Basketball

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard isn’t sure exactly when he will be playing again. He’s just grateful that moment will come sooner than anyone could have reasonably expected.

DENVER (AP) — Many in the NBA world wrote off Denver as a championship contender after Nuggets boss Josh Kroenke fired his head coach and general manager with just three games remaining in the regular season.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton senses this year's NBA playoffs will be different.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York beating Detroit had become something of an NBA certainty, with the Knicks doing it 16 straight times over a span of five years.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Lakers often attract large betting interest anyway, but the controversial midseason trade that landed Luka Doncic from Dallas has people emptying their bank accounts to put money on Los Angeles.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard is fresh in mind and body this year, no longer relegated to watching from the sideline when the Los Angeles Clippers begin the postseason.

Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (50-32, third in the Western Conference) Los Angeles; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lakers -4; over/under is 216.

Detroit Pistons (44-38, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (51-31, third in the Eastern Conference) New York; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Knicks -7; over/under is 220.

Milwaukee Bucks (48-34, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (50-32, fourth in the Eastern Conference) Indianapolis; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pacers -5.5; over/under is 224.

Miami Heat (37-45, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (40-42, eighth in the Eastern Conference) Atlanta; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Heat -1; over/under is 219.