Basketball Page 45 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Timberwolves get off schneid with 124-104 win over Pacers
Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.,Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which strengthened its hold on sixth ...

Mavs deny JJ Redick's claim of incorrect MRI on Austin Reaves’ injury
The Dallas Mavericks have denied Lakers coach JJ Redick's claim that their medical staff initially performed an MRI on the wrong part of Austin Reaves' body, leading to a second MRI and a delayed diagnosis of his oblique injury.,Reaves, Los Angeles' second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, had...

Bulls prez sees Billy Donovan as integral to future -- if coach wants to stay
The Chicago Bulls aren't looking to move on from Billy Donovan. Now it's up for Donovan to decide what his future holds.,Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf held a video call with media Tuesday and said the team's next front office hires must be "sold" on Donovan as their coach.,"If I intervie...

Report: Victor Wembanyama (rib) likely to return this week
While Victor Wembanyama is listed as doubtful for the San Antonio Spurs' Thursday home game against the Portland Trail Blazers, he avoided a serious rib injury and is expected to return this week, per an ESPN report.,The MVP candidate sustained a left rib contusion in the second quarter Monday when ...

Spurs likely without Victor Wembanyama with Trail Blazers in town
The San Antonio Spurs are likely to be without star center Victor Wembanyama as they look to stay in the hunt for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday in a game with postseason implications on both sides.,The Spurs (60-19) are guaranteed...

Nuggets eye 10th straight win as depleted Grizzlies visit
The surging Denver Nuggets are fighting for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference -- and fighting their porous 3-point defense.,Denver (51-28), which has won nine in a row, goes for the first 10-game winning streak in the Nikola Jokic era when it hosts the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. On...

LeBron James to sit, leaving Lakers short-handed vs. Thunder
The Los Angeles Lakers will hold LeBron James out of Tuesday's home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving the team extremely short-handed against the defending NBA champions.,James will not play due to injury management on a left foot injury that has persisted all season. The Lakers alread...

Report: LeBron James to sit, leaving Lakers short-handed vs. Thunder
The Los Angeles Lakers will reportedly keep LeBron James out of Tuesday's home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving the team extremely short-handed against the defending NBA champions.,James will reportedly not play for injury management on a left foot injury that has persisted all season...

Cavaliers host Hawks in potential playoff preview
The Cleveland Cavaliers have clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, where their likely opponent will be the Atlanta Hawks.,First, though, the teams have a home-and-home set to play, beginning Wednesday in Cleveland.,Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cavaliers (50-29) ...

Rockets signing G JD Davison to two-year contract
The Rockets are signing point guard JD Davison to a two-year contract, his agent confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.,Davison, 23, has been playing on a two-way deal, averaging 2.2 points and 7.1 minutes in 27 games off the Houston bench this season.,He averaged 25.2 points, 6.8 assists and 6.6 rebounds in...
Biggest NBA Playoffs Concerns for Contenders Outside OKC
NBA playoff preview breaking down key concerns for the Rockets, Cavaliers, and Lakers as the Thunder chase a repeat title....

Victor Wembanyama (rib) exits Spurs' win; prognosis unknown
San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama missed the second half of the Spurs' Monday game against the Philadelphia 76ers after sustaining a left rib contusion during a second-quarter collision with the 76ers' Paul George.,The status of the two-time All-Star moving forward was uncertain.,Wembanyama ...

NBA roundup: Magic continue playoff push with win over Pistons
Paolo Banchero scored 31 points and Desmond Bane added 25 as the Orlando Magic withstood a fourth-quarter rally and closed on a 14-2 run to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday.,Anthony Black contributed 14 points off the bench for Orlando, which won for the fourth time in the past fi...

Aaron Gordon's clutch shooting leads Nuggets' comeback over Trail Blazers
Aaron Gordon's clutch outside shooting helped the Denver Nuggets rally from being down by as many as 18 points to top the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime Monday.,Denver (51-28) trailed for nearly all of regulation before taking a 125-123 lead with 27 seconds remaining when Gordon...

Stephon Castle’s fifth career triple-double helps Spurs beat 76ers
Stephon Castle produced his fifth career triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to lead a balanced San Antonio attack as the host Spurs defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 115-102 on Monday.,The Spurs played the second half without star center Victor Wembanyama, who sat out with a left...

Cavs wipe out deficit, extend surge with win over Grizzlies
The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat the host Memphis Grizzlies 142-126 Monday night and secure the 14th 50-win season in franchise history.,Evan Mobley led the Cavs (50-29) with 24 points, while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists and Sam Merrell score...

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (shoulder) won’t return vs. 76ers
San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama will not play in the second half of Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers after suffering a left rib contusion during a first-half collision with the 76ers' Paul George.,Wembanyama went to the Spurs' locker room twice in the second quarter after...

Magic continue playoff push with win over Pistons
Paolo Banchero scored 31 points and Desmond Bane added 25 as the Orlando Magic withstood a fourth-quarter rally and closed on a 14-2 run to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday.,Anthony Black contributed 14 points off the bench for Orlando, which won for the fourth time in the past fi...

Jalen Brunson's huge fourth quarter powers Knicks over Hawks
Jalen Brunson hit the tiebreaking basket with 29.8 seconds remaining and prevented CJ McCollum from getting off a tying 3-pointer at the buzzer as the visiting New York Knicks outlasted the Atlanta Hawks for a 108-105 victory on Monday night in a possible playoff preview.,Brunson scored 17 of his 30...

Rockets, Suns fight for playoff position as Kevin Durant returns to Phoenix
Kevin Durant will make his belated return to Phoenix when the Houston Rockets play the host Suns on Tuesday.,Durant missed the first game between the two in Phoenix in November while attending to a family matter, but about the only thing that matters now is playoff positioning.,"It's going to be a h...