SALT LAKE CITY — The Los Angeles Lakers won their fourth consecutive game Sunday, holding off the Utah Jazz 108-106 in Delta Center behind 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists from Luka Doncic.

The Lakers (12-4) nearly squandered a 10-point lead in the final six minutes and 36 seconds, allowing the Jazz to cut the lead to one with 41.3 ...Read more

BOSTON — A long-term injury to Neemias Queta could spell trouble for the Boston Celtics.

But for at least one night, Boston didn’t need its No. 1 center.

The Celtics lost Queta, a standout in his first season as an NBA starter, to an ankle sprain midway through the first quarter Sunday but were able to secure a victory over the undermanned...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — The UConn men’s basketball team has a new Mr. Triple-Double.

Silas Demary Jr., the junior point guard brought in from Georgia to make a Tristen Newton-like impact, had his hands all over Sunday’s 79-42 win over Bryant in a sold-out PeoplesBank Arena.

Demary fired a pass down to freshman center Eric Reibe for a dunk with...Read more

Tyrese Martin tried to save the Brooklyn Nets, turning in a 26-point night off the bench performance. Everything else, though, looked far too familiar. Brooklyn fell to 3-13 after another slow start, another frantic comeback and another fourth-quarter fade it couldn’t shake.

And once again, the trouble started almost immediately, with the ...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke fans had a lot to cheer Sunday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The “Brotherhood Run” came to an end as Howard coach Kenny Blakeney, who played on Duke’s 1992 national championship team, was given a nice round of applause before the game.

The noise level grew once the ball went up as the No. 5 Blue Devils began running ...Read more

DENVER — That shadow over the court was Aaron Gordon’s. Suddenly, the Denver Nuggets felt his absence as painfully as their opponents usually feel his presence.

He would have been perfect for a crunch-time possession late Saturday night and the unenviable task of guarding DeMar DeRozan with a game on the line.

David Adelman instead asked ...Read more

It continues to be a case of not who but rather how for the Miami Heat.

With Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro back in South Florida, the Heat went into Philadelphia Sunday and extended their winning streak to a season-best four in a row, with a 127-117 victory over the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Once again, Erik Spoelstra’s ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Seventy hours.

Give or take a few minutes, that’s how long the Kentucky Wildcats had to wait for another shot at outside competition after they walked off the Madison Square Garden court Tuesday night, the scoreboard above them telling the tale of the embarrassment they had just endured.

How eager was Otega Oweh — the ...Read more

Based on some of the discourse in recent weeks, if you didn’t know better you’d think calamity was about to consume the Miami Heat.

After all, how will Tyler Herro’s imminent return from September ankle surgery impact what has a rejuvenating return to competitiveness by Erik Spoelstra’s team?

Um … by making a good team better?

Yes, ...Read more

The Sacramento Kings’ miserable eight-game losing streak is mercifully over.

They put together their best performance of the season Saturday night in Denver, beating the beat-up Nuggets 128-123 at Ball Arena to improve to 4-13 on the season.

The story of the night was the Kings’ offense. They matched their season high in assists when they ...Read more

The Sacramento Kings’ miserable eight-game losing streak is mercifully over.

They put together their best performance of the season Saturday night in Denver, beating the beat-up Nuggets 128-123 at Ball Arena to improve to 4-13 on the season.

The story of the night was the Kings’ offense. They matched their season high in assists when they ...Read more

The Hawks ended up splitting their two-game road trip. They picked up a win on Saturday over the Pelicans, who owe them a first-round pick in next year’s draft, after they lost to the Spurs on Thursday.

After a lethargic start to the night, the Hawks downed the Pelicans, 115-98. It was the first time this season that the Hawks have held an ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — After being sidelined for 10 months, Jaden Ivey returned to the lineup as the Detroit Pistons continued their four-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks. He played 15 minutes, notching 10 points and two assists, which helped the Pistons take a 129-116 victory Saturday night at Fiserv Forum.

The win extended the Pistons’ ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid is still experiencing soreness in his right knee, the Sixers said Saturday afternoon, though doctors do believe he is progressing following his most recent evaluation.

His status for Sunday afternoon’s home game against the Miami Heat will be more formalized on the NBA’s mandatory injury report released Saturday...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — The three security guards posted at the southeastern tunnel of Kia Center’s hardwood floors aren’t waving at Magic fans soaking in another home win. They’re covering their mouths, grinning, and waving at the Knicks fans — the traveling pack that shows up in every city, every night, rain or shine — as those fans head ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — No one could have blamed Charles Lee if he kept rubbing his eyes Saturday afternoon, assuring what was transpiring was real and not a figment of his imagination.

When the Charlotte Hornets coach peered out onto the Spectrum Center court for a matinee with the LA Clippers, not long after pregame introductions concluded, he ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — You want effort?

Trent Perry followed one sneaky steal with another in a span of less than a minute.

You want defensive intensity?

Xavier Booker stepped in front of his man, rising to block a dunk.

You want offensive efficiency?

Skyy Clark blew by one helpless defender after another on the way to repeated driving layups.

...Read more

The Timberwolves had the game seemingly wrapped up — ahead by eight with 50 seconds left to play.

But a comedy of errors and missed free throws caused them to lose to the Suns, 114-113.

Collin Gillespie hit the winning shot for Phoenix with 6.4 seconds to play, and Julius Randle missed a potential winning 3 for the Wolves.

With the loss, ...Read more