Drake wins record 13 Billboard Music awards

LAS VEGAS — Rapper Drake grabbed a record 13 wins at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, eclipsing Adele's previous record of 12 awards in 2012.

"I want to say, hold tight Adele, because when a new thing drops you'll be back to get the record back," the Canadian recording artist said in accepting one of his awards at the star-studded event held in Las Vegas.

Drake, who also won top artist, top male artist and top rap album for "Views", later posed for photographers surrounded by his microphone-shaped trophies.

The three-hour show -- hosted by hip-hop artist Ludacris and former High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgins -- included performances by Miley Cyrus, the Chainsmokers, Nicki Minaj and Imagine Dragons.

Beyonce and Twenty One Pilots each took five awards, although they were absent from the ceremony. The Chainsmokers earned four, including top collaboration and top hot 100 song for "Closer" with Halsey.

Blake Shelton took home the award for top country artist, and top country song went to Florida Georgia Line.

Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling" won top selling song and top radio song.

The Icon Award for achievement in music went to Cher, 71, who gave a heartfelt speech after performing two of her biggest hits -- "Believe" and "If I Could Turn Back Time".

"I want to thank my mom because when I was really young, my mom said 'You're not going to be the smartest. You're not going to be the prettiest. You're not going to be the most talented, but you're going to be special,'" Cher said.

Canadian singer Celine Dion delivered an emotional performance of her award-winning song "My Heart Will Go On" from the soundtrack of the movie "Titanic" to mark 20 years since its release.

Dion, who was Billboard's Icon last year, lost her husband and former manager Rene Angelil to cancer in 2016. —Reuters

Lakers point guard Nash retires after standout career

Two-time NBA most valuable player Steve Nash, one of the best point guards ever to play professional basketball, is retiring after a 19-year career, the Canadian said on Saturday.

The future Hall of Famer, a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, made the announcement in a letter published on The Players' Tribune website.

"The greatest gift has been to be completely immersed in my passion and striving for something I loved so much -- visualizing a ladder, climbing up to my heroes," the 41-year-old Nash said.

An eight-time All-Star, Nash finished his career with 10,335 assists, the third most in NBA history.

His retirement was in many ways a mere formality as the point guard, beset by back problems, had been unable to play this season with the Lakers.

After a standout career with the Phoenix Suns, where he won MVP honors in 2005 and 2006, Nash had struggled in Los Angeles due to injuries, playing in only 65 games.

"When I signed with the Lakers, I had big dreams of lifting the fans up and lighting this city on fire," said Nash, who signed a three-year, $28 million deal with the franchise in 2012.

"I turned down more lucrative offers to come to L.A. because I wanted to be in the 'fire,' and play for high risk and high reward in my last NBA chapter. In my second game here, I broke my leg and nothing was the same."

A standout at Santa Clara University in California after attending high school in British Columbia, Nash was a first round draft choice of the Suns in 1996. He played two seasons with Phoenix and six with the Dallas Mavericks before returning to the Suns for the 2004-5 season.

Only John Stockton and Jason Kidd had more assists than Nash, who for nine consecutive seasons was the point guard for the number one offense in the league.

Nash averaged 14.3 points and 8.5 assists for his career. He also was the most accurate free throw shooter in NBA history, making 90.4 percent of his attempts.

"I will likely never play basketball again," he wrote. "It's bittersweet. I already miss the game deeply, but I'm also really excited to learn to do something else." — Reuters