LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers were basically back to being completely healthy Thursday night, and that allowed them to showcase their depth, with six players scoring in double figures.

The right knee injury management that sidelined Kawhi Leonard the last two games allowed him to face the hapless Washington Wizards in a dominant 110-...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors allowed just 42 points in the second half, pulling away from the Chicago Bulls by applying tenacious ball pressure and raining 3-pointers in a 131-106 win here.

Golden State, back at .500, separated from the similarly mediocre Bulls behind a pair of unsung contributions.

For a second straight game, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A three-pointer, a dunk, a free throw, whatever, it didn’t matter. No matter who scored or how, the Los Angeles Lakers were down one against the Boston Celtics.

The score that matters most whenever the Lakers play the Celtics this season, at least in terms of their rivalry, is 18-17. Boston took that lead last June when they ...Read more

DENVER — Not even the miracle shot of his life was enough to earn Nikola Jokic the fourth quarter off.

Jokic buried a one-handed, 66-foot heave at the third-quarter buzzer to give the Nuggets a 25-point lead that almost disappeared Thursday night in a 132-123 win over the visiting Sacramento Kings.

Winners of 10 in their last 11 coming into ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — On the night that saw rising star forward Franz Wagner make his long-awaited return to the court, nothing came easy for the Magic against the visiting Trail Blazers.

Although Portland entered 13th in the West and with only 15 wins on the season, it left Kia Center with its 16th victory, 101-79, behind 21 points from Anfernee ...Read more

MIAMI — Two distinct varieties of drama were on display Thursday night at Fiserv Forum.

For the Miami Heat, it was a stupor-like daze in the wake of yet another Jimmy Butler suspension, personified by the end of the first half in the 125-96 loss, the team’s fifth in their last six games.

For the Milwaukee Bucks, it was playoff-level ...Read more

NEW YORK — Pack your bags. It’s time to head out West.

The New York Knicks will have not one, but two players named to the starting lineup for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb 16.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were named Eastern Conference starters, the NBA announced on Thursday night.

The All-Star vote ...Read more

DENVER — Nikola Jokic will spend the last days of his 20s in the Bay Area.

Jokic is going to his seventh consecutive NBA All-Star Game in February, the league announced Thursday. Denver’s star center was voted in as one of three Western Conference frontcourt starters.

The 2025 game will take place Feb. 16 at Chase Center in San Francisco, ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry was named an All-Star starter, cementing his 11th career selection.

With the festivities coming to the Bay Area for the first time since 2000, All-Star weekend is set up to be a celebration of Curry’s career and accomplishments. The four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP remains one of the most popular players ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — Just when you thought Jimmy Butler v. Miami Heat had traversed every pathway of the absurd came background issued Thursday, a day after the Heat suspended Butler for two games for missing a team flight.

As for the rest of the story?

That followed from a subject line of: Jimmy Butler unexpectedly attends Reserve Cup Draft Dinner ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — The delicate dance continued for the Miami Heat at Thursday morning’s shootaround at Fiserv Forum, the ongoing discussion about Jimmy Butler’s absences amid the team stressing in advance that coach Erik Spoelstra would not be taking questions on the subject.

So a few more zigs, a few more zags, and the reality that Butler ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — At one point Tuesday night, Dan Hurley was so thrilled to see a play made, he ran over to the scorer’s table and planted a kiss on Aiden Mahaney, who was waiting to check in.

At another point, he put his arms around both Butler coach Thad Matta and referee Pat Driscoll.

At another, the FS1 cameras caught him barking at a ...Read more

The Kings overcame an 18-point deficit to remain unbeaten at home under interim coach Doug Christie with a wild 123-117 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points to lead the Kings (23-20), who improved to 10-2 overall and 7-0 at home since Christie took the helm after ...Read more

ATLANTA — Like the rest of the city of Atlanta, the frigid temperatures infiltrated State Farm Arena on Wednesday. The Hawks could not buy a bucket despite attempting 38 shots from deep and it sucked the life out of their efforts to the quickly rising Detroit Pistons.

The Hawks fell 114-104, dropping their second meeting of the series in what...Read more

DENVER — If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, Nikola Jokic believes. And in this case, it’s only sprained.

Jokic has used a shooting sleeve on his right arm three consecutive games after sustaining a mysterious elbow injury last Wednesday, purportedly while warming up for a game against Houston that night — even though he was already ...Read more

ATLANTA — Leaving Houston was an event for the Detroit Pistons. Due to an uncommon winter storm, the Pistons spent Monday night in Birmingham, Ala., before they arrived in Atlanta the following day. Before getting to Atlanta by bus, the Pistons made a pit stop at Buc-ee's.

An unorthodox travel schedule can typically cause a team's production...Read more

NEW YORK — This season was supposed to be about player development. While Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns handed the Nets their fifth straight loss on Wednesday at Barclays Center, 108-84, fans could see flashes of the future.

Brooklyn was once again decimated by injuries entering the night. D’Angelo Russell, Ben Simmons and five other ...Read more

DALLAS – If there was ever a time for the Minnesota Timberwolves to face the Dallas Mavericks on the road, it was Wednesday. Luka Doncic was still out because of a calf injury he suffered when the teams last met on Christmas Day. Center Dereck Lively II is also out for multiple months because of a foot injury. Klay Thompson was also watching ...Read more

After the Warriors beat Jordan Poole and the Wizards at Chase Center last weekend, Poole’s comments about how he loves “most of the guys over there” reverberated through Golden State’s locker room.

At least they reached Draymond Green.

Green, who infamously punched Poole in a preseason practice before the 2022-23 season, publicly ...Read more