Basketball

The NCAA has taken a seat on the bench in the political game. The organization that governs college athletics was once at the forefront of hot-button issues such as the Confederate flag and transgender rights.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — P.J. Washington scored 22 of his career-high 43 points in the fourth quarter, and the Charlotte Hornets rallied to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 137-134 on Tuesday night for their third straight win.

TORONTO — The Miami Heat's defence kept opening up for Scottie Barnes, either for an incisive pass or a scoring opportunity, and he took full advantage.

ATLANTA (AP) — Dejounte Murray and Trae Young displayed what Atlanta coach Quin Snyder called a “connectivity” in the backcourt against the Cleveland Cavaliers that could be important for the Hawks' postseason hopes.

TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 26 points, Scottie Barnes had 22 points and a career-high 12 assists and the Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat 106-92 on Tuesday night. O.G.

NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Simmons won't play again this season because of a nerve injury in his back, ending his disappointing first full season with the Brooklyn Nets after just 42 games.

They're refining skills of young prospects at the NBA Academy in Africa. The vocabulary, too. “There is a word that really we don't like, which is ‘raw,'" said Franck Traore, head of basketball operations for NBA Africa.

The Springfield Symphony Hall lists a capacity of 2,611. This is going to be a problem when the basketball world heads to western Massachusetts on Aug. 12.

Houston Rockets (18-58, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (40-35, sixth in the Eastern Conference) New York; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas Mavericks (37-39, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (49-26, third in the Eastern Conference) Philadelphia; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.