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  • No. 1 Arizona looks to rebound against flashy No. 16 Texas Tech

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    (Photo credit: Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

    Top-ranked Arizona will look to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season when it hosts No. 16 Texas Tech in a Big 12 game on Saturday at Tucson, Ariz.

    Arizona (23-1, 10-1 Big 12) had a program and Big 12 record start of 23 consecutive wins snapped Monday with an 82-78 loss at No. 9 Kansas.

    Texas Tech (18-6, 8-3) enters the game with wins over West Virginia and Colorado after losing against UCF and then-No. 11 Kansas.

    A key matchup will be in the paint with Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas and reserve Tobe Awaka matching up against JT Toppin, who leads the Red Raiders with 21.5 points and 10.9 rebounds a game.

    Krivas had 14 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots against Kansas, but Jayhawks post player Flory Bidunga countered with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and had 10 rebounds.

    Awaka got in early foul trouble and finished with only six points and a season-low three rebounds.

    Texas Tech’s Lejuan Watts, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound forward, is second on the team with 6.4 rpg.

    He will be matched against Arizona freshman Koa Peat, who averages 14.3 ppg but is coming off a six-point performance on 2-of-11 shooting from the field against Kansas.

    ‘In this league, you don’t have time to feel sorry for yourself,’ Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. ‘We played a tough game in a tough environment, but our focus has to be on the next one. Texas Tech is a disciplined, physical team that doesn’t beat themselves.

    ‘We have to be better on the glass and more connected defensively if we want to protect our home court.’

    Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland, an assistant coach of Lloyd’s with the gold medal-winning Team USA U19 World Cup team last summer, also used the word ‘connected’ when describing how his team must play against Arizona.

    Keeping the teams connected could come down to the play of Texas Tech point guard Christian Anderson (19.1 ppg, 7.7 assists per game) and Arizona counterpart Jaden Bradley (13.5 ppg, 4.5 apg).

    Bradley struggled at Kansas with a season-low six points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line.

    ‘The effort is matching the intelligence that we need to understand scheme and not just physicality or how hard you play,’ McCasland said of the wins over West Virginia and Colorado. ‘JT Toppin and Christian Anderson are really the anchors to what we’re doing.

    ‘Arizona is as talented as it gets. You can’t just play hard; you have to play smart, communicate, and stay connected for all 40 minutes.’

    Anderson is coming off 11 assists against West Virginia and seven against Colorado.

    Arizona freshman guard Brayden Burries had 25 points against Kansas, his eighth game with at least 20 points.

    He leads the Wildcats in scoring at 15.7 ppg while shooting 50.8% from the field.

    Both teams have an eight-player rotation with all but one player averaging double figures in minutes played.

    Texas Tech has attempted 705 shots from 3-point range, while Arizona is at 395. The Red Raiders have made 276 (39.1%) while Arizona has converted 141 (35.7%).

    –Field Level Media

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  • Jizzle James pours in 24 as Cincinnati crushes Kansas State

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    (Photo credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images)

    Cincinnati’s Jizzle James netted a season-high 24 points, and the Bearcats recorded their first road win in seven attempts by pounding Kansas State 91-62 on Wednesday in Manhattan, Kan.

    James sank 9 of 14 shots, including 6 of 8 from beyond the 3-point arc.

    Coming off a 20-point home thumping of UCF on Sunday, the Bearcats (13-12, 5-7 Big 12) won by jump-shooting their way to another double-digit win. Cincinnati made 50% of its field-goal attempts and 16 of 28 (57.1%) from long range.

    Jalen Celestine had 18 points and five rebounds for the Bearcats, while Baba Miller totaled 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Day Day Thomas notched 10 points, seven assists and two steals.

    The Wildcats (10-14, 1-10) lost their fifth straight contest and have dropped 10 of the past 11 outings. They shot 40.3% from the floor but were just 6 of 25 (24%) from 3-point range.

    Kansas State’s P.J. Haggerty, the nation’s second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, put up 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Taj Manning had nine rebounds and four assists.

    The visitors took off behind some excellent 3-point shooting inside the game’s first six minutes, canning 4 of 6 attempts. Celestine hit a pair from deep while Miller and James nailed one each for a 17-7 advantage.

    The sizzling shooting continued as Miller and James each drained another triple for a 25-11 lead at 12:51, and the margin grew to 28 points as the torrid sharpshooting rocketed the Bearcats away from the Wildcats.

    Cincinnati made seven consecutive field-goal attempts at one stretch of the opening half.

    Kansas State got a boost at the halftime buzzer on Manning’s layup to make it 53-31 at the break.

    Celestine’s 16 first-half points paced the Bearcats, who sank 57.1% from the floor. Haggerty had 11 points for the home side, which made 36.7% of its shots before intermission.

    Kansas State slashed the deficit to 18 early in the second half, but Cincinnati quickly rebuilt the margin on a 10-0 run, led by as many as 32 and breezed to the win.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Texas A&M anticipating South Carolina’s best effort in SEC battle

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    (Photo credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images)

    As it sits atop the Southeastern Conference standings, Texas A&M is expecting every opponent’s best shot as it hosts South Carolina on Saturday afternoon in College Station, Texas.

    The Aggies (15-4, 5-1 SEC) have won two straight following an 87-82 loss at Tennessee on Jan. 13. They cruised to an 88-68 victory over Mississippi State on Wednesday, committing just three turnovers, dishing out 18 assists and going 23-of-24 from the free-throw line.

    This is a team that has found its stride after stumbling out of the gates. The Aggies lost their first two nonconference power contests to Oklahoma State and UCF to start the season 2-2.

    Since then, though, they have played as a team poised for a fourth straight March Madness berth.

    ‘There’s an identity to who we are,’ Aggies coach Bucky McMillan said. ‘There’s a belief in what we do.’

    For example, McMillan said, the team could start 0-for-15 from 3-point range, but they’re not going to ‘stop shooting the ball.’

    ‘There’s a belief we’re going to be fine,’ he said.

    The Aggies have the third-best scoring offense in the SEC, averaging 91.7 points per game. Rashaun Agee, who scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory over Mississippi State, is averaging a team-leading 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. Ruben Dominguez has emerged as a top 3-point threat, making an average of 3.3 per game.

    A&M’s offense will be challenged by South Carolina’s defense, which has held opponents to 72 points per game.

    The Gamecocks (11-8, 2-4) are bringing some momentum, too, after an 85-76 victory over Oklahoma on Tuesday. That ended a three-game losing skid.

    Meechie Johnson shined in the victory over Oklahoma, scoring 18 of his 20 points in the second half. Kobe Knox had 18 points in a game in which the Gamecocks never trailed.

    ‘I was happy for the guys. They were really excited to get a good conference win,’ South Carolina coach Lamont Paris said. ‘Just build some confidence for those guys as they move forward. Everyone needs confidence.’

    When these teams met last year in Columbia, South Carolina, A&M won 76-72. However, the Gamecocks have won the last four meetings in College Station.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Franz Wagner returns, Magic rally to beat Grizzlies in Berlin

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    (Photo credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images)

    Paolo Banchero collected 26 points and 13 rebounds as the Orlando Magic rallied to a 118-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday in the NBA’s first regular-season game in Berlin.

    Banchero made 9 of 16 shots from the floor for the Magic, who overcame a 20-point deficit due in large part to outscoring the Grizzlies by a 26-12 margin in the third quarter. The 12 points represented the fewest Orlando has allowed in a quarter this season.

    The pronounced push provided a happy homecoming for German-born players Franz Wagner, Moe Wagner and Tristan da Silva. Franz Wagner recorded 18 points and nine rebounds in his return from a 16-game absence due to an ankle injury, Moe Wagner had seven points in his second game back from a torn ACL and da Silva added eight points.

    Anthony Black matched Banchero with four 3-pointers and finished with 21 points. Desmond Bane added 13 points in his first game against his former team since being traded from the Grizzlies on July 1.

    Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 30 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost seven of their last nine games heading into the rematch versus the Magic on Sunday in London.

    Santi Aldama contributed 18 points and Cedric Coward added 17 for Memphis, which played without Ja Morant (right calf contusion) for the sixth straight game.

    Aldama sank two free throws to bring the Grizzlies to within two points at 111-109 with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. Franz Wagner responded with three free throws of his own and a floating jumper to essentially seal the win.

    Vince Williams Jr. sank two free throws, a pull-up jumper and two 3-pointers in a 150-second stretch to stake Memphis to a 103-102 lead with 4:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.

    Coward drained a 3-pointer and Jackson sank a short jumper to push Memphis’ advantage to 52-32 early in the second quarter before Orlando went to work. The Magic trimmed the deficit to nine (67-58) at halftime and claimed a 71-70 lead after Black made a 3-pointer early in the third quarter.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Oklahoma State nets 10 of 19 treys, glides past No. 25 UCF

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    (Photo credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images)

    Parsa Fallah scored 24 points and Kanye Clary added 18 as Oklahoma State defeated No. 25 UCF 87-76 in a Big 12 game Tuesday in Stillwater, Okla.

    The Knights (12-2, 1-1) were able to cut the lead to three with 8:01 left on back-to-back 3-pointers by George Beale Jr., but the Cowboys (13-2, 1-1) bounced back to go on a 13-1 run to push the lead to 15.

    The surge started with a pair of Vyctorius Miller free throws. Isaiah Coleman completed a three-point play and Clary hit a pair of layups for a 76-65 Cowboys’ lead with 5:12 left.

    Clary scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half and finished the game with nine rebounds and eight assists.

    Oklahoma State was playing without starter Christian Coleman (11.5 points per game), who was out with the flu.

    The Knights, who had their nine-game winning streak snapped, were led by Riley Kugel with 15 points and Jamichael Stillwell with 13.

    The Cowboys were able to build a 11-point lead in the first half despite not hitting a field goal for more than seven minutes.

    Oklahoma State hit nine of its first 15 shots, including 3-of-6 on 3-pointers to take a 21-15 lead with 10:12 left. Fallah led the way with eight points during that stretch.

    The Knights missed 10 of their first 16 shots and turned the ball over three times.

    Anthony Roy hit a pair of free throws with 5:18 left to give Oklahoma State a 29-22 lead.

    Stillwell ended the Cowboy run with a free throw, but Fallah hit two free throws and Jaylen Curry scored on a breakaway layup for a 33-23 Oklahoma State lead with 3:25 left in the half.

    At that point, the Knights were 1 of 10 from the 3-point line and had six turnovers to match the amount they had in a win last week over Kansas.

    The Knights cut the lead to six in the final 1:12 when Stillwell scored on a layup and Devan Cambridge hit two free throws to make it 38-32.

    But Clary nailed a 3-pointer with nine seconds left to get the lead to 41-32 at the break for the Cowboys.

    Oklahoma State outshot UCF across the board, hitting 47.2% (25 of 53) from the field, 52.6% (10 of 19) from behind the arc and 77.1% (27 of 35) from the line.

    UCF was especially ineffective from 3-point range, hitting only 7 of 33 attempts (21.2%).

    –Field Level Media

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  • Kansas seeks fifth straight win in Big 12 opener at UCF

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    (Photo credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

    Big 12 play begins Saturday afternoon when No. 17 Kansas plays its conference opener against UCF in Orlando, Fla.

    Kansas (10-3) has earned four consecutive victories and looks to open the competitive conference schedule with another one when facing the Knights (11-1), who have a bit of history on their side against the Jayhawks and have notched 10 straight wins after dropping their second game against Vanderbilt.

    Kansas coach Bill Self hopes to have freshman star Darryn Peterson on the court when his club meets coach Johnny Dawkins’ UCF group.

    Fresh from Christmas break on Monday, Self addressed the status of Peterson, who has suffered from cramping and missed the past nine contests.

    ‘I’m just going to go with what everybody believes to be what’s best,’ Self said. ‘I’ve been in agreement with everybody so far, but it’s getting to the point now where you know it’s — I think he’s really, really close — and hopefully he’ll feel really good the rest of this week of practice.’

    While the coach sounded cautious about the 6-foot-6 guard from Canton, Ohio, he appeared equally anxious to have him back on the court and bringing his 19.3 points per game and 42.3% 3-point proficiency into the matchup.

    Self is optimistic regarding Peterson’s return Saturday, saying, ‘Unless something unforeseen happens, we should have our full complement of players.’

    Though Peterson’s point production leads the squad over his four games played, Flory Bidunga scores 14.7 and dominates the glass with 9.2 rebounds. Tre White averages 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. Melvin Council Jr. scores 12.9 and leads in assists with 5.2.

    In an amazing performance in their inaugural Big 12 home game two seasons ago, the Knights beat then-No. 3 Kansas 65-60 on Jan. 10, 2024, stunning the college basketball world and showing that the former AAC program was going to be a formidable foe for its new opposition.

    Last season on Jan. 5, Kansas avenged that loss by outscoring the Knights by 32 points in the second half on the way to a 99-48 romp.

    Dawkins liked the version of Riley Kugel that he saw play against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 23 and feels he is ready for the intensity of Big 12 action.

    After averaging 17.7 points per game over the Knights’ first seven games, the former Florida and Mississippi State player cooled off drastically over a four-game stretch in which he netted just 22 points — with 16 of those coming in an 81-63 win over Mercer on Dec. 17.

    Kugel responded in the 85-80 victory over Florida Atlantic, tallying 18 points, six rebounds and four steals.

    He is second on the Knights at 13.7 points per outing.

    ‘We need everybody,’ Dawkins said of Kugel, who was held scoreless in two games during his slump. ‘If one guy has a stretch like Riley went through, hopefully you have guys that can pick him up and vice versa. … It’s a function of making sure our guys are understanding that they all have value in what we do.’

    Jordan Burks, a Georgetown transfer, averages a team-high 13.8 points and adds 4.7 boards.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Depleted Bulls look to build win streak vs. Magic

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    (Photo credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

    Aiming to secure a winning record in a three-game road trip that concludes with Friday’s visit to the Chicago Bulls, the Orlando Magic will look to build upon a clutch performance that boosted them Wednesday.

    Paolo Banchero swished the go-ahead layup with 7.5 seconds left to lift the Magic to a 112-110 win at Indiana.

    Orlando trailed by 10 points in the third quarter but rallied behind Banchero (29 points, 10 rebounds) and a deep attack that included Desmond Bane (18 points) and Anthony Black (15).

    ‘We just had to battle it out and play to the final buzzer,’ Banchero said.

    Monday’s 107-106 loss in Toronto to open the trip saw the Magic stumble in that regard; they squandered a 21-point second-quarter lead while tallying just 12 points in the fourth quarter.

    While Orlando remains without top scorer Franz Wagner (high ankle sprain), the team is getting closer to full health after welcoming point guard Jalen Suggs (hip) back to the lineup after a seven-game absence.

    Suggs contributed 11 points and three assists at Indiana.

    ‘Great to see him back out there, great to have him out there,’ Banchero said of Suggs. ‘Just his energy out there, he’s just a huge part of the team. So when he’s out there, I just think we’re better.’

    Chicago knows too well about the impact injuries can have on cohesion. The Bulls’ top two scorers – Josh Giddey and Coby White – recently were sidelined by a left hamstring strain and right calf tightness, respectively, and will sit out Friday.

    Center Zach Collins (right toe sprain) also is out for at least another week.

    On Wednesday, shorthanded Chicago stopped a two-game skid with a 134-118 win against New Orleans to improve to 1-2 on a five-game homestand.

    Sparked by Isaac Okoro’s season-best 24 points and double-doubles from Tre Jones and Jalen Smith, the Bulls placed eight scorers in double figures. Each starter contributed at least 14 points.

    ‘That’s how we’ve been winning,’ Jones said. ‘Guys down (now), we need everyone on the team; depth is one of our main things. Having that many guys in double figures, we need that to continue to stack these wins. Definitely a good way to go out in the year and head into a new year on a good note.’

    The winner of Friday’s game will earn at least a split of the season series. The visiting Bulls topped the Magic by 12 on Oct. 25 behind 21 points from Giddey before Orlando defended its home court with a 125-120 victory on Dec. 1. Bane scored 37 points, a season-high total he has achieved three times, in that win.

    Orlando has won seven of 10 the series with Chicago but has been susceptible to one of its former players lately.

    Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who spent parts of nine seasons with the Magic before joining the Bulls in a midseason trade in 2020-21, has posted a double-double in seven of his past 10 games against Orlando. He is averaging 17.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game over that span.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Desmond Bane, Magic overcome Cade Cunningham to drop Pistons

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    (Photo credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images)

    Desmond Bane poured in 37 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the visiting Orlando Magic edged the Detroit Pistons 112-109 on Friday to advance to the knockout round of the NBA Cup.

    Orlando finished 4-0 in the East Group B of the event and won for the fifth time in their last six games. The Pistons lost for the second time in a row following their 13-game winning streak.

    Franz Wagner had 21 points and seven rebounds while Anthony Black tossed in 16 points off the bench. Jalen Suggs added 14 points with four steals.

    Cade Cunningham carried the Pistons with 39 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists but also committed eight of Detroit’s 24 turnovers. Tobias Harris had 18 points while Jalen Duren supplied 16 points with 12 rebounds.

    Bane carried the Magic back from an early 13-point deficit, scoring 21 first-half points as Orlando took a 59-58 lead into intermission. Black had 12 points at the break.

    The game remained tight throughout the third quarter. The Magic finished the quarter on a 15-7 run to carry an 89-84 lead into the fourth.

    Bane reached the 30-point mark when Cunningham was called for a technical in the final minute of the quarter. Cunningham reached the 30-point mark on two free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining in the quarter.

    Black opened the fourth with a midrange jumper and Bane made a layup to stretch Orlando’s lead to nine points. Bane soon made two free throws to push the lead to 10.

    Down 100-90, the Pistons reeled off 10 straight points, capped by a Cunningham 3-pointer with 4:10 to play. A Cunningham basket with 2:48 left gave Detroit a 106-105 lead but Bane’s three-point play with 2:11 left put Orlando back on top.

    Clinging to a 110-109 lead, Orlando grabbed three offensive rebounds that forced Javonte Green to foul Suggs with 6.3 seconds left. Suggs made both free throws.

    Cunningham was fouled with 4.7 seconds left but missed the first free throw and then intentionally missed the second. The Pistons got the rebound but Duncan Robinson’s last-ditch 3-point try was blocked by Black.

    –Field Level Media

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  • 76ers to face Magic while in search of a rhythm

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    (Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

    The Philadelphia 76ers will work on consistency in an effort to deliver a complete performance at home against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday in an NBA Cup East Group B contest.

    Philadelphia has alternated losses and wins in each of its last nine games. And while the Sixers haven’t lost two games in a row since early November, they haven’t won two games in a row since a four-game win streak to start the season.

    Most recently, the Sixers fell to the Miami Heat 127-117 on Sunday despite 27 points from Tyrese Maxey. The dynamic guard leads the team in scoring at 33.0 points per game — second in the NBA — and has averaged a career-high 7.8 assists.

    He played through a sore shoulder against Miami, carrying his typical heavy offensive load while the team navigates injuries to Joel Embiid (knee), Kelly Oubre (knee) and VJ Edgecombe (calf).

    ‘I mean, (we do) just the best we can,’ Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said. ‘We’ll plug in and do what we think we need to do. Start who we need. Who’s next in line? Try to figure out what the matchups look like, who we’re playing, all that kind of stuff, and try to make some decisions that work. Some of them do. Some of them don’t, obviously, right?’

    In addition to missing several key players, the Sixers also are slowly working Paul George and Jared McCain back into the lineup. McCain had his best game of the season against the Heat, finishing with 15 points in 26 minutes. George, however, shot 3 of 10 from the floor and 0 of 5 from 3-point range in an uninspiring 20-minute run.

    ‘I think, the guys that do play, we play to the best of our ability,’ said Andre Drummond, who filled in for Embiid with 14 points and 24 rebounds. ‘We’re playing good teams, and it’s hard to find a rhythm when we’re not knowing who we’re playing with on a nightly basis.’

    The Magic had won six of seven before falling in Boston 138-129 on Sunday in the opener of their three-game road trip.

    Jett Howard scored a season-high 30 points for Orlando, which continued to play without Paolo Banchero (groin). Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. also sat out, paving the way for the Celtics to shoot 60.2% from the floor and 45.5% from 3-point range.

    ‘I loved our team’s fight,’ Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. ‘These guys just continued to battle. Our bench was in it for them. Those guys we talk about staying ready when your number is called. … Those guys stepped up and stepped into their role and accepted whatever was asked of them tonight. They did it wholeheartedly.’

    Desmond Bane contributed 18 points, as did rookie Jase Richardson. Franz Wagner scored 15 points but was a minus-17 in 28 minutes.

    ‘I think we have to do a better job (on defense). We gave up 48 in that second quarter,’ Mosley said. ‘I think that’s what we’ve got to continue to harp on, is our defensive standard.’

    Philadelphia defeated Orlando 136-124 on Oct. 27 as Maxey scored 43 points and Edgecombe added 26. Banchero (32) and Bane (24) were the top scorers for the Magic that night.

    –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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  • 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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