Basketball Page 32 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Upstart Fire out to keep Sun reeling, extend win streak
The expansion Portland Fire look to continue their surprisingly good start when they host the struggling Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night.,The Fire (4-3) have won their last two games, including an impressive 81-74 road win over the New York Liberty on Monday night. Portland used a 12-0 run in the...

Sparks G Kelsey Plum, WNBA’s top scorer, sprains ankle in practice
Star guard Kelsey Plum sprained an ankle during practice and will be re-evaluated in one week, the Los Angeles Sparks announced Tuesday.,Plum has averaged 26.8 points through the first six games of the season, leading the WNBA. She had a season-high 38 on Saturday in a 101-95 win over her former tea...

Celtics' Joe Mazzulla named NBA Coach of the Year
Guiding the Boston Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite missing superstar Jayson Tatum until March 6, Joe Mazzulla was named NBA Coach of the Year for the first time on Tuesday.,Mazzulla, 37, received 62 first-place votes, 24 second-place votes and 10 third-place votes and fin...

Lynx out to avenge season-opening loss to Dream
The Minnesota Lynx do not need any reminders about how their first game of the season ended against the Atlanta Dream.,They remember it all too well.,The Lynx (4-2) will try to avenge their season-opening meltdown when they host a rematch against Atlanta (4-1) on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. ,In ...

Sky, Tempo both working on ball movement ahead of clash
Both teams will have a similar mission Wednesday when the expansion Toronto Tempo visit the Chicago Sky: Stop the losses at two in a row.,The Sky (3-3) have dropped two straight at home after an 85-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday.,Chicago shot only 31.5% (23-for-73) from the field, includi...
Why the Cavaliers Are Sticking With Their Core Despite NBA Playoff Failure
The Cavaliers appear set to bring back most of their roster after a disappointing playoff run, with Kenny Atkinson staying and major trade rumors cooling off....

Reports: Cavs expected to retain Kenny Atkinson; James Harden wants to return
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will be back on the sideline in Cleveland next season, according to multiple reports. ,Atkinson and the Cavs were swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, which began with Cleveland blowing a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and ...

NBA draft decisions: Texas Tech's Anderson, Santa Clara's Graves follow pro plan
Texas Tech sophomore guard Christian Anderson and Santa Clara freshman forward Allen Graves are staying in the 2026 NBA Draft. ,Both are projected first-round picks.,Anderson lifted his draft stock considerably at the scouting combine earlier this month where he proved consistency and superior range...

Fever's Caitlin Clark isn't too concerned about back issues
Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark acknowledged Tuesday that she is aware of her back issues.,Concerned, though? She says no.,"I don't think (the back issues) necessarily started at a certain point. I think it's just been over the course of the last year when I've kind of been understanding my b...

Liberty looking to halt home skid against Mercury
The New York Liberty have dropped three consecutive games at home for the first time since the 2022 season.,They will look to halt the skid Wednesday as they continue a seven-game homestand against the Phoenix Mercury.,"Nobody expected this," Liberty star Breanna Stewart said. "But I'm glad (the slu...
Victor Wembanyama Has a Chance to Become the Next Babe Ruth
Victor Wembanyama is already the NBA’s brightest young star, but could he become basketball’s version of Babe Ruth? Exploring his global potential and future....
Why the New York Knicks Can’t Be Overlooked in the NBA Finals
The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals on an 11-game winning streak. Here’s why Jalen Brunson and company should not be overlooked....

Juste Jocyte makes long-awaited debut in Valkyries' win over Sun
Gabby Williams led a balanced attack with 15 points, rookie Juste Jocyte hit her first two WNBA shots and the Golden State Valkyries coasted to a 97-70 win over the Connecticut Sun in San Francisco on Monday night.,Kaila Charles chipped in with 12 points, Veronica Burton had 11 and four reserves con...

Knicks finish sweep of Cavs, make first NBA Finals since 1999
CLEVELAND -- Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals with a 130-93 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night.,The Knicks, who will play in the championship series for the first time si...

Fire stun struggling Liberty with fourth-quarter comeback
Trailing by five points, Portland went on a 12-0 run late in the fourth quarter to stun the host New York Liberty 81-74 on Monday night.,The Fire, who feature balanced scoring, were led by Carla Leite, who had 18 points. Megan Gustafson added 11 points, and Bridget Carleton and Teja Oblak added 10 p...

In pivotal Game 5, Thunder aim to be early aggressor vs. Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have gotten off to big starts in each of the last two games of the Western Conference finals.,Heading into Game 5 on Tuesday with the seven-game series deadlocked at 2, the host Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to reverse that trend.,"They just punched us in our face early," T...

Reports: Lakers fill one of two new assistant GM posts
The Los Angeles Lakers started their offseason front office expansion, hiring Rohan Ramadas away from the New Orleans Pelicans to fill one of two new assistant general manager positions, multiple outlets reported Monday.,Ramadas most recently was the Pelicans' vice president of basketball operations...

Knicks-Cavaliers G4: Preview, Props, Prediction
The New York Knicks are a popular favorite to complete a sweep of the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland on Monday night.,The Knicks lead the series 3-0 and have won 10 consecutive playoff games by a combined 225 points.,ODDS AND TRENDS,That has led to New York being a...
Donovan Mitchell’s Playoff Struggles Leave Cavs Facing Franchise-Altering Decision
Donovan Mitchell’s playoff struggles have intensified scrutiny as the Cavaliers weigh a massive contract extension this offseason....
New York Knicks Are One Win Away From Ending a 27-Year NBA Finals Drought
The Knicks are one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 after a dominant 10-game playoff winning streak....