The Boston Celtics kicked off the toughest stretch of their remaining schedule with a decisive win Sunday in Cleveland.

Jayson Tatum kick-started Boston with a strong first quarter in his second game back from an Achilles surgery, and co-star Jaylen Brown finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics defeated the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Eric Musselman sat behind a microphone at the bitter end of a bitter regular season for USC, armed only with the same explanations for how a once-hopeful season could come so undone.

There were unfortunate injuries to point to, he said, and continuity issues to contend with. Then there was the pesky problem of Big Ten travel. ...Read more

MIAMI — The tanking debate is one that could well come to define the 2025-26 NBA regular season, with Commissioner Adam Silver as recently as Friday at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston acknowledging the perils for the league of the ongoing race to the bottom by several teams.

Mostly, though, the debate is about the tanking ...Read more

OKLAHOMA CITY — When the Warriors played against the Thunder at Paycom Center on Saturday, they went against a star in pursuit of history.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 20 or more points in 124 consecutive games, just two off tying the NBA standard set by former Warrior Wilt Chamberlain in 1963.

If one takes a quick flip through the NBA...Read more

ATLANTA — Things may have gone from bad to worse for the Philadelphia 76ers, after All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey left in the final seconds of Saturday’s 125-116 loss at the Atlanta Hawks with a finger injury on his right hand.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said during his postgame news conference that Maxey was set to get an X-ray. The ...Read more

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The right to extend their season and play postseason basketball was on the line when Pitt traveled to the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday afternoon for the 130th all-time meeting with Syracuse. It was win or go home and the Panthers didn’t want to go home just yet.

With an 71-69 win against long-time rival Syracuse (15-16, 6-...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS —The Timberwolves offense can click in and out of rhythm throughout the course of a game or season, but rarely has it come as screeching of a halt as it did in the second quarter of their 119-92 loss to the Magic. It tied their most lopsided loss of the season.

The Wolves scored only two points over the final 7 minutes, 3 seconds...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers won, Luka Doncic dominated and then the conversation moved forward, because even though a 128-117 win over the slumping Indiana Pacers on Friday counts all the same in the tight Western Conference standings, it doesn't say as much about the Lakers as what comes next.

Buoyed by four recent wins over struggling teams, ...Read more

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — A sellout crowd of 7,972, the first of the season, packed the Watsco Center Saturday afternoon and was treated to a thriller as the 22nd-ranked Miami Hurricanes, the most improved team in the nation, came 30 seconds from making history against Louisville.

A victory over the Cardinals on Senior Day would have been the 25th...Read more

MILWAUKEE — The UConn men’s basketball team saw its chance at a share of a record 12th Big East championship go by the wayside in Fiserv Forum on Saturday as it dropped its regular-season finale at Marquette, 68-62.

Silas Demary Jr. had a chance to tie the game with a layup in the final seconds and was met with contact at the rim, but no ...Read more

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri almost did it again, the recurring bit where it falls into a double-digit hole against a ranked opponent but comes back to win a gritty, physical game.

There was an opportunity at the end of regulation. A couple more in overtime.

But almost couldn't cut it on Saturday.

No. 20 Arkansas beat MU, 88-84, dealing the ...Read more

MIAMI — Women’s professional basketball player Arike Ogunbowale was arrested by Miami police Thursday morning at a downtown Miami nightclub for punching a security guard, police said. Ogunbowale and her teammates were celebrating their victory in the Unrivaled championship game just hours earlier.

A Miami Police Department report said ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic finished with 44 points despite not playing in the fourth quarter and the Lakers defeated the struggling Indiana Pacers 128-117 on Friday night despite LeBron James and Deandre Ayton not playing because of injury.

Doncic showcased his offensive wizardry from the start, joining Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West...Read more

DENVER — The Nuggets waited four months to get their starting lineup healthy. On its first night back together, it didn’t last half of the game.

Jamal Murray was helped off the court during the second quarter of Denver’s 142-103 loss to the Knicks on Friday. The 29-year-old point guard sprained his left ankle, the team said, after ...Read more

For weeks, the Miami Heat have been searching for a road statement, a victory away from Kaseya Center with substance.

For the entire season, the Heat have been searching for a comeback win on the road.

Mission accomplished ... and accomplished, with Friday night’s 128-120 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.

Rebounding ...Read more