CHARLOTTE, N.C. — During both phases of the $245 million renovation of Spectrum Center, the two-decade-old arena underwent several upgrades to enhance the experience.

Instead of adding sparkling new entryways, allowing patrons to be ushered into the festivities in a streamlined, expedited process, perhaps they should also have installed a ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Paul George is starting to live up to the hype.

Joel Embiid can still have lethal scoring nights.

VJ Edgecombe is back to playing at a high level, and he could do more if the 76ers keep him involved throughout.

Those three things stood out in the Sixers’ 115-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

George shows his worth

...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — The UConn men’s basketball team held off Texas to complete its nonconference schedule with a 71-63 win at PeoplesBank Arena Friday night.

Alex Karaban led the way with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting, sending the fifth-ranked Huskies into Big East play with a 10-1 record. Tarris Reed Jr. scored 12 points with six rebounds, ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons played their first game in five days and proved that the mini-break was much needed. On Friday night at Little Caesars Arena, the Pistons won their third consecutive game in a 142-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

It was a collective effort for Detroit (20-5) as eight players scored in double figures. Isaiah ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Lakers star Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a mild left calf strain and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week, the team said after practice Friday.

The guard is averaging 27.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists and has led the Lakers in total minutes played this season as the team weathered stretches without ...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — Caitlin Clark caught an inbound pass on the K Center court and pointed to her defender. Kiki Iriafen stepped in with a screen and Clark burst past it, streaking upcourt in a five-on-five against a squad of male practice players. A defender finally matched her stride near the 3-point line. Clark pounded the dribble, slid sideways...Read more

MIAMI — For the first time since Terry Rozier was arrested in Orlando on Oct. 23 as part of a federal gambling probe, the Miami Heat will have a seat at a hearing regarding what comes next for the banished guard.

According to a source directly familiar with the process, the Heat will have representation at a Wednesday arbitration hearing in ...Read more

NEW YORK — A three-year stint at Iona will never be the headliner on Rick Pitino’s résumé, but coaching that small program in New Rochelle remains an important part of his story nonetheless.

When Iona hired him as head basketball coach in March 2020, Pitino was nearly three years removed from being fired at Louisville amid a federal ...Read more

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State’s longest tenured coach is getting a pay raise, as approved unanimously by MSU Trustees.

Izzo’s new contract, which renews annually, will pay him $7.2 million per year. That’s an increase of $1 million from the $6.2 million yearly value of his last contract, from September 2022.

Izzo's base salary ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings had no answer for three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets with starters and some key reserves out due to injuries.

Jokic put up 36 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Nuggets to a 136-105 victory over the Kings before an announced crowd of 16,307 at Golden 1 Center on Thursday...Read more

The Celtics’ five-game win streak stalled Thursday night in snowy Milwaukee.

Facing a scuffling Bucks team that was playing without two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston went cold in the second half and lost, 116-101, at Fiserv Forum.

Antetokounmpo missed the game with a calf strain, but the Celtics could not corral the Bucks’ red...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors coach Steve Kerr has spent the past two months striking a diplomatic tone.

He has emphasized that he enjoys coaching Jonathan Kuminga — the subject of a lengthy summertime contract negotiation that saw the fifth-year forward’s agent publicly criticize Kerr’s coaching methods before helping Kuminga sign a two-...Read more

The Minnesota men’s basketball team couldn’t carry over its strong finish to the first half, as No. 6 Purdue pulled away for an 85-57 victory Wednesday in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Gophers (5-5, 1-1 Big Ten), coming off a 73-64 victory over No. 22 Indiana at Williams Arena on Dec. 3, went into the halftime break behind by three points after ...Read more

NEW YORK — Chris DeMarco is ready to lead the New York Liberty into a new era — or almost ready.

The new Liberty hire is set to depart from his Golden State Warriors assistant role on Dec. 29 after the team visits the Brooklyn Nets.

After that, DeMarco is 100% committed to being the Liberty’s newest head coach — a job opportunity he ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Former Clippers point guard Chris Paul says he's "at peace with everything" after being abruptly dismissed by the team last week.

"Stuff's been a little crazy in the past few days — to say the least," Paul told People magazine in an interview published Tuesday. "But honestly, I'm home. My daughter had tryouts yesterday. My ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II will undergo right foot surgery and miss the rest for the season.

He is expected to make a full recovery and will be ready for training camp next season, the team said.

The 7-foot-1 Duke product and No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 draft played only seven games this season, ...Read more