Basketball Page 58 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Magic out to shore up defensive effort vs. improved Nets
Teams are finding it easy to score 120 points against the Orlando Magic in recent weeks, while other than a three-game lull last week, the Brooklyn Nets are showing defensive improvement.,Coming off a rough defensive showing, the Magic will attempt to avoid getting swept in a back-to-back set Wednes...

Sixers look to rebound vs. surging Wizards
The Philadelphia 76ers look to bounce back from arguably their worst performance of the season Wednesday when the Washington Wizards come to town.,The Sixers fell to the Nuggets 125-124 in overtime on Monday despite having virtually their entire team healthy and in uniform. Denver, meanwhile, was wi...

Hawks have added incentive to extend Pelicans' skid
A win for the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans could carry twice the value.,The Hawks own New Orleans' unprotected first-round draft pick and a victory would not only help Atlanta remain relevant in the playoff picture, it would also send the Pelicans crashing fur...

Mavs halt road skid, increase Kings' losing streak to 6
Brandon Williams connected on the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute and scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half to help the Dallas Mavericks post a 100-98 road victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.,Cooper Flagg had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Mavericks h...

NBA roundup: Grizzlies rally, nip Spurs on late block
Cam Spencer scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Santi Aldama blocked a potential game-winning shot by De'Aaron Fox with 5.2 seconds remaining to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night., ,Spencer gave the Grizzlies the lea...

Luka Doncic, LeBron James score 30 each as Lakers top Pelicans
Luka Doncic and LeBron James both scored 30 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the host New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Tuesday.,Deandre Ayton paired 18 points with 11 rebounds as Los Angeles finished strongly with a 32-17 fourth quarter.,Doncic also had 10 assists, while James had eight boards a...

Timberwolves' strong second half keeps Heat at bay for win
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points in 29 minutes, and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 122-94 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.,Jaden Daniels added 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting for Minnesota, which won its third game in a row. Julius Randle (15 points, 11 rebounds) and ...

Grizzlies come from behind to edge Spurs 106-105
Cam Spencer scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Santi Aldama blocked a potential game-winning shot by De'Aaron Fox with 5.2 seconds remaining to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night.,Spencer gave the Grizzlies the lead wit...

Rockets, Blazers upbeat heading into first of 2-game set
Two hot teams get together for the first game of a back-to-back when the Houston Rockets visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.,Both Western Conference teams have won five of their past six games. The second contest is Friday, also in Portland.,Houston star Kevin Durant may arrive with an ex...

Wizards keep rolling, thwart Magic comeback bid
CJ McCollum scored 27 points and Alex Sarr added 23 to go along with eight rebounds, fueling the host Washington Wizards to a 120-112 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.,Justin Champagnie had 17 points off the bench for Washington, which made 31 of 33 shots from the free-throw line.,Bilal Cou...

Cavaliers rally to hand Pacers franchise-record 13th straight loss
Darius Garland posted 29 points and six assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Indiana 120-116 on Tuesday night in Indianapolis, sending the Pacers to their franchise-record 13th consecutive loss.,Evan Mobley had 20 points and Jarrett Allen finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers,...

Warriors resume homestand vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Golden State Warriors fans will get a look at the prize atop their trade-deadline wish list when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks make their annual visit to San Francisco on Wednesday night.,Antetokounmpo put on quite a show in the California capital on Monday when he shoehorned 37 poin...

Lull has Thunder embracing 'challenge' with Jazz up next
The Oklahoma City Thunder made the early part of the season look easy. Not only with their 24-1 start, but their margin of victory.,Heading into Wednesday's home matchup against the Utah Jazz, though, the Thunder are looking to snap out of a rut.,After one of the best starts in NBA history, Oklahoma...

Knicks try to back up owner's belief with better play vs. Clippers
New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan spent Monday afternoon giving a rare interview in which he said he expected the Knicks to win the NBA Finals.,Hours later, the Knicks didn't exactly make Dolan look prescient.,The Knicks will look to snap their longest losing streak of the season Wednesday night when ...

Nuggets face another uphill battle against Celtics
Although the Denver Nuggets lead the NBA in points per game (124.3), field goal percentage (50.8%) and 3-point field goal percentage (40%), they may have a hard time scoring when they visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.,Denver once again will play without center Nikola Jokic, who is nursing...

Kings F Keegan Murray (ankle) out 3-4 weeks
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray is expected to be sidelined three-to-four weeks after sustaining a moderate left ankle sprain, the team announced Tuesday.,Murray sustained the injury during the third quarter of the Kings' 115-98 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. He had 12 points in 27...

Tyler Herro set to return as Heat face Timberwolves again
Tyler Herro is inching closer to returning to the Miami Heat.,Herro participated in Tuesday morning's shootaround and is expected to be on the court later that night against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.,Herro has been sidelined since Dec. 9 with a right big toe contusion.,"I just had t...

Heat's Tyler Herro cleared for return: 'I just had to get healthy'
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro participated in Tuesday morning's shootaround and is expected to be on the court later that night against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.,Herro has been sidelined since Dec. 9 with a right big toe contusion.,"I just had to get healthy, that's about it. Get my ...

Hornets look to build on win over champs, welcome Raptors
Feeling refreshed and revived from their recent travels, the Charlotte Hornets return home to face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.,Charlotte is 6-5 in its last 11 games, with no victory bigger than the one they pulled off over the defending champions Monday., ,"I think it just continues to show th...

Pistons embrace 'right mindset,' ready for Bulls
The Detroit Pistons delivered a statement victory in the opener of a six-game homestand and the Eastern Conference leaders look to continue their Central Division dominance when they host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday., ,Detroit and New York came into Monday's contest as the top two teams in the co...