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Lakers fall to Spurs and are eliminated from NBA Cup contention

Sports / Basketball /

Any chance the Lakers had at trying to capture a second NBA Cup championship in the third season of the tournament evaporated for good in the fourth quarter against a young, fast and athletic San Antonio Spurs team missing its best player.

The Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup title in 2023 and had designs on winning it again in 2025 and the $...Read more

Michael Hickey/Getty Images North America/TNS

No. 6 Purdue pulls away in second half to crush Minnesota

Sports / Basketball /

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

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Chris DeMarco 'excited' to lead 'world-class organization' in new era of Liberty basketball

Sports / Basketball /

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

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards shows off table tennis and trash-talking skills in new TV series

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards is boosting his national profile with a new TV project that emphasizes his status as an all-star trash-talker.

“Serious Business with Anthony Edwards” features the Timberwolves superstar challenging fellow athletes and celebrities to contests that have little to nothing to do with basketball.

“I just think...Read more

Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Chris Paul is 'at peace' after Clippers exit; Tyronn Lue says report they were feuding 'ain't true'

Sports / Basketball /

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

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

Mavericks Dereck Lively II to have season-ending foot surgery

Sports / Basketball /

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

Evan Bernstein/Getty Images North America/TNS

UConn men's basketball holds on to beat Florida in Jimmy V Classic, 77-73

Sports / Basketball /

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

Cole Burston/Getty Images North America/TNS

Kristian Winfield: Knicks book trip to Las Vegas with NBA Cup quarterfinal win vs. Raptors

Sports / Basketball /

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

Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS

Mark Pope shuffles the lineup as Kentucky blows out another major underdog

Sports / Basketball /

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

Robin Buckson/The Detroit News/TNS

Michigan keeps rolling, turns Villanova into latest blowout victim

Sports / Basketball /

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

Julio Aguilar/Getty Images North America/TNS

Heat go bust in NBA Cup: No trip to Vegas after 117-108 loss to Magic extends skid to 4

Sports / Basketball /

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

Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

Aces star A'ja Wilson named Time's athlete of the year

Sports / Basketball /

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

Sarah Stier/Getty Images North America/TNS

Timberwolves stumble against Suns as 5-game winning streak ends

Sports / Basketball /

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

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images North America/TNS

Heat to consider Rozier trade option despite arraignment in gambling probe

Sports / Basketball /

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

Harry How/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mirjam Swanson: UCLA's Mick Cronin isn't sweating Donovan Dent's shot

Sports / Basketball /

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

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images North America/TNS

LeBron James sparks Lakers' late surge in win over 76ers

Sports / Basketball /

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

Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images North America/TNS

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray lead Nuggets to win over Hornets

Sports / Basketball /

The Denver Nuggets have won 10 consecutive road games for the first time in franchise history after earning a 115-106 victory at the Charlotte Hornets Sunday.

Here are three takeaways from the win:

Nuggets leaders at their best

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray continued to carry their team on the road, like star players are supposed to do. ...Read more

Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images North America/TNS

Jimmy Butler leads Warriors to 123-91 win in return to Chicago

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO – The Golden State Warriors are no strangers to one of their players receiving loud cheers from what should be hostile crowds on the road.

But instead of Steph Curry, the usual suspect, it was beloved former Chicago Bull Jimmy Butler who enjoyed a rousing ovation from the United Center Crowd Sunday night. Butler played the first six ...Read more

Cole Burston/Getty Images North America/TNS

Celtics beat Raptors 121-113 for 5th straight win

Sports / Basketball /

From 0-3 to third place in the Eastern Conference.

The surging Boston Celtics won their fifth straight Sunday in Toronto, squandering a 23-point second-half lead but holding on for a 121-113 victory at Scotiabank Arena.

With the win, Boston leapfrogged the Raptors in the East standings. At 15-9, Joe Mazzulla’s club now trails only the 19-5 ...Read more

Chris Gardner/Getty Images North America/TNS

UNC basketball rolls past Georgetown, 81-61

Sports / Basketball /

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — When Jarin Stevenson recorded his first points Sunday evening midway through the second half, his reaction felt more like a sigh of relief than a celebration. He did add a bit of flair though — which, for a quiet kid like Stevenson, is saying something — as he brought his shooting hand to his mouth and gave it a kiss.

...Read more