LAWRENCE, Kan. — For a while, the Kansas Jayhawks struggled to gain separation against UNC Wilmington.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the lead was up to 20.

KU certainly didn’t play anywhere near its “A” game, but did enough to walk out with a decisive victory Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse. Perhaps that’s the sign of a good team — one...Read more

NEW YORK — Even without Cam Thomas and the luxury of a healthy center, the Nets rallied from an early 17-point hole to beat the Charlotte Hornets, 116-115, on Tuesday at Barclays Center. A balanced scoring effort, fueled by a season-high 34 points from veteran forward Cam Johnson, was enough to outlast the unremitting visitors down the stretch...Read more

CHICAGO — It was not exactly a lovefest when Bob Love arrived in Chicago on Nov. 23, 1968.

The Milwaukee Bucks dealt Love and Bob Weiss to the Bulls before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Stadium, and both he and Weiss were relegated to the bench that night.

“The crowd of 4,169 was not too happy about the news, judging from the...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A week after a big win over Duke, the Kentucky Wildcats wasted no time in their return to Rupp Arena.

The No. 9-ranked Cats jumped out to a double-digit advantage in the opening minutes against Lipscomb and rolled to a 97-68 victory Tuesday night. It was UK’s first game since beating then-No. 6 Duke last Tuesday, a victory ...Read more

STORRS, Conn. — The second-ranked UConn men’s basketball program stormed past East Texas A&M for an 81-46 win in Gampel Pavilion on Tuesday night behind a dominant defensive performance and four double-figure scorers.

Solo Ball got it going early and finished with a team-high 12 points. Alex Karaban (3 for 5) and Liam McNeeley (5 for 9) ...Read more

BOSTON — In what very well could be a preview of this season’s Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers squared off in a highly anticipated thriller Tuesday night at TD Garden.

Boston is the reigning NBA champion. Cleveland looks like its top Eastern Conference challenger, entering with a 15-0 record that was tied for ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid always says that his life is like a movie. Hopefully, we’re at the point of the film where the star athlete emerges as a new man after clearing his head on a long, thoughtful motorcycle ride along the coastline with a brooding ‘80s song playing in the background. No epic is complete without a look-in-the-mirror ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the most heartening events on the Kansas City sports calendar is the WIN for KC Women’s Sports Awards banquet: an annual celebration of the Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City’s mission to “ignite girls and women through advocating and promoting the lifetime value of sports and fitness, while providing ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — If you feel like you just lived through one of the best Kentucky basketball weeks in eons, it is because you did.

Last Tuesday night, the UK men turned in a gritty, late-game rally that carried the Wildcats to a 77-72 upset of then-No. 6 Duke in the State Farm Champions Classic in Atlanta.

In his third game as Kentucky’s...Read more

On a night when both sides were missing their top stars, the Magic (without All-Star Paolo Banchero) dominated the paint and shared the ball to hand the Kevin Durant-less Suns their fourth consecutive loss.

For Orlando, the 109-99 victory at Footprint Center is its sixth in a row, just its second on the road through the first 15 games and what ...Read more

NEW YORK — Suddenly, the Knicks are finding their rhythm, winning four of their last five games.

That streak could easily have been five straight if not for a controversial foul call on Josh Hart in the final seconds of a Nov. 13 game against the Chicago Bulls. Hart’s brush against Coby White’s afro on a desperate three-point attempt sent...Read more

BOSTON — The top team in the NBA will take the court Tuesday night at TD Garden. And it won’t be the Boston Celtics.

The Cleveland Cavaliers carry a flawless 15-0 record into the NBA Cup matchup on Causeway Street, setting the stage for a rare meeting between a reigning league champion and an opponent this hot.

It’s just the fourth time ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons' subpar offensive performance led to a 122-112 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons shot 42.9% from the field and 15-of-44 from behind the arc.

Fatigue might’ve been vital in their performance, given that the game marked the Pistons’ fifth back-to-back set of the ...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Bill Self, who passed Phog Allen in men’s basketball coaching victories at tradition-rich Kansas last Tuesday, can claim yet another milestone victory a week after the Jayhawks’ 77-69 win over Michigan State in Atlanta.

Self, KU’s 22nd-year head coach, has compiled a 799-248 record in 32 seasons at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Not much is known about the next statue the Lakers plan to have erected outside Crypto.com Arena.

But it is almost certain that sculpture will be well-dressed and have impeccable hair.

The team announced Monday that Showtime-era coach Pat Riley will be the next Lakers legend to be honored with a statue on Star Plaza outside the...Read more