Expert basketball coverage from around the world
Dennis Schroder broke through after a quiet start to the series, scoring 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers held off a late challenge to win 125-120 and move ahead 3-2 in the series.
The Rockets stayed alive Wednesday by closing out a late win over the Lakers, trimming Los Angeles’ series lead to 3-2. Houston avoided elimination for the second consecutive game and pushed the matchup to Game 6.
Cade Cunningham delivered a franchise playoff-record 45 points as Detroit avoided elimination against Orlando. His late step-back jumper helped seal a crucial Pistons victory over the Magic.
Austin Reaves was back in the lineup Wednesday night after missing nine games due to injury. His return came as the Lakers looked to finish their first-round playoff series against the Rockets in Game 5.
New Orleans Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan has been voted the NBA’s Teammate of the Year. Jordan edged Portland’s Jrue Holiday and Houston’s Jeff Green in a close vote for the honor.
Raptors forward Brandon Ingram exited Wednesday night’s Game 5 against the Cavaliers due to right heel inflammation. Toronto went on to lose 125-120 in a tightly contested postseason matchup.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods were spotted in New York City following the Knicks' Game 5 victory. The couple met up with another pair for a double date after the postseason matchup.
Former Atlanta Hawks finance executive Lester T. Jones Jr. has been sentenced to 41 months in prison. Jones was convicted in connection with the embezzlement of approximately $3.7 million from the franchise.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner missed Game 5 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons due to a strained right calf. His absence removed a key piece from Orlando’s lineup for Wednesday night’s matchup.
Alabama coach Nate Oats said the program has a scholarship available for suspended guard Aden Holloway, pending the outcome of his marijuana case. Holloway’s status remains tied to the legal matter.
A draft lottery simulator gives fans a way to model the 14-team NBA lottery field and see how the order could unfold. The tool offers an interactive look at one of the league’s most consequential offseason events.
Steve Kerr met with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy on Monday as discussions continue regarding his future with the franchise. The sides are expected to meet again next week, with no immediate resolution indicated.
Several men’s basketball programs still have important roster needs to address as they look to strengthen their postseason profiles. Key additions could help separate contenders from the rest of the field.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger has agreed to a 10-year contract extension, athletic director Jamie Pollard announced Wednesday. The new agreement raises Otzelberger’s annual salary to $6 million.
AJ Dybantsa is taking the next step in his relationship with Nike as he transitions from college basketball toward the NBA draft process. His 2024 NIL agreement with the brand has been extended into a professional basketball endorsement contract.
The NCAA has begun the final steps toward expanding both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to 76 teams. The remaining approvals are expected to be procedural, setting the stage for a larger March Madness field.
A proposed expansion of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments to 76 teams would create additional at-large opportunities. The change would particularly affect bubble teams and could provide added benefits for programs from power conferences.
The Clippers are set to enter the 2026 offseason with significant roster decisions ahead. The most pressing issue centers on the future of superstar wing Kawhi Leonard.
LeBron James reflected on the biggest themes of his career in a wide-ranging yearlong conversation spanning eight cities. The discussion covered the GOAT debate, the records he believes may never be broken and what he envisions after his playing career.
LeBron James acknowledged Michael Jordan’s influence while addressing the ongoing GOAT debate. James noted that any comparison is complicated by the differences in how the two legends play the game.
Jalen Brunson delivered a standout performance as New York routed Atlanta 126-97 at Madison Square Garden. The victory came with the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series tied 2-2, giving the Knicks a decisive response at home.
The Spurs closed out their first-round series with a 114-95 win over the Blazers on Tuesday night. The victory sends San Antonio to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 2017.
The Rockets will be without Kevin Durant for Wednesday night’s Game 5 against the Lakers. Durant has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain as Houston again faces elimination.
Joel Embiid scored 33 points as the 76ers erased a 13-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Celtics in Game 5. Philadelphia’s defense took over late, holding Boston to just 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 SC Next 100, has committed to Kansas. His decision gives the Jayhawks a major recruiting addition and places one of the nation’s top young players in one of college basketball’s most prominent programs.
Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in ESPN’s 2026 SC Next 100, has committed to Kansas. The highly regarded prospect chose the Jayhawks over Kentucky on Tuesday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added a pointed social media twist after Oklahoma City moved past Phoenix in the playoffs. The Thunder star edited Dillon Brooks’ Suns jersey in a post that leaned into Brooks’ reputation as an NBA agitator.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner is uncertain for Game 5 as he deals with a right calf strain. His availability will depend on how the injury responds to treatment.
The NBA has proposed a new draft lottery reform designed to discourage tanking. The plan would expand the lottery, flatten the odds and reduce the advantage held by the league’s three worst teams.
Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens has been named NBA Executive of the Year. The honor comes after he assembled a roster that secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference last season before making significant changes to manage the team’s luxury tax situation.
