Basketball Page 44 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Report: Seattle Storm stake sold at $325M valuation
Some new faces have entered the Seattle Storm family as the WNBA team's owners recently sold small pieces of the franchise at a $325 million valuation, representing around 1.5 percent of the team's equity, according to a Sportico report on Thursday.,While the Storm did not share the names of the buy...

Dream put four-game winning streak on line vs. Sun
The Connecticut Sun need to start somewhere to get their season together, and they've had a few days to prepare for their next chance at a reset as the Sun (1-6) take on the visiting Atlanta Dream (5-2) on Friday night.,"Every time we play,," said Sun coach Rachid Meziane, "we compete. ... Understan...

Slumping Sparks, Wings look to end losing skids
The Los Angeles Sparks and Dallas Wings look to get back on the winning track and out of the Western Conference cellar when they square off on Friday in a Commissioner's Cup clash in Arlington, Texas.,Both teams dropped their opening game in the Commissioner's Cup, the WNBA's annual in-season compet...

Rick Pitino says he would 'absolutely not' coach Knicks
St. John's coach Rick Pitino said he has zero interest in becoming head coach of the New York Knicks again.,"Absolutely not," Pitino said during a broadcast of Wednesday's game between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians, per CBS Sports.,"I think whoever comes in, if he doesn't get to t...

Mercury, Valkyries relieved to be facing one another
The Phoenix Mercury and Golden State Valkyries get a reprieve from the league's elite when they meet in Phoenix on Thursday.,Each lost to the 8-0 Minnesota Lynx the last time out -- the injury-depleted Mercury falling 88-65 on Tuesday in Minneapolis. The expansion Valkyries lost to the Lynx 86-75 on...

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton enjoys fuel provided by doubters
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is preparing to play in the NBA Finals for the first time and is firmly established as one of the best players in the league.,Yet the satisfaction level never sinks in for the former three-star recruit at Oshkosh North in Wisconsin and the player traded by the S...

Unbeaten Liberty eye another win over Mystics
The New York Liberty look to remain unbeaten and beat the Washington Mystics for the second time this season when the two teams face off Thursday in D.C.,The Liberty (7-0) won 85-63 over the Mystics (3-5) last Friday and are coming off a dominant 100-52 win over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.,Washin...

Reports: League reviewed, not investigating complaint against Storm assistant
The WNBA reviewed a complaint by the Las Vegas Aces' Jewell Loyd that a Seattle Storm assistant coach cursed at her during a game this season, but the league is not moving forward with a formal investigation, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.,Loyd is a former All-Star star guard for the St...

Thunder, Pacers open battle in search of first NBA title
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. The Indiana Pacers haven't been to the finals since 2000.,Neither has ever won an NBA title, but one will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2025. The final step there begins Thursday when the teams square...

Thunder bring all-for-one mentality to NBA Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is planning for the challenge of slowing down the Indiana Pacers in a matchup of two of the NBA's highest-scoring teams in the Finals starting with Game 1 on Thursday. ,As Daigneault digs into the details, he knows there's a difference between getting a fe...

Report: Suns hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as coach
The Phoenix Suns are hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Jordan Ott as their next head coach, ESPN reported Wednesday.,Ott will be hired for the position over his former Cavaliers colleague, associate head coach Johnnie Bryant. Ott and Bryant met with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelste...

Report: Karl-Anthony Towns undergoes treatment for playoff injuries
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns has been treated for injuries he suffered in the NBA playoffs, including ligament damage to his left finger and a bruised left knee, ESPN reported Wednesday.,The finger injury occurred in the second round against the Boston Celtics, and Towns hurt his knee d...
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Shot at Superstardom Begins in the NBA Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already won MVP, but the NBA Finals give him a chance to become a household name. Can he lead the Thunder to their first championship and join the ranks of basketball legends?...
Oklahoma City vs. Indiana: The Small-Market Finals That Might Save the NBA
Small markets, big talent. The Thunder and Pacers are set to deliver a thrilling NBA Finals. And if you’re still at home whining about TV ratings, you’re missing the point....

Storm rally past Wings to end losing skid
Erica Wheeler came off the bench with 11 second-half points to lead the Seattle Storm in an 83-77 win over the Dallas Wings on Tuesday in Seattle. , ,Gabby Williams led Seattle (4-4) with 18 points and Nneka Ogwumike scored 14 points with nine rebounds, but it was a 30-14 bench advantage that ended ...

Napheesa Collier notches fourth straight double-double as Lynx handle Mercury
Napheesa Collier notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds as the Minnesota Lynx cruised to an 88-65 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.,Natisha Hiedeman added 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting off the bench for Minnesota, which improved to a WNBA-best 8-0. Kayla ...

Fever dominate from 3-point range to tame Mystics
Kelsey Mitchell scored 23 points as the short-handed Indiana Fever rode their 3-point shooting to an 85-76 victory against the visiting Washington Mystics on Tuesday night.,Lexie Hull added 14 points and Aliyah Boston had 10 for the Fever, who played without injured guards Caitlin Clark, who missed ...

Pacers flight diverted from Oklahoma City after tornado warning
The Indiana Pacers have waited 25 years to return to the NBA Finals, but they will have to wait a little longer as the team's arrival to Oklahoma City was delayed by weather.,While the Pacers' charter flight was in the air on Tuesday, forecasters issued a tornado warning, flood watch and severe thun...

Tim Connelly: Timberwolves need to be 'creative as possible' with roster
It's fair to say Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly's default position is not to stand pat.,In February 2023, he moved D'Angelo Russell for Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker - two key parts of the Timberwolves' eight-man rotation that just reached the Weste...

Knicks Next Coach Odds: Two early favorites emerge
Two early favorites have emerged in the wake of the New York Knicks firing coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, which created a vacancy for one of the most intriguing jobs in the NBA.,Just three days after losing to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks parted ways wit...