Not so long ago, a basketball bet was a simple thing. You picked a winner, maybe took a points spread, and waited for the final buzzer. Everything that happened in between (the runs, the timeouts, the foul trouble) was just noise on the way to one number.

That is no longer how many fans watch the game. Today the final score is only one of dozens of outcomes on offer, and a lot of the action happens while the ball is still in the air.

A sport built for live markets

Basketball was always going to suit in-play betting. Few sports produce as many scoring events, as many swings in momentum, or as many natural pauses. A single EuroLeague game can have 150 possessions or more, and any one of them can change the price on the next quarter, the next basket or the next player to reach double figures.

European fans know this rhythm well. Anyone who followed CSKA Moscow’s run to a seventh EuroLeague title saw how quickly a game can turn on a couple of possessions. Momentum in the European game often arrives in bursts, and the live markets have been built to follow those bursts almost second by second.

From the final score to the next possession

Pre-match betting still exists, but the live menu has grown well past it. During a typical game, a fan can now find markets on:

• The winner of each quarter or half
• The next team to score, or the next team to reach 10, 15 or 20 points
• Individual player totals for points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers
• Whether a specific free throw will go in
• Winning margin bands, updated as the lead changes

Some of these markets last a few minutes. Others settle in seconds. What they share is that they reward attention to the game itself rather than a prediction made hours earlier.

A bettor who notices that a team’s starting centre has picked up his third foul before half-time is working with information that simply did not exist when the pre-match odds were set.

Why fans went along with it

Part of the answer is technology. Faster data feeds, official league statistics delivered in real time and mobile apps that refresh odds constantly made the product possible.

The other part is cultural. Fantasy formats taught a generation of fans to think in individual stats rather than just results. Games such as the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge encourage people to track a guard’s assists or a forward’s rebounds across a whole season. Player prop markets turn that same habit into something that can be settled within a single night.

There is also the second screen. Most fans now watch with a phone in hand, following live stats, social feeds and highlights at the same time. Adding a live market to that mix feels, to many of them, like a small step rather than a new activity.

That shift has changed how betting is covered in mainstream media too. Canadian readers comparing operators, for example, now find editorial guides to the best gambling sites in Canada that look at how deep a basketball live menu goes, not just which leagues are listed.

The European angle

The NBA gets the headlines, but European basketball has been an important testing ground for these markets. The EuroLeague, EuroCup and domestic leagues in Spain, Turkey, Greece and Serbia fill the calendar almost every night of the week. Many of those games tip off at hours that suit bettors across different time zones, which keeps demand for live markets steady.

European games also play differently. A 40-minute game, a shorter shot clock culture and tighter defensive systems produce lower totals and closer finishes than the NBA. That affects how live prices move, and experienced bettors pay attention to it.

As we noted in our older piece on how to outsmart your bookie, knowing the league better than the market does is still the only real edge, and that applies even more when prices change every few seconds.

More choice, more responsibility

A wider menu is not only a positive story. Markets that settle in seconds make it easy to place many small bets without noticing how quickly they add up.

Regulators have taken note. In Ontario, the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming set out requirements for how operators present live betting, player limits and responsible gambling tools.

For fans, the practical lesson is simple. Live markets can make a game more engaging, but they work best when they sit alongside the enjoyment of basketball rather than replacing it.

The final buzzer still matters. It just isn’t the only moment people are watching any more.

In the 2010s, European sportsbooks changed quickly. First came the mainstream spread of in-play wagering, then the rise of cashout tools that let bettors settle positions before the final whistle. What had once been a relatively static pre-match market became something faster, more reactive, and more aligned with how modern fans actually followed sport. Basketball, with its swings of momentum and dense game calendars, fit that shift especially well, as seen in broader betting discussion around tournament formats, live markets, and fantasy-linked engagement such as the 2022 EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge and its rules.

From live betting speed to payment speed

For a while, operators competed mostly on odds menus, interface quality, and how quickly they could update live lines. The expectation was simple: if the match was moving in real time, the sportsbook had to move with it. That same logic has gradually extended beyond the bet itself and into the cashier. Today, many players judge an operator not only by what happens before and during a wager, but by what happens after a win.

That is where withdrawal speed entered the picture.

In earlier online betting eras, especially in fragmented or lightly regulated markets, delayed payouts were often treated as an inconvenience rather than a central issue. A player might wait several business days for a bank transfer and accept it as part of the process. But as the industry matured, that tolerance faded. Instant digital habits changed expectations. If deposits could be processed in seconds, users began asking why withdrawals still required prolonged review cycles.

A modern marker of trust

Fast withdrawals now function as a practical trust signal. They do not replace licensing, compliance, or account verification, but they often shape how players interpret those things. A sportsbook or casino that pays efficiently is usually seen as more reliable, more operationally confident, and less dependent on procedural friction.

This is particularly visible in regulated North American markets, where the competition is no longer just about acquiring customers, but retaining them. In states and provinces where multiple licensed brands operate side by side, product differences can appear narrow. Odds are broadly comparable. Bonuses are often temporary. App design converges. But payout experience remains memorable.

A bettor may forget a modest promotional edge. They are less likely to forget whether a withdrawal arrived in hours or in days.

Why this matters more in sportsbooks and online casinos now

There is also a broader structural reason withdrawal speed matters more today than it did a decade ago. Online gambling products have become more continuous. Live betting creates shorter betting cycles. Casino verticals, especially slots and live dealer tables, generate frequent deposit-and-withdrawal behavior. The old model of occasional betting and delayed settlement does not fit the modern usage pattern.

This has been especially true in basketball-linked wagering environments, where packed schedules and constant in-game fluctuations encourage regular account activity. As betting ecosystems became more interactive, users began expecting the same speed not just in odds movement and cashout functionality, but in the return of their funds as well.

Operators have responded by streamlining KYC procedures, automating parts of fraud review, and prioritizing payment rails that support near-immediate e-wallet or card processing. In some cases, withdrawal speed has become part of the brand pitch, even if it is framed more cautiously in regulated jurisdictions. That alone tells the story: what used to be back-office administration is now front-facing competition.

The Canadian comparison

Canada offers an especially useful lens because it sits between long-established European online betting habits and the more recently regulated North American model. The market has developed with a strong awareness of consumer protection, but also with clear pressure to meet the convenience standards already familiar to players from overseas platforms.

Ontario’s regulated framework, in particular, has sharpened that comparison. Canadian users increasingly expect transparent withdrawal timelines, visible payment-method terms, and fewer unnecessary delays once verification is complete. Industry coverage has reflected the change. The Toronto Star’s recent guide to fast-payout online casinos in Canada looks at this issue as a current consumer concern, showing that payment speed is no longer a niche technical detail but part of mainstream evaluation. Canadian operators, in that sense, have moved toward the same standards seen for years in mature European sports-betting markets; readers can explore that shift in more detail here.

That trend does not mean every “fast payout” claim should be accepted at face value. Processing times still vary by method, internal review rules, and the quality of customer verification. But the key change is that withdrawal speed is now discussed openly and comparatively, much as odds quality or market depth once were.

Competitive pressure, but also consumer responsibility

There is a final point worth making. Faster withdrawals are good for consumer confidence, but they should exist alongside clear safeguards. Reputable operators still need identity checks, anti-money-laundering controls, and responsible gambling protocols. The healthiest version of the fast-payout race is one where technology removes unnecessary delay without removing necessary oversight.

That is why outside support information remains important in any discussion of modern online gambling. For Ontario users seeking gambling-health resources, ConnexOntario remains a relevant independent reference.

From a historical perspective, the pattern is familiar. Sportsbooks first competed by making betting more immediate through live markets and cashout. Now they compete by making the financial side of the experience more immediate as well. In a crowded field of similar interfaces and similar offers, the speed of getting paid has become one of the clearest ways an operator distinguishes itself. For today’s sportsbooks and online casinos, that may be the most consequential race of all.

Basketball is among the most popular sports in the world, and the Euroleague has proven to be one of the biggest basketball leagues in the world. It brings together the best basketball teams in Europe, with the most renowned champions being Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow. While the league is meant for European basketball teams, Israel also participates with the Maccabi Tel Aviv team.

At the moment, Maccabi Tel Aviv is ranked third in the league, having won a total of six titles to date. For sponsorship reasons, the league is referred to as the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and is governed by FIBA Europe, and you can compete with your friends in the Fantasy Challenge. In this guide, we will look at the 2022 Euroleague Fantasy Challenge in detail.

What is the 2022 EuroLeague Fantasy League?

The 2022 Euroleague Fantasy League allows you to challenge your friends in a fantasy version of the tournament. The game is available in two different modes, and these are Classic and Draft. With the Classic mode of the game, you have to follow these rules:

• You will get 100 credits and can create up to three fantasy teams. Each of them can have ten players and one head coach.
• You can also choose players who have already been purchased by other users (non-exclusive rosters).
• Your teams will compete in the main tournament, but you can also develop private leagues with your friends. The private leagues can be in a head-to-head mode or general ranking system.
• Active players and those on the bench will get points based on the performance of the actual players in the 2022 Euroleague. Active players will get 100% credits while those on the bench will get 50%. The coach will also get 100% credits.
• Among the starting five, you should select a captain, and his scores will be counted twice.
• The Matchday is split into Turns, and you can change the captain and formation between these Turns. You can also make substitutions.
• You can also buy and sell players to raise your rank.

The Draft mode of the Euroleague Fantasy League differs significantly from the Classic one. With the Draft league, a Commissioner will create the league and manually enter the players in each roster. Since this is an exclusive roster, each Euroleague player can only participate in one team at a time. The players will be decided by the participants via an auction around a table or even on a Zoom call. In the Draft mode, participants cannot select a head coach, and the values of the players will not change depending on their performance. You should note that Draft mode teams cannot participate in the Classic mode of the Euroleague Fantasy Challenge, so participants will not be able to win prizes.

How Are Scores Determined in the 2022 Euroleague Fantasy Challenge?

At the end of each Matchday, your scores will be calculated based on the performance of the players in the Euroleague. The following actions will earn one point:

• Points scored
• Rebounds
• Assists
• Steal
• Blocked shots
• Foul drawn<

These actions will result in the loss of one point:

• Missed free throw
• Missed shots
• Fouls committed
• Blocked shots suffered
• Turnover<

A team win will result in a bonus of ten points.

Prizes for Winners in the 2022 Euroleague Fantasy Challenge

In the Classic Mode of the 2022 Euroleague Fantasy Challenge, you will stand to win a number of prizes. In the 1st place of the regular season, you can win the following prizes:

• The winner will be a VIP guest at the 2022 Final Four, and they can come with one friend. This package includes flights, accommodation for 4 nights, and VIP tickets to the match.
• A €1000 voucher that you can redeem for flights on Turkish Airlines.
• Three player jerseys from the Euroleague.
• A Euroleague subscription for the 2022-23 season of the tournament

If you finish in second place, you will get the following prizes:

• A subscription to the 2022-23 Euroleague tournament
• Two jerseys from the Euroleague
• An official Euroleague basketball
• An €800 voucher to purchase air tickets for Turkish Airlines

Players in third, fourth, and fifth place will also earn some great prizes, including TV subscriptions and vouchers for Turkish Airlines. Matchday winners will win a TV subscription for the 2022-23 Euroleague season. Players in first place in the Special Mid-Season League will qualify for a TV subscription, as well as a Euroleague jersey of their choice. The grand prize of the season is a trip of a lifetime to the final Euroleague match of the season in Berlin, Germany.

You Can Play on Your Mobile Phone

You can also play the challenge on dedicated EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge mobile app. This application is available on both Android and iOS devices. The game is accessible in ten different languages, including English, French, German, Russian, and Italian.

Conclusion

The 2022 Euroleague has some useful features, including excellent prizes. You can either participate in the Classic mode or Draft mode, but only Classic mode grants points based on the performance of the players in the Euroleague. Since the Euroleague Fantasy Challenge now has mobile apps, players can create their teams and track their performances on their smartphones.

Hopes are over. The EuroLiga was cancelled thus ending the basketball season in Europe. In addition to the EuroLeague, the EuroCup, a competition organised by the same entity, is also cancelled. The cancellation of the main basketball competition in Europe and one of the most important in the world was hinted by several journalists linked to the competition and was later confirmed in a statement published on the competition’s official website.

The Euroleague Executive Committee, made up of the eleven shareholder clubs, has decided to cancel the current 2020 season of the Euroleague and the Eurocup, the two main European basketball club competitions due to the difficulty of resuming them. The next Euroleague season will start on October 1 and the Eurocup on September 30, as confirmed after a meeting with the eleven shareholder clubs.

“Having explored each of the possible options, the Executive Committee has decided to cancel the 2019-20 Euroleague and Eurocup season” as well as the ‘Adidas Next Generation’ and ‘EuroLeague Academy’ training tournaments, the organisation announced in a statement. Among the reasons provided by the shareholders is the protection of the health of players, fans and coaches, the “evolution of COVID-19 in the different territories of the Euroleague and the Eurocup” which “does not guarantee that all teams they can do their training and prepare under the same conditions. “

Likewise, the Euroleague recognises that the different restrictions on travel in European countries “does not guarantee that all teams can travel to the designated destinations for the matches” and that if they have resumed, a training period of fewer than three weeks could cause “an increased risk of injury” to players.

The championship managers thank the “many cities and regions” in Europe that have offered to host the final stages of the Euroleague and Eurocup. “Without a doubt, it has been the most difficult decision we have had to make in our 20-year history. For reasons beyond our control, we have been forced to cut the most successful and exciting season in the history of European basketball” CEO of the Euroleague, Jordi Bertomeu said. In the last 2.5 months after the suspension of the competition due to the coronavirus pandemic in March, all the agents involved “maintained their determination” to end the season, but have had to cancel it due to “forces above of everyone’s control.”

An exceptional situation

“Obviously we had many motivations to continue the 2019-20 season, but in an exceptional situation, we had to put people’s health ahead of any other interest,” added Bertomeu. The CEO of the Euroleague declared himself “especially proud” of the clubs and their owners “for the courage in their decisions and their generous contribution to their communities in such difficult times.”

This decision is taken after several entities have opposed a return of competition due to health risks.

20/21 Season

The 2020-21 season of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague will feature 18 teams: ALBA Berlín, Anadolu Efes Istanbul, AX Armani Exchange Milano, Crvena Zvezda, CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona, FC Bayern Munich, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Khimki, KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, Olympiacos Piraeus, Panathinaikos OPAP Atenas, Real Madrid, Valencia Basket, Zalgiris Kaunas and Zenit St Petersburg

The 2020-21 season of 7DAYS EuroCup will reserve spaces for the teams that qualify for the 2019-20 quarter-finals: AS Monaco, Partizan NIS Belgrade, Promitheas Patras, Segafredo Virtus Bologna, Tofas Bursa, Umana Reyer Venezia, Unicaja Malaga, and UNICS Kazan. The remaining 16 slots will be granted to teams best positioned in their national league’s final ranking. Much as the previous seasons, a team list will be submitted to the EuroCup Council for approval by the ECA Board.

By contrast to previous seasons, Euroleague training camps 2020/21 are going to take longer times so players can regain their physical and mental shape. To ensure optimum conditions for all participants during the season, the League and clubs continue to track the progress of COVID-19, maintaining strong ties with government and public health officials. EuroLeague Basketball will do everything possible to support the rehabilitation efforts of the community and to initiate individual activities in the League. EuroLeague Basketball will discuss ways of organising a successful opening season event to mark EuroLeague’s return.

A great success in Europe

This season, fans have once again set records on their support, and this enthusiasm will continue to provide the players, trainers, referees, league managers and clubs with the best competitive basketball. Some of the data of the EuroLeague 2019-20 season*:

15% growth in fan interest in EuroLeague markets, with a positive trend in each one. France, Israel, Turkey, Spain, and Germany registered the highest growth rates.

15% growth in the television audience, with impressive increases in France, Italy, Israel and Germany

2-digit growth on digital platforms, including followers, reach, video views and participation, as well as unique users, page views and sessions on euroleague.net

12% growth in assistance and 75% occupancy in the arena

*Data coming from the Nielsen Sports, Blinkfire Analytics and EuroLeague clubs,

The US national basketball team is on fire a month before the start of the Olympic games in Rio. The Americans beat China with a margin of 50 points! The victory was so easy that it looked like a humiliation for the Chinese basketball players. The final score was 107:57, as this is the second victory for the USA in a row against China in just 3 days. The previous meeting between these two teams finished with another huge margin in the final score (106:57).

The head coach Mike Krzyzewski can be pleased of his most valuable player in the game – DeMarcus Cousins. The power forward scored 21 points and made 11 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony added 20 points, while Klay Thompson finished with the record of 15 points and 5 assists. Kevin Durant managed to score 13 points.

To continue with, the Americans are about to play two more friendly matches before the start of the Olympic games in August. A match against Venezuela is scheduled for 29th July. The game will be held in Chicago. The other match will be against another participant in the Olympic games in Rio – Nigeria (1st August) and will be held in Houston.

Ironically, the first match for the US team of the Olympics is exactly against China on 6th August. So, after these two consecutive smashing victories against the Chinese basketball players, the Chinese team looks like doomed against the Americans. The last victory over China was the 66th consecutive victory for the US team in friendlies and official matches. The last time USA lost a match was 10 years ago – in 2006! That was the defeat to Greece (101-95) in a semi-final game of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

In conclusion, we have to say the US team is the most successful team in the history of basketball. The Americans have won the Olympic games on 14 occasions. Of course, they are again the biggest favourites for winning the gold medals. In addition, they have the chance to win the title for the 3rd consecutive time. And even, without a lot of their big stars, the Americans seem too classy to be beaten by the other teams.

The most valuable player in the National Basketball Association in the last two seasons, Stephen Curry, feels sorry that he was forced to miss the Olympics due to injuries, received during the playoffs in the league.

“I was very unhappy, because of the situation… Now I have to miss the Olympic games. I wanted to participate. I was looking forward to the Olympics, but the injury won’t let me play. Now I have to rest,” Stephen Curry said in an interview.

The star of the Golden State stretched knee ligament in the first round of eliminations. Then, he missed a few games, and Curry was not completely fit in the final series, lost in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“When I got the injury in the playoffs, I knew that I would need a lot of time to recover and summer will be very important for my next season. In the current situation, I should relax and prepare my body for the new campaign,” Curry added.

We have to say that a lot of the best American players in the NBA will miss the Olympics due to different reasons. For example, LeBron James wants some more resting time, and that’s why he denied to take part in the competition. He has won this tournament on two occasions (in 2008 and 2012), but now he feels tired after the long season in the NBA. The shooting guard James Harden and Russell Westbrook are also going to miss the Olympic games.

At both ends, money talks… A professional sportsman must be proud of representing his country and mustn’t refuse to help his nation. However, the situation with Stephen Curry is quite different, because he had an injury, but the other players, who just refused to take part mustn’t be selected again in the squad, just for edification!

When you have a lot of money and a lot of free time, sometimes you can indulge to a vice. The most common vice among the professional athletes are, of course, alcohol and drugs! Here is a small ranking of players, who have ruined their professional career because of their vices.

Len Bias

The small forward was one of the most talented players of his generation. Bias’ story is an example of how drugs and alcohol can ruin everything in your life. Shortly after signing a contract for more than $3 m. with Boston Celtics, the forward has returned to the campus in the university and several hours later has been found by the police and has been reported that he was not breathing. The reason for his death was cocaine.

Michael Ray Richardson

Richardson had a long career as a player, but the most of his playing time he spent in Europe. Even though he started very well in 1978 as a Knicks’ player, Michael Ray spent only several years in the best league in the world, after failing 3 drug tests in 1986. He was banned from playing in the NBA for life. However, Richardson had the chance to return 2 years later, but failed another 2 tests and moved to Italy.

Chris Washburn

He is another example of how drugs and alcohol can ruin your career. Chris Washburn admitted to the staff members of his team that he had a cocaine problem. So, he recorded only 2 seasons in the NBA. Considered as a very gifted player, before being selected for the Golden State Warriors, the drugs had eventually cost Washburn a successful NBA career.
In conclusion, there are many sad stories of good basketball players, who can’t develop because of different addictions. The 1986 NBA draft is considered as the ‘cursed’ one, because many of the young talents were using cocaine. However, now it looks like the drugs aren’t very modern among the professional basketball players. Instead of this, we can see lots of doping scandals. For sure, the professional sports will never be the same, as there are lot of spent money and the owners of the clubs want immediate results!

The Olympic vice champion from Beijing 2008 and London 2012, Spain began their preparations for the Olympic games Rio 2016. La Furia Roja started with a glorious victory against Angola. The final result was smashing – 85:61 and that was the first friendly match for Spain before the most important international basketball tournament. The match was played at Coliseum in Burgos.

La Furia Roja played against the African team without four of their best players – the brothers Pau and Marc Gasol, Sergio Llull and Sergio Rodriguez. In their absence, Nikola Mirotic and Alex Abrines took the responsibility. They were the most effective players on the pitch, finishing with 19 and 16 points. The veteran baller Felipe Reyes also played well and scored 13 points in just over 14 minutes of playing time.

Joaquim Valdelicio and Santos Hermenegildo bagged 11 points for Angola, while the team leader Carlos Mora could score only 3 points. He was awful, scoring only one of his 9 attempts.

Angola failed to qualify for the Olympic basketball tournament as they were knocked out of the group stage qualification in Belgrade.

On the other hand, Spain managed to qualify for the Olympic games in Rio, after finishing in second position of Group B, in which were also the teams of Argentina, Brazil, Lithuania, Croatia and Nigeria.

It will be very interesting whether Spain will finally reach the golden medals. As you know, the Spaniards have lost the final on 3 occasions (in 1984, 2008 and 2012). La Furia Roja lost all these finals to the USA. But the US team, which is the biggest favourite for retaining the title, is without a very big number of superstars.

In conclusion, we have to say that it won’t be something extraordinary if we see Spain against the USA in the final. But this time Spain seem to have stronger team and it won’t be a surprise if La Furia Roja finally lift the trophy!

Welcome to the world of the basketball giants! You will find out who are the tallest basketball players in the history of the NBA.

When we talk about basketball, we know that one of the main aspects to be among the greatest players is to be very tall! But, these men are so tall, that their opponents can hardly see the basket…

4. In the fourth place there are three NBA players – Pavel Podkolzin, Chuck Nevitt and Sim Bhullar. They all are 2.26 m. tall! So, I am sure they will have difficulties in entering your home via the door!

3. Yao Ming and Shawn Bradley. They are just 3 cm. taller than the previous three players. Who is the tallest Chinese you have ever seen? Yes, this is Yao Ming! He has been the best ever Chinese basketball player. Ming was a part of the Houston Rockets’ team since 2002 until 2011.

2. Slavko Vranes plays as a center. He was picked as №39 from the draft in 2003. The 2.30 m. high basketball player played for Portland Trail Blazers in 2004. Vranes is currently a player of Ayandez Sazan Tehran (Iran).

1. Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan. Here are the tallest players in the history of the NBA! Both are sharing the record (2.31 m. tall).

Bol was a Sudanese. He has played basketball professionally for 12 years (between 1985 and 1996). Manute also played as a center. The Sudanese has played for the teams of Rhode Island, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia, Miami Heat and so on.

Gheorghe Muresan is as tall as Bol, but he is heavier. The Romanian was 145 kg. during his professional career, while Bol has been just 91 kg. which is nothing for his height! However, can you guess what was Muresan’s position? Of course, he was a center!

In conclusion, do you know how tall was the tallest man ever? Robert Wadlow (2.72 m.) was an American born in 1918 and died in 1940. Now, imagine if he was a basketball player!

The Fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder have reacted really badly to the move of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors. They feel Durant is a traitor and obviously hate him now! After the baller announced his decision to leave the Thunder for the Warriors, the fans have started to compete who will burn a shirt with Durant’s name on it. Then, the fans upload their videos in the social media sites.

The star player has announced from a while that he had the intention to become a free agent. That’s why all the clubs in the NBA were interested in signing him. Durant spent 8 very successful seasons at his current team, but he thinks it’s time to move on. He was offered a new contract by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the small forward has rejected it. All the negotiations were held in New York and after the meeting with the representatives of the Golden State Warriors on 1st July 2016, Kevin Durant decided to join one of the strongest teams in the NBA.

“These were the most challenging few weeks in my professional career. I totally understand that I was at a crossroads in my evolution as a player and as a person and that choices are extremely difficult. I didn’t only understand the different emotions that I felt during this process. The main point of my decision is my development as a basketball player and I think I have chosen the right direction. But I also am in a stage of my life, in which it is equally important to develop as a person. I had to leave my “comfort zone” and move to a new city and a new community, which offers the greatest opportunity of my personality growth and development. That made me choose the Golden State Warriors,” Kevin Durant explained his decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The small forward added that he feels very bad, because he has disappointed so many people, but the reactions towards Durant’s decision mustn’t be that cruel.
In conclusion, we have to say that with Durant in their squad, the Golden State Warriors are going to become the super favourites for winning the NBA again. However, the fans can do nothing, but burn their jerseys with Durant’s name on it, and of course upload the clips on Twitter.

Dwyane Wade & Gabrielle Union

Dwyane is one the most famous basketball players. He is currently a free agent, after spending 13 years at Miami Heat. Wade has been an NBA champion on 3 occasions. He is a real basketball star and is dating the actress Gabrielle Union since 2009. However, they split together, because the actress wanted to indulge to her career.

Carmelo & La La Anthony

The 32-year-old basketball player of the New York Knicks is a nine-time participant of the NBA All-Star. He is married to Alani Nicole “La La” Anthony, who is an American radio and television personality. They have a son, named Kiyan, who was born in 2007. They are an example of a successful star couple!

Tiger Woods & Lindsey Vonn

The most famous golf player in the world – Tiger Woods hasn’t hidden his relationship with the skier Lindsey Vonn. However, the controversies with Woods’ personal life are countless. He may think he had found his soul mate in 2013, but two years later the stars split up!

Serge Ibaka & Keri Hilson

Again basketball player is in our rank list. The Congoan Serge Ibaka dates the singer Keri Hilson. He teaches her a new language – the language of love. However, the baller can speak 4 languages and is one of the best in the NBA. So, this couple is deservedly in our rank list!

Wladimir Klitschko & Hayden Panettiere

The Ukrainian professional boxer is one of the strongest men in the world. But, he has also a “weak spot” and her name is Hayden Panettiere. Their love story is very long, as they began dating in 2009, but split up 2 years later. But, they renew their relationship in April 2013. Now, Wladimir and Hayden have a child, named Kaya.

Gerard Pique & Shakira

The Spanish football player Gerard Pique met Shakira in 2010, when he decided to take part in the clip of the song “Waka Waka”, which was the soundtrack of the World Cup 2010. No matter Shakira is 10 years older than her man, love is not interested in age! It’s interesting that the couple is sharing the same birthday! They are very happy together and have two children – Milan and Sasha.

David & Victoria Beckham

One of the most famous football players in the world David Beckham and his beloved wife Victoria, who is a fashion designer, model and singer, have now been married for 17 years. The couple has 4 children and are the brightest example for a happy and successful family.

Nick Young & Iggy Azalea

The romance between the baller Nick Young and the singer Iggy Azalea started in 2013. They were even engaged in 2015, but Azalea broke it up just a year later. Young’s teammate was the reason for the separation of the star couple. The teammate was crazy about her and took a clip, in which Young was talking about other women.

Grigor Dimitrov and Nicole Scherzinger

They have recently started dating. The best Bulgarian tennis player has broken lots of hearts, including Maria Sharapova’s! It looks like the 25-year-old man is not worried about the age difference between him and his new girlfriend – the singer Nicole Scherzinger (38). Will the American singer be the next love victim of the Bulgarian playboy?

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ana Ivanovic

The wedding is very close! However, it was delayed because of Schweini’s participation in the Euro 2016. The relationship between the German international football player and the Serbian tennis player began in 2014. We will see how long they will be together.

Mike Krzyzewski, the head coach of the US team, hasn’t still officially announced the names of the 12 players, who will be part of the American team at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. However, the list is going to be announced very soon, but we already know who will be picked in the squad for the biggest international basketball tournament.

To continue with, you all know that there are lots of big names, who are going to be absent for the competition. Chris Paul, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard are all injured and can’t be included in the squad. Some other key players have decided to take a break after the long season in the NBA. So, Stephen Curry has decided to refuse the invitation for the national team. The other players, who are going to miss the Olympics are LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Andre Iguodala and Kawhi Leonard.

So, we can say that maybe the best US players are going to watch the games from their couches. But, there are lots of very good basketball players, who can replace them. They should be glad with the opportunity to play for the most successful nation at the Summer Olympics.

Taking a look back in the history, we can see that the US team has won the basketball tournament on 14 occasions (of 18). They have also recorded a silver medal and two bronze medals. So, the pressure is on for the American players.

Here is the squad: Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls), DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors), Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors).

We can see that the called players are also good enough, but the question is: “Can they win the title again?”. After Kobe Bryant retired from professional basketball, the American head coach tried to bring him back in the national team for one last tournament, but the star refused to take part in the Olympics. However, we are looking forward to seeing what is going to happen in Rio!

To begin with, a very big number of bookies accept PayPal as a payment method. But why the users prefer using PayPal, rather than choosing another tool? There are two main advantages of the usage of PayPal – it is quick and safe!

Furthermore, customers feel that PayPal is really easy to use. So, let’s see betting with PayPal explained. It’s not accidental why almost all the bettors have opened an account at PayPal.

The process of funding your PayPal account is an easy task. Firstly, you will have to create your account and then you can deposit from your credit/debit card. The only thing you need to do is to follow the simple instructions on the site.

Then, you can log into your account on the online bookmaker’s platform and transfer the desired amount. You have to choose PayPal as a desired deposit method. Your money is going to feed your account immediately! But, there is one more question – “Why not doing it directly via my credit or debit card?”. The answer is very simple – it is safer for you to use PayPal, because the bookmaker doesn’t receive the information for your credit or debit card!

What is the most important thing for you when depositing money in online bookies? You must feel sure nobody is going to embezzle with your money. Then, you need your money in your account and you need it now, because you want to bet it immediately! If you feel that this is the most important when you are betting online, then you must use PayPal as a deposit method!

And exactly because PayPal is an online tool, this means that when you try to withdraw your money, it will be funded immediately in your PayPal account. After you receive your money in your PayPal account, then you can withdraw it to your credit or debit card. It’s easy as it sounds!

Almost all of the online bookmakers offer depositing via PayPal. So, you won’t regret if you open an account there. But, just in case, check the terms and conditions on the site of the bookie.

When you do these simple steps. You will have your account on the bookmaker’s site funded and will surely enjoy the tons of sports betting markets. For example, you can take advantage of the different handicap options on basketball, which are offered by the bookmakers. And if you are lucky you can win a lot of money!

In conclusion, we have to say that PayPal is a very useful tool. It provides you the needed security, when it is up to deposit your account in the online bookmaker. All the transactions are also fast enough. You can also see the history of all the money transfers. So, do not hesitate and open your account at PayPal – you won’t regret!

The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA title for the first time in their history! The team from Ohio triumphed after a very dramatic win in the decisive seventh game of the final series against the last year’s champions Golden State Warriors. The final score of the match was 93-89. LeBron James fulfilled his longtime dream, becoming a champion with the Cavaliers. He made a triple-double with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, and deservedly was chosen for the MVP of the finals.

Cleveland became the first team, which managed to turn the final series after being down with 3 victories to one. Tyrone Lue’s team showed an incredible performance and took a deserved revenge against Golden State for the loss in the last year’s edition of the final.

Stephen Curry scored only 17 points and Klay Thompson added 14, but it wasn’t enough for their team to lift the trophy. The match was superb for Draymond Green, who recorded 32 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists.

Both teams made a lot of mistakes, because of the big pressure, but the game was unpredictable and interesting until the very last seconds, when Kyrie Irving scored a three-pointer for Cleveland. The Warriors failed to respond accurately and the trophy went to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Golden State Warriors set several records during the season and proved they are a really good team, but LeBron James & co. showed a great spirit and deservedly won the trophy. LeBron was the key player for Cleveland and he was the reason for Cavs’ participation in the seventh game of the final series, because he scored 40 points in the previous 2 games between these two teams.

It’s interesting that The Cavs missed their first eight attempts for 3 points, while Draymond Green of Golden State scored 5 consecutive three-pointers. The score at the half time was 49-42 in favour of The Warriors, but they failed to retain the initiative after the break and the difference was “melted” very quickly.

Maybe the best player of Cleveland in the final game was Kyrie Irving, who scored several vital points after the break and secured his team a lead of 6 points, which was crucial in the game.

In conclusion, after The Golden State Warriors led by 3 victories to 1 no one has expected that The Cleveland Cavaliers can turn things around. But, LeBron James, the MVP of the playoffs, led his team to the 7^th final match with his magnificent performance and eventually deservedly lifted the trophy. For sure, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and co. will be very disappointed, but they had a great season and should be even more motivated for the next campaign.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are still in the title race in the NBA. It happened after the team won the 5th game of the final series against the Golden State Warriors in the Oracle Arena. The final score was 112 – 97 (29:32, 32:29, 32:23, 19:13) in Cleveland’s favour and now the aggregate score after 5 matches is 2 – 3 victories for the Golden State Warriors. Major contribution to the success of the guests had the two stars of the team – LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. They were the most effective players on the field, and finished with 41 points. LeBron James also made 16 rebounds.

“We had just the intention to come here and just extend our period and have another opportunity to fight for another day. That was our main concern, and we were able to do that,” LeBron James said after the game.

At the beginning of the match, none of the teams could take the lead with more than 3 points. The Golden State Warriors won the first quarter with the score of 32 – 29, then the Cleveland Cavaliers took the second part, which finished with the same score. So, after the first two quarters the score was 61 – 61.

After the break, however, The Cleveland Cavaliers were the better team and methodically increasing their lead. They eventually deservedly reached the victory in the game, winning the third and the fourth quarters by a big difference (32 – 23 in the third quarter and 19 – 13 in the fourth).

Klay Thompson was the best player for the defending champions. He finished the game with 37 points. The star of the Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry, this time, failed to lead his team to the success and scored 25 points, which is far below his best performances. Draymond Green didn’t take part in the game, but he will be among the starting 5 for the next match of the final series.

Now, The Cavaliers have the chance to equalize the aggregate result if they win the sixth match of the final series, which will be held in Cleveland. Can they take advantage of their own arena? But, if the Golden State Warriors win the next game, it will be all over and they will retain their title. For sure, it is going to be a great match, so don’t miss it!

The Golden State Warriors have shown their total superiority in the NBA, lubricating with the categorical score of 110-77 the team of the Cleveland Cavaliers at home in the second match of the final series in the league. The champions from the last season, led by 2-0 victories in the playoffs (the first to record 4 wins takes the title).

Draymond Green showed an incredible performance. He scored 28 points for the hosts, while his teammate and Warriors’ superstar Stephen Curry finished with 18. Klay Thompson showed he is also in good shape, scoring 17 points for the Golden State Warriors. Even though, the Cavaliers took the lead early in the game, the Warriors made a fast turnaround and took the initiative. The champions simply outplayed their opponents. They won the match after having an advantage in every single aspect of the game. Moreover, they have now boosted their confidence and will hardly miss the opportunity to retain their NBA title.

At the end of the second period the Warriors led by eight points and after the break they easily maintained their advance in the score against the Cavaliers. In the third part of the game, the visitors lost Kevin Love, who was hit and now is doubtful for the next match of the series. Of course, the top scorer for the Cleveland Cavaliers was their star – LeBron James, who managed to score 19 points.

The difference of 33 points in favour of the Golden State Warriors after the final siren is the most expressive victory during the final series in the league.

The Warriors had a total of 87 victories in the championship, 73 of which they achieved during the regular season. So, they equalled the Chicago Bulls’ record from 1995/ 1996 season.

The third meeting between these two teams is scheduled for 9th June and will be held in Cleveland. In 28 of the last 31 times a team had recorded a 2-0 lead after the first two matches in the final series, the winner of the first two matches takes the title. So, if the Cleveland Cavaliers are about to win the NBA title, they will have to show a really impressive performance.

However, if LeBron James shows his best in the last games of the series, the Cavaliers have the possibility to level the score at home and then no one knows what’s going to happen…

The result of the second match of the final series in the National Basketball Association (NBA): Golden State Warriors – Cleveland Cavaliers 110: 77

* Golden State lead by 2-0 victories in the series to four wins.

The NBA champions – Golden State Warriors are still in the finals after a great victory (120-111) in the fifth match against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now Thunder are leading by 3 wins to 2, after Golden State managed to narrow the gap in the finals of the Western Conference.

Stephen Curry scored 31 points in the match at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, while Klay Thompson finished with 27. Three other Golden State Warriors’ players recorded a double-digit point performance to keep the dream for a new qualification to the finals alive for at least one other game, which will be played in the hall of Thunder.

The excitement for the hosts was outstanding, as indicative of this was that Stephen Curry screamed after the match: “We are not going home, not going home!”

“I just did my job. We won at home, and that was what we should do. We knew we would either win or be eliminated. What other motivation you need,” added Curry after the final siren.

“I thought Steph Curry looked like 91 percent. He came out and played a really good game. That’s all I can tell you. He’s going to compete every night. He had an excellent night and helped us get it done. I liked our will, I liked our fight!” the head coach Steve Kerr said.

Andrew Bogut scored 15 points and recorded 14 rebounds, but Marreese Speights was the best opted reserve for the Golden State Warriors. He finished with 14 points, while Draymond Green showed a good performance, scoring 11 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. But, Green got his fifth technical foul in the match. If he makes 2 more fouls and if the Warriors continue forward, he will be suspended for one game.

Kevin Durant was the best player for Oklahoma City Thunder. He scored 40 points for the guests. Durant knows that the task will be very difficult. “We know we’re going home. We can’t relax,” Kevin Durant said after the game. Russell Westbrook was the second-best scorer with 31 points, but both shot under 50 percent from the field. Serge Ibaka had also a good record – 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, while Anthony Morrow scored 10 points in just about seven minutes of play.

The 6th decisive match will be held in Oklahoma City on Saturday. If Golden State Warriors win the match, there will be another match between these two teams.

Golden State and Cleveland will compete for the trophy in a repeat of last year’s NBA Finals. The Warriors will attempt to defend their title, while the Cavaliers will try to stop them and get the first trophy in the club history. Is there anyone who takes advantage in the whole situation? Yes! Anderson Varejao is the happiest person.

The Brazilian centre was in Cleveland’s squad in the beginning of the season, just as in the previous eleven seasons, before he left for Portland in February, where, however, quickly dropping left to sign with the Golden State Warriors.

The 33-year-old basketball player is already in the NBA’s history, because so far no other player has not been a part of the two finalists in just one season. The veteran has recorded a total of 53 games during the regular season 2015/2016 – 31 for the Cavaliers and 22 for Golden State.

Logically, the Brazilian player should acquire a championship ring no matter who will be the winner in the finals. If the Warriors win, he will be guaranteed that there will be a prize, and if the victory is for Cleveland, the decision whether Varejao will receive the ring will be in the hands of his former team, because the clubs are taking the decisions who to be honoured with a championship ring. So, the decision will be taken by Dan Gilbert, who personally sold Varejao…

However, Varejao, as a real professional, hopes his ring will come with The Warriors. He is a very experienced player and knows how to win trophies. “Right now my focus is on this series. We’re trying to win this. Everything is part of the business, as far as what happened to me and now I’m here. I’m a Warrior. That’s what I want to focus on now,” the Brazilian player said in an interview for cleveland.com.

At both ends, Anderson Varejao was a key part of the last two Cavaliers’ real challenges for the title – in 2007 and 2015 and he has remained loyal to the team for more than a decade, so from this point of view he is very likely to be awarded with the championship ring no matter who wins the trophy. But we will see what Dan Gilbert will decide (in case of Cleveland’s victory in the finals). Just remember that this man was the reason Anderson Varejao left the club and believe me the Brazilian didn’t want to do it.

CSKA (Moscow) won their seventh title in the Euroleague. The Reds recorded a victory against Fenerbahce (Istanbul) 101-96 after a drama in the final match, which was played in “Mercedes-Benz Arena” in Berlin.

Nando de Coló was the top scorer for the new champions. He scored 22 points, while Milos Teodosic and Kyle Hines added respectively 19 and 15 points. Cory Higgins finished with 12 points.

Bobby Dixon was the best for the Turkish team. He scored 17 points for “Fener”. Pero Antic and Luigi Datome added 16 points and Ekpe Udoh recorded a double-double – 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams came into hard battle for every centimetre of the pitch from the first whistle, as the strengths were very equal. In the middle of the first part of CSKA Moscow took the lead – 15-11 after three-pointer, scored by Teodosic. After near 3 minutes Datome equalized. 22 seconds before the end Victor Khryapa scored for 22-20 in Reds’ favour.

At the beginning of the second half Fenerbahce pressed their opponent in an attempt to get closer to their opponent, but their efforts did not bring the desired result and then CSKA still leaded with a solid advance – 53:36.

Just 6:37 minutes before the end, the match was interrupted after nerves spread to the stands. A supporter of the Russian grand sitting in the first row in “Mercedes-Benz Arena”, tried to hit a basketball player of Fenerbahce, which almost led to riots in the hall.

The emotions in the stands were under control for the next few minutes, and after the resumption of play CSKA Moscow managed to hold their opponents before the start of the decisive ten minutes. The Reds were ahead by 16 points – 69-53.

Zeljko Obradovic’s players definitely went better in the decisive final quarter, with 5:40 minutes to go, the difference in the result was melted to eight points – 66-74. Besides all this, the problems of Russians continued to pile up – Andrey Vorontsevich left the game for five fouls, while Teodosic and de Colo were with four fouls. Fenerbahce continued to press their opponent and it seemed possible they could turn things around, after Udah, Datome and Dixon almost equalized to 76-79, with 3:25 minutes remaining.

Then, Fenerbahce lead for the first time after two points, scored by Sloukas – 83:81, but in the last second Khryapa put CSKA level again – 83-83.

The Turkish team led again by three points at the start of the extra five minutes after Sloukas’ three-pointer, but de Colo and Higgins scored on several occasions and made the result 95-90 for the Russian grand. Then the Russians demonstrated an excellent game in defence.

In the remaining time the symbolic guests from Russia demonstrated extremely strong nerves and despite the incredible shooting of Datome and Dixon from the trio of Fenerbahce, Euroleague title in season 2015/16 was lifted by CSKA Moscow’s players – 101-96.

Oklahoma City Thunder defeated San Antonio Spurs in the semi-finals of the Western Conference, sending Spurs into an early vacation. Thunder have reached the finals of the conference for the fourth time in the last six years. The big dilemma on Thursday night, however, was other. It was all about Tim Duncan. Was that the end of a brilliant career? Is one of the best wings in the NBA history, leaving the professional basketball?

40-year-old Tim Duncan played on his usual level. He showed great performance, but couldn’t help his team reach the victory. However, that was Duncan’s best performance this season, but this time he could not save Spurs, although he had done it hundreds of times in the past two decades.

34 minutes, 19 points, 5 rebounds and shooting of 7/14 for 2 points and 5/6 from the free-throw line. That was the stats for the legend with shirt №21 in №6 game of the playoff series against Oklahoma City. Whether it was the last page of the great story of the boy who turned to basketball because of a hurricane destroyed his dreams of Olympic medals in swimming? Tim, himself, refused to speak on this topic. He told the assembled media crowd that he will speak later about his further career. The only thing he said was: “I would get to that after I get out of here and figure out life…”

His contract with Spurs is about to expire, but it includes a clause for extension for another year. Tim Duncan is now 40, but Gregg Popovich guaranteed would have accepted with open arms if Duncan says “yes” and postpone his retirement from the professional basketball for another season.

“I really don’t know what he (Tim Duncan) is going to do. But when he decides to move on, sometime between now and the next five years – that’s a little bit of a joke – it will feel a little differently walking into the gym,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said on Friday, just a day after San Antonio’s defeat in the playoffs to Oklahoma City.

What remains for all who love basketball? Wait and meanwhile enjoy the last, at least at this stage, Duncan’s match for San Antonio Spurs.

However, the winners – Oklahoma City Thunder will have the difficult task to play against the Golden State Warriors in The Western Conference finals. Can Thunder surprise everyone and win against the champions?

Oklahoma City Thunder recorded a valuable away victory (98 – 97) against the San Antonio Spurs in the second game of the semi-final playoff series between these two teams in the Western Conference of the NBA. So, Thunder now equalized the number of victories (1 – 1) and they will have the advantage of their home field in the next two matches.

The two big stars of Oklahoma City Thunder – Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant showed a world class performance. Westbrook scored 29 points, while Durant finished with 28 points. Westbrook added 10 assists, and 7 rebounds. Steven Adams, who plays as a centre, was also at his usual level. He finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds.

LaMarcus Aldridge was again above all, for Spurs, scoring 41 points, just 3 more than he scored in the first match between the two teams. Kawhi Leonard added 14 points and 7 rebounds. So after two matches in San Antonio, the next two matches will be held in Oklahoma.

In the other match, which was played earlier this morning, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the hosts Atlanta Hawks 104 – 93. So The Cavaliers are now 2-0 wins ahead in the aggregate score. LeBron James was the best for the winners. He recorded 25 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, while Kyrie Irving added 21 points and 8 assists. The reserve player Dennis Schroder was the top scorer for the visitors, finishing with 27 points while Paul Millsap only scored 17 points.

The last year’s champions Golden State Warriors won 110 – 99 against the visiting team of Portland and led 2 – 0 victories on aggregate in the semifinal series of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association.

The champions struggled very seriously, being behind by 28 – 45 after 16 minutes. They were also 11 points down (76 – 87) just before the last quarter. But the Golden State Warriors equalized 6:44 minutes before the final siren, then they scored 10 points in a row and proved they are better.

Despite the absence of Stephen Curry, who is injured, Klay Thompson showed he is in great shape and scored 27 points for The Warriors. Draymond Green finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists. Damian Lillard finished with 25 points for the visiting team, while CJ McCollum added 22.

In the last match Miami won dramatically by 102 – 96 against Toronto in the first game of the semifinal series in the East Conference. The regular time ended with a draw (90 – 90), after the visitors squandered an advance of 79 – 69 in the last 6:31 minutes of the game and let Kyle Lowry equalize for Canadians.

At the extra time, however, Miami made a great start, scoring eight straight points and that decided the match. Goran Dragic finished with 26 points and 6 rebounds for the visitors, while Dwyane Wade added 24 points and 6 rebounds. Jonas Valaciunas was Toronto’s leader and managed to score 24 points. DeMar DeRozan was also effective, scoring 22 points.

Golden State qualified for the second round of the playoffs in the Western Conference of the National Basketball League of Canada and the USA (NBA), after the champions won 114 – 81 against the Houston Rockets (despite the absence of their biggest star Steph Curry). The Warriors won the series, after winning the fifth game. Their next opponent will be the winner of the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland.

Klay Thompson finished with 27 points, scoring a three-pointer on 7 occasions, while Draymond Green added 15 points and recorded nine rebounds and eight assists. James Harden scored 35 points for the team of Houston, 25 of which came in the first half, in which the result was 59-37 in Warriors’ favour.

Without Curry among the starting 5, The Warriors relied mostly on the second best member of the squad – Thompson. He showed a great performance and set a new NBA record for long-distant shooting. He is now the only player to score 7 threes in two consecutive NBA matches.

Surprisingly, Portland became the favourites for reaching a match against Golden State. The Blazers defeated 108 – 98 Los Angeles Clippers and led by a victory before the decisive sixth game in the series. Christian McCollum scored 27 points. Damian Lillard finished with 22, 16 of which he scored in the last quarter of the game. Exactly, his brilliant performance gave this big chance to his team.

The fans in Miami also saw a surprising result. Charlotte beat 90 – 88 the hosts in the 5th game between these two teams. So, The Hornets have now a big chance to qualify for the next stage. Courtney Lee scored three points just 25.2 seconds before the siren, which was enough for his team to record the third consecutive victory in the series against the favourites from Miami.

National Basketball League of Canada and the USA (NBA) playoffs:

Miami Heat – Charlotte Hornets 88 – 90
• Charlotte lead by 3 – 2 victories in the series after 3 consecutive wins over their opponents.

Golden State – Houston 114 – 81
• Golden State are through after they won the series with 4 victories to 1. Steph Curry is out for two weeks.

Los Angeles Clippers – Portland Trail Blazers 98 – 108
• Portland lead by 3 – 2 wins in the series.

Kobe Bryant played his last professional basketball game. The guard showed a great performance and helped his team – Los Angeles Lakers win against Utah 101-96. The 37-year-old legend scored 60 points! The veteran stayed on the court for 42 minutes in “Staples Center”. He looked as motivated as in his debut in The NBA.

The instructions of the head coach Byron Scott were very simple – ‘Pass the ball to Kobe!’ However, this season was the worst in LA’s history (17 victories and 65 defeats), but the fans could be glad with the performance in the very last match of the season.

So, Kobe Bryant can remember his last match in The NBA with the impressive number of 60 points for just 42 minutes. On the floor were depicted the two numbers that Kobe was wearing for the Lakers (№8 and №24). He scored 16/29 shootings for 2 points, 6/21 for three points and 10/12 from the line. Kobe also made 4 assists and 4 rebounds.

Another club legend in the face of Magic Johnson gave a speech devoted to Bryant before the game, calling him the biggest and greatest celebrity of LA in the last 20 years, and then added that Kobe was the greatest player, to wear the Lakers’ shirt. For 20 seasons at the City of the Angels, the guard from Philadelphia won five NBA titles, and in two cases was the MVP of the finals. He was once voted for the MVP of the regular season, 18 times was selected to participate in the All-Star Game. Kobe Bryant became the top scorer of the league twice, and he is also the leader in a number of statistical charts of the team.

That match was the first with 50 or more points for the legend since February 2009 onwards, and the Lakers were able to win the match, after being down by 15 points. Kobe Bryant scored 23 out of his 60 points in the fourth quarter of the game, but the beginning was not the best for him, after the first 12 minutes he failed to score any of the five shoots.

№24 scored a three-pointer 59 seconds before the final siren, and then repeated the exercise 31 seconds before the end, giving his favourite team a lead of 97-96. The end finally came with an assist, and 4.1 seconds before the final siren Kobe went out of the game, this time forever.

Stephen Curry scored 27 points and made 9 assists in the Golden State Warriors’ victory against San Antonio Spurs 112-101 to become only the second team in history to achieve 70 wins in a single season. So far only Michael Jordan and the legendary team of Chicago Bulls had recorded a similar achievement – 72 wins in season 1995/1996.

The best Warriors’ player Curry was even more motivated after the match. “We wanted to take care of tonight and clinch home court for the playoffs, was a goal of ours. With three games left and 73 still there, it’s obviously a lot to play for,” the guard said.

The champions continued to put on display great performance and they will try to equalize the Bulls’ balance of 72 victories and 10 defeats. The Warriors must win their last three games of the season – the trips to Memphis and San Antonio and the home match against Memphis, in order set a new record. The other teams, which were a step away from the record of “70” were the Los Angeles Lakers (1971/1972 – 69-13), and again the Chicago Bulls (1996/1997 – 69-13).

This success provided the Golden State an advantage in the playoffs, while the Spurs recorded their thirteenth loss of the season and now have a total of 65-13 against 70-9 for the Warriors.

The hosts recorded an easy victory. They had an advance of 20 points on several occasions during the match several times during the meeting exceeded their lead to 20 points. The Warriors made 33 assists for their 45 baskets of the game, scoring 12 threes from 25 attempts.

Harrison Barnes finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds for the Golden State Warriors, while Draymond Green scored 18 points and made 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal, although making three fouls during the first half. Klay Thompson finished with 14 points (5 of 13 shooting).

Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points for the Spurs. LaMarcus Aldridge and David West added 11 points as West impressed with 7 assists. Tony Parker and Kevin Martin scored 10 points each.

“We’ve been putting it off for as long as we were able to, which was until we got the 1-seed. Now that we have that, I’m inclined to give some guys some rest if they need it, but I’ve sort of made a pact with the guys that if they are not banged up and they are not tired and if they want to go for this record or whatever then — so we got to talk,” the Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr said in an interview.

At both ends, Golden State Warriors have never been so close to make such record. They must achieve 3 victories in their last 3 games of the regular season.

Worthing Thunder showed a great performance and beat Leicester Warriors 85-75 at the Worthing Leisure Center. The 10-point-difference victory was the perfect way for The Thunders finish the season in the National Basketball League.

Even though Worthing beat Leicester, Thunder finished one place below the Warriors, in tenth place both with a record of 10-16. The only thing separating these two teams in the standings was the Warriors victory over Worthing Thunder in January (100-81) and thank to the larger margin Leicester left in a higher position.

The victory was third in a row for Worthing Thunder, and despite missing out on the ninth, the coach Daniel Hildreth should be happy that his team finished the season in style, with the best possible performance.

“Winning three games in a row and winning four of our last five matches with that loss to Lancashire only being by two points is a testament to the guys, who despite not qualifying for the Playoffs, never gave up and wanted to make an impression until the very last game until the end of the season and not fade away. Tonight was fantastic showing and a great way to end the season. Credit to Leicester Warriors who were really short-handed but we really wanted to finish the season on a high and we did that,” Daniel Hildreth said after the match, with a smile on his face.

James Cambronne of Thunder was the best on the court and finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds, supported by 15 points, scored by Josh Brown and 12 by Tom Ward.
Leon Henry showed a great performance for Leicester, finishing with 22 points, off the bench.

Thunder were so motivated, that with just under six minutes of the quarter played, a slam by Ward handed Worthing their first solid lead of the game at 20-10.
Leicester Warriors then held the hosts to just three points in the last four minutes of the first period, but a three-pointer from James Cambronne ensured a comfortable lead for Worthing of 23-14.

Exactly because of Leon Henry and Theo Rothstein, Leicester Warriors managed to narrow the gap to single digits on several occasions in the second period, but they were unable to hold the enthusiastic Thunder’s players. However, Worthing controlled the game and the crucial moment was when Louis Allen scored a three-pointer, making the difference of 34-20. At the half time, the host maintained their lead to 43-30.

After the break, Worthing Thunder had a lead of 68-48, which grew to 70-48 in the very first minutes of the 4th quarter, thanks to a Tomas Sedukis’ slam.

At both ends, Leicester didn’t give up until the final siren and made the match more interesting, but the time until the end wasn’t enough for something more than melting hosts’ lead to 10 points.

The new star of Los Ange