WASHINGTON — On back-to-back possessions, as a sizeable Laker lead threatened to buckle, Anthony Davis stepped in.

On the first, he launched a 3-pointer from the top of the key. On the next, he took a razor-sharp feed from Russell Westbrook and finished with an and-one layup that slowly circled the rim before finally falling in as Davis ...Read more

Ben Johnson entered Sunday's Big Ten opener with his Gophers basketball team shorthanded in the absolutely worst possible position going up against Purdue's physically imposing 7-4, 290-pound center Zach Edey.

Starting 7-foot center Treyton Thompson didn't make the trip to West Lafayette, Ind., because of an illness, so that meant even fewer ...Read more

At least for one night, the Knicks defense was revitalized and they didn’t need Donovan Mitchell.

Facing the player that got away in trade negotiations, the Knicks turned up the intensity and toppled the Cavaliers on Sunday, 92-81.

Mitchell, who destroyed the Knicks earlier in the season in Cleveland, was ho-hum with 23 points on 8-for-23 ...Read more

Friday night’s overtime loss to the Heat taught the Celtics that for as historic as their offensive is, they’re going to inevitably have off nights. And on those nights, they have to figure out a way to win.

Two nights later, they put that lesson to good use.

On Sunday night, the Celtics were not sharp, and at times played ugly basketball....Read more

NEW ORLEANS — Jose Alvarado stalked the court like he owned the city. Until that happens, he’ll have to settle for consuming the Nuggets.

The Pelicans’ precocious guard channeled his inner Steph Curry, caught fire and torched Denver during a 121-106 victory here Sunday. Alvarado knocked down eight 3-pointers en route to a career-high 38 ...Read more

LONDON — The Kentucky Wildcats couldn’t put away Michigan State in the Champions Classic last month. They couldn’t come close to toppling Gonzaga a few days later.

Turns out, all they had to do to beat a quality foe was cross the Atlantic Ocean.

The No. 19-ranked Cats defeated the Michigan Wolverines 73-69 on Sunday evening in London’s...Read more

First, appreciate that Erik Spoelstra stands these days far less rigid than when his rise among the NBA all-time leaders in coaching victories began.

He now utilizes zone defense to a staggering degree. While there still can be the occasional, as he calls them, “Hunger Games” practices, they are the exception. There is far more delegating ...Read more

A big question entering the Orlando Magic’s Saturday road game at the Toronto Raptors was whether guards Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz would be available with the matchup being the second night of a back-to-back.

They were, but the Magic suffered one of their worst losses of the season anyway, falling to Raptors, 121-108, at Scotiabank ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves were already down one of their two All-Star centers headed into their game against Oklahoma City.

Then for most of their 135-128 loss to the Thunder, they had to get by without both.

In playing their second game since losing Karl-Anthony Towns to a right calf injury, the Wolves lost Rudy Gobert to an ejection ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Andrew Wiggins doesn’t want the attention. But all eyes were on the Golden State Warriors wing Saturday evening in the Warriors 120-101 smackdown of the young Houston Rockets.

Wiggins had fans lunging out of their seats with every 3-pointer he took in a sizzling third quarter, during which he scored 17 of his season-high 36 ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The number of star players wearing expensive clothing rather than uniforms inside the Spectrum Center on Saturday was higher than usual, multiplied because the Hornets’ opponent, Milwaukee, was resting its All-Star and other key team members.

With the Bucks playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue ...Read more

CHICAGO — Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the first men’s basketball game between DePaul and Loyola, a made-for-Chicago rivalry that for years was an annual tradition.

But those days are gone, and after DePaul outlasted Loyola, 78-72, in overtime Saturday in a heart-pounding game at Gentile Arena, Ramblers coach Drew Valentine ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The participation of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in practice Friday wasn't a precursor to the injured stars' return, after all.

It only continued the pause surrounding their eventual returns, the All-Star duo watching in street clothes from the bench while their Clippers teammates were overwhelmed in a 123-96 loss Saturday ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The debut of freshman phenom Cam Whitmore added some extra energy inside Wells Fargo Center Saturday afternoon in what felt like a must-win game for a struggling Villanova men’s basketball team.

Caleb Daniels seemed to feed off it.

The Wildcats’ graduate senior led all scorers with 22 points, including a critical 3-pointer...Read more

There are a tragic number of instances when LeBron James can drive down most roads in America and see painful examples of racial inequality, but this one is a reach.

After a win on Wednesday night in L.A., the Los Angeles Lakers All-Star forward expressed disappointment over what he perceives as a continued double standard by media coverage.

...Read more

A game that has been years in the making is finally here.

Kentucky will face Michigan on Sunday as part of the Hall of Fame London Showcase, which will be the first time a college basketball game has been played in the city’s O2 Arena and will mark the first time the Wildcats play a regular-season game in Europe.

The matchup with the ...Read more