Basketball Page 261 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

With wildfires as backdrop, Lakers set to host Hornets
Entering a stretch of nine consecutive games in their home state, with seven of those in their own building, the Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to play host to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday intent on fine tuning their new look amid trying conditions.,Devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles ar...

Giannis Antetokounmpo breaks Bucks' double-double mark vs. Spurs
Damian Lillard scored 26 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the visiting San Antonio Spurs 121-105 on Wednesday night.,Lillard also had eight assists, while Antetokounmpo added 16 rebounds and eight dimes for his 432nd career double-double, moving past Karee...

Surprising upstarts Rockets, Grizzlies to face off in Memphis
Jaren Jackson Jr. is growing accustomed to his role.,Jackson has seen an increased scoring responsibility while the Memphis Grizzlies contend with a rash of injuries, from star guard Ja Morant to key reserves Marcus Smart and Santi Aldama. Morant is closer to returning from his latest malady, a Grad...

Nuggets spread scoring around in easy win vs. Clippers
Jamal Murray had 21 points and nine assists, Russell Westbrook and Michael Porter Jr. scored 19 points each and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-103 on Wednesday night.,Julian Strawther contributed 16 points, Christian Braun added 15 and DeAndre Jordan had a season-high 12 p...

Trail Blazers knock off Pelicans for third time this season
Deni Avdija scored 26 points to lead a balanced scoring effort and the hot-shooting Portland Trail Blazers routed the host New Orleans Pelicans 119-100 on Wednesday night.,Avdija made 10-of-15 field-goal attempts, including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers, and the Blazers shot 54.5 percent from the floor and 3...

Karl-Anthony Towns stars in return, Knicks rout Raptors
Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart each posted double-doubles Wednesday night for the host New York Knicks, who snapped a three-game losing streak by gradually pulling away from the Toronto Raptors for a 112-98 win.,Towns, who was listed as questionable after missing Monday's 103-94 loss to the Orland...

Pistons go over .500 mark by beating Nets
Malik Beasley scored 23 points as the Detroit Pistons moved over .500 and pushed their winning streak to five games by defeating the depleted Brooklyn Nets 113-98 on Wednesday night in New York.,The Pistons led most of the way in winning for the eighth time in nine games and improved to 19-18 by bea...

Tyrese Maxey delivers late as Sixers get by Wizards
Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points, including the go-ahead basket with 24 seconds remaining, to elevate the undermanned Philadelphia 76ers past the visiting Washington Wizards 109-103 on Wednesday. ,Maxey's driving finger roll to break a 103-103 stalemate made up for the previous possession when the game...

Cavaliers take down Thunder in battle of NBA's best
Jarrett Allen collected 25 points and 12 rebounds to lift the host Cleveland Cavaliers to a 129-122 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in a battle of the top two teams in the NBA.,Evan Mobley contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Cavaliers, who have won 11 in ...

Pacers take control early, then finish off Bulls
Pascal Siakam scored 26 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Chicago Bulls 129-113 in Indianapolis on Wednesday.,Thomas Bryant added 22 points and eight rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton collected 16 points and 13 assists as the Pacers won their fourth straight game. Andrew Nembhard had 14 points, ...

Kawhi Leonard leaves Clippers, joins family amid L.A. fires
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard left Denver before the team's game against the Nuggets on Wednesday night due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.,Denver will be without center Nikola Jokic for the second straight game due to illness.,Leonard departed with the support of Los Angeles coach Tyronn...

Magic hope to have Paolo Banchero for clash vs. Wolves
Orlando Magic superstar Paolo Banchero caused a bit of a stir on social media Tuesday by saying that "the wait is almost over," presumably referring to his impending return from a torn right oblique.,The wait could finally end Thursday, when the Magic begin a three-game homestand against the Minneso...

Pelicans, again without Zion Williams, aim to get past Trail Blazers
Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray played together on the same team in a game for the first time on Tuesday night.,Having Williamson and Murray together on the court gave a glimpse of what the New Orleans Pelicans envisioned when they traded for Murray from Atlanta in the offseason -- even though t...

Pelicans to rest Zion Williamson (hamstring) vs. Trail Blazers
The New Orleans Pelicans have ruled out Zion Williamson for their game Wednesday night against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.,Williamson scored 22 points Tuesday in his return from a 27-game absence due to a strained left hamstring. He added...

Report: Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard stepping away from team
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is stepping away from the team to be with family members who were forced to evacuate due to the wildfires raging through the Los Angeles area, NBA reporter Chris Haynes reported Wednesday.,The Clippers listed Leonard (personal) out for Wednesday night's game at Denver.,Le...

Reports: Magic's Paolo Banchero returning from torn oblique
Orlando Magic star forward Paolo Banchero is expected to return to the court in either one of the team's back-to-back home games this week, ESPN reported on Wednesday.,Per multiple reports, Banchero will be upgraded to questionable to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday as he attempts to mak...
Trading Chet Holmgren Elsewhere Could Help Oklahoma City Thunder in Long Run
The Oklahoma City Thunder should trade Chet Holmgren now to help sustain their success atop the Western Conference longterm....

Norman Powell, Clippers aim to fluster Nuggets
Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell is off to a great start this season, and it could be even better if he played against the Denver Nuggets more often.,Powell is averaging 23.5 points a game overall this season, including 27 in three games against Denver. He'll get a chance to increase that av...

Pelicans bid to ride potent combination past Trail Blazers
Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray played together on the same team in a game for the first time on Tuesday night.,Both players have missed significant time due to injuries, but they gave a glimpse of what the New Orleans Pelicans envisioned when they traded for Murray from Atlanta in the offseason...

Sixers look to rebound at home vs. struggling Wizards
The Philadelphia 76ers will try to bounce back from a disappointing start to their three-game homestand by hosting the last-place Washington Wizards on Wednesday.,Philadelphia returned home after a successful, six-game road swing in which the Sixers won four, starting with the first three at Boston,...