Basketball Page 96 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Celtics star Jaylen Brown (hamstring) ailing as season approaches
Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown is considered day-to-day with a left hamstring injury that he sustained in Wednesday's preseason finale against the Toronto Raptors.,Brown didn't participate in live portions of Friday's practice and coach Joe Mazzulla didn't answer a question pertaining to w...
76ers C Joel Embiid to make long-awaited return after surgery
Former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid has been cleared to play Friday night in the Philadelphia 76ers' final exhibition game, a home contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves.,The 31-year-old center last played Feb. 22 and appeared in only 19 games last season and 39 in 2023-24, primarily due...
2025-26 NBA Preview: Atlantic Division capsules
1. New York Knicks,2024-25 record: 51-31, second in the Atlantic,Head coach: Mike Brown, first season with the Knicks,Coming and going: New York has more depth this season than a year ago thanks to the offseason acquisition of Jordan Clarkson, a former Sixth Man of the Year who averaged 16.2 points ...
2025-26 NBA Power Rankings: Thunder repeat talk more than noise
Even before the first bogus "back spasms" show up on an injury report, it's already the Year of Barely-Walking Wounded in the NBA.,Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard and Fred VanVleet are missing more than the season-opener next week. They're done for the year. ,Optimistic fans are counting the days ...
2025-26 NBA Preview: Central Division capsules
1. Cleveland Cavaliers,2024-25 record: 64-18, first in the Central,Head coach: Kenny Atkinson, second season with the Cavaliers (64-18 record),Coming and going: Lonzo Ball jumped from the division cellar to the penthouse, arriving in a trade from Chicago, but won't suit up for back-to-backs amid a r...
2025-26 NBA preview: Northwest Division capsules
1. Oklahoma City Thunder,2024-25 record: 68-14, first in the Northwest,Head coach: Mark Daigneault, sixth season with the Thunder (211-189 record),Coming and going: The biggest moves the NBA Champions made this offseason was locking down stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen William...
2025-26 NBA preview: Southwest Division capsules
Southwest Division team capsules,1. Houston Rockets,2024-25 record: 52-30, 1st in the Southwest,Head coach: Ime Udoka, third season with the Rockets (93-71 record),Coming and going: The Rockets made the most significant move of the offseason by trading for Kevin Durant in July. The deal cost them Ja...
2025-26 NBA Preview: Pacific Division capsules
1. Golden State Warriors,2024-25 record: 48-34, third in the Pacific,Head coach: Steve Kerr, 12th season with the Warriors (567-308 record),Coming and going: The no-cost addition of Al Horford is a godsend for the Warriors, who in recent years have been forced to send Draymond Green to battle out of...
2025-26 NBA preview: Southeast Division capsules
1. Orlando Magic,2024-25 record: 41-41, first in the Southeast,Head coach: Jamahl Mosley, fifth season with Magic (144-184 record),Coming and going: The addition of Desmond Bane from Memphis should give the Magic someone to run the offense and they added to the stock at that position by tacking on w...
Rockets bank on liftoff after finally landing Kevin Durant
HOUSTON -- Years of losing and intentional asset accumulation put the Rockets in position to make the calculated gamble, but the franchise considers landing their missing piece more reward than risk. ,Kevin Durant was there for the taking.,Houston would need to make a hard right and veer off what wa...
Report: Hawks, Trae Young won't reach extension before opener
The Atlanta Hawks retooled their roster around standout guard Trae Young this offseason, but will not come to terms on a contract extension with the four-time All-Star before the season opener, The Athletic reported on Thursday.,The 27-year-old Young will make $46 million this season, the final guar...
Pistons G Jaden Ivey sidelined for start of season after knee procedure
Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey will miss the start of the upcoming regular season after undergoing an arthroscopic knee procedure to relieve discomfort, the team announced Thursday.,Per the team, Ivey will begin the rehabilitation process immediately and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.,Ivey, 2...
Bucks G AJ Green reaches 4-year, $45M extension
Guard AJ Green has agreed to a four-year, $45 million fully guaranteed contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.,Green's representation, ProMondo Sports, told ESPN of the news on Green, who entered the NBA as an undrafted player during the 2022-23 season.,Green, 26, recorded career highs in point...
WNBA All-Star Game to return to Chicago in 2026
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game will be contested in Chicago, the league announced on Thursday.,The 3-point contest and skills competition will take place at Wintrust Arena on July 24. The All-Star Game itself will be played at the United Center the following night. ,"The (All-Star Game festivities) wil...
Hornets waive G Spencer Dinwiddie
The Charlotte Hornets waived guard Spencer Dinwiddie on Thursday, just three months after signing him to a one-year contract.,The Hornets didn't release details, but ESPN reported the Hornets needed to release a guaranteed salary ahead of the season opener next week. Dinwiddie's guaranteed deal, sig...
Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga fined $35K for contact with official
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has been fined $35,000 for "making inappropriate contact with and continuing to pursue a game official," the NBA announced Thursday.,Kuminga was ejected in the waning moments of the second quarter in the Warriors' 118-111 preseason victory over the Port...
Warriors lead Sportico's NBA team valuations at $11.33B
The Golden State Warriors are the most valuable NBA team and No. 2 among sports franchises globally, according to research from Sportico released Thursday.,The Warriors are worth $11.33 billion, surpassed only by the NFL's Dallas Cowboys ($12.8 billion). This is the fifth consecutive year that the W...
ESPN networks break WNBA viewership records
Broadcasts of the WNBA regular season and postseason were the most-watched ever across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.,For 25 regular season games, WNBA action on ESPN networks averaged 1.3 million viewers, up 6% year-over-year. The numbers across 24 postseason games were up 5% with an average of 1.2 million v...
Agents: Kings F Keegan Murray to sign 5-year, $140M extension
The Sacramento Kings and forward Keegan Murray have agreed to a contract extension, his agents at Priority Sports announced on Wednesday.,The extension of his rookie deal is for five years and $140 million, according to ESPN, locking him in place through the 2030-31 season.,Murray, 25, was the No. 4...
NBA Free Agency Watch: Where the Last Remaining Players Could Sign Before Opening Night
NBA free agency update: Best potential landing spots for Kai Jones, Keon Johnson, and Alex Reese ahead of the 2025 season....