Basketball Page 10 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Injury-plagued Lakers look to regroup vs. Warriors
The foundation is crumbling fast around the Los Angeles Lakers, who looked like championship contenders after going 15-2 last month.,The Lakers (50-29) now find themselves pressed to find enough healthy players for their next matchup against the host Golden State Warriors (37-42) on Thursday night.,...
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers keep Hawks from clinching playoff bid
Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points and a career-high-tying 19 rebounds, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-116 win over the visiting Atlanta Hawks in a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview Wednesday night.,James Harden put up 21 points on 6-of-23 field-goa...
Jalen Duren, Pistons cruise past Bucks
Jalen Duren scored 21 points with nine rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 137-111 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.,Detroit (58-22), already the owner of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, bounced back from a loss against Orlando on Monday and won its fourth game ...
Magic continue playoff push with win over Timberwolves
Paolo Banchero had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Orlando Magic beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120 on Wednesday for their fourth consecutive victory.,Desmond Bane scored 18 points and Franz Wagner added 17 for Orlando (44-36), which moved into seventh place in the tig...
Rockets fight to keep win streak going, next take on inconsistent 76ers
In the blink of an eye, all the Houston Rockets gained during their six-game winning streak entering Tuesday seemed lost when the Phoenix Suns assertively seized momentum early with a 24-0 surge.,The Rockets had climbed to within range of the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and carved out a dec...
Young guns trying to impress as Pacers, Nets compete for lottery balls
A game between the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets can be viewed as a race to obtain better draft lottery odds.,It can also be viewed as two teams with young players trying to make favorable impressions on teams to stay in the NBA.,Both things are factors Thursday night when the Pacers visit the Ne...
Wizards looking to snap 7-game skid, avenge recent defeat vs. Bulls
The Chicago Bulls snapped a seven-game losing streak at the expense of the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.,Losers of seven in a row themselves, the NBA-worst Wizards will love nothing more than to return the favor Thursday when the teams reconvene in Washington, D.C.,Rob Dillingham scored a career-hi...
Raptors hope to tighten hold on playoff spot with sweep of Heat
The Toronto Raptors aim to tighten their hold on a playoff spot Thursday night when they go for a sweep of the season series against the visiting Miami Heat.,Toronto earned a 121-95 home victory Tuesday in the first of back-to-back games with the Heat.,That left the Raptors (44-35) in the sixth play...
Spurs without Victor Wembanyama with Trail Blazers in town
The San Antonio Spurs will be without star center Victor Wembanyama as they look to keep alive their slim shot at home-court advantage throughout the playoffs when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday in a game with postseason implications on both sides.,The Spurs (60-19) are guaranteed...
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle out vs. Blazers
Spurs stars Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle were ruled out for Wednesday's home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.,Both had been listed as doubtful. Wembanyama has a left rib contusion from a collision with Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George that caused him to miss the second half of ...
Bucks coach Doc Rivers hints at potential retirement
Asked before Tuesday's game against Brooklyn about how much longer he plans to stay in coaching, Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers gave a seemingly pointed answer to his near future.,"I won't answer that, but I have grandkids that I want to see," Rivers. "I'll put it that way. And so, I'll let you fi...
Report: Pistons' Cade Cunningham (lung) to return vs. Bucks
Detroit Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham is expected to make his return to the court on Wednesday against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, ESPN reported.,Cunningham has been recovering from a collapsed left lung, an injury sustained on March 17 in a contest against the Washington Wizards. He has ...
Suns, bound for play-in tournament, take on Cooper Flagg, Mavs
The Phoenix Suns spent the first 79 games of the NBA season in a vain attempt to lock up a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs.,Their task now is to hang on to postseason spot No. 7.,The Suns (43-36) blew a 21-point lead and were crushed 55-34 on the boards in a 119-105 home loss to Hous...
Thunder eager to clinch top spot in West in visit to Clippers
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder can clinch the top playoff seed in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Inglewood, Calif.,The Thunder (63-16) are red-hot heading toward the playoffs with an 18-1 record in their l...
Pistons intent on sharpening skills in home finale vs. Bucks
The top seed and home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs already is locked up. ,The Detroit Pistons now can gear up for what they hope is an extended postseason run while trying to avoid a major injury.,They'll host the Milwaukee Bucks in their final regular-season home game ...
Wolves clinch playoffs; Magic try to make play-in spot disappear
The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched their spot in the Western Conference playoffs with their win and a loss by the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.,The postseason picture isn't nearly as clear for the Orlando Magic, who will host the Timberwolves on Wednesday.,Minnesota (47-32) holds the sixth position in t...
NBA roundup: Wolves down Pacers, subsequently clinch playoff berth
Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.,Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which sits in sixth place in the West...
Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans set scoring marks in rout of Jazz
Rookie Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high 40 points and Jordan Poole added 22 of his 34 points in a decisive third quarter as the New Orleans Pelicans closed out their home schedule with a 156-137 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.,Rookie Micah Peavy scored a career-high 20 points, Jordan Hawki...
Rockets escape 21-point hole, down Suns to tie for 4th in West
Kevin Durant had 24 points and five 3-pointers in his return to Phoenix and the Houston Rockets overcame a 21-point deficit for their largest comeback of the season, producing a 119-105 victory over the host Suns on Tuesday.,Amen Thompson logged 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and Jabari Sm...
Timberwolves end skid with win over Pacers, clinch playoff berth
Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.,Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which strengthened its hold on sixth ...