SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings issued a statement expressing their condolences after a fan died Monday night during their nationally televised game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Golden 1 Center.

The Kings were playing the Pelicans in an In-Season Tournament game on TNT when the fan experienced a medical emergency just before ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Conventional wisdom is that the first checkpoint of the NBA season occurs at the 20-game mark.

Nick Nurse generally agrees. The 76ers’ coach says that time frame allows teams to play a variety of opponents, and to see if stats hold up over an initial sample size.

The loss on Friday at Boston was Game 19 for the Sixers. But ...Read more

Kansas senior guard Kevin McCullar, who takes an 18.5 points-per-game scoring average into Tuesday night’s nonconference clash against Kansas City compared to a 10.7-point scoring mark a year ago, suddenly is being projected as a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

“I know that he’s really helped himself with the start of the season. ...Read more

Aaron Nesmith took a transition pass from Tyrese Haliburton and dunked it over Al Horford. The former Celtic galloped around the court and chest-pumped Myles Turner as the rest of his Pacers teammates flooded the court to celebrate an imminent victory.

The Celtics proved they cared about the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament with how they ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — On the eve of their biggest game this season to date, the Lakers didn't manufacture a playoff atmosphere with a practice detailing their opponent's tendencies. They didn't gather for some rah-rah speech about the "win or go home" game.

Monday at the Lakers' practice facility was mostly just a practice — something the Lakers ...Read more

PHILADELPHA — Although Kelly Oubre Jr. would like to talk about just basketball, that didn’t happen Monday. And it might not happen until the questions about the hit-and-run accident he reportedly was involved in are resolved.

The small forward was a full participant at a grueling 76ers practice on Monday and was cleared to play in ...Read more

MIAMI — Miami Heat first-round pick Jaime Jaquez Jr. has established himself as one of the NBA’s top rookies.

The NBA provided further proof of that on Monday afternoon, announcing that Jaquez has been selected as the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in October and November.

Jaquez, who was taken by the Heat with the...Read more

Perhaps this is why James Harden called 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a “liar.”

According to the former Sixers point guard, Morey told him he would receive a maximum-salary contract. Harden was recently asked when Morey promised that he’d be getting the max deal.

“Well, the time that’s important was before the ...Read more

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has often described defense as his group’s identity on the court.

If Orlando (14-6) wants to bounce back from its 28-point road loss in Brooklyn on Saturday night that snapped a nine-game winning streak, the team must stay true to its form at Cleveland on Wednesday (Bally Sports Florida, 7) and beyond.

Although the ...Read more

MIAMI — With this coming Wednesday marking four weeks since Tyler Herro went down with his Grade 2 ankle sprain, it is hard not to notice how much has transpired for the Miami Heat in the interim.

The injury came during what would grow into a seven-game winning streak and stretch of nine victories in 10 games.

But during the absence there ...Read more

NEW YORK — When in doubt, confuse them.

That’s Adam Silver’s mantra with the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. Whether it be designer courts or point differentials, no gimmick shall be wasted.

Even the league’s national TV partners are getting into the act.

Nonetheless, it’s hard to fathom either the ESPN Faculty or Turner Sports suits ...Read more

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Just when it looked like the Return of the Can’t Stand Prosperity All-Stars, North Carolina dialed up the pressure and ran Florida State into the ground.

The Tar Heels so often frustratingly failed to build on big wins last year, and it certainly looked like whatever momentum they might have taken from Wednesday night’...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers are slowly starting to become whole, the return of versatile defender Jarred Vanderbilt, up-and-coming defender Cam Reddish and active big man Jaxson Hayes adding three more pieces to their puzzle.

Vanderbilt missed the start of the season while recovering from a left heel injury he suffered in the first ...Read more

A four-game win streak came to an end for the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night in Sacramento, where the Kings opened up a 17-point lead in the first half and held on for a 123-117 win.

After playing five games in the last seven days, Denver (14-7) has three days off before visiting the Clippers on Wednesday.

The defending champions were one of...Read more

NEW YORK — Thursday’s loss to an undermanned Charlotte Hornets squad came down to a lack of concentration for the Nets. But in Saturday’s 129-101 defeat of the Orlando Magic at Barclays Center, Mikal Bridges and his teammates were locked in from the start to finish against the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets’ bounce-back ...Read more

DETROIT — Close, but no cigar.

The Pistons kept a game competitive again for three quarters, but came up short again in the fourth to keep their franchise-record losing streak going.

Detroit lost its 17th consecutive game with a 110-101 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena.

The Pistons trailed by three...Read more

MIAMI — The Miami Heat made a case for Bam Adebayo as Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday night.

In his absence.

In a defenseless effort.

Unable to contain an Indiana Pacers offense lacking scoring and assist leader Tyrese Haliburton, the Heat fell, 144-129, at Kaseya Center to close out a 1-2 homestand and fall to 11-9 at the season�...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s new basketball court in Rupp Arena was the scene of a major upset Saturday evening.

UNC Wilmington held off multiple rallies to shock Kentucky with an 80-73 victory, giving Seahawks coach Takayo Siddle another marquee win in the home of UK basketball. Siddle played for Gardner-Webb when that program knocked off ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers spent Saturday afternoon much as they'd spent their past month: Immediately digging themselves into an enormous hole, then furiously working to extricate themselves.

How they ultimately come out of their all-in move to acquire James Harden is a long-term question that won't be known for months. But Saturday, they ...Read more