MINNEAPOLIS — Fred Hoiberg earned the nickname “The Mayor” as a college basketball player at Iowa State in the early 1990s because of his immense popularity. He grew up in Ames, Iowa, became a Cyclones legend on the court and even received write-in votes in that city’s mayoral election in 1993.

The way things are going, Hoiberg might ...Read more

PHOENIX — For some, it’s reminiscing. For others, it’s preparation. And for the next generation, it potentially is an audition.

Because for as much as Erik Spoelstra perseveres in his day job as coach of the Miami Heat, this also is his first tour through the NBA as the next Team USA Olympic coach, named to that post in October.

So the ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — Dan Hurley made his way off the PeoplesBank Arena floor Saturday only to be stopped by his Hall of Fame predecessor.

“I think Coach (Jim Calhoun) rattled off about four or five things that we suck at,” Hurley said, in the aftermath of UConn’s 75-67 win over Villanova in Big East men’s basketball. “I just wanted to ...Read more

Wednesday was Madison Square Garden. Sunday was Intuit Dome. Different coast, same result.

The Brooklyn Nets lost 126-89 to the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday night, dropping their fifth straight game, falling to 12-32 and continuing a familiar freefall. Brooklyn has now lost 10 of its last 11 games, and after spending December posting the best ...Read more

PHOENIX – Salvage mission complete.

Moving past bad losses to the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers that could have made this a road to run, the Miami Heat followed up Saturday night’s blowout victory over the Utah Jazz with a 111-102 victory Sunday night over the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center.

With the victory, ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — A day after the NBA postponed the Timberwolves’ game against the Golden State Warriors, the teams played their makeup game at Target Center even as protestors were in downtown Minneapolis in response to the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis around the start of the game.

One player said before the game it ...Read more

A Denver Nuggets game scheduled for Sunday afternoon against the Grizzlies was postponed because of inclement weather in Memphis, Tenn., the league announced.

What was supposed to be the last of a three-game road trip for Denver (31-15) will now be played at a later date to be determined. The Nuggets are still planning to return home from ...Read more

Jonathan Kuminga has a bone bruise in his left knee, the Golden State Warriors announced Sunday before their game against the Timberwolves in Minneapolis.

Kuminga suffered the injury in the second quarter of Thursday’s loss to the Mavericks in Dallas. He rolled his ankle and hyperextended his knee, then limped off the court, pausing ...Read more

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