Basketball

MIAMI (AP) — To open a new season, the Miami Heat revisited their go-to move from last season: winning close games.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers signed Bruce Brown for his defense. His scoring punch Wednesday night was an added bonus.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Dallas Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic will play in Victor Wembanyama’s debut with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Doncic was listed as questionable with a left calf strain he sustained Oct.

TORONTO — When Leonard Miller was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves he knew he had a natural mentor in Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NBA All-Star Game is going back to its roots, with the best of the East playing the best of the West. Commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement Wednesday, revealing this season’s All-Star Game on Feb.

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns were docked a 2024 second-round draft pick by the NBA on Wednesday after the league said the team violated league rules on the timing of this season’s free agency discussions.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers added another wrinkle to their messy relationship when the team told the disgruntled guard to stay home instead of traveling for Thursday's season opener against Milwaukee.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Myles Garrett hurdled a Colts lineman last week. On Wednesday, the Browns' star defensive end jumped into the NBA. Garrett finalized a deal to purchase a minority ownership stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team announced.

TORONTO — Scottie Barnes is going to be with the Toronto Raptors for at least one more year. The Raptors exercised the fourth-year team option on the rookie scale contract of the swingman on Wednesday. Barnes is now signed through the 2024-25 season.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NBA enlisted an actor from “The Sopranos” and borrowed the central theme of the film “Ocean’s Eleven” — a Las Vegas heist — to hype the inaugural In-Season Tournament that begins Nov. 3.