Basketball Page 274 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Sixers star C Joel Embiid (knee) won't play in preseason
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid won't play until the regular season due to his balky left knee.,The 76ers announced the decision Sunday after Embiid missed preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday and the Boston Celtics on Saturday.,"As part of his left knee management, Joe...
Breanna Stewart, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton guide Liberty past Lynx in Game 2
Behind 21 points and a WNBA Finals-record seven steals by Breanna Stewart, the host New York Liberty evened the score against the Minnesota Lynx in the championship series, winning Game 2 80-66 on Sunday afternoon in front of 18,046 fans -- a record crowd for women's basketball at the Barclays Cente...
Liberty aim to move past Game 1 collapse, knot Finals vs. Lynx
Before the best-of-five WNBA Finals shift to the home floor of the Minnesota Lynx, Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty will aim to even series on Sunday afternoon when they host Game 2.,It will be tough to match the ridiculousness and excitement of the Game 1 ending on Thursday, when the Lynx e...
Lynx rally for wild OT win over Liberty in Finals opener
Napheesa Collier connected on a turnaround, mid-range fadeaway with 8.8 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Minnesota Lynx to a 95-93 win over the host New York Liberty in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday.,New York's Breanna Stewart, charging through a crowd of Lynx defenders, missed a layup ...
Odds in Sparks' favor at WNBA draft lottery on Nov. 17
The Los Angeles Sparks, one of four teams in the 2025 WNBA draft lottery, have the best odds to win the top pick on Nov. 17.,The league announced details on Thursday for the 24th annual lottery, which will be broadcast on ESPN at 5 p.m. ET. The full league draft is April 14, 2025.,The Sparks, Dallas...
WNBA Finals expanding to best-of-seven in 2025
The WNBA Finals will expand to a best-of-seven series for the first time in 2025, the league announced Thursday ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 championship series between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx.,The league has never seen a best-of-seven playoff series, but the 2025 Finals will mark...
Mavericks bringing back G A.J. Lawson
Guard A.J. Lawson has signed a two-way contract to return to the Dallas Mavericks this season, the team announced on Thursday. ,The Mavericks had waived him on Tuesday to reduce the roster to 20 players.,Lawson, 24, played as a reserve for the Mavericks in 42 regular-season games last season and ave...
Adam Silver: NBA could return to China for games
NBA commissioner Adam Silver believes his league could host games in China again after the league suffered a "dramatic" hit to its bottom line and strained relations with the country five years ago.,When then-general manager of the Houston Rockets Daryl Morey posted a message supporting pro-democrac...
WNBA playoffs generating best ratings in 25 years
The WNBA reported that the 2024 playoffs have generated the highest ratings in a quarter-century as the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx is set to tip off Thursday night.,According to Nielsen ratings, the average of 970,000 viewers across the first 17 playoff games rep...
Expansion Valkyries name Natalie Nakase as inaugural coach
The Golden State Valkyries hired Natalie Nakase as their first head coach, the expansion team announced Thursday.,The Valkyries will begin play in the WNBA with the 2025 season.,Nakase, 44, has more than 16 years of coaching experience, including 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA a...
3-time NBA champ Danny Green retiring after 15 seasons
Danny Green announced his retirement on Thursday after winning NBA championships with three different teams.,The 37-year-old swingman shot 40.0 percent from 3-point range over 15 seasons with six franchises.,Green won titles with the San Antonio Spurs (2014), Toronto Raptors (2019) and Los Angeles L...
Grizzlies PG Ja Morant has mild ankle sprain
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has a mild left ankle sprain, coach Taylor Jenkins said Wednesday.,Jenkins said an MRI exam detected the seriousness.,Jenkins said the team will be cautious with Morant but is hopeful he will be available for the season opener against the host Utah Jazz on Oct...
Former UConn stars in focus as Lynx, Liberty begin WNBA Finals
The top two seeds entering this year's WNBA playoffs are still standing. Now, they'll go head-to-head for the league title.,Game 1 of the best-of-five WNBA Finals tips off Thursday, when the top-seeded New York Liberty host the second-seeded Minnesota Lynx.,Both teams are powered by former UConn sta...
Pelicans-Magic preseason contest canceled due to Milton
Friday's preseason game between the host Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans was canceled due to Hurricane Milton.,The contest will not be rescheduled, the NBA announced on Wednesday.,Orlando has preseason games remaining Wednesday at San Antonio and Oct. 18 at home against Philadelphia.,New Orle...
Report: Mavs G Dante Exum (wrist) out for 3 months
Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum underwent wrist surgery and will be out three months, ESPN reported Wednesday. ,Exum, who injured the wrist during a training camp workout, underwent surgery on Tuesday, per the report. ,The Mavericks have not commented about the Australian's injury, but posted a ph...
Bookmakers favor Liberty to capture WNBA crown
The New York Liberty, the best team throughout the season, are the betting favorites to emerge with the WNBA championship, too.,The best-of-five WNBA Finals tip off Thursday in New York when the top-seeded Liberty oppose the second-seeded Minnesota Lynx.,The Liberty are a -260 favorite at FanDuel to...
Mavs CEO Cynthia Marshall plans to retire at end of year
Dallas Mavericks chief executive officer Cynthia Marshall is retiring at the end of the calendar year, she announced Tuesday.,Marshall, 64, had been with the franchise since March 2018, when she was hired by former majority owner Mark Cuban. Getting the job made her the NBA's first-ever Black female...
Napheesa Collier, Lynx top Sun, advance to WNBA Finals
Napheesa Collier recorded 27 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots and the Minnesota Lynx clinched a spot in the WNBA Finals with a solid 88-77 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night at Minneapolis.,Courtney Williams added 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the second-see...
Raptors' RJ Barrett (shoulder) to miss rest of preseason
Toronto Raptors swingman RJ Barrett will miss the rest of the preseason with a sprained right AC joint, the team announced Tuesday.,Barrett, 24, injured his shoulder during the second quarter of a 125-98 victory against the Washington Wizards on Sunday in Montreal.,Barrett averaged 21.8 points, 6.4 ...
Wizards G Malcolm Brogdon recovering from thumb surgery
Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon is recovering from surgery for a torn ligament in his right thumb, the team announced Tuesday.,He sustained the injury during Saturday's practice in Montreal and underwent the procedure on Tuesday in New York. His recovery status "will be updated as appropria...