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

PHILADELPHIA — The following is a list of players who began their NBA careers with 1,500 minutes, 650 points, 225 rebounds, 175 assists and a .534 true shooting percentage in their first 43 games.

— Oscar Robertson

— Larry Bird

— Magic Johnson

— Michael Jordan

— Chris Paul

— VJ Edgecombe

This shouldn’t need to be said, but...Read more

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan might have won Friday night’s game against Michigan State, but the flames are burning as hot as ever between the two rivals on the other side of the weekend.

In his regularly scheduled Monday press conference, Michigan coach Dusty May leveled sharp criticisms against MSU point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who he ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — The UConn men’s basketball team has won 17 in a row, is out to a perfect 11-0 start in Big East play and sits at 21-1, with its only loss to the nation’s No. 1 overall team in Arizona.

Yet that wasn’t enough to keep its No. 2 ranking in the country on Monday.

Michigan, which had previously been ranked No. 3, ...Read more

MIAMI — Although legal battles remain, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has received a victory of sorts, with the National Basketball Players Association successful in its arbitration that Rozier’s salary cannot be withheld by the NBA.

In the wake of Rozier’s Oct. 23 arrest as part of the FBI’s gambling investigation, the NBA moved to have...Read more

Flushing? Flushing would be too kind.

Burn it. Shred it. Nuke it. Most of all, learn from it. And the most important lesson should be this: Whatever David Adelman’s gameplan for the Nuggets was against Oklahoma City Sunday night should never, ever happen again.

Denver got cute. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got nasty. Cason Wallace got open. Lu ...Read more

SAN ANTONIO — After multiple delays caused by travel issues stemming from a winter storm in North Carolina, the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs finally took to the court inside Frost Bank Center Sunday night.

Despite flying the day of the game and having tip-off pushed back five hours from its originally scheduled time, San Antonio wasn�...Read more

NEW YORK — Sunday marked the first-year anniversary of the Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.

Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted he felt “stressed” knowing about the trade before the Lakers played the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden that night.

While his stress may have faded, Redick couldn’t have ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons began their four-game homestand on Sunday with a 130-77 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Inside Little Caesars Arena, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren showcased their dynamic duo act, further solidifying their All-Star selections.

The 53-point margin of victory was the largest in Pistons history.

Duren celebrated ...Read more

MIAMI – Perhaps it was the return of Davion Mitchell. Perhaps it was the humiliation of falling 18 hours earlier to a team that scheduled it as a day of rest. Or perhaps there is rekindled hope of the move into February leading to a move out of nearly permanent residence in the play-in bracket.

Looking far more cohesive and connected than in ...Read more

NEW YORK — Lakers star LeBron James made the NBA All-Star team for a record 22nd time Sunday after being selected as a Western Conference reserve by NBA coaches.

James had been selected as an All-Star starter 21 consecutive times, an NBA record, but fans didn’t choose him this season. The 41-year-old James is just the second player to earn...Read more

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Things keep getting worse for the Kansas State men’s basketball team.

The Wildcats entered the weekend at the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Nevertheless, it felt like they dropped a few spots following a 95-61 loss against No. 8 Iowa State on Sunday at Bramlage Coliseum.

Ugly doesn’t begin to describe how this game ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wait a minute: Is this how it feels to have a winning NBA team in town?

It’s been so long I had honestly forgotten. But the Charlotte Hornets are in the midst of their longest win streak in almost 10 years. Suddenly it looks a lot prettier around here, and I’m not just talking about the snow.

The Hornets edged San ...Read more

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics steamrolled the depleted Milwaukee Bucks in a Sunday matinee at TD Garden, breezing to a 107-79 win to close out a 3-1 homestand.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting and 13 rebounds after missing Friday’s win over Sacramento with knee and hamstring injuries. The Celtics also got 27 points ...Read more

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland men’s basketball was just what the doctor ordered for ailing Purdue — and a couple other members of the Big Ten.

Eager to end a three-game losing skid, the No. 12 Boilermakers found a partner in the Terps, who could not match their opponent’s offense or size in a 93-63 loss Sunday afternoon before an ...Read more