- Pope calls for 'arms to be silenced' in Christmas appeal
- Syria authorities say torched 1 million captagon pills
- Pope calls for 'arms to be silenced' across world
- 32 survivors as Azerbaijani jet crashes in Kazakhstan
- Pakistan air strikes kill 46 in Afghanistan, Kabul says
- Liverpool host Foxes, Arsenal prepare for life without Saka
- Japan FM raises 'serious concerns' over China military buildup
- Pope's sombre message in Christmas under shadow of war
- Zelensky condemns Russian 'inhumane' Christmas attack on energy grid
- Sweeping Vietnam internet law comes into force
- Pope kicks off Christmas under shadow of war
- Catholics hold muted Christmas mass in Indonesia's Sharia stronghold
- Japan's top diplomat in China to address 'challenges'
- Thousands attend Christmas charity dinner in Buenos Aires
- Demand for Japanese content booms post 'Shogun'
- As India's Bollywood shifts, stars and snappers click
- Mystery drones won't interfere with Santa's work: US tracker
- Djokovic eyes more Slam glory as Swiatek returns under doping cloud
- Australia's in-form Head confirmed fit for Boxing Day Test
- Brazilian midfielder Oscar returns to Sao Paulo
- 'Wemby' and 'Ant-Man' to make NBA Christmas debuts
- US agency focused on foreign disinformation shuts down
- On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis launches holy Jubilee year
- 'Like a dream': AFP photographer's return to Syria
- Chiefs seek top seed in holiday test for playoff-bound NFL teams
- Panamanians protest 'public enemy' Trump's canal threat
- Cyclone death toll in Mayotte rises to 39
- Ecuador vice president says Noboa seeking her 'banishment'
- Leicester boss Van Nistelrooy aware of 'bigger picture' as Liverpool await
- Syria authorities say armed groups have agreed to disband
- Maresca expects Man City to be in title hunt as he downplays Chelsea's chancs
- Man Utd boss Amorim vows to stay on course despite Rashford row
- South Africa opt for all-pace attack against Pakistan
- Guardiola adamant Man City slump not all about Haaland
- Global stocks mostly higher in thin pre-Christmas trade
- Bethlehem marks sombre Christmas under shadow of war
- NASA probe makes closest ever pass by the Sun
- 11 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant
- Indonesia considers parole for ex-terror chiefs: official
- Global stocks mostly rise in thin pre-Christmas trade
- Postecoglou says Spurs 'need to reinforce' in transfer window
- Le Pen says days of new French govt numbered
- Global stocks mostly rise after US tech rally
- Villa boss Emery set for 'very difficult' clash with Newcastle
- Investors swoop in to save German flying taxi startup
- How Finnish youth learn to spot disinformation
- South Korean opposition postpones decision to impeach acting president
- 12 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant
- Panama leaders past and present reject Trump's threat of Canal takeover
- Hong Kong police issue fresh bounties for activists overseas
Thompson trey lifts Warriors in win over Nets, Raptors thwart Heat
Klay Thompson drained a three-pointer with 12.5 seconds remaining to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 110-106 NBA victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.
The Warriors' victory in San Francisco was just one close shave on a night that saw the Toronto Raptors edge the Eastern Conference-leading Miami Heat 124-120 in a triple-overtime thriller and the Philadelphia 76ers rally for a 103-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
"Splash Brothers" Thompson and Stephen Curry struggled early, combining for just seven points in the first half. But they scored the last 17 for Golden State as the Warriors toughed out a victory over a Nets team led by Kyrie Irving but missing the other two of their "Big Three" Kevin Durant and James Harden.
Irving, who was needled by the San Francisco crowd over his refusal to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, scored 32 points and the Nets clawed back from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to cut the lead to one on two free throws from Patty Mills.
Golden State answered promptly as Thompson, left open as Curry drew the double-team, made his three-pointer for a 107-103 lead.
Irving responded with a three-pointer, but a free throw from Curry and two from Thompson sealed the Warriors' win.
Thompson, still returning to form after an injury layoff of two-and-a-half years, finished with 16 points. Curry scored 19 and Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors with 24 points and eight rebounds.
Mills made six three-pointers on the way to 24 points for Brooklyn, who were without Durant as he continues to recover from a knee sprain and missed Harden, who was a late scratch with a right hand strain that "really flared up this morning" according to coach Steve Nash.
In Miami, Fred VanVleet made two three-pointers in the third overtime and the Raptors held on against the weary Heat, who were playing the second night of a back-to-back.
VanVleet's shot from beyond the arc made it 117-117 with 3:35 to play. He came up with a steal and drained another three to put Toronto up 122-117 with 2:17 remaining.
VanVleet finished with 19 points for Toronto, who were led by Gary Trent's 33.
Jimmy Butler had a triple-double of 37 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for the Heat.
- Mavs win in Carlisle return -
In Dallas, Luka Doncic scored 30 points and handed out 12 assists to lead the Mavericks in a 132-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
It was a rude welcome back to Texas for Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, who coached the Mavericks the previous 13 seasons and led the team to a title in 2011.
The Mavs played a video tribute to Carlisle before the game that had fans on their feet and the coach in tears.
"I wasn't expecting that," Carlisle said. "It was a wonderful gesture."
There were a lot of hugs exchanged after the game, too, but the Mavericks showed no sentiment in their wire-to-wire victory.
Reggie Bullock added 23 points, hitting six of his seven three-point attempts. Maxi Kleber celebrated his 30th birthday with 15 points and 14 rebounds for Dallas.
The only down note for the Mavericks was Kristaps Porzingis's second-quarter departure with a sore right knee, the same knee on which he had meniscus surgery in October 2020.
"We'll see how he feels tomorrow," said Mavs coach Jason Kidd, who had no details on the injury immediately after the game.
The Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 36 points from Cameroonian big man Joel Embiid, notched a fourth straight win, but it was a battle against the Kings.
Tyrese Haliburton scored a career-high 38 points for Sacramento, and the Kings led by 17 in the third quarter before dropping their sixth straight.
Led by an aggressive Embiid, the Sixers had taken a 10-point lead with less than three minutes to play. The Kings fought back, with Haliburton's off-balance three-pointer cutting Philadelphia's lead to two with 11.1 seconds left.
But Harrison Barnes's last-gasp three-point attempt for the Kings bounced off the rim.
M.Thompson--AMWN