Basketball

NEW YORK (AP) — The Empire State Building is joining in the party to celebrate Vince Carter's jersey retirement. The landmark building will be lit in red, white and blue, the Nets' former colors, when Brooklyn retires the Hall of Famer's No.

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler is expected to play for Miami again Friday when it hosts the Denver Nuggets, a game that would be his first since the Heat confirmed that he wants a trade and that they are trying to accommodate that request.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The misses by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves kept coming, jumpers from everywhere on the court that bounced off the rim while the dutiful crowd stayed standing for the first 4:27 of the game until the home team fina

Los Angeles Clippers (21-17, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (13-26, 13th in the Western Conference) Portland, Oregon; Thursday, 10 p.m.

Houston Rockets (27-12, second in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (20-20, ninth in the Western Conference) Sacramento, California; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Kings -3.5; over/under is 226.

Brooklyn Nets (14-26, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (21-17, sixth in the Western Conference) Los Angeles; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles and Brooklyn play in non-conference action.

Denver Nuggets (24-16, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (20-19, ninth in the Eastern Conference) Miami; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Denver hits the road against Miami aiming to extend its four-game road winning streak.

Charlotte Hornets (9-28, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (18-23, 10th in the Eastern Conference) Chicago; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Chicago hosts Charlotte looking to stop its three-game home losing streak.

Memphis Grizzlies (26-15, third in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (19-20, 12th in the Western Conference) San Antonio; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Minnesota Timberwolves (21-19, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (27-15, third in the Eastern Conference) New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m.