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London Lions beat Cluj-Napoca 91-79 to become the first British men's team to reach the EuroCup semi-finals.

The Lions had already made history by reaching the quarter-finals and continued their progress with victory in Romania.

Sam Dekker top-scored for the visitors with 21 points, while David Nwaba contributed 13 points along with eight rebounds.

The Lions will play Paris Basketball or Joventut Badalona in the semi-finals.

The London side led 29-18 at the end of the first quarter, were 57-31 up at half-time and 74-60 in front after third quarter.

Cluj-Napoca went on a 10-0 run in the final quarter to reduce the deficit to 10 points but the closest they got to their rivals was eight points.

The win followed the London Lions Women becoming the first British basketball team to reach a European final by beating Umana Reyer Venice in the EuroCup at London's Copper Box Arena.


BBC
 
The Sacramento Kings survived a late LeBron James surge to secure a 120-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

James, who scored nine of his 18 points in the final quarter, was unable to prevent the Kings moving three games ahead of the Lakers in the Western Conference play-off race.

Domantas Sabonis starred for the Kings with 17 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists for a league-high 23rd triple-double of the season, while Harrison Barnes top-scored for his side with 23 points.

Elsewhere, Michael Porter Jr scored 25 points as reigning NBA champions the Denver Nuggets beat the Miami Heat 100-88.

Nikola Jokic contributed posted 12 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for the Nuggets, who have won four straight games and 10 of their past 11.

In Texas, Luka Doncic scored 21 points and Kyrie Irving 23 as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Golden State Warriors 109-99, with the Warriors missing key players Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Mavericks' Doncic went off injured, with tightness in his hamstring, ending his seven-game triple-double streak.

Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic continued their push for a play-off berth with a 114-106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Paolo Banchero top-scored for the Magic with 21 points on a night when seven of their players finished in double figures.

Other results saw the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by Darius Garland's 27 points, leapfrog the Milwaukee Bucks into second place in the Eastern Conference with a 116-95 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, while DeMar DeRozan notched 46 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers 132-129 in overtime.


BBC
 

What to make of Bronny James' lackluster season and future NBA prospects​


No one has gone through more adversity this college basketball season than USC freshman Bronny James. The 6-foot-2 guard committed to USC last spring, and the Trojans had the No. 3-ranked recruiting class that included James and No. 1 high school prospect Isaiah Collier.

In August, James suffered a cardiac arrest at practice and underwent surgery. He returned to the court on Dec. 10 in a home game against Long Beach State and logged 17 minutes, finishing with four points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the overtime loss. His comeback in four short months is crazy to think about after everything he went through and a testament to the work he put in to return to the team this season.

“Anytime a young man misses four months, including the first part of the season, it’s hard to just start playing in December,” USC head coach Andy Enfield told Yahoo Sports. “You’re behind on a variety of things, including conditioning, timing on offense and defense, the system you’re trying to learn. It’s really hard as a freshman, but I give him a ton of credit. He showed up every day focused, he works extremely hard and is a great teammate.”

Collier, a potential lottery pick in this year's draft, certainly agrees with that sentiment.

“Bronny’s grown a lot this year,” Collier told Yahoo Sports. “College ball is definitely hard for everyone coming in as a freshman and especially what he went through. People don’t know how hard he works. He’s unselfish and he’s a smart player.”

USC’s rise and fall this season happened quickly. James was out to start the season, Collier broke his wrist and missed a month, and Josh Morgan missed a handful of games due to illness. After being ranked inside the AP Top 25 to start the season, the Trojans dropped six straight games in January and lost almost all hopes of making the NCAA tournament.

No. 6 Arizona ended USC’s season Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament. The Wildcats won in a commanding fashion, 70-49. It wasn’t the best shooting night for USC and that included James. He finished with three points (1-for-5 from 3-point range) and one rebound in 22 minutes.

With his dad, LeBron, saying multiple times he wants to end his NBA career playing alongside his son, many wonder if this was Bronny’s last game in a USC jersey.

It's clear he needs more development before he contributes to any NBA roster, but there have been many players drafted in the past with similar stat lines to Bronny who have developed in the G League, getting reps and adjusting to the pace and physicality of the NBA game.

Just last year, Chris Livingston was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 58 pick. In his one year at Kentucky, Livingston averaged 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds. Also in 2023, the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted UCLA's Jaylen Clark at No. 53. Clark tore his Achilles late last season, and the Timberwolves still drafted him on potential, knowing they would have to wait an entire season before he hits the court. In 2022, the Denver Nuggets drafted Peyton Watson with the 30th overall pick after he averaged 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in one season at UCLA.

Bronny’s freshman year at USC was very underwhelming from a scouting standpoint. He ended the season averaging 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 27.3% from behind the arc. There’s hesitation in his 3-ball and he didn’t assert himself on offense enough this season, playing alongside two ball-dominant guards in Collier and Boogie Ellis. Where he's most impactful is on the defensive end. Bronny can defend both positions in the backcourt, keeping players in front, and is an excellent rebounder for his size. He’s gotten stronger since last year and does a good job at establishing position when the shot goes up.

“He’s a very smart player and has a solid feel for the game,” one NBA scout told Yahoo Sports. “He needs more time to develop, but the fundamental mechanics are there.”

Bronny will most likely test the NBA waters and receive feedback from teams. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul will probably be strategic in what teams he meets with and what workouts he schedules. Players have until June 16 to withdraw from the NBA Draft.

“I think he’ll probably stay in this draft,” one NBA executive told Yahoo Sports. “Should he go back for another year? Probably, but teams will take a serious look at him this year if he decides to stay in this draft class.”

Bronny is far from a finished product and has always been a player who doesn’t rush the development process. He was patient with his growth at Sierra Canyon High School (Chatsworth, California) and was named a McDonald's All-American, one of the highest honors for high school basketball players, his senior year. It's an honor he proved he earned outside of being LeBron's son. During the all-star game, Bronny hit five 3-pointers and added four assists with his family sitting courtside.

The deciding factor for Bronny will be based on whether he wants to continue to develop against his peers at the college level, or get reps in the G League playing with NBA rules and spacing.

In a now-deleted tweet from Feb. 26, LeBron weighed in on the speculation and criticism surrounding his son, saying, "Can y'all please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball," LeBron wrote. "The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do."

The 2024 NBA Draft is considered to be a very weak draft class. There is no consensus No. 1 pick and there will be plenty of movement on NBA team draft boards between now and June 26. It's also worth noting that the Los Angeles Lakers have the 56th pick in the draft, and if Bronny were to stay in this year's draft, the Lakers would be heavy favorites to land him.

Bronny and his family have plenty of time to decide which direction he'll take in further developing as a player — one more year at USC, or jump to the pros where he and LeBron could make history as the first father-son duo to share an NBA court.

sports.yahoo.com

What to make of Bronny James' lackluster season and future NBA prospects

No one has gone through more adversity this college basketball season than USC freshman Bronny James.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
 

NBA: Nikola Jokic stars as Denver Nuggets beat Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs​

Nikola Jokic scored 31 points to help the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs 117-106.

Jokic came out on top against French rookie Victor Wembanyama, who managed 17 points for the Spurs.

Denver's win was their fifth in a row and 11th in 12 games.

Elsewhere, Zion Williamson scored 34 points as the New Orleans Pelicans earned a 112-104 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The victory meant the fifth-placed Pelicans moved to within two games of the fourth-placed Clippers in the Western Conference.

The Phoenix Suns won 107-96 at the Charlotte Hornets, with Devin Booker getting 21 points for the visitors.

The Suns are seventh in the Western Conference and aiming for a top-six spot to avoid having to go through the play-in tournament to reach the play-offs.

Phoenix's Kevin Durant scored 13 points and needs 20 more to pass Shaquille O'Neal's 28,596 to move eighth on the NBA all-time scoring list.

Source: BBC
 
Stephen Curry scored 31 points as he helped the Golden State Warriors beat LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers 128-121.

James scored 40 points for the Lakers but could not stop the Warriors leapfrogging them into ninth place in the Western Conference.
 
Kyrie Irving hit a buzzer-beater to secure a 107-105 victory for the Dallas Mavericks over the Denver Nuggets.

The defending champion Nuggets rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to lead the hosts 105-102.

BBC
 
Nikola Jokic scored 35 points and made 16 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets survived a Minnesota Timberwolves comeback to win 115-112 in the NBA.

The Timberwolves erased an 18-point deficit in the space of 12 minutes to lead 84-82 in the third quarter.

Denver edged back in front in the fourth, before Anthony Edwards missed a late chance to force overtime when his attempted three-pointer hit the rim.

Victory at Target Center in Minneapolis lifted NBA champions Denver into second in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.


BBC
 
Star player Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 21 points on his return from injury as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Brooklyn Nets 115-108.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player had missed the last two games with a hamstring problem.

Damian Lillard top-scored with 30 points and had two key steals in the final quarter as the Bucks held off a late Nets rally.


BBC
 
NBA: Jaylen Brown inspires leaders Boston Celtics to eighth straight win

NBA Eastern Conference leaders the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to eight games with a 129-102 victory at the Detroit Pistons.

Jaylen Brown scored 33 points for the Celtics - the sixth time he has made at least 30 since the All-Star break in February - and Payton Pritchard 20.

"He's playing well-rounded basketball and it has been fun to watch," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of Brown.

The Celtics have the best record in the NBA with 56 wins and 14 losses.

Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 points at Little Caesars Arena against bottom-placed Detroit, for whom James Wiseman contributed 24.

The Oklahoma City Thunder climbed above defending champions Denver Nuggets at the top of the Western Conference thanks to a 123-103 win at the Toronto Raptors.

Anthony Davis scored 23 points and LeBron James 20, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 101-94 at home.

The Indiana Pacers overcame the Golden State Warriors 123-111 in San Francisco.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 points and Pascal Siakam 25 for the Pacers, while Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 25 points.

Jaren Jackson Jr scored with one second remaining to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 99-97 win at the San Antonio Spurs.

Rookie of the Year favourite Victor Wembanyama scored 31 points and made 16 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks for the Spurs.

BBC
 
NBA: Anthony Davis and LeBron James lead LA Lakers to win over Indiana Pacers

Anthony Davis and LeBron James starred as the Los Angeles Lakers put in their highest-scoring performance in 37 years to hold off the Indiana Pacers.

The Lakers won 150-145 with 36 points and 16 rebounds from Davis, while James added 26 points and 10 assists.

Indiana scored 46 points in the final quarter but the Lakers hit 10 in the last minute for a third successive win.

"We allowed them to score 145 so it was terrible defensively but we can do what we want offensively," said Davis.

"But we've got to defend, especially when we've got a team [in trouble] like that. We don't need to give them life, but at this point in the season, a win is a win."

The Lakers, who start a run of six away games on Tuesday, are ninth in the Western Conference and have 11 matches remaining in the 82-game regular season. The top eight qualify for the end-of season play-offs.

The Pacers are sixth in the Eastern Conference and have 10 games to play.

Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-93 to consolidate second position in the Eastern Conference.

The defeat leaves the Thunder fractionally behind reigning NBA champions the Denver Nuggets in the battle to win the Western Conference.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are also in the running, with just one win separating the top three after they edged past the Golden State Warriors 114-110. Steph Curry contributed 31 points for the Warriors.

The Los Angeles Clippers remain fourth despite a 121-107 defeat by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The New Orleans Pelicans, who are one place behind the Clippers, heaped more misery on the Detroit Pistons with a 114-101 victory over the NBA's worst side. The Pistons have now lost 59 of their 71 games.

And the Miami Heat kept up their play-off push in the Eastern Conference with a 121-84 win over the higher ranked Cleveland Cavaliers.

www.bbc.com

NBA: Anthony Davis and LeBron James lead LA Lakers to win over Indiana Pacers

Anthony Davis and LeBron James star as the Los Angeles Lakers put in their highest-scoring performance in 37 years to hold off the Indiana Pacers.
www.bbc.com
 
The Atlanta Hawks staged a stunning comeback from 30 points down to beat the NBA-leading Boston Celtics.

Boston led 68-38 with four minutes and 23 seconds to go in the first half.

But De'Andre Hunter led Atlanta's rally with 24 points, including a late three-pointer, as the Hawks toppled the Eastern Conference leaders 120-118.


BBC
 
The Los Angeles Lakers needed double overtime before claiming a 128-124 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Lakers, who were without LeBron James because of an ankle injury, had trailed by 10 points with three minutes and 26 seconds left in regulation time.

Milwaukee led until the Lakers levelled it up at 101-101 with 44 seconds left.

The lead went back and forth in overtime until an Austin Reaves three-pointer and two free throws from D'Angelo Russell sealed the win.

Anthony Davis hit 34 points and claimed 23 rebounds despite struggling for mobility for much of the game after injuring a knee in a collision with Milwaukee's Khris Middleton early on while Reaves had 29 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.


BBC
 
NBA: Golden State Warriors overcome early Draymond Green ejection to beat Orlando Magic

The Golden State Warriors claimed a 101-93 victory against the Orlando Magic despite the early ejection of forward Draymond Green.

Green received his fourth ejection of the season just three minutes and 36 seconds into the game after disputing a foul call on Stephen Curry.

It was his second technical foul having earlier argued against a personal call.

Green missed 16 games after he was suspended in December for striking Phoenix Suns player Jusuf Nurkic.

In November, the 34-year-old was given a five-game ban for putting Minnesota Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert in a headlock.

He was also suspended during last year's play-offs after stamping on Sacramento Kings player Domantas Sabonis.

Despite Green's ejection, Warriors, who sit 10th in the Western Conference, backed up Tuesday's win against the Miami Heat as Andrew Wiggins scored a team-high 23 points while Curry finished with 17 points and 10 assists. Magic's second-straight loss keeps them fifth in the Eastern Conference.



BBC
 

NBA: Dejounte Murray scores in final second of overtime as Atlanta Hawks beat Boston Celtics​


Dejounte Murray scored in the final second of overtime to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 123-122 win against the Boston Celtics.

Murray, 27, scored a career-high 44 points, including all 11 for the Hawks in overtime at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Hawks also beat the Celtics on Monday, coming from 30 points down to win 120-118.

The Celtics are top of the Eastern Conference with the Hawks in 10th.

"That's the best team in the league - we competed," Murray said.

Boston were on a nine-game winning streak prior to the back-to-back defeats by Atlanta but they are guaranteed to be in the upcoming season-ending play-offs as the top seed in the East.

Elsewhere, the New Orleans Pelicans picked up a 107-100 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at Smoothie King Center.

Zion Williamson scored 28 points with CJ McCollum adding 25 to get the hosts over the line as Giannis Antetokounmpo top-scored with 35 points for the Bucks.

"[Williamson] is putting the team on his shoulders," said Pelicans coach Willie Green.

"That was a gutsy win on our home floor. It was a good defensive performance by us. We played with force from start to finish."

www.bbc.com

NBA: Dejounte Murray scores in final second of overtime as Atlanta Hawks beat Boston Celtics

Dejounte Murray scores in the last second of overtime as the Atlanta Hawks record a second successive win against the Boston Celtics.
www.bbc.com
 
NBA: 'Best in the world' Nikola Jokic has to win MVP, says Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun

Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun believes team-mate Nikola Jokic deserves to be named as the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2023/24 season.

Jokic is currently averaging 26.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and nine assists per game this season.

The Nuggets won the NBA for the first time last season and currently top the Western Conference.

"He's the best player in the world, there's no question about that," Braun told BBC Sport.

Serbian Jokic, 29, is a two-time MVP winner, having won the crown in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons before the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid won it last year.

Jokic is statistically the NBA's most efficient player this season and was named as the Western Conference's player of the month for the joint October and November award.

"He's been the best player in the world for a while. I think he deserves it, it's just the work he puts in every single day. He's an amazing player and he definitely deserves to win the MVP," said Braun.

"He's an amazing player, he's a good guy, he's a great team-mate, I just hope everybody appreciates his greatness."

Braun is enjoying his second year in the NBA after winning the championship with the Nuggets last season, a year after winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) crown with Kansas, making him only the fifth player in NBA history to win the NCAA and NBA in back-to-back years.

Braun, 22, is hoping to become just the second player to win the NCAA and two consecutive NBA titles in three straight years at the end of this season.

"That's the goal. I want this next one even more than I wanted the last one," Braun added. "I'm extremely motivated right now and I think the team is in a good spot in the one seed. I think mentality wise, we're in a good spot too.

"I'm definitely confident we can go back-to-back. We've got all the pieces we need, as long as we got that guy Nikola and then Jamal [Murray].

"I think we're still hungry, we still have that drive to win, we have that motivation to win. As long as we're healthy, I think we can beat everybody."

The Nuggets' final nine games of the regular season start this weekend.

They face Western Conference rivals the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday (01:00 GMT) before taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday (20:30 GMT).


BBC
 

NBA: Victor Wembanyama scores career-high 40 points in San Antonio Spurs victory​

Victor Wembanyama hit a career-high 40 points, including a big three-pointer with one minute and 12 seconds to play in overtime, as the San Antonio Spurs held off the visiting New York Knicks.

The Spurs came through 130-126 despite New York's Jalen Brunson hitting 61 points - a career high.

He missed the Knicks' single-game scoring record, held by Carmelo Anthony since 2014, by one point.

Wembanyama also had 20 rebounds and seven assists.

The 20-year-old Frenchman's haul saw him become the first rookie to record a 40-point, 20-rebound game since Shaquille O'Neal had 46 and 21 in 1993.

He hit a pair of free throws with 24 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime.

His overtime three-pointer made it 128-124 and although Mitchell Robinson cut the gap to two, Brunson missed a three-pointer with five seconds left and the Knicks threw away the rebound before two Tre Jones free throws extended the winning margin.

Source: BBC
 
Lakers lost last night but are an improved team .

Irving while fasting has better numbers compared to pre Ramadan. Dallas look great .
 
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks beat Atlanta Hawks 122-113 as Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 36 points

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and made 16 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks 122-113 in the NBA.

Antetokounmpo has posted at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in 34 games this season - more than any other player.

The two-time Most Valuable Player also provided eight assists in Atlanta.

The Hawks remain second in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics, while defeat ended Atlanta's four-game winning streak and left them 10th.

Khris Middleton scored 21 points for the Bucks, with 18 from Patrick Beverly, who started because Damian Lillard missed the game for personal reasons.

Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Hawks with 38 points and 10 rebounds.

The Celtics, who had lost their previous two games, won 104-92 at the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jayson Tatum recorded 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and Kristaps Porzingis 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics.

Seven Orlando Magic players posted double-figure scores as they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 118-88.

Wendell Carter Jr finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs scored 15 apiece in Orlando.

BBC
 

NBA: LeBron James leads Los Angeles Lakers to dominant win against Brooklyn Nets​


LeBron James secured a place alongside fellow great Michael Jordan in the NBA record books as his 40-point haul helped the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Brooklyn Nets 116-104.

James is only the second player, after Jordan, to score 40 points in more than one NBA game after the age of 39.

Jordan, who played until he was 40, achieved that feat three times with James, 39, having now done it twice.

"Any time I'm linked with the greats, it's pretty cool," James said.

D'Angelo Russell scored 18 to move beyond 10,000 career points, while James also matched career high by registering nine three-pointers at Barclays Center, New York.

"I love this game. I try to put everything into the game and with it, it gives back to me," James said.

"I just try to continually put my game where I have no weaknesses out on the floor, especially offensively. Tonight I had it going from the three-point line."

The Lakers are ninth in the Western Conference and on track for a playoff berth with the Nets sitting 11th in the Eastern.

Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2020 with a 113-112 win against the New York Knicks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tipped the game in Thunder's favor when he scored the winning point with just 2.6 seconds remaining.

The Denver Nuggets also ensured they will be involved in the season-ending playoffs after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-101.

Nikola Jokic, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, starred for the Nuggets, registering his 23rd triple-double of the season with 26 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists.

"It speaks to why he's going to be a three-time MVP," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

"[It was] him showing up and saying, 'I'm going to do what MVPs do. I'm going to lead us to a win.'"

The Dallas Mavericks made it seven wins on the bounce as Luka Doncic scored 47 points and matched his career-high of nine three-pointers in a 125-107 victory at the Houston Rockets.

Doncic also added 12 rebounds and seven assists to bring an end to the Rockets' 11-game winning streak.

www.bbc.com

NBA: LeBron James leads Los Angeles Lakers to dominant win against Brooklyn Nets

LeBron James secures a place alongside fellow great Michael Jordan in the NBA record books as his 40-point haul helps the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Brooklyn Nets 116-104.
www.bbc.com
 
Devin Booker scored 52 points as the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-111 to boost their chances of qualifying for the NBA play-offs.

Kevin Durant added 20 points and Jusuf Nurkic 19 as all five Phoenix starters finished with double figures.

Phoenix are now just one game behind sixth-placed New Orleans, who occupy the final automatic play-off spot in the Western Conference.

As things stand, Phoenix will enter the play-in tournament.

The tournament determines the four remaining places in the post-season, with two teams progressing from each conference.

Suns' win also means the third-placed Minnesota Timberwolves are guaranteed a place in the play-offs.


BBC
 
Rajon Rondo officially announced his retirement from the NBA after 16 seasons.

During an appearance on the "All the Smoke" podcast, Rondo was quick with a response when asked by host Matt Barnes if the NBA has seen the last of him.

"Absolutely," the 38-year-old point guard said. "Yeah, I'm done. I can't. I'd rather spend time with my kids."

Source: ESPN
 

Andy Enfield says he wouldn't be SMU's coach if not in ACC​


Andy Enfield went from Florida Gulf Coast's "Dunk City" and the Sweet 16 to Los Angeles and now to Dallas to take over the SMU program that is headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 36-year drought since winning an NCAA tournament game.

Enfield said he wouldn't be in Big D if the Mustangs weren't about to move into that basketball-rich league.

"Uh, no," Enfield said when asked just that. "We were extremely happy at USC, and I had an incredible staff, players, great support from the administration, and we lived at the beach. So not bad at all."

Enfield was formally introduced on the SMU campus on Tuesday, a day after being officially hired and about 10 days after school officials went to California to meet with the then-Trojans coach who was at the top of their list to lead them into major conference play . The move to the ACC becomes official July 1.

"He shared the high expectations we have for our program, and he embraces that," SMU athletic director Rick Hart said. "He's done it at a school like ours, in a city like ours, and in a conference like the one we're headed to."

After taking no. 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast to the Sweet 16 in 2013, in only the second season that school was eligible for the NCAA tournament, Enfield spent the past 11 years at USC, where he went 220-147 with five NCAA tournament bids, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2021. The Trojans were 15-18 this season with Bronny James as a freshman, ending a run of four consecutive campaigns winning more than 20 games.

SMU hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2017. The Mustangs last made the national quarterfinals in 1957, when they had to win only once to get that far in a 23-team field. They were 20-13 this season, and coach Rob Lanier was fired a day after a loss to Indiana State in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

"Building anything is difficult, and we know the challenges," Enfield said. "We're here as a coaching staff to develop the players that are here, fill in the roster with some transfers and then recruit high school players as well as transfers in the future. And, I think, if you do that over a course of time, you can build a successful program. And what a great place to do it."

SMU is moving this summer with Pac-12 teams Cal and Stanford to the ACC, giving that league 18 basketball teams. USC is leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

Three ACC teams made this year's Elite Eight. That included NC State beating Duke in the South Region final on Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, which is just over five miles from SMU's campus.

The last time the Mustangs won in the NCAA tourney was a first-round game against Notre Dame in March 1988, right in the middle of SMU's football program being shut down because of recruiting violations. SMU didn't field a football team in 1987 or 1988 after being the only school ever given the so-called death penalty by the NCAA.

That was in the old Southwest Conference, the league SMU was a member of since 1918 before being left out when four SWC teams from Texas joined the Big Eight Conference to begin play as the Big 12 in 1996. SMU then went to the Western Athletic Conference for nine seasons and Conference USA for eight campaigns before joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013.

SMU's acceptance into the ACC was announced in September, and school officials said that $100 million was raised within just a week after that to support the transition into the new league. The enthusiasm is still at a fever pitch, with boosters filling the room for Enfield's introduction along with the pep band and cheerleaders.

"Can't go back 40 years, but certainly can't imagine it's been greater than it is right now, in at least a generation," said Hart, who has been at SMU since 2012. "Tremendous momentum.

"Got to take advantage of that."

www.espn.in

Enfield: Wouldn't be SMU's coach if not in ACC

Andy Enfield said he was "extremely happy at USC" and wouldn't have taken the SMU coaching job if the Mustangs hadn't moved to the ACC.
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Joel Embiid said a two-month injury lay-off was "mentally" tough as he returned to help the Philadelphia 76ers pick up a 109-105 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA.

Embiid, 30, suffered a knee injury in a 119-107 defeat at the Golden State Warriors on 31 January.

The Cameroonian marked his return to the court at Wells Fargo Center with 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds.


BBC
 

NBA round-up: Boston Celtics beat Oklahoma City Thunder to secure top spot​


The Boston Celtics secured the top seed place in the NBA with six games left to play, ensuring home court advantage for the playoffs.

The Celtics beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 135-100 on Wednesday, with Kristaps Porzingis scoring 27 points and 12 rebounds.

Their record this season, the best in the NBA, is 60 wins and 16 losses.

The Eastern Conference Atlantic side are seeking a record 18th title, with their most recent win coming in 2008.

Jayson Tatum also added 24 points and Jaylen Brown managed 23, pleasing the Celtics' home fans after 13 days on the road.

For the Thunder, Josh Giddey scored a team-high 17 points, Luguentz Dort added 15 and Chet Holmgren finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

They struggled without their season's top scorers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, who were both missing through injury.

Elsewhere, the Toronto Raptors suffered their 15th straight defeat, losing 133-85 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Anthony Edwards starred with 28 points for the Timberwolves, supported by Naz Reid (23) while Rudy Gobert scored 11 points and 15 rebounds.

The result takes the Timberwolves narrowly to the top of the Western Conference table.

The Milwaukee Bucks lost 111-101 to the Memphis Grizzlies as their injury struggles continued, playing without Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and Patrick Beverley.

Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo stepped up in their absence, with the former scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds and the latter adding 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

But Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr shone with a game-high 35 points and GG Jackson scored 15 points with 12 rebounds.

The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Washington Wizards 125-120, taking the Lakers to ninth in the Western Conference which would ensure a play-in spot.

Anthony Davis scored 35 points and 18 rebounds while LeBron James added 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

The struggling Detroit Pistons were beaten 121-113 by the Atlanta Hawks, despite the Pistons' Malachi Flynn scoring 50 points off the bench.

Flynn's tally was one point shy of the NBA record for points off the bench in a game, but was in vain as Jalen Johnson's 28 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists secured the Hawks' victory.

The Orlando Magic beat the New Orleans Pelicans 117-108 with the Magic's Paolo Banchero scoring 32 points and Franz Wagner adding 24.

The Brooklyn Nets secured a narrow 115-111 win over the Indiana Pacers with Noah Clowney adding 22 points off the bench, while Deandre Ayton scored 24 points and 16 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Charlotte Hornets 89-86.

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NBA round-up: Boston Celtics beat Oklahoma City Thunder to secure top spot

The Boston Celtics secure home court advantage for the NBA play-offs by clinching the top seed place.
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Bronny James, son of LeBron James, declares for the NBA Draft​


Bronny James Jr., the eldest son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, has decided to enter the 2024 NBA Draft.

In a statement posted to his Instagram, James said he still wants to maintain his college eligibility while also entering the NCAA transfer portal after one year at the University of Southern California.

"I've had a year with some ups and downs but all added to growth for me as a man, student and athlete," he wrote. He also thanked USC and their staff for their support.

The decision comes after a roller coaster freshman year for the 19-year-old guard. In July, he experienced cardiac arrest during practice and it required months of recovery. After being treated at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, James was sent home to rest, according to his cardiologist. He was later found to have a congenital heart defect.

He played his first game with USC in December. During his lone season at the school, James averaged almost five points and three rebounds per game. He played in 24 games and his highest-scoring game was against Oregon State University when he tallied 15 points.

James was a five-star recruit and was considered one of the signature players of USC's incoming recruiting class. He is projected to be a potential pick in this year's NBA draft if he decides to take that route, likely to be in the second round, according to CBS Sports.

www.cbsnews.com

Bronny James, son of LeBron James, declares for the NBA Draft

Bronny James Jr., 19, has decided to declare for the NBA Draft, but will maintain college eligibility.
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NBA: PJ Washington leads Dallas Mavericks to win over Golden State Warriors​


PJ Washington scored with 4.5 seconds left to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Golden State Warriors 108-106.

The Mavericks, without Luka Doncic, led 105-99 late on but Stephen Curry levelled for the Warriors at 106-106.

Washington then scored a layup before Klay Thompson missed a three-pointer for the Warriors, whose six-game winning run came to an end.

Washington scored a game-high 32 points, while Curry top scored for his side with 28 points.

Elsewhere, Xavier Tillman scored with 7.4 seconds left for the Boston Celtics as they held off a Sacramento Kings comeback to win 101-100.

The Celtics led by 19 points during the fourth quarter before a 16-1 run brought the Kings back into the game.

De'Aaron Fox scored a game-high 40 points for the Kings, including seven three-pointers, and put his side 100-99 in front with 27 seconds left.

But Tillman restored his side's lead and they held on to win their 61st game of the season.

The Milwaukee Bucks, who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo, were beaten 117-111 by the Toronto Raptors, who ended a 15-game losing streak.

Gary Trent Jr top scored for the Raptors with 31 points, while Damian Lillard registered 36 points for the Bucks.

There were also wins for the Phoenix Suns, who beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-87, and the Indiana Pacers, who emerged 126-112 victors against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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NBA: PJ Washington leads Dallas Mavericks to win over Golden State Warriors

PJ Washington scores with 4.5 seconds left to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Golden State Warriors 108-106.
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Billups, Carter, West, Augustus headline 2024 Hall of Fame class​

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Vince Carter wowed the basketball world with his high-flying dunks for more than two decades. Chauncey Billups was a clutch guard and Finals MVP for the Detroit Pistons.

Two icons from the 2000s era of basketball are headed to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 13-member class announced Saturday includes former Lakers, Grizzlies and Warriors executive Jerry West, who was already inducted as a player and as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team. Also in the class: players Seimone Augustus, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Dick Barnett and Michele Timms, coaches Charles Smith, Harley Redin and Bo Ryan; broadcaster/coach Doug Collins; and owner Herb Simon.

The 2024 class will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, in August.

Carter, 47, was an eight-time All-Star and the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 with the Toronto Raptors. He had the longest career in NBA history, playing 22 seasons for the Raptors, Nets, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Hawks, Magic, Kings and Suns, and finished with 25,728 career points, good for 21st in league history.

He played in college at North Carolina under coach Dean Smith.

The 6-foot-6 guard's longevity in the game was legendary and he was a useful player deep into his 40s, hanging with players less than half his age. He averaged five points over 60 games at age 43 with the Hawks in his final season.

Billups, 47, was a five-time All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Pistons in 2004. He was also the MVP of the Finals that season and is now the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Billups was the third overall pick in the 1997 draft by the Boston Celtics, but his pro career was a little slow to develop. He eventually found a home in Detroit, making his first All-Star team in his ninth season.

Part of a balanced Pistons team that included Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace, Billups averaged 21 points and 5.2 assists per game in the 2004 Finals. They beat the Lakers in five games for the title.

The 85-year-old West was inducted as a contributor. The 14-time All-Star was inducted as a player in 1980. He spent more than 20 years as an executive for the Los Angeles Lakers - helping the franchise win eight championships over a span from 1980 to 2002 - and was also the general manager for the Memphis Grizzlies and an executive with the Golden State Warriors.

Augustus, 39, was a four-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx. The 6-foot-0 guard played in college at LSU, helping the program to three Final Fours. She's 13th in WNBA history with 6,005 career points.

Source: ESPN
 
Nikola Jokic posted his 25th triple-double of the season to help the Denver Nuggets beat the Atlanta Hawks 142-110 and move top of the Western Conference.

Jokic registered 19 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, while team-mate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored a game-high 24 points.

Jamal Murray was back from injury for the Nuggets and scored 16 points.

The Los Angeles Lakers earned their ninth win in 10 games as they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-97.

D'Angelo Russell scored a game-high 28 points for the Lakers, while team-mates LeBron James and Anthony Davis made double-doubles as they moved up a place to eighth in the Western Conference.

James scored 24 points with 12 assists, while Davis registered 22 points and 13 rebounds in a win which included a 19-0 run in the third quarter for the Lakers.

Elsewhere, Joel Embiid scored 30 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 116-96 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Embiid, who was the NBA's most valuable player last season and has recently returned from a lengthy injury, also registered 12 rebounds in a 23 minutes on the court.


BBC
 
Paul George scored 23 points in the final quarter as he inspired the Los Angeles Clippers to a remarkable 120-118 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

American George, 33, was in fine form, scoring 39 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists to help his side overturn a 26-point deficit.

James Harden contributed 22 points, while Ivica Zubac, Terance Mann and Norman Powell scored 14 each.


BBC
 
NBA round-up: New Orleans Pelicans edge closer to play-offs as Boston Celtics lose again

The New Orleans Pelicans edged closer to securing an NBA play-off spot with a 135-123 win over the Sacramento Kings.

The Pelicans are sixth in the Western Conference, the final guaranteed play-off spot, with two games remaining.

CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson scored 31 points each, with McCollum also adding nine three-pointers and seven assists.

Elsewhere, Eastern Conference top seed the Boston Celtics lost to the New York Knicks for a second straight defeat.

Jalen Brunson scored 39 points, his fifth consecutive effort of more than 35 points, and was able to sit out the fourth quarter as the Knicks wrapped up a 118-109 win.

Josh Hart also starred with 16 points and 16 rebounds and Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.

The Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons to secure ninth place in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage for their play-in game.

Struggling Pistons are bottom of the table with the 127-105 defeat their sixth in a row.

DeMar DeRozan scored 39 points with seven assists for the Bulls, who take on the Atlanta Hawks in next week's play-in.

Steph Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a crucial 100-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Curry's 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds helped the Warriors to their third straight win as they sit ninth in the table, guaranteed of a play-in place.

The Utah Jazz ended their 13-game losing streak with a narrow 124-121 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Keyonte George scored 20 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 17 to inflict a sixth defeat in seven games on the Rockets, who are 11th in the table - one spot outside the play-in places.

The top six teams in each conference qualify for the play-offs while the teams in seventh to 10th place face play-in games for the final two spots.


BBC
 

NBA: Victor Wembanyama stars as San Antonio Spurs beat Denver Nuggets​

Victor Wembanyama scored 34 points as the San Antonio Spurs stunned the Denver Nuggets to open up the race for top seed in the Western Conference.

Denver knew two wins from their final two games would secure top spot and home advantage in the play-offs.

But their defeat plus wins for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder leaves the trio level.

It is the first time in NBA history there has been a three-way tie for top spot with one game left.

Wembanyama, 20, added 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks, while Devonte' Graham hit the deciding jumper with 0.9 seconds left on the clock to seal victory.

Despite the win, San Antonio remain level with the Portland Trail Blazers at the foot of the Western Conference.

At the top, Oklahoma City beat the Milwaukee Bucks 125-107 while Minnesota were 109-106 winners against Atlanta.

Oklahoma City lead the Conference because of their superior head-to-head record between the other two sides, with Minnesota second and Denver third.

The only way Denver can regain top spot is if both Oklahoma City and Minnesota lose in their final games on Sunday.

Source: BBC
 
NBA final day: Oklahoma City Thunder clinch Western Conference top seed for play-offs

The Oklahoma City Thunder settled a historic contest for the top seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the NBA's regular season.

For the first time in the NBA, three teams had the same record after 81 games at the top of their conference.

The Thunder thrashed the Dallas Mavericks 135-86 to clinch top spot heading into the play-offs.

Defending champions the Denver Nuggets also won to seal the second seed while the Minnesota Timberwolves lost.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in just 15 minutes as Thunder thumped a Dallas team that rested most of their starters, with their play-off position having already been set - fifth in the Western Conference.

That meant Oklahoma City ended the regular season with a 57-25 record and a five-game winning streak to finish top of their conference for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Denver beat the Memphis Grizzlies 126-111 to match a franchise high for wins (57-25) but the Thunder came out on top because of a head-to-head tie-breaker.

Minnesota had to settle for the third seed after losing 125-106 at home to the Phoenix Suns, who moved past New Orleans to secure the sixth seed in the Western Conference, following the Pelicans' 124-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

That meant Phoenix earned an automatic spot in the play-offs while New Orleans will have to play two games in the play-in tournament this week to secure their place in the post-season.

It is as you were for much of the Eastern Conference, where the Boston Celtics had run away with it. They rested most of their starters but still beat the Washington Wizards 132-122 to finish with the NBA's beat record (64-18), with Payton Pritchard scoring a career-high 38 points.

The Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers all went into the final day level (46-35), with the Miami Heat one win behind.

All won on Sunday so remain in the same positions from seeds five to eight, meaning the 76ers and Heat have to face the play-in tournament.

But Jalen Brunson scored 40 points as the New York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls 120-119 in overtime to take the second seed from the Milwaukee Bucks, who were thumped 113-88 by the Orlando Magic.


BBC
 
NBA final day: Oklahoma City Thunder clinch Western Conference top seed for play-offs

The Oklahoma City Thunder settled a historic contest for the top seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the NBA's regular season.

For the first time in the NBA, three teams had the same record after 81 games at the top of their conference.

The Thunder thrashed the Dallas Mavericks 135-86 to clinch top spot heading into the play-offs.

Defending champions the Denver Nuggets also won to seal the second seed while the Minnesota Timberwolves lost.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in just 15 minutes as Thunder thumped a Dallas team that rested most of their starters, with their play-off position having already been set - fifth in the Western Conference.

That meant Oklahoma City ended the regular season with a 57-25 record and a five-game winning streak to finish top of their conference for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Denver beat the Memphis Grizzlies 126-111 to match a franchise high for wins (57-25) but the Thunder came out on top because of a head-to-head tie-breaker.


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NBA final day: Oklahoma City Thunder clinch Western Conference top seed for play-offs

The Oklahoma City Thunder settle a historic contest for the top seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the NBA's regular season.
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Women's college basketball superstar Caitlin Clark has been drafted into the professional league as the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever.

"I can't wait," said Clark, 22, who had been expected to be first off the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft board.

She is considered one of the greatest collegiate players of all time.

Athletes from colleges across the US were also looking for their shot to go pro during the annual WNBA draft.

Clark is the all-time leading scorer across men's and women's college basketball, racking up the most three-point shots ever in a single season - a record previously held by professional player Steph Curry.

"I'm excited," the former Iowa Hawkeyes sensation said at a news conference after Monday's announcement.


BBC
 
LeBron James scored 23 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 to reach the NBA play-offs.

James, 39, also chipped in with nine rebounds, nine assists and three steals to help the Lakers seal the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

The Lakers face defending champions the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the play-offs.

"We've got a good group going right now," James said.

"We understood after how we had played the last game that they were going to give us everything they had - the whole kitchen sink and the toolbox - and they did that.

"So it was a gritty win for us and we punched our ticket to the post-season."

James is set to feature in the play-offs for the 17th time in his 21-season career.

Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings ended Golden State Warriors' hopes of appearing in the play-offs with a 118-94 win.

Stephen Curry top-scored for the Warriors with 22 points but Klay Thompson - who has averaged 17.9 points a game this season - failed to score in 32 minutes.

The Warriors have now missed out on the play-offs three times in the past five seasons.

Keegan Murray hit eight three-pointers and ended the match with 32 points and nine rebounds for the Kings, while De'Aaron Fox added 24 points.

The Kings meet the Pelicans on Saturday, with the winner securing the eighth seed and the final play-off spot in the West.

Source: BBC
 
Jontay Porter: Toronto Raptors forward given lifetime NBA ban for breaching betting rules

Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been given a lifetime ban by the NBA for breaching betting rules.

An NBA investigation found the 24-year-old disclosed confidential information about his fitness to sports bettors and limited his participation in games for betting purposes.

Porter also bet on NBA games using a friend's online account.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Porter's "blatant violations" warranted the "most severe punishment".

"There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport," said Silver. "Which is why Jontay Porter's blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment."

The investigation found that Porter disclosed information about his fitness to someone he knew to be a sports bettor before a game against Sacramento Kings in March. Porter then claimed to be ill and only played for three minutes.

Another associate of Porter had placed an $80,000 (£64,000) bet that he would under-perform in that game. But because of Porter's actions and suspicious betting activity the wager, which would have paid out $1.1m (£880,000), was frozen and not settled.

It was also found that Porter bet $54,000 on 13 NBA games using a friend's online account between January and March 2024. None of the games were ones Porter played in.

NBA players are forbidden from betting on NBA games under league rules.

"While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players," added Silver.

The NBA said the investigation remains open and may result in further findings.



BBC
 
Devin Haney v Ryan Garcia: Challenger misses weight & cannot win WBC world title on Saturday

American Ryan Garcia weighed 3.2lb over the 140lb limit for Saturday's light-welterweight contest against compatriot Devin Haney in Brooklyn, New York.

The fight at the Barclays Center will go ahead after Garcia's team agreed to compensate world champion Haney.

But Garcia, 25, will not be eligible to win Haney's WBC title.

Garcia's antics have been criticised in the build-up, with several erratic, often unsubstantiated and defamatory, social media posts in recent months.

The Californian launched a foul-mouthed tirade at both 25-year-old Haney and a member of the crowd at Thursday's news conference.

He also shook hands with Haney after the champion demanded $500,000 in compensation for every pound Garcia weighed the over the limit, despite the challenger's team instructing him not to agree to the deal.

Haney posted on social media to say Garcia had "honoured the $500k per pound" deal.

Two-weight world champion Haney has won all 31 pro bouts and is widely considered one of boxing's pound-for-pound stars.

Garcia boasts 24 wins with one defeat - a stoppage loss to Gervonta Davis in April 2023.


BBC
 

NBA play-offs 2024: Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans secure last two spots​


The Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans secured the final two spots in the NBA play-offs after victories in their play-in tournament games.

The Heat beat the Chicago Bulls 112-91, while the Pelicans claimed a 105-98 win over the Sacramento Kings.

Despite the absence of key player Jimmy Butler, Miami dominated the first quarter and never gave up their lead.

The Pelicans were without their star Zion Williamson but Brandon Ingram's 24 points helped them hold off the Kings.

Miami take the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and will now face the Boston Celtics, who finished with the best record in the regular season, with New Orleans playing the Western Conference top seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Both series will begin on Sunday.

Butler, who has led Miami to two NBA finals, including last year's defeat by the Denver Nuggets, is facing several weeks out with a sprained knee ligament.

Williamson has strained his left hamstring and will be reassessed in two weeks' time.

NBA play-offs first round​

Eastern Conference
(1) Boston Celtics v (8) Miami Heat
(2) New York Knicks v (7) Philadelphia 76ers
(3) Milwaukee Bucks v (6) Indiana Pacers
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers v (5) Orlando Magic

Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder v (8) New Orleans Pelicans
(2) Denver Nuggets v (7) Los Angeles Lakers
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves v (6) Phoenix Suns
(4) Los Angeles Clippers v (5) Dallas Mavericks

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NBA play-offs 2024: Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans secure last two spots

The Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans win the final play-in games to complete the NBA play-offs line-up.
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NBA play-offs 2024: Denver Nuggets open title defence with win over Los Angeles Lakers​


The defending champion Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 114-103 to take a 1-0 lead in their NBA play-offs first-round series.

Nuggets star Nikola Jokic scored 32 points to help his side overcome a narrow deficit at half-time to win.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 120-95.

In the Eastern Conference, there were wins for the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks recorded a 111-104 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 97-83.

Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 22 points each as the second seeds responded to Philadelphia's third-quarter surge by pulling in front late on to seal victory.

The Cavaliers never trailed the Magic in an impressive showing, with Donavon Mitchell scoring 30 points.

The Nuggets beat the Lakers in all of their regular season games but made a slow start before a 13-0 run in the third quarter put them in control.

Anthony Davis hit 32 points for the Lakers and LeBron James added 27 as they threatened a late comeback, but Denver held firm.

While the Suns won all three of their regular season games against the Timberwolves, the hosts turned the tables in game one of the play-offs as Anthony Edwards starred with 33 points.

Suns star Kevin Durant hit 31 points but his side faded badly in the third quarter, with Edwards trash-talking Durant after hitting a three-pointer.

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NBA play-offs 2024: Denver Nuggets open title defence with win over Los Angeles Lakers

The Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers record wins on day one of the 2024 NBA play-offs.
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The Boston Celtics started their NBA play-off campaign with a 114-94 win over the Miami Heat.

Jayson Tatum's triple-double helped the top seeds to lead throughout against last season's losing finalists.

The Heat entered the play-offs as the number eight seeds after beating the Chicago Bulls in a play-in eliminator.

But without injured star player Jimmy Butler, the Heat found the Celtics too strong in the opener to the best-of-seven series.

Tatum scored 23 points, had 10 rebounds and provided 10 assists - and was one of six players to score double figures for Boston, but warned his side they "can't relax" against the team which eliminated them from the play-offs last year.

"They're not going to give up, they're not going to lay down," he said.

There are 16 teams in the first round of the play-offs, playing best-of-seven series in a knockout format. The eight winners go through to the next round.

James Harden scored 28 points for the Los Angeles Clippers as they beat the Dallas Mavericks 109-97 in the first game of their series.

The home side led 56-30 at half-time and despite a fight back led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, with 33 and 31 points respectively, the Mavericks were left with too much to do.

Damian Lillard scored all 35 of his points in the first half as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers 109-94 despite the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

His 35 points were a record for any Bucks player in any half of a play-off game.

The Bucks defence held the prolific Pacers offense to under 100 points for just the second time this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder to help them to a thrilling 94-92 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

In the Thunder's first play-off game since 2020, Gilgeous-Alexander made two key baskets in the final two minutes to give Oklahoma City the series lead.

Source: BBC
 

Nuggets fight back to beat Lakers in play-offs​

Jamal Murray scored on the buzzer as defending champions the Denver Nuggets beat the LA Lakers 101-99 to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA play-offs first-round series.

Murray, who recorded 20 points overall, completed the comeback as the Nuggets overturned a 20-point deficit.

Anthony Davis' 24 first-half points helped the Lakers take a 59-44 lead at half time, which they stretched to 68-48 early in the third period.

But the Lakers missed eight straight shots in the third quarter to hand momentum to the Nuggets.

LeBron James missed a three-pointer with 16 seconds left, allowing Murray to take advantage and secure the victory.

"I told my team-mates when I was struggling, I'm gonna look for y'all," Murray said. "And every single one of them told me to keep shooting, keep shooting.

"I'm thankful enough that that was one of the few that went down for me."

Nuggets star Nikola Jokic scored 27 points, adding 20 rebounds and 10 assists in his side's 10th straight victory over the Lakers.

The third match in the best-of-seven series is on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Elsewhere, in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks scored eight points in the final 30 seconds to stun the Philadelphia 76ers 104-101 and secure a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series.

Donte DiVincenzo scored a crucial three-pointer to give the Knicks the lead with 13 seconds remaining.

In Cleveland, the Cavaliers cruised to a 96-86 victory over the Orlando Magic to earn a 2-0 series lead.

Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and Jarrett Allen added 16 points and 20 rebounds for the Caveliers.

Source: BBC
 
Doncic helps Mavericks level play-off with Clippers

Luka Doncic scored 32 points to help the Dallas Mavericks level their first-round play-off series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

After a 109-97 defeat on Sunday, when they trailed by as many as 29 points, the Mavericks rallied to claim a 96-93 victory in game two.

Doncic had nine assists, while Kyrie Irving added 23 points.

The series moves to Dallas for the third game of the best-of-seven series on Friday.

James Harden and Paul George each scored 22 points for the Clippers, while star player Kawhi Leonard returned from injury to score 15 points in 35 minutes.

The Clippers led 73-67 early in the fourth quarter, before the Mavericks scored 14 straight points.

Doncic added a three-pointer to open the advantage to 90-81 with 86 seconds remaining and Dallas were able to hold on from there.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves took a 2-0 lead in their play-off against the Phoenix Suns.

Jaden McDaniels scored a career-best 25 points, while Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert finished with 18 points each as Minnesota won 105-93.

"Twenty-five points in a play-off game, there's nothing more I could ask for," McDaniels said.

The Indiana Pacers ended a 10-game post-season losing streak with a 125-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Pascal Siakam recorded 37 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to help the Pacers level their Eastern Conference play-off at 1-1.

BBC
 

Heat stun top seeds Celtics in play-offs​


The Miami Heat caused an upset against the top-seeded Boston Celtics to level their Eastern Conference play-off duel.

Underdogs Miami, who suffered a 20-point thrashing in the first game of the series, recovered to earn a 111-101 road victory.

The Heat torched the Celtics with 23 three-pointers - two shy of the NBA play-off record.

"Everybody came to play," said Tyler Herro, who led the Heat with 24 points.

"We lost bad in game one and everybody responded. That's all you can ask for from a group of guys."

Herro sank six three-pointers and added 14 assists, with all five Heat starters posting double-digit points.

Miami are without star wing Jimmy Butler and starter Terry Rozier through injury and, after Sunday's 114-94 defeat, many thought the Celtics would wrap up a four-game sweep.

"We understood how many missed opportunities we had hesitating to shoot the threes in game one, and we had the mentality coming in of just let it fly," said Caleb Martin, who added 21 points.

"We were hungry. The only way you beat a team like that is to come in and try to play on the same level."

Boston's Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 33 points while Jayson Tatum finished with 28 points, but the Celtics were limited to 12 three-pointers from 32 attempts.

The best-of-seven series moves to Miami for the third game on Saturday.

Elsewhere on Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed a commanding 2-0 lead in their Western Conference play-off series against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced his best-ever scoring total in a post-season game, scoring 33 points as the Thunder cruised to an emphatic 124-92 victory.

Game three is on Saturday in New Orleans.

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2024 NBA play-offs: Miami Heat stun top seeds Boston Celtics

Tyler Herro scores 24 points as the Miami Heat stun the top-seeded Boston Celtics to level their Eastern Conference play-off duel.
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Bears make Williams first pick in NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears made quarterback Caleb Williams the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.

The 22-year-old, who attended the University of Southern California (USC), won the Heisman Trophy award in 2022 as the best player in college football.

And now Williams has been chosen by a Chicago team looking to end years of underachievement as their new star man.

Williams, who is widely regarded as one of the most talented quarterbacks to come out of college for years, passed for 93 touchdowns and ran in 27 more in his 33 college starts.

BBC
 
Embiid stars for 76ers after Bell's palsy diagnosis

Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid says he is "not a quitter" after producing his best-ever post-season performance, despite dealing with the facial condition Bell's palsy.

Bell's palsy causes facial muscle weakness or paralysis, affecting the muscles on one side of the face.

Embiid scored a play-off career-high 50 points in Philadelphia's 125-114 win over the New York Knicks, in game three of their play-off series.

"Pretty annoying with the left side of my face, my mouth and my eye," he said.

"It's been tough, but I'm not a quitter. Got to keep fighting through anything."

Embiid, the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2023, said he had been dealing with the condition since Philadelphia's win over the Miami Heat on 17 April.

"I battled migraines and thought it was nothing. Usually I like to tough it out, but for some reason I ended up having to tell somebody," Embiid said.

"It's unfortunate, that's the way I look at it. But that's not an excuse. Got to keep pushing."

Despite noticeable moments of his face appearing to droop to one side during the game, Embiid shot 13 of 19 from the field and 19 of 21 from the free-throw line.

The win cuts the 76ers' deficit in the Eastern Conference first-round play-offs to 2-1.

Game four in the best-of-seven series will be played in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets moved one win away from reaching the Western Conference semi-finals.

The reigning NBA champions claimed a 112-105 win on the road to take a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference play-offs against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nikola Jokic grabbed 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, while Aaron Gordon added 29 points.

LeBron James produced 26 points and nine assists for the Lakers, who have now lost 11 games in a row against Denver.

The Nuggets will book a spot in the semi-finals if they win game four in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their heaviest ever post-season defeat with a convincing 121-83 victory.

Paolo Banchero collected 31 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, who trail 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

BBC
 
Haliburton leads Pacers to win over Bucks

Tyrese Haliburton converted a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left in overtime to give the Indiana Pacers a 2-1 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in their Eastern Conference first-round play-off series.

Haliburton registered 18 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds in the 121-118 win.

Khris Middleton had scored 42 points for the Bucks, who were again without the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The fourth game in the best-of-seven series takes place on Sunday, also in Indianapolis.

Elsewhere, Luka Doncic scored 22 points and registered 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 101-90 at home.

Kyrie Irving scored 19 points in the final 14 minutes as the Mavericks took a 2-1 series lead in their Western Conference first-round play-off series.

Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards' 36 points and nine rebounds gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a 126-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns, who were at home.

The Timberwolves now have a 3-0 play-off series lead in the Western Conference for the first time in the franchise's history.

BBC
 
James scores 30 to keep Lakers play-off hopes alive

LeBron James scored 30 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets and keep their Western Conference first-round play-off hopes alive.

The Lakers were 3-0 down in the best-of-seven series but fought back on Saturday to win 119-108 in Los Angeles.

James was supported by Anthony Davis, who registered 25 points and 23 rebounds to end an 11-game losing streak against the Nuggets.

"We've given ourselves another life, another lifeline," James, 39, said.

"The only opportunity for us is just to play the next game."

James is searching for his fifth NBA title and his first with the Lakers since 2020.

The fifth game takes place in Denver on Monday.

In the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum scored 22 points with 11 rebounds and six assists in the Boston Celtics' 104-84 win over the Miami Heat, who were at home.

The Celtics, who are the NBA's top seeds, lead the series 2-1.

The Orlando Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-89 to level their play-off at 2-2, while the Oklahoma City Thunder took a 3-0 lead with a 106-85 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

BBC
 
Luka Doncic scores 32 points to help the Dallas Mavericks level their first-round play-off series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Mavericks rallied to claim a 96-93 victory in game two, and now lead play-off series 2-1.
 
Timberwolves complete historic series victory

The Minnesota Timberwolves won a play-off series for the first time in 20 years after defeating the Phoenix Suns 122-116 to complete a 4-0 Western Conference first-round win.

Anthony Edwards top-scored with 40 points - 31 in the second half - and also had nine rebounds.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota while Jaden McDaniels had 18 points.

The victory came despite big efforts from Suns duo Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. with Booker scoring a play-off career-high of 49 points and Durant adding 33.

Minnesota will face either the Denver Nuggets or the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semi-finals.

They had to complete the game without coach Chris Finch - the former Sheffield Sharks boss had to be helped off the court for treatment with one minute and 41 seconds left after being run into by his own player Mike Conley.



BBC
 
James' Lakers knocked out with defeat by Nuggets

LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the NBA play-offs as the Denver Nuggets completed a 4-1 series win in the Western Conference.

In the fifth game of the best-of-seven series, defending champions the Nuggets won a tense encounter 108-106.

Jamal Murray scored 32 points, including the winner with just 3.6 seconds left when the scores were tied.

James' 30 points and 11 assists were in vain for the Lakers.

The NBA's all-time leading points scorer was chasing his fifth title and his first with the Lakers since 2020.


bbc.com

NBA play-offs: LA Lakers knocked out by defending champions Denver Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers are knocked out of the NBA play-offs by defending champions the Denver Nuggets.
bbc.com
 
LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will miss his second straight game and remain out for Wednesday's Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks, according to coach Ty Lue.

Lue said Leonard would not practice Tuesday as he continues to treat the inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.

Leonard did not play Sunday when the Clippers won Game 4 in Dallas 116-111 to even the best-of-seven series at 2. Paul George and James Harden shouldered the load, combining for a total of 66 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds.

Source: ESPN
 
Sixers stun Knicks to keep play-off hopes alive

Tyrese Maxey scored 46 points as the Philadelphia 76ers stunned the New York Knicks 112-106 in overtime to keep their Eastern Conference play-off first round hopes alive.

The Knicks, leading by six points with 29 seconds remaining, looked poised to clinch the series before Maxey's late burst, including a remarkable 34-footer from the logo which sent the game into overtime.

The Sixers then triumphed in a back-and-forth tussle in New York to peg the Knicks back to 3-2 in game five of the best-of-seven series.

"Season on the line, we fought for 53 minutes and never gave up," said Maxey.

"Even when we were down late, guys still went out there and made plays - that was big time."

Maxey's heroics were accompanied by a triple-double from Joel Embiid, who scored 19 points while recording 16 rebounds and 10 assists.

A pumped-up Maxey could be seen roaring with delight during the electric encounter.

"I was saying some things that my grandma probably wouldn't like," he said.

"I'm a happy guy but I absolutely hate losing."

Jalen Brunson top-scored for the Knicks with 40 points.

Game six takes place in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Elsewhere, the injury-hit Milwaukee Bucks triumphed in their must-win tie with the Indiana Pacers, winning 115-92.

The Bucks, trailing 3-1 in the series and missing injured stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, looked to be heading for defeat after the Pacers raced into a 31-23 lead in the first quarter.

But the Bucks, led by Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis' 29 points apiece, took control in the second and third quarters before seeing out victory.

Game six takes place in Indiana on Thursday.

In the other Eastern Conference game, Donovan Mitchell sunk 28 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged Orlando Magic 104-103 to take a 3-2 lead.

The Magic had fought back from 2-0 down to level the series after recording emphatic wins in games three and four in Florida, but the Cavaliers' win ensures they will have the chance to clinch the series in Orlando in game six on Friday.

BBC
 
Celtics cruise past Heat to reach play-off semis

The Boston Celtics advanced to the NBA's Eastern Conference play-off semi-finals with a comfortable 4-1 series win over the Miami Heat.

Derrick White and Jaylen Brown both scored 25 points in the Celtics' 118-84 victory.

They dominated throughout despite centre Kristaps Porzingis' absence with injury.

“I think this is my fourth time playing them in play-offs, but they all count the same," said Celtics' Jayson Tatum, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

"We did our job. We took care of business."

The Celtics will next play either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Orlando Magic.

The Cavaliers lead 3-2 with the sixth game of the best-of-seven series taking place in Orlando on Saturday.

Bam Adebayo scored 23 points for a Heat side depleted by injuries and their weak defence was exploited by the Celtics, who managed eight three-pointers in the opening quarter.

In the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks edged closer to the next round with a 123-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers to take a 3-2 series lead.

Luka Doncic scored 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds despite playing with an injured knee and suffering with illness.

Doncic said he found the game "tough" but the adrenaline of the occasion helped him through.

"Once you get started, you want to do everything you can to help your team win," he said.

"I just wanted to keep going.”

Paul George and Ivica Zubac added 15 points each for the Clippers but they struggled without their leading scorer Kwahi Leonard, who also has a knee problem.

Their series continues on Friday in Dallas.


BBC
 
Knicks to face Pacers in Eastern Conference semis

The New York Knicks will face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals after both progressed from the first round of the NBA play-offs.

The Knicks, who are the second seed in the East, won 118-115 in Philadelphia to clinch a 4–2 series win over the 76ers.

The Milwaukee Bucks welcomed back Damian Lillard after missing the previous two games through an Achilles injury but they were unable to take their series with Indiana to a decider.

The sixth-seeded Pacers won 120-98 in Indianapolis to clinch a 4-2 upset of the third seed Milwaukee, the 2021 champions.

Although Lillard returned for the Bucks, fellow star Giannis Antetokounmpo remained out, with the two-time MVP having not played any part in the series because of a calf injury.

The Pacers will begin their best-of-seven series with the Knicks in New York on Monday.

After scoring a franchise play-off record as the Knicks went 3-1 up in the series, Jalen Brunson again shone, scoring a game-high 41 points as his team secured their second win in three visits to Philadelphia.

He added 12 assists, including one to Josh Hart for a three-pointer with 25.6 seconds left, which put the visitors ahead for good at 114-111.


BBC
 
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114-101 to secure a 4-2 series win in the first round of the NBA play-offs, while the Orlando Magic won to set up a decider against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Source: BBC
 
Edwards stars as Timberwolves beat Nuggets in opener

Anthony Edwards scored 43 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they beat the Denver Nuggets 106-99 in the opening game of their NBA Western Conference semi-final series.

Edwards made 17 of 29 shots from the floor, while making three from seven from three-point range and all six of his free throws.

The defeat means the Nuggets are trailing in a play-off series for the first time since losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in 2022.

"My team-mates trust me in every position in critical moments in the game. I try to come through for them," said Edwards.

"It's tough here. The altitude, their team, the crowd. I'm proud of my teammates. They came out and fought super-hard."

The game was tied at 84-84 before Minnesota went on an 18-7 run on the way to victory.

Nikola Jokic top scored for the Nuggets, who are defending champions, with 32 points but he was also pressured into a game-high seven turnovers.

The next game of the best-of-seven-series will be on Monday in Denver.

"There's a lot we can clean up and get better at and we're going to have to," said Nuggets coach Michael Malone.

"Played no defence in the third and you can't just trade baskets with that team. There's a lot that we'll look at in the film and try and clean up."

In Sunday's only NBA game, Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points to help the Cleveland Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference semi-finals with a 106-94 victory over the Orlando Magic.

It sealed a 4-3 series win for the Cavs, who will play the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the semi-finals, with game one set for Tuesday.


BBC
 
Jason Kidd has signed a multiyear contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks, the team announced Monday.

ESPN
 
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama named NBA Rookie of the Year after historic season

Victor Wembanyama, the 20-year-old French star whose mere presence conjured reimaginings of what is possible in the sport, was named the NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday, earning all 99 first-place votes.

Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft, is the first unanimous top rookie since Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren (second) and the Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller (third) were the other finalists for the league’s top rookie honor.

With a wiry, 7-foot-4 frame that allows him to cover unfathomable distances, whether he is dribbling the ball toward the rim or contesting a shot a normal man couldn’t get near, Wembanyama led all rookies in scoring (21.4), rebounds (10.6) and blocks (3.6) per game in 71 games for the San Antonio Spurs. He also was the league’s top shot blocker — joining Manute Bol as the only rookies ever to lead the league in blocks — and as a result is a finalist for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year honor, too, which will be announced Tuesday.

Wembanyama became the first player in league history to score at least 1,500 points (1,522), corral 700 rebounds (755), dish out 250 assists (274) and block 250 shots (254) while making at least 100 3s (128) in a season.

In this current era of NBA basketball, where the 3-pointer is king and even the biggest players shoot them, Wembanyama both symbolizes the era and defies it. He is the only player ever to average at least 3.5 blocks and 1.0 3s per game in a season.



theathletic.com

Spurs' Wembanyama named Rookie of the Year

The 20-year-old French phenom earned all 99 first-place votes after a season that was one of a kind for many reasons.
theathletic.com theathletic.com
 
Edwards leads Wolves as Knicks' Brunson matches Jordan

Anthony Edwards led the way again as the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated defending NBA champions the Denver Nuggets to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Edwards, who scored 43 points in game one, added 27 on Monday night as Minnesota completed a convincing 106-80 win.

Karl-Anthony Towns also scored 27 points and had 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who established a 28-point lead at one point in the second quarter and never looked back.

Minnesota were without three-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert but still limited Denver stars Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic to eight and 16 points respectively.

"When you don't have the defensive player of the year, you've got to step your game up," Towns told TNT.

"We all understood the challenge coming in against the defending champions."

Having won both games in Denver, the Timberwolves head back to Minneapolis for the next two games in the best-of-seven series, with game three on Friday.

Jalen Brunson scored 43 points as the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 121-117 in a thrilling game one of their Eastern Conference semi-final series.

It was Brunson's fourth successive 40-point game, making him just the fourth player in NBA play-off history to achieve the feat after Jerry West in 1965, Bernard King in 1984 and Michael Jordan in 1993.

Donte DiVincenzo had 25 points, with 21 of them coming in the second half, while Josh Hart added 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for the Knicks.

"I'm not going, 'I have to score 40'," said 27-year-old Brunson. "That's not my mindset at all. I want to be aggressive and make plays for myself and for others."

Myles Turner led Indiana with 23 points and Pascal Siakam added 19.

The Pacers led for much of the game, with the Knicks only taking the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter.

DiVincenzo's three-pointer put New York up 118-115 with 40.4 seconds remaining before Siakam's lay-up brought Indiana back within one.

The Pacers then had a chance to take the lead but Turner was called for a moving screen and Brunson sealed the win for the Knicks from the free-throw line.



BBC
 
Brown leads Celtics to emphatic win over Cavaliers

Jaylen Brown led Eastern Conference top seeds the Boston Celtics to an emphatic win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of their NBA play-off semi-final.

Brown scored 32 points alongside Derrick White's 25, which included seven three-pointers, as the Celtics eased to a 120-95 victory in Boston.

The Celtics are chasing a record 18th NBA championship.

"It starts with defence, we wanted to set the tone on defence and we kept them under 100," said Brown.

"But we feel like we've got an answer for everything so we just play the game the right way."

Boston were in complete control for most of the game, holding a double-digit lead through the second half.

Donovan Mitchell top-scored for the Cavaliers with 33 points, while Evan Mobley added 17 and Darius Garland 14.

Game two of the best-of-seven series takes place in Boston on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder earned a 117-95 win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks in the opening game of their Western Conference semi-final.

Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring efforts were complemented by nine rebounds and nine assists as the Thunder, who have an average age of just over 23, became the youngest side in history to win an NBA play-off semi-final.

Kyrie Irving scored 20 points and Luka Doncic, who was struggling with a sore knee, finished with 19 as the Mavericks stayed in contention until the final quarter.

The second game of the series takes place in Oklahoma City on Thursday.


BBC
 
Jokic joins NBA greats with third MVP award

Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic has joined some of the NBA's all-time greats by winning the league's Most Valuable Player award for the third time.

The Serb, who was previously named MVP in 2021 and 2022 and was runner-up last year, is just the ninth man to win the award three or more times.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named MVP a record six times, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell are five-time winners, while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James have claimed the award on four occasions.

Jokic joins Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone as three-time winners.

"It’s a special moment I'm probably going to remember my whole life," Jokic, 29, said. "It's - I like to say- a legacy for after [your] career."

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was second in the voting and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic third.

Jokic has averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and nine assists this season and has completed 25 triple-doubles.

He became just the second player to finish with more than 2,000 points, 900 rebounds and 700 assists in a regular season as the defending NBA champions finished second in the Western Conference.

However, the Nuggets are 2-0 down against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their best-of-seven conference semi-final.

In the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Wednesday, Jalen Brunson overcame injury to spark the New York Knicks' comeback win against the Indiana Pacers.

Brunson went off with a right foot injury in the first half with his side leading 24-17 and in his absence the Knicks fell 73-63 behind.

He returned in the third quarter, however, and scored 24 points as the Knicks won 130-121 to take a 2-0 series lead.

BBC
 
Mitchell stars as Cavaliers level tie against Celtics

Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 29 points as he helped the Cleveland Cavaliers level their Eastern Conference semi-final series against the top-seeded Boston Celtics at one game apiece.

The Cavaliers fell behind in each of the first two quarters but Mitchell scored 23 points in the second half to lift the visiting Cavaliers to a 118-94 victory.

The shooting guard finished with eight assists and seven rebounds.

"Everybody did their job," Mitchell said.

"We were extremely confident, even after game one. Understanding that we had some things we could adjust.

"Tonight we executed very well, but at the end of the day, it's one win. We'll continue to build upon it. Take care of business at home and protect home court."

Mitchell also scored a game-high 33 points in game one but Boston earned a 120-95 victory.

The Celtics, who are chasing a record 18th NBA championship, were led by Jayson Tatum, who had 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Game three of the best-of-seven series moves to Cleveland on Saturday evening (01:30 BST Sunday).

Elsewhere on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks secured a 119-110 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder to even their Western Conference semi-final series at 1-1.

Luka Doncic and PJ Washington scored 29 points apiece as the Mavericks hit 18 three-pointers, their highest total in the 2024 postseason.

Doncic, who was struggling with a knee injury, added 10 rebounds and seven assists.

The Slovenian star limped through the fourth quarter after colliding with Oklahoma City's Cason Wallace.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder.

The series heads to Dallas for game three on Saturday.

BBC
 
Jokic-inspired Nuggets win to peg back Timberwolves

Nikola Jokic starred as the Denver Nuggets, defending NBA champions, beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-90 to reduce the deficit to 2-1 in the Western Conference semi-finals of the play-offs.

Serbian Jokic, who joined some of the NBA's all-time greats by winning the league's Most Valuable Player award for the third time on Thursday, scored 24 points while recording 14 rebounds and nine assists.

His efforts in Minneapolis were complimented by Canadian Jamal Murray's 24 points.

"I think we played much simpler. We were more aggressive than them," said Jokic.

"I think that's definitely the thing that changed the game."

The Nuggets, who led by as many as 34 points at one stage, dominated the Timberwolves, with all five starters scoring double figures.

Game four of the best-of-seven series takes place on Monday, again in Minneapolis.

In Friday's other game, American Tyrese Haliburton scored 35 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks 111-106 to avoid going 3-0 down in their Eastern Conference semi-final.

Canada's Andrew Nembhard emerged as an unlikely hero for the Pacers, scoring a three-pointer with 17 seconds left to put his side in the lead in Indianapolis.

"Everybody knows what it looks like when you go down 3-0," said Haliburton.

"We had to come out, play desperate, play hard."

American Donte DiVincenzo top-scored for the Knicks with 35 points.

The Pacers will attempt to level the series in game four in Indianapolis on Sunday.

BBC
 
Toronto, Canada's largest city, will be home to the next franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), Canadian media has reported.

The new team is expected to start playing in 2026, industry sources told the CBC and the Toronto Star.

The addition is part of a larger expansion by the WNBA, which is hoping to grow to a total of 16 teams by 2028.

The expansion to Toronto brings the total number of teams in the league to 14.

It also marks the league's first expansion outside of the US.

Source: BBC
 
Celtics restore lead over Cavs in NBA play-off tie

The Boston Celtics regained the lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 106-93 victory on the road.

Top-seeded Boston, who were stunned by the Cavaliers at home in game two, edged the first quarter by two points and never relinquished their lead.

The Celtics now take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series into game four in Cleveland on Monday.

Jayson Tatum hit 33 points for the Celtics, while Jaylen Brown added 28.

"We just wanted to bounce back," said Tatum. "Our back was against the wall, so it was a good test for us to see how we respond - we were up for the challenge."

Donovan Mitchell top scored for Cleveland, with 33 points.

Elsewhere, the Dallas Mavericks took a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semi-final with a 105-101 win at home over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

PJ Washington led the Mavs with 27 points, while star guard Luka Doncic added 22.

A late scoring surge by Kyrie Irving, who also made 22, helped Dallas maintain their narrow four-point lead after the third quarter through to the end of the game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a game-high 31 points for the Thunder.

Game four is also in Dallas on Monday.


BBC
 
Reigning NBA champions the Denver Nuggets secured a 115-107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to level their Western Conference play-off semi-final series at 2-2.

Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic scored 16 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, with Aaron Gordon adding 27 points and Jamal Murray ending game four in Minneapolis on 19 points.

Anthony Edwards led the overall scoring on Sunday with 44 points in total for Minnesota.

"Never underestimate the heart of a champion," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of his team.

"They were quick to write us off, but these guys, we won a championship a year ago."

The Nuggets, who lost the opening two games of the semi-finals in Denver, were 64-49 ahead at half-time, but the Timberwolves rallied in the final quarter to pull within six points of the lead in the final minute.

"This team has been tested time and time again, and we've found a way to solve whatever has been thrown at us," Malone said.

The series goes back to Denver for game five on Tuesday.

Source: BBC
 
Thunder beat Mavericks to level semi-final series

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 100-96 to level their Western Conference semi-final series at 2-2.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 of his game-high 34 points in the second half, while Thunder team-mate Chet Holmgren registered 18 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

Dallas led 54-43 at half-time but Thunder closed the game with a a 20-10 run to take the win.

"We all have our role on the team," said Gilgeous-Alexander.

"We all have somewhere we like to get to. All we can do is get to it and trust our work. That's what we did and we pulled it out."

PJ Washington top-scored for Dallas with 21 points, while Luka Doncic had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple double.

However, the Mavs only made 12 of their 23 free throws, while the Thunder made 23 from 24.

Game five in their best-of-seven NBA play-offs series will take place in Oklahoma on Wednesday.

The Boston Celtics also won on Monday as they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-102 to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series.

Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 33 points as Celtics team-mate Jaylen Brown weighed in with 27 points against a Cavaliers side deprived of star player Donovan Mitchell because of a left calf injury.

"I thought both teams played really hard," said Boston coach Joe Mazzulla, whose team can win the series when they next play on Wednesday.

"I just thought you have to make plays down the stretch. So they made a tonne of plays and put a tonne of pressure on us, and we made a tonne of plays. I thought both teams brought it."

BBC
 
Celtics beat Cavaliers to return to finals

The Boston Celtics triumphed 113-98 against the Cleveland Cavaliers to reach their third straight Eastern Conference finals.

Jayson Tatum scored 25 points for the top-seeded Celtics, who won the best-of-seven semi-final series 4-1.

They will face either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks for the Eastern Conference title and a place in the NBA Finals.

Elsewhere, Luka Doncic scored 31 points to help the Dallas Mavericks take a 3-2 series lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Slovenian guard delivered a second consecutive triple-double, with 10 rebounds and 11 assists, as Dallas bounced back from letting a 14-point lead slip in game four.



BBC
 
Timberwolves take play-off series to decider against Nuggets

The Minnesota Timberwolves have forced their Western Conference play-off semi-final series to a decider against defending champions the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets had led the series 3-2 heading into game six and a win would have booked their place in the Conference finals.

However, the Timberwolves won 115-70 to level the series which will be decided by game seven on Sunday.

Anthony Edwards was the top-scorer in the match with 27 points, but he credited the return of Mike Conley with the win.

"We got Mike Conley back," Edwards said. "That was it."

Point guard Conley had been injured for game five with a sore Achilles.

Conley said: "Obviously I wanted to play last game. Just couldn't move at all. Tonight it was a no-brainer. I was going to try to find a way. We're just better when we're a complete team."

The 36-year-old scored 13 points, made five assists, had four rebounds and no turnovers.

Edwards was not the only one to credit Conley, with coach Chris Finch heaping praise on his player.

"Mike means everything for us," Finch said. "Unbelievable next to Anthony in terms of being able to set him up, play off of him, be in his ear all of the time. Smart defender.

"Just everything you want in an experienced, veteran point guard and just the very fact that Ant doesn't have to handle it every single time, that alone helps us. We desperately missed him the other night."


BBC
 

Siakam helps Pacers set up decider against Knicks​

Pascal Siakam scored 25 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks 116-103 to force a decider in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Myles Turner contributed 17 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who are the sixth seeds, while Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell finished with 15 points apiece at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Every game in the series, which is level at 3-3, has been won by the home team, with game seven to take place on Sunday in New York.

"Now it's a one-game series," said Haliburton.

"It's for all the marbles. Where else better to have a game seven than Madison Square Garden? We've got to be ready to go."

Jalen Brunson scored 26 of his 31 points in the second half for the second-seeded Knicks, while Miles McBride scored 20, Donte DiVincenzo added 17 and Precious Achiuwa scored 12 points and made eight rebounds.

The Pacers led 61-51 at half-time and started to pull away thanks to a 10-2 run early in the second half.

"We played harder tonight, which was a must," said coach Rick Carlisle.

"We moved the ball better and we got more rebounds.

"In a series like this, you can't sit around patting yourself on the back. We're going to keep our celebrations very short, if at all, and get ready for Sunday."

The winners will face the Boston Celtics in the seven-game Eastern Conference finals starting on Wednesday, with a place in the NBA Finals from 6 June at stake.

Source: BBC
 
Timberwolves knock holders Nuggets out of play-offs

The Minnesota Timberwolves knocked defending NBA champions the Denver Nuggets out of the play-offs by beating them 98-90 in the deciding game of their Western Conference semi-final series.

The Timberwolves were trailing by 20 points at one stage in the third quarter but staged a comeback to win game seven and take the series 4-3.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels each scored 23 points for Minnesota, who will play the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.

The Indiana Pacers also progressed as they earned a 130-109 victory against the New York Knicks to win their Eastern Conference semi-final series 4-3.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 points for the visiting Pacers, who set an NBA play-off record by shooting 67.1% from the field.

They will now take on the Boston Celtics.

Minnesota won for a third time at Denver in their series and victory meant they reached the Western Conference final for the first time in 20 years.

In the process, they became the first team to come back from a half-time deficit of more than 11 points to win a game seven.


BBC
 

Is Edwards really the next Jordan?​

It's a comparison that has followed 22-year-old Anthony Edwards throughout the Minnesota Timberwolves' NBA play-off run.

But as the seconds ticked down on a dramatic series win over the Denver Nuggets, the guard waved their disappointed fans goodbye - and you started to see it. Right there was a glimpse of the look and mindset of one of the greatest basketball players of all time - Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

Now Edwards has a chance to take the Timberwolves to their first NBA championship as they gear up to take on the Dallas Mavericks, led by Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, in the Western Conference final series. Game one is on Wednesday night (01:30 Thursday BST).

A lot of players in years gone by have been held up as the next Jordan. Edwards, though, could end up being the closest we get.

What Edwards does have in common with Jordan is a relentless mindset matched with an incredible skillset.

There's a confidence in his make-up - and a determination to bounce back from setbacks.

Over and over again in the Netflix documentary The Last Dance, Jordan talks of taking things personally. When things didn't go his way, when something or someone upset him, he used it as motivation. It was an outlook that took him to six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.

Things have not always gone Edwards' way in this year's play-offs. It has only made him more determined.

www.bbc.com

NBA play-offs: Is Anthony Edwards really the next Michael Jordan?

Anthony Edwards has been such a standout for Minnesota Timberwolves that he is drawing comparisons with NBA legend Michael Jordan. BBC Sport looks at a rising star.
www.bbc.com
 
Celtics beat Pacers in overtime to take series lead

The Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 133-128 in overtime in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Celtics' Jaylen Brown scored a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to level the scores at 117-117 and take the game to overtime at the TD Garden in Boston.

Jayson Tatum, who finished with 36 points, scored a three-pointer and Derrick White a lay-up in quick succession inside the final minute to make the game safe for the top-seeded Celtics.

The Pacers gave up 21 turnovers, including shortly before Brown's late three-pointer.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the loss was "totally on me" after failing to call a timeout before Brown scored.

Game two will also take place at TD Garden, on Thursday.

The winners of the best-of-seven series will face the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Dallas Mavericks, who meet in the Western Conference Finals, in the NBA Finals.

Game one of those Finals will be broadcast live on BBC One from 01:30 BST on Wednesday, 7 June.


BBC
 
Doncic leads Mavericks to win over Timberwolves

Luka Doncic starred as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-105 in the opening game of the NBA's Western Conference Finals.

Slovenia's Doncic top-scored with 33 points, including 15 in the final quarter, as the Mavericks gained first advantage in the best-of-seven series.

Kyrie Irving also scored 30 points for Dallas, with 24 of them coming in the first half in Minneapolis.

"We had to work really hard to get this one," said Doncic.

"I think we're known for losing game ones, so we were trying to make a point. But it's only one and we have three more [wins] to go."

The two sides exchanged leads multiple times in a see-saw final quarter, as Anthony Edwards' 24-foot three-pointer gave the Timberwolves a 102-98 advantage with just under four minutes to go.

But eight unanswered points from the Mavericks, including a step-back jump shot from Doncic, put them back in the ascendency before seeing out victory.

Jaden McDaniels led the scoring for the Timberwolves with 24 points, while Edwards added 19.

Game two takes place on Friday in Minneapolis.


BBC
 
Brown hits 40 points as Celtics take 2-0 series lead

The Boston Celtics took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals with a comfortable 126-110 win over the Indiana Pacers.

After a below-par display in game one, the Celtics found their rhythm at the TD Garden as Jaylen Brown scored 40 points to equal his best in a play-off game.

Brown was left out of the All-NBA selection on Wednesday, with the 27-year-old failing to make a list of the league's top 15 players for the season.

But he underlined his importance to the Celtics by top scoring against the Pacers, with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White both contributing 23 points.

"I think he (Brown) cares about it in a way that motivates him, and I think he doesn't really care about it at all," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said about Brown's omission.

"He understands that winning is the most important thing. He just cares about the right stuff."

The Pacers lost star player Tyrese Haliburton in the third quarter to a left hamstring injury.

Haliburton, who had 10 points and eight assists by the time he was forced off, missed 10 games in January with a similar injury.

Pascal Siakam, who scored 28 points for Indiana, says Haliburton's potential absence cannot be allowed to distract the team in the best-of-seven series.

"We need Tyrese but 'next mentality'", said Siakam.

"We've got to play together. This team got where we are by playing together and it's on us to continue."

The Pacers host games three and four on Saturday and Monday, having won 11 straight games at home.

The Dallas Mavericks lead the Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals. Game two of that series is played on Friday.

The winners will meet in the NBA Finals and game one will be broadcast live on BBC One from 01:30 BST on Wednesday, 7 June.


BBC
 
Celtics stage late comeback to lead Pacers 3-0

The Boston Celtics came from 18 points down to beat the Indiana Pacers 114-111 and take a 3-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Game four is in Indianapolis on Monday with no NBA team having ever come from 0-3 down to win a best-of-seven play-off series.

Despite the absence of star guard Tyrese Haliburton with a hamstring strain, the Pacers led 84-66 with six minutes to play in the third quarter.

They also led 109-101 with two minutes, 39 seconds remaining in the final quarter.

But Boston scored 13 of the game's final 15 points to steal the win.

A three-point play by Jrue Holiday put them 112-111 up with 38.9 seconds to play – their first lead since the opening moments of the second quarter.

He then came up with a steal from Andrew Nembhard and made a pair of free throws to extend the advantage before a three-point attempt by Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith bounced off the rim as the buzzer went.

Holiday, who has played 15 years in the NBA, was only cleared to play 45 minutes before tip-off as he struggled with a fever which left him in bed for most of the day.

"I didn't feel too well," he said after finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals.

"I guess I just figured if I got a good day's rest or tried to sleep through it, that would help me.

"It's Game Three in the Eastern Conference finals, so I wasn't going to miss this game."

Jayson Tatum top-scored for the Celtics with 36 points and also had 10 rebounds and eight assists while Jaylen Brown added 24 points.

The Eastern Conference winners will face either the Dallas Mavericks or the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA finals with Dallas leading their Western Conference series 2-0 with game three on Sunday.

BBC
 
Mavericks finish strongly to beat Timberwolves

The Dallas Mavericks moved closer to the NBA Finals after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-107 to go 3-0 up in their Western Conference Finals series.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 33 points apiece as Dallas pulled away thanks to a 12-3 run in the last three minutes and 38 seconds.

They can advance to the finals for the first time since claiming the 2011 title if they win game four in Dallas on Tuesday (01:30 BST Wednesday).

"We need one more. Nothing's done yet," said Slovenian star Doncic. "They have an amazing team. If we get one more, then we get a rest."

The Timberwolves had found themselves trailing by 12 points in the first half but an Anthony Edwards basket with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter levelled it at 77-all, the first of 10 ties in the next 13 minutes.

PJ Washington edged Dallas 107-104 ahead before Doncic and Irving extended their advantage and Daniel Gafford made big plays at both ends of the court.

Gafford came back into the game after back-up centre Dereck Lively II departed in the third quarter with a strained neck and he blocked Mike Conley’s lay-up attempt with 56.7 seconds left and then had a three-point play to help see his side home.


BBC
 

Two-time NBA champion Bill Walton dead at 71​

Two-time NBA champion Bill Walton, who dominated the hard court during a 13-year pro basketball career and later excelled as a broadcaster who both delighted and dismayed sports fans with his sometimes zany color commentary, died after a "prolonged battle with cancer," the league announced Monday.

Walton, who was 71, was with his family when he passed, NBA spokesperson Mark Broussard said in a statement.

"Bill Walton was truly one of a kind," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position."

Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA championship in 1977 and won a second NBA title as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1986.

And after a 13-year career on the hardwood, Walton "translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans," Silver said.

Born Nov. 5, 1952, in La Mesa, California, Walton was a 6-11 school basketball phenom before he went to play for coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins.

There, Walton won three consecutive National College Player of the Year awards between 1972 and 1974 and helped lead the Bruins to NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973.

Walton was selected for the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team, but opted not to play.

Off the court, Walton became one of the most polarizing athletes in the country with his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War, the Nixon administration and the FBI. He was even arrested at a war protest during his junior year.

With a shock of flame red hair, Walton also broke the mold for what a college athlete should look like with his multicolored headbands and flannel shirts. He declared himself a vegetarian, practiced meditation and became a lifelong fan of The Grateful Dead.

“Your generation has screwed up the world,” he said in a statement after his arrest. “My generation is trying to straighten it out. Money doesn’t mean anything to me. It can’t buy happiness, and I just want to be happy.”

Being happy to Walton meant to pursue an NBA career.

Selected as the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA draft, Walton led the Trail Blazers to a championship three years later and also won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.

In 1978, Walton won the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award.

But starting in high school for the rest of his career, Walton was dogged by foot and leg injuries that forced him to play through the pain. He missed three seasons because of injuries that required some three dozen surgeries to correct.

At age 34, Walton retired after playing just 10 games of the 1986-87 season.

In his autobiography, Walton wrote that his biggest regret was playing hurt.

“I didn’t let pain be my guide,” Walton wrote. “I didn’t say, ‘If it hurt a lot, don’t play.'"

But Walton was not done with basketball.

A stutterer, Walton overcame his speech impediment to become one of the country's best-known — and sometimes controversial — basketball commentators.

Walton called games for NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, Turner Sports and, most recently, provided commentary for ESPN broadcasts of Pac-12 basketball. In 2001, Walton received an Emmy for best live sports television broadcast.

Along the way, Walton built a collection of outlandish quips, some of which were compiled online by an outfit called Awful Announcing.

"Come on, that was no foul," Walton once declared mid-game. "It may be a violation of all the basic rules of human decency, but it’s not a foul."

Walton once likened a player to a mosquito.

“If you ever think you’re too small to make a difference, you’ve never spent a night in bed with a mosquito, or you’ve never played basketball against Taylor from Utah — No. 11 in your program, No. 1 in your heart.”

Walton could also go over the top with praise. For example:

“John Stockton is one of the true marvels, not just of basketball, or in America, but in the history of Western civilization!”

While doing a live broadcast of another college game in 2015, Walton posed a head-scratching question: "Have you ever been milked?"

Walton is survived by his second wife, Lori, and his sons from his first marriage: Adam, Luke, Nate and Chris, according to the NBA.

Source: NBC NEWS
 
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