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Tag: rebounds

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

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    (Photo credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

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

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

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

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

    Bobby Portis added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    –Field Level Media

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  • No. 9 Iowa State turns focus to defense vs. Oklahoma State

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    (Photo credit: Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

    No. 9 Iowa State would like nothing more than to string together another long set of victories.

    The Cyclones (17-2, 4-2 Big 12 Conference) will go for back-to-back wins when they tip off against Oklahoma State (14-5, 2-4) on Saturday afternoon in Stillwater, Okla.

    Iowa State won its first 16 games of the season before enduring back-to-back road losses at Kansas and Cincinnati. The Cyclones recovered with an 87-57 home win over UCF on Tuesday night, reminding fans that it can dominate on both ends of the court.

    Cyclones coach T.J. Otzelberger consistently has emphasized defense as the key for his team’s success. He praised his players for limiting UCF to 57 points after allowing an average of 81.5 points in the previous two losses.

    Joshua Jefferson played a vital role in the defensive improvement, Otzelberger said. It is something he hopes to see continue when the Cyclones take on Oklahoma State.

    ‘I’d say, defensively, he had an edge to how he played,’ Otzelberger said. ‘He was really helping pressure and getting turnovers, and then for him, we’ve got to do the best job we can trying to (get into the) open court. But when he can get a dunk in transition, and he can get a finish where the whole defense isn’t loaded up, that’s going to build his confidence. I think he earned that on the defensive end.

    ‘And then he took a leadership position in terms of, we’re going to move the ball, we’re going to share the ball, we’re going to keep it on the move. And to have 12 assists and no turnovers, I mean, that’s ridiculous. Not to mention the rebounds and the points. So, I’m just proud of his ability mentally to lock in on the things that are important for us to be successful, and now we’ve just got to work together and maintain that every night out.’

    Milan Momcilovic is Iowa State’s top scorer with 18.2 points per game on 54.4 percent shooting, including 54.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Jefferson is next with 17.3 points per game to go along with a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game, and Tamin Lipsey also is scoring in double digits with 13.2 points per game.

    Oklahoma State has lost four of its past six games, including a 68-65 loss at TCU on Tuesday night. The Cowboys already played Iowa State on Jan. 10, losing 83-71 on the road, and they will look to improve upon their 1-2 record against ranked opponents.

    Anthony Roy leads Oklahoma State with 17.6 points per game. Three other players are scoring in double digits including Parsa Fallah (14.4 points per game), Vyctorius Miller (13.9) and Jaylen Curry (10.5).

    Cowboys coach Steve Lutz knows that his team is in for a challenge on its home court.

    ‘The league is so darn good, there’s going to be carnage along the way,’ Lutz said. ‘… I think last year we started off 2-7 in the league, and it was really hard to recover from that. It’s very important that we don’t repeat that performance.’

    –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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  • 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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  • Raptors dig out of 21-point hole to steal game from Magic

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    (Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

    Reserve Jamal Shead scored 19 points as the Toronto Raptors overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the visiting Orlando Magic 107-106.

    Brandon Ingram added 17 points for the Raptors, who have won two straight. Scottie Barnes had 13 points and 11 rebounds and made the decisive free throws in the final seconds. Gradey Dick scored 15 points, and Sandro Mamukelashvili tallied 13. Ochai Agbaji and Ja’Kobe Walter each scored 10 points, and Collin Murray-Boyles had four points and 12 rebounds.

    Anthony Black scored 16 of his 27 points in the third quarter for the Magic, who opened a three-game road trip. Paolo Banchero added 23 points, 10 assists and 15 rebounds.

    Desmond Bane scored 18 points, and Tyus Jones recorded 10.

    Orlando led by as many as 21 points in the first half, but the margin had shrunk to 10 entering the fourth quarter. Barnes nailed a 3-pointer to reduce the lead to two with 5:46 to play. Shead tied the game at 102 on a driving dunk with 4:42 to play after Barnes grabbed a defensive rebound. Ingram’s jumper gave Toronto the lead with 4:07 to play. Orlando regained a one-point lead on Wendell Carter Jr.’s jumper with 1:41 left. Carter fouled out, and Barnes made both free throws as Toronto regained a one-point lead. Banchero missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game.

    The Magic led 29-18 after one quarter.

    Orlando used a 10-0 surge, capped by Banchero’s corner 3-pointer, to open a 45-25 lead with 7:43 to play in the second quarter. The lead reached 21 with 6:07 to play before the Raptors rallied and used the fast break to reduce the margin to nine with 2:42 left on Shead’s layup. Banchero completed the first half by swishing a catch-and-shoot, 15-foot high-arcing jumper that gave Orlando a 65-54 lead.

    The lead shrunk to five on Mamukelashvili’s three-point play with 6:07 left in the third quarter. Orlando rallied to lead by 14 on Black’s 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining. Orlando led 94-84 after three quarters.

    Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac left the game early in the first quarter with a sore left knee and did not return.

    Toronto was without RJ Barrett (knee injury management) and Jakob Poeltl (strained back).

    –Field Level Media

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  • Themus Fulks helps UCF slide past Florida Atlantic

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    (Photo credit: Sophia Scheller-Imagn Images)

    Themus Fulks totaled 24 points and 12 assists and made crucial late jumper, and UCF overcame a first-half deficit to reach double figures with their 10th straight win, rallying past Florida Atlantic 85-80 on Tuesday afternoon in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

    The point guard made 9 of 14 shots, all five of his free throws and added three rebounds as the Knights (11-1) turned flipped a five-point halftime deficit into an early lead in the second half following an 11-point run.

    Riley Kugel had 18 points, six rebounds and four steals. Jamichael Stillwell and Jordan Burks had 15 and 14 points, respectively, plus six rebounds apiece. John Bol grabbed 11 boards.

    UCF shot 49% (32 of 65) and held a 23-6 edge in fastbreak points.

    Playing without its best player and leading scorer Devin Vanterpool, the Owls (8-5) got 20 points and four rebounds from Xander Pintelon, who sank 4 of 8 long shots.

    Kanaan Carlyle posted 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Isaiah Elohim and Devin Williams had 11 points each.

    In the neutral-site matchup, Florida International had better jump from the start against the Big 12 school and led 17-10 early in the first half behind six points by Pintelon.

    UCF coach Johnny Dawkins called a timeout after Maxim Logue’s dunk at 11:50 to regroup his bunch after the Owls’ 9-0 run and a stretch of seven straight field-goal misses by his team.

    Amar Amkou made the half-high lead 14, 30-16, with 6:17 to play, but the Knights whittled away at the deficit and trimmed it to 35-33 on a dunk by Burks. However, the first half ended with Elohim canning a 25-footer for a 38-33 lead.

    In the second half, Fulks’ driving layup at 17:05 capped an 11-0 run as UCF led 44-38 and took control of the matchup for the first time.

    The Knights’ advantage was as much as seven points with over seven minutes left, but the Owls trailed just 74-72 on Niccolo Moretti’s layup at 2:56.

    With a one-point lead, Fulks sank a hook shot with 1:17 left, and Pintelon – an 89% foul shooter – missed the front end of a 1-and-1.

    Fulks then fed Kugel for a breakaway dunk, and the Knights hung on for the hard-fought win.

    –Field Level Media

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  • UCF extends win streak to 8 with second-half explosion vs. Mercer

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    (Photo credit: Nadia Zomorodian/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

    Jordan Burks led all scorers with 17 points and Riley Kugel added 16 to lead UCF to an 81-63 win over Mercer on Wednesday in Orlando, Fla.

    Themus Fulks chipped in with 14 points, while Jamichael Stillwell recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

    With the win, the Knights (9-1) extended their winning streak to eight games, the program’s longest since the 2004-2005 campaign.

    Brady Shoulders led Mercer (7-4) with 14 points and Armani Mighty finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. Leading scorer Baraka Okojie was held to 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting.

    UCF outscored Mercer 46-36 in the second half behind its three-point shooting. Burks gave the Knights a 47-31 lead early in the second half with one of his four 3-pointers. Carmelo Pacheco added a 3-pointer of his own with 11:28 remaining to give UCF a 58-39 lead.

    Overall, UCF went 5-for-7 from long distance in the second half and shot 64.3% from the floor. The Knights made their last five field goal attempts.

    In the first half, both teams struggled offensively. UCF missed nine of its first 10 3-point attempts and made just three of its 17 perimeter shots in the first half. The Knights were limited to 30% from the floor in the first half.

    The big difference in the first half was UCF’s 15-2 run that helped the Knights take a 28-14 lead with 6:08 remaining in the half. Mercer, however, responded with an 8-0 run of its own to cut the deficit to 28-22.

    UCF took an 11-point lead in the last minute of the half, but Connor Serven cut the halftime deficit to 35-27 after knocking down a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

    The Knights will put their winning streak on the line on Saturday when they host Florida Gulf Coast in their penultimate non-conference game. Mercer will travel to Washington State on Saturday.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Spurs star C Victor Wembanyama (calf) could return vs. Thunder

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

    San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama is listed as probable for Saturday night’s NBA Cup semifinal at Las Vegas against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    Wembanyama has missed the past 12 games due to a left calf strain. He had traveled with the team and participated in light workouts this week.

    The Spurs are 9-3 without the center who was the unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year last season when he averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, recorded a league-leading 254 blocked shots and made 128 3-pointers.

    This season, the 21-year-old is averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.6 blocked shots in 12 games.

    The winner of the West final between the Spurs and Thunder will advance to Tuesday’s NBA Cup title game. The New York Knicks and Orlando Magic play in the East final on Saturday.

    –Field Level Media

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  • UCF explores newfound depth with slumping VMI on deck

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    (Photo credit: Nadia Zomorodian/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

    UCF coach Johnny Dawkins might have found something in Tuesday’s comeback win over Quinnipiac — a go-to big man.

    Dawkins and his Knights will search for their sixth straight win when they host VMI on Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

    The Knights (6-1) trailed Quinnipiac 60-50 in the second half before reserve Jeremy Foumena lit a fire, sending the home side on an extended 34-10 scoring tear through the Bobcats’ defense that put the game away.

    On a career night, the 6-foot-11 Foumena, a Montreal native who had just 17 points all season, stood out.

    He poured in a career-high 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting by dominating around the rim with his teammates feeding him while UCF committed a season-low 10 turnovers.

    A junior center, Foumena played sparingly in his lone season at his most recent stop at Mississippi State when he saw action in just nine games. He started his career at Rhode Island.

    ‘I’m a kid that stayed the course,’ said Foumena, who grabbed seven rebounds. ‘In the second half, we knew we had to go deep. … We just came out strong.’

    Point guard Themus Fulks handed out a career-high 13 assists, nearly double his average of 7.7 per game, while John Bol notched a career-high 13 points with six rebounds.

    A UCF win Saturday would equal the best start under Dawkins with the 2016-17 team that went 24-12 and advanced to the NIT semifinals.

    The Keydets (3-6) will finish a four-game road swing through Florida and will be looking for better play.

    VMI has dropped five straight games since notching its last win in a 106-54 pounding of Virginia-Lynchburg on Nov. 12.

    ‘I told the guys there’s usually a game every season that you have to wash away,’ Keydets coach Andrew Wilson said after an 87-54 loss to Richmond last week before leaving on the current road trip. ‘… We’ve got a tough journey ahead of us.’

    He was right.

    The Southern Conference school fell 81-48 to Bowling Green at the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Wednesday, making just 10 of 50 shots (20%). Only one player, Linus Holmstrom, hit double figures with 11 points, as VMI lost for the third time in the Sunshine State after losses to Stetson and Buffalo.

    TJ Johnson leads the squad at 20.1 points per game, while Walker Andrews scores 11.3 and Mario Tatum Jr. adds 10.8.

    –Field Level Media

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

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    (Photo credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    –Field Level Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Wizards 132, Hawks 113

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

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

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

    Magic 144, 76ers 103

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

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

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

    –Field Level Media

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  • Magic end homestand in search of another win as Knicks continue road trip

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    (Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

    The Orlando Magic look to complete a sweep of their three-game homestand on Saturday, welcoming a New York Knicks team in the middle of a five-game road trip.

    Orlando is 5-1 over its past six games, with defeats of the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday and Thursday. The Magic were especially dominant defensively against the Clippers, forcing them into 21 turnovers that Orlando converted into 33 points.

    The Magic also parlayed takeaways into fast-break opportunities, scoring a season-high 41 breakaway points.

    ‘Stops to get out and run,’ Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said, emphasizing he wants that to be a consistent identity for the Magic going forward. ‘That’s the point of our defense. We talk about the running game, but it only comes after you get the stops; not frantic, but the right way. Let your defense create your offense.’

    Mosley also offered praise for Jalen Suggs, who has come alive amid Orlando’s recent surge with strong all-around performances. He is averaging 14.5 points, 5.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game in November.

    Against the Clippers, Suggs was 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range en route to a season-high 23 points, dished seven assists and came away with a pair of steals in one of his best performances of the season. His scoring pop helped the Magic endure the continued absence of Paolo Banchero, who missed his fourth consecutive game due to a groin injury.

    Banchero, who is averaging 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game on the season, last played in Orlando’s 124-107 win at New York on Nov. 12.

    Banchero sustained the injury that continues to sideline him during that meeting and was limited to 12 minutes. Franz Wagner picked up the slack with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Desmond Bane added 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

    Jalen Brunson scored 31 points, part of the two-time All-NBA guard’s 28.0 points per game output on the season. He missed the next two games due to an ankle injury — a pair of matchups with Miami, which the Knicks split — but returned to the lineup to score 28 points in a 113-111 win at Dallas on Wednesday.

    Landry Shamet was the Knicks’ hero in that one, knocking down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:02 left in regulation and another with 31 seconds to go that broke a 109-109 stalemate.

    Shamet’s performance highlighted why first-year Knicks coach Mike Brown said he was intent on the eight-season veteran being a key contributor in 2025-26.

    ‘I was a big fan of him, watching (him) play last year and even prior,’ Brown told the New York Post. ‘For me, having him a part of this team completed the group. Now we have a lot of diverse guys. He’s just doing, in my opinion, what he’s capable of doing.’

    Shamet is one of eight Knicks scoring at least nine points per game in a minimum of 12 appearances this season. His 9.9 clip places him just outside the six Knicks averaging in double figures, led by Brunson and followed by Karl-Anthony Towns (21.5).

    –Field Level Media

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  • UCF topples Pitt to kick off Legends Classic

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    (Photo credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images)

    Riley Kugel and Themus Fulks each scored 18 points, Jamichael Stillwell had 12 points and 11 rebounds and UCF extended its winning streak to four with a 77-67 victory over Pitt on Thursday night in Daytona Beach, Fla.

    Fulks made three 3-pointers and dished out four assists as UCF (5-1) successfully debuted at the annual Legends Classic and earned the program’s first-ever win against Pitt (4-2). The Knights also won for the fourth time in five visits to the Ocean Center — located fewer than 60 miles from the Knights’ campus in Orlando — dating back to 1997.

    Jordan Burks, a transfer from Georgetown, chipped in nine points and four rebounds for UCF.

    UCF entered as one of the nation’s top teams in three-point shooting percentage (47.7), but the Knights finished just 6 of 18 from behind the arc. The Knights benefited from 24 second-chance points and a 46-28 scoring edge in the paint.

    Pitt made 18 of 21 free throws but converted only 7 of 27 3-pointers.

    Cameron Corhen posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Panthers and Barry Dunning Jr. had 14 points off the bench, making all six of his free throws. Damarco Minor contributed 14 points, punctuated by a late flurry of 3-pointers that helped keep the Panthers close. He added four rebounds and four assists.

    UCF opened the second half on a 15-3 run for a 53-39 lead with 13:22 remaining. Stillwell had back-to-back baskets, 7-foot-2 center John Bol added an offensive putback and a lane jumper and Carmelo Pacheco sank a 3-pointer to highlight the decisive stretch.

    Kugel was whistled for his fourth foul with just more than 11 minutes left and UCF ahead 55-44. Pitt’s Brandin Cummings, who entered averaging 13.8 points per game, completed a three-point play to get on the scoresheet, but UCF countered with a quick 7-0 run to make it 62-47.

    Fulks made an open three as time ran down in the first half, lifting UCF to a 38-36 advantage at intermission. The opening 20 minutes featured eight lead changes and four ties as Pitt established a rhythm inside with Corhen, who had 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

    –Field Level Media

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  • UCF escapes pesky Hofstra for four-point win

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    (Photo credit: Sophia Scheller-Imagn Images)

    Riley Kugel scored 19 points for host UCF, which held off upset-minded Hofstra to earn an 82-78 win in the season opener for both schools Monday night in Orlando, Fla.

    Jordan Burks had 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds for UCF, which didn’t return anyone who scored for the team last season. Kugel transferred to the Knights from Mississippi State while Burks arrived from Georgetown.

    Themus Fulks, a transfer from Milwaukee, added 16 points with eight assists and hit the tiebreaking long 2-pointer that gave the Knights the lead for good at 66-64 with 7:38 left.

    Another Milwaukee transfer, Jamichael Stillwell, finished with 10 points.

    The Knights were 22 of 36 from the foul line, including 17 of 23 in the second half.

    Cruz Davis scored 17 points while true freshman Preston Edmead had 16 points and a team-high six assists for Hofstra, a member of the Coastal Athletic Association.

    German Plotnikov finished with 13 points for the Pride. Silas Sunday added 10 points and six rebounds.

    Hofstra took a 16-7 lead to open the game before UCF went on a 29-11 run to take its biggest lead at 36-27.

    The Pride scored the final five points of the first half to begin a 30-18 run that ended with Joshua DeCady’s layup and Edmead’s free throw to put the visitors ahead 57-54 with 10:47 to go.

    UCF scored 10 of the next 14 points before Edmead tied the game for the final time with a 3-pointer with 8:10 left. The Knights expanded their lead to eight points twice, the last at 79-71, before Hofstra got within three points twice in the final minute.

    UCF’s Devan Cambridge missed a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left, but Burks pulled down the rebound and Fulks iced the win by sinking his second free throw six seconds later.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Magic continue dominance over Wizards with decisive win

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    (Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    –Field Level Media

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

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    (Photo credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images)

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

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

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

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

    Bucks 120, Warriors 110

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

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

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

    Thunder 127, Wizards 108

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

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

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

    Magic 123, Hornets 107

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

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

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

    –Field Level Media

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  • Magic sign former Arkansas G Johnell Davis, waive F Justin Minaya

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    (Photo credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images)

    The Orlando Magic signed undrafted free agent guard Johnell Davis and waived small forward Justin Minaya to keep their roster at 21 players on Sunday night.

    The Magic did not disclose terms for Davis, who signed a one-year, non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract, per the Orlando Sentinel, that can be converted into a two-way deal with their G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic, before the start of the regular season.

    Minaya, 26, played in 57 games (one start) for the Portland Trail Blazers over parts of the past three seasons, including 19 games in 2024-25. He has averaged 1.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 10.0 minutes per game. He spent much of last season in the G League and was signed as a free agent by the Magic on Sept. 2.

    Davis played his final college season in 2024-25 at Arkansas, where he appeared in 34 games (29 starts) and averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 31.7 minutes.

    His first four seasons were at Florida Atlantic University (2020-24), where he averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 22.9 minutes in 128 games (53 starts). Davis was the American Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2023-24 and an All-Conference USA first-team pick and the C-USA Sixth Man of the Year in 2022-23.

    –Field Level Media

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