Basketball

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer says Khris Middleton practiced fully Thursday as the three-time All-Star works his way back from a sore right knee and prepares for the playoffs.

TORONTO — Nick Nurse has made it clear: he wants to stay in Toronto.

NEW YORK (AP) — When the Brooklyn Nets traded Kyrie Irving and then Kevin Durant, the drama that had engulfed the team went with them — along with any realistic title hopes for this season. Not that all hope is lost.

MIAMI (AP) — It was October 19, the night the season started for most NBA teams. Chicago went to Miami, Oklahoma City went to Minnesota. Nearly six months later, here they are again: Chicago at Miami, Oklahoma City at Minnesota.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exercised patience during his lowest-scoring first half all season, routinely deferring to teammates such as Lu Dort and Josh Giddey in an effort to keep New Orleans defenders off balance in a winner-take-al

Chicago Bulls (40-42, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference) Miami; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Heat -5.5; over/under is 209.

Oklahoma City Thunder (40-42, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (42-40, eighth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Timberwolves -4.5; over/under is 231.

TORONTO (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 39 points, DeMar DeRozan had 23 against his former team and the Chicago Bulls overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-105 in a play-in tournament game Wednesday night.

TORONTO — Inconsistency plagued the Toronto Raptors all season and it undid them again with their post-season hopes on the line.

TORONTO (AP) — Diar DeRozan wanted to skip a day of school. Her father grudgingly went along with the plan. Turns out, the decision was worth shouting about.