Naomi Osaka wins her 1st match of new season in a return from injury

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a winning return to the court after an almost three month absence Monday in the first round of the ASB tennis classic in Auckland, undeterred by protests outside the stadium against her Israeli opponent.

Osaka beat qualifier Lina Glushko 6-4, 6-4 in a tight contest in her first match since October when a back injury at the China Open ended her 2024 season.

All the hallmarks of Osaka's game were present Monday: the powerful serve, forceful ground-strokes particularly from the forehand side and the aggression. She looked relaxed and comfortable on court with no sign of her recent injury.

Osaka had to deal with a swirling wind on center court and with delays in play caused by the chants of a small group of protesters which were clearly audible within the stadium. There was a longer break as Osaka was poised to serve out the first set when Glushko had to leave the court for treatment to a hip injury.

"I just heard a lot of shouting, and then people on the sidelines were telling me there was protests,” Osaka said.

“I had no idea what the score was most of the time. "I just kept trying to tell myself one point at a time and trying not to get discouraged.

“Thankfully it came out in my favor in the end.”

Osaka was supported at courtside by her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou who previously had a long-term association with Serena Williams.

She broke Glushko in the third game of the first set and held comfortably to win 6-4.

The second set was tighter. Osaka broke Glushko in the third game but Glushko converted her only break point of the match to level at 2-2.

Glushko held to love in the seventh game to lead 4-3 but Osaka seemed to step up at that point, held with two aces for 4-4, broke for 5-4 and held serve to love to clinch the win.

Her serve was solid throughout. She sent down seven aces and won 74 percent of first serve points. Her first serve averaged around 180kmh (111mph) and her slice around 140kmh (87mph).

“I think she's a really amazing opponent. I've never played her before,” Osaka said. “It was good to have to scrap a little for the first round.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Namoi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Lina Glushko of Israel during a women's singles match at the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

Lina Glushko of Israel plays a shot against Naomi Osaka of Japan during a women's singles match at the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

Lina Glushko of Israel serves against Naomi Osaka of Japan during a women's singles match at the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

Namoi Osaka, of Japan, celebrates her win against Lina Glushko, of Israel, during a women's singles match at the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

Namoi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Lina Glushko of Israel during a women's singles match at the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

Namoi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Lina Glushko of Israel during a women's singles match at the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

Namoi Osaka of Japan serves against Lina Glushko of Israel during a women's singles match at the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, Desmond Bane added 25 and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday night.

Jalen Suggs had 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins scored 18 points apiece for Detroit. Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green added 17 each for the Pistons, who had 21 turnovers.

KNICKS 108, HAWKS 105

ATLANTA (AP) — CJ McCollum’s half-court shot at the buzzer was ruled no good after a review and New York held off Atlanta.

Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to give New York a three-point lead. McCollum took an inbounds pass near the free-throw line and took two dribbles before launching a shot that banked in. But replays showed the ball was still in his hands as time expired.

It was the Hawks’ first home loss since early February and put an end to Atlanta’s 13-game home win streak.

Brunson led New York with 30 points and 13 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. MVP chants erupted in State Farm Arena as a 17-point fourth quarter from Brunson carried New York to its 51st win of the season.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 36 points, 20 coming in the first half to help Atlanta to a 57-53 lead at halftime.

CAVALIERS 142, GRIZZLIES 126

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists, and Cleveland beat Memphis despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers.

Cleveland (50-29) reached 50 wins for the second straight season and 14th overall.

Memphis (25-54) shot 29 for 59 (49%) from behind the arc with all nine Grizzlies making a 3-pointer. Memphis’s franchise record for 3-point shooting matched the NBA mark of 29 shared by the Milwaukee Bucks (versus Miami on Dec. 29, 2020) and the Boston Celtics (versus the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024). Adama Bal broke Memphis’ franchise record on the 28th make with 3:25 left and he added another at 1:41.

SPURS 115, 76ERS 102

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stephon Castle had 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and San Antonio held on to beat Philadelphia after Victor Wembanyama left in the first half due to a left rib contusion.

Wembanyama’s status for the final week of the regular season is unknown.

San Antonio (60-19) is is 2 1/2 games behind Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City (62-16) and assured of finishing no worse than second in the conference.

Philadelphia lost its second straight as it battles to stay out of the play-in tournament. The 76ers (43-36) are a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 points.

NUGGETS 137, TRAIL BLAZERS 132, OT

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, and Denver rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Portland in overtime.

Denver (51-28) moved into third place in the Western Conference with its season-high ninth straight win. Jokic recorded his 33rd triple-double and Jamal Murray scored seven of his 20 points in overtime to move the Nuggets a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (50-28).

Portland (40-39) had its three-game winning streak snapped and dropped into ninth in the West, a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, makes a move to get around Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)