SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings found a way to overcome their 3-point shooting struggles over the first two weeks of the season, but not this time.

Norman Powell had 32 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 107-98 victory over the Kings on Friday night before a sellout crowd of 17,832 at Golden 1 Center in ...Read more

HENDERSON, Nev. — Tyler Bilodeau rose for a three-pointer that fell through the net while getting knocked to the court.

The UCLA forward and his team were on the verge of getting blown out midway through the second half in their first test of the season. If the Bruins were going to rally from a double-digit deficit, they needed to start here...Read more

DENVER — Jamal Murray’s return from the shelf was a soothing reminder to the Nuggets: Even if he is struggling, their starting lineup is better off with him in it.

Murray scored 28 points after missing the last three games with a concussion, and Denver’s top unit played some of its crispest offensive basketball of the season in a 135-122 ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In Las Vegas last summer, a veteran NBA coach spoke about the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to hire JJ Redick noting that nothing can prepare someone — an assistant, broadcaster, whoever — for the massive volume of decisions a head coach needs to make on a nightly basis.

Most of the choices are relatively small — what ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Dancing both beyond the 3-point line and on drives to the rim, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards delivered his team a three-game winning streak and a 6-3 record with nine 3s made and 37 points scored in Friday’s 127-102 home victory over Portland.

Edwards went 12 for 22 from the field and 9 for 15 on 3-pointers during a game ...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. — This much ballyhooed, much-anticipated, much-celebrated meeting Friday night between Kansas and North Carolina — one whose climactic 92-89 final in favor of the home team featured multiple late lead changes and a missed 3-pointer as time expired — seemed headed for a letdown, and looked for the longest time like the game ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — There’s something about home-cooking.

On a night when both sides were missing key starters due to injuries, the Magic led the entire game in their 115-88 victory over the visiting Pelicans at Kia Center on Friday night.

More importantly, coach Jamahl Mosley's squad snapped a five-game losing streak behind a game-high 27 ...Read more

DETROIT — Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder said he did not know much about the Detroit Pistons this season except that they have established a reputation as one of the hardest-playing teams in the league. Friday night at Little Caesars Arena, Snyder gained a better understanding, as the Pistons beat the Hawks, 122-121.

The Pistons nearly fell ...Read more

BOSTON — A 33-point outburst from Jayson Tatum and clutch overtime makes by Payton Pritchard helped the Celtics overcome a dreadful start and avoid their second straight home loss Friday night at TD Garden.

Tatum’s turnaround fadeaway with 1:19 remaining in the extra period proved to be the difference in a 108-104 victory over the Brooklyn ...Read more

If the Warriors were due for a stinker, the bill arrived in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers, the lone remaining undefeated team in the league, completely dominated Golden State, who never led in the contest. Former Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson’s group started 13 for 17 from 3 and built a commanding 40-point cushion in the first half.

Already ...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The ball hung on the rim for what felt like forever.

Finally, guard Zeke Mayo’s layup dropped through the net, tying the game at 89-all.

That’s how it went Friday night. Whenever the No. 1-ranked Kansas Jayhawks needed a bucket in their men’s basketball showdown against the No. 9-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, the ...Read more

Nic Claxton returned to the Nets’ starting lineup, seemingly for good, on Friday against the Boston Celtics. That meant Ben Simmons, who had started six games at center this season in place of a limited Claxton, came off the bench for the first time in 2024-25.

It was painfully obvious that Claxton, Brooklyn’s $100 million man, was not ...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — No. 7 Duke turned in another strong performance against an overmatched opponent Friday night, setting the Blue Devils up for next week’s first test against a ranked team.

Displaying lock-down defense while raining in 3-pointers, the Blue Devils rolled past Army West Point, 100-58, at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Having routed ...Read more

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators men’s basketball coach Todd Golden is under investigation by the school’s Title IX office for allegations of stalking, cyberstalking, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation by multiple women, including UF students, according to the school’s Independent Florida Alligator newspaper.

An alleged copy of...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Seated inside the gym at the John Wooden Center, Tyrese Maxey wore a compression sleeve on his right hamstring.

The 76ers All-Star point guard felt a little better Friday morning, two days after suffering the injury against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“It’s a little frustrating,” he said of being unable to play. “But at ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — For the immediate future, the 76ers are in a rough spot.

Friday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers will only be Paul George's third game back from a left knee bone bruise. Joel Embiid is out while serving the second game of a three-game suspension for his altercation with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes. And ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Villanova freshman Matthew Hodge has been ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA, and an initial waiver to change his eligibility status has been denied, leaving the school and Hodge with one last resort: an appeal, and a final decision is expected on Wednesday, the school announced in a detailed news release Friday afternoon...Read more

CHICAGO — For most of the game Thursday, the Timberwolves’ defense was absent from the United Center. The Wolves seemed resigned to attempt to outscore the Bulls, who were without guard Zach LaVine and playing on a back-to-back. After trailing most of the night, the Wolves came back in the fourth quarter for a 135-119 win.

They went on a ...Read more