3:02 AM ET The LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns have played twice this season, and there have been contentious moments resulting in technical fouls, flagrant fouls, ejections and plenty of “chirping.” After Paul George scored 33 points to help the Clippers take a 113-103 win over the Suns at Staples Center in a game that

8:52 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — Dr. Benjamin Paolucci, a longtime team physician for the Detroit Pistons who was with the franchise for each of its three NBA championships, has died. He was 84. The Pistons said Paolucci died Wednesday in Florida. Paolucci retired from the organization in 2015 after serving the Pistons’ medical

10:32 AM ET Center Khem Birch is finalizing a contract buyout with the Orlando Magic and plans to sign with the Toronto Raptors upon clearing waivers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday. The 28-year-old Birch, a native of Montreal, is averaging 5.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.8 minutes per game for

1:19 AM ET Marc Gasol might have just turned in his best effort since joining the Los Angeles Lakers in Tuesday’s 110-101 win over the Toronto Raptors, but L.A. coach Frank Vogel remained resolute: Andre Drummond is the team’s starting center. “No, we’re going to start Andre. That’s what we signed him here for,” Vogel

11:34 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The 3-pointers just kept coming for the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter Tuesday night against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans. And as the Hawks kept launching, the shots kept falling. When it was all said and done, Atlanta had hoisted 11 3-point attempts and hit every one, setting a

3:25 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers signed shooting guard Ben McLemore to fill their final open roster spot, the team announced on Tuesday night. The eight-year veteran was released by the Houston Rockets over the weekend, becoming a free agent. McLemore will be another candidate to provide 3-point shooting on the Lakers’ wing. The

2:42 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Less than a minute into his first game as a member of the LA Clippers, DeMarcus Cousins maneuvered his way around Enes Kanter, tapped an offensive rebound to himself and scored on a putback right in front of a delighted Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Making his debut for the

10:55 AM ET Arizona State freshman Marcus Bagley will declare for the 2021 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Tuesday. “I’m excited about the opportunity to inform the NBA of my intentions and preparing for the draft,” Bagley told ESPN. “There’s so much about my game that I believe the basketball world hasn’t seen.” Bagley

10:42 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors remain confident that center James Wiseman will find his rhythm during the final stretch of the regular season despite an up-and-down rookie campaign, but head coach Steve Kerr says the team can’t “force the issue.” The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft is

6:05 PM ET The Minnesota Timberwolves say guard Malik Beasley will miss four to six weeks with a left hamstring injury. Beasley missed the team’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday due to the injury. An MRI on Monday revealed a Grade 3 injury. He will be reassessed in three weeks, per the team.