MIAMI – Bodies were lacking and so was the inspiration.

Shorthanded yet again, not even a celebration of the team’s 2005-06 championship season could provide needed motivation as the Heat fell 127-115 Tuesday night to the Atlanta Hawks at Kaseya Center.

So 27-25 it is, with the Heat now idle through Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade ...Read more

NEW YORK — It had been just about 5 1/2 weeks since Austin Reaves last played for the Lakers, a total of 19 games he was out because of a left calf strain, an injury he and the Lakers were being cautious about until he was ready to play against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.

Reaves was on a minutes restriction, but at least he was ...Read more

OKLAHOMA CITY — Groundhog Day might have been Monday but Tuesday night between the Magic and Thunder felt like a repeat of most other contests from the past two months for Orlando.

Coach Jamahl Mosley‘s squad failed to get off on the right foot, trailed by as many 41 points and fell, 128-92, during its lone trip of the season to Paycom ...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — The ball went up Tuesday for Duke’s game against Boston College and the first minute was all about Cameron Boozer.

The freshman knocked down a 3-pointer. A few moments later, he had a steal and sped down court for a two-hand slam.

Just like that, the No. 4 Blue Devils were off and running. It wouldn’t get any easier for ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — The third-ranked UConn men’s basketball team completed its season sweep of Richard Pitino and Xavier in a 92-60 rout at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford Tuesday night.

UConn improved to 22-1 and 12-0 in the Big East, and will carry its 18-game winning streak into the toughest game of the conference season so far when it meets...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Joel Embiid is content to spend his All-Star break on a family vacation after the 76ers’ standout center was not selected as an Eastern Conference reserve by the NBA’s coaches.

“I don’t need any validation from anybody,” Embiid said following the Sixers’ victory over the Clippers on Monday night. “I’m happy where...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — For my money, Otega Oweh’s performance in Kentucky’s 85-77 men’s basketball upset of then-No. 15 Arkansas Saturday night was the best all-around game of his UK career so far.

Offensively, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Oweh played downhill and with high efficiency. The Newark, N.J., product scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of...Read more

James Harden is headed to Cleveland.

The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Harden to the Cavaliers for for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, according to ESPN.

Harden, 36, is averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game this season, his third with Los Angeles.

After slumping to a 6-21 start, the Clippers have rebounded ...Read more

With Thursday afternoon’s NBA trade deadline growing closer, teams are officially open for business.

The Utah Jazz pulled off the first major acquisition of the week, agreeing Tuesday to acquire forward Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies for a haul that includes three first-round picks, according to ESPN.

In addition to those ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — James Harden has played a key role in helping the Clippers become one of the NBA’s hottest teams over the last six weeks despite a disastrous start to their season. He may not be around, however, to see how the rest of the season unfolds.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Harden and the Clippers working to find a ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons are sending guard Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade, a source confirmed to The Detroit News on Tuesday.

Ivey will be part of a deal that lands the Pistons guard Kevin Huerter, forward Dario Saric and a 2026 first-round protected swap from the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to ESPN. ...Read more

BOSTON — Anfernee Simons’ encouraging Boston Celtics tenure lasted just half of one season.

Boston reached an agreement to trade Simons to the Chicago Bulls for 35-year-old center Nikola Vucevic, according to a report Tuesday from ESPN’s Shams Charania. The teams also will swap second-round draft picks in the deal, which comes two days ...Read more

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — It was a close call, but No. 14 North Carolina avoided falling victim to a pre-Duke trap game that’s proven dangerous for the Tar Heels in recent years.

Since 2020, UNC held a 1-5 record in midweek games ahead of the first UNC-Duke game of the year, losing three straight. Well, make that 2-5.

The Tar Heels evaded a late...Read more

This week can be one of the most difficult weeks on the NBA schedule for players: trade deadline week. Uncertainty surrounds a lot of their futures, and that can affect their play on the court.

That could especially be a factor for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are at the center of rumors regarding former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Just call it Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day.

If ever there was a situation that perfectly depicted how things have been for the Charlotte Hornets lately, it was Monday afternoon. Inclement weather, highlighted by the leftover snow and ice from the latest winter storm to hit the region, forced the tipoff of their matchup with ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors will be without their top player for their final game before Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline.

Steph Curry was ruled out of Tuesday’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, which came as little surprise after the team diagnosed him with patellofemoral pain syndrome over the weekend. Known more ...Read more