It was a rough start to the week on Monday with a dreaded reverse sweep in our NBA best bets, but I’m hoping we can turn things around on Tuesday night with the five-game slate. LeBron James could return for the Los Angeles Lakers against the New York Knicks, and I have an under the
Month: January 2023
2:15 PM ET NEW YORK — LeBron James will return to the lineup Tuesday night against the New York Knicks, sources told ESPN, making his first appearance at Madison Square Garden in three years. James sat out of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 121-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday because of “significant soreness” in
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports 3 Super Bowl x-factors who have to step up for the Kansas City Chiefs by Nick Villano The Clippers will be looking for an upgrade and NBA trade rumors say Kawhi Leonard is encouraging them to trade for a former teammate of his.
As several high-profile names seem to be coming off the board, NBA trade rumors have identified a new focus for multiple teams. Rui Hachimura has already been traded. The Wizards seem to be broadcasting their willingness to keep Kyle Kuzma and try to re-sign him. Myles Turner has signed an extension with the Indiana Pacers.
10:11 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff will coach Team Giannis in the 2023 All-Star Game next month in Salt Lake City, the NBA announced Monday night. Mazzulla and Boston’s coaching staff earned the honor when the Philadelphia 76ers saw their seven-game win streak snapped by the Orlando
FOX announcers accidentally referred to San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell as Donovan Mitchell. The Cleveland Cavaliers guard said he wouldn’t be good in the NFL. The NFL is just one round of the playoffs removed from Super Bowl 57. This past weekend, eight teams entered the Divisional Round, and only four remain. The
The spread of the 3-pointer means a lot of unusual names are going to be near the top of all-time 3-point leaderboards for many NBA teams. Cedi Osman celebrated a milestone Sunday, going 7-for-7 from beyond the arc and moving into the No. 6 spot on the Cleveland Cavaliers all-time 3-point leaderboard. It’s a great
Sometimes there aren’t a ton of spreads in the NBA where you feel like you can take advantage, and Monday’s slate happens to be one of those days for me. That’s the beauty of the prop market. I have three plays on Monday across three different games where we can get some value on players
12:49 AM ET DALLAS — Luka Doncic made a detour toward the Detroit Pistons‘ bench during a timeout with 7.1 seconds remaining in the Dallas Mavericks‘ 111-105 win Monday night. He approached Pistons assistant coach Jerome Allen to offer a few parting thoughts, punctuating a conversation that had continued throughout the game, a final exchange
Injuries might be the only thing holding Nick Smith Jr. back from emerging as the best NBA Draft prospect in college basketball. Nick Smith Jr. has played five games (119 total minutes) for the Arkansas Razorbacks. For reasons termed “right knee management,” Smith has been out indefinitely with no clear return date. Whether he returns
The award markets in the NBA can be extremely volatile, as injuries, media narratives and head-to-head matchups can certainly sway things in the end of season voting. While some of those things apply to the league’s MVP market much more than the Most Improved Player market, I do think the odds for the MIP are
10:49 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo saw it coming. The Milwaukee Bucks star was about to start a postgame on-court interview when out of the corner of his eye, he saw his teammates standing in the tunnel. He knew exactly what they were plotting, too. As more teammates emerged, Antetokounmpo slowly started
The Atlanta Hawks are still shopping John Collins as the trade deadline approaches. Now NBA trade rumors have identified a surprising new suitor. A half-dozen teams have already been reportedly linked to the Atlanta Hawks and John Collins, including the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers and more. The 25-year-old power forward has
Sunday’s NBA slate gets started with the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat facing off at 1 p.m. EST, but we have just four games in total to bet on. With key players potentially sitting out the second leg of a back-to-back in the Milwaukee Bucks-New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers-Cleveland Cavaliers matchups, I have
5:51 PM ET The fallout from the Los Angeles Lakers‘ overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday continued Sunday with a statement from the National Basketball Referees Association on its official Twitter account. “Like everyone else, referees make mistakes,” the union wrote in its tweet. “We made one at the end of last night’s
Complaining just comes with the territory when it comes to sports. But Kevin Durant has heard enough of it from basketball fans. The popularity of the NBA is at an all-time high but sometimes it feels like all the focus is on what’s wrong with the game. Tanking. Players resting for big games. A meaningless
The Milwaukee Bucks are making a charge in the Eastern Conference, winning seven of their last 10 games, including three straight to pull within three games of the No. 1 seed. The return of Khris Middleton has really bolstered Milwakee’s offense, and the team is favored heavily at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on
10:43 PM ET NBA scoring has seen a notable explosion so far this season, particularly among the league’s stars. Already, there have been 17 50-point games this season, which is the third most before the All-Star break all-time and most since the 1962-63 season, per ESPN Stats & Information research. The NBA could be on
On a last-second drive, LeBron James appeared to sustain contact from Jayson Tatum, yet a foul wasn’t called. Here’s what NBA officials said. The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics by four points in overtime on Saturday following a controversial fourth-quarter-ending no-call where LeBron James drove to the rim and appeared to get
The Lakers suffered a painful, unjust loss to the Celtics. Here’s what LeBron James and the rest of the team had to say on a controversial no-call. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers got absolutely screwed in their overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. The referees themselves admitted it. James drove
We have a standalone game on Sunday night in the NBA, and there are plenty of prop bets to consider for the Milwaukee Bucks’ matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. I have picks for players on both teams, including an under-the-radar rebound prop for Pelicans wing Herb Jones. Here’s the breakdown for each play as
5:07 PM ET NEW YORK — LeBron James and Anthony Davis were both ruled out of Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Sunday. On the front end of back-to-back games in New York, James will be held out with left ankle soreness. Editor’s Picks Davis is resting with a right
Myles Turner and the Pacers agreed to a $60 million extension on Saturday, a deal that removes a huge trade chip from the deadline market. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Indiana Pacers have agreed to an extension with big man Myles Turner worth $60 million over two years (with $17 million of the extension tacked
The Brooklyn Nets host the New York Knicks today, coming off two straight losses to Philadelphia and Detroit. Without KD, the 29-19 Nets are doing their best to tread water and are sitting in fourth in the east. The New York Knicks are just a couple of games back, in seventh place, at 27-23, and
5:17 PM ET Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner has agreed to a two-year, $60 million contract extension that includes an additional $17.1 million renegotiation on his 2022-23 salary, his agent Austin Brown of CAA Sports told ESPN on Saturday. The deal will include a $17.1 million renegotiation bump — the largest in NBA history —
The Wizards took Johnny Davis with the No. 10 pick in the 2022 Draft and, so far, the pairing isn’t working out for anyone. The 2023 season has not been kind to Wizards rookie Johnny Davis. The No. 10 overall pick has scored a total of 11 points over 50 minutes of NBA action, showing
It’s been a tough stretch for the Boston Celtics, they’ve lost their last three and now Lebron is heading into town. The Lakers are still under .500, but Lebron and Anthony Davis are getting healthy and slowly, but surely the Lakers are looking better. Can LA, steal one from Jayson Tatum and the Celtics in
12:15 AM ET ESPN News Services BOSTON — Jaylen Brown scored 37 points, completing a tying three-point play with 4.1 seconds left in regulation and adding 11 more in overtime as the NBA-leading Boston Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the archrival Los Angeles Lakers 125-121 on Saturday night. Brown added nine rebounds,
Jan 23, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Josh Hart (11) dribbles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports UFC Vegas 68: Derrick Lewis vs. Sergey Spivak fight card, start time, channel guide by Juan Manuel Sierra If you’re looking
8:13 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has been fined $25,000 for “throwing his mouthpiece into the spectator stands” during Wednesday night’s 122-120 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the league announced on Friday. The incident occurred with 1:14 remaining after Jordan Poole took what Curry thought was an
NBA trade rumors make it sound like the Raptors are increasingly likely to trade Fred VanVleet. And now a new team is reportedly in the mix. The Magic who just recently took care of the Pacers may look to make a move in upgrading talent. This team who has been very fun to watch all
The Grizzlies and Timberwolves honored Tyre Nichols with a moment of silence on Friday while Taylor Jenkins grappled with the tragedy in Memphis. The city of Memphis is dealing with something no city ever wants to have to face: An inexcusable incident of police brutality resulting in a senseless death. Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old from
5:24 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN As part of a wide-ranging interview with New York City radio station WFAN Friday afternoon, New York Knicks owner James Dolan said he believes in the job team president Leon Rose is doing, and that he “fully expects” the Knicks to make the playoffs this season. “Yes, absolutely,” Dolan said
The largest crowd in NBA history came out to watch the San Antonio Spurs — there’s always something to root for, even when your team is bad. Have your cake and eat it too. Is that not an impossible dream? Sometimes you just have to settle for a $12 burger and a $10 beer. Hopefully,
Over his last three games, Jonathan Kuminga has been defending some of the best guards in the world. In his mind, Kyrie Irving is the toughest cover. Jonathan Kuminga came back from an eight-game absence from a foot sprain and stepped right into a brutal run of defensive assignments. Over the past three games, he’s
9:30 PM ET ESPN News Services Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins watched a televised interview Friday of Tyre Nichols’ mother speaking about the loss of her son, and lost control of his emotions. “I cried,” Jenkins said. The outrage, frustration, sadness and anger was evident around the basketball world on Friday, the day a video
Fred VanVleet has reportedly identified a new agent and that change could make a deal more and more likely before the NBA Trade Deadline. According to Marc Stein, Fred VanVleet plans to hire Klutch Sports to represent. This is particularly important because VanVleet has been mentioned in trade rumors and has a player option this
9:57 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN THE BOSTON CELTICS thought they had LeBron James right where they wanted him. For the third time in five seasons, Boston had a chance to close James out on its home court inside TD Garden. After taking Game 5 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals in Miami, the Celtics returned
Anything seems possible for this NBA Trade Deadline, from mass chaos to quiet whimper. Which teams could control the action as buyers and sellers? We’re about two weeks away from the NBA Trade Deadline and the rumors appear to be building to a crescendo. However, there have also been some signs that it may all
Damian Lillard has quietly been putting together a phenomenal season. The 60 points he put up on Wednesday night were anything but quiet. Damian Lillard has had some monster scoring night but nothing like what he managed Wednesday against the Utah Jazz. Lillard put up 60 points, the fourth 60-point game of his career, but
The Los Angeles Clippers are hot right now, now half a game out of the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with a third straight win on Tuesday night. The Clips are massive favorites on Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs, who rank last in the NBA in net rating and have lost
12:24 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — After missing two free throws with 7.6 seconds to go in overtime that would’ve given the Boston Celtics the lead, star guard Jaylen Brown took the blame for Boston’s 120-117 overtime loss to the New York Knicks at TD Garden Thursday night. “I’ve just got to be better,
Thursday’s NBA action features six different games and the BetSided duo of Peter Dewey and Reed Wallach has you covered with some prop plays to make in the NBA. They’re both looking at New York teams and role players, which should make things even more interesting in a short slate of games. Here are Thursday’s
7:30 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo were named the captains of the two teams that will take part in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game next month in Salt Lake City. James ties Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — whom he is about to pass as the league’s all-time scoring leader — for
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) We’re edging closer and closer to draft season. How is the 2023 NBA Draft picture shaping up? We’re in the meat of the college basketball season and the 2023 NBA Draft picture is starting to take form. There are still plenty of unknowable variables and inevitable surprises at play, but
Wednesday night was bad-beat central for our NBA best bets, with only our alternate line parlay hitting out of the four picks. Not great, especially when Jordan Poole makes a game-winning shot to fall half a point shy of his prop. But hey, we bounce back today. It’s a shorter slate on Thursday night in
3:55 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — With Golden State leading Memphis by just two points with 1:14 remaining Wednesday night, Stephen Curry clapped his hands at Jordan Poole after what Curry said he thought was an ill-advised 3-point attempt by his Warriors teammate. While running back on defense, a frustrated Curry took out
Wednesday’s primetime action features the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers but it’s possible both teams will be without their best players. Kevin Durant has already been ruled out for Brooklyn, and Joel Embiid (foot, questionable) could miss this game for Philly. That’s created some value in the prop market, especially if Embiid ends up sitting.
12:48 AM ET PORTLAND — While scoring 60 points for the fourth time in his career during Wednesday’s 134-124 win over the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard made history with his efficiency. Lillard needed just 29 shot attempts and 10 free throw attempts to score 60, putting him in elite company. Just
With a 10-game NBA slate on Wednesday, there are plenty of reasons to bet on some player props in the NBA. After combing through each matchup, I have a couple plays that I love in the prop market tonight. Let’s dive in: Best NBA prop bets record to date Best NBA prop bets today Draymond
7:20 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — After missing the past 29 games with a left big toe contusion, Brandon Ingram returned to the New Orleans Pelicans lineup for Wednesday night’s 111-102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ingram last played Nov. 25 against the Memphis Grizzlies when he kicked the back of another player’s
A 43-point explosion has people taking another look at Emoni Bates draft stock. Can the former top prospect play his way back into the NBA Draft Lottery? There was a time when Emoni Bates was mentioned in the same breath as LeBron James, tabbed as one of the best high school players in the country.
Jan 2, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks to post up against Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports The Phoenix Suns probably aren’t trading Chris Paul. But they might be and that’s enough
8:15 AM ET Ben Dowsett WHAT IS JA MORANT DOING? It’s late October, and the Grizzlies lead the Nets by six with four minutes left when Memphis forward Santi Aldama softly rolls the inbound pass toward Morant’s feet. As the Grizzlies’ star guard makes his way up the court, he lets the basketball roll alongside
The Los Angeles Lakers gave Slava Medvedenko replacement NBA championship rings after he sold his originals to raise money to those affected in Ukraine by the war. Last August, former Los Angeles Lakers player Slava Medvedenko sold his two NBA championship rings to help relief efforts to those in Ukraine effected by the war. Specifically,
2:54 AM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James scored 13 points and threw down two thunderous dunks in the span of four-plus minutes to cut a 21-point Clippers lead down to 10 in the fourth quarter Tuesday night. “It was scary,” Clippers star guard Paul George said. “I’ve seen that look in Bron.” This, though,
The Boston Celtics are down several players on Tuesday night, including Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Al Horford, when they take on the Miami Heat in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch. All of those injuries have shifted the prop market and the odds for this game, so how should we wager on it? Here are
7:25 PM ET Associated Press The NBA All-Star Game is Feb. 19. And nobody will know the All-Star rosters until that night. Not even the players themselves. The team captains — probably LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and either Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo or Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant — will make their picks in a
Victor Wembanyama seems to be the consensus No. 1 pick on almost every NBA Mock Draft. How will he fit with the teams who could win the draft lottery? Victor Wembanyama is a unique talent. A 7-foot-5 unicorn with elite shot-blocking potential who also handles the ball like a guard and can drain deep 3s
Bobby Portis is having one of the best seasons of his career and making a strong case as the best bench player in the NBA. In the Milwaukee Bucks’ final game of last season, their seventh of a second-round series against the Boston Celtics, Bobby Portis felt as though he let his team down. Portis
It’s officially a prop night in my NBA best bets column, as I was going to play the Boston Celtics as underdogs, but Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart are both out. We nailed two props on Monday night, so why not stick with what’s working? I have a bunch of rebound props on the slate
1:04 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Kevin Durant said he’d love to play in next month’s All-Star Game, but he won’t do anything to disrupt the healing process from his MCL sprain if it’s determined to be in his best interest to sit out until after the break. “I want to play tomorrow
The Spurs have held firm on their sky-high asking price for Jakob Poeltl. Now NBA trade rumors have a few new suitors emerging. Jakob Poeltl has repeatedly been mentioned in trade rumors going as far back as the offseason, when it was clear the Spurs would be leaning hard into a rebuild this year. They
The Suns are already planning for a post-Chris Paul world. These three targets have emerged to fill that need. There’s a lingering time crunch for the Phoenix Suns to try to get back to another NBA Finals and hopefully win it all… Their starting point guard, Chris Paul, might not have much time left before
11:58 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic forward Jonathan Isaac stood at the scorer’s table, had a brief talk with coach Jamahl Mosley and calmly removed his shooting shirt. He turned to the court, stuck his mouthpiece in and walked onto an NBA floor to play his first game in over 900 days.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JANUARY 14: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies dunks the ball over Jalen Smith #25 of the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on January 14, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is
Dec 16, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) looks for an opening against Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports Shailene Woodley details ‘darkest’ time following Aaron Rodgers breakup by Amy Kaplan Breaking down the NBA schedule today
1:07 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks, the team announced on Monday. The deal includes a 2023 second-round pick via Chicago, the Lakers’ own in 2029 and the less favorable of the Wizards’ and Lakers’ 2028 second-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian
Which NBA players are providing the most production on the cheapest contracts this season? And why do they all play for the Lakers? Building a successful team in the NBA means finding value on all sorts of contracts. A team needs to find those stars and make the right choices with max contracts. But maximizing
After months of rumors, the Lakers have finally made a trade to upgrade their roster. Here are our NBA Trade Grades for their deal to land Rui Hachimura. Just a few days after a candid postgame interview seemed to indicate Rui Hachimura was frustrated in Washington, the Wizards have found him a new home. Shams
Almost every team can find a necessary upgrade by sifting through NBA G League rosters. Ranking the best performances of the week is a good place to start. The level of talent in the NBA G League has increased exponentially over the past few years and more and more teams are using it intentionally to
7:22 AM ET Somewhere along his path toward becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, LeBron James reached the ultimate state of being as an offensive force: unguardable. “Early on, it was a lot of just speed and jumping and then figuring it out,” James said in January, looking back at his career the day after
The Brooklyn Nets are still trying to recover from the loss of Kevin Durant. They’re 5-5 in their last 10 games and have fallen to fourth in the Eastern Conference as a result. Things won’t get any easier for them tonight when they head to California to take on the Warriors, who are 17-5 at
2:56 AM ET PORTLAND, Ore. — With his team down by 25 points at the half after being outscored 45-13 by the Trail Blazers in the second quarter, Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham kept his comments to the players brief during the break. “Darvin walked out of here and said, ‘Y’all figure this s—
MONTEREY PARK, CA – JANUARY 22: Police officers stand guard near the scene of a deadly shooting on January 22, 2023 in Monterey Park, California. 10 people were killed and 10 more were injured at a dance studio in Monterey Park near a Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday night. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
8:08 PM ET Coban Porter, a sophomore guard at the University of Denver and brother of Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., was arrested early Sunday in connection with a fatal crash in Denver, according to police there. Coban Porter, 21, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide and reckless driving, police spokesman Kurt Barnes told
Don’t let the NFL Playoffs distract you from the NBA’s 7-game slate set to take place on Sunday. The first game of the day is a 2:30 tip-off between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks. The final game of the day is a Western Conference matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland
1:53 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is set to make his return from a severe left knee injury that has sidelined him since Aug. 2, 2020. Isaac’s pastor said during a Sunday morning service that Isaac was set to return, and then a team source confirmed to ESPN that Isaac is
LaMelo Ball is unlikely to play this weekend due to wrist soreness. The Charlotte Hornets finally broke a five-game losing skid against the Houston Rockets on January 18th with a five-point victory. Unfortunately, LaMelo Ball’s health was collateral damage in the event, as he yet again finds himself on the injury report after the game.
11:18 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Rui Hachimura doesn’t seem too disturbed by the idea he could be traded. “I just want to be somewhere that wants me as a basketball player, and I want to be somewhere that likes my game,” the Washington Wizards forward said Saturday night. When asked if Washington is
Shannon Sharpe and the Memphis Grizzlies got into it on Friday night. What was going on there? Did you have “Ja Morant’s dad gets into a shouting match with a celebrity courtside during a Lakers game” on your 2023 bingo card? Go ahead and stamp that square if you did! The Lakers came away with
6:47 PM ET ESPN News Services TORONTO — Boston guard Marcus Smart and center Robert Williams both missed the second half of the Celtics’ 106-104 win at Toronto on Saturday because of injuries. Smart injured his right ankle in the final minute of the first half and had to be helped to the locker room.
Trae Young’s status on the Hawks injury report recently changed. Will he play on Friday, January 20? Trae Young vs the New York Knicks… We need it! After Young and the Knicks started to hate each other a few postseasons ago, these matchups between the Eastern Conference foes is pretty entertaining. In the Hawks recent 8-point
1:17 AM ET SALT LAKE CITY — The most impressive part of Kyrie Irving‘s 48-point performance Friday night actually came about an hour after he carried the Brooklyn Nets to a much-needed 117-106 win over the Utah Jazz. In the midst of describing the most defining game of Irving’s season, a reporter prefaced a question
The Miami Heat are one of the hotter teams in the NBA at the moment, and they’re looking to keep that going on the road against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Dallas is down a key player in forward Christian Wood (fractured thumb), who is the team’s second leading scorer this season. Someone is
12:06 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Tempers flared just after the second-quarter buzzer sounded in Friday night’s game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers when several members of the Grizzlies engaged in a shouting match with Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, who was seated near the court. Referees and security intervened
Ricky Rubio will finally be back in the Cavaliers lineup tonight and his return could solve a number of problems for the championship hopefuls. Ricky Rubio is set to return Thursday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Portland Trail Blazers. When he reaches full strength, the Cavaliers will have a cornucopia of fun new
Jabari Smith Jr. gave us a reminder of just how long ago LeBron James made his NBA debut. Here are the players he played with and against. Since turning 38, LeBron James has been turning back the clock — in the seven games since his birthday he’s already hit 40 points three times, averaging 37.0
Friday night brings us a bunch of NBA action, but I’m focusing my efforts on two games on the slate for today’s best bets. We’re starting with a prop and side in the Miami Heat-Dallas Mavericks game, and we’re ending the night with a play on the Oklahoma City Thunder, a favorite of mine this
5:40 PM ET Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis continues to make pain-free progress on his right foot and there’s optimism for a return to the lineup as soon as late next week, sources told ESPN on Friday. The Lakers start a five-game trip Jan. 28 in Boston. Davis, who has been out with a
Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Best NBA prop bets today for Heat vs. Mavericks (Value on Max Strus) by Peter Dewey Who will start for the Warriors tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers with most of the typical starters out due to injury? The Golden State Warriors are finally about
1:05 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — The Golden State Warriors returned here Thursday night for the first time since they beat the Celtics in Game 6 to claim the 2022 NBA championship. For much of the 53 minutes of basketball that followed, it felt like a repeat of how that series played out: lots
Thursday night’s NBA action brings us a couple of primetime games, and I have a player prop pick in each for bettors who want to really get involved in the game. Both players have hit these props in at least eight of their last 10 games, so we’re banking on consistency to keep this going
12:38 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN BOSTON — For the first three quarters of the Golden State Warriors‘ game against the Boston Celtics on Thursday, Stephen Curry and company looked like themselves. Coach Steve Kerr went as far as to say they looked like a championship team. But then, in the fourth quarter and through overtime,
Nic Claxton has made himself indispensable to the Brooklyn Nets, as a dynamic defensive anchor whose energy and awareness lift up his teammates. A week following the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round sweep to the Boston Celtics, Tim Martin felt his iPhone buzz with a call from Nets center Nic Claxton. Martin, a basketball skills trainer based
The Brooklyn Nets were one of the hottest teams in the league before Kevin Durant went down with injury. How can they survive without him? The Brooklyn Nets are coming off of an incredible stretch of play, winning 18 out of their 20 games. During their most recent game against the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant’s
Four primary drivers of the Grizzlies’ success during an 11-game win streak exist. Three are sustainable … but one may not be. The Grizzlies received a lot of flak earlier in the year after the typically brash Ja Morant offhandedly mentioned that Memphis was “fine in the West.” Malika Andrews: “Who do you look at
4:08 PM ET DALLAS — Mavericks center/power forward Christian Wood fractured his left thumb and will be reevaluated next week, the team announced Thursday. Wood suffered the injury during the second quarter of the Mavs’ 130-122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday but finished the game, scoring 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Editor’s
Jayson Tatum is well on his way to being one of the greatest Celtics of all time. This year he’s on track to accomplish something no one else has. To say Jayson Tatum has taken another leap this season would be an understatement. He was already an All-NBA caliber forward but he’s significantly increased his
The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns are both struggling without their stars right now, as Phoenix is just 3-13 without Devin Booker this season and the Nets are 0-4 without Kevin Durant. Brooklyn’s offense has been brutal the last three games, scoring just 298 combined points in losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio
7:17 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — WHEN THE Chicago Bulls first came to Paris for a pair of exhibition games in the 1997 McDonald’s Championship, they were on top of the basketball world. Fans lined up outside the team hotel to catch a glimpse of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and the other
There’s some rare air in today’s NBA best bets column, as I’ve put together a little parlay for the people in the New York Knicks-Washington Wizards game as one of today’s best bets. It’s been a terrific 2022-23 season, as we’re up over 11 units, and I’m looking to add to that with a spread
12:05 AM ET Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Desmond Bane scored 25 points, Ja Morant had 24 and the Memphis Grizzlies won their 11th straight game to match the franchise record, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-114 on Wednesday night. Steven Adams tipped in the winner with 16 seconds left. Adams was in position to tip
This just might be the most exciting sports time of the year. The NFL playoffs are getting underway, while the NBA, NHL, and PGA Tour are in full swing. Caesars Sportsbook is helping bettors enjoy the thrilling action with a fantastic Maryland promo: Bet $20, Win $100 GUARANTEED on ANY bet! See below how the
One of the best ways to bet on the NBA is through prop bets, and there are two players I have my eye on for Wednesday night’s action. Aaron Gordon and the Denver Nuggets are in the second game of a back-to-back, but that could give some value for the forward to have a big
1:41 PM ET Associated Press Chris Ford, a member of the Boston Celtics 1981 championship team, a longtime NBA coach and the player credited with scoring the league’s first 3-point basket, has died, his family announced Wednesday in a statement. He was 74. The family revealed the death through the Celtics. No official cause was
The Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks are in primetime on Wednesday night, which means it’s a perfect time to dive into some prop bets for this game. This is all about Trae Young vs. Luka Doncic, but injuries on the Dallas side have opened up an avenue for us to take advantage in the prop
7:20 AM ET THE ATLANTA HAWKS were on the clock with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft when owner Mark Cuban stepped into the hallway outside the Dallas Mavericks‘ draft room and made a phone call. Cuban reached out to Tony Ressler, the Hawks’ principal owner. Donnie Nelson and Travis Schlenk, who
Jan 16, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts against the Houston Rockets in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Creighton vs. Butler prediction and odds for Tuesday, January 17 (Bet the UNDER) by Josh Yourish Clemson vs. Wake Forest prediction and odds
5:00 PM ET ESPN News Services WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden celebrated the NBA champion Golden State Warriors at the White House on Tuesday. The Warriors have won four championships in eight years, but they didn’t visit the White House while Donald Trump was president. He publicly disinvited them after Stephen Curry, the team’s star,
Tuesday night prop night anyone? The NBA best bets column keeps chugging along with a few more wins on Monday night, and I have my eye on a couple of guards to have big games on Tuesday, with just eight NBA teams in action. But first, can we talk about the winners from yesterday? In
9:08 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Paul George will return to the lineup when the LA Clippers face the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. George missed five straight games after tweaking a right hamstring injury that had kept him out of seven straight games earlier this season. Editor’s Picks 2 Related The Clippers need their
Even though there are only four games in the NBA on Tuesday night, there are still plenty of bets that you can place. Sure, there’s always spreads, moneylines and totals to bet, but if one of those isn’t calling your name, betting props is a great way to attack the NBA. The BetSided team is
6:15 PM ET ESPN News Services CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jayson Tatum knew he was sitting on 48 points entering the final minute of the Boston Celtics‘ Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday and briefly thought about backing the ball out and letting the clock run down with the outcome
The NBA is treating us to a loaded afternoon slate on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and I have a few plays for the afternoon games to dive into. We had another profitable day on Sunday, moving us to 29-12 since the start of 2023. Let’s keep things rolling with a couple of favorites on
3:57 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Twenty years after LeBron James was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, the No. 3 selection in the league’s most recent draft — Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. — told the Los Angeles Lakers star something to make him feel his age. “Hey,” Smith said
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Who will replace C.J. Stroud at Ohio State? Here’s 3 options by Scott Rogust The Golden State Warriors can’t seem to win games on the road, losing once again on Sunday to the Chicago Bulls. The Warriors are 4-17 straight up away from
4:31 PM ET Hours after the NBA released its Last Two Minute Report for the Lakers‘ 113-112 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, determining that Russell Westbrook was not fouled by Joel Embiid on Los Angeles’ final offensive possession, LeBron James took to Twitter to share his frustration with the league’s officiating. Quote tweeting
Now in the thick of the college basketball season, which NBA Draft prospects are rising and falling on our NBA Draft Big Board in the new year? With conference play in full swing, we have reached the meat of the college basketball season. We have progressed from “interesting starts” and “tantalizing flashes” to increasingly solid
The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks face off in primetime in what is a rematch of the first round of the playoffs from last season. Atlanta has been a bit of disappointment this season, sitting in the No. 9 spot in the East despite trading for Dejounte Murray in the offseason. The Heat, who have
1:30 PM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss a third straight game because of left knee soreness when the Milwaukee Bucks host the Indiana Pacers on Monday afternoon. Antetokounmpo was listed as probable on the Bucks’ injury report and participated in pregame warm-ups, but coach Mike Budenholzer said Monday the two-time MVP
The Sacramento Kings have been red hot as of late, climbing to the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference with three straight dominant wins over a couple lowly teams in the NBA. Now, the Kings get to face arguably the worst team in the league, the San Antonio Spurs, who come into this game
3:25 AM ET LOS ANGELES — For the second straight game, the Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t close out a winnable game in the clutch. And for the second straight game, the Lakers were left lamenting a foul they believed went uncalled that affected the outcome. After Sunday’s 113-112 loss to Philadelphia, Russell Westbrook claimed Sixers
The Portland Trail Blazers need to right the ship soon, as they’ve gone from a team firmly in the playoff race in the Western Conference to a team fighting for a play-in spot with the No. 11 seed. Damian Lillard and company have lost seven of their last 10 games heading into Sunday’s matchup with
5:52 PM ET NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets‘ Ben Simmons was a late scratch for Sunday’s 112-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder because of back soreness. Nets coach Jacque Vaughn did not think Simmons would need an MRI on his back and was hopeful this latest setback would not put him out long.
The Golden State Warriors are on the road again on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls, who are hoping to get DeMar DeRozan (questionable) back in the lineup. Golden State has been one of the worst road teams in the NBA, going just 2-7 against the spread as road favorites and 4-16 straight up away from
11:59 AM ET Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green and forward Jae’Sean Tate have been suspended one game for leaving the bench area during an altercation with the Sacramento Kings, the NBA announced. The incident occurred early in the fourth quarter of the Rockets’ 139-114 road loss Friday, beginning after Houston’s Garrison Mathews fouled Sacramento’s Malik
The Brooklyn Nets play just their second game without Kevin Durant this season when they host the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Boston is on the second night of a back-to-back, which means it could sit a few players against an already shorthanded Brooklyn team. Kyrie Irving is going to have a big role on
10:10 PM ET ESPN News Services INDIANAPOLIS — Ja Morant had 23 points, 10 assists and another ferocious dunk as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Indiana Pacers 130-112 on Saturday night to extend the NBA’s longest current winning streak to nine games. Desmond Bane scored 25 points to lead the Grizzlies, who tied Denver for
Can D’Angelo Russell really help a contender in a trade? D’Angelo Russell has spent the beginning of his career bouncing around the league, with all of the stops sticking clearly in basketball fans’ minds. He caught the tail end of Kobe’s career with the Lakers, alongside Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson
The Washington Wizards are holding a Kyle Kuzma bobblehead giveaway, which features the iconic, oversized pink sweater he wore ahead of a game in the 2021-22 season. Last season, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma made a statement in the form of his pregame fit as he walked into the arena to face the Charlotte Hornets
5:17 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers hosted a pair of free agent centers, Meyers Leonard and DeMarcus Cousins, for a workout on Friday, according to coach Darvin Ham. “They both looked great,” Ham said after practice Saturday. “Whether or not we’re able to do something with them is a different
Ricky Rubio was back on the floor for the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday night and his teammates couldn’t have been happier. On Thursday night, Ricky Rubio made his season debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers, just over a year since he suffered an ACL tear. In the ensuing 12 months while he was recovering, he was traded
1:12 AM ET Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Domantas Sabonis had 19 points, a career-high 16 assists and 15 rebounds in his fourth triple-double of the season, and the Sacramento Kings beat the skidding Houston Rockets 139-114 on Friday night for their third straight win. The Kings (23-18) moved five games over .500 for the
The Atlanta Hawks reportedly want a huge trade return for John Collins — a sign they know they aren’t using him correctly. If reports that the Atlanta Hawks were seeking a Rudy Gobert-sized return for John Collins caught you off guard, you were definitely not alone. The Utah Jazz received Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler,
Miami Heat veteran big man got into a heated exchange with the coaches but got ejected when he tossed a massage gun onto the floor during his tantrum. Just when you think that there’s nothing left that you haven’t seen in the NBA, they come out and find a new way to surprise you. And
Jalen Duren, Mark Williams and Walker Kessler have been overshadowed by other NBA rookies but all three look like home run picks. What have we seen so far? Just three centers were selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. And while none of them are in the Rookie of the Year conversation,
9:42 PM ET ESPN News Services SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs hosted the largest crowd ever for an NBA regular-season game in their return to the Alamodome, with 68,323 on hand for Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors The Spurs returned to their former home to celebrate their 50th anniversary season. Spurs Hall of
In case you’ve been caught up in the football season and haven’t checked in with the NBA, you’ll be surprised to hear the defending champion Golden State Warriors are 20-21. Steph Curry has missed time, but even when he came back against Phoenix on Tuesday, they still lost to the Suns without Chris Paul, Devin
8:16 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — Just shy of the one-year anniversary of his last NBA game, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball posted a video of himself dunking to his Instagram account, a sign of the small improvement he said he has experienced recently in the recovery of his left knee. “Those are things
LeBron James will likely become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before he retires. But even he knows he won’t hold the title forever. LeBron James entered this season No. 2 on the NBA all-time scoring list, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He’s currently just 422 points behind and will likely pass him before the end of
LeBron James has never backed down from answering the big questions. Like whether cereal or milk should go in the bowl first. Sports debates can get heated, with strong opinions on all sides. But not since the great “hot dog is/is not a sandwich” wars of 2020 have we seen as much passion as the
More than a year after filing a $58 million lawsuit against his former agent Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, Nerlens Noel is the one paying up. In August of 2021, Nerlens Noel filed a lawsuit against Rich Paul and Klutch Sports alleging that Paul had essentially made no effort represent him in securing reasonable contracts
1:21 AM ET NEW YORK — Ben Simmons knows he’s got to be more aggressive offensively. The Brooklyn Nets big man has never doubted that he would get his offensive game back in order as he continues to shake off the rust from missing all of last season, but that particular point about needing to
Nov 4, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish (0) warms up before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports Derek Carr shares heartbreaking goodbye to Raiders’ fans by Scott Rogust The price on Cam Reddish has been changing which is great news
It’s a shame that injuries and rest are getting in the way of what looked like an unbelievable slate on Thursday in the NBA, as Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo are both out and Damian Lillard and Jaylen Brown are both questionable. But that’s not going to deter us from winning some NBA bets. Instead,
3:01 AM ET LOS ANGELES — For most of the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers prioritized forcing the ball out of Luka Doncic‘s hands, sending a steady diet of double-teams at the MVP candidate and daring his Dallas Mavericks teammates to beat him. The strategy worked, allowing the Lakers to rally from a deficit
T.J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers rocked a Damar Hamlin jersey before his most recent game, showing support for the hospitalized NFL player. The entire sporting world has been sending all the good thoughts and support they can muster to Bills’ defensive back Damar Hamlin, who collapsed on the field during Monday night’s game against
Looking to bet on some NBA props for Thursday night’s action? There are plenty of intriguing matchups to look at, but I’ve narrowed it down to my three favorite plays on Thursday night. Let’s dive in: Best NBA prop bets today record to date Best NBA prop bets today Thomas Bryant OVER 9.5 Rebounds Ben
7:04 AM ET LEBRON JAMES HAS shown no signs of slowing down as he rapidly approaches the NBA’s all-time scoring record long held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It seems like a safe bet that James, who recently celebrated his 38th birthday, will become the first player to break the 40,000-point barrier. He’s averaging 29.1 points per
Alperen Sengun has been one of the few reliable bright spots for the struggling Rockets this season. Now he’s added a record-breaking triple-double to his accomplishments. At 10-31, the Rockets currently have the worst record in the NBA, a not entirely unexpected development for the youngest roster in the league. Besides veteran shooting guard Eric
It’s Kyrie Irving’s time to shine in Brooklyn, as Kevin Durant is out of the lineup with an MCL injury, leaving Irving to carry the load for the Brooklyn Nets for the foreseeable future. The Nets are currently second in the Eastern Conference behind only the Boston Celtics, their opponent on Thursday night. Boston beat
2:06 AM ET Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After a young Memphis Grizzlies fan had her prized basketball stolen, Ja Morant jumped in to ease the anguish. Ellie Hughes, an 11-year-old Grizzlies fan, was trying to get Morant’s attention for an autograph at Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs when two people swiped her
Jordan Clarkson might find himself with a new team at the NBA Trade Deadline. But he took care of getting a new home all by himself. No one really knows what the Utah Jazz will do at the NBA trade deadline, with what seemed to be a rebuilding set-up unexpectedly turning into a competitive campaign
Warriors, Kevon Looney (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) While Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been out, three particular members of his supporting cast are stepping up in a big way. The Golden State Warriors have had to play nine games in a row without the help of future Hall of Fame guard Stephen Curry, but
Voting doesn’t close for two more weeks but we’re taking an early look at the NBA All-Star ballot and picking starters and reserves for both conferences. It will be two more weeks before NBA All-Star voting closes and selections begin to be announced. A lot can change between now and then but we’re also two
The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks play for the fourth time this season on Wednesday night, and the Hawks won’t have Trae Young due to an illness. That opens a little value in the prop market, and there are three plays that I love for this matchup in Atlanta: Bucks vs. Hawks best NBA prop
10:49 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Reserve center Dewayne Dedmon has been suspended without pay by the Miami Heat for one game for conduct detrimental to the club. The move came one night after Dedmon had an outburst after being subbed out of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He exchanged words with
What do you do when there are a ton of injuries in the NBA and you’re looking to bet? Only bet where you feel comfortable. Sometimes, we feel obligated to place bets on games, but if you don’t have a good feeling, there’s no harm in staying away. That’s what I’m doing for the most
1:43 PM ET After a full year of rehabilitating an ACL tear in his left knee, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio is targeting a return against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, sources told ESPN. Rubio will practice Wednesday, and if all goes well, he will play in Portland on Thursday, the sources said. The
This NBA season has revealed contenders, just like any other. But the field might be more open than any year in recent memory. Since the beginning of December, we’ve already seen four different teams hold the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for at least six days — the Suns, Pelicans, Grizzlies and now
For the fourth time this season, the Atlanta Hawks take on the Milwaukee Bucks, this time in Atlanta on Wednesday night. The Hawks have underachieved so far this season, currently sitting two games below .500 and holding the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee is in the No. 3 spot in the conference,
7:50 AM ET Since the turn of the new year the Denver Nuggets have beaten the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers, and have taken over the top spot in the Western Conference alongside the Memphis Grizzlies. Two-time defending MVP Nikola Jokic is putting together his third legitimate campaign for the award and is
It’s been an unreal stretch for yours truly in my NBA column, and as long as I’m hot I am going to implore you to tail these picks. Sound fair? We put up a 2-1 day on Monday night to move to 19-5 over the last eight days, probably the best stretch I’ve had in
1:01 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Heading into Tuesday night’s game, the Golden State Warriors were confident Stephen Curry‘s return would be the piece they needed to build on the momentum they had established earlier on their homestand without him. They finally had their best player back. Their starting lineup — the league’s
Donovan Mitchell needed every minute of overtime to get his 71 points. But the NBA is admitting it should never have gone there. Donovan Mitchell had the game of his life Monday night, dropping 71 in a thrilling overtime win over the Chicago Bulls. Mitchell needed every minute of overtime to get to 71 and
The Cleveland Cavaliers are swinging with the best of the Eastern Conference, but are still looking for upgrades. The Cleveland Cavaliers are so back. After trading for Donovan Mitchell this offseason, the Cavs sit at fourth in the Eastern Conference, back just three games in the loss column from the first-place Milwaukee Bucks. The move they
Stephen Curry is back for the Golden State Warriors and the defending champs will look to pick up their play and make a run at the Pacific Division, which they are only a game-and-a-half behind leader Sacramento Kings. The Warriors face a fellow Pacific Division foe in the Phoenix Suns, who are reeling without Devin
5:00 PM ET Phoenix Suns president and CEO Jason Rowley told a group of team employees that a recent story placing him at the center of allegations of verbal abuse, retaliation and intimidation in the workplace misrepresented him, and that he would not be resigning from his role, multiple current employees told ESPN. Rowley made
Chicago Bulls, Jakob Poeltl (Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports) As we approach the halfway point of the NBA season, more than a few coaches of struggling teams are finding their seats getting toasty. We’re just around 35 games into the season and it’s time to turn on the hot seat for NBA coaches. For our list, we’re
The play-in tournament was designed to keep more teams in postseason contention deeper into the season. But it’s cooling the NBA trade market. The amount of action at the NBA Trade Deadline always depends on how the handful of teams in the middle of the standings decide to weigh their short- and long-term futures, pivoting
12:36 PM ET The pain in Anthony Davis‘ right foot continues to subside and the Los Angeles Lakers star plans to begin the ramp-up process to return to play when the team returns to L.A. this week, league sources told ESPN. Davis missed his 13th straight game Monday — a 122-109 loss to the Nuggets
Jan 2, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts after being called for an offensive foul against New Orleans Pelicans center Willy Hernangomez (9) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports The NBA has had a lot of amazing scoring performances this season. In
5:29 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry is poised to return to the court Tuesday. The Warriors say Curry, who has missed the past 11 games with a left shoulder subluxation, is likely to be back for the team’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Warriors general manager Bob Myers and coach Steve
There are few things better than wagering on player props in the NBA, especially with some of Monday’s games featuring a bunch of injuries (which means we can find value in the prop market). I have three plays that I’m looking at today, and one star is a little undervalued if he returns to his
11:55 AM ET Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant is expected to be sidelined for approximately a month, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. The Nets announced Monday that Durant was diagnosed with an isolated MCL sprain of his right knee and will be reevaluated in two weeks. Durant missed six weeks with a
The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics both have championship aspirations. Both may also have the same fatal flaw. Halfway through the season, we have a rough sense of which teams might realistically be competing for a title once the playoffs begin. But there are still a lot of games to be played, trades to be
The post-up isn’t dying, it’s evolving. And these five players have been the best practitioners of the art in the NBA this season. NBA offenses use the post-up far less frequently than they did a decade or two ago but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a valuable tool when used strategically. Teams have gotten
7:49 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN THE TORONTO RAPTORS are a rarity in the modern NBA: a franchise with options. Plenty of teams have sold off their draft picks to chase contention immediately. Plenty more have moved their stars to pursue futures built around young talent and the NBA draft. But Toronto is stuck somewhere in
LeBron James thinks recent quotes from a rushed postgame interview were misrepresented by a reporter. After a win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made some quotes to The Athletic’s Sam Amick that were perceived and presented as impatience in Amick’s most recent column (subscription required). James, on
8:08 PM ET MIAMI — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant was ruled out of the team’s 102-101 win over the Miami Heat on Sunday after injuring his right knee in the third quarter. Durant is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday, according to Nets coach Jacque Vaughn. The injury occurred with 1:05 left
The Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers face off on Sunday night in what may be the best game of Sunday’s NBA action. The Clippers are in desperate need of a win, as they’ve lost five straight heading into this matchup against an Atlanta team that has underperformed expectations so far in the 2022-23 campaign.
12:01 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson was a late scratch for the Golden State Warriors‘ 115-101 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday after experiencing left knee soreness in pregame warmups. Thompson’s left knee is the same leg as his torn ACL from 2019. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the training
12:45 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — After starting the season unavailable to play in back-to-back games while coming off arthroscopic left knee surgery in the offseason, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine‘s performance in Chicago’s back-to-back this weekend — 41-points and 11 3s in a victory in Philadelphia on Friday and 36 points and six
In less than 12 months, the Pacers have added three rising backcourt stars, all under the age of 23. They’re already well on their way to being special together. On the night before hitting the game-winning shot to defeat the Miami Heat, Tyrese Haliburton dined with teammates at South Beach’s popular Prime 112. Buddy Hield
3:10 AM ET SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to a season-best five games with a 136-134 victory over the Kings on Saturday, but not without some controversy. Sacramento guard De’Aaron Fox was called for a foul on the Lakers’ Dennis Schroder with 3.1 seconds remaining, with the score tied
The Utah Jazz have helped Lauri Markkanen unlock his offensive potential, becoming the kind of star they can build a new foundation around. On Thursday night, Lauri Markkanen dropped a career-high 49 points on the Houston Rockets, a new high-water mark in what has been a breakout season from start to finish. He has led
12:27 AM ET NEW ORLEANS — Despite finishing with a 7-for-22 shooting night, Kyrie Irving couldn’t help but smile as he walked off the floor following a 108-102 win over the Pelicans on Friday at Smoothie King Center. As has been the case throughout his star-crossed career, the 30-year-old hit the biggest shot of the
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 23: Harrison Bader #22 of the New York Yankees scores during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Mike McDaniel has
11:30 PM ET ESPN News Services DENVER — For the second time this week, a Denver Nuggets game was delayed because of a crooked rim. Officials stopped play with 11:22 left in the fourth quarter Friday night with the Nuggets leading Cleveland 96-82 when Cavaliers players noticed the same rim that caused a 35-minute delay
It’s not clear if the Toronto Raptors are actually willing to trade OG Anunoby. But if they are, rumors are they’re going to be asking A LOT. As the season goes along, we’ve seen OG Anunoby mentioned in more and more trade rumors. The Raptors are struggling and while Pascal Siakam might be their best
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 02: (L-R) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, Mallory Edens, and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers watch the second half of the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 02, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees
1:01 AM ET LOS ANGELES — With the Lakers heading to Sacramento this weekend and LeBron James needing fewer than 500 points to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time mark of 38,397 points, James reflected on the time he scored his first NBA points in the home of the Kings. “I knew that I was ready for
Without Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns have slid and are in danger of falling out of the playoff race. How do they turn things around? Since Devin Booker reinjured his groin, the Suns have endured a brutal stretch losing six of their last eight including an embarrassing loss to the Knicks. Unfortunately, history doesn’t bode
Injuries have played a major part in the Los Angeles Lakers struggles this season and, unfortunately, the hits just keep on coming. The Lakers just can’t seem to avoid the injury bug this season. LeBron James has already missed nine games. Anthony Davis has played just 25 games and is out indefinitely with a stress
11:51 AM ET DALLAS — The Mavericks are waiving guard Kemba Walker a day before the four-time All-Star’s salary would have become guaranteed for the rest of the season, the team announced Friday morning. Walker, 32, averaged 8.0 points and 2.1 assists in nine games with the Mavericks. He signed for the veteran’s minimum in
More and more, readers are encountering writing written by artificial intelligence. Whether reading an article found online or grading a student paper, here are ten ways to know A.I. is responsible: 10. The transitions leave you with broken ankles. 9. The paragraphs just feel, for lack of a better term, baggy. 8. Source material is
There is no other way to say this, so I’m just going to say it. I can’t miss. I’m on the hottest betting stretch of my life in the NBA, hitting 11 consecutive bets over the last three days, and I don’t plan on slowing down tonight. We have four games to dive into in
7:32 AM ET Kevin Durant is still standing as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. After a tumultuous summer, and an even rougher start to the season, the superstar who requested a trade some seven months ago enters Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) playing arguably the best basketball of
We’re still more than a month from the NBA Trade Deadline but the prime targets are already taking shape. But injury news could be taking one off the board. You never know what trades will actually be completed but usually, contract details, skill sets and team circumstances give us a pretty good idea of who
There are two terrific primetime matchups in the NBA on Thursday night, and yours truly has a prop bet play for each of them. Betting props allows you to focus on a sole player, or a smaller aspect than the full-game outcome. In the Boston Celtics-Dallas Mavericks matchup, I have a player prop on a
11:26 PM ET Associated Press HOUSTON — Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 49 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 131-114 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night that snapped a five-game skid. Markkanen got out to a quick start with 18 points in the first quarter to help the Jazz to an
Aaron Wiggins hasn’t lost as a starter this year. His well-rounded blend of skills and athleticism make him a perfect fit for the Oklahoma City Thunder. After Tuesday’s eye-popping 33-point beatdown of Boston, the Oklahoma City Thunder are now 7-0 with Aaron Wiggins (no relation to Andrew Wiggins) as a starter this season. The team
The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are both on five-game losing streaks heading into their matchup in Houston on Thursday night. Utah has fallen off a cliff since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, and it is only half a game up on the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference.
6:34 PM ET San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee next week and is out indefinitely, the team announced Thursday. Vassell has been dealing with knee soreness that kept him out of three of the Spurs’ past four games. He’s set to undergo surgery on Jan. 11
The Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic are both in the second game of a back-to-back on Thursday night, and both teams have thrived in that spot this season. Ja Morant’s Grizzlies are 3-1 against the spread in the second game of a back-to-back in the 2022-23 campaign, while Paolo Banchero and the Magic have gone
8:06 AM ET Tim Bontemps 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. LEBRON JAMES IS well-known for his uncanny ability to recall specific moments from any point throughout
Often the entire trade deadline hinges on the decisions of a single team, with a cascade of trades to follow. An NBA insider just told us who to watch this year. Every NBA team likely has a few different players they’re eyeing on the trade market and the dozens of deals that stack up at
Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson will miss substantial time after an MRI revealed a hamstring injury that he will be reevaluated for several weeks. Few players in the NBA have been more fun this season than New Orleans Pelicans superstar big man Zion Williamson emerge as a true force in the league. Even more fun has
Jan 1, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams (left), forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (right) and Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (middle) battle for a rebound during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Cubs latest signing may take them out of running for Trey Mancini by Scott Rogust
12:25 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls snapped the Brooklyn Nets‘ 12-game winning streak with a 121-112 victory Wednesday night, handing Brooklyn its first loss since Dec. 4. Nets star Kevin Durant scored 44 points on 15-of-22 shooting, but the Bulls halted the longest winning streak in the NBA this season by
The Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night without most, if not all, of their star power. LeBron James is set to miss this game with a non-COVID illness, leaving the Lakers shorthanded with Anthony Davis is still out with a foot injury. The team will host the Miami Heat,
7:50 AM ET It’s officially 2023, and time is ticking for the Los Angeles Lakers to get in position to make the playoffs — though LeBron James is doing everything he can to give them a chance. As James closes in on the NBA’s all-time scoring record, he has helped the Lakers win three of
The NBA has seen an explosion of huge scoring performances over the past week, but it’s part of a season-long trend. What explains it? On the same night that Donovan Mitchell went off for 71 points, Klay Thompson poured in 54. Just a day later, Giannis Antetokounmpo hung 55 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists
Even the brightest stars in the NBA can make New Year’s resolutions. Here’s what Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Ja Morant and more need to do this year. Even the best players in the NBA have things they can work on — tweaks to add to their games, improvements to make, skills to develop — and
7:09 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain, the team announced Tuesday evening. The team said Williamson will be reevaluated in three weeks. Williamson was injured late in the third quarter Monday night in a loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia. After gathering a
LeBron is adding another chapter to his great legacy. But should one last run at a title in the Western Conference come at the cost of the Lakers’ future? Mediocrity and the Los Angeles Lakers are not historically synonymous with one another. Yet here L.A. stands, boasting a 16-21 record so far this season after
A hypothetical Kyle Lowry for D’Angelo Russell trade could solve a lot of problems for both the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. On his podcast, Brian Windhorst made a suggestion that the Heat should look to move Kyle Lowry to the Timberwolves. A swap of Lowry for D’Angelo Russell might make a lot of sense
11:00 PM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo says he wants to produce with so much consistency that it causes boredom. That’s the only respect in which the two-time MVP has fallen shortly lately. Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 55 points with a series of thrilling dunks and drives as the Milwaukee Bucks beat Washington
Jan 2, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Paris Saint-Germain and French national forward Kylian Mbappe (left) and PSG teammate defender Achraf Hakimi (right) pose for a photo with Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) after the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports NFL rumors: New team
2:50 PM ET Detroit Pistons forward Marvin Bagley III has suffered a right hand injury and is expected to miss extended time, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Bagley, who injured the hand in Monday’s 135-106 loss to Portland, is undergoing further evaluation to determine the next steps on the injury, sources said. Bagley has averaged
It’s hard to imagine the NBA without LeBron James, but that moment could be coming a lot sooner than we thought, thanks to the Lakers’ struggles. The Lakers are 14-21, four games out of a potential spot in the play-in tournament but also just four games out of last place in the Western Conference. It’s
The Lakers built their roster this season with low-risk, medium-upside gambles. They may have hit the jackpot with Thomas Bryant. It was clear well before the season started that depth was going to be an issue for the Lakers. They filled out their roster with a mix of veterans and young players, but the pattern
The Boston Celtics have a one-game lead over the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference heading into Tuesday’s road date with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC had two days off to prepare for Boston, and this will be the final meeting between these teams in the regular season. Boston won the first
1:33 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Before the Golden State Warriors tipped off against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, Klay Thompson had a conversation with Dominique Wilkins. They discussed how Wilkins’ return from an Achilles tendon tear decades ago has made him an inspiration to Thompson, as the Warriors guard has been
Dec 18, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman (33) dribbles the ball while sitting before warm up before a game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports Tired of puny fake NBA trades that only include a handful of teams at a time? Boy,
The Golden State Warriors have quietly won four straight games, even without Stephen Curry, and they’re at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night with a chance to push that to five straight. Golden State has been terrific at Chase Center, per usual, this season. The team is 16-2 at home, but a shocking
10:41 PM ET ESPN News Services CLEVELAND — Already an All-Star, Donovan Mitchell added his name to one of the NBA’s most rarefied lists Monday night. Mitchell set a Cleveland record with 71 points, most by an NBA player in 17 years, and the Cavaliers rallied from 21 down to beat the Chicago Bulls 145-134
Looking to get in on some NBA prop action on Monday night? With 11 games on the docket, it’s a perfect time to find some props, and the BetSided duo of Peter Dewey and Ben Heisler is looking at a couple of the late-night games for their picks. There’s a rebound prop for a rookie
7:59 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla returned to the bench Sunday after missing two games with an eye injury sustained in a pickup game. Mazzulla said he is part of regular, late-afternoon games at Boston’s TD Garden and got hit in the face Tuesday before the Celtics faced
After an ugly ending to their relationship, the Rockets should focus on the future of the promising young core, and should pass on James Harden. Early Sunday morning as many were still opening their Christmas presents, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski decided to hijack the holiday and drop one of his trademarked “Woj Bombs”. According to Woj’s
Yao Ming accomplished an incredible amount, making an indelible mark in his brief career. He also left a legacy only partially fulfilled. Once upon a time, giants roamed the Earth. And back then, they were considered fundamental tokens, the absolute truth of winning and dominance. In fact, in the big world of basketball, the biggest
Someday we may see another Ivy League NBA star of Chinese and Taiwanese descent. But there will never be another Jeremy Lin. The year was 2010, and this Harvard graduate was a California native of Chinese and Taiwanese descent. You can count the number of Harvard alumni to get drafted and play in an NBA
6:35 PM ET Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo missed Sunday night’s 118-95 loss to the Washington Wizards with left knee soreness. Antetokounmpo was a late addition to the injury report after participating in shootaround earlier Sunday. The Bucks are already without Jrue Holiday (non-COVID illness) and Khris Middleton (right knee soreness). Antetokounmpo is coming off
Steph Curry’s injury is giving us a chance to see Jordan Poole as the centerpiece of Golden State’s offense. Is he ready for that responsibility? The keystone to the Golden State Warriors dynasty (a fellow known by some as Stephen Curry) has missed their last seven games due to injury, and yet somehow, the unit
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports For years, the Splash Brothers — Steph Curry and Klay Thompson — have reigned as the best shooting duo in the NBA. But they don’t hold the crown this year. Steph Curry has redefined 3-point shooting in the NBA but his long-time teammate, Klay Thompson, has been just behind him. We
After the Cleveland Browns’ victory on Sunday, LeBron James took to Twitter to support Deshaun Watson and is under criticism for doing so. They say with age comes wisdom, but for LeBron James that might not be entirely true — at least not on Sunday afternoon. The Ohio native enjoyed watching the Cleveland Browns in
1:11 AM ET ESPN News Services Sunday night’s game between the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets was a matchup of the NBA’s Eastern and Western conference leaders, as well as top MVP contenders Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic. But the showdown was overshadowed by a bent rim that caused a delay of about 35 minutes.
The New York Knicks have been struggling mightily as of late, losing five straight games, including back-to-back games without two of the best players in Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett. New York has fallen to the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference as a result, undoing some of the good it created from an
1:08 AM ET ESPN News Services SALT LAKE CITY — Tyler Herro drilled a wild, running 3-pointer as time expired to give the Miami Heat a 126-123 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. Bam Adebayo scored 32 points and Herro finished with 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Heat. Victor
The Dallas Mavericks are on a five-game winning streak that has propelled them into the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference entering Saturday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. Both the Spurs and Mavs have benefited from playing the New York Knicks this week, with the Spurs coming away with a win against them
12:13 AM ET CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Brooklyn Nets went through a lot in 2022. At times throughout the year, the drama surrounding the organization seemed to overwhelm the team. But as the calendar year came to a close Saturday night, Kevin Durant and his teammates and coach reflected on one of the most eventful
Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Bellator MMA vs. Rizin FF and Rizin 40 live results by Chad Porto The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost five consecutive games heading into their matchup with the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Detroit is just 2-8 in its last 10 games, and it
10:16 PM ET Associated Press SAN ANTONIO — Superstar Luka Doncic capped a historic five-game run with 51 points, and the Dallas Mavericks needed all of them to beat the San Antonio Spurs. Doncic had two rebounds and two free throws in the final 4.5 seconds, helping Dallas escape with a 126-125 victory over San