Magic overcome Hornets in overtime

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic have not had trouble starting games this season, but finishing has been a problem. They reversed things against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, rallying from nine down in the fourth quarter and controlling overtime to post a 110-105 victory over the Bobcats. It was only the second Magic […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Wizards clamp down on Pacers

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, All-Star forward Paul George and the Eastern Conference-leading Indiana Pacers won the NBA’s latest Battle of the Universe with a victory over two-time defending champion Miami Heat. On Friday, the Washington Wizards’ gritty defensive effort sent George and company crashing back to Earth. Guard John Wall scored 20 points and center […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Nets defeat Cavaliers for 12th straight home win

NEW YORK — Two consecutive away losses made for plenty of mistakes to be corrected for Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd. Returning to the impenetrable arena that is the Barclays Center, the Nets took the opportunity to right their wrongs in a 108-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. “We know we […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
UConn makes itself at home in NCAA win at Garden

NEW YORK — Playing with the swagger of a home team on a neutral court, the Connecticut Huskies turned back the Iowa State Cyclones 81-76 on Friday night in the semifinals of the NCAA East Regional at Madison Square Garden, their “home-away-from-home.” UConn (29-8), the seventh seed, faces the winner of Virginia-Michigan State on Sunday […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Spurs 133, Nuggets 102

DENVER — Guard Marco Belinelli scored 27 points, forward Tim Duncan had 20 and the San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to 16 with a 133-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. The Spurs’ streak is the second longest in franchise history during the regular season. They won 17 straight in 1995-96. […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Raptors clinch playoff berth with win over Celtics

TORONTO — Raptors coach Dwane Casey called it fitting that guard DeMar DeRozan and center Amir Johnson combined for the final four points in Toronto’s 105-103 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday night. DeRozan and Johnson have been with the Raptors since the 2009-10 season, seeing the organizational rebuild from its early stages. With […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
James’ triple-double leads Heat over Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Forward LeBron James was running out of time to get his first triple-double of the season. With the Miami Heat comfortably ahead late in the third quarter, coach Erik Spoelstra did not want to leave his superstar on the court much longer. Fortunately for James, Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings obliged […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Pelicans 102, Jazz 95

NEW ORLEANS — Forward Tyreke Evans scored 22 points and guard Anthony Morrow 20 as the New Orleans Pelicans overcame an early injury to All-Star forward Anthony Davis to defeat the Utah Jazz 102-95 on Friday night. Forward Al-Farouq Aminu added 13 points for the Pelicans, who won a season-high fifth consecutive game heading into […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Timberwolves 143, Lakers 107

MINNEAPOLIS – Welcome back Nikola Pekovic. In his first game back since missing six with an ankle injury, the Timberwolves’ burly center scored 26 points in 29 minutes, leading a high-octane, record-breaking Minnesota attack in a 143-107 beating of the beat-up Los Angeles Lakers Friday at Target Center. Record breaking? The Wolves’ 107 points and […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021