Category: Basketball

Basketball News

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'It's an honour' – Harden into NBA top 10 scorers

James Harden
James Harden made his NBA debut in 2009 with the Oklahoma City Thunder [Getty Images]

James Harden became the 10th highest scorer in NBA history as the LA Clippers were beaten 109-106 by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Starting the night 11th on the all-time list, Harden passed Carmelo Anthony's total of 28,289 points in the third quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Harden finished with 34 points, taking his career total to 28,303 - 293 behind Shaquille O'Neal in ninth.

"It's a blessing - a testament to the work I've put in," said 36-year-old Harden.

"It's an honour, especially with somebody like Carmelo, who's done so much greatness for this league."

Naz Reid scored a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to give the Timberwolves a fifth straight win and condemn the Clippers to a seventh defeat in eight games.

Julius Randle scored 24 points and Reid 19 off the bench for the Timberwolves, who are sixth in the Western Conference. The Clippers are second bottom.

Warriors upset Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 99-94 home defeat by the Golden State Warriors.

Without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Al Horford, the Warriors gave Pat Spencer his NBA debut at Rocket Arena.

The 29-year-old, who came through the development league four years ago, scored 19 points and landed a three-pointer with 72 seconds remaining to open up a five-point lead.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said: "It's fun to watch a guy who has had to fight for everything finally get his moment and not only seize it but grab it by the neck. This guy is a competitor."

The Warriors are eighth in the Western Conference and the Cavaliers eighth in the West.

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Peat scores 18 points, No. 2 Arizona blows out No. 20 Auburn 97-68 for 4th ranked win

Koa Peat scored 18 points, Jaden Bradley added 16 and No. 2 Arizona blew out No. 20 Auburn 97-68 on Saturday night. Arizona used two big runs to build a 20-point lead late in the first half and reeled off another opening the second to run away from the Tigers (7-3). The Wildcats shot 61% from the floor and had a 60-24 advantage in the paint to make a case for the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 following top-ranked Purdue's loss to No. 10 Iowa State.

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Zuby Ejiofor has 8 blocks to help No. 23 St. John’s hold off Mississippi, 63-58

Zuby Ejiofor had a career-high eight blocks along with 15 points and nine rebounds, anchoring a strong defensive performance that carried No. 23 St. John's past Mississippi 63-58 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Ejiofor scored all but two of his points in the second half, and the Red Storm (5-3) held on after leading by 14 with eight minutes remaining. St. John's limited Ole Miss to 36.4% shooting from the field, including 2 for 16 from 3-point distance (12.5%), and forced 20 turnovers.

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Emanuel Sharp scores 27 points, No. 8 Houston beats Florida State 82-67

Emanuel Sharp scored 27 points, Kingston Flemings added 21 and No. 8 Houston beat Florida State 82-67 on Saturday night. Flemings and Sharp each scored 13 points in the first half and were a combined 10 of 15 from the floor as the Cougars (8-1) held a 41-33 halftime lead. Sharp finished 10 of 17 from the field, including 6 of 12 on 3-pointers.

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No. 14 Illinois beats No. 13 Tennessee 75-62 in Music City Madness

Tomislav Ivisic and Keaton Wagler each scored 16 points and No. 14 Illinois beat No. 13 Tennessee 75-62 Saturday night in the second part of the Music City Madness. The Fighting Illini (7-2) came in rested after an eight-day break with this their last of four Top 15 opponents over a seven-game stretch. Illinois snapped a five-game skid on neutral courts against ranked opponents and also gave coach Brad Underwood his first win in three tries against Tennessee.

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Michael Porter Jr.'s 35 points, Nic Claxton's triple-double lead Nets over Pelicans, 119-101

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. tied his season high with 35 points, Nic Claxton had his second triple-double and the Brooklyn Nets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-101 on Saturday.

Porter matched his career best by reaching 30 for a third straight game, having also done it last Feb. 3-6 during his final season with Denver. He made five 3-pointers and had nine rebounds after sitting out Thursday to rest his back in the second night of a back-to-back.

Claxton finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He’s the first Nets player with multiple triple-doubles in a season since James Harden (nine) and Kevin Durant (four) in 2021-22, and the second Nets center with multiple career triple-doubles. Shawn Bradley had five from 1995-97.

Day’Ron Sharpe added 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting as Brooklyn won for the third time in four games to improve to 6-17.

Trey Murphy III scored 23 points for the Pelicans, who lost their sixth straight game and fell to 3-21. Saddiq Bey added 18 points and Bryce McGowens had 16.

The Nets shot 63.6 percent and had 13 assists on their 14 baskets in the first quarter, taking a 35-24 lead. Porter scored 13 points in the second quarter on 5-for-6 shooting as Brooklyn made it 62-44 at halftime.

The Nets led by 28 points in the second half.

Up next

Pelicans: Host San Antonio on Monday night.

Nets: At Dallas on Friday night.