Basketball

CHICAGO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama got to take slap shots and trade signed jerseys with the Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard , a memorable meeting between the No. 1 draft picks in the NBA and NHL on Thursday.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren gave Oklahoma City the lead for good with a dunk he threw off the backboard to himself , and the Thunder beat the Clippers 134-115 on Thursday night, ending Los Angeles' nin

CLEVELAND (AP) — Trey Murphy III scored 28 points while starting in place of New Orleans star Zion Williamson — out with an illness — and the Pelicans pulled away in the second half to beat the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers 123-104 on Thursday nigh

DETROIT (AP) — Kelly Olynyk scored 25 points and the short-handed Utah Jazz beat Detroit 119-111 on Thursday night for the Pistons' 25th straight loss — one short of the NBA single season record.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Two-time All-Star Ja Morant had a chance Thursday night to try to top a “perfect ending.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — LeBron James sat out the Los Angeles Lakers ' game Thursday night against Minnesota to rest his left ankle on the second night of back-to-back games.

CLEVELAND (AP) — New Orleans star forward Zion Williamson sat out Thursday night against Cleveland because an unspecified illness as the Pelicans deal with a flu bug.

Los Angeles Clippers (17-10, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-8, second in the Western Conference) Oklahoma City; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Thunder -4.

Denver Nuggets (19-10, third in the Western Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (13-14, ninth in the Eastern Conference) New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Hawks (12-15, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (16-12, seventh in the Eastern Conference) Miami; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat host Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.