Turner, Pacers hold off Heat

INDIANAPOLIS — Rarely does the ejection of an NBA starter help the player’s team win a game, but that was the case Wednesday night during one of the regular season’s most significant contests. Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson was whistled for a second technical foul with 5:01 remaining, prompting coach Frank Vogel to call on […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Duncan leads Spurs to 15th straight win

SAN ANTONO — In Tim Duncan’s 17-year career, the forward never experienced a regular season winning streak like the San Antonio Spurs currently have going on. He was not going to let it end on his watch. San Antonio extended its win streak to 15 games behind Duncan’s 29 points and 13 rebounds, defeating the […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Short-handed Pelicans grind out win vs. Clippers

NEW ORLEANS — In a season of serial injuries, not even New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams experienced a challenge close to this. Facing the Los Angeles Clippers, winners of 13 of their last 14 games and sporting the NBA’s fourth-best record, the Pelicans had only nine players available to suit up, including just two […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Wolves rout Hawks to snap three-game skid

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves set out upon the rest of their season Wednesday night, aiming to play for pride and professionalism now that their playoff aspirations are all but gone. By doing so, they produced a 107-83 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Target Center and individually delivered what backup point guard J.J. Barea […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Suns hold off Wizards for fifth straight win

WASHINGTON — Anybody expecting the Phoenix Suns to wilt under the glare of a playoff race might want to stop those thoughts. Guard Goran Dragic scored 25 points and backcourt partner Eric Bledsoe had 23 as the Suns defeated the Washington Wizards 99-93 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory. Swingman Gerald Green had […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Pacers 84, Heat 83

INDIANAPOLIS — If this were a preview of the NBA Eastern Conference finals, there promises to be plenty of high drama and high-level action. Indiana and Miami performed at a playoff level Wednesday night in sold-out Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and the Pacers rallying in the final minutes for an 84-83 victory over the Heat. Indiana […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Waiters’ buzzer-beater pushes Cavs past Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dion Waiters envisioned making a game-winning NBA shot many times. When he got a chance to do for real, the second-year Cleveland Cavaliers guard was ready for the challenge. Waiters hit a 19-foot jumper at the buzzer, and the depleted Cleveland Cavaliers erased a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Detroit […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Bobcats use a little luck to beat Nets in OT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The basketball gods aren’t always kind to the Charlotte Bobcats, but they were on Wednesday night. The Bobcats got some fortunate bounces down the stretch and used them to pull out a 116-111 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets. Forward Chris Douglas-Roberts hit a long jumper at the shot-clock buzzer with 10.1 […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Raptors extend division lead with win over Celtics

BOSTON — The Toronto Raptors left TD Garden after Wednesday night’s 99-90 victory over the Boston Celtics knowing a loss by the New York Knicks out west would mean its first playoff berth since 2008. But more importantly, these Raptors, who were supposed to jockey for lottery position this season, also moved 2 1/2 games […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021