Basketball Page 28 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Reports: Blazers C Deandre Ayton to be free agent after buyout
The Portland Trail Blazers will buy out the final year of center Deandre Ayton's contract and make him a free agent, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday night.,Ayton, 26, is owed $35 million for the coming season to complete a four-year, $132 million contract that he had signed while with the ...

Valkyries rout Storm to close impressive homestand
Tiffany Hayes connected on three 3-pointers en route to a season-high 21 points and the Golden State Valkyries, rooted on by local favorites Stephen Curry and Megan Rapinoe, rolled past the visiting Seattle Storm 84-57 on Sunday night in San Francisco.,Laeticia Amihere snatched a game-high eight reb...

Valkyriess rout Storm to close impressive homestand
Tiffany Hayes connected on three 3-pointers en route to a season-high 21 points and the Golden State Valkyries, rooted on by local favorites Stephen Curry and Megan Rapinoe, rolled past the visiting Seattle Storm 84-57 on Sunday night in San Francisco.,Laeticia Amihere snatched a game-high eight reb...

WNBA-leading Lynx dominate as Sun lose 9th straight
MVP candidate Napheesa Collier poured in 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Minnesota Lynx posted a season-high point total in a 102-63 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday in Minneapolis.,Collier scored 15 points in the third quarter as she recorded her 10th game of the season of 20-p...

Reports: Rockets reward Jabari Smith Jr. with 5-year, $122M extension
The Houston Rockets and forward Jabari Smith Jr. agreed to a five-year, $122 million extension of his rookie contract, ESPN and The Athletic reported Sunday.,Smith, 22, has averaged 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds across three NBA seasons since the Rockets selected him third overall in the 2022 draft. ...

A’ja Wilson, Aces halt Mercury's winning streak at 6
The Las Vegas Aces ended the host Phoenix Mercury's six-game winning streak behind A'ja Wilson's 26 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists in an 84-81 victory Sunday.,Las Vegas (8-8) avenged a loss at home to Phoenix (12-5) on June 15, the second game of the Mercury's six-game winning streak.,Wilson'...

Thunder reach deals with Jaylin Williams, Ajay Mitchell
The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder have taken the first step toward keeping their roster together, agreeing with center/forward Jaylin Williams on a multi-year contract extension on the big man's 23rd birthday.,The team did not announce terms or other specifics of the deal, but it is a three-yea...

Reports: Bucks F Bobby Portis agrees to 3-year, $44M contract
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis has declined his player option and will sign a three-year, $44 million contract to stay with the team, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday.,Portis, 30, had until Sunday to decide on the player option worth $13.4 million. The new deal includes a player optio...

Big fourth quarter helps Sky beat Sparks again
Angel Reese had an emphatic double-double Sunday, and the visiting Chicago Sky spoiled the Los Angeles Sparks' jersey retirement day for Candace Parker, recording a 92-85 win.,Reese dominated inside with 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, clinching the outcome with a 3-point play on an assist...

Dream score key, one-sided win against Liberty
Atlanta dominated the paint and didn't let a big lead slip away this time in a 90-81 win over visiting New York Sunday afternoon.,The Dream outscored New York 62-36 in the paint, shot 52.9 percent from the floor and never trailed after the first quarter. Five different Dream players hit double figur...

Report: James Harden gets new 2-year, $81.5M deal with Clippers
James Harden declined his player option in order to sign a new two-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers worth $81.5 million, ESPN reported Sunday.,The 11-time All-Star guard will return to the Clippers after spending the past two seasons there. The second year of the new pact reportedly has a...
NBA Rookie of the Year Race: Can Anyone Catch Cooper Flagg?
Cooper Flagg is the clear betting favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year, but Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson offer real value at plus odds....
LeBron to Cleveland Cavaliers Again? Sounds Right, So It Probably Won’t Happen
LeBron James picked up his $52.6 million option, but it sure doesn’t sound like he’s locked in with the Lakers. Could a final run with the Cavaliers really be in play?...

Report: Jazz land C Jusuf Nurkic in trade with Hornets
The Utah Jazz are set to acquire center Jusuf Nurkic from the Charlotte Hornets for Collin Sexton and a 2030 second-round draft pick, ESPN reported Sunday.,Nurkic, 30, averaged 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 51 games last season with the Phoenix Suns and Hornets. He was traded to Charlotte in Februa...

Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier selected by fans as All-Star captains
The Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark and the Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier have been named as team captains for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 19 in Indianapolis.,Clark and Collier earned their captain status as the players who received the most votes from fans, players and media. They will draft t...

Report: Heat's Duncan Robinson declines option, hits free agency
Miami Heat guard/forward Duncan Robinson declined his $19.9-million early termination option in order to become a free agent, but remains open to a new deal to remain with the team, ESPN reported Sunday.,Robinson, 31, averaged 11.0 points with 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 74 games (37 starts) for...

Report: 76ers picks up $8.4M option on F Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Philadelphia 76ers picked up the one-year, $8.4 million contract option for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. in 2025-26, ESPN reported Sunday.,Oubre, 29, averaged 15.1 points with 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 60 games (57 starts) with the 76ers last season. He has produced at least 15.0 points per gam...

Report: Wolves retain F Julius Randle on 3-year, $100M extension
The Minnesota Timberwolves continued their offseason spending spree, signing forward Julius Randle to a three-year, $100-million contract extension, ESPN reported Sunday.,The deal to retain Randle comes two days after center Naz Reid agreed to a five-year, $125-million extension with the Timberwolve...

Report: NBA G Malik Beasley subject of federal gambling probe
Guard Malik Beasley is under federal investigation in connection with allegations that he was tied to gambling activity on NBA games and prop bets, ESPN reported Sunday.,The allegations date to the 2023-24 season when Beasley was with the Milwaukee Bucks, one of six teams he has played for since the...

Thunder, C/F Jaylin Williams agree to multi-year extension
The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder have taken the first step toward keeping their roster together, agreeing with center/forward Jaylin Williams on a multi-year contract extension.,The team did not announce terms or other specifics of the deal, but it is a three-year, $24 million contract extensi...