SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings had no answer for three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets with starters and some key reserves out due to injuries.

Jokic put up 36 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Nuggets to a 136-105 victory over the Kings before an announced crowd of 16,307 at Golden 1 Center on Thursday...Read more

The Celtics’ five-game win streak stalled Thursday night in snowy Milwaukee.

Facing a scuffling Bucks team that was playing without two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston went cold in the second half and lost, 116-101, at Fiserv Forum.

Antetokounmpo missed the game with a calf strain, but the Celtics could not corral the Bucks’ red...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors coach Steve Kerr has spent the past two months striking a diplomatic tone.

He has emphasized that he enjoys coaching Jonathan Kuminga — the subject of a lengthy summertime contract negotiation that saw the fifth-year forward’s agent publicly criticize Kerr’s coaching methods before helping Kuminga sign a two-...Read more

The Minnesota men’s basketball team couldn’t carry over its strong finish to the first half, as No. 6 Purdue pulled away for an 85-57 victory Wednesday in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Gophers (5-5, 1-1 Big Ten), coming off a 73-64 victory over No. 22 Indiana at Williams Arena on Dec. 3, went into the halftime break behind by three points after ...Read more

NEW YORK — Chris DeMarco is ready to lead the New York Liberty into a new era — or almost ready.

The new Liberty hire is set to depart from his Golden State Warriors assistant role on Dec. 29 after the team visits the Brooklyn Nets.

After that, DeMarco is 100% committed to being the Liberty’s newest head coach — a job opportunity he ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Former Clippers point guard Chris Paul says he's "at peace with everything" after being abruptly dismissed by the team last week.

"Stuff's been a little crazy in the past few days — to say the least," Paul told People magazine in an interview published Tuesday. "But honestly, I'm home. My daughter had tryouts yesterday. My ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II will undergo right foot surgery and miss the rest for the season.

He is expected to make a full recovery and will be ready for training camp next season, the team said.

The 7-foot-1 Duke product and No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 draft played only seven games this season, ...Read more

NEW YORK — The No. 5 UConn men’s basketball team held on to beat No. 18 Florida, 77-73, in a matchup of the last two national champions in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night.

Another ranked nail-biter, it was Solo Ball who made the clutch free throws to seal the game in the final minute. Florida had a chance to tie ...Read more

This game isn’t fun anymore. The Knicks sapped the life from the Scotiabank Arena.

The Toronto Raptors’ home crowd was alive and well for the NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup against the Knicks on Tuesday, and after an electrifying first-quarter duel between All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Brandon Ingram, the Raptors — without R.J. Barrett and ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky stuck to the script in Rupp Arena on Tuesday night.

The UK men’s basketball team played its sixth game of the season against an overmatched, mid-major opponent. And the Wildcats secured their sixth blowout victory, a 103-67 win over North Carolina Central, an opponent that entered the night at No. 350 nationally in...Read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For Michigan basketball, the beatings and blowouts go on.

The second-ranked Wolverines added to their path of destruction and continued their absurd tear by destroying Villanova, 89-61, Tuesday in front of a sold-out Crisler Center.

Elliot Cadeau led the latest slaughter with 18 points and Aday Mara added 11 points and ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — At the outset Tuesday night, it was as if the Miami Heat already had passage booked to Las Vegas for the final two rounds of the NBA Cup.

A 15-0 lead can do that.

Not so fast ... as Vegas baby turned into Vegas maybe and then, ultimately, leaving Las Vegas.

In the end, Erik Spoelstra’s team failed, snake eyes of a lost ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The accolades keep coming for A’ja Wilson.

The Aces center capped off a historic 2025 by being named Time magazine’s athlete of the year, the publication announced Tuesday.

Wilson was unavailable for comment.

Wilson won her fourth league MVP this season, and second consecutive, by averaging a league-high 23.4 points and ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have saved themselves from some disappointing losses of late thanks to strong fourth quarters. They had to attempt another fourth-quarter comeback Monday night from down 11, this time with Rudy Gobert out because of an ejection for a flagrant foul.

But the Wolves couldn’t get enough consistency at ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — In the void of clarity from the NBA, the Miami Heat are moving forward under the presumption that they can negotiate potential trades involving Terry Rozier’s expiring contract.

According to an NBA source familiar with the process, the Heat are working under the premise that Rozier’s $26.6 million 2025-26 salary is ...Read more

LOS ANGELES – It was the best of times, and the worst too – shooting-wise. Really, a tale of two halves.

The UCLA men’s basketball team was on almost unreasonably hot in the first half Saturday, 15 for 27 (55.6%) from the floor. And ice bath cold after the break, 9 for 28 (32.1%).

And still, the Bruins hung on to beat Oregon 74-63 at ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James needed to send this message.

He still sits on his throne.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar scored 10 consecutive points late in the fourth quarter to seal a 112-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday, helping the Lakers (17-6) nab two wins out of their difficult three-game road trip.

After knocking down a 20...Read more