Basketball

Orlando Magic (34-46, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (44-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Nets -11.

DENVER (AP) — At times, the Denver Nuggets were easy – sometimes, too easy – to love, with their rainbow uniforms, their rumpled grumposaurus of a coach and a defense-optional game plan that kept the scoreboard clicking into the 120s and 130s night a

GENEVA (AP) — Qatar is going to host another World Cup, adding basketball to the sports portfolio of a tiny country with long-term Olympic hosting ambitions.

ATLANTA (AP) — Bring on Philly. The Boston Celtics finally finished off the Atlanta Hawks, winning the opening-round series in six games with a 128-120 victory Thursday night.

Phoenix Suns (45-37, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (53-29, first in the Western Conference) Denver; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Nuggets -2.5; over/under is 224.

Memphis Grizzlies (51-31, second in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (43-39, seventh in the Western Conference) Los Angeles; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Lakers -4.5; over/under is 219.

Sacramento Kings (48-34, third in the Western Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (44-38, sixth in the Western Conference) San Francisco; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Warriors -7; over/under is 234.

ATLANTA (AP) — After letting the series go longer than it should have, Al Horford and the Boston Celtics were eager to finish off the Atlanta Hawks. Horford made sure his former team didn't force a Game 7.

MADRID (AP) — A EuroLeague basketball game between Real Madrid and Partizan Belgrade on Thursday was called off with less than two minutes left after a brawl left the teams without enough players to keep playing.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — The constant, thumping sound of bouncing basketballs, lively chatter and squeaking sneakers on the floors inside the Cavaliers' training facility were replaced by an eerie stillness and silence on Thursday.