Klay Thompson made his highly anticipated return to the Bay Area on Tuesday night, facing the Golden State Warriors for the first time since leaving the team. Despite delivering his strongest performance of the season with 22 points, including 6-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, Thompson's efforts weren’t enough to secure a win for the Dallas Mavericks in their NBA Cup opener.
In a thrilling finish, Stephen Curry led the Warriors on a solo 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter, pushing them to a 120-117 victory. Curry’s explosive performance ignited the Chase Center crowd, who celebrated the dramatic comeback. Thompson, warmly welcomed by fans upon arrival and throughout the game, contributed four rebounds and three assists in addition to his scoring.
Erik Spoelstra, one of the NBA’s most respected and well-compensated head coaches, is known for his disciplined approach and ability to maximize player potential. However, even a seasoned coach like Spoelstra can make critical errors.
On Tuesday, in a span of just two seconds, Spoelstra made a series of costly mistakes as his Miami Heat surrendered a lead against the Detroit Pistons with only 1.8 seconds left in overtime. Holding a 121-119 advantage after a Detroit timeout, the Heat nearly resumed play with six players on the court, setting off a chaotic sequence that ultimately cost them the game.
Joel Embiid made his season debut Tuesday but showed signs of rust as the Philadelphia 76ers fell 111-99 to the New York Knicks in NBA Cup play. Embiid struggled with his shooting, going 2-of-11 from the field, and appeared out of game shape after a nine-game absence.
In his 26 minutes on the court, Embiid recorded 13 points, three rebounds, five assists, and a block, with eight of his points coming from the free-throw line. His absence had been due to "left knee management" for the first six games, followed by a three-game suspension for an altercation with a reporter.
For over 39 minutes, Cooper Flagg, the nation's top teenage basketball prospect, showcased why he drew dozens of NBA scouts to Atlanta. However, in the closing 20 seconds of Duke's 77-72 loss to Kentucky, the 17-year-old's inexperience showed.
With Duke's nine-point lead erased and the game tied, Flagg seized the moment, driving against 6-foot-11 Andrew Sarr and setting up for a mid-range jumper. But for one of the first times that night, he faltered. Flagg didn’t see Kentucky’s Otega Oweh sneaking over, allowing Oweh to swipe the ball, sprint downcourt, and draw a foul on a go-ahead layup attempt.
St. John's is back in the national spotlight with a ranking for the first time in nearly six years. It’s also a significant milestone for Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, who hasn’t coached a team ranked in the Associated Press men’s college basketball poll since his days at Louisville. This week, the 22nd-ranked Red Storm re-enter the poll, with Pitino now at the helm of a ranked team once again. Their first game as a ranked team is at home on Wednesday against Wagner, followed by a Sunday matchup at Madison Square Garden against New Mexico, coached by Pitino’s son, Richard.
For most of the game, the Kansas Jayhawks played uncharacteristically sloppy basketball, taking poor shots and allowing Michigan State crucial rebounds. Head coach Bill Self even warned his team during a timeout that they hadn’t shown up for the second half. Despite these struggles, No. 1 Kansas managed a late surge, securing a 77-69 victory over Michigan State in the Champions Classic at State Farm Arena.
The win marked a historic moment as Self surpassed Phog Allen with 591 victories, the most in Kansas history. Hunter Dickinson led with 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Dajuan Harris added 11 points, and Zeke Mayo contributed 10 rebounds and seven assists. Kansas held a 30-24 halftime lead despite shooting just 36.1% from the field, only pulling away in the final minutes as Michigan State never got closer than five points in the closing stretch.
After opening the season with a 3-0 record, coach Kristy Curry and the Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team climbed three spots to No. 22 in the latest USA TODAY Sports women's basketball coaches poll. Alabama is now positioned between No. 21 Ole Miss and No. 23 Stanford. The Crimson Tide secured decisive victories over New Orleans, Alabama A&M, and Troy, including a dominant 115-53 win in their home opener at Coleman Coliseum.
Leading the team, Zaay Green scored 24 points in Alabama’s recent win against Troy, with fellow seniors Aaliyah Nye and Sarah Ashlee Barker also averaging double digits this season. This strong start marks the second consecutive season Alabama has won its first three games. Last year, they started 6-0, ultimately reaching the NCAA Tournament and earning a victory over Florida State before falling to Texas in the second round. Alabama, ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time since 1998, will host Norfolk State Wednesday night at Coleman Coliseum, with a 6 p.m. tipoff on SEC Network+.
JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, and MiLaysia Fulwiley made waves as standout freshmen in 2023, but this season brings a fresh batch of impact players in women's college basketball. Leading the list is Sarah Strong at UConn, the top recruit who’s proving worthy of the hype. Coach Geno Auriemma praised Strong’s readiness as she averages 15 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3.5 assists per game. At Ohio State, Jaloni Cambridge had a remarkable debut, scoring 31 points, six rebounds, six assists, and five steals against Cleveland State, showcasing her efficiency with a 12-of-14 shooting performance.
Syla Swords from Michigan nearly led an upset against No. 1 South Carolina, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Kennedy Smith of USC fit seamlessly with her veteran teammates, contributing 12 points and seven rebounds in a hard-fought game against Ole Miss. Mikayla Blakes has emerged as Vanderbilt's scoring leader, averaging 19.5 points per game while shooting impressively from the field. Her performances have already lifted Vanderbilt into consideration for the AP poll, showing she’s ready for SEC play.
Toby Fournier at Duke, known for her athleticism and dunking potential, is off to a strong start, averaging 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. Liv McGill of Florida has become a key playmaker, averaging 18.7 points and 6.7 assists, while Tajianna Roberts at Louisville has shown fearlessness, scoring 21 points against UCLA and leading the team with 15 points per game. Each of these freshmen is poised to make significant contributions to their teams this season.