OKLAHOMA CITY (AFP) ― Kevin Durant scored 28 points and handed out eight assists Thursday to lead Oklahoma City to a 105-91 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in a battle of NBA Western Conference powers.Serge Ibaka added 17 points and Russell Westbrook scored 12 for the Thunder, who have won all five of their home games so far this season.Oklahoma City also avenged a 111-103 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles last week in a game that saw both Matt Barnes of the Clippers and Ibaka of the Thunder

DETROIT (AP) ― Prince Fielder was traded to the Texas Rangers in a blockbuster deal Wednesday night that sent second baseman Ian Kinsler to the Detroit Tigers.Detroit gave the Rangers $30 million as part of the trade, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the amount of money exchanged was not revealed when the teams announced the move.Fielder had to consent to the trade before it could be completed. The big first baseman signed a $21

The top Japanese baseball league has tendered a status check on South Korean relief pitcher Oh Seung-hwan, officials here said Wednesday, taking a formal administrative step to allow Japanese clubs to enter the bidding war for South Korea’s all-time saves leader.The Korea Baseball Organization said the Nippon Professional Baseball league on Tuesday asked for Oh’s status in the top South Korean league. The KBO said it informed the NPB that Oh, 31, is currently with the Samsung Lions, and the Lion

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) ― Kevin Durant scored 38 points, Russell Westbrook had 30 points and 12 rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 115-113 on Monday night.Westbrook also had seven assists in a terrific all-around game that helped Oklahoma City erase a 14-point deficit in the second half. Reggie Jackson added 14 points.With the score tied at 105, Serge Ibaka pulled down an offensive rebound and found Durant for a 3-pointer that put Oklahoma City (7-3) ahead to st

Four All-Star-caliber players fattened their bank accounts over the past week as the opening free agent negotiating period ended and the second negotiating window opened during the weekend in the top domestic baseball league.Earlier this month, 16 players in the Korea Baseball Organization declared free agency, and they had between Nov. 10 and 16 to negotiate with their current clubs.During that period, nine players re-signed with their original teams, and none enjoyed a bigger payday than Lotte

TAICHUNG, Taiwan (Yonhap News) ― South Korean baseball champions Samsung Lions defeated Fortitudo Bologna of Italy 5-2 to open the Asia Series tournament in Taiwan on Friday.At Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Lee Seung-yeop belted a tie-breaking three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, powering the three-time reigning KBO champs past the Italian club.The Lions will next face the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, the reigning Taiwanese champions, on Sunday at Taoyuan International Baseball Sta

South Korean baseball slugger Lee Dae-ho has decided to part ways with his Japanese club the Orix Buffaloes, his brother said Thursday.Lee Cha-ho, a sports agent and older brother of the player, said Lee Dae-ho told the Osaka-based team in the Nippon Professional Baseball league on Wednesday that he couldn’t accept the club’s offer of a new contract.“He likes the surroundings in the home city of Osaka,” Lee Cha-ho said. “But he just couldn’t stay with the team with the kind of money that they of

South Korean baseball slugger Lee Dae-ho has decided to part ways with his Japanese club the Orix Buffaloes, his brother said Thursday.Lee Cha-ho, a sports agent and older brother of the player, said Lee Dae-ho told the Osaka-based team in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league on Wednesday that he couldn't accept the club's offer of a new contract."He likes the surroundings in the home city of Osaka," Lee Cha-ho said. "But he just couldn't stay with the team with the kind of money that t

NEW YORK (AP) ― Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians and Clint Hurdle of the Pittsburgh Pirates won the Manager of the Year awards Tuesday after guiding their small-budget teams to charming turnarounds.Francona edged John Farrell of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox for the American League honor 112 points to 96 in a close vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.It was the first Manager of the Year honor for Francona, even though ― in an interesting twist ― he steered the