Basketball Page 19 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
NBA Draft Lottery Exposes the League’s Biggest Problem
The NBA Draft Lottery reignited debates about tanking, officiating and whether the league’s current system actually works....

2026 NBA mock draft: AJ Dybantsa best fit for Wizards at No. 1 overall
After a much-maligned race to the bottom of the standings, the first round of the draft board is finally set. As the pre-draft process ramps up and NBA front offices get their ducks in a row, here is my initial post-lottery 2026 mock draft (assuming the lottery order is not beset by trades). The NBA...

Off to impressive start, Valkyries put away Mercury
Reserve Janelle Salaun scored eight of her game-high 21 points in a key late burst, Veronica Burton chipped in with a double-double and the Golden State Valkyries took down the visiting Phoenix Mercury 95-79 on Sunday night.,In a battle of teams that won their season openers, the Mercury rallied fro...

Wolves win after Spurs' Victor Wembanyama ejected, even series
Anthony Edwards scored 16 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Timberwolves took advantage of Victor Wembanyama's ejection in the second quarter to post a 114-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night in Minneapolis and tie the Western Conference second-round series at t...

Spurs C Victor Wembanyama throws elbow, ejected from Game 4
San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Sunday night's playoff game against the Timberwolves in the second quarter after throwing an elbow into the face of Minnesota's Naz Reid.,Wembanyama grabbed a rebound and was trying to protect the ball from two Timberwolves during Game...

Aces bounce back from rough opener, steamroll Sparks
The Las Vegas Aces salvaged a split of their regular-season opening weekend, responding to a first-half comeback by the host Los Angeles Sparks and cruising in the second half of a 105-78 victory Sunday.,The Aces (1-1) came out playing inspired basketball after Saturday's 99-66 loss at home to Phoen...

After strong finish, Cavaliers set sights on leveling Pistons series
A classic one-on-one duel between star guards James Harden and Cade Cunningham decided Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.,Harden scored seven points in the final 90 seconds, allowing the Cleveland Cavaliers to pull out a 116-109 win over the visiting Detroit Pistons for their first victory...

Pistons say Kevin Huerter, Caris LeVert questionable for Game 4
The Detroit Pistons upgraded guard Kevin Huerter to questionable but downgraded fellow guard Caris LeVert to questionable ahead of Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.,Huerter (adductor) made brief appearances in four games during the first round against the Orlando Magic, posting six p...

Remarkable 3-point performance helps Knicks rout 76ers, complete sweep
Miles McBride made 7 of 9 3-pointers for 25 points and Jalen Brunson scored 22 on 6-of-10 shooting from long range as the visiting New York Knicks throttled the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 in Game 4 on Sunday to sweep their second-round playoff series., ,Josh Hart (17 points) and Landry Shamet (12) e...

Thunder look to complete sweep of Lakers in Game 4
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be out to remain perfect in the playoffs when they face the host Los Angeles Lakers on Monday in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals with a chance to move on to the next round.,The top-seeded Thunder, who swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round before buildin...

Marine Johannes lifts Liberty past Mystics in OT
Marine Johannes had a career-high 25 points and made two key plays in overtime as the visiting New York Liberty held off the Washington Mystics 98-93 Sunday afternoon.,Johannes also tied a career high with six 3-pointers. Breanna Stewart had 23 points for the Liberty, who played without injured star...

Lottery jackpot: Wizards land No. 1 overall pick in NBA Draft
The Washington Wizards traded for injured veterans Anthony Davis and Trae Young over the winter as part of a plan to turn around one of the league's worst teams.,Another crucial piece of the Wizards' plan fell into place during Sunday's NBA draft lottery when they won the first pick in a year when t...

Lexie Brown's 3-point spree sends Storm past Sun
Lexie Brown scored 17 points off the bench and the Seattle Storm secured their first win of the season with an 89-82 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday in Uncasville, Conn.,A former first-round pick of the Sun in 2018, Brown shot 5 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc to lead Seattle (1-1). She ...

Sparks sign Kate Martin to player development contract
Guard Kate Martin signed a development contract with the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, three days after she was waived by the Golden State Valkyries.,Martin, who played alongside Caitlin Clark at Iowa, was the 18th overall pick (second round) by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2024 WNBA Draft.,Martin play...

Knicks F OG Anunoby (hamstring) out for Game 4 vs. Sixers
A day after he appeared on target to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby was ruled out of Sunday's contest with a right hamstring strain.,"He's out for tonight but he's the same thing, he's day-to-day (moving forward)," Knicks head coach Mike Brown...
Why the Hawks Need the No. 1 Pick More Than Any Team in the NBA Draft Lottery
The Atlanta Hawks could dramatically reshape their future if they land the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery....

Mercury brace for heated battle vs. Valkyries
The Phoenix Mercury will jump right from the microwave into the frying pan Sunday night when they complete a season-opening road back-to-back with a visit to the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco.,One day after the Valkyries traveled north to secure a 91-80 win at Seattle on the WNBA's Opening...

Aces have on-court problems to fix before they meet Sparks
The Las Vegas Aces will try to shake off a deflating start to the 2026 season when they visit a Los Angeles Sparks team tipping off its campaign on Sunday. ,Reigning WNBA champion Aces (0-1) gave up huge runs in the second and third quarters of their regular-season opener on Saturday against the Pho...

Paige Bueckers, Wings top Caitlin Clark, Fever in season opener
Arike Ogunbowale scored 22 points, Paige Bueckers and Odyssey Sims tallied 20 apiece and the Dallas Wings opened the new season with a 107-104 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday in Indianapolis., ,Jessica Shepard racked up 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for Dallas, which burned Indian...

Sky's second-half outburst spoils expansion Fire's debut
Kamilla Cardoso recorded 22 points and 14 rebounds and Skylar Diggins had 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in her team debut as the Chicago Sky notched a 98-83 road victory on Saturday night to spoil the opener for the expansion Portland Fire.,Rickea Jackson added 19 points and seven rebound...