P.H.A.S.E 1 Kingston emerged as the standout team on Day 2 of the JamRockerz Basketball Classic, securing two crucial victories to become the only local team to advance to the semifinals. Their performance on Saturday not only solidified their place in the final four but also showcased the depth and talent within the team.
In their first game of the day, Kingston faced Montego Bay in a thrilling double-overtime clash. The game ended in regulation time with the scores tied at 41, but Kingston managed to edge out Montego Bay with a final score of 46-44. Kingston’s standout player, Lebron Lewinson, was instrumental in the win, contributing 19 points and seven rebounds. Montego Bay’s Diare Patterson also had a solid game, scoring 10 points along with three rebounds and two steals.
Kingston returned to the court later in the day to face Trelawny in another closely contested match. Despite trailing in the first half, Kingston staged a comeback to narrowly defeat Trelawny 56-53. Malik Edward led the scoring for Kingston with 16 points and five rebounds, while Trelawny’s Evire Hines put up a valiant effort with eight points and three steals.
Trelawny had a tough day, losing both of their games. Earlier, they fell to Canada’s Hardwood Kings by a five-point margin, with the final score-line reading 50-45 in favor of Hardwood Kings. Trelawny’s Christian Handon had a standout performance with 17 points, one rebound, and two steals, while Hardwood Kings’ Elijah Deyon contributed 16 points and one rebound.
Montego Bay also suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss to Hardwood Kings, with the game ending 53-52. Despite a dominant performance from Reike Brown, who scored 26 points and added two rebounds and a steal, Montego Bay fell just short. Hardwood Kings, bolstered by their consistent scoring, managed to hold on for the win.
Montego Bay’s coach, Dave Black, reflected on his team’s near misses throughout the tournament. “We played against Team Takeover yesterday and we lost by two. I think all the games we lose by one or two. I think that last three minutes in the game where we need a little bit more focus from the players to just carry us over the line to a victory, but I think some of our young players, some of our 15 and also our 17 year old, I think they step up well playing some of those bigger guys,” Black said.
With the semifinals set, Kingston will face Team International, while Team Takeover will battle Hardwood Kings. The winners of these matchups will advance to the final, where the inaugural JamRockerz Basketball Classic champion will be crowned.
The event organizer and coach of Team Kingston expressed his satisfaction with the tournament's success, highlighting its significance for the development of youth basketball in Jamaica. “This has been an event that we have been working on for a while because we understood that in order to raise the level of basketball for the youths here in Jamaica we needed to encourage teams from North America, international teams to come and compete," he said. "We had several challenges with that over the years. Obviously infrastructure – we need a place to play that is cost-effective so this partnership with Montego Bay community college where we can put this floor – indoor wooden floor right here in the heart of the tourist district is huge because now teams are more likely to come because they can experience Jamaica on the tourist side.”
He added, “I think outside of Team Takeover and Canada, I think all the games that play in the tournament so far are very competitive. I think the initiative has to continue in terms of playing real overseas teams locally and also local guys getting a chance to go overseas to play.”
The JamRockerz Basketball Classic, sponsored by Jamaica's Tourism Enhancement Fund, NBA Houston Rockets pro player Tari Eason, and Kingston Marley—grandson of the legendary Bob Marley and founder of the Children for Change charity—has brought together top talent from both local and international teams, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
George hyperextends knee in latest injury blow for Sixers
The Philadelphia 76ers could be without Paul George for several weeks after he suffered a hyperextended left knee during their defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
The Sixers' miserable start to the season continued as they suffered their 12th defeat in 14 games – and their fifth in a row – at FedExForum, going down 117-111.
Philadelphia fielded star trio George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey together for the first time after the latter recovered from a hamstring injury, but George was forced to exit early in the second half.
George previously missed five games of preseason after hyperextending the same knee, and head coach Nick Nurse believes he could face a similar spell on the sidelines.
"I think they said it was similar to last time, which was a bone bruise, I think," Nurse said.
"He was actually fairly close to coming back in the game, but then it kind of stiffened up as he got out a little bit more, so I decided not to, and now we got to take a look at it, make sure."
However, Nurse was more upbeat when asked if the team could rule out structural damage to George's knee, saying: "I think so."
George only managed two points, four rebounds and two assists in his 17 minutes on court, going 1-of-6 shooting.
Despite Philadelphia continuing to be hamstrung by fitness concerns, Nurse admitted they had not done enough to warrant a better result.
"Listen, it's certainly not easy," Nurse said. "Tyrese was just getting back and didn't really have a feel tonight, and Paul going out...
"It's certainly not easy but we didn't put enough together again for 48."
The Sixers have seven games in the next 14 days, starting with Friday's home encounter with the Brooklyn Nets and ending against the Orlando Magic on December 6.
NBA: Brunson, Towns combine for 70 to keep Knicks hot
Jalen Brunson scored 36 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 34 and the New York Knicks rolled over the Phoenix Suns 138-122 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.
All five Knicks starters scored in double figures. Josh Hart had 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Devin Booker scored 33 points on 12-for-23 shooting and Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the injury-depleted Suns, who have lost five straight.
New York never trailed, hitting its first eight shots, including four 3-pointers. The Knicks carried that momentum to a 44-28 advantage after one quarter and a 76-58 lead at halftime. Brunson had 23 points before the break on 8-for-9 shooting, including hitting all four 3s.
The Suns cut the deficit to 88-77 midway through the third quarter, but the Knicks responded with an 11-2 run.
Phoenix star Kevin Durant missed his seventh straight game with a left calf strain. Teammate and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal was out for the fifth straight game, also because of a strained left calf.
The Knicks shot 18 for 23 (78.3%) in the first quarter, including 8 for 11 (72.7%) from 3-point range.
Sengun stars as Rockets win again
Alperen Sengun had a season-high 31 points with 12 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 130-113 win over the Indiana Pacers.
The Rockets used a big run in the third quarter to push the lead to 21 entering the fourth and cruised to their sixth victory in seven games.
Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 points for the Rockets for his second 20-point game in the last four, and Fred VanVleet had 18 points and six assists.
Quenton Jackson had a career-high 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting for the Pacers, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Pascal Siakam had 19 points at halftime but only scored two more points the rest of the way.
A dunk by Myles Turner got the Pacers within three with about eight minutes left in the third quarter before the Rockets used a 12-3 run, with 3s from VanVleet and Sengun, to make it 82-70 less than three minutes later.
The Pacers made just 5 of 22 3-pointers, while Houston made 12 of 36 attempts.
Antetokounmpo powers resurgent Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 41 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls 122-106.
Brook Lopez scored 21 points, Damian Lillard had 20 points and 10 assists, and AJ Green added 18 points to help the Bucks win for the fourth time in five games following a 2-8 start.
Zach Lavine scored 27 points and Torrey Craig added 15 for Chicago, which dropped to 3-8 this month.
The Bucks led by 18 and seemed to be in control after a 16-0 run from the end of the first quarter and into the second, but the Bulls chipped away and pulled within one in the third. The score remained close until midway through the fourth when the Bucks once again pulled away with Antetokounmpo dominating inside.
After being held to 13 points in the first half, Antetokounmpo scored 25 of Milwaukee’s 29 points in the third quarter. Lopez scored 20 or more points for the third time in four games.
Green swished a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer, his fifth of the game, from the corner with 6:49 left in the game to push the Bucks' lead to seven. Lillard and Lopez followed with 3s of their own to extend the lead to 13.
Durant expected to sign new Suns deal, says franchise owner Ishbia
Kevin Durant wants to be with the Phoenix Suns and is expected to sign a contract extension, according to franchise owner Mat Ishbia.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP and four-time Olympic gold medallist, who joined the Suns in February 2023, is under contract at Footprint Center through the 2025-26 season.
Durant made a strong start to his 18th NBA season - averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 53.3% shooting and 42.9% from three-point range - though he is currently sidelined with a calf strain.
And Ishbia expects the 36-year-old to retire as a Sun, with both parties set to pursue a two-year, $120 million maximum extension following the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign.
"[Durant] loves being in Phoenix, we love having him," the Suns owner told ESPN.
"He's off to an amazing start this season, and we're off to a very good start. We expect Kevin to sign an extension and be with us for the long term. We hope he finishes his career here in Phoenix.
"You can't sign a two-year extension this last summer, you can't do it based on the NBA rules. So, we figured after the season, we'd talk about it, take care of it.
"Kevin wants to be here, we want Kevin here. There's never been one grumbling of anything different."
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