NBA News

Good morning, it’s Thursday, February 19th. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 34-21 and finally play basketball again for the first time since last Wednesday. A lot has happened since we last previewed a Cavs game. I totaled my car. Jaylon Tyson and Donovan Mitchell competed in All-Star weekend. And, Cleveland went a few days in a row without snowing or dipping …

This one is about pride. After his team was shellacked by the conference-leading Pistons in their two previous matchups — including a beatdown less than two weeks ago — Knicks coach Mike Brown hopes his players are fired up for Thursday’s rematch at MSG. Advertisement “Yeah, it should [mean something more],” Brown said. “They didn’t just win the game, they …

CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — Nasa Hataoka shot a 7-under 65 Thursday on the Siam Country Club Old Course and was tied for the lead after the opening round at the LPGA Thailand, the first of three tournaments in Asia in consecutive weeks. Hataoka, who was runner-up at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, has won five individual LPGA tournaments and two …

Milwaukee Bucks (23-30, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (15-41, 14th in the Western Conference) New Orleans; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pelicans -3.5; over/under is 225.5 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Bucks take on the New Orleans Pelicans in non-conference play. The Pelicans have gone 9-20 in home games. New Orleans is 6-18 in …

Dallas Mavericks (19-35, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22, sixth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Timberwolves -11.5; over/under is 235.5 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota hosts the Dallas Mavericks after Julius Randle scored 41 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 133-109 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Timberwolves are 19-17 in …

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Graham Ike had 22 points and No. 11 Gonzaga cruised to an 80-59 victory over San Francisco on Wednesday night. Ike, the leading scorer in the West Coast Conference, has scored 20 or more in eight consecutive games. That matches the school record shared by Adam Morrison and Derek Raivio, both in 2006. Advertisement Mario Saint-Supery …

KOLKATA, India (AP) — Italy won the toss and elected to field against high-flying West Indies in its last T20 World Cup game on Thursday. West Indies has already qualified for the Super 8s with three consecutive wins in Group C and is in Group 1 with co-host India, Zimbabwe and South Africa. New Zealand, England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka …

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Nick Martinelli scored 29 points to lead Northwestern to a 78-74 victory over Maryland on Wednesday night to end a five-game losing streak. Northwestern (11-16, 3-13 Big Ten) led 35-34 at halftime and took control midway through the second half with a 16-3 run fueled by four 3-pointers from Jordan Clayton and Jake West. The surge …

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sophie Hart had 18 points and 10 rebounds to help No. 23 Minnesota overpower No. 10 Ohio State 74-61 on Wednesday, the ninth straight win for the Gophers. Mara Braun had 18 points and nine rebounds with two key jumpers in the closing minutes as Minnesota (21-6, 12-4) moved past Ohio State (22-5, 11-4) into fourth place …

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Azzi Fudd helped lead a second-half comeback and finished with 25 points, and Sarah Strong scored 21 despite early foul trouble as No. 1 UConn outlasted Villanova 83-69 on Wednesday night. The Huskies (28-0, 17-0 Big East) have won 44 consecutive games since last losing 80-76 at Tennessee on Feb. 6 of last year. They ran …

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Grace VanSlooten scored 22 points and No. 18 Michigan State cruised past Northwestern 104-68 on Wednesday. Michigan State (21-6, 10-6 Big Ten) took control early and broke the game open with a 32-14 second quarter to build a 55-28 halftime lead. The Spartans shot 53% overall from the field and made 13 of 26 (50%) …

SACRAMENTO — Whenever Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray scores a basket at Golden 1 Center, a slogan with his name his echoed. The chant is led off with Kings public address announcer Scott Moak, who yells into the mic after each Murray basket, whether a free throw, layup, midrange, three-pointer or slam dunk. It’s even shouted after a big play. …

The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the easiest schedules in the league after the All-Star break, but they have a tough stretch to start things off. They play five games in seven nights, and they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons (twice), and the Boston Celtics over the next two-and-a-half weeks. That will be a …

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball was not injured after being involved in a two-car crash in downtown Charlotte on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details of the accident. Advertisement A police report …

DENVER (AP) — Before looking ahead to the remainder of the season, the Denver Nuggets spent some time Wednesday reflecting on what the late coach Doug Moe meant to the city, the franchise and the league and how his offensive innovations changed the NBA. Moe, an ABA original who will be remembered most for his motion offense and the equally …

Kings starting center Domantas Sabonis is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair his left meniscus on Wednesday, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by other sources. This injury is not new. Sabonis was diagnosed with a torn meniscus back in November, but opted for non-surgical treatment and sat out …

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb was suspended one game by the Horizon League on Wednesday for comments he made while criticizing officials after a 75-72 loss to Milwaukee last Sunday. Gottlieb slammed the table at one point and used an expletive in his postgame news conference while complaining about what he perceived as inconsistency in …

The frustration was obvious for Vic Schaefer after the No. 4 Texas women lost by double figures at No. 5 Vanderbilt. “We’ve got no heart,” the Longhorns coach said in a blunt analysis. He hasn’t been alone, on the men’s or women’s side, when it comes to coaches angrily calling out their teams in the pressure-packed final month of the …

The Rev. Jesse Jackson stood mesmerized on the baseline, intently watching the Chicago Bulls warm up before an NBA playoff game against the Indiana Pacers. He was comfortable and at ease in an atmosphere that clearly offered a familiar environment for the civil rights leader. Advertisement Jackson, who died on Tuesday at age 84, was an athlete from a young …

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The No. 2 official of the baseball players’ association was shaken by the events culminating in the resignation of union head Tony Clark and said the change in leadership will not alter bargaining preparations ahead of talks in which Major League Baseball is expected to push for a salary cap. “Just on a personal level I …

Subscribe to The Kevin O’Connor Show NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen joins Kevin O’Connor to break down the season’s hottest topics, from star player development to the reality of tanking in the league. Drew shares inside stories about working with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jayson Tatum and others and explains why self-belief can be both a gift and a curse …

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will not suit up this season, as he continues to rehab from a knee injury, the team announced. Irving tore the ACL in his left knee in a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2025, and he missed the last 20 games of the season. Irving, 33, is expected to return for the …

MILAN (AP) — Eileen Gu and all the other freestyle skiers wait for their scores by a large Powerade-branded cooler, then glide away without taking a drink. Bottles of the blue sports drink are stacked in hockey penalty boxes. Even the tissues in figure skating’s drama-packed “Kiss and Cry” area are branded. Advertisement One way the Olympics generally stand out …

The first San Antonio Spurs game I ever attended was in 1985. The Spurs were hosting the Denver Nuggets at HemisFair Arena. My parents took my brother and I to the game and after we stuck around to get autographs. We both came home with pages signed by members of both teams. Among the dozen or so signatures we obtained, …

Subscribe to The Big Number Tom Haberstroh is joined by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst to dig into the NBA’s $500,000 fine for the Utah Jazz and debate whether fines can truly deter teams from benching their stars. Windhorst breaks down four of the league’s core values to explain why proposals to “fix” tanking rarely last. Advertisement The duo also look ahead …