STORRS, Conn. — Here was a case where the postgame handshake line was more than cordial, more than sportsmanlike. Dan Hurley had high praise for the coach who sort of spoiled his night, and he took it into the postgame interviews.

“New Haven, Coach did a great job,” Hurley said. “They obviously had some things swirling around their ...Read more

DENVER — He’s the lead singer who can’t always hit the high notes anymore, but keeps firing anyway. Russell Westbrook might be the most perfectly average player for whom, among fans, there’s almost no middle ground anymore.

When Russ is good, he’ll send you over the moon. When he’s bad, he’ll send you into the liquor cabinet.

“...Read more

PORTLAND, Ore. — With all three of their biggest stars out, the Lakers gutted out a 123-115 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at Moda Center, relying on two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. to spark their fourth consecutive win.

Smith, playing on a two-way contract with the South Bay Lakers, scored 25 points with six assists off the ...Read more

HOUSTON — The first meeting of the season between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets was a clash between two vastly different offenses.

Dallas entered Monday’s matchup with the worst offensive rating in the NBA at 104.5, while the new-look Rockets boasted the best offensive rating in the league (127.9).

What started as a competitive ...Read more

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets won twice on Monday: on the scoreboard and in the minutes column of their box score.

Relying on depth to take the edge off starters who’ve encountered minor injuries early this season, Denver held off the Sacramento Kings at Ball Arena for a 130-124 win. Nikola Jokic recorded 34 points, seven rebounds, 14 assists...Read more

NEW YORK – When your opponent comes into the night winless, you never want to be the team that allows it to get its first win.

Even though it wasn’t always smooth, the Minnesota Timberwolves avoided that fate in a 125-109 victory Monday night over the Brooklyn Nets, who dropped to 0-7.

The Wolves have had some odd games the past few ...Read more

BOSTON — A furious, Jaylen Brown-led comeback couldn’t save the Boston Celtics from an ugly loss Monday night at TD Garden.

Brown scored eight of his 36 points in the final three minutes to erase a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit, but the Celtics could not complete the comeback, losing to the Utah Jazz, 105-103.

Neemias Queta missed a free...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Darryn Peterson era of Kansas basketball started with the freshman phenom canning a deep 3-pointer from near the beak of the Jayhawk logo inside Allen Fieldhouse.

He didn’t react much after making the shot. Instead, Peterson backpedaled to get back on defense and directed his teammates to pay attention to a Green Bay ...Read more

NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t sure how he’d fit into Mike Brown’s up-tempo Knicks offense.

For one night, against the lowly, one-win Washington Wizards, those uncertainties vanished.

Towns delivered a dominant performance in New York’s 119-102 win at Madison Square Garden Monday, finishing with 33 points on 12-of-24 shooting, ...Read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan Wolverines hung a banner and then hung over 100 points in a record-setting performance in Monday’s season opener.

After commemorating its 2025 Big Ten tournament championship during a pregame ceremony, No. 7 Michigan set a program record with a 69-point first half and rolled past Oakland, 121-78, at Crisler ...Read more

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Detroit Pistons had a 21-point lead with 2:55 left in the third quarter, but failed to maintain it as the Memphis Grizzlies embarked on a late-game rally. However, the Pistons were able to hold on, resulting in a 114-106 victory on Monday night at FedExForum.

Cade Cunningham scored a season-high 33 points, recorded eight ...Read more

STORRS, Conn. — Dan Hurley said he needed more from Jaylin Stewart and he got it Monday.

The junior shined in UConn’s season-opening, 79-55, win over New Haven, which played like it belonged in its Division I debut. Getting the start in place of highly-touted freshman Braylon Mullins (ankle), Stewart was assertive from the start and ...Read more

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Tom Izzo stood a foot off the sideline, wiggling his fingers and shuffling from his left foot to his right. He leaned forward and back. Looked right. Looked left. Hand over his heart. This was only the anthem. Nothing to be nervous about.

But the nerves of a season-opener have never quite left for Izzo, now 31 seasons ...Read more

PORTLAND, Ore. — Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ game in Portland on Monday as the team ruled both out with injuries.

One night after recording a 29-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, Doncic is out to manage a lower leg contusion. Reaves, who scored 26 points and 11 assists in the Lakers’ 130-120 ...Read more

NEW YORK — It didn’t take long for the Knicks’ 3-point barrage to begin.

Less than three minutes into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden, Jalen Brunson drilled his first 3-pointer of the night.

On the next possession, he nailed another.

Karl-Anthony Towns would add two more 3-pointers in the next two ...Read more

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The language, unsurprisingly, has been one of the most difficult adjustments for David Mirković in his three months at Illinois.

The 6-foot-9 freshman from Montenegro has spoken English since he was 6 years old. He’s fluent enough to argue calls with officials — a habit coaches are trying to erase from the edgy forward�...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Priorities are priorities. Upon his hiring last March, new USF men’s basketball coach Bryan Hodgson knew there was paperwork to sign, boosters to schmooze, even office keys to acquire.

But nothing took precedence over the point guard.

Virtually coinciding with Hodgson’s late-March hiring was CJ Brown’s announcement that ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid was fined $50,000 for doing the DX chop motion following an and-one conversion during the 76ers’ Friday 109-108 loss to the Boston Celtics, the NBA announced Sunday afternoon.

Embiid has been fined for the celebration before, which the league called “lewd” in a news release. Embiid responded on X by posting, �...Read more