ReportWire

Tag: Professional basketball

  • Hornets snap losing streak with 111-100 win over Bucks as Bridges scores 20

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miles Bridges scored 20 points, Ryan Kalkbrenner had 17 points on 8-for-8 field goal shooting, and the Charlotte Hornets snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday night with a 111-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who played without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel had 16 points apiece for the Hornets.

    Ryan Rollins led the Bucks with 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting, going 4 for 6 on 3-pointers. Myles Turner had 21 points. Kyle Kuzma, who was shooting 55.3% from the field and was coming off a season-high 26 points against Dallas, was limited to eight points on 3-for-12 shooting.

    Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, sat out with left knee patellar tendinopathy but is expected to return for the rematch with the Hornets on Friday night in Milwaukee.

    The Hornets took the lead with 3:52 remaining in the first quarter and did not trail again. The Hornets led 59-50 at halftime.

    The Hornets were 23 of 27 from the free throw line compared to 8 of 13 for the Bucks. The Hornets also outrebounded the Bucks 50-34.

    Charlotte played without LaMelo Ball (right ankle impingement) and Brandon Miller (left shoulder subluxation).

    Up next

    The same two teams play again Friday night in Milwaukee.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Associated Press

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  • Fans can see new-look Magic’s 1st preseason game Saturday on FanDuel Sports

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic fans can get their first look at the revamped roster for the 2025-26 season on Saturday when Orlando faces the Miami Heat in Puerto Rico.

    FanDuel Sports Network, the local TV and streaming rights holder to Magic games, will broadcast that game and two other Orlando contests during the preseason. Tipoff for Saturday’s game is scheduled at 8 p.m. ET.

    The Magic’s home preseason games against the Heat at 6 p.m. ET Oct. 12 and the New Orleans Pelicans at 7 p.m. ET Oct. 16 will also be televised and streamed by FanDuel Sports.

    The network will carry all Magic games this season except those broadcast on a national platform. Details of regular-season broadcast plans will be announced at a later date.

    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Schröder takes over late as Germany tops Turkey for EuroBasket gold

    RIGA, Latvia — The Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner and Tristan da Silva combined for 31 points, and Dennis Schröder took over to deliver more gold for Germany.

    Schröder, who will play for the Sacramento Kings in the upcoming season, had the game’s final six points, Isaac Bonga scored a team-best 20 points and Germany topped Turkey 88-83 on Sunday in the gold medal game at the European championship.

    It was Germany’s first EuroBasket title since 1993 and comes two years after the team — largely with the same core — won the World Cup title in 2023.

    “We never shy away from the big moments. … Everybody is so confident,” Schröder said. “Just big-time plays from big-time character people.”

    Wagner scored 18 points, pulled down eight rebounds and blocked two shots, and Schröder finished with 16 points and 12 assists for Germany, which finished the tournament 9-0. Da Silva added 13 points and four rebounds for Germany.

    The game had 15 lead changes and 11 ties, with the final lead change coming when Schröder scored on a drive to put Germany up by one with 1 minute, 15 seconds left.

    He added a jumper with 18.7 seconds remaining and after Turkey’s Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets hit a 3-pointer that would have tied it, Schröder sealed gold with a pair of free throws.

    “To be a World Cup winner and a European champion, that’s big time,” Schröder said.

    Sengun had 28 points for Turkey, which got 23 from Cedi Osman and a 13-point, nine-assist, six-rebound game from Shane Larkin, who played for Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando and for the Miami Hurricanes. Larkin is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin.

    Schröder, Wagner, Sengun, Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Slovenia’s Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers were named to the Eurobasket 2025 All-Tournament Team.

    Bronze: Greece 92, Finland 89

    Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, leading Greece past Finland for the bronze medal earlier Sunday.

    It was Greece’s first EuroBasket medal since winning bronze in 2009.

    “We did it. This is probably one of the biggest accomplishments that I’ve ever accomplished as an athlete,” said Antetokounmpo, a past NBA champion and MVP. “I know I’ve won an NBA championship, but there’s no feeling like representing your national team and representing 12 million people that breathe and live this national team. This is probably the greatest accomplishment so far in my life.”

    It was the sixth time that Greece finished on the podium at the EuroBasket, with two golds, one silver and three bronze medals.

    Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Finland.

    Greece — which never trailed and led by 17 at one point — had an 11-point lead with less than two minutes remaining, but Finland rallied.

    Elias Valtonen had a chance to tie the game with three free throws with five seconds left but missed the third. Antetokounmpo eventually controlled the rebound for Greece and sealed the game with a pair of free throws.

    Spectrum Sports Staff, Associated Press

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  • Germany, Wagner advance to EuroBasket semifinal against Finland

    RIGA, Latvia — Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner and his EuroBasket team, Germany, advanced to Friday’s EuroBasket semifinals, where they will play Finland.

    Wagner scored 23 points, and captain Dennis Schröder added 20 points and seven assists to help Germany rally past Luka Dončić and Slovenia 99-91.

    Germany guard Andreas Obst’s 3-pointer capped a 12-0 run to put the World Cup champions ahead 77-74 early in the fourth quarter.

    Slovenia took the lead 86-85 on a Dončić 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 12 seconds to go before Schröder sank his only 3-pointer — he missed eight other attempts — to make it 88-86, and Germany closed it out from there.

    Dončić was assessed a technical foul early on and had 22 points as Slovenia led 51-45 at halftime. He picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter yet kept on scoring, although he appeared inhibited at times by the prospect of fouling out with a fifth foul.

    The Los Angeles Lakers star — five of 16 from 3-point range — had his fifth game of the tournament with at least 30 points scored. Dončić also had 10 rebounds and seven assists.

    Wagner was 13 of 14 from the free-throw line for Germany, seeking its second European Championship title after winning as host in 1993.

    Slovenia looked in control until the Magic’s Tristan Da Silva sank a 3-pointer with a halfcourt shot for Germany at the third-quarter buzzer, slashing Slovenia’s lead to four points.

    The final is on Sunday in Riga, Latvia, which has hosted all the knockout matches.

    Finland holds off Georgia

    Earlier, the Finns held off a Georgia rally to win 93-79 and reach the semifinals for the first time.

    Mikael Jantunen led Finland with 19 points, and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen contributed 17 points and six rebounds.

    “It’s been the same group for a long time. It’s a very tight group, like coming back and playing with your friends,” Jantunen said. “That’s the kind of basketball culture in Finland.”

    The Finns also showcased their depth by scoring 44 points from the bench to Georgia’s four.

    Finland led by 20 points in the third quarter before Georgia cut the deficit to six with just under eight minutes left in the fourth.

    Toronto Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili led Georgia with 22 points.

    Coming off an upset of the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and Serbia, Finland surged into an early lead on strong 3-point shooting and doubled up Georgia 30-15 early in the second quarter.

    Highly rated 18-year-old forward Miikka Muurinen, who is projected to be a potential NBA first-round pick in 2027, scored seven points off the bench.

    It was the first time in the quarterfinals as an independent nation for Georgia, which knocked out Olympic silver medalist France in the round of 16 and beat defending EuroBasket champion Spain in the group stage.

    Greece faces Turkey in the other semifinal

    In Friday’s other semifinal, it’s Greece against Turkey. Both teams had advanced on Tuesday.

    The Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points in Greece’s 87-76 win over Lithuania. The Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun had a triple-double to help unbeaten Turkey to a 91-77 win over Poland.

    Associated Press

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  • Howard, Donovan to take their place among basketball’s elite Saturday

    ORLANDO, Fla. — The spotlight will shine on basketball in the state of Florida Saturday when former Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and former Gators men’s basketball coach Billy Donovan will be among the stellar 2025 class inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and ex-Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan will be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday

    • Howard will be inducted twice, for his individual accomplishments and as a member of the 2008 men’s U.S. Olympic team

    • Donovan coached the Gators to national championships in 2006 and 2007 during his 19 seasons as coach

    • Other inductees Saturday are Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, Miami Heat Managing General Partner Micky Arison and longtime NBA referee Dan Crawford

    Howard will be inducted twice — for his individual contributions as one of the best centers in NBA history and as a member of the 2008 men’s U.S. Olympic basketball team that was nicknamed the “Redeem Team” for bringing the gold medal back to the United States.

    Donovan was coach of the Florida Gators for 19 seasons from 1996 to 2015. He led the Gators to their first two men’s NCAA basketball championships in back-to-back seasons, 2006 and 2007. That team was led by three players who went on to standout NBA careers in Al Horford, who is still playing in the league, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer.

    Billy Donovan holds up the championship trophy after coaching the Gators to the title in 2007, the team’s 2nd in 2 seasons. (Associated Press)

    While at Florida, Donovan became the most successful coach in Gators history. In total, the Gators went to four Final Fours and won six Southeastern Conference regular-season titles. He left with a 467-186 record, a .715 winning percentage. He was hired by the NBA’s Bulls in September 2020 and still coaches in Chicago today.

    Howard and Donovan could have paired up earlier because the Magic hired Donovan to coach the team in mid-2007. But Donovan changed his mind just six days later and returned to Florida to coach through the 2014-15 season.

    Howard was drafted by the Magic in 2024 straight out of high school at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, and the partnership paid off for the player and Orlando, where he helped lead the team to the NBA Finals in the 2008-09 season and to two Eastern Conference Finals, in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

    The honor capped off a career in which Howard was selected as an NBA All-Star eight times (from 2007-2012), was a five-time NBA rebounding champion (from 2008-2010, in 2012 and 2013), a two-time blocked shots champion (2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons) and the only player to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons (2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11). All of those accolades were achieved as a member of the Magic, except one of the seasons he led the league in rebounding, 2012-13.

    He also was named to the 2006-07 All-NBA Third team and the All-NBA First Team for five seasons in a row, starting in 2007-08, and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2007-08 and the NBA All-Defensive First Team for four consecutive seasons, starting in 2008-09.

    Howard was a showman, too. He took part in three NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contests. He won in 2008, when he stepped out of a mock phone booth, donned a cape and soared from around the free-throw line to the hoop for his iconic “Superman” dunk.

    “I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve had longevity, and I’ve been able to play as long as I’ve been able to play and stay as healthy as I have,” Howard said. “And I want people to say that one thing about me is that I was always going to put my best foot forward, 100% effort. They can say, ‘No matter what it is, he’s going to put in everything he has’.”

    In Orlando, Howard remains the career leader in minutes played (22,471), points (11,435), free throws made (3,366) and attempted (5,727), rebounds (8,072), blocked shots (1,344) and personal fouls (2,002). On Nov. 12, 2008, he recorded a triple-double against Oklahoma City with 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.

    While with the Magic, center Dwight Howard (right) won 3 NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

    He was strong off the court, too. Howard received the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award for his community service six times while he played in Orlando.

    The only achievement he did not record with Orlando was winning an NBA championship. He got his lone NBA ring in 2020, with the Lakers when Los Angeles defeated the Miami Heat in the bubble finals, ironically played at Walt Disney World in Orlando during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Howard averaged 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game for his career. Only 13 other players in the history of the NBA have posted those numbers for a career. He is 10th on the NBA’s all-time rebounding list, 13th on the list of blocked shots. His three DPOY awards trail only four-time winners Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace and Rudy Gobert.

    Only one other player — Elvin Hayes — finished his NBA career averaging as many points, rebounds and blocked shots as Howard did. Blocks didn’t become an official stat until 1973, but regardless, the numbers showed Howard was a lock for the hall in Springfield, Mass., to call.

    Howard was left off the NBA’s 75th anniversary team that was unveiled nearly four years ago.

    His longtime coach with the Magic, Stan Van Gundy, said Howard deserved to be on the team because his intelligence, athleticism and quickness helped him dominate opponents.

    “It was absolutely ridiculous that he didn’t make Top 75,” said Van Gundy, who was hired by Orlando after Donovan stayed at Florida. 

    Howard and Van Gundy didn’t always agree. On that point, they’re in lockstep.

    “I was wondering if I was ever going to get into the Hall of Fame after the Top 75 thing because it just seemed like, as far as my basketball play, I haven’t really received that much respect from my years in the league,” Howard said. “It was a little difficult. But then once I got the call, I was like, ‘Wow, this is here’.”

    The 75th anniversary team snub might come up in the speech that Howard is planning to deliver this weekend. If this speech goes like the one he gave earlier this year when he was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame, expect some laughs and some tears. Howard doesn’t mind showing his emotions.

    The Hall didn’t make him wait, either. Howard was voted in during his first year of eligibility.

    “It’s happening. It’s me being in the Hall of Fame, being inducted in the Hall of Fame as a player and then being inducted into the Hall of Fame as an Olympian,” Howard said. “It’s just like a double whammy, but in a good way.”

    Howard is one of two dual-enshrinees this weekend; he and former Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony are both going into the Hall of Fame for their individual achievements and as part of the “Redeem Team.”

    Also entering the Hall this weekend: women’s basketball greats Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, Miami Heat Managing General Partner Micky Arison and longtime NBA referee Dan Crawford.

    “It’s a great class,” USA Basketball men’s national team director Sean Ford said.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • NBA Draft: Clayton Jr. heading to Jazz, Magic take Richardson

    BROOKLYN – The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft was held Wednesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn: 

    Jazz add another guard, go with Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. after trade

    Walter Clayton Jr. won a national championship with Florida and now he’s headed to join the rebuild in Utah.

    Washington took Clayton with the No. 18 pick, but a trade will wind up sending him to the Jazz.

    High praise from his college coach, Todd Golden: “There’s not another player in America you would rather have right now than Walter Clayton with the ball in his hands in a big-time moment,” the Gators coach said during the NCAA tournament.

    Magic add to guard depth, get Michigan State’s Jase Richardson at No. 25

    Jason Richardson played for the Orlando Magic. And so will his son.

    Orlando took Michigan State’s Jase Richardson at No. 25 in Wednesday’s draft. The lefty guard averaged 12.1 points per game in his one college season.

     

     

    Associated Press

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  • Banchero scores 33 as Magic pound Heat 116-97 on teams’ opening night

    Banchero scores 33 as Magic pound Heat 116-97 on teams’ opening night

    MIAMI  — Paolo Banchero scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Franz Wagner scored 23, and the Orlando Magic rolled past the Miami Heat 116-97 on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams.

    Gary Harris added 18 for Orlando, all on 3-pointers. The Magic shot 18-for-49 from 3-point range.

    Terry Rozier scored 19 for Miami, which celebrated “Pat Riley Court” night with a halftime ceremony. Nikola Jovic scored 15 and Tyler Herro added 14 for the Heat.

    Orlando led by as many as 32 in the second half.

    Takeaways

    Magic: Orlando’s high for 3-pointers attempted in a first half last season was 23. The Magic tried 27 before halftime on Wednesday, a clear sign that they see the 3-pointer as more of an option this season. The Magic made a league-low 903 3s last season.

    Heat: Jimmy Butler was 1-for-8 from the field and scored three points. It’s the fifth time in his career that he played at least 24 minutes and scored three points or less.

    Key moment

    The whole third quarter was a moment for the Magic. Orlando outscored Miami by 21 points in the third, 39-18. It was the most lopsided third quarter on the road for the Magic since Feb. 7, 2010, when they outscored the Boston Celtics by 25 on the way to a 96-89 win.

    Key stat

    Banchero had the sixth instance of an Orlando player scoring at least 30 in a season opener. Tracy McGrady did it twice, and Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Anderson and Anfernee Hardaway did it once. Anderson (1992) and O’Neal (1993) each scored 42 for the Magic opening night record. Banchero is now No. 3 on that list with his 33-point effort.

    Up next

    Orlando plays its home opener Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets. Miami goes to Charlotte to play the Hornets on Saturday night.

    Associated Press

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  • U.S. women on cusp of record 8th consecutive gold medal in basketball

    U.S. women on cusp of record 8th consecutive gold medal in basketball

    PARIS (AP) — The U.S. women’s basketball team isn’t focused on its record Olympic winning streak or the history the team would make with one more victory.

    What You Need To Know

    • With a victory on Sunday, the U.S. women’s legacy would stretch to 61 consecutive wins in Olympic contests and a record eight straight gold medals

    • A victory would give Diana Taurasi a sixth consecutive gold medal, making her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, breaking a tie with longtime teammate Sue Bird, who won five

    • Standing in the way is a French team that will be spurred on by a loud, energetic crowd. The game will be a rematch from the 2012 London Olympics, which the U.S. won by 36 points

    • Sunday’s game will cap off a weekend in which France and the U.S. play for both the men’s and women’s gold medal. It’s the first time that’s happened in Olympic history

    The Americans are simply concentrating on beating France and winning the gold medal at the Paris Games on Sunday.

    “The winning streak doesn’t mean a lot. But to win it all, it means the world to me,” star A’ja Wilson said. “I can’t really pay attention to a lot of streaks. I feel like that’s just added-on pressure. But to come here and keep the main thing the main thing and winning it, it’s something that going to mean the world to me. To continue to be a part of the legacy, the journey that this team, to wear this jersey and others that have here before me, is awesome. So, it’s going to mean a lot for us.”

    With a victory on Sunday, the U.S. women’s legacy would stretch to 61 consecutive wins in Olympic contests and a record eight straight gold medals. That would break a tie with the U.S. men’s program that won seven in a row from 1936-68.

    A victory would give Diana Taurasi a sixth consecutive gold medal, making her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, breaking a tie with longtime teammate Sue Bird, who won five.

    Taurasi has been humble about the potential record, saying she cares more about the team winning than her individual success. It’s been a trying Olympics for her as she hasn’t started the last two games, the first time she wasn’t in the opening lineup since the 2004 Olympics.

    Standing in the way is a French team that will be spurred on by a loud, energetic crowd. The game will be a rematch from the 2012 London Olympics, which the U.S. won by 36 points.

    “I think it will be an incredible atmosphere. I think that when you play the host country in their country, you expect it to be off the chain,” U.S. wing Breanna Stewart said. “Obviously in Tokyo we played Japan, but there was no spectators. And you want that, you want that loud excitement.”

    The Americans have put together strong halves and quarters but still haven’t played a great 40 minutes. That’s been good enough to run through the Olympics so far, with no team able to come within single digits of them.

    The French players know they have a tall task in front of them to capture the country’s first gold medal and pull off the monumental upset.

    “You have to believe if you want to do something special,” French wing Gabby Williams said. “What I love is, is our connection between us and our belief in each other. And if anything’s going to bring us gold, it’s going to be that.”

    French guard Marine Johannes knows who’s on the other team.

    “All the best players in the world. But like I said earlier, we have nothing to lose,” she said. “We are going to play hard.”

    Sunday’s game will cap off a weekend in which France and the U.S. play for both the men’s and women’s gold medal. It’s the first time that’s happened in Olympic history.

    Associated Press

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  • Mosley to coach, Suggs to play for 2024 Team USA Basketball Select Team

    Mosley to coach, Suggs to play for 2024 Team USA Basketball Select Team

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic coach Jamahl Mosley will coach the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team for a second year in a row and Orlando guard Jalen Suggs was selected to play for the team, which will train with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team as it prepares for the 2024 Olympic Games Paris 2024 next month.

    What You Need To Know

    • Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley will lead the coaching staff for the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team in July 

    • Magic guard Jalen Suggs was selected to play for the team, too

    • The select team will work with the USA Olympic team as it prepares for the 2024 Paris Games

    Plans call for the select team to work with the Olympic team head-to-head for the first three days of practice — July 6 through July 8 — in Las Vegas. What typically happens at that point is a handful of select teamers will be invited to remain with the Olympic team and travel with them to Abu Dhabi, where Olympic preparations will continue with more practices and two exhibitions.  

    Duke signee Cooper Flagg, the consensus national high school player of the year out of Montverde last season and a prospective top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, also was named to the Select Team. The other members of the Select Team are NBA champion Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, Golden State Warriors teammates Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski, Houston Rockets teammates Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson, Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller, New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, Utah two-way player Micah Potter, Nigel Hayes-Davis of Turkish club Fenerbahce and longtime USA Basketball standout Langston Galloway. 

    A common attribute of most of the Select Team members is their gritty defensive player as the USA men try to get ready for the physical play of international basketball.

    Mosley, who was also head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team in 2023, served as an assistant coach on the 2021 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team and as an assistant coach at the 2018 USA Basketball Men’s National Team minicamp.

    Indiana Pacers assistant coach Jim Boylen and Purdue coach Matt Painter will be on Mosley’s staff. They’ll work in concert with the Olympic team coaching staff — head coach Steve Kerr of Golden State, assistants Erik Spoelstra of Miami, Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.

    Suggs, 6 feet 5 and 212 pounds, played and started in 75 regular-season games last season with Orlando, averaging 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and a team-high 1.41 steals in 27 minutes per game. He shot 39.7% (153-for-385) from 3-point range. Suggs was named to the 2023-24 NBA All-Defensive Second Team after tying for eighth in the NBA in steals and 12th in steals-to-turnover ratio (0.80, 106/132).

    Magic forward Paolo Banchero played for the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team that placed fourth in the 2023 FIBA World Cup but is not playing this year. That team included many of the NBA’s rising stars as the league’s more experienced standouts declined to play.

    For the Paris Olympics, many of the league’s longtime established stars — including Warriors guard Steph Curry, who has never played on an Olympic team — said they wanted to play for the national team and were selected.  Many of this year’s national team members, such as Lakers forward LeBron James and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, have played for the United States on previous gold medal-winning Olympic teams.

    Associated Press

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  • Atlanta Hawks take Risacher of France first overall in NBA Draft

    Atlanta Hawks take Risacher of France first overall in NBA Draft

    The French Revolution has come to the NBA.

    French wing Zaccharie Risacher, 19, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

    What You Need To Know

    • French wing Zaccharie Risacher was selected first overall by the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday in the 2024 NBA Draft

    • Risacher’s selection marks the second-straight year that the top selection came from France after the San Antonio Spurs picked Victor Wembanyama first overall last year

    • Alexandre Sarr, another French player, was drafted second overall by the Washington Wizards
    • NBA commissioner Adam Silver kicked off the night by honoring the recent deaths of two NBA giants, Bill Walton, who died on May 27 at 71, and Jerry West, who died on June 12 at 86



    Risacher, who has been projected as one of the top defenders in this year’s rookie class, will join a once-exciting Hawks franchise that’s stumbled over the last few years despite the promise of star point guard Trae Young.

    His selection marks the second straight year that the top overall selection comes from France. 

    Last year, the San Antonio Spurs picked Victor Wembanyama first overall. Wembanyama, who was widely predicted as a potential franchise-changing talent, made good on that promise, winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award unanimously.

    Fellow Frenchmen Alexandre Sarr and Tidjane Salaun soon followed Risacher’s selection. 

    Sarr, a 7-foot-1-inch center most recently played in the Australian NBL, was selected second overall by the Washington Wizards. Salaun, a 6-foot 10-inch forward, was taken sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets; he most recently played in France’s LNB. Later in the first round, the New York Knicks selected another French-born player, Pacome Dadiet,

    Their selections made NBA history multiple times over. 

    It’s the first time in NBA history that international players were taken with the top two picks and the first time three international players from one country were taken in the top 10 of an NBA Draft.

    Most of the excitement occurred less than 24 hours before the draft, as the New York Knicks went all in, trading a raft of draft picks and veteran player Bojan Bogdanovic to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges. 

    Bridges, a 27-year-old wing, is renowned for his defense, though he foundered a bit after moving to Brooklyn from the Phoenix Suns two years ago. His move across the East River links him with a handful of former college teammates and friends from his alma mater, Villanova University. 

    NBA commissioner Adam Silver kicked off the night by honoring the recent deaths of two NBA giants, Bill Walton, who died on May 27 at 71, and Jerry West, who died on June 12 at 86. 

    Walton was a two-time NCAA champion and a two-time NBA champion, one each with the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, a passing big man whose career was derailed by injuries. But he became beloved as a personality off the court and on the microphone, especially as he sought to boost the college game in his later years. 

    West, a singularly driven competitor, was one of the greatest players in the storied history of the Los Angeles Lakers and the league. A three-time inductee to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, he won only one championship as a player but contributed nine as a basketball executive, building dynasties with the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.

    West also holds a singular honor: He’s the inspiration for the NBA’s logo.

     

    2024 NBA Draft First Round selections:

    1. Atlanta Hawks, Zaccharie Risacher

    2. Washington Wizards, Alexandre Sarr

    3. Houston Rockets, Reed Sheppard

    4. San Antonio Spurs, Stephon Castle

    5. Detroit Pistons, Ron Holland II

    6. Charlotte Hornets, Tidjane Salaun

    7. Portland Trail Blazers, Donovan Clingan

    8. San Antonio Spurs, Rob Dillingham (Traded to Minnesota)

    9. Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Edey

    10. Utah Jazz, Cody Williams

    11. Chicago Bulls, Matas Buzelis

    12. Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Topic

    13. Sacramento Kings, Devin Carter

    14. Portland Trail Blazers, Carlton Carrington (Traded to Washington)

    15. Miami Heat, Kel’el Ware

    16. Philadelphia 76ers, Jared McCain

    17. Los Angeles Lakers, Dalton Knecht

    18. Orlando Magic, Tristan da Silva

    19. Toronto Raptors, Ja’Kobe Walter

    20. Cleveland Cavaliers, Jaylon Tyson

    21. New Orleans Pelicans, Yves Missi

    22. Phoenix Suns, DaRon Holmes II (Traded to Denver)

    23. Milwaukee Bucks, AJ Johnson

    24. New York Knicks, Kyshawn George (Traded to Washington)

    25. New York Knicks, Pacome Dadiet

    26. Washington Wizards, Dillon Jones (Traded to Oklahoma City)

    27. Minnesota Timberwolves, Terrence Shannon Jr.

    28. Denver Nuggets, Ryan Dunn (Traded to Phoenix)

    29. Utah Jazz, Isaiah Collier

    30. Boston Celtics, Baylor Scheierman

    David Mendez

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  • Atlanta Hawks take Risacher of France first overall in NBA Draft

    Atlanta Hawks take Risacher of France first overall in NBA Draft

    The French Revolution has come to the NBA.

    French wing Zaccharie Risacher, 19, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

    What You Need To Know

    • French wing Zaccharie Risacher was selected first overall by the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday in the 2024 NBA Draft

    • Risacher’s selection marks the second-straight year that the top selection came from France after the San Antonio Spurs picked Victor Wembanyama first overall last year

    • Alexandre Sarr, another French player, was drafted second overall by the Washington Wizards
    • NBA commissioner Adam Silver kicked off the night by honoring the recent deaths of two NBA giants, Bill Walton, who died on May 27 at 71, and Jerry West, who died on June 12 at 86



    Risacher, who has been projected as one of the top defenders in this year’s rookie class, will join a once-exciting Hawks franchise that’s stumbled over the last few years despite the promise of star point guard Trae Young.

    His selection marks the second straight year that the top overall selection comes from France. 

    Last year, the San Antonio Spurs picked Victor Wembanyama first overall. Wembanyama, who was widely predicted as a potential franchise-changing talent, made good on that promise, winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award unanimously.

    Fellow Frenchmen Alexandre Sarr and Tidjane Salaun soon followed Risacher’s selection. 

    Sarr, a 7-foot-1-inch center most recently played in the Australian NBL, was selected second overall by the Washington Wizards. Salaun, a 6-foot 10-inch forward, was taken sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets; he most recently played in France’s LNB. Later in the first round, the New York Knicks selected another French-born player, Pacome Dadiet,

    Their selections made NBA history multiple times over. 

    It’s the first time in NBA history that international players were taken with the top two picks and the first time three international players from one country were taken in the top 10 of an NBA Draft.

    Most of the excitement occurred less than 24 hours before the draft, as the New York Knicks went all in, trading a raft of draft picks and veteran player Bojan Bogdanovic to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges. 

    Bridges, a 27-year-old wing, is renowned for his defense, though he foundered a bit after moving to Brooklyn from the Phoenix Suns two years ago. His move across the East River links him with a handful of former college teammates and friends from his alma mater, Villanova University. 

    NBA commissioner Adam Silver kicked off the night by honoring the recent deaths of two NBA giants, Bill Walton, who died on May 27 at 71, and Jerry West, who died on June 12 at 86. 

    Walton was a two-time NCAA champion and a two-time NBA champion, one each with the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, a passing big man whose career was derailed by injuries. But he became beloved as a personality off the court and on the microphone, especially as he sought to boost the college game in his later years. 

    West, a singularly driven competitor, was one of the greatest players in the storied history of the Los Angeles Lakers and the league. A three-time inductee to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, he won only one championship as a player but contributed nine as a basketball executive, building dynasties with the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.

    West also holds a singular honor: He’s the inspiration for the NBA’s logo.

     

    2024 NBA Draft First Round selections:

    1. Atlanta Hawks, Zaccharie Risacher

    2. Washington Wizards, Alexandre Sarr

    3. Houston Rockets, Reed Sheppard

    4. San Antonio Spurs, Stephon Castle

    5. Detroit Pistons, Ron Holland II

    6. Charlotte Hornets, Tidjane Salaun

    7. Portland Trail Blazers, Donovan Clingan

    8. San Antonio Spurs, Rob Dillingham (Traded to Minnesota)

    9. Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Edey

    10. Utah Jazz, Cody Williams

    11. Chicago Bulls, Matas Buzelis

    12. Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Topic

    13. Sacramento Kings, Devin Carter

    14. Portland Trail Blazers, Carlton Carrington (Traded to Washington)

    15. Miami Heat, Kel’el Ware

    16. Philadelphia 76ers, Jared McCain

    17. Los Angeles Lakers, Dalton Knecht

    18. Orlando Magic, Tristan da Silva

    19. Toronto Raptors, Ja’Kobe Walter

    20. Cleveland Cavaliers, Jaylon Tyson

    21. New Orleans Pelicans, Yves Missi

    22. Phoenix Suns, DaRon Holmes II (Traded to Denver)

    23. Milwaukee Bucks, AJ Johnson

    24. New York Knicks, Kyshawn George (Traded to Washington)

    25. New York Knicks, Pacome Dadiet

    26. Washington Wizards, Dillon Jones (Traded to Oklahoma City)

    27. Minnesota Timberwolves, Terrence Shannon Jr.

    28. Denver Nuggets, Ryan Dunn (Traded to Phoenix)

    29. Utah Jazz, Isaiah Collier

    30. Boston Celtics, Baylor Scheierman

    David Mendez

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  • Jerry West, a 3-time Hall of Fame selection and the NBA logo, dies at 86

    Jerry West, a 3-time Hall of Fame selection and the NBA logo, dies at 86

    Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles Clippers announced.

    He was 86.

    What You Need To Know

    • Legendary basketball player, coach and executive Jerry West died Wednesday at 86, the Los Angeles Clippers announced

    • West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010; he will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor

    • He was an All-Star in all 14 of his NBA seasons, a 12-time All-NBA selection, part of the 1972 Lakers team that won a championship, an NBA Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 and was selected as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team

    • West was general manager of eight NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping build the “Showtime” dynasty; he also worked in the front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers


    West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor.

    West was “the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him,” the Clippers said in announcing his death. West’s wife, Karen, was by his side when he died, the Clippers said.

    He was an All-Star in all 14 of his NBA seasons, a 12-time All-NBA selection, part of the 1972 Lakers team that won a championship, an NBA Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 and was selected as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

    West was general manager of eight NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping build the “Showtime” dynasty. He also worked in the front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers. Among his many, many highlights as an executive with the Lakers: he drafted Magic Johnson and James Worthy, then brought in Kobe Bryant and eventually Shaquille O’Neal to play alongside Bryant.

    Even in the final years of his life, West was considered basketball royalty. He routinely sat courtside at Summer League games in Las Vegas, often watching many games in a day while greeting long lines of players — LeBron James among them — who would approach to shake his hand and pay him respect.

    “The game transcends many things,” West said while attending Summer League last year. “The players change, the style of play may change, but the respect that you learn in this game never changes.”

    He’s 25th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, and while the league has never confirmed that West was in fact the model for its logo — a player dribbling a ball, set against a red-and-blue background — the league has never said otherwise, either.

    “While it’s never been officially declared that the logo is Jerry West,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in 2021, “it sure looks a lot like him.”

    Associated Press

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  • Hornets hire Charles Lee as head coach

    Hornets hire Charles Lee as head coach

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charles Lee will be the next head coach for the Charlotte Hornets, the team announced Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Charles Lee becomes the 12th coach in Hornets’ franchise history

    • Lee currently serves as the top assistant on the Boston Celtics

    • A welcome news conference will be held after Boston’s playoff run

    Lee is currently with the Boston Celtics, serving as the primary assistant. His 10 years of experience also features time with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks, reaching the playoffs nine times.

    In his latest season with Boston, Lee helped take the team to a 64-18 record, the best in the NBA and fourth most wins in franchise history.

    Before the NBA, he started his career at his home university of Bucknell. The Washington, D.C. native also played for the Bison for four years before playing four seasons professionally overseas.

    “The Hornets have a talented young core of players and I’m excited about our future and what we can build here,” Lee said. “There are few places as passionate about basketball as the Carolinas, and I look forward to coming to Charlotte and getting to work.”

    The hire comes after former Hornets head coach Steve Clifford stepped down in early April. Clifford went 48-116 in his two seasons of his second stint as coach of the Hornets and just 21-61 this season, and 340-461 in parts of 10 seasons as a head coach, most of them in Charlotte. 

    “I can’t wait for our Hornets community to meet Charles, his wife Lindsey and his beautiful daughters, and feel Charles’ passion for the game and the intensity of his desire to win,” Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson said Thursday. “He shares our vision for this organization, and I look forward to partnering with him in building something special here in the Carolinas.”

    The Hornets will hold a news conference after Boston’s playoff run ends, according to their social media post Thursday.

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  • Steve Clifford is stepping down as Hornets coach, will take on an advisory role

    Steve Clifford is stepping down as Hornets coach, will take on an advisory role

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Steve Clifford is stepping down as coach of the Charlotte Hornets after the season, the team announced.

    Clifford informed the team of his decision on Wednesday. He plans to remain on in an advisory role.

    Clifford, a former Orlando Magic coach, is 45-112 in his two seasons of his second stint as coach of the Hornets and just 18-57 this season.

    He is 337-457 in parts of 10 seasons as a head coach, most of them in Charlotte. He started as a head coach in Charlotte in 2013, then spent three seasons as coach of Orlando before returning to the Hornets.

    Clifford’s contract was set to expire after the season.

    This is the second major move under new owners Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall after Mitch Kupchak stepped down as general manager midseason and was later replaced by Jeff Peterson.

    “This is the appropriate time for me to step down,” Clifford said in a statement. “I believe this is best for me and the organization. I’m excited about the future of the Hornets – our young core of players, Jeff’s leadership of our basketball operations and Rick and Gabe’s vision for the organization.”

    Clifford will serve as head coach for the team’s seven remaining games. The Hornets host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

    Peterson has known Clifford since their time together with the Brooklyn Nets and said he has tremendous respect for him.

    “I understand his decision to step down,” Peterson said. “His basketball knowledge, teaching ability and work ethic are well-respected throughout the NBA. He has had to endure some very difficult circumstances the past two years, and yet our players have continued to compete, work hard and develop.”

    Peterson said the Hornets will begin a search for a replacement immediately.

    “We will look to hire someone that shares our values and vision in developing our young core and creating a culture and identity based on teamwork, accountability and competitiveness,” Peterson said. “We will conduct a thorough search process to select the best head coach for the Hornets moving forward.”

    Clifford previously served as head coach of the Hornets from 2013-2018, leading the team to two playoff appearances. Clifford’s 241 victories as head coach are the most in Charlotte’s history.

     

    Associated Press

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  • Pacers beat Orlando, close within a game of Magic in Eastern Conference

    Pacers beat Orlando, close within a game of Magic in Eastern Conference

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Once the Indiana Pacers started running, they were hard to stop.

    Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam each scored 20 points, and the Pacers beat Orlando 111-97 on Sunday night to close within a game of the Magic in the Eastern Conference standings.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Pacers came back on the Magic in the second half and won 111-97

    • Tyrese Halliburton and Pascal Siakam both scored 20 points for Indiana

    • Paolo Banchero had 19 points for Orlando, and Cole Anthony added 16

    • The loss was the second in a row for the Magic against teams with which they’re battling for a playoff spot

    Paolo Banchero had 19 points for Orlando, Cole Anthony added 16 and Wendell Carter had 13 points and 15 rebounds.

    Indiana fell behind by 15 points early, but the game changed abruptly when T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin came off the bench. They scored 17 points each for the Pacers. McConnell also contributed six assists.

    “T.J. McConnell gave us a great lift when he came into the game because we were struggling to score,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “He got to the rim a few times and really boosted our energy from there.”

    The highest-scoring team in the NBA, Indiana, had only 18 points in the first quarter. Haliburton’s basket with 6 minutes, 49 seconds left in the second quarter marked his first points of the game and the Pacers’ only 3-pointer of the first half. After making only seven of their first 23 shots, the Pacers finished the game at 49.4%.

    “We understand that we’re one of the best teams in transition, and the only way we can get transition buckets is getting stops,” Toppin said. “I felt we locked into getting those stops, which allowed us to get a lot more transition points.”

    The Pacers moved ahead for keeps on a 3-pointer by Aaron Nesmith early in the second half. They led by 15 by the end of the third quarter, and Toppin’s layup early in the fourth gave Indiana its biggest lead of the game, 99-83.

    “We just didn’t do a great job of having that sense of urgency, to sprint back,” Anthony said. “I know Toppin had five or six layups where he just outran everyone down the court. That can’t happen. That’s their style. They’re comfortable in it. We let them play their game.”

    The Magic have dropped two in a row for the first time since Jan. 22-26. They shot 37.5% after scoring 128 and 117 points in victories at Indiana in November and December.

    “We’re a very good running team, and that’s well-documented,” Carlisle said. “What we needed tonight was a much higher level of determination than we had in the first two games against these guys.”

    The Pacers played for the first time since learning that Bennedict Mathurin will miss the rest of the season after having shoulder surgery.

    The Magic played without Jalen Suggs (thigh contusion) and Markelle Fultz (left knee strain). Caleb Houstan started in place of Suggs and did not score in 22 minutes.

    The Magic had won 13 of 17 and were beginning a stretch of games in which they will have played 10 of 11 at home. They scored a then-NBA season-low 74 points in a loss at New York on Friday night.

    “That’s part of this league. Once you get comfortable, you can get knocked right off your feet, and I think that’s what’s happened to us these last two games,” Anthony said.

    Up next

    Pacers: At Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.

    Magic: Host Brooklyn on Wednesday night.

    Associated Press

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  • 'We have scouts all over the world': Former NBA All-Star Danny Ainge takes a money shot for global talent

    'We have scouts all over the world': Former NBA All-Star Danny Ainge takes a money shot for global talent

    The Utah Jazz is casting its net wide for international players. 

    “We have scouts all over the world — almost every basketball country throughout the world,” Danny Ainge, the team’s CEO and governor, told CNBC’s “Halftime Report” on Friday.

    The two-time champion of the National Basketball Association and former NBA All-Star highlighted having scouts in countries throughout South America, Europe and Asia, as well as every region in the U.S.

    “It’s a worldwide sport, and we got to find them all,” he said.

    His remarks come after the NBA announced in October that a record 125 international players — five of which were on the Utah Jazz — were on opening-night rosters for the 2023-24 season. Those players hailed from 40 countries and territories across six continents, with a record from Canada at 26 and France at 14.

    All 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player this season.

    International ticket sales also saw a 120% increase from last season, according to StubHub. Fans are traveling from a total of 92 countries to North American games, which is up from 68 countries last season.

    Ainge joined the Utah Jazz as CEO in December 2021 after leading basketball operations for the Boston Celtics for 18 years.

    Utah Jazz’s valuation currently sits at $3.09 billion, according to data from research firm Statista. This marks a 52.59% increase from last year and a 76.57% increase since the year Ainge joined the franchise.

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  • Gilgeous-Alexander scores 35 as Thunder rally past Hawks

    Gilgeous-Alexander scores 35 as Thunder rally past Hawks

    ATLANTA — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Josh Giddey had 12 of his 17 points in the final period, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-114 on Monday night.

    Dejounte Murray finished with 24 points and Trae Young had 23 points and 10 assists for the Hawks (13-11), who have squandered six double-digit leads this season. They began the night tied for second-most in the NBA in that category.

    In winning its third straight, Oklahoma City (11-13) has outscored its last three opponents 106-68 in the fourth. The Thunder trailed 88-84 entering the final period.

    “It was an up and down game for us for sure, but when it really mattered it was a good gut check for us tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Kind of midway through the third to end the third and to start the fourth we were really good again. That won us the game.”

    Giddey’s three-point play early in the fourth made it 91-90 for the Thunder’s first lead since late in the first. They never trailed again as Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s third-leading scorer, kept hitting free throws down the stretch. He scored 12 points in the fourth and finished 15 for 15 from the foul line, all in the second half.

    “Try to be aggressive, I try not to seek them too much, just play aggressive basketball and then when the opportunity presents itself I like to get there,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Unfortunately I didn’t get there in the first half and I knew that going into halftime that I was going to try to get there in the second half for sure.”

    Oklahoma City went on a 23-8 run over an eight-minute span until the 2:53 mark of the fourth, putting too much distance for the Hawks to overcome. Gilgeous-Alexander hit a pair of free throws to make it 111-103 with 1:04 remaining to all but finish off Atlanta.

    “I thought they were able to break down our defense early in the game and forced the defense to collapse and they had their kick-outs,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “They established the tempo that they wanted to play and with that and our help in the turnovers and outworking us on the glass, it’s going to be tough to beat them.”

    Young threw a backward pass over his right shoulder to feed Murray for a dunk that made it 63-54 early in the third, and Oklahoma City called timeout. A.J. Griffin later followed with a 3 that put the Hawks up 66-56, and Atlanta pushed the lead to 14 before the Thunder went on a 17-6 run to close within two on a pair of free throws by Gilgeous-Alexander.

    Young was 0 for 5 from the field before his baseline runner gave Atlanta a 56-52 lead in the final minute before halftime. The Hawks were ahead 59-54 at intermission.

    “The good thing about our team is we don’t give in,” Giddey said. “We play through it. When things get tough, we come together.”

    TIP-INS

    Thunder: Coach Mark Daigneault said swingman Kenrich Williams, who missed the game with a right knee sprain, isn’t expected to be sidelined for long. … Jalen Williams started instead F Aleksej Pokusevski and had 12 points in 31 minutes. … The Thunder won in Atlanta for the first time since March 2018.

    Hawks: Prior to the game, longtime TV announcer Bob Rathbun briefly lost consciousness on the court and was treated for dehydration. He was listed as stable, responsive and heading to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. … Griffin has connected on at least one 3 in nine straight games, the longest such active streak among NBA rookies.

    UP NEXT

    Thunder: At Memphis on Wednesday.

    Hawks: At New York Knicks on Wednesday.

    ———

    More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Trail Blazers beat Pacers in Lillard’s return from injury

    Trail Blazers beat Pacers in Lillard’s return from injury

    PORTLAND, Ore. — Jerami Grant scored 28 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers over the Indiana Pacers 116-100 on Sunday night.

    Blazers star Damian Lillard scored 21 points and had six assists in his first game since returning from a calf strain he suffered on Nov. 19. He’s missed 12 games so far this season.

    “It felt good especially coming off last night. We picked up a big win and I just wanted to encourage the team and bring that energy to get us on a win streak,” Lillard said. “I felt normal, I felt good. I think this time it wasn’t as bad as the first time.”

    Anfernee Simons had 22 points and six assists on the night, while Jusuf Nurkic had 19 points and six rebounds.

    The win helped Portland sweep a back-to-back set after winning in Utah on Saturday night.

    One night after Grant and Simons combined to score 78 points in a win at Utah, Lillard wanted to make sure his return didn’t lead to them turning down their own offense.

    “Don’t let me stop you from being aggressive,” Lillard said of Grant and Simons, who combined to score 50 in Sunday’s win. “I’m going to have the ball in my hands and I’m going to find opportunities to do what I do. That’s what I do.”

    Myles Turner led the Pacers with 24 points and nine rebounds. Buddy Hield had 22 points in support as the Pacers were without starting point guard Tyrese Haliburton.

    Lillard connected on his first field goal attempt — a step back 3-pointer from the corner. With Lillard back in uniform, Portland kept the Pacers at bay for much of the game. Although the Pacers jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter by hitting six of 10 shots, Portland was in control for most of the game.

    “I think at the start of the second half we lost some of our principles defensively,” Turner said. “We got a little too excited offensively and it hurt our defense. We need to play 48 minutes of basketball.”

    The Blazers were hot from the outside, shooting 17 of 40 (42.5%) from the 3-point line. Ball movement was key for Portland as they had 32 assists on 42 made field goals.

    “If we’re really going to win, then it has too be collective,” Lillard said. “It’s really encouraging for me to see it really unfold.”

    Lillard picked up his third foul in the second quarter and the Blazers took him out for the final 2:24 of the first half. During Lillard’s stint on the bench to close the first half, the Blazers extended their lead to 54-49.

    A 3-pointer by Grant extended the lead to 69-53 with 8:54 left in the third quarter and a 3-pointer by Simons pushed the lead to 89-67 with under two minutes in the quarter. Portland took a 93-74 lead into the final period.

    Portland held 22 point leads several times on Sunday night.

    The Pacers showed some grit to start the fourth quarter, cutting the Portland lead to 11 a few times but that was as close as they would get in the final period.

    HALIBURTON OUT

    Haliburton missed his first game of the season with a groin injury on Sunday.

    Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he also expects Haliburton to sit out when the Pacers travel to the Bay Area to face off against the Golden State Warriors.

    UP NEXT

    Indiana: At Golden State Warriors on Monday night.

    Portland: Host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.

    ———

    AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Booker scores 44, Suns top Kings 122-117 for 5th straight

    Booker scores 44, Suns top Kings 122-117 for 5th straight

    Devin Booker had 44 points, eight rebounds and six steals, and the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to five with a 122-117 victory over the Sacramento Kings

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Devin Booker had 44 points, eight rebounds and six steals, and the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to five with a 122-117 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

    Deandre Ayton added 17 points and 12 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season for Phoenix, which has won six of seven.

    Booker closed out his second-highest point total of the season by knocking down a pair of free throws with 6.8 seconds left after Torrey Craig secured an offensive rebound. He scored 49 points in a loss to Utah earlier in the month.

    Damion Lee scored 15 points off the bench, hitting three 3-pointers. Mikal Bridges finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. He hit a three-pointer with just over a minute left to stretch the lead to 10.

    Malik Monk scored 30 points for the Kings, his fourth game over 20 points this season.

    Domantas Sabonis finished with 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. The Kings have lost three straight after a seven-game win streak.

    Kevin Huerter scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Huerter’s dunk with 35 seconds left cut the Suns’ lead to three.

    Keegan Murray scored 11 points. The rookie from Iowa had scored in single digits in the Kings’ last three games.

    The first half featured 16 ties and eight lead changes. Phoenix opened the second half on a 14-2 run after trailing by one.

    TIP-INS

    Suns: G Chris Paul missed his 10th consecutive game with right heel soreness. … Booker was given a technical foul with 3:41 left in the first quarter.

    Kings: F Trey Lyles was ruled out due to a non-COVID illness… Sabonis recorded his 12th double-double of the season, which is the second-most in the NBA. … The Kings have scored over 100 points in every game this season.

    UP NEXT

    Suns: Host Chicago on Wednesday.

    Kings: Host Indiana on Wednesday.

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  • Bogdanovic, Pistons beat Jazz for back-to-back road wins

    Bogdanovic, Pistons beat Jazz for back-to-back road wins

    Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points and Kevin Knox II had a season-high 21 points, including a career-best six 3-pointers, to boost the Detroit Pistons to their second straight road win, 125-116 over the Utah Jazz

    SALT LAKE CITY — Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points and Kevin Knox II had a season-high 21 points, including a career-best six 3-pointers, to boost the Detroit Pistons to their second straight road win, 125-116 over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

    Marvin Bagley III scored a season-high 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting and Alec Burks added 18 points.

    The Pistons had lost seven in a row overall and 10 straight on the road before beating Denver on Tuesday, their first away victory this season. Despite playing back-to-back, the Pistons were quicker to the loose balls and seemed to grab all the 50-50 rebounds.

    Malik Beasley led Utah with 29 points and a season-high eight 3s while Jordan Clarkson had 24 points and Collin Sexton, starting for the injured Mike Conley (knee), set a career high with 12 assists.

    Bogdanovic spent three years with the Jazz before he was traded in the deal that brought Kelly Olynyk to Utah. He played his best in clutch situations, as Jazz fans saw him do often.

    After the Jazz got within 113-110 with 3:49 to play, Bogdanovic found Burks for a 3-pointer and added two free throws while the Pistons held Utah scoreless for 3:22.

    The Pistons were up by as many as 14 in the first half before settling for a 66-54 halftime advantage, bolstered by a 15-2 edge in second-chance points.

    Beasley had 14 more 3s than any other reserve player in the league coming into the game and continued to give the Jazz instant offense, especially on a night when they struggled defensively.

    The Pistons continually drove the lane and made layups or found wide-open 3-point shooters in the corners.

    TIP-INS

    Pistons: Scored 17 points off nine Jazz turnovers in the first half. … Shot 25 of 27 from the line and had nine steals. … Killian Hayes (left calf) did not play in the second half.

    Jazz: Lauri Markkanen, who leads the Jazz in scoring at 22.4 points per game, was scoreless in the first half and finished with 13 points. … Clarkson moved into fifth all-time for 3s made in Jazz history with 551, passing Bogdanovic. … Kessler, who had five rejections, is the leading shot blocker among rookies.

    UP NEXT

    Pistons: At Phoenix on Friday.

    Jazz: At Golden State on Friday.

    ———

    AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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