BASKETTBALL

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Philadelphia's Joel Embiid (30) was ejected after confronting a female referee in the 76ers' 111-106 victory over San Antonio in a wild Monday of NBA action. An expected big-man showdown between Cameroonian Embiid and France's Victor Wembanyama ended late in the first half, leaving Tyrese Maxey to produce 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in sparking the win. "It's big time," Maxey said of getting the win for Embiid. "We're learning to play without him... We've got to change the game, come a little faster, play a little harder and gain rebounds."

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The NBA All-Star Game will feature a new mini-tournament format in 2025 with Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith drafting all-star squads to join the Rising Stars game winner. The NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced the change, which followed criticism about the lack of intensity by players in the mid-season exhibition contest in recent years.

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The NBA Cup came to an end in midweek with a heavyweight final, Milwaukee Bucks vs Oklahoma City Thunder, but in the end it was a game of defences with no team exceeding 100 points - something that has 'only' happened 12 times since the start of the regular season. But OKC, with their dreadful 5/32 record from three-pointers, were never going to be able to fight off a team that had been hungry for a trophy since they were crowned champions in 2021.

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Iowa State and basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger (47) have agreed to a new contract that will extend him through June 30, 2032. Iowa State basketball was 2-22 before Otzelberger took the head coaching job in 2022 and turned it into a premiere program.

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Injuries will sideline Atlanta Hawks guard Kobe Bufkin for the remainder of the NBA season and centre Onyeka Okongwu for at least a week, the team announced on Wednesday. Bufkin will undergo right shoulder surgery on January 7 while Okongwu will sit out with an inflamed left knee for a week before being reevaluated, missing four games.

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The NBA forward, who was reluctant to take time off to treat a foot injury, returned to action on December 15 to help the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 116-110 after missing two games in eight days.

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Joel Embiid's tough season took another turn for the worse on Friday as Philadelphia's star centre exited early in the 76ers' 121-107 NBA loss to Indiana after being struck in the face. The Cameroon-born big man, who won Olympic gold with the United States in Paris this year, was fighting for a rebound under the Pacers' basket when he was inadvertently elbowed.