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Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Magic fall to Grizzlies in closing seconds

Sports / Basketball /

ORLANDO, Fla. — On a night when the Magic and Grizzlies were each playing in the second game of a back-to-back after traveling, Memphis outlasted Orlando on the road.

Despite a combined 63 points from Franz Wagner (25), Paolo Banchero (21) and Cole Anthony (17), Orlando was unable to find a way late to stave off Memphis at Kia Center on ...Read more

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images North America/TNS

Heat get first win in post-Butler era in 120-111 overtime escape in Toronto

Sports / Basketball /

TORONTO – The first step came Friday night, the Miami Heat showing they can win with their new mix.

So, now, the first victory since Jimmy Butler was dealt and the first since Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell were acquired.

A small step for Erik Spoelstra’s team, but a necessary one with this 120-111 overtime victory over the Toronto ...Read more

Daniel Mears/The Detroit News/TNS

Second-half surge powers Michigan State past rival Michigan, into Big Ten lead

Sports / Basketball /

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The play was intense. The atmosphere was electric. The stakes were high.

In a rivalry clash with first place in the Big Ten on the line, No. 14 Michigan State rode a big performance from its backcourt and a strong second half past No. 12 Michigan for a 75-62 win on Friday at Crisler Center.

Jase Richardson scored 21 and ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

The Sixers are still building trust as they stare down a critical stretch run

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — With 27 games remaining on the schedule, the 76ers are still working on building trust as a unit.

After Thursday’s loss to the Celtics, in which Boston shot 44.4% from three-point range on 54 attempts, Tyrese Maxey said the team’s struggles on defense are the result of a lack of trust across the board.

“When you guard ...Read more

Elsa/Getty Images North America/TNS

East-leading Cavaliers romp over Knicks, 142-105

Sports / Basketball /

Jalen Brunson knew the challenge posed by the Eastern Conference’s No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

He knew they were a high-octane offense among the league leaders in 3-point efficiency, an area the Knicks have struggled defending this season. He knew Cleveland’s dual big lineup of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley wreaks havoc in the paint, ...Read more

Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Hornets' Mark Williams addresses latest chatter surrounding nixed trade to Lakers

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — Sporting colorful jeans along with a black jacket, Mark Williams’ attire was a little different than the gear he had on 24 hours earlier.

Instead of matching up with Nikola Jokic on the night the three-time MVP received a piece of hardware commemorating the Denver star winning the Western Conference player of the month honors for ...Read more

Kansas coach Bill Self addresses report he spoke with Oklahoma State about job vacancy

Sports / Basketball /

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Oklahoma State University athletics officials spoke to Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self about the Cowboys’ head-coach opening last spring, the Jayhawks coach confirmed Friday afternoon.

Berry Tramel of the Tulsa World had earlier on Friday reported that Self, an OSU graduate, “seriously considered” an offer to ...Read more

Robin Buckson/The Detroit News/TNS

Michigan, basketball coach Dusty May reach agreement on contract extension

Sports / Basketball /

Michigan basketball coach Dusty May has made an impression in his first year at the helm.

And the Wolverines made sure he won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced Friday that the university and May have agreed to a contract extension. Terms of the deal weren't provided.

"I am excited to announce ...Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Don't ask Nikola Jokic about turning 30, even if his game is aging like wine: 'It makes me feel sad'

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — When it comes to gifts, Nikola Jokic is a man of simple tastes. He doesn’t want much, and he didn’t receive much on Wednesday when he begrudgingly celebrated his 30th birthday.

But he did appreciate the tea collection he got from one of the Nuggets’ new team security officials. The reigning MVP has been known to occasionally ...Read more

Chris Gardner/Getty Images North America/TNS

Sam McDowell: 'As frustrating as it's been for me': Here's what's ailing Bill Self and Kansas basketball

Sports / Basketball /

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The door slides open to a second-floor entrance hall inside Allen Fieldhouse, showcasing a lobby full of trophies so abundant that you’d probably need to count them twice to ensure you got the number right.

It doubles as a waiting room for Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self’s colorful and vast office, where, inside...Read more

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images North America/TNS

Matt Calkins: The NBA's return to Seattle may seem inevitable. Here's why it isn't.

Sports / Basketball /

SEATTLE — I used to live in a four-bedroom house in Los Angeles with a friend who was tasked with finding potential roommates. One day a young man stopped by and seemed instantly smitten with the space.

He said he was in, and told my buddy he'd bring him the first month's rent the next day.

"Sounds like we got a new roomie," I said.

My ...Read more

Alika Jenner/Getty Images North America/TNS

With Luka Doncic out, LeBron James and Austin Reaves lead Lakers past Portland

Sports / Basketball /

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for answers when it comes to maximizing their star trio. For the star duo of LeBron James and Austin Reaves, things were a little less cluttered Thursday night as the pair took turns dragging the Lakers to a much-needed win after awful back-to-back losses.

James and Reaves made the biggest ...Read more

Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America/TNS

No. 20 Maryland men's basketball stays hot, sprints past USC, 88-71

Sports / Basketball /

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Early in Maryland men’s basketball’s game against Southern California, Derik Queen had a chance for a fast-break dunk before banging the ball off the back rim and out.

That missed opportunity was one of few miscues made by the No. 20 Terps as they had too much firepower to be contained by the visiting Trojans in an 88-...Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Troy Renck: Nuggets' Nikola Jokic dominates game with brain, just like Peyton Manning

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — The genius of Nikola Jokic is not told by statistics. It lies in his mind.

As the Nuggets began the second half of their season Thursday night, it finally hit me. Jokic is an all-time great not because he operates like Larry Bird and Bill Walton, but rather Peyton Manning.

Think about the similarities.

Jokic is not an athletic ...Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Nuggets move past Grizzlies into second place in West with ninth consecutive win

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — The Nuggets’ win streak survived the threat of an All-Star break hangover. Its next obstacle is Luka Doncic in purple and yellow.

Jamal Murray scored 34 points, and Denver held off the Hornets on Thursday night at Ball Arena, 129-115, in the team’s return from the league-wide break. Nikola Jokic added 29 points, 17 rebounds and ...Read more

Sarah Stier/Getty Images North America/TNS

NBA-best Cavaliers storm past Nets, 110-97

Sports / Basketball /

NEW YORK — The Nets had the No. 1 defense in the NBA over their last 10 games entering the All-Star break and didn’t skip a beat at that end of the court on Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But offense remained a struggle throughout in their 110-97 loss against the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference at Barclays Center.

Cam Thomas...Read more

Al Bello/Getty Images North America/TNS

Knicks hold on for 113-111 overtime victory vs. Bulls

Sports / Basketball /

NEW YORK — A close overtime victory barely compensates for a glaring Knicks flaw on display at Madison Square Garden.

All-Stars Jalen Brunson (22 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (32) combined for 54 points, and Mikal Bridges came up with a massive block on Bulls center Nikola Vucevic to force overtime in New York’s 113-111 victory over the ...Read more

Jason Getz/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS

Magic outlast Hawks behind Paolo Banchero's 36 points

Sports / Basketball /

ATLANTA — When the Magic and Hawks met in the second-to-last game before the NBA All-Star break, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner combined for 68 points in a six-point loss at Kia Center.

Thursday night at State Farm Arena, however, the Magic took advantage of the scoring spree from their star duo in their first game coming out of the league. ...Read more

Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

La Salle coach Fran Dunphy, 'Mr. Big 5,′ to retire from coaching at the end of the season

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — Fran Dunphy, the winningest coach in Big 5 history, will retire from coaching at the end of the 2024-25 basketball season, La Salle announced Thursday.

Dunphy, 76, will finish his third season leading La Salle, his alma mater, at next month’s Atlantic 10 men’s tournament. He will then assume the role of special assistant to...Read more

David Berding/Getty Images North America/TNS

Jim Souhan: What Chris Finch must do for Wolves to win

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — This Timberwolves team is disappointing, and promising.

Talented, and oddly fitted.

Deep, yet confusing.

Injured, but healing.

Capable of beating the beat team in the league — which happened last week — and of losing to lousy teams, which has happened far too frequently.

As the Timberwolves begin the post-All-Star ...Read more