Basketball Page 32 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Report: Nuggets' Peyton Watson to return vs. Trail Blazers
Denver Nuggets swingman Peyton Watson is expected to return for Sunday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers following a 6 1/2-week absence due to a right hamstring injury, ESPN reported on Saturday.,Watson sustained the injury during Denver's 134-127 double-overtime loss to the New York Knicks ...

NBA fines Magic's Jalen Suggs $25K for throwing mouthpiece
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs was fined $25,000 for throwing his mouthpiece toward the stands during a game this week, the NBA announced on Saturday.,The incident occurred with 5:35 remaining in the first quarter of Thursday's 130-111 home loss against the Charlotte Hornets. Suggs receiving a tech...

76ers' Andre Drummond fined $25K for objectionable gesture
Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond was fined $25,000 for making an inappropriate gesture on the court, the NBA announced on Saturday.,Drummond made the gesture with eight seconds remaining in the third quarter of Philadelphia's 139-118 victory over the host Sacramento Kings on Thursday.,Drummo...

Jared McCain helping on both ends as rolling Thunder visit Wizards
After his season-high 26-point performance, it's easy to focus on the offensive side of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain.,Heading into Saturday's road matchup with the Washington Wizards, however, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault is focusing more on the defensive side of McCain's game sin...

Wizards G Trae Young (quad, back) does not need surgery
Washington Wizards point guard Trae Young is dealing with a right quadriceps contusion and lower back irritation, the team announced Saturday.,"Both injuries are being treated conservatively and will not require surgery at this time," the team said in a press release. "Further updates will be provid...

Rockets to utilize tweaked starting lineup vs. Heat
With the regular season drawing to a close and the Houston Rockets in search of consistency on offense, second-year guard Reed Sheppard was inserted into the starting lineup against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday in the first game of a back-to-back set that will cap a Rockets five-game homestand.,Shepp...
March Madness Blowouts Show Growing Gap in College Basketball
NIL spending and talent disparity are reshaping the NCAA Tournament—and hurting early-round drama....

Hawks pursue 10th straight home win in clash vs. Warriors
The Atlanta Hawks will look to stretch their home winning streak to 10 games when they return from a two-game road trip to face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.,The Hawks (38-32) had their season-long 11-game winning streak broken on Friday in a 117-95 loss at Houston, ending their longe...

After lengthy road trip, Suns look for bright spot vs. Bucks
Close games are becoming commonplace for the Phoenix Suns, who begin a four-game homestand against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.,The Suns (39-31) dropped their fourth straight game on Thursday after Victor Wembanyama hit a last-second jumper to give the San Antonio Spurs a 101-100 home victory.,P...

Grizzlies, facing daunting road to play-in, visit hot Hornets
The Memphis Grizzlies can't wait any longer to turn their season around.,The task could be difficult against the surging Hornets, however, when the teams meet Saturday night in Charlotte.,Memphis has lost nine of its past 10 games, including a 117-112 setback to visiting Boston on Friday night. The ...

Clippers hope trip to Dallas gets them back on track
While trying to overcome their worst stretch since reviving their season starting in late December, the Los Angeles Clippers will visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday while on a four-game losing streak.,The Clippers (34-36) reached a season-best two games over .500 on March 13 following a 7-1 run bu...

NBA roundup: Hawks' 11-game win streak snapped by Rockets
Kevin Durant scored 25 points in three periods as the Houston Rockets snapped the visiting Atlanta Hawks' 11-game winning streak with a 117-95 victory on Friday.,Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets, who blitzed Atlanta from the deep in the third quarter. Houston hit 6 ...

Battling for top-six spot, Sixers face youth-driven Jazz
Earlier this week, Joel Embiid was said to be close to a return from a right oblique strain.,But he didn't play against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday and he will be sidelined again on Saturday night when the 76ers face the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.,That raises the absences to 12 straight for E...

Jamal Murray's 31-point output lifts Nuggets in comeback vs. Raptors
Jamal Murray scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, Nikola Jokic finished with 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the host Denver Nuggets rallied to beat the Toronto Raptors 121-115 on Friday night.,Tim Hardaway Jr. went 7-for-10 from 3-point range and finished with 23 points...

Spurs look to extend winning streak while hosting hapless Pacers
The San Antonio Spurs carry a four-game winning streak as they continue their hunt for the top spot in the Western Conference while hosting the hapless Indiana Pacers on Saturday.,The Spurs (52-18) have captured 20 of their past 22 games, most recently a 101-100 decision at home over Phoenix on Thur...

Cavs rounding into form down the stretch, but feisty Pelicans await
The Cleveland Cavaliers can complete a perfect three-game road trip as their trek for higher seeding in the NBA playoffs continues on Saturday in New Orleans vs. the Pelicans.,Heading into the final 12 games of the regular season, Cleveland (43-27) already has clinched no worse than a spot in a play...

Celtics come back in 4th to hand Grizzlies another loss
Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Luke Garza added a season-high 22 -- including 11 in the fourth quarter -- and Payton Pritchard had 19 to lead the Boston Celtics to 117-112 victory Friday night over the host Memphis Grizzlies for their fourth consecutive win.,Derrick White contributed 14 points for t...

Luka Doncic takes high-scoring act on the road as Lakers visit Magic
Riding Luka Doncic's dominant stretch, the Los Angeles Lakers look to extend their winning streak to nine games when they visit the struggling Orlando Magic on Saturday night.,Los Angeles (45-25) has won 11 of its last 12 games and can make it nine consecutive victories for the first time since winn...

Jerami Grant hits clutch 3s to lift Blazers past Timberwolves
Jerami Grant scored 26 points on 10-for-16 shooting and the Portland Trail Blazers escaped with a 108-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis.,Deni Avdija added 25 points and eight rebounds for Portland, which won its third game in a row. Donovan Clingan registered a d...

Kevin Durant, Rockets halt Hawks' 11-game win streak
Kevin Durant scored 25 points in three periods as the Houston Rockets snapped the visiting Atlanta Hawks' 11-game winning streak with a 117-95 victory on Friday.,Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets (42-27), who blitzed Atlanta from the deep in the third quarter. Housto...