DUNK STATION

RUSSELL, DINWIDDIE CLUTCH! D'ANGELO RUSSELL SCORES 44 POINTS IN LEBRON-LESS LAKERS' STUNNING 123-122 WIN OVER BUCKS. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es LOS ANGELES (AP) D'Angelo Russell scored 21 of his season-high 44 points in the fourth quarter and hit a go-ahead jumper with 5.9 seconds to play, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame LeBron James' injury absence for a 123-122 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. Spencer Dinwiddie blocked Damian Lillard's step-back jumper right before the buzzer to preserve a stirring win for the Lakers while James sat out to rest his sore left ankle, missing his ninth game of the season overall due to the persistent injury. Los Angeles was carried by Russell, who tied his career high with nine 3-pointers while also handing out nine assists in a spectacular performance. He scored eight points in the final 1:13 while the Lakers rallied from a late deficit and improved to 5-4 without James. “D-Lo just stepped up and won us the game, and obviously with Spence with the defense on that last possession,” said Austin Reaves, who scored 18 points for the Lakers. “Just seeing D-Lo take over the game, I constantly kept telling him in timeouts, ‘Take us home.’” Russell again raised his offensive output when forced to play without James or Davis, shooting confidently while also distributing the ball effectively on offense. Russell was nearly as nonchalant afterward about his biggest game of the season, but he acknowledged that an NBA career including four trades and annual trade rumors swirling around him has honed his focus for tough situations. “On the floor, I've always felt like I was capable of doing things, (and) getting hot makes it a little more exciting,” Russell said. “Off the floor, obviously you all know what I've been through. Public humiliation has done nothing but mold me into the killer that you all see today. I never lack confidence. I never fear confrontation. I want all the smoke. ... I just feel confident in what I bring to the basketball game, so whatever room I walk in, I'm confident.” Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for Milwaukee. Lillard scored eight of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, but the Bucks couldn't hang on in their second consecutive loss. “It is a missed opportunity, but if we had won, that doesn’t change anything,” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said. “We’re trying to go and get better. I thought we had the game in our hands, and we let it go. That happens, and it’ll happen again, and we’ll win some the other way, too.” Milwaukee took its first lead since early in the second quarter on Antetokounmpo’s jumper with 2:53 to play. Lillard converted a four-point play two possessions later, but Russell trimmed the Bucks' lead to one point on a three-point play with 39 seconds left. Lillard missed a tough layup to give the Lakers a chance, and Russell hit a leaning 13-footer with 5.9 seconds to play. Dinwiddie, who was making his first start for his hometown Lakers, then smothered Lillard's final shot. Rivers cited the Bucks' fourth-quarter performance as reason for optimism, even if his team didn't finish. “You want to win all these games, but that’s the stuff that we’re going to keep doing more and more until it becomes us,” Rivers said. “There was a stretch where Damian and Giannis were playing a two-man game, and it was unstoppable. We want to encourage that more and more.” Antetokounmpo had his 43rd career triple-double, his eighth of the season and his first since Jan. 24. Pat Connaughton scored a season-high 17 points and hit a key 3-pointer down the stretch. Anthony Davis had 22 points - just two in the fourth quarter while playing with a left shoulder injury - and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who have won 11 of 15 as they fight to gain any ground in the competitive Western Conference. Davis said he couldn't move his shoulder after attempting to take a charge from Antetokounmpo. He will be evaluated Saturday. James hobbled off the court with four minutes left in the Lakers’ loss to Sacramento on Wednesday night with the latest flare-up of an ankle injury that has bothered the leading scorer in NBA history throughout his 21st season. Before the game, Rivers said Khris Middleton is “close” to returning from the sprained left ankle that has sidelined him for 13 games since Feb. 6. Copyright, All rights reserved, NBA STATION.2024

Today on STATION KICKS... We will take a first look at Kyrie Irving's new shoes, the ANTA KAI 1 “ARTIST ON COURT” Released yesterday, March 6, 2024. Yesterday, the world witnessed Kyrie Irving's long-awaited return to the sneaker world, debuting his first collaboration with Anta, the Kai 1 model in the “Artist On Court” colorway. This release has special significance as it marks Irving's initial flagship sneaker after parting ways with Nike in December 2022. Learn more about this new shoe in this episode! . Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases via STATION KICKS. STATION KICKS: www.youtube.com/@UCZaWzRFb_gs3k9LNaPta55Q Be sure to follow us on Rumble and Instagram. Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es Copyright, All rights reserved, STATION KICKS. 2024 - #sneakers #news #basketball #kyrieirving #sneakernews - KYRIE IRVING’S ANTA KAI 1 “ARTIST ON COURT” RELEASES MARCH 2024 ANTA KAI 1: The Sneaker Kyrie Wanted ANTA KAI 1 Detailed Review! Worth It? Everything You Need To Know - ANTA Kyrie Irving 1 Basketball Sneakers "Artist On Court" ANTA KAI 1 | Kyrie Irving’s New Shoe

Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es Copyright, All rights reserved, NBA STATION.2024

Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es DEAN WADE SCORES 20 IN FOURTH, CAVS RALLY TO STUN CELTICS AND END BOSTON'S 11-GAME WINNING STREAK! CLEVELAND (AP) With every one of Dean Wade's shots that splashed through the net, the Cavaliers got closer to the Celtics and his confidence grew. “The rim looked like a swimming pool,” he said. Wade made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Celtics by himself, and Cleveland won a replay review in the final second to stun Boston 105-104 on Tuesday night, ending the NBA's longest winning streak this season at 11 games. With NFL star Travis Kelce urging on Cleveland's crowd from a courtside seat, the Cavs overcame a 22-point deficit in the final period, the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history. “Honestly, when the Kelce brothers started hyping up the crowd, we knew we could do it,” Cavs center Jarrett Allen said. Cleveland stormed back without All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who missed the game with a knee injury, as well as forward Evan Mobley, who went out with a sprained ankle in the third quarter. Wade, who finished with a career-high 23 points, came to the rescue with his barrage of 3s in the fourth and a putback dunk with 19.1 seconds left that put the Cavs ahead 105-104. The Celtics looked for a final shot and All-Star Jayson Tatum, who led Boston with 26 points, appeared to draw a foul on Cleveland's Darius Garland while shooting a fadeaway jumper with 0.7 seconds left. The Cavs challenged the call, and following the review, officials said it was Tatum's leg that caused the contact and not Garland. “I thought it was great defense,” said Garland, who wasn't positive the call would go his way. “I knew the leg kick was kind of in play. My shin still kind of hurts from it, so I’m glad that it was overturned.” Tatum felt Garland made enough contact to warrant free throws. “I thought I was fouled, but they (refs) didn’t think I got fouled, which was tough because we would have got the tip-in,” he said. “It’s a weird way to end the game.” It was the latest stirring win at home for the Cavs, who beat Dallas last week on Max Strus's 60-foot shot at the buzzer. Following the game, Wade, who grew up in Kansas and is a die-hard Chiefs fan, said Kelce made him an offer. “He said if basketball didn’t work out for me, I could be a backup tight end,” Wade said. “I got good hands. That was just awesome. Pretty cool.” The Cavs are counting on Wade to be more consistent, especially not being at full strength. “He’s a multifaceted guy. He’s not just a spot-up shooter,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "We know the things he can do defensively. But he has an offensive game and tonight he got it rolling. “But the belief, the confidence, that’s who Dean Wade is at his core.” Allen added 21 points and 12 rebounds and Garland had 16 points and 11 assists for the Cavs, who made eight of 11 3-pointers in the fourth. Reserve Georges Niang also made two big 3s to help fuel Cleveland's rally. Kristaps Porzingis scored 24 points and Jaylen Brown had 21 for Boston, which lost for the first time since Feb. 1. The Celtics won three times by more than 40 points in that stretch. “That’s what happens when you don’t match the gas and don’t put an NBA team away,” Brown said. “Tip your cap to Dean Wade. He got hot, but we should have won that game. We haven’t really seen a team storm back like that. "Today was a mentality loss. We had the game. Shouldn’t have happened.” Mitchell, the Cavs' leading scorer, has a left knee injury. He'll miss at least the next two games, and he could be out longer with an injury that wasn't responding to rest. Mitchell received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Monday. He'll be re-examined this weekend. Cleveland also lost Mobley, who didn't return after spraining his left ankle with 5:29 left in the third quarter. The Celtics were coming off a 52-point blowout of Golden State, the club's third win by 50 or more this season. They were still comfortably up by 16 with 7:28 left, but the Cavs kept chipping away before and Wade finally put them ahead with his fifth 3. The Kelces were on hand as the Cavs honored them with a bobblehead depicting the Cleveland-born NFL stars. Jason Kelce, who retired from the Philadelphia Eagles after 13 seasons on Monday, was presented with a No. 62 jersey. Copyright, All rights reserved, NBA STATION.2024

Today at STATION KICKS... Get ready for Spring 2024 when adidas Basketball and James Harden unveil the “Pioneer” Harden Vol. 8. This new shoe debuts in March and promises an innovative design to boost basketball performance. Harden's pioneering spirit shines through with cutting-edge features, making it a standout choice for enthusiasts transitioning into the new season. Find out more about this shoe in this episode! Don't forget to follow us on our social networks: Youtube: https://youtu.be/OgsrR1HBenY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es STATION KICKS, 2024 - Sneaker New: ADIDAS HARDEN VOL 8 “PIONEER” RELEASES MARCH 2024 | STATION KICKS ADIDAS HARDEN VOL 8 “PIONEER” LeBron James 40k Mini-Movie 🎬 LeBron James gets a standing ovation as he reaches 40,000 career points 👏 🔥 ANTA KAI 1 | Kyrie Irving’s New Shoe MR FOAMER SIMPSON WearTesters #sneakernews #jamesharden #basketball #adidasbasketball #adidas #sports

Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es KAWHI LEONARD SCORES 32 POINTS, CLIPPERS EDGE TIMBERWOLVES 89-88 IN PHYSICAL, DEFENSIVE GAME. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Kawhi Leonard had 32 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 89-88 on Sunday in a physical and defensive game between two of the top four teams in the Western Conference. Norman Powell matched a season high with 24 points, and Paul George added 15 points but shot just 5 of 16 from the field and was 3 of 11 from 3-point range. “This was an old-school, 1985 game,” Los Angeles coach Tyronn Lue said. “But I loved the way we kept competing and kept guarding, defending.” The Clippers played without Russell Westbrook after he fractured his left hand in a home victory over Washington on Friday night. Ivica Zubac returned after missing two games with an illness. Anthony Edwards scored 27 points for Minnesota. The Timberwolves lost back-to-back games for just the third time this season. “It was a very physical game,” said Minnesota's Rudy Gobert, who had 12 points and 16 rebounds. “I thought there was a lot of touching, grabbing, just like a playoff game. I thought we started the game the right way. I think, over time, it was hard for us to get what we wanted.” Leonard broke an 84-all tie with a layup with 2:01 remaining and added a free throw after being fouled by Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns’ dunk with 1:40 left brought Minnesota within one, but Anthony Edwards missed a 3 and Towns was off the mark on a jumper before Leonard closed out the game with a pair of free throws. Minnesota had one more possession but couldn't find an open 3 and Edwards ended up driving for a layup. But the Wolves couldn't foul on the inbound pass as time ran out. “It was a tough game, neither team shoots over 40% from the field, but that’s on me,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “I got to take a timeout, get us organized on that second-to-last possession we had there. It’s a hard-fought game. Just didn’t make enough shots.” The Timberwolves, who started the day a game ahead of Oklahoma City in the West, had won four games in a row in the matchup with Los Angeles, including the first two games this season. “We just had to stay in it, stay with it," George said. "Shots weren’t falling for both sides. I thought we just stayed in and played a full 48 minutes. We weren’t making shots. Only other thing we could have done is made it tough for them to make shots.” Towns had 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Minnesota shot 38.8% and had 15 turnovers, leading to 20 points for the Clippers. Los Angeles shot 37.6% but had just nine turnovers, including six over the final three quarters. Partially as a result, the Clippers held a 19-0 advantage in fast-break points. James Harden had 10 assists for Los Angeles but was 0-for-10 shooting.

Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join on YouTube ➡ https://youtu.be/7Psai0Hjmg0 Instagram ➡ https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es PORTER SCORES 30 POINTS, NUGGETS HOLD OFF HEAT'S 4TH-QUARTER RALLY IN 103-97 VICTORY. DENVER (AP) Michael Porter Jr. had 30 points to help pick up the scoring load after Jamal Murray left because of a sprained ankle, and the Denver Nuggets staved off Miami's fourth-quarter rally to beat the Heat 103-97 on Thursday night. Porter was 12 of 23 from the floor, including four 3-pointers, and had 11 rebounds to help the Nuggets improve to 5-0 since the All-Star break. “Caught a little rhythm,” Porter said. “But nothing too different. We obviously need Jamal. But some shots were just falling.” Up 16 in the fourth quarter, Denver saw Miami trim it 99-97 after a floating bank shot by Jimmy Butler with 11 seconds remaining. Nikola Jokic made two free throws to seal it in a game where the Nuggets never trailed. Jokic finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, ending a streak of four triple-doubles. The two-time NBA MVP scored eight of Denver's 11 points late in the fourth quarter. “Definitely had a playoff vibe to it,” Porter said. “They play hard. They play really hard.” This marked the first meeting between the Heat and Nuggets since they squared off in the NBA Finals last June. The Nuggets beat the Heat in five games for their first NBA crown. Murray left just before halftime after he sprained his right ankle when he landed on Aaron Gordon's leg after a drive to the basket. Murray tested it out but shut it down for the night, finishing with six points. He's dealt with right hamstring and ankle ailments this season, along with shin splints. “It’s great for him to realize being cautious right now is probably the really prudent decision," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. With Murray out, Denver pieced together the point-guard duties with Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun and Jokic to hold off the Heat. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 18 points and Gordon 16 as the Nuggets played at home for a second straight night. “They're really aggressive and they are not quitting," Jokic said about the Heat. “They know what they’re doing and it’s always hard to play against that team.” Bam Adebayo had 22 points and Butler added 21 points for a Heat team that had won five in a row. Miami was without Kevin Love, Tyler Herro and Josh Richardson due to injuries. “Our guys have that fortitude and grit to keep on fighting back,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There was a little bit of a struggle offensively, and that’s a credit to their defense.” The Heat won five of six on a trip that included two games before the All-Star break. They face the Nuggets again on March 13 at home. “We know who we are,” Butler said. “It’s close to the most important time of the year, so we’ll be OK.” The Nuggets held a pregame ring ceremony for suspended Heat big man Thomas Bryant, who was with Denver last season in its title run. Bryant was presented his championship ring at half-court from Caldwell-Pope in a pregame ceremony and then immediately left the arena. The NBA made an allowance for Bryant to be on hand for the game because it was the Heat’s only visit to Denver. Suspended players are typically not allowed to be present at the arena on game nights. Bryant wrapped up a three-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation that happened during a Heat game against New Orleans last week.

Kevin Durant and Nike Basketball are getting ready to debut the highly anticipated Nike KD 17, the latest addition to Durant’s signature shoe line. Among the upcoming releases is the vibrant “Sunrise” edition, showcasing a dynamic colorway that adds a bold aesthetic to the collection. Drawing inspiration from iconic designs of the 1990s, the KD 17 incorporates key elements, reflecting a nostalgic yet contemporary style. Learn more about the Nike KD 17 “SUNRISE” in this episode! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es Make sure you follow us: https://youtu.be/7Psai0Hjmg0 STATION KICKS, 2024 - #nike #kevindurant #sneakers #sneakernews - Nike KD 17 “Sunrise” Nike LeBron 4 Fruity Pebbles adidas Harden Vol 8 Performance Review Nike Foamposite One Eggplant 2024 NBA's Top 10 Plays of the Night | February 28, 2024

Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join Now: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es - LEBRON SCORES 34 POINTS, LEADS LAKERS' RALLY FROM 21-POINT DEFICIT IN 116-112 WIN OVER CLIPPERS! LOS ANGELES (AP) LeBron James scored 19 of his 34 points during a brilliant fourth quarter, leading the Los Angeles Lakers back from a 21-point deficit for a dramatic 116-112 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. Kawhi Leonard missed a 12-footer with five seconds to play, and James threw a long pass to Cam Reddish for a dunk that punctuated a stunning victory for the Lakers in the rivals’ final regular-season game as co-tenants of their downtown arena. The 39-year-old James was the center of it all, hitting five of his season-high seven 3-pointers while outscoring the Clippers by himself in the fourth quarter (19-16). He either scored or assisted on 11 of the Lakers' 13 baskets in the final period. “It’s just a feeling when you feel like everything you put up is going in,” James said. “I just kept it consistent. I wasn’t taking ill-advised shots. I stayed in the course of the offense. My teammates did a great job of continuing to find me, and I just tried to dictate the tempo, dictate the game. ... It’s just a zone. Can’t really describe it. Wish you could stay in it forever.” Leonard scored 26 points and James Harden had 23 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who lost back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 23 after committing seven turnovers and allowing 39 points in that calamitous fourth quarter. The Clippers played without All-Star Paul George, who missed his second straight game with a sore left knee, and starting center Ivica Zubac, who was ill. “It's one game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Played well for three quarters. Didn't finish the game. I never let one loss or a bad loss take away from what we've been doing and what we've built. It's a tough loss because we were up 21 points, but this is a good team, and when you don't take care of the basketball and you don't do what you're supposed to do, you lose.” The Clippers led 98-77 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but James led a 29-8 run in just 7:34. Anthony Davis' free throws tied it at 106- with four minutes to play, and James found Rui Hachimura for a go-ahead 3-pointer moments later. D'Angelo Russell's 3-pointer put the Lakers up 114-108 with 1:12 to play before Harden and Leonard scored on drives to the hoop while James missed a pair of shots for the Lakers. But Leonard's last shot was off target, and James found Reddish for the capper to the delight of the thousands of Lakers fans in attendance at a “road” game. "How can you be surprised with some of the things he does?" Russell asked about James. “A lot of guys locked in defensively and gave us what we needed, but he’s a huge reason we won this game, just from him being him. As a group, we fought.” The Lakers won three of four over the Clippers this season, winning the season series for the first time since 2011-12. Davis had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, while Russell had 18 and Hachimura added 17. The Clippers and Lakers moved into the building long known as Staples Center - along with the NHL's Los Angeles Kings - when it opened in 1999. The NBA franchises shared their home for the next 25 years, usually facing each other four times annually in a rivalry known as the Hallway Series because their locker rooms are about 100 feet apart in the same corridor. The era ends this fall when the Clippers move into Intuit Dome, owner Steve Ballmer's lavish new arena in Inglewood. Ballmer decided the Clippers needed their own home to complete their move out of the shadows of the Lakers' 17 NBA championships and the accompanying banners on the walls of the shared arena, and the billionaire quickly got it done. The balance of power in Los Angeles still tilts completely in the Lakers' direction, but the Clippers have made progress: They've finished with a better record than the Lakers in 10 of the last 11 seasons, failing only in 2020 when the Lakers won their 17th title. The teams could always meet in a playoff series this spring, but that’s never happened. Reddish returned from a 14-game absence due to a sprained right ankle,

Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks HART MAKES GO-AHEAD BASKET AFTER CHAOTIC POSSESSION AS KNICKS BEAT PISTONS 113-111. NEW YORK (AP) Jalen Brunson missed a 3-pointer, eventually got the ball back and passed it to Josh Hart for the go-ahead basket. In between were three turnovers and a missed foul call in one of the most chaotic and controversial possessions of the season. Hart ended it with a layup with 2.8 seconds left and the New York Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 113-111 on Monday night. “We won. This is the NBA, man. We don’t care how we win. We don’t care how ugly it is,” Hart said. Brunson had 35 points and 12 assists for the Knicks, and it was his missed 3-point attempt with 20 seconds remaining that started the wild back-and-forth that led to Hart's basket and left Pistons coach Monty Williams irate afterward. Detroit chased down the rebound but threw it away, then appeared to recover when Ausur Thompson stole a pass by Donte DiVincenzo. But then Thompson lost the ball during a collision with DiVincenzo along the sideline, the Knicks came up with it and Brunson found Hart under the basket for his layup while being fouled. “Donte dove for the ball and the ball came loose and then I looked at the clock, looked up the floor, saw Josh was open and just got around their defense and hit him,” Brunson said. Brunson, however, never should have got the ball back. Referees determined afterward that DiVincenzo fouled Thompson. “Upon postgame review, we determined that Thompson gets to the ball first, and then was deprived of the opportunity to gain possession of the ball,” crew chief James Williams said. “Therefore, a loose-ball foul should have been whistled on New York’s Donte DiVincenzo.” After the Pistons lost their sixth straight, Williams went onto the court to yell at one of the officials near where Thompson went down. “The absolute worst call of the season,” Williams said during his brief postgame remarks. “No call, and enough's enough.” It left the Pistons with the same anger the Knicks had after a Feb. 12 loss in Houston, when officials said afterward they shouldn't have called a foul on Brunson with 0.3 seconds remaining, giving Aaron Holiday the free throws that gave the Rockets a 105-103 victory. The Knicks have filed a protest with the NBA. “I’d say livid,” Detroit guard Cade Cunningham said. “That’s the word of the day. Livid.” Hart added 23 points and DiVincenzo had 21 for the Knicks, who beat the Pistons for the 14th straight time. Cunningham scored 32 and Jalen Duren had 11 points and 16 rebounds for Detroit. It was a wild ending to the first meeting between the teams since a Feb. 8 trade that brought Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks to New York and sent Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier and Malachi Flynn to Detroit. Grimes received mostly cheers the first time he entered, but Fournier, who had long been out of coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, was booed when he came in and the first few times he had the ball. Grimes' basket gave the Pistons a 111-110 lead with 37 seconds remaining before the sequence that started with Brunson's missed 3. Grimes chased it down in the corner and threw the ball back into the middle to teammate Simone Fontecchio. Hart stole it from Fontecchio and the Knicks got it to DiVincenzo, who threw it away but then regained it from Thompson along the sideline by appearing to crash into the rookie's legs. “I was very confused when I was on the ground and the play kept going, I’m not gonna lie," Thompson said. "But, I mean, that’s how it goes.” The Knicks were playing the first of two games in two nights, though at least got to play both at home. This game was originally scheduled for Detroit, but the NBA moved it to New York to better balance the Knicks’ schedule after they had to play two extra games on the road at Milwaukee and Boston after advancing to the knockout stage of the In-Season Tournament.

Today on STATION KICKS: Introducing the Air Jordan 2/3, a new hybrid model from Jordan Brand that seamlessly blends the sleek upper of the Air Jordan 2 with the iconic tooling of the Air Jordan 3. Set to hit shelves In 2024, sneaker enthusiasts eagerly await its debut. Learn more about this shoe in this episode! Don't miss the latest news and drops of new sneakers on the market to get closer to your favorite players and teams. Join now: https://www.youtube.com/@NBASTATIONtv/featured Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ #nba #sneakernews #sports #sneakers #jordan #airjordan #drop #sneakerhead #nike #basketball #trending #viral #michaeljordan

Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Join instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es CURRY (32) FUELS WARRIORS! STEPHEN CURRY SCORES 32 POINTS AS WARRIORS BEAT LAKERS TEAM MISSING LEBRON JAMES, 128-110. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Stephen Curry started hitting big shots from the start and the Golden State Warriors dominated the Lakers without LeBron James, helping take at least some of the sting out of a double-overtime collapse when the California rivals met last month. Curry scored 32 points, hitting six 3-pointers, and had eight assists, leading the Warriors past the Lakers 128-110 on Thursday night as both teams returned for from the All-Star break. With the makeup of this Golden State roster, Curry has taken it upon himself to be more aggressive looking for his shot from the opening tip. “Just him and getting the crowd engaged, bringing a lot of energy, I think it fuels us and sets the tone for the rest of the game,” said rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis, who scored 17 points off the bench on his 24th birthday. “Having someone with that caliber shooting the ball like that, you just want to give him as many shots as possible because you know that when he’s in that zone it's hard to stop.” With his 6,000th career assist, Curry became the eighth player in NBA history with at least 23,000 points and 6,000 assists - joining James, Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and John Havlicek. Curry made nine of his initial 12 shots with five 3s for 25 points by halftime after scoring 16 in the opening period. He had five straight shortly before halftime as the Warriors led 67-56 at the break - his 16th time this season with at least 20 in one half. “I think he feels like it’s OK for him to get going right away,” coach Steve Kerr said, “this team can use that.” The two-time MVP hit six or more 3-pointers for the fifth time in six games and wound up shooting 12 for 24 on the way to his fourth 30-point performance in the last six games. Anthony Davis had 27 points and 15 rebounds, and D'Angelo Russell contributed 18 points, nine assists and five rebounds to lead the Lakers, who were without James because of a left ankle injury that also sidelined the 39-year-old forward Feb. 14 at Utah before the break. Los Angeles had its three-game winning streak snapped with just a second defeat in eight games - and this one was a drastic difference from the last meeting when the Lakers rallied from 15 points down to beat the Warriors 145-144 in double overtime at Chase Center on Jan. 27. Andrew Wiggins added 20 points for Golden State, while Jonathan Kuminga reached double figures for a career-best 34th straight game with 12 points as the Warriors won for the ninth time in 11 games since that loss to the Lakers. James had a triple-double in that game with 36 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists. Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham called James' injury a “day-to-day thing.” “When we wake up in the morning we’ll figure it out,” Ham said. James has left ankle peroneal tendinopathy, inflammation of the tendons on the outside of his foot. Klay Thompson missed his first six shots and two 3s before connecting from deep with 45 seconds remaining in the third and finished with just three points on 1-for-9 shooting but had five assists and four rebounds. Kerr expects veteran guard Chris Paul to return on the upcoming trip after recovering from surgery for a fractured left hand.

LILLARD FUELS EAST VICTORY! POINTS RECORDS FALL AT THE ALL-STAR GAME, WITH THE EAST BEATING THE WEST 211-186. Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join now ➡ https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram ➡ https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The NBA wanted more competition. It got more points instead - more than ever before. And once again, the All-Star Game was all offense. All-Star MVP Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks scored 39 points and the Eastern Conference beat the Western Conference 211-186 on Sunday night, with the winners putting up the most points in the game's 73-year history. The previous mark: 196 by the West in 2016. “We had fun,” East captain Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks said. It was a flurry of records: The total points of 397 smashed the record of 374 set in 2017, while the East made 42 3-pointers to break the mark of 35 set by Team LeBron in 2019. The sides combined for 193 points in the first half to break the any-half record of 191 set last year, and the East tied an any-half record by scoring 104 by intermission. Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics had 36 and Tyrese Haliburton from the hometown Indiana Pacers finished with 32 for the East, while Antetokounmpo had 23 and Jayson Tatum finished with 20. “To be able to have this kind of accomplishment, it's special,” Lillard said. Perhaps unnoticed: Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves scored 50 points for the West in just 28 minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder scored 31 points for the West. “The shot-making from the East was incredible,” West forward Kevin Durant said. “Hard to play defense when somebody's shooting 30-, 40-footers over you.” The West scored a ton of points, too: At 186, it had the fourth-most by any team in All-Star history. And obviously, the most ever in a loss. Among the other records: - The East tried 97 3-pointers; the previous record was 90 by Team LeBron in 2019. - The teams combined for 66 3s made and 168 3s attempted (previous records were 62 and 167 in 2019). - The teams combined for 163 field goals made and 289 attempted (previous records were 162 in 2017 and 286 in 2016). “Obviously, it wasn’t high intensity, at all,” Haliburton said. Lillard made some history, too. He defended his 3-point shootout title on Saturday night - then won MVP on Sunday night. The only other player to win a Saturday event and All-Star MVP in the same weekend was Michael Jordan in 1988, when he won the dunk contest as well as the MVP trophy. “Dame put on a show,” Tatum said, “and I was happy for him.” The highlights were from everywhere. Lillard pulled up from halfcourt in the third quarter - swish. Luka Doncic tried a shot from about 70 feet late in the first half; it hit near the top of the backboard. Towns even threw an alley-oop to Stephen Curry; the Warriors star is much more of a shooter than a dunker, so he simply laid it in instead. The only drama in the fourth was about the record - and really, that wasn’t in doubt. The East had 160 points through three quarters, only needing 37 more to set the team All-Star record. Brown’s 3-pointer with 1:54 left broke the mark, giving the East 197. Haliburton made the shot that sent a scoreboard to the 200-point mark for the first time in any sort of official NBA history, connecting from deep with 1:27 left. Lillard said the East wanted the record. “Everybody was asking what the record was,” Lillard said. “We found out and went after it.” And Lillard ended it in style - a 44-footer to close the scoring. He made 11 3-pointers on the night, with the official distance of those recorded at 347 feet. A typical NBA 3-pointer is 24 or 25 feet; Lillard averaged 31 1/2 feet on his 3s Sunday night. Durant said he was watching Lillard on the West bench while sitting with the Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard. “We were in awe,” Durant said. Defense was optional, sometimes accidental. There were 14 steals, most of those coming off wayward passes. And there were even three blocked shots. Otherwise, it was shooting practice. And the tone was set quickly - Haliburton had five 3-pointers in a wild span of just 1:32 in the first quarter, helping the East take a 53-47 lead after the opening 12 minutes. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and other league executives were seeking a more competitive All-Star Game after last season's 184-175 matchup was widely panned - and television ratings plummeted. Even Hall of Famer Larry Bird, honored Sunday at the NBA Legends Brunch, said was hoping the message from the league resonated and players took the All-Star Game a little more seriously. “I know what this league’s all about and I’m very proud of it,” Bird said. “I’m proud of today’s players. I like the game they play. ... I think it’s very important when you have the best players in the world together, you’ve got to compete and you’ve got to play hard and you’ve got to show the fans how good they really are.” They might not have competed the way Bird wanted - but they showed the fans plenty about how good they are. It had a big-game, Finals-type atmosphere - but obviously, nothing near a playoff feel. Donovan Mitchell threw a 50-foot inbounds pass underhand, Bam Adebayo inbounded a ball off Nikola Jokic’s backside before dribbling downcourt and making a 3, and Devin Booker went through pregame with a hat on backwards. Fun was had, and LeBron James - in his 20th All-Star Game, extending his record - said there was one big takeaway. “The good thing that came out of tonight is none of the players were injured,” James said. “Everybody came out unscathed.” Except the scoreboard, perhaps.

GRIZZLIES TAKE DOWN BUCKS! ZIAIRE WILLIAMS, GG JACKSON SCORE 27 POINTS APIECE AS GRIZZLIES HANG ON FOR 113-110 WIN OVER BUCKS. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Ziaire Williams and GG Jackson scored 27 points apiece, and the Memphis Grizzlies held on for a 113-110 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night in the last game for both teams before the All-Star break. Vince Williams added 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Memphis. Ziaire Williams' points were a career high. “It feels good,” Ziaire Williams said of the win over the No. 3 team in the Eastern Conference. “Proud of this team. We've been fighting our (tails) off every game. It's good to see. One man falls down, and another one steps up. We're just having fun.” Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points and 12 assists, his 43rd double-double of the season. Damian Lillard finished with 24 points and seven assists. Bobby Portis added 15 points and Brook Lopez had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, but coach Doc Rivers thought some of his players got caught looking ahead to the break. “We had some guys here, and some guys in Cabo (San Lucas),” Rivers said. Memphis held a nine-point lead with 49 seconds left, but consecutive 3-pointers from Malik Beasley brought the Bucks within 113-110 with 29.2 left. Milwaukee had the last possession, but a scramble at midcourt for the ball took up a lot of the remaining clock, and Lillard's 3-pointer at the horn was short as Memphis won its second straight. “I think (Lillard) just got caught up in traffic,” Rivers said. Lillard said there was some miscommunication between he and Lopez that started the last play in a bad direction. “We did opposite things,” Lillard said, adding: “They just made a play on it, and it was loose and we didn't end up getting a clean look.” While the teams were deadlocked at the half, Memphis took the lead to nine points on a couple of occasions near the midway point of the third. But the Grizzlies' depleted frontline could do little to stop Antetokounmpo going downhill on his drives to the basket. Three quick buckets inside with about 5 minutes to play gave Milwaukee a 100-98 lead. The teams would trade leads until a 3-pointer from Jackson and an alley-oop dunk by Ziaire Williams and the ensuing foul shot took the Memphis lead to 107-102 with 2:15 left. The Memphis lead would reach 92-82 late in the third as the Grizzlies shot 76% in the period, including connecting on all four 3-points attempts. That as the only 10-point lead for either team in the game. Milwaukee got off to a poor start, something that worried Rivers even in his pregame comments. With the break looming, he worried his team may have already departed mentally. “These are tough games,” Rivers said, as if predicting the tone of the game against the short-handed Grizzlies. “Yeah, it's a panic game for coaches.” The Grizzlies announced after the game they had lost another player, saying Scotty Pippen Jr. would miss at least three weeks with a bulging disk in his lower back. For the first half, Milwaukee couldn't shake Memphis, and the teams were tied at 57 at the break. Antetokounmpo took over in the second quarter, with 10 points - hitting all five of his shots - and handing out four assists. Jackson led the Grizzlies with 19 points. He wasn't as successful in the second half, but managed a couple of 3-pointers in the final five minutes as the Bucks were trying to make a comeback. The 19-year-old, who was the 45th pick in last year's draft, said despite his young age, he wasn't feeling the pressure. “It's what every basketball player wants,” Jackson said. “If they don't want to be in that moment, you have to question what kind of athlete they are.”

CLIPPERS RALLY WITH BIG 4TH! POWELL, GEORGE LEAD CLIPPERS BACK FROM 12 DOWN IN FOURTH TO BEAT CURRY, WARRIORS 130-125. Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NBASTATIONtv/videos SAN FRANCISCO (AP) When the Golden State Warriors stopped playing the stingy defense that has carried them recently, Paul George and Norman Powell found every opening. Powell made four 3-pointers over the final 7:03 to score 21 points and outduel Stephen Curry down the stretch, and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied from 12 behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Warriors 130-125 on Wednesday night. James Harden had 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and George scored 24 points before fouling out on a night the Clippers were missing leading scorer Kawhi Leonard because of a left leg injury. His status for this weekend’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis was uncertain, though coach Tyronn Lue didn’t sound overly concerned about the injury. “I don’t think it’s serious,” Lue said. “He played through it last game. He was experiencing some soreness in the hip, so when the game got out of reach we didn’t put him back in the fourth quarter to be smart about it.” Curry scored 41 points and became the first player in NBA history to make seven or more 3-pointers in four straight games, shooting 9 for 19 from deep and 15 of 31 overall. He notched his sixth 40-point performance of the season and has scored 30 or more in three of his last four games. “I thought we let Steph get away from us," George said. “So I thought once we locked in and keyed into those situations, we knew we had a chance.” George scored five straight points to spark a 10-0 run midway through the fourth as Los Angeles came back, then Powell’s 3 with 7:03 remaining pulled the Clippers within 106-104. Powell made another 3 that put Los Angeles ahead with 5:36 left and hit again from deep with 3:22 to go for the lead. “We lost control of the game defensively and I don’t think we adjusted well enough as a coaching staff,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. Things got heated early in the fourth when Clippers center Mason Plumlee put a hard foul on Brandin Podziemski after the rookie secured a defensive rebound with 9:36 left. Golden State's Jonathan Kuminga shoved Plumlee as others held back Draymond Green, who already has served a pair of suspensions this season. Lue was then ejected for a second technical foul, Kuminga received a technical and Plumlee a flagrant foul. Green went down hard in the key beneath the Warriors’ basket with 8:56 left in the third quarter and went to the locker room. He was examined for a concussion and cleared to return. Kerr was denied his 500th regular-season win as he and some of his assistant coaches rejoined the team on the bench after traveling to Serbia for the funeral Dejan Milojevic and missing Monday’s win at Utah. Golden State squandered a double-digit lead to lose for the ninth time, with the Clippers having come back in two of those games. “When the score was 106-96 it kind of felt like we just stopped playing and kind of felt sorry for (ourselves) and during that stretch they made some tough shots,” Podziemski said. “I think we kind of gave up a little bit and then they started making the easy ones.” Podziemski made his initial four shots with a pair of 3-pointers to help the Warriors take a 59-52 halftime lead and finished with a career-best 25 points - also making a career-high five 3s without a miss - to go with seven rebounds and eight assists before he takes part in the Rising Stars Game on Friday at All-Star weekend. The Warriors had their five-game winning streak snapped with just their second defeat in the last nine. Los Angeles had dropped six straight and 20 of 24 on the Warriors' home floor. “Great vibe,” George said of going into the break on a high note. “There’s definitely momentum going into the second half of the season. So it was great.” Golden State got good news that veteran guard Chris Paul can ramp up his on-court work after the All-Star break and participate in some portions of practice as he recovers from a broken left hand that required surgery Jan. 8. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated in another 10 days.

TATUM'S 41 POWERS CELTICS! TATUM SCORES 41 POINTS, CELTICS BEAT NETS 118-110 FOR 5TH STRAIGHT WIN. Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join now ➡ https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es NEW YORK (AP) Even though he tied a career high by scoring 31 points before halftime, Jayson Tatum wasn't tempted to chase a huge number. He's had big scoring nights before. He's after an NBA championship, and can only get that with all his teammates. Tatum had 41 points and 14 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics won their fifth straight game by beating the Brooklyn Nets 118-110 on Tuesday night in the opener of a home-and-home series. Tatum had his 25th 40-point game in the regular season, with a career high of 60. But after scoring 16 in the first quarter and 15 more in the second, he took only nine shots in the second half. “We’ve got a really good team where in any given possession we could have two, three advantages and it’s not always just going to be me,” Tatum said. “So just understanding that and knowing that I need my teammates. I need everybody, we all need each other.” Jaylen Brown added 19 points for the Celtics, who improved to 42-12 and will host the Nets on Wednesday in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break. The Celtics led comfortably much of the way while playing without Kristaps Porzingis because of a lower back contusion. Coach Joe Mazzulla said Boston's starting center could play Wednesday. Al Horford replaced Porzingis in the lineup and scored 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting. Derrick White also scored 16 and Jrue Holiday had 14 points and 12 assists as the Celtics won their sixth straight in Brooklyn. Mikal Bridges scored 27 points and Cam Thomas had 26 for the Nets, who lost for the fourth time in five games and don't have much time to figure out what else they can do against Tatum. “These high-level guys, once they get going, we started to trap him a little bit, but they’ve got so much shooting out there,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “It’ll be interesting to watch it again and see what adjustments we can make.” Backup center Day'Ron Sharpe returned with six points after missing 15 games with a hyperextended left knee and starting forward Cam Johnson (adductor strain) could be back Wednesday for a Nets team that has gotten some healthy bodies back lately. Still not enough of them to beat the Celtics, who won for the ninth time in the last 10 meetings. Tatum made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions late in the first quarter, and when he pulled up behind the arc on the next trip, he made it while being fouled for a four-point play that gave him 16 points in the period. “We rely on him to make those and he’s not afraid to shoot them,” Holiday said. “But tonight, him taking those shots gave us a lot of energy. It definitely gave us a boost to go out there, lock in defensively and then get him the ball back.” But the Nets hung close for a while, trailing just 45-43 with 7 1/2 minutes remaining in the half. Tatum then hit another 3 and the Celtics began to open it up, eventually going ahead 72-52 on Luke Kornet's dunk before Brooklyn scored the final five points of the half. The lead grew to 93-70 on Tatum's dunk with 4:19 remaining in the third quarter but the Nets closed to 99-93 while he was resting in the fourth. Tatum returned and combined with Brown on a 7-0 run that pushed a seven-point lead to 109-95 with 5:38 to play.

PISTONS WIN CONSECUTIVE GAMES FOR FIRST TIME SINCE OCTOBER, BEATING TRAIL BLAZERS 128-122 IN OT! Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join now ➡ https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Jalen Duren had 27 points and 21 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons won consecutive games for the first time since October, overcoming Jerami Grant’s career-high 49 points to beat Portland 128-122 in overtime Thursday night. Jaden Ivey added 26 points and Cade Cunningham had 23 to help the NBA-worst Pistons improve to 8-43. They beat Sacramento 133-120 on Wednesday night, then rallied from 23 points down to top Portland. “A game like this, after everything we’ve been through, losing so many guys, on a back-to-back, to go into overtime and win, that’s pretty cool for a group that’s learning the steps that it takes to win games,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. Both teams were significantly short-handed. Detroit made several trades Thursday at the deadline, shipping out rotation players Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic and waiving Joe Harris and Killian Hayes to complete the deals. None of the players they traded for completed their physicals in time to join the team. “A lot of emotions,” Duren said. “Lost a lot of our brothers, a lot of great guys that were a part of this program. But that’s no excuse. It’s the business. Everyone knows how it goes.” Detroit’s other consecutive victories came in a back-to-back at Charlotte and home against Chicago in the second and third games of the season. The Pistons followed that by losing 28 in a row to tie the NBA record. Portland was without two starters, guard Malcolm Brogdon and center Deandre Ayton (both out with illness) and backup point guard Scoot Henderson (foot) and center Duop Reath (knee). Simons sprained his ankle sprain in the second half and did not return. Anfernee Simons added 29 points for Trail Blazers. After the Blazers built a big lead, Detroit came back in the fourth quarter and tied it in the final 15 seconds. Portland didn’t score on the final possession, which sent the game to overtime. Detroit pulled away in the extra period. “There was a lot of people in the game at that point that are usually not in the game,” Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “But it’s good experience for those guys and good teachable things.”

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DOWN 23, BULLS STORM BACK🔥 COBY WHITE RALLIES THE BULLS TO A WILD 129-123 OVERTIME WIN AGAINST THE TIMBERWOLVES. CHICAGO (AP) Coby White and DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points apiece, and the Chicago Bulls erased a 23-point deficit in a 129-123 overtime victory over Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Nikola Vucevic had 24 points for Chicago, and Andre Drummond finished with 16 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots. The Bulls were coming off a 123-115 loss to Sacramento in which they nearly rallied all the way back from a 30-point deficit. “We started to make shots and the crowd starts to get into it, get behind and we changed the momentum of the game,” White said. “But it’s not a fun way to live: digging yourselves in a hole. We’ve got to figure out a way to at least not make the first half and the second half look so drastically different.” Edwards had 38 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which had won three of four. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 33 points in the opener of a four-game trip. The Timberwolves jumped out to a 22-point halftime lead, and Edwards’ 3-pointer made it 74-51 with 10:32 left in the third quarter. But White led the Bulls back, scoring 30 points after the break. "Coby White is an incredible basketball player,” Drummond said. “This is what he does. He was really big for us in that third (quarter), hitting a lot of big shots. Defensively he was great, it was an all-around great night for him. He was a great leader for us today.” Towns’ 3 tied it at 115 with 50.5 seconds left, and DeRozan missed a turnaround jumper as time expired in regulation. DeRozan redeemed himself by scoring the Bulls’ first six points of overtime, going over 30 points for the fifth time this season. DeRozan also had five assists and four steals as the Bulls won despite the injury absences of Patrick Williams and Zach LaVine, who is expected to undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot later this week. ″(DeRozan) has shown he’s Mr. Fourth Quarter, or Mr. Overtime, whatever it’s called,” White said. ”That’s when winning time occurs.” Edwards went 5 for 9 from 3, but he was called for a crucial charging foul with 1:06 remaining in OT, and split a pair of free throws on the next trip down the floor as the Timberwolves were trying to draw the game within a single possession. “We collectively did a better job on Edwards in the second half,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “We did a better job of pressing up on Towns on some of the catch-and-shoot opportunities he had in the first half. When we’re able to get stops, we’re able to get out and force a little tempo for us and generate some easy baskets.” Towns connected on seven 3-pointers, and Rudy Gobert had 12 points and a team-high 16 rebounds. Entering Tuesday with the NBA’s stingiest scoring defense and tied for the Western Conference’s best record, the Timberwolves jumped out to a huge lead as the Bulls missed their first nine 3-point attempts. But Minnesota shot just 36.6% (15 for 41) in the second half. “The defense fell apart,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. ”(The late game offense was) not great. A couple of key turnovers. Tried to win it all by ourselves at times.”

Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join now ➡ https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 KUMINGA KEEPS RISING! STEPHEN CURRY SCORES 29 POINTS, WARRIORS OVERCOME SLOW START TO BEAT THE NETS 109-98. NEW YORK (AP) Stephen Curry looked at a box score that showed no Warriors but him made a 3-pointer. It certainly wasn't a pretty win, but in what's been a difficult season, Golden State will take them whatever way they come. Curry scored 29 points, Jonathan Kuminga added 28 and the Warriors shook off a poor start to beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-98 on Monday night. The Warriors were coming off an overtime loss Saturday in Atlanta despite 60 points and 10 3-pointers from Curry, and looked as if they hadn’t regained their energy when this game started. Golden State was just 2 for 11 on 3-pointers and committed 10 turnovers that led to 15 points while being held to 43 points in the first half. But they outscored the Nets 66-49 in the second half, even while going just 4 for 22 from behind the arc in the game - with all the makes by Curry. “It was ugly on both sides but I think everybody was trying to execute and trying to settle into the style of the game, and then thankfully in the second half we made the right adjustments and took control and never looked back,” Curry said. Golden State hadn't won a game when shooting under 19% from 3-point range since beating Boston 108-88 despite going 5 for 28 (17.9%) on March 15, 2014, the season before winning its first of four titles in eight years. Kuminga added 10 rebounds while reaching 20 points for the ninth time in his last 10 games. Draymond Green finished with eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the Warriors outrebounded the Nets 60-38 and had a 23-7 advantage in second-chance points. Cam Thomas scored 18 points, but shot 4 for 21 for the Nets, who had won three of four. Thomas scored 41 points in a loss in San Francisco in December, the most allowed by the Warriors this season. Nic Claxton added 15 points and a career-high seven blocked shots before being ejected in the fourth quarter for a flagrant foul against Brandin Podziemski, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Nets scored 147 points against Utah on Jan. 29 and 136 in Philadelphia on Saturday. But they were nowhere close to that level Monday, shooting 38% and getting poor nights from leading scorer Mikal Bridges (5 for 15) and Spencer Dinwiddie (3 for 12). “But we had our chances tonight. If we took care of the rebound piece, which we’ll continue to challenge our guys with -- that’s been a little slippage overall,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “If there’s one area we’ve kind of slid in, it’s definitely the rebounding piece and we need multiple bodies to participate.” The Nets played without Ben Simmons, who sat out the front of a back-to-back but is scheduled to play Tuesday when the Nets host Dallas in Kyrie Irving's return to Brooklyn. The Nets were 3 for 16 from 3-point range in the first quarter, yet led 23-20 thanks largely to 12 points off seven Warriors turnovers. Golden State didn't reach 30 points until more than halfway through the second quarter and didn't get a 3-pointer until Curry made one with 4:29 remaining in the half, the 3,600th of his career. Brooklyn led 49-43 at halftime, but Kuminga had dunks on Golden State's first two possessions of the third quarter and that seemed to loosen up the Warriors, who outscored the Nets 32-21 to take a 75-70 lead to the fourth. “Against that kind of switching defense, if you’re kind of jogging through stuff it’s really easy to just switch and say in front,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “So I thought the first five minutes of the second half really set a good tone. Our guys were much sharper and harder with the cuts.” Brooklyn cut it to four with 3:06 left, but Kuminga scored the next four points and Curry then scored Golden State's next five to make it 105-94.

CLIPPERS STIFLE HEAT! KAWHI LEONARD SCORES 25, CLIPPERS TOP HEAT 103-95 FOR 25TH WIN IN LAST 30 GAMES Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join now ➡ https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 MIAMI (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers have been on the road for nearly two weeks, forced from their home building because of the Grammy Awards. It hasn't slowed the Clippers down whatsoever. Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and 11 rebounds, James Harden scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half and the Clippers remained red-hot by topping the sliding Miami Heat 103-95 on Sunday night. They improved to 5-1 on their seven-game, 11-day trip that ends Monday night in Atlanta. “You get those mental blocks at this stage but we've been staying afloat,” Leonard said. “Appreciate everybody coming out and playing and staying locked-in. Those are the things that I'm happy about.” The Clippers are more than “staying afloat.” They are 25-5 since the start of December - by far the best record in the NBA over that span. Harden flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 11 assists and eight assists. Norman Powell scored 16 points and Paul George added 11 for the Clippers. “It's just having that mindset that we're going to try to win every game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I give guys credit. They've been doing that. We have a lot of talent. We have a lot of guys willing to sacrifice to do whatever it takes to win, and that's what we did.” Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Terry Rozier finished with 17 for the Heat, who fell to 2-8 in their last 10. Bam Adebayo and Josh Richardson each had 14 points for Miami. “We have to figure out how to make it flow,” Adebayo said. “You have to make it flow or it's not going to work. ... We've been in worse situations.” Adebayo grabbed 13 rebounds and Caleb Martin scored 11 points for Miami, which played without its two best 3-point shooters. Duncan Robinson remains in the NBA's concussion protocols and Tyler Herro was slated to start Sunday, then was a very late scratch after being diagnosed with a migraine. Miami was held under 100 points for the 12th time this season. The Heat are 2-10 in those games; only Portland and Charlotte have more such games this season. “There are some things offensively you can do with better pace and better intention," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That’s not exclusive to us. And we’ll work on that and we’ll get better.” The teams combined for seven first-half fouls, the fewest in any NBA game this season. The 43 points was a season-low for the Clippers and tied the third-fewest by halftime for the Heat. And the 86 combined points by the break was the sixth-fewest out of more than 700 games played so far this season. But the second half saw every offensive number tip the Clippers' way. They shot 50% to Miami's 42%, outscored the Heat 27-12 from the 3-point line and were 17 for 20 from the foul line - compared with Miami's 6 for 6.

ZION LAYUP WINS IT🔥 WILLIAMSON CAPS 33-POINT OUTING WITH WINNING LAYUP AS PELICANS OVERCOME SPURS 114-113. Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 SAN ANTONIO (AP) Zion Williamson had 33 points, including the winning layup over Victor Wembanyama and two other defenders with 3.8 seconds left, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-113 on Friday night. “I don’t know how he made it,” New Orleans guard Jose Alvarado said. “He’s going down full speed. Three guys at home with him, full speed. Wemby was there. That was one of the guys. Amazing shot blocker and he still gets it off high off the glass.” Williamson shot 12 for 21 from the field and had four points in the final 29 seconds as New Orleans won its second straight to finish its road trip 2-2. Wembanyama had blocked Williamson two possessions earlier, but the No. 1 pick in 2019 by New Orleans was not about to let this year’s top selection do it again. Williamson charged at Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell and stayed a step ahead of Wembanyama. “I just trust my game,” Williamson said. “In that situation, transition, I can get downhill really well.” C.J. McCollum added 21 points and Brandon Ingram had 19 for the Pelicans. Devin Vassell had 28 points, but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for San Antonio. “We’d rather throw it the rim and go dunk it, but that’s the shot we got,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Vassell’s missed 3. Jeremy Sochan finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, Wembanyama added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Tre Jones had 20 points for the Spurs. San Antonio is 2-4 entering the finale of a seven-game homestand Saturday against Cleveland. The Spurs open their annual three-week road trip Wednesday in Miami as the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo occupies the Frost Bank Center. San Antonio was unable to overcome 18 turnovers, including three while inbounding. One highlight for the Spurs came when Wembanyama completed a three-point play after throwing in a runner from behind the backboard in the final seconds of the first half. “Victor is a very special player,” Williamson said. “We were just talking about it in the locker room. He’s a dude that can get two or three Defensive Player of the Year (awards). I don’t want to put no limit on it, but he can get Defensive Player of Years and MVPs. We haven’t seen nothing like that. We’ve seen things close, but not like that.” Wembanyama finished 7 for 14 from the field but took only two shots while playing 9:51 in the final quarter. He did not touch the ball on the Spurs’ final possession. New Orleans had six players score eight or more points in a balanced effort to overcome Wembanyama and an electric game by Sochan. With his dyed blonde hair and frenetic energy, Sochan brought back memories of former Spurs forward Dennis Rodman. After missing a follow layup, Sochan tore the ball from Murphy’s hands and charged the rim for a reverse layup. In the third quarter, Sochan followed Wembanyama’s missed scoop layup with a two-handed dunk. “He's playing great right now," Vassell said. "I love when he's aggressive.”

KD LIFTS SUNS IN BROOKLYN! KEVIN DURANT SCORES 33 POINTS IN BROOKLYN RETURN, LEADS SUNS TO 136-120 VICTORY OVER THE NETS. Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join Now ➡ https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 NEW YORK (AP) Kevin Durant was cheered before the game, then booed when it started. His return to Brooklyn was on track be a noisy one, until he and the Phoenix Suns took the crowd out of the game with some relentless offense. “I love to shut the crowd up. Even though I love these people here, I love to shut them up," Durant said after scoring 33 points to lead the Suns to a 136-120 victory Wednesday night. Durant added eight assists in his first game in Brooklyn since being traded to Phoenix nearly a year ago. He got a mixed reception early before leaving Nets fans little to cheer with 11 points in the third quarter, when the Suns outscored the Nets 42-26 after leading by three at halftime. “He put the team first, went out and competed, played team-first basketball, had eight assists and several other plays where made the extra pass and allowed his teammates to play through his double-teams and played a team-first type of game and ended up with 33 and eight,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “Hell of a performance.” Durant’s return earned the game a national-TV slot but it wasn’t much of a contest in the second half. The Suns, with Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, are trying to build a title contender, while the Nets - who not long ago had their own Big 3 with Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden - are 19-28 and outside playoff position. Jusuf Nurkic added 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, overwhelming an undersized Nets team as the Suns won for the ninth time in 11 games. They improved to 3-2 on a trip that has stops remaining in Atlanta and Washington, Beal's former home. “It’s tough. With a team like that you know they’re going to shoot well, just those three guys at a high level, so we had to pick our battles tonight,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. Booker finished with 22 points and Eric Gordon had 17. The Suns shot 62% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. Cam Thomas scored 25 points for the Nets, who had won two straight games. Mikal Bridges, who came to the Nets in the Durant trade, had 21 and Lonnie Walker IV added 19. The Nets played a tribute video for Durant - who had wrote on social media that he didn't want one - before he was announced first among the Suns starters. He received cheers then, though was booed when he touched the ball in the early minutes. “That wasn’t going to stop me from just doing my job, regardless of how I was honored,” Durant said of the video, calling the Nets a classy organization for the way they treat former players. The swing of emotions was fitting, as Durant had said earlier this week that fans didn't know how to feel about him. He brought hope of a first NBA championship to the Nets when he and Irving signed together in 2019, but left without ever getting close. Brooklyn won just one playoff series during that time in 2021, but Durant was disappointed with the way the Nets played while he was hurt the following season and asked for a trade in the summer of 2022. The Nets held onto him then, but moved him to Phoenix before last year's trade deadline after Durant renewed his request after Irving had been moved to Dallas. The Nets were without Ben Simmons, who was sidelined with a bruised left knee just one game after returning from a 38-game absence with a pinched nerve in his lower back. Simmons came down awkwardly after blocking a shot in the fourth quarter Monday and Vaughn said the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft's knee was swollen, though an MRI exam showed no structural damage. The Suns broke it open in the third quarter with a 10-0 run that pushed an eight-point lead to 99-81. Durant had the first five points, and after Nurkic dunked, Durant scored while being fouled by Thomas, who is listed as 7 inches shorter. Durant stared for a few moments across the baseline toward the crowd, then held his fingers close together to indicate that Thomas was too small. The entire Nets team was too small. With Dorian Finney-Smith and Day'Ron Sharpe also sidelined, there was no ability to match up inside and Phoenix outrebounded Brooklyn 42-27. Phoenix played without starting forward Grayson Allen, who sprained his right ankle Monday in a victory in Miami.

Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunk.station/?hl=es STEPHEN CURRY SCORES 37 AS WARRIORS BEAT 76ERS 119-107! SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Since Draymond Green returned from his second suspension of the season, the Golden State Warriors have begun looking like their balanced, ball-sharing selves again. Stephen Curry is thriving as usual, Andrew Wiggins is working back into dominant form after a slow start, and Jonathan Kuminga is emerging as an electrifying playmaker. Curry scored 37 points with eight 3-pointers, Kuminga added 26 points, and the Warriors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-107 on Tuesday night as guard Klay Thompson sat out with an illness. “It's fun,” Green said, “I think it's starting to come together for us now. We've just got to string some wins together.” Curry, who also had eight rebounds and seven assists, shot 12 for 17 in his third straight 30-point game. It was his third consecutive game with six or more 3s and his sixth in a row with at least 25 points. He hit two straight 3s midway through the third as Golden State went ahead 69-57 and finished with 15 points in the period. Wiggins added 23 points, five rebounds and four assists. Coach Steve Kerr credits Green for lifting up Kuminga and Wiggins - “telling us to keep going, no matter what,” Kuminga said. “Draymond really changed things with his return because he connects those guys at both ends of the floor, just with his communication defensively and the way he helps get us organized offensively,” Kerr said. “Great to see Wiggs and JK both playing so well and playing well together. It’s fun, you can see the team we’re shifting a little bit with how we’re playing and who we’re playing.” Tobias Harris had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Joel Embiid scored 14 points for the Sixers before limping to the locker room with 4:04 left to a standing ovation after Kuminga fell on his left leg. Coach Nick Nurse said the center would have an MRI exam Wednesday. It was an important win for the Warriors to end their homestand following two straight one-point losses against 2023 playoff opponents - 145-144 to the Lakers in double overtime on Saturday night after a 134-133 loss to Sacramento on Thursday. The 76ers dropped their fourth straight following a six-game winning streak. They hoped to have Tyrese Maxey return for the second night of a back-to-back but he sat out his third straight game with a sprained left ankle. Wiggins made his first five shots and scored in double figures for the sixth time in seven games as Golden State won for just the third time in nine games. Kuminga extended his career-best streak of games with 20 or more points to seven. He has reached double figures in 24 consecutive games, also his most. Green encourages Kuminga by telling him, “There is nobody in the world who can stop you.” Brandin Podziemski replaced Thompson - the Warriors' 16th different starting lineup this season - and scored 11 on the day he was named to the All-Star Weekend Rising Stars roster. He drew his 20th charge, second-most in the league. Dario Saric dished out seven of Golden State's 32 assists and Draymond Green had six to go with nine points and six rebounds. Warriors guard Moses Moody is likely to return from injury during the upcoming road trip. He has been cleared to practice after straining his left calf Jan. 10. Chris Paul can begin light on-court individual workouts wearing a splint on his surgically repaired left hand that he injured Jan. 5. The Warriors said he would be re-evaluated again in two weeks.

JOKIC, MURRAY DOWN BUCKS! JOKIC GETS TRIPLE-DOUBLE, NUGGETS SPOIL DOC RIVERS' DEBUT AS BUCKS COACH WITH 113-107 WIN. Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 DENVER (AP) Doc Rivers saw the same thing coaching from the sideline Monday night as he did watching from his couch all season - a talented Milwaukee team that just needs a little more time to take shape. Also, that Nikola Jokic continues to be next-level at everything he does. Jokic spoiled Rivers' debut as Milwaukee coach by recording his 14th triple-double of the season to help the Denver Nuggets surge by the Bucks, 113-107. “They’re great,” Rivers said of his new squad. “They’re a very coachable team.” Jokic finished with 25 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists. Jamal Murray scored 35 for the Nuggets, who gained separation during a late 8-0 run. The game was a chance for Rivers to size up his built-to-win-now club. Bucks players made an instant impression with him - and he on them. “He did a great job commanding the team, leading the team,” forward Khris Middleton said. “It's going to take time for us to get used to him and him to see what we’ve been doing and how we’ve been successful so far this season and in the past.” Rivers was lured out of his role as an analyst to take over for first-year Bucks coach Adrian Griffin, who was fired after 43 games and a 30-13 record. Embarking on his 25th season as an NBA head coach, Rivers alternated between arms folded, hands on his knees and hands on hips in moving up and down the sideline. He kneeled at times, clapped, consulted with Joe Prunty, the interim coach before Rivers' arrival, and even showed frustration over a foul called on Brook Lopez late in the game for an illegal screen. Rivers watched his new team squander an early 13-point lead, fall behind by nine and then fight back before Aaron Gordon ended the comeback by blocking Damian Lillard's layup attempt with 24.7 seconds remaining. The game featured 12 ties and nine lead changes. “I mean, that’s why I play - to play these kinds of games, to play under the pressure, to play tight games,” Jokic said. “I like to play under those circumstances.” The win was a milestone for Michael Malone - victory No. 400 as coach of the Nuggets. The significance? “It means that I’ve been here a long time,” Malone cracked. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who began a five-game trip. The “Greek Freak” played nearly 37 minutes despite dealing with an illness that had his availability up in the air leading into the game. Had he missed the contest, it would’ve been the second straight game in which an NBA MVP didn’t play at Ball Arena. On Saturday, reigning MVP Joel Embiid was a late scratch for Philadelphia because of a balky left knee. But Antetokounmpo treated the capacity crowd to a high-flying exhibition (and was called for a 10-second violation on a free throw that electrified fans). He was named the NBA player of the week for the East earlier in the day. “I try to thrive in those moments as much as I can," Antetokounmpo said of going against players such as Jokic. “And learn as much as I can." Lopez had 19 points, including five of Milwaukee's 16 3-pointers. Lillard finished with 18 points. Rivers conceded it will take a minute to settle in on the bench as he steadily meshes his style with the way the Bucks already play. He wants them flowing along and not overthinking. One thing he doesn't have to remind them of - just how good they are. The Bucks feature several holdovers, led by Antetokounmpo, from the team that won the NBA championship in 2020-21. “They already know what the goal is,” Rivers said. "And they all know that the only way you reach that goal is it has to be ‘We’ - as a group.”