Basketball Page 629 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Raptors end skid with drubbing of Wizards
OG Anunoby scored 26 points and Pascal Siakam added 22 points and a season-high 11 assists as the visiting Toronto Raptors snapped a three-game losing streak with a 132-102 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday....

Virginia dominates from start to cruise past Morgan State
Virginia wrapped up nonconference play with a hot start and a wire-to-wire 79-44 home victory over Morgan State on Wednesday night in Charlottesville, Va....

Former Bucks owner Herb Kohl dies at 88
Former Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl, who was also once a Democratic U.S. senator from Wisconsin, died Wednesday. He was 88....

Lakers, Hornets meet, each with an eye toward 2024
A pair of teams anxious to move on to a new calendar year will meet Thursday when the Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Charlotte Hornets....

Texas Tech tries to maintain momentum vs. Sam Houston
Texas Tech revs back up with some momentum and an eye on improving as Sam Houston visits Lubbock, Texas, on Thursday for both teams' final game of the 2023 calendar year....

Pelicans host Jazz, aim to reverse troubling trends
The New Orleans Pelicans have done poorly in every game that has been decided by three or fewer points....

After much-needed win, Trail Blazers host scuffling Spurs
The Portland Trail Blazers will look to carry momentum forward from a rare win when they host the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Thursday in the first meeting of the season between the bottom two teams in the Western Conference....

Suns C Jusuf Nurkic returns after two-game absence
Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was back with the team Wednesday after missing the previous two games following the death of his uncle....

On the road again, USC opens Pac-12 play at Oregon
Southern California and Oregon open the Pac-12 Conference slate Thursday when the Ducks host the Trojans in Eugene....

Nuggets without key piece against surging Grizzlies
The Denver Nuggets have won their past four games but will have to overcome the loss of Aaron Gordon to continue their streak....

Rebuilding UCLA in search of confidence vs. Oregon St.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin is not one to sugarcoat anything, especially when his team is struggling....

Standout rookies bump heads as Heat face Warriors
One of the league's best road teams encounters a hot home squad when the Miami Heat open a five-game trip with a matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night in San Francisco....

No. 8 Kentucky aims to stay hot from deep vs. Illinois State
Of all the good signs No. 8 Kentucky has provided its fans in a 9-2 start, its ability to shoot well and often from long range might be its best....

Andre Drummond the center of attention as Bulls host Pacers
Veteran center Andre Drummond made his first start with the Chicago Bulls this week and the plan looks to continue as Nikola Vucevic misses time with a groin injury....

As record losses mount, Pistons face NBA-best Celtics
The Detroit Pistons are stuck in reverse and will attempt to win their first game since Oct. 28 when they face the Boston Celtics on the road Thursday....

With Purdue test looming, Maryland hosts Coppin State
Maryland's winning streak at home, now more than a year old, gets the ultimate test on Jan. 2 when the Terrapins host No. 1 Purdue....

No. 9 North Carolina looks to light up Charleston Southern
No. 9 North Carolina has experienced plenty since last playing a home game earlier this month....

If you’re thinking Ja Morant is going to rebrand, think again
Ja Morant hasn’t skipped a beat since his return to the Memphis Grizzlies lineup a week ago. The city of Memphis couldn’t be happier. Without Morant in, the Grizzlies’ holes were glaring. In his absence, Desmond Bane tried valiantly to hold down the fort, but the offense was abysmal without his back...

No. 1 Purdue keeps guard up ahead of clash vs. E. Kentucky
Although No. 1 Purdue has played a tough non-conference schedule this season, head coach Matt Painter said games against lesser-known opponents have provided a different sort of challenge....

NBA signs off on Cuban's sale of Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks officially have a new owner as the NBA approved Mark Cuban’s sale of the franchise to Miriam Adelson and her family on Wednesday....