MIAMI — As the Miami Heat got off to a hot start and as the Golden State Warriors somewhat stumbled out of the gate (both relative to expectations), the immediate reaction was to assess in the moment.

With Golden State to visit Kaseya Center on Wednesday night, there is something to be said about such timing.

But the Jimmy Butler trade never...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The scene Friday night at Intuit Dome might as well have been a salute to a better time in college basketball and its drift toward coast-to-coast conferences. Consider: Regional rivals and their fan bases coming together to try to outplay and outshout each other. Regardless of the result, you walk away feeling better about ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons came out of nowhere last season, suddenly, emphatically. And it’s clear they have no intention of going back.

How good have they been through 13 games? Good enough to have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 11-2. Good enough to post their best start in 20 years, while riding their longest winning ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — The stressful trip grew even more trying for the Lakers when two more core players weren’t able to play in the last leg of a five-game journey that tested L.A. in many ways.

Steady defensive ace Marcus Smart (viral illness) and the solid Rui Hachimura (left calf soreness) missed the second night of back-to-back games Saturday ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — In winning four consecutive games, the Timberwolves have been feasting on bad teams.

But Saturday night presented more of a challenge in Denver, who has already beaten the Wolves once this season.

In a 123-112 loss to the Nuggets, on the tail end of a back-to-back, the Wolves kept the pattern alive of falling to the good teams ...Read more

BOSTON — There was no 30-0 run, but the No. 3 UConn men’s basketball team took over about 10 minutes into its return to TD Garden and held on during a thrilling finish for an 86-84 win over No. 7 BYU in its first top-10 matchup of the nonconference season.

Alex Karaban thrived on the Boston Celtics’ home parquet, finishing as one of three...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. — All season, Kansas coach Bill Self has pleaded for his big men to play true to their size.

Finally, one did.

Sophomore forward Flory Bidunga showcased a new array of moves on a day the Jayhawks needed the offensive punch. The result was his best college game to date — and a decisive KU victory after a shaky start.

No. 25 ...Read more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A historic Steph Curry performance was just enough to lift the Golden State Warriors past San Antonio 109-108 at the Frost Bank Center on Friday.

Curry warmed up in Nike shoes – Kobe’s, to be exact – but changed back to Under Armour Curry’s once the game began, and then slipped into another UA blue pair once the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A game of big runs, momentum shifts and high emotions needed a resolution in the renewal of an old rivalry.

It found one in the hands of a player who has been around since UCLA and Arizona were Pac-12 rivals, his late brilliance reviving a chant hated by the Bruins.

"U of A! U of A!"

The Wildcats made themselves at home inside...Read more

NEW ORLEANS — LeBron James is making progress in his return from injury, and that’s a good sign for a Lakers team that has performed unevenly over a five-game trip.

Before the Lakers’ 118-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Lakers coach JJ Redick said James, who has been dealing with sciatica, took part in an individual workout on ...Read more

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Jonathan Powell turned and signaled for a timeout, giving Hubert Davis a chance to draw something up for the last play of the first half. Something to give the Tar Heels a bit of satisfaction as they headed to the locker room after what had been a slapdash showing in the opening period.

When play resumed, Kyan Evans ...Read more

FORTH WORTH, Texas — For the second time this week, the Wolverines found themselves in a dogfight.

And once again, they found a way to pull it out.

No. 6 Michigan used a late second-half run to pull ahead before holding on late to pass its first true road test of the season with a 67-63 win over TCU at Schollmaier Arena on Friday.

Yaxel ...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — Carlos Boozer had a seat at courtside Friday for No. 4 Duke’s game against Indiana State at Cameron Indoor Stadium,

The former Blue Devils star clapped for each Duke basket, free throw, rebound, hustle play … you name it. And not just for his twin sons, Cameron and Cayden Boozer.

Carlos Boozer had a lot to clap about ...Read more

No Jalen Brunson? No OG Anunoby?

No problem for the injury-riddled Knicks, who got a career-best performance from Landry Shamet in Friday night’s 140-132 win over the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden.

Shamet erupted for a career-high 36 points on 12-of-19 shooting off the bench, giving the Knicks a major spark on a night they were short-...Read more

NEW YORK — This is what it looks like when the Big Bodega is open for business.

With Jalen Brunson sidelined by a Grade 1 ankle sprain suffered late in Wednesday’s loss to the Magic, all eyes shifted to Karl-Anthony Towns — the underused but wildly talented scoring big who’d been quiet to start Year 1 under Mike Brown.

Quiet no more.

...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons established momentum late in the third quarter and controlled the fourth quarter, leading to a 114-105 win against the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night inside Little Caesars Arena. With the win, the Pistons extended their winning streak to nine, their longest since the 2007-08 season. They also improved to 2-0 ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves had a tougher time with the Kings than they had earlier this week in Sacramento, but they still came away with a 124-110 victory. The Wolves improved to 2-0 against the Kings after a 27-point win on Sunday on the road and won their fourth straight overall.

Anthony Edwards had 30 points to lead them while Julius ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — By the time the Eastern Illinois player assigned to jump center left his feet Friday night, Brandon Garrison had already won the opening tipoff.

And that’s about how things went for the Panthers in their visit to Rupp Arena.

No. 9 Kentucky — playing for the first time since its rivalry loss to Louisville three nights ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ahead of Friday’s NBA Cup game, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Brooklyn‘s 1-10 record wasn’t representative of the quality of opponent Orlando was facing inside Kia Center.

And, for most of the night, the Magic coach wasn’t wrong.

Orlando trailed the Nets by as many as 16 points in the second quarter but mounted a ...Read more

So why did Bam Adebayo take flight to New York while sidelined with a toe sprain?

Because, as confirmed by the most reliable of sources, love is in the air.

On the same day Adebayo and the Heat took flight for Friday night’s game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Adebayo’s girlfriend, WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson, sat ...Read more