CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Hubert Davis was reflecting Monday night on the 2015-16 North Carolina squad — a group built around versatile ballhandlers Marcus Paige and Joel Berry II — when a lull settled over his weekly radio show at Top of the Hill. He broke the silence with a joke.

“I’d like to have them back,” he said with a laugh. “...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers’ two stars, LeBron James and Luka Doncic, have carried the Lakers all season, being the leaders.

But on this Friday night, James and Doncic couldn’t hold it down for the Lakers, the two of them having late-game miscues that eventually led to a 105-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors didn’t have Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green when they allowed the Sacramento Kings to notch one of only eight wins so far this season against them in November.

At full strength for the teams’ second meeting Friday, Golden State didn’t need Curry to finish off a 137-103 rout over ...Read more

DENVER — The short-handed Nuggets’ silver linings playbook: hang around, drill some timely 3-pointers and control the glass — even without a true center in the paint.

It worked for three quarters Friday night, but the Nuggets, playing at home for the first time since Christmas Day, simply didn’t have enough talent on the floor to hold ...Read more

BOSTON — The Celtics lost to an injury-depleted opponent on their home floor Wednesday night. They didn’t let that happen again on Friday.

Boston rode one of its best shooting performances of the season to a 125-117 win over the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden.

Payton Pritchard led all scorers with 27 points on 12-of-19 shooting, adding eight...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — When the Magic crushed the 76ers by 41 points in a Nov. 25 matchup at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia was without former league MVP Joel Embiid, six-time All-NBA wing Paul George and No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe.

But Friday night at Kia Center?

All three key starters were ready to go for the Sixers against an Orlando ...Read more

NEW YORK — Two nights after rallying late against the Orlando Magic, the Nets found themselves in a familiar hole Friday night at Barclays Center. This time, there was no dramatic comeback to chase, but the result was the same. Brooklyn never led in a 121-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, a defeat that dropped it to 11-24 and showed how ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Maybe UCLA has discovered the answer to boosting home attendance at men's basketball games.

Just have Jordan Chiles perform at every halftime.

When the Olympic gymnast put on her "Dancing with the Stars" routine in November during an otherwise humdrum matchup against Pepperdine at Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins drew 9,103 fans. It...Read more

STORRS, Conn. — It doesn’t happen much in college basketball today. It doesn’t happen enough, actually. The days of Fab Fives, Core Fours moving together, sharing experiences in the same program have been lost in this era of revenue sharing and easy transfer rules.

At UConn, there is a threesome that has stuck around. Solo Ball, Jaylin ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — On Jan. 2, 2005, Randy Moss left the sideline with two seconds remaining in a three-point loss at Washington, a loss that appeared destined to knock the Vikings out of playoff contention.

Vikings coach Mike Tice, incensed by Moss’ departure, sent massive center Matt Birk into the locker room to confront Moss.

Moss was ...Read more

CHICAGO — Thursday night’s game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed nearly two hours after the scheduled tipoff, after an extended delay due to 50-degree temperatures, heavy rain and the ice below the court at the United Center that left the playing surface too slick for play.

A makeup date was not immediately announced. ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Just over eight minutes were remaining on the clock when the buzz kicked up inside Spectrum Center again, all because the main usual attraction was sauntering to the scorer’s table.

The patrons were thrilled that LaMelo Ball was about to check into the game, a different result than some 24 hours prior on that same hardwood...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The game got a little tighter than the Timberwolves wanted, but they still came away with a quality victory over an Eastern Conference opponent, 131-122 over the Cavaliers, on Thursday, Jan. 8, at Target Center. It marked their fourth consecutive victory.

After the Wolves led by as much as 20, Cleveland cut their lead to four ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat game Thursday night is under an indefinite delay because of an unsafe playing surface at the United Center.

Condensation on the court — caused by a combination of warm, rainy weather outdoors and humidity indoors following a Blackhawks game the night before — created a slick playing surface that game...Read more

EAST LANSING, Mich. — From one of the ugliest halves of the season to a classic comeback.

Michigan State threatened to fumble Thursday night’s game against Northwestern, winless in Big Ten play, with a disastrous first half marred by turnovers and poor decisions. Instead, it snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, rallying for a 76-66 win...Read more

NEW YORK — The NBA trade deadline is less than a month away, and Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t sound like somebody who expects to be dealt.

Antetokounmpo told The Athletic that he “will never” request a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks amid widespread speculation around his future.

“There will never be a chance, and there will never be...Read more

SAN ANTONIO — Playing without LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers wilted on the second night of a two-game trip, falling 107-91 to the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center.

With three starters out, Luka Doncic tried to will the Lakers to a victory with a 38-point, 10-rebound, 10 assist triple-double. He played 38 ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO – On one side was the game’s most unstoppable inside scorer. On the other, one of the few defenders who has proven he is capable of putting up a challenge.

Draymond Green, as he often does, took on the challenge of guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Warriors’ 120-113 victory the visiting Bucks in the first of an eight-...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid is, once again, a constant for the 76ers.

With Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford back, we’ll finally get a glimpse of how competitive the team is.

And Wednesday was one of those performances when Paul George let people know he still got it.

Those things stood out in the 131-110 victory over the Washington ...Read more