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Raptors

Soon, the world will know about the East Asia Super League.
The rapidly growing league across East Asia is set to have its biggest event yet: the EASL Final Four happening March 8-10 in Cebu, Philippines.
Dubbed the "Champions League" of East Asian basketball, the EASL combines the best clubs from the top leagues in East Asia with elite production value. The teams in the Final Four are Korea&rsquo;s Seoul SK Knights and Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters, Taiwan&rsquo;s New Taipei Kings, and Japan&rsquo;s Chiba Jets. The Red Boosters come in as the defending champions following their win over their Korean neighbors, SK Knights, in last year&rsquo;s inaugural championship in Japan.&nbsp;
EASL&rsquo;s vision is to become one of the world&rsquo;s top professional basketball leagues. At the same time, EASL aims to elevate the sport of basketball across the East Asia region.&nbsp;
But what makes the league different is the style of play and the brand of basketball each team employs. While leagues like the NBA lean on athleticism, teams in the EASL use a lot of running and transition as well as relying on spacing.
&ldquo;Our play style is fast, and pretty open court. We use dynamic guards a lot and rely on spacing,&rdquo; New Taipei Kings&rsquo; Joseph Lin told BasketballNews in the opening press conference of the league&rsquo;s Final Four tournament. 
The 6-foot-1 Lin, the brother of former NBA player and champion Jeremy Lin, will attempt to bring the title to Taiwan as they go up against the Chiba Jets in the semifinals.
Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters&rsquo; Filipino import Rhenz Abando echoed the younger Lin&rsquo;s sentiments as he came home to play in front of Filipino fans in Cebu: &ldquo;[Our play style] is also the same with Taipei, we are also fast and have a lot of ball movement and spacing.&rdquo;
Going up against Abando and the Red Boosters are the SK Knights in a rematch of last year&rsquo;s finals matchup. Star player Oh Jae Hyun reflects the opinions of the basketball played in the EASL.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Our team&rsquo;s main strength is fast-paced basketball, which requires rebounding and pressing the defense so we can force turnovers and push it on the other side,&rdquo; Hyun added.
Aside from Lin, a number former NBA players have played in the EASL including <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/east-asia-super-league-inside-a-basketball-startup-with-a-unique-vision">Lance Stephenson (Liaoning Flying Leopards), Shabazz Muhammad (Shenzhen Leopards), KJ McDaniels (TNT KaTropa), Jared Sullinger (Shenzhen Aviators), Jameel Warney (Seoul SK Knights) and Domantas Motiejunas (Shandong Golden Stars).</a> Austin Daye, a 2014 NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, is a teammate to Lin on New Taipei.
With the league&rsquo;s Final Four event aiming to have massive success in the Philippines, EASL CEO Henry Kerins is optimistic that the EASL will grow even more and increase the number of teams soon.
&ldquo;Our ambition is to expand from eight teams to 16 teams and that will include new geographies and new clubs,&rdquo; Kerins shared. &ldquo;Obviously, there&rsquo;s a huge amount of development and expansion for us to do and that&rsquo;s where the top basketball talent is right now &ndash; Asia.&rdquo;
Kerins further noted that this is only the start for EASL as it looks to increase its global market and viewership in the coming months and years.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Our focus right now is developing and expanding that and deepening both our penetration on the media partnerships. This is the beginning, and in 2025 you&rsquo;re going to see a much more mature and aggressive strategy for expanding that," Kerins said. "We will be expanding our presence and that will lead to more clubs participating &ndash; so hold for that in terms of our announcements but that&rsquo;s our vision and plan going forward.&rdquo;

Soon, the world will know about the East Asia Super League, which is about to hold its Final Four in the Philippines.

East Asia Super League set to have its biggest event yet in Cebu

After a long four-month offseason, the 2023-24 NBA season officially kicks off on October 24. Preseason action is currently underway, with teams evaluating their roster and getting ready for the start of the regular season.
There were a few roster rule changes of note this offseason that were introduced as part of the new CBA. Now, each team can sign up to three two-way players (up from two) who are able to play up to 50 games with their NBA team and spend the rest of their season in the G League. Also, offseason rosters were originally limited to 20 players but have since increased to 21.&nbsp;
Each team needs to be at 15 standard contracts prior to the start of the season, which means a few players on guaranteed deals will have to be cut prior to the season. While some teams have a pretty set roster, others (like the Oklahoma City Thunder) will be forced to part ways with talented players to reach their roster limit.&nbsp;
Looking at the Atlantic Division, let's see how each team&rsquo;s lineup is shaping up and what questions they may need to answer before the start of the season.
(This is part one of a six-part series, with more divisional previews coming soon).
<h1>BOSTON CELTICS</h1>
Outside of the top-six players, who will be the most reliable depth option?
After acquiring Jrue Holiday, the Boston Celtics may have the best top-six of any team in the league. While we can add the Holiday trade to their list of aggressive offseason transactions, their depth has taken somewhat of a step back.&nbsp;
They will have to replace four rotation players from last year&rsquo;s Conference Finals team with a few players who don&rsquo;t have much experience in playoff situations. Three players who should definitely see more minutes are Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet. Pritchard has played well on both ends of the floor when given an opportunity, notably shooting 40% from three-point range over his first three seasons. The Celtics rewarded him with a team-friendly extension that should see him take up about 5% of the salary cap over the next four years. Hauser has also been a stellar three-point shooter, knocking down 42% since coming into the league.&nbsp;
The frontcourt is probably the most notable weakness on the team&rsquo;s depth chart. Joe Mazzulla has expressed confidence that <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2023/10/7/23907608/boston-celtics-depth-sam-hauser-luke-kornet-payton-pritchard-joe-mazzulla-blake-griffin-bus-one-boys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kornet should be successful on both ends of the floor and will be their go-to backup center to start the season.</a> The preseason will be important in determining who else (i.e. Oshae Brissett, Jordan Walsh, Svi Mykhailiuk, etc.) may stand out for Mazzulla and get an opportunity for playing time behind Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.&nbsp;
Roster Decisions
The Celtics have the least amount of players on guaranteed contracts in the league (10). However, their roster for opening night is likely set unless they want to open up flexibility to sign other veteran players or buyout candidates later this season. If they choose to cut someone, it would very likely be a player on a non-guaranteed deal. Mykhailiuk and Dalano Banton each have a partial $200,000 guarantee that increases to over $1,000,000 if they make the roster. Kornet, Wenyen Gabriel and Lamar Stevens all have non-guaranteed contracts.&nbsp;
Rotation
Current Roster Count: 19 players (10 guaranteed, 2 partially guaranteed, 3 non-guaranteed, 3 two-way, 1 Exhibit-10)
Projected Starters: G Jrue Holiday, G/F Jaylen Brown, F Jayson Tatum, F/C Al Horford, F/C Kristaps Porzingis
Projected Rotation Players: G Derrick White, G Payton Pritchard, C Luke Kornet (non-guaranteed), F Sam Hauser, F Oshae Brissett
Projected Reserves: F Jordan Walsh, G/F Svi Mykhailiuk ($200K guaranteed), F Wenyen Gabriel (non-guaranteed), G Dalano Banton ($200K guaranteed), F Lamar Stevens (non-guaranteed)
Projected Two-Way Players: C Neemias Queta, G JD Davison, G Jay Scrubb (Injured)
Projected Roster Cuts: G DJ Steward (Exhibit-10)
<h1>BROOKLYN NETS</h1>
What is Ben Simmons' role?
Ben Simmons has only played 42 games since being acquired by the Nets in February 2022, dealing with physical and psychological hurdles that have made him somewhat of an afterthought. Head coach Jacque Vaughn has expressed confidence that Simmons is now 100% healthy and ready to contribute again at a high level.&nbsp;
He seems to be penciled in as the team&rsquo;s starting point guard, starting in the Nets&rsquo; first preseason game. Though it was just a small 14-minute sample size, Simmons looked a lot like his former All-Star self. Having not played since February 15, he looked athletic, aggressive and confident before sitting out the second half.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He attacked the rim, I think he played with pace, looked pretty natural out there getting up and down the floor, communicating with guys into the flow of the game,&rdquo; Vaughn said, <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/10/10/ben-simmons-passes-eye-test-in-nets-preseason-opener/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praising his $38-million man</a>. &ldquo;Really good to see.&rdquo;
Vaughn has some options when it comes to starting lineups where he could go smaller, with a backcourt of Simmons and Spencer Dinwiddie, or decide to start Dorian Finney-Smith and use Mikal Bridges as a big two-guard.&nbsp;
Roster Decisions
Darius Bazley, Harry Giles and Trendon Watford are all on non-guaranteed deals and are vying for the final two roster spots. The Nets also have an open two-way spot, which I believe they could potentially use on a player like <a href="https://www.si.com/college/tennessee/mens-basketball/kennedy-chandler-starring-in-nba-summer-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Summer League standout</a> and former Memphis Grizzlies second-rounder Kennedy Chandler.&nbsp;
Rotation
Current Roster Count: 18 players (13 guaranteed, 3 non-guaranteed, 2 two-way)
Projected Starters: G/F Ben Simmons, G Spencer Dinwiddie, F Mikal Bridges, F Cameron Johnson, C Nicolas Claxton
Projected Rotation Players: F Dorian Finney-Smith, F Royce O&rsquo;Neale, G Cameron Thomas, G Dennis Smith Jr., C Day&rsquo;Ron Sharpe
Projected Reserves: G/F Lonnie Walker IV, C Noah Clowney, F Dariq Whitehead, F Darius Bazley (Non-Guaranteed), C Harry Giles (Non-Guaranteed)
Projected Two-way Players: G Armoni Brooks, F Jalen Wilson, G Kennedy Chandler* (Projected Signing)
Projected Roster Cuts: F Trendon Watford (Non-Guaranteed)
<h1>NEW YORK KNICKS</h1>
Who will be the first option off the bench?
New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has his fair share of options to headline his second unit. In his third year, Immanuel Quickley had his best season to date, finishing as the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award behind Malcolm Brogdon. Quickley was the primary scorer for the second unit, but he shouldn&rsquo;t have to carry the entire load on offense with the addition of Donte DiVincenzo.&nbsp;
DiVincenzo impressed last season with the Golden State Warriors as a reliable bench shooter and should spot minutes for Quentin Grimes and R.J. Barrett when offensive pushes are needed. Josh Hart could also be the team&rsquo;s sixth man, just like he was during the Knicks&rsquo; playoff run. After being traded from Portland, Hart averaged 30 minutes per game despite coming off the bench most of the time. It is worth noting the Knicks-Villanova connection between Hart, DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson, who should fit seamlessly together on the floor thanks to their pre-existing chemistry. While unlikely to be the first off the bench, Isaiah Hartenstein also deserves mention since he has been one of the league&rsquo;s better backup centers and could see more time if Mitchell Robinson gets in foul trouble. In terms of rotation issues, Thibodeau should see this as a good problem to have regardless of who he brings off the bench first.&nbsp;
Roster Decisions
The Knicks have three spots up for grabs between Ryan Arcidiacono, DaQuan Jeffries, Isaiah Roby and Duane Washington Jr. All are on non-guaranteed deals that won&rsquo;t be fully guaranteed until the league-wide guarantee date on January 10.&nbsp;
Rotation
Current Roster Count: 21 players (12 guaranteed, 4 non-guaranteed, 3 two-way, 2 Exhibit-10)
Projected Starters: G Jalen Brunson, G Quentin Grimes, G/F R.J. Barrett, F Julius Randle, C Mitchell Robinson
Projected Rotation Players: G Josh Hart, G Immanuel Quickley, G Donte DiVincenzo, C Isaiah Hartenstein, G Miles McBride
Projected Reserves: G Evan Fournier, C Jericho Sims, F Isaiah Roby (non-guaranteed), G Ryan Arcidiacono (non-guaranteed), G/F DaQuan Jeffries (non-guaranteed)
Projected Two-way Players: F/C Nathan Knight, G/F Dylan Windler, F Jaylen Martin
Projected Roster Cuts: G Duane Washington Jr. (non-guaranteed), G Charlie Brown Jr. (Exhibit-10), F Jacob Toppin (Exhibit-10)
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<h1>PHILADELPHIA 76ERS</h1>
Will Tyrese Maxey become more of a creator and how can that adjust the rotation?
The Sixers&rsquo; ceiling is contingent on how much Tyrese Maxey can improve this season. Maxey hasn&rsquo;t needed to be the team&rsquo;s primary distributor since James Harden joined the team, allowing him to blossom into a reliable 20-PPG scorer. Regardless of whether Harden&rsquo;s trade situation is resolved, Maxey will need to become a better creator and distributor if he wants to take his game to the next level. Prior to Harden&rsquo;s arrival, Maxey had an impressive 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio despite his small frame and risk-averse tendencies.&nbsp;
Interestingly, team president Daryl Morey has held off on giving Maxey an extension this offseason, electing to wait until next summer to pay his budding young guard. Maxey will likely demand near max-level money that could harm Philly&rsquo;s flexibility to go after star players next offseason. If he can improve his ball-handling and distribution tendencies, the Sixers&rsquo; offense should benefit tremendously, helping the offensive output of players like P.J. Tucker and Paul Reed and easing the reliance on De&rsquo;Anthony Melton and Patrick Beverley.
Roster Decisions
Two players will likely be fighting for the Sixers&rsquo; final roster spot. The team re-signed veteran Danny Green, who played for the team from 2020 to 2022, to a non-guaranteed deal. They also brought over young big Filip Petrusev, who was drafted by Philadelphia in 2021. Petrusev signed a multi-year deal that was partially guaranteed for $559,782 this season and non-guaranteed next year. Although unlikely, the 76ers could also elect to waive Montrezl Harrell despite his deal being fully guaranteed, as he should miss this season with a torn ACL.
Rotation
Current Roster Count: 21 players (14 guaranteed, 1 partially Guaranteed, 1 non-guaranteed, 3 two-way, 2 Exhibit-10)
Projected Starters: G Tyrese Maxey, G James Harden, F P.J. Tucker, F Tobias Harris, C Joel Embiid
Projected Rotation Players: G De&rsquo;Anthony Melton, G Patrick Beverley, F/C Paul Reed, F/G Kelly Oubre Jr., F Danuel House
Projected Reserves: C Mo Bamba, F Furkan Korkmaz, G Jaden Springer, G/F Danny Green (non-guaranteed), C Montrezl Harrell (injured)
Projected Two-way Players: G Terquavion Smith, G Ricky Council IV, F Azuolas Tubelis
Projected Roster Cuts: F/C Filip Petrusev ($559,782 guaranteed), G David Duke Jr. (Exhibit-10), G Javonte Smart (Exhibit-10)
<h1>TORONTO RAPTORS</h1>
What style does Darko Rajakovic bring to Toronto and who will benefit the most?
New coach Darko Rajakovic inherits an interesting Raptors team with plenty of talent, but they may be facing a crossroads in terms of how successful they can be as a group. Rajakovic is in his first NBA head coaching gig after three seasons as an assistant with the Grizzlies and is known around the league as a pick-and-roll guru.&nbsp;
The idea of the Raptors being a primary pick-and-roll team became less appealing when they were unable to retain Fred VanVleet in free agency, replacing him with a less reliable shooter in Dennis Schr&ouml;der. Instead, Rajakovic will likely rely on Schr&ouml;der and his newly paid center Jakob Poeltl for more ball movement and playmaking. Rajakovic compared Poeltl to Domantas Sabonis before the Raptors&rsquo; preseason win over the Sacramento Kings on October 9 and could use him in a similar role. If Poeltl can be 70% of what Sabonis was last season, it can be a huge boost to an inconsistent offense.
Roster Decisions
The Raptors have 15 players on guaranteed deals going into the season, but also carry Jeff Dowtin Jr. on a non-guaranteed deal. Dowtin played on a two-way contract with Toronto last season, appearing in 25 games. With the roster full, Dowtin is unlikely to make the regular-season roster but he has still <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-praise-jeff-dowtin-jr-as-roster-decisions-await" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impressed the coaching staff this preseason</a>. If any player is in danger of losing their roster spot to Dowtin, it would likely be former first-round pick Malachi Flynn. Dowtin&rsquo;s deal becomes guaranteed for $900,000 on October 21, four days before the team&rsquo;s season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. I would expect the Raptors to make a decision on Dowtin before then.&nbsp;
Rotation
Current Roster Count: 21 players (15 guaranteed, 1 non-guaranteed, 3 two-way, 2 Exhibit-10)
Projected Starters: G Dennis Schr&ouml;der, F/G Scottie Barnes, F OG Anunoby, F Pascal Siakam, C Jakob Poeltl
Projected Rotation Players: G Gary Trent Jr., F Precious Achiuwa, F/C Chris Boucher, F Jalen McDaniels, G/F Gradey Dick
Projected Reserves: F Thaddeus Young, G Malachi Flynn, F Otto Porter Jr., C Christian Koloko, G/F Garrett Temple
Projected Two-way Players: G/F Ron Harper Jr., G Markquis Nowell, G Javon Freeman-Liberty
Projected Roster Cuts: G Jeff Dowtin (non-guaranteed), F Mouhamadou Gueye (Exhibit-10), C Makur Maker (Exhibit-10)
Other news from around the web: <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/dress-to-impress-why-barbie-and-ken-are-the-hottest-couples-costume-this-halloween/ar-AA1iaTEh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbie and Ken are the hottest couples costume this Halloween</a>

Blake Stern previews the Atlantic Division, breaking down each team's projected lineup and a burning question entering the season.

NBA Atlantic Division Preview: Burning questions, rotation projections

The NBA App will stream the SLAM Summer Classic Vol. 5 on Saturday, Aug. 19, adding to the growing list of elite basketball programming available year-round on the new platform.&nbsp; 
The fifth annual basketball showcase at Rucker Park in New York City will feature 28 of the top high-school-age players in the U.S. Headlined by Jaloni Cambridge, Aaliyah Chavez and Kennedy Smith, the girls game tips off at 5 p.m. ET followed by the boys &ndash; featuring top high-school prospects Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and Tre Johnson &ndash; streaming at 7 p.m. ET.&nbsp; Additionally, several members of the <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/jr-nba-court-of-leaders-mentorship-program-provides-youth-with-voice" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nba.com/news/jr-nba-court-of-leaders-mentorship-program-provides-youth-with-voice&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1692371005985000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1FeYuKToXVUf2-KpS_2bVH">Jr. NBA Court of Leaders</a>&nbsp;will participate in the event.
The addition of the SLAM Summer Classic is part of the NBA&rsquo;s larger commitment to make the NBA App an all-in-one destination for global basketball programming. Over the past year, premier basketball content available on the app has included select WNBA, Basketball Africa League and NBA G League Ignite games, as well as Nike Elite Youth Basketball League&rsquo;s (EYBL) Peach Jam, Jr. NBA Showcase, LNB Betclic ELITE, top pro-am leagues such as the Drew League, Miami Pro League and AEBL, and more.
The NBA will produce and distribute the SLAM Summer Classic games on the free-to-download&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/global.nba.com/nba-apps/index.html?_branch_match_id=811567537499273278&amp;_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXTywo0MvJzMvWy0tK1EvOz9UH0kAxAF91y5sfAAAA__;!!KLCbKzk!n3wSjvNMSkYR4lKoKVgXircttWOLy-0rXgpTSo-D1MmKcmHzay-SwIoaQ0lokaPc1PDUxBHGW6sN$" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/global.nba.com/nba-apps/index.html?_branch_match_id%3D811567537499273278%26_branch_referrer%3DH4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXTywo0MvJzMvWy0tK1EvOz9UH0kAxAF91y5sfAAAA__;!!KLCbKzk!n3wSjvNMSkYR4lKoKVgXircttWOLy-0rXgpTSo-D1MmKcmHzay-SwIoaQ0lokaPc1PDUxBHGW6sN$&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1692371005985000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2emDiwi7_0lf1Yxd60aUby">NBA App</a>&nbsp;and on NBA.com. Below are the full team rosters.&nbsp;
BOYS ROSTER
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Name
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Ace Bailey (Powder Springs, Ga.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Jalil Bethea (Philadelphia, Pa.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
*AJ Dybantsa (Brockton, Mass.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
VJ Edgecombe (Brookville, N.Y.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
*Isaiah Evans (Huntersville, N.C.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Cooper Flagg (Newport, Maine)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Dylan Harper (Ramsey, N.J.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Jahki Howard (Atlanta, Ga.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Ian Jackson (Bronx, N.Y.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Tre Johnson (Dallas, Texas)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Tahaad Pettiford (Jersey City, N.J.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
*Jase Richardson (Las Vegas, Nev.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Meleek Thomas (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Robert Wright III&nbsp;(Philadelphia, Pa.)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
* Member of the Jr. NBA Court of Leaders
&nbsp;
&nbsp;GIRLS ROSTER
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Name
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Izela Arenas (Chatsworth, Calif.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Mikayla Blakes (Somerset, N.J.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
*Jaloni Cambridge (Nashville, Tenn.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Aaliyah Chavez (Lubbock, Texas)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
*Kendall Dudley (Centreville, Va.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
*Leah Harmon (Washington D.C.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Ariel Little (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Maddy McDaniel (Upper Marlboro, Md.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Me'arah O'Neal (Houston, Texas)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Mackenly Randolph (Chatsworth, Calif.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Kennedy Smith (Etiwanda, Calif.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Chloe Spreen (Bedford, Ind.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Kennedy Umeh (Owings Mills, Md.)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="354">
Allie Ziebell (Neenah, Wis.)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
* Member of the Jr. NBA Court of Leaders

The NBA App will stream the SLAM Summer Classic Vol. 5 on Saturday, Aug. 19.

NBA App to stream the SLAM Summer Classic Vol. 5

MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Khris Middleton is making the most of his limited minutes as he works his way back from injuries that kept him from playing for much of the season.
Middleton scored 18 points and sparked a third-quarter run that put the Milwaukee Bucks ahead for good as they beat the Charlotte Hornets 124-115 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victry.
&ldquo;Right now I&rsquo;m trying to be as aggressive as I can,&rdquo; Middleton said. &ldquo;I know it sounds simple or whatever, but that&rsquo;s just the mindset I&rsquo;m trying to come up with, especially with my limited minutes. Hopefully as my minutes keep going (up), I keep the same mindset, because it&rsquo;s been working.&rdquo;
The Bucks withstood a triple-double from Charlotte&rsquo;s LaMelo Ball, who had 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 18 rebounds to help the Bucks avenge one of their most embarrassing losses of the season. Jrue Holiday added 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
Middleton played 20 minutes, his longest outing since coming back from a sore right knee that caused him to miss 18 games. The three-time All-Star&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-bulls-los-angeles-lakers-boston-celtics-milwaukee-bucks-nba-0b824a430ebd34c5c5f9225c45dad4c8">also missed the Bucks&rsquo; first 20 games while recovering from offseason surgery on his left wrist.</a>
He has come off the bench in each of the Bucks&rsquo; five games since his return.
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&ldquo;I started my career coming off the bench, so it doesn&rsquo;t really bother me at all,&rdquo; Middleton said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been on the bench before, not playing games, sometimes coming in first quarter, second quarter or sometimes not until the second half. I just know I have to stay ready and have to be loose.&rdquo;
In a game that featured 11 ties and 17 lead changes, Middleton helped Milwaukee gain command. He scored 11 points during a 14-3 spurt late in the third quarter that helped the Bucks take a 97-90 lead into the final period.
&ldquo;He got going when they kind of took control of the game,&rdquo; Hornets coach Steve Clifford said.
Charlotte (16-36) entered the night with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, but the&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-bucks-charlotte-hornets-nba-sports-bobby-portis-ddb460d79b932a3f2574bf51f048267d">Hornets won 138-109 at Milwaukee on Jan. 6</a>&nbsp;to hand the Bucks their second-most lopsided loss of the season. The Hornets had 51 points in the opening period that night &mdash; matching the NBA record for a first quarter &mdash; and limited Antetokounmpo to nine points.
Even after scoring 50 points in a&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-bucks-washington-wizards-new-orleans-pelicans-nba-sports-152c586a964f31d1c3333cb74c5cb822">135-110 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans</a>&nbsp;on Sunday, Antetokounmpo spent part of his postgame press conference talking about how the Bucks needed to play better in the rematch with the Hornets.
The Hornets still made this one interesting.
Milwaukee took a 114-97 lead on Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s 3-pointer with 7:13 left. but didn&rsquo;t make another basket until Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s driving layup with 27.1 seconds remaining.
Charlotte cut it to 118-113 when Mason Plumlee hit a layup and drew a foul with 1:06 left. But Plumlee missed the ensuing free throw, and the Bucks put it away from there.
&ldquo;Their record doesn&rsquo;t give them justice,&rdquo; Antetokounmpo said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re a really good team. Or maybe they just play well against us. I don&rsquo;t know.&rdquo;
Terry Rozier scored 20 points, Gordon Hayward 16, Jalen McDaniels 15 and P.J. Washington and Plumlee 14 each for Charlotte. Plumlee also had 14 rebounds.
TIP-INS
Hornets: Ball&rsquo;s triple-double was his second of the season and eighth of his career. His other triple-double this season came Dec. 22, when he had 25 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/charlotte-hornets-los-angeles-clippers-nba-sports-ivica-zubac-c9fa5b9f8f74634f8370750c8975956b">126-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.</a>
Bucks: Pat Connaughton shot just 1 of 8 from 3-point range. He had gone 25 of 49 from beyond the arc over his last eight games. &hellip; After getting a steal in the opening seconds of the second half, Holiday threw an off-the-backboard pass to Antetokounmpo, who was unable to convert the dunk attempt.
</div>
</div>
</div>

Khris Middleton sparked a third-quarter run that put the Milwaukee Bucks ahead for good as they beat the Charlotte Hornets 124-115.

Bucks beat Hornets 124-115 for 5th consecutive victory

ATLANTA (AP) &mdash; Terry Rozier hit three throws with 1.1 seconds remaining, and the undermanned Charlotte Hornets overcame a 19-point, third-quarter deficit to end the Atlanta Hawks&rsquo; five-game winning streak with a 122-118 victory on Saturday night.
Clint Capela tipped in the miss of Trae Young&rsquo;s missed runner with 5.4 seconds to go for Atlanta, but Rozier, who scored 16 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, drew a foul from Jalen Johnson and buried the ensuing free throws to win it.
The Hawks lost when Young, trying to inbound the ball from the right sideline, couldn&rsquo;t find an open teammate with Mason Plumlee making it tough to put the ball in play. His turnover ended it.
The Hornets, playing without injured leading scorer LaMelo Ball, have won two straight after losing eight of nine. They entered the game 12-34, next-to-last in the Eastern Conference. It was their first consecutive wins since the end of November.
Plumlee finished with a career-high 25 points and P.J. Washington scored 12 of his 23 in the fourth.
Young made one of his last 12 shots and had 25 points. Dejounte Murray scored 26 points and De&rsquo;Andre Hunter had a season-high 26 for Atlanta.
The Hawks dropped to 13-10 at home. They are 24-23 after beginning the night eighth in the East.
Rozier hit five 3s and scored 17 points of his team&rsquo;s 36 points in the third as the Hornets chipped away from a 19-point deficit go on a 19-6 run to pull within six on Jalen McDaniels&rsquo; 12-footer at the 5:37 mark. A corner 3 by Rozier made it a four-point game, and a pair of free throws by JT Thor trimmed the lead to three, but that was as close as the Hornets would get before Plumlee&rsquo;s dunk to tie it at it 101 with 6:25 left in the game.
Rozier hit a left corner 3 and the ensuing free throw to put the Hornets up 104-100 with 5:58 remaining. It was their first lead since it was 10-9, but a 3 by AJ Griffin and a steal and dunk by Murray made it 108-104.
Hunter scored 18 in the first half while Murray chipped in 17 and Young had 16. Plumlee, with 13, was the only Hornet in double figures before intermission.
Capela&rsquo;s fast-break alley-oop dunk put the Hawks up 52-41 late in the second, and they led 65-49 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Hornets: F Gordon Hayward returned after missing the last eight games with left hamstring soreness and had nine points... Charlotte outscored the Hawks 58-50 in the paint. ... Ball was sidelined with left ankle soreness for the third time this season, and he also has right knee soreness. ... Reserve F Cody Martin was out with left knee soreness for the third straight game. ... Bell&rsquo;s absence hurt beyond the arc. He has made 78 3s since returning from an ankle injury Dec. 14, most in the NBA over that span. Charlotte went 13 for 34 on 3s.
Hawks: G Bogdan Bogdanovic missed the game with right knee injury management. ... Young has 76 consecutive outings with five or more assists, the longest active streak in the NBA. Nikola Jokic is next-closest at 29 straight games. ... Young had his 150 th career game with at least 10 assists, the fifth-most such games in NBA history by a player 24 or younger. ... Atlanta began the game leading the East in scoring average this month at 120.9, field-goal percentage at 50.7 and 3-point percentage at 38.5. They went 54.2 from the field and 44.0 on 3s against Charlotte.
UP NEXT
Hornets: At Utah on Monday and Phoenix on Tuesday.
Hawks: At Chicago on Monday and Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

The undermanned Hornets overcame a 19-point third-quarter deficit to end the Hawks’ five-game winning streak with a 122-118 victory.

Rozier caps 19-point rally, Hornets end Hawks' 5-game streak

HOUSTON (AP) &mdash; Terry Rozier scored 26 points and the Charlotte Hornets held off the reeling Houston Rockets 122-117 to snap a five-game skid Wednesday night after LaMelo Ball injured his left ankle again.
The Hornets, who have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, got their first win since Jan. 6 over the hapless Rockets. Houston, which has the NBA&rsquo;s worst record and hasn&rsquo;t won since Dec. 26, has lost a season-high 12 straight.
The victory was coach Steve Clifford's 208th with the team, making him the winningest coach in franchise history. Clifford, who coached Charlotte from 2013-18 before returning this season, passed Allan Bristow, who had 207 wins.
Jalen Green tied a career high with 41 points to lead the Rockets. He scored five points to power an 11-3 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Eric Gordon, that got Houston within 119-116 with 21 seconds left.
Mason Plumlee made one of two free throws after Houston intentionally fouled him. Green was fouled on the other end, and he also went 1 of 2 to leave Charlotte up 120-117.
Jalen McDaniels then hit two free throws to secure the victory.
Clifford raved about how his team stuck together after Ball's injury early in the third quarter.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s deflating, for sure,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I was proud of the guys, the way they hung together and fought hard. Made a bunch of plays there in the fourth quarter.&rdquo;
Ball sprained his left ankle, another blow to a Hornets team already missing Kelly Oubre Jr., who is out after hand surgery. Ball said after the game he didn't think the injury was serious and he didn't plan to have X-rays.
&ldquo;I can walk and everything, so I'll just take it day by day and see what it is,&rdquo; he said.
Ball was injured when P.J. Washington landed on him after jumping for a rebound with about nine minutes left in the third quarter. Ball appeared to be in a lot of pain and didn&rsquo;t put any weight on his left leg as he was helped to the locker room.
The team then ruled Ball out with a sprained left ankle.
It&rsquo;s the third time this season Ball has injured the same ankle. The flashy guard missed part of the preseason and the first 13 games of the regular season after spraining it the first time.
He played just three games before spraining it again on Nov. 16 when he stepped on a fan&rsquo;s foot late in a game against Indiana. That time he missed 11 games with the injury.
&ldquo;I feel a little better,&rdquo; Ball said. &ldquo;It (doesn't) feel like them other ones so I think I'll be straight.&rdquo;
Ball had 13 points and four assists before exiting.
Houston coach Stephen Silas was unhappy with the energy his team showed to start the second half.
&ldquo;I actually thought the way that we started the third quarter right after halftime, I was disappointed with that,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The ball kind of stuck a little bit and we missed a few shots, put our heads down.&rdquo;
The game was close for most of the night and the Rockets led by three early in the fourth. The Hornets then used a 14-3 run to take a 97-89 lead with eight minutes to go. Washington led the way during that stretch, scoring seven points including a dunk and a 3-pointer.
A layup by Green got the Rockets within six soon after that, but the Hornets scored the next six points to make it 105-93 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining. McDaniels capped that run with a one-handed dunk off an assist by Rozier after a turnover by Gordon.
TIP-INS
Hornets: Gordon Hayward missed an eighth consecutive game with a hamstring injury. &hellip; Plumlee had 17 points and nine rebounds. &hellip; Washington had 16 points.
Rockets: Houston rookie Jabari Smith Jr. sprained his right ankle in the third quarter and did not return. &hellip; Kevin Porter Jr. was out for the fourth game in a row with a bruised big toe. &hellip; Alperen Sengun had 24 points and 12 rebounds.
BIG EFFORT
Clifford was impressed with the performance of rookie Mark Williams, who tied a career high with 17 points off the bench. Williams was the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s very poised on the floor,&rdquo; Clifford said. &ldquo;He did a really good job.&rdquo;
&nbsp;

Terry Rozier scored 26 points and the Charlotte Hornets held off the reeling Houston Rockets 122-117 to snap a five-game skid.

Ball injured again as Hornets get 122-117 win over Rockets

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Jayson Tatum knew he was sitting on 48 points entering the final minute of the Boston Celtics' Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday and briefly thought about backing the ball out and letting the clock run down with the outcome well in hand.
Then he remembered a text from Jamal Crawford earlier this season after Tatum refused to take a late shot against the Miami Heat and finished the game with 49 points.
&ldquo;Jamal texted me after the game and he's like, &lsquo;If you&rsquo;re ever that close to 50, nobody is going to remember the time and score, they're just going to report if you got 50 or not,'&rdquo; Tatum said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what was going through my mind: Jamal telling me if you get that close to 50, go get it.&rdquo;
So Tatum let loose on a 3-pointer from the left wing with 38 seconds left and swished it, giving him a season-high 51 points &mdash; causing the crowd to erupt with chants of "MVP! MVP! &mdash; as the Celtics beat the Hornets for the second time in three days, 130-118.
It was the seventh 50-point game of Tatum's career.
Derrick White added 19 points and eight assists and Malcolm Brogdon scored 16 for the Celtics, who have won seven straight games. Boston is 33-12 on the season, the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Tatum was 15 of 23 from the field and 14 of 14 from the foul line.
"He makes me look like a better coach," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Mazzulla said he liked the way Tatum excelled at executing against different coverages the Hornets threw at him.
&ldquo;He didn't settle for shots,&rdquo; Mazzulla said. &ldquo;He got catch-and-shoots, he got off the dribbles, he got layups. The other piece of that is the humility of our team to really work with him to get those 51 points."
Added White: "He wants to be great and he takes that challenge each and every night. He&rsquo;s seen a lot of defense during his time in the league and he is making the right read off of that.&rdquo;
Jalen McDaniels led the Hornets with a career-high 26 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. LaMelo Ball finished with 25 points on 8-of-23 shooting. Mason Plumlee had perhaps his best all-around game of the season, with 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Hornets (11-34), who&rsquo;ve lost eight of their last nine games.
The Celtics set the tone early, jumping out to a 35-22 lead in the first quarter after holding the Hornets to 28.6% shooting from the floor.
Charlotte would fight back to cut the lead to 100-98 early in the fourth quarter, but White was fouled by Dennis Smith Jr. on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws.
Moments later, the Celtics got three long offensive rebounds on one possession before White drove to the rim and scored to increase the lead with 6:34 left, causing Hornets coach Steve Clifford to punch the air in frustration.
&ldquo;When a shot goes up, all five guys should be coming back for the rebound,&rdquo; Clifford said. &ldquo;That is the way we want it. Defensive rebounding is a challenge for our team and we're not overly physical. We have a habit of leaking out and it has cost us two games."
Tatum took over down the stretch, finishing with 17 points in the fourth quarter.
He drilled a step-back 3 from the top of the key over Smith to push the lead to 10 and then buried the Hornets with a long 3 with 1:02 left. Tatum smiled when asked about the MVP chants.
"I hear them and just being in North Carolina, it all feels a little more special, having gone to school two hours away," said Tatum, who spent one season at Duke before entering the NBA draft. "Coming here feels like I'm back home a little bit."
MLK JR. DAY
During pregame warmups, the Celtics and Hornets wore gray and white T-shirts for Martin Luther King Jr. Day that read &ldquo;Now is the time to make justice a reality for all&rdquo; on the front and &ldquo;Honor King&rdquo; on the back.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Finished 24 of 25 from the free-throw line.
Hornets: P.J. Washington had 17 points. ... Clifford said he hopes to get Gordon Hayward (hamstring) and Cody Martin (knee soreness) back for the team's upcoming four-game road trip.
&nbsp;

Jayson Tatum scored 51 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in three days, 130-118.

Tatum scores 51, Celtics beat Hornets for 7th straight win

TORONTO (AP) &mdash; Pascal Siakam scored 28 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 24 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets 132-120 on Tuesday night.
O.G. Anunoby scored eight of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and matched his career high with six 3-pointers as Toronto won its fourth straight home meeting with the Hornets and reached the midway point of the regular season at 18-23.
The Raptors made a season-high 20 3-points in 44 attempts.
&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s have a party,&rdquo; guard Fred VanVleet joked.
Toronto won consecutive games for the sixth time this season. The Raptors have yet to win three in a row.
Toronto had 18 offensive rebounds to Charlotte&rsquo;s six and outscored the Hornets 20-4 in second-chance points.
&ldquo;That was the game,&rdquo; Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. You can&rsquo;t pick and choose when you want to do the tough things. That&rsquo;s what we did tonight.&rdquo;
Terry Rozier scored 33 points for Charlotte, and LaMelo Ball had 24 points and a season-high 14 assists. The Hornets lost for the fifth time in six games.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve just got to start holding each other accountable,&rdquo; Rozier said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re all grown. It&rsquo;s just what we&rsquo;ve got to do. Obviously, our way hasn&rsquo;t been working, so we&rsquo;ve got to turn it around.&rdquo;
Mason Plumlee scored 21 points for Charlotte, P.J. Washington Jr. had 13 and Jalen McDaniels 11.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re playing for our season right now,&rdquo; Plumlee said.
Bell&rsquo;s 3-pointer with 7:05 left in the fourth quarter cut it to 108-107, but Anunoby replied with back-to-back 3-pointers, his fifth and six.
&ldquo;They&rsquo;re super explosive,&rdquo; Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. &ldquo;We just did enough there in the last six minutes.&rdquo;
VanVleet also connected from long range, putting Toronto up 117-107 with 4:32 to play.
&ldquo;Our individual defense, which had been good lately, was awful,&rdquo; Clifford said.
SURGERY FOR PORTER
Toronto F Otto Porter Jr. will miss the remainder of the season following left foot surgery, the team announced Tuesday. Porter signed with the Raptors last summer but was limited to eight games because of toe and hamstring injuries.
TIP-INS
Hornets: F Gordon Hayward (left hamstring) missed his fourth straight game while G Kelly Oubre Jr. (left hand surgery) missed his sixth. &hellip; Missed their first field goal of the game, then made the next 11 straight. &hellip; Matched a season-high with 33 assists.
Raptors: Made 19 3-pointers in a Dec. 23 win at Cleveland. &hellip; VanVleet had 11 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. &hellip; Precious Achiuwa scored 13 points and Chris Boucher had 12. &hellip; Rookie Christian Koloko had six offensive rebounds, one shy of his career-high. &hellip; Rapper J. Cole sat courtside.
&nbsp;

Pascal Siakam scored 28 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 24 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets 132-120.

Siakam has 28 points, Raptors beat slumping Hornets 132-120

Basketball News highlights the reporting, analysis and podcasts that defined a year of basketball in 2022.

Best of Basketball News: Spotlighting our top content from 2022

The East Asia Super League announced that their 2023 EASL Champions Week will take place in Japan from March 1-5. The league&rsquo;s eight teams will battle for the inaugural Champions Week title and the first-place prize of $250,000. (The runner-up will receive $100,000 and the third-place team will get $50,000.)
A total of 10 games will be played in Japan from March 1-5. The Utsunomiya Brex will host the first six games of the Group Stage. The Ryukyu Golden Kings will host four games total &mdash; two Group Stage games as well as the championship game and third-place game on March 5 in their new Okinawa-based arena (which is also a 2023 FIBA World Cup venue).
Each day of EASL Champions Week will feature two marquee match-ups. EASL Champions Week is finalizing broadcast deals in all core EASL regions and beyond, and those details will be announced soon.
The eight teams that have already qualified for EASL Season 1 will remain in their respective groups. The schedule will be determined through a drawing that will be live-streamed globally later this month.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The EASL will launch its home-and-away format in Season 2, which will tip off in fall of 2023. The teams will qualify through their current domestic seasons. In Season 3 (which will take place in fall of 2024), the EASL will expand the format to 16 teams and potentially add in new leagues and regions.
Past EASL events featured notable players such as Lance Stephenson (Liaoning Flying Leopards), Shabazz Muhammad (Shenzhen Leopards), KJ McDaniels (TNT KaTropa), Jared Sullinger (Shenzhen Aviators), Jameel Warney (Seoul SK Knights) and Domantas Motiejunas (Shandong Golden Stars). The league has added investors such as Jalen Green, Baron Davis, Metta Sandiford-Artest and Shane Battier.
For more on the East Asia Super League, check out this <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/east-asia-super-league-inside-a-basketball-startup-with-a-unique-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in-depth article</a> about the league's future plans, which features an exclusive interview with EASL Commissioner Matt Beyer.

The East Asia Super League announced that their 2023 EASL Champions Week will take place in Japan from March 1-5.

East Asia Super League sets Champions Week for March 1-5 in Japan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Kawhi Leonard couldn't have drawn up a better return.
The five-time All-Star had 16 points, including an 18-foot jumper with 1.4 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 119-117 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night in his return from a right ankle sprain.
&ldquo;I don't think anybody loves playing this game more than me,&rdquo; Leonard said. &ldquo;It gives me joy when I'm able to play. And it was great that I was able to make that shot.&rdquo;
Paul George also came back from a strained hamstring to score 19 points along with seven assists, helping the Clippers snap a two-game losing streak. Reggie Jackson and Nic Batum each had 13 points, and John Wall added 12 points and 12 assists.
Luke Kennard added nine points off the bench in his first game back from an injury as well.
Charlotte's Kelly Oubre scored 28 points and P.J. Washington added 26 after going 0 for 13 on Saturday night. Washington missed a fadeaway jumper as time expired that would have tied the game.
Getting Leonard, George and Kennard back should provide a huge boost for the Clippers (14-11). Leonard has been out since Nov. 21, George since Nov. 19 and Kennard since Nov. 15 with a calf strain.
George said it's &ldquo;super important&rdquo; getting everyone healthy again, and that it felt like the start of a new season.
&ldquo;This is really a great opportunity to kind of get back on track," George said. &ldquo;We were playing well when we were healthy and now we can start building toward the team we were trying to be.&rdquo;
The win didn't come easily.
The Hornets (7-17) outscored the Clippers 26-8 to start the third quarter behind eight points from Terry Rozier to take an 80-71 lead.
The Clippers tied it up when George saved an offensive rebound from going out of bounds by flicking the ball to Leonard under the basket for an easy basket.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to get that rebound," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the second game this year, you make one play and they&rsquo;ve got to foul, we&rsquo;re up two. That&rsquo;s the biggest play.&rdquo;
After Jalen McDaniels missed a 3 at the other end, the Clippers found Leonard for an isolation play on the right side of the court.
He made a ball fake to freeze McDaniels, then dribbled once and stepped back to his left to drain the shot before exchanging a high-five with George and a flying chest bump with Marcus Morris Sr..
&ldquo;My teammates trusted me,&rdquo; Leonard said. &ldquo;I was able to get in my spot and my team gave me space. I was able to knock down a shot."
TIP-INS
Clippers: Norman Powell remained out with a groin strain. ... Shot 15 of 36 from 3-point range.
Hornets: LaMelo Ball has now missed 21 of 24 games this season with a high ankle sprain. Gordon Hayward has missed 13 games with shoulder issues, Cody Martin 23 games with a knee injury and Dennis Smith Jr. 10 games with a right ankle sprain.
UP NEXT
Clippers: At Orlando on Wednesday night.
Hornets: At Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Kawhi Leonard had 16 points, including an 18-foot jumper with 1.4 seconds to lift the Clippers to a 119-117 victory.

Leonard returns, hits game-winner as Clippers beat Hornets

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 28 points, and the Charlotte Hornets stopped Minnesota's five-game win streak with a 110-108 victory over Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves on Friday night.
Terry Rozier had 22 points and eight assists, helping the Hornets (6-14) win back-to-back games for the first time this season. P.J. Washington scored 16 points, and reserve Theo Maledon finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
&ldquo;It's a great mood booster for sure," Oubre said of getting two wins in three nights. &ldquo;We have to continue to learn from our losses and mistakes and learn how to win. The more you win the more you can do the same things you did in the game before.&rdquo;
Edwards scored 25 points for the Timberwolves (10-9), who shot 22% from 3-point range. D&rsquo;Angelo Russell had 20 points and 10 assists, and Rudy Gobert finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds.
The Timberwolves bolted to a 62-52 halftime lead as Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 30 points.
But Charlotte battled back to take a 91-83 lead after outscoring the Timberwolves 39-21 in the third quarter behind 11 points from Oubre and 10 from Rozier.
&ldquo;We just came out with not much energy or focus and not a lot of purpose," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said of his team's effort in the third. "We haven&rsquo;t done that for a long time. It was kind of our habit at the beginning of the season. Tonight, we just didn&rsquo;t have it in the third quarter for whatever reason.&rdquo;
Charlotte carried that momentum into the fourth. Nick Richards rejected Gobert at the rim, setting up a high-flying dunk by Kai Jones off a feed from Rozier that brought the crowd to its feet and helped push the lead to 14.
The Timberwolves had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds after Rozier missed a floater, but they were unable to corral the rebound. That forced them to foul Washington, who made one of two throws with 4.7 seconds left to help close it out.
After the free throw, Washington smiled and gave a nod to his bench.
&ldquo;We are figuring out how to play,&rdquo; Washington said. &ldquo;The game we played tonight and the one before (a 107-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night) are two that we can grow from. If we play to our strengths it is going to be hard for teams to beat us."
JONES STEPS UP
Jones, a lanky, athletic 6-foot-11 2021 first-round draft pick out of Texas, was the first player off the Hornets bench as Charlotte looked to combat Minnesota&rsquo;s height. The gamble paid off as the seldom-used Jones finished with nine points and 12 rebounds &mdash; both career bests.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see that he&rsquo;s doing anything that he can&rsquo;t do every night," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s playing to his real strengths. He&rsquo;s tough, he&rsquo;s a terrific athlete, he&rsquo;s got a good nose for the ball, and he&rsquo;s playing very smart.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Towns was 0 for 8 from 3-point range in the second half. ... Jaden McDaniels opened the game matched up against his older brother Jalen McDaniels.
Hornets: Played without PG LaMelo Ball (ankle), F Gordon Hayward (shoulder), PG Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) and Cody Martin (knee).
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host Golden State on Sunday.
Hornets: Visit Boston on Monday night.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 28 points, and the Hornets snapped the Wolves' five-game win streak with a 110-108 victory on Friday night.

Oubre scores 28, Hornets snap T-Wolves' 5-game win streak

CHICAGO (AP) &mdash; DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points, Zach LaVine added 22 and the Chicago Bulls stopped Boston&rsquo;s nine-game win streak, beating the Celtics 121-107 on Monday night.
Patrick Williams scored a season-high 17, and the Bulls made it look rather easy against the team with the NBA&rsquo;s best record. They led by 13 at halftime, got it up to 21 in the third quarter and withstood a push to come away with the victory after dropping four straight and five of six.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 28 points. Jaylen Brown scored 25 and Malcolm Brogdon finished with 23 points, shooting 5 of 6 on 3-pointers.
PELICANS 128, WARRIORS 83
NEW ORLEANS (AP) &mdash; Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 34 points on the night Zion Williamson returned from a three-game absence, and New Orleans routed depleted Golden State.
Playing one night after winning on the road for the first time this season at Houston, the Warriors scratched Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins from the lineup.
Williamson played 23 minutes in his first game back from a bruised right foot, scoring nine points.
Devonte Graham had 19 for the Pelicans, who took the lead for good less than two minutes into the game and led by as many as 45. Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Jordan Poole scored 26 for Golden State, which fell to 1-9 on the road.
BUCKS 119, TRAIL BLAZERS 111
MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points and Milwaukee pulled away in the second half to beat Portland.
Antetokounmpo shot 16 of 24 to go with seven rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes. Milwaukee improved to 12-4 overall and 9-1 at home.
Bucks guard Jrue Holiday scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and Grayson Allen added 17 points and eight rebounds. Holiday had the first nine Milwaukee points in the period.
Anfernee Simons paced the Trail Blazers (10-7) with 29 points. Jusuf Nurkic added 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Portland lost its third straight game.
CLIPPERS 121, JAZZ 114
LOS ANGELES (AP) &mdash; Norman Powell scored a season-high 30 points, Reggie Jackson added a season-best 27 and Los Angeles rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Utah.
Ivica Zubac had 14 points and 14 rebounds as the Clippers extended their winning streak to three.
Los Angeles was without Paul George after he strained his right hamstring during Saturday&rsquo;s win over San Antonio.
Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 26 points and Lauri Markkanen had 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Jazz have dropped four of their last six after starting the season 10-3.
CAVALIERS 114, HAWKS 102
CLEVELAND (AP) &mdash; Donovan Mitchell had 29 points and nine assists, and Darius Garland scored 26 to send Cleveland past Atlanta in their first meeting since the play-in tournament last season.
Trae Young had 25 points and 10 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu had a season-high 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks. Key offseason acquisition Dejounte Murray scored 11 on 4-of-18 shooting.
Atlanta claimed the final playoff berth in the East with a 107-101 win at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 15, extending Cleveland&rsquo;s postseason drought to four years. The Cavaliers have not made the playoffs without LeBron James since 1998.
Garland also had nine assists and tied his career high with eight turnovers. Cedi Osman scored a season-best 23 off the bench as Cleveland won its third in a row following a five-game losing streak. The Cavaliers are 7-1 at home.
PACERS 123, MAGIC 102
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; Bennedict Mathurin scored 22 points and Indiana blew out Orlando for its fifth consecutive victory.
Tyrese Haliburton had 18 points and 14 assists for the Pacers. T.J. McConnell added 19 points and 10 assists. Oshae Brissett scored 18 as Indiana's bench accounted for 71 points.
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 20 points and Gary Harris had 18.
TIMBERWOLVES 105, HEAT 101
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and Anthony Edwards scored 10 of his 22 in the third quarter as Minnesota outlasted shorthanded Miami.
Down to eight players due to injuries and rest on the second night of a back-to-back, the Heat led by 15 in the first half before Edwards sparked a third-quarter run.
Jaden McDaniels added 18 points for the Timberwolves, who won their fourth straight.
Kyle Lowry led the Heat with 21 points and Max Strus had 19. Bam Adebayo, playing in back-to-back games while dealing with a knee injury, had 17 points and 14 rebounds for Miami, which has lost four in a row.
Jimmy Butler missed his third straight game with a knee injury for the Heat, who were also without Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent.
KNICKS 129, THUNDER 119
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) &mdash; Jalen Brunson had a season-high 34 points while RJ Barrett and Julius Randle scored 25 each to lead New York over Oklahoma City.
Just eight days ago, the Thunder beat the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, scoring 145 points &mdash; including 79 in the opening half. But this time, New York held Oklahoma City&rsquo;s offense in check for the bulk of the game.
Randle also pulled down 11 rebounds. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 30 points and Lu Dort added 24.

A recap of Monday night's slate highlighted by the Bulls' big win to snap the Celtics' streak.

DeRozan helps Bulls halt Celtics' 9-game winning streak

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Huerter scored 26 points, Davion Mitchell added 23 points including two clutch jumpers late in the game as the Sacramento Kings rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 115-108 for their second straight win.
Huerter and Mitchell combined to go 10 of 16 from 3-point range and Harrison Barnes added 14 points as the Kings outscored Charlotte 37-18 in the third quarter.
P.J. Washington, who scored 31 points in an upset win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, again led the shorthanded Hornets in scoring with 28 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 16 for Charlotte.
Charlotte’s Jalen McDaniels knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:09 left to tie the game, but Mitchell immediately answered with a pullup 3-pointer and a 19-foot jumper on consecutive possessions to put the Kings up by five with 24.2 seconds left.
“I kind of knew I had a mismatch and I knew I could have got to the rim. But they played back and I just stepped up and hit the shot,” Mitchell said.
“He brings a leadership presence from the bench,” Kings coach Mike Brown said of Mitchell, who was 9 of 11 from the floor. “He brings an understanding of what his role is and embraces his role. He's a guy that I know anytime we call his number he is going to be ready to play.”
The Hornets turned the ball over 21 times resulting in 25 points for the Kings. Sacramento also lived at the foul line, making 24 of 28 free throws taking advantage of 31 fouls called on the Hornets.
“If we turn the ball over 21 times and foul like that, we're not gong to win," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. "Every drive, we fouled. We kind of gifted them like 10 or 12 points.”
Like the Hornets, the Kings were coming off a big win Saturday night after beating the Miami Heat at home.
It didn't look good early for Sacramento as the Hornets shot 60.5% in the first half to build a 67-52 lead at the break with all five starters scoring in double figures.
But the Kings stormed back in third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 37-18 behind 12 points from Huerter, who broke free for some open jumpers. Matthew Dellavedova gave the Kings their first lead of the game with 3:43 left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer from the right wing.
The Hornets would battle back to take the lead in the fourth quarter before the Kings rallied again with Huerter and Keegan Murray banging home back-to-back 3s with 4 1/2 minutes to play.
“We are fighting," Mitchell said of the team's win streak. “We are a team that don't quit. We try to play 48 minutes.”
FOX'S INJURY
De'Aaron Fox only played nine minutes after knocking knees with a Hornets player in the first half. Kings coach Mike Brown said he'll know about Fox's injury on Tuesday but doesn't believe it is serious.
WASHINGTON'S UPRISING
Washington continued to take advantage of his elevation to the starting role with restricted free agent Miles Bridges still out of the league while dealing with domestic violence charges. Bridges led the Hornets in scoring last season and the team is waiting to see what happens legally before making any decision on Bridges' future.
“He played terrific and got us back in the game,” Clifford said.
Washington is averaging 15.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
TIP INS
Kings: Domantas Sabonis had 16 rebounds before fouling out with 2:24 left in the game.
Hornets: Continued to play without LaMelo Ball (ankle), Terry Rozier (ankle) and Cody Martin (quad). ... Outscored Sacramento 54-34 in the paint.
UP NEXT
Kings: At Miami on Wednesday night.
Hornets: At Chicago on Wednesday night.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Kevin Huerter scored 26 points and the Sacramento Kings rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 115-108.

Huerter, Mitchell propel Kings past Hornets 115-108

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; The Charlotte Hornets were coming off a 20-point road loss to the Orlando Magic, playing on the second night of a back-to-back and without their starting front court of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier.
So they had no chance against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, right?
Well, think again.
P.J. Washington erupted for 31 points, Gordon Hayward added 23 and the Hornets once again spoiled Stephen Curry&rsquo;s annual homecoming game with a 120-113 overtime win over the Warriors on Saturday night.
Kelly Oubre Jr added 18 points as the Hornets beat the Warriors for the fourth straight year at the Spectrum Center, just a few miles from where Curry grew up.
&ldquo;They obviously understand who is coming into the building so they don't want to give us anything easy,&rdquo; Curry said. &ldquo;We knew they were going to come out aggressive and with a sense of pride and they did that.&rdquo;
Curry scored 31 points and had 11 rebounds to pace the Warriors, but missed a tightly contested 3-pointer at the end of regulation that would have won the game. He also air-balled a 3 in overtime and finished 3 of 13 from beyond the arc.
Jordan Poole had 24 points off the bench for Golden State.
In the extra period, Jalen McDaniels knocked down a momentum-turning 3-pointer from the left wing and Dennis Smith Jr. scored on a drive to the hole to give the Hornets the lead for good at 116-111.
Curry made two free throws but Washington scored again inside, muscling a shot up and in to push the lead back to five. Washington had six points in the overtime period.
&ldquo;It goes to show we have a lot of character,&rdquo; Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. &ldquo;We played poorly last night. ... but you could just tell in shootaround. I didn&rsquo;t know we were going to win, but I knew we were going to play well. Just the way they walked into the building and the way they were talking to each other.&rdquo;
Smith finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Charlotte. He also was all over Curry on the final possession of regulation, not allowing him to get to the basket or get a decent look at a 3-pointer.
Curry lamented his decision to settle for a 3 instead of driving to the hole and looking to create.
&ldquo;I can get a way better look than that,&rdquo; Curry said. &ldquo;I got wrapped in the trying to play hero ball in a hometown buzzer-beater type situation."
Warriors forward Draymond Green said it was frustrating to surrender a four-point lead in the final minute regulation after Washington hit a turnaround jumper and Smith scored on a driving layup to tie the game.
"We never lose those games." Green said. &ldquo;I can probably recall on one hand over the last eight years that we lost a game up four with a minute to go. So that is deflating form that standpoint. We can't lose that game. That's also a team without their two starting guards."
The Warriors have not beaten the Hornets in Charlotte since Feb. 25, 2019.
&ldquo;We have to get one next year," Curry said.
The Hornets had built 62-50 halftime lead behind 15 points each from Hayward and Washington and some terrific hustle from Mason Plumlee, who had nine rebounds and six assists before the break.
TIP INS
Warriors: Fell to 0-2 on the road. ... Draymond Green fouled out with 22.9 seconds left in overtime. ... Shot 13 of 44 from 3-point range.
Hornets: Clifford hopes to get Ball (ankle), Rozier (ankle) and Cody Martin (quad) back on the court soon, but offered no set timetable. All three have participated in the last couple of shootarounds and are &ldquo;getting closer."
UP NEXT
Warriors: at Pistons on Sunday night.
Hornets: Host Kings on Monday night.

P.J. Washington erupted for 31 points and the Hornets spoiled Stephen Curry’s annual homecoming game with a 120-113 OT win.

Hornets spoil Curry's homecoming again, beat Warriors in overtime

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; P.J. Washington scored 31 points, Gordon Hayward added 23 and the Charlotte Hornets once again spoiled Stephen Curry&rsquo;s annual homecoming game with a 120-113 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
Kelly Oubre Jr added 18 points as the Hornets beat the Warriors for the fourth straight year at the Spectrum Center in Curry&rsquo;s hometown despite playing without their starting backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier.
Curry scored 31 points and had 11 rebounds to pace the Warriors, but missed a tightly contested 3-pointer at the end of regulation that would have won the game. He also air-balled a 3 in overtime and finished 3 of 13 from beyond the arc.
Jordan Poole had 24 points off the bench for the Warriors.
In the extra period, Jalen McDaniels knocked down a momentum-turning 3-pointer from the left wing and Dennis Smith Jr. scored on a drive to the hole to give the Hornets the lead for good at 116-111.
Curry made two free throws but Washington scored again inside, muscling a shot up and in to push the lead back to five. Washington had six points in the overtime period.
Smith finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Charlotte.
The Warriors have not beaten the Hornets in Charlotte since Feb. 25, 2019.
Charlotte led by 14 in the third quarter after holding Klay Thompson and Curry to 0-for-9 shooting from 3-point range. But Curry and Thompson knocked down 3s on back-to-back possessions to spark the Warriors, who briefly took the lead.
But the Hornets, playing on a second night of a back-to-back, would push the lead to six in the fourth quarter behind Washington and Oubre, who blew a kiss at the Warriors bench after sinking a big 3.
The Hornets had built 62-50 halftime lead behind 15 points each from Hayward and Washington and some terrific hustle from Mason Plumlee, who had nine rebounds and six assists before the break.
The Warriors were just 13 of 44 from 3-point range and were outrebounded 54-50.
TIP INS
Warriors: Fell to 0-2 on the road. ... Draymond Green fouled out with 22.9 seconds left in overtime.
Hornets: Coach Steve Clifford hopes to get Ball (ankle), Rozier (ankle) and Cody Martin (quad) back on the court soon, but offered no set timetable. Clifford said all three have participated in the last couple of shootarounds and are &ldquo;getting closer." Ball has yet to play this season.

P.J. Washington scored 31 points and the Charlotte Hornets earned a 120-113 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors.

Hornets spoil Curry's homecoming again, beat Warriors in OT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Jonas Valanciunas had 30 points and 17 rebounds and the New Orleans Pelicans spoiled the Charlotte Hornets&rsquo; home opener with a wire-to-wire 124-112 victory Friday night.
Brandon Ingram added 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Pelicans and C.J. McCollum had 21 points. Zion Williamson had a quiet night in his first game at the Spectrum Center since leading Duke to the 2019 ACC Championship, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting.
The Pelicans opened Wednesday night with a 130-108 victory at Brooklyn.
Terry Rozier flirted with a triple-double for the Hornets with 23 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Gordon Hayward had 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting and added seven assists.
The Hornets simply had no answer inside for Valanciunas, who dominated in the paint against Mason Plumlee and Nick Richards. Valanciunas was 13 of 14 from the free-throw line and 8 of 11 from the field.
New Orleans outrebounded Charlotte 53-37.
After trailing by 16, the Hornets cut the lead to two with seven minutes left on Jalen McDaniels' fourth 3-pointer of the night. But Valanciunas re-entered the game and sparked a 10-1 run.
Ingram came up with a key play, stealing a Rozier pass at midcourt leading to a breakaway dunk to give the Pelicans more breathing room. Rozier went down with an ankle injury with 2:55 left, but remained in the game and finished.
BOUKNIGHT'S ISSUES
Hornets guard James Bouknight is not having a great start to the NBA season &mdash; on or off the court.
The second-year guard was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlotte-hornets-nba-sports-arrests-18bc52db27892af053f0459ad296fb1a">arrested on DWI charges</a> on Sunday when he was found unconscious in his car while it was in drive and later crashed into two police cars after he awoke. In two games on the court, Bouknight is 0 for 10 from the field while missing all seven 3-point attempts. He has yet to score.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Converted 32 of 37 free throws. ... Shot just 8 of 22 from 3-point range.
Hornets: LaMelo Ball (sprained ankle) missed his second straight game and Cody Martin sat out with soreness in his quad.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host Utah on Sunday night.
Hornets: At Atlanta on Sunday.

Jonas Valanciunas had 30 points and 17 rebounds and the Pelicans spoiled the Hornets’ home opener with a wire-to-wire 124-112 win.

Valanciunas has big night, helps Pelicans beat Hornets

In Los Angeles, Naz Reid had 22 points and 13 rebounds as Minnesota defeated the Lakers despite the Timberwolves sitting some of their key players, 118-113.
LeBron James had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Lakers, and Anthony Davis added 19 points and 13 rebounds. Lonnie Walker IV scored 12 points before leaving with an ankle injury in the third quarter.
Walker, an offseason signee by the Lakers, left the game after teammate Patrick Beverley rolled into him under the Minnesota basket near the midway point of the third quarter. The team announced later that Walker suffered a left ankle sprain and would not return to the game.
D&rsquo;Angelo Russell and Luka Garza finished with 15 points apiece for the Timberwolves, and Jaden McDaniels scored 11 points.
While the Lakers played with their starters, including James, Davis and Russell Westbrook, Minnesota had most of their key players sitting.
That meant not seeing off-season acquisition Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Towns, along with others including Taurean Prince and P.J. Dozier.
KINGS 105, SUNS 104
De&rsquo;Aaron Fox scored 15 points, Kevin Huerter added 13 points as Sacramento held on to defeat shorthanded Phoenix.
Harrison Barnes and Terence Davis had 12 points apiece for the Kings.
Duane Johnson Jr. led the Suns with 31 points and Jock Landale recorded 17 points and eight rebounds. Bismack Biyombo had 12 points for Phoenix.
The Suns turned the game over to the reserves as many of the Phoenix rotation players took the night off, including Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges.
NUGGETS 126, CLIPPERS 115
Denver used a balanced scoring attack with eight players reaching double figures as it defeated Los Angeles in Ontario, California.
Ish Smith led the winners with 15 points, converting 7 of 11 shots, and adding eight assists to his night. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 14, and Zeke Nnaji scored 13.
Normal Powell led the Clippers with 34 points on 11 of 14 shooting. Marcus Morris Sr. had 13 points.
Paul George played 16 minutes, scoring two points, but he had six rebounds and four assists.
Kawhi Leonard took the night off.

In Los Angeles, Naz Reid had 22 points and 13 rebounds as short-handed Minnesota defeated the Lakers, 118-113.

Naz Reid posts double-double, pushes Wolves past LeBron, AD-led Lakers

Nekias Duncan thoroughly breaks down all five teams in the Northwest Division ahead of the 2022-23 season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Northwest Division

Is the NBA ready to add an expansion team? Evan Sidery explores what kind of team you could build in a present-day expansion draft.