Purdue set a trap for Texas Tech and had its most impressive surge of the season. Heck, maybe anyone’s most impressive surge of the season thus far.
Chris Paul to retire at the end of season, ending 21-year career as an LA Clipper
Chris Paul to retire at the end of season, ending 21-year career as an LA Clipper originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Legendary NBA player Chris Paul is planning to retire at the end of the season, making an announcement on social media ahead of Saturday’s Clippers game in his native state of North Carolina.
The video message showed nostalgic images of Paul’s past jerseys, clips from his childhood and the moment he was drafted to play for the then-New Orleans Hornets in 2005.
“Back in NC!!! What a ride…Still so much left…GRATEFUL for this last one!!,” the 12-time All-Star wrote on Instagram.
The social media announcement ended with the phrase “never delay gratitude.”
His wife, Jada Paul, also confirmed the iconic point guard’s retirement plan in an Instagram Story, congratulating him for a “helluva career.”
The 2025-2026 NBA season had been expected to be the last one for Paul after the star agreed to a one-year deal with the Clippers in July.
The 12-time All-Star had some of his best years with the Clippers from 2011-17 — five All-Star selections, five All-NBA nods and six First-Team All-Defense honors. The “Lob City” Clippers turned the once-lowly franchise around as Paul and Blake Griffin led the team to the second round three times.
Paul, who turned 40 in May, is coming off a productive 2024-25 season with the San Antonio Spurs. Paul started all 82 games for the Spurs, averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 assists for the young squad.
Over his first 20 seasons, Paul has piled up the accolades to become a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer. He’s played for the New Orleans Hornets (2005-11), Clippers (2011-17), Houston Rockets (2017-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20), Phoenix Suns (2020-23), Golden State Warriors (2023-24) and Spurs (2024-25), with career averages of 17.0 points, 9.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds.
Paul, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, has led the league in assists five times and steals six times. The only thing eluding him is a title, with his closest call coming in 2021 when the Suns lost in the NBA Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Gone in 49.3 seconds: Suns erase 8-point deficit with stunning last-minute comeback
The Minnesota Timberwolves had an eight-point lead with less than minute to go Friday night, talking a little smack to their opponents as a hard-fought, chippy game between Western Conference rivals came to a close. There was one problem: The Phoenix Suns weren't done. Backup guard Collin Gillespie hit the go-ahead jumper with 6.4 seconds left and the Suns rallied to stun the Timberwolves 114-113 for their seventh win in eight games.
Clark scores 22 as No. 19 UCLA beats Presbyterian 86-46
Skyy Clark scored a season-high 22 points and Donovan Dent added 14 plus five assists as No. 19 UCLA remained perfect on its home court with an 86-46 victory over Presbyterian on Friday night. Brandon Williams had 11 points and seven rebounds as the Bruins (5-1) dominated without leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau, who sprained his left knee in practice this week. UCLA shot 62.7% from the floor, its best mark in seven seasons under coach Mick Cronin.
Pryce Sandfort scores 21 for Nebraska in Hall of Fame Classic win over Kansas State, 86-85
Pryce Sandfort scored 21 points and Reink Mast added 20 for Nebraska in an 86-85 victory over Kansas State on Friday night, winning the Hall of Fame Classic for the first time in program history.
Cluff powers No. 1 Purdue over No. 15 Texas Tech in the Bahamas, 86-56
Oscar Cluff had 15 points and 15 rebounds as No. 1 Purdue remained unbeaten with an 86-56 win over No. 15 Texas Tech on Friday night in the final of the Baha Mar Championship. Trey Kaufman-Renn had 12 points, Omer Mayer and Daniel Jacobsen each scored 11, and Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith and CJ Cox had 10 points apiece for the Boilermakers (6-0).
No. 1 Purdue beats No. 15 Texas Tech 86-56 to win Baha Mar Championship
The Blue Devils continued to pour it on in the second half, scoring the first 10 points and pushing the lead to 58. NO. LOUISVILLE 74, CINCINNATI 64 CINCINNATI (AP) — Ryan Conwell scored 17 of his season-high 25 points in the second half, and Mikel Brown Jr. had 22 points as Louisville beat Cincinnati.
Deyton Albury scores 13 for New Mexico in 80-78 win over Mississippi State in Hall of Fame Classic
Deyton Albury scored 13 points for New Mexico, including the go-ahead layup with 30 seconds left in an 80-78 win over Mississippi State in the Hall of Fame Classic consolation game on Friday night.
Ewin scores 21 as No. 21 Arkansas routs Jackson State 115-61 for highest point total since 2015
Malique Ewin scored 21 points in 14 minutes off the bench to lead seven Arkansas players in double figures, and the 21st-ranked Razorbacks routed winless Jackson State 115-61 on Friday night. It was the most points Arkansas has scored in a game since 2015. Karter Knox had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Razorbacks (5-1), who shot 64% from the field and held Jackson State (0-5) to 34%.
Michael Porter Jr.'s 33 points, Nic Claxton's triple-double lead Nets to 113-105 win over Celtics
BOSTON (AP) — Nic Claxton had 18 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists for his first NBA triple-double and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Boston Celtics 113-105 on Friday night for their first victory in the NBA Cup in-season tournament.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 33 points, and Noah Clowney had 19 to help Brooklyn snap a nine-game losing streak against Boston. The Nets improved to 3-12 overall and 1-2 in NBA Cup play.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points but was limited to 32 minutes because of trouble. Neemias Queta had 16 points and 12 rebounds as Boston dropped to 8-8 overall and 1-2 in the tournament.
The Celtics’ comeback bid was dealt a tough blow when Brown picked up his fifth foul with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla challenged, but the call on the floor was upheld.
Brooklyn led 71-68 when Boston’s leading scorer took a seat. Brown’s absence was felt as the visitors regained the momentum behind a 17-4 run that helped Brooklyn widen its lead to 92-77 entering the fourth.
Up next
Nets: At Toronto on Sunday night.
Celtics: Host Orlando on Sunday night.
No. 5 Duke routs Niagara 100-42 to stay unbeaten
Patrick Ngongba II had 17 points and eight rebounds, Cameron Boozer contributed 14 points, and No. 5 Duke routed Niagara 100-42 on Friday night. Isaiah Evans and Nikolas Khamenia both added 12 points for Duke, which shot 58% from the field to score 100 or more points for the third time this season. The Blue Devils (6-0) sank 17 of 33 3-pointers, including the first of Ngongba's career.
Chandler and Williams help No. 12 Kentucky breeze past Loyola of Maryland, 88-46
Collin Chandler and Kam Williams each scored 13 points to lead No. 12 Kentucky to an 88-46 win over Loyola of Maryland on Friday night. Coming off an 83-66 loss to No. 17 Michigan State in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, the Wildcats (4-2) had little trouble with the Greyhounds (2-5). Kentucky opened with a 21-5 run and outscored Loyola 20-2 in the final eight minutes of the first half to lead 50-20 at the break.
No. 10 Florida rolls Merrimack 80-45 as world’s tallest teen scores first collegiate point
Rueben Chinyelu had 14 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, Alex Condon recorded 20 points and 11 boards for his third double-double of the season, and No. 10 Florida overwhelmed Merrimack from the opening tip in an 80-45 victory Friday night. The world’s tallest teenager, 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, got the loudest ovation of the night when he checked in with 2:26 to play. It was final November tune-up for the defending national champion Gators (4-1), who next play a Thanksgiving tournament on the West Coast and then have measuring-stick games against No. 5 Duke and third-ranked UConn.
Michigan State basketball win over Detroit Mercy shows starters’ power
Lansing State Journal's Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on Michigan State basketball in a win over Detroit Mercy on Friday in East Lansing.
No. 17 Michigan State stays unbeaten with 84-56 win over Detroit Mercy
Coen Carr scored 11 points in the opening seven minutes and finished with 13, and Jeremy Fears had 18 points and 11 assists to lead No. 17 Michigan State to an 84-56 win over Detroit Mercy on Friday night. Michigan State, which beat then- No. 14 Arkansas two weeks ago, will likely play a third game against an AP Top 25 team when it faces No. 18 North Carolina on Thanksgiving in Florida. Carson Cooper scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Jaxon Kohler had nine of his 13 points after halftime, helping the Spartans coast to the lopsided win after getting off to a strong start.