SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Austin Reaves hit a 3. He ripped the ball from Dario Saric’s hands. He scored on a breakaway layup. All in 20 seconds.

On a night without Luka Doncic, the Lakers needed Reaves to do it all Sunday, and the guard responded emphatically as he delivered a career-high 51 points with 11 rebounds and nine assists to carry the...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves fans had a sight they don’t normally see in the team’s home opener Sunday night against Indiana.

It wasn’t just the throwback court of the classic black tree uniforms. It was Anthony Edwards sitting on the bench out of uniform for most of the night. Edwards, who has never played fewer than 72 games ...Read more

MIAMI – The brutal opening schedule for the Miami Heat?

So far more than under control.

First a competitive loss in Orlando. Then a record-setting blowout victory in Memphis. And then Sunday at Kaseya Center, a 115-107 smackdown of the rival New York Knicks in the home opener.

At 2-1 with the Charlotte Hornets up next at home on Tuesday ...Read more

DETROIT — For coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the start of the season is always exciting, particularly when his team is hosting a home opener. The Detroit Pistons (2-1) played their first regular-season home game at Little Caesars Arena and, as they did in last season's resurgence, the fans created an electrifying atmosphere.

After knocking off a ...Read more

The Brooklyn Nets nearly pulled off another wild comeback Sunday but instead dropped to 0-3 with a 118-107 loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. It was the first stop on their Texas back-to-back, and another reminder that effort in spurts won’t be enough.

Brooklyn defended and competed early and late, yet the same lapses in ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will be sidelined for at least one week because of finger and leg injuries.

The team announced ahead of Sunday’s road game against the Sacramento Kings that Doncic had been diagnosed with a sprained left finger and a lower left leg contusion, and is expected to be reevaluated in about...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — We all have that friend who’s convinced that every airball, every blown call, every boneheaded turnover is evidence that the fix is in.

Maybe it’s you, maybe you’re that friend?

And I’m the one who’s been over here laughing at you, calling you a conspiracy nut. I’m the one rebutting, trying to tell you that ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets have played hundreds of forgettable games over the past decade. But one of them — a game that was meaningless except for one enormous reason — has become heavily scrutinized in an FBI investigation.

On a random Thursday night in New Orleans — March 23, 2023 — the Hornets were playing at the New ...Read more

MIAMI — You have to start here: The NBA, with its investigative limitations, could not have fully appreciated the scope of what became, in the words of Terry Rozier’s attorney, an orchestrated “perp walk” by the Miami Heat guard on Thursday morning in Orlando.

The only thing that kept Rozier out of Wednesday’s season-opening loss to ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — With the Sixers down by eight with less than five minutes remaining, fans started their long walk back to the parking lots.

But for those who remained, they witnessed the Sixers battle back to make it a 1-point game with less than 2 minutes to play.

Sixers rookie V.J. Edgecombe sparked the comeback with a crucial bucket with ...Read more

ATLANTA — The effects of back-to-back games may have caught up with the Hawks when they hosted the Thunder on Saturday night.

Already short-handed without center Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher, the Hawks also played the Thunder without Jalen Johnson.

“I think the positive experience some of these guys got to get with each other...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic shoulder shimmied his way into the record books again as he became the first Laker to begin a season with consecutive 40-point performances Friday with 49 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in the Lakers’ 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After pouring in 43 points in Tuesday’s season opener, Doncic...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Over the course of the Chicago Bulls’ 110-98 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, Patrick Williams seemed to find himself on the basketball court again.

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t flashy. That’s still not Williams’ style. But for four consistent quarters, Williams quietly asserted himself on both ends of the ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s no secret that 3-point shooting has been the Achilles heel of the Magic the past few seasons, and that continued to be true Saturday night against the Bulls at Kia Center.

Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Orlando was lifeless from distance as it shot 12.5% (3 of 24) from beyond the arc and couldn’t keep ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic is a savant.

He proved yet again to be distinguished in his field of expertise and the Lakers are reaping the rewards of Doncic’s brilliance.

Doncic was dynamic in scoring 49 points, coming up two assists short of a triple-double with 11 rebounds and eight assists in leading the Lakers past the Minnesota ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The NBA gambling scandal that was announced Thursday may have been shocking to some, but at this point, the only thing shocking is that it hasn't happened a lot more.

Gambling has been a part of the fabric of sports almost since cavemen began wrestling some 15,000 years ago. And back then, they didn't have apps on their phones ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — So here we are. Opening week of the NBA season and instead of talking about dunks, rivalries or who’s going to hoist the trophy in June … we’re talking about perp walks, mob ties, fixed bets and whether our beloved league is turning into an episode of “The Sopranos.” Or worse, “The Godfather Part IV” — a sequel ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic is a servant.

He proved yet again to be distinguished in his field of expertise and the Lakers are reaping the rewards of Doncic’s brilliance.

Doncic was dynamic in scoring 49 points, coming up two assists short of a triple-double with 11 rebounds and eight assists in leading the Lakers past the Minnesota ...Read more

PORTLAND – Steph Curry nailed improbable shot after improbable shot on Friday night, but his expected excellence was not enough to overcome an inspired Portland Blazers team that had spent the past 48 hours mired in controversy.

The Blazers were led by acting head coach Tiago Splitter, who stepped into the role after Chauncey Billups was ...Read more

HOUSTON — The Detroit Pistons secured a thrilling 115-111 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night at the Toyota Center.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons (1-1) with 21 points, nine assists and five rebounds and Ausar Thompson added 19 points and three assists. After a subpar season opener against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, Duncan ...Read more