GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s frontcourt nullified Alabama’s controversial 7-footer Charles Bediako and continued to dominate the Crimson Tide, making a statement entering the heart of SEC play — and backing up coach Todd Golden’s guarantee.

With Dick Vitale courtside, a national TV audience tuned in on ABC and 10 NBA scouts on hand, ...Read more

What if I told you that in the year Luka Doncic has spent with the Los Angeles Lakers, my favorite part of his game has become his early-in-the-shot-clock heaves?

Sure, maybe they’re bad shots. In the same way Paul George characterized Damian Lillard’s deep, deep shot that sent home his Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2019 ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — We hear often that it’s good to run things in life like a business. It’s said especially loudly about women’s sports, in Philadelphia and elsewhere.

So let’s do that.

The 21,490 fans who packed Xfinity Mobile Arena for Friday’s Unrivaled basketball showcase clearly had business on their minds. It was the largest ...Read more

MIAMI — Now. Or never.

Either the Miami Heat pull out all the stops, see if even that is enough, or else move on from what they have cultivated for nearly a decade, this group of hard-working, persistent, industrious players that, at best, had succeeded in Jimmy Butler’s shadows.

Add Giannis Antetokounmpo, and then having a group of hard-...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Xfinity Mobile Arena jumped back in time on Saturday night as the Sixers honored their iconic 2001 NBA Finals team with a reunion night as part of the 25th anniversary celebration.

The vintage 76ers logo, with its retro comet tail, adorned the basketball court. Hip-Hop, the team’s mascot during that era, returned to ...Read more

OMAHA, Neb. — Dan Hurley has been talking about killer instinct and breaking an opponent’s will since the Big East season started for the UConn men’s basketball team.

The call was finally answered on Saturday night with one of the most complete, well-balanced and dominant performances of the season as the Huskies cruised to an 85-58 ...Read more

MIAMI — The Miami Heat had been here before, when the opposition basically tried to hand a game away.

That was in November, when the Cleveland Cavaliers sat out Donovan Michell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.

On that night, the Cavaliers nonetheless found their way to victory behind the unlikely likes of Craig Porter Jr., Tyrese Proctor, ...Read more

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — An eventful evening inside Bud Walton Arena ended with an unexpected result.

In a game plagued by on-court altercations and technical fouls, Kentucky pulled off an 85-77 victory over the No. 15-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, dealing John Calipari an upset loss in his first game coaching against the Wildcats on ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors’ best player is not expected to miss much time after leaving Friday’s 131-124 loss to the Pistons with a sore knee.

Steph Curry avoided major damage to his right knee, head coach Steve Kerr said after Saturday’s practice at Chase Center. Curry underwent an MRI, and his official diagnosis is patellofemoral ...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. — From the media seating to the student section — to the rest of Allen Fieldhouse — it was hard to move an inch.

Officially, 15,300 fans packed Allen Fieldhouse Saturday, but there were likely even more in attendance in a crowd that reached standing-room only.

From rowdy KU fans to Jayhawk legends like Paul Pierce and ...Read more

CHICAGO — A minority partner in the Chicago Sky is suing longtime principal owner Michael Alter, alleging he violated his fiduciary duty to investors by misallocating and misrepresenting franchise value for his own benefit, according to a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court this week.

Minority owner Steven Rogers, an Englewood native ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers’ season, which was starting to take shape, suffered a significant blow Saturday.

The NBA announced that Paul George will be suspended 25 games without pay for violating the terms of the NBA and National Basketball Players Association anti-drug program.

“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of ...Read more

The first meeting between Pitt and Clemson this season came down to the final minutes before the Tigers pulled away. Saturday’s rematch at Littlejohn Coliseum followed a very different script.

Pitt endured arguably its worst first half of the season, managing just 16 points on six made field goals. While Jeff Capel’s squad showed ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — In what sort of hellish karmic vortex do the Philadelphia 76ers exist?

They’d won two consecutive games Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, Paul George made a record nine 3-pointers. On Thursday, the win came thanks to a last-second shot by their best and most popular player, All-Star starter Tyrese Maxey.

They were 26-21 and ...Read more

A Virginia Tech 3-pointer had dropped against Duke, Cassell Coliseum was loud and Hokies coach Mike Young was full of intensity.

Young stood before the Tech bench, bent at the waist, hands on his knees as he urged on his team.

Seconds later, Duke’s Cameron Boozer knocked down a 3-pointer in front of Young. The coach dropped his head.

The No...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If shuffling things is bothering Charles Lee, he’s doing a good job of masking his feelings.

“Yeah, we love it,” the Charlotte Hornets coach said. “It doesn’t affect us negatively at all. I think with our players, with our staff, we just talk about being flexible, being open-minded, having to adjust.”

There wasn...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO – Steph Curry went back to the locker room in the second half of the Golden State Warriors’ 131-124 loss to the Detroit Pistons and did not return to the floor on Friday night at Chase Center.

Late in the third quarter, shortly after converting on a twisting and-1 layup, Curry limped back to the Warriors locker room at the 4:...Read more