NBA Page 29 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
As Pelicans visit, Raptors must stack wins to guarantee top-six playoff spot
The Toronto Raptors will play beyond the regular season for the first time since 2022.,That is all they know for certain. They could finish anywhere from fifth to 10th in the Eastern Conference, so every game -- beginning with the one against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night -- is i...
Lakers return home from successful trip to face spiraling Nets
The Los Angeles Lakers received a welcome day off on Thursday following a six-game trip that saw the team solidify its third-place standing in the Western Conference.,Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, the Lakers will begin a three-game homestand with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday...
Blazers intent on improving playoff position in matchup vs. reeling Mavericks
The Portland Trail Blazers already have clinched a postseason berth for the first time in five seasons, even if it's just a spot in the play-in tournament.,Interim coach Tiago Splitter and his team want much more than that, however.,After winning five of its last six games to get back to .500 for th...
Nearly locked into play-in, Warriors try to improve seeding vs. Wizards
With a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament almost a certainty, the Golden State Warriors will look to improve their positioning down the stretch, beginning with a Friday date against the Washington Wizards in San Francisco.,Golden State (35-38) pulled out of a recent tailspin in which ...
NBA roundup: Hornets continue late surge, halt Knicks' streak
Kon Knueppel had 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on Thursday to help the Charlotte Hornets earn a 114-103 victory over the visiting New York Knicks.,LaMelo Ball added 22 points and Brandon Miller scored 21 for Charlotte, which won its fifth straight game. Coby White and Miles Bridges chippe...
Paolo Banchero's 30 points help Magic stop skid vs. Kings
Paolo Banchero had a team-high 30 points and combined with Desmond Bane for eight in a late 12-0 flurry that sent the Orlando Magic on their way to a 121-117 victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.,Bane finished with 23 points and Tristan da Silva 18 for Orlando (39-34), which ...
Hornets snap Knicks' win streak behind Kon Knueppel's big outing
Kon Knueppel had 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on Thursday to help the Charlotte Hornets earn a 114-103 victory over the visiting New York Knicks.,LaMelo Ball added 22 points and Brandon Miller scored 21 for Charlotte (39-34), which won its fifth straight game. Coby White and Miles Bridge...
Jalen Duren, Kevin Huerter lead Pistons past Pelicans
Jalen Duren dominated inside with 30 points and 10 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons won for the fifth time in six games by thumping the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 129-108 on Thursday night.,Duren added seven assists, two blocks and two steals for the Eastern Conference leaders.,The Pistons (53-20)...
Nuggets look to extend home surge with visit from Jazz
The Denver Nuggets struggled to win at Ball Arena for most of the 2025-26 season, but they are now taking advantage of playing at home during the stretch run.,Denver (46-28) has won five in a row on its court after a 17-13 home start and can make it six in a row when the struggling Utah Jazz visit F...
Rockets hope listless Grizzlies are cure for their recent skid
When the Houston Rockets visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, it will be difficult to know which team feels worse.,The Grizzlies (24-48) have lost 12 of their last 13 and taken lopsided losses in back-to-back games.,The Rockets (43-29) have lost four of their past six, including a heart-wrenching ...
Thunder look to keep pace in race for No. 1 seed vs. Bulls
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in a tight battle for the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs heading into Friday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls at home.,"It's very important and not just in the West, in the whole playoffs," Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We needed Game 7 at home against...
Thriving Jayson Tatum leads Celtics into battle vs. Hawks
Jayson Tatum will attempt to take another step forward in his return from surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon when the Boston Celtics try to cool off the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Friday night., ,Tatum turned in what was arguably his best performance of the season during Wednesday's 1...
Cavaliers see good process in bad result entering Heat rematch
The return of small forward Norman Powell to the starting lineup helped the Miami Heat end their five-game losing streak and move into sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.,A second consecutive road game against the fourth-place Cleveland Cavaliers is next for the Heat on Friday...
Bennedict Mathurin returns as surging Clippers visit Pacers
Looking to take advantage of a golden opportunity to bolster their play-in tournament status, the Los Angeles Clippers begin a two-game Eastern Conference road trip on Friday against the fading Indiana Pacers at Indianapolis.,Los Angeles (37-36) was all but written off in late December after beginni...
Bulls F Jalen Smith (calf), G Jaden Ivey (knee) done for season
Chicago Bulls power forward Jalen Smith and guard Jaden Ivey will miss the rest of the season due to their respective injuries, the team announced Thursday.,Smith aggravated his right calf while playing in just six minutes of Chicago's 157-137 setback to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.,He avera...
Pistons host Pelicans, looking to bounce back from rare loss
The Detroit Pistons had their four-game winning streak snapped by the red-hot Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. They'll look to start a new one when they host the lowly New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.,Detroit dropped a 130-129 overtime thriller at home to the Hawks. Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren both mi...
Doc Rivers defends Bucks' handling of Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury
A day after the National Basketball Players Association criticized the Milwaukee Bucks for their handling of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and his injury status, coach Doc Rivers on Wednesday defended his organization and the decision to not play his star.,"He's progressing," Rivers told reporters...
NBA roundup: Celtics end Thunder's 12-game winning streak
Jaylen Brown had 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help the Boston Celtics end the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder's 12-game winning streak with a 119-109 victory Wednesday in a game that featured the last two NBA champions.,Jayson Tatum added 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for...
Clippers jump out to big lead, hold Raptors at bay
Kawhi Leonard, Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin combined for 74 points as the Los Angeles Clippers routed the visiting Toronto Raptors 119-94 on Wednesday. ,Los Angeles (37-36) led nearly wire-to-wire on the way to their third consecutive win, pouncing on Toronto in the first quarter and never ...
Gui Santos' career game helps Warriors rally, extend Nets' skid
Gui Santos scored a career-high 31 points and Brandin Podziemski added 22 as the Golden State Warriors rallied to beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-106 on Wednesday night in San Francisco.,Golden State (35-38) won for the third time in its last 11 games, while Brooklyn (17-56) lost its ninth straight.,Kris...