NEW YORK — It’s impossible to plot the future of Kemba Walker’s balky left knee. And nobody understands that better than Walker, which is why the 31-year-old couldn’t make declarations about his availability for the remainder of the season.

“We’ll see. We’ll see down the line,” Walker said. “It really just depends on how I ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Drafting is an inexact science. It often takes years to determine who the best players in any particular class are.

Consider the 2013 NBA draft class; Michael Carter-Williams topped Rookie of the Year voting, followed by Victor Oladipo and Trey Burke. Carter-Williams' rookie season was a flash in the pan, and he’s on his ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — How bad do the Sacramento Kings want Ben Simmons?

Multiple sources previously said the Western Conference team was willing to complete a deal for Simmons and Tobias Harris. And the Kings still have interest in acquiring the 76ers’ two highest-paid players, according to sources.

One source said Sacramento has considered ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Caren and Mike Andrews stuck to a routine. Family dinner. Every night. Everyone at the table.

For their two daughters, Malika and Kendra, family dinner became more than a nightly ritual. The dinner table in their Oakland Hills home transformed into a SportsCenter desk, where the family of four would trade opinions about the...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — In case there was any doubt, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson quickly quieted whatever concerns existed following a 1-3 road trip and a stretch of subpar play that dated back even further.

Yes, the Splash Brothers are back.

Curry and Thompson had shared the court three times since Thompson’s long-awaited return, but finally, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Frank Vogel, his time with the Lakers at as perilous a point since he was hired as coach in 2019, wanted to make sure everyone knew.

“We put the work in every day,” he said before his team defeated the Utah Jazz on Monday.

The “we” Vogel was talking about in this case wasn’t LeBron James or Russell Westbrook or the ...Read more

The Kansas State men’s basketball team won its second consecutive game against a ranked opponent by defeating No. 23 Texas, 66-65, on Tuesday at the Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.

Coach Bruce Weber and the Wildcats pulled off another stunning upset thanks to solid defense and a series of clutch shots from Mark Smith, Nijel Pack and Mike ...Read more

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — No. 6 Duke lost starting guard Trevor Keels to injury, its usually potent offense hit a rut and it had to ditch its usual man-to-man defense for a zone.

A stirring comeback erased a nine-point, second-half deficit and the game went to overtime, but the Blue Devils fell one shot short.

Florida State freshman Johnny Butler ...Read more

NEW YORK — If the Timberwolves are going to make a move up the Western Conference standings, now is as good a time as they may have the rest of the season. Their schedule may get tough the rest of the month, but they are the healthiest they have been since the beginning of the season.

Coach Chris Finch wanted them to start stacking high-...Read more

NORMAN, OKla. — The No. 7-ranked Kansas Jayhawks survived a 20-2 second-half run by Oklahoma and first-half wrist injury to Ochai Agbaji in a 67-64 victory over the Sooners on Tuesday at Lloyd Noble Center.

Christian Braun hit a 3-pointer off a pass from Agbaji (X-rays on his wrist were negative) to bust a 62-62 tie with 10.9 seconds left. ...Read more

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After forcing a travel on the defensive end, Ohio State got the ball to its primary scorer in E.J. Liddell. Reading the IUPUI defense, the forward fed a pass to center Zed Key, who scooped in the first points of the game.

From behind the bench area, the chant went up Buckeye Nuthouse student section.

"Start the busses!" they...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — There haven’t been many games like it this season, but the UConn men’s basketball team took care of business on Tuesday night without any end-of-game theatrics.

The Huskies produced a commanding victory against Butler, 76-59, at XL Center. The game was initially scheduled for Jan. 1 but had been canceled due to COVID-19 ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — When the Clippers begin their longest trip in seven seasons Wednesday, there is hope that a boost of offense will be waiting for them in Denver.

It just won't be Paul George.

The All-Star-caliber wing, who is averaging 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists this season, hasn't played since Dec. 22 because of a torn ulnar ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — As the regular season passes the halfway point, there have been few more pleasant surprises than the Golden State Warriors. But after 30 wins in their first 41 games, the season's midpoint is also bringing the Warriors their most adversity yet this season.

Compared to the past two years, though, most fans will take the NBA's ...Read more

Paige Bueckers changed the landscape. The Land of 10,000 Lakes is no longer considered a backwater of girls’ basketball recruiting.

The former Hopkins star was the nation’s No. 1 recruit two years ago, when she chose Connecticut. Minnesota has reached another peak this season, producing the state’s deepest and most talented senior class. ...Read more

Before the Lakers’ Russell Westbrook made a mess of Rudy Gobert, he cleaned up.

Early in the first quarter Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell slipped on a spilled drink, stopping action while officials and game-night staff reached for towels. Westbrook, searching for a simpler solution, went underneath the ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic’s start to the week didn’t go how they envisioned when they returned to Central Florida on Sunday from a three-game road trip.

Hours before their 98-88 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Amway Center on Monday, head coach Jamahl Mosley and assistant coach Nate Tibbetts entered the NBA’s health and ...Read more

MIAMI — It was a good night for the Miami Heat.

The Heat’s Monday night began with star center Bam Adebayo’s return and ended with a 104-99 win over the Toronto Raptors (21-20) at FTX Arena. Miami (28-16), which has won 14 of its past 19 games, moved into sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference with the victory.

It was ...Read more

ATLANTA — Coming back from a 14-point deficit, the Hawks nabbed a much-needed home win, 121-114, against the Bucks on MLK Day at State Farm Arena.

Next up, the Hawks will continue their four-game homestand when they host the Timberwolves Wednesday.

Below are some takeaways from the win:

1. This was a much-needed victory for the Hawks, who ...Read more