washingtontimes.com / .washingtontimes-com-sports-basketball / Page 6

De'Aaron Fox scored 29 points, and the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102 on Thursday for their third win over the defending NBA champs in the past two weeks.

Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, reserve Jordan Clarkson had 25 and the New York Knicks came from 17 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124 on Thursday and win on Christmas Day for the third straight year.

James Nnaji, the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, is going back to school. NCAA officials cleared the 21-year-old to play for Baylor this season, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.

Keldon Johnson had 25 points, Stephon Castle added 24 and the San Antonio Spurs stormed past Oklahoma City 130-110 on Tuesday night, winning their seventh straight game and beating the Thunder for the second time in 11 days.

Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points and James Harden added 29 as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Houston Rockets 128-108 on Tuesday night.

Cooper Flagg had 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Anthony Davis had 31 points and nine rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Denver Nuggets 131-130 on Tuesday night.

Labor woes are threatening the WNBA's explosive growth. Despite surging ratings and a juicy new broadcast deal, the league's players' association has authorized a strike amid stalled negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Warriors forward Draymond Green had a heated exchange with coach Steve Kerr in the huddle during a third-quarter timeout Monday night and then went to the locker room on his own to cool down.

Stephen Curry roared back from a rough first half to score 18 of his 26 points after intermission, Jimmy Butler had 21 points and the Golden State Warriors ran away from the Orlando Magic in the second half for a 120-97 win Monday night.

The NBA and FIBA said Monday they will start the process of engaging with teams and owners about joining their planned new league in Europe next month.