CNN – Sports

By Ben Church, CNN Damian Lillard was locked in on Wednesday, exploding for a season-high 60 points on just 29 shot attempts and 10 free throws, to help the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 134-124. Only two players in NBA history, Karl Malone and James Harden, have scored 60 points in a game

By Matias Grez, CNN Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka will face off in Saturday’s Australian Open final after both women came through their respective semifinals in straight sets. Rybakina powered her way past two-time champion Victoria Azarenka, winning 7-6 6-3 in just over an hour and 40 minutes, while Sabalenka ended the dream run of

By Sammy Mngqosini A human rights group has accused motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, of “suppressing drivers’ freedom of speech,” following a ban on political statements ahead of the new Formula One season. On Tuesday, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) questioned the governing body’s commitment to human rights in a letter addressed

By George Ramsay, CNN LeBron James moved to within 177 points of the NBA’s all-time scoring record as the Los Angeles Lakers were beaten 133-115 by the Los Angeles Clippers. James scored 46 points in the losing cause but in the process made history as the first player to hit 40 points against every franchise

By Matias Grez, CNN Novak Djokovic continued his scintillating form at the Australian Open, brushing aside world No. 6 Andrey Rublev in straight sets to reach the semifinals. It was yet another near-perfect display of tennis from the 35-year-old, as he continued his seemingly inevitable march towards a record-equaling 22nd grand slam with a 6-1

By Matias Grez, CNN Tommy Paul beat fellow American Ben Shelton in a hard-fought match at the Australian Open to reach the first grand slam semifinal of his career. Few would have expected either of these men to reach the quarterfinal stage in Melbourne, but Paul’s experience told as he won 7-6 6-3 5-7 6-4

By Sammy Mngqosini, CNN Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has detailed the “traumatizing” racist abuse which he says he suffered at school during an episode of the ‘On Purpose’ with Jay Shetty podcast released on Monday. “School was the most traumatizing and most difficult part of my life. I was already being bullied at

By George Ramsay, CNN A local lifeguard in Hawaii was the surprise winner of the prestigious Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational — dubbed the “Super Bowl of surfing” — after beating off competition from some of the sport’s biggest names. Luke Shepardson took approved breaks from his lifeguarding duty at Waimea Bay to compete in

By Don Riddell and George Ramsay, CNN Uprooted from its home in Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2014, soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk is accustomed to the change and upheaval brought about by war having played at stadiums around the country for close to a decade. But even by Shakhtar’s standards, the events that have unfolded since

By Jack Bantock, CNN Just two weeks after retiring from football, Gareth Bale has confirmed he will be back competing with a ball at his feet next month — albeit a much smaller one. A well-known golf enthusiast, the Welsh icon is set to tee off at the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in

By Matias Grez, CNN Victoria Azarenka produced a brilliant display of tennis to dispatch world No. 3 Jessica Pegula and reach the Australian Open semifinals. The two-time Australian Open champion, now ranked 24th in the world, rolled back the years to beat Pegula, one of the most consistent players on the women’s tour over the

By Matias Grez, CNN Rising stars from the United States feature prominently in the men’s side of the draw at the Australian Open, making up three of the eight players ithat reached reached the quarterfinals in Melbourne. According to the ATP, it’s the first time since 2000 — when Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Chris Woodruff

By Sammy Mngqosini, CNN The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is facing allegations of sexism and discrimination according to a BBC Wales Investigation program set to air on Monday. In a short video published by the BBC on Monday ahead of the full program airing at 3 p.m. ET, Charlotte Wathan, the former general manager of