OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Nikola Topic made his NBA debut Thursday night for the Oklahoma City Thunder and scored his first points after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.
The Serbian guard was the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He missed all of last season with a knee injury he suffered before the draft and all of this season after receiving a cancer diagnosis during the preseason. He had a procedure in October, then underwent chemotherapy and worked his way back into shape.
He entered Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks late in the first quarter and received a loud ovation. He scored his only points on a jumper from near the free-throw line early in the second quarter. He finished with two points, one rebound and one assist in a 110-93 loss.
Topic had seven points and seven assists in 16 minutes for the Thunder's G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, in a 137-135 overtime victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Monday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
FILE - Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic, left, drives the ball upcourt against Charlotte Hornets forward Liam McNeeley, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball preseason game in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mic Smith, File)
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss Friday and elected to field against Pakistan in the second one-day cricket international.
Bangladesh leads the three-match after fast bowler Nahid Rana skittled Pakistan for 114 with a career-best figures of 5-24 in a resounding eight-wicket win on Wednesday.
While Bangladesh retained the same playing XI, Pakistan made one change.
Pakistan gave another chance to its inexperienced batters despite Sahibzada Farhan, Shamyl Hussain, Maaz Sadaqat and Abdul Samad, who were all on ODI debut in the first game, struggling to cope with the pace of Rana and off-spin of Mehidy.
Pakistan recalled fast bowler Haris Rauf in place of leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in a hope the wicket will suit the fast bowlers more.
Lineups:
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.
Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Bangladesh's Litton Das, centre, appeals successfully for the wicket of Pakistan's Hussain Talat during the first one day international cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Mirpur, Bangladesh, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
