African basketball, BAL and NBA

Selawy inspires Al Ahly to narrow win over Smouha

Nadine Selawy scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Al Ahly beat Smouha 71–68 on Saturday 31 October in the Egyptian league.

Egypt

NBA: Portland open with a 17-0 run and iron-clad defence to smother Utah

The Trail Blazers beat the Jazz 112-90 in Salt Lake City on Saturday 31 October, after inflicting a 17-0 run in the first quarter. Deni Avdija scored 24 points, Damian Lillard 22, and Portland forced 20 turnovers to erase its first defeat of the season.

NBA: Smith, Smart and eighteen threes power Houston past depleted Thunder

The Rockets beat Oklahoma City 119–98 at the Toyota Center on Saturday, 31 October, winning all four quarters. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, Marcus Smart made 7 of 10 three-pointers, and Houston hit 18 of 41 from deep for its sixth win in seven games.

United States

NBA: Pelicans storm out 35–18 and never let Atlanta back into it

New Orleans beat Atlanta 121–99 at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday 31 October, after winning the first quarter 35–18. Saddiq Bey scored 25 points off the bench, Jeremiah Fears 20, and the Hawks never again got within ten points.

United States

Grizzlies go 6–0 as bench and Boozer overwhelm Kings despite Acuff's 38

The Grizzlies beat the Kings 136–105 at the FedExForum on Saturday 31 October and remain the league's only unbeaten team. Cameron Boozer scored 27 points, the bench 81, and a third quarter won 42–25 ended Sacramento's hopes, even with Darius Acuff Jr. carrying them with 38 points.

United States

Maxey and a 15-3 closing run lift 76ers past Charlotte without LeBron or Embiid

Tyrese Maxey scored 38 points, 15 of them in the fourth quarter, and the 76ers finished on a 15-3 run to beat the Hornets 109-104 in Charlotte on Saturday, 31 October. Down seven points with under four minutes left, the Sixers claim their sixth win in seven games.

United States

NBA: Cavaliers hit 48 in second quarter to blow Bucks away

The Cavaliers beat the Bucks 136-111 at the Fiserv Forum on Saturday 31 October, scoring 48 points in the second quarter to lead by 26 at the break. Evan Mobley scored 27 points, Jarrett Allen 25 with 11 rebounds, and Cleveland handed out 41 assists on 52 baskets.

United States

Wembanyama scores 43 and blocks six as Spurs see off battling Wolves

Victor Wembanyama produced the second-best scoring night of his career as San Antonio beat Minnesota 121–111 on Saturday 31 October. Without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, the Wolves led at half-time and cut the deficit to four points in the final quarter before fading.

United States

Gabby Williams stars as Valkyries win first WNBA title in Game 7

Golden State won their first WNBA title by beating Atlanta 68-63 in Game 7, powered by 30 points from Gabby Williams.

United States

Road to BAL: Al Ittihad put Staouéli out of reach before half-time

A look back at the Libyan club's 93–69 win over NB Staouéli on 21 October in Tripoli: a 26-point lead had been built by half-time.

Libya, Algeria

Lakers beat Clippers again without Dončić

The Lakers beat the Clippers 103–87 without Luka Dončić. Quentin Grimes scores 23 points and Collin Sexton 21 in a win built on defence.

United States

NBA: Flagg and Mavericks hand Thunder their first loss

Dallas beat Oklahoma City 120–96. Cooper Flagg posts 26 points and eight assists as the Mavericks hit sixteen three-pointers.

United States