Expert basketball coverage from around the world
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has become the first person to plead guilty in a wide-ranging gambling case. The sweep resulted in more than 30 arrests, including reputed mobsters and other figures connected to basketball.
The NCAA released findings from its investigation into a Fordham point-shaving plot, outlining how players were approached by a gambling ring under federal indictment. Investigators said the group presented itself as NIL representatives while targeting athletes.
Jerome Tang is set to return to Baylor and rejoin Scott Drew’s coaching staff. The move brings Tang back to a program where he previously served before becoming Kansas State’s head coach.
With the 2026 NBA draft lottery set for Sunday, May 10, an updated mock draft projects all 60 selections. The new board outlines how the draft landscape is taking shape before the lottery order is finalized.
Austin Reaves is optimistic about returning to the Lakers’ lineup for Game 5 against the Rockets after missing roughly four weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain. His potential availability would give Los Angeles a key backcourt boost in the playoff matchup.
Keldon Johnson’s move to a reserve role became a turning point in San Antonio’s season. The Sixth Man of the Year emerged as a key leader as the Spurs returned to the postseason.
Lakers guards Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard were fined following a verbal exchange with referees after Los Angeles' Game 4 loss to Houston. The incident occurred on the court immediately after the Rockets' 115-96 win.
Federal prosecutors are expected to file superseding charges against Terry Rozier, including sports bribery and honest services wire fraud. An assistant U.S. attorney disclosed the expected charges as the legal case involving the veteran guard continues.
Nikola Jokic delivered a triple-double as Denver avoided elimination with a 125-113 Game 5 victory over Minnesota. Spencer Jones added an important spark for the Nuggets in a physical matchup against an injury-hit Timberwolves team.
Oklahoma City began its postseason with a first-round sweep, dispatching Phoenix to advance. The result mirrors the way the Thunder opened last season’s championship run.
Detroit’s postseason run is in jeopardy after a lackluster Game 4 defeat to Orlando. The 60-win Pistons, the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, committed 20 turnovers and now face elimination.
The Thunder enter Game 4 with a chance to complete a series sweep of the Suns. Oklahoma City will look to finish the matchup on the road and advance with another postseason win.
The Magic battled through a poor shooting night to claim Game 4 and move the No. 1 seed Pistons to the edge of elimination. Despite making just 32.6% of their shots, Orlando found a way to grind out a crucial postseason win.
Denver will be without Aaron Gordon for Game 5 as he continues to manage left hamstring tightness. The absence removes a key frontcourt contributor from the Nuggets' rotation in a pivotal playoff matchup.
NCAA president Charlie Baker said he is “pretty optimistic” that a proposed age-based eligibility rule will be approved. He also indicated the expected implementation would not apply retroactively to athletes who graduated or exhausted their eligibility in the 2025-26 season.
Mavericks standout Cooper Flagg has been named Rookie of the Year after a landmark first season. The teenage rookie edged out Kon Knueppel in a tight race for the award.
Pat Riley made clear he has no plans to retire or alter his approach to leading the Miami Heat. His comments come after Miami missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Dylan Mingo, a five-star senior guard in the 2026 class, has committed to Baylor. The decision comes after Mingo had previously been committed to North Carolina.
Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas will return to the Wildcats for the 2026-27 season after considering the draft. Krivas averaged 10.4 points and 8.2 rebounds during Arizona’s Final Four run last season.
Florida has moved to the top of the men’s way-too-early Top 25 following key roster movement tied to the transfer portal and NBA draft deadlines. Louisville and Indiana have also joined the rankings as the early picture for next season begins to take shape.
Five-star forward Miikka Muurinen has committed to Arkansas, strengthening John Calipari’s incoming group. The addition gives the Razorbacks the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.
The late-game tactic of fouling while leading by three continues to divide opinions across the NBA. A detailed review of years of film and conversations with league personnel explores whether the strategy truly helps teams close out games.
The opening round of the 2026 NBA playoffs has offered a range of matchups, storylines and pressure points across the bracket. Beyond the series rankings, key questions remain around team adjustments and the postseason performances of players approaching free agency.
Houston kept its playoff hopes alive with a 115-96 victory over the Lakers in Game 4 on Sunday night. The Rockets credited Alperen Sengun’s message at morning shootaround with helping fuel their belief that a series comeback was still possible.
LeBron James accepted blame after the Lakers fell 115-96 to the Rockets in Game 4 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. James finished with 10 points and eight turnovers in the blowout defeat.
The Rockets enter Game 4 against the Lakers needing a win to keep their series hopes alive. The matchup carries major stakes as Houston looks to extend the contest and avoid falling out of the postseason.
The Raptors edged the Cavaliers in Game 4 while enduring one of the coldest perimeter shooting performances ever seen in a playoff victory. Toronto shot just 13.3 percent from 3-point range, the lowest mark in NBA postseason history by a winning team.
Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle were fined for their roles in an altercation at the end of Game 4 between the Nuggets and Timberwolves. Neither player was suspended following the incident.
The Philadelphia 76ers enter Game 4 looking to even their playoff series against the Boston Celtics. With the matchup shifting into a pivotal stage, both teams face another important test in a tightly contested postseason series.
Joel Embiid is back in the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup for Game 4 against the Boston Celtics. His return comes just two and a half weeks after he underwent an emergency appendectomy.
