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The arrival of Victor Wembanyama to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft was reminiscent of Zion Williamson’s arrival with the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 draft. Both players were considered rare prospects, and their entrance into the NBA was greeted with exceptional anticipation. The two former No. 1 overall picks are scheduled to face each other for the first time when the Spurs visit the Pelicans on Friday night. Both teams

The Toronto Raptors aim to build on an impressive win over the surging Phoenix Suns when they continue their three-game homestand Friday night against the New York Knicks. The Raptors ended the Suns’ seven-game winning streak Wednesday night with a 112-105 victory after Toronto took a 115-103 loss against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday in New York. “This is a group of people … they don’t quit,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “They want to

The Phoenix Suns may be without star guard Devin Booker when they attempt to take down the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Booker sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of Wednesday’s 112-105 road loss against the Toronto Raptors. He went back into the contest after the injury and was visibly limited. He scored a season-low eight points on 2-of-12 shooting in 33 minutes. Booker indicated afterward that he might not

Coming off their worst performance of the season, the Ottawa Senators will look for more discipline and more goals when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday. Monday’s 5-0 home loss to the Florida Panthers saw the Senators muster just 20 shots en route to being shut out for the first time this season. Tensions rose as the game increasingly got out of hand, resulting in a third-period fracas that saw all 10 players

The Anaheim Ducks will try to snap a seven-game losing streak when they open a two-game homestand Thursday night against the Washington Capitals. The Ducks flew out of the gate with an impressive 9-6-0 start this season before losing 8-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 15 in Denver. That kicked off the seven-game skid that is the longest active losing streak in the NHL. Anaheim has played without star center Trevor Zegras and defenseman

For the first time in two years, BYU is ranked in The Associated Press Top 25. That may come as a surprise to some. After all, the No. 19 Cougars are off to a 6-0 start despite being picked to finish second-to-last in the Big 12 while returning most of the team that finished a disappointing 19-15 in 2022-23. Forward Noah Waterman, among the Cougars’ pleasant surprises, said the players’ confidence in themselves and in

No. 1 Purdue stormed through the early part of its nonconference schedule without a setback. Now, the Boilermakers will bring an unblemished record into their Big Ten conference opener. Purdue (7-0) will tip off conference play when it visits Northwestern (5-1) on Friday night in Evanston, Ill. The Boilermakers are coming off a 99-67 win over Texas Southern and already have knocked off three ranked teams in Gonzaga (then-No. 11), Tennessee (No. 7) and Marquette

Sixth-ranked Houston takes its unbeaten record into opposing territory for the first time this season when it visits Xavier on Friday night in Cincinnati. The Cougars (7-0) have played five games on campus while also winning both contests on a neutral court, capturing the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C. Houston is coming off a 79-44 blowout win over Montana last Friday, as L.J. Cryer had 24 points and Jamal Shead added 13 points

UConn is the defending national champion, yet the Huskies have a major chip on their shoulders. No. 4 UConn doesn’t feel it is receiving the proper respect for its accomplishments as it enters a heavyweight battle against No. 5 Kansas on Friday night at Lawrence, Kan. UConn (7-0) will have a chance to make a major statement inside Phog Allen Fieldhouse. “When you take the court, our team deserves the respect from everyone on the

Luka Doncic will try to continue his torrid play on Friday night when the Dallas Mavericks host the Memphis Grizzlies. Doncic collected 41 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the Mavericks’ 121-115 win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. The four-time All-Star highlighted that performance with a desperation running hook shot with 1:03 left that gave Dallas a 115-108 lead. Tuesday’s effort came while Doncic sported a wrap on his left thumb to protect