NBA suspends 11 players from Magic-Pistons scuffle
Hayes, who struck Wagner in the back of the head, was given a three-game suspension without pay. The fallout from the game in Detroit on Wednesday night was so large that the suspensions of the Magic players will be staggered so they have enough available players to play their next game. Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris, Admiral Schofield, Franz Wagner, Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr. were all suspended one game. Wagner hip-checked Hayes into the Detroit bench to begin the altercation. Magic players then rushed off their bench area in concern for their teammate.
wftv.comMurray hits winning free throws, Hawks end Magic's streak
ATLANTA — (AP) — Dejounte Murray hit two decisive free throws with 1.3 seconds left, Trae Young had 37 points and 13 assists, and the Atlanta Hawks held off the Orlando Magic 126-125 Monday night to snap their six-game winning streak. Murray hit both free throws, and Banchero missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. “Like I was preaching after the game, we've got to grow up, starting with me," Murray said. Young scored 17 points in the third as the Hawks opened a 104-94 lead in the closing seconds of the period. Fultz, who led the Magic with 24 points, then got to the rim easily — too easily for Hawks coach Nate McMillan.
wftv.comMoritz Wagner powers Magic past NBA-leading Celtics 117-109
BOSTON — (AP) — Moritz Wagner scored 25 points and Paolo Banchero added 20 as the Orlando Magic beat the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 117-109 on Friday night. Franz Wagner scored 19 points as Orlando won its fifth straight game — the first four coming at home. The Magic outrebounded the Celtics 53-38 and held the lead for the final 37 minutes of the game. The Magic surged back, closing the opening quarter with a 15-4 run that was capped with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Banchero. The Celtics cut their deficit to single digits on a few occasions, but the Magic remained comfortably ahead.
wftv.comKawhi and Popovich reunited? Leonard wants to go to Olympics
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots against Washington Wizards center Moritz Wagner, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Kawhi Leonard is planning to play for Gregg Popovich again and chase a gold medal. Leonard said Sunday at the All-Star Game in Atlanta that he is planning to compete with USA Basketball this summer at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics — which would reunite him with Popovich. Popovich will serve as head coach at the Olympics for the first time. “If I feel up to it and feel ready to go around that time, then I'm going to play," Leonard said.
The Latest: Celtics list 7 players unavailable vs Heat
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives against Washington Wizards' Davis Bertans and center Moritz Wagner (21) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The Boston Celtics listed seven players as unavailable for Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat in accordance with the NBA’s health and safety protocols that were installed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The Celtics ruled out Jaylen Brown, Javonte Green, Semi Ojeleye, Jayson Tatum, Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams and Robert Williams. A pair of other Celtics are injured, which leaves Boston with the minimum eight players available on Sunday. Players having to miss multiple days is a very real possibility even if they were exposed to someone with the virus.
Celtics would be without Tatum, Brown for coronavirus rules
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives against Washington Wizards' Davis Bertans and center Moritz Wagner (21) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)BOSTON – The Boston Celtics could be without stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and a number of other players because of coronavirus safety protocols when they face Miami on Sunday. The Celtics are listing Tatum as doubtful and Brown as questionable for the rematch of the Eastern Conference finals. With Kemba Walker and Romeo Langford unavailable because of injuries, the Celtics could have the minimum eight players required to start a game. Beset by its own coronavirus problems, Philadelphia dressed an injured player Saturday so it could field a team to play against Denver.
Grizzlies roll past Bucks 119-106, reach West play-in round
8 team two straight times to advance to face the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for a second straight season. The Grizzlies were eighth in the West with a 3 -game lead over the rest of the pack when they arrived at Florida. TIP-INSBucks: Starting guard Wesley Matthews missed a second straight game with a sore right adductor. UP NEXTThe Bucks will face the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs.
Antetokounmpo ejected for headbutting Wizards player
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) heads to the locker room after being ejected during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected from Milwaukee's game against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night after the NBA MVP headbutted Moritz Wagner. Wagner took a charge from Antetokounmpo, who didnt like the call in what had become a physical game. During a break in the action with Milwaukee challenging the call, Antetokounmpo approached Wagner and started jabbering at him before headbutting him and drawing the ejection in the second quarter. The Bucks have already clinched the top seed in the East, while the Wizards, who are winless in the bubble, have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Antetokounmpo's headbutt could draw a punishment from the league and keep him out of the team's final seeding game against the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Antetokounmpo suspended for Bucks' finale over headbutt
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been suspended for Milwaukees final game of the regular season, handed a one-game penalty Wednesday for headbutting Washingtons Moe Wagner. Its unknown if Antetokounmpo would have played in Thursdays game against Memphis anyway, given that the Bucks have already secured the No. Antetokounmpo will be eligible for Game 1 of the Bucks first-round series against Brooklyn, which will almost certainly be played Monday or Tuesday at Walt Disney World. The incident happened Tuesday night, when Wagner took a charge against Antetokounmpo in the second quarter. Antetokounmpo appeared to be speaking angrily, followed Wagner to the other end and the headbutt took place a few seconds later.
Vucevic, Fournier help Magic hold off Wizards, 125-121
ORLANDO – Nikola Vucevic had 30 points and 17 rebounds and Evan Fournier added 25 points and nine assists to help the Orlando Magic hold off the Washington Wizards 125-121 on Sunday night. Washington made 10 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t overcome a slow start and trailed the entire game. Orlando had to hold off a frantic finish by Washington that saw the Wizards rally from an 18-point fourth quarter deficits. The Magic led 95-77 early in the fourth quarter, but stopped guarding the perimeter and Washington got back in the game. Vucevic added 15 points and eight rebounds.