Basketball Page 289 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Grizzlies' bench strength evident in victory over Kings
The Memphis Grizzlies got 60 points from their reserves and survived losing star Ja Morant to a late-game ejection in defeating the visiting Sacramento Kings 115-110 on Thursday night.,Marcus Smart had 18 points off the bench and starter Desmond Bane also scored 18 to lead the Grizzlies, who won the...

Nikola Vucevic puts up 39 as Bulls dump Spurs
Nikola Vucevic poured in a season-high 39 points and Ayo Dosunmu added a season-best 27 points plus a career-best 11 rebounds as the visiting Chicago Bulls defeated the San Antonio Spurs 139-124 on Thursday.,The Bulls led by 11 points heading into the fourth quarter after fending off a tepid San Ant...

Pelicans squeak past Suns, end nine-game losing streak
Brandon Ingram scored 29 points, CJ McCollum had 25 and the host New Orleans Pelicans ended a nine-game losing streak by defeating the Phoenix Suns 126-124 on Thursday night.,Trey Murphy III added 19 points, Dejounte Murray had 17, Herbert Jones 12 and Brandon Boston Jr. 11.,Devin Booker netted 28 p...

After slow start, Knicks run away from Hornets
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his 12th consecutive double-double to lead the host New York Knicks to an easy 125-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.,Towns racked up 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting overall to go along with 16 rebounds for New York, which had all five of its starters...

Jalen Williams, Thunder overpower Raptors 129-92
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Toronto Raptors 129-92 on Thursday night.,Jalen Williams added 20 points for the Thunder, who have won two games in a row and six of seven. Isaiah Joe contributed 16 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 reboun...

Cavaliers' 3-point barrage tops Nuggets despite Nikola Jokic's monster game
Nikola Jokic moved to No. 3 in career triple-doubles with 27 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists on Wednesday at Cleveland, but his Denver Nuggets couldn't withstand the host Cavaliers' 3-point barrage and lost 126-114 on Thursday night.,Jokic's 139th career triple-double broke a tie with Magic John...

Luka Doncic, Mavs dominate in handing Wizards 16th consecutive loss
Luka Doncic recorded his first triple double of the season and the visiting Dallas Mavericks routed the Washington Wizards 137-101 on Thursday night for their sixth straight win.,Doncic finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his 78th regular-season triple double.,Kyrie Irving scored...

Jazz, Trail Blazers square off hoping to quell turnover troubles
The Utah Jazz sure excel at giveaways.,Except these freebies aren't for their fans. It happens to be the opponents who are loading up and cashing in.,The Jazz will look to vastly cut down their turnovers as well as attempt to end a five-game losing streak when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers o...

Lakers' LeBron James (foot) questionable vs. Hawks
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has said he wants to play every game in his 22nd season, but he is listed as questionable for Friday's road matchup against the Atlanta Hawks with left foot soreness.,James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, has started all 22 games this season and is averaging 22.3 ...

Bucks' Khris Middleton likely to make season debut vs. Celtics
Three-time All-Star Khris Middleton is expected to make his first appearance of the season for the Milwaukee Bucks when they visit the Boston Celtics on Friday night., ,Middleton, 33, had surgery on both ankles in the offseason. He practiced Wednesday before a 119-104 loss to Atlanta ended Milwaukee...

Surging Hawks out to extend Lakers' recent woes
It's not hyperbole to say the Los Angeles Lakers are enduring one of their worst weeks in franchise history.,After a 109-80 road loss to the Timberwolves on Monday, Los Angeles was gashed by the host Miami Heat 134-93 on Wednesday, marking the team's worst two-game combined margin of defeat.,The Lak...

Spurs, eliminated from NBA Cup, attempt rebound without Wemby vs. Bulls
The San Antonio Spurs will look to regain their shooting touch when they host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday in an interconference clash.,It's the only time the teams will square off this year in the Alamo City, where the Spurs have dropped two straight to Chicago, and Victor Wembanyama is not availa...

Spurs rule out Victor Wembanyama vs. Bulls due to back soreness
Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama is out with a bad back and will not suit up Thursday when San Antonio welcomes the Chicago Bulls.,San Antonio officially dubbed the injury bilateral low back soreness in confirming Wembanyama was ruled out as a precaution. Zach Collins was expected to start in his pla...

76ers try to avoid two-game sweep to red-hot Magic
After coming up short Wednesday against Orlando, the Philadelphia 76ers will aim to regroup Friday when they once again host the Magic.,Orlando opened its two-game trip to Philadelphia with a 106-102 victory. Franz Wagner did the heavy lifting with 35 points, while the Magic harassed Sixers guard Ty...

NBA fines Rockets' Ime Udoka, Tari Eason, Alperen Sengun
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Thursday, two days following his actions during the team's 120-111 loss to the Sacramento Kings in an NBA Cup game.,Udoka was docked for confronting and directing profane language toward a game official, failing to leave the court ...

Bucks F Khris Middleton to make season debut Friday
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton will make his season debut Friday night in Boston, his agent confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.,The three-time All-Star underwent offseason surgery on both ankles and has been ramping up activity since being medically cleared to return last month.,Middleton, 33, r...

Toronto's WNBA franchise unveils name, logo
Welcome to the WNBA, Toronto Tempo.,The league's newest team, to begin play in 2026, revealed its name and logo on Thursday, with the franchise pointing to the city of Toronto for provided the inspiration.,"Tempo is pace. It's speed. It's a heartbeat. And it's what you feel when you step into the st...

Rockets, Warriors look to rebound from disappointing losses
The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors get a chance to do some hands-on scouting in preparation for their rematch in next week's NBA Cup quarterfinals when they go head-to-head in San Francisco on Thursday night.,The Rockets and Warriors both were unbeaten in their NBA Cup groups before suffe...

NBA roundup: Surging Hawks cool off Bucks
Wisconsin native Jalen Johnson scored 23 points and De'Andre Hunter added 20 to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 119-104 win in Milwaukee, ending the Bucks' seven-game winning streak.,Once again, the Hawks got scoring from many different places, with eight players scoring at least eight. Clint Capela gra...

Top offenses collide as Cavaliers face Nuggets
The Cleveland Cavaliers seek their first three-game winning streak since starting the season 15-0 when they host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.,Cleveland improved the league's best record (19-3) on Tuesday with a 118-87 blowout of the Washington Wizards in NBA Cup group play. Seven Cavaliers scored...