The United States won their fifth straight Olympic men's basketball crown on Saturday, holding off a battling France 98-87 to take their tally of Olympic golds to 17.

In a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final three years ago, LeBron James and the US team stacked with NBA stars once again proved too much for France, despite the efforts of sensational NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.

France sliced a 14-point deficit to three with 3min 04sec to play on Wembanyama's put-back dunk, but Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry drilled a three-pointer -- one of four from him with less than three minutes remaining -- and the United States relentlessly powered to the finish.

Curry finished with eight three-pointers -- including a rainbow over a leaping Wembanyama -- and led the US scoring with 24 points.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-olympics-chief-thomas-bach-says-will-not-seek-third-term-749040">Olympics chief Thomas Bach says will not seek third term</a>

"You just simply marvel," James said of Curry. "Having him on your side, you just try to get stops and figure out other ways on the other end but keep finding him, keep getting him the ball."

Curry said of his late-game heroics: "I was just trying to settle us down."

"All we wanted to do was get a good shot," Curry said. "It had been a while since we had a good possession.

"(Finally) the momentum was on our side. At that point, your mind goes blank. You don't really care about setting or the scenario or anything. It's just a shot."

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker added 15 points apiece and James scored 14 with six rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and a block.

For Durant it was a US men's record fourth Olympic gold. James earned his third and Curry, a four-time NBA champion, claimed his first in his first Olympic appearance.

"There's a lot of relief," Curry said. "It wasn't easy but, damn, I'm excited, man. This is everything that I wanted it to be and more, so I'm excited."

Wembanyama had his best offensive game of the Olympics, scoring 26 points. Guerschon Yabusele added 20.

France connected on just nine of 30 three-point attempts and the United States held a 31-9 advantage in fast-break points.

Both teams were locked in defensively in a tense first half that featured 10 lead changes.

Wembanyama soared for a dunk that gave France an 11-10 lead and sent the Bercy Arena crowd into a frenzy.

The Americans were soon back in front when Booker made a layup off a behind-the-back pass from James and a steal from James set Jayson Tatum loose for a dunk.

Down by five after one quarter, France took a 25-24 lead on a Bilal Coulibaly dunk, but the US continued to capitalize in transition off of France's misses.

James drove through traffic for a layup, drawing a foul and flexing at the US bench before making the free throw to put the United States up 37-31, and they led 49-41 at halftime.

<h2>Dream final</h2>

The dream final drew a raft of luminaries. French President Emmanuel Macron was in the house and so was sprint star Sha'Carri Richardson, a day after she anchored the US 4x100m relay to gold.

James signalled his intentions early, taking the court in golden shoes and opening the scoring with a dunk.

Curry, who scored 36 points in the come-from-behind semi-final victory over Serbia, heated up in the second half, giving the US their biggest lead of the game, 61-47, with a three-pointer early in the third.

France kept pressing and were only six down heading into the fourth quarter, but finally had to watch the US players celebrate at the end, draped in flags.

A downcast Wembanyama could only hug his teammates, but with the silver medal around his neck he called the experience "incredible" and said he'd try to return the favor at Los Angeles in 2028.

"I will be going for gold in four years' time," he said.

Earlier Saturday, Serbia won bronze with a dominant 93-83 victory over World Cup champions Germany.

Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic posted a triple double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to lead Serbia, who lost 95-91 to the United States in the semi-finals.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The United States won their fifth straight Olympic men's basketball crown on Saturday, holding off a battling France 98-87 to take their tally of Olympic golds to 17.

The United States won their fifth straight Olympic men's basketball crown on Saturday, holding off a battling France 98-87 to take their tally of Olympic golds to 17. In a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics final three years ago, LeBron James and the US team stacked with NBA stars once again proved too much for France, despite the efforts of sensational NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama. France sliced a 14-point deficit to three with 3min 04sec to play on Wembanyama's put-back dunk, but Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry drilled a three-pointer -- one of four from him with less than three minutes remaining -- and the United States relentlessly powered to the finish. Curry finished with eight three-pointers -- including a rainbow over a leaping Wembanyama -- and led the US scoring with 24 points. ALSO READ: Olympics chief Thomas Bach says will not seek third term "You just simply marvel," James said of Curry. "Having him on your side, you just try to get stops and figure out other ways on the other end but keep finding him, keep getting him the ball." Curry said of his late-game heroics: "I was just trying to settle us down." "All we wanted to do was get a good shot," Curry said. "It had been a while since we had a good possession. "(Finally) the momentum was on our side. At that point, your mind goes blank. You don't really care about setting or the scenario or anything. It's just a shot." Kevin Durant and Devin Booker added 15 points apiece and James scored 14 with six rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and a block. For Durant it was a US men's record fourth Olympic gold. James earned his third and Curry, a four-time NBA champion, claimed his first in his first Olympic appearance. "There's a lot of relief," Curry said. "It wasn't easy but, damn, I'm excited, man. This is everything that I wanted it to be and more, so I'm excited." Wembanyama had his best offensive game of the Olympics, scoring 26 points. Guerschon Yabusele added 20. France connected on just nine of 30 three-point attempts and the United States held a 31-9 advantage in fast-break points. Both teams were locked in defensively in a tense first half that featured 10 lead changes. Wembanyama soared for a dunk that gave France an 11-10 lead and sent the Bercy Arena crowd into a frenzy. The Americans were soon back in front when Booker made a layup off a behind-the-back pass from James and a steal from James set Jayson Tatum loose for a dunk. Down by five after one quarter, France took a 25-24 lead on a Bilal Coulibaly dunk, but the US continued to capitalize in transition off of France's misses. James drove through traffic for a layup, drawing a foul and flexing at the US bench before making the free throw to put the United States up 37-31, and they led 49-41 at halftime. Dream final The dream final drew a raft of luminaries. French President Emmanuel Macron was in the house and so was sprint star Sha'Carri Richardson, a day after she anchored the US 4x100m relay to gold. James signalled his intentions early, taking the court in golden shoes and opening the scoring with a dunk. Curry, who scored 36 points in the come-from-behind semi-final victory over Serbia, heated up in the second half, giving the US their biggest lead of the game, 61-47, with a three-pointer early in the third. France kept pressing and were only six down heading into the fourth quarter, but finally had to watch the US players celebrate at the end, draped in flags. A downcast Wembanyama could only hug his teammates, but with the silver medal around his neck he called the experience "incredible" and said he'd try to return the favor at Los Angeles in 2028. "I will be going for gold in four years' time," he said. Earlier Saturday, Serbia won bronze with a dominant 93-83 victory over World Cup champions Germany. Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic posted a triple double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to lead Serbia, who lost 95-91 to the United States in the semi-finals. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Paris Games 2024: USA win fifth straight men’s basketball gold after France thrashing

The USA basketball team won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 on August 10, Saturday. The USA defeated hosts France 98-87 in the final to make it 5 gold medals on the trot as Steph Curry starred with 8 3-pointers during the match.

Paris Olympics 2024: USA wins fifth straight gold in men's basketball

The United States kept the dream alive with a stirring fourth quarter rally to tame feisty Serbia 95-91 on Thursday and move into the Paris Olympics men's basketball gold medal final against France. Trailing by double digits for much of the game and down 76-63 heading into the fourth quarter, the United States chances of a fifth consecutive gold were quickly dimming. Then NBA stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry took charge, bringing a wide-eyed capacity crowd at the Bercy Arena to their feet with a furious fight back.

The U.S. win delivered the final basketball fans wanted to see, as the American Dream Team takes on an inspired France on Saturday, in what will be a hostile Bercy Arena cauldron.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-paris-olympics-wait-what-noah-lyles-reveals-being-covid-positive-after-200m-bronze-win-out-of-tournament-748622">Paris Olympics: Wait, what? Noah Lyles reveals being Covid positive after 200m bronze win, out of tournament</a>

A rematch of the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medal game featured an intriguing matchup of NBA most valuable players with James, a four-times MVP against Serbia's reigning three-times MVP Nikola Jokic.

But it was two-times MVP Curry who came out with the hot hand, scoring 14 of the first 15 U.S. points in opening four minutes.

Curry finished with game-high 36 points that included nine three pointers and two clutch free throws with eight seconds to play to clinch victory.

"To come back the way we did... I've seen a lot of team USA basketball and that was a special," said Curry.

After grinding away at the Serbia lead, James drove to the hoop, tying the contest at 84-84. Curry finally put the U.S. ahead with a three-pointer seconds later.

The quick fire burst continued with James driving to the bucket again followed a Curry steal and another basket to leave a reeling Serbia down 91-86 and on the ropes.

"My teammates believe in me and I was able to come through for them," said James, who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. "I told them that it's good to be tested. It's great to be tested.

"I'm 39 years old, going into my 22nd season. I don't know how many opportunities and moments I'm going get like this to be able to compete for ... something big and playing big games, and tonight was a big game."

<h2>France Thriller</h2>

Earlier, bolstered by an electric home crowd, a turbo-charged France won a 73-69 thriller over Germany.

France was led by a 17-point effort from Guerschon Yabusele while Isaia Cordinier chipped in 16, none more important than two free throws with seven seconds to play to blunt a Germany fight back and seal victory.

"I think the national team, this jersey, brings to us that different energy that we can't find nowhere else," said Victor Wembanyama, the first Frenchman taken number one overall in the NBA draft.

"We can see how intense we've been over the last two games. It's something that we all feel as patriots. We love our jersey. We love our country," said the 2.2-metre (7-foot, 3-inch) tall centre.

After a loss to Germany in their final group game, France came prepared for a battle and got one in a tense nail-biter that was not decided until the final seconds.

French fans arrived prepared to party, but Germany dialled back some of that excitement when they jumped out to a 12-2 lead.

The arena was soon rocking again as France worked their way back, the crowd erupting in a mighty rafter rattling roar when Wembanyama hit the final basket of the half to send the teams into the break deadlocked at 33-33.

Fully fuelled by the pumped up crowd, France powered to a 56-50 third-quarter lead and led 70-65 with just 40 seconds to play.

Franz Wagner dampened the party atmosphere by hitting a three-pointer to cut the France advantage to just two, leaving a stunned French crowd on the edge of their seats.

But France refused to buckle. Cordinier's steely free throws turned the volume all the way up again with a massive celebration erupting as the final seconds ticked down, the players mobbing each other and dancing to roars of approval.

"Incredible moment with the fans," said Wembanyama. "They made it hard for me not to cry."

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The United States kept the dream alive with a stirring fourth quarter rally to tame feisty Serbia 95-91 on Thursday and move into the Paris Olympics men's basketball gold medal final against France.

The United States kept the dream alive with a stirring fourth quarter rally to tame feisty Serbia 95-91 on Thursday and move into the Paris Olympics men's basketball gold medal final against France. Trailing by double digits for much of the game and down 76-63 heading into the fourth quarter, the United States chances of a fifth consecutive gold were quickly dimming. Then NBA stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry took charge, bringing a wide-eyed capacity crowd at the Bercy Arena to their feet with a furious fight back. The U.S. win delivered the final basketball fans wanted to see, as the American Dream Team takes on an inspired France on Saturday, in what will be a hostile Bercy Arena cauldron. ALSO READ: Paris Olympics: Wait, what? Noah Lyles reveals being Covid positive after 200m bronze win, out of tournament A rematch of the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medal game featured an intriguing matchup of NBA most valuable players with James, a four-times MVP against Serbia's reigning three-times MVP Nikola Jokic. But it was two-times MVP Curry who came out with the hot hand, scoring 14 of the first 15 U.S. points in opening four minutes. Curry finished with game-high 36 points that included nine three pointers and two clutch free throws with eight seconds to play to clinch victory. "To come back the way we did... I've seen a lot of team USA basketball and that was a special," said Curry. After grinding away at the Serbia lead, James drove to the hoop, tying the contest at 84-84. Curry finally put the U.S. ahead with a three-pointer seconds later. The quick fire burst continued with James driving to the bucket again followed a Curry steal and another basket to leave a reeling Serbia down 91-86 and on the ropes. "My teammates believe in me and I was able to come through for them," said James, who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. "I told them that it's good to be tested. It's great to be tested. "I'm 39 years old, going into my 22nd season. I don't know how many opportunities and moments I'm going get like this to be able to compete for ... something big and playing big games, and tonight was a big game." France Thriller Earlier, bolstered by an electric home crowd, a turbo-charged France won a 73-69 thriller over Germany. France was led by a 17-point effort from Guerschon Yabusele while Isaia Cordinier chipped in 16, none more important than two free throws with seven seconds to play to blunt a Germany fight back and seal victory. "I think the national team, this jersey, brings to us that different energy that we can't find nowhere else," said Victor Wembanyama, the first Frenchman taken number one overall in the NBA draft. "We can see how intense we've been over the last two games. It's something that we all feel as patriots. We love our jersey. We love our country," said the 2.2-metre (7-foot, 3-inch) tall centre. After a loss to Germany in their final group game, France came prepared for a battle and got one in a tense nail-biter that was not decided until the final seconds. French fans arrived prepared to party, but Germany dialled back some of that excitement when they jumped out to a 12-2 lead. The arena was soon rocking again as France worked their way back, the crowd erupting in a mighty rafter rattling roar when Wembanyama hit the final basket of the half to send the teams into the break deadlocked at 33-33. Fully fuelled by the pumped up crowd, France powered to a 56-50 third-quarter lead and led 70-65 with just 40 seconds to play. Franz Wagner dampened the party atmosphere by hitting a three-pointer to cut the France advantage to just two, leaving a stunned French crowd on the edge of their seats. But France refused to buckle. Cordinier's steely free throws turned the volume all the way up again with a massive celebration erupting as the final seconds ticked down, the players mobbing each other and dancing to roars of approval. "Incredible moment with the fans," said Wembanyama. "They made it hard for me not to cry." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Paris Olymics: LeBron, Curry star for USA in thriller against Serbia, to face France in dream basketball final

The NBA announced 11-year global media rights deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon on Wednesday worth a reported $76 billion and running from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 season. In addition to expanding game coverage for US and global telecast audiences as well as streaming viewers, the contracts figure to boost the value of every NBA team in addition to the salaries of basketball's top superstars.

Even though no financial details were officially revealed, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine have reported the $76 billion combined figure for the deals.

"Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world," National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver said. "These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade."

The move came after the league announced it had rejected a bid by Warner Brothers Discovery to retain its rights by matching Amazon's deal, saying the terms of the offer to remain on US telecaster Turner Sports were not sufficient.

"Warner Brothers Discovery's most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video's offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon," the NBA said in a statement.

"Our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans.&nbsp;Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. "All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience."

The league's upcoming campaign will be its last for some time with US coverage on long-time partner TNT. "We're grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT," the league statement said.

The new deals will keep US coverage on Disney-owned ESPN and ABC, NBC and Peacock as well as send a set of games to Amazon's Prime Video streaming service.

ABC and ESPN will remain the television home for US fans of the NBA Finals, Christmas Day games plus Wednesday and weekend contests.

NBC will have opening night plus Sunday and Tuesday game telecasts with Peacock getting Monday games and NBA All-Star coverage.

Amazon Prime Video will have rights to the NBA Cup, the NBA Play-In Tournament to determine April's final playoff qualifiers plus games on Thursday and Friday night as well as be a global destination for NBA League Pass telecasts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paris-olympics-2024-kevin-durant-feeling-pretty-good-as-team-usa-aims-basketball-medal-743896">Paris Olympics 2024: Kevin Durant feeling 'pretty good' as Team USA aims basketball medal</a>

<h2>- Turner vows to fight -</h2>

Turner Sports promised to fight the NBA's decision, saying in a statement posted on social media that it will take action after NBC overstepped its power in deciding Turner's terms didn't match Amazon.

"We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it," the statement said. "We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond and we will take appropriate action."

The new deals mean more national NBA telecasts on broadcast and streaming platforms, with the NBA App serving as an access point to all. In domestic markets, Disney will broadcast 80 regular season games on ESPN and ABC, NBCUniversal will have up to 100, and Amazon will add 66 regular season contests.

Disney also will distribute games in several international markets, while NBC will distribute games in Europe through Sky Sports as well as in parts of Africa and the Caribbean. Amazon Prime Video will provide global distribution in select areas, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

The NBA announced 11-year global media rights deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon on Wednesday worth a reported $76 billion and running from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 season.

The NBA announced 11-year global media rights deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon on Wednesday worth a reported $76 billion and running from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 season. In addition to expanding game coverage for US and global telecast audiences as well as streaming viewers, the contracts figure to boost the value of every NBA team in addition to the salaries of basketball's top superstars. Even though no financial details were officially revealed, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine have reported the $76 billion combined figure for the deals. "Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world," National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver said. "These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade." The move came after the league announced it had rejected a bid by Warner Brothers Discovery to retain its rights by matching Amazon's deal, saying the terms of the offer to remain on US telecaster Turner Sports were not sufficient. "Warner Brothers Discovery's most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video's offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon," the NBA said in a statement. "Our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans. Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. "All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience." The league's upcoming campaign will be its last for some time with US coverage on long-time partner TNT. "We're grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT," the league statement said. The new deals will keep US coverage on Disney-owned ESPN and ABC, NBC and Peacock as well as send a set of games to Amazon's Prime Video streaming service. ABC and ESPN will remain the television home for US fans of the NBA Finals, Christmas Day games plus Wednesday and weekend contests. NBC will have opening night plus Sunday and Tuesday game telecasts with Peacock getting Monday games and NBA All-Star coverage. Amazon Prime Video will have rights to the NBA Cup, the NBA Play-In Tournament to determine April's final playoff qualifiers plus games on Thursday and Friday night as well as be a global destination for NBA League Pass telecasts. Also read: Paris Olympics 2024: Kevin Durant feeling 'pretty good' as Team USA aims basketball medal - Turner vows to fight - Turner Sports promised to fight the NBA's decision, saying in a statement posted on social media that it will take action after NBC overstepped its power in deciding Turner's terms didn't match Amazon. "We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it," the statement said. "We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond and we will take appropriate action." The new deals mean more national NBA telecasts on broadcast and streaming platforms, with the NBA App serving as an access point to all. In domestic markets, Disney will broadcast 80 regular season games on ESPN and ABC, NBCUniversal will have up to 100, and Amazon will add 66 regular season contests. Disney also will distribute games in several international markets, while NBC will distribute games in Europe through Sky Sports as well as in parts of Africa and the Caribbean. Amazon Prime Video will provide global distribution in select areas, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA signs 11-year media deals worth WHOPPING amount: Reports

NBA Summer League 2024 Full Schedule, Live Streaming: NBA Summer League is also called Las Vegas Summer League, is an off-season basketball tournament organised by the National Basketball Association (NBA).

NBA Summer League 2024 Full Schedule, Live Streaming: NBA Summer League is also called Las Vegas Summer League, is an off-season basketball tournament organised by the National Basketball Association (NBA). NBA teams come along to present their summer rosters which are a mix of rookies, sophomores and G League players. The competition is divided into three different leagues – California Classic Summer League, Salt Lake City Summer League, and NBA 2K25 Summer League. NBA Summer League 2024: Where to watch TV Broadcast? The NBA Summer League is being held in the Cox Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can watch the games live on TV channels of ESPN network including ESPNU, ESPN2, ESPN+, and NBA TV. NBA Summer League 2024 LIVE Streaming: Where to watch? Live stream of the summer league games can also be watched online on Fubo (free trial). You can also subscribe to ESPN Plus to watch the live stream of the NBA Summer League games. NBA Summer League 2024 Full Schedule and Timings of all games (Pacific Time) The NBA Summer League started on July 12, 2024. The schedule for the remaining games is as follows: July 17 Miami Heat vs Dallas Mavericks, 12:00 pm. Sacramento Kings vs New York Knicks, 12:30 pm. Toronto Jazz vs Utah Jazz, 2:00 pm. Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets, 2:30 pm. Memphis Grizzlies vs Orlando Magic, 4:00 pm. Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 5:00 pm. Los Angeles Lakers vs Atlanta Hawks, 6:30 pm. Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:00 pm. Also Read | Paris Olympics 2024: French charity warns athletes of 'air pollution' at Olympic village July 18 Indiana Pacers vs Denver Nuggets, 1:30 pm. Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans, 3:00 pm. Washington Wizards vs Sacramento Kings, 4:00 pm. Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets, 5:00 pm. Los Angeles Lakers vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 6:00 pm. LA Clippers vs Utah Jazz, 7:00 pm. Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets, 8:00 pm. July 19 Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns, 1:00 pm. Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics, 1:30 pm. Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls, 3:00 pm. New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons, 4:00 pm. Philadelphia 76ers vs San Antonio Spurs, 5:30 pm. Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat, 6:00 pm. Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 7:30 pm. Portland Trail Blazers vs Charlotte Hornets, 8:00 pm. July 20 Seven games TBD July 21 Eight games TBD July 22 One game TBD (With inputs from agencies)

NBA Summer League 2024 LIVE Streaming: Full Schedule, TV Broadcast, Streaming Online | All you need to know

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in Thursday's second round of the NBA Draft, setting up the first father-son combination in NBA history.

It's a dream come true for four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, who said for years he dreamed of playing alongside his son. "In the history of the NBA, there has never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. "That feels like something that could be magical."

LeBron, a 39-year-old Lakers playmaker and four-time NBA champion, will be busy on the US team at the Paris Olympics next month while son Bronny is set to join the Lakers in NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas.

LeBron James posted photos on Instagram with the one-word caption "LEGACY!!!!!!" and images of himself with Bronny as a child, of both of them dunking and another with father and son side-by-side in Lakers jerseys.

Bronny James, a guard for the University of Southern California, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Trojans last season after a stellar high school career and also impressed scouts at an NBA combine.

At a practice session last July, USC freshman James collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect. The teenager was released from the hospital a few days later and doctors approved him playing both in US college basketball and, last month, in the NBA.

"Congratulations to Bronny James on being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers!" Lakers legend Magic Johnson said. "This is a historic moment... Watching Bronny suit up for the @Lakers during Summer League in Vegas will be must-see TV!"

The younger James is seen as a top defensive prospect with elite athletic skills and strong instincts for the game but might need time to develop fully as an NBA player.

"We're excited to see this story unfold," said Pelinka, who said new Lakers coach JJ Redick is already planning how to make Bronny better. "

It's an honor for us to add him to our program," Pelinka said. "Coach Redick is already excited about putting a development plan around him to increase his basketball skills and turn him into a player we think can impact and help this franchise."

LeBron James has until Saturday to opt into the final year of his Lakers contract or become a free agent, which could set up a new Lakers deal. The status gave him options should Bronny have ended up elsewhere in the NBA.

"We know and have to respect that LeBron has a decision about his opt out and I'm sure he and his family will decide what they are going to do there," Pelinka said. "If it worked out that he was on our team next season, history could be made -- and NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tour-de-france-favourite-tadej-pogacar-fully-recovered-from-covid-735767">Tour de France favourite Tadej Pogacar 'fully recovered' from Covid</a>

<h2>- High character -</h2>

The Lakers owned the fourth-to-last NBA Draft selection and there was concern other clubs might use a higher pick on James, to see if they could swing a trade deal with the Lakers for James or the pick.

ESPN reported agent Rich Paul warned clubs against picking Bronny, saying he would go to Australia before dealing with some teams.

The Phoenix Suns, who didn't own a second-round pick due to a free agency tampering violation, were the only team other than the Lakers to have a workout with Bronny James ahead of the draft.

Pelinka said character and work ethic were more important factors than ancestry for the Lakers. "Bronny is first and foremost a person of high character and second he's a young man that works incredibly hard and those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental core of the Lakers," Pelinka said.

"In terms of his work ethic, I think we've all seen that lived out too. He's not a person that has ever taken short cuts, or expected or been entitled about basketball opportunities. He has worked for everything he has gotten, including being selected today at 55."

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in Thursday's second round of the NBA Draft, setting up the first father-son combination in NBA history.

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in Thursday's second round of the NBA Draft, setting up the first father-son combination in NBA history. It's a dream come true for four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, who said for years he dreamed of playing alongside his son. "In the history of the NBA, there has never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. "That feels like something that could be magical." LeBron, a 39-year-old Lakers playmaker and four-time NBA champion, will be busy on the US team at the Paris Olympics next month while son Bronny is set to join the Lakers in NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas. LeBron James posted photos on Instagram with the one-word caption "LEGACY!!!!!!" and images of himself with Bronny as a child, of both of them dunking and another with father and son side-by-side in Lakers jerseys. Bronny James, a guard for the University of Southern California, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Trojans last season after a stellar high school career and also impressed scouts at an NBA combine. At a practice session last July, USC freshman James collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect. The teenager was released from the hospital a few days later and doctors approved him playing both in US college basketball and, last month, in the NBA. "Congratulations to Bronny James on being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers!" Lakers legend Magic Johnson said. "This is a historic moment... Watching Bronny suit up for the @Lakers during Summer League in Vegas will be must-see TV!" The younger James is seen as a top defensive prospect with elite athletic skills and strong instincts for the game but might need time to develop fully as an NBA player. "We're excited to see this story unfold," said Pelinka, who said new Lakers coach JJ Redick is already planning how to make Bronny better. " It's an honor for us to add him to our program," Pelinka said. "Coach Redick is already excited about putting a development plan around him to increase his basketball skills and turn him into a player we think can impact and help this franchise." LeBron James has until Saturday to opt into the final year of his Lakers contract or become a free agent, which could set up a new Lakers deal. The status gave him options should Bronny have ended up elsewhere in the NBA. "We know and have to respect that LeBron has a decision about his opt out and I'm sure he and his family will decide what they are going to do there," Pelinka said. "If it worked out that he was on our team next season, history could be made -- and NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform." Also read: Tour de France favourite Tadej Pogacar 'fully recovered' from Covid - High character - The Lakers owned the fourth-to-last NBA Draft selection and there was concern other clubs might use a higher pick on James, to see if they could swing a trade deal with the Lakers for James or the pick. ESPN reported agent Rich Paul warned clubs against picking Bronny, saying he would go to Australia before dealing with some teams. The Phoenix Suns, who didn't own a second-round pick due to a free agency tampering violation, were the only team other than the Lakers to have a workout with Bronny James ahead of the draft. Pelinka said character and work ethic were more important factors than ancestry for the Lakers. "Bronny is first and foremost a person of high character and second he's a young man that works incredibly hard and those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental core of the Lakers," Pelinka said. "In terms of his work ethic, I think we've all seen that lived out too. He's not a person that has ever taken short cuts, or expected or been entitled about basketball opportunities. He has worked for everything he has gotten, including being selected today at 55."

LeBron James' teen son Bronny picked by LA Lakers in NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Lakers have named television pundit and former player JJ Redick as their new head coach. The 40-year-old transitioned to punditry after a 15-year playing career and lacks prior coaching experience. Redick also co-hosts a podcast 'mind the game' with Lakers superstar LeBron James.

First-time coach Reddick handed Lakers' reign

On Wednesday (June 12), local time, the Boston Celtics continued their dominance over Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals to make it three wins in a row following a 106-99 victory and take a 3-0 lead. Fueled by their star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Celtics managed to negate&nbsp;a furious Dallas rally to beat the Mavericks 106-99&nbsp;and are just a win away to secure this year's NBA championship.

Tatum was in roaring form as he broke out of his scoring doldrums to score 31 points. Brown, on the other hand, scored 15 of his 30 in a scorching third quarter and the Celtics are now just a win away from attaining a record-setting 18th NBA crown. Currently, they share the record of 17 titles with LA Lakers and will aim to go past them in game four on Friday.

However, it won't be a cakewalk as the Mavericks have given a tough fight despite the results not going in their favour. It is to be noted that&nbsp;no team has rallied from 3-0 down to win an NBA playoff series, hence, the Mavericks have their task cut out.

Here's the winning moment video:

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Jaylen Brown's CLUTCH jumper late in the 4th helped Boston secure the Game 3 victory 🌟 <a href="https://t.co/nIpQuumg2O">https://t.co/nIpQuumg2O</a> <a href="https://t.co/u0mlwvCAhf">pic.twitter.com/u0mlwvCAhf</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1801099010406601047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba/news-boston-celtics-kristaps-porzingis-ruled-out-for-nba-finals-game-3-731246">Boston Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis ruled out for NBA Finals game 3</a>

From Mavericks' point&nbsp;of view, they did manage to cut a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to two points with 1:20 to play. Kyrie Irving's&nbsp;cutting dunk&nbsp;pulled the Mavericks within 100-98. By that point, Mavs star Luka Doncic&nbsp;fouled out with 4:12 remaining, earning his fifth and sixth fouls in less than a minute.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd challenged both, however,&nbsp;lost. With Doncic departing,&nbsp;the Mavs down were in a nervy position but kept pressing hard. However, it wasn't enough as Brown&nbsp;drilled a jump shot to push the lead back to four. In addition,&nbsp;after Irving missed a tough three-pointer, White and Tatum each made a pair of free throws as the&nbsp;Celtics managed to go ahead eventually.

After the match, Brown said, "That was a big-time win for us, and I'm proud of how we played today. They had some momentum, but we kept our poise. We made timely baskets. We got some good shots going in, and we found a way to win."

On Wednesday (June 12), local time, the Boston Celtics continued their dominance over Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals to make it three wins in a row following a 106-99 victory and take a 3-0 lead.

On Wednesday (June 12), local time, the Boston Celtics continued their dominance over Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals to make it three wins in a row following a 106-99 victory and take a 3-0 lead. Fueled by their star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Celtics managed to negate a furious Dallas rally to beat the Mavericks 106-99 and are just a win away to secure this year's NBA championship. Tatum was in roaring form as he broke out of his scoring doldrums to score 31 points. Brown, on the other hand, scored 15 of his 30 in a scorching third quarter and the Celtics are now just a win away from attaining a record-setting 18th NBA crown. Currently, they share the record of 17 titles with LA Lakers and will aim to go past them in game four on Friday. However, it won't be a cakewalk as the Mavericks have given a tough fight despite the results not going in their favour. It is to be noted that no team has rallied from 3-0 down to win an NBA playoff series, hence, the Mavericks have their task cut out. Here's the winning moment video: Jaylen Brown's CLUTCH jumper late in the 4th helped Boston secure the Game 3 victory 🌟 https://t.co/nIpQuumg2O pic.twitter.com/u0mlwvCAhf — NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2024 × Also read: Boston Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis ruled out for NBA Finals game 3 From Mavericks' point of view, they did manage to cut a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to two points with 1:20 to play. Kyrie Irving's cutting dunk pulled the Mavericks within 100-98. By that point, Mavs star Luka Doncic fouled out with 4:12 remaining, earning his fifth and sixth fouls in less than a minute. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd challenged both, however, lost. With Doncic departing, the Mavs down were in a nervy position but kept pressing hard. However, it wasn't enough as Brown drilled a jump shot to push the lead back to four. In addition, after Irving missed a tough three-pointer, White and Tatum each made a pair of free throws as the Celtics managed to go ahead eventually. After the match, Brown said, "That was a big-time win for us, and I'm proud of how we played today. They had some momentum, but we kept our poise. We made timely baskets. We got some good shots going in, and we found a way to win."

NBA Finals: Boston Celtics beat Dallas Mavericks 106-99 to take 3-0 lead, one win away from 18th title

Jerry West, an iconic 1960s star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who inspired the NBA logo, died Wednesday (Jun 12) at age 86, the Los Angeles Clippers announced.

Jerry West, an iconic 1960s star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who inspired the NBA logo, died Wednesday (Jun 12) at age 86, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. West played for the Lakers from 1960 through 1974, winning his only NBA title in 1972, and was co-captain on the 1960 Rome Olympic US basketball gold medal squad. In later years, West served as an executive on several NBA clubs, most recently the Clippers, his knowledge and guidance contributing to eight championship runs, six by the Lakers. "Jerry West, the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86," the Clippers announced. "His wife, Karen, was by his side." The league plans to have a pre-game tribute to West before Wednesday's third game of this year's NBA Finals. With impressive speed and quickness and a deft shooting touch, West was nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" for his skilled shotmaking under pressure. "Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. "He distinguished himself not only as an NBA champion and an All-Star in all 14 of his playing seasons but also as a consummate competitor who embraced the biggest moments." In the 1969 NBA Finals against the arch-rival Boston Celtics, he received the Most Valuable Player award even though the Celtics beat the Lakers for the title. West was an NBA All-Star in all 14 of his league seasons and the NBA scoring champion in 1970. His jersey number, 44, was retired by the Lakers. West was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and in October he will be enshrined again as a contributor for his work as an executive, becoming the first person ever inducted as both a player and a contributor. Also read | NBA nears historic $76 billion media rights deal 'An indelible figure' In 1969, the NBA created its current logo, which was the silhouette of West dribbling a basketball, an image inspired by a photograph of West taken during a game. "He was the league's first Finals MVP and made rising to the occasion his signature quality," Silver said. "Jerry's four decades with the Lakers also included a successful stint as a head coach and a remarkable run in the front office that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest executives in sports history. "He helped build eight championship teams during his tenure in the NBA, a legacy of achievement that mirrors his on-court excellence." For his career, West averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists a game. West, who coached the Lakers from 1976 through 1979, would capture eight titles as an NBA executive, five with the Lakers in the 1980s "Showtime" era with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also was an executive for NBA champions with the Lakers in 2000 and Golden State in 2015 and 2017, before leaving to join the Clippers. Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to West for his iconic place in LA sports, posting on social media: "The Dodgers mourn the passing of NBA Hall of Famer and Lakers legend Jerry West, an indelible figure on the Los Angeles sports landscape for more than 60 years." In many ways, he was a lasting symbol of the NBA's early days and many of its most glorious memories. "I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life," Silver said. "On behalf of the NBA, we send our deepest condolences to Jerry's wife, Karen, his family and his many friends in the NBA community."

Basketball great Jerry West who inspired NBA logo, dead at 86

Kristaps Porzingis dazzled in his return from injury and the Boston Celtics dominated on both ends of the floor to beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in game one of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

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Kristaps Porzingis makes a key impact in his return as the <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@celtics</a> take a 1-0 lead in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAFinals</a> presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTubeTV</a>! 
 
Jaylen Brown: 22 PTS, 6 REB, 3 BLK, 3 STL 
Jayson Tatum: 16 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST 
Luka Doncic: 30 PTS, 4 3PM, 10 REB 
 
Game 2: Sunday, 8:00pm/et on ABC <a href="https://t.co/oHVDcafkD0">pic.twitter.com/oHVDcafkD0</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1798923345205043661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Porzingis missed 10 games after straining his right calf in the first round of the playoffs but made an immediate impact on his return in front of a raucous home crowd.

The Celtics built a 29-point lead in the first half and then thwarted the Mavericks' third-quarter surge to gain the upper hand in the best-of-seven championship series.

Porzingis came off the bench against his former team and scored 11 points with three rebounds and a pair of big blocks in the first quarter as Boston jumped to a 37-20 lead.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-french-open-italys-jasmine-paolini-in-dreamland-after-reaching-first-ever-grand-slam-final-729525">French Open: Italy's Jasmine Paolini in dreamland after reaching first-ever Grand Slam final</a>

After eight lead changes in little more than six minutes, the Celtics began to impose themselves, pulling away with the help of seven three-pointers in the first quarter alone and keeping up the relentless pace as the Mavs struggled to get their offense firing.

Boston finished with 16 three-pointers on a whopping 42 attempts. Jaylen Brown scored 22 points to lead six Celtics players who scored in double figures.

Brown had three of the Celtics' nine blocked shots and three of their six steals in an outstanding defensive display. Porzingis finished with 20 points and Jayson Tatum scored 16 points with 11 rebounds and five assists.

<h2>- Doncic scores 30 -</h2>

Dallas star Luka Doncic scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. But he had just one assist and star teammate Kyrie Irving was limited to 12 points on six-of-19 shooting.

Nevertheless, the Mavs managed to slice the deficit to eight points in the third quarter, only for the Celtics to pull away again.

"Defensively we made some big-time plays," Brown said. "When they cut it to eight, that's when the game started.

"I liked how our team responded. We stayed composed. Offensively, we got to our spacing and was able to push that lead back out and make some plays on offense.

"That was a big third quarter," he said.

Doncic, who has been playing through a right knee injury and a sore left ankle, struggled to find his shot.

He picked up the pace in the second quarter but Dallas couldn't find a way to slow the Celtics, who pushed their lead to 29 points, 58-29, on Tatum's three-pointer with 4:11 left in the first half.

That capped a 14-4 scoring run that included a steal and driving dunk from Brown.

The Celtics' early surge had TD Garden rocking, the crowd featuring luminaries from around the sports world including Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

Dallas made a push to start the third, when the Celtics went cold from three-point range and Dallas heated up.

Doncic drilled a trey to cut the deficit to 72-64 with 4:28 left in the period.

"I think in those moments we were playing our basketball," Doncic said. "We were getting stops. We didn't allow them to offensive rebound. We were having fun out there those couple moments, and that's what we've got to do more."

It didn't last however. A cutting dunk from Porzingis keyed a 14-0 scoring run that included Brown's rejection at the rim of Derrick Jones Jr. and another Brown block on Irving.

Three-pointers from Tatum, Al Horford and Brown saw the Celtics take an 86-66 lead into the fourth.

"When a team goes on a run, you've got to manage it, you've got to stay composed, and you've got to keep playing basketball," Brown said. "It's almost like you just have short-term memory a little bit, like the team's not even on a run."

Kristaps Porzingis dazzled in his return from injury and the Boston Celtics dominated on both ends of the floor to beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in game one of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

Kristaps Porzingis dazzled in his return from injury and the Boston Celtics dominated on both ends of the floor to beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in game one of the NBA Finals on Thursday. Kristaps Porzingis makes a key impact in his return as the @celtics take a 1-0 lead in the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV! Jaylen Brown: 22 PTS, 6 REB, 3 BLK, 3 STL Jayson Tatum: 16 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST Luka Doncic: 30 PTS, 4 3PM, 10 REB Game 2: Sunday, 8:00pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/oHVDcafkD0 — NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024 × Porzingis missed 10 games after straining his right calf in the first round of the playoffs but made an immediate impact on his return in front of a raucous home crowd. The Celtics built a 29-point lead in the first half and then thwarted the Mavericks' third-quarter surge to gain the upper hand in the best-of-seven championship series. Porzingis came off the bench against his former team and scored 11 points with three rebounds and a pair of big blocks in the first quarter as Boston jumped to a 37-20 lead. ALSO READ: French Open: Italy's Jasmine Paolini in dreamland after reaching first-ever Grand Slam final After eight lead changes in little more than six minutes, the Celtics began to impose themselves, pulling away with the help of seven three-pointers in the first quarter alone and keeping up the relentless pace as the Mavs struggled to get their offense firing. Boston finished with 16 three-pointers on a whopping 42 attempts. Jaylen Brown scored 22 points to lead six Celtics players who scored in double figures. Brown had three of the Celtics' nine blocked shots and three of their six steals in an outstanding defensive display. Porzingis finished with 20 points and Jayson Tatum scored 16 points with 11 rebounds and five assists. - Doncic scores 30 - Dallas star Luka Doncic scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. But he had just one assist and star teammate Kyrie Irving was limited to 12 points on six-of-19 shooting. Nevertheless, the Mavs managed to slice the deficit to eight points in the third quarter, only for the Celtics to pull away again. "Defensively we made some big-time plays," Brown said. "When they cut it to eight, that's when the game started. "I liked how our team responded. We stayed composed. Offensively, we got to our spacing and was able to push that lead back out and make some plays on offense. "That was a big third quarter," he said. Doncic, who has been playing through a right knee injury and a sore left ankle, struggled to find his shot. He picked up the pace in the second quarter but Dallas couldn't find a way to slow the Celtics, who pushed their lead to 29 points, 58-29, on Tatum's three-pointer with 4:11 left in the first half. That capped a 14-4 scoring run that included a steal and driving dunk from Brown. The Celtics' early surge had TD Garden rocking, the crowd featuring luminaries from around the sports world including Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Dallas made a push to start the third, when the Celtics went cold from three-point range and Dallas heated up. Doncic drilled a trey to cut the deficit to 72-64 with 4:28 left in the period. "I think in those moments we were playing our basketball," Doncic said. "We were getting stops. We didn't allow them to offensive rebound. We were having fun out there those couple moments, and that's what we've got to do more." It didn't last however. A cutting dunk from Porzingis keyed a 14-0 scoring run that included Brown's rejection at the rim of Derrick Jones Jr. and another Brown block on Irving. Three-pointers from Tatum, Al Horford and Brown saw the Celtics take an 86-66 lead into the fourth. "When a team goes on a run, you've got to manage it, you've got to stay composed, and you've got to keep playing basketball," Brown said. "It's almost like you just have short-term memory a little bit, like the team's not even on a run."

Basketball: Celtics thump Mavericks 107-89 in game one of NBA Finals

Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis returns from a right calf strain for the Boston Celtics in Thursday's (Jun 6) opening game of the NBA Finals against his former club, the Dallas Mavericks.

Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis returns from a right calf strain for the Boston Celtics in Thursday's (Jun 6) opening game of the NBA Finals against his former club, the Dallas Mavericks. The 7-foot-2 (2.18m) standout averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game for the Celtics this season but has missed 10 games since suffering the injury against Miami on April 29 in the first round of the playoffs. "It was a long road to get to this point for me, but feeling good," Porzingis said. "Burns inside of me, not being able to be out there, but tomorrow finally I'll get the chance and I'm excited. "There's nothing like game minutes and experience that I'm going to get. It'll be tough to jump into the finals like this. I did everything I could to prepare for it. We'll see." With the Celtics ignited by stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and Dallas sparked by star guard Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Porzingis could be the x-factor to lifting a championship trophy. "The situation was not ideal, having to miss all this time and now having to jump back in at the most important moment of the season," Porzingis said. "I have to go out there and just be myself, give what I can to the team and expect nothing. We have to go out there and earn it and we will do that individually and as a group. "Going to be special, goosebumps for sure. I don't need to overthink. Just go out there and hoop." Porzingis played for the Mavericks from 2019 to February 2021 before being traded to Washington, ending a stay that never worked for player or team. "Not all of it was not good," said Porzingis. "Overall I think it didn't work for both sides. It wasn't perfect. "There were some rumors there was something in the locker room. It was never like that. It wasn't just perfect for us playing together. It didn't work out. We moved on. "There's no ill will from their side, for sure from my side. I don't think there should be." Doncic said the combination just didn't work with Porzingis in Dallas. "I don't really know why it didn't work out. We were both still really young," he said. "We tried to make it work but it just didn't work so we were done." Mavericks coach Jason Kidd had no ill will for Porzingis. "I thought it was going well in the sense of our defense, his ability to block shots and rebounds, and on offense we looked to post him up a little more. Both worked. He has the skill set to do both," Kidd said. "For the short period I had him, I really enjoyed KP, did everything we asked. In the business of basketball, there was a pivot and things changed." Kidd has watched Porzingis improve since joining the Celtics this season. "When you talk about a big who can put the ball on the floor and score, and look at the defensive end -- he doesn't get recognized for how he can change shots or (be) a shot-blocker -- in Boston, he has done an incredible job of doing both," Kidd said. "He plays his role." Apparent sex noises interrupt Doncic's PC following Mavericks vs Thunder game - Watch 'Super-jumpy' Mavs Porzingis has learned from eight NBA seasons on four clubs, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "All he cares about is winning and he has used his experiences around the league," Mazzulla said. "He has seen a lot. He has seen tough times. He knows what the league is all about." Over the next two weeks, that will be about winning the best-of-seven series. "Everybody has one goal in mind and everybody is doing their part achieving that goal," Porzingis said. "That's the special part about this group." Porzingis also has insight into the challenge the Mavericks will bring, notably on inside lobs to the hoop. "They are special and we have to be mindful of that," Porzingis said. "Those guys are super-athletic and super-jumpy. We'll have our hands full with them."

NBA Finals: Boost for Celtics as Porzingis returns to action against Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City Thunder&nbsp;119-110 during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Friday (May 10). After getting thrashed in Game 1 of the series, the Mavs clawed their way back in style as the team got hot from behind the three-point line enroute to a stunning 119-110 triumph over the City Thunder.

Following the win, Dallas is now in firm control of the series. If they emerge on top in their home games, it will be enough as the&nbsp;Dallas will move on to the conference finals.&nbsp;

After the Mavs victory, Luka Doncic -- who scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the contest -- attended the post-match press conference where a NSFW (no safe for work) moment interrupted his meet with the reporters.&nbsp;

As Doncic sat for the presser, apparent sex&nbsp;noises made heads turn and left everyone clueless as well as in splits. Here is the viral video -

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No way someone was having s*x during Luka's conference? 
 
What are those noises?😭<a href="https://t.co/GOM5vSmxMr">pic.twitter.com/GOM5vSmxMr</a>
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAMemes/status/1788792309041029200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/bayer-leverkusen-attain-massive-european-record-with-last-minute-stalemate-vs-rome-enter-europa-league-final-719962">Bayer Leverkusen attain MASSIVE European record with last-minute stalemate vs Roma, enter Europa League final</a>

Ever since the video made it to social media platforms, it has gone viral with many being shocked -- as much as Doncic was.&nbsp;

Talking about the match,&nbsp;Doncic's&nbsp;teammate PJ&nbsp;Washington poured in another 29 points for the Mavericks in their convincing&nbsp;to knot their Western Conference semifinal at one-all.&nbsp;From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flirted with a triple-double himself (33 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists), however, it didn't prove to be enough for his side.&nbsp;

Post the encounter, Cavaliers coach JB&nbsp;Bickerstaff said, "I like the way that we were just attack-minded. We didn't settle for the first quick (shot) that we saw."

Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City Thunder 119-110 during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Friday (May 10). After getting thrashed in Game 1 of the series, the Mavs clawed their way back in style as the team got hot from behind the three-point line enroute to a stunning 119-110 triumph over the City Thunder.

Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City Thunder 119-110 during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Friday (May 10). After getting thrashed in Game 1 of the series, the Mavs clawed their way back in style as the team got hot from behind the three-point line enroute to a stunning 119-110 triumph over the City Thunder. Following the win, Dallas is now in firm control of the series. If they emerge on top in their home games, it will be enough as the Dallas will move on to the conference finals. After the Mavs victory, Luka Doncic -- who scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the contest -- attended the post-match press conference where a NSFW (no safe for work) moment interrupted his meet with the reporters. As Doncic sat for the presser, apparent sex noises made heads turn and left everyone clueless as well as in splits. Here is the viral video - No way someone was having s*x during Luka's conference? What are those noises?😭pic.twitter.com/GOM5vSmxMr — NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) May 10, 2024 × Also read: Bayer Leverkusen attain MASSIVE European record with last-minute stalemate vs Roma, enter Europa League final Ever since the video made it to social media platforms, it has gone viral with many being shocked -- as much as Doncic was. Talking about the match, Doncic's teammate PJ Washington poured in another 29 points for the Mavericks in their convincing to knot their Western Conference semifinal at one-all. From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flirted with a triple-double himself (33 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists), however, it didn't prove to be enough for his side. Post the encounter, Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff said, "I like the way that we were just attack-minded. We didn't settle for the first quick (shot) that we saw."

Apparent sex noises interrupt Doncic's PC following Mavericks vs Thunder game - Watch

The offseason speculation with regard to LA Lakers' LeBron James has already kicked off with many eager to know his next move. The star basketballer has remained tight-lipped about his future plans&nbsp;and hasn't provided his fans with any specific answers. James -- with a player option worth $51.4 million -- can either choose to opt-out and explore free agency or decide to retire altogether. Amid all this, one of James' ardent supporters and NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins hopes James will choose the latter and quit.

<h2>'More&nbsp;James continues to play,&nbsp;more it's going to hurt his legacy'</h2>

Perkins feels James should preserve his legacy by leaving at the right time and retiring this offseason. He shared his thoughts&nbsp;while making an appearance on ESPN's 'First Take' and said, "I wish LeBron James would retire. Not because I don't want to see more of LeBron James. The more LeBron James continues to play the game of basketball, the more it's going to hurt his legacy and the more it's going to continue to hurt his GOAT argument."

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Perkins was quick to point out that if James stays, continues to play and doesn't win a title, he will receive more criticism.

"It never comes down to accountability with Bron when he has losing seasons or gets eliminated,” Perkins said of his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate.

Not only this, the NBA analyst also slammed James for sending subliminal messages at the trade window and called out the veteran player for not having much belief in his teammates.&nbsp;

James has blown hot and cold this season at the Lakers and the team is already&nbsp;out of the playoffs race. It will be interesting to see what the superstar player does next and by when does he give&nbsp;more clarity to his fans and supporters.

The offseason speculation with regard to LA Lakers' LeBron James has already kicked off with many eager to know his next move. The star basketballer has remained tight-lipped about his future plans and hasn't provided his fans with any specific answers.

The offseason speculation with regard to LA Lakers' LeBron James has already kicked off with many eager to know his next move. The star basketballer has remained tight-lipped about his future plans and hasn't provided his fans with any specific answers. James -- with a player option worth $51.4 million -- can either choose to opt-out and explore free agency or decide to retire altogether. Amid all this, one of James' ardent supporters and NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins hopes James will choose the latter and quit. 'More James continues to play, more it's going to hurt his legacy' Perkins feels James should preserve his legacy by leaving at the right time and retiring this offseason. He shared his thoughts while making an appearance on ESPN's 'First Take' and said, "I wish LeBron James would retire. Not because I don't want to see more of LeBron James. The more LeBron James continues to play the game of basketball, the more it's going to hurt his legacy and the more it's going to continue to hurt his GOAT argument." Also read: Snooker: England's Kyren Wilson emerges on top of Welshman Jak Jones to clinch first world title Perkins was quick to point out that if James stays, continues to play and doesn't win a title, he will receive more criticism. "It never comes down to accountability with Bron when he has losing seasons or gets eliminated,” Perkins said of his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate. Not only this, the NBA analyst also slammed James for sending subliminal messages at the trade window and called out the veteran player for not having much belief in his teammates. James has blown hot and cold this season at the Lakers and the team is already out of the playoffs race. It will be interesting to see what the superstar player does next and by when does he give more clarity to his fans and supporters.

'Wish LeBron James would retire': Kendrick Perkins feels LA Lakers star should quit and not hurt his legacy

The NBA's all-time leading scorer&nbsp;LeBron&nbsp;James and reigning most valuable player Joel Embiid headline an all-star lineup named to the United States men's basketball team for the Paris Olympics, USA Basketball announced on Wednesday.

James, who has won two Olympic golds and a bronze but sat out the last two Games, will be joined by Los Angeles Lakers team mate Anthony Davis, Phoenix Suns three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry.

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Also named to the squad were Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).

All 12 members of the Paris "Dream Team" have been NBA All-Stars and includes four NBA MVPs and six NBA champions.

"I’m grateful to these 12 men for their commitment to represent USA Basketball," said USA Basketball men’s national team managing director Grant Hill in a statement. "The United States is home to some of the best basketball players in the world and I appreciate the vast interest in being part of this roster.

"We have the utmost respect for the level of competition we will face this summer. The Olympics represent the pinnacle of sport and the world will be watching the USA as we play in the toughest basketball tournament in history."

The U.S. will play in Group C with Serbia, South Sudan and the winner of a qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico on Aug. 3.

The Paris Olympics are scheduled for July 26 to Aug. 11.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer LeBron James and reigning most valuable player Joel Embiid headline an all-star lineup named to the United States men's basketball team for the Paris Olympics, USA Basketball announced on Wednesday.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer LeBron James and reigning most valuable player Joel Embiid headline an all-star lineup named to the United States men's basketball team for the Paris Olympics, USA Basketball announced on Wednesday. James, who has won two Olympic golds and a bronze but sat out the last two Games, will be joined by Los Angeles Lakers team mate Anthony Davis, Phoenix Suns three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry. Also Read: Who was Angry Rantman? YouTuber who went viral for Chelsea monologue dies at 27 Also named to the squad were Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics). All 12 members of the Paris "Dream Team" have been NBA All-Stars and includes four NBA MVPs and six NBA champions. "I’m grateful to these 12 men for their commitment to represent USA Basketball," said USA Basketball men’s national team managing director Grant Hill in a statement. "The United States is home to some of the best basketball players in the world and I appreciate the vast interest in being part of this roster. "We have the utmost respect for the level of competition we will face this summer. The Olympics represent the pinnacle of sport and the world will be watching the USA as we play in the toughest basketball tournament in history." The U.S. will play in Group C with Serbia, South Sudan and the winner of a qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico on Aug. 3. The Paris Olympics are scheduled for July 26 to Aug. 11.

Paris Olympics 2024: LeBron James to lead USA's All-Star basketball Dream Team

Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors was dealt a major blow as he was given&nbsp;a lifetime ban by the NBA for violating the league's gambling policy. In this regard, the NBA released a statement on Wednesday (April 17) explaining its ruling.

The statement read, "A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games."

The NBA's investigation pointed out that the 24-year-old Porter intentionally&nbsp;limited his participation in his side's March 20 fixture&nbsp;against the Sacramento Kings in order to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance. Meanwhile, in the Raptors&nbsp;game versus the Nets, Porter claimed he felt ill after featuring in the game for a mere&nbsp;three minutes.

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In addition, it was revealed that&nbsp;before the game, Porter&nbsp;released confidential information about his health status to "an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor." A different individual associated with the youngster also bet that he would perform on a below-par level on March 20 as part of an $80,000 parlay the bettor placed with an online sports book.

Porter, who was a two-way player for the Raptors, has now become the second person&nbsp;to be banned from the league by Commissioner Adam Silver for violating rules. The first was now-former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, in 2014.

After Porter's ban, Silver said, as quoted by Sportstar, "There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment."

Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors was dealt a major blow as he was given a lifetime ban by the NBA for violating the league's gambling policy. In this regard, the NBA released a statement on Wednesday (April 17) explaining its ruling.

Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors was dealt a major blow as he was given a lifetime ban by the NBA for violating the league's gambling policy. In this regard, the NBA released a statement on Wednesday (April 17) explaining its ruling. The statement read, "A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games." The NBA's investigation pointed out that the 24-year-old Porter intentionally limited his participation in his side's March 20 fixture against the Sacramento Kings in order to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance. Meanwhile, in the Raptors game versus the Nets, Porter claimed he felt ill after featuring in the game for a mere three minutes. Also read: Paris Olympics 2024: LeBron James to lead USA's All-Star basketball Dream Team In addition, it was revealed that before the game, Porter released confidential information about his health status to "an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor." A different individual associated with the youngster also bet that he would perform on a below-par level on March 20 as part of an $80,000 parlay the bettor placed with an online sports book. Porter, who was a two-way player for the Raptors, has now become the second person to be banned from the league by Commissioner Adam Silver for violating rules. The first was now-former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, in 2014. After Porter's ban, Silver said, as quoted by Sportstar, "There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment."

NBA: Toronto Raptors' Jontay Porter gets lifetime ban for violating gambling rules

LeBron James became the first NBA player to reach 40,000 career regular-season points on Saturday (March 2). The 39-year-old superstar scored nine against defending champion Denver to achieve the milestone.

James, who just over a year ago overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA's all-time scoring mark, is a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player as well as the league's oldest active player, now in his 21st campaign. 
 
"It's a huge, huge testimony to all the work he has put in all over these years, how well he has taken care of himself, the way he has played at a high level," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of James ahead of the game. 
 
"It's a hell of an accomplishment." 
 
After scoring five points in the first quarter, James sank a layup 14 seconds into the second quarter to pull within two of the milestone, then missed a free throw and on the next Laker possession missed a 3-point shot. 
James scored the historic basket with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter, banking in a driving layup from the left side of the basket.

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The crowd gave James a standing ovation after he made the basket. The ball James used to score the milestone hoop was removed from the game.

James scored his first basket of the game on a fast break layup 6:20 into the opening quarter to give the Lakers an 18-12 lead, then added a 3-pointer from the left corner 63 seconds later for a 23-14 advantage.

In anticipation of reaching the milestone, James said it won't rank among his greatest feats but the 40,000-point mark is meaningful.

"No one has done it. And for me to be in this position at this point and time in my career, I think it's pretty cool," James said.

"Is it one of the top things I've done in my career? No. Does it mean something? Of course. Why wouldn't it?

"To hit feats and have milestones throughout my career, they all mean something to me. Absolutely.

"Obviously, there's a pecking order of which ones are higher than others, but I would be lying to you if I said no, it doesn't mean anything. It absolutely does."

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The Lakers, 33-28, rank 10th in the Western Conference, the final play-in spot, while the Nuggets are 41-19, third in the West but only a game behind pace-setting Minnesota.

In other games, Mikal Bridges scored 38 points to lead host Brooklyn over Atlanta 114-102 while Jimmy Butler netted 37 points to power the Miami Heat over visiting Utah 126-120.

LeBron James became the first NBA player to reach 40,000 career regular-season points on Saturday (March 2). The 39-year-old superstar scored nine against defending champion Denver to achieve the milestone.

LeBron James became the first NBA player to reach 40,000 career regular-season points on Saturday (March 2). The 39-year-old superstar scored nine against defending champion Denver to achieve the milestone. James, who just over a year ago overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA's all-time scoring mark, is a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player as well as the league's oldest active player, now in his 21st campaign. "It's a huge, huge testimony to all the work he has put in all over these years, how well he has taken care of himself, the way he has played at a high level," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of James ahead of the game. "It's a hell of an accomplishment." After scoring five points in the first quarter, James sank a layup 14 seconds into the second quarter to pull within two of the milestone, then missed a free throw and on the next Laker possession missed a 3-point shot. James scored the historic basket with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter, banking in a driving layup from the left side of the basket. Also read | LeBron James creates history with record 20th NBA All-Star game nomination The crowd gave James a standing ovation after he made the basket. The ball James used to score the milestone hoop was removed from the game. James scored his first basket of the game on a fast break layup 6:20 into the opening quarter to give the Lakers an 18-12 lead, then added a 3-pointer from the left corner 63 seconds later for a 23-14 advantage. In anticipation of reaching the milestone, James said it won't rank among his greatest feats but the 40,000-point mark is meaningful. "No one has done it. And for me to be in this position at this point and time in my career, I think it's pretty cool," James said. "Is it one of the top things I've done in my career? No. Does it mean something? Of course. Why wouldn't it? "To hit feats and have milestones throughout my career, they all mean something to me. Absolutely. "Obviously, there's a pecking order of which ones are higher than others, but I would be lying to you if I said no, it doesn't mean anything. It absolutely does." Also read | Victor Wembanyama comes out triumphant in first tussle with LeBron James as Spurs beat Lakers The Lakers, 33-28, rank 10th in the Western Conference, the final play-in spot, while the Nuggets are 41-19, third in the West but only a game behind pace-setting Minnesota. In other games, Mikal Bridges scored 38 points to lead host Brooklyn over Atlanta 114-102 while Jimmy Butler netted 37 points to power the Miami Heat over visiting Utah 126-120.

Basketball star LeBron James becomes first player to score 40,000 points in NBA history

The Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by 40 points from Anthony Davis and 31 from LeBron James, pulled off another NBA thriller on Thursday, beating the Washington Wizards 134-131 in overtime.

One day after James reeled off 34 points -- 19 of them in the fourth quarter -- to key a come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers had to dig deep again against a Wizards team tied for the worst record in the league.

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James's four points in overtime included a three-pointer that tied it at 131-131. He fed Davis for a dunk and capped the scoring with a free-throw.

James, already the league's all-time scoring leader, is now nine points away from becoming the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 in the regular season.

Jordan Poole scored a season-high 34 points and Marvin Bagley III added a 23 for Washington, who dropped their 13th straight.

But Lakers coach Darvin Ham said the young, hungry Wizards were a tough opponent -- especially on the heels of Wednesday's draining victory.

"They put pressure, they're a tough team to play coming off a back-to-back, really high emotional game from last night," Ham said. "But we found a way, we found a way to win.

"Our guys pulled together when we needed to and made the plays when we needed to."

In Denver, star big man Nikola Jokic missed out on a fifth straight triple-double but Michael Porter Jr's 30 points fueled the Nuggets in a 103-97 victory over the Miami Heat in an NBA Finals rematch.

Porter added 11 rebounds, helping fill the void after Jamal Murray departed in the second quarter with a sprained ankle.

Jokic finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as the Nuggets fended off Miami's fourth-quarter rally.

Bam Adebayo scored 22 points and Butler added 21 for the Heat, who were without injured Tyler Herro, Kevin Love and Josh Richardson and saw their five-game winning streak end.

<h2>Curry shines</h2>

A trip to Madison Square Garden was just what Golden State star Stephen Curry needed to break out of his scoring doldrums.

Curry scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Warriors to a 110-99 victory over the New York Knicks, bouncing back from a scoreless first half in the Warriors' win over the Wizards on Tuesday.

Curry said he fed off the energy at Madison Square Garden -- an arena steeped in NBA history and where he broke the record for career three-pointers in 2021.

"It didn’t hurt that in the Garden I had a good vibe and a good flow going," Curry said. "It's always fun. This is a special place."

Jonathan Kuminga added 25 points for Golden State, who grabbed a quick 14-0 lead and never trailed.

Jalen Brunson scored 27 points to lead the Knicks, who had the deficit down to four midway through the fourth quarter but with key contributors Julius Randle and OG Anunoby sidelined could never gain the upper hand.

Another sparkling effort from rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama helped the San Antonio Spurs snap a five-game losing streak with a 132-118 victory over Western Conference contenders Oklahoma City.

French star Wembanyama scored 28 points with 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.

The fourth quarter featured four lead changes, but with three-and-a-half minutes remaining Wembanyama produced a pair of three-pointers and a big block of a three-point attempt by Oklahoma City's rookie of the year contender Chet Holmgren, and the Spurs pulled away for the win.

"We're just playing with heart," Wembanyama said.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Jalen Williams added 26 and Holmgren contributed 23 for the Thunder, who slipped a game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for top spot in the Western Conference.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for Milwaukee in the Bucks' 111-99 victory over the Hornets in Charlotte.

Malik Beasley made five three-pointers on the way to 19 points for the Bucks, who pushed their winning streak to four games and completed a season sweep of the Hornets.

The Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by 40 points from Anthony Davis and 31 from LeBron James, pulled off another NBA thriller on Thursday, beating the Washington Wizards 134-131 in overtime.

The Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by 40 points from Anthony Davis and 31 from LeBron James, pulled off another NBA thriller on Thursday, beating the Washington Wizards 134-131 in overtime. One day after James reeled off 34 points -- 19 of them in the fourth quarter -- to key a come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers had to dig deep again against a Wizards team tied for the worst record in the league. Also Read: 'Don't question my commitment to Manchester United': Star striker Marcus Rashford slams critics James's four points in overtime included a three-pointer that tied it at 131-131. He fed Davis for a dunk and capped the scoring with a free-throw. James, already the league's all-time scoring leader, is now nine points away from becoming the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 in the regular season. Jordan Poole scored a season-high 34 points and Marvin Bagley III added a 23 for Washington, who dropped their 13th straight. But Lakers coach Darvin Ham said the young, hungry Wizards were a tough opponent -- especially on the heels of Wednesday's draining victory. "They put pressure, they're a tough team to play coming off a back-to-back, really high emotional game from last night," Ham said. "But we found a way, we found a way to win. "Our guys pulled together when we needed to and made the plays when we needed to." In Denver, star big man Nikola Jokic missed out on a fifth straight triple-double but Michael Porter Jr's 30 points fueled the Nuggets in a 103-97 victory over the Miami Heat in an NBA Finals rematch. Porter added 11 rebounds, helping fill the void after Jamal Murray departed in the second quarter with a sprained ankle. Jokic finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as the Nuggets fended off Miami's fourth-quarter rally. Bam Adebayo scored 22 points and Butler added 21 for the Heat, who were without injured Tyler Herro, Kevin Love and Josh Richardson and saw their five-game winning streak end. Curry shines A trip to Madison Square Garden was just what Golden State star Stephen Curry needed to break out of his scoring doldrums. Curry scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Warriors to a 110-99 victory over the New York Knicks, bouncing back from a scoreless first half in the Warriors' win over the Wizards on Tuesday. Curry said he fed off the energy at Madison Square Garden -- an arena steeped in NBA history and where he broke the record for career three-pointers in 2021. "It didn’t hurt that in the Garden I had a good vibe and a good flow going," Curry said. "It's always fun. This is a special place." Jonathan Kuminga added 25 points for Golden State, who grabbed a quick 14-0 lead and never trailed. Jalen Brunson scored 27 points to lead the Knicks, who had the deficit down to four midway through the fourth quarter but with key contributors Julius Randle and OG Anunoby sidelined could never gain the upper hand. Another sparkling effort from rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama helped the San Antonio Spurs snap a five-game losing streak with a 132-118 victory over Western Conference contenders Oklahoma City. French star Wembanyama scored 28 points with 13 rebounds and five blocked shots. The fourth quarter featured four lead changes, but with three-and-a-half minutes remaining Wembanyama produced a pair of three-pointers and a big block of a three-point attempt by Oklahoma City's rookie of the year contender Chet Holmgren, and the Spurs pulled away for the win. "We're just playing with heart," Wembanyama said. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Jalen Williams added 26 and Holmgren contributed 23 for the Thunder, who slipped a game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for top spot in the Western Conference. Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for Milwaukee in the Bucks' 111-99 victory over the Hornets in Charlotte. Malik Beasley made five three-pointers on the way to 19 points for the Bucks, who pushed their winning streak to four games and completed a season sweep of the Hornets.

LA Lakers hold off Washington Wizards in high-scoring overtime thriller

India put up a spirited fight against a much higher ranked Iran in their Group E clash of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers but ended up on the losing side with a 53-86 score-line at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi stadium in New Delhi on Monday.

Ranked 81st in the FIBA rankings, India were the underdogs against 27th ranked Iran but the hosts started with a lot of gumption as the packed stadium cheered them throughout the hour-long match.

Forward Pranav Prince impressed with the interceptions in the initial few minutes as the hosts took a two-point lead in the first minute.

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Iran took time to get into their rhythm but moved ahead, using their superior physicality to get past the Indian defence but the hosts were definitely in the game, trailing by just three points at the end of the first quarter.

The Indians tried to counter Iran with fast-paced runs and converted over 40% of their two pointers but struggled to counter&nbsp;Iran on the rebounds and paid the price for the same.

India, who had lost their Group opener away to Kazakhstan, trailed 32-42 at half time.

Pranav Prince top scored for the hosts with 11 points with Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan and Muin Bek Hafeez contributing nine points each.

For Iran, Benham Yakhchali scored 15 points while Mohammad Amini and Salar Monji added 14 points each for the team.

Commenting on the team’s performance, Serbian Vaseline Matic, who is head coach of Indian team said,&nbsp;"India has talent, we need more experience. We have some gap now before the next qualifier in November and the national team will be participating in club championship and multiple other exposure trips. We are confident that we can give a winning performance."

When asked which Indian player impressed him the most, the Iranian Coach, Hakan Demor spoke highly about the young Indian side. He said he was really impressed by the Indian forward Pranav Prince.

India put up a spirited fight against a much higher ranked Iran in their Group E clash of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers but ended up on the losing side with a 53-86 score-line at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi stadium in New Delhi on Monday.

India put up a spirited fight against a much higher ranked Iran in their Group E clash of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers but ended up on the losing side with a 53-86 score-line at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi stadium in New Delhi on Monday. Ranked 81st in the FIBA rankings, India were the underdogs against 27th ranked Iran but the hosts started with a lot of gumption as the packed stadium cheered them throughout the hour-long match. Forward Pranav Prince impressed with the interceptions in the initial few minutes as the hosts took a two-point lead in the first minute. ALSO READ: Premier League: Everton wins appeal against point deduction as 10-point punishment reduced to six Iran took time to get into their rhythm but moved ahead, using their superior physicality to get past the Indian defence but the hosts were definitely in the game, trailing by just three points at the end of the first quarter. The Indians tried to counter Iran with fast-paced runs and converted over 40% of their two pointers but struggled to counter Iran on the rebounds and paid the price for the same. India, who had lost their Group opener away to Kazakhstan, trailed 32-42 at half time. Pranav Prince top scored for the hosts with 11 points with Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan and Muin Bek Hafeez contributing nine points each. For Iran, Benham Yakhchali scored 15 points while Mohammad Amini and Salar Monji added 14 points each for the team. Commenting on the team’s performance, Serbian Vaseline Matic, who is head coach of Indian team said, "India has talent, we need more experience. We have some gap now before the next qualifier in November and the national team will be participating in club championship and multiple other exposure trips. We are confident that we can give a winning performance." When asked which Indian player impressed him the most, the Iranian Coach, Hakan Demor spoke highly about the young Indian side. He said he was really impressed by the Indian forward Pranav Prince.

Basketball - FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers: Spirited India go down against world No. 27 Iran

US Open champion Coco Gauff said on Monday that tennis can follow basketball's example and have men facing women in specialised contests such as Serena Williams and Australian Nick Kyrgios in serve targets.

Gauff was speaking after Stephen Curry sank his last four shots from the right corner to defeat Sabrina Ionescu 29-26 in a 3-point NBA-Women's NBA Challenge on Saturday at NBA All-Star weekend.

The first-ever shootout of the sexes was a groundbreaking showdown between elite guards -- Golden State's Curry, the NBA's all-time 3-point basket leader, and WNBA single-season 3-point record holder Ionescu of the New York Liberty.

Both players shot from the NBA three-point line, which is farther away from the basket than the WNBA three-point line.

Speaking to reporters in Dubai, where she is competing in the WTA tournament, Gauff was asked what skills challenge, akin to the ones featured at the weekend, would work in tennis.

The 19-year-old American said she would love to see Serena Williams and Nick Kyrgios go toe-to-toe in a serve targets contest.

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"There's also like the dropshot one," she said. "Ons (Jabeur) and Carlos (Alcaraz) would be a cool matchup against that. There could be maybe a consistency challenge."

Gauff hailed Ionescu's efforts against Curry.

"I think the Sabrina and Steph competition was great," said Gauff. "I think most people were rooting for Sabrina. What she did was incredible, especially also shooting from the NBA line."

"Steph is definitely the greatest three-point shooter ever."

Gauff said she would hope the man against woman shootout is not a one-off.

"I just hope they continue to do this," she said. "It just humbles a lot of men in the world. I really like that.

"Especially basketball, that type of competition, it's something physicality doesn't always matter.

"I think that's what makes it cool."

Gauff is seeded number three this week and will open her campaign against Italian lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto on Tuesday.

The American is coming off an early exit in Doha.

She will be looking to recapture the form that saw her start the season with a title in Auckland and reach the Australian Open semi-finals where she lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka.

"It was just a bad day at the office," Gauff said of her performance in Qatar. "I'm not going to let it define how the rest of this week will go."

Two former world No.1s booked their spots in the Dubai second round on Monday.

Victoria Azarenka eased past Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-4 and Karolina Pliskova improved her record against Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai to a perfect 9-0 with a 6-3, 7-5 victory.

US Open champion Coco Gauff said on Monday that tennis can follow basketball's example and have men facing women in specialised contests such as Serena Williams and Australian Nick Kyrgios in serve targets.

US Open champion Coco Gauff said on Monday that tennis can follow basketball's example and have men facing women in specialised contests such as Serena Williams and Australian Nick Kyrgios in serve targets. Gauff was speaking after Stephen Curry sank his last four shots from the right corner to defeat Sabrina Ionescu 29-26 in a 3-point NBA-Women's NBA Challenge on Saturday at NBA All-Star weekend. The first-ever shootout of the sexes was a groundbreaking showdown between elite guards -- Golden State's Curry, the NBA's all-time 3-point basket leader, and WNBA single-season 3-point record holder Ionescu of the New York Liberty. Both players shot from the NBA three-point line, which is farther away from the basket than the WNBA three-point line. Speaking to reporters in Dubai, where she is competing in the WTA tournament, Gauff was asked what skills challenge, akin to the ones featured at the weekend, would work in tennis. The 19-year-old American said she would love to see Serena Williams and Nick Kyrgios go toe-to-toe in a serve targets contest. ALSO READ: Boxing: Manny Pacquiao accepts fate as IOC denies him spot at 2024 Paris Games "There's also like the dropshot one," she said. "Ons (Jabeur) and Carlos (Alcaraz) would be a cool matchup against that. There could be maybe a consistency challenge." Gauff hailed Ionescu's efforts against Curry. "I think the Sabrina and Steph competition was great," said Gauff. "I think most people were rooting for Sabrina. What she did was incredible, especially also shooting from the NBA line." "Steph is definitely the greatest three-point shooter ever." Gauff said she would hope the man against woman shootout is not a one-off. "I just hope they continue to do this," she said. "It just humbles a lot of men in the world. I really like that. "Especially basketball, that type of competition, it's something physicality doesn't always matter. "I think that's what makes it cool." Gauff is seeded number three this week and will open her campaign against Italian lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto on Tuesday. The American is coming off an early exit in Doha. She will be looking to recapture the form that saw her start the season with a title in Auckland and reach the Australian Open semi-finals where she lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. "It was just a bad day at the office," Gauff said of her performance in Qatar. "I'm not going to let it define how the rest of this week will go." Two former world No.1s booked their spots in the Dubai second round on Monday. Victoria Azarenka eased past Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-4 and Karolina Pliskova improved her record against Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai to a perfect 9-0 with a 6-3, 7-5 victory.

Coco Gauff urges tennis to follow basketball in male vs female duels

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry gained a 10th NBA All-Star nod and Lakers star Anthony Davis a ninth as reserves for the mid-season showcase were announced on Thursday. Coaches chose the seven reserves from each conference, with Minnesota's Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns both selected in the West.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns were also named to the West squad which will be captained by 20-time All-Star LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. The East reserves include three first-timers in Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey, Orlando's Paolo Banchero and the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson.

The Knicks' Julius Randle was also named a reserve along with Boston star Jaylen Brown, Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell and Miami's Bam Adebayo. All-Star starters, selected by a combination of fan voting and voting by a media panel and by players, were named last month.

Four-time NBA champion James broke the record he had shared with another Lakers legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with his 20th selection. James will captain and join a starting lineup that also includes Phoenix's Kevin Durant and Serbian center Nikola Jokic, a two-time MVP from the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

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West starting guards included Slovenian Luka Doncic of Dallas and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada. Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks was named captain for the East, whose frontcourt starters also include Cameroon's reigning NBA MVP and this season's top scorer Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston's Jayson Tatum.

East guards included Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, the NBA assists leader, and Milwaukee's Damian Lillard. NBA commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement for any player unable to play in the All-Star Game, selecting a substitute from the same conference.

It looks as if Silver will have multiple replacements to name. The Knicks said Thursday that Randle will miss two to three weeks with a dislocated shoulder while the 76ers revealed Embiid has a meniscus injury in his left knee with no timetable yet for his return.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry gained a 10th NBA All-Star nod and Lakers star Anthony Davis a ninth as reserves for the mid-season showcase were announced on Thursday.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry gained a 10th NBA All-Star nod and Lakers star Anthony Davis a ninth as reserves for the mid-season showcase were announced on Thursday. Coaches chose the seven reserves from each conference, with Minnesota's Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns both selected in the West. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns were also named to the West squad which will be captained by 20-time All-Star LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. The East reserves include three first-timers in Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey, Orlando's Paolo Banchero and the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson. The Knicks' Julius Randle was also named a reserve along with Boston star Jaylen Brown, Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell and Miami's Bam Adebayo. All-Star starters, selected by a combination of fan voting and voting by a media panel and by players, were named last month. Four-time NBA champion James broke the record he had shared with another Lakers legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with his 20th selection. James will captain and join a starting lineup that also includes Phoenix's Kevin Durant and Serbian center Nikola Jokic, a two-time MVP from the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Also read: PL: Kobbie Mainoo stars in dramatic Man United win at Wolves, West Ham fight back to draw with Bournemouth West starting guards included Slovenian Luka Doncic of Dallas and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada. Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks was named captain for the East, whose frontcourt starters also include Cameroon's reigning NBA MVP and this season's top scorer Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston's Jayson Tatum. East guards included Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, the NBA assists leader, and Milwaukee's Damian Lillard. NBA commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement for any player unable to play in the All-Star Game, selecting a substitute from the same conference. It looks as if Silver will have multiple replacements to name. The Knicks said Thursday that Randle will miss two to three weeks with a dislocated shoulder while the 76ers revealed Embiid has a meniscus injury in his left knee with no timetable yet for his return.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, LA Lakers' Anthony Davis among NBA All-Star reserves

Brandon Ingram had the third triple-double of his career and led a franchise-record 3-point performance as the host New Orleans Pelicans routed the reeling Charlotte Hornets 132-112 on Wednesday night. Ingram finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He tied his career-high with seven 3-pointers on 11 attempts and the Pelicans made a franchise-record 25 on 47 attempts (53.2 percent) from beyond the arc.

New Orleans' CJ McCollum added 22 points, rookie Jordan Hawkins had 21, Trey Murphy III scored 18 and Zion Williamson had 13. Hawkins made 6 of 9 3-point tries, Murphy sank 5 of 12 and McCollum hit 4 of 9. LaMelo Ball scored 29 points, Terry Rozier added 25, Miles Bridges had 19 and Nick Richards finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Hornets, who lost their sixth straight game and fell for the 17th time in 18 games.

Hawks 106, Magic 104

Dejounte Murray scored 26 points and made an 18-foot jumper at the buzzer to give Atlanta a win over visiting Orlando. Orlando's Paolo Banchero tied the game with nine seconds remaining on a 3-point basket. Atlanta opted to not call its final timeout. Murray dribbled the length of the floor and made a tough shot at the horn. Murray was 11-for-18 from the floor with five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Young had 18 points and 12 assists for the Hawks, who won for the second straight time to conclude a 3-2 homestand. Banchero put up 26 points for the Magic, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

Lakers 127, Mavericks 110

Anthony Davis scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, D'Angelo Russell delivered 29 points and Los Angeles continued its revival with a home victory to spoil the return of Dallas' Luka Doncic.Davis just missed out on his third career triple-double, as he handed out nine assists. LeBron James amassed 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Lakers improved to 4-2 since Jan. 7. Los Angeles had lost nine of 11 games before the current run of success. Doncic delivered 33 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for Dallas after missing the previous three games with a sprained right ankle. The Mavericks went 2-1 in the games their All-Star missed. Dereck Lively II scored 16 points for Dallas, but Kyrie Irving was held to 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting after he averaged 39.7 points per game while Doncic was out.

Trail Blazers 105, Nets 103

Anfernee Simons drove through the lane to sink a floater with 0.2 seconds left and give host Portland a victory over Brooklyn. Jerami Grant registered 30 points and eight rebounds and Simons scored 20 points as Portland snapped a four-game losing streak. Duop Reath added 17 points and Malcolm Brogdon had 16 as the Trail Blazers won for just the second time in nine games, with both wins coming against the Nets. Mikal Bridges scored 21 points and Spencer Dinwiddie added 19 points and seven assists for Brooklyn, which has lost four straight games and nine of its past 10.

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Celtics 117, Spurs 98

Jayson Tatum tossed in a team-high 24 points and short-handed Boston made 18 of its 38 3-point attempts en route to a victory over visiting San Antonio. Jrue Holiday finished with 22 points and Jaylen Brown added 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Boston. Holiday made six of his seven shots from beyond the 3-point arc. The victory improved Boston's home record to 20-0. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 27 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes. He shot 10 of 19 from the field and made 2 of 6 3-point attempts. Devin Vassell scored 21 points for San Antonio, which received nine points and 11 assists from Tre Jones.

Timberwolves 124, Pistons 117

Anthony Edwards scored 27 points and dished eight assists as visiting Minnesota defeated Detroit. Karl-Anthony Towns also scored 27 points as the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves won their third consecutive game. Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels had 23 points, while Rudy Gobert powered for 19 points and 16 rebounds. Naz Reid added nine points off the bench. Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with a career-high-tying 32 points, and he added six assists. Bojan Bogdanovic had 20 points, and Jalen Duren supplied 16 points and 11 rebounds. Isaiah Stewart and Alec Burks put up 12 points apiece.

Cavaliers 135, Bucks 95

Georges Niang scored a career-high 33 points off the bench and Donovan Mitchell added 31 to fuel host Cleveland to a rout of Milwaukee. Niang made 13 of 14 shots from the floor and 5 of 6 attempts from 3-point range to send the Cavaliers to their sixth straight win. Cleveland's Jarrett Allen collected 21 points and 13 rebounds. The Bucks were without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat due to a right shoulder contusion. Milwaukee's Damian Lillard made 7 of 20 shots from the floor to finish with a team-high 17 points.

Knicks 109, Rockets 94

Jalen Brunson scored 30 points in his return from a calf injury for host New York, which pulled away in the second half to beat Houston. Brunson, who missed the previous two games, added seven assists for the Knicks, who have won seven of nine. Julius Randle led all scorers with 31 points for the Knicks, while Josh Hart contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Fred VanVleet (24 points, 12 assists) and Alperen Sengun (18 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double for the Rockets, who finished 1-5 on a six-game road trip.

Raptors 121, Heat 97

Gary Trent Jr. scored 28 points, including knocking down eight 3-pointers, to lead Toronto past visiting Miami. RJ Barrett added 26 points for the Raptors, who ended a four-game losing streak. Scottie Barnes had 20 points and Immanuel Quickley scored 17 points. The Raptors led by as many as 37 points and never trailed in the blowout. Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo each scored 16 points for the Heat, whose three-game winning streak ended.

Brandon Ingram had the third triple-double of his career and led a franchise-record 3-point performance as the host New Orleans Pelicans routed the reeling Charlotte Hornets 132-112 on Wednesday night.

Brandon Ingram had the third triple-double of his career and led a franchise-record 3-point performance as the host New Orleans Pelicans routed the reeling Charlotte Hornets 132-112 on Wednesday night. Ingram finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He tied his career-high with seven 3-pointers on 11 attempts and the Pelicans made a franchise-record 25 on 47 attempts (53.2 percent) from beyond the arc. New Orleans' CJ McCollum added 22 points, rookie Jordan Hawkins had 21, Trey Murphy III scored 18 and Zion Williamson had 13. Hawkins made 6 of 9 3-point tries, Murphy sank 5 of 12 and McCollum hit 4 of 9. LaMelo Ball scored 29 points, Terry Rozier added 25, Miles Bridges had 19 and Nick Richards finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Hornets, who lost their sixth straight game and fell for the 17th time in 18 games. Hawks 106, Magic 104 Dejounte Murray scored 26 points and made an 18-foot jumper at the buzzer to give Atlanta a win over visiting Orlando. Orlando's Paolo Banchero tied the game with nine seconds remaining on a 3-point basket. Atlanta opted to not call its final timeout. Murray dribbled the length of the floor and made a tough shot at the horn. Murray was 11-for-18 from the floor with five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Young had 18 points and 12 assists for the Hawks, who won for the second straight time to conclude a 3-2 homestand. Banchero put up 26 points for the Magic, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Lakers 127, Mavericks 110 Anthony Davis scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, D'Angelo Russell delivered 29 points and Los Angeles continued its revival with a home victory to spoil the return of Dallas' Luka Doncic.Davis just missed out on his third career triple-double, as he handed out nine assists. LeBron James amassed 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Lakers improved to 4-2 since Jan. 7. Los Angeles had lost nine of 11 games before the current run of success. Doncic delivered 33 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for Dallas after missing the previous three games with a sprained right ankle. The Mavericks went 2-1 in the games their All-Star missed. Dereck Lively II scored 16 points for Dallas, but Kyrie Irving was held to 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting after he averaged 39.7 points per game while Doncic was out. Trail Blazers 105, Nets 103 Anfernee Simons drove through the lane to sink a floater with 0.2 seconds left and give host Portland a victory over Brooklyn. Jerami Grant registered 30 points and eight rebounds and Simons scored 20 points as Portland snapped a four-game losing streak. Duop Reath added 17 points and Malcolm Brogdon had 16 as the Trail Blazers won for just the second time in nine games, with both wins coming against the Nets. Mikal Bridges scored 21 points and Spencer Dinwiddie added 19 points and seven assists for Brooklyn, which has lost four straight games and nine of its past 10. Also read: Los Angeles Clippers' new arena to host 2026 NBA All-Star Game: Official Celtics 117, Spurs 98 Jayson Tatum tossed in a team-high 24 points and short-handed Boston made 18 of its 38 3-point attempts en route to a victory over visiting San Antonio. Jrue Holiday finished with 22 points and Jaylen Brown added 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Boston. Holiday made six of his seven shots from beyond the 3-point arc. The victory improved Boston's home record to 20-0. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 27 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes. He shot 10 of 19 from the field and made 2 of 6 3-point attempts. Devin Vassell scored 21 points for San Antonio, which received nine points and 11 assists from Tre Jones. Timberwolves 124, Pistons 117 Anthony Edwards scored 27 points and dished eight assists as visiting Minnesota defeated Detroit. Karl-Anthony Towns also scored 27 points as the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves won their third consecutive game. Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels had 23 points, while Rudy Gobert powered for 19 points and 16 rebounds. Naz Reid added nine points off the bench. Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with a career-high-tying 32 points, and he added six assists. Bojan Bogdanovic had 20 points, and Jalen Duren supplied 16 points and 11 rebounds. Isaiah Stewart and Alec Burks put up 12 points apiece. Cavaliers 135, Bucks 95 Georges Niang scored a career-high 33 points off the bench and Donovan Mitchell added 31 to fuel host Cleveland to a rout of Milwaukee. Niang made 13 of 14 shots from the floor and 5 of 6 attempts from 3-point range to send the Cavaliers to their sixth straight win. Cleveland's Jarrett Allen collected 21 points and 13 rebounds. The Bucks were without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat due to a right shoulder contusion. Milwaukee's Damian Lillard made 7 of 20 shots from the floor to finish with a team-high 17 points. Knicks 109, Rockets 94 Jalen Brunson scored 30 points in his return from a calf injury for host New York, which pulled away in the second half to beat Houston. Brunson, who missed the previous two games, added seven assists for the Knicks, who have won seven of nine. Julius Randle led all scorers with 31 points for the Knicks, while Josh Hart contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Fred VanVleet (24 points, 12 assists) and Alperen Sengun (18 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double for the Rockets, who finished 1-5 on a six-game road trip. Raptors 121, Heat 97 Gary Trent Jr. scored 28 points, including knocking down eight 3-pointers, to lead Toronto past visiting Miami. RJ Barrett added 26 points for the Raptors, who ended a four-game losing streak. Scottie Barnes had 20 points and Immanuel Quickley scored 17 points. The Raptors led by as many as 37 points and never trailed in the blowout. Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo each scored 16 points for the Heat, whose three-game winning streak ended.

NBA roundup: New Orleans Pelicans blast Charlotte Hornets, set 3-point mark

Jaylen Brown scored 32 points and Jayson Tatum added 27 as the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten at home, defeating Houston 145-113 on Saturday in former Celtics coach Ime Udoka's return to Boston.

The Celtics improved to an NBA-best 30-9 overall and 19-0 at home, the league's only undefeated club at home stretching its team-record home win streak to start a season.

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Brown, who scored 21 points in the third quarter when the Celtics pulled away to stay, hit 11-of-15 shots from the floor, 4-of-6 from 3-point range, and added six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

"Being aggressive. A lot of times defense gets you going," Brown said of his third-period success. "I get it on the run and when we play like that in transition we're tough to beat."

Udoka guided the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals, where they lost to Golden State, but he was suspended just before the start of the 2022-23 season training camp over an improper relationship with a team staffer.

Udoka ultimately was dropped and replaced by former assistant Joe Mazzulla on a permanent basis last February.

"I'm glad to see Ime back coaching on the sidelines," Brown said. "I'm glad to see a lot of the staff we spent time with over there in Houston. I wish those guys the best of luck."

Asked how he reflected on his departure, Udoka said, "Job not finished. The relationships you build and the people you impact, so that would be the biggest thing.

When it came to his regrets, Udoka was equally matter-of-fact.

"The biggest thing I'd say overall is letting some people down, for sure," Udoka said. "But we've talked it out and I've seen a lot of these people throughout the summer and talk regularly and so we move past it."

Mazzulla played down the impact of Udoka's return with the Rockets, who hired him as head coach last April.

"The fact Ime is back is great," he said. "But I don't think that really has anything to do with winning or losing."

Both were important to the Celtics after being thumped 135-102 at Milwaukee on Thursday.

"Last game we didn't feel like we were at our best," Brown said. "We wanted to come out and make sure we stayed undefeated on the home court."

Tatum went 9-of-17, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, with eight rebounds and five assists for Boston, which also got 19 points from reserve Payton Pritchard.

Reserve Cam Whitmore led Houston with 22 points while Turkish center added 19 for the Rockets, who fell to 19-19.

In Atlanta, the Washington Wizards snapped a six-game losing streak and improved to 7-31 with a 127-99 victory over the Hawks. Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 29 points while Jordan Poole added 20.

The Los Angeles Lakers (19-20) were set to play later at Utah (20-20) without LeBron James.

The 39-year-old superstar missed his fourth game of the season with a left ankle injury. He suffered the setback in a loss Thursday to Phoenix.

Jaylen Brown scored 32 points and Jayson Tatum added 27 as the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten at home, defeating Houston 145-113 on Saturday in former Celtics coach Ime Udoka's return to Boston.

Jaylen Brown scored 32 points and Jayson Tatum added 27 as the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten at home, defeating Houston 145-113 on Saturday in former Celtics coach Ime Udoka's return to Boston. The Celtics improved to an NBA-best 30-9 overall and 19-0 at home, the league's only undefeated club at home stretching its team-record home win streak to start a season. Also Read: Exequiel Palacios scores late winner for Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen Brown, who scored 21 points in the third quarter when the Celtics pulled away to stay, hit 11-of-15 shots from the floor, 4-of-6 from 3-point range, and added six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots. "Being aggressive. A lot of times defense gets you going," Brown said of his third-period success. "I get it on the run and when we play like that in transition we're tough to beat." Udoka guided the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals, where they lost to Golden State, but he was suspended just before the start of the 2022-23 season training camp over an improper relationship with a team staffer. Udoka ultimately was dropped and replaced by former assistant Joe Mazzulla on a permanent basis last February. "I'm glad to see Ime back coaching on the sidelines," Brown said. "I'm glad to see a lot of the staff we spent time with over there in Houston. I wish those guys the best of luck." Asked how he reflected on his departure, Udoka said, "Job not finished. The relationships you build and the people you impact, so that would be the biggest thing. When it came to his regrets, Udoka was equally matter-of-fact. "The biggest thing I'd say overall is letting some people down, for sure," Udoka said. "But we've talked it out and I've seen a lot of these people throughout the summer and talk regularly and so we move past it." Mazzulla played down the impact of Udoka's return with the Rockets, who hired him as head coach last April. "The fact Ime is back is great," he said. "But I don't think that really has anything to do with winning or losing." Both were important to the Celtics after being thumped 135-102 at Milwaukee on Thursday. "Last game we didn't feel like we were at our best," Brown said. "We wanted to come out and make sure we stayed undefeated on the home court." Tatum went 9-of-17, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, with eight rebounds and five assists for Boston, which also got 19 points from reserve Payton Pritchard. Reserve Cam Whitmore led Houston with 22 points while Turkish center added 19 for the Rockets, who fell to 19-19. In Atlanta, the Washington Wizards snapped a six-game losing streak and improved to 7-31 with a 127-99 victory over the Hawks. Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 29 points while Jordan Poole added 20. The Los Angeles Lakers (19-20) were set to play later at Utah (20-20) without LeBron James. The 39-year-old superstar missed his fourth game of the season with a left ankle injury. He suffered the setback in a loss Thursday to Phoenix.

Boston Celtics continue unbeaten run at home with win over Houston Rockets

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points and Jaylen Brown added 24 to lead the NBA-best Boston Celtics over San Antonio 134-101 on Sunday, stretching their win streak to six games. Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Celtics, who improved to 26-6. Boston also got 17 points from Derrick White, who spent five seasons with San Antonio before joining the Celtics in a 2022 trade. He heard chants of "White's an All-Star" from the Texas fans.

"I've got a lot of respect for the fans here, great memories here," White said. "I'm just thankful." Boston outscored the Spurs 40-23 in the third quarter to pull away for good. "Just had that mindset of third quarter is important and coming out ready to go," White said. "We finished the first half well and kept it going from there."

Tatum made 10-of-17 shots from the floor, 5-of-10 from 3-point range, while Brown went 9-of-13 from the floor, hitting both 3-point attempts, and 4-of-6 from the free throw line. French 19-year-old rookie star center Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 (2.24m) top pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the host Spurs, who fell to 5-27.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram each scored 26 points and the host New Orleans Pelicans avenged an In-Season Tournament (IST) semi-final loss by ripping the Los Angeles Lakers 129-109.

Ingram also contributed eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots while Williamson added six assists and four rebounds for the Pelicans, who improved to 19-14 with all five starters scoring in double figures.

A day after his 39th birthday, LeBron James led the Lakers with 34 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds. Anthony Davis netted 20 points with 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who&nbsp;humbled the Pelicans 133-89 on their way to the IST crown earlier this month. Japan's Rui Hachimura was sidelined by a calf injury after starting for the Lakers, playing only eight minutes.

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<h2>- Thunder win streak at 4 -</h2>

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 24 points to lead Oklahoma City over visiting Brooklyn 124-108 for a fourth consecutive triumph. The Canadian guard hit 7-of-15 from the floor and all nine free throws to pace five starters scoring in double figures for the Thunder, who at 22-9 pulled two games back of Western Conference leader Minnesota.

Phoenix's Kevin Durant scored 31 points while Bradley Beal added 25 and Devin Booker had 21 to spark the host Suns over Orlando 112-107. The Magic, paced by Paolo Banchero's 28 points, used a 21-8 rally in the third quarter to erase a Suns lead, but shot only 3-for-13 in the final 7:30 to fall.

"They made us work a little bit harder than we wanted to but that's what we need right now," Beal said after his highest-scoring game since arriving in a deal with Washington. "I'm just trying to figure out my way with the guys. I'm not here to step on any toes but at the same time I'm here for a reason. I've got to be aggressive. I've got to be me. I came out tonight being aggressive and thankfully we got a great win out of it. "We've got to be better on defense, got to clean that up, but we've got some good mojo, some good juices going into the new year."

Trae Young scored 40 points and passed off 13 assists to spark Atlanta's 130-126 triumph at Washington. The Wizards (6-26) had 38 points from Kyle Kuzma in a losing cause. Dejounte Murray had 32 for the Hawks (13-19).

Domantas Sabonis had a triple double with 13 points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists while Malik Monk came off the Sacramento bench to score a game-high 27 points as the Kings won 123-92 at Memphis.

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points and Jaylen Brown added 24 to lead the NBA-best Boston Celtics over San Antonio 134-101 on Sunday, stretching their win streak to six games.

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points and Jaylen Brown added 24 to lead the NBA-best Boston Celtics over San Antonio 134-101 on Sunday, stretching their win streak to six games. Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Celtics, who improved to 26-6. Boston also got 17 points from Derrick White, who spent five seasons with San Antonio before joining the Celtics in a 2022 trade. He heard chants of "White's an All-Star" from the Texas fans. "I've got a lot of respect for the fans here, great memories here," White said. "I'm just thankful." Boston outscored the Spurs 40-23 in the third quarter to pull away for good. "Just had that mindset of third quarter is important and coming out ready to go," White said. "We finished the first half well and kept it going from there." Tatum made 10-of-17 shots from the floor, 5-of-10 from 3-point range, while Brown went 9-of-13 from the floor, hitting both 3-point attempts, and 4-of-6 from the free throw line. French 19-year-old rookie star center Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 (2.24m) top pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the host Spurs, who fell to 5-27. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram each scored 26 points and the host New Orleans Pelicans avenged an In-Season Tournament (IST) semi-final loss by ripping the Los Angeles Lakers 129-109. Ingram also contributed eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots while Williamson added six assists and four rebounds for the Pelicans, who improved to 19-14 with all five starters scoring in double figures. A day after his 39th birthday, LeBron James led the Lakers with 34 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds. Anthony Davis netted 20 points with 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who humbled the Pelicans 133-89 on their way to the IST crown earlier this month. Japan's Rui Hachimura was sidelined by a calf injury after starting for the Lakers, playing only eight minutes. Also read: Golf: PGA Tour works to extend 'active and productive' Saudi merger talks - Thunder win streak at 4 - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 24 points to lead Oklahoma City over visiting Brooklyn 124-108 for a fourth consecutive triumph. The Canadian guard hit 7-of-15 from the floor and all nine free throws to pace five starters scoring in double figures for the Thunder, who at 22-9 pulled two games back of Western Conference leader Minnesota. Phoenix's Kevin Durant scored 31 points while Bradley Beal added 25 and Devin Booker had 21 to spark the host Suns over Orlando 112-107. The Magic, paced by Paolo Banchero's 28 points, used a 21-8 rally in the third quarter to erase a Suns lead, but shot only 3-for-13 in the final 7:30 to fall. "They made us work a little bit harder than we wanted to but that's what we need right now," Beal said after his highest-scoring game since arriving in a deal with Washington. "I'm just trying to figure out my way with the guys. I'm not here to step on any toes but at the same time I'm here for a reason. I've got to be aggressive. I've got to be me. I came out tonight being aggressive and thankfully we got a great win out of it. "We've got to be better on defense, got to clean that up, but we've got some good mojo, some good juices going into the new year." Trae Young scored 40 points and passed off 13 assists to spark Atlanta's 130-126 triumph at Washington. The Wizards (6-26) had 38 points from Kyle Kuzma in a losing cause. Dejounte Murray had 32 for the Hawks (13-19). Domantas Sabonis had a triple double with 13 points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists while Malik Monk came off the Sacramento bench to score a game-high 27 points as the Kings won 123-92 at Memphis.

NBA-best Boston Celtics beat San Antonio Spurs to earn sixth win in a row

Golden State coach Steve Kerr on Thursday backed the NBA's decision to issue an indefinite suspension on Draymond Green, saying the open-ended ban gave the Warriors star a chance to change his ways. Warriors stalwart Green was sanctioned by the NBA on Wednesday after his third ejection of the season on Tuesday, when he was tossed for violently swinging an arm into the head of Phoenix's Jusuf Nurkic.

It was just the latest in a long line of incidents that have landed Green in disciplinary hot water over the years, and came just weeks after he was given a five-game ban for grabbing Minnesota's Rudy Gobert in a headlock last month. Kerr told reporters on Thursday ahead of the Warriors game with the Los Angeles Clippers that the NBA's indefinite suspension of Green -- a virtually unheard of sanction in the league -- was the appropriate move.

"I think the suspension makes sense," Kerr said. "To me, this is about more than basketball. It's about helping Draymond. "It's an opportunity for Draymond to step away and to make a change in his approach, in his life. And that's not an easy thing to do."

Kerr said the league's five-game suspension of Green after the Gobert incident last month justified the stiffer penalty for this week's latest flashpoint. "You don't just say 'We're going to do five games and he's going to be fine'," Kerr said.&nbsp; "The league did that with five games after the incident with Rudy. That's not the answer, to pick a number.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golden-state-warriors-ace-draymond-green-suspended-indefinitely-over-jusuf-nurkic-clash-nba-669457">Golden State Warriors ace Draymond Green suspended 'indefinitely' over Jusuf Nurkic clash: NBA</a>

<h2>- 'The answer is to help' -</h2>

"The answer is to help Draymond and give him the help he needs, give him the opportunity to make a change that will not only help him and help our team, but help him for the rest of his life." "It's not just about an outburst on the court. This is about his life. Someone who I believe in, someone who I have known for a decade, who I love for his loyalty, his commitment, his passion, his love for his team-mates, his friends and his family.

"We're trying to help that guy. Because the one who choked Rudy, the one who took a wild flail at Jusuf, the one who punched Jordan (Poole) last year, that's the guy who has to change. And he knows that. "Look at the past year and what's happened -- it's clear he needs the opportunity to change. And that's what an indefinite suspension gives him the opportunity for."

Kerr and the Warriors have attracted criticism in the past for how they have handled Green's disciplinary indiscretions, notably when he was only fined by the franchise -- rather than suspended -- for punching team-mate Poole in a pre-season practice last year.

Prominent ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has suggested that Warriors star Steph Curry bears part of the responsibility for not bringing Green into line as a senior member of the Golden State locker room. Kerr however hit back at the criticism of Curry's leadership.&nbsp;

"For anyone to question Steph Curry’s leadership, it's actually kind of sickening," Kerr said. "I saw some of that yesterday. It was disgusting. You're talking about one of the finest human beings I have ever been around.&nbsp; "But that's the climate that we live in ... Like, really? That's the angle you're going to take? You're going to question Steph Curry's leadership?"

Golden State coach Steve Kerr on Thursday backed the NBA's decision to issue an indefinite suspension on Draymond Green, saying the open-ended ban gave the Warriors star a chance to change his ways.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr on Thursday backed the NBA's decision to issue an indefinite suspension on Draymond Green, saying the open-ended ban gave the Warriors star a chance to change his ways. Warriors stalwart Green was sanctioned by the NBA on Wednesday after his third ejection of the season on Tuesday, when he was tossed for violently swinging an arm into the head of Phoenix's Jusuf Nurkic. It was just the latest in a long line of incidents that have landed Green in disciplinary hot water over the years, and came just weeks after he was given a five-game ban for grabbing Minnesota's Rudy Gobert in a headlock last month. Kerr told reporters on Thursday ahead of the Warriors game with the Los Angeles Clippers that the NBA's indefinite suspension of Green -- a virtually unheard of sanction in the league -- was the appropriate move. "I think the suspension makes sense," Kerr said. "To me, this is about more than basketball. It's about helping Draymond. "It's an opportunity for Draymond to step away and to make a change in his approach, in his life. And that's not an easy thing to do." Kerr said the league's five-game suspension of Green after the Gobert incident last month justified the stiffer penalty for this week's latest flashpoint. "You don't just say 'We're going to do five games and he's going to be fine'," Kerr said. "The league did that with five games after the incident with Rudy. That's not the answer, to pick a number. Also read: Golden State Warriors ace Draymond Green suspended 'indefinitely' over Jusuf Nurkic clash: NBA - 'The answer is to help' - "The answer is to help Draymond and give him the help he needs, give him the opportunity to make a change that will not only help him and help our team, but help him for the rest of his life." "It's not just about an outburst on the court. This is about his life. Someone who I believe in, someone who I have known for a decade, who I love for his loyalty, his commitment, his passion, his love for his team-mates, his friends and his family. "We're trying to help that guy. Because the one who choked Rudy, the one who took a wild flail at Jusuf, the one who punched Jordan (Poole) last year, that's the guy who has to change. And he knows that. "Look at the past year and what's happened -- it's clear he needs the opportunity to change. And that's what an indefinite suspension gives him the opportunity for." Kerr and the Warriors have attracted criticism in the past for how they have handled Green's disciplinary indiscretions, notably when he was only fined by the franchise -- rather than suspended -- for punching team-mate Poole in a pre-season practice last year. Prominent ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has suggested that Warriors star Steph Curry bears part of the responsibility for not bringing Green into line as a senior member of the Golden State locker room. Kerr however hit back at the criticism of Curry's leadership. "For anyone to question Steph Curry’s leadership, it's actually kind of sickening," Kerr said. "I saw some of that yesterday. It was disgusting. You're talking about one of the finest human beings I have ever been around. "But that's the climate that we live in ... Like, really? That's the angle you're going to take? You're going to question Steph Curry's leadership?"

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr says NBA indefinite ban on Draymond Green 'makes sense'

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been "suspended indefinitely" following his clash with Phoenix player Jusuf Nurkic that saw him ejected for the third time this season, the NBA said Wednesday. The NBA said in a statement that Green had been handed an open-ended ban given his "repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts," adding that he would be "required to meet certain league and team conditions" before he is allowed to return to play.

An indefinite suspension is an almost unheard of sanction by the NBA, which more commonly issues bans for a fixed number of games.&nbsp; Examples of recent hefty suspensions issued to players include the 25-game ban handed to Memphis's Ja Morant in June after he was seen flashing a gun in an online video, and the 30-game ban given to Charlotte's Miles Bridges over domestic violence allegations.

Green was tossed from the Warriors' 119-116 road defeat against Phoenix on Tuesday after hitting Suns player Jusuf Nurkic in the head to earn a flagrant foul. The four-time NBA champion later apologized to Nurkic, saying he had accidentally struck the Bosnian after swinging his arm to try and win a foul call, believing he had been illegally held back.

"I thought he was pulling my hip, and I was swinging a way to sell the call, and made contact with him," Green said.&nbsp; "As you know, I'm not one to apologize for things I meant to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn't intend to hit him."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/psg-porto-storm-into-uefa-champions-league-last-16-as-newcastle-united-bow-out-669454">PSG, Porto storm into UEFA Champions League last 16 as Newcastle United bow out</a>

<h2>- 'That brother needs help' -</h2>

Nurkic however was scathing of the incident, saying Green "needs help." "What's going on with him? I don't know,"&nbsp;Nurkic said Tuesday. "Personally, I feel like that brother needs help."

The flashpoint came just weeks after Green was issued a five-game suspension for his second ejection of the season, when he grabbed Minnesota's Rudy Gobert in a headlock during the Warriors' defeat to the Timberwolves on November 14.

Green's second suspension of the season is the latest in a long line of brushes with NBA disciplinary chiefs over the years. The 33-year-old, who was also ejected in the Warriors' defeat to Cleveland earlier in November, was also suspended during the playoffs in April after stamping on Sacramento Kings player Domantas Sabonis.

In October 2022, Green escaped a suspension by the Warriors after punching teammate Jordan Poole during a pre-season practice. Warriors coach Steve Kerr later described the incident as the "biggest crisis that we've ever had," but the team decided to levy a fine against Green rather than an in-house suspension.

That incident followed an ejection in Golden State's 2021-2022 playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies after a clash with Brandon Clarke. He was also infamously suspended for game five of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers for a low blow against LeBron James.

The flagrant foul led to a one-game ban and Cleveland, down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, won at Golden State on the way to capturing the crown in seven games. Warriors coach Kerr however has been one of Green's staunchest defenders over the years, maintaining that the four-time NBA All-Star has been an integral part of the team's success over the past decade.

"I've said many times we don't have a single championship without Draymond Green," Kerr said earlier this year.&nbsp;"That's the truth. He's crossed the line over the years, and that's part of it, you know. We will go to bat for Draymond, and go to battle with him every day of the week."

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been "suspended indefinitely" following his clash with Phoenix player Jusuf Nurkic that saw him ejected for the third time this season, the NBA said Wednesday.

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been "suspended indefinitely" following his clash with Phoenix player Jusuf Nurkic that saw him ejected for the third time this season, the NBA said Wednesday. The NBA said in a statement that Green had been handed an open-ended ban given his "repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts," adding that he would be "required to meet certain league and team conditions" before he is allowed to return to play. An indefinite suspension is an almost unheard of sanction by the NBA, which more commonly issues bans for a fixed number of games. Examples of recent hefty suspensions issued to players include the 25-game ban handed to Memphis's Ja Morant in June after he was seen flashing a gun in an online video, and the 30-game ban given to Charlotte's Miles Bridges over domestic violence allegations. Green was tossed from the Warriors' 119-116 road defeat against Phoenix on Tuesday after hitting Suns player Jusuf Nurkic in the head to earn a flagrant foul. The four-time NBA champion later apologized to Nurkic, saying he had accidentally struck the Bosnian after swinging his arm to try and win a foul call, believing he had been illegally held back. "I thought he was pulling my hip, and I was swinging a way to sell the call, and made contact with him," Green said. "As you know, I'm not one to apologize for things I meant to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn't intend to hit him." Also read: PSG, Porto storm into UEFA Champions League last 16 as Newcastle United bow out - 'That brother needs help' - Nurkic however was scathing of the incident, saying Green "needs help." "What's going on with him? I don't know," Nurkic said Tuesday. "Personally, I feel like that brother needs help." The flashpoint came just weeks after Green was issued a five-game suspension for his second ejection of the season, when he grabbed Minnesota's Rudy Gobert in a headlock during the Warriors' defeat to the Timberwolves on November 14. Green's second suspension of the season is the latest in a long line of brushes with NBA disciplinary chiefs over the years. The 33-year-old, who was also ejected in the Warriors' defeat to Cleveland earlier in November, was also suspended during the playoffs in April after stamping on Sacramento Kings player Domantas Sabonis. In October 2022, Green escaped a suspension by the Warriors after punching teammate Jordan Poole during a pre-season practice. Warriors coach Steve Kerr later described the incident as the "biggest crisis that we've ever had," but the team decided to levy a fine against Green rather than an in-house suspension. That incident followed an ejection in Golden State's 2021-2022 playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies after a clash with Brandon Clarke. He was also infamously suspended for game five of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers for a low blow against LeBron James. The flagrant foul led to a one-game ban and Cleveland, down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, won at Golden State on the way to capturing the crown in seven games. Warriors coach Kerr however has been one of Green's staunchest defenders over the years, maintaining that the four-time NBA All-Star has been an integral part of the team's success over the past decade. "I've said many times we don't have a single championship without Draymond Green," Kerr said earlier this year. "That's the truth. He's crossed the line over the years, and that's part of it, you know. We will go to bat for Draymond, and go to battle with him every day of the week."

Golden State Warriors ace Draymond Green suspended 'indefinitely' over Jusuf Nurkic clash: NBA

Giannis Antetokounmpo erupted for a career-high 64 points as the Milwaukee Bucks avenged last week's in-season tournament exit to the Indiana Pacers with an ill-tempered 140-126 victory on Wednesday. Former NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo was in scintillating form, shooting 20-of-28 from the field with 14 rebounds, three assists and four steals as the clash between the two highest-scoring teams in the NBA lived up to its billing.

Milwaukee were dumped out of the in-season tournament semi-finals in Las Vegas last week by the Pacers and were clearly determined to avoid a repeat of that loss before their home crowd at the Fiserv Forum. The simmering tension between the teams boiled over in the fourth quarter when Indiana's Aaron Nesmith wrapped an arm around Antetokounmpo's neck as he drove for the basket.&nbsp;

Milwaukee's Bobby Portis flew in to defend his team-mate before being dragged away in an ugly melee that involved officials and coaching staff from both benches. The acrimony flared again after the final buzzer, with Antetokounmpo and other Milwaukee players racing off the court to confront members of the Pacers team.

Antetokounmpo, whose 64 points marked a franchise record, later re-emerged back onto the court to remonstrate with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the post-game fracas was triggered over a misunderstanding about the game-ball, snaffled by the Pacers after their Congolese rookie Oscar Tshiebwe scored his first NBA point off the bench.

"We were not thinking about Giannis's franchise record so we grabbed the ball and a couple of minutes later several of their players ended up in our hallway," Carlisle said. "There was a big fracas, melee whatever. I don't think any punches landed but our general manager got an elbow in the ribs from one of their players. "Unfortunate situation. It didn't need to escalate to that.&nbsp;

"Third time we've played these guys in the past two to three weeks so things are heated and I understand all that. But for it to come into the hallway -– it didn't need to happen that way."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golden-state-warriors-ace-draymond-green-suspended-indefinitely-over-jusuf-nurkic-clash-nba-669457">Golden State Warriors ace Draymond Green suspended 'indefinitely' over Jusuf Nurkic clash: NBA</a>

<h2>- Wemby rally falls short -</h2>

Elsewhere, Anthony Davis scored 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers held off a dazzling late rally led by French prodigy Victor Wembanyama to edge past the San Antonio Spurs 122-119. The Lakers, missing LeBron James after Tuesday’s defeat in Phoenix, looked to be cruising after leading for almost the entire game and opening up a 20-point advantage early in the fourth quarter at San Antonio's Frost Bank Center.

But a stunning fightback by the home team -– who erupted for 45 points in the final quarter -– left the Lakers clinging on towards the end of regulation before they eventually scraped home. Number one draft pick Wembanyama, denied his much-hoped-for match-up with James, excelled down the stretch with 14 points including two back-to-back three-pointers and a free throw that helped San Antonio get to within one point with 22 seconds remaining.

The San Antonio rally fell just short however, with Davis nailing four straight free throws to give the Lakers a five-point cushion in the closing seconds, effectively sealing the game. Wembanyama, who arrived in the NBA this season being hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent, finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and six blocks, earning admiration from Lakers linchpin Davis.

"Obviously there's a lot of pressure on him, No.1 pick," said Davis. "But he can play. He's been struggling a little bit but he showed up tonight... he's one of them ones -– a generational talent. It was fun going against him tonight."

Wembanyama received offensive support from Keldon Johnson with 28 points, while Malaki Branham added 19 points as San Antonio fell to a franchise record-extending 18th straight defeat. The Lakers improved to 15-10 to remain in fifth place in the Western Conference. In other games, reigning MVP Joel Embiid bagged 41 points in Philadelphia's 129-111 drubbing of the hapless Detroit Pistons (2-2-22).

Giannis Antetokounmpo erupted for a career-high 64 points as the Milwaukee Bucks avenged last week's in-season tournament exit to the Indiana Pacers with an ill-tempered 140-126 victory on Wednesday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo erupted for a career-high 64 points as the Milwaukee Bucks avenged last week's in-season tournament exit to the Indiana Pacers with an ill-tempered 140-126 victory on Wednesday. Former NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo was in scintillating form, shooting 20-of-28 from the field with 14 rebounds, three assists and four steals as the clash between the two highest-scoring teams in the NBA lived up to its billing. Milwaukee were dumped out of the in-season tournament semi-finals in Las Vegas last week by the Pacers and were clearly determined to avoid a repeat of that loss before their home crowd at the Fiserv Forum. The simmering tension between the teams boiled over in the fourth quarter when Indiana's Aaron Nesmith wrapped an arm around Antetokounmpo's neck as he drove for the basket. Milwaukee's Bobby Portis flew in to defend his team-mate before being dragged away in an ugly melee that involved officials and coaching staff from both benches. The acrimony flared again after the final buzzer, with Antetokounmpo and other Milwaukee players racing off the court to confront members of the Pacers team. Antetokounmpo, whose 64 points marked a franchise record, later re-emerged back onto the court to remonstrate with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the post-game fracas was triggered over a misunderstanding about the game-ball, snaffled by the Pacers after their Congolese rookie Oscar Tshiebwe scored his first NBA point off the bench. "We were not thinking about Giannis's franchise record so we grabbed the ball and a couple of minutes later several of their players ended up in our hallway," Carlisle said. "There was a big fracas, melee whatever. I don't think any punches landed but our general manager got an elbow in the ribs from one of their players. "Unfortunate situation. It didn't need to escalate to that. "Third time we've played these guys in the past two to three weeks so things are heated and I understand all that. But for it to come into the hallway -– it didn't need to happen that way." Also read: Golden State Warriors ace Draymond Green suspended 'indefinitely' over Jusuf Nurkic clash: NBA - Wemby rally falls short - Elsewhere, Anthony Davis scored 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers held off a dazzling late rally led by French prodigy Victor Wembanyama to edge past the San Antonio Spurs 122-119. The Lakers, missing LeBron James after Tuesday’s defeat in Phoenix, looked to be cruising after leading for almost the entire game and opening up a 20-point advantage early in the fourth quarter at San Antonio's Frost Bank Center. But a stunning fightback by the home team -– who erupted for 45 points in the final quarter -– left the Lakers clinging on towards the end of regulation before they eventually scraped home. Number one draft pick Wembanyama, denied his much-hoped-for match-up with James, excelled down the stretch with 14 points including two back-to-back three-pointers and a free throw that helped San Antonio get to within one point with 22 seconds remaining. The San Antonio rally fell just short however, with Davis nailing four straight free throws to give the Lakers a five-point cushion in the closing seconds, effectively sealing the game. Wembanyama, who arrived in the NBA this season being hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent, finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and six blocks, earning admiration from Lakers linchpin Davis. "Obviously there's a lot of pressure on him, No.1 pick," said Davis. "But he can play. He's been struggling a little bit but he showed up tonight... he's one of them ones -– a generational talent. It was fun going against him tonight." Wembanyama received offensive support from Keldon Johnson with 28 points, while Malaki Branham added 19 points as San Antonio fell to a franchise record-extending 18th straight defeat. The Lakers improved to 15-10 to remain in fifth place in the Western Conference. In other games, reigning MVP Joel Embiid bagged 41 points in Philadelphia's 129-111 drubbing of the hapless Detroit Pistons (2-2-22).

NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 64 in stormy Bucks win, Lakers down Spurs

Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points to propel the Indiana Pacers to a 128-119 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday and into the title match of the inaugural NBA in-season tournament. Haliburton added 15 assists, without a turnover, and Myles Turner scored 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Pacers remained unbeaten in the tournament.

Indiana, sixth in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings, had knocked out the East-leading Boston Celtics in the quarter-finals and followed up with another scintillating showing against the 2021 NBA champion Bucks, who were led by 37 points and 10 rebounds from two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo.

In Saturday's final in Las Vegas the Pacers take on the winner of the Western Conference semi-final between LeBron James's Los Angeles Lakers and Zion Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans. The tournament has been a coming-out party for Haliburton and the Pacers, who came into Thursday's game averaging more than 128 points per game but whose NBA title hopes have been largely discounted.

"I think this was the whole point of the in-season tournament, to see a young group like ourselves compete and come out here and fight," Haliburton said. "I think we're shocking the world right now. Nobody expected us to be here except for the guys in the locker room."

In a game that featured 16 lead changes -- seven of them in the fourth quarter -- the Pacers got the stops they needed to hold off a Bucks team that scored 146 points in their quarter-final win over the New York Knicks.

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The Bucks appeared to take control when they out-scored the Pacers 43-28 in the third quarter to take a 94-91 lead into the final period. Damian Lillard, who scored just four points in the first half, scored 20 in the second for Milwaukee.

But in a nip-and-tuck fourth, Turner's put-back layup gave the Pacers a 115-112 lead with 2:19 to play. Haliburton pushed the lead to 119-114 with a driving layup. He drilled a step-back three-pointer that put the Pacers up 122-114 with 49.5 seconds left.

Racing back up court, Haliburton pointed to his wrist where a watch would be, an imitation of Lillard's longtime "Dame Time" celebration. "For as many times as I've done it to people, I can't be upset when somebody else does it," Lillard said. "I respected it."

After the game, Haliburton said his message was that it was the Pacers' time. The in-season tournament, conceived to add excitement to the early stages of the long NBA season, has proved the perfect showcase for the high-octane Pacers, who have never won an NBA title.

"We're in an inaugural championship game," Haliburton said. "That's going to go down in history. It's a lot of fun for us. But we didn't just come here to play one game, play in two games, compete. "We came here to win."

Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points to propel the Indiana Pacers to a 128-119 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday and into the title match of the inaugural NBA in-season tournament.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points to propel the Indiana Pacers to a 128-119 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday and into the title match of the inaugural NBA in-season tournament. Haliburton added 15 assists, without a turnover, and Myles Turner scored 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Pacers remained unbeaten in the tournament. Indiana, sixth in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings, had knocked out the East-leading Boston Celtics in the quarter-finals and followed up with another scintillating showing against the 2021 NBA champion Bucks, who were led by 37 points and 10 rebounds from two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo. In Saturday's final in Las Vegas the Pacers take on the winner of the Western Conference semi-final between LeBron James's Los Angeles Lakers and Zion Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans. The tournament has been a coming-out party for Haliburton and the Pacers, who came into Thursday's game averaging more than 128 points per game but whose NBA title hopes have been largely discounted. "I think this was the whole point of the in-season tournament, to see a young group like ourselves compete and come out here and fight," Haliburton said. "I think we're shocking the world right now. Nobody expected us to be here except for the guys in the locker room." In a game that featured 16 lead changes -- seven of them in the fourth quarter -- the Pacers got the stops they needed to hold off a Bucks team that scored 146 points in their quarter-final win over the New York Knicks. Also read: Golf: Masters champion Jon Rahm jumps from PGA Tour to LIV Golf in big-money move The Bucks appeared to take control when they out-scored the Pacers 43-28 in the third quarter to take a 94-91 lead into the final period. Damian Lillard, who scored just four points in the first half, scored 20 in the second for Milwaukee. But in a nip-and-tuck fourth, Turner's put-back layup gave the Pacers a 115-112 lead with 2:19 to play. Haliburton pushed the lead to 119-114 with a driving layup. He drilled a step-back three-pointer that put the Pacers up 122-114 with 49.5 seconds left. Racing back up court, Haliburton pointed to his wrist where a watch would be, an imitation of Lillard's longtime "Dame Time" celebration. "For as many times as I've done it to people, I can't be upset when somebody else does it," Lillard said. "I respected it." After the game, Haliburton said his message was that it was the Pacers' time. The in-season tournament, conceived to add excitement to the early stages of the long NBA season, has proved the perfect showcase for the high-octane Pacers, who have never won an NBA title. "We're in an inaugural championship game," Haliburton said. "That's going to go down in history. It's a lot of fun for us. But we didn't just come here to play one game, play in two games, compete. "We came here to win."

Upstart Indiana Pacers topple Milwaukee Bucks to storm into NBA Cup final

Star rookie Victor Wembanyama put on a show, but his San Antonio Spurs slumped to a seventh straight defeat on Friday, with the Sacramento Kings knocking them out of the NBA's new in-season tournament with a 129-120 triumph. De'Aaron Fox matched his career high with 43 points, adding eight rebounds and seven assists for the Kings, who weathered a series of San Antonio scoring spurts to seal the win.

After scoring just eight points in a 36-point loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Wembanyama scored 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Wembanyama impressed with an array of shots that included an alley-oop dunk on which his head threatened to hit the backboard. Zach Collins scored 28 for the Spurs, who roared to an 18-point lead in the first quarter but couldn't keep pace in a fourth quarter that saw Fox deliver 14 points as Wembanyama was held to six. A game of multiple momentum shifts saw the Spurs close within 112-111 midway through the fourth, but the Kings responded with a 7-0 scoring run and held on.

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Now 3-9, the Spurs fell to 0-3 in group play in the league's new Cup-style tournament -- out of the running for a quarter-final berth. In other tournament games on Friday -- which also count in the regular-season standings -- Zion Williamson scored 26 points and the New Orleans Pelicans withstood a Nikola Jokic triple-double in a 115-110 victory over the NBA champion Denver Nuggets.

Brandon Ingram added 21 points for New Orleans. He and Williamson each made a pair of buckets in an 8-0 scoring run that saw the Pelicans pull away after Denver closed within one point with 4:01 to play. Jokic scored 26 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and matched his career high with 18 assists.

The Nuggets, still without injured Jamal Murray, never led. But they battled back from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to give themselves a chance in the final period. Down by three with less than a minute remaining, the Nuggets came up empty on three straight three-point attempts on the same possession and the Pelicans escaped with the win. In Toronto, Boston guard Derrick White drained a go-ahead three-pointer with 27.5 seconds left as the Celtics held off the hard-charging Raptors 108-105.

Jaylen Brown scored 23 points, Jayson Tatum added 17 and Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who are 2-0 in tournament play and improved to 10-2 in the regular season standings -- still leading the Eastern Conference by one game from the Philadelphia 76ers, who beat the Atlanta Hawks 126-116. Pascal Siakam and Dennis Schroder scored 23 points apiece for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes had a chance to tie it with 11.4 seconds left but couldn't get his three-pointer to drop.

In Atlanta, 76ers star Joel Embiid -- questionable to start because of a sore hip -- scored 32 points and grabbed seven rebounds.Tobias Harris added a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds and Tyrese Maxey finished with 19 points for Philadelphia, who ended a two-game losing streak.

<h2>Bridges returns&nbsp;</h2>

In Charlotte, Milwaukee's Damian Lillard scored 27 points to lead seven Bucks players in double figures in a 130-99 victory over the Hornets. Malik Beasley added 20 points and Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game injury absence to score 16 points with eight rebounds and nine assists in Milwaukee's third-straight victory.

The Bucks connected on 22 of 45 three-pointers to withstand a 37-point night from Charlotte's LaMelo Ball. Miles Bridges came off the bench for Charlotte and scored 17 points in his first NBA game since April 2022.

Bridges missed all of last season and was suspended 10 games to start this season after pleading no contest in a felony domestic violence incident last year. The Bucks out-scored the Hornets 38-18 in the fourth quarter, and Lillard said it was important to keep the pressure on. Both teams are 2-0 in tournament play, and scoring margins could come into play in deciding who advances to the knockout stages of the new tournament. "We had to keep our foot on the gas tonight," he said. "I think that's good for our mentality."

Star rookie Victor Wembanyama put on a show, but his San Antonio Spurs slumped to a seventh straight defeat on Friday, with the Sacramento Kings knocking them out of the NBA's new in-season tournament with a 129-120 triumph.

Star rookie Victor Wembanyama put on a show, but his San Antonio Spurs slumped to a seventh straight defeat on Friday, with the Sacramento Kings knocking them out of the NBA's new in-season tournament with a 129-120 triumph. De'Aaron Fox matched his career high with 43 points, adding eight rebounds and seven assists for the Kings, who weathered a series of San Antonio scoring spurts to seal the win. After scoring just eight points in a 36-point loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Wembanyama scored 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Wembanyama impressed with an array of shots that included an alley-oop dunk on which his head threatened to hit the backboard. Zach Collins scored 28 for the Spurs, who roared to an 18-point lead in the first quarter but couldn't keep pace in a fourth quarter that saw Fox deliver 14 points as Wembanyama was held to six. A game of multiple momentum shifts saw the Spurs close within 112-111 midway through the fourth, but the Kings responded with a 7-0 scoring run and held on. Also Read: Premier League: Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag vows full support to struggling Rashford Now 3-9, the Spurs fell to 0-3 in group play in the league's new Cup-style tournament -- out of the running for a quarter-final berth. In other tournament games on Friday -- which also count in the regular-season standings -- Zion Williamson scored 26 points and the New Orleans Pelicans withstood a Nikola Jokic triple-double in a 115-110 victory over the NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Brandon Ingram added 21 points for New Orleans. He and Williamson each made a pair of buckets in an 8-0 scoring run that saw the Pelicans pull away after Denver closed within one point with 4:01 to play. Jokic scored 26 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and matched his career high with 18 assists. The Nuggets, still without injured Jamal Murray, never led. But they battled back from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to give themselves a chance in the final period. Down by three with less than a minute remaining, the Nuggets came up empty on three straight three-point attempts on the same possession and the Pelicans escaped with the win. In Toronto, Boston guard Derrick White drained a go-ahead three-pointer with 27.5 seconds left as the Celtics held off the hard-charging Raptors 108-105. Jaylen Brown scored 23 points, Jayson Tatum added 17 and Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who are 2-0 in tournament play and improved to 10-2 in the regular season standings -- still leading the Eastern Conference by one game from the Philadelphia 76ers, who beat the Atlanta Hawks 126-116. Pascal Siakam and Dennis Schroder scored 23 points apiece for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes had a chance to tie it with 11.4 seconds left but couldn't get his three-pointer to drop. In Atlanta, 76ers star Joel Embiid -- questionable to start because of a sore hip -- scored 32 points and grabbed seven rebounds.Tobias Harris added a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds and Tyrese Maxey finished with 19 points for Philadelphia, who ended a two-game losing streak. Bridges returns In Charlotte, Milwaukee's Damian Lillard scored 27 points to lead seven Bucks players in double figures in a 130-99 victory over the Hornets. Malik Beasley added 20 points and Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game injury absence to score 16 points with eight rebounds and nine assists in Milwaukee's third-straight victory. The Bucks connected on 22 of 45 three-pointers to withstand a 37-point night from Charlotte's LaMelo Ball. Miles Bridges came off the bench for Charlotte and scored 17 points in his first NBA game since April 2022. Bridges missed all of last season and was suspended 10 games to start this season after pleading no contest in a felony domestic violence incident last year. The Bucks out-scored the Hornets 38-18 in the fourth quarter, and Lillard said it was important to keep the pressure on. Both teams are 2-0 in tournament play, and scoring margins could come into play in deciding who advances to the knockout stages of the new tournament. "We had to keep our foot on the gas tonight," he said. "I think that's good for our mentality."

Sacramento Kings knock out San Antonio Spurs in NBA Tournament, despite Victor Wembanyama's good performance

The Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 157-152 in a rollicking NBA shootout on Tuesday to become the first team to reach the knockout stage of the league's new in-season tournament. Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, who said this week the new tournament gave "more juice" to early-season games, scored 22 of his 37 points in the third quarter as the Pacers erased a 20-point first-half deficit.

In the fourth quarter it was Buddy Hield who stepped up, scoring 13 of his 24 points as the Pacers came out on top of a furious back-and-forth finish. "It's good to clinch," Haliburton -- who also handed out 16 assists -- said after the Pacers improved to 3-0 in tournament play and locked up first place in East's Group A. "Buddy won us the game down the stretch, a lot of big buckets."

Hield's three-pointer put Indiana up 152-150 with 1:20 remaining. After Saddiq Bey pulled Atlanta level with a layup, Hield drained another three-pointer for a 155-152 Pacers lead with less than a minute to go. Hield capped the outrageous scoring with an alley-oop dunk with five-tenths of a second remaining.

Hield connected on nine of 11 from the field and made all six of his three-point attempts. Obi Toppin scored 21 points off the bench for Indiana and Bennedict Mathurin added 19. Trae Young scored 38 points to lead the Hawks, who led by 20 in the second quarter. In later games, the Los Angeles Lakers had a chance to punch their ticket to the knockout rounds, and claim home court advantage in the quarter-finals, with a victory over the Utah Jazz.

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A road win for the Jazz, coupled with a loss for Phoenix against Portland, would see Utah advance. The quarter-finals will be played December 4-5, with winners advancing to semi-final games on December 7 and a championship match on December 9 in Las Vegas.

It was a tight finish in Philadelphia, where Darius Garland scored 32 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-119 overtime victory over the 76ers that kept alive the Cavs' hopes of advancing in the tournament via a wild card berth. Jarrett Allen scored 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds while Max Strus made five three-pointers on the way to 20 points for the Cavs, who came through despite again playing without injured Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scored 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Tyrese Maxey added 30 points for Philadelphia, but the 76ers were eliminated from tournament contention.

The Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 157-152 in a rollicking NBA shootout on Tuesday to become the first team to reach the knockout stage of the league's new in-season tournament.

The Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 157-152 in a rollicking NBA shootout on Tuesday to become the first team to reach the knockout stage of the league's new in-season tournament. Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, who said this week the new tournament gave "more juice" to early-season games, scored 22 of his 37 points in the third quarter as the Pacers erased a 20-point first-half deficit. In the fourth quarter it was Buddy Hield who stepped up, scoring 13 of his 24 points as the Pacers came out on top of a furious back-and-forth finish. "It's good to clinch," Haliburton -- who also handed out 16 assists -- said after the Pacers improved to 3-0 in tournament play and locked up first place in East's Group A. "Buddy won us the game down the stretch, a lot of big buckets." Hield's three-pointer put Indiana up 152-150 with 1:20 remaining. After Saddiq Bey pulled Atlanta level with a layup, Hield drained another three-pointer for a 155-152 Pacers lead with less than a minute to go. Hield capped the outrageous scoring with an alley-oop dunk with five-tenths of a second remaining. Hield connected on nine of 11 from the field and made all six of his three-point attempts. Obi Toppin scored 21 points off the bench for Indiana and Bennedict Mathurin added 19. Trae Young scored 38 points to lead the Hawks, who led by 20 in the second quarter. In later games, the Los Angeles Lakers had a chance to punch their ticket to the knockout rounds, and claim home court advantage in the quarter-finals, with a victory over the Utah Jazz. Also Read: WATCH | LeBron 360 layup in Lakers vs Rockets sends internet in frenzy A road win for the Jazz, coupled with a loss for Phoenix against Portland, would see Utah advance. The quarter-finals will be played December 4-5, with winners advancing to semi-final games on December 7 and a championship match on December 9 in Las Vegas. It was a tight finish in Philadelphia, where Darius Garland scored 32 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-119 overtime victory over the 76ers that kept alive the Cavs' hopes of advancing in the tournament via a wild card berth. Jarrett Allen scored 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds while Max Strus made five three-pointers on the way to 20 points for the Cavs, who came through despite again playing without injured Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert. Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scored 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Tyrese Maxey added 30 points for Philadelphia, but the 76ers were eliminated from tournament contention.

Indiana Pacers defeat Atlanta Hawks, become first team to reach knockout stage of NBA's new tournament

Milwaukee&nbsp;Bucks&nbsp;superstar Giannis&nbsp;Antetokounmpo&nbsp;has agreed to a three-year contract&nbsp;extension&nbsp;worth $186 million, multiple US media&nbsp;reports&nbsp;said on Monday (Oct 23). Antetokounmpo's&nbsp;new deal will see him remain with the&nbsp;Bucks&nbsp;until at least the end of the 2026-2027 season.

Antetokounmpo's new deal gives him an option to remain with the club in the 2027-2028 campaign, but he can enter free agency in July 2027, at the age of 32. Antetokounmpo&nbsp;confirmed his contract&nbsp;extension&nbsp;in a post on social media without giving details of the new deal.

"MILWAUKEEEEEEEEE!! Let's get it!!!!...#Extended,"&nbsp;Antetokounmpo&nbsp;wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The Greek&nbsp;star&nbsp;has spent the entirety of his NBA career with Milwaukee since being drafted by the franchise in 2013 as the 15th overall pick. The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the best players in basketball, guiding the&nbsp;Bucks&nbsp;to the NBA Finals in 2021.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2023%3Anewsml_KBN31J04S%3A4&amp;search=all%3Abasketball%20game">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-everton-submits-appeal-against-punishment-over-ffp-rules-breach-665161">Premier League: Everton submits appeal against punishment over FFP rules breach</a>

As recently as the&nbsp;Bucks' preseason media day earlier this month,&nbsp;Antetokounmpo&nbsp;said he was in no hurry to sign a contract&nbsp;extension&nbsp;before 2024, noting that he wanted to be certain the franchise remained committed to going for titles.

"I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career -- as long as we are winning. It's as simple as that,"&nbsp;Antetokounmpo&nbsp;said on October 2.

His decision to extend now is effectively a vote of confidence in the&nbsp;Bucks&nbsp;front office, which scored the biggest deal of the offseason after successfully trading for Portland&nbsp;star&nbsp;Damian Lillard in September. Antetokounmpo's new deal runs through the duration of Lillard's contract with the club.

The&nbsp;Bucks&nbsp;open their 2023-2024 season on Thursday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.

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Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $186 million, multiple US media reports said on Monday (Oct 23).

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $186 million, multiple US media reports said on Monday (Oct 23). Antetokounmpo's new deal will see him remain with the Bucks until at least the end of the 2026-2027 season. Antetokounmpo's new deal gives him an option to remain with the club in the 2027-2028 campaign, but he can enter free agency in July 2027, at the age of 32. Antetokounmpo confirmed his contract extension in a post on social media without giving details of the new deal. "MILWAUKEEEEEEEEE!! Let's get it!!!!...#Extended," Antetokounmpo wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The Greek star has spent the entirety of his NBA career with Milwaukee since being drafted by the franchise in 2013 as the 15th overall pick. The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the best players in basketball, guiding the Bucks to the NBA Finals in 2021. Also Read: Premier League: Everton submits appeal against punishment over FFP rules breach As recently as the Bucks' preseason media day earlier this month, Antetokounmpo said he was in no hurry to sign a contract extension before 2024, noting that he wanted to be certain the franchise remained committed to going for titles. "I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career -- as long as we are winning. It's as simple as that," Antetokounmpo said on October 2. His decision to extend now is effectively a vote of confidence in the Bucks front office, which scored the biggest deal of the offseason after successfully trading for Portland star Damian Lillard in September. Antetokounmpo's new deal runs through the duration of Lillard's contract with the club. The Bucks open their 2023-2024 season on Thursday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo agrees to three-year extension with Milwaukee Bucks

French teenager Victor Wembanyama admitted to having "butterflies" on Tuesday as he prepared to make his regular season NBA debut for the San Antonio Spurs. The gifted number-one draft pick will be the center of attention across the league on Wednesday when he takes to the court in San Antonio's home game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The talented 19-year-old is widely regarded as a once-in-a-generation player, tipped to have the same kind of impact on the NBA that LeBron James had when he landed in the league 20 years ago.

The sprawling Texas metropolis of San Antonio has quickly embraced Wembanyama, with murals devoted to the rising star popping up across the city since his selection in the NBA Draft in June. San Antonio sandwich shops have named snacks after the teenager, while one mariachi band in the city has even dedicated a song to Wembanyama.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/nba/news-nba-sore-hip-sidelines-san-antonios-victor-wembanyama-for-first-time-in-career-665303">NBA: Sore hip sidelines San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama for first time in career</a>

More than 13,000 fans turned up to a Spurs pre-season practice to watch him while NBA executives say the Frenchman has attracted 95 million views across the league's social media channels during the offseason -- more than any other player in the league. Wembanyama has taken the soaring hype in his stride, showing no sign of stage fright in a series of sparkling pre-season performances for San Antonio.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday on the eve of his debut, the 7ft 4in (2.25m) tall teenager acknowledged some nervous excitement as his personal D-Day approached.

<h2>Lifelong dream</h2>

"Some butterflies in my stomach, like I have before every match, depending on what's at stake," Wembanyama said.&nbsp; "But it's not like I'm shaking either -- just a little stomach ache."

Wembanyama's debut will be the realization of a lifelong dream for the Frenchman, who said he had been thinking about playing in the NBA for "as long as I have memories." While pre-season had given him a taste of what to expect in the NBA, Wembanyama said making his regular season start still felt "unreal."

"I thought a month ago that some pre-season games would prepare me for this moment, but it's totally different," said Wembanyama, who has set himself a goal of winning "as many titles as I can" with San Antonio.&nbsp;"I know it's something you don't easily do, most players have a career and never make it to the finals, or win championships," Wembanyama said.&nbsp;

"It's one of my biggest goals in life so I know I'm gonna reach this, one day or the other. I'm dedicating the next I don't know how many years of my life to reach this. I'm ready to sacrifice anything." Wembanyama&nbsp;averaged just over 19 points a game in four pre-season appearances for San Antonio, but believes he still has not demonstrated the full range of his skills.

"I know nobody has seen my best so far," he said.&nbsp; Wembanyama revealed he had been on a steep learning curve since starting training with San Antonio, receiving insights to play at both ends of the court.&nbsp;

"In defense I've been in a role that I never had before. I love learning," he said. "I'm really excited, it's promising. We've learned quicker than I expected. Possibilities in defense are endless with this team." Wembanyama's growing legion of admirers includes Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who will go head-to-head with the teenager on Wednesday.

"It's pretty crazy what he does on the court," Doncic said of Wembanyama on Tuesday. "What is he? Two meters (tall)? The things he does for that length, it's unbelievable.&nbsp;"The way he moves, the way he handles the ball, shoots the ball, and obviously the blocking. So, I've been watching, and he's an amazing player."

French teenager Victor Wembanyama admitted to having "butterflies" on Tuesday as he prepared to make his regular season NBA debut for the San Antonio Spurs. The gifted number-one draft pick will be the center of attention across the league on Wednesday when he takes to the court in San Antonio's home game against the Dallas Mavericks.

French teenager Victor Wembanyama admitted to having "butterflies" on Tuesday as he prepared to make his regular season NBA debut for the San Antonio Spurs. The gifted number-one draft pick will be the center of attention across the league on Wednesday when he takes to the court in San Antonio's home game against the Dallas Mavericks. The talented 19-year-old is widely regarded as a once-in-a-generation player, tipped to have the same kind of impact on the NBA that LeBron James had when he landed in the league 20 years ago. The sprawling Texas metropolis of San Antonio has quickly embraced Wembanyama, with murals devoted to the rising star popping up across the city since his selection in the NBA Draft in June. San Antonio sandwich shops have named snacks after the teenager, while one mariachi band in the city has even dedicated a song to Wembanyama. Also Read: NBA: Sore hip sidelines San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama for first time in career More than 13,000 fans turned up to a Spurs pre-season practice to watch him while NBA executives say the Frenchman has attracted 95 million views across the league's social media channels during the offseason -- more than any other player in the league. Wembanyama has taken the soaring hype in his stride, showing no sign of stage fright in a series of sparkling pre-season performances for San Antonio. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday on the eve of his debut, the 7ft 4in (2.25m) tall teenager acknowledged some nervous excitement as his personal D-Day approached. Lifelong dream "Some butterflies in my stomach, like I have before every match, depending on what's at stake," Wembanyama said. "But it's not like I'm shaking either -- just a little stomach ache." Wembanyama's debut will be the realization of a lifelong dream for the Frenchman, who said he had been thinking about playing in the NBA for "as long as I have memories." While pre-season had given him a taste of what to expect in the NBA, Wembanyama said making his regular season start still felt "unreal." "I thought a month ago that some pre-season games would prepare me for this moment, but it's totally different," said Wembanyama, who has set himself a goal of winning "as many titles as I can" with San Antonio. "I know it's something you don't easily do, most players have a career and never make it to the finals, or win championships," Wembanyama said. "It's one of my biggest goals in life so I know I'm gonna reach this, one day or the other. I'm dedicating the next I don't know how many years of my life to reach this. I'm ready to sacrifice anything." Wembanyama averaged just over 19 points a game in four pre-season appearances for San Antonio, but believes he still has not demonstrated the full range of his skills. "I know nobody has seen my best so far," he said. Wembanyama revealed he had been on a steep learning curve since starting training with San Antonio, receiving insights to play at both ends of the court. "In defense I've been in a role that I never had before. I love learning," he said. "I'm really excited, it's promising. We've learned quicker than I expected. Possibilities in defense are endless with this team." Wembanyama's growing legion of admirers includes Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who will go head-to-head with the teenager on Wednesday. "It's pretty crazy what he does on the court," Doncic said of Wembanyama on Tuesday. "What is he? Two meters (tall)? The things he does for that length, it's unbelievable. "The way he moves, the way he handles the ball, shoots the ball, and obviously the blocking. So, I've been watching, and he's an amazing player."

NBA: French sensation Victor Wembanyama admits having butterflies ahead of San Antonio Spurs debut

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