Yes, these are considered the dogs days, at least when it comes to player performance, this NBA period between Christmas and the All-Star break, as evidenced by no less than the recent play of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

And yet off the court, an eventful period to say the least, in several cases with a degree of Heat impact, some directly, some...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The NBA has suspended Kings guard Dennis Schroder for confronting and attempting to strike another player following Sacramento’s recent loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sources told NBA insider Chris Haynes and The Athletic’s Dan Woike that Lakers star Luka Doncic was the player Schroder confronted.

The NBA announced ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons continue to struggle with injuries, but nearly put together their most impressive performance of the season through three quarters.

However, the Pistons were unable to hold off the Los Angeles Clippers' fourth-quarter rally, resulting in a 98-92 loss at Little Caesars Arena Saturday.

Isaiah Stewart, who scored ...Read more

BOSTON — The Celtics traded blows with one of the top teams in the NBA on Saturday night. But in the end, they could not contain the unique talents of Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio’s 7-foot-4 superstar scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half to lead the Spurs to a 100-95 win at TD Garden.

Boston threw several different defenders at ...Read more

INDIANAPOLIS — In theory, this should have been the best version of the Miami Heat.

It was anything but.

Instead, a 123-99 loss Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to the NBA-worst Indiana Pacers.

With Spoelstra moving to a starting lineup seemingly as talented as any started by the team this season, the response was an early 25-point ...Read more

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — With just over three minutes remaining and two points separating No. 17 North Carolina from Wake Forest, UNC senior guard Seth Trimble poked away an errant pass and took off down the court. He took two quick glances over his left shoulder to gauge where the nearest defender was before taking off for an emphatic slam in ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU men’s basketball dropped its second straight Big 12 game, as the Horned Frogs failed to keep pace with No. 1 Arizona in an 86-73 loss Saturday at Schollmaier Arena.

The Wildcats (16-0, 3-0) looked every bit like a national title contender as they were bigger, stronger and more skilled than TCU (11-5, 1-2) by a wide ...Read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Everything wasn’t perfect.

Dusty May and the rest of his coaching staff knew that well before Michigan’s record finally agreed.

But now they’ve got all the proof they need after Wisconsin came into Crisler Center Saturday afternoon and upset the No. 2-ranked Wolverines, 91-88, handing them their first loss of the ...Read more

DENVER — Aaron Gordon wore a bashful smile as he flexed at his teammates, almost as if he was afraid to jinx himself. He had every reason to be feel arrogant after muscling his way into the paint for a tough bucket, after momentarily quieting Boston’s raucous arena and prompting a Celtics timeout.

But he had just as much reason to feel ...Read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — And then there were five.

Michigan entered play Saturday as one of the six remaining undefeated teams in college basketball. Wisconsin changed that.

The Badgers knocked the second-ranked Wolverines from the unbeaten ranks by rallying from a 14-point deficit and using a hot-shooting second half to prevail, 91-88, at Crisler...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — First came the steal. Then, a screeching dive across the floor. Then, the battle for the ball.

Duke’s Dame Sarr would not be denied on the play, the slender 6-8 freshman knocking the ball away from SMU’s B.J. Edwards. Sarr, like a sprinter coming out of the blocks, made a quick diving move as the ball skittered across ...Read more

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — This Kansas men’s basketball team is breaking longtime program records.

Just not the ones the Jayhawks want to break.

West Virginia upset No. 22 Kansas, 86-75, on Saturday afternoon in Hope Coliseum. The Jayhawks (11-5) are 1-2 in Big 12 play for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

Save for a miraculous comeback ...Read more

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s Boogie Fland was feeling it — and it had been a while.

Too long for him and the Gators, whose point guard personified the team’s season-long backcourt struggles.

But Fland shed his signature dreadlocks earlier in the week and found his footing Saturday as the unranked Gators raced to a double-digit ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — The No. 4 UConn men’s basketball team rolled to a routine, 72-60, victory over DePaul at PeoplesBank Arena Saturday.

It was the 12th consecutive win for the Huskies, now 16-1 on the year and 6-0 in Big East play.

Freshman Braylon Mullins starred again with a game-high 16 points with seven rebounds, three assists, two ...Read more

When it mattered, the Timberwolves just couldn’t get enough stops.

The Wolves’ four-game win streak came to an end at Cleveland in a 144-132 loss on Saturday, two days after the Wolves beat the Cavaliers at Target Center.

The Wolves gave up 47 points in the fourth quarter. The Cavs pulled away in the second half thanks to 70% shooting in ...Read more

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Hubert Davis was reflecting Monday night on the 2015-16 North Carolina squad — a group built around versatile ballhandlers Marcus Paige and Joel Berry II — when a lull settled over his weekly radio show at Top of the Hill. He broke the silence with a joke.

“I’d like to have them back,” he said with a laugh. “...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers’ two stars, LeBron James and Luka Doncic, have carried the Lakers all season, being the leaders.

But on this Friday night, James and Doncic couldn’t hold it down for the Lakers, the two of them having late-game miscues that eventually led to a 105-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors didn’t have Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green when they allowed the Sacramento Kings to notch one of only eight wins so far this season against them in November.

At full strength for the teams’ second meeting Friday, Golden State didn’t need Curry to finish off a 137-103 rout over ...Read more

DENVER — The short-handed Nuggets’ silver linings playbook: hang around, drill some timely 3-pointers and control the glass — even without a true center in the paint.

It worked for three quarters Friday night, but the Nuggets, playing at home for the first time since Christmas Day, simply didn’t have enough talent on the floor to hold ...Read more

BOSTON — The Celtics lost to an injury-depleted opponent on their home floor Wednesday night. They didn’t let that happen again on Friday.

Boston rode one of its best shooting performances of the season to a 125-117 win over the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden.

Payton Pritchard led all scorers with 27 points on 12-of-19 shooting, adding eight...Read more