Basketball

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks are preparing to be without center Onyeka Okongwu for an indefinite period of time, leaving the team with serious front-line depth issues as it returns from the All-Star break.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Doc Rivers’ arrival was supposed to ensure the Milwaukee Bucks would develop into one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams by the postseason. But they sure haven't looked like contenders so far.

Milwaukee Bucks (35-21, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (39-16, first in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Friday, 10 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have signed veteran forward Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari, 35, has averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 14.8 minutes in 32 combined games with the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons this season.

There’s no NBA player who is a bigger fan of harness racing than Denver’s Nikola Jokic. He owns horses, goes to tracks whenever he can and even accepted one of his MVP awards while riding around at his farm in Serbia.

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors want to make sure they fight until the end of the NBA season, so they brought in MMA great Georges St-Pierre to give them a pep talk.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have signed former Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors guard Ryan Rollins to a two-way contract. Rollins, 21, played 10 games with the Wizards this season and averaged 4.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.

The new rule that rendered Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid ineligible for a second consecutive NBA MVP award because he’s missing too many games has the potential to create something the league hasn’t seen in almost two decades.

Orlando Magic (30-25, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (36-17, second in the Eastern Conference) Cleveland; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Cavaliers -7.5; over/under is 216.

San Antonio Spurs (11-44, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (31-23, eighth in the Western Conference) Sacramento, California; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Kings -11; over/under is 242.