Basketball Page 44 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

NBA gets OK to explore Las Vegas, Seattle expansion
The NBA Board of Governors gave the league approval to begin exploring bids for potential expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle on Wednesday.,The bidding process is expected to generate offers in the $7 billion to $10 billion range for each franchise, ESPN reported.,"Today's vote reflects our Boa...

Grizzlies G Ja Morant (elbow) out for season
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been ruled out for the remainder of the season because of an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his left elbow.,Morant appeared in just 20 games this season for the Grizzlies, who made the announcement on Tuesday night. The two-time All-Star sustained the injur...

Spiraling Mavericks face tall order vs. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
The Dallas Mavericks have fallen on tough times, and their season likely won't get any easier when they visit the surging Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.,Dallas (23-49) has lost four games in a row and 23 of its last 27 to plummet firmly into a lottery position with three weeks left in the season...

Called out for leaky defense, Cavaliers take aim at Heat
The Cleveland Cavaliers have won four games in a row and sit in firm possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference.,Still, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was in a foul mood Tuesday following the team's 136-131 victory over the Orlando Magic.,Cleveland will attempt to extend its winning streak...

NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic's triple-double, late shot lift Nuggets
Nikola Jokic scored 23 points in his second consecutive triple-double, and his jumper with 11.5 seconds remaining broke a tie and pushed the Denver Nuggets to a 125-123 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.,Jokic added 17 rebounds and tied a season high with 17 assists for his 29th triple-d...

Nikola Jokic's late hoop lifts Nuggets past Suns
Nikola Jokic scored 23 points in his second consecutive triple-double, and his jumper with 11.5 seconds remaining broke a tie and pushed the Denver Nuggets to a 125-123 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.,Jokic added 17 rebounds and tied a season high with 17 assists for his 29th triple-d...

NBA roundup: Hornets sink 26 treys, pummel Kings
Charlotte matched a franchise record by making 26 3-pointers, including Coby White's 6-for-8 performance off the bench, and the red-hot Hornets blasted the visiting Sacramento Kings 134-90 on Tuesday.,The Hornets earned its fourth consecutive win -- all of which have come by double digits -- and the...

Donovan Mitchell puts up 42 as Cavaliers best Magic
Donovan Mitchell scored 16 of his 42 points in the third quarter and James Harden had 26 points and seven assists, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 136-131 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.,Evan Mobley made all eight of his field-goal attempts and finished with 19 points,...

Jalen Brunson, Knicks push past Pelicans for 7th straight win
Jalen Brunson scored 32 points, Karl-Anthony Towns produced a double-double and the New York Knicks won their seventh consecutive game, defeating the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 121-116 on Tuesday night.,Towns finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks (48-25). OG Anunoby also scored 2...

Wolves, winning without Anthony Edwards, take on Rockets next
Bones Hyland is stepping up at the perfect time for the Minnesota Timberwolves.,Hyland will aim to maintain his hot shooting when Minnesota tips off against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. The teams are separated by a half-game in the Western Conference standings as the playof...

Hornets tie franchise record with 26 3s, crush Kings
Charlotte matched a franchise record by making 26 3-pointers, including Coby White's 6-for-8 performance off the bench, and the red-hot Hornets blasted the visiting Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, 134-90.,Charlotte (38-34) earned its fourth consecutive win -- all of which have come by double digits -- ...

Blazers' Toumani Camara gushes over career night; Bucks gashed by NBPA for tanking
Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara put on the greatest shooting exhibition in his career Monday night and described it as an out-of-body experience.,"I was feeling like Damian Lillard," Camara said of the injured Portland star known for his long-range shooting.,Only it really was Camara establishi...

Contending Raptors, Clippers out to boost playoff positioning
The Toronto Raptors close out a pivotal, five-game road trip on Wednesday against a Los Angeles Clippers team jockeying for positioning in the Western Conference postseason race. ,Toronto (40-31) can finish on the right side of .500 to conclude its swing, coming into Los Angeles off a 143-127 win on...

Down another regular, Warriors try to extend Nets' skid
The injuries keep piling up for the Golden State Warriors, who will be without yet another regular when they face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in San Francisco.,Moses Moody scored a team-high 23 points before sustaining a season-ending torn left patella tendon in Golden State's 137-131 overtime wi...

Victor Wembanyama, surging Spurs face depleted Grizzlies
The San Antonio Spurs are building momentum as the season winds down, a push that is putting pressure on Western Conference leader Oklahoma City.,San Antonio defeated the Miami Heat 136-111 on Monday for its sixth consecutive victory and 10th in 11 games. The Spurs (54-18) might be able to sneak a s...

Lesser-known players getting chance to impress Jazz, Wizards
For players trying to stick in the NBA, injuries have opened opportunities to make a splash with the Utah Jazz.,Utah has been getting meaningful minutes from players on 10-day contracts heading into Wednesday night's game against the Washington Wizards in Salt Lake City. The Jazz have been able to p...

Stars align as healthier Thunder, Celtics match up
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be seeking their 13th consecutive victory when they visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.,Oklahoma City, the defending NBA champion, had a franchise-record 16-game winning streak earlier this season and currently has the best record in the league (57-15).,"We do...

Report: Warriors G Moses Moody (knee) out rest of season
Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody's season is over after he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee on a noncontact play against the Dallas Mavericks, ESPN reported on Tuesday.,Moody, 23, was injured while attempting a dunk in the Warriors' 137-131 road victory on Monday night.,Golden State ...

Paul George back for Sixers' stretch run; Bulls up next
Following a lengthy suspension, Paul George returns to the court Wednesday when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Chicago Bulls.,Philadelphia (39-33) is looking to avoid the play-in tournament, but it has been a challenge playing without many of its key weapons in recent weeks. In addition to injuries...

Pacers get fresh start vs. Lakers with record skid over
The slate has been wiped clean ahead of Wednesday's meeting in Indianapolis, where the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers collide after both saw their recent streaks come to an end.,Indiana coach Rick Carlisle implored his players to "make a stand" after crashing to a 16th consecutive loss -- a f...