Basketball Page 1 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Hawks' Kristaps Porzingis, Zaccharie Risacher out another week
The slumping Atlanta Hawks will have to wait at least another week for the returns of center Kristaps Porzingis and forward Zaccharie Risacher, the team announced Monday.,Both have missed the last five games, Porzingis with left Achilles tendinitis and Risacher with a bone contusion on his left knee...
Why Miami (OH) Is Not the Cinderella Everyone Wants Them to Be
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks are undefeated, but their résumé tells a much different story on why they will be exposed in March....

Suns eager for Jalen Green's return from injury, possibly on road against Nets
After being the centerpiece of the return package from the Houston Rockets for Kevin Durant in a blockbuster seven-team trade last July, Jalen Green experienced the Phoenix Suns' successful first half mostly as a spectator while patiently waiting for his strained right hamstring to heal.,Limited to ...

NBA roundup: Defensive-minded Lakers collect win over Raptors
Deandre Ayton scored 25 points with 13 rebounds and Luka Doncic also had 25 points as the host Los Angeles Lakers turned improved defense into a much-needed 110-93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night.,LeBron James scored 24 points as the Lakers won for just the second time in their past sev...

Kevin Durant passes Dirk Nowitzki, moves into sixth on scoring list
Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 18 points on Sunday night to pass Dirk Nowitzki and move into sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.,Durant made two free throws with 15.2 seconds left in Houston's 119-110 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans. That increased his career point total...

Hornets dominate from start, beat Nuggets for first time in nine tries
Brandon Miller scored 23 points and the Charlotte Hornets went wire-to-wire, leading by as many as 33 points in beating the host Denver Nuggets 110-87 on Sunday night.,Hornets rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner tied a career high with 17 points, while teammates Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel finished with 14 p...

Lakers clamp down on defense in win over Raptors
Deandre Ayton scored 25 points with 13 rebounds and Luka Doncic also had 25 points as the Los Angeles Lakers turned improved defense into a much-needed 110-93 victory Sunday over the visiting Toronto Raptors., ,LeBron James scored 24 points as the Lakers won for just the second time in their past se...

Deni Avdija sharp in return, sparks Trail Blazers in victory over Kings
Deni Avdija returned from a three-game absence to score a game-high 30 points, Toumani Camara shoehorned nine of his 17 points into a key second-quarter run and the Portland Trail Blazers held the host Sacramento Kings at arm's length through the second half for a 117-110 victory Sunday night.,Shaed...

Hornets dominate from the start, beat Nuggets for first time in nine tries
Brandon Miller scored 23 points and the Charlotte Hornets went wire-to-wire, leading by as many as 33 points in beating the host Denver Nuggets 110-87 on Sunday night.,Hornets rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner tied a career high with 17 points, while teammates Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel finished with 14 p...

Hot-shooting Coby White helps Bulls defeat Nets
Coby White scored 24 points Sunday night and canned a season-best seven of the Chicago Bulls' 20 3-pointers as they earned a split of a weekend home-and-home series with the visiting Brooklyn Nets via a 124-102 rout.,Five other players made it into double figures for Chicago, which connected on 52.1...

Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant power Rockets past Pelicans
Jabari Smith Jr. scored a season-high 32 points, Kevin Durant moved into sixth place on the career scoring list and Amen Thompson provided support with an all-around display as the Houston Rockets claimed a 119-110 victory over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.,Smith hit seven 3-pointers ...

Warriors look to stay hot on homestand with visit from Heat
The Golden State Warriors look to complete a highly successful homestand when they begin a back-to-back set in San Francisco with a matchup against the Miami Heat on Monday night.,Not sidetracked by a late Jimmy Butler scratch, the Warriors used strength in numbers to win their third in a row and fi...

Pistons host Celtics in battle of surprise East frontrunners
The Detroit Pistons weren't supposed to be the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics were supposed to be in a transition year after shedding salary last offseason.,Instead, they currently hold the top two spots in the standings. They'll have a showdown in Detroit on Monday night.,Th...

Ja Morant expresses desire to remain in Memphis after strong return
After making a strong impact in his return from a six-game absence in Sunday's 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant made it clear he wants to stay with Memphis.,"I've got a (Grizzlies) logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be," Morant said after th...

Thunder F Jalen Williams (hamstring) out vs. Cavs
The Oklahoma City Thunder ruled out forward Jalen Williams for their road game Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a right hamstring strain.,Williams exited Oklahoma City's 122-120 loss at the Miami Heat on Saturday night midway through the second quarter, with what the Thunder at the time...

Pacers, 76ers look for rebound after recent stumbles
After recent disappointments, the Philadelphia 76ers and visiting Indiana Pacers aim to pick up the pieces when they square off Monday.,Philadelphia had won six of its last eight games prior to dropping three of four over the past week.,The team had a pair of two-game series -- two road games with t...

Resurgent Klay Thompson, Mavericks visit frustrated Knicks
The Dallas Mavericks were able to win this past week without star rookie Cooper Flagg.,The New York Knicks haven't been nearly as successful in two-plus games without leading scorer Jalen Brunson.,Both teams hope their centerpieces will return Monday when the Knicks host the Mavericks in New York's ...

Spurs gear up for Jazz after narrowly averting collapse
It says a lot about the San Antonio Spurs' progress this season that recent postgame criticism centered not on winning and losing but on how their latest victory was accomplished.,The Spurs understand there are issues that need to be addressed entering their home game against the Utah Jazz on Monday...

Coming off rare loss, Thunder visit resurgent Cavaliers
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder haven't missed a beat, sitting atop the NBA standings past the midpoint of the regular season.,The next stop for the Thunder is a road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who carry a two-game winning streak into ...

Ja Morant dazzles in return, Grizzlies rout Magic in London
Ja Morant returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games with a right calf contusion and had 24 points and a season-high 13 assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday in London.,Morant, the subject of trade discussions ahead of the Feb. 5...