Basketball

Oklahoma City Thunder (40-42, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (42-40, ninth in the Western Conference) New Orleans; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m.

Chicago Bulls (40-42, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (41-41, ninth in the Eastern Conference) Toronto; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Raptors -5; over/under is 214.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a few questions about his future in Washington, Bradley Beal joked that the reporters in the room were trying to push him out. “If I wanted to leave, you guys would definitely hear and know that Beal wants to leave,” he said.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves suspended center Rudy Gobert for their play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers , after the 10-year veteran threw a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson in an argument in the huddle during a timeout.

TORONTO — It's almost a luxury for Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors to have several days to prepare for just one opponent.

Scoring was up in the NBA this season, to a level not seen in more than a half-century. NBA teams averaged 114.7 points per game. That’s the ninth-highest figure in the league’s 77 seasons and the most since teams averaged 116.7 per game in 1969-70.

Damian Lillard's heroics weren't enough to save the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers missed the playoffs for the second straight season even though Lillard averaged a career-high 32.2 points a game, third-best in the league.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford said it’s critical for the team to start winning if it intends to keep star point guard LaMelo Ball, who is considered a cornerstone of the franchise. Ball, the No.

MIAMI (AP) — Getting to the play-in tournament probably wasn't the goal of any team when training camps opened back in September. It does, however, beat the alternative.

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons , coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, are searching for a coach and hoping their new leader has Victor Wembanyama in the lineup.