| | 8. What stood out in Bulls’ Play-In win over Hawks: Coby White shines as Atlanta lacks firepower to keep up08:16[-/+] | The Chicago Bulls offense gave the Atlanta Hawks more than they could handle en route to a 131-116 Play-In Tournament win on Wednesday.
Coby White was a walking highlight reel of shooting, spinning and scoring as the Bulls guard finished with a career-high 42 points on 15-of-21 shooting. DeMar DeRozan added 22 points and nine assists in the victory to eliminate the Hawks and set up a win-or-go-home matchup against the Miami Heat on Friday.
Hurricane Coby ?????? pic.twitter.com/4X4zN5lX2l
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 18, 2024
Though White and DeRozan shined the... | ↑ |
13. Kawhi Leonard had injection in knee, aiming to play in Clippers’ Game 1 vs. Mavericks: Sources08:16[-/+] | LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had an injection in his knee in early April, league sources said. Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season and hasn’t played since March 31.
The All-Star forward managed his healthiest season since arriving in Los Angeles, playing in 68 games (his most since 2016-17) while averaging a career-high 34.3 minutes per game this season.
Without Leonard, the Clippers finished the year 4-4 and found themselves in the Western Conference’s No. 4 spot with a first-round matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said... | ↑ |
20. Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard, potential top-10 pick, declares for 2024 NBA Draft08:16[-/+] | There was an electric moment in new Kentucky coach Mark Pope’s introductory press conference Sunday that, for some involved, was also a bit uncomfortable. Pope brought the packed house at Rupp Arena to a boil with this play on words: “Our job as coaches is we get to shepherds …” The crowd heard that as Sheppard, as in former UK stars Jeff and Stacey Sheppard — and even more notably, their son, national freshman of the year Reed Sheppard — and responded with a deafening roar.
Then a “Reed! Reed! Reed!” chant. Then a “One more year!” chant. Another former star and... | ↑ |
21. UConn’s Alex Karaban declares for NBA Draft, maintains college eligibility: Is he a first-round pick?08:16[-/+] | UConn forward Alex Karaban, a starting lineup mainstay during the program’s back-to-back title runs, announced Thursday he is declaring for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.
“Thank you to my family and friends for all of the countless sacrifices and constant support throughout my career — especially during the ups and downs,” Karaban wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
?? pic.twitter.com/TdGEsmDKrQ
— Alex Karaban (@AlexKaraban) April 18, 2024
“Thank you Coach Hurley, Coach Kimani, Coach Murray and Coach Moore for your belief in... | ↑ |
25. Heat’s Jimmy Butler out Friday with MCL sprain; expected to miss multiple weeks, per sources08:16[-/+] | Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering a knee injury in Wednesday’s Play-In Tournament loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources said.
The Heat confirmed Thursday that Butler has an MCL sprain and will miss Friday’s Play-In elimination game against the Chicago Bulls.
Butler went down and was slow to get up after being fouled on a play at the end of the first quarter of the Heat’s eventual 105-104 loss. He seemed to be in a good deal of pain and discomfort after taking a hit while leaking out for a layup in transition and... | ↑ |
32. The probable end of the Warriors’ dynasty, plus NHL playoff teams are set08:16[-/+] | The Pulse Newsletter ? | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.
Good morning! Jump over a Kia today for Blake Griffin.
It’s rare to actually know the moment a dynasty ends. Golden State’s 118-94 blowout loss to Sacramento in an elimination Play-In game last night sure felt like it, though.
It was a jarring moment of catharsis for the Kings, who fell in seven games to these Warriors in the first round last season. And it was a low, low moment for the trio of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, who... | ↑ |
33. Kings eliminate Warriors from playoff contention, will face Pelicans for final postseason spot08:16[-/+] | By Sam Amick, Anthony Slater and Lauren Merola
After entering the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead, the Sacramento Kings knocked off the Golden State Warriors in convincing fashion, 118-94, in their Play-In matchup Tuesday, setting themselves up to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday for the final NBA playoff spot.
With the loss, the Warriors are eliminated from playoff contention.
Keegan Murray had a monster night for the Kings, posting 32 points and nine rebounds. De’Aaron Fox contributed 24 points, and Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis added 17 and 16, respectively.
The... | ↑ |
36. Why Steve Kerr insists the Warriors need Klay Thompson back next season08:16[-/+] | Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr made it clear after Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings how he feels about veteran Klay Thompson.
“We need Klay back,” Kerr said. “I know he had a tough night tonight, but what he represents for us, the spacing … Klay’s presence means so much to the spacing on the floor, to the flow of the offense.”
Thompson was held scoreless in the Warriors’ 118-94 loss, which eliminated the team from playoff contention. The 34-year-old Thompson, who has spent his entire career with the Warriors, will... | ↑ |
42. What we learned from 76ers’ comeback Play-In win over Heat08:16[-/+] | By Mike Vorkunov, Eric Koreen and Tobias Bass
A tale of two halves and excellent bench play earned the Philadelphia 76ers the No. 7 seed as they held on to beat the Miami Heat 105-104 in their Play-In matchup Wednesday, setting themselves up to face the New York Knicks on Saturday.
With the loss, the Heat will play the Chicago Bulls in a win-or-go-home matchup Friday for the final NBA playoff spot.
Nicolas Batum had a monster game off the bench with a season-high 20 points and five rebounds. Joel Embiid led all scorers with 23 points on 6-of-17 shooting along with 15 rebounds and five assists. | ↑ |
45. NBA bars Jontay Porter for betting, league’s first gambling ban for player in 70 years08:16[-/+] | NBA commissioner Adam Silver delivered the league’s most severe punishment in decades for gambling on Wednesday, banning Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter from the league for what he termed “a cardinal sin” of betting on the league’s games and sharing inside information.
The league said Porter, who spent part of his time in the NBA and part of it in its developmental G League, privately told a sports bettor he was injured, removed himself from a game to control prop bets on his own play, and placed his own wagers on NBA games.
Mark Bartelstein, Porter’s agent, did not... | ↑ |
48. Pelicans’ Zion Williamson to miss Play-In showdown with Kings due to hamstring strain08:16[-/+] | By Shams Charania, Alex Andrejev and William Guillory
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson will miss Friday’s Play-In game against the Sacramento Kings due to a left hamstring strain, the team announced. Williamson had an MRI on Wednesday morning and will be re-examined in two weeks.
The 23-year-old looked unstoppable during Tuesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers until his night ended early when he exited in the final minutes of the matchup. Pelicans coach Willie Green later described the injury as left leg soreness.
After the game, Williamson walked out of Smoothie King... | ↑ |
50. NBA likely to exit negotiating window with Disney, Warner without new media rights deal: Source08:16[-/+] | The NBA is likely to exit its exclusive negotiating window with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery without a new media rights deal with either company, a person briefed on the talks confirmed to The Athletic on Friday.
That window, which allowed the league to talk only to its two current rightsholders ahead of hitting the open market, began March 9 and will end Monday. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said last week conversations with those media companies are “ongoing and have been very positive.”
The league is expected to stitch together a new rights deal among three or four partners... | ↑ |
51. Nikola Jokic’s brother appears to punch fan during altercation after Game 2 of Nuggets vs. Lakers08:16[-/+] | Strahinja Jokic, brother of Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, appeared to punch a fan during an altercation in the stands at Ball Arena shortly after Game 2 of the Nuggets’ first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
The NBA confirmed to The Athletic that it is looking into an alleged altercation between Strahinja and the fan. The Nuggets are not commenting on the situation as of yet, but are known to be actively looking into the altercation.
In the video circulating on social media, Strahinja and his brother Nemanja approach two men a row below them in... | ↑ |
52. LeBron James rips officiating, replay center after overturned call in Lakers’ loss to Nuggets08:16[-/+] | LeBron James ripped the officiating Monday following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 101-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, specifically calling out a third-quarter shooting foul the NBA’s replay center overturned.
“I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest,” James said.
The play in question came in the final minute of the third quarter, with Los Angeles up by 10 in a game it would lose on Jamal Murray’s buzzer-beater. Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. was whistled for a foul after his arm swiped... | ↑ |
54. Purdue’s Zach Edey declares for NBA Draft, per report: Where could he be picked?08:16[-/+] | Purdue center Zach Edey, the 2024 Naismith Player of the Year, declared for the NBA Draft, he told ESPN. The 7-foot-4 Canadian is projected to be a first-round pick and is No. 21 on The Athletic’s latest big board.
Edey posted a career-best 25.2 points with 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks on 62.3 percent shooting in 39 games during his senior season. While the Boilermakers lost to UConn in the national championship, Edey averaged 29.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 1.8 in six NCAA Tournament games.
His decorated college career includes being named to the 2021 Big Ten All-Freshman Team, earning... | ↑ |
55. Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo out with calf strain for Game 2 vs. Pacers: What this means for Milwaukee08:16[-/+] | Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Tuesday’s Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers as he continues rehabbing his calf strain, the team announced.
Antetokounmpo also missed Sunday’s Game 1 win — and the final three games of the regular season — due to the injury, which he suffered against the Boston Celtics on April 9.
The eight-time NBA All-Star played in 73 games this season, averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and a career-high 6.5 assists per game. He has had multiple past injuries, including Achilles tendinitis and a hamstring issue on his left leg, the same... | ↑ |
59. Jamal Murray’s last-second buzzer-beater stuns Lakers to take 2-0 series lead08:16[-/+] | With a game-winning buzzer-beater, Jamal Murray propelled the Denver Nuggets to a 101-99 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Murray drained a two-point fadeaway shot over Anthony Davis with the game tied as the clock expired, giving the Nuggets a 2-0 lead in the series.
Davis scored a game-high 32 points and added 11 rebounds, while Denver’s Nikola Jokic put up 27 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a battle of stars that featured an impressive fourth quarter from LeBron James, who totaled 26 points and 12 assists.
Denver mounted a 20-point comeback in the second half,... | ↑ |
62. Referees missed fouls on 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, Nick Nurse’s timeout attempt in loss vs. Knicks08:16[-/+] | Referees made multiple late officiating errors in Monday’s Game 2 won by the New York Knicks over the Philadelphia 76ers, according to the NBA’s last two minute report released Tuesday.
Per the report, incorrect non-calls included a personal foul with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter in which Jalen Brunson pulled Tyrese Maxey’s jersey, and another personal foul in which Josh Hart initiated contact with Maxey that caused Maxey to lose his balance and fall to the floor with 25 seconds left. Sixers star Joel Embiid should’ve also been called for a foul against Knicks... | ↑ |
63. Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey named NBA’s 2023-24 Most Improved Player08:16[-/+] | Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is the 2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player, the league announced Tuesday.
Maxey upped his scoring average by more than five points, from 20.3 to 25.9 points per game, while also averaging a career-high 6.2 assists this season for the 76ers. He’s the second 76er to win the award, joining Dana Barros who earned the honor in 1994-95. Maxey also was named an All-Star for the first time earlier this year. He made a career-high 212 3-pointers this season compared to his 160 last season, and had three games with 50 or more points, which is tied for the most in... | ↑ |
65. Timberwolves’ Naz Reid wins 2024 NBA Sixth Man of the Year08:16[-/+] | By Jon Krawczynski, Anthony Slater and Tobias Bass
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid was named the 2024 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, the league announced Wednesday.
Reid earned 45 first-place votes and 352 total points, narrowly beating out the Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, who had 43 first-place votes and 342 total points. Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. — the third finalist — earned five first-place votes and 81 total points.
Reid played in 81 games this season while starting 14, the most of the three finalists.
The complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia NBA... | ↑ |
66. Wednesday’s NBA playoffs scores and takeaways: Heat flip script on Celtics, Thunder dominate Pelicans08:16[-/+] | By Jared Weiss, Eric Koreen, Darnell Mayberry and Will Guillory
Heat doesn’t fully describe what Miami was dropping from behind the arc in Game 2 against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday at TD Garden. The Heat hit 23 3-pointers to secure the win, even the series 1-1 and flip home-court advantage.
Miami’s number of made 3s is a team record for a playoff game and only one shy of tying the mark for any game in team history (Dec. 14, 2022, at OKC).
Tyler Herro, who hit six 3s and had 24 points, also contributed a career-high 14 assists, passing teammate Jimmy Butler — who had 13 in... | ↑ |
67. Darvin Ham rejects Anthony Davis’ comments on Lakers’ struggles: ‘Agree to disagree’08:16[-/+] | Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham knows that increased scrutiny is part of playoff basketball.
But when it was one of his own star players putting him in the spotlight Monday night, when the Lakers blew a 20-point lead at Denver to fall behind 2-0 in their first-round series and Anthony Davis told reporters that “We have stretches where we don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor” afterward, it was the kind of commentary that demanded a response. So Ham, the second-year coach who has been under fire all season long, shared his differing view at Lakers practice Wednesday. | ↑ |
68. Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton says fan directed racial slur at his younger brother in Milwaukee08:16[-/+] | Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said a fan directed a racial slur at his younger brother during Game 1 of Indiana’s first-round playoff series with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“My little brother in the stands the other day was called the N-word,” Haliburton said after the Pacers’ Game 2 win Tuesday night. “It was important for us as a family to just address that. That was important for us to talk about because that didn’t sit right with anybody in our family. It’s just been important to have my family here right now, and my little brother’s handled that... | ↑ |
70. Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard to return from knee injury for Game 2 vs. Mavericks08:16[-/+] | LA Clippers All-Star power forward Kawhi Leonard will return in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night after missing the last eight games of the regular season and Sunday’s Game 1 due to right knee inflammation, coach Tyronn Lue said.
“He’s done all the necessary things he has to do to get on the floor,” Lue said ahead of the game. “So he’s checked every box, and the medical (team) has done a great job making sure he checks those boxes, and we’d never put a guy on the floor that’s not ready... | ↑ |
71. Tuesday’s NBA playoffs scores and takeaways: Mavericks, Pacers join the fight; Suns’ Big 3 bottled up08:16[-/+] | By Kelly Iko, Eric Nehm, Jon Krawczynski, Doug Haller, Law Murray and Tim Cato
Kawhi Leonard’s first game since March 31 proved to be a true defensive battle, and one in which the LA Clippers couldn’t prevail. In their 96-93 Game 2 loss to Dallas, the Clippers’ entire nine-man rotation struggled, shooting 36.8 percent on field goals in a Mavericks win that tied the series at one and flipped home-court advantage.
It was a nail-biter to cap off a Tuesday slate that opened with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ handling of the Phoenix Suns’ Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin... | ↑ |
77. NBA award finalists 2024: Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named in 2 races08:16[-/+] | The Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic were named finalists for the 2024 NBA MVP. Gilgeous-Alexander is also a finalist for Clutch Player of the Year, while San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama is in the race for Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
The league announced finalists for its regular-season awards, as voted on by members of the media, on Sunday on TNT. The winners will be announced on TNT during the network’s playoff coverage, starting April 23.
The... | ↑ |
85. Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out for Game 1 vs. Pacers with calf strain08:16[-/+] | Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out for Game 1 of the Bucks’ first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, the team announced Sunday, as Antetokounmpo continues rehabbing his calf strain. He was previously listed as doubtful Saturday.
Antetokounmpo missed the final three games of the regular season while dealing with the injury he suffered against the Boston Celtics on April 9. He has had multiple past injuries, including Achilles tendinitis and a hamstring issue, on his left leg, the same leg in which he strained his calf.
The eight-time All-Star played in 73... | ↑ |
86. Sixers’ Joel Embiid returns in loss vs. Knicks after injury scare08:16[-/+] | NEW YORK — Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ Game 1 loss in their first-round series against the New York Knicks to start the second half after he seemed to injure his left knee once again.
Embiid missed 30 games this season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee, for which he underwent surgery in February.
The injury scare occurred Saturday at the end of one of the most dominant plays in the league this season. Caught up without a dribble in the paint while being guarded by 7-foot Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, Embiid threw himself an alley-oop off the backboard,... | ↑ |
89. Projected lottery pick Zaccharie Risacher officially enters NBA Draft08:16[-/+] | French forward Zaccharie Risacher, a projected top pick in the 2024 NBA draft, officially submitted paperwork to the NBA to declare for the draft, he told ESPN on Monday.
“It’s always been my dream to get to the best league in the world,” Risacher said. “I’ve been putting the work in for this since I was a kid. JL Bourg has given me an incredible opportunity to showcase what I can do. It’s been the perfect place to start my young career. I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to play for this organization.”
The 19-year-old forward, standing... | ↑ |
90. Hornets interviewing JJ Redick for head-coaching job: Sources08:16[-/+] | The Charlotte Hornets are interviewing JJ Redick for their head-coaching job, league sources said Monday. Redick, a 15-year NBA veteran and former Duke star, has shown an interest in making a coaching jump in recent years.
Since closing his playing career in 2021, Redick has served as an NBA analyst on ESPN. He also recently released a basketball podcast with LeBron James. Although he’s a name familiar to the NBA world, Redick doesn’t have any coaching experience at the professional or collegiate level.
He averaged 12.8 points per game and shot 41.5 percent from 3 during his NBA... | ↑ |
91. Knicks’ unbelievable comeback shocks 76ers: Donte DiVincenzo’s dagger clinches Game 208:16[-/+] | NEW YORK — The New York Knicks, up eight in the fourth quarter, coughed up the lead in a matter of minutes. The 76ers, up five with 47 seconds to go, may have coughed up the series in a matter of seconds.
Consecutive 3-pointers — one by Jalen Brunson, then a game-winner by the Knicks’ Donte DiVincenzo, coming after Philly’s Tyrese Maxey lost his balance and fell trying to catch an inbounds pass — put New York, improbably, ahead with 13 seconds left, and the Knicks went on to win 104-101 to take a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series.
It was a Reverse Reggie Miller. This time, the... | ↑ |
97. Thunder escape a near meltdown, plus Nelly Korda’s historic win08:16[-/+] | The Pulse Newsletter ? | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.
Good morning! The poll results are in. Ugh.
We all expected some brief jitters for the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, a young crew with scant playoff experience. Maybe a quarter or two of nerves against the Zion Williamson-less Pelicans, but then steady before cruising to a nice win, right?
Wrong. Almost really, really wrong. The Thunder survived what would’ve been a game-winning 3-pointer from C.J. McCollumn with 3 seconds left, the end to what was our... | ↑ |
98. Frederic Weis: ‘I hate’ Joel Embiid for spurning France to play for Team USA in Olympics08:16[-/+] | Frederic Weis’ adverse association with Team USA Basketball took another dive Sunday when the former French national team player said he wants Joel Embiid to be banned from France for choosing to play for the U.S. rather than France in the upcoming Olympics, which will be hosted in Paris.
Weis — who has been immortalized for being on the wrong side of Vince Carter’s “dunk of death” in the 2000 Olympics — said on his radio show at the French station RMC that he has “hate” for Embiid for spurning the French team and that he considers the Philadelphia... | ↑ |
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