- Sexual assault trial of French actor Depardieu suspended until March
- North Korea has sent 10,000 troops to train in Russia: Pentagon
- Palmer says Chelsea's youth creates its own pressures
- Harris, Trump and two contrasting 'first families'
- Real Madrid boycott Ballon d'Or over perceived Vinicius snub: club
- Suit filed in Pennsylvania to halt Musk's $1 mn giveaways
- Mowed down by cars, European hedgehog numbers shrinking
- One in three tree species at risk of extinction: report
- Five candidates to replace Ten Hag at Man Utd
- UN chief says Sudan is enduring 'nightmare' of hunger, violence, illness
- Trump, Harris enter final week of tense US election
- Ferdinand says sacked Ten Hag like a 'boxer knocked down'
- Chad hunts attackers after 40 killed in Boko Haram raid
- Oil prices tumble, global stocks rise as Iran fears ease
- Verstappen controversy, Hamilton happy - Mexico Grand Prix talking points
- Boeing announces stock offering expected to raise up to $19 billion
- UK far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson jailed for 18 months
- Sexual assault trial of French screen legend Depardieu opens without him
- X suspends new account posting on behalf of Iran leader Khamenei
- Lithuania's centre left starts coalition talks after election win
- Manchester United sack manager Ten Hag
- Michelin-starred Thai street food cook hints at retirement
- Crisis-hit VW mulls closing at least three German plants
- Middle East aid workers say rules of war being flouted
- Taijul vows Bangladesh to bounce back in second South Africa Test
- Ship with suspected toxic waste returns to Albania
- Saka regrets Arsenal not showing 'our best selves' against Liverpool
- Global stocks diverge, oil prices tumble as Iran fears ease
- Afghanistan morality ministry spreads 'living things' images ban
- Spanish PM in India seeking to bolster trade ties
- Israel presses Gaza and Lebanon assaults as Egypt touts truce plan
- Carbon cuts 'miles short' of 2030 goal: UN
- Crisis-hit VW eyeing plant closures, deep pay cuts: report
- What next after Japanese election
- Trump, Harris lean on traditional bases eight days before US vote
- Still no snow on Japan's Mount Fuji, breaking record
- Philips lowers sales outlook on drop in China orders
- French screen legend Depardieu asks for delay to sexual assault trial
- Paris show spotlights Afghan women who 'lost hope'
- Climate change-worsened floods wreak havoc in Africa
- French screen legend Depardieu faces sexual assault trial
- Japan PM vows to stay on despite election debacle
- Record number of women win seats in Japan election
- Vinicius favourite for Ballon d'Or in post-Messi/Ronaldo era
- Milan and Inter back on long road towards a new San Siro
- Oil prices tumble as Iran fears ease, yen weakens after Japan polls
- Olympus CEO resigns over alleged illegal drugs purchase
- After disastrous election, what happens to Japan's new PM?
- Bangladesh immunity order sparks fears of justice denied
- North Korea says probe 'proved' Seoul to blame for drones
Celtics clinch NBA playoff home edge by silencing Thunder
The Boston Celtics clinched the NBA's best record this season and a home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs on Wednesday with a 135-100 blowout over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Jayson Tatum added 24 points and Jaylen Brown contributed 23 points for the Celtics, who improved to an Eastern Conference-best 60-16.
With Minnesota and Denver next best and sharing the Western Conference lead at 53-33 and only six games remaining for Boston, the Celtics are assured of having the most home games in any playoff series they have as they chase an NBA-record 18th all-time league crown.
"You learn to appreciate the process," Tatum said. "All the while we want to hang a (championship) banner. We can't skip steps. Winning 60-plus games and clinching the best record in the league, it's a big deal.
"But you're going to have to win some games on the road regardless in the playoffs to do what you want to do."
The Celtics, who last won the NBA Finals in 2008, were back home after a 4-2 road trip. They blew open the contest by outscoring Oklahoma City 42-17 in the fourth quarter.
"Feels great," Tatum said. "We had a long road trip, 13 days. It was definitely good to come back here, be around our fans and get a win.
"We really just picked up our intensity. That first game back after a long road trip can be kind of tough. We ended up finding our energy. It really showed in that second half. We started getting stops, playing faster, knocking down shots."
Minnesota grabbed a share of the Western Conference lead alongside defending champion Denver with a 133-85 rout of visiting Toronto, stretching the Raptors' losing streak to 15 games.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 28 points while Naz Reid added 23 points and Rudy Gobert had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the hosts.
At 53-23, the T-Wolves were level with the Nuggets and a game ahead of Oklahoma City.
Injury-hit Milwaukee played without Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and Patrick Beverley and lost to visiting Memphis 111-101.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 35 points to lead the Grizzlies while GG Jackson had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis.
Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 25 points and 10 rebounds while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Lillard was out with a groin strain while Middleton has a left ankle injury and Beverley had a right ankle sprain.
- Lakers beat the Wizards -
Anthony Davis scored 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds while LeBron James added 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 125-120 victory at Washington.
The Lakers, 44-33, are ninth in the West, two games ahead of Golden State in the penultimate play-in position.
Jalen Johnson posted his first career triple double with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to spark the Atlanta Hawks over visiting Detroit 121-113 despite reserve Malachi Flynn scoring 50 points for the NBA-worst Pistons.
Flynn was one point shy of the NBA record for points off the bench in a game, the 51 by Jamal Crawford in 2019. Nick Anderson also scored 50 in a reserve role in 1993.
De'Andre Hunter had 26 points while Dejounte Murray added 24 for the Hawks, who joined Chicago in clinching an East play-in berth and eliminated Brooklyn from playoff contention.
At New Orleans, Orlando's Paolo Banchero scored 32 points and Franz Wagner added 24 to lead the Magic over the host Pelicans 117-108. CJ McCollum had 36 points in a losing cause.
Cam Thomas scored 27 points and rookie Noah Clowney had a season-high 22 off the bench to ignite Brooklyn's 115-111 home victory over Indiana.
Bahamian center Deandre Ayton scored 24 points and pulled down 16 rebounds to lead the Portland Trail Blazers over host Charlotte 89-86.
Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford said he will step down after the season, adding, "This is the appropriate time. I believe this is best for me and the organization."
D.Kaufman--AMWN