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  • Amid ‘really good vibes,’ surging Bucks host Raptors

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    (Photo credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

    The suddenly hot Milwaukee Bucks will return home for the first time in more than two weeks when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.

    The Bucks opened their post All-Star break schedule in New Orleans, where they pulled away late to beat the Pelicans 139-118 on Friday night.

    The win was Milwaukee’s third in a row and sixth in the past seven contests.

    It was a balanced scoring attack for the Bucks, led by 27 points each from Ryan Rollins and newly acquired Cam Thomas in addition to 25 points and seven assists from Kevin Porter Jr.

    Bobby Portis added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

    ‘We’re just being aggressive, looking for our shots on all of our three-level scorers,’ Rollins said of the guards’ ability to find the best matchup. ‘Some situations where you may feel like it’s an advantage that they have, we just call a quick boomerang or just give them space and let them work out.’

    Thomas has made a strong first impression in his three games since being signed by the Bucks as a free agent this month after being released by the Brooklyn Nets.

    In addition to his 27 points on Friday, he scored 12 in a victory over Oklahoma City on Feb. 12 and 34 in just 25 minutes in a win over Orlando they day before.

    ‘The players and coaches embraced me as soon as I got here. Everyone was like just be you and play your game; that meant a lot to me,’ said Thomas, 24. ‘The vibes are really good; we’re playing meaningful basketball.’

    Toronto, meanwhile, got off to a good start in its post-break schedule as it took down the Bulls in Chicago 110-101 on Thursday. It was Toronto’s third win in its last four games.

    Brandon Ingram led the way with 31 points and also had eight rebounds and six assists. Teammate Scottie Barnes added 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

    ‘Usually the first game (after the break) is finding the rhythm, getting the rust off,’ Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said. ‘What I’m really proud of is our guys staying the course during the whole game. We kept finding ways to compete.’

    Ingram is averaging a team-high 22.0 points a game this season, and Barnes is next at 19.2 while leading the team in rebounds at 8.4 a game.

    ‘I thought it was important for me to be aggressive whether the shot was going in or not and also just having a presence on the defensive side,’ Ingram said. ‘As a leader I want to pick my spots, talk when it’s important, not just rah-rah.’

    On the injury front, Toronto’s report is clear outside of Chucky Hepburn, who is out with a knee injury.

    Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Myles Turner (calf) in Friday’s game. Coach Doc Rivers reported that Antetokounmpo practiced but has not done any live five-on-five work. Rivers added that there is still no firm timetable for the star’s return, but ‘he’s close.’

    This is the final matchup between Toronto and Milwaukee this season as the Raptors look for the season-series victory, having won two of the three games.

    In the most recent meeting, on Dec. 18, Toronto won 111-105 behind Ingram’s 29 points.

    –Field Level Media

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  • NBA roundup: Nikola Jokic’s return sparks Nuggets past Clippers

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    (Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

    Nikola Jokic returned from a 16-game absence to produce 31 points and 12 rebounds, leading the host Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers 122-109 on Friday night.

    Jokic, who had been sidelined since sustaining a left knee injury at Miami on Dec. 29, shot 13-for-17 from the foul line to help Denver win its second in a row. The Nuggets went 10-6 while he was out.

    Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points, Peyton Watson contributed 21 and Jamal Murray finished with 20 points for Denver.

    The Clippers were led by James Harden, who recorded 25 points and nine assists. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points as Los Angeles saw its three-game win streak end.

    Lakers 142, Wizards 111

    Luka Doncic punctuated his sixth triple-double of the season with 37 points as visiting Los Angeles rolled past Washington.

    Doncic showed no ill effects from the injury he sustained when falling off Cleveland’s elevated court on Wednesday, reaching a triple-double by halftime with 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He finished with 13 assists and 11 boards.

    Los Angeles’ Deandre Ayton posted 28 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while LeBron James chipped in 20 points and six assists. Malaki Branham scored 17 points as the Wizards failed in a bid for their first three-game winning streak of the season.

    Celtics 112, Kings 93

    Payton Pritchard tossed in a game-high 29 points and Neemias Queta had 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Sacramento.

    Pritchard made 12 of 16 shots from the field, including 5 of 6 3-point attempts. Anfernee Simons and Baylor Scheierman each added 16 points for the Celtics, who didn’t have leading scorer Jaylen Brown (hamstring/knee).

    Zach LaVine scored 17 points and Maxime Raynaud logged 14 points and 14 rebounds, but the Kings lost their eighth game in a row.

    Knicks 127, Trail Blazers 97

    Karl-Anthony Towns posted 14 points and 20 rebounds New York, which continued surging with a wire-to-wire win over visiting Portland.

    Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 26 points for the Knicks, who ended the month with five straight wins following a 2-9 skid that began Dec. 31. OG Anunoby (24 points) and Josh Hart (20) also contributed to New York’s offense.

    Shaedon Sharpe scored 26 points for the Trail Blazers, who concluded a winless three-game East Coast road trip as they lost their fourth straight overall.

    Pistons 131, Warriors 124

    Cade Cunningham scored 29 points and handed out 11 assists as Detroit withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat Golden State in San Francisco.

    Jalen Duren added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who earned their third win four games. Duncan Robinson scored 15 points on five 3-pointers.

    Golden State star Stephen Curry exited the game late in the third quarter due to right knee soreness and did not return. He scored a team-high 23 points.

    Magic 130, Raptors 120

    Desmond Bane scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and sank a season-best seven 3-pointers, lifting host Orlando to a victory over Toronto.

    Anthony Black scored 25 points and hit all 14 of his free-throw attempts for the Magic, who outscored the Raptors 44-21 in the fourth quarter. Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in with 23 points and seven rebounds.

    Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 35 points, while Scottie Barnes totaled 19 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four blocks, but Toronto’s road winning streak ended at four games.

    Suns 126, Cavaliers 113

    Dillon Brooks scored 17 of his 27 points in Phoenix’s 45-point third quarter as the host Suns handled Cleveland.

    Jordan Goodwin put up 17 points and made five 3-pointers while Collin Gillespie added 16 points for the Suns, who won their third straight. Phoenix sank a season-high 23 3-pointers in 48 attempts.

    De’Andre Hunter scored 17 points and Donovan Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson added 16 points each for the Cavaliers, who had won a season-high five straight. Mitchell committed eight turnovers.

    Pelicans 114, Grizzlies 106

    Rookie Derik Queen scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists as New Orleans turned a dominant third quarter into a victory over visiting Memphis.

    Saddiq Bey added 22 points and eight rebounds and Zion Williamson scored 21 as the Pelicans defeated the Grizzlies for the second time in eight days, marking their third win in four games overall.

    Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cam Spencer each scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost five in a row.

    Nets 109, Jazz 99

    Egor Demin scored 25 points and collected 10 rebounds to lead Brooklyn past Utah in Salt Lake City.

    Cam Thomas added 21 points to help the Nets end a seven-game losing streak. Day’Ron Sharpe chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds.

    Keyonte George posted 26 points and seven assists while Kyle Filipowski had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their fifth straight game and fell to 1-9 in their past 10.

    –Field Level Media

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  • James Harden, Clippers stay hot with wire-to-wire win at Nets

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    (Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

    James Harden scored 31 points and the Los Angeles Clippers started quickly in a wire-to-wire 121-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Friday night in New York.

    Harden scored 22 in Los Angeles’ dominant first half and finished with his ninth 30-point game this season. He made 10 of 13 shots and handed out six assists, as the Clippers finished with 28 assists and won for the eighth time in 10 games.

    Kawhi Leonard added 26 on 9-of-15 shooting for his 19th straight game with at least 20 points. Leonard scored 11 straight Los Angeles points with Harden on the bench to finish it off, including a crafty reverse layup as part of a 3-point play for a 106-84 lead with 6:41 left.

    Jordan Miller added 21 and John Collins contributed 16 as the Clippers tied a season high by shooting 59.2% (45 of 76) while taking 24 fewer shots than Brooklyn.

    After erasing an 18-point deficit but ultimately losing to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, the Nets lost for the fifth time in six games. Four of those losses have been by double digits.

    Brooklyn missed its first eight shots Friday and shot 40%.

    Rookie Egor Demin led the Nets with 19 points and hit five 3-pointers, but Michael Porter Jr. struggled with 18 points on 7-of-20 shooting (0-of-9 from 3-point range).

    Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas added 13 apiece as Brooklyn was unable to capitalize on getting 19 offensive rebounds.

    Harden scored 15 points and nearly hit a deep 3 at the horn as the Clippers shot 68.4% and led 35-25 through the opening quarter after getting off to a 16-2 start.

    The Clippers took their first 20-point lead when Brook Lopez converted a 3-point play with 9:41 left and held a pair of 22-point leads before taking a 63-47 lead at halftime

    After the Nets inched within 67-58 following a basket by Claxton with 8:16 left, the Clippers took a 15-point lead into the fourth.

    Brooklyn cut the lead to 95-82 on a 3 by rookie Nolan Traore with 9:53 left before Leonard took over.

    –Field Level Media

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  • NBA roundup: Paolo Banchero bankshot lifts Magic past Nets in OT

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    (Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

    Paolo Banchero banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime off an inbounds pass from Anthony Black as the Orlando Magic eked out a 104-103 victory over the Brooklyn Nets after blowing an 18-point lead Wednesday night in New York.

    Rookie Egor Demin banked in a 3 with 5.3 seconds left over Wendell Carter Jr. to put Brooklyn up 103-101 in the extra period after the Nets rallied from a 10-point deficit with 4:02 left in regulation.

    Banchero finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds, Carter added 20 for the Magic, who shot 42.7% and were outscored 29-14 in the fourth.

    Michael Porter Jr. led all scorers with 34 points and hit eight of Brooklyn’s 17 3s. Demin scored all of his 18 points after the third quarter but the Nets shot 41.9% and lost for the fourth time in five games.

    Thunder 129, Jazz 125 (OT)

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 46 points to lift host Oklahoma City past Utah and end a brief two-game losing streak.

    Gilgeous-Alexander forced overtime with a tying basket at the buzzer to end regulation, then Chet Holmgren made perhaps the biggest play in the extra period, slamming home Gilgeous-Alexander’s miss with 30 seconds left to break a tie. Gilgeous-Alexander then grabbed the rebound off Svi Mykhailiuk’s missed corner 3-pointer and sank both free throws to make it a two-possession game with less than 10 seconds remaining.

    Holmgren finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Williams had 17 points and eight assists. Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 29 points and added 13 rebounds. Keyonte George had 25 points and 11 assists in the loss.

    Nuggets 114, Celtics 110

    Peyton Watson scored 30 points and Jamal Murray added 22 points, eight rebounds and a career-high 17 assists to lead visiting Denver over Boston for the Nuggets’ NBA-best 15th road victory.

    Watson made 6 of his 7 3-point attempts, including a 3-pointer that put Denver up 106-93 with 2:24 to play. Watson has scored at least 20 points in each of his last five games. Denver’s Nikola Jokic missed his fifth straight game with a knee injury. The Nuggets have a 3-2 record without him.

    Boston received a game-high 33 points along with seven rebounds and four assists from Jaylen Brown, who also committed seven turnovers. Neemias Queta had six points and a career-high 20 rebounds for the Celtics. Ten of Queta’s 20 rebounds came at the offensive end.

    Trail Blazers 103, Rockets 102

    Deni Avdija scored 41 points and Portland held off visiting Houston as Tari Eason’s would-be game-winning tip-in was ruled to come after time expired.

    Portland led in the final seconds when Houston’s Kevin Durant missed a jumper with 0.8 seconds left. Eason got his hand on the ball and tapped it into the net. But the officials reviewed the call and ruled that Eason’s fingertips were still in contact with the ball when the red light on the backboard came on and waved off the hoop.

    Durant matched his season high of 37 points and Amen Thompson added 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, as the Rockets lost for just the second time in seven games. Durant needs just 15 points to pass legendary Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) and move into seventh place on the all-time scoring list.

    Hawks 117, Pelicans 100

    Zaccharie Risacher knocked down seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 25 points to lead Atlanta over visiting New Orleans, ending the Hawks’ two-game losing streak while handing the Pelicans their second nine-game losing streak of the season.

    Four-time Atlanta all-star Trae Young was on the bench in street clothes with a right quad contusion when reports surfaced during the fourth quarter that he had been traded to Washington. Young left the area for a few minutes, returned to the bench and stayed there until seconds remained.

    With Onyeka Okongwu out with an illness and Kristaps Porzingis on restricted minutes, Atlanta started reserve Mouhamed Gueye at center. Porzingis still wound up with 13 points, while Gueye contributed 10 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, finishing the game at plus-27.

    Knicks 123, Clippers 111

    Karl-Anthony Towns scored nine points during a decisive 30-13 run spanning the third and fourth quarters as host New York snapped a season-long four-game losing streak with a win over Los Angeles.

    Towns finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds while adding seven assists for the Knicks, who avoided their first five-game losing streak since December 2022. Jalen Brunson had 26 points and seven assists while OG Anunoby finished with 20 points.

    Ivica Zubac (22 points, 11 rebounds) and John Collins (18 points, 10 rebounds) each posted double-doubles for the Clippers, who lost for just the second time in nine games. Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points while James Harden finished with 23 points following a one-game absence due to a shoulder injury.

    Raptors 97, Hornets 96

    Immanuel Quickley’s 3-point basket at the buzzer lifted Toronto past host Charlotte as the Hornets were unable to build off their win over NBA-best Oklahoma City on Monday.

    Quickley’s basket, which was launched just left of the top of the 3-point arc, delivered the final points in a back-and-forth sequence down the stretch. LaMelo Ball’s drive for a basket with 1.6 seconds left broke a tie and gave the Hornets a 96-94 lead. Each team called a timeout before the Raptors inbounded the ball for the last shot, which was the seventh successful 3-pointer of Toronto’s 34 long-range attempts, with Quickley going 3-for-11.

    RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 28 points, Quickley finished with 21 and Scottie Barnes scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half. Collin Sexton’s 22 points off the bench led the Hornets while Ball added 15.

    Pistons 108, Bulls 93Isaiah Stewart poured in a career-high 31 points and host Detroit pulled away from Chicago.Stewart made 14 of 17 field-goal attempts while easily surpassing his previous high of 26 points. Duncan Robinson had 12 points, while Javonte Green, Ron Holland and Ausar Thompson contributed 11 apiece. Daniss Jenkins dished out 15 assists in Detroit’s third straight win.Ayo Dosunmu led the Bulls with 24 points. Nikola Vucevic had 20 points with 16 rebounds and Matas Buzelis also scored 20 for Chicago.

    76ers 131, Wizards 110Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey all scored more than 20 points for the first time in 1 1/2 seasons together, guiding Philadelphia to a comfortable win over visiting Washington.Embiid (28 points), George (23) and Maxey (22) led seven players in double figures for the Sixers, who used a 16-0 run spanning the final two quarters to post their fourth win in five games. VJ Edgecombe chipped in with 13 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals.Tre Johnson scored 20 points and Bub Carrington made five 3-pointers in an 18-point effort for Washington, which had won five of its previous seven games. The Wizards played without CJ McCollum (quad) and Kyshawn George (hip), among others.

    Suns 117, Grizzlies 98

    Dillon Brooks scored 21 points and Grayson Allen added 19 off the bench as Phoenix ended a six-game losing streak to host Memphis, winning for the seventh time in nine games.

    Brooks, who spent his first six seasons in the NBA with the Grizzlies, had 18 points in the first half. Allen, who spent two seasons with the Grizzlies, was playing in his second game after returning from a nine-game absence because of a knee injury.

    The Grizzlies, playing the second game of a back-to-back, lost for the fifth time in six games. Memphis swept the series (4-0) last season and won the only meeting between the two early this season in Phoenix. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 19 points.

    Spurs 107, Lakers 91

    Keldon Johnson scored 27 points and San Antonio’s balanced attack overcame Luka Doncic’s individual excellence as the Spurs defeated visiting Los Angeles in the second game of a back-to-back for both teams.

    Victor Wembanyama came off the bench for the second straight game and racked up 16 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots in 26 minutes of court time for San Antonio. Castle scored 15 points, De’Aaron Fox had 14 and Julian Champagnie added 11.

    Doncic amassed 38 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Lakers, who played without LeBron James (out for rest on the second game of a back-to-back). Doncic also had seven turnovers. Jake LaRavia added 16 points and Jaxson Hayes scored 10 for Los Angeles.

    Warriors 120, Bucks 113

    Stephen Curry had a team-high 31 points, De’Anthony Melton added a season-high 22 and Golden State opened an eight-game homestand with a victory over Milwaukee in San Francisco.

    Melton, who hadn’t scored more than 16 points or made more than three 3-pointers in a game this season, bombed in 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Al Horford came off the bench to contribute eight points, a game-high-tying 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks for the Warriors, while Jimmy Butler III chipped in with 21 points.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a 34-point, 10-rebound double-double in just 31 minutes, but it wasn’t enough for the Bucks to pick up a third straight win. Kevin Porter Jr. had 15 points and a game-high nine assists, while Ryan Rollins added 16 points.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Celtics sink free throws, keep Pistons from 14th straight win

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    (Photo credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images)

    Jaylen Brown had 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to help the host Boston Celtics end the Detroit Pistons’ 13-game winning streak with a 117-114 victory on Wednesday in an NBA Cup game.

    After Anfernee Simons extended Boston’s lead to 115-112 by making two free throws with 6.3 seconds on the clock, Cade Cunningham was fouled attempting a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds remaining, but he missed the third free-throw attempt after he made the first two.

    Boston’s Payton Pritchard made two free throws with 2.4 seconds left and then the Celtics came up with a steal on Detroit’s final possession.

    Detroit would have set a franchise record by winning its 14th straight game.

    The Pistons also won 13 straight games in 1989-1990 and 2003-04. Detroit won the NBA title both seasons.

    Derrick White added 27 points and seven rebounds for Boston. Pritchard made four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points.

    Cunningham scored a game-high 42 points and collected eight rebounds and five assists. He made 14 of 16 foul shots in the loss.

    Jalen Duren added 12 points and 16 rebounds for Detroit, which also received a 12-point performance from Tobias Harris.

    The loss dropped Detroit’s road record to 7-2.

    The Celtics played without center Neemias Queta, who exited Sunday’s game against Orlando in the first quarter with a left ankle sprain and did not return. Queta is averaging career-highs in points per game (9.3) and rebounds per game (7.9) this season.

    The Pistons led 30-24 after one quarter and 58-57 at halftime, but Boston had an 86-83 lead entering the final quarter.

    It was the second time Boston and Detroit have played this season. The Pistons defeated the Celtics 119-113 in Detroit on Oct. 26. Brown scored a game-high 41 points in the loss. Cunningham led the Pistons with 25.

    Detroit is 2-1 in East Group B. Boston is 2-2.

    –Field Level Media

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  • NBA roundup: Lakers win 5th straight, clinch West Group B

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    (Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

    Luka Doncic scored 24 of his 43 points in the first quarter and finished with 13 assists and nine rebounds as the host Los Angeles Lakers notched a 135-118 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday to clinch West Group B of the NBA Cup.

    Austin Reaves scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and collected nine rebounds for the Lakers, who won their fifth consecutive game. LeBron James added 25 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Rui Hachimura had 13 points.

    The Lakers improved to 3-0 in NBA Cup play while the Clippers fell to 2-1. The Clippers are still in the running for a wild-card spot.

    James Harden recorded 29 points and nine assists and Kawhi Leonard and Kris Dunn scored 19 points apiece for the Clippers, who have lost 11 of their past 13 games. John Collins posted 18 points, and Ivica Zubac added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

    Wizards 132, Hawks 113

    CJ McCollum scored a season-high 46 points on 10 3-pointers, leading Washington to a rare victory over visiting Atlanta in NBA Cup group play.

    Alex Sarr had 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Corey Kispert totaled 19 points for the Wizards, who led by as many as 33 points and snapped a 14-game losing streak. Khris Middleton had 10 points and 12 assists and Bub Carrington scored 10 for Washington, which never trailed in the win.

    Kristaps Porzingis led Atlanta with 22 points, followed by Onyeka Okongwu’s 20 and Zaccharie Risacher’s 17. Dyson Daniels finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Hawks, who had their two-game winning streak snapped. Vit Krejci tallied 10 points in the loss.

    Magic 144, 76ers 103

    Anthony Black scored a career-high 31 points to highlight Orlando’s annihilation of host Philadelphia in an NBA Cup game.

    Black scored 27 points in the first half, including a 20-point second quarter as Orlando set a franchise record for points in any quarter with 51 in the stanza. The team also set a franchise mark with 86 points in the first half. Despite continuing to play without Paolo Banchero (groin), the Magic had nine players score in double figures, including Franz Wagner (21) and Desmond Bane (15). The team compiled 82 bench points — the top total in the NBA this season.

    Tyrese Maxey scored 20 points to pace Philadelphia, while Jared McCain pitched in with 15 points. The Sixers played without Joel Embiid, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe, among others.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Magic continue dominance over Wizards with decisive win

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    (Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

    Paolo Banchero scored 28 points and added 11 rebounds and the visiting Orlando Magic thrashed the Washington Wizards 125-94 on Saturday.

    Orlando shot 51.1% from the field and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half. The Magic have won two straight following a four-game losing streak.

    Washington was unable to recover after being outscored 43-21 in the second quarter. The Wizards have lost four straight and five of their first six games.

    Franz Wagner added 25 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. recorded 16 points and 12 rebounds for Orlando, which outscored the Wizards 62-52 on points in the paint. Goga Bitadze chipped in 15 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

    The Magic won their 11th straight meeting against Washington, dating back to March 21, 2023. Orlando shot 33.3% from 3-point range and 86.4% (19-for-22) from the free throw line.

    Kyshawn George led the Wizards with 17 points. CJ McCollum scored 13 points, and Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly added 10 apiece.

    George scored 10 of Washington’s first 18 points to help the Wizards take a 35-32 lead at the end of the first quarter.

    The Magic built a double-digit lead in the second quarter while scoring 43 points, including a 17-8 run to close the half. That gave them a 75-56 lead at intermission and marked the Magic’s most first-half points this season.

    Banchero scored 23 points in the first half and Wagner had 20 for Orlando, which shot 60.9% from the field for the half.

    Orlando’s 43 points during the second quarter tied the franchise record for most points ever scored in a second period.

    The Magic maintained their momentum and led 87-61 after opening the third quarter on a 12-5 run.

    Orlando outscored Washington 28-19 in the third quarter and took a 103-75 lead into the final period.

    Both teams rested their starters in the final minutes, and Orlando made three straight 3-pointers during an 11-2 run to close out the game.

    –Field Level Media

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  • NBA roundup: Spurs off to first 5-0 start in team history

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    (Photo credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images)

    Victor Wembanyama posted 27 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and five blocks while leading the host San Antonio Spurs to a 107-101 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

    The Spurs, who have won five NBA titles, are off to a 5-0 start for the first time in franchise history. San Antonio also got 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals from Stephon Castle.

    Bam Adebayo scored a game-high 31 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Andrew Wiggins added 24 points for the Heat, whose three-game winning streak ended.

    San Antonio, which entered the game with the best scoring defense in the NBA (104.5 points per game), won a battle against a Heat team that entered the day with the league’s No. 1 scoring offense (131.5).

    Bucks 120, Warriors 110

    Ryan Rollins scored a career-high 32 points and handed out eight assists, and seven other Bucks players reached double figures to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Golden State without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    Myles Turner delivered his best game as a Buck with 17 points and seven rebounds. Cole Anthony added 16 points despite fouling out with more than seven minutes remaining.

    Stephen Curry scored 27 points to lead the Warriors, with Jonathan Kuminga (24) and Jimmy Butler III (23) not far behind. Butler grabbed 11 boards.

    Thunder 127, Wizards 108

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, seven assists and no turnovers, leading Oklahoma City to a home win over Washington.

    The defending NBA champion Thunder are 6-0 for the second consecutive season after starting their championship season with seven straight victories. Oklahoma City turned up the heat defensively from the start, scoring 26 points off 23 Wizards’ turnovers while the Thunder turned the ball over just six times.

    After missing the first four games due to an offseason thumb injury, Bilal Coulibaly made his season debut for the Wizards. Coulibaly scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 24 minutes.

    Magic 123, Hornets 107

    Franz Wagner scored 21 points while Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black each added 20 points as Orlando defeated Charlotte for its first road win of the season.

    The Magic, who snapped a four-game overall losing streak, shot 51.7% from the field and made 16 3-pointers. Tristan da Silva added 19 points off the bench.

    Collin Sexton led the Hornets with 19 points off the bench, while Ryan Kalkbrenner and LaMelo Ball each scored 17 points. Charlotte was coming off a 1-2 road trip.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Late Lynx run leads to Game 1 win over Mercury

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    (Photo credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images)

    Courtney Williams barely missed a triple-double, and the Minnesota Lynx used a late 12-0 run to take Game 1 of its WNBA semifinal series against the Phoenix Mercury, winning 82-69 in Minneapolis on Sunday.

    Williams scored a game-high 23 points while adding eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Kayla McBride added 21 points and Napheesa Collier hit for 18 to go along with a game-high nine rebounds.

    Kahleah Copper scored 22 points for Phoenix but went just 10-for-23 from the floor. Alyssa Thomas added 18 to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Satou Sabally tallied 10 points but made only 3 of 11 shots.

    The Mercury trailed 68-67 after Sami Whitcomb drained a 3-pointer with 5:13 left, but Williams started the game-breaking run with a floater on the next trip. McBride and Bridget Carleton pitched in 3-pointers to seal the outcome.

    ‘We’re in the playoffs, bro, you’ve got to feel the energy,’ Williams said after the game. ‘You’ve got to do your best for the team.’

    Game 2 of the best-of-5 series is Tuesday night in Minneapolis before the series shifts to Phoenix.

    Phoenix made its gameplan abundantly clear in the first quarter, attacking in the lane every chance it had. The Mercury erased an early 16-12 deficit by carving into it a bucket at a time, taking a 24-22 edge to the second quarter on Thomas’ tip-in with 25.4 seconds left.

    Ahead 39-38 after Williams drove and scored with 3:39 left in the half, Phoenix rattled off eight straight points – all on layups – to take a 47-40 lead to intermission. It scored a whopping 42 points in the lane in the half, making just one 3-pointer and two foul shots.

    Minnesota tightened up defensively in the third quarter, not allowing a point for the first 2:57 and permitting just 12 points in the period. When McBride sank a technical free throw, it led to a 59-59 tie going to the fourth quarter.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Furious late Storm rally stuns Aces, forces decider in opening series

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    (Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)

    Dominique Malonga converted the go-ahead three-point play with 31 seconds left and the Seattle Storm closed the game with a 16-4 spurt to post an 86-83 victory over the visiting Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday night to even the first round series at one game apiece.

    Skylar Diggins had 26 points and seven assists and Nneka Ogwumike added 24 points and 10 rebounds for the seventh-seeded Storm, who recovered from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to force a deciding Game 3 on Thursday night at Las Vegas.

    Malonga had 11 points and 10 rebounds and Erica Wheeler scored all 11 of her points in the final quarter for Seattle. Diggins also had 11 fourth-quarter points.

    Jackie Young scored 25 points and A’ja Wilson added 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists for second-seeded Las Vegas. Jewell Loyd added 13 points but the former Storm star missed a tying 3-point attempt in the final seconds.

    Diggins buried a 3-pointer with 4:03 remaining to start the game-ending run and bring Seattle within 79-73. Wheeler added a trey exactly one minute later to make it a three-point margin.

    The Storm crept within two before Young converted a three-point play to give Las Vegas an 82-77 lead with 1:47 remaining.

    A Wheeler jumper brought Seattle within three with 1:24 left. After Loyd split two free throws, Diggins sank a 19-foot pull-up jumper as the Storm pulled within 83-81 with 53.4 seconds to play.

    Malonga then made the three-point play to put the Storm ahead for the first time since a 37-36 lead in the second quarter. Diggins followed with a jumper in the lane with 4.2 seconds left.

    The loss was the first for the Aces since being pounded 111-58 by the Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 2. Las Vegas finished the regular season with 16 consecutive wins and then routed Seattle, 102-77, in Game 1 of this series.

    Young had 14 points in the third quarter, including 12 during a 16-5 burst that saw Las Vegas increase a one-point to 63-51 with 3:12 left.

    Young nailed another floater with 1.1 seconds left as Las Vegas took a 69-61 lead into the final quarter.

    Wilson scored four straight points early in the fourth to give the Aces a 75-63 advantage with 7:06 left.

    Wilson had 16 first-half points as the Aces led 45-44 at the break. Diggins had 15 and Ogwumike added 13 in the half for Seattle.

    The Storm scored nearly as many points (21) in the first quarter than they did in the first half (25) of their Game 1 loss.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Explosive Lynx hand loss to injury-plagued Fever

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    (Photo credit: Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

    Jessica Shepard had a triple-double, Kayla McBride tied her season-high with 29 points and the visiting Minnesota Lynx rode a strong third quarter to a 95-90 victory over the Indiana Fever on Friday night.

    Shepard finished with season highs of 22 points and 11 assists and added 11 rebounds, and Natisha Hiedeman scored 17 for the Lynx (29-7), who trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half before McBride helped them get within two points at halftime and outscore the Fever (19-17) by 15 points in the third quarter (32-17).

    WNBA-leading Minnesota, playing its seventh consecutive game without star forward Napheesa Collier (ankle), had lost consecutive games for the first time this season and was completing a back-to-back after a 75-73 loss at Atlanta on Thursday.

    Kelsey Mitchell scored 27, Lexie Hull had 23, Aliyah Boston had 15 and Shey Peddy added 10 in her debut for the Fever, who played their 14th consecutive game without All-Star guard Caitlin Clark (groin) and their first since losing guard Sophie Cunningham, the team’s most accurate 3-point shooter, to a season-ending knee injury.

    McBride made a jumper to start the third-quarter scoring and added two more during a 9-0 run that gave Minnesota a 65-56 lead. Mitchell made a 3-pointer to end the run, but Hiedeman scored the final four points to give the Lynx an 82-69 lead at the end of the third quarter.

    Indiana got within five points four times in the final 2:02, but got no closer.

    Hull scored 11 points and the Fever made 5 of 6 3-pointers while taking their largest lead of the first quarter, 22-13. Shepherd had the last four of her 10 first-quarter points and two assists to help the Lynx close within 27-22 at the end of the first quarter.

    Minnesota’s DiJonai Carrington’s basket started the second quarter, but Damiris Dantas, Hull and Peddy made consecutive 3-pointers and Indiana expanded the lead to 36-24. McBride responded with consecutive 3-pointers and added nine more points and an assist to help the Lynx pull even at 50 before Mitchell’s jumper gave Indiana a 52-50 halftime lead.

    –Field Level Media

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