Basketball

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers starting center Jarrett Allen did not practice as he continues to be slowed by a painful rib injury that could keep him out of Friday night's critical Game 6 in Orlando.

PARIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama will return to Paris, he hopes as an Olympic champion, when the San Antonio Spurs face the Indiana Pacers in two regular-season NBA games early next year. The NBA announced Thursday that the teams will play on Jan.

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics ran away from the rest of the NBA in the regular season. So far, the playoffs have been more of the same.

Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (47-35, fifth in the Eastern Conference) Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Magic -3.

Los Angeles Clippers (51-31, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (50-32, fifth in the Western Conference) Dallas; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Mavericks -7.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic is playing on a sprained right knee that would probably sideline him in the regular season.

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown and Derrick White each scored 25 points and the Boston Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, beating the short-handed Miami Heat 118-84 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

BOSTON (AP) — If this playoff run is about redemption for the Boston Celtics, it had to start with exacting some revenge against the Miami Heat. A year ago, Miami embarrassed Boston in a Game 7 showdown at TD Garden.

PHOENIX (AP) — Mat Ishbia knows the offseason chatter around the Phoenix Suns is it's a team with a top-heavy roster, salary cap issues and precious little room to maneuver after a disappointing season . The second-year owner doesn't believe it.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks understand the stakes.