BASKETTBALL

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The New York Liberty have reached one-year agreements with free agent Rebecca Allen and undrafted rookie Pauline Astier, a source confirmed to ESPN on Monday.

Both players are expected to provide depth off the bench as the Liberty aim to secure a second WNBA championship within a three-year span. Their additions strengthen a roster that continues to build around a core of established stars and experienced contributors.

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The Orlando Magic kept up their bid for an automatic playoff berth with an 123-107 upset over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Monday.

Paul Reed and Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, and Desmond Bane added 25 as six Orlando players finished in double figures to overpower a Detroit side still missing the injured Cade Cunningham.

Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins led the Detroit scoring with 18 points apiece, but the Pistons, who have already clinched the top seeding from the East, were shut down by the Orlando defense.

“Everything with our team starts on the defensive end,” Bane said. “When we get stops, we get out in transition.

“The way we’ve been sharing the ball – a lot of different guys contributing up and down the roster.”

Orlando’s victory left them tied with the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers – all three teams are on 43-36 with four games of the regular season remaining.

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The Denver Nuggets, fueled by 23 first-half points from Nikola Jokic, beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-118 on Sunday, notching their 12th straight victory to clinch the Western Conference third seed on the last day of the NBA regular season.

On a day when coaches rested dozens of players in preparation for the looming playoffs, three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic had to play at least 15 minutes to be eligible for end of season awards, including MVP.

The Serbian big man played just over 18, propelling the Nuggets to a 70-56 halftime lead that they wouldn't relinquish against a Spurs team whose own MVP contender Victor Wembanyama sat out with a rib injury.

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Michigan defeated Uconn 69-63 on Monday to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship for just the second time ever in program history!

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Cooper Flagg's spectacular rookie NBA season ended in injury Sunday as he left the court with an ankle sprain during the Dallas Mavericks' win against the Chicago Bulls.

The 19-year-old forward who was the top pick in last year's NBA Draft departed during the second quarter of the Mavericks' final game, having played less than 10 minutes and scored 10 points.

"Cooper Flagg (left ankle sprain) will not return to tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls," said the Mavericks' social media account.

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North Carolina are set to hire long-time NBA head coach Michael Malone to fill the same role after the team fired Hubert Davis nearly two weeks ago.

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Sophie Cunningham has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Indiana Fever, the team announced Sunday, keeping a key contributor in place following last season's playoff run.

Cunningham is among several players rejoining Indiana after helping the team reach the semifinals. Guards Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull are also returning, providing continuity as the Fever look to build on their recent progress.

The roster already includes young standouts Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, both of whom remain under contract. Indiana has also strengthened its lineup through free agency by adding Monique Billings and Ty Harris.

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Angel Reese is heading to a new home, and the timing hardly feels accidental.

The Angel Reese era with the Chicago Sky came to a sudden end Monday morning after the team agreed to send the 23-year-old forward to the Atlanta Dream in a deal that signals a broader organizational reset.

Chicago will receive first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, while Atlanta acquires Reese along with a future second-round pick swap.

The move arrives months after Reese publicly hinted at uncertainty about her long-term future, suggesting she could "go in a different direction" if the franchise failed to meet expectations. Those comments followed a difficult 10-34 season that exposed deeper roster and identity concerns.