Basketball

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ben Simmons shrugged off the boos that rose out of the Philly crowd each time the mercurial guard handled the ball.

NBA referee Bill Kennedy, who came out as gay in 2015, spoke out in an emotional video Tuesday in response to the weekend shooting that killed five and left 17 others with gunshot wounds at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

MIAMI (AP) — Miami-Dade County has asked a federal bankruptcy court for immediate permission to end its naming rights deal with FTX and strip that brand off the arena where the NBA's Miami Heat play.

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics entered the season with a built-in reason to underachieve.

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes is out day-to-day with a left knee sprain and is questionable for the team's game Wednesday against the visiting Brooklyn Nets.

Miami Heat President Pat Riley has a longstanding belief: After 20 games, a team knows its identity. He’s right. And after 20 games, title contenders are usually known as well. Think of this as the end of the season’s first quarter.

Saint Francis (BKN) Terriers (2-2) at Miami Hurricanes (4-1) Coral Gables, Florida; Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Miami hosts the Saint Francis (BKN) Terriers after Isaiah Wong scored 22 points in Miami's 88-70 loss to the Maryland Terrapins.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With Kawhi Leonard still working his way back and Paul George sidelined, the Los Angeles Clippers need the rest of the roster to pick up the slack.

New York Knicks (8-9, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (7-9, 12th in the Western Conference) Oklahoma City; Monday, 8 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Thunder -2.5; over/under is 230.

Washington Wizards (10-7, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (7-11, 12th in the Eastern Conference) Miami; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Miami enters the matchup against Washington as losers of four straight games.