Maverick Carter, LeBron James’ business partner, told federal investigators he bet on NBA games through an illegal bookie, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Carter made his remarks during an interview as part of an investigation of bookie Wayne Nix, according to the Post’s report. It said that Carter could not remember placing any bets on the Lakers, the team James has played for since 2018.

Carter and James, the NBA’s career scoring leader, are friends from Akron, Ohio, who together own SpringHill Company, an entertainment and production company.

The Post reported that Carter told investigators he placed approximately 20 bets on football and basketball games over the course of a year, with each bet ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

A spokesman for Carter and James confirmed the interview occurred in 2021.

“Mr. Carter was not the target of the investigation, cooperated, was never charged, and never contacted again on the matter,” spokesman Adam Mendelsohn said in a statement provided to the newspaper.

BULLS: Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan missed the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday because of injuries.

LaVine was ruled out because of a sore right foot. DeRozan, who was a game-time decision, sat out with a sprained left ankle, leaving the Bulls without their two best players.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

TRAIL BLAZERS 103, CAVALIERS 95: Shaedon Sharpe scored 29 points, rookie Duop Reath added a season-high 13 and visiting Portland  topped Cleveland.

The Blazers came in just 5-12 overall and 3-7 away from home before rallying to stun the Cavs, who had a massive letdown following a solid 23-point win over Atlanta on Tuesday in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.

Sharpe went 11 of 15 from the field and added 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who scored 12 straight points in the fourth quarter to separate from the Cavs.

HORNETS 129, NETS 128: Terry Rozier had 37 points and 13 assists, and short-handed Charlotte won at New York.

Miles Bridges added 23 points, Gordon Hayward chipped in 22 and Mark Williams had 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Hornets snapped their two-game losing streak despite playing without star guard LaMelo Ball and No. 2 pick Brandon Miller.

Cam Thomas scored 26 points in his return from a sprained ankle and Mikal Bridges had 22 points and nine rebounds as Brooklyn’s three-game winning streak was snapped.

HEAT 142, PACERS 132: Jimmy Butler scored 24 of his 36 points in the second half, and Miami overcame a career-high 44 points from Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton to beat win at home.

TIMBERWOLVES 101, JAZZ 90: Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points and 11 rebounds, and Minnesota weathered the absence of leading scorer Anthony Edwards to beat visiting Utah.

The Wolves moved into a tie with Boston for the best record in the league (14-4).

Edwards, who averages 26.2 points per game, was sidelined with a right hip pointer he suffered in Tuesday’s win over Oklahoma City. Coach Chris Finch said he didn’t expect Edwards to be out long..

KNICKS 118, PISTONS 112: Jalen Brunson scored 42 points, Julius Randle had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and New York sent visiting Detroit to its franchise-record 16th consecutive loss.

The Pistons (2-17) completed a winless November, having not won a game since a victory over Chicago on Oct. 28 left them 2-1.

THUNDER 133, LAKERS 110: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and Oklahoma City beat LeBron James and visiting Los Angeles .

Gilgeous-Alexander made 11 of 18 field goals and 10 of 10 free throws. Jalen Williams scored 21 points and Chet Holmgren added 18 for the Thunder.

Anthony Davis led Los Angeles with 31 points and 14 rebounds. James had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Lakers. He was a game-time decision with a left calf contusion.