NBA Page 420 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Reports: Bulls G Lonzo Ball picks up $21.3M option
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball, who has missed the past two-plus seasons with chronic knee issues, picked up his $21.3 million option for the 2024-25 season, ESPN and NBC Sports Chicago reported Saturday. ,Ball, 26, has undergone three surgeries on his left knee, the last a cartilage transplan...

Former Lakers pick, PG Darius Morris dies at 33
Former Michigan standout and Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Darius Morris has died at 33, his family announced Saturday. ,No cause of death was given. TMZ reported Morris' body was found in the Los Angeles area on Thursday. He was an L.A. native. ,"With great sadness we announce the passing of our de...

Reports: Mavericks F Maxi Kleber (shoulder) out indefinitely
Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber will be sidelined indefinitely after sustaining a dislocated right shoulder during Friday night's series-clinching victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, according to published reports Saturday.,The dislocation is reportedly serious enough that it could end Klebe...

Cavs, Magic set for decisive Game 7 in Cleveland
The Cleveland Cavaliers recorded 48 wins during the regular season, one more than the Orlando Magic.,As a result, the Cavaliers were able to lock up the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference -- and more importantly, home-court advantage for their first-round series with the Magic.,Home cooking has p...

Lakers G D'Angelo Russell fined $25K for verbal abuse
The NBA fined Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell $25,000 on Saturday for verbally abusing a game official.,His actions occurred on the court after the Lakers' season-ending Game 5 loss at Denver on Monday night, the league said.,Russell finished the 108-106 loss to the Nuggets with 14 points ...

Kyrie Irving's big 2nd half helps Mavs eliminate Clippers
Kyrie Irving scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half and the Dallas Mavericks advanced to the second round with a resounding 114-101 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 of the Western Conference series on Friday night.,Luka Doncic recorded 28 points, 13 assists and seven r...

Cavs' Donovan Mitchell scores 50, but Magic force Game 7
Paolo Banchero scored 27 points and Franz Wagner added 26 as the host Orlando Magic forced a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference first-round series with a 103-96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.,Jalen Suggs sank six 3-pointers to highlight his 22-point performance for the fifth-seeded Ma...

Nuggets plenty familiar with Wolves in rematch of '23 playoff series
Last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves were a stepping stone to an NBA championship. This time around, Minnesota is a roadblock to the Denver Nuggets' quest for a repeat.,The much-anticipated matchup of the familiar foes and the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds in the West begins with Game 1 of the conference semi...

LeBron James favored to stay with Lakers as potential suitors emerge
LeBron James is going to take some time away from the court to decide where -- and even if -- he will play his 22nd NBA season.,The Lakers were back in the news with Friday's firing of coach Darvin Ham after two seasons. Who general manager Rob Pelinka tabs to replace Ham could also weigh heavily on...

Lakers fire head coach Darvin Ham after 2 seasons
The Los Angeles Lakers fired head coach Darvin Ham on Friday after two seasons and a 90-74 regular-season record.,"We greatly appreciate Darvin's efforts on behalf of the Lakers and recognize the many accomplishments achieved over the past two seasons including last year's remarkable run to the West...

Knicks hold off 76ers for series-clinching win
Jalen Brunson poured in a game-high 41 points, Josh Hart broke a late tie with a 3-pointer and the New York Knicks eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers from the NBA playoffs with a 118-115 victory in Game 6 of their best-of-seven series on Thursday.,By virtue of their 4-2 win, the second-seeded Knicks ...

Clippers F Kawhi Leonard (knee) out for Game 6 vs. Mavs
The Los Angeles Clippers, down 3-2 in their first-round Western Conference series against the Dallas Mavericks, will have to try to stay alive without Kawhi Leonard in Friday's Game 6 due to inflammation in his right knee.,The All-Star forward, who played limited and relatively unproductive minutes ...

Bench helps Pacers eliminate Bucks in Game 6
Obi Toppin scored 21 points and T.J. McConnell added 20 as the Indiana Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks with a 120-98 victory on Thursday in Game 6 of an Eastern Conference first-round series in Indianapolis.,Toppin contributed eight rebounds and McConnell had nine assists as the sixth-seeded P...

Bucks' Damian Lillard returns for Game 6 at Pacers; Giannis out
Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard will return Thursday evening for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.,Lillard sat out the last two games with a right Achilles injury for the Bucks, who trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. The eig...

Magic take maturity into must-win Game 6 vs. Cavaliers
Although the Orlando Magic may be considered a relatively young team, that topic has grown old to Joe Ingles.,Ingles, in fact, isn't interested in how age may play a factor as the Magic look to stave off elimination in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series versus the visiting Clevela...

Bucks' Damian Lillard upgraded to questionable for Game 6
Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for Thursday's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.,Lillard sat out the last two games with a right Achilles injury for the Bucks, who trail 3-2 in the...

Bulls G Alex Caruso collects NBA's Hustle Award
Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso was named the winner of the NBA's 2023-24 Hustle Award on Thursday.,The award honors players who "make the effort plays that don't often appear in the traditional box score but impact winning on a nightly basis.",Caruso, 30, averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 ass...

Sixers owners buy up tickets to block Knicks fans
Current and former owners of the 76ers bought more than 2,000 tickets to mute the presence of New York Knicks fans attending Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday night.,Sixers star Joel Embiid voiced his displeasure following Game 4 at the Wells Fargo Center, when boisterous Knicks fans cheered their ...

Mavs blitz Clippers, head home with 3-2 edge
Luka Doncic scored 35 points and handed out 10 assists as the visiting Dallas Mavericks moved one win away from a spot in the Western Conference semifinals with a 123-93 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.,Maxi Kleber contributed 15 points as the Mavericks took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-s...

Celtics advance with Game 5 blowout of Heat
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each tossed in 25 points to help the Boston Celtics wrap up their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the visiting Miami Heat with a 118-84 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday.,Jayson Tatum added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the top-seeded Celtics, who wo...