Basketball

Chicago Bulls (12-15, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (21-5, second in the Eastern Conference) Boston; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Celtics -14.5; over/under is 245.

Denver Nuggets (14-10, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (8-18, 13th in the Western Conference) Portland, Oregon; Thursday, 10 p.m.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tuesday night's championship between Milwaukee and Oklahoma City didn't quite have the intensity of a playoff game, but the high energy that has typified the second version of the NBA Cup was ratcheted up.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Everyone has a lucky number in Las Vegas. For the Milwaukee Bucks, it was 3. And the NBA Cup was their prize.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NBA Cup finalists had different styles in how they play. And how they spend.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — ESPN has announced that 91-year-old Hubie Brown will call the final game of his broadcasting career on Feb. 9. It'll be a full-circle moment for Brown.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NBA 's All-Star Game is going to be an All-Star tournament this season, with the league announcing on Tuesday that it has finalized plans to use a different format for the upcoming midseason showcase in San Francisco.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton was ruled out of Tuesday night's NBA Cup final against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of illness. Middleton didn't practice on Monday, and the Bucks felt he wasn't ready to play a day later.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Dennis Schroder's young son Dennis Jr. quickly lightened the mood and the shock of another NBA trade for his well-traveled father. The delighted boy found out they were going to Golden State, and he already has a No.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard is the reigning NBA All-Star Game MVP, after scoring 39 points last February in the highest-scoring game the league has ever seen. East 211, West 186. It rewrote the record book.