LOS ANGELES--Doc Rivers strolled into the room abnormally crammed with reporters Friday evening and could not resist.

"What the hell is going on with all these people?" Rivers said with a grin as he surveyed the group before taking his pregame questions.

But he knew. Most of those people were not in attendance for the coach or his Los Angeles ...Read more

Ivica Zubac worked all summer to make his body leaner and his game more effective in hopes that his third season in the NBA would be one during which he showed he belonged.

His body had other plans.

"I just got sick like three days before training camp as I was coming back before the (Croatian) national team," said Zubac, who turns 22 in March...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Villanova and Xavier spent much of their Big East game Friday night showing a difference in their offensive philosophies. The Wildcats relied on the 3-point shot while the Musketeers were more focused on going inside for their points.

In the end, it was the 22nd-ranked Wildcats' 3-point shooting, especially at a key stretch of ...Read more

DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons survived a 12-point third quarter and a nose injury to center Andre Drummond to gain a key victory Friday night.

Blake Griffin's near triple-double of 32 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists allowed the Pistons to escape with a 98-93 victory over the Miami Heat at Little Caesars Arena.

The Heat were missing guard...Read more

The roller-coaster week for rookie Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. continued Friday when a follow-up examination on his injured left thumb revealed ligament damage, which the team has recommended surgery to address.

The Bulls estimated his recovery and "return to sport time" at eight to 12 weeks. That likely would end Carter's promising rookie ...Read more

The Lakers medical staff has cleared Rajon Rondo to participate in full-contact practices as he recovers from hand surgery last month.

The team does not have an official practice scheduled for Friday in Houston, and will play the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

Rondo tore a ligament in his right ring finger on Dec. 25 in Oakland and had surgery ...Read more

Kansas junior forward Mitch Lightfoot plans on bringing an extra piece of protective equipment to Saturday's Big 12 battle against West Virginia: That is, a mouth guard.

"Definitely. I'm not going to let that happen again. Mom was pretty (upset) about that one," the 6-foot-8, 225-pound Lightfoot said with a smile, referring to his getting hit ...Read more

OKLAHOMA CITY -- When the stakes were at their highest, the young Los Angeles Lakers excelled and the veteran-laden Thunder crumbled.

The Lakers (25-21) beat the Oklahoma City Thunder (26-18), 138-128, in overtime, notching what is easily their most impressive win without LeBron James.

"Really proud of the way our guys just fought and fought ...Read more

DENVER -- Kris Dunn didn't need a team film session to know he played poorly his last game.

But that's when the guard, who has said becoming a more vocal leader is on his to-do list, decided to acknowledge his poor play, which bothered him spiritually more than statistically. So Dunn said something to his teammates, trying to show ...Read more

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Cassius Winston let it fly from deep behind the arc, nearly standing on the sideline next to coach Tom Izzo.

Swish.

Winston and Nick Ward provided the offensive punch, and No. 6 Michigan State's defense did the rest en route to a 70-64 road victory over Nebraska on Thursday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Spartans stifled ...Read more

INDIANAPOLIS -- This was a solid way to open a tough stretch.

The 76ers got a confidence-building 120-96 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The victory improved them to 30-16 and put them a half-game behind the Pacers (29-15) for third place in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers have also won two ...Read more

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. -- The Miami Heat fined guard Dion Waiters for conduct detrimental to the team Thursday, following his explosive comments about his lack of playing time after Tuesday's 124-86 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

"Obviously, it's not acceptable behavior, particularly coming off the type of disappointing loss we had the other night," ...Read more

The upcoming NCAA men's basketball Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium will cost the public millions more than the Super Bowl did last year.

After reimbursements, the cost of the Final Four to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) -- the public body that oversees the stadium budget on behalf of taxpayers -- is estimated at $10 million, ...Read more