Basketball Page 1 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Three NBA Playoff Teams Likely to Be Eliminated Early
Breaking down three NBA teams that could be eliminated early in the 2026 playoffs, including the Lakers and 76ers....
Thunder open NBA playoffs as heavy favorites to repeat
The Oklahoma City Thunder are overwhelming favorites to repeat as NBA champions.,Led by reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder are listed at +110 to win the NBA Finals per DraftKings and +115 per BetMGM.,Oklahoma City finished the regular season with an NBA-best 64-18 record.,The Vict...
Celtics, 76ers renew acquaintances in series opener
Although the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers met four times during the regular season, each team will have a different look Sunday afternoon when they meet in Boston for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series., ,Boston and Philadelphia split their four games in the regular season, but ...
Raptors G Immanuel Quickley out for Game 1 vs. Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley will sit out Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round series versus the host Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday afternoon due to a strained right hamstring, head coach Darko Rajakovic announced.,Quickley exited Toronto's regular-season finale against th...
Valkyries re-sign G Tiffany Hayes to 1-year deal
The Golden State Valkyries re-signed free agent guard Tiffany Hayes to a one-year deal on Saturday. Terms were not disclosed.,Hayes, 36, averaged 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 26 games (24 starts) during the Valkyries' debut season in 2025.,"Tip helped lay the foundation on and off th...
Warriors' Steve Kerr to ponder future for a week or two
Warriors coach Steve Kerr wants to contemplate his situation for a week or two before discussing his future plans with Golden State officials.,Kerr, 60, has guided the Warriors to four championships -- the most recent one in 2022. Friday night's play-in loss to the Phoenix Suns marked the second tim...
Jalen Green, Suns shoot past Warriors, charge into playoffs
Jalen Green's 36 points helped lift the Phoenix Suns into the playoffs with a 111-96 play-in win over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Friday.,The Suns earned the Western Conference's eighth postseason seed. They will visit the defending champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday t...
Magic extend Hornets' playoff drought, face Pistons next
Paolo Banchero scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures for the host Orlando Magic, who advanced to the Eastern Conference playoffs by routing the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in a play-in game on Friday night.,The Magic, who finished eighth during the regular season, earned the eighth se...
Report: Aliyah Boston, Fever agree to richest deal in WNBA history
Aliyah Boston and the Indiana Fever agreed to a four-year, $6.3 million extension on Friday, according to ESPN, which is the richest contract in the league's history.,"I'm super blessed and grateful for this opportunity and to continue my journey here with the Fever. God is good!" Boston said. "I'm ...
Knicks begin championship-or-bust playoff run vs. upstart Hawks
The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks each were Cinderella stories the last time they opposed each other in the NBA playoffs.,Only the Hawks qualify for that moniker this time around.,The Knicks will begin a championship-or-bust pursuit when they host the Hawks in the first game of a best-of-seven E...
Rockets-Lakers series 'much deeper' than LeBron James-Kevin Durant tilt
A pair of NBA legends will square off once more when the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets face off in a first-round series starting Saturday in Los Angeles.,Kevin Durant led the Rockets to the No. 5 seed in his first season with the team, while LeBron James has helped guide the Lakers to the N...
Storylines abound as Scottie Barnes, Raptors open series at Cavs
Success came quickly for Toronto Raptors power forward Scottie Barnes, who won the Rookie of the Year award and got a taste of the playoffs four years ago.,Two All-Star selections followed, but a return to the postseason proved elusive until now.,The fifth-seeded Raptors will challenge the fourth-se...
Rivalry continues as Nuggets host Timberwolves for Game 1
Denver slugged its way past Minnesota in 2023 on its way to the NBA title. The Timberwolves derailed a Nuggets repeat with a Game 7 upset in 2024.,Act III of this sometimes-bitter rivalry kicks off Saturday afternoon when No. 3 Denver hosts No. 6 Minnesota for Game 1 of the Western Conference quarte...
Report: Retirement an option on table for Lakers' LeBron James
LeBron James will lead the Lakers into the first-round of the NBA playoffs against the favored Houston Rockets in Los Angeles in what could be the final series of his storied 23-year career.,Unless it isn't.,The Athletic reported Friday that James, 41, is considering retiring from the league he ente...
Why the NBA Must Fix Its Draft System to Stop Tanking
Tanking has become a major issue in the NBA, raising concerns about integrity and fan experience. Here’s how the league could fix it....
Liberty re-sign Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones
New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones signed contracts for the 2026 season, the team announced on Friday.,Financial terms were not disclosed by the team.,"This is an incredibly historic moment for the New York Liberty franchise," Liberty general manager Jonathan K...
Report: Lynx re-signing Napheesa Collier to 1-year supermax deal
Two-time WNBA MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier is sticking with the Minnesota Lynx, who are signing the veteran forward to a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract, ESPN reported on Thursday.,When the deal is official, Collier will join the Indiana Fever's Kelsey Mitchell (one-year deal) and Las Veg...
Nuggets, Pacers set to face off in Mexico City in November
The Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers will face off in next season's Mexico City game at the Arena CDMX on Saturday, Nov. 7, the NBA announced Thursday.,The game will be the league's 35th played in Mexico since 1992. For the third straight year, it will be played during the week of Mexico's annual D...
Hornets seek 1st playoff berth in 10 years in play-in game at Magic
For the Charlotte Hornets, winning Friday night's play-in game and earning the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference would cement the 2025-26 season as one of the most successful campaigns in recent franchise history.,Even with a win Friday, the Orlando Magic will have a lot more work to do ...
Suns hope to avoid unfortunate history in play-in finale vs. Warriors
After letting a chance at advancing out of the NBA play-in tournament slip away Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns will look to bounce back in an elimination game Friday.,The Suns will host the Golden State Warriors in the play-in finale, with the winner advancing to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thun...