Basketball Page 127 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Mavs ride third-quarter outburst to win over Magic
Jaden Hardy scored 22 points and Anthony Davis added 15 to go along with seven rebounds, fueling the visiting Dallas Mavericks to a 101-92 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday.,Hardy sank 7 of 12 shots from the floor -- and 5 of 6 from 3-point range -- to lift the Mavericks to their third win ...

Suns, Timberwolves turn focus to defense ahead of matchup
Defense will be top of mind for both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns when the teams tip off Friday night in Minneapolis.,Minnesota (41-32) will return to the court after a three-day break. The Timberwolves spent some of that time in practice sessions watching film of recent defensive bre...

NBA teams with FIBA to explore European league
The NBA and FIBA will jointly explore the creation of a new professional league in Europe, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA secretary general Andreas Zaglkis announced on Thursday. ,Silver and Zaglkis made the announcement after the NBA board of governors meeting in New York and the FIBA execut...

NBA abandons All-Star tourney format
It's unclear what next year's NBA All-Star Game will look like, but commissioner Adam Silver said the league is "a bit back to the drawing board" as it moves away from the three-game mini-tournament that was implemented this season.,Speaking to reporters on Thursday following a board of governors me...

Bucks to face off against Knicks with stars missing
Two top-six teams in the Eastern Conference, both missing key stars, face off Friday night as the Milwaukee Bucks host the New York Knicks.,New York saw its two-game win streak come to an end on Wednesday as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers came back to win 126-113.,"They were fresh on two days of ...

Hornets, working on 'competitiveness,' visit Raptors
The Charlotte Hornets are headed north of the border on Friday, visiting the Toronto Raptors amid a stretch that has seen the Hornets lose five of their past six games. ,That includes three discouraging losses in a row. Since March 21, Charlotte (18-54) has suffered a 35-point loss to the Oklahoma C...

Warriors hopeful Stephen Curry can return vs. Pelicans
Stephen Curry's return cannot come soon enough for the Golden State Warriors.,And it looks like he'll be back when the Warriors visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.,Golden State coach Steve Kerr said Curry is officially day-to-day and will be listed as questionable Friday, but Kerr added,...

Clippers continue playoff push against woeful Nets
The Los Angeles Clippers still find themselves in a logjam in the Western Conference playoff race, and their performance of late eventually could help reduce the crowd around them.,The Clippers will attempt to strengthen their grip on sixth place in the West on Friday night when they visit the skidd...

Report: Warriors' Gary Payton II (thumb) out indefinitely
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II is sidelined indefinitely with a thumb injury, ESPN reported Thursday.,Payton tore a ligament in his left thumb during Tuesday night's loss to the Miami Heat, per the report.,He is averaging 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists through 58 games (11 star...

Lakers waive F Cam Reddish, sign G Jordan Goodwin to standard contract
The Los Angeles Lakers waived forward Cam Reddish and converted guard Jordan Goodwin from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract on Thursday.,Reddish, 25, averaged 3.2 points and 17.8 minutes in 33 games (eight starts) this season with the Lakers.,The former lottery pick has career averages of 8....

Report: Lakers waiving veteran F Cam Reddish
The Los Angeles Lakers are waiving forward Cam Reddish to make room for guard Jordan Goodwin, ESPN reported Thursday.,Reddish, 25, has averaged 3.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 17.8 minutes in 33 games (eight starts) this season with the Lakers.,The former lottery pick has career averages of 8.5 points ...

Sparks to retire Candace Parker's jersey on June 29
The Los Angeles Sparks will retire two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker's No. 3 jersey on June 29, the team announced Thursday.,The Sparks will play Parker's hometown Chicago Sky on that day.,Parker will join Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie (No. 11) and former player and general manager Penny Toler (No. 9) as...
Maryland’s Kevin Willard Is Winning—But Is He Staying?
Maryland head coach Kevin Willard has led the Terps to the Sweet 16, but his public push for more program support—and swirling Villanova rumors—have fans divided....

Coby White-led Bulls look to remain hot vs. Lakers
The Chicago Bulls are brimming with belief following a fruitful road trip as they return to Illinois to host the revitalized Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.,The Bulls (32-40) went 4-2 on their recently completed western swing, continuing their strong late-season revival that has reaped eight wins fr...

Reserve could play key role in Pacers-Wizards matchup
After a LeBron James buzzer-beating tip-in spoiled Indiana's prospect of a perfect homestand, the Pacers head on the road Thursday to meet the Washington Wizards.,Both Indiana and Washington are playing the second leg of back-to-back sets, coming off different results.,The Pacers (42-30) concluded a...

Celtics storm past Suns despite Jayson Tatum's absence
Kristaps Porzingis recorded 30 points and eight rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 24 points to help the Boston Celtics roll to a 132-102 dismantling of the host Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.,Porzingis and Brown each made four 3-pointers while playing just three quarters and Boston matched a season ...

NBA roundup: LeBron James' buzzer-beater lifts Lakers past Pacers
LeBron James tipped in the game-winning layup as time expired, giving the Los Angeles Lakers a 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Wednesday.,James, who didn't connect on a field goal until the fourth quarter, finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as the Laker...

Nikola Jokic returns from injuries, helps Nuggets put away Bucks
Nikola Jokic racked up 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his return to the lineup, Michael Porter Jr. had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 127-117 on Wednesday night.,Christian Braun added 19 points and 10 rebounds, Jamal Murray scor...

In thick of playoff fight, Grizzlies visit Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder's spot in the postseason pecking order is secure with 10 games remaining in the regular season. The Memphis Grizzlies, on the other hand, are fighting for playoff positioning.,Thursday night, the teams will square off in Oklahoma City.,The Grizzlies still have a shot at a t...

Kings look to stay in playoff picture as they host Trail Blazers
The Sacramento Kings are mired in a four-game losing streak for the second time this month, untimely skids that are hindering Sacramento's chances of gaining a Western Conference play-in berth.,The Kings will look to break through Thursday night when they host the Portland Trail Blazers, a team faci...