Basketball

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Pelicans coach Willie Green sounds gratified by the way his surging New Orleans squad seems to be building chemistry and momentum.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid declined at first to wear a “ Big Energy ” chain before he reluctantly agreed to slip on the gaudy necklace and flexed his muscles for a quick photo at his locker. “The Process” was back — and so were the 76ers.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine could return to the lineup as early as Friday's game against Charlotte if there are no setbacks in his recovery from a sore right foot. LaVine has not played since Nov.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A prosecutor said Tuesday that separate murder, kidnapping and conspiracy cases will be combined so a former NBA developmental league player and his ex-girlfriend can be tried together in the killing of a woman whose body was found l

Big games have become routine for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

TORONTO — RJ Barrett's face dropped when he realized he was going to be headed back out on the road.

When the Boston Celtics were winning championships with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in the 1980s, they were notoriously tough to beat at home. The old Boston Garden could be oppressively hot, and a rowdy home crowd added another obstacle.

HOUSTON (AP) — Two nights after their NBA record-tying 28-game losing streak ended, the Detroit Pistons were blown out 136-113 on Monday night by the Houston Rockets, who got 26 points and nine assists from Alperen Sengun and 22 points from Jalen Gre

Portland Trail Blazers (9-23, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-15, seventh in the Western Conference) Dallas; Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.

Detroit Pistons (3-30, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (15-19, 12th in the Western Conference) Salt Lake City; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Detroit hits the road against Utah looking to break its 15-game road losing streak.