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DALLAS (AP) — Jalen Green had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Alperen Sengun added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets held off a fourth-quarter Dallas rally to beat the Mavericks 108-102 on Thursday night.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant had 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds and helped the Memphis Grizzlies build a 31-point second-half cushion and beat the Milwaukee Bucks 122-99 on Thursday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has a torn right oblique, the team said Thursday night after he had further testing in Cleveland.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah forward Lauri Markkanen sat out the Jazz's game Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs because of lower back spasms. Markkanen is averaging a team-high 18.0 points along with 7.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball isn’t afraid of anything when he steps on the basketball floor. But the Charlotte Hornets point guard apparently still gets a little spooked by clowns.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chet Holmgren gets tired of addressing what he considers a manufactured rivalry with Victor Wembanyama, but he understands the hype. Wembanyama is 7-foot-3, and Holmgren is 7-foot-1.

Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0, first in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (1-3, 11th in the Western Conference) Portland, Oregon; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City faces Portland in Western Conference action Friday.

Chicago Bulls (3-2, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (2-3, 10th in the Eastern Conference) New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Chicago plays Brooklyn in Eastern Conference action Friday.

Denver Nuggets (2-2, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2, seventh in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes Minnesota and Denver square off.