Basketball

The Golden State Valkyries will finally begin selecting players to fill out their roster as the WNBA holds its first expansion draft in 16 years on Friday.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Between Brandon Ingram's 21-point third quarter and Herb Jones' clinching block of Devin Booker's last-second 3-point shot, the New Orleans Pelicans looked more like the team coach Willie Green envisioned when the season began.

TORONTO — An average night for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still makes him one of the best players in the NBA.

The NBA is returning to China next season, striking a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned over Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government prot

Detroit Pistons (9-15, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (14-8, fourth in the Eastern Conference) New York; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Detroit looks to stop its three-game skid with a victory against New York.

Sacramento Kings (10-13, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (11-11, 11th in the Western Conference) San Antonio; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Kings -3.5; over/under is 227.

Oklahoma City Thunder (17-5, first in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (5-18, 14th in the Western Conference) New Orleans; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City visits New Orleans in Western Conference action Saturday.

Minnesota Timberwolves (11-10, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (13-8, fifth in the Western Conference) San Francisco; Friday, 10 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Warriors -2; over/under is 220.

Phoenix Suns (12-9, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (10-10, seventh in the Eastern Conference) Miami; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix hits the road against Miami looking to end its four-game road losing streak.

Denver Nuggets (11-9, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (2-18, 15th in the Eastern Conference) Washington; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Washington heads into the matchup against Denver as losers of 16 in a row.