Basketball

DENVER (AP) — The 3-point shot of Dallas forward Grant Williams felt slightly off all morning in practice on the new, brightly painted Denver Nuggets court. Turns out, it wasn't his shot at all. It was a wrongly measured 3-point line.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard made big shots down the stretch and Brook Lopez blocked shots on the other end of the floor all night.

CHICAGO (AP) — Whether the new In-Season Tournament gives early regular-season games like this a little extra meaning, Brooklyn's Dorian Finney-Smith was sure of a few things. He'll take the win, and the bright red court was “cute.

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks rookie guard Kobe Bufkin will be out at least two weeks after fracturing his left thumb while practicing for the team’s G-League affiliate. Bufkin, the No.

MIAMI (AP) — New court, new uniforms and, the Miami Heat hope, a new start.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Myles Turner scored 27 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 18 points and 13 assists and the Indiana Pacers held off the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-116 on Friday night to open the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.

PHOENIX (AP) — Victor Wembanyama strolled through the hallways at Footprint Center after the best game of his short NBA career when he passed 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant, stopping for a quick handshake and quick hug.

DENVER (AP) — Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd will miss Friday night's game at Denver with a non-COVID-19 illness. Kidd didn't make the trip and will be replaced by top assistant Sean Sweeney. It's the second time Sweeney has filled in.

PHOENIX (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs were flailing in the fourth quarter Thursday night, struggling to find their footing after the Phoenix Suns erased a 27-point lead and threatened to finish an epic comeback victory.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid envisioned winning an NBA championship with James Harden at his side. Embiid has a new idea of how to win one with the 76ers — play his former teammate and the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Finals.