LOS ANGELES — Deflating. Frustrating. Embarrassing.

What other words can be used to describe the Lakers' 100-97 defeat to the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night?

So what if Luka Doncic was playing for only the third time since Christmas? So what if Austin Reaves was ejected in the third quarter? So what if the Lakers' ...Read more

NEW YORK — Bobby Portis has been suspended 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA anti-drug program by testing positive for the painkiller Tramadol, the league announced on Thursday.

The 30-year-old Milwaukee Bucks forward has averaged 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists across 46 games this season while shooting 46.3% from ...Read more

ATLANTA — Hawks guard Dyson Daniels has strung together a remarkable season since the team acquired him during the offseason. With the news that Spurs center Victor Wembanyama will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder condition, specifically deep-vein thrombosis, a path for the Hawks guard to win Defensive Player of the Year ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — Liam McNeeley had promised there would be a different result when the UConn men played Villanova. He called for his team to “play angry,” play “desperate.”

It’s a big check for a freshman to write, but McNeeley was willing to step into a void and provide the words, and once again had the will and the wherewithal ...Read more

JJ Redick, renewed by the All-Star break, bounded through the halls of the Lakers’ arena like a rested golden retriever. His team had a week off and a clean injury report, a 30-game sprint to the finish with a chance to have their best regular-season finish since their 2020 title run.

There were reasons everywhere to be excited. The 48 ...Read more

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The tag team of Mark Mitchell and Caleb Grill powered a triple-digit offensive showing as No. 15 Missouri toppled No. 4 Alabama in a shootout.

The Tigers (20-6, 9-4 Southeastern Conference) beat the Crimson Tide (21-5, 10-3) 110-98 Wednesday in front of a sold-out crowd, gaining ground in the race for a top-four finish in the ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Wildcats got back in the win column Wednesday night.

UK ran away from Vanderbilt in the second half to claim an 82-61 victory over the Commodores, who defeated the Cats earlier this season and kept things close for the first 20 minutes of the rematch in Rupp Arena.

The No. 17 Cats improved to 18-8 (and 7-6 in ...Read more

NEW YORK — So much for fully healthy.

Just hours after completing practice in Tarrytown, the Knicks ruled out starting forward Josh Hart for Thursday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls, citing patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee — a condition commonly referred to as runner’s knee or jumper’s knee.

The American Academy of ...Read more

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — They opened the doors Wednesday to the Smith Center and let everyone in to see North Carolina play a little basketball with N.C. State.

On a snowy night in the Triangle, the decision was made by UNC to allow anyone who could make it to the game to see the game. Students also could grab open seats close to the court, amping...Read more

NEW YORK — LaVar Ball, well-known father of NBA players Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, had his right foot amputated, according to reports published Wednesday.

Ball, 57, suffered a “serious medical issue” that required the procedure, TMZ reported. The health problems that led to the amputation were unclear.

Notorious for his publicity blitz ...Read more

DENVER — Back from a beach vacation and spared the indignity of having to coach the NBA All-Star Game, Michael Malone has another tricky decision at the top of his to-do list this week.

Who’s in the starting lineup?

“You really don’t think I’m gonna answer that question right now, do you?” Malone said Wednesday at Ball Arena, ...Read more

ATLANTA — The NBA’s All-Star Weekend is well behind Hawks guard Trae Young and forward Zaccharie Risacher, and they made sure to get the rest they needed to finish the remainder of the season.

“I mean, it wasn’t my first time going,” Young said. “So I kind of knew how to take advantage of the weekend, a little bit more rest, during ...Read more

CHICAGO — Lonzo Ball said the decision wasn’t all that hard.

As he neared the end of his first contract with the Chicago Bulls — a four-year sign-and-trade deal worth $80 million from 2021 through this season — Ball knew he had a major decision to make.

Trade rumors swirled throughout the week leading up to the deadline. But none of ...Read more

Former Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. is trying to create something positive out of the school’s upside-down banner mishap over the weekend.

Illinois honored Shannon’s jersey at halftime of its loss to Michigan State on Saturday. But when Shannon pulled a string to reveal the banner that would hang at the State Farm Center, it was ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Damian Lillard might as well be an adopted Seattle player that’s currently in the NBA but not from the city.

Remember all his years just down the road in Portland?

Remember THAT shot against Oklahoma City in the playoffs? You know, the one he later said was in part for all those old SuperSonics fans?

“I just love the ...Read more

DENVER — Like a good ranch dip, Christian Braun goes with anything. And anyone.

He runs through screens the way the Kool-Aid Man used to run through walls. He cuts to the rim like a Ginsu knife through a block of frozen spinach. He finishes Russell Westbrook pitches with grace and Nikola Jokic lobs with rage.

When Nuggets general manager ...Read more

Before Tuesday’s matchup against BYU, Kansas coach Bill Self said there had been “enough talk” from the players and coaching staff about the Jayhawks’ struggles.

He wanted the team to “go out and do it.”

Instead, the Jayhawks had their worst outing of the season in Provo, Utah. The game was an unequivocal disaster that ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The biggest news Tuesday with the Lakers was about the health of LeBron James and the increased minutes for Luka Doncic.

James, who didn’t play in Sunday’s All-Star Game in San Francisco because of lingering ankle and foot discomfort, has been listed as questionable for the Lakers game against Charlotte on Wednesday night at...Read more

SEATTLE — In their first public comments since Jewell Loyd’s allegations of player mistreatment by the Storm coaching staff and a trade demand that sent her to Las Vegas Aces, Storm general manager Talisa Rhea and coach Noelle Quinn said the team is moving forward and focused on the upcoming WNBA season.

Rhea said the Storm have “...Read more