SALT LAKE CITY — There could have been a middle ground for the Miami Heat as the Feb. 5 NBA trading deadline approaches.

And that would have made the decision far easier for a team that insists it never quits on the playoff race … even when it often means, seemingly as in this moment, another play-in chase.

With a healthy and available ...Read more

SALT LAKE CITY – To a degree, the Miami Heat’s five-game western swing stood in the balance Saturday night against the Utah Jazz.

After a 1-2 start to the stretch of five road games in seven nights, Erik Spoelstra’s team stood in jeopardy of returning to South Florida with a losing record.

Instead, with a 147-116 victory, the Heat moved...Read more

DALLAS — Luka Doncic was met with a chorus of cheers when he strolled onto the court at American Airlines Center to do his pregame shooting routine.

“We love you Luka,” the fans chanted. “We love you.”

Doncic smiled and waved toward the crowd. He had spent six-plus seasons playing for the Mavericks, a place he thought he would call ...Read more

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Coach Todd Golden’s Gators have been unbeatable at home, but no Florida team for decades had any trouble against Auburn in the O’Connell Center.

Until Saturday.

The Tigers stunned the Gators 76-67 for Auburn’s first win in Gainesville since 1996 and Florida’s first loss at home after 16 straight wins.

“...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — With the return of All-Defensive guard Jalen Suggs against the Cavaliers on Saturday, the Magic played with energy and effort early but slowed down during the second half inside Kia Center.

In a contest that was tied nine times and featured 12 lead changes, it was the Cavs who took control in the fourth quarter en route to a ...Read more

On Friday, a last-second 3-pointer from the left corner helped lift the Boston Celtics to a dramatic win in Brooklyn.

One night later, a shot from the same spot handed them a loss in Chicago.

Bulls wing Kevin Huerter’s corner 3 with 0.2 seconds remaining buried a tired Boston squad in a 114-111 victory at the United Center. It was the last ...Read more

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Jerome Tang no longer has a perfect record against Kansas State’s biggest basketball rival inside Bramlage Coliseum.

The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats, 86-62, on Saturday to end a three-game losing streak in this building.

K-State (10-10, 1-6 Big 12) pushed KU (15-5, 5-2) for most of the night. The Jayhawks led ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — As a product of Newark, N.J., Otega Oweh seemed an ideal resource from which to seek a snow-removal tip.

“You’ve got to catch the snow while it’s soft,” Oweh advised. “You can’t let it freeze or you get a whole lot of black ice and you might slip. So you’ve got to shovel while it is soft, for sure.”

Though it...Read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — This was Trey Burke’s night.

But at the end of it, after he’d watched Michigan beat one of its rivals Friday night at the Crisler Center, one of Michigan’s all-time greats figured he’d take one more shot.

Unfinished business, you could call it.

Moments after the Wolverines had put away Ohio State, Burke, the ...Read more

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — When Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler walked into the visiting locker room at Purdue on Saturday night, he was met with a blinding spray of water from his ecstatic teammates.

Wagler said he was hyped. But Illini forward David Mirković swears even then — as Wagler celebrated the greatest individual performance by an ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Make it five wins in a row for Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Cats defeated Ole Miss 72-63 Saturday, scoring a victory over former UK guard Travis Perry in his return to Rupp Arena and securing their fifth straight win in SEC play.

Kentucky was never behind in the second half, though Ole Miss did briefly tie the ...Read more

CHICAGO — On Saturday, Derrick Rose will reach a new level of distinction in Chicago.

The retired point guard doesn’t need any introduction. He’s a former NBA MVP, a kid raised on Simeon hoops who elevated a new era for the Bulls. And this weekend, his jersey will be added to the rafters alongside the likes of Michael Jordan and Scottie ...Read more

Mike Brown, you’ve caught up to speed.

It took Brown 44 games (45 if you include the scrubbed NBA Cup final) as Knicks' head coach to pick up where Tom Thibodeau left off in the Eastern Conference finals, implementing a substitution pattern in Saturday’s 112-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers that felt all too familiar to those who’...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The halftime cheers that warmed Williams Arena, with Minnesota fans celebrating a six-point lead over unbeaten Nebraska, froze as if they were left outside in the subzero temperatures on Saturday.

A 21-4 run by the undefeated Cornhuskers took the wind out of the Gophers players, too.

“For the first time,” coach Niko Medved ...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — Having made their California swing — successfully and assertively — Duke’s Blue Devils were back in Cameron Indoor Stadium Saturday.

Wake Forest was in the house, and the Demon Deacons got the start they wanted, taking an early lead. But it didn’t take long for the No. 5 Blue Devils to crank things up, smooth things out...Read more

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — If there’s one sequence that best summed up No. 22 North Carolina’s helplessness, early on, in its 85-80 come-from-behind victory over No. 14 Virginia on Saturday, it’s this: the time UVA pulled down three offensive rebounds in a single possession.

You read that right. Three rebounds in a single possession.

Just ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Miles Bridges is used to the routine by now.

Seemingly every year, as the calendar approaches February and the NBA trade deadline nears, rumors surrounding the Charlotte Hornets forward run rampant across the internet and social-media sphere. And the sundial is once again approaching that point on the programming schedule.

...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The NBA has postponed the game between the Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors on Saturday at Target Center, after federal agents shot and killed a man in south Minneapolis, the league announced.

The teams are now set to play on Sunday at 4:30 p.m., the time they were scheduled to play Saturday. The teams are also set to play...Read more