- Volkswagen to sell operations in China's Xinjiang
- FA probes referee David Coote over betting claim
- Serbia gripped by TV series about murder of prime minister
- Putin seeks to shore up ties on visit to 'friendly' Kazakhstan
- Plastic pollution talks must speed up, chair warns
- Pakistan web controls quash dissent and potential
- 1,000 Pakistan protesters arrested in pro-Khan capital march
- ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Myanmar junta chief
- Philippine VP's bodyguards swapped out amid investigation
- EasyJet annual profit rises 40% on package holidays
- Ukraine sees influx of Western war tourists
- Greeks finally get Thessaloniki metro after two-decade wait
- New EU commission to get all clear with big push on defence and economy
- Australia takes step to ban under 16s from social media
- Volkswagen says to sell operations in China's Xinjiang
- Japan prosecutor bows in apology to former death row inmate
- Thailand to return nearly 1,000 trafficked lemurs, tortoises to Madagascar
- Namibia votes with ruling party facing its toughest race yet
- Indian protest wrestler given four-year ban for avoiding dope test
- UK parliament to debate assisted dying law
- Ireland has a cultural moment, from rock and books to cinema
- South Korean capital hit by record November snowfall: weather agency
- Sinn Fein hope election will propel it to power in Ireland
- Ceasefire takes hold in Israel-Hezbollah war
- Chinese island plastic pollution turned into artistic omens
- Anti-mine treaty signatories slam US decision to send landmines to Ukraine
- Vietnamese EV maker Vinfast reports $550 million Q3 loss
- Hello Kitty owner plunges 17% on sharesale plan
- Giannis-less Bucks edge Heat, Rockets advance in NBA Cup
- Environmentalists slam lobbyist influence on plastic talks
- Global security hotspots awaiting Trump in 2025
- Eddie Jones tells Japan to keep faith after heavy defeats
- Five forgotten conflicts of 2024
- Adani Group says it lost nearly $55 bn as US charges sparked rout
- Bumper election year brings headwinds for liberal democracies
- New Zealand pace bowler Smith to make debut in first England Test
- Protesters for jailed ex-PM Khan cleared from Pakistan capital's centre
- 'Very, very slow': plastic treaty talks grind forward
- Australian cop guilty of manslaughter after tasering 95-year-old
- Trump names trade envoy, top economic advisor to fill policy team
- China expected to hit peak coal consumption in 2025: report
- What to expect from the new EU top team's first 100 days
- New EU commission to get all clear as daunting task awaits
- German family winery taps into zero-alcohol trend
- World leaders react to Lebanon war ceasefire
- Paddington: the affable bear who became a lucrative business
- Hand-built fantasy tower brings value to Tokyo, creator says
- Asian markets mixed as traders eye fresh trade tensions
- Ceasefire begins in Israel-Hezbollah war
- Banned Ryan Garcia eyes New Year's Eve exhibition in Japan
RBGPF | 100% | 60.1 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.65% | 24.57 | $ | |
SCS | -1.33% | 13.54 | $ | |
NGG | -0.68% | 62.83 | $ | |
AZN | -0.06% | 66.36 | $ | |
RIO | -1.53% | 62.03 | $ | |
GSK | -0.38% | 34.02 | $ | |
BTI | 1.01% | 37.71 | $ | |
RELX | 0.51% | 46.81 | $ | |
BCC | -2.76% | 148.41 | $ | |
BCE | -1.46% | 26.63 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.29% | 6.78 | $ | |
VOD | -0.56% | 8.86 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.61% | 24.43 | $ | |
JRI | -0.98% | 13.24 | $ | |
BP | -1.24% | 28.96 | $ |
Booker stars as Suns beat Heat to seal NBA playoff berth
Devin Booker returned from a four-game absence to power Phoenix over Miami 111-90 on Wednesday in a matchup of conference leaders, clinching an NBA playoff berth for the Suns.
Booker, back after being sidelined by Covid-19 protocols, scored a game-high 23 points, passed off nine assists, pulled down eight rebounds, made two steals and blocked two shots for the visitors, who improved to a league-best 53-13.
"I'm just trying to find my rhythm," Booker said. "I had a week off. I felt good. I was ready to get back at it."
The triumph was important to the Suns, who lost 123-100 to Miami at Phoenix on January 8.
"They came to our home court and kicked our ass so we wanted to make a statement here," Booker said.
Mikal Bridges added 21 points for Phoenix while Bahamas big man Deandre Ayton contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. Duncan Robinson led Miami with 22 points.
The Suns stretched their lead in the Western Conference to 8.5 games over Memphis by dispatching the top club in the Eastern Conference, the Heat falling to 44-23.
Phoenix, which lost last year's NBA Finals to Milwaukee, improved to 22-0 this season when keeping an opponent under 100 points and became the first team to secure a post-season berth.
"The playoffs are upon us," Booker said. "We're looking forward to it. We don't want to fall short again."
A.S.Diogo--PC