Basketball

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Brunson heard “MVP!” chants each time the New York Knicks All-Star stepped to the free-throw line. The former Villanova All-American signed dozens of autographs before the game — many for fans wearing his old college jersey.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton had 25 points and 13 assists to help the Indiana Pacers beat the NBA-worst Detroit Pistons 129-115 on Thursday night.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is sitting out against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night with a left ankle injury. Coach Darvin Ham called it a “day-to-day thing.

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr. scored 25 points and the Toronto Raptors beat Brooklyn 121-93 on Thursday night, spoiling the debut of interim Nets coach Kevin Ollie.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell sat out Cleveland's first game back from the break Thursday night against Orlando with an unspecified illness. Mitchell, the NBA's fourth-leading scorer at 28.

MIAMI (AP) — Delon Wright has been on the Miami Heat practice court countless times. He used to play there for hours alongside the likes of Tim Hardaway Jr., Gary Payton II and Trey Mourning while their fathers were downstairs in actual Heat games.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks are preparing to be without center Onyeka Okongwu for an indefinite period of time, leaving the team with serious front-line depth issues as it returns from the All-Star break.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Doc Rivers’ arrival was supposed to ensure the Milwaukee Bucks would develop into one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams by the postseason. But they sure haven't looked like contenders so far.

Milwaukee Bucks (35-21, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (39-16, first in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Friday, 10 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have signed veteran forward Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari, 35, has averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 14.8 minutes in 32 combined games with the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons this season.