Basketball Page 3 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Shooter's delight as Clippers face Warriors in play-in
California counterparts meet Wednesday in a do-or-die start to the Western Conference play-in, as the No. 9 seed Los Angeles Clippers welcome the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors to Inglewood, Calif.,Los Angeles finished 42-40 in the regular season and fell into the 9/10 matchup by virtue of droppi...
Opposite trajectories landed Magic, Sixers in faceoff for No. 7 seed
The Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic took different paths to the same record this season.,On Wednesday night, they'll be occupied with the same high-stakes task when the 76ers host the Magic in an Eastern Conference play-in tournament game.,Both teams finished 45-37 during the regular season, bu...
Joe Dumars: Pelicans not planning to trade Zion Williamson
The New Orleans Pelicans are not entertaining trade offers for All-Star forward Zion Williamson, executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Tuesday.,"I'll get those calls," Dumars acknowledged. "And even when you say 'no' to people, like, 'No, we're not moving Zion,' within tw...
Why Reuniting Azzi Fudd With Paige Bueckers in WNBA Draft Actually Makes Sense
Azzi Fudd goes No. 1 to the Dalllas Wings—why the pick makes sense beyond the headlines about her relationship....
How Three Tanking Teams Could Light up the NBA Play-in Tournament
NBA play-in preview analyzing key matchups, trends, and predictions....
Blazers out to end playoff drought, face Suns in play-in round
Phoenix coach Jordan Ott is confident regarding the host Suns' mindset entering their play-in tournament game against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.,"We'll be juiced and ready to rock," Ott said as the Suns look to return to the postseason after missing out last year.,Trail Blazers ...
Wings select UConn star Azzi Fudd No. 1 overall in WNBA draft
UConn guard Azzi Fudd was chosen by the Dallas Wings with the No. 1 overall pick of the WNBA draft on Monday night in New York.,Fudd is the seventh UConn player to be selected first in the draft. One of the others is Paige Bueckers, who went No. 1 to Dallas last year. Fudd and Bueckers are in a rela...
Report: Luka Doncic to return to L.A. Friday; game status unknown
Lakers star Luka Doncic is expected to return to Los Angeles on Friday after receiving specialized treatment for his Grade 2 left hamstring strain in Europe, ESPN reported Monday, though when he will return to game action remains unknown.,The 27-year-old reportedly spent a week in Spain receiving mu...
Hornets happy to be home for play-in clash with Heat
In order to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the No. 9 seed Charlotte Hornets will need to win a pair of games this week in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. ,The first of those games is set for Tuesday when they host the No. 10 seed Miami Heat in an elimination game.,The H...
Milwaukee Bucks Enter Uncertain Future After Doc Rivers Exit
The Milwaukee Bucks face a pivotal offseason after Doc Rivers’ departure and uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo....
Coby White Eyes Breakthrough as Hornets Face Heat
Coby White and the Hornets face the Heat in a crucial NBA play-in matchup—full preview and analysis....
Warriors' Stephen Curry on minutes restriction for play-in game
Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry will be on a minutes restriction for the Golden State Warriors' play-in game against the host Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.,The 12-time All-Star point guard has played no more than 29 minutes in any of his four games since returning from a 27-game abse...
Doc Rivers steps down as head coach of Bucks
Doc Rivers officially stepped down as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday after two-plus seasons.,The Bucks' finished 32-50 with Sunday's season-ending 126-106 loss at Philadelphia. It marked their worst record since 2013-14 and the first time they missed the playoffs since 2015-16.,"I have ...
Hornets, Blazers among 8 trying to survive, advance from play-in tournament
With minimal shuffling at the conclusion of the NBA regular season on Sunday, the final seedings were determined and some less-frequent qualifiers are continuing their seasons.,We're looking at you, Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers.,While the top six seeds in the Eastern and Western conf...
After dominant regular season, Thunder big favorite to hold onto NBA crown
Oddsmakers really like Oklahoma City Thunder to continue their reign over the NBA and successfully defend their championship.,The Thunder, who concluded the regular season on Sunday with the league's best record at 64-18 (.780), are the clear favorite to keep the Larry O'Brien Trophy at a range of +...
NBA roundup: Raptors top Nets to earn first postseason spot since 2022
Scottie Barnes had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists Sunday, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets 136-101 to clinch their first playoff spot since 2022.,In recording his third triple-double of the season and the ninth of his career, Barnes helped the Raptors (46-36) secure...
Mercury re-sign Kahleah Copper, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas
The Phoenix Mercury, after a run to the WNBA Finals in 2025, announced on Sunday the re-signing of core players Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb.,Copper, 31, averaged 15.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 26.9 minutes in 28 regular-season games (all st...
Timberwolves' reserves take spotlight in final game, beating Pelicans
Rookie big man Joan Beringer scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 132-126 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night in Minneapolis.,Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 26 points for Minnesota (49-33), which relied on young players and reserves in its...
Ryan Nembhard totals 23 assists as Mavericks roll past Bulls
Ryan Nembhard notched the second-most assists in a game in Dallas history as the Mavericks defeated the visiting Chicago Bulls 149-128 on Sunday.,Nembhard fell narrowly short of a triple-double in the season-ending clash, chalking up 15 points, nine rebounds and 23 assists.,Only current Dallas coach...
Clippers turn back Warriors in play-in game preview
The Los Angeles Clippers sent a message to their play-in opponent Sunday night, riding Bennedict Mathurin's 20 points and a stingy defense to a 115-110 home win over the Golden State Warriors in what turned out to be an otherwise meaningless regular-season finale.,The victory allowed the Clippers (4...