After a brief hiatus over Christmas, I’m back with my NBA best bets column to bring us into the New Year. New Year’s Eve brings us a ton of teams on the second leg of a back-to-back, including the New Orleans Pelicans, who are a part of one of the plays for Saturday’s action. Plus,
Month: December 2022
1:25 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — With 1:48 left in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Orleans Pelicans showed a graphic on the big screen acknowledging CJ McCollum’s big night. McCollum had a season-high 42 points to go along with a franchise-record 11 3-pointers, and while
The Chicago Bulls aren’t good enough to compete right now but might not be ready for a full rebuild either. Where do they go from here? In the first game back from last season’s All-Star break, the Chicago Bulls eked out a win against the Atlanta Hawks. DeMar DeRozan, eternally clutch, mid-ranged his way to
Scottie Barnes has had a difficult second season but rising star Ja Morant came to his defense after a recent matchup against the Raptors. The sliding Toronto Raptors dropped another tough game Thursday night, losing 119-106 to the Memphis Grizzlies. Defending Rookie of the Year, Scottie Barnes, put up 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists,
12:33 AM ET ESPN News Services MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 43 points and 20 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 123-114 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Antetokounmpo finished two points off his season high and also had five assists to join Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin
Happy 38th birthday LeBron James! As you get set to blow out the candles, one can only hope your birthday wish involves the health of teammate Anthony Davis, or anything that can help this team get back on track. L.A. has lost five of their last six games since December 19, now just 14-21 on
10:49 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — LeBron James scored a season-high 47 points on his 38th birthday with many of the sellout crowd at State Farm Arena cheering his every move, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-121 on Friday night. James, a four-time NBA MVP and an 18-time All-Star, finished
Nine games are on the books tonight in the Association this Friday night, as teams look to ring in one last victory ahead of the new year. The Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons are dealing with significant short-handed rosters in their matchups vs. the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls respectively as a result of their
10:41 AM ET Associated Press PARIS — Teen prodigy Victor Wembanyama embellished his fast-growing reputation when he became the youngest MVP in the French league’s All-Star game. The 18-year-old Wembanyama finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists Thursday night as the All-Star France team won 136-128 against the All-Star World team — an
Arguably the most complete guard in recent NBA Draft history, Scoot Henderson is much more than the projected consolation prize in the Winless for Wemby sweepstakes. Scoot Henderson is almost universally pegged as the second overall pick in 2023 mock drafts. Were it not for the glaring generational talent of Victor Wembanyama, he would be
The Brooklyn Nets were the hottest of messes to start this season. But an unbelievably hot run has shown just how their ceiling still is. After a myriad of controversies — including, but not limited to, a Kevin Durant trade request, a Kyrie Irving suspension, a midseason firing of head coach Steve Nash, and an
8:04 PM ET Buddy Hield wasted no time finding the scoring column Thursday night. And he did so in record-breaking fashion. The Indiana Pacers sharp-shooter grabbed a game-opening jump ball out of midair that Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen had swatted his way, pivoted at the top of the key and coolly connected on a
Three players were ejected in Wednesday’s Orlando Magic-Detroit Pistons game following a benches-clearing fight. The Detroit Pistons hosted the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, looking to bring an end to their six-game losing streak. While Detroit did win 121-101, there was a pull-apart that took place just before halftime. With less than a minute remaining
10:13 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Detroit guard Killian Hayes and Orlando’s Moritz Wagner were each given multigame suspensions for their roles in a scuffle, while the NBA suspended eight Magic players one game apiece Thursday for leaving the bench area during an altercation. Hayes, who struck Wagner in the back of the
Jonathan Kuminga is drawing inspiration from Kobe Bryant as he balances his complementary role and immense potential as a future star. It’s only a couple of weeks into the NBA season and Jonathan Kuminga, all of 20 years old, is the subject of the newest Golden State Warriors debate. In Miami on the morning of
12:59 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN With time ticking away in the fourth quarter and the New Orleans Pelicans trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves, CJ McCollum joked that the Pelicans’ game plan became quite simple. “Get the ball to Z and get the f— out the way,” he said. Zion Williamson finished with a career-high 43 points,
LeBron James recently deleted a tweet that said he would not miss the playoffs again. The Los Angeles Lakers have never had the same success as they did when they won the NBA championship in the 2019-20 season. They were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns in the 2020-21 playoffs, and they
12:24 AM ET MIAMI — Back in the arena where he played arguably the best basketball of his career, LeBron James was asked to look to the future rather than back into the past and share how much longer he plans to play in the NBA. “I don’t have a number,” James said Wednesday after
Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic became the first player in NBA history with a 60-20-10 triple-double but his postgame quote may have been even better. There actually might be nothing that Luka Doncic isn’t capable of. And his performance to guide the Mavericks to a 126-121 win over the Knicks in overtime on Tuesday night is
9:11 PM ET ESPN News Services DETROIT — Orlando’s Moritz Wagner appeared to briefly get knocked out by a punch to the back of the head after starting a fight in the first half against the Pistons that led to three ejections Wednesday night in a scene that triggered memories of an ugly brawl outside
The NBA 2022 Mexico City Games revealed the deep cultural connection between the San Antonio Spurs and Mexican basketball fans. Arena CDMX in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, is a state-of-the-art house of hoops — with a futuristic-edged design and built-in LED screens flashing that night’s event: the San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat. But the surrounding
Dec 21, 2022; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) shakes hands with guard Kevin Huerter (9) during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports Florida vs. Auburn Prediction and Odds for Wednesday, December 28th (Bank on holiday rust in SEC showdown)
8:00 AM ET One Eastern Conference contender is streaking up the NBA standings. With a win on Monday over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Brooklyn Nets have run their streak to nine games, tying the longest in the league this season. (The other two teams to pull it off, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, sit
In Sacramento, Kevin Huerter has been empowered to expand his offensive skill set and it’s paying huge dividends for the Kings. “He’s playing like Klay, Steph. The way he’s coming off the handoffs and shooting the basketball right now — if you’re not a basketball fan and locked in on the league, you gotta watch
The Houston Rockets upset the Chicago Bulls on Monday night in Chicago, but they have an extremely tough test in the second night of a back-to-back against the Boston Celtics. Boston has the best record in the NBA this season, and the team is fresh off of a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas
11:35 PM ET Luka Doncic is unreal. Get exclusive access to more than 3,000 premium articles a year from top writers.• Miller: Ranking CFB’s top players »• Givony: New 2023 NBA mock draft »• Doolittle: Post-FA MLB stock watch » More ESPN+ content » The Dallas Mavericks star put up a triple-double for the ages
The Monday NBA best bets column wasn’t in the holiday spirit, a tough 0-2 slate. With a bunch of games on the schedule I’m rolling with one spread pick and two player props on some veterans that we’re fading to get back on track. There are a bunch of great matchups on Tuesday, especially with
6:19 PM ET ESPN News Services SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kings coach Mike Brown has entered the league’s health and safety protocols and missed the team’s game against the visiting Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Associate head coach Jordi Fernandez filled in for Brown against the Nuggets and will run the team in his absence. Brown will
The Phoenix Suns can finally close the chapter on the Robert Sarver saga Matt Ishbia is finalizing a purchase of the Phoenix Suns from Robert Sarver, who owns a majority of the team today, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Sarver announced his intention to sell the team after a September bombshell investigation revealed allegations
There are loads of NBA props to pick on Tuesday night with 20 different NBA teams in action, but the BetSided team has picked out two specific plays for today’s best props. We’re starting in the Orlando Magic-Los Angeles Lakers game, where Ben Heisler has one of his patented first quarter plays. Then, Peter Dewey
12:48 AM ET ESPN News Services DETROIT — Paul George scored 32 points, and the LA Clippers overcame a 14-point deficit in the final 3 minutes of regulation to beat the Detroit Pistons 142-131 in overtime on Monday night. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue pulled his starters when his team fell behind 126-112, but a lineup
The Toronto Raptors are in a rough place right now and Joel Embiid didn’t miss an opportunity to kick them while they were down. The Raptors pulled out a 113-106 win over the Knicks on Wednesday night, snapping what had been a six-game losing streak. Overall, they’ve lost nine of their last 12 games, falling
Could James Harden leave the Philadelphia 76ers for the Houston Rockets this offseason? Time is a flat circle, and Harden has a ‘magnetic pull’ to the Houston area. Despite a 76ers win at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day, the biggest story as it pertains to Philadelphia basketball is James Harden. A report dropped by
The excitement of Christmas Day in the NBA is over, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t intriguing basketball on the slate for Monday night. With seven games in action, including a marquee matchup between the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers, I’m going light today with two picks that I love on this board. We’re starting
12:16 AM ET CLEVELAND — Prior to leading his team to its ninth straight win — a 125-117 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night — Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn acknowledged what he thought was the key to his team’s recent hot play. “Basketball,” Vaughn said before the game. “We have not steered
The Orlando Magic started 5-20 and were as unlikely a candidate as you’d find for a six-game win streak. But Markelle Fultz is back and things are clicking. To be clear, the return of Markelle Fultz is not the only reason the Orlando Magic are on a six-game winning streak, including consecutive road wins over
The BetSided team has narrowed its focus to one game in today’s best NBA prop picks, as injuries have opened up some value in the market. Brandon Ingram (toe, out), Herb Jones (health and safety protocols, out) and Zion Williams (doubtful, conditioning) are all expected to sit out the New Orleans Pelicans’ game against the
7:51 PM ET Sacramento Kings All-Star center Domantas Sabonis has been diagnosed with an avulsion fracture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the right thumb, the team announced Monday. The Kings said he will be listed as questionable for Tuesday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets, indicating he may try to play through the injury.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost back-to-back games heading into a Monday matchup with the Heat in Miami. The Heat have a loaded injury report for this game, which has been the status quo, with Bam Adebayo (questionable), Jimmy Butler (questionable), Gabe Vincent (out) and Dewayne Dedmon (out) all listed for this game. The Wolves are
10:38 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN BOSTON — Jayson Tatum scored 41 points, including 20 during the third quarter, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 139-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, turning a marquee Christmas Day matchup featuring the two teams with the best records in the league into a blowout. Boston held a one-point
2:23 AM ET ESPN News Services DENVER — Nikola Jokic authored a triple-double, and the Denver Nuggets outlasted the short-handed Phoenix Suns 128-125 in overtime Sunday night, bringing a grand conclusion to the NBA’s annual Christmas Day slate. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Jokic’s effort, which closed with 41 points, 15 rebounds and
According to some recent rumors. OG Anunoby could be the hottest target available at the NBA Trade Deadline. These trades could put him at the center of major NBA storylines. Everyone wants OG Anunoby, at least according to Zach Lowe. On a recent episode of the Lowe Post podcast, he spent some time singing Anunoby’s
7:55 PM ET DALLAS — The Los Angeles Lakers‘ Christmas Day took a turn for the worse after halftime, with the Mavericks blitzing L.A. in the third quarter to win 124-115, L.A.’s fourth straight loss without Anthony Davis. Lakers coach Darvin Ham has continued to start the 6-foot-1 Patrick Beverley alongside the 6-1 Dennis Schroder
Whether you’re unwrapping presents, spending time with loved ones, or in my case, finishing up Chinese food leftovers from the night before, Christmas day is often best-spent flipping on the television and binging some of the best regular season action the NBA has to offer. Today offers a five-game all day slate, beginning with the
1:25 PM ET DALLAS — On the night that Dirk Nowitzki’s jersey was retired last season, Dallas Mavericks governor Mark Cuban promised to have the “biggest, most badass statue ever” erected in front of the American Airlines Center to honor the legend. “It’s a promise that gives me joy to deliver on, because you earned
The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks played one of the closest and toughest series of the entire playoffs last year in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They’ve had some time away before the rematch, but Adam Silver thought that Christmas Day would be the perfect time for Game 8 of that series that Boston pulled out
9:47 PM ET Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker is expected to return from a groin injury Sunday for the Christmas Day matchup with the Denver Nuggets, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Booker last played one week ago, when he scored 58 points in a comeback win over the New Orleans Pelicans. He landed on the
Dec 18, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates a made basket in the second half against the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Although Anthony Davis may be out a while, the Los Angeles Lakers have three trades they can make in order to
There’s no greater Christmas Day tradition then betting on the NBA Christmas Day slate. Sure, opening presents is fun, but it doesn’t beat sweating out a wager on a mid-afternoon NBA game. Want some tips and tricks for betting on the five games scheduled for Christmas Day? Let me help you out. [embedded content] Defending
Dec 21, 2022 Christmas Day is often filled with holiday cheer, presents and, most importantly, basketball. The NBA will host five games throughout the day airing on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN app, and this year’s matchups are worth the watch. Joel Embiid and James Harden will tip things off and are sure to bring
LeBron is something like a Christmas Day tradition. He’ll play his 17th Christmas Day game of his career when his Los Angeles Lakers travel Texas to face the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic. I’m sure Doncic will be a Christmas mainstay for the NBA in the years to come, but his Mavs are just 17-16
8:00 AM ET The NBA’s star-studded slate of Christmas Day games will pit the game’s best against the best in a high-stakes day of action between top contenders. The surging New York Knicks, with their newest star point guard, Jalen Brunson, and a revitalized Julius Randle, will host MVP candidate Joel Embiid, James Harden and
Everyone assumes the Lakers are going to swing for the fences and make a wild trade to try and compete for a title. But it’s looking like they might play it safe, instead. The Lakers have been connected to all sorts of trade rumors, with interest already reported in Bojan Bogdanovic, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield,
LeBron James can do literally anything on a basketball court. But making himself look cool on social media is still out of his reach. LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. He’s also a world-class cornball. From his Taco Tuesday announcements, to stealing lines from Wayne’s World, to referring to
Two streaking teams meet in Philadelphia on Friday night when the L.A. Clippers face off against the Sixers. The Sixers have won six straight, and have an MVP candidate with a healthy Joel Embiid at center, leading the league in scoring for Philly. They has a stiff test on Friday when the Clippers come to
3:29 PM ET Dave McMenamin Close ESPN Staff Writer Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09. Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 LOS ANGELES —
Bradley Beal’s time with the Washington Wizards has had its highs and lows and it may be coming to an end. The Wizards should trade him while they can. Bradley Beal is currently in his 11th NBA season. He came into the NBA with a league-ready jump shot and the potential to become a great
Kevin Durant has been piling up technical fouls at an alarming rate and he’s blaming them on some overly sensitive officiating this season. Kevin Durant is leading the league with 11 technical fouls this season, a shocking uptick considering it’s still December and he only logged eight all of last season. When someone on Twitter
5:33 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Forward Draymond Green had a blunt assessment about what is holding the Golden State Warriors back following the team’s 1-5 road trip. “Right now, I think we are very fragile,” Green said Friday after practice. “You start going through these things and then you start believing them.
Myles Turner has been one of the hottest names in NBA trade rumors but the Pacers have just signaled their intention to try and keep him. Myles Turner’s future in Indiana has never looked entirely secure over the past few seasons. He’s been mentioned in trade rumors for years and while the path looked clear
Things aren’t working for the Toronto Raptors right now. How aggressive do they need to be in remaking this roster into a contender? After an 11-9 start to the season, the Toronto Raptors have now lost nine of their last twelve to push them to a 14-18 record and 10th place in a loaded Eastern
Dec 21, 2022 Associated Press NEW YORK — Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was fined $25,000 for coming onto the court to confront a referee and directing inappropriate language toward him during a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the NBA announced Wednesday. Kidd was assessed two technical fouls and was ejected late in the third
Robin Lopez and Brook Lopez continue to play out their hilarious sibling rivalry in NBA arenas and on national television. The playful rivalry between twins Robin Lopez and Brook Lopez is one of the NBA’s most reliable sources of delight. Robin, who is also famous for his ongoing prank war with every NBA mascot in
Dec 21, 2022 Tim BontempsESPN The NBA announced Wednesday afternoon that the New York Knicks would lose their 2025 second-round pick as a result of the league’s investigation into the team’s signing of guard Jalen Brunson this summer as a free agent. “This outcome reflected a finding, following an investigation, that the Knicks engaged in
Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports NBA rumors are heating up as the trade deadline gets closer and several struggling teams may be reconsidering who they trade and who they keep. Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report rounded up the latest NBA rumors today, with a piece that touched on several surprising players who could be working their
Fans of esoteric number systems could delight in the Warriors’ Sunday night lineup, featuring five players whose jersey numbers were binary. There’s an old joke that goes — there are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary, and those who don’t. If you don’t get the joke, you’re one of the
The Warriors are without Steph Curry and coming off a historically lopsided loss. How worried should they be about the rest of their season? The Golden State Warriors are in a bad way right now. Steph Curry is out with a shoulder injury, likely until at least mid-Janaury. They’re 1-3 since he was injured but
You’d be hard pressed to find a day where I’m not all in on watching the NBA action, but the schedule makers certainly made things tough today with the two matchups on Dec. 22. The New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs kick things off in New Orleans, but Zion Williamson (healthy safety protocols) and
11:52 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN NEW YORK — As the Golden State Warriors‘ road struggles boiled over in a 143-113 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, head coach Steve Kerr said his team has hit rock bottom. The Warriors are depleted, playing without five rotational players, including three starters, and there is no
Every Basketball Hall-of-Fame class is loaded with all-time greats. But the just-released nominees for the 2023 class are in a tier all their own. Yesterday, the Naismith Basketball Hall-of-Fame announced their nominees for the 2023 class and it’s shaping up to be an absolute doozy. Gregg Popovich is a first-time Basketball Hall of Fame nominee.
6:30 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been placed in the league’s health and safety protocols and will not play Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs. Williamson has been a driving force this season for the Pelicans, who are 18-12 and in third place in the Western Conference. He’s averaging
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports With Zach LaVine’s name in a few negative headlines this week, we look at some possible trade destinations if the Chicago Bulls opt that route. A gigantic storyline surfaced in the NBA this week, with The Athletic reporting Chicago Bulls star guard Zach LaVine experiencing tension with the organization. Per Shams Charania,
10:44 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Pascal Siakam scored a career-high 52 points and the Toronto Raptors snapped the New York Knicks‘ NBA-leading eight-game winning streak 113-106 Wednesday night. “It’s cool,” Siakam said of posting his first 50-point game at Madison Square Garden. “I’m not a super basketball historian. I didn’t start
The Lakers are doing LeBron James and Anthony Davis wrong by not going all in and, according to an NBA insider, are unlikely to make the obvious move. According to Sam Amick of The Atheltic, the Los Angeles Lakers are “unlikely” to trade Russell Westbrook before the deadline. As he goes into the report which
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic managed to pull off one of the most ridiculous assists when facing the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s not an overreaction to say that Luka Doncic is one of the NBA’s top stars. Just last season, he managed to help the Dallas Mavericks make it all the way to the Western Conference
Luka Doncic and head coach Jason Kidd were both ejected against the Grizzlies, prompting a flummoxed response from the Mavericks guard. NBA refs are within their rights to eject players and coaches for the things they say. That doesn’t mean they’re always right about it. On Monday night, Rodney Mott ejected Luka Doncic and then
The Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets face off on Wednesday night, and the Warriors are down several key players in this game. That’s led to the Nets being set as major favorites, so the more interesting way to wager on this game may come by taking some prop bets. Here are three that I’m
3:55 PM ET Associated Press Gregg Popovich has been at the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony many times over the years, always there to show support for someone on the stage. Next year, he might be there in a different capacity. The NBA’s all-time winningest coach — who has quietly declined overtures from the Hall
Dec 4, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey (41) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Allison Farrand-USA TODAY Sports A half-dozen NBA playoff teams reportedly have interest in Bojan Bogdanovic. But he’s not the only trade target
8:00 AM ET It’s not too early to put Jacque Vaughn in the NBA Coach of The Year conversation. The Brooklyn Nets head coach has helped spearhead one of the league’s most dramatic turnarounds in the early season, as the Nets have gone from controversy-laden underachievers to one of the hottest teams in the Eastern
Victor Wembanyama is a once-in-a-generation prospect who has the potential to contend for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the not so distant future. Welcome to the Wemby Show. Next season will mark the beginning of a potentially historic career: at least, that’s what the NBA Draft hype machine would have you believe.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports We aren’t quite sure yet who will be buyers or sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline. But the current buzz is that plenty of talent will be available. We’re exactly two months from this year’s NBA trade deadline — Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. ET, but things are already taking shape.
It’s a lighter NBA slate on Tuesday night, but that doesn’t mean we’re going light in the NBA best bets department! Yours truly has four plays outlined for the night’s action, including a pair of home teams that are facing the worst road teams against the spread this season. Plus, Klay Thompson may have too
11:40 PM ET ESPN News Services The only yells in the Chicago Bulls‘ locker room on Tuesday night were happy ones. Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points, and Chicago stopped a four-game slide by beating the short-handed Miami Heat 113-103. The Bulls looked nothing like the team that
Nov 2, 2022; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl (25) reaches for the rebound while defended by Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa (5) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports With NBA trade deadline rumors heating up, we look at three teams that could be
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports Did Yankees take shot at reporter’s Arson Judge reference? by Rylie Smith With a five-game slate in the NBA on Tuesday, the BetSided team of Peter Dewey and Ben Heisler have narrowed their sights on two games for their best props of the day.
8:00 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN ORLANDO, FLA. — PAOLO BANCHERO was only five years old when the SuperSonics left his hometown of Seattle to become the Oklahoma City Thunder. Still, despite growing up in a city without an NBA team, Banchero was raised by the NBA. Long before the Orlando Magic made Banchero the No.
Dec 18, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) stands on the court in the first half against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports The Los Angeles Lakers need to change to stay afloat in a crowded Western Conference. Luckily, there are three tweaks
1:33 PM ET Billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia is finalizing a purchase of the Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Mercury for a record price of $4 billion, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The deal, expected to be announced as soon as Tuesday, will end the tumultuous tenure of owner Robert Sarver. Ishbia is well known
A nutty athlete with a wing’s size and a point guard’s mind, Amen Thompson’s star potential jumps off the screen. Some NBA and college basketball fans might have trouble watching Amen Thompson this season. He’s playing for the Overtime City Reapers, part of Overtime Elite — Atlanta’s six-team professional league for players 16-20 years old.
Looking for an NBA prop to bet on Monday night? The BetSided team has three, with one play coming on Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell in his first game against his old team. Let’s dive into Monday’s picks: Best NBA Prop Bets Record Best NBA Prop Bets Today James Harden OVER 20.5 Points (-125) Domantas
9:47 PM ET ESPN News Services Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard passed Clyde Drexler to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer Monday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Drexler, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, had 18,040 points in 867 games for the Trail Blazers from 1983-95. Lillard, 32,
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports As the NBA Trade Deadline approaches, the Bulls may have to consider selling off assets and pivoting toward a rebuild. These three huge trades could get them started. Things have not gone according to plan for the Chicago Bulls this season, who at 11-15 sit in 11th in the Eastern
The Mavericks will be without Maxi Kleber for some time, and it should have them upping the offer for a rumored trade target. The Dallas Mavericks will be without forward Maxi Kleber for an indefinite period of time. The team is saying Kleber tore his hamstring during practice on Tuesday and is out indefinitely. The Mavs
Nov 14, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and forward John Collins (20) celebrate a play during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports The Hawks have a lot of interest in shaking up their current underachieving roster. Here are three teams
In a scintillating interview with NBA star Serge Ibaka, Aaron Rodgers admits he is the greater Green Bay Packers quarterback between him and Brett Favre. Serge Ibaka’s move to the Milwaukee Bucks has had a profound effects on the sports landscape, namely by making an exclusive in-season interview with Aaron Rodgers possible. Ibaka featured Rodgers
10:41 PM ET DETROIT — Kevin Durant got so hot in the third quarter of Sunday night’s 124-121 win over the Detroit Pistons that even one of the NBA’s all-time great offensive players lost track of how well he was shooting the ball. Durant scored 26 points in the third, a career high for most
Sharpshooter Kelsey Plum hoisted her first WNBA championship this year and has been living her best life since. Last week on TNT, Plum displayed her quick reflexes as she clapped back at Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley on air. Barkley and Ernie Johnson Jr. host The Steam Room on TNT during the NBA season. During that segment,
12:00 PM ET ON THE AFTERNOON of Sept. 21, Phoenix Suns employees logged onto an all-hands Zoom session led by team president and CEO Jason Rowley. Hours earlier, Robert Sarver had announced he was selling the Suns and Phoenix Mercury amid continuing and widespread anger over his conduct as majority owner. While employees eagerly anticipated
11:42 PM ET ESPN News Services DENVER — Nikola Jokic had 40 points and a career-high 27 rebounds in yet another triple-double to help the Denver Nuggets beat the Charlotte Hornets 119-115 on Sunday night. Jokic also had 10 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season and 81st overall. He is the third player
The Lakers are going to take a hard look at every trade possibility between now and the deadline, including a former Laker who has blossomed elsewhere. The Los Angeles Lakers may have turned the corner, winning nine of their last 15 games with a plus-3.7 point differential. But a rough start to the season has
6:01 PM ET ESPN News Services Former 15-year NBA veteran Amar’e Stoudemire is facing a misdemeanor battery charge after he allegedly hit one of his teenage daughters in the face. Miami-Dade County court records show that Stoudemire, 40, was arrested early Sunday and later released on $1,500 bond with a no-contact order issued. According to
12:51 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Dave McMenamin Close ESPN Staff Writer Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09. Los Angeles Lakers
Kristaps Porzingis spoke with FanSided about his career renaissance and how taking better care of his body has unlocked his potential. When Kristaps Porzingis sits down he has to spread across two folding chairs. A Washington Wizards trainer comes by and drops a pair of ice bags at his feet and, as we begin to
11:47 PM ET ESPN News Services OKLAHOMA CITY — Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was ejected just before halftime of Saturday night’s 115-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder after apparently making remarks to courtside Memphis fans that were derogatory about the officiating. Morant was ejected with 43 seconds left in the half when he
The San Antonio Spurs may be looking to move veteran center Jakob Poeltl but he’s not the only useful piece they could offer a playoff team. The Spurs clearly have their eyes on the future. They have one of the worst records in the league, which means a great shot at landing Victor Wembanyama or
Health and some subtle tweaks have helped Anthony Davis refine his game, making him once again one of the best two-way players in the league. When the Los Angeles Lakers stormed through The Bubble in 2020 (you’ll recall they went a dominant 16-5 in those playoffs), they did it on the backs of arguably the
4:55 PM ET After nearly 10 months of rehabilitation on a torn left ACL, Milwaukee Bucks forward Joe Ingles will make his return against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN on Saturday. Ingles successfully completed a final 5-on-5 workout Saturday, and that was considered the last
Dec 13, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts to a play by the Utah Jazz in the second half at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports The Ringer top 100 NBA player list gets a lot right about the current state of the league, but
8:00 AM ET THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS still had flickering postseason hopes as they prepared for their regular-season finale in Dallas last April. Not that it had been a priority. San Antonio had made a series of moves over the previous months that signaled a shift into a rebuilding period. The Spurs didn’t attempt to
Udonis Haslem rarely gets a chance to start these days. But the Heat needed him Thursday night against a group of young players who weren’t even born when he joined the NBA. There are veteran leaders and then there is Udonis Haslem. He is currently in his 20th NBA season, all with the Miami Heat.
12:33 AM ET TORONTO — Kyrie Irving knocked down the first buzzer-beating game winner of his NBA career in a thrilling 119-116 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. Irving shook off Raptors guard Fred VanVleet as the final seconds ticked off the clock, stepped behind the 3-point line and nailed the clutch shot
In a mailbag edition of The Whiteboard, we’re answering questions on the latest NBA trade rumors, conference favorites and more. It’s time for a Friday mailbag, answering your questions with all the insight and brevity I can muster. We’ll be back next week with more so if you have questions, comments or trivia you want
There are just four games in the NBA on Thursday, and that may be a good thing after suffering some brutal beats in NBA Best Bets Today article on Wednesday. Shout out to you, Terry Rozier… Today, we bounce back, and I have two NBA plays with one coming a little further off the board
7:28 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The Miami Heat listed all 16 of their players on the injury report ahead of the Saturday game against the San Antonio Spurs in Mexico City. The injury update came just hours after the Heat were fined $25,000 by the NBA for violating the league’s injury reporting rules. According to
A dedicated group of fans and advocates have kept the dream of the Seattle SuperSonics alive, preparing for the day when NBA expansion brings their beloved team back. The SuperSonics aren’t dead. Brian Robinson has had that same staggering thought washing over him since 2008. That was the year the Sonics relocated to Oklahoma. He
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN There is a narrow leader in the early race for the Michael Jordan Trophy. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who is averaging a career-high 30.2 points per game, claimed 47 first-place votes and was on 98 of 100 ballots cast in the 2022-23 debut of ESPN’s NBA MVP straw poll,
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) The 2023 NBA Draft will be the most hotly anticipated in years. How will the first round play out after the inevitable selection at No. 1? With the new year on our doorstep, it’s never too early to look ahead to next summer’s NBA Draft. While there’s an obvious headliner
Many NBA players neglect to consider what comes after basketball, focusing all their energy into the game. Not Derrick Rose, he has a plan. Derrick Rose was never able to recapture the magic of his MVP-winning, pre-injury, peak-athletic days, but he’s had a more than respectable NBA career. His career averages — 17.8 points, 5.3
Dec 14, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) shoots in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports The Warriors will be without Steph Curry for the next few weeks as he recovers from a shoulder injury. How do the Warriors stay
11:49 PM ET ESPN News Services HOUSTON — Tyler Herro matched the Miami record with 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 41 points to help the Heat beat the Houston Rockets 111-108 on Thursday night. A night after making nine 3-pointers and scoring 35 points in a victory at Oklahoma City, Herro became the fourth
The Los Angeles Lakers are exploring all sorts of trade options and a new, multi-player blockbuster rumor has emerged as a possibility. Since early in the offseason we had heard the idea of the Los Angeles Lakers trading Russell Westbrook and their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and
There are just four games in the NBA on Thursday night, but there are still plenty of props to wager on, and the BetSided team has a pair that they love in the Memphis Grizzlies-Milwaukee Bucks matchup. Jaren Jackson Jr. has been terrific since returning to the lineup for the Grizzlies, and Ben Heisler thinks
3:48 PM ET Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is expected to miss “a few weeks” with a left shoulder injury, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Warriors announced on Thursday that Curry suffered a left shoulder subluxation but did not provide a timeline for return. On Off Minutes 894 503 Off. efficiency 118.9 99.9
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 04: Zach LaVine #8, Nikola Vucevic #9 and DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls look on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a preseason game at the United Center on October 04, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
Reddit is a collection point for some of the strangest theories and ideas on the internet. Here are the best NBA conspiracy theories they’ve cataloged. Skeptical or not, we all love a good (harmless) conspiracy theory and sports is fertile ground. Everyone knows the big, legendary NBA conspiracy theories — David Stern’s frozen envelope to
Dec 14, 2022 ESPN News Services CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Detroit Pistons beat the Hornets 141-134 in overtime Wednesday night, spoiling LaMelo Ball‘s return to the floor and prompting Charlotte coach Steve Clifford to lay into his team after the game for only caring about “how many points we score.” Ball, playing in only his
Jae Crowder still has yet to be traded, despite not appearing in a single game for the Suns this year. The reason why was recently revealed. Early in the year, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report suggested a trade moving Jae Crowder from the Suns to an unnamed team (in a three-team deal) was close to
Steph Curry was torching the Indiana Pacers until an apparent shoulder injury sent him to the locker room in the third quarter. Steph Curry was doing everything he could to keep the Warriors in the game against the Indiana Pacers. Golden State trailed by 20, 74-54, at the end of the first half but Curry
9:21 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN INDIANAPOLIS — Stephen Curry will receive an MRI on Thursday in Philadelphia after injuring his left shoulder in the Golden State Warriors‘ 125-119 loss at the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Curry sustained the injury with 2:04 left in the third quarter after attempting to strip Indiana’s Jalen Smith of the
The Phoenix Suns are going to be shopping for help at the NBA Trade Deadline. They are also currently up for sale, which could complicate things. The Phoenix Suns have been heavily involved in trade rumors since early in the season when it was clear that Jae Crowder wanted out. A few different permutations of
It seems like the Lakers may be trending away from trading Russell Westbrook, but that doesn’t mean he won’t eventually be on the move. Since moving to the bench, things have stabilized a bit for Russell Westbrook and the Lakers. They’ve won nine of their last 15 games and Westbrook has averaged 14.7 points, 7.5
There are 20 NBA teams in action on Wednesday, so rather than comb through every game for prop bets, why don’t you let the BetSided team do that for you? Peter Dewey and Ben Heisler have taken a long look at tonight’s slate, and they have a pair of picks back, including a one for
2:00 PM ET The NBA and its players’ union have agreed to extend the deadline to give notice of plans to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement to Feb. 8, the sides announced in a joint statement Wednesday. Prior to Wednesday’s agreement, the opt-out deadline had been Thursday. Now it falls one day before
When asked why he’s so hard to keep out of the paint, Ja Morant said exactly what every fan has been thinking since he came into the league. Ja Morant plays with an unbelievable confidence and that’s always extended to saying exactly what’s on his mind, no matter how much bulletin board material he might
February 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; NBA great Charles Barkley is honored for being selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during halftime in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports San Francisco Giants dream lineup with Carlos Correa in it by Kevin Henry Charles Barkley didn’t
8:00 AM ET Picture this: Zion Williamson vs. Ja Morant in this year’s Western Conference finals. The New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies look capable of bringing that showdown to NBA audiences this year with their recent surge to the top of the West standings. Then again, just a few weeks ago, some were quivering
After a career game from Anthony Davis, we’re taking the long view and putting his career year in the context of his Hall-of-Fame resume. Anthony Davis’ masterful destruction of the Washington Wizards — 55 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks on 22-of-30 from the field — will drive some narratives today. And there are plenty of
From outlier 3-point shooting to the most inexplicable technical foul you’ve ever seen, last night was a weird one around the NBA. There are 1,230 games in an NBA season, stretched out over six months, an enormous canvas on which to paint all sorts of weird and never-seen-before scenes. But sometimes it all seems to
12:28 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN MILWAUKEE — A fan was thrown out of the Golden State Warriors–Milwaukee Bucks game Tuesday night at Fiserv Forum after exchanging words with Draymond Green. As Giannis Antetokounmpo lined up for two free throws with 6:30 left in the third quarter of an eventual 128-111 Bucks win, a fan with
Nov 4, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Evan Fournier (13) warms up before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be linked in trade rumors with almost every player who could be available. But who actually
The Lakers have reportedly had their eyes on Bojan Bogdanovic but one NBA insider says they’re going to have a hard time prying him from the Pistons. The Lakers have been linked to a half-dozen high-value trade targets already this season but an NBA insider is implying that one dream target may be out of
10:22 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN WHEN WILL HARDY first saw Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet‘s weird trick to contest 3-pointers, he was bemused. “I thought it was absolutely f—ing hilarious,” Hardy, who spent last season as an assistant with the Celtics before becoming head coach of the Utah Jazz this summer, told ESPN. “‘You’re 20
With the NBA choosing to rename the league MVP award after Michael Jordan, the ongoing GOAT debate can finally end. It’s over now. Hall of Famer Michael Jordan will forever be the greatest basketball player of all time. The latest news reaffirmed that. Tuesday’s announcement by the NBA that they’re renaming the league MVP trophy
8:00 AM ET The NBA is renaming its annual regular-season MVP award after Michael Jordan, the player who topped ESPN’s ranking of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team named last season. The league unveiled the newly designed Michael Jordan Trophy on Tuesday, along with five other reimagined trophies named after league pioneers that will now be
It’s been nearly two years since James Harden last wore a Rockets uniform. But could the franchise legend eventually find his way back? James Harden’s career has taken plenty of twists since leaving the Houston Rockets. He spurred a trade to get himself to the Brooklyn Nets early in the 2020-21 season but played just
The NBA Rookie of the Year race has gotten crowded as several young players have found a niche and started putting up signature moments. The last time we looked at the Rookie of the Year race was in the middle of the preseason and since then we’ve already seen several top candidates rising and falling.
1:11 AM ET ESPN News Services PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard tied his own regular-season franchise record by making 11 3-pointers and finished with 38 points, leading the Portland Trail Blazers over the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-112 on Monday night. Lillard shot 11-for-17 from long range, and he didn’t play in the fourth quarter. The Blazers
Eventually, every NBA team will be in the mix to trade for Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins. It has become so beyond exhausting how many times Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins’ name has come up in trade rumors in recent years. The former Wake Forest star is Atlanta’s longest-tenured player. He is a borderline All-Star, but
Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green cursed at a fan earlier this week, and the fan defended Green by offering to match his fine. Warriors star Draymond Green was fined $25K for cursing at a fan on Wednesday, but the fan disagreed with the fine and offered to match it and donate to Green’s favorite
Draymond Green shared his top-5 players of all time and filled the final spot with a questionable choice for a traditional big man. Almost every living, noteworthy NBA player, past or present, has been asked in one interview or another to list their top 5 players of all time. This, of course, feeds a cottage
5:58 PM ET Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft — plans to have season-ending surgery on his left shin, sources told ESPN on Monday. Cunningham, who has been sidelined since Nov. 9, consulted with multiple doctors in recent weeks and ultimately decided with the Pistons
The Los Angeles Lakers have turned their season around, but a trade target could push them right over the edge into Finals contention. The Los Angeles Lakers started the season 0-5 and then went 2-10 in their first 12 games. Since then, they’ve gone 9-5 in the subsequent 14 games. At 11-15 overall, they’ve certainly
The 2023 NBA Draft class is loaded with intriguing talent. Which players on our NBA Draft Big Board have the best chances of success at the next level? The bulk of the conversation around the 2023 NBA Draft has revolved around one player: Victor Wembanyama. He’s a true singularity, the kind of player who comes
8:00 AM ET HOW DOES A 6-foot-2 point guard whose self-described weight is “175 soaking wet” rank right up there with the NBA’s best big men in paint scoring? “Because motherf—ers can’t stay in front of me,” Ja Morant told ESPN after pondering the question for about as long as it takes him to get
11:21 PM ET DETROIT — If not for an Austin Reaves 3-pointer with 12.1 seconds remaining, the Los Angeles Lakers might have dropped the final leg of their six-game road trip Sunday against the Pistons. Instead, L.A. completed a 124-117 win against a Detroit team with the worst record in the league at 7-22 to
What do you say we close out the weekend with a strong night betting in the NBA? Yours truly has been hot as of late, hitting on five of my last six picks to really improve this season’s record. We did miss on the Boston Celtics last night, but I have three plays that I
2:15 PM ET ESPN News Services Basketball taught Paul Silas how to be patient. As a player, he waited 10 years before winning his first championship. As a coach, he waited 15 years for a second chance at running a team. As a father, he waited 20 years before seeing his son get a chance
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports There’ve been a lot of bad NBA contracts over the years, but below is a list of the 10 worst all-time signings in recent NBA history The National Basketball Association has been in existence since 1946. It’s gone through multiple expansions and mergers to become what it is now. Over the
11:18 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — John Wall stole the ball and then sank a jumper, and although he was a member of the visiting team now, the fans in Washington still sounded impressed. So he egged them on a bit by yelling something he revealed after the game. “Still my city,” he said.
A new lawsuit filed against the University of Vermont for Title IX violations includes an accusation of rape against Anthony Lamb of the Golden State Warriors. A recent lawsuit filed U.S. District Court in Burlington accuses the University of Vermont of Title IX violations related to the school’s handling of a rape accusation against basketball
1:25 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — In their first matchup since Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals, the Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 123-107 on Saturday night in Golden State’s best and most complete game of the season. Entering the contest, the Celtics were considered the better of the two teams with
Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole went at a follower on social media who DM’d him after a lost bet. The lesson here is simple: Don’t ever meet your heroes. Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole evidently does have time to deal with social media complaints, one by one. Poole replied to a follower who
7:00 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN IT’S NOV. 20 AND the Golden State Warriors are in the middle of a surprisingly competitive tilt against the 3-13 Houston Rockets. On paper, the Warriors should be running away with this game, against a much younger, less experienced, much happier to lose team. With 4:46 left in the first
The Dallas Mavericks need to win now with Luka Doncic, or they could be at risk of losing him down the line. NBA superstars the caliber of Luka Doncic don’t come around that often. Doncic’s usage rate is through the roof, and while it may not make for the most consistent way to win basketball
8:00 AM ET WHEN THE NBA released its 2022-23 schedule in August, John Wall immediately scanned the page until he got to Dec. 10. LA Clippers at Washington Wizards. 7 p.m. Capital One Arena. Since the day he was traded for Russell Westbrook in a deal between the Wizards and Houston Rockets on Dec. 2,
Jayson Tatum had a 49-point game against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, possibly making him the frontrunner for the MVP award. The Boston Celtics won their fifth game in a row, sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference with an 18-4 record. The Celtics are, actually, the best team in the NBA past
The New Orleans Pelicans are atop the Western Conference standings and making good on their championship aspirations with dominance at both ends. With a 104-98 win over the Detroit Pistons and a loss by the Phoenix Suns, the New Orleans Pelicans are in first place in the Western Conference. It’s a stunning turnaround from 12
1:15 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — Shortly after his Philadelphia 76ers escaped with a 133-122 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, coach Doc Rivers eased into a chair before the news conference and, before he could answer a question, summed up how his night played out. “I thought we would start this about
Nate McMillan’s history with building relationships with his players is poor. It adds context to Trae Young’s insubordination. On its face, Trae Young skipping a game without the explicit approval of Atlanta Hawks head coach Nate McMillan is a really bad look for Young, but a deeper examination reveals context around McMillan’s history as a
Trae Young has quite enjoyed torturing the Knicks inside Madison Square Garden and he had a message on his shoes for Wednesday’s game at MSG. It would be hard to pick your favorite time that Trae Young put Knicks fans through an emotional torture chamber at Madison Square Garden simply because of how many times
With just three games on the docket in the NBA on Thursday night, the focus turns to the Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat in the early games, and the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers later in the night. Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard’s statuses for tonight’s game are in question, which could make
6:12 PM ET John Wall has been looking forward to playing in front of fans again in Washington, D.C., and he will do that while likely making his first start for the LA Clippers. Wall is in line to make his first start of the season on Saturday against his former Washington Wizards team after
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Dec 7, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots the ball as Charlotte Hornets guard Theo Maledon (9) defends during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Who was the last Heisman Trophy winner from USC? by John Buhler 10 games make up the Friday
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN THE BOSTON CELTICS visited the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday in a heavily anticipated showdown between conference leaders a third of the way through the 2022-23 NBA season. It quickly turned into a statement from the best offense in the league. The Celtics steadily increased their lead from 10 to 20
Jonathan Kuminga and Jordan Clarkson nearly came to blows during Wednesday’s Warriors-Jazz game but the former couldn’t help but laugh at the latter. One of the last things you expect to see on an NBA floor when tempers are flaring is one of the potential combatants laughing heartily. But leave it to Golden State Warriors
Kevin Durant doesn’t want you to know how tall he really is. Even if you ask, he probably won’t tell you the whole truth. With a completely unfiltered social media presence, Kevin Durant is about as accessible a professional athlete as you’re likely to find. But random thoughts and trolling responses isn’t quite the same
6:49 PM ET Rudy Gobert, who hoped to make Utah home for his entire NBA career, eagerly anticipates returning to Vivint Arena for the first time as a member of the visiting team when his Minnesota Timberwolves play the Jazz on Friday night. “There’s probably going to be a lot of emotions, but I just
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports The Knicks are reportedly looking to trade Cam Reddish and plenty of teams should be interested, even with his struggles this season. It appears that Cam Reddish’s time with the New York Knicks may be coming to a close. The former lottery pick is 6-of-29 from beyond the arc over his
Another day, another NBA Best Bets column from yours truly, and as usual on Thursday, we’re going with a player prop heavy card with just three games on the slate. My strategy with props lately has been pretty simple, as I’ve been trying to find lines that are a bit too low or high for
6:49 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Hawks guard Dejounte Murray is expected to miss about two weeks because of a sprained left ankle, the third Atlanta starter to go down with an injury in the past week. Murray was hurt Wednesday night early in the first quarter of a 113-89 loss to the New
Anthony Davis has sparked a hot streak for the Los Angeles Lakers, but that run has been propelled by one player fans were ready to trade for anything. The Los Angeles Lakers have turned their season around, moving from 2-10 after their first 12 games to 8-2 in their last 10. At 10-12, they still
8:00 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — WITH the trio of Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans were thought to have one of the best offenses in the league entering 2022-23. Ingram averaged nearly 24 points per game during his first two seasons in New Orleans and was at
The NBA announced a new trophy to recognize the team with the best regular-season record. The question is who will actually want it? Yesterday, the NBA announced it was going to begin recognizing the team with the best regular-season record each year with the Maurice Podoloff Trophy. (This likely means the MVP trophy will be renamed
1:37 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SALT LAKE CITY — The Golden State Warriors held a four-point lead over the Utah Jazz with 13.3 seconds remaining in the game. They had clawed their way back after trailing by 12 in the third quarter and did so without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. But what
Ian Maule-Getty Images After a quarter of regular season play, here are 15 early season predictions for the Western Conference. This is a continuation of the early season predictions series that was published on opening night. 15 predictions for the Eastern Conference can be found here. Denver Nuggets finish in the bottom half of the
4:02 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Suns star Chris Paul is expected to play for the first time in a month when Phoenix hosts the Boston Celtics Wednesday night. Paul, who has been out since Nov. 7 when he suffered a heel injury that forced him to leave a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, is listed
Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images How did the Sacramento Kings finally find their formula? by Ian Levy Desmond Howard, Cardale Jones get into heated Twitter exchange about Heisman finalists by John Buhler Moses Moody was supposed to be a key part of the Warriors’ young core. Instead, he’s on the outside of the rotation looking
7:00 AM ET In the span of a week, Anthony Davis somewhat changed the outlook of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ season. What was once an underperforming collection of aging stars is now a hot team capable of beating the NBA elite, anchored by one of the league’s best big men in Davis. But the Lakers
ATLANTA – MARCH 23: Bob Rathbun Master of Ceremonies speaks at the Atlanta Tipoff Club Naismith Award Banquet at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on March 23, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Paul Abell/Getty Images for Naismith Award) Houston Astros: Dusty Baker doubles down on why Willson Contreras trade didn’t happen by Kevin Henry 4
6:45 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SALT LAKE CITY — The Golden State Warriors announced Tuesday they have recalled center James Wiseman from their G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. The Warriors will fly to Salt Lake City on Tuesday afternoon for a one-game road trip against the Jazz on Wednesday, which Wiseman is expected
Paolo Banchero talked about Bol Bol reminding people that the OG Victor Wembanyama might already be playing in the NBA. “Everyone talks about the Victor dude from France.” Paolo Banchero talked to HoopsHype recently and discussed Bol Bol’s growing candidacy to earn this season’s Most Improved Player of the Year award. When asked about his
The Sacramento Kings are winning games and loaded with good vibes. How did this long-suffering franchise finally turn it around? It’s been 16 years since the Sacramento Kings last made the playoffs. but as of today, they’re 13-9, in fifth place in the Western Conference and have a 66 percent chance of making the postseason,
8:00 AM ET Brian Windhorst and a team of ESPN Insiders sort out life and the news from in and around the NBA world. NBA owners quietly made a move last month that has potentially big ramifications. A few weeks ago, the Board of Governors approved a rule change that allows sovereign wealth funds to
We’ve seen an unusually high number of 30-point-per-game scorers this season. Who is in the lead for the NBA scoring crown? As of today, there are six players averaging 30 or more points per game and another, Kevin Durant, at 29.9. On the same date last season, exactly zero players were averaging 30 or more.
The Brooklyn Nets recognized Blake Griffin for his “storied” tenure with the team with a tribute video on his return. We’re as confused as you are. The tribute video for a player’s first game against his old team can be a touching way for an organization to say thank you to a former player, recognizing
8:00 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN MILWAUKEE — EVAN MOBLEY steps beyond the 3-point line to set a screen for Donovan Mitchell, a two-man tandem the Cleveland Cavaliers hope will carry them into the future. It’s the first quarter during a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks — the first of two November road tests for the
LeBron James has a chance to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Could he take the No. 1 spot in career assists as well? Over the weekend, LeBron James passed Magic Johnson and moved into sixth place in the all-time career leaderboard. It’s a remarkable accomplishment any way you look at it, but seems even
7:03 PM ET ESPN News Services HOUSTON — James Harden struggled through his return from injury Monday night as the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Houston Rockets 132-123 in double overtime. Harden had 21 points but shot 4-for-19 from the field in his first game since Nov. 2. He said he felt good but was
Bradley Beal’s Wizards deal for five years and $251 million surprised NBA fans, but he admitted he made the deal because there weren’t any competitive teams available. Bradley Beal re-signing with the Washington Wizards in the summer for five years and $251 million came as a surprise to some people. As one of the bigger-name
5:04 PM ET Nick DePaulaESPN After initially suspending its partnership with Kyrie Irving and scrapping the release of his upcoming Kyrie 8 signature shoe last month, Nike confirmed Monday that it has fully cut ties with the Brooklyn Nets point guard. “Kyrie is no longer a Nike athlete,” a Nike company spokesperson told ESPN. Irving’s
Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns had to be helped to the locker room after suffering a non-contact, right leg injury. The Minnesota Timberwolves entered Monday night on a two-game losing streak, looking to bring it to an end with a win over the Washington Wizards. Not just that, but to get over .500, as they
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry is one of the best shooters in NBA history, but a video of him making full-court shots was confirmed fake. When it comes to who is one of the best shooters in NBA history, that is current Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry. Just last year, he had broken
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Before the New York Knicks hosted the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday afternoon, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about the NBA’s emphasis on enforcing traveling this season. “I’m all for it,” Thibodeau said. Over the ensuing 36 hours, the Knicks were hit with six violations in a
11:31 PM ET WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the ball fell through the hoop late in the fourth quarter on Sunday — Anthony Davis‘ 20th made field goal, accounting for his 49th and 50th points of the night — the Capital One Arena crowd let the visiting Los Angeles Lakers big man hear their appreciation. “M-V-P!
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: Dru Smith #9 of the Miami Heat warms up before the game before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on October 29, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the
2:24 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward Dean Wade could miss one month with a sprained left shoulder, the latest injury for a Cleveland team that has been dealing with them all season. Wade was injured in the first half of Friday’s win over the Orlando Magic. Wade didn’t score a point in
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4:45 PM ET LOS ANGELES — After participating in practice Friday, the LA Clippers‘ Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were ruled out against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Without their two best players, the Clippers were crushed by the Kings 123-96 at Crypto.com Arena. Head coach Ty Lue said his star players came out of
After a disastrous start, the Lakers have been building positive momentum. Moving Russell Westbrook to the bench has been a big part of their turnaround. Don’t look now, but the Lakers have five of their last six games and climbed their way out of the Western Conference basement. Some improved shooting numbers have helped (thank
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports Patrick Mahomes reveals iconic name for newborn son (Photo) by Amy Kaplan Steelers beat Colts on MNF, Jeff Saturday fails clock management test: Best memes, tweets by Scott Rogust Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James subbed out of the team’s game against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night due to an
Luke Kornet has made himself a part of the Boston Celtics rotation this season, delighting fans with the ‘Kornet Kontest’, his signature defensive move. Visit Twitter during any Celtics game this season and you’re likely to see mentions of the ‘Kornet Kontest’, an unorthodox method for challenging shots by center Luke Kornet. There aren’t a
10:01 PM ET ESPN News Services Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was ejected in the first half of the Saturday’s 135-128 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder after he appeared to purposefully trip Kenrich Williams. Gobert contested Williams on a drive to the rim with 9:22 to go in the second quarter, causing Williams
LeBron James wants to talk about Jerry Jones and a photo of him as a teenager appearing to block Black students from entering a school. Jones isn’t interested in that conversation. After a game against the Trail Blazers Wednesday night, LeBron James called out the media for not asking him any questions about an old
4:32 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Luka Doncic came into Madison Square Garden today wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey — a payment on a lost bet to his former teammate, Jalen Brunson, whom he and the Mavericks faced for the first time here Saturday afternoon since Brunson signed with the Knicks as a
Myles Turner recently made the big decision to change agents. Could this change signal a coming trade to the Los Angeles Lakers? According to Marc Stein, Myles Turner has changed agents from BDA to CAA. This detail on its own probably won’t mean much to most fans. But for a player who seemingly begged the
Photo credit should read BRIAN BAHR/AFP via Getty Images How do seeding, matchups work for the World Cup knockout stage? by Josh Wilson Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley haven’t spoken to each other in over a decade, and the reason why is a bit puzzling. At one point, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were friends,
8:00 AM ET At 2:44 p.m. ET on Oct. 27, roughly five hours before the Brooklyn Nets were set to take on the Dallas Mavericks at home, Kyrie Irving hit send on a tweet. The post, without any text, was an Amazon link to a movie called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” centered
Chris Paul was trending on Twitter on Thursday night after Kanye West lobbed an accusation that the Suns star had an affair with Kim Kardashian. You never know what’s going to hit Twitter at any given time. Sometimes it’s memes about the latest NFL game circulating. Sometimes it’s Kanye West lobbing a grenade into the
10:10 PM ET MILWAUKEE — LeBron James moved past Magic Johnson on the NBA’s all-time assists list while wearing a Los Angeles Lakers uniform Friday, but he knows his place in the pecking order when it comes to Laker lore. “To know that I’m in the conversation or about to get to a point that
Steph Curry isn’t just a gifted shooter. He trains in unbelievably difficult and unique ways to keep his game sharp and his body healthy. The Warriors have gotten off to a rough start this season but you can’t blame Steph Curry. At 34, he’s on pace to average more than 30 points per game for
You may have heard rumors that Draymond Green would like to be traded to the Lakers. Well, he just answered all that for himself. Between his unresolved contract extension, the preseason altercation with Jordan Poole and a rockier-than-expected start to the season for the Warriors, you could understand if Draymond Green was re-considering his long-term
Nikola Mirotic played in the NBA, is now competing in the EuroLeague, and is already crafting his post-retirement future by producing cheese on a farm he owns in Serbia. Nikola Mirotic joined Real Madrid at the ripe age of 14 years of age all the way back in 2005. Just for context, Luka Doncic was
3:12 PM ET PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — Kawhi Leonard and Paul George returned to LA Clippers‘ practice Friday and are on the verge of returning to action. Coach Ty Lue said the two Clippers likely will be considered questionable for Saturday’s game against Sacramento depending on how they both feel after Friday’s practice. Leonard has
The 2022 deadline deal that sent Domantas Sabonis to the Kings and Tyrese Haliburton to the Pacers was a shocker. So far, it’s been a win-win. The Sacramento Kings shocked the basketball world at the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline, dealing breakout young guard Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson to the Indiana Pacers for
Dec 1, 2022 LOS ANGELES — After answering questions about the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 128-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, LeBron James turned things around on the reporters in the room with a query of his own. Why, James wanted to know, had he not been asked about a photograph that recently
Nov 4, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) passes the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports The reigning champions Golden State Warriors are playing mediocre .500 basketball one quarter into the season. Here are three
8:08 PM ET ESPN News Services Atlanta starting forwards De’Andre Hunter and John Collins will be out for a stretch of games after they were hurt in Wednesday’s 125-108 victory over the Orlando Magic. The Hawks said Hunter will miss at least one week after an MRI revealed a right hip flexor strain. The injury-plagued
Nov 28, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports Most of the in-season deals happen right before the NBA Trade Deadline in February. But these five guys could be
As we round the first quarter of the NBA season, the best teams and true championship contenders are beginning to separate themselves. We are well past the point in the season where we can begin to separate the good teams from the bad, but the best-of-the-best are increasingly creating space between themselves and the rest
11:58 AM ET After rehabilitating offseason wrist surgery, Milwaukee Bucks All-Star forward Khris Middleton plans to make his season debut Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN. Middleton, who had a procedure in July to repair torn ligaments, returns with the Bucks (15-5) holding onto second place in the Eastern Conference behind the
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 10: Mike Conley #11 and Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena on January 10, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is
9:00 AM ET Boston Celtics center Al Horford has agreed on a two-year, $20 million contract extension that ties him to the franchise through his 39th birthday in 2025, his agent Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management told ESPN on Thursday morning. Horford, a five-time All-Star, is completing the final season of a four-year, $109
Tyrese Haliburton is breaking new ground with his assist stats this season. But don’t overlook what he’s doing on defense for the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton is having a remarkable season for the surprising Indiana Pacers, pushing himself into all sorts of outlier statistical territory. His assist to Andrew Nembhard on the game-winning 3-pointer against
12:21 AM ET ESPN News Services Devin Booker torched the Chicago Bulls for a season-high 51 points in just three quarters as the Phoenix Suns stretched their winning streak to six games with a 132-113 victory on Wednesday night. Booker scored 25 points in the first half and had 26 more in a sublime third
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a poor start this season, unable to find a rhythm or lineup that works. Here are five moves they can make to save their season. At this point, the Los Angeles Lakers seem to be treading water. It’s unclear if any move they make