In their first big game of the season inside Rupp Arena, the Kentucky Wildcats fell short against yet another marquee opponent.

The No. 18 Cats lost 67-64 to 16th-ranked North Carolina in Lexington on Tuesday night, falling to 5-3 on the season.

Coach Mark Pope’s team was in desperate need of big-time victory after dropping its first two ...Read more

NEW ORLEANS – Before Tuesday’s game, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said one of the reasons his team had a slow start to the season on defense is because they began the year “bored.” It was a candid admission from Finch as the team has worked through its defensive issues to start the season.

If Tuesday’s performance was any ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Paul George continues to show why Nick Nurse raves over his defense.

Jared McCain continues to round into shape.

Tyrese Maxey only trails Hall of Famers Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain when it comes to the highest point total through 20 games in franchise history.

And the Washington Wizards are tough to watch.

Those ...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Allen Fieldhouse pressure cooker was no match for UConn's Braylon Mullins on Tuesday night.

The freshman, playing in just his second college game, was comfortable amid the chaos. WIth UConn leading by three with 10 seconds to play, he grabbed the rebound off a missed Kansas layup, drew the intentional foul and sunk two ...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — Boogie Fland brought No. 15 Florida back from a double-digit deficit at No. 4 Duke on Tuesday night.

With the game on the line, though, Duke found a defensive answer.

His team trailing by a point, Fland dribbled into a double team with four seconds left. Duke’s Caleb Foster stole the ball, allowing the Blue Devils to finish ...Read more

BOSTON — The Pistons. The Cavaliers. And now, the Knicks.

The Celtics dispatched yet another Eastern Conference contender Tuesday night, defeating New York, 123-117, in front of a revved-up TD Garden crowd.

Jaylen Brown, who has shined this season in injured co-star Jayson Tatum’s absence, punctuated a 42-point outing with an emphatic dunk...Read more

EAST LANSING, Mich. — On a banner day for Michigan State, its men’s basketball team brought its A game.

On the same day the university announced a $1 billion fundraising goal and introduced new football coach Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State started its Big Ten title defense in men’s hoops with a win, 71-52 over Iowa.

Forward Coen Carr led...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — While the game didn’t provide a definitive answer to how competitive the 76ers will be, it did present some encouraging and not-so-encouraging signs.

Sunday’s 142-134 setback to the Atlanta Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena marked the first time Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey have been on the floor together this ...Read more

DENVER — This year’s iteration of the Dallas Mavericks has built a reputation for being competitive, no matter the circumstances.

It doesn’t matter if they’re shorthanded because of injuries or playing through their shooting struggles, the Mavericks typically find ways to keep games close.

That trend continued Monday night against the ...Read more

MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra began the night by attempting to cast the matchup as a study in intestinal fortitude, the Los Angeles Clippers with losses in 13 of their previous 15, his Heat coming off a physical loss to the Detroit Pistons.

“You have two opposing forces,” a stoic Spoelstra said. “That’s competition and who’s going to get ...Read more

NEW YORK — Returning from a two-game absence, Michael Porter Jr. dropped a game-high 35 points and hit seven 3-pointers, his most this season and one short of a career high, leading the Nets to a 116-103 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday for their first home victory of the year and their fourth win of the season.

It was Porter’s team...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Heading into Monday’s contest between the Magic and the Bulls, coach Jamahl Mosley put an emphasis on Orlando‘s ability to defend in transition against a Chicago team that played with the second-fastest pace in the league.

The Magic limited the Bulls to well below their season average in fastbreak points (7 vs. 18.6) and ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons faced a significant challenge with turnovers during their game Monday night at Little Caesars Arena.

The Pistons recorded 23 turnovers, allowing the Atlanta Hawks to stay competitive. It was surprising, considering the Hawks were coming off a double-overtime victory against the Philadelphia 76ers just 24 hours ...Read more

NEW YORK — Two more ranked losses did some damage to St. John’s in the AP poll.

St. John’s fell to No. 23 in the latest ranking after losing to Iowa State and Auburn last week.

The Johnnies’ nine-spot drop from last week’s No. 14 ranking was the biggest of any school in the top 25.

After beginning the season ranked No. 5, St. John�...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — The UConn men’s basketball team held at No. 5 in Monday’s AP Top 25 poll after a Feast Week that was light on upsets.

UConn went 1-0 over the week, taking down then-No. 13 Illinois in a semi-home game at Madison Square Garden on Friday. Point guard Malachi Smith, a native of the Bronx, broke out for 14 points and nine ...Read more

As long as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are playing, the Lakers always stand a good chance of winning — even if LeBron James is out.

That proved to be the case yet again Sunday night, as the Lakers rolled over the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans 133-121 with James out managing a left foot injury.

The Lakers (15-4) won their seventh ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid was motivated in his first game in 22 days.

Just when you think the 76ers need more from Tyrese Maxey, the point guard shows why he’s been one of the NBA’s best players of the early season. But his missed free throws in overtime and his team’s lack of rebounding in double overtime were costly.

Yet, 10 days of...Read more

NEW YORK — Forty-point quarters are supposed to leave a team feeling invincible. They’re the kind of offensive avalanches that make opponents crack under the weight of inevitability.

The New York Knicks entered Sunday leading the NBA with eight such outbursts. They made it nine after hanging a 41-point opening period on the Toronto Raptors ...Read more