Sport Betting: Why you keep losing bets

Tobi Adesina

It's a widely known concept that the vast majority of sports bettors are going to lose money. The most popular concept is that 90-percent of sports gamblers will lose money over the course of the year, but that doesn't stop people from wagering on sports. When those bettors eventually go broke and cannot wager anymore, there's always somebody else waiting to take their place in line.

MONEY MANAGEMENT

The number one reason most sports gamblers lose isn't because of poor picks, but instead is because of poor money management. There are far more bettors who can pick winners than there are who can make money, and money management is the key.

Betting 100naira on one game and 500naira on another is a sure way to find yourself separated from your cash in the long run, just as betting 50% of your bankroll on one game will ultimately lead disaster. A sports bettor may win a few games when betting more than they should, but eventually the loss, or losses, will come and the bettors ends up in trouble.

Doubling up after wins or losses is another recipe for disaster, and is a common mistake many bettors make, including those who have been betting for many years.

If you've ever read books on sports betting, you'll find that nearly every one has at least one chapter devoted to money management and that isn't because authors enjoy writing about it.

It's because it is that important.

BETTING ON THE WRONG EVENTS

It's no secret that football and basketball are the two sports that receive the majority of the betting dollars, just as it's no secret that most long-time sports bettors will say those are probably the two toughest sports to show a long-term profit in.

The sport of choice for most professional gamblers is baseball, which happens to rank well below the top two sports in the amount of money received. Hockey is another sport that many long-time bettors believe can give the sports gambler an advantage over the sportsbook, but hockey nets less than even baseball.

A sports bettor doesn't have to particularly like baseball or hockey. As long as they like money, those are two sports that should be followed, or at least find somebody who is a good baseball or hockey handicapper  and follow their plays.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Most sports bettors know just enough to make them dangerous, as there is a great deal of difference between being knowledgeable in the NFL and being knowledgeable in NFL betting. Being able to name the starting offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys isn't likely to help a person win a bet.

What many sport bettors don't realize is that they're actually competing against other bettors who spend countless hours on handicapping, studying trends, injuries, and betting angles.

If you don't have the time to study the games try to find somebody who does, whether it be on a posting forum, a reputable sports service, etc., but don't assume you know more than everyone else.

There is the old joke of a sports bettor who loses week after week, and finally, his bookie starts to feel sorry for the guy and suggests that he might want to try betting hockey.

"Hockey! I don't know anything about hockey!"

BETTING TOO MANY TV GAMES

There are a large number of sports bettors who feel if a game is televised, it's their duty to have a wager on the contest. While this didn't create much of a problem years ago, there are so many games televised now, that bettors can easily have seven or eight wagers on a single night, and even more on the weekend.

Typically, the lines are the sharpest on televised games, as the oddsmakers and sportsbooks realize that those games will be bet the heaviest.

If you have to have a wager on every televised game, those bets should be much smaller than your typical bets, somewhere around one-fourth of the amount.

Roger Federer: The Legend reaffirmed his status

Born on August 8 in Basel, Switzerland in the early eighties to a Swiss father and a South African mother, Roger Federer has grown up to become a tennis legend.

He turned professional in 1998 and in 2003 won his first major at Wimbledon - the tournament he has gone on to win a record 8 times.

He currently holds the record for the most grand slam titles in the men's category after winning the Wimbledon on Sunday - his 19th grand slam titles.

The Swiss maestro won 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 as Croatian Marin Cilic struggled with a blister on his left foot and broke down in tears during the second set.

Federer, 35, finished the contest in one hour and 41 minutes to claim his first Wimbledon title since 2012 and with it becomes the oldest man in the Open era to win at the All England Club.

He has won all the four majors; a record eight Wimbledon titles, five Australian Open titles, a record five consecutive US Open titles and one French Open title. He is among eight men to have captured a career Grand Slam and has reached a record 29 men's singles Grand Slam finals, including ten in a row from the 2005 Wimbledon Championships to the 2007 US Open.

He also won the Olympic gold medal in doubles with his compatriot Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the Olympic silver medal in singles at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Representing Switzerland, he was a part of the 2001 winning Hopman Cup team and the 2014 winning Davis Cup team. He was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for a record four consecutive years from 2005 through 2008.

Federer is regarded as the best player in history having amassed 93 single titles, which made him 3rd in career titles wins in the open era behind Ivan Lendl (94) and Jimmy Connors (109).

He got married to former WTA player Mirka Federer on April 11, 2009. They both met while they were competing for Switzerland in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. And later in July 2009, Mirka gave birth to identical twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva. The Federers had another pair of identical twins in 2014, this time boys whom they named Leo and Lennart.

Respect to the legendary Swiss maestro!

Top Athletes to have battled cancer

Tobi Adesina

1. Stiliyan Petrov: Born 5 July, 1979. The former Bulgaria international and Aston Villa Hall of famer had a glorious spell in Celtic having moved from CSKA Sofia. He won ten trophies with the Scottish giant and later moved to Aston Villa where he was later diagnosed with acute leukaemia in 2012.

2. Lance Armstrong: One of the greatest cyclist to ever graced the track. He completed 1995 Tour dé France but pulled out of 1996 after falling ill. He was later diagnosed of testicular cancer. He has since then donated $5.1m to other cancer warriors via his Foundation, LIVESTRONG.

3. Gary Lineker: The Leicester City legend's son, George got diagnosed with cancer just months after birth in the 90's. He is however now grown and sort after by British models, all Courtesy of Gary's gene.

4.  Yeray Alvarez: The Spanish and Athletic Bilbao defender got diagnosed with testicular cancer late last year (2016). He however came back to playing active football by January 2017 After undergoing 3 months of chemotherapy but the joy was shortlived as the 19 year old was withdrawn from the Spanish U21 team. Doctors say the cancer had return to his body. The event which has led to all Bilbao players shaving their hair to show support.

5.  Jonas Gutierrez: When you need dedication and discipline from a footballer, don't go too far. Gutierrez made fame playing for Newcastle United in England. His approach to derby games were second to none. Sunderland fans were quick to drop the sword after he was diagnosed.

6. Éric Abidal: The great Barcelona defender was diagnosed with liver cancer in March 2011. Abidal will never forget the night when Carles Puyol let him lift the Champions League Cup at Wembley. In 2013, he had a transplant and he returned to the pitch to play once again.

7. Arjen Robben: Fans will never forget the moment he faced Spain's goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, in the World Cup 2010. But, he is proud of the fact that he survived testicular cancer at the young age of 20.

8. Juan Carlos Garcia: The Wigan player got diagnosed with cancer back in 2015 at the young age of 26. The club immediately flew his mum and sister down to Manchester also provided an apartment very close to the hospital.

9. Chris Todd: Born 22 August, 1981. Eastleigh's Chris Todd was diagnosed with cancer back in 2011. He has since returned to playing active football once again.

10.  Carl Ikeme: After the departure of Vincent Enyeama, Nigerian football Faithfulls were happy to see Carl pick up the gloves because of his breath taking saves. Carl was diagnosed with leukaemia early July 2017, weeks after returning from a long spell on the sideline courtesy of an injury. He has since being receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Weak LMC fails statutes, gets intimidated by Eyinmba F.C

Tobi Adesina

Match day 28 in the Nigerian Professional Football League witnessed a shocker as Eyinmba fielded a player who was on suspension for yellow card accumulation.

Ibenegbu Ikechukwu, a player suspended for maximum yellow card accumulation from match day 27, helped the peoples elephants secure maximum three points at home against Niger Tornadoes by scoring the opener in a game that saw the Aba millionaires run out 3 nil winners.

According to the LMC statutes (rules and regulations) signed 2014/2015 which still stands as the basis for the League Management Company guideline, 3 points and 3 goals were to be deducted from Enyinmba and accorded to Niger Tornadoes F.C.

The LMC in a bid to redeem its image, sanctioned Ibenegbu Ikechukwu to serve his one game ban in match day 29 against Ifeanyi Ubah F.C. Meanwhile, Eyinmba as a club goes free for fielding a player who was ineligible.

Sports Betting: Youth empowerment on the rise as Nigerian Bookmakers offer low Agent licence fee

Tobi Adesina

With over 20 million unemployed youths living above a N100,000 per quarter of the year in Nigeria, this week's episode of Bet Review opens up some unexplored areas of the highly lucrative business.

Most unemployed youths in Nigeria have phones, gadgets and even shoes worth thousands of naira. They wake up each morning bitter, complaining of how wasteful and irresponsible the government have been. Unknown to most Nigerian youths, a shoe in their closet can make them a self employed.

Speaking with the Cooperate affairs Manager of Winners Golden Bet company, Mr Femi Junaid said their is no excuse for most Nigerian youths.

"Laziness and inability to think remains the main cause for joblessness in the country."

"You can acquire our licence to become an Agent for as low as N90,000. With that, you own your own standard shop and can operate as a licenced Agent."

Speaking with a sport bet Agent in Alagbado area of Lagos, Tola made us realise how lucrative the business as been.

"I collected my license some two years ago, I employed a sales person and I became a Boss"

"I have never deep my hands into my pocket to pay my salesman. It is the money recovered from the shop I use in paying his salary and I still receive not less than N30,000 monthly as my profit."

So hurry, sell that expensive wristwatch keeping you unemployed and become an employer of labour.

FEDERER WINS A RECORD 18TH GRAND SLAM TITLE

Roger Federer legendary career continues after winning his 18th Grand Slam title and first for five years with a thrilling five-set victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.

The 35year-old Swiss maestro - who last won in Wimbledon 2012 - won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to claim his fifth Melbourne title and extend his lead at the top of the all-time men's major winners list.

The 30year-old Spaniard, Nadal remains tied in second with Pete Sampras on 14 Grand Slams following his first final since 2014.

Federer also became the oldest Grand Slam champion since Ken Rosewall won the 1972 Australian Open aged 37, prevailing in a 3hrs and 37mins classic to secure his first Aussie crown since 2010 with all five titles coming against different opponents.

The achievement in ending his drought is all the more remarkable for Federer given this was his first tournament since Wimbledon last July, after which he took the second half of the season off to recover from a knee injury.

He becomes the first man in history to win five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events - 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open and 7 Wimbledon titles.

"Tennis is a tough sport," said Federer. "There are no draws. If there were I would have been happy to accept one and share it with Rafa.

"Everybody says they work very hard - I do the same - but I try not to shout about it. I'd like to thank my team. It's been a different last six months. I didn't think I'd make it but here I am."

Nadal was also on the way back from injuries that curtailed his 2016 season, but the Spaniard could not improve his winning record against Federer - the Swiss has now won 12 of their 35 matches and 3 of 9 in Grand Slam finals.

Federer also said after the game to the crowd:
"I've been coming here for almost 20 years now, I've always enjoyed it and now my family does too.

"Thanks again for everything, to everybody. I hope to see you next year. If not, this was a wonderful run here and I can't be more happy to win."

Next after this for the legend is how to add to his solitary title at Roland Garros when the French Open begins in May.

WILLIAMS SISTERS TO BATTLE IT OUT FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLE

Australian Open 2017 final will be between two sisters. Venus will face-off with younger sibling Serena in an all-American showdown at the Melbourne park.

The 13th-seed Venus, who came from a set down to defeat Coco Vandeweghe 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 will fancy her chances against Serena who ended the magical run of Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni with a 6-2 6-1 win.

It will be the first time that the pair will have met in a Grand Slam final since Wimbledon in 2009 and will be Serena’s eighth final at Melbourne Park.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion Serena is the bookmakers favourite against her sister, who had only amassed seven Grand Slam win in her two decades plus professional career.

It would also be a seventh Australian Open victory for the younger Williams sister, while Venus hopes to win an eighth major title, first in Melbourne and first since Wimbledon in 2008.

Serena is edging even closer to a 23rd Grand Slam crown, which would be one shy of Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 if she is able to defeat her sister.

"It is unbelievable to watch Serena play tennis - the way she hits the ball and the competitor she is," Venus Williams said after her semi-final win.

"It would be a dream to see her on the opposite side of the net on Saturday."

Speaking after her win also, Serena said: "I am really proud of Venus - she is a total inspiration. I am really happy for her and to be in the final together is a dream for us.

"She is my toughest opponent, no-one has ever beaten me as much as Venus.
"I feel no matter what that we have both won after all we have been through. I know a Williams is going to win this tournament."

The world no-2, Serena will be the overwhelming favourite against her sister, with a 16-11 head-to-head record and also the winner of 6 of 8 Grand Slam finals between them.

ANDY MURRAY AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLE DREAM WILL HAVE TO WAIT

World No-1 Andy Murray hopes of winning a first Australian Open title ended with a shock defeat to No-50 Germany's Mischa Zverev in the fourth round.

The 29-year-old German, a contemporary of Murray from junior days, was ranked outside the world's top 1,000 two years ago after a succession of injury problems.

Murray dropped serve eight times as Zverev won 7-5 5-7 6-2 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena. It is the Briton's earliest defeat in Melbourne since 2009, and the lowest-ranked player he has lost to at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.

With Novak knocked out in the last round, most of the pundits have given Andy the edge to win his maiden Australian title of which he will have to wait another 12 months.

The last time the top two seeds failed to reach the quarter-finals of a slam was at Roland Garros in 2004.

Mischa - the elder brother to 19year-old sensation Alexander Zverev - took the first set 7-5, but Murray seemed to get back on track after taking the second by the same scoreline.

But Zverev was relentless in his approach and took the next two 6-2, 6-4 to produce the sporting shock of 2017 so far.

After the match, he said: “Honestly I don't know how I did it. I was in a little coma, I served and volleyed my way through. I don't know how I did it. Somehow I did it."

Zverev will face Roger Federer or Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals.

DJOKOVIC DUMPED OUT OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Novak Djokovic lost in the 2nd-round of the Australian Open to Uzbekistan's Dennis Istomin 7-6, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.

The last time the six-time Australian Open champion, Djokovic lost in the 2nd-round of a grand slam was at the 2008 Wimbledon and only the second time in seven years that he has lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 - his defeat by Juan Martin del Potro, ranked 145th, at the Rio Olympics in 2016 being the other occasion.

The world number 117, Istomin matched his best performance in the opening Grand Slam of the year with this shocking victory by advancing to the 3rd round.

"He deserved to win. No doubt, he was a better player in the clutch moments," Djokovic said.
"Many things came together for him today and he's a well-deserved winner. There's not much I could do."

Prior to his win over Djokovic, Istomin had won just one of 33 matches against a player ranked in the world's top 10.

'I surprised myself! It is the biggest win [of my career] for me and means so much, now I feel I can play with these guys and be with them on the same level," said Istomin.

Istomin will next face Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat Britain's Kyle Edmund on Thursday.

MERCEDES ANNOUNCES REPLACEMENT FOR ROSBERG

World champion Mercedes has made the announcement everyone has been waiting for in the Formula One arena - the new driver to partner Hamilton in 2017 - and it is 27year-old Finnish, Valtteri Bottas.

After four seasons of solid performances with Williams, he has been rewarded with every driver's dream - a seat with the best team in Formula 1.

Bottas has signed a one-year deal with the option for more with the German team, while  retired world-champion Rosberg moves into an ambassadorial role.

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Mercedes' young driver Pascal Wehrlein, passed over in favour of Bottas, joins the Swiss Sauber team for the season. Also coming in to replace Bottas in Williams is Brazilian Felipe Massa, who rescinded on his earlier decision to retire after the end of last season.

Rosberg's shock retirement, announced just five days after he wrapped up his maiden world title, was a "challenging situation for the team to handle", according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

"Sometimes in life, unexpected circumstances provide interesting opportunities," he added. "Nico's decision in December was a big surprise.
"But weathering the storm makes you more resilient and we see this as another opportunity for the team to grow.

"I think Valtteri fits very well in our team, as a driver he's very fast, and he has also the heart in the right place.
"He shares our values and passion, and he's modest and humble and he's hard wworkingorking."

With his talent and calm disposition - which can be likened to Rosberg - and barring a remarkable slip in form for Mercedes, Bottas will morph from being an occasional podium visitor to a race-winner and possibly title contender this year.

HOME-BOY NICK KYRGIOS KNOCKED OUT OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Nick Kyrgios was knocked out of his home Grand Slam as he blew a two-set lead and a match point in losing to Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open.

The 32year-old Italian, Seppi triumphed 1-6 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-2 10-8 against the typically unpredictable Australian.

Kyrgios was given two warnings, for swearing and racquet abuse, before the 89th-ranked Seppi clinched victory.
The 21-year-old Australian was in control before losing his temper as he complained of a knee injury midway through the third set.

Kyrgios won a five-set scrap with Seppi on the same court in 2015 to reach the quarter-finals, but the roles were reversed here.

Kyrgios, returning to tennis at the Australian Open after a ban for not trying at the Shanghai Masters ended his 2016 season, was given a warning for swearing and later docked a point for his second code violation after launching his racquet into the ground in frustration.

VENUS WILLIAMS DEFILING THE ODDS AS SHE REACHES THE THIRD ROUND IN AUSTRALIA

A straight-sets victory earned Venus Williams safe passage through to the Australian Open third round, as the former world number one quietly went about her business at Melbourne Park.

Williams is seeded 13 and she encountered little trouble in defeating Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele in an hour and 23 minutes, winning 6-3, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Williams, who played at her first Australian Open in 1998, is the oldest woman in the singles draw at 36year-old and is competing at her 73rd majors.

"I have to talk about my age every interview!" the American said. "I've played some of the greats.
"It's an honour and privilege to start that young, and play this old."

Venus alongside her sister has pulled out of the doubles competition as a precaution to rest a sore elbow.

The 17th seed has never won the title, her best result finishing is being a runner-up to her sister Serena in 2003.

ANGELIQUE KERBER IS AIMING TO DEFEND HER AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLE

World number one and defending champion Angelique Kerber survived an onslaught from fellow German Carina Witthoeft to advance to the 2017 Australian Open third round.

She is a top-seed at a Grand Slam for the first time, and did struggled with her serve in a second-set tie-break before prevailing 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 over the 21year-old Carina.

Also, she had started the year in less-than-convincing style, going out in the
last eight in Brisbane and the second round in Sydney just few days before the first grand slam of the year.

"To have this pressure is a privilege," she said. "It's completely new for me, but I'm doing well. I'm just trying to enjoy it."

Kerber who was 29 on Wednesday and had the crowd singing her "Happy Birthday" will be facing Czech Kristyna Pliskova next.

FEDERER THROUGH TO THE THIRD ROUND OF AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Four-time Australian Open champion, Roger Federer is through to the third-round after holding off the challenge of American prospect Noah Rubin.

The 35year-old Swiss maestro, who is seeded 17th after missing the second half of the 2016 season with a knee injury, saved two set points in the third to win 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-3).

He is looking forward to be the second oldest male winner of a grand slam in the Open era. After winning the 20year-old Noah, he attributed the win to experience.

"I have played out here many, many times, that's my advantage maybe," he said, after claiming victory in two hours four minutes.
"If I could have signed (a contract) to be in the third round, feeling this way, weeks or days or a month ago, I would have taken it.
"I'm still hoping to feel better and better and better as we go along."

The 17-time grand slam winner will now play 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych next. He had defeated the Czech star in the quarterfinal stage last year.

CAMEROON 2019 AFCON QUALIFIER DRAW UNVEILS

The qualifying draw for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations has pitted several former champions against one another.

Number one ranked team in Africa at the moment, Senegal will face off with Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and the winner between Sao Tome and Principe and Madagascar in Group A. 4-time champion Cameroon, who qualify automatically as the host are in Group B alongside 1976 champions Morocco, Malawi and either Comoros or Mauritius.

Record 7-time winners Egypt will meet North African rivals Tunisia, who won in 2004, in Group J. 3-time winners, Super Eagles of Nigeria will also face Bafana Bafana of South Africa who were 1996 winner in Group E.

Group G also features a clash between Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with both sides having previously lifted the trophy.

In addition to hosts Cameroon, the 12 group winners will qualify alongside the the 3 best runners-up.

Here is the draw in full:

Group A: Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Sao Tome/Madagascar

Group B: Cameroon, Morocco, Malawi, Comoros/Mauritius

Group C: Mali, Gabon, Burundi, Djibouti/South Sudan

Group D: Algeria, Togo, Benin, The Gambia

Group E: Nigeria, South Africa, Libya, Seychelles

Group F: Ghana, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya

Group G: DR Congo, Congo, Zimbabwe, Liberia

Group H: Ivory Coast, Guinea, Central African Republic, Rwanda

Group I: Burkina Faso, Angola, Botswana, Mauritania

Group J: Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Swaziland

Group K: Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia

Group L: Cape Verde, Uganda, Tanzania, Lesotho

The qualifier will kick off in June 2017 and rounds up in November 2018.

THE BEST FOOTBALL AWARDS FOR 2016: WHO ARE THE NOMINEES

The clock is ticking down to the inaugural edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards in Zurich tonight. It's going to be taking place at Technology Production Center (TPC) studios, Zurich, Switzerland, with the winners of each accolade decided by the global football community.

The winners of The Best FIFA Men's and Women's Player, and The Best FIFA Men's and Women's Coach awards , are determined through a combined voting process, in which 50 per cent of the decision is based on the votes of captains (25 per cent) and head coaches (25 per cent) from national teams all around the globe.

The remaining 50 per cent is split equally between an online public ballot of football fans (25 per cent) and submissions from a selected group of media representatives (25 per cent) from all around the world. The vote took place between Friday 4 November and Tuesday 22 November 2016.

The awards to be given out includes;

The Best FIFA Men's Player Award Nominees
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Antoine Griezmann (France)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)

The Best FIFA Women’s Player Award
Nominees:
Melanie Behringer (Germany)
Carli Lloyd (United States of America)
Marta (Brazil)

The Best FIFA Men’s Coach Award
Nominees:
Claudio Ranieri (Leicester City)
Fernando Santos (Portugal)
Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach Award
Nominees:
Jill Ellis (United States of America)
Silvia Neid (Germany)
Pia Sundhage (Sweden)

The FIFA Puskás Award 2016 
Nominees:
Marlone (Brazil)
Daniuska Rodriguez (Venezuela)
Mohammed Faiz Subri (Malaysia)

The FIFA Fan Award
Nominees:
ADO Den Haag supporters
Borussia Dortmund-Liverpool supporters
Iceland supporters

The FIFA Fair Play Award

According to FIFA.com the winners of The Best FIFA Men's and Women's Player, and The Best FIFA Men's and Women's Coach awards will be given a newly-designed, platinum-coated trophy.

The trophy has a shape which resembles the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy, an homage to tradition with a contemporary, dynamic design. The winners of the other awards will also be handed different, platinum-coated, trophies during the ceremony.

Pick your choice and leave it in the comment box below.

WESTBROOK LEADS THUNDER TO VICTORY

Russell Westbrook was scary enough already.

Now, the league's scoring leader is hitting 3-pointers as well as he does everything else.

Westbrook had 32 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists for his 17th triple-double of the season as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 121-106 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Westbrook made 7 of 12 3-pointers after hitting a career-high eight 3s on Thursday at Houston. He made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to turn the game into a rout.

''Obviously, Russ started hitting pull-up 3s from 30 feet, and there's not a lot you can do with that,'' Denver coach Michael Malone said.

Westbrook, who entered the game as a 33 percent 3-point shooter for the season, said there's no magic in his 15-for-27 shooting behind the arc the past two games.

''Just try to stay on balance and concentrate on making the shot,'' he said.

Westbrook matched his season high in rebounds in the 54th triple-double of his career. The Thunder improved to 32-3 the past two seasons when Westbrook gets a triple-double.

Steven Adams also scored 16 points and Victor Oladipo added 15 for Oklahoma City, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

It was Denver's fifth consecutive loss, and the Nuggets allowed at least 120 points in all of them.

The game was tied at 60 points apiece at halftime. Westbrook had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists at the break, while Chandler had 19 points for the Nuggets.

Westbrook reached double figures in rebounds early in the third quarter. He sat down for a rest late in the period with nine assists and the Thunder leading 85-73.

Westbrook re-entered the game with 8:35 remaining and the Thunder leading 97-89. He claimed the triple-double less than a minute after he returned, then later put the game away with a pair of 3-pointers 32 seconds apart that put Oklahoma City up by 18.

The Thunder's next game will be against Chicago Bulls on the 10th of January.

MAHREZ, OSHOALA AND THE OTHER WINNERS AT THE 2016 CAF AWARDS

At the International Conference Center in Abuja, Nigeria last night a new King of African Football Stars emerged.

25year-old Riyad Mahrez became the first Algerian to win the gong after his wonderful exploits and football artistry with Leicester City last season in England.

He claimed the Premier League title, PFA Player of the Year and BBC African Footballer of the Year to capped an amazing year for himself.

For African Player of the year based in Africa, it was Uganda goalkeeper Dennis Onyango that won it.

The Mamelodi Sundowns player stood in post as his club won the CAF Champions League for the first time - second time for a South African club - and also helps qualify his country for the Africa Nations Cup in Gabon.

The Women Player of the year was won by Nigeria and Arsenal Ladies striker, Asisat Oshoala.

In recent years, Asisat has shown like a beautiful star that she is with the Super Falcons as well as Arsenal Ladies. She was the top-scorer with six goals at the Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon where her team won the title for the 8th record time.

Below are other winners on the night.

African Player of the Year
Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria and Leicester City) – 361 votes

Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon and Borussia Dortmund) – 313 votes

Sadio MANE (Senegal and Liverpool) – 186 votes

African Player of the Year – Based in Africa
Denis ONYANGO (Uganda and Mamelodi Sundowns) – 252 votes

Khama BILLIAT (Zimbabwe and Mamelodi Sundowns) – 228 votes

Rainford KALABA (Zambia and TP Mazembe) – 206 votes

Women’s Player of the Year
Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria and Arsenal Ladies)

Most Promising Talent
Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria and Manchester City)

Youth Player of the Year
Alex IWOBI (Nigeria and Arsenal)

Coach of the Year
Pitso MOSIMANE (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Club of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

National Team of the Year
Cranes of Uganda

Women’s National Team of the Year
Super Falcons of Nigeria

Referee of the Year
Bakary Papa GASSAMA (Gambia)

Football Leader of the Year
Manuel LOPES NASCIMENTO (President of Guinea Bissau Football Federation)

Legend Award
Laurent POKOU - Former player of Cote d’Ivoire
Emilienne MBANGO - Former player of Cameroon

Platinum Award
His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari (President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

MIKEL MOVES ON FROM EUROPE

Super Eagles captain, Mikel John Obi has left Chelsea to join other stars moving to the Chinese league by signing with Super League side Tianjin TADA.

The 29year-old who has not played a single match for the Blues this season is expected to be paid £140,000 per week by the club.

He was signed from Lyn Oslo of Norway by Chelsea in 2006 after his magnificent display at the 2005 U-20 World Cup in Netherlands.

Mikel played 374 games and won 11 titles with Chelsea. The titles are 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Europa League, 2 Premier Leagues, 4 FA Cups, 2 League Cups and 1 Community Shield.

His contributions to the team where he played under different managers cannot be undermined. He did wrote a letter to the fans after the announcement of his departure from the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Best of luck to him as he takes this next step of his career.

AUBAMEYANG LEADS OTHER STARS AS CAF NAMED TEAM OF THE YEAR

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) on Wednesday named his team of the year with current African Player of the Year, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the line alongside other nominees for the 2016 award.

Only the reigning AFCON champion Cote d'Ivoire has 2 players in the squad which comprises of 10 nationalities and also boast of 5 players based in Africa and 6 foreign-based.

CAF Africa Finest XI

Goalkeeper: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, Uganda).

Defenders: Serge Aurier (Paris Saint-Germain, Ivory Coast), Aymen Abdennour (Valencia,
Tunisia), Eric Bailly (Manchester United, Ivory Coast), Joyce Lomalisa (AS Vita, Democratic
Republic of Congo).

Midfielders: Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns,
Zimbabwe), Rainford Kalaba (TP
Mazembe, Zambia), Keagan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns,
South Africa).

Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Gabon), Sadio Mané (Liverpool, Senegal), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City, Algeria).

Substitutes
Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, Senegal), Salif Coulibaly (TP Mazembe, Mali), Islam Slimani (Leicester City, Algeria), Mohamed Salah (Roma, Egypt), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, Nigeria), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, Nigeria).