her young daughter Gianna. The picture was taken on February 14, 2016, before Bryant's final NBA All-Star Game. In a recent investigation, it turned out that Kobe's chopper was missing an essential warning system which could have helped to avoid the crash. Kobe married Vanessa in the year 2001, he succeeded by his wife and three daughters.

Kobe Bryant's wife posts heart-felt message, thanks millions of fans for support

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-legend-kobe-bryant-and-his-daughter-gianna-among-9-killed-in-a-chopper-crash-in-california-276748">Kobe Bryant</a> and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play. Former Lakers legend was expected to coach the team.</p>

<p><strong>Also see-&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kobe-bryant-an-nba-champion-olympic-gold-medalist-and-a-basketball-giant-276818#kobes-early-life-276800">Basketball champion Kobe Bryant: His life in pictures</a></p>

<p>National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has started an investigation regarding the crash.</p>

<p>As the investigation unravels new aspects of crash keep pouring in. Pilot Ara Zobayan was flying the helicopter. He held a commercial helicopter license and was a certified flight instructor, according to Federal Aviation Administration records cited by the New York Times.</p>

<p>In his last transmission to the air traffic control, he said that he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer.</p>

<p>And after that communication, the pilot didn't respond to the air traffic control, according to the National Transport Safety Board.</p>

<p>The crash took place into a hillside in Calabasas, Califonia. The impact of the crash broke the chopper into pieces, debris created due to the crash stretched from about 500 to 600 feet.</p>

<p>The NTSB board member, Jennifer Homendy told the reporters that the last radar contact was around 9:45 AM. She said that the accident scene was 'pretty devastating'.</p>

<p>"There is (an) impact area on one of the hills and a piece of the tail is down the hill, on the left side of the hill," Homendy said. "The fuselage is over on the other side of that hill, and then the main rotor is about 100 yards beyond that," she added.</p>

<p>According to Jennifer Homendy, the pilot took off from JohnWayne Airport, in Orage County and was flying under regular visual flight rules (VFR), but around Burbank, the pilot requested for special visual flight rules (SVFR) due to low visibility. The helicopter circled for 12 minutes until the air traffic control approved the request. The SVFR allows the pilot to fly amid bad weather conditions.</p>

<p>Homendy continued that the pilot requested flight following, which is radar assistance for a flight that helps the pilot avoid traffic, But air traffic control said the helicopter was too low to provide flight following assistance.</p>

<p>The investigation is still on, and Sikorsky, the helicopter manufacturer, tweeted its condolences.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by today’s Sikorsky S-76B accident in Calabasas, California. We have been in contact with the NTSB and stand ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer.</p>
— Sikorsky (@Sikorsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sikorsky/status/1221541037916725248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play.

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine passengers who died in a fatal helicopter crash. They were en route to a basketball match in Thousands Oak, in which Bryan's daughter was expected to play. Former Lakers legend was expected to coach the team. Also see- Basketball champion Kobe Bryant: His life in pictures National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has started an investigation regarding the crash. As the investigation unravels new aspects of crash keep pouring in. Pilot Ara Zobayan was flying the helicopter. He held a commercial helicopter license and was a certified flight instructor, according to Federal Aviation Administration records cited by the New York Times. In his last transmission to the air traffic control, he said that he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer. And after that communication, the pilot didn't respond to the air traffic control, according to the National Transport Safety Board. The crash took place into a hillside in Calabasas, Califonia. The impact of the crash broke the chopper into pieces, debris created due to the crash stretched from about 500 to 600 feet. The NTSB board member, Jennifer Homendy told the reporters that the last radar contact was around 9:45 AM. She said that the accident scene was 'pretty devastating'. "There is (an) impact area on one of the hills and a piece of the tail is down the hill, on the left side of the hill," Homendy said. "The fuselage is over on the other side of that hill, and then the main rotor is about 100 yards beyond that," she added. According to Jennifer Homendy, the pilot took off from JohnWayne Airport, in Orage County and was flying under regular visual flight rules (VFR), but around Burbank, the pilot requested for special visual flight rules (SVFR) due to low visibility. The helicopter circled for 12 minutes until the air traffic control approved the request. The SVFR allows the pilot to fly amid bad weather conditions. Homendy continued that the pilot requested flight following, which is radar assistance for a flight that helps the pilot avoid traffic, But air traffic control said the helicopter was too low to provide flight following assistance. The investigation is still on, and Sikorsky, the helicopter manufacturer, tweeted its condolences. We extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by today’s Sikorsky S-76B accident in Calabasas, California. We have been in contact with the NTSB and stand ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer. — Sikorsky (@Sikorsky) January 26, 2020 ×

Death of Kobe Bryant: Pilot was flying higher to avoid a cloud layer

Former NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles, California on Sunday. The tragic event killed all nine onboard including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant.

Former NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles, California on Sunday. The tragic event killed all nine onboard including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant. × Kobe Bryant's untimed death has put the whole world in a frenzy. He was considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led his team Lakers to 5 NBA titles. The American is the fourth in the list of all-time scoring list in NBA history. He was recently succeeded by his team's LeBron James. Kobe Bryant was well known as 'The Black Mamba', he was an 18-time All-Star player. He was the 'Most Valuable Player' in the year 2008. He scored 33,643 points in his career in NBA. Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020 × Kobe Bean Bryant has been a prolific shooting guard and is the all-time lead scorer for Los Angeles Lakers. He was drafted in NBA's Charlotte Hornets who later traded him to Lakers in the year 1996 directly from the high school. He was under the then Lakers manager Jerry West. He was the first Shooting Guard to play 20 seasons in NBA history. He played from 1996 to 2016. He earned two gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics for the USA. .....Melania and I send our warmest condolences to Vanessa and the wonderful Bryant family. May God be with you all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020 × He earned his reputation in his initial years after the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest and was named All-Star in just his second NBA season. Despite a few life-lows, especially in the year 2003-2004, when he was accused of sexual assault. The charge was later dropped as a settlement was reached outside the court. Bryant continued to perform in the arena. Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA, following a series of injuries in the year 2016. Along with him, his jersey no. 8 and 24 were retired as well. Rivalry with his team-mate and fellow Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal has been known to all. He and Bryant were involved in a fist-fight against each other in a lockdown. They resolved their issues after their retirement. Both the legends are known for taking the team to a new high. They won three championships together from the year 2000 to 2002. Shaq O'Neal mourned Kobe Bryant's death, he called him a brother. There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1 — SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 26, 2020 × So sad to hear the heartbreaking news of the deaths of Kobe and his daughter Gianna. Kobe was a true legend and inspiration to so many. Sending my condolences to his family and friends and the families of all who lost their lives in the crash. RIP Legend💔 pic.twitter.com/qKb3oiDHxH — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) January 26, 2020 × View this post on Instagram No tengo palabras... Todo mi cariño para la familia y amigos de Kobe. Fue un placer conocerle y compartir buenos momentos juntos. Se nos fue un genio como pocos. A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) on Jan 26, 2020 at 2:40pm PST × The shockwaves were felt across the world as the legend was mourned by Global Icons. View this post on Instagram Kobe Bryant was my first real introduction to the NBA. I was 13 living in Queens NYC, the same age as his sweet little girl, Gianna. He ignited my love for the sport, competition, and striving for excellence. He inspired an entire generation. His legacy is so much bigger than basketball. This heartbreaking accident also took the life of his young daughter, Gianna. I’m shook and so saddened. My heart goes out to Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri Bryant. You are in my thoughts. Also sending my condolences to the loved ones of the other family and pilot in the accident. Being at tonight’s Grammys ceremony in his home at the Staples Center is going to be surreal. 💔 #RIP #KobeBryant #RIPMamba A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) on Jan 26, 2020 at 2:21pm PST × View this post on Instagram 🏀 👑 #rip #kobe 💔 A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Jan 26, 2020 at 12:24pm PST × My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight. — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 26, 2020 ×

NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, among 9 killed in a chopper crash in California

World leaders, sports heroes and artists mourn Kobe Bryant's death after former NBA star dies in helicopter crash. Reaction to Kobe Bryant's death was swift in the basketball world and beyond.

Obama, Trump, Kanye West, and others mourn Kobe Bryant's death

The retired NBA star and his daughter Gianna were among nine people in a helicopter that crashed in Calabasas, California.

Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna dead in helicopter crash in Calabasas

A true global superstar, the depth of Bryant’s popularity quickly surfaced as reports were confirmed that the Los Angeles Lakers great had been killed along with his daughter Gianna and seven others when his helicopter crashed in a remote field near the city of Calabasas.

Trump, Tiger Woods, Jabber send condolences over death of Kobe Bryant

<p>Boston Celtics hand LeBron James led Los Angeles Lakers their biggest defeat in their NBA season history.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lakers were beaten 139-107 by Bostons. Boston managed to end their losing streak despite Anthony Davis returning.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jayson Tatum (27 PTS, 5 3PM) &amp; Kemba Walker (20 PTS, 7 AST) steer the <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@celtics</a> past LAL at TD Garden. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Celtics</a><br />
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Jaylen Brown: 20 PTS, 6 AST<br />
Enes Kanter: 18 PTS, 11 REB<br />
Gordon Hayward: 16 PTS, 6 REB <a href="https://t.co/Lp6fmEdhbW">pic.twitter.com/Lp6fmEdhbW</a></p>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1219456262724890625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Celtic's Jayson Tatum scored the most for Celtics (27 points), followed by Kemba Walker who scored 20 points. Enes Kanter was third with 18 points. 11 rebounds came off the bench.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Celtics had lost six of their past eight games, they had lost the last three consecutive matches before facing LA Lakers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>LeBron James was great with his passing game, he got 18 assists. But he was latent as a shooter as the 35-year-old just attempted 12 shots in three quarters. He just scored 15 points for Lakers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jayson Tatum was in-form with his offensive gameplay. He scored 27 points with just 18 shots. Out of his 8 attempts for the 3 pointers, 5 of them were successful.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kemba Walker &amp; Jaylen Brown drop 20 PTS apiece in the <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@celtics</a> victory against LAL at home! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Celtics</a> <a href="https://t.co/vb0IjvZbF5">pic.twitter.com/vb0IjvZbF5</a></p>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1219460836328120320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Lakers star Anthony Davis came back from bruised tailbone injury. Davis missed the last five games for Lakers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It looked like LeBron James had different plans for the game. He started off with his passing game, he at the moment leads in assists tally in NBA with 10.9 assists per game.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bigs helping Bigs 💪💪 <a href="https://t.co/QzyZUQo2yH">pic.twitter.com/QzyZUQo2yH</a></p>
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1219431627299770368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>He is right now 66 points away from Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant for third place in the NBA's all-time scoring list.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">J.B. finishes strong with two hands in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PhantomCam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PhantomCam</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Celtics</a> <a href="https://t.co/DIYyx9rs1x">pic.twitter.com/DIYyx9rs1x</a></p>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1219453763087413249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Kemba Walker finally breaks his forgettable streak versus LeBron James. Walker never won a game against LeBron's team. He tried it 28 times. He finally was victorious after crucially scoring 20 points, 7 assists, and four rebounds.<br />
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Boston Celtics hand LeBron James led Los Angeles Lakers their biggest defeat in their NBA season history. Lakers were beaten 139-107 by Bostons. Boston managed to end their losing streak despite Anthony Davis returning.

Boston Celtics hand LeBron James led Los Angeles Lakers their biggest defeat in their NBA season history. Lakers were beaten 139-107 by Bostons. Boston managed to end their losing streak despite Anthony Davis returning. Jayson Tatum (27 PTS, 5 3PM) & Kemba Walker (20 PTS, 7 AST) steer the @celtics past LAL at TD Garden. #Celtics Jaylen Brown: 20 PTS, 6 AST Enes Kanter: 18 PTS, 11 REB Gordon Hayward: 16 PTS, 6 REB pic.twitter.com/Lp6fmEdhbW — NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2020 × Celtic's Jayson Tatum scored the most for Celtics (27 points), followed by Kemba Walker who scored 20 points. Enes Kanter was third with 18 points. 11 rebounds came off the bench. The Celtics had lost six of their past eight games, they had lost the last three consecutive matches before facing LA Lakers. LeBron James was great with his passing game, he got 18 assists. But he was latent as a shooter as the 35-year-old just attempted 12 shots in three quarters. He just scored 15 points for Lakers. Jayson Tatum was in-form with his offensive gameplay. He scored 27 points with just 18 shots. Out of his 8 attempts for the 3 pointers, 5 of them were successful. Kemba Walker & Jaylen Brown drop 20 PTS apiece in the @celtics victory against LAL at home! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/vb0IjvZbF5 — NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2020 × Lakers star Anthony Davis came back from bruised tailbone injury. Davis missed the last five games for Lakers. It looked like LeBron James had different plans for the game. He started off with his passing game, he at the moment leads in assists tally in NBA with 10.9 assists per game. Bigs helping Bigs 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/QzyZUQo2yH — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 21, 2020 × He is right now 66 points away from Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant for third place in the NBA's all-time scoring list. J.B. finishes strong with two hands in #PhantomCam! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/DIYyx9rs1x — NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2020 × Kemba Walker finally breaks his forgettable streak versus LeBron James. Walker never won a game against LeBron's team. He tried it 28 times. He finally was victorious after crucially scoring 20 points, 7 assists, and four rebounds.

NBA: Celtic Boston run-riot against Los Angeles Lakers, hand them worst defeat ever

<p>High profile city rivals&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lakers-kyle-kuzma-ruled-out-for-nba-season-opener-257190">Los Angeles Lakers</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/camila-cabello-shawn-mendes-make-temperatures-soar-during-los-angeles-clippers-game-261971">Los Angeles Clippers</a> clashed on Christmas Day which was witnessed by several Hollywood stars.</p>

<p>However, an incident&nbsp;became&nbsp;the centrepiece of jokes on social media&nbsp;at Staples Centre, Los Angeles after&nbsp;Lakers' player Anthony Davis fell on the lap of actor and comedian, Kevin Hart.</p>

<p>Rather than getting up, Davis decided to remain seated on Hart's lap to pose for a photo, and probably to make his Christmas wish. The two were joined by Davis's teammate and NBA star, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/houston-rockets-gm-wasnt-educated-when-he-sent-hong-kong-tweet-lebron-james-256087">LeBron James</a>, who rushed to sit on Hart's lap to make his own wish.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Did AD want a selfie with Kevin Hart? 🤔😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LakeShow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LakeShow</a> <a href="https://t.co/DrgmKyK2Km">pic.twitter.com/DrgmKyK2Km</a></p>
— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1210020889913225216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Hart has made known his liking for the game, having been seen on the telecast of several NBA games.</p>

<p>It led to several memes and&nbsp;jokes on social media.&nbsp;A&nbsp;joke on social media compared&nbsp;the situation to a scene from the 2003 movie 'Elf', where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/julia-louis-dreyfus-and-will-ferrell-starrer-downhill-to-release-on-valentines-day-2020-264706">Will Ferrel</a> plays 'Buddy', sitting on the lap of the much smaller 'Papa Elf'.</p>


High profile city rivals Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers clashed on Christmas Day which was witnessed by several Hollywood stars. However, an incident became the centrepiece of jokes on social media at Staples Centre, Los Angeles after Lakers' player Anthony Davis fell on the lap of actor and comedian, Kevin Hart.

High profile city rivals Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers clashed on Christmas Day which was witnessed by several Hollywood stars. However, an incident became the centrepiece of jokes on social media at Staples Centre, Los Angeles after Lakers' player Anthony Davis fell on the lap of actor and comedian, Kevin Hart. Rather than getting up, Davis decided to remain seated on Hart's lap to pose for a photo, and probably to make his Christmas wish. The two were joined by Davis's teammate and NBA star, LeBron James, who rushed to sit on Hart's lap to make his own wish. Did AD want a selfie with Kevin Hart? 🤔😂#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/DrgmKyK2Km — NBA TV (@NBATV) December 26, 2019 × Hart has made known his liking for the game, having been seen on the telecast of several NBA games. It led to several memes and jokes on social media. A joke on social media compared the situation to a scene from the 2003 movie 'Elf', where Will Ferrel plays 'Buddy', sitting on the lap of the much smaller 'Papa Elf'.

NBA star Anthony Davis land's on Kevin Hart's lap as LeBron James joins in

<p>Satnam Singh Bhamara, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/united-basketball-alliance-signs-satnam-singh-first-indian-to-be-drafted-into-national-basketball-association-23458">the first Indian player</a> to be drafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA), was provisionally suspended on Saturday after failing doping tests conducted by the Indian anti-doping agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhamara, who joined the Dallas Mavericks in 2015, failed an out-of-competition test conducted by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) last month and was handed a temporary ban on November 19. The test was held during the preparatory camp in Bengaluru for the South Asian Games. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The 23-year-old asserted that he is "clean" and denied the charge against him in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mr. (Satnam Singh) Bhamara is disputing the said charge and has requested a hearing before the NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) in order to put forth his case," the statement said.</p>

<p>"Mr. Bhamara would like to state that he was and remains a clean competitor and has always played basketball fairly."</p>

<p>The 7 feet 2 inches tall, earlier skipped the 13th South Asian Games which began on December 1, citing personal reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per NADA's rules, Bhamara holds the right to request for the analysis of his 'B' sample, within seven working days of receiving the notice regarding Adverse Analytical Finding of his ‘A’ Sample. If Bhamara's 'B' sample also comes out positive, then a NADA panel will take a call on imposing punishment or not.</p>

<p>If found guilty of doping, a four-year ban on first-time offenders can be imposed on Bhamara.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, it is not known whether Bhamara opted for the analysis of his 'B' sample or not.</p>

<p>Bhamara, created history in 2015 when he was picked by Dallas Mavericks in the NBA draft. He did not play any game in the NBA, but went on to play in the National Basketball League of Canada after signing a deal with St John's Edge in September 2018.</p>

<p>Bhamara has also represented in India in major tournaments like Asian Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games, and 2019 World Cup Qualifiers.</p>

<p>A Netflix documentary on Bhamara 'One in a Billion' was also made, which reflects his journey from a small village in Punjab to getting selected fur the Mavericks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(<em>with inputs from agencies</em>)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Satnam Singh Bhamara, the first Indian player to be drafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA), was provisionally suspended on Saturday after failing doping tests conducted by the Indian anti-doping agency.

Satnam Singh Bhamara, the first Indian player to be drafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA), was provisionally suspended on Saturday after failing doping tests conducted by the Indian anti-doping agency. Bhamara, who joined the Dallas Mavericks in 2015, failed an out-of-competition test conducted by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) last month and was handed a temporary ban on November 19. The test was held during the preparatory camp in Bengaluru for the South Asian Games. The 23-year-old asserted that he is "clean" and denied the charge against him in a statement. "Mr. (Satnam Singh) Bhamara is disputing the said charge and has requested a hearing before the NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) in order to put forth his case," the statement said. "Mr. Bhamara would like to state that he was and remains a clean competitor and has always played basketball fairly." The 7 feet 2 inches tall, earlier skipped the 13th South Asian Games which began on December 1, citing personal reasons. As per NADA's rules, Bhamara holds the right to request for the analysis of his 'B' sample, within seven working days of receiving the notice regarding Adverse Analytical Finding of his ‘A’ Sample. If Bhamara's 'B' sample also comes out positive, then a NADA panel will take a call on imposing punishment or not. If found guilty of doping, a four-year ban on first-time offenders can be imposed on Bhamara. So far, it is not known whether Bhamara opted for the analysis of his 'B' sample or not. Bhamara, created history in 2015 when he was picked by Dallas Mavericks in the NBA draft. He did not play any game in the NBA, but went on to play in the National Basketball League of Canada after signing a deal with St John's Edge in September 2018. Bhamara has also represented in India in major tournaments like Asian Games, 2018 Commonwealth Games, and 2019 World Cup Qualifiers. A Netflix documentary on Bhamara 'One in a Billion' was also made, which reflects his journey from a small village in Punjab to getting selected fur the Mavericks. (with inputs from agencies)

India's first NBA player suspended after failing dope test

<p>US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday accused China of curtailing "rights and liberties" in Hong Kong and blasted US&nbsp;company Nike and the National Basketball Association for falling in line with Beijing in a disagreement over free speech.</p>

<p>In a major policy speech on China that touched on an array of disputes ahead of talks with Beijing to ease a trade war, Pence said the United States does not seek confrontation or to "de-couple" from its main economic rival.</p>

<p>But he pulled no punches when addressing some of the political rifts between the two countries.</p>

<p>Criticizing China's construction of a "surveillance state," and "increasingly provocative" military action, Pence held up Taiwan's Democracy as a better path for Chinese people and took Beijing to task for its handling of pro-democracy protests that have rocked Hong Kong for more than four months.</p>

<p>"Hong Kong is a living example of what can happen when China embraces liberty," he said. "And yet, for the last few years, Beijing has increased its interventions in Hong Kong and engaged in actions that curtail the rights and liberties that Hong Kong's people were guaranteed through a binding international agreement."</p>

<p>He said the United States stands with the protesters in Hong Kong, millions of whom have taken to the streets in sometimes violent clashes over what they see as China's tightening grip.</p>

<p>"We stand with you, we are inspired by you. We urge you to stay on the path of non-violent protest," Pence said in his address at a Washington think tank.</p>

<p>He also slammed China for its treatment of Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang region.</p>

<p>Pence directed some of his harshest words at sports apparel giant Nike and the NBA, which he accused of siding with China's Communist Party over freedom of speech in Hong Kong.</p>

<p>The vice president, who is often the face of the Trump administration's tougher policies on China, said the NBA and Nike had failed to defend basketball team Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey, after he tweeted support of Hong Kong protesters earlier this month.</p>

<p>"Some of the NBA's biggest players and owners, who routinely exercise their freedom to criticize this country, lose their voices when it comes to the freedom and rights of other peoples," he said.</p>

<p>By "siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly-owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime," Pence said.</p>

<p>Nike stores in China removed Rockets merchandise after Beijing criticized Morey, Pence noted.</p>

<p>"Nike promotes itself as a so-called social-justice champion, but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door," he said.</p>

<p>Pence said "far too many American multinational corporations have kowtowed to the lure of China's money and markets by muzzling not only criticism of the Chinese Communist Party, but even affirmative expressions of American values."</p>

<p>Nike, the NBA and the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the remarks.</p>

<p>Influential Chinese state-backed newspaper the Global Times, however, said in an editorial that while Pence reiterated many of his previous criticisms, there was still "room for optimism."</p>

<p>"He emphasized the US&nbsp;does not want to 'decouple' and repeated how US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is willing to start a new future with China," it said.</p>

<p><strong>Trade talks</strong></p>

<p>The closely watched speech set a discordant tone just weeks before a summit in Chile where US&nbsp;President Donald Trump hopes to finalize a partial trade deal with China's Xi Jinping.</p>

<p>The S&amp;P 500 US&nbsp;stock index briefly moved lower after his comments.</p>

<p>Analysts said Pence's speech appeared aimed at keeping the way open for a trade deal while seeking to convince Trump's support base that he was tough on China going into the 2020 election.</p>

<p>Douglas Paal, a China expert with Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, called it "a superficial and political speech, not a guiding strategic document."</p>

<p>Scott Kennedy, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, saw it as a bid to provide a rationale for "policy moves on security, economics and politics which originally were much less coordinated and less integrated."</p>

<p>A new round of talks between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese officials to try to end the bruising trade dispute is set for Friday.</p>

<p>The United States launched a trade war with China 15 months ago, alleging unfair trading practices such as theft of US&nbsp;intellectual property and generous industrial subsidies at the expense of foreign competitors.</p>

<p>Fears of antagonizing Beijing had prompted the White House to postpone Pence's speech, which was originally scheduled for June, ahead of a meeting Trump and Xi aimed at getting trade talks back on track.</p>

<p>Many China watchers had expected Pence to tread lightly on sensitive topics on Thursday, in sharp contrast to the bombastic tone of his first major China policy address a year ago. But some saw signs of a rapprochement as well.</p>

<p>"In contrast to the Hudson Institute speech of October 2018, the Vice President's equally hard-hitting Wilson speech offered the beginnings of a positive vision for US-China relations," said Robert Daly of the Kissinger Institute on China.</p>

<p>Pence said the United States was "not seeking to contain China's development." "We want a constructive relationship with China's leaders," he said, calling on Beijing to "seize this unique moment in history to start anew by ending the trade practices that have taken advantage of the American people for far too long."</p>


US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday accused China of curtailing "rights and liberties" in Hong Kong and blasted US company Nike and the National Basketball Association for falling in line with Beijing in a disagreement over free speech.

US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday accused China of curtailing "rights and liberties" in Hong Kong and blasted US company Nike and the National Basketball Association for falling in line with Beijing in a disagreement over free speech. In a major policy speech on China that touched on an array of disputes ahead of talks with Beijing to ease a trade war, Pence said the United States does not seek confrontation or to "de-couple" from its main economic rival. But he pulled no punches when addressing some of the political rifts between the two countries. Criticizing China's construction of a "surveillance state," and "increasingly provocative" military action, Pence held up Taiwan's Democracy as a better path for Chinese people and took Beijing to task for its handling of pro-democracy protests that have rocked Hong Kong for more than four months. "Hong Kong is a living example of what can happen when China embraces liberty," he said. "And yet, for the last few years, Beijing has increased its interventions in Hong Kong and engaged in actions that curtail the rights and liberties that Hong Kong's people were guaranteed through a binding international agreement." He said the United States stands with the protesters in Hong Kong, millions of whom have taken to the streets in sometimes violent clashes over what they see as China's tightening grip. "We stand with you, we are inspired by you. We urge you to stay on the path of non-violent protest," Pence said in his address at a Washington think tank. He also slammed China for its treatment of Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang region. Pence directed some of his harshest words at sports apparel giant Nike and the NBA, which he accused of siding with China's Communist Party over freedom of speech in Hong Kong. The vice president, who is often the face of the Trump administration's tougher policies on China, said the NBA and Nike had failed to defend basketball team Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey, after he tweeted support of Hong Kong protesters earlier this month. "Some of the NBA's biggest players and owners, who routinely exercise their freedom to criticize this country, lose their voices when it comes to the freedom and rights of other peoples," he said. By "siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly-owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime," Pence said. Nike stores in China removed Rockets merchandise after Beijing criticized Morey, Pence noted. "Nike promotes itself as a so-called social-justice champion, but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door," he said. Pence said "far too many American multinational corporations have kowtowed to the lure of China's money and markets by muzzling not only criticism of the Chinese Communist Party, but even affirmative expressions of American values." Nike, the NBA and the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the remarks. Influential Chinese state-backed newspaper the Global Times, however, said in an editorial that while Pence reiterated many of his previous criticisms, there was still "room for optimism." "He emphasized the US does not want to 'decouple' and repeated how US President Donald Trump is willing to start a new future with China," it said. Trade talks The closely watched speech set a discordant tone just weeks before a summit in Chile where US President Donald Trump hopes to finalize a partial trade deal with China's Xi Jinping. The S&P 500 US stock index briefly moved lower after his comments. Analysts said Pence's speech appeared aimed at keeping the way open for a trade deal while seeking to convince Trump's support base that he was tough on China going into the 2020 election. Douglas Paal, a China expert with Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, called it "a superficial and political speech, not a guiding strategic document." Scott Kennedy, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, saw it as a bid to provide a rationale for "policy moves on security, economics and politics which originally were much less coordinated and less integrated." A new round of talks between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese officials to try to end the bruising trade dispute is set for Friday. The United States launched a trade war with China 15 months ago, alleging unfair trading practices such as theft of US intellectual property and generous industrial subsidies at the expense of foreign competitors. Fears of antagonizing Beijing had prompted the White House to postpone Pence's speech, which was originally scheduled for June, ahead of a meeting Trump and Xi aimed at getting trade talks back on track. Many China watchers had expected Pence to tread lightly on sensitive topics on Thursday, in sharp contrast to the bombastic tone of his first major China policy address a year ago. But some saw signs of a rapprochement as well. "In contrast to the Hudson Institute speech of October 2018, the Vice President's equally hard-hitting Wilson speech offered the beginnings of a positive vision for US-China relations," said Robert Daly of the Kissinger Institute on China. Pence said the United States was "not seeking to contain China's development." "We want a constructive relationship with China's leaders," he said, calling on Beijing to "seize this unique moment in history to start anew by ending the trade practices that have taken advantage of the American people for far too long."

Pence backs Hong Kong protests in China speech, slams NBA and Nike

<p>Fred Van Vleet scored a career-high 34 points as the Toronto Raptors got their NBA title defence off to a winning start with a 130-122 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Pascal Siakam also tallied 34 points and added 18 rebounds before fouling out of the NBA's season-opening contest at Scotiabank Arena which featured the Raptors' championship banner and ring ceremony.</p>

<p>Both teams were missing some big names as the Raptors began life without Kawhi Leonard and the Pelicans lost Anthony Davis in trade and were missing injured first pick Zion Williamson.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We had to reach into our bag of tricks," said Raptors coach Nick Nurse.</p>

<p>The game was one of two opening night contests with the Los Angeles Lakers taking the court later against Leonard's new team Los Angeles Clippers.</p>

<p>Prior to the tipoff against the Pelicans, the Raptors presented their players and coaches with their rings and unveiled the 2019 championship banner in the rafters of the arena.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The massive ring features over 80 diamonds including 74 in and around the Toronto skyline logo which represents the club's 74 wins last season.</p>

<p>The Pelicans decided to remain on the floor during the pre-game festivities instead of loosening up in their locker room.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It was great to see the ceremony," said Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry. "That is what we aspire to be."</p>

<p>Kyle Lowry chipped in 22 points and Serge Ibaka added 13 for Toronto, whose championship pedigree shone through by outscoring the Pelicans 13-5 in overtime. The teams were tied 117-all at the end of regulation.</p>

<p>Nurse blamed their slow start against the Pelicans on the ceremony.</p>

<p>"I thought the energy was an issue," Nurse said. "The emotions of the night took its toll.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I was super happy it was tied at the half. There was a noticeable lack of energy just in the locker room.</p>

<p>"You just got to take them (wins) in this league when you get them."</p>

<p>Brandon Ingram finished with 22 points to lead the Pelicans.</p>

<p>This marks the end of the Leonard period in Toronto as he left as a free agent to join the Clippers.</p>

<p>That means leadership by committee with the load being distributed amongst Lowry, VanVleet and Siakam, who signed a four-year, $130-million contract extension Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Raptors are also without another key player from their championship team in Danny Green, who departed as a free agent for the Lakers.</p>


Fred Van Vleet scored a career-high 34 points as the Toronto Raptors got their NBA title defence off to a winning start with a 130-122 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Fred Van Vleet scored a career-high 34 points as the Toronto Raptors got their NBA title defence off to a winning start with a 130-122 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. Pascal Siakam also tallied 34 points and added 18 rebounds before fouling out of the NBA's season-opening contest at Scotiabank Arena which featured the Raptors' championship banner and ring ceremony. Both teams were missing some big names as the Raptors began life without Kawhi Leonard and the Pelicans lost Anthony Davis in trade and were missing injured first pick Zion Williamson. "We had to reach into our bag of tricks," said Raptors coach Nick Nurse. The game was one of two opening night contests with the Los Angeles Lakers taking the court later against Leonard's new team Los Angeles Clippers. Prior to the tipoff against the Pelicans, the Raptors presented their players and coaches with their rings and unveiled the 2019 championship banner in the rafters of the arena. The massive ring features over 80 diamonds including 74 in and around the Toronto skyline logo which represents the club's 74 wins last season. The Pelicans decided to remain on the floor during the pre-game festivities instead of loosening up in their locker room. "It was great to see the ceremony," said Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry. "That is what we aspire to be." Kyle Lowry chipped in 22 points and Serge Ibaka added 13 for Toronto, whose championship pedigree shone through by outscoring the Pelicans 13-5 in overtime. The teams were tied 117-all at the end of regulation. Nurse blamed their slow start against the Pelicans on the ceremony. "I thought the energy was an issue," Nurse said. "The emotions of the night took its toll. "I was super happy it was tied at the half. There was a noticeable lack of energy just in the locker room. "You just got to take them (wins) in this league when you get them." Brandon Ingram finished with 22 points to lead the Pelicans. This marks the end of the Leonard period in Toronto as he left as a free agent to join the Clippers. That means leadership by committee with the load being distributed amongst Lowry, VanVleet and Siakam, who signed a four-year, $130-million contract extension Monday. The Raptors are also without another key player from their championship team in Danny Green, who departed as a free agent for the Lakers.

Raptors launch NBA title defence with win over Pelicans

<p>Pascal Siakam, a major contributor in Toronto's run to the NBA title last season, has signed a four-year maximum rookie contract extension for $130 million, according to multiple reports Saturday.</p>

<p>The 25-year-old Cameroonian forward signed the deal ahead of a Monday deadline for such extensions for 2016 draftees, ESPN and the Toronto Star reported.</p>

<p>Siakam was voted the NBA's Most Improved Player last season as the Raptors, powered by Kawhi Leonard, captured the NBA title, defeating defending champion Golden State in the final.</p>

<p>In the finals opener, Siakam scored a career playoff-high 32 points to lead the Raptors over the Warriors and signal the best-of-seven series upset to come.</p>

<p>Siakam, who only began playing basketball at age 16 in Africa, averaged 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game for the Raptors last season.</p>

<p>With Leonard leaving for the Los Angeles Clippers, Siakam is expected to play a major role for the Raptors over the next few seasons.</p>

<p>The new deal begins after the 2019-20 campaign. Siakam could have signed a five-year deal but opted for fewer years.</p>


Pascal Siakam, a major contributor in Toronto's run to the NBA title last season, has signed a four-year maximum rookie contract extension for $130 million, according to multiple reports Saturday.

Pascal Siakam, a major contributor in Toronto's run to the NBA title last season, has signed a four-year maximum rookie contract extension for $130 million, according to multiple reports Saturday. The 25-year-old Cameroonian forward signed the deal ahead of a Monday deadline for such extensions for 2016 draftees, ESPN and the Toronto Star reported. Siakam was voted the NBA's Most Improved Player last season as the Raptors, powered by Kawhi Leonard, captured the NBA title, defeating defending champion Golden State in the final. In the finals opener, Siakam scored a career playoff-high 32 points to lead the Raptors over the Warriors and signal the best-of-seven series upset to come. Siakam, who only began playing basketball at age 16 in Africa, averaged 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game for the Raptors last season. With Leonard leaving for the Los Angeles Clippers, Siakam is expected to play a major role for the Raptors over the next few seasons. The new deal begins after the 2019-20 campaign. Siakam could have signed a five-year deal but opted for fewer years.

Pascal Siakam signs four-year maximum NBA deal with Raptors: Reports

<p>The Los Angeles&nbsp;Lakers&nbsp;say Kyle&nbsp;Kuzma&nbsp;won't play when they open the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;season&nbsp;against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a stress reaction in his left foot.</p>

<p>Kuzma, who averaged 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last&nbsp;season&nbsp;for the&nbsp;Lakers, was hurt while he was with the United States team in the run-up to the World Championships in China.</p>

<p>He was cleared for non-contact practices after the&nbsp;Lakers&nbsp;returned from playing two&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;preseason&nbsp;games in China last week.</p>

<p>Lakers&nbsp;coach Frank Vogel said he wants to see&nbsp;Kuzma&nbsp;do more work before he takes the court in games to be sure he has no setbacks. A stress reaction is a painful condition that is a precursor to a stress fracture.</p>

<p>"We're going to try to increase his workload and activities this week and we'll see where we're at," said Vogel, who described the 24-year-old third-year forward as "probably our third-best player" behind superstar LeBron James and center Anthony Davis.</p>


The Los Angeles Lakers say Kyle Kuzma won't play when they open the NBA season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a stress reaction in his left foot.

The Los Angeles Lakers say Kyle Kuzma won't play when they open the NBA season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a stress reaction in his left foot. Kuzma, who averaged 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season for the Lakers, was hurt while he was with the United States team in the run-up to the World Championships in China. He was cleared for non-contact practices after the Lakers returned from playing two NBA preseason games in China last week. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he wants to see Kuzma do more work before he takes the court in games to be sure he has no setbacks. A stress reaction is a painful condition that is a precursor to a stress fracture. "We're going to try to increase his workload and activities this week and we'll see where we're at," said Vogel, who described the 24-year-old third-year forward as "probably our third-best player" behind superstar LeBron James and center Anthony Davis.

Lakers' Kyle Kuzma ruled out for NBA season opener

<p>Punishment will be meted out "sooner or later" to the NBA's commissioner for defaming China, state television said, as Beijing and the basketball league continue to grapple publicly.</p>

<p>Tensions between China and the American basketball league erupted this month after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted an image in support of demonstrations in Hong Kong that have rocked the financial hub for months.</p>

<p>NBA commissioner, Adam Silver said earlier the institution would not apologise for the tweet and supported freedom of expression in American basketball.</p>

<p>On Thursday, Silver said the Chinese government had demanded Morey be sacked, which Beijing denied.</p>

<p>Chinese state television, CCTV, in turn accused Silver of "inventing lies to dirty China".</p>

<p>"Once a person's morality goes wrong, he will receive retribution sooner or later," it wrote in a commentary on its website Friday night.</p>

<p>Silver "doesn’t hold back from moulding himself an image as a defender of the freedom of expression", it added.</p>

<p>The backlash in China against Morey's comments has cast a cloud over the NBA's lucrative broadcasting, merchandising and sponsorship interests in the country, where it has legions of fans.</p>

<p>By defending Morey, the boss of the NBA had "crossed the bottom line by showing a lack of respect to Chinese", CCTV wrote.</p>

<p>"But he had to make false declarations as well to please certain elected American officials."</p>

<p>Since the row began, the NBA has found itself under pressure from US politicians and media outlets who have urged the league not to buckle under Chinese criticism, or even to withdraw from the Chinese market completely.</p>

<p>Hong Kong has been rocked by months of demonstrations by citizens who accuse Beijing of chipping away at its freedoms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China has portrayed the protesters as violent separatists and bristled at what it calls "foreign interference" in the matter.</p>


Punishment will be meted out "sooner or later" to the NBA's commissioner for defaming China, state television said, as Beijing and the basketball league continue to grapple publicly.

Punishment will be meted out "sooner or later" to the NBA's commissioner for defaming China, state television said, as Beijing and the basketball league continue to grapple publicly. Tensions between China and the American basketball league erupted this month after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted an image in support of demonstrations in Hong Kong that have rocked the financial hub for months. NBA commissioner, Adam Silver said earlier the institution would not apologise for the tweet and supported freedom of expression in American basketball. On Thursday, Silver said the Chinese government had demanded Morey be sacked, which Beijing denied. Chinese state television, CCTV, in turn accused Silver of "inventing lies to dirty China". "Once a person's morality goes wrong, he will receive retribution sooner or later," it wrote in a commentary on its website Friday night. Silver "doesn’t hold back from moulding himself an image as a defender of the freedom of expression", it added. The backlash in China against Morey's comments has cast a cloud over the NBA's lucrative broadcasting, merchandising and sponsorship interests in the country, where it has legions of fans. By defending Morey, the boss of the NBA had "crossed the bottom line by showing a lack of respect to Chinese", CCTV wrote. "But he had to make false declarations as well to please certain elected American officials." Since the row began, the NBA has found itself under pressure from US politicians and media outlets who have urged the league not to buckle under Chinese criticism, or even to withdraw from the Chinese market completely. Hong Kong has been rocked by months of demonstrations by citizens who accuse Beijing of chipping away at its freedoms. China has portrayed the protesters as violent separatists and bristled at what it calls "foreign interference" in the matter.

Punishment awaits National Basketball Association's commissioner for defaming China: State media

<p>China demanded that a Houston Rockets executive be sacked for supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday, adding that the league's row with Beijing had "substantial" financial consequences.</p>

<p>Rockets general manager <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nba-rockets-executive-says-hong-kong-tweet-not-meant-to-offend-254149">Daryl Morey </a>ignited a firestorm earlier this month with a tweeted image captioned "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong."</p>

<p>It came right before the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets arrived in China for what proved to be a tense two-game exhibition tour, with broadcasters there <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-tv-drops-nba-exhibition-games-escalating-pressure-amid-tweet-uproar-254463">refusing to air the games</a>, public protests against Morey's comments and local sponsors cutting ties with the NBA.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hong-kong-protests-reach-a-tipping-point-256565">Hong Kong </a>has been rocked by months of demonstrations by citizens who accuse Beijing of chipping away at its freedoms, but China has portrayed the protesters as violent separatists and bristled at any foreign interference in the matter.</p>

<p>The backlash in China against Morey's comments has cast a cloud over the NBA's lucrative broadcasting, merchandising and sponsorship interests in the country, where it has legions of fans.</p>

<p>"We were being asked to fire him by the Chinese government, by the parties we dealt with, government and business," Silver said during a panel discussion in New York.</p>

<p>"We said there's no chance that's happening. There's no chance we'll even discipline him."</p>

<p>But the NBA chief said the dispute over Morey's actions had taken a big toll on the league's bottom line.</p>

<p>"I don't know where we go from here," Silver said. "The financial consequences have been and may continue to be fairly dramatic.</p>

<p>"The losses have already been substantial," he added. "Our games are not back on the air in China as we speak, and we'll see what happens next."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/despite-consequences-nba-boss-defends-values-in-china-row-254649">Silver hit back </a>at criticism of the NBA's early statements on the crisis, which many saw as overly deferential to Beijing.</p>

<p>"We were saying we regretted upsetting our fans (but) also at the same time supporting Daryl Morey's right to express himself, right to tweet... Maybe I was trying too hard to be a diplomat.</p>

<p>"There was no regret directed to the government (but instead) to our fans, hundreds of millions of them in China."</p>

<p>Beijing's response to Morey's comments sparked US accusations that Beijing was using access to its vast market as leverage to dictate speech in other countries.</p>

<p>Basketball superstar LeBron James, who traveled to China with the Lakers for the exhibition games, this week said<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/houston-rockets-gm-wasnt-educated-when-he-sent-hong-kong-tweet-lebron-james-256087"> Morey "wasn't educated"</a> on the situation and suggested the Rockets executive should have kept his mouth shut.</p>

<p>But Silver said Thursday that the league had a responsibility to defend freedom of speech.</p>

<p>"The values of the NBA -- the American values, we are an American business -- travel with us wherever we go," he said. "And one of those values is free expression."</p>

<p>Since the row began, the NBA has also found itself under pressure from US politicians and media outlets who have urged the league not to buckle under Chinese criticism or even to withdraw from the Chinese market completely.</p>

<p>"I understand there's a point of view from some that we shouldn't be in business at all in China and I'd say from an intellectual standpoint that's fair," Silver said.</p>

<p>"But if people believe we shouldn't be engaged in commerce in China... I look to the American government."</p>

<p>"Many multi-national corporations trade extensively with China and if that's ultimately how our government feels we should be dealing with China, again, we're a US company."</p>

<p>But Silver feared that the NBA's 15-year effort to build cultural ties with China and expand the game's reach there had been undermined by the Morey dispute.</p>

<p>"I felt we had made enormous progress in terms of building cultural exchanges with the Chinese people," Silver said.</p>

<p>"I have regret that much of that was lost."</p>


China demanded that a Houston Rockets executive be sacked for supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday, adding that the league's row with Beijing had "substantial" financial consequences.

China demanded that a Houston Rockets executive be sacked for supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday, adding that the league's row with Beijing had "substantial" financial consequences. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey ignited a firestorm earlier this month with a tweeted image captioned "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong." It came right before the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets arrived in China for what proved to be a tense two-game exhibition tour, with broadcasters there refusing to air the games, public protests against Morey's comments and local sponsors cutting ties with the NBA. Hong Kong has been rocked by months of demonstrations by citizens who accuse Beijing of chipping away at its freedoms, but China has portrayed the protesters as violent separatists and bristled at any foreign interference in the matter. The backlash in China against Morey's comments has cast a cloud over the NBA's lucrative broadcasting, merchandising and sponsorship interests in the country, where it has legions of fans. "We were being asked to fire him by the Chinese government, by the parties we dealt with, government and business," Silver said during a panel discussion in New York. "We said there's no chance that's happening. There's no chance we'll even discipline him." But the NBA chief said the dispute over Morey's actions had taken a big toll on the league's bottom line. "I don't know where we go from here," Silver said. "The financial consequences have been and may continue to be fairly dramatic. "The losses have already been substantial," he added. "Our games are not back on the air in China as we speak, and we'll see what happens next." Silver hit back at criticism of the NBA's early statements on the crisis, which many saw as overly deferential to Beijing. "We were saying we regretted upsetting our fans (but) also at the same time supporting Daryl Morey's right to express himself, right to tweet... Maybe I was trying too hard to be a diplomat. "There was no regret directed to the government (but instead) to our fans, hundreds of millions of them in China." Beijing's response to Morey's comments sparked US accusations that Beijing was using access to its vast market as leverage to dictate speech in other countries. Basketball superstar LeBron James, who traveled to China with the Lakers for the exhibition games, this week said Morey "wasn't educated" on the situation and suggested the Rockets executive should have kept his mouth shut. But Silver said Thursday that the league had a responsibility to defend freedom of speech. "The values of the NBA -- the American values, we are an American business -- travel with us wherever we go," he said. "And one of those values is free expression." Since the row began, the NBA has also found itself under pressure from US politicians and media outlets who have urged the league not to buckle under Chinese criticism or even to withdraw from the Chinese market completely. "I understand there's a point of view from some that we shouldn't be in business at all in China and I'd say from an intellectual standpoint that's fair," Silver said. "But if people believe we shouldn't be engaged in commerce in China... I look to the American government." "Many multi-national corporations trade extensively with China and if that's ultimately how our government feels we should be dealing with China, again, we're a US company." But Silver feared that the NBA's 15-year effort to build cultural ties with China and expand the game's reach there had been undermined by the Morey dispute. "I felt we had made enormous progress in terms of building cultural exchanges with the Chinese people," Silver said. "I have regret that much of that was lost."

China asked NBA to fire Houston Rockets executive over Hong Kong tweet: Adam Silver

<p>The US&nbsp;Treasury&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;Steven&nbsp;Mnuchin&nbsp;said on Monday that an additional round of&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;on Chinese imports will likely be&nbsp;imposed&nbsp;if a&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal&nbsp;with&nbsp;China&nbsp;has not been reached by then, but added that he expected the agreement to go through.</p>

<p>"I have every expectation - if there's not a&nbsp;deal, those&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;would go in place - but I expect we'll have a&nbsp;deal," he said in an interview with CNBC when asked about a round of&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;scheduled for&nbsp;December&nbsp;15.</p>

<p>US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said on Friday that&nbsp;China&nbsp;and the United States had reached the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-announces-partial-trade-deal-with-china-255358"> first phase</a> of a&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal&nbsp;that covered agriculture, currency and some aspects of intellectual property protections, and would ease the reciprocal&nbsp;trade&nbsp;restrictions that the world's two largest economies have been imposing for&nbsp;15&nbsp;months.</p>

<p>But officials on both sides have said more work is needed to finalize the accord, and Trump acknowledged the agreement could still collapse.&nbsp;US&nbsp;Trade&nbsp;Representative Lighthizer said on Friday that Trump had not made a&nbsp;decision about the&nbsp;December&nbsp;tariffs.</p>

<p>Mnuchin&nbsp;said more&nbsp;trade&nbsp;negotiations at various levels would take place over the coming weeks, including a phone call between himself, Lighthizer and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, and talks between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.</p>

<p>Asked about a dispute between&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-organisers-cancel-nba-fan-event-amid-free-speech-row-254851">China&nbsp;and the&nbsp;US&nbsp;National Basketball Association </a>stemming from a tweet by Houston Rockets manager Daryl Morey expressing support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong,&nbsp;Mnuchin&nbsp;said he hoped the two sides could come to a solution.</p>


The US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday that an additional round of tariffs on Chinese imports will likely be imposed if a trade deal with China has not been reached by then, but added that he expected the agreement to go through.

The US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday that an additional round of tariffs on Chinese imports will likely be imposed if a trade deal with China has not been reached by then, but added that he expected the agreement to go through. "I have every expectation - if there's not a deal, those tariffs would go in place - but I expect we'll have a deal," he said in an interview with CNBC when asked about a round of tariffs scheduled for December 15. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that China and the United States had reached the first phase of a trade deal that covered agriculture, currency and some aspects of intellectual property protections, and would ease the reciprocal trade restrictions that the world's two largest economies have been imposing for 15 months. But officials on both sides have said more work is needed to finalize the accord, and Trump acknowledged the agreement could still collapse. US Trade Representative Lighthizer said on Friday that Trump had not made a decision about the December tariffs. Mnuchin said more trade negotiations at various levels would take place over the coming weeks, including a phone call between himself, Lighthizer and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, and talks between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Asked about a dispute between China and the US National Basketball Association stemming from a tweet by Houston Rockets manager Daryl Morey expressing support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Mnuchin said he hoped the two sides could come to a solution.

Tariffs to be imposed by December 15 in case of no-deal: US Treasury to China

<p>LeBron&nbsp;James weighed in on the controversy between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-organisers-cancel-nba-fan-event-amid-free-speech-row-254851">China and the NBA</a> on Monday, saying that Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey "wasn't educated" when he sent a tweet in support of protesters in Hong Kong this month.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nba-rockets-executive-says-hong-kong-tweet-not-meant-to-offend-254149">Morey's tweet </a>of support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on October&nbsp;4 set off a firestorm, prompting Chinese sponsors and partners to cut ties with the league and the National Basketball Association (NBA) to answer difficult questions about free speech.</p>

<p>"We all talk about this freedom of speech. Yes, we all do have freedom of speech. But at times there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you're not thinking about others," James told reporters before the Lakers' pre season game against Golden State in California. "I don't want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl," he added. "But I believe he wasn't educated on the situation at hand and he spoke."</p>

<p>Not long after the media session, James took to Twitter to clarify his statements.</p>

<p>"Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet," James tweeted. "I'm not discussing the substance. Others can talk about that."</p>

<p>James' tweets and statement have set off their own firestorm, with basketball fans in the US&nbsp;and China sounding off.</p>

<p>On Twitter, many users responded to his statement with anger. "Weak," said one user. Others simply posted emoji of bags of money.</p>

<p>On the other side of China's Great Firewall, netizens weighed in to support James, whose statements were trending on Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter, and Douyin, a popular short video platform owned by Bytedance Ltd.</p>

<p>"My James is being attacked by Americans, Americans believe Morey should be supported, and James' words are basically opposing Morey," said one user on Weibo. "Sigh, I love you James, hope you can continue to be healthy and play ball!"</p>

<p>The Lakers played two exhibition games in China against the Brooklyn Nets last week, but the NBA canceled media availability for the teams during the trip.</p>

<p>A Rockets staff member also shut down a CNN reporter in Tokyo last week while trying to ask players a question about the controversy.</p>

<p>The league later apologized to the reporter in a statement. James is one of the few NBA representatives to speak openly about the contention.</p>

<p>"My team and this league just went through a difficult week," he tweeted on Monday. "I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen. Could have waited a week to send it."</p>


LeBron James weighed in on the controversy between China and the NBA on Monday, saying that Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey "wasn't educated" when he sent a tweet in support of protesters in Hong Kong this month.

LeBron James weighed in on the controversy between China and the NBA on Monday, saying that Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey "wasn't educated" when he sent a tweet in support of protesters in Hong Kong this month. Morey's tweet of support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on October 4 set off a firestorm, prompting Chinese sponsors and partners to cut ties with the league and the National Basketball Association (NBA) to answer difficult questions about free speech. "We all talk about this freedom of speech. Yes, we all do have freedom of speech. But at times there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you're not thinking about others," James told reporters before the Lakers' pre season game against Golden State in California. "I don't want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl," he added. "But I believe he wasn't educated on the situation at hand and he spoke." Not long after the media session, James took to Twitter to clarify his statements. "Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet," James tweeted. "I'm not discussing the substance. Others can talk about that." James' tweets and statement have set off their own firestorm, with basketball fans in the US and China sounding off. On Twitter, many users responded to his statement with anger. "Weak," said one user. Others simply posted emoji of bags of money. On the other side of China's Great Firewall, netizens weighed in to support James, whose statements were trending on Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter, and Douyin, a popular short video platform owned by Bytedance Ltd. "My James is being attacked by Americans, Americans believe Morey should be supported, and James' words are basically opposing Morey," said one user on Weibo. "Sigh, I love you James, hope you can continue to be healthy and play ball!" The Lakers played two exhibition games in China against the Brooklyn Nets last week, but the NBA canceled media availability for the teams during the trip. A Rockets staff member also shut down a CNN reporter in Tokyo last week while trying to ask players a question about the controversy. The league later apologized to the reporter in a statement. James is one of the few NBA representatives to speak openly about the contention. "My team and this league just went through a difficult week," he tweeted on Monday. "I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen. Could have waited a week to send it."

Houston Rockets General Manager 'wasn't educated' when he sent Hong Kong tweet: LeBron James

<p>Some Chinese National Basketball Association (NBA)&nbsp;fans&nbsp;have asked for&nbsp;streaming&nbsp;subscription&nbsp;refunds&nbsp;from&nbsp;exclusive service provider&nbsp;Tencent&nbsp;amid a deepening free speech row, a move that could cause the tech giant financial pain.</p>

<p>Tencent&nbsp;Holdings&nbsp;renewed its exclusive digital partnership with the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;in July, securing rights to stream the US&nbsp;games in&nbsp;China, a market with an estimated 500 million&nbsp;fans.</p>

<p>But the Chinese social media giant behind the ubiquitous app WeChat may now become a corporate casualty of the deepening row sparked by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nba-rockets-executive-says-hong-kong-tweet-not-meant-to-offend-254149"> expressed support for Hong Kong protests in a tweet </a>over the weekend.</p>

<p>That prompted a furor in mainland&nbsp;China, and local sponsors of the games have pulled out.</p>

<p>Tencent&nbsp;halted broadcasting games involving the Rockets over the weekend and later said it would stop broadcasting the entire preseason after&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;commissioner Adam Silver voiced his support for Morey's "freedom of political expression" on Tuesday.</p>

<p>It said users subscribing to the Rockets games can switch to feeds&nbsp;from&nbsp;other&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;teams or apply for a&nbsp;refund.</p>

<p>Refunds have become a hot topic online with more than 3 million views on Twitter-like Weibo social media platform on Wednesday. Some users claimed they had received automatic&nbsp;refunds ranging&nbsp;from&nbsp;$2.80-$37, depending on what packages they subscribe to.</p>

<p>Tencent&nbsp;declined to comment on&nbsp;refunds.</p>

<p>The Houston Rockets became the most popular&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;team in&nbsp;China&nbsp;after drafting Chinese player Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the 2002 draft. He became a star and helped build the&nbsp;NBA's following in&nbsp;China.</p>

<p>Tencent&nbsp;extended its&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;partnership through 2024-25 season in July, according to an&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;statement. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but the Chinese sports news portal Lanxiong Sports reported it was worth about $1.5 billion.</p>

<p>Nearly 500 million people watched last season's&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;games on&nbsp;Tencent's video platform, up threefold since the 2014-15 season,&nbsp;Tencent&nbsp;said in July.</p>

<p>Tencent&nbsp;isn't the only company distancing itself&nbsp;from&nbsp;business dealings with the&nbsp;NBA. Chinese Smartphone maker Vivo, state-run broadcaster CCTV and sportswear maker ANTA Sports Products Ltd all halted cooperation with the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;on Monday.</p>


Some Chinese National Basketball Association (NBA) fans have asked for streaming subscription refunds from exclusive service provider Tencent amid a deepening free speech row, a move that could cause the tech giant financial pain.

Some Chinese National Basketball Association (NBA) fans have asked for streaming subscription refunds from exclusive service provider Tencent amid a deepening free speech row, a move that could cause the tech giant financial pain. Tencent Holdings renewed its exclusive digital partnership with the NBA in July, securing rights to stream the US games in China, a market with an estimated 500 million fans. But the Chinese social media giant behind the ubiquitous app WeChat may now become a corporate casualty of the deepening row sparked by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who expressed support for Hong Kong protests in a tweet over the weekend. That prompted a furor in mainland China, and local sponsors of the games have pulled out. Tencent halted broadcasting games involving the Rockets over the weekend and later said it would stop broadcasting the entire preseason after NBA commissioner Adam Silver voiced his support for Morey's "freedom of political expression" on Tuesday. It said users subscribing to the Rockets games can switch to feeds from other NBA teams or apply for a refund. Refunds have become a hot topic online with more than 3 million views on Twitter-like Weibo social media platform on Wednesday. Some users claimed they had received automatic refunds ranging from $2.80-$37, depending on what packages they subscribe to. Tencent declined to comment on refunds. The Houston Rockets became the most popular NBA team in China after drafting Chinese player Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the 2002 draft. He became a star and helped build the NBA's following in China. Tencent extended its NBA partnership through 2024-25 season in July, according to an NBA statement. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but the Chinese sports news portal Lanxiong Sports reported it was worth about $1.5 billion. Nearly 500 million people watched last season's NBA games on Tencent's video platform, up threefold since the 2014-15 season, Tencent said in July. Tencent isn't the only company distancing itself from business dealings with the NBA. Chinese Smartphone maker Vivo, state-run broadcaster CCTV and sportswear maker ANTA Sports Products Ltd all halted cooperation with the NBA on Monday.

NBA fans in China seek refund from Tencent as streaming suspended

<p>Basketball followers on mainland China expressed anger at the US&nbsp;National Basketball Association on Wednesday after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-organisers-cancel-nba-fan-event-amid-free-speech-row-254851">fan event in Shanghai was canceled</a>, amid a&nbsp;row&nbsp;over&nbsp;free&nbsp;speech&nbsp;that has hurt the league's reputation in a key overseas market.</p>

<p>Chinese&nbsp;organisers scrapped the event on the eve of a planned exhibition game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, as the&nbsp;fallout&nbsp;spread&nbsp;from&nbsp;a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting recent protests in Hong Kong.</p>

<p>Pro-democracy demonstrators have taken to the streets of the city over fears that Beijing is undermining Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" formula, which gives residents greater&nbsp;freedom than mainland&nbsp;Chinese.</p>

<p>China has warned foreign governments to steer clear of the issue which they deem an "internal affair".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/despite-consequences-nba-boss-defends-values-in-china-row-254649">NBA&nbsp;Commissioner Adam Silver said on Tuesday</a> that the league supported Morey's right to exercise his&nbsp;freedom of expression, furthering angering&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;authorities.</p>

<p>"They (the&nbsp;NBA) have done something really stupid," said Bai Linfan, a 20-year-old fan in Shanghai. "This is something that is really about our nationality. That's the biggest thing. Cancelling these cooperations and exchanges is quite normal."</p>

<p>Another young fan, Li Xintong, said the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;needed to do more to understand China's view on the matter.</p>

<p>"If the pre-season match is cancelled, I don't really care, because I think this thing has already violated our country's bottom line about a few issues," he said.</p>

<p>"If the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;really wants to expand in China's market, they must understand&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;culture."</p>

<p>The reaction to the&nbsp;row&nbsp;has been very different in Hong Kong itself.</p>

<p>"I don't think he (Silver) is mixing up sports and politics. I think he was speaking as a US&nbsp;citizen on this occasion. I'm really grateful for his support and the support of the majority of US&nbsp;citizens," said&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;fan Keith Yuen.</p>

<p>For one fan hoping to catch a glimpse of the players in Shanghai, sport and politics should not be mixed.</p>

<p>"I don't know why political conflicts affect sporting events. Just because they don't want us to see Morey's comments on TV, the&nbsp;fans' night has been cancelled," said Yu Jie.</p>

<p>"I'm patriotic of course. I support (the view) that Hong Kong is part of China, but I just don't understand this."</p>


Basketball followers on mainland China expressed anger at the US National Basketball Association on Wednesday after a fan event in Shanghai was canceled, amid a row over free speech that has hurt the league's reputation in a key overseas market.

Basketball followers on mainland China expressed anger at the US National Basketball Association on Wednesday after a fan event in Shanghai was canceled, amid a row over free speech that has hurt the league's reputation in a key overseas market. Chinese organisers scrapped the event on the eve of a planned exhibition game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, as the fallout spread from a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting recent protests in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy demonstrators have taken to the streets of the city over fears that Beijing is undermining Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" formula, which gives residents greater freedom than mainland Chinese. China has warned foreign governments to steer clear of the issue which they deem an "internal affair". NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said on Tuesday that the league supported Morey's right to exercise his freedom of expression, furthering angering Chinese authorities. "They (the NBA) have done something really stupid," said Bai Linfan, a 20-year-old fan in Shanghai. "This is something that is really about our nationality. That's the biggest thing. Cancelling these cooperations and exchanges is quite normal." Another young fan, Li Xintong, said the NBA needed to do more to understand China's view on the matter. "If the pre-season match is cancelled, I don't really care, because I think this thing has already violated our country's bottom line about a few issues," he said. "If the NBA really wants to expand in China's market, they must understand Chinese culture." The reaction to the row has been very different in Hong Kong itself. "I don't think he (Silver) is mixing up sports and politics. I think he was speaking as a US citizen on this occasion. I'm really grateful for his support and the support of the majority of US citizens," said NBA fan Keith Yuen. For one fan hoping to catch a glimpse of the players in Shanghai, sport and politics should not be mixed. "I don't know why political conflicts affect sporting events. Just because they don't want us to see Morey's comments on TV, the fans' night has been cancelled," said Yu Jie. "I'm patriotic of course. I support (the view) that Hong Kong is part of China, but I just don't understand this."

Chinese fans fume at NBA as fallout from free speech row spreads

Beijing sees red! Why Chinese sponsors, partners are cutting ties with NBA

<p>&nbsp;A&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;pro-democracy&nbsp;activist&nbsp;jailed for six years for rioting in 2016 appeared in court on Wednesday to appeal&nbsp;against&nbsp;his&nbsp;sentence, as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hong-kong-protests-biggest-political-crisis-in-xi-jinpings-career-254353">anti-government&nbsp;protests</a> showed no signs of abating despite new emergency laws and widespread arrests.</p>

<p>Edward Leung, 27, one of the leaders of a movement advocating independence from China, and two other&nbsp;activists received the harshest&nbsp;sentences handed down to&nbsp;pro-democracy&nbsp;leaders since the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997.</p>

<p>Hundreds of Leung's supporters gathered outside the city's High Court and packed his courtroom on Wednesday, many wearing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-protesters-continues-to-defy-face-mask-ban-254131">black masks in defiance of a ban</a> on face masks invoked by authorities on Friday under colonial-era emergency laws.</p>

<p>Leung's hearing could become the latest flashpoint for anti-government&nbsp;protesters who have staged four months of demonstrations, some massive and violent,&nbsp;against&nbsp;leader Carrie Lam's administration.</p>

<p>Lam did not rule out asking Beijing for help in remarks on Tuesday as the Asian financial hub struggles to deal with&nbsp;protests that are damaging its economy.</p>

<p>More&nbsp;protests are expected on Wednesday and the coming week.</p>

<p>The former British colony is still recovering after a long weekend of violent&nbsp;protests that brought the city to a virtual standstill, with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-reopens-most-metro-stations-shops-after-weekend-protests-254571">unprecedented closure of its metro </a>rail system, shops, ATMs, and mainland China banks.</p>

<p>What started as opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill has grown into a&nbsp;pro-democracy&nbsp;movement&nbsp;against&nbsp;what is seen as Beijing's tightening grip on the city, which&nbsp;protesters say undermines a "one country, two systems" formula&nbsp;promised when&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;returned to Chinese rule.</p>

<p>China dismisses such accusations, saying foreign governments, including Britain and the United States, have fanned anti-China sentiment.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;protests pose the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012 and are&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong's worst political crisis since the 1997 handover.</p>

<p>The city's metro operator MTR Corp, which carries about 5 million passengers a day, said on Wednesday some stations would remain closed due to damage and it would be shutting services early again at 8 p.m. (1200 GMT),&nbsp;more&nbsp;than four hours earlier than normal.</p>

<p>The closure of some stations on Wednesday resulted in massive queues of people waiting for shuttle buses during the morning rush hour, with some people choosing to walk kilometres to the nearest station.</p>

<p>MTR Corp was forced to shut down after arson attacks on Friday night, an unprecedented move that largely paralysed transportation. There were only partial operations during the weekend and limited services through the start of the week.</p>

<p>Hong&nbsp;Kong's economy has been hit hard by the&nbsp;protests, with many businesses and stores repeatedly closing as the Asian financial hub faces its first recession in a decade.</p>

<p>Lam warned on Tuesday the city's businesses faced "a severe winter season", while a police spokesman said&nbsp;more&nbsp;than 200 shops and public utilities had been damaged since Friday's violent clashes.</p>

<p>More&nbsp;than 100 restaurants have closed over the past month, putting around 2,000 people out of work, a representative from an association of catering&nbsp;professionals told public broadcaster RTHK on Wednesday.</p>

<p>Authorities have described&nbsp;protesters as "militant&nbsp;activists" but many&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;residents are also angry at the emergency powers, fearing their civil rights could be eroded.</p>

<p>More&nbsp;than 2,300 people have been arrested since June, while two teenagers have been shot and wounded in skirmishes with police. Scores of people, including police, have been injured.</p>

<p>The political sensitivities involved have been highlighted by a growing row after an executive of the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Houston Rockets backed the&nbsp;protests.</p>

<p>One-time U.S. presidential candidate and former First Lady Hillary Clinton and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/despite-consequences-nba-boss-defends-values-in-china-row-254649">NBA Commissioner Adam Silver</a> both weighed in to the controversy, drawing the ire of Chinese state media.</p>

<p>Clinton said on her official Twitter account on Wednesday: "Every American has the right to voice their support for&nbsp;democracy&nbsp;and human rights for&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong. Full stop."</p>

<p>Silver spoke up for freedom of speech, saying it was not up to the NBA to regulate what players, employees and team owners said. Chinese state media responded on Wednesday by accusing the NBA of endorsing violence and peddling a "secessionist pipe dream".</p>

<p>In a separate case, a top online gamer from&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;who showed support for the&nbsp;protests was removed from an international tournament he won, forcing him to forgo prize money that media reports put at $10,000.</p>

<p>Blizzard Entertainment, via their brand Hearthstone, said the gamer identified as "Blitzchung" had violated rules and would not be allowed to play in any Hearthstone esports games for the next 12 months.</p>


A Hong Kong pro-democracy activist jailed for six years for rioting in 2016 appeared in court on Wednesday to appeal against his sentence, as anti-government protests showed no signs of abating despite new emergency laws and widespread arrests.

A Hong Kong pro-democracy activist jailed for six years for rioting in 2016 appeared in court on Wednesday to appeal against his sentence, as anti-government protests showed no signs of abating despite new emergency laws and widespread arrests. Edward Leung, 27, one of the leaders of a movement advocating independence from China, and two other activists received the harshest sentences handed down to pro-democracy leaders since the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Hundreds of Leung's supporters gathered outside the city's High Court and packed his courtroom on Wednesday, many wearing black masks in defiance of a ban on face masks invoked by authorities on Friday under colonial-era emergency laws. Leung's hearing could become the latest flashpoint for anti-government protesters who have staged four months of demonstrations, some massive and violent, against leader Carrie Lam's administration. Lam did not rule out asking Beijing for help in remarks on Tuesday as the Asian financial hub struggles to deal with protests that are damaging its economy. More protests are expected on Wednesday and the coming week. The former British colony is still recovering after a long weekend of violent protests that brought the city to a virtual standstill, with the unprecedented closure of its metro rail system, shops, ATMs, and mainland China banks. What started as opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill has grown into a pro-democracy movement against what is seen as Beijing's tightening grip on the city, which protesters say undermines a "one country, two systems" formula promised when Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule. China dismisses such accusations, saying foreign governments, including Britain and the United States, have fanned anti-China sentiment. The protests pose the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012 and are Hong Kong's worst political crisis since the 1997 handover. The city's metro operator MTR Corp, which carries about 5 million passengers a day, said on Wednesday some stations would remain closed due to damage and it would be shutting services early again at 8 p.m. (1200 GMT), more than four hours earlier than normal. The closure of some stations on Wednesday resulted in massive queues of people waiting for shuttle buses during the morning rush hour, with some people choosing to walk kilometres to the nearest station. MTR Corp was forced to shut down after arson attacks on Friday night, an unprecedented move that largely paralysed transportation. There were only partial operations during the weekend and limited services through the start of the week. Hong Kong's economy has been hit hard by the protests, with many businesses and stores repeatedly closing as the Asian financial hub faces its first recession in a decade. Lam warned on Tuesday the city's businesses faced "a severe winter season", while a police spokesman said more than 200 shops and public utilities had been damaged since Friday's violent clashes. More than 100 restaurants have closed over the past month, putting around 2,000 people out of work, a representative from an association of catering professionals told public broadcaster RTHK on Wednesday. Authorities have described protesters as "militant activists" but many Hong Kong residents are also angry at the emergency powers, fearing their civil rights could be eroded. More than 2,300 people have been arrested since June, while two teenagers have been shot and wounded in skirmishes with police. Scores of people, including police, have been injured. The political sensitivities involved have been highlighted by a growing row after an executive of the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Houston Rockets backed the protests. One-time U.S. presidential candidate and former First Lady Hillary Clinton and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver both weighed in to the controversy, drawing the ire of Chinese state media. Clinton said on her official Twitter account on Wednesday: "Every American has the right to voice their support for democracy and human rights for Hong Kong. Full stop." Silver spoke up for freedom of speech, saying it was not up to the NBA to regulate what players, employees and team owners said. Chinese state media responded on Wednesday by accusing the NBA of endorsing violence and peddling a "secessionist pipe dream". In a separate case, a top online gamer from Hong Kong who showed support for the protests was removed from an international tournament he won, forcing him to forgo prize money that media reports put at $10,000. Blizzard Entertainment, via their brand Hearthstone, said the gamer identified as "Blitzchung" had violated rules and would not be allowed to play in any Hearthstone esports games for the next 12 months.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist appeals against sentence as more protests loom

<p>NBA commissioner Adam Silver is ready to accept the consequences for defending freedom of speech, even if supporting those values means <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-tv-drops-nba-exhibition-games-escalating-pressure-amid-tweet-uproar-254463">losing the riches that Chinese business partnerships</a> have brought the league.</p>

<p>Forty years after the Washington Bullets played exhibition games in Beijing and Shanghai as the first NBA club to visit China, the league and its lucrative relationship with the nation of 1.4 billion people faces its toughest test.</p>

<p>It's only the latest battle over values championed by Silver, the 57-year-old American who replaced David Stern as the NBA's boss in February 2014. He has banned an owner for life for racist remarks and moved an NBA All-Star Game over a law discriminating against the gay and transgender communities.</p>

<p>A socially conscious league whose biggest star players have criticized US President Donald Trump and shunned ceremonial White House visits,&nbsp;LeBron James famously calling Trump a "bum" in a 2017 tweet,&nbsp;was thrust into controversy again Friday when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted: "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hong-kong-protests-biggest-political-crisis-in-xi-jinpings-career-254353">Hong Kong has been rocked by protests</a> since June that were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions of criminal suspects to the mainland but snowballed into a movement calling for more democratic freedoms and police accountability.</p>

<p>Morey's tweet shattered some China sponsorships for the Rockets, retired Chinese star Yao Ming's former club. Chinese television dropped planned telecasts of NBA pre-season games in China.</p>

<p>Early NBA statements on the issue drew fire from US critics as overly capitulating, setting the stage for Silver to settle matters in Tokyo.</p>

<p>"The long-held values of the NBA are to support freedom of expression, and certainly freedom of expression by members of the NBA community," Silver said.</p>

<p>"I understand there are consequences from that exercise of, in essence, his freedom of speech. We will have to live with those consequences.</p>

<p>"It's my hope that for our Chinese fans and our partners in China, they will see those remarks in the context of now a three-decade, if not longer, relationship."</p>

<p>The same week that American television show "South Park" parodied US companies who cave into Chinese censorship for commercial gain, the NBA was challenged to put its values over its bottom line and stand up to financial backers.</p>


NBA commissioner Adam Silver is ready to accept the consequences for defending freedom of speech, even if supporting those values means losing the riches that Chinese business partnerships have brought the league.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is ready to accept the consequences for defending freedom of speech, even if supporting those values means losing the riches that Chinese business partnerships have brought the league. Forty years after the Washington Bullets played exhibition games in Beijing and Shanghai as the first NBA club to visit China, the league and its lucrative relationship with the nation of 1.4 billion people faces its toughest test. It's only the latest battle over values championed by Silver, the 57-year-old American who replaced David Stern as the NBA's boss in February 2014. He has banned an owner for life for racist remarks and moved an NBA All-Star Game over a law discriminating against the gay and transgender communities. A socially conscious league whose biggest star players have criticized US President Donald Trump and shunned ceremonial White House visits, LeBron James famously calling Trump a "bum" in a 2017 tweet, was thrust into controversy again Friday when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted: "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong." Hong Kong has been rocked by protests since June that were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions of criminal suspects to the mainland but snowballed into a movement calling for more democratic freedoms and police accountability. Morey's tweet shattered some China sponsorships for the Rockets, retired Chinese star Yao Ming's former club. Chinese television dropped planned telecasts of NBA pre-season games in China. Early NBA statements on the issue drew fire from US critics as overly capitulating, setting the stage for Silver to settle matters in Tokyo. "The long-held values of the NBA are to support freedom of expression, and certainly freedom of expression by members of the NBA community," Silver said. "I understand there are consequences from that exercise of, in essence, his freedom of speech. We will have to live with those consequences. "It's my hope that for our Chinese fans and our partners in China, they will see those remarks in the context of now a three-decade, if not longer, relationship." The same week that American television show "South Park" parodied US companies who cave into Chinese censorship for commercial gain, the NBA was challenged to put its values over its bottom line and stand up to financial backers.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver ready to 'live with consequences' over China row

<p>China's state media accused Apple on Wednesday of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nba-rockets-executive-says-hong-kong-tweet-not-meant-to-offend-254149">supporting pro-democracy protesters</a>, warning the US tech giant would suffer consequences for its "unwise and reckless" decision.</p>

<p>An opinion piece in the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, highlighted a transport app available on Apple's store that it alleged helped protesters identify police in Hong Kong. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In the article called: Is Apple helping <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-fire-tear-gas-as-large-crowds-defy-hong-kong-mask-ban-254056">HK rioters engage in more</a> violence? it said, "Apple's approval for the app obviously helps rioters."</p>

<p>"Does this mean Apple intended to be an accomplice to the rioters?"</p>

<p>The article then cautioned that: "The map app is just the tip of the iceberg".</p>

<p><strong>Watch Video:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-reopens-most-metro-stations-shops-after-weekend-protests-254571/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

<p>It alleged that a song advocating "Hong Kong independence" had appeared on the "Apple Music Store" in the southern Chinese city, then issued an ominous warning.</p>

<p>"Nobody wants to drag Apple into the lingering unrest in Hong Kong. But people have reason to assume that Apple is mixing business with politics, and even illegal acts," it said.</p>

<p>"Apple has to think about the consequences of its unwise and reckless decision," the article said.</p>

<p>As with other campaigns led by state-run press against foreign firms for perceived support of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, comments on China's strictly controlled internet echoed those of the media.</p>

<p>"It definitely wasn't an accident that Apple allowed HKmap.live online," wrote one commentator on Weibo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"(Apple) should know exactly what it's doing... It seems that there is too little domestic pressure against Apple."</p>

<p>Apple, which has a huge presence in China, did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.</p>

<p>Hong Kong has endured nearly four months of protests that were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions of criminal suspects to the mainland.</p>

<p>They snowballed into a movement calling for more democratic freedoms and police accountability, in the biggest challenge to China's rule of Hong Kong since its handover from the British in 1997.</p>

<p>China tolerates no dissent on the highly sensitive issue and has in recent weeks increasingly targeted foreign companies and organisations for perceived support of the protesters.</p>

<p>The American National Basketball Association was this week targeted after the general manager of the Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, posted a tweet supporting the protesters.</p>

<p>US jewellery brand Tiffany and Hong Kong's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, have also been heavily criticised in China.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


China's state media accused Apple on Wednesday of supporting pro-democracy protesters, warning the US tech giant would suffer consequences for its "unwise and reckless" decision.

China's state media accused Apple on Wednesday of supporting pro-democracy protesters, warning the US tech giant would suffer consequences for its "unwise and reckless" decision. An opinion piece in the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, highlighted a transport app available on Apple's store that it alleged helped protesters identify police in Hong Kong. In the article called: Is Apple helping HK rioters engage in more violence? it said, "Apple's approval for the app obviously helps rioters." "Does this mean Apple intended to be an accomplice to the rioters?" The article then cautioned that: "The map app is just the tip of the iceberg". Watch Video: It alleged that a song advocating "Hong Kong independence" had appeared on the "Apple Music Store" in the southern Chinese city, then issued an ominous warning. "Nobody wants to drag Apple into the lingering unrest in Hong Kong. But people have reason to assume that Apple is mixing business with politics, and even illegal acts," it said. "Apple has to think about the consequences of its unwise and reckless decision," the article said. As with other campaigns led by state-run press against foreign firms for perceived support of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, comments on China's strictly controlled internet echoed those of the media. "It definitely wasn't an accident that Apple allowed HKmap.live online," wrote one commentator on Weibo. "(Apple) should know exactly what it's doing... It seems that there is too little domestic pressure against Apple." Apple, which has a huge presence in China, did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment. Hong Kong has endured nearly four months of protests that were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions of criminal suspects to the mainland. They snowballed into a movement calling for more democratic freedoms and police accountability, in the biggest challenge to China's rule of Hong Kong since its handover from the British in 1997. China tolerates no dissent on the highly sensitive issue and has in recent weeks increasingly targeted foreign companies and organisations for perceived support of the protesters. The American National Basketball Association was this week targeted after the general manager of the Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, posted a tweet supporting the protesters. US jewellery brand Tiffany and Hong Kong's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, have also been heavily criticised in China.

Nobody wants to drag Apple into lingering unrest in Hong Kong: Chinese state media

<p>Chinese state television said on Tuesday it wouldn't air NBA exhibition games played in the country this week, heaping further pressure on the US basketball league after a tweet by a Houston Rockets executive backing protests in Hong Kong.</p>

<p>Rockets general manager Daryl Morey apologised on Monday for any hurt caused by the tweet, which he quickly deleted over the weekend. Beijing, Chinese fans and the team's partners in a key NBA market have not been assuaged, however, resulting in loss of sponsors and broadcasts in the world's second-largest economy.</p>

<p>The National Basketball Association issued a statement saying it regretted Morey's remarks, drawing criticism from US lawmakers. At the same time, commissioner Adam Silver told Kyodo News the NBA supports freedom of expression - a response deemed unacceptable to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.</p>

<p>"We strongly oppose Silver's support of Morey on the basis of freedom of speech and we think any comments that challenge a country's sovereignty and social stability is not within the scope of freedom of speech," CCTV said Tuesday in a statement in Chinese, adding that it would review its relationship with the NBA.</p>

<p>The league's regular season, to which CCTV owns exclusive Chinese broadcast rights, begins this month. Tech giant Tencent Holdings has exclusive internet streaming rights in China, which local media reports have said are worth about $1.58 billion; it has said it would temporarily stop showing Rockets games.</p>

<p>The decision heaps further pressure on the league, which faces criticism on multiple fronts about its handling of the controversy. Its apology on Sunday disappointed some who see the league as the most progressive of the US sports organisations, while Silver's support for Morey's right to speak his mind has left the league vulnerable in China.</p>

<p>The league has worked for years to cultivate the Chinese market and regularly plays exhibition games in the country. Its top stars, including Rockets guard James Harden, frequently visit to meet fans and conduct promotional activities with sponsors.</p>

<p>Tencent said in July that 490 million Chinese fans watched NBA programming on its platforms last season, up threefold since the 2014-2015 season.</p>

<p><strong>Right of expression</strong></p>

<p>Silver told Kyodo in an interview the league's stance was firm that members of the NBA community were free to express themselves and that the league backed their right to do so.</p>

<p>"There are the values that have been part of this league from its earliest days, and that includes free expression," Silver, in Japan for a preseason game on Tuesday between the Rockets and the Toronto Raptors, told Kyodo.</p>

<p>"I think as a values-based organisation that I want to make it clear ... that Daryl Morey is supported in terms of his ability to exercise his freedom of expression," he told the news agency. "I accept that it is also Chinese governments' and Chinese businesses' right to react to those words and, at least from my long-time experience in the NBA, it will take some time to heal some of these issues."</p>

<p>Silver said the league also supported Brooklyn Nets owner and Alibaba Group co-founder Joseph Tsai, who issued a lengthy statement criticising Morey's tweet.</p>

<p>A preseason game between the Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers is set for Thursday in Shanghai, with a rematch scheduled for Saturday in Shenzhen. However, organisers abruptly cancelled a Tuesday media event in the city without explanation.</p>

<p>Several Chinese celebrities also announced on China's Twitter-like Weibo service that they would not attend an NBA-organised "fans' night" Wednesday evening.</p>

<p>Actor and singer Evan Li said in a statement posted on his Weibo account that he would boycott the event, saying "the motherland always stands above everything."</p>

<p>The NBA is believed to earn billions of yuan a year from its Chinese merchandise sales, and fans said the league needed to take action.</p>

<p>"If the NBA doesn't do anything about this matter, about Morey supporting Hong Kong independence, then should we think about how does the NBA view the Chinese market and Chinese fans?" said Zhang Jinru, a Beijing high school student.</p>


Chinese state television said on Tuesday it wouldn't air NBA exhibition games played in the country this week, heaping further pressure on the US basketball league after a tweet by a Houston Rockets executive backing protests in Hong Kong.

Chinese state television said on Tuesday it wouldn't air NBA exhibition games played in the country this week, heaping further pressure on the US basketball league after a tweet by a Houston Rockets executive backing protests in Hong Kong. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey apologised on Monday for any hurt caused by the tweet, which he quickly deleted over the weekend. Beijing, Chinese fans and the team's partners in a key NBA market have not been assuaged, however, resulting in loss of sponsors and broadcasts in the world's second-largest economy. The National Basketball Association issued a statement saying it regretted Morey's remarks, drawing criticism from US lawmakers. At the same time, commissioner Adam Silver told Kyodo News the NBA supports freedom of expression - a response deemed unacceptable to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. "We strongly oppose Silver's support of Morey on the basis of freedom of speech and we think any comments that challenge a country's sovereignty and social stability is not within the scope of freedom of speech," CCTV said Tuesday in a statement in Chinese, adding that it would review its relationship with the NBA. The league's regular season, to which CCTV owns exclusive Chinese broadcast rights, begins this month. Tech giant Tencent Holdings has exclusive internet streaming rights in China, which local media reports have said are worth about $1.58 billion; it has said it would temporarily stop showing Rockets games. The decision heaps further pressure on the league, which faces criticism on multiple fronts about its handling of the controversy. Its apology on Sunday disappointed some who see the league as the most progressive of the US sports organisations, while Silver's support for Morey's right to speak his mind has left the league vulnerable in China. The league has worked for years to cultivate the Chinese market and regularly plays exhibition games in the country. Its top stars, including Rockets guard James Harden, frequently visit to meet fans and conduct promotional activities with sponsors. Tencent said in July that 490 million Chinese fans watched NBA programming on its platforms last season, up threefold since the 2014-2015 season. Right of expression Silver told Kyodo in an interview the league's stance was firm that members of the NBA community were free to express themselves and that the league backed their right to do so. "There are the values that have been part of this league from its earliest days, and that includes free expression," Silver, in Japan for a preseason game on Tuesday between the Rockets and the Toronto Raptors, told Kyodo. "I think as a values-based organisation that I want to make it clear ... that Daryl Morey is supported in terms of his ability to exercise his freedom of expression," he told the news agency. "I accept that it is also Chinese governments' and Chinese businesses' right to react to those words and, at least from my long-time experience in the NBA, it will take some time to heal some of these issues." Silver said the league also supported Brooklyn Nets owner and Alibaba Group co-founder Joseph Tsai, who issued a lengthy statement criticising Morey's tweet. A preseason game between the Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers is set for Thursday in Shanghai, with a rematch scheduled for Saturday in Shenzhen. However, organisers abruptly cancelled a Tuesday media event in the city without explanation. Several Chinese celebrities also announced on China's Twitter-like Weibo service that they would not attend an NBA-organised "fans' night" Wednesday evening. Actor and singer Evan Li said in a statement posted on his Weibo account that he would boycott the event, saying "the motherland always stands above everything." The NBA is believed to earn billions of yuan a year from its Chinese merchandise sales, and fans said the league needed to take action. "If the NBA doesn't do anything about this matter, about Morey supporting Hong Kong independence, then should we think about how does the NBA view the Chinese market and Chinese fans?" said Zhang Jinru, a Beijing high school student.

China TV drops NBA exhibition games, escalating pressure amid tweet uproar

<p>The general manager of the Houston Rockets said Monday a tweet backing Hong Kong protests that caused a major backlash was not meant to offend the NBA team's massive Chinese fanbase.</p>

<p>Daryl Morey's comments came as the NBA issued a statement distancing itself from the offending tweet and saying it was "regrettable" that the posting had offended so many fans in China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Rockets have been in damage control mode since Morey posted a tweet Friday featuring the message "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong" that was subsequently deleted.</p>

<p>"I did not intend my tweet to cause any offence to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China," Morey said in a tweet Monday morning in Tokyo, where the Rockets are playing several matches this week.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">2/ I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA.</p>
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1181000809363857409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives," he added.</p>

<p>"I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention," Morey said.</p>

<p>He also reiterated that his tweets "in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA."</p>

<p>The NBA issued its own statement, saying it recognised Morey's views "have offended so many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are due to play two pre-season games at Shanghai and Shenzhen in China later this week.</p>

<p>"While Daryl has made it clear that his tweet does not represent the Rockets or the NBA, the values of the league support individuals' educating themselves and sharing their views on matters important to them," the statement issued by chief communications officer Mike Bass said.</p>

<p><strong>'Incorrect comments'&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The Rockets have already tried to distance themselves from the controversy, with owner Tilman Fertitta on Friday writing on Twitter that Morey "does NOT speak for the @HoustonRockets... we are NOT a political organisation."</p>

<p>But the backlash in China has been fierce, with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) saying it would sever all ties with the Rockets.</p>

<p>"General manager of Houston Rockets club Daryl Morey made incorrect comments about Hong Kong," the CBA said on its official social media page on Sunday.</p>

<p>"The Chinese Basketball Association is strongly opposed to this and will suspend communication and cooperation with the club."</p>

<p>Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has been battered by four months of increasingly violent pro-democracy protests.</p>

<p>The rallies were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions to mainland China, fuelling fears of an erosion of liberties in Hong Kong under the 50-year "one country, two systems" model China agreed before the 1997 handover from Britain.</p>

<p>The Rockets have enjoyed a huge following in China since the club drafted Chinese star Yao Ming in 2002.</p>

<p>But fans on social media in China savaged Morey's comments, with some urging he be fired.</p>

<p>The Rockets are in Japan for two exhibition games this week against NBA champions Toronto Raptors, and their head coach Mike D'Antoni on Sunday said that was the team's focus.</p>


The general manager of the Houston Rockets said Monday a tweet backing Hong Kong protests that caused a major backlash was not meant to offend the NBA team's massive Chinese fanbase.

The general manager of the Houston Rockets said Monday a tweet backing Hong Kong protests that caused a major backlash was not meant to offend the NBA team's massive Chinese fanbase. Daryl Morey's comments came as the NBA issued a statement distancing itself from the offending tweet and saying it was "regrettable" that the posting had offended so many fans in China. The Rockets have been in damage control mode since Morey posted a tweet Friday featuring the message "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong" that was subsequently deleted. "I did not intend my tweet to cause any offence to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China," Morey said in a tweet Monday morning in Tokyo, where the Rockets are playing several matches this week. 2/ I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA. — Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019 × "I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives," he added. "I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention," Morey said. He also reiterated that his tweets "in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA." The NBA issued its own statement, saying it recognised Morey's views "have offended so many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable." The NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are due to play two pre-season games at Shanghai and Shenzhen in China later this week. "While Daryl has made it clear that his tweet does not represent the Rockets or the NBA, the values of the league support individuals' educating themselves and sharing their views on matters important to them," the statement issued by chief communications officer Mike Bass said. 'Incorrect comments' The Rockets have already tried to distance themselves from the controversy, with owner Tilman Fertitta on Friday writing on Twitter that Morey "does NOT speak for the @HoustonRockets... we are NOT a political organisation." But the backlash in China has been fierce, with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) saying it would sever all ties with the Rockets. "General manager of Houston Rockets club Daryl Morey made incorrect comments about Hong Kong," the CBA said on its official social media page on Sunday. "The Chinese Basketball Association is strongly opposed to this and will suspend communication and cooperation with the club." Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has been battered by four months of increasingly violent pro-democracy protests. The rallies were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions to mainland China, fuelling fears of an erosion of liberties in Hong Kong under the 50-year "one country, two systems" model China agreed before the 1997 handover from Britain. The Rockets have enjoyed a huge following in China since the club drafted Chinese star Yao Ming in 2002. But fans on social media in China savaged Morey's comments, with some urging he be fired. The Rockets are in Japan for two exhibition games this week against NBA champions Toronto Raptors, and their head coach Mike D'Antoni on Sunday said that was the team's focus.

NBA Rockets executive says Hong Kong tweet not meant to offend

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