Joel Embiid scores 23 points, has the big assist as 76ers beat Heat in play-in to earn No. 7 seed
Joel Embiid had 23 points, 15 rebounds and one huge assist to Kelly Oubre Jr. on a late go-ahead three-point play that led the 76ers to a 105-104 win over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament on Wednesday night.
NBA reveals All-Star skills, 3-point, dunk participants
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)Golden Stateโs Stephen Curry and Phoenixโs Devin Booker have been 3-point champions at All-Star weekend before, and theyโll try to win that trophy again Sunday. The NBA revealed the 15 players Tuesday who will be taking part in the other on-court events besides the All-Star Game in Atlanta, with the overwhelming majority of them pulling double-duty between those competitions and the game itself. Theyโll be joined by Portlandโs Robert Covington, the only current NBA player who is a graduate of a historically Black college and university. It will be held at halftime of the All-Star Game, while the skills competition and 3-point contest will occur pregame. Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, San Antonio and Toronto have no one participating in All-Star night events.
Rested Kings get 29 points from Hield, defeat Magic 121-107
Hield scored a season-best 29 points by making 10 of 17 shots and 7 of 12 3-pointers as the well-rested Kings beat the Magic 121-107. โI thought it was his most consistent game this year, for sure, and maybe since Iโve been (with the Kings),โ Walton said. The Kings proved themselves to be rested and ready in taking apart the Magic for their second road victory of the season. His 29 points points topped the 26 he had on Jan. 13 in Portland โ a game where he made eight 3s. Rookie guard Cole Anthony, who scored a career-best 21 points in Mondayโs defeat of Charlotte, made just 2 of 9 shots and scored seven points on Wednesday.
Curry scores 30 after career night, Warriors beat Kings
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center, shoots against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)SAN FRANCISCO โ Stephen Curry followed up his career-high 62 points a night earlier with another 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to lead the suddenly clicking Golden State Warriors past the Sacramento Kings 137-106 on Monday. The Kings, coached by former Warriors top assistant and Kerr close friend Luke Walton, dropped their third straight. Warriors: Golden State activated rookie Nico Mannion for his first career game, but fellow two-way player Juan Toscano-Anderson wasn't available. Warriors: Host the Clippers on Wednesday night in the first of two straight home games over three days vs. Los Angeles.
Into the unknown: NBA teams face concerns outside of bubble
The other six clubs exit World Disney World the same way as tourists who normally pack the place. Now its back to the real world, and the real world in 2020 is an unsettling place. Uncertainty awaits at the end of every season for teams that miss the playoffs. The coronavirus pandemic forces teams to wonder whether they will be safe, and when or where they might be back together again. NBA teams have been shielded for a little while, but the Pelicans, Kings and Wizards, and soon more teams, have lost that now.
Magic build big lead, stay on roll in 132-116 win over Kings
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. The Orlando Magic got a big win and a big loss Sunday. Gordon scored seven of the first nine points for the Magic, who shot 63% in the first half while building a 24-point halftime lead. Orlando shot 52% for the game and matched a season high with 18 3 pointers while shooting 47% from long range. ... Vucevic scored 12 points in the third quarter, when the Magic surged to their biggest lead. Magic: Play Indiana on Tuesday.
Kings' Barnes isn't at NBA restart, says he has coronavirus
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings became the latest NBA player to reveal that he has the coronavirus, making the announcement Tuesday and saying he has hopes to join his team for the leagues restart later this summer. Barnes is the only player who has started all 64 of the Kings games this season. Prior to the team leaving last week, I tested positive for Covid-19, Barnes wrote on social media. The league said Monday that 19 players tested positive during in-market testing after July 1, those tests being done before teams began arriving at Disney on July 7. Houstons Russell Westbrook said Monday that he has tested positive and has yet to join the Rockets at Disney.