Sports

/

ArcaMax

Lance King/Getty Images North America/TNS

Duke makes late-game statement: 3 takeaways from the No. 9 Blue Devils' big win against No. 2 Auburn

Sports / Basketball /

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke’s solid defense down the stretch earned it a big-time victory Wednesday night.

After No. 2 Auburn clawed back to within two points with just over five minutes to play, the Tigers didn’t hit another field goal for more than four minutes, allowing the No. 9 Blue Devils to hold on for an 84-78 win at Cameron Indoor ...Read more

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America/TNS

Timberwolves overwhelm L.A. Clippers in 108-80 victory

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES – Ever since Anthony Edwards tried to diagnose what was wrong with the Timberwolves after a loss to the Kings last week — that they couldn’t communicate, that they were letting individual agendas affect the team — his teammates have responded in a big way.

The Wolves followed up their blowout of the Lakers on Monday with ...Read more

Daniel Jacobi II/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

Creighton deals top-ranked Kansas first loss of season, 76-63

Sports / Basketball /

OMAHA, Neb. — Late into the second half of No. 1 Kansas basketball’s matchup against Creighton on Wednesday night, the Bluejays faithful chanted for their squad, as “C-U” boomed throughout CHI Health Center.

It was fitting, as a chant of ‘see you’ could have applied, since the game was all but over.

The Kansas men’s basketball ...Read more

Charles Fox/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Sixers' defense can't get enough stops in 106-102 loss to the Magic

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers have a unique challenge when it comes to dealing with injuries — something the Orlando Magic, luckily, don’t have to deal with.

When Magic All-Star forward Paolo Banchero was diagnosed with a torn right oblique, the squad knew he would be sidelined for four to six weeks. But the Sixers are dealing with the ...Read more

Chris Coduto/Getty Images North America/TNS

Warriors rule out Steph Curry, Draymond Green for matchup vs. Rockets

Sports / Basketball /

Neither Steph Curry nor Draymond Green will suit up against the Houston Rockets at the Chase Center on Thursday night, a major blow to the Warriors as they try to snap a five-game losing skid.

Curry is listed as out with bilateral knee injury management; he missed a game last week for the same ailment, colloquially known as runner’s knee. ...Read more

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images North America/TNS

Herro, Heat emphatically swat away LeBron, Lakers, 134-93

Sports / Basketball /

MIAMI — Rarely on this court have opposing players or teams been superior to LeBron James.

Then again, rarely — in fact, not ever — have the Miami Heat put up these types of numbers.

Wednesday night’s 134-93 victory over James and the Los Angeles Lakers at Kaseya Center was that dominant and that decisive — the third-largest margin ...Read more

Winslow Townson/Getty Images North America/TNS

As Jayson Tatum sits, Celtics' other stars shine in win over Pistons

Sports / Basketball /

BOSTON — Playing without Jayson Tatum for the first time since April, the Celtics held off a scrappy Detroit Pistons squad Wednesday night at TD Garden.

Boston led by as many as 20 points, survived a fourth-quarter scare and then pulled away late to win, 130-120, while Tatum and fellow starter Jrue Holiday sat out with minor knee injuries.

...Read more

Sarah Stier/Getty Images North America/TNS

Nets outlast Pacers 99-90 to snap three-game skid

Sports / Basketball /

NEW YORK — Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez was frustrated with the team’s effort on defense in the second half of Monday’s 128-102 road loss to the Chicago Bulls. He appropriately ripped his players at the podium postgame.

In Wednesday’s 99-90 defeat of the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center, they nearly let go of the rope again.

While ...Read more

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images North America/TNS

Magic stave off 76ers late to capture road win

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — Magic coach Jamahl Mosley made it clear his team didn’t play up to its standard Tuesday night in a 15-point loss against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

So when Orlando took the court inside Wells Fargo Center less than 24 hours later in Philadelphia, Mosley’s group looked more like itself.

The Magic scored ...Read more

Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images North America/TNS

No. 25 UConn holds off No. 15 Baylor for 76-72 victory

Sports / Basketball /

STORRS, Conn. — Liam McNeeley announced himself in college basketball on Wednesday night, leading the No. 25 UConn men’s basketball team past No. 15 Baylor, 76-72, in a sold-out Gampel Pavilion.

Without three-year starter and leading scorer Alex Karaban (concussion protocol), coach Dan Hurley said the team would need the type of performance...Read more

Grant Halverson/Getty Images North America/TNS

No challenge in Chapel Hill: Three takeaways from UNC basketball's home loss to Alabama

Sports / Basketball /

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The ACC/SEC Challenge series might have made for good TV basketball content, but it didn’t prove to be much of challenge, did it? Certainly not at the Smith Center.

No. 10 Alabama rolled in and punched out a 94-79 victory over the No. 20 Tar Heels, leading nearly start to finish in an impressive display of aggressive ...Read more

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images North America/TNS

Lakers buried in a barrage of 24 Miami 3s in concerning blowout loss

Sports / Basketball /

MIAMI — Rui Hachimura stopped. Anthony Davis stood. Tyler Herro moved. Tyler Herro scored.

One game after being badly embarrassed on the offensive end in Minnesota, the Lakers were clobbered on the other in Miami — their body language, their lack of energy and worst of all, their general lack of fight all reasons for serious concern.

After...Read more

Grant Halverson/Getty Images North America/TNS

Luke DeCock: Home, away or Hawaii, these Tar Heels haven't measured up against tough competition

Sports / Basketball /

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After a month of waiting to see how things play out, a month in which North Carolina lost to every good team the Tar Heels played, Wednesday’s thumping at the hands of Alabama at the Smith Center left no doubt.

They have a long way to go.

Does North Carolina have the talent to beat anybody in the country? Unquestionably...Read more

Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS

John Clay: Kentucky basketball's loss at Clemson was a needed early-season reality check

Sports / Basketball /

LEXINGTON, Ky. — You thought Kentucky basketball was going to go undefeated?

Is that what you thought? That the Cats would run the table? That first-year coach Mark Pope’s experienced roster would handle every challenge against every team in every environment? The coming-out party would last forever?

It doesn’t work that way, of course. ...Read more

Steph Chambers/Getty Images North America/TNS

Storm say investigation of alleged player mistreatment finds no violations

Sports / Basketball /

SEATTLE — After weeks of silence, the Storm issued a statement Wednesday afternoon following player allegations of mistreatment by the coaching staff, which sparked an investigation into the charges.

“The Storm recently received internal allegations of potential workplace policy violations,” reads the statement. “The organization ...Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Did Christian Braun call timeout when Nuggets didn't have any? Steve Kerr rips refs for not calling technical foul.

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — The Nuggets made their own luck toward the end of a 119-115 win over the Warriors on Tuesday, flying after loose balls and making scrappy defensive plays to engineer a game-ending 10-0 run in the last 2 minutes, 30 seconds.

But whether or not they earned it, luck did play a role.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr criticized the referees for...Read more

Steven M. Falk/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Paul George and the Sixers hope his recent hot performance is a sign of things to come

Sports / Basketball /

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Paul George joined the Philadelphia 76ers to complement fellow standouts Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

The nine-time All-Star was focused on serving as a facilitator and elite defender who could take the scoring pressure off the duo when needed.

Well, the Sixers (5-14) needed him to provide much more Tuesday night, and ...Read more

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/TNS

Dieter Kurtenbach: The Warriors didn't solve their biggest problem and it's too obvious to ignore any longer

Sports / Basketball /

The Golden State Warriors’ “strength in numbers” motto was all well and good in October and early November.

Then the numbers started whittling down, the league wised up, and the problem the Warriors never solved began rearing its ugly head once again.

After a red-hot start to the season, the Dubs have lost five straight games.

That No. ...Read more

Chet White/Getty Images North America/TNS

What is Caitlin Clark's value to WNBA? A huge chunk of its $200 million revenue, expert says.

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES — The champagne hadn't even dried after the New York Liberty won the WNBA championship when the players association announced it would opt out of the league's collective bargaining agreement, which was set to expire in 2027.

A dramatic increase in revenues due primarily to the emergence of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and ...Read more

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/TNS

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets rally from down 11 late to steal win from Warriors

Sports / Basketball /

Almost every Nuggets game is following the same exhausting blueprint, up to a point.

Questionable sums of engagement put toward defending in the first half. A teaspoon of Nikola Jokic rest minutes that cause an upset stomach, at best. A deficit of 12 points (maybe 14 or 15) late in the second quarter or early in the third. An energizing run and...Read more