The NBA announced in January that the league has expansion plans, in partnership with FIBA, to introduce a new league in Europe as early as 2027. It has already began to draw interest from investors who want in on the new league.
An investment group backed by Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki have plans to buy an Italian basketball team with hopes of joining the NBA-European league, according to The Athletic.
Los Angeles Clippers (25-28, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (33-19, third in the Western Conference)
Houston; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rockets -8.5; over/under is 210.5
BOTTOM LINE: Houston takes on Los Angeles in a matchup of Western Conference teams.
The Rockets have gone 19-15 against Western Conference teams. Houston ranks fourth in the league allowing just 109.7 points per game while holding opponents to 45.8% shooting.
The Clippers are 15-16 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles ranks ninth in the NBA giving up just 112.5 points while holding opponents to 46.6% shooting.
The Rockets average 11.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.2 fewer makes per game than the Clippers give up (13.5). The Clippers average 12.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 more makes per game than the Rockets allow.
The two teams match up for the fourth time this season. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 102-95 in their last matchup on Feb. 11. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 26 points, and Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Durant is shooting 50.6% and averaging 25.9 points for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun is averaging 19.1 points over the last 10 games.
Leonard is averaging 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals for the Clippers. John Collins is averaging 16.4 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 105.7 points, 47.7 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 10.3 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.5 points per game.
Clippers: 6-4, averaging 110.7 points, 43.1 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.2 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Darius Garland: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Antonio Spurs (36-16, second in the Western Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (29-25, eighth in the Western Conference)
San Francisco; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Spurs -6.5; over/under is 219.5
BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio takes on the Golden State Warriors after Stephon Castle scored 40 points in the Spurs' 138-125 victory against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Warriors are 19-15 against Western Conference opponents. Golden State is second in the Western Conference with 28.7 assists per game led by Draymond Green averaging 5.1.
The Spurs are 23-13 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio scores 118.0 points while outscoring opponents by 5.8 points per game.
The Warriors are shooting 46.1% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points higher than the 45.6% the Spurs allow to opponents. The Spurs average 13.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 more makes per game than the Warriors allow.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Warriors won 109-108 in the last meeting on Nov. 15. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 49 points, and Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 26 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Moses Moody is scoring 11.4 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Warriors. Gui Santos is averaging 12.0 points and 4.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.
De'Aaron Fox is averaging 19.5 points and 6.2 assists for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 19.2 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 47.1% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 4-6, averaging 110.8 points, 40.0 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 12.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.
Spurs: 6-3, averaging 118.1 points, 47.2 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 7.4 steals and 7.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Will Richard: day to day (knee), Stephen Curry: out (knee), De'Anthony Melton: day to day (glute), Seth Curry: out (back).
Spurs: Lindy Waters III: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
New York Knicks (34-20, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (30-23, sixth in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: 76ers -2.5; over/under is 221.5
BOTTOM LINE: New York takes on the Philadelphia 76ers after Jalen Brunson scored 40 points in the Knicks' 137-134 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The 76ers have gone 8-5 against division opponents. Philadelphia is seventh in the Eastern Conference with 16.1 fast break points per game led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 5.5.
The Knicks have gone 23-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York scores 117.6 points while outscoring opponents by 5.3 points per game.
The 76ers are shooting 46.1% from the field this season, the same percentage the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks are shooting 47.1% from the field, 0.1% higher than the 47.0% the 76ers' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Knicks won the last meeting 112-109 on Jan. 24, with Brunson scoring 31 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: VJ Edgecombe is averaging 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals for the 76ers. Joel Embiid is averaging 23.6 points over the last 10 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 19.8 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 25.6 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 6-4, averaging 116.1 points, 40.0 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points per game.
Knicks: 8-2, averaging 116.4 points, 46.5 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.7 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Joel Embiid: day to day (knee), Dominick Barlow: day to day (illness), Quentin Grimes: day to day (illness).
Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (toe), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Miles McBride: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (14-40, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (15-37, 13th in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Nets -4.5; over/under is 215
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana visits the Brooklyn Nets following the Pacers' 137-134 overtime victory over the New York Knicks.
The Nets are 11-21 in conference play. Brooklyn is 10-25 in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Pacers are 10-26 in conference games. Indiana has a 4-23 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Nets average 107.6 points per game, 11.2 fewer points than the 118.8 the Pacers give up. The Pacers average 12.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 more makes per game than the Nets give up.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Nov. 6 the Nets won 112-103 led by 32 points from Michael Porter Jr., while Pascal Siakam scored 23 points for the Pacers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Porter is averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Nets. Nic Claxton is averaging 12.1 points over the last 10 games.
Siakam is averaging 23.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Andrew Nembhard is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 3-7, averaging 106.3 points, 44.4 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.9 points per game.
Pacers: 4-6, averaging 115.5 points, 42.0 rebounds, 30.3 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.9 points.
INJURIES: Nets: Noah Clowney: day to day (ankle), Nic Claxton: day to day (hip), Michael Porter Jr.: out (knee).
Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Jarace Walker: day to day (illness), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Bronny James saw some game action as the Los Angeles Lakers were without five starters in a 136-108 loss against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
James logged 25 minutes of playing time in the blowout loss, as the Lakers played without Luka Doncic (hamstring), Austin Reaves (left calf), LeBron James (foot), Marcus Smart (right ankle) and Deandre Ayton (knee).
He scored a season-high 12 points on 50% shooting from the field, including a perfect two-for-two from deep. James added three rebounds and a block on the evening.
James also dished out a team-high six assists including a showtime alley-oop toss to rookie Adou Thiero, who went up top to slam it down with two hands.
James was assigned to the G-League following Lakers' Feb. 7 win against the Golden State Warriors. However, he was recalled, along with Thiero and Dalton Knecht ahead of Monday's 119-110 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
James is averaging 1.9 points, 1.1 assists, 0.4 rebounds and 0.4 steals in 6.8 minutes per game. He's appeared in 27 games for the Lakers in the 2025-26 regular-season.
Here is Bronny James' stat line vs the Spurs:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bronny James scores season-high after rejoining Lakers
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Graham Ike had 20 points and seven rebounds, Davis Fogle scored 17 off the bench and No. 12 Gonzaga routed Washington State 83-53 on Tuesday night for its ninth straight victory over the Cougars.
Mario Saint-Supery and Adam Miller added 11 points apiece for the Bulldogs (24-2, 12-1 West Coast Conference), who tied Santa Clara atop the league standings. The teams meet Saturday with first place on the line.
Jerone Morton scored 15 points while Ace Glass and Rihards Vavers each had 12 for Washington State (11-16, 6-8), also blown out at home by Gonzaga in January.
The Cougars were hampered by 39% shooting from the field and 21 turnovers. Gonzaga shot 55% and committed 12 turnovers.
Washington State's last win over Gonzaga came in 2010, though the Cougars own a 98-56 advantage in a series that began in 1907. Gonzaga has dominated since the turn of the century.
The Zags took control early, going on a 12-2 run midway through the first half to grab a 29-13 lead as WSU committed five turnovers in a four-minute span.
The Cougars did not make a field goal for six minutes as Gonzaga pushed its lead to 33-15 on Fogle's dunk.
Gonzaga led 48-21 at halftime, thanks to 62% shooting from the field. Washington State shot just 26%, including 2 of 15 from 3-point range. The Cougars committed 11 turnovers that led to 17 points for Gonzaga.
The Zags had 21 field goals in the first half, while the Cougars sank only six.
Washington State hosts Pacific on Feb. 18.
Gonzaga plays at Santa Clara on Saturday night.
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The significantly undermanned Lakers were overwhelmed by the Spurs in a 136-108 loss on Tuesday night. It’s the second loss in a row with one more game left until the All-Star break.
The game started as we all expected, with Victor Wembanyama dominating. After a 3-pointer from Julian Champagnie to open the scoring for San Antonio, Wemby scored 17 straight points.
Kobe Bufkin had five points, while another welcome sight for LA was Jake LaRavia draining two 3-pointers.
Wemby was unstoppable, though, and finished the quarter with a ridiculous 25 points. The Spurs were shooting 66% from the field, while the Lakers shot 50%.
Despite being down big, LA had a balanced scoring effort with everyone except Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt putting some points on the board.
Going into the second period, Los Angeles was down by 17.
San Antonio started the second quarter, continuing their offensive onslaught with an instant 6-0 scoring run.
LaRavia was the first Laker in double figures with 10 points. However, he also had four fouls. The rest of the quarter was cardio, with a few spots here and there of decent offense from the Lakers that didn’t do a single thing to cut into the deficit.
At halftime, the purple and gold were down by 29 while Wemby had 37 points.
Rui Hachimura started the third period with a jumper for LA. The Spurs converted on three 3-pointers, two of which were from Harrison Barnes. LaRavia’s night was over quickly as he fouled out with 10 points.
Wemby had been scoreless for the first half of the quarter, but ended up draining a 3-pointer to hit 40 points for the night shortly before checking out.
Los Angeles did go on a nice 8-2 scoring run as the quarter ended. Kennard led LA with 14 points, while Hayes was close behind with 13 points. Going into the final frame, the Spurs were up by 34.
The fourth quarter saw both teams bringing in the depths of their benches to close out the final 12 minutes. Adou Thiero was back from injury and threw down an impressive dunk off an assist from Bronny James.
LA’s youngins put on a fun show, going on a 15-2 scoring run, until San Antonio’s bench responded with a 9-0 run to restore their dominant order.
Kennard had 14 points with five assists. Hayes ended with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. LaRavia finished with 10 points and two rebounds before fouling out.
Bufkin pitched in with seven points and two rebounds. Drew Timme notched 14 points, going 5-8 from the field. Bronny James put up 12 points with six assists.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday at 7:00 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
San Antonio started its Rodeo Road Trip by displacing the Boston Celtics with the highest scoring half (84 to 83) by an opponent in Lakers’ franchise history on the way to a blowout win. Los Angeles, missing Luka Doncic, Lebron James, and Austin Reaves, could not stop Wembanyama from putting up a Gervin-like 25 point first quarter and 37 for the half in 18 total minutes. The Spurs surpassed 30+ points over the first three quarters, while keeping their field goal percentage well above 50% and nabbing 13 steals. The only down moment of the night came late in the first half, when Stephon Castle impressively turned away a Laker transition dunk at the rim, but fell awkwardly on his backside and didn’t return.
Victor Wembanyama (40 points and 12 rebounds) had a comically easy time generating his numbers tonight in comparison to some of his recent physical battles to push San Antonio to 17-10 on the road. Rookie Carter Bryant (16 points and 4 rebounds) continued his recent string of solid games, while fellow rookie Dylan Harper (15 points and 6 assists) shined just as brightly. Harrison Barnes (11 points and 3 steals) had a solid night off the bench.
Luke Kennard (14 points and 5 assists) and Jaxson Hayes (13 points and 4 rebounds) paced the Lakers in defeat. With a boxscore resembling an 80s backup center, Jake LaRavia finished with 10 points and 6 fouls.
Wembanyama scored 17 of San Antonio’s first 20 points with extraordinary creativity and accuracy, while Los Angeles struggled to find any movement and space. The Lakers looked like they were figuring out pre-season assignments during that initial Wemby-lanche. The impressive thing was that the Spurs drew Los Angeles into the foul bonus within minutes to expand out the offensive repertoire. Los Angeles started seeing its shots fall – enabling them to stay within 10-14 points. While Wembanyama sat, Keldon Johnson muscled home two lay-ups, Harper dribbled circles around his defenders, and a Kornet reverse tip-in made it 47-30.
San Antonio made sure to not play with its food and continued to add to its cushion through much of the second quarter. Wembanyama continued to feast from the interior while the standout guards – Fox, Harper, and Bryant – helped get the lead to as much as 30. Bryant, in particular, played the role of confident lead guard (especially after Castle went to the locker room after a tough fall) and the Spurs went to the half up 84-55.
San Antonio started the second half with consecutive threes from Harrison Barnes and Devin Vassell, but wasted several of possessions after. Kennard’s corner three did bring Los Angeles square with the Spurs for the period. Wembanyama continued his dominant offense over several minutes before the teams emptied their benches as the San Antonio lead stretched to 40.
After a Champagnie baseline three on the first possession, Wembanyama scored the next 17 in rapid and dominant succession for San Antonio. The Lakers were hesitant and tentative – missing often from distance. Outside of Bufkin’s two baskets, the Lakers fell behind by double-digits. Fox was the first Spur other than the previous two to get into the boxscore. LaRavia hit his shots to keep things interesting over the remainder of the quarter. In the final four Wemby-less minutes, San Antonio increased its advantage and exited the first up 17.
At the start of the second, Fox and Harper formed a solid battery – Fox fed for a Harper lob, then Fox fed for a Harper reverse. Bryant got in on the action with a power dunk to make it 53-30 with Stu Lantz lamenting “the Lakers looking at a TERRIBLE scoreboard.” LaRavia, picked up his fourth foul with over 9+ minutes left. Bryant bricked an open corner three, but confidently knocked down his next one seconds later. A baseline floater by Wembanyama made it 70-40. Castle had a spectacular chasedown block of a Hachimura dunk but had a difficult fall in the process. Wembanyama walked Kennard in for a Nerf dunk; then fed Bryant in the corner for a Danny Green three. LaRavia picked up his FIFTH FOUL with six seconds in the half, and the Spurs went to the break up 28.
Barnes and Vassell led off San Antonio’s scoring in the third with triples. LaRavia hilariously picked up his sixth foul with 7:43 in the third! Wembanyama’s wing three got the Spurs to 100 and himself to 40 – effectively ending the night for him. Harper’s transition and-1 pushed the Spur lead to 40 and San Antonio accomplished its goals of avoiding any more injuries while maintaining sufficient cushion to rest its starters for Wednesday’s tilt with Golden State, .
For the Lakers fan’s perspective, please visit Silver Screen and Roll.
San Antonio has a road SEGABABA with Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night at 9:00 PM CDT.
San Antonio Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama went off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.
Wembanyama dropped a Spurs-record 37 points in the first half of a 136-108 blowout against the Lakers, who were without five starters — Luka Doncic (hamstring), Austin Reaves (left calf), LeBron James (foot), Marcus Smart (right ankle) and Deandre Ayton (knee).
During the first half, Wembanyama shot an efficient 12-of-17 from the field, including three made 3-pointers. In addition, he pulled down eight rebounds.
Wembanyama's 37 points are the most in any half of a regular-season game by a Spurs player in the play-by-play era (since the 1997-98 season). Wemby got off to a hot start, scoring 25 points in the first quarter, missing just one shot on 8-of-9 shooting.
Wembanyama added a 3-pointer in the third quarter with 4:34 remaining to give himself 40 points. Shortly thereafter, he was subbed out of the game with the Spurs holding a commanding 100-68 lead.
It's his sixth career 40-point game and his second of the 2025-26 regular season. Wembanyama scored 40 during the Spurs' season-opener against the Dallas Mavericks.
Wembanyama's career-high is 50 points, which he eclipsed on Nov. 13, 2024 against the Washington Wizards.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wemby points, highlights: Spurs star hits stats milestone vs. Lakers
NEW YORK (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, Andrew Nembhard had 24 points and 10 assists and the Indiana Pacers snapped a four-game losing streak by holding off the New York Knicks with a 137-134 overtime victory on Tuesday night.
The Pacers scored the first nine points of overtime and overcame a furious Knicks run over the final 24.3 seconds, during which they scored eight points in 20 seconds.
Indiana had eight players that scored in double figures and the Pacers’ bench outscored New York’s 43-18.
Jalen Brunson had 40 points and had eight assists and five rebounds for New York, which dropped only its second game in its past 11 overall and seventh time in 28 home games.
Josh Hart had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his second triple-double of the season for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out with 2:14 left in overtime.
The Knicks entered tied for the NBA’s second-most home wins with 21. Indiana, which played without center Ivica Zubac (ankle), came in tied for the league’s fewest road wins (three) and with the worst road win percentage in the Eastern Conference at .120.
ROCKETS 102, CLIPPERS 95
HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Alperen Sengun added 22 to help Houston to a victory over Los Angeles.
Houston led by six points at the start the fourth period and scored the first seven points of the quarter to extend its lead to 85-72 with 10 ½ minutes remaining. Kawhi Leonard made two free throws, but the Rockets scored the next four points to extend the lead.
The Rockets were up by 12 later in the fourth when Durant stole the ball from Brook Lopez, and Reed Sheppard made an off-balance 3-pointer to make it 92-77 with about 6 ½ minutes to go.
Houston remained up by 15 about a minute later when Los Angeles coach Tyronn Lue cleared his bench.
Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points after scoring 41 in a blowout win in December in the last meeting between the teams. Los Angeles made 20 3-pointers in that 128-108 victory, but was just 8 for 30 from long range on Tuesday.
Jabari Smith Jr. had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Amen Thompson added 16 points for the Rockets in his return after sitting out of Saturday’s win over Oklahoma City because of an illness.
SUNS 120, MAVERICKS 111
PHOENIX (AP) — Dillon Brooks scored 23 points, Devin Booker had 19 and Phoenix beat Dallas to send the Mavericks to their eighth consecutive loss.
Naji Marshall had 31 points and Cooper Flagg finished with 27 for Dallas, which hasn’t won since beating Golden State at home on Jan. 22. It’s the Mavericks’ longest skid since also losing eight in a row in 2016.
Phoenix nearly led the entire game, taking a 2-1 lead on Booker’s turnaround jumper with 10:01 left in the first quarter and never trailing again. The Suns led by as many as 31 points at 61-30 on their way to what appeared would be a blowout win — until the Mavericks made a game of it late.
A putback basket by Flagg with 6:57 left cut Dallas’ deficit to 108-96, and the Mavericks cut it to six at 115-109 on Marshall’s floater with 2:09 remaining.
Booker made a mid-range jumper with 1:50 left and made one of two free throws to push Phoenix’s advantage to nine. After P.J. Washington’s driving layup for Dallas, Booker made a pullup jumper to cap the scoring and end the Mavericks’ furious comeback attempt.
SPURS 136, LAKERS 108
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 37 of his season high-tying 40 points in the first half of San Antonio’s fifth straight victory, beating short-handed Los Angeles.
Wembanyama had the highest-scoring first half in the NBA this season and the highest-scoring half by a Spurs player in the 21st century while going 12 of 17 from the field with three 3-pointers against a Lakers lineup missing Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
Wembanyama played only the first eight minutes of the second half with the Spurs far ahead in their 10th win in 13 games.
The French big man became the third player in the past 50 seasons to score at least 40 points while playing 27 minutes or fewer. He also had 12 rebounds.
Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart also sat out for the Lakers on the second night of a brutal back-to-back set against the Western Conference’s top two teams. Doncic and Smart are injured, while James, Reaves and Ayton are all managing health concerns.
The Knicks were riding high the last few weeks to the tune of nine wins in 10 games, thanks to crisp offense and improved defense. However, the Knicks have now lost two of their last three games, including an OT loss on Tuesday night at home against the 13-win Pacers.
New York's defensive turnaround was key to the Knicks' recent winning ways and the lack thereof was the reason they lost to Indiana.
“Tonight it wasn’t there, at least not at the level that it has been," head coach Mike Brown said of the team's defense after the loss.And he's not wrong. The Pacers shot 51.5 percent from the field, including 40 percent from three, in the 137-34 victory. The Knicks could not defend the three-point line or stay in front of any ball-handler for the majority of the four-plus quarters.
While the Knicks kept up offensively, allowing the lowly Pacers to hang with them allowed their Eastern Conference rival to build confidence. That confidence was mentioned a few times by multiple players after the loss."Defensively, they had a rhythm early and they kept their confidence," Jalen Brunson said. "Kept the rhythm throughout the entire game."
"We started off the first couple of minutes, we started playing well, but then we let them get a little comfortable," Josh Hart added.
“We didn’t do a great job of getting into their airspace," Brown punctuated. "We did do a little better job in the second half, but by then they were confident.”
The Knicks took a 33-32 lead after the first frame, but red flags were all over the opening quarter. The Pacers shot 50 percent from the field and were 7 of 16 from three (44 percent). That continued in the second quarter as Indiana shot 52 percent and 44 percent from long distance to go into halftime only down 69-63.
"They had tough shots and they made threes and on the other side, we didn't make enough threes to combat the amount of shots they were hitting from the three," Karl-Anthony Towns said. "We didn't reach that standard of defense that we have shown in recent and it came back to bite us today."
That defensive standard has been present for the Knicks of late.
On Sunday, the Knicks held the Celtics to just 37 percent shooting and a minuscule 17 percent from three in the win. In the previous seven games, New York held their opponents to 101 points or less five times (all wins). The Knicks were without OG Anunoby (toe) and Mitchell Robinson (injury management) on Tuesday, but Brunson didn't see their absence as an excuse for the lack of defense. Instead, the All-Star guard pointed to what he and his teammates lacked.
"[We need to] just be a little bit more physical. They were in the rhythm," he said. "Pick up our intensity on the ball with our physicality and stuff like that, and off-ball, they're moving really freely tonight, and they were in the rhythm all night."
But despite the lack of defense, the Knicks had their opportunities to claim victory.
In regulation, the Knicks had chances to take the lead, especially Brunson -- who had a game-high 40 points -- shot poorly in crunch time, going 2 of 7 from the field in the fourth quarter, including missing shots he usually makes in the final few minutes. And even on the final possession, Landry Shamet had an open three-point attempt for the win in the waning seconds, but missed.
"Down the stretch, lack of execution. We gotta make sure at the end of the game, fourth quarter overtime is a little bit different," Hart said. "You can't just run fast, but you got to be able to slow it down and execute, and call plays and get guys in good situations, and areas to be successful. I feel like that's what we're kind of lacking."
"[The Pacers] did a great job offensively. We tried to, you know, tighten up as the game went along, which we did, but it just wasn't quite enough to get it done," Brown said. "We had plenty of opportunity down the stretch to get it done, but when you give a team life from the beginning like we did, it's gonna be hard."
New York doesn't have much time to dwell on the loss as they'll travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers on the second of a back-to-back on Wednesday.
The Phoenix Suns’ fast start was too much for the Dallas Mavericks to overcome in the Suns’ 120-111 win. It was a game of extended runs; the Suns led by as many as 31, 61-30, but the Mavericks showed competitive fire and spirit and still made it a game in the fourth quarter. Dillon Brooks led the Suns in scoring with 23 points; he scored 15 in the first quarter. It was a night where everyone on the Suns impacted winning in different ways.
Seven different Suns players scored in double figures. Oso Ighodaro continues to improve on a game-by-game basis and finished his night with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jalen Green scored 12 points and pushed the Suns ahead early in the first quarter. Ryan Dunn had his best night in months; he scored 12 points and knocked in two of his three 3-point shots. Booker finished with 19 points, O’Neale finished with 12 points, and Williams finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
It was a quiet 5-point night for Collin Gillespie; instead of scoring, he did everything else. He had nine rebounds, eight assists, and made crucial winning plays. He did all the little things the Suns needed at the end of the game when the Mavericks were making their run.
After a Brooks missed pull-up jumper with 3:50 to play and the Suns up nine points, it looked like the Mavericks would have the opportunity to continue their run. The ball bounced directly into a crowd of three Mavericks players, and Gillespie was the only Sun amongst the three. But Gillespie stripped the rebound away, and it bounced off a Dallas player’s leg, and the Suns retained possession. The Suns scored on the next play as Brooks kept his head down and drove to the rim to put the Suns up 11 and force a Mavericks timeout.
The other winning play from Gillespie occurred with under a minute, with the Suns up 120-111. Booker airballed a three-pointer, Williams saved it in, and Gillespie sprinted and dived for the loose ball. Jordan Ott immediately called a timeout, and the Suns sealed the game because of Gillespie’s hustle.
On a night when Dallas got to the free-throw line 44 times, and the Suns got there just nine times, the Suns made just enough threes and got just enough rebounds to overcome a historical free throw desparity and win.
For Dallas, Cooper Flagg scored 27, and Naji Marshall scored 31 on a ridiculous 12-of-17 night from the field in the losing effort.
The Suns jumped the Mavericks early with a quick 9-to-1 run. Mark Williams had an open dunk followed up by an early Devin Booker three. But the story of the first quarter was Dillon Brooks, who scored 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field. When Brooks has it going like that, offense is pretty simple: get him the ball and get out of the way. He has been a midrange killer this season, and his intensity to start the game was too much for a Mavericks team that had lost seven straight games coming into Mortgage Matchup Center. Jalen Green also played well in the first quarter; he scored 9 points and had an assist, and it all was in the flow of the Suns’ offense. The Suns finished the quarter up 36-16 after a dominant first quarter.
The second quarter was more of the same for the Suns. The bench unit took complete control of the game for the first six minutes of the quarter with its effort and movement. The lead ballooned up to 31 at 61-30, led by Oso Ighodaro. Ighodaro has gone from a fringe rotation player coming into this season to one of the most important players on this roster. He continues to grow within Jordan Ott’s system every game. The Suns’ newcomer, Amir Coffey, got some run in the second quarter and contributed positively; he scored 5 points and had an assist. points, the Suns had the rare opportunity to take full control of the game to close the half, but the Mavericks duo of Naji Marshall and Cooper Flagg engineered an 18-3 run to get Dallas back to a 14-point deficit before a Royce O’Neale corner pocket 3-point shot gave the Suns a little momentum going into halftime ahead 65-48.
The Suns kept the status quo in the third quarter as Booker got more involved, scoring 10 points. Williams made his presence felt by finishing off dump-off passes and post-ups. The Mavericks hung around with Flagg getting to the free throw line and Marshall attacking the basket. The Mavericks’ recent deadline acquisition, Khris Middleton, got in on the action as well, hitting multiple midrange pull-ups to round out the Mavericks scoring. It was a back and forth quarter that the Suns led 96-75 after three quarters of play.
Unlike the second quarter, the Suns’ bench struggled in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks got every whistle in the fourth quarter, and Flagg and Marshall continued to score. They were attacking the rim relentlessly, and even Mark Williams’ long arms could not stop the dynamic duo that Flagg and Marshall were this evening. The Suns also were slipping on their fundamentals as well, giving up multiple second-chance baskets to Marvin Bagley III, causing Ott to call multiple timeouts to stop the bleeding.
With a 115-109 lead, the Suns were in control, but it was uncomfortable watching another lead slip away. In this game, the Suns got the ball to their two best players, Booker and Brooks, and let them close it out. The Suns spread the floor and let Booker hunt for mismatches on back-to-back possessions. The first possession, a patented midrange pullup going to his right around the elbow, and on the next possession, he drew a foul on Middleton to get to the free-throw line. Refusing to let Booker beat them again, Dallas threw traps at Booker, but he found the right outlets, and the ball swung to Brooks, who made the biggest shot of the night to give the Suns a commanding 120-111 lead.
Quick turnaround for the Phoenix Suns, who welcome the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-less Oklahoma City Thunder into the Mortgage Matchup Center Wednesday at 7 pm Arizona time, the last game before the All-Star break.
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Afghanistan won the toss and sent 2024 runner-up South Africa in to bat Wednesday in the crunch Group D game at cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup.
South Africa won its opening game over Canada. Afghanistan lost its opener to New Zealand and needs a win to maintain its chances of progressing to the Super Eights from a group containing three highly-ranked teams. Only the top two teams in each of the four groups will advance.
New Zealand is 2-0 and leads the group.
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said it was his IPL home ground is a good pitch to bowl first on and he prefers to chase a target. Afghanistan was the surprising semifinalist at the 2024 World Cup before losing to South Africa in that tournament in the Caribbean and United States.
South Africa made one lineup change, with left-arm orthodox spinner George Linde replacing fast bowling allrounder Corbin Bosch.
For Afghanistan, left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad was called in to replace medium pace bowler Ziaur Rahman.
In later games Wednesday, Australia is due to play its tournament-opening game against Ireland in Group B and England is against West Indies in Group C.
The tournament's biggest group-stage rivalry is back on after unbeaten Pakistan reversed its decision to boycott and will go ahead with the Group A game against India on Sunday.
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Lineups:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (captain), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
PHOENIX (AP) — Dillon Brooks scored 23 points, Devin Booker had 19 and the Phoenix Suns beat Dallas 120-111 on Tuesday night to send the Mavericks to their eighth consecutive loss.
Naji Marshall had 31 points and Cooper Flagg finished with 27 for Dallas, which hasn't won since beating Golden State at home on Jan. 22. It's the Mavericks' longest skid since also losing eight in a row in 2016.
Phoenix nearly led the entire game, taking a 2-1 lead on Booker's turnaround jumper with 10:01 left in the first quarter and never trailing again. The Suns led by as many as 31 points at 61-30 on their way to what appeared would be a blowout win — until the Mavericks made a game of it late.
A putback basket by Flagg with 6:57 left cut Dallas' deficit to 108-96, and the Mavericks cut it to six at 115-109 on Marshall's floater with 2:09 remaining.
Booker made a mid-range jumper with 1:50 left and made one of two free throws to push Phoenix's advantage to nine. After P.J. Washington's driving layup for Dallas, Booker made a pullup jumper to cap the scoring and end the Mavericks' furious comeback attempt.
Mavericks: At Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Suns: Host Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.
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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA